Nothing personal, but I think you're over thinking the use of the word reminiscent.

Dictionary.com entry for reminiscent

rem·i·nis·cent      / Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[rem-uh-nis-uhnt]
 
–adjective 1. awakening memories of something similar; suggestive (usually fol. by of): His style of writing is reminiscent of Melville's. 
2. characterized by or of the nature of reminiscence. 
3. given to reminiscence: a reminiscent old sailor. 

It just means something that reminds you of past events, usually in your own life experiences. 

BTW, what I originally got out of that line from the announcer is that it was more a reference to around the 1900's, to be honest.  Basically, a reference to H.G. Wells' novel War of the Worlds with the description of something falling to earth.  I guess Mr. Butcher might well have meant that - or he might have been referencing the movies you mentioned - Armageddon, Deep Impact, etc...

I didn't realize she was that young!  I was thinkin' she was in her early 30's at that point and so would have been in her mid-to-late-30's by "White Night".  Kewelness! 

Yes, discovered the books because of the show.  A friend of mine kept talking about them, but I never bothered to do any real research to try and find them.  I'm currently Deployed to Iraq and happened upon "Fool Moon" while looking for something to read at the PX.  Picked it up and read it in about three days during slack time here at The Job, as well as on my day off.  I then ordered each of the novels from Amazon.com, going for two each time I placed an order.  Just finished "White Night" a few days ago and it's my favorite of the 9, thus far.  I think that it's a tie between "Summer Knight" and "Dead Beat" after that.