...to CriticallyTouched.com! Originally hosted over at SuperJer.com with what began as a one man's desire to unleash his unique perspective on the brilliant television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mikelangelo "MikeJer" Marinaro then got his own domain to create, develop, administrate, and launch CriticallyTouched.com.

CriticallyTouched.com hosts a network of review/analysis sites for quality television shows and other media built on top of a unified template system. One of our slogans here is "quality reviews for quality shows." Most reviews you'll find elsewhere only skim the surface layer of the 'text.' Our goal here is to really dig deep into the themes, characters, and subtleties that bring a piece of fiction to life, while also always appreciating it for its surface-level fun. It's the balance and blend of these aspects -- intelligence, emotional resonance, and fun -- that turns a piece of entertainment into something that transcends its format. This is where CriticallyTouched.com lives.

Each reviewer goes through a thorough interview process in which they are screened for insight, skill, sanity, dedication, and overall intelligence. If you have any problems with a reviewer and/or questions, comments, or trouble with the functionality of any site on the network, please feel free to e-mail me at mikejer(at)criticallytouched(dot)com. To contact the writer of an individual site, refer to that site's 'About' page for more information.

I, as well as all the reviewers writing for CriticallyTouched.com, very much hope you enjoy all the time, effort, sweat, and tears put into the development, design, and content of this network. Thank you for stopping by!

Do you want to be a member of this wonderful community of quality reviewers? First, you should know that all of the writers here don't get paid -- they do it out of their passion for the shows they champion. When accepted into this community, you will be given the tools to let your voice be heard, but will also gain a lot of talented friends in the process. What often separates this site from others is not just the quality of the material being reviewed, but also the quality of the person reviewing it. Both of these factors go into the 'interview' process.

Here's the paragraph where I try to convince you to not submit your request for joining. Speaking from first-hand experience, reviewing isn't for the faint of heart. At times it's time consuming, painful, and even downright exhausting. Other times, though, it's joyous, fun, and really rewarding. I've grown a lot as a writer through my reviews of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even despite the best of intentions and all the enthusiasm in the world, it's easy to feel like giving up. We're looking for people who have the dedication, guts, and perseverance to see their responsibility through to the end, even when real life keeps trying to permanently pull you away.

If you're still with me here, and think you have what it takes to join our ranks, then please send me an e-mail to review your request. You can reach me at mikejer(at)criticallytouched(dot)com. In your e-mail, please provide thorough and honest responses to the following questions:

• Which television series do you want to review? Make a case for why you believe this show is worthy of a critical discussion. Additionally, if this show is still on the air, it has to have proven itself to be considered. One or two seasons of a running show generally won't cut it.
• Why do you want to review at all? What's your motivation behind this request?
• Do you have something new to say about this show? What can you offer that other reviewers haven't already said?
• Do you feel you have the ability to mix academic analysis with emotion-filled glee? We're only looking for people who love the material they want to review: emotionally, artistically, and intellectually.
• Have you worked on any other long-term projects before? If so, what?
• Are you willing to learn a few basic tech skills? Although I've built a full administrative system for posting content, some knowledge of HTML, CSS, and Javascript may come in handy.
• Do you have strong communication skills? Most job applications list a requirement for strong communication skills, but very few mean it. Let us be clear: we mean it.
• Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

The above questions will launch a conversation between us that may lead to a test review, a getting-to-know-you period, and then if all goes well a new CriticallyTouched.com site of your very own. Feel free to add any additional comments or questions in your e-mail. We all look forward to getting to know you! Good luck!

I have a B.S. in Computer Science from Western Washington University. I currently reside in the state of Washington (USA). My name is Mikelangelo Marinaro, I'm the writer of MikeJer's Buffy Reviews, and am the creator and developer of the entire CriticallyTouched.com network. Welcome to the site!

My current career goal is to become an innovator in the area of game development. By innovator, I mean I want to change the fundamental way games are played. I'm interested in tapping games for their full artistic and entertainment value, not unlike what Joss Whedon has done with television. Most games don't even bother thinking about the story or developing likeable characters, and the rare few that do stop short of going all the way. I'm thrilled at the thought of changing that by working towards designing and developing my own games.

I occasionally love writing articles, essays, and papers about things that interest me, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the best television show I've ever seen. In case you're wondering, my other favorite shows include, in no particular order: Firefly, Seinfeld, Angel, Freaks and Geeks, Star Trek: TNG, and Star Trek: DS9. Some other shows I enjoy are Joan of Arcadia, Wonderfalls, Blackadder, Season 1 of Veronica Mars, the first one and half seasons of Battlestar Galactica, and the first couple seasons of Six Feet Under. A sampling of my favorite movies includes Donnie Darko, Lost in Translation, Serenity, Memento, LotR: Fellowship of the Ring, Shaun of the Dead, The Ring, Pulp Fiction, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek: First Contact, and Pan's Labyrinth.