Since it is 24 degrees outside when only 48 hours ago it was 80, I am stuck inside watching the horror that is daytime television. I hate TV that is geared towards stay at home moms or the elderly--no offense, but they have horrible taste. Thank God for DVR so I can rescue myself. However, every once in a while I will have left my TV on The CW the night before from watching "Two and a Half Men" or "Friends," and I unfortunately stumble upon the mid-day showing of "Family Feud"
I understand that this particular game show has been on since God was a boy, but the drunken hosts of the days of yore were much more entertaining. Trying to not be molested on television was enough of a challenge...the answers were secondary. But now, it is not only stupid--but the absolute worst game show on TV. Why on EARTH would you agree to go on this show?
First of all, you are playing with your family--and let's be honest...it is always frustrating when your crazy uncle can't think of answer before he gets buzzed on "Most Common Things that Songs are Written About." I mean really...
Next, we have the paltry amount of prize money that you "win" if you beat the other mediocre family. This is almost 2009...and all you win is $20,000 to be divided among your 5 family members. Yay. I will take my $2,000 after taxes and buy a new house...wait...Also, if you do NOT win enough points in the final round, you only get $5 per correct point on the board. Five dollars? Are we eight?
And finally we come to the most important of the futile nature of this dumb game...you have to answer based on a sampling of 100 random people asked on the street. Now, I have over the years listened to various conversations of random people on the street, and I have but one things to say: we are ALL idiots. This isn't like "Jeopardy" or "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" where the answers are actually based on fact, so if you do not answer something correctly you can at least blame, I don't know, SCIENCE for your own personal failure. But when you get that horrific "X!!!" when you answer something completely legitimately, all you can blame is Bubba, the 9th grade drop-out who thought his answer of "In a Graveyard" to the question, "Where is a Popular Place to Get Married?" was hilarious and true. I mean, if I had any hint that I was being surveyed for "Family Feud" I would come up with the most ridiculous and asinine answers I could think of--why? Because we are all idiots.
In this day and age, when a million dollar prize on a game show is something that you can actually win, please explain to me why you would go on this God-forsaken, midday joke of a show? I know you and your family stay on the show for like a week or something, so I am sure they sell it as....you have the potential to walk away with over $100,000! That's like the sign at Sonic that says, "Now Hiring! You can make up to $15/hour!" What they don't tell you is that number is based on public and their basic understanding of how the world works...I wouldn't bet on it.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Four Christmases
I heard a while back from my friend that the dailies on this film were looking really funny, which I thought was weird because I NEVER in a million years would have put Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn together. However, I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really enjoying this movie.
Vince Vaughn definitely carries the weight of the comedy, but that is to be expected. He also carries the weight of, well, himself. His imposing stature is quite obvious when paired with Reese's slight frame, but that kind of added to the comedy.
The concept of the movie is kind of ridiculous, but that is made okay by the laughable families that the couple must visit all in one day. Vince and Reese were almost Jack Bauer-like in that they basically froze time in order to complete their mission, but oh well.
Jon Favreau was hilarious as a backyard Cage wrestler along with his very pregant white trash wife who kick ass at a game of Taboo because their own stupidity prove how made for eachother they are. "Capital of China?"--"Hong Kong!!"
The other main complaint I had was the ridiculous fact that this story took place in San Francisco and it's surrounding areas. I mean, it's a Christmas movie...would it have been awful to film it in New York or Chicago? A little snow could have gone a long way.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this movie, and I would highly recommend it for an hour and a half of non-thinking and laughter.
8.5/10
Vince Vaughn definitely carries the weight of the comedy, but that is to be expected. He also carries the weight of, well, himself. His imposing stature is quite obvious when paired with Reese's slight frame, but that kind of added to the comedy.
The concept of the movie is kind of ridiculous, but that is made okay by the laughable families that the couple must visit all in one day. Vince and Reese were almost Jack Bauer-like in that they basically froze time in order to complete their mission, but oh well.
Jon Favreau was hilarious as a backyard Cage wrestler along with his very pregant white trash wife who kick ass at a game of Taboo because their own stupidity prove how made for eachother they are. "Capital of China?"--"Hong Kong!!"
The other main complaint I had was the ridiculous fact that this story took place in San Francisco and it's surrounding areas. I mean, it's a Christmas movie...would it have been awful to film it in New York or Chicago? A little snow could have gone a long way.
All in all, I quite enjoyed this movie, and I would highly recommend it for an hour and a half of non-thinking and laughter.
8.5/10
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Twilight the Movie
Well, let me preface this by saying that I am unapologetically a Twihard freak, so I am a bit over expecting when it comes to the world that Stephenie Meyer so painstakingly created. I got really interested when I saw the teaser--just a hot guy standing in a forest talking to a young girl about him being seventeen for a long time. Then the full-size trailer premiered and I got a bit scared. The fight scene between James and Edward was a bit, um, stupid. So, going into the movie I was both dually anticipating genius and weary of bad directing at the same time. I got EXACTLY what I was expecting...some psychologist is nodding his head right about now.
First, the bad. Catherine Hardwicke was bad. I don't know what she was thinking half the time. Her decisions were overdramatic and banal. She turned the actors into seething anger-balls that made the moment when they actually smiled equivalent to the first time you light your Christmas tree in the winter. The budget: bad. With a ridiculously successful franchise, how could Summit Entertainment not have thrown more money at this thing? And because of the ridiculous budget, the visual effects were disturbingly terrible. The moment where Edward shows Bella how he sparkles was supposed to be sensual and personal--instead it was laughable. Also, when the vampires were like, flying...if that could even be said, was absolutely sad. Why oh why? You know what was really bad? The hair. I mean seriously...Alice is supposed to have a pixie cut, not a flippy bob circa 2002. And whomever did the dye jobs? Sheesh. The script was okay I guess, but with a book that is so much in Bella's head that I see how it was really difficult to translate onto the silver screen.
And now onto the good. Kristen Stewart: good. And this is saying a lot for me. I was highly disappointed in her casting decision, but she really knocked it out of the park with being alluring but not overly sex kittenesque. Actually all of the cast was pretty good. So, I guess that is one good thing Hardwicke did. I thought Billy Burke did an exceptional job as Charlie--he accomplished the small town quietness combined with protective witty dad really well. But I feel as though the Cullen's on the whole did not get enough screen time...I mean poor Jasper! But then again, their hair and makeup was so terrible, maybe that was for the best.
And now onto the subject of all girl's fantasies and waking dreams: Robert Pattinson aka Edward Cullen. The highs were his hair, his looks and his moments with Bella. If the whole movie was just focused on Bella and Edward then it would have been an amazing film. Rob and Kristen had great chemistry and their first kiss, was...really hot. But the moments of Edward's torment were not so great. So much of Edward's actions are in his head, but couldn't they have had a ECU of his eyes switching from amber to black instead of him looking like he is going to vomit when Bella walks into biology. And um, I do not remember Edward sucking out James' venom with such gusto that he almost couldn't stop...ridiculous.
I really hope that this movie makes a lot of money so they can up the game on New Moon and hire a new director and hair/makeup team. Whomever takes over directing will probably be a bit angry over Hardwicke hijacking Victoria's anger which was supposed to be a climax in Eclipse. There were too many sophomoric mistakes for a blockbuster--like The DaVinci Code mistakes. Blurg.
Keep the cast ditch the crew. Sorry.
Love you RPatz...I didn't even care that you had chest hair and non-Roman God biceps. You are exactly my brand of heroine.
Twilight: 6/10
First, the bad. Catherine Hardwicke was bad. I don't know what she was thinking half the time. Her decisions were overdramatic and banal. She turned the actors into seething anger-balls that made the moment when they actually smiled equivalent to the first time you light your Christmas tree in the winter. The budget: bad. With a ridiculously successful franchise, how could Summit Entertainment not have thrown more money at this thing? And because of the ridiculous budget, the visual effects were disturbingly terrible. The moment where Edward shows Bella how he sparkles was supposed to be sensual and personal--instead it was laughable. Also, when the vampires were like, flying...if that could even be said, was absolutely sad. Why oh why? You know what was really bad? The hair. I mean seriously...Alice is supposed to have a pixie cut, not a flippy bob circa 2002. And whomever did the dye jobs? Sheesh. The script was okay I guess, but with a book that is so much in Bella's head that I see how it was really difficult to translate onto the silver screen.
And now onto the good. Kristen Stewart: good. And this is saying a lot for me. I was highly disappointed in her casting decision, but she really knocked it out of the park with being alluring but not overly sex kittenesque. Actually all of the cast was pretty good. So, I guess that is one good thing Hardwicke did. I thought Billy Burke did an exceptional job as Charlie--he accomplished the small town quietness combined with protective witty dad really well. But I feel as though the Cullen's on the whole did not get enough screen time...I mean poor Jasper! But then again, their hair and makeup was so terrible, maybe that was for the best.
And now onto the subject of all girl's fantasies and waking dreams: Robert Pattinson aka Edward Cullen. The highs were his hair, his looks and his moments with Bella. If the whole movie was just focused on Bella and Edward then it would have been an amazing film. Rob and Kristen had great chemistry and their first kiss, was...really hot. But the moments of Edward's torment were not so great. So much of Edward's actions are in his head, but couldn't they have had a ECU of his eyes switching from amber to black instead of him looking like he is going to vomit when Bella walks into biology. And um, I do not remember Edward sucking out James' venom with such gusto that he almost couldn't stop...ridiculous.
I really hope that this movie makes a lot of money so they can up the game on New Moon and hire a new director and hair/makeup team. Whomever takes over directing will probably be a bit angry over Hardwicke hijacking Victoria's anger which was supposed to be a climax in Eclipse. There were too many sophomoric mistakes for a blockbuster--like The DaVinci Code mistakes. Blurg.
Keep the cast ditch the crew. Sorry.
Love you RPatz...I didn't even care that you had chest hair and non-Roman God biceps. You are exactly my brand of heroine.
Twilight: 6/10
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Night
I think I might go into an epileptic fit from watching the election night coverage. Who thinks of all this crap to put on the TV? I think the waving American flag on CBS just put me over the edge.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
We Really Do Like the Bad Boys, Don't We?
As Halloween has proudly descended on us once again, I started pondering the things that go bump in the night and what we are (or used to be) afraid of. The Boogey Man has gone by the wayside of child molesters, mummies have had their hey-day in the 50s, and I do not think a child would even scream for help if approached by one, and a once disturbing creature of the night is now sexualized and made into a superhero. When did vampires become so damn hot?
Why is something that feeds off and/or kills humans something to idealize? At some point in time, the vampire myth turned from awful into awe. When or why did this happen? Some could argue that ever since the legend was started that humans were meant to revere and fear them with a touch of wont, but there is a lot stronger evidence to suggest this is relatively new, thanks to the international bestseller Twilight series and the campy HBO hit True Blood, based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlain Harris. It was Harris and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight) who decided that their main vampiric characters would be the female's idea for a perfect male counterpart.
So, why vampires? Werewolves certainly do not hold the same esteem in literary or cinematic venues. First of all, vampires are still in a human form (most of the time, depending on whose version you are currently partaking in.) So, we can assume anatomically, everything is still, well, adept and familiar. Bestiality had it's heyday in Zeus' time and we got over it.
Next, nighttime is sexy. In most vampiric worlds, they hibernate during the day and stalk at night. This is not true of Stephenie Meyers' world, because well, her story would not have worked. You cannot have a relationship between a human teen and a century-old, teenage-looking vampire that only takes place at night--it doesn't make any sense. Even then, the Cullen's must stay in at least overcast, dreary conditions lest they "sparkle," so the weather conditions alone make the entire environment night-like. But in non-Meyer vampire worlds, a "creature of the night" is way hotter than "lurker of the bright and dusty day."
When I imagine a "vampire" I have a very vivid close-up shot in my head of Bram Stoker's Dracula when Gary Oldman's Dracula is about to bite Winona Ryder's character, Mina. I don't really remember much else about the film, just that part when her neck is exposed and he is salivating, and I am sure there was some very dark and broody music to establish suspense and drama. The key is they bite, not kill. YES, I know that they can kill, but in modern-day myths, they never kill the woman that has enraptured them do they? I mean, save for kindergarten, biting is subversively sexual. And not only that, it's where they bite that matters. Neck, inner thigh, wrist...all supple erogenous zones, all sanguine and delicious. A teenage hickey matured....
What else do vampires do? They drink blood...our life-force. So, if one drinks the life of another, it is a way deeper metaphor of "becoming one" than that of just plain sexual intercourse. In addition, blood is red, and red is the color of love and passion. I don't think it would have the same impact if blood were say, lilac. Gross.
Next, in both True Blood and Twilight, vampires have super-human qualities. They can run faster, jump higher and hear our damsel-in-distress calls via near-telepathy. I mean, this is basic Darwinian allure--survival of the fittest. The idea that your mate can destroy anyone or anything is always a turn-on. Also, in both of the previously mentioned worlds, vampires are designed to be attractive to humans. In True Blood, they call it being glamoured, but in Twilight, once you become the undead, you just become a better version of what you were before, an analog to HD version if you will.
Also, if we think in a quite layered way, the whole vampire-thing could be allegorical...a newer way to absorb Christian folklore. They die and are "born again," they are super-human, and they drink blood...an elementary story replayed in a fresh way, maybe we all need to back to church.
Lastly, and most importantly, vampires have eternal life. We are nothing if not vain, and we all think we are important enough to see civilization's errors and wins. I mean, how cool would it be to say "oh, I know the story of Jesus...I was there." Other than the self-serving aspect, the thought of truly living throughout eternity with your mate is one of our deepest desires...especially if they are as gentlemanly as Edward Cullen or Bill Compton.
However, this entire time, I have been talking about how hot vampires have become, yet I am speaking only of male vampires. The females however, are still a bit scary. Yes, the Cullen women are described as earth-shatteringly beautiful, but not sexy. In fact, one of the main villains that laces book one, two and three is a crazed, female vampire. Save for Kate Beckinsdale's character in Underworld, the female vampires are viewed more of Disney-esque villianesses. Maybe the world is sexist because both Harris and Meyer are females, and their oedipal tendencies created perfect male specimens. They even fall for sub-par human females...I mean if that isn't every female's Sixteen Candles fantasy I don't know what is.
It doesn't hurt that one of the reasons vampires have become so vogue is simply by the fact that Edward Cullen and Bill Compton are played by quite dreamy British imports that play their gentlemanly blood-suckers with enough panache and sexuality that make females from ages 15 to 50 swoon in their seats. Whoa run-on sentence! Robert Pattinson alone has caused an internet sensation. I believe the exact quote floating on Twilight fansites is "And then God created Robert Pattinson." Indeed he did.
Modern pop culture has had a LOT to do with making anything that is immortal (elves, Gods, etc) a cornerstone for beauty and lust, but vampires have recently made the checklist of all things enigmatic and lustful. As someone who has a vested interest in that she is moving to Transylvania soon, I hope that if there are vampires out there waiting to kill me they at least have the decency to look hot as hell...I wouldn't want my fantasy to broken by some Nosferatu-looking mother fucker.
Why is something that feeds off and/or kills humans something to idealize? At some point in time, the vampire myth turned from awful into awe. When or why did this happen? Some could argue that ever since the legend was started that humans were meant to revere and fear them with a touch of wont, but there is a lot stronger evidence to suggest this is relatively new, thanks to the international bestseller Twilight series and the campy HBO hit True Blood, based on the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlain Harris. It was Harris and Stephenie Meyer (Twilight) who decided that their main vampiric characters would be the female's idea for a perfect male counterpart.
So, why vampires? Werewolves certainly do not hold the same esteem in literary or cinematic venues. First of all, vampires are still in a human form (most of the time, depending on whose version you are currently partaking in.) So, we can assume anatomically, everything is still, well, adept and familiar. Bestiality had it's heyday in Zeus' time and we got over it.
Next, nighttime is sexy. In most vampiric worlds, they hibernate during the day and stalk at night. This is not true of Stephenie Meyers' world, because well, her story would not have worked. You cannot have a relationship between a human teen and a century-old, teenage-looking vampire that only takes place at night--it doesn't make any sense. Even then, the Cullen's must stay in at least overcast, dreary conditions lest they "sparkle," so the weather conditions alone make the entire environment night-like. But in non-Meyer vampire worlds, a "creature of the night" is way hotter than "lurker of the bright and dusty day."
When I imagine a "vampire" I have a very vivid close-up shot in my head of Bram Stoker's Dracula when Gary Oldman's Dracula is about to bite Winona Ryder's character, Mina. I don't really remember much else about the film, just that part when her neck is exposed and he is salivating, and I am sure there was some very dark and broody music to establish suspense and drama. The key is they bite, not kill. YES, I know that they can kill, but in modern-day myths, they never kill the woman that has enraptured them do they? I mean, save for kindergarten, biting is subversively sexual. And not only that, it's where they bite that matters. Neck, inner thigh, wrist...all supple erogenous zones, all sanguine and delicious. A teenage hickey matured....
What else do vampires do? They drink blood...our life-force. So, if one drinks the life of another, it is a way deeper metaphor of "becoming one" than that of just plain sexual intercourse. In addition, blood is red, and red is the color of love and passion. I don't think it would have the same impact if blood were say, lilac. Gross.
Next, in both True Blood and Twilight, vampires have super-human qualities. They can run faster, jump higher and hear our damsel-in-distress calls via near-telepathy. I mean, this is basic Darwinian allure--survival of the fittest. The idea that your mate can destroy anyone or anything is always a turn-on. Also, in both of the previously mentioned worlds, vampires are designed to be attractive to humans. In True Blood, they call it being glamoured, but in Twilight, once you become the undead, you just become a better version of what you were before, an analog to HD version if you will.
Also, if we think in a quite layered way, the whole vampire-thing could be allegorical...a newer way to absorb Christian folklore. They die and are "born again," they are super-human, and they drink blood...an elementary story replayed in a fresh way, maybe we all need to back to church.
Lastly, and most importantly, vampires have eternal life. We are nothing if not vain, and we all think we are important enough to see civilization's errors and wins. I mean, how cool would it be to say "oh, I know the story of Jesus...I was there." Other than the self-serving aspect, the thought of truly living throughout eternity with your mate is one of our deepest desires...especially if they are as gentlemanly as Edward Cullen or Bill Compton.
However, this entire time, I have been talking about how hot vampires have become, yet I am speaking only of male vampires. The females however, are still a bit scary. Yes, the Cullen women are described as earth-shatteringly beautiful, but not sexy. In fact, one of the main villains that laces book one, two and three is a crazed, female vampire. Save for Kate Beckinsdale's character in Underworld, the female vampires are viewed more of Disney-esque villianesses. Maybe the world is sexist because both Harris and Meyer are females, and their oedipal tendencies created perfect male specimens. They even fall for sub-par human females...I mean if that isn't every female's Sixteen Candles fantasy I don't know what is.
It doesn't hurt that one of the reasons vampires have become so vogue is simply by the fact that Edward Cullen and Bill Compton are played by quite dreamy British imports that play their gentlemanly blood-suckers with enough panache and sexuality that make females from ages 15 to 50 swoon in their seats. Whoa run-on sentence! Robert Pattinson alone has caused an internet sensation. I believe the exact quote floating on Twilight fansites is "And then God created Robert Pattinson." Indeed he did.
Modern pop culture has had a LOT to do with making anything that is immortal (elves, Gods, etc) a cornerstone for beauty and lust, but vampires have recently made the checklist of all things enigmatic and lustful. As someone who has a vested interest in that she is moving to Transylvania soon, I hope that if there are vampires out there waiting to kill me they at least have the decency to look hot as hell...I wouldn't want my fantasy to broken by some Nosferatu-looking mother fucker.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Oh Cappie My Cappie
I had a realization as I watched the season finale of "Greek" this evening, and that was I actually look more forward to watching that show every week more than pretty much any show. What are the odds that a little series-that-could on ABC Family (WHAT?!) would grasp my attention with ZBZ baby-pink painted claws.
I was a part of the Greek system in college, and sadly (or awesomely) enough this is the closest to sorority/fraternity life that has ever been portrayed. The unfortunate rules and regulations that bind the sorority sisters of ZBZ are ALARMINGLY close to what our Chapter Relations and Standards board enacted on us unwilling co-eds. In hindsight, I wish I could have joined a fraternity instead of a sorority--all the parties you could ask for without all the bullshit, but since my name is Erin instead of Aaron, I guess that wasn't a possibility.
However, the similarities between real Greek life and ABC Family's "Greek" life are not why I care so much about the show. In fact, the Greek system is just the environment, not the story...a bit like one of my other perennial favs, "Friday Night Lights." It comes down to the fact that it is just plain and simply a really good show.
I was not expecting this from ABC Family, save for another great show I accidentally watched that provided the lead-in audience to "Greek", and that is "Kyle XY." They promoted the shit out of that show...remember the poster of Matt Dallas lifting up his shirt revealing no belly button? Yeah, it will be forever singed on my brain from overexposure at the various malls of America. I thought it looked really stupid, but I ended up accidentally watching it on a repeat Friday night run on the regular ABC HD channel. I remember watching 15 minutes and saying "this is stupid" out of my own embarrassment, and by the end of the hour I was hooked.
This started my confusion with ABC Family. I remember ABC Family from when my roommate watched it in, ironically, the sorority house. It was LAME. All that was on was "Step-by-Step" and "Full-House" reruns. When did ABC Family become cool? And better yet, I really do not understand their slogan: "A New Kind of Family." What? A New kind of family that does what? Watch TV? That's not new. And weirder still: Why was "Greek" even considered to be on ABC Family? It is not exactly the stereotypical family-friendly entertainment. Drinking, fornicating and endless pop-culture references does not imply "fit for kids." But then again, I guess this is the "new kind of family..."
So, beyond the odd pairing of network to show, why is this show so surprisingly good? The show's producers aren't completely green, they are behind USA's "The Dead Zone" and fellow ABC Family's (I believe now defunct) "Wildfire", but not exactly Emmy faves either.* Well, I guess it's what makes any show a great show--excellent writing and spot-on casting. But not only that, it is truly entertaining. The perfect blend of comedy and "drama." However, my most favorite of all, is a little character known as Cappie.
Oh Cappie, what did I do before you? You are fun, hilarious, complicated, layered, and super sexy. Scott Michael Foster was the perfect fit. I do not know where he ends and Cappie begins. The only complaint I had this season was that there were not enough Cappie-centered story lines. I love the Casey/Cappie sexual tension...but I kind of think he is too good for her. He should move to Texas instead.
The funniest thing about this show too, is it is kind of unknown, but really well-adored by those who have had the pleasure to get hooked. I bought the first season the day it came out on DVD--watched it all over again in two days, and immediately shipped it overseas to my eager husband who unashamedly loves it as I do.
So, I guess I have to wait until January to get more of my fix. It's not even a guilty pleasure--it is just a genuinely great show. I hope more people fall in love with it as I have, and I hope the writers and actors continue to do a great job. And Cappie, you make me want to go back to college--and I would find out your real name.
I was a part of the Greek system in college, and sadly (or awesomely) enough this is the closest to sorority/fraternity life that has ever been portrayed. The unfortunate rules and regulations that bind the sorority sisters of ZBZ are ALARMINGLY close to what our Chapter Relations and Standards board enacted on us unwilling co-eds. In hindsight, I wish I could have joined a fraternity instead of a sorority--all the parties you could ask for without all the bullshit, but since my name is Erin instead of Aaron, I guess that wasn't a possibility.
However, the similarities between real Greek life and ABC Family's "Greek" life are not why I care so much about the show. In fact, the Greek system is just the environment, not the story...a bit like one of my other perennial favs, "Friday Night Lights." It comes down to the fact that it is just plain and simply a really good show.
I was not expecting this from ABC Family, save for another great show I accidentally watched that provided the lead-in audience to "Greek", and that is "Kyle XY." They promoted the shit out of that show...remember the poster of Matt Dallas lifting up his shirt revealing no belly button? Yeah, it will be forever singed on my brain from overexposure at the various malls of America. I thought it looked really stupid, but I ended up accidentally watching it on a repeat Friday night run on the regular ABC HD channel. I remember watching 15 minutes and saying "this is stupid" out of my own embarrassment, and by the end of the hour I was hooked.
This started my confusion with ABC Family. I remember ABC Family from when my roommate watched it in, ironically, the sorority house. It was LAME. All that was on was "Step-by-Step" and "Full-House" reruns. When did ABC Family become cool? And better yet, I really do not understand their slogan: "A New Kind of Family." What? A New kind of family that does what? Watch TV? That's not new. And weirder still: Why was "Greek" even considered to be on ABC Family? It is not exactly the stereotypical family-friendly entertainment. Drinking, fornicating and endless pop-culture references does not imply "fit for kids." But then again, I guess this is the "new kind of family..."
So, beyond the odd pairing of network to show, why is this show so surprisingly good? The show's producers aren't completely green, they are behind USA's "The Dead Zone" and fellow ABC Family's (I believe now defunct) "Wildfire", but not exactly Emmy faves either.* Well, I guess it's what makes any show a great show--excellent writing and spot-on casting. But not only that, it is truly entertaining. The perfect blend of comedy and "drama." However, my most favorite of all, is a little character known as Cappie.
Oh Cappie, what did I do before you? You are fun, hilarious, complicated, layered, and super sexy. Scott Michael Foster was the perfect fit. I do not know where he ends and Cappie begins. The only complaint I had this season was that there were not enough Cappie-centered story lines. I love the Casey/Cappie sexual tension...but I kind of think he is too good for her. He should move to Texas instead.
The funniest thing about this show too, is it is kind of unknown, but really well-adored by those who have had the pleasure to get hooked. I bought the first season the day it came out on DVD--watched it all over again in two days, and immediately shipped it overseas to my eager husband who unashamedly loves it as I do.
So, I guess I have to wait until January to get more of my fix. It's not even a guilty pleasure--it is just a genuinely great show. I hope more people fall in love with it as I have, and I hope the writers and actors continue to do a great job. And Cappie, you make me want to go back to college--and I would find out your real name.
November 21 CANNOT Come Soon Enough
If I keep seeing more and more "Twilight" trailers I am going to implode.
I am a bit apprehensive and really excited at the same time. I am worried that the world that Stephenie Meyer created has been butchered, and it will ruin my own view of the characters and story. On the other hand, I think that Robert Pattinson was the best casting EVER and if girls keep hearing his accent during promotions there are going to be a lot more baby Bellas out there.
He isn't the normal teen hearthrob either. He wasn't an androgynous Disney star that can sing and dance. He is a musician (he actually wrote and performed Bella's Lullabye on the soundtrack,) he is kind of a bad boy (smoker) and well, he's British. H-O-T.
I actually think the sequels to the movies will be better since Twilight-mania swept over America this summer with the release of the fourth and final book in the series. When they started production, the books were popular, but not of Rowling-esque proportions, therefore the budget was paltry compared to best-selling teen novel movie budgets of today. It's unfortunate because "Twilight" is by far the best of the four novels, so I really hope Hardwicke and company did a really good job. Summit Entertainment might have gotten really lucky with this one falling in their lap...I am surprised Scott Rudin hasn't bullied his way into stealing the rights now that the interest has piqued so much.
So, I guess I will just have to close my eyes and ears for the next 3 weeks in order to avoid my body and soul being melted by RPats.
I am a bit apprehensive and really excited at the same time. I am worried that the world that Stephenie Meyer created has been butchered, and it will ruin my own view of the characters and story. On the other hand, I think that Robert Pattinson was the best casting EVER and if girls keep hearing his accent during promotions there are going to be a lot more baby Bellas out there.
He isn't the normal teen hearthrob either. He wasn't an androgynous Disney star that can sing and dance. He is a musician (he actually wrote and performed Bella's Lullabye on the soundtrack,) he is kind of a bad boy (smoker) and well, he's British. H-O-T.
I actually think the sequels to the movies will be better since Twilight-mania swept over America this summer with the release of the fourth and final book in the series. When they started production, the books were popular, but not of Rowling-esque proportions, therefore the budget was paltry compared to best-selling teen novel movie budgets of today. It's unfortunate because "Twilight" is by far the best of the four novels, so I really hope Hardwicke and company did a really good job. Summit Entertainment might have gotten really lucky with this one falling in their lap...I am surprised Scott Rudin hasn't bullied his way into stealing the rights now that the interest has piqued so much.
So, I guess I will just have to close my eyes and ears for the next 3 weeks in order to avoid my body and soul being melted by RPats.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Don't Stop Imagining that the Boys of Summer are At Last all Alone
I did my thrice-daily FaceBook login earlier (okay, more like deca-daily, but still) and I had an invitation to partake in an "I Love the 80's--Which 80's Movie are You?" quiz. Hmm, I get challenged to quizzes quite often, either by the fact that people do not know how to hit the "Skip" button when said quizzes ask you to invite others to play, or people know that I am a bit of a television/movie aficionado and try to one-up me. Bitches, that shit ain't gonna work, so stop trying. But I digress...
I was actually interested in this one, (as well as an "Ultimate Friends Quiz" that I took as well), because I happened to LOVE VH-1's miniseries, "I Love the 80's." Whats better than comedians talking about the most awesomely disgusting decade ever. So, I decided to see what "80's Movie I Was." I was actually kind of amazed by how accurate they were: "Say Anything."
"I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen." One of my all time favorite movie quotes of all time, and let's face it, the aptly-written, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel is just one of the most amazing songs ever. Lloyd Dobbler can serenade me anytime. Although, I wonder if it's as romantic since anvil-weighted boom boxes are something of an antique, and Lloyd would probably just blast his XM-Radio. Boo.
As I sat staring at my results, I realized that "In Your Eyes" is one of my favorite songs of all time, but if someone asked me "what are your favorite songs?" I don't think I would necessarily remember to include it. So, I have decided to put it in ink (well, cyberspace) so I would always have a go-to if this question were ever asked of me. One might think this is overkill, however, nothing is worse than being asked a question like this, and leaving out significant factors...these things define what kind of a person we are. For instance, if I left out "In Your Eyes," one might just think me a smarmy smart-ass for the rest of my life, oh the shame. So, without further ado, in no particular order, my soul:
1. "In Your Eyes" Peter Gabriel (Duh.)
As I previously mentioned, the eternal image of John Cusak's Lloyd Dobbler with that boom box over his head changed how women view potential life-partners forever. The percussion is amazing, and if your whole being doesn't warm and feel as if it's melting every time you hear it (or all of the various versions) then I suggest throwing yourself off a cliff*--you have no heart, Tinman.
2. "Alone" Heart
This is my "I wanna be a rock star" song. I imagine myself on stage in black leather, conveniently 20 lbs lighter, belting out "till now, I always got by on my own," until the whole world loves me. I will always be indebted to "American Idol" for introducing this song to the younger generations with Carrie Underwood and subsequently Carly the Irishwoman. The best independent woman meets soul mate song of all time. Sorry, Kelly Clarkson.
3. "Boys of Summer" Don Henley
One of my earliest memories is singing this song in my living room. I had no idea what Wayfarers were, but if I ever find a Dead-Head sticker on a Cadillac I will be the happiest woman in the world.
4. "Home" Michael Buble
I bless the day I stayed home sick from work only to have nothing on daytime television except for some piss-poor excuse for a romantic comedy known as the "The Wedding Date." Not because of the dazzling banter between Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney, far from it actually, but because I was introduced to Michael Buble. His dulcet tones remind me of a simpler time when martinis were an excellent afternoon snack and people still dressed for dinner. I love this song so much I chose it as my first wedding dance. I guess that also has to do with the lyrics being spot-on for my life at the moment, but whenever I hear those opening chords I can't help but smile...and isn't that what music is supposed to do?
5. "Always on my Mind" Elvis
Sorry, King, but I actually like the Michael Buble version better (SACRILEGE!) but the sentiment is still there. I think everyone wants to believe that one's past relationship material is and always will be regretful about it...even if you aren't. I guess it's better late than never. Simple. Beautiful. Haunting.
6. "At Last" Etta James
There is a reason this one has been looped in a million movies since it's inception, it's romantic, it's beautiful and everyone wants to believe that their "lonely days are over" as well. I feel like singing this at one of those dinner clubs in the 50's where everyone wore cocktail attire during the day and formal wear after 5. I could lay under a tree on a warm and sunny day and listen to this on repeat until the sunset.
7. "Moondance" Van Morrison
Everyone wants to dance underneath the moonlight, I mean come on.
8. "Don't Stop Believin'" Journey
Now, what would a party be like without this one? It is THE ultimate karaoke/feel-good/everyone knows the lyrics/last call for alcohol/group embarrassment song. I have no idea what movies never ending and singing the blues has to do with never giving up, but you know what, fuck it. Steve Perry seems to know something I don't.
9. "Imagine" John Lennon
I mean really...is there even a need to explain? The thought of living in a world where everyone is equal, free and well, living life in peace is every decent person's deepest desire. Not your deepest desire? You selfish bastard. ;)
10. "Like a Prayer" Madonna
Attention girls everywhere: this song was written to be drunkenly sung by you and your friends with the dudes wondering why all the girls are on the dance floor praying. Madonna knew what she was doing...life is indeed a mystery, everyone MUST stand alone...and I am calling your name...sigh.
11. "Love Song" The Cure
Well, what else is more pure than calling a song "Love Song." No frills, no confusing lyrics that are trying to be smarter than you. Whenever I hear this, I feel like The Cure took everything I was thinking and made it beautiful...and isn't that what makes a good song, everyone thinks it was written for them? How narcissistic and yet so banal of us. Whenever I need to feel whole again, I know where to turn.
12. "Push" Matchbox 20
One of these things is not like the other...This song makes me think of high school and how much fun I had. Also, it's a great fucking song and introduced me to Matchbox 20--get over it.
I am sure that there are WAY more that I cannot think of at the moment...but for right now, I am all tapped out. I realize that most of these songs are neither new nor something cache or original. I apologize for nothing. I am sure that newer songs will stand the test of time and I can add them eventually, and isn't what makes a song unforgettable is you usually have some sort of memory tied to them? Nothing is worse than a music snob anyway.
*Please don't throw yourself off a cliff--suicide is never the answer.
I was actually interested in this one, (as well as an "Ultimate Friends Quiz" that I took as well), because I happened to LOVE VH-1's miniseries, "I Love the 80's." Whats better than comedians talking about the most awesomely disgusting decade ever. So, I decided to see what "80's Movie I Was." I was actually kind of amazed by how accurate they were: "Say Anything."
"I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen." One of my all time favorite movie quotes of all time, and let's face it, the aptly-written, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel is just one of the most amazing songs ever. Lloyd Dobbler can serenade me anytime. Although, I wonder if it's as romantic since anvil-weighted boom boxes are something of an antique, and Lloyd would probably just blast his XM-Radio. Boo.
As I sat staring at my results, I realized that "In Your Eyes" is one of my favorite songs of all time, but if someone asked me "what are your favorite songs?" I don't think I would necessarily remember to include it. So, I have decided to put it in ink (well, cyberspace) so I would always have a go-to if this question were ever asked of me. One might think this is overkill, however, nothing is worse than being asked a question like this, and leaving out significant factors...these things define what kind of a person we are. For instance, if I left out "In Your Eyes," one might just think me a smarmy smart-ass for the rest of my life, oh the shame. So, without further ado, in no particular order, my soul:
1. "In Your Eyes" Peter Gabriel (Duh.)
As I previously mentioned, the eternal image of John Cusak's Lloyd Dobbler with that boom box over his head changed how women view potential life-partners forever. The percussion is amazing, and if your whole being doesn't warm and feel as if it's melting every time you hear it (or all of the various versions) then I suggest throwing yourself off a cliff*--you have no heart, Tinman.
2. "Alone" Heart
This is my "I wanna be a rock star" song. I imagine myself on stage in black leather, conveniently 20 lbs lighter, belting out "till now, I always got by on my own," until the whole world loves me. I will always be indebted to "American Idol" for introducing this song to the younger generations with Carrie Underwood and subsequently Carly the Irishwoman. The best independent woman meets soul mate song of all time. Sorry, Kelly Clarkson.
3. "Boys of Summer" Don Henley
One of my earliest memories is singing this song in my living room. I had no idea what Wayfarers were, but if I ever find a Dead-Head sticker on a Cadillac I will be the happiest woman in the world.
4. "Home" Michael Buble
I bless the day I stayed home sick from work only to have nothing on daytime television except for some piss-poor excuse for a romantic comedy known as the "The Wedding Date." Not because of the dazzling banter between Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney, far from it actually, but because I was introduced to Michael Buble. His dulcet tones remind me of a simpler time when martinis were an excellent afternoon snack and people still dressed for dinner. I love this song so much I chose it as my first wedding dance. I guess that also has to do with the lyrics being spot-on for my life at the moment, but whenever I hear those opening chords I can't help but smile...and isn't that what music is supposed to do?
5. "Always on my Mind" Elvis
Sorry, King, but I actually like the Michael Buble version better (SACRILEGE!) but the sentiment is still there. I think everyone wants to believe that one's past relationship material is and always will be regretful about it...even if you aren't. I guess it's better late than never. Simple. Beautiful. Haunting.
6. "At Last" Etta James
There is a reason this one has been looped in a million movies since it's inception, it's romantic, it's beautiful and everyone wants to believe that their "lonely days are over" as well. I feel like singing this at one of those dinner clubs in the 50's where everyone wore cocktail attire during the day and formal wear after 5. I could lay under a tree on a warm and sunny day and listen to this on repeat until the sunset.
7. "Moondance" Van Morrison
Everyone wants to dance underneath the moonlight, I mean come on.
8. "Don't Stop Believin'" Journey
Now, what would a party be like without this one? It is THE ultimate karaoke/feel-good/everyone knows the lyrics/last call for alcohol/group embarrassment song. I have no idea what movies never ending and singing the blues has to do with never giving up, but you know what, fuck it. Steve Perry seems to know something I don't.
9. "Imagine" John Lennon
I mean really...is there even a need to explain? The thought of living in a world where everyone is equal, free and well, living life in peace is every decent person's deepest desire. Not your deepest desire? You selfish bastard. ;)
10. "Like a Prayer" Madonna
Attention girls everywhere: this song was written to be drunkenly sung by you and your friends with the dudes wondering why all the girls are on the dance floor praying. Madonna knew what she was doing...life is indeed a mystery, everyone MUST stand alone...and I am calling your name...sigh.
11. "Love Song" The Cure
Well, what else is more pure than calling a song "Love Song." No frills, no confusing lyrics that are trying to be smarter than you. Whenever I hear this, I feel like The Cure took everything I was thinking and made it beautiful...and isn't that what makes a good song, everyone thinks it was written for them? How narcissistic and yet so banal of us. Whenever I need to feel whole again, I know where to turn.
12. "Push" Matchbox 20
One of these things is not like the other...This song makes me think of high school and how much fun I had. Also, it's a great fucking song and introduced me to Matchbox 20--get over it.
I am sure that there are WAY more that I cannot think of at the moment...but for right now, I am all tapped out. I realize that most of these songs are neither new nor something cache or original. I apologize for nothing. I am sure that newer songs will stand the test of time and I can add them eventually, and isn't what makes a song unforgettable is you usually have some sort of memory tied to them? Nothing is worse than a music snob anyway.
*Please don't throw yourself off a cliff--suicide is never the answer.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Welcome Back, Pacey Whitter
As I sit here watching "Fringe," J.J. Abrams' newest addition to primetime television, I am thankful for two things:
1.) The cloning of Mr. Abrams in order for him produce the 18 million things he attaches his name to these days
2.) Joshua Jackson.
Joshua Jackson hasn't been seen in a while except for on the arm of his more-popular import girlfriend, Diane Kruger. (By the way Josh, marry this girl.) However, his appearance on "Fringe" is nothing less than refreshing, and well, just plain good. He is not even the main character, although, I am thinking his presence will become more and more important as the show continues, if nothing more than because of the increasing flirtation between him and the Australian newcomer Anna Torv.
I am still getting used to Anna Torv's Agent Dunham...she's a bit dull for my taste, and in need of Oscar Blandi to enliven those blonde tresses, but Josh Jackson's Peter Bishop is easy, funny and a perfect antidote to the show's grim nature.
I always knew Josh Jackson was a good actor, but because of The Dawson's Creek curse, it has been rarely seen. Yes, you could say Michelle Williams broke the curse by getting an Oscar nod with "Brokeback Mountain," but for an ensemble cast in their prime when the teen docusoap went off the air, the work has been few and far between for all those who bravely climbed up to Dawson's window all those years ago.
"Fringe" itself is a great show, and I hope it gets more seasons. "The Pattern" is something that is definitely intriguing to investigate, but at the same time, lets hope that if the show continues on for many more seasons, we don't fall into the "Alias/SD-6" situation. Bad Robot has done a pretty good job of keeping viewers interested with their convoluted serial dramas, but thanks to shitty shows on CBS, they usually get their asses spanked in the ratings by another aptly-named crime drama. Tune in next year for "CSI: Fresno", maybe David Caruso can start doing bi-coastal shifts.
The only thing missing thus far is Greg Gunberg...maybe he'll emerge as Peter's long-lost brother who has been working for The Pattern for the last 15 years and will play the "Sydney's mom" role by playing both teams. Oh, snap.
1.) The cloning of Mr. Abrams in order for him produce the 18 million things he attaches his name to these days
2.) Joshua Jackson.
Joshua Jackson hasn't been seen in a while except for on the arm of his more-popular import girlfriend, Diane Kruger. (By the way Josh, marry this girl.) However, his appearance on "Fringe" is nothing less than refreshing, and well, just plain good. He is not even the main character, although, I am thinking his presence will become more and more important as the show continues, if nothing more than because of the increasing flirtation between him and the Australian newcomer Anna Torv.
I am still getting used to Anna Torv's Agent Dunham...she's a bit dull for my taste, and in need of Oscar Blandi to enliven those blonde tresses, but Josh Jackson's Peter Bishop is easy, funny and a perfect antidote to the show's grim nature.
I always knew Josh Jackson was a good actor, but because of The Dawson's Creek curse, it has been rarely seen. Yes, you could say Michelle Williams broke the curse by getting an Oscar nod with "Brokeback Mountain," but for an ensemble cast in their prime when the teen docusoap went off the air, the work has been few and far between for all those who bravely climbed up to Dawson's window all those years ago.
"Fringe" itself is a great show, and I hope it gets more seasons. "The Pattern" is something that is definitely intriguing to investigate, but at the same time, lets hope that if the show continues on for many more seasons, we don't fall into the "Alias/SD-6" situation. Bad Robot has done a pretty good job of keeping viewers interested with their convoluted serial dramas, but thanks to shitty shows on CBS, they usually get their asses spanked in the ratings by another aptly-named crime drama. Tune in next year for "CSI: Fresno", maybe David Caruso can start doing bi-coastal shifts.
The only thing missing thus far is Greg Gunberg...maybe he'll emerge as Peter's long-lost brother who has been working for The Pattern for the last 15 years and will play the "Sydney's mom" role by playing both teams. Oh, snap.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Alan Shore, My Moral Cornerstone
As I sit here watching the last five minutes of this evening's "Boston Legal," I am once again brought to tears by one of Alan Shore's infamous closing arguments. Never mind that David E. Kelly chose to ignore how the legal system really works with the prosecution bearing the burden of proof, but listening to "right-now" events depicted by the ever-cool James Spader with the help of a spot-on William Shatner, I am constantly reminded of what really matters in this world.
As pathetic as it is to get my news and current events from a fictional show that has been moved around on the TV schedule enough for my DVR to want to combust, it still remains my moral touchstone that makes this liberals heart bleed. The show is apologetically leftist, but Denny Crane's Red State appeal seeps through occasionally as well.
On tonight's episode, Alan takes the case of a young man whose brother was killed in a military hospital, and even though the doctor admitted to the wrong-doing, they are incapable of being sued because of what else, an antiquated law. Of course, to Craine, Pool and Schmidt, the fact that this is out of their hands is not something they listen to. In the comedic ruckus, Alan and Denny decide to wager $50,000 on the fact that Alan won't win this case...something that is not only unethical but illegal. The judge allows for one hour of witness testimony and arguments to decide whether they can go to trial, and during this time is when once again, I am taught that my life really isn't that bad, and many people have it far worse than I do.
In Alan Shore's closing testimony he mentions that if what the doctors did to an average citizen in an average hospital, we would all be raking in the millions, but because it was done in a military hospital (on American soil might I add) they cannot be touched. The worst part about it all is that the military recruits the poorest of the poor because they, unlike some of the more fortunate, do not have another choice after high school, and they are they ones left fighting our war...and this is why we do not care. It's not our fight anymore, unfortunately. He even brings up his own unlawful wager placed on the case to make his point....even he didn't care. At this point is when I start to bawl.
Why is it that I need a fictitious television show to teach me about the most disgusting and vile of our laws? Because that's the way everyone wants it to be. God forbid we be an educated audience who actually knows what we are voting for on November 4th. Who wants to know that Bush has twice vetoed a bipartisan bill allowing children's health care to be omnipresent and affordable. Who wants to know the Republicans keep shutting down bills that extend on the GI Bill allowing more education for our veterans, because guess what...we need them to stay in the military---not get educated. Who wants to know...
As I mentioned before, David E. Kelly et al are definitely preaching to us Liberals, but that doesn't make it any less real. All I know is that this is indeed the last season of "Boston Legal" and I am truly going to miss those white chairs on the balcony. It almost makes me want to drink a low ball of Scotch and smoke a cigar...all while fighting the GOP of course.
As pathetic as it is to get my news and current events from a fictional show that has been moved around on the TV schedule enough for my DVR to want to combust, it still remains my moral touchstone that makes this liberals heart bleed. The show is apologetically leftist, but Denny Crane's Red State appeal seeps through occasionally as well.
On tonight's episode, Alan takes the case of a young man whose brother was killed in a military hospital, and even though the doctor admitted to the wrong-doing, they are incapable of being sued because of what else, an antiquated law. Of course, to Craine, Pool and Schmidt, the fact that this is out of their hands is not something they listen to. In the comedic ruckus, Alan and Denny decide to wager $50,000 on the fact that Alan won't win this case...something that is not only unethical but illegal. The judge allows for one hour of witness testimony and arguments to decide whether they can go to trial, and during this time is when once again, I am taught that my life really isn't that bad, and many people have it far worse than I do.
In Alan Shore's closing testimony he mentions that if what the doctors did to an average citizen in an average hospital, we would all be raking in the millions, but because it was done in a military hospital (on American soil might I add) they cannot be touched. The worst part about it all is that the military recruits the poorest of the poor because they, unlike some of the more fortunate, do not have another choice after high school, and they are they ones left fighting our war...and this is why we do not care. It's not our fight anymore, unfortunately. He even brings up his own unlawful wager placed on the case to make his point....even he didn't care. At this point is when I start to bawl.
Why is it that I need a fictitious television show to teach me about the most disgusting and vile of our laws? Because that's the way everyone wants it to be. God forbid we be an educated audience who actually knows what we are voting for on November 4th. Who wants to know that Bush has twice vetoed a bipartisan bill allowing children's health care to be omnipresent and affordable. Who wants to know the Republicans keep shutting down bills that extend on the GI Bill allowing more education for our veterans, because guess what...we need them to stay in the military---not get educated. Who wants to know...
As I mentioned before, David E. Kelly et al are definitely preaching to us Liberals, but that doesn't make it any less real. All I know is that this is indeed the last season of "Boston Legal" and I am truly going to miss those white chairs on the balcony. It almost makes me want to drink a low ball of Scotch and smoke a cigar...all while fighting the GOP of course.
Friday, October 10, 2008
I Love Falling Leaves and November Sweeps
So, Fall is finally here, and the most important thing for me other than my birthday, my husband's birthday, Thanksgiving and my anniversary is that the networks retire their shiteous summer reality lineups such as "My Midget Dad is Better than Your Meth-Addicted Mom at Texas Hold-Em" back to the shows that make my life so much better for watching.
Television-watching has been something that I have taken quite seriously ever since I can remember. When most 7th graders sneakily stay up late to watch MTV or Jackass, I was watching classic reruns of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on Nick at Nite. I knew, even at the tender age of 12 that some shows were more than just shows, they represent a substantial change in the wind, or demonstrate humanity at it's purest and most dark. Television had quite a paltry conotation for the last few decades, but not so much any more. Some of Hollywood's most talented and well-respected actors returned (or premiered) on the small screen because they know what I have known my whole life--television might be for the masses, and instead of catering to the lowest common denominator (not that there is anything wrong with that) they can spread knowledge and meaning to everyone who has a universal remote.
People might judge me for trying to watch as much television as possible, they might tell me to go get a life, but this is indeed my life, and I am not going to apologize for it. In this digital age, I no longer have to run home and skip much-needed workouts in order to catch the beginning of prime time. I can comfortably watch "Gossip Girl" at 1am if need be (and something done quite often.)
What I still find depressing, however, is that such quality television shows are still not getting the love they deserve and getting the bumps in scheduling that only alienate more viewers. As I am writing this, I have just finished watching the second episode in the third season of "Friday Night Lights." This is a perfect example of an amazing show that stupidly got pushed around so much on NBC's lineup that the actual actors probably could not even find it. Now, to add insult to injury, it has been moved to the DirecTV Channel...yeah, I know...what the fuck is the DirecTV channel. So, not only has this brilliant demonstration of acting and story-telling been ignored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences time and time again, it's now being taken away from free-to-the-public television. Yes, NBC will replay the season again after it's wrap on DirecTV, but I mean...really. Everytime I watch Kyle Chandler's magnificent and unapologetically cute, Coach Taylor I just cry that no one else is getting to see this. Yes, the series was based on the movie that was based on the book, but I am pretty sure that the title is unfortunate. To everyone outside of the Lone Star State, it is just that "show about Texas football...." Ugh, so frustratingly untrue. Hopefully, people will start watching, but I am not feeling the intelligence of humanity right now, so to the Dillon Panthers, I will watch you as long as you will let me.
On another thought of brilliant television that no one watches, "Reaper," WHERE ARE YOU?!??! Last I heard, the CW was bringing you back! PLEASE! I need the Devil, Sock and Same to fulfill my witty banter quotient. ARGH!
"Dirty, Sexy, Money" has come back with avengence...I don't think anyone watches this one either. Peter Krause alone will make me watch this one until my DVR is full and blows up. The perfect blend of good acting and guilty pleasure...makes me want to eat a piece of decadent red velvet cake and swig a lowball of Scotch. Yum.
I of course am still watching "The Office (hilarious), "The Amazing Race (um, the brother and sister are creeping me out), "Brothers and Sisters" (I am begining to want to have 5 children), "Bones (Sexual tension, anyone), "Greek" (Will someone please explain why this is on ABC Family??? I truly don't get it), "Boston Legal (THE best comedy male pairing in television history), "Entourage" (aww, gotta love the boys), "Gossip Girl" (xoxo), and a new fav, "True Blood" (I ALSO wanna do bad things with you.) "30 Rock" I'll be seeing ya' in a few weeks!
Next time you judge me, why don't you challenge me to a trivia contest and see who wins.
That's what I thought.
Television-watching has been something that I have taken quite seriously ever since I can remember. When most 7th graders sneakily stay up late to watch MTV or Jackass, I was watching classic reruns of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" on Nick at Nite. I knew, even at the tender age of 12 that some shows were more than just shows, they represent a substantial change in the wind, or demonstrate humanity at it's purest and most dark. Television had quite a paltry conotation for the last few decades, but not so much any more. Some of Hollywood's most talented and well-respected actors returned (or premiered) on the small screen because they know what I have known my whole life--television might be for the masses, and instead of catering to the lowest common denominator (not that there is anything wrong with that) they can spread knowledge and meaning to everyone who has a universal remote.
People might judge me for trying to watch as much television as possible, they might tell me to go get a life, but this is indeed my life, and I am not going to apologize for it. In this digital age, I no longer have to run home and skip much-needed workouts in order to catch the beginning of prime time. I can comfortably watch "Gossip Girl" at 1am if need be (and something done quite often.)
What I still find depressing, however, is that such quality television shows are still not getting the love they deserve and getting the bumps in scheduling that only alienate more viewers. As I am writing this, I have just finished watching the second episode in the third season of "Friday Night Lights." This is a perfect example of an amazing show that stupidly got pushed around so much on NBC's lineup that the actual actors probably could not even find it. Now, to add insult to injury, it has been moved to the DirecTV Channel...yeah, I know...what the fuck is the DirecTV channel. So, not only has this brilliant demonstration of acting and story-telling been ignored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences time and time again, it's now being taken away from free-to-the-public television. Yes, NBC will replay the season again after it's wrap on DirecTV, but I mean...really. Everytime I watch Kyle Chandler's magnificent and unapologetically cute, Coach Taylor I just cry that no one else is getting to see this. Yes, the series was based on the movie that was based on the book, but I am pretty sure that the title is unfortunate. To everyone outside of the Lone Star State, it is just that "show about Texas football...." Ugh, so frustratingly untrue. Hopefully, people will start watching, but I am not feeling the intelligence of humanity right now, so to the Dillon Panthers, I will watch you as long as you will let me.
On another thought of brilliant television that no one watches, "Reaper," WHERE ARE YOU?!??! Last I heard, the CW was bringing you back! PLEASE! I need the Devil, Sock and Same to fulfill my witty banter quotient. ARGH!
"Dirty, Sexy, Money" has come back with avengence...I don't think anyone watches this one either. Peter Krause alone will make me watch this one until my DVR is full and blows up. The perfect blend of good acting and guilty pleasure...makes me want to eat a piece of decadent red velvet cake and swig a lowball of Scotch. Yum.
I of course am still watching "The Office (hilarious), "The Amazing Race (um, the brother and sister are creeping me out), "Brothers and Sisters" (I am begining to want to have 5 children), "Bones (Sexual tension, anyone), "Greek" (Will someone please explain why this is on ABC Family??? I truly don't get it), "Boston Legal (THE best comedy male pairing in television history), "Entourage" (aww, gotta love the boys), "Gossip Girl" (xoxo), and a new fav, "True Blood" (I ALSO wanna do bad things with you.) "30 Rock" I'll be seeing ya' in a few weeks!
Next time you judge me, why don't you challenge me to a trivia contest and see who wins.
That's what I thought.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Michael Phelps
Ah-mazing.
Congratulations, Michael. You did an amazing job. I cried--a lot.
Go Team USA.
it makes me wonder if i was born to be doing something that i never tried...broom ball, perhaps?
Congratulations, Michael. You did an amazing job. I cried--a lot.
Go Team USA.
it makes me wonder if i was born to be doing something that i never tried...broom ball, perhaps?
I LOVE NetFlix!
Yes, NetFlix has had a bit of a glitch lately, considering I usually get my DVDs the next day without a hitch and they have had a bit of a senior moment, but thats okay.
I just finished watching (obsessing) "The West Wing", Season One. I always heard it was amazing, but I never saw it when it was on live. Its a shame really, I would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing this in it's heyday. But alas, this was before the iTunes and same-season DVD release of TV shows.
Previously, when you missed a season of television because you were working, schooling, or stupidly watching an inferior show on another station, you had to try and catch in on summertime reruns...so basically, if you missed the first season, you never watched the show--ever.
Say what you want about technology, but it truely has changed the way people view television and has given shows that normally wouldn't be watched a second glance. NBC's "The Office" was about to be axed by NBC when it was saved by iTunes downloads...it just makes me wonder if "Arrested Development" had DVDs and iTunes, would I still be laughing at bizarre chicken impressions?
I will continue on to Season 2 of West Wing immediately now, and plan on doing the same with Gossip Girl before the 2nd season starts in September. I have never been one to shy away from technology, but I really love instant gratification.
Oh, and DVR is pretty much the best invention of all time.
I just finished watching (obsessing) "The West Wing", Season One. I always heard it was amazing, but I never saw it when it was on live. Its a shame really, I would have thoroughly enjoyed seeing this in it's heyday. But alas, this was before the iTunes and same-season DVD release of TV shows.
Previously, when you missed a season of television because you were working, schooling, or stupidly watching an inferior show on another station, you had to try and catch in on summertime reruns...so basically, if you missed the first season, you never watched the show--ever.
Say what you want about technology, but it truely has changed the way people view television and has given shows that normally wouldn't be watched a second glance. NBC's "The Office" was about to be axed by NBC when it was saved by iTunes downloads...it just makes me wonder if "Arrested Development" had DVDs and iTunes, would I still be laughing at bizarre chicken impressions?
I will continue on to Season 2 of West Wing immediately now, and plan on doing the same with Gossip Girl before the 2nd season starts in September. I have never been one to shy away from technology, but I really love instant gratification.
Oh, and DVR is pretty much the best invention of all time.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Pineapple Express
We all know how much I love Judd Apatow, and this movie did everything to satiate my hunger for humor. Another one written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, but surprisingly different than Superbad.
We have (barely) graduated high school with this one so the humor was taken out of the sex ed classroom and focused soley on the chronic and stoner mileu. I have missed James Franco from the Apatow circle of friends. He seriously could have walked out of my apartment building and/or high school. He is the guy that you know is good-looking and super nice, but is frustratingly disguised by his uncut hair, musty clothes and just-got-lit eyes and smile. Casting perfection.
This movie had innumerable pop culture references, with one of my favorite being the Judd Nelson shout-out by Red..."I'm going for a scholarship..." Speaking of Red, relative newcomer Danny McBride was spot-on for the friendly, Southern weed middleman. He blended with Seth and James flawlessly and helped create what will be a great trio in pop culture history. Some of the best scenes were ones where they were "fighting" with Gary Cole and company and just tried to do moves they would have seen in a movie or TV show.
I highly recommend this one to anyone with a sense of humor and have ever known anyone who was an adorable pot-head...which I am pretty sure is 97% of the population.
8.5/10
We have (barely) graduated high school with this one so the humor was taken out of the sex ed classroom and focused soley on the chronic and stoner mileu. I have missed James Franco from the Apatow circle of friends. He seriously could have walked out of my apartment building and/or high school. He is the guy that you know is good-looking and super nice, but is frustratingly disguised by his uncut hair, musty clothes and just-got-lit eyes and smile. Casting perfection.
This movie had innumerable pop culture references, with one of my favorite being the Judd Nelson shout-out by Red..."I'm going for a scholarship..." Speaking of Red, relative newcomer Danny McBride was spot-on for the friendly, Southern weed middleman. He blended with Seth and James flawlessly and helped create what will be a great trio in pop culture history. Some of the best scenes were ones where they were "fighting" with Gary Cole and company and just tried to do moves they would have seen in a movie or TV show.
I highly recommend this one to anyone with a sense of humor and have ever known anyone who was an adorable pot-head...which I am pretty sure is 97% of the population.
8.5/10
Monday, August 4, 2008
Breaking Dawn
Well, the final book in the Twilight series certainly had an apt title--I pushed dawn two nights in a row in order to finish it off.
Why I wasn't as panicked as reading the 7th Harry Potter, I was definitely anxious with the combination of not wanting to finish something and wanting to finish so I wouldn't be ruined by any spoilers. I hate that feeling of when I know that I am leaving a world that I want to be a part of. At least the first film hasn't come out yet, so hopefully if it does well, then we will have 3 more to look forward to.
I don't think this was my favorite of the 4 books--I am pretty sure nothing can compare to the OG Twilight I and being exposed to the lust of Edward and Bella. But it did an excellent job of wrapping things up and leaving Twilighters satisfied with their vampiric world. I missed some of the electric heat between Edward and Bella...I think what made them so sexy was their inability to um, "express their love" if I am being trite. Actually, Stephenie Meyer has commented before that many women have introduced their babies named Bella to her and said their conception was the result of the sexual tension in the book--ironic since Bella and Edward made abstinence sexy. I was seriously looking forward to reading about their first time on their honeymoon--not just an ellipses of the fact. Yes, I am like a teenage girl this way. You couldn't help but wonder what if would be like to be with the glistening perfection that is Edward Cullen--he was designed out of every woman's deepest desire of what an ideal mate would be...minus the bloodsucking thing.
But I guess the final book affected me more than I had originally thought: Yesterday I was complaining of constricting chest pains--sort of like after you get over a cough or when a panic attack is about to ensue. I felt I had trouble breathing all day, I attributed this to allergies or the humidity. However, when I finished Breaking Dawn at 2am, I turned off the light and those chest pains turned into a full-blown anxiety attack. My heart was hammering and I felt like I couldn't breathe worse than during the day when I was out and running errands. This made me realize that I was actually mourning over the loss of a world that is excellent to escape to. I vaguely remember doing this over Harry Potter as well, but that was more full-on depression for 3 days.
I will miss Edward, Bella, Jacob, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, Carslise and little Renesme more than I can express. All I can do is wait for Midnight Sun with bated breath and watch the Twilight trailer over and over again like an obsessed 13-year old Catholic school girl.
Thank you Stephenie Meyer, for making a mundane 26-year old females world a little brighter.
Why I wasn't as panicked as reading the 7th Harry Potter, I was definitely anxious with the combination of not wanting to finish something and wanting to finish so I wouldn't be ruined by any spoilers. I hate that feeling of when I know that I am leaving a world that I want to be a part of. At least the first film hasn't come out yet, so hopefully if it does well, then we will have 3 more to look forward to.
I don't think this was my favorite of the 4 books--I am pretty sure nothing can compare to the OG Twilight I and being exposed to the lust of Edward and Bella. But it did an excellent job of wrapping things up and leaving Twilighters satisfied with their vampiric world. I missed some of the electric heat between Edward and Bella...I think what made them so sexy was their inability to um, "express their love" if I am being trite. Actually, Stephenie Meyer has commented before that many women have introduced their babies named Bella to her and said their conception was the result of the sexual tension in the book--ironic since Bella and Edward made abstinence sexy. I was seriously looking forward to reading about their first time on their honeymoon--not just an ellipses of the fact. Yes, I am like a teenage girl this way. You couldn't help but wonder what if would be like to be with the glistening perfection that is Edward Cullen--he was designed out of every woman's deepest desire of what an ideal mate would be...minus the bloodsucking thing.
But I guess the final book affected me more than I had originally thought: Yesterday I was complaining of constricting chest pains--sort of like after you get over a cough or when a panic attack is about to ensue. I felt I had trouble breathing all day, I attributed this to allergies or the humidity. However, when I finished Breaking Dawn at 2am, I turned off the light and those chest pains turned into a full-blown anxiety attack. My heart was hammering and I felt like I couldn't breathe worse than during the day when I was out and running errands. This made me realize that I was actually mourning over the loss of a world that is excellent to escape to. I vaguely remember doing this over Harry Potter as well, but that was more full-on depression for 3 days.
I will miss Edward, Bella, Jacob, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, Carslise and little Renesme more than I can express. All I can do is wait for Midnight Sun with bated breath and watch the Twilight trailer over and over again like an obsessed 13-year old Catholic school girl.
Thank you Stephenie Meyer, for making a mundane 26-year old females world a little brighter.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Step Brothers
Why oh why are Judd Apatow and Adam McKay so amazing.
So funny this one.
Thats all.
7.5/10
So funny this one.
Thats all.
7.5/10
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Dark Knight.
"They always say the night is darkest before the dawn..."
Um yeah.
Amazing.
Christopher Nolan executed another one brilliantly. I think the quality of actors in this one was so amazing as well, that I think it's hard to realize JUST how amazing Heath was. When you play opposite an actor that isn't as good as you are (I am talking in the first degree as if I am some A-list actor. HA!) it's entirely noticeable when one outshines the other. If he had played his Joker opposite a scattering of shitty actor thats arent'un-fucking-stoppable like Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhall, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart or Gary Oldman are--then he would have over powered the whole film. As is--he just dominates and devastates, and well blows you away. They hold their own against him, and that says a lot.
The makeup department definitely deserve at least a nomination on this one as well--because FUCK he is CREEPY!!! His face and hair are so organically part of his character that without that slight tinge of green in his hair and that maniacally-applied face--it wouldn't have been the same movie.
Heath will without a doubt get a posthumous nomination--if not the trophy itself. His Joker is created from fear itself and causes chaos, death and destruction just to cause chaos, death and destruction. If thats not everyone's worst fear then I don't know what is.
I can't say much about the rest of the plot, because well, I couldn't hear a goddamn thing. I think I am going to rule out the Hulen Movie Tavern as a screening venue once and for all. They had the sound all jacked up and all I could hear was the score instead of the dialogue. SO, I must see it again to get the full scope--as if Warner Bros. needs my $10.
Oh, and I want that Bat motorcycle thingy. Hot.
9.5/10
Um yeah.
Amazing.
Christopher Nolan executed another one brilliantly. I think the quality of actors in this one was so amazing as well, that I think it's hard to realize JUST how amazing Heath was. When you play opposite an actor that isn't as good as you are (I am talking in the first degree as if I am some A-list actor. HA!) it's entirely noticeable when one outshines the other. If he had played his Joker opposite a scattering of shitty actor thats arent'un-fucking-stoppable like Christian Bale, Maggie Gyllenhall, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart or Gary Oldman are--then he would have over powered the whole film. As is--he just dominates and devastates, and well blows you away. They hold their own against him, and that says a lot.
The makeup department definitely deserve at least a nomination on this one as well--because FUCK he is CREEPY!!! His face and hair are so organically part of his character that without that slight tinge of green in his hair and that maniacally-applied face--it wouldn't have been the same movie.
Heath will without a doubt get a posthumous nomination--if not the trophy itself. His Joker is created from fear itself and causes chaos, death and destruction just to cause chaos, death and destruction. If thats not everyone's worst fear then I don't know what is.
I can't say much about the rest of the plot, because well, I couldn't hear a goddamn thing. I think I am going to rule out the Hulen Movie Tavern as a screening venue once and for all. They had the sound all jacked up and all I could hear was the score instead of the dialogue. SO, I must see it again to get the full scope--as if Warner Bros. needs my $10.
Oh, and I want that Bat motorcycle thingy. Hot.
9.5/10
Mamma Mia!
Ha!
I read a few months back that "Mamma Mia!" was having issues with their test screenings because at times when people were supposed to take things seriously they started laughing uncontrollably--well, they either ignored the notes and proceeded as planned, or decided to say "fuck it, we've got a movie chock-full of ABBA songs, so laughing is necessary." I am siding with the latter.
I saw this opening night so everyone in the theater was either gay, serious ABBA fans or lovers of the play, or interested to see how Meryl Streep does singing (most likely all of the above.) It was fantastic. People were singing along, clapping at the end of dance numbers--most memorably, "Dancing Queen" and just all around having a blast. I think I smiled the whole time.
Amanda Seyfried was AMAZING. Her voice is magical and pure and her smile is even more infectious--something I wouldn't know because her character Sarah on "Big Love" is so miserable I don't think I had seen her show her teeth before. In fact the (female) cast as a whole was pretty fucking fantastic. Everyone loves Meryl--I mean, come on. And Christine Baranski played a pretty mean cougar. Even Julie Walters--fuck, that's Mrs. Weasley busting it out in go-go boots and leggings!
The men however....ugh. I don't know if they just handed the part to Pierce Brosnan without asking if he could sing first or what--but Jesus. I couldn't even watch his scenes. THIS is where all the laughter was inserted. He couldn't even lip-sync to his own singing! Utterly cringe-worthy. Same with Dominic Cooper, or Sky in the movie. I guess he was cute to look at, and then BAM! he starts singing--ugh. But I guess it could be worse. Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgaard were amazing as always.
I couldn't help but go download the whole soundtrack to my iPhone as soon as possible either....and it's been playing in my car ever since.
I feel for anyone watching me drive down Bryant Irvin whilst "Take a Chance on Me" is playing. You're gonna get some moves.
7.5/10
I read a few months back that "Mamma Mia!" was having issues with their test screenings because at times when people were supposed to take things seriously they started laughing uncontrollably--well, they either ignored the notes and proceeded as planned, or decided to say "fuck it, we've got a movie chock-full of ABBA songs, so laughing is necessary." I am siding with the latter.
I saw this opening night so everyone in the theater was either gay, serious ABBA fans or lovers of the play, or interested to see how Meryl Streep does singing (most likely all of the above.) It was fantastic. People were singing along, clapping at the end of dance numbers--most memorably, "Dancing Queen" and just all around having a blast. I think I smiled the whole time.
Amanda Seyfried was AMAZING. Her voice is magical and pure and her smile is even more infectious--something I wouldn't know because her character Sarah on "Big Love" is so miserable I don't think I had seen her show her teeth before. In fact the (female) cast as a whole was pretty fucking fantastic. Everyone loves Meryl--I mean, come on. And Christine Baranski played a pretty mean cougar. Even Julie Walters--fuck, that's Mrs. Weasley busting it out in go-go boots and leggings!
The men however....ugh. I don't know if they just handed the part to Pierce Brosnan without asking if he could sing first or what--but Jesus. I couldn't even watch his scenes. THIS is where all the laughter was inserted. He couldn't even lip-sync to his own singing! Utterly cringe-worthy. Same with Dominic Cooper, or Sky in the movie. I guess he was cute to look at, and then BAM! he starts singing--ugh. But I guess it could be worse. Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgaard were amazing as always.
I couldn't help but go download the whole soundtrack to my iPhone as soon as possible either....and it's been playing in my car ever since.
I feel for anyone watching me drive down Bryant Irvin whilst "Take a Chance on Me" is playing. You're gonna get some moves.
7.5/10
Monday, July 7, 2008
Wall-E!
I don't know how Pixar keeps getting it so right--but it does.
I finally got to see Wall-E on Saturday night, and it was everything I hoped that it could be. With the exception of Cars, I have loved every Pixar movie I have ever seen...and subsequently owned them the day they come out on DVD. Andrew Stanton really outdid himself with writing and directing a film that will truly blow you away.
From the beginning, you are drawn into Wall-E's Earth--one that humans have abandoned 700 years prior, and you forget you are watching a digital feature. The pacing is perfect, which is quite important since there is very little dialogue, and you forget Wall-E is in fact a robot because you can read every whisper of emotion in his face and body language.
I will definitely go see this one again before it exits theaters to soak up more Pixar genious...maybe osmosis will go into effect.
Congrats John Lassater...cause you really needed the extra cash.
9.5/10
I finally got to see Wall-E on Saturday night, and it was everything I hoped that it could be. With the exception of Cars, I have loved every Pixar movie I have ever seen...and subsequently owned them the day they come out on DVD. Andrew Stanton really outdid himself with writing and directing a film that will truly blow you away.
From the beginning, you are drawn into Wall-E's Earth--one that humans have abandoned 700 years prior, and you forget you are watching a digital feature. The pacing is perfect, which is quite important since there is very little dialogue, and you forget Wall-E is in fact a robot because you can read every whisper of emotion in his face and body language.
I will definitely go see this one again before it exits theaters to soak up more Pixar genious...maybe osmosis will go into effect.
Congrats John Lassater...cause you really needed the extra cash.
9.5/10
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Wanted
Just saw James McAvoy tear shit up in "Wanted." Excellent film. I think I prefer him with his Scottish accent, but that may just be the swooning teenager in me--I guess if he were British in this film it would have taken away his "every day guy" persona. But again, he's James fucking McAvoy, so of course, I love him in anything.
Anyway, the film wasn't perfect, but definitely enjoyable and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to see some good action. If you just want to see Angelina naked, then I suggest you pass cause all you get is about 2 seconds of ass cheek, and to be honest her and James didn't exactly have the most chemistry--which they have both admitted. I think she only had about 8 lines of dialogue too--just her looking pensive and murderous mostly.
They sort of left room for a sequel...so we'll see how the numbers do in the end. It's hard to gauge when you open against the machine that is Pixar.
Lots of bullets, blood and high-energy car chases...the perfect summer movie.
I love you James.
8/10.
Anyway, the film wasn't perfect, but definitely enjoyable and I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to see some good action. If you just want to see Angelina naked, then I suggest you pass cause all you get is about 2 seconds of ass cheek, and to be honest her and James didn't exactly have the most chemistry--which they have both admitted. I think she only had about 8 lines of dialogue too--just her looking pensive and murderous mostly.
They sort of left room for a sequel...so we'll see how the numbers do in the end. It's hard to gauge when you open against the machine that is Pixar.
Lots of bullets, blood and high-energy car chases...the perfect summer movie.
I love you James.
8/10.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Shall I Swoon?
Since I have been on the same chugging thought-train for the last couple of weeks, I decided I needed to go a bit further. I have commented on the basic human need of rescue and fantasy--and well, the fantasy of being rescued. However, I think there is an underlying issue and theme here that ties a lot of my ruminations together. I think about it before I go to bed, while I sleep, while I am supposed to be listening to Patty wax annoyed with her day...this central theme to countless famous stories and is partly responsible for a major American holiday. This theme is romance.
There is actually a fully-functioning industry of paltry trade paperbacks devoted SOLEY to this idea of women being swept off their feet by strapping, diamond-in-the-rough paperboys or whatever. Since I have already addressed the idea of fantasy in a previous post, I won't repeat myself (mostly). But there is something deeper (no Jon, NOT thats what she said,) going on here. We all fantasize about something greater than what we already have, but why do romantic comedies seem to trump all other genres when it comes to women's preferences in movies and/or television shows? Most of America's adult population is married and/or settled into a relationship, so why do we find the need to stare at someone elses for 2 hours or read about one for 48-hours (ahem, Twilight).
Why, because the best writers in Los Angeles tell us that THIS is what a relationship is supposed to be like. We are apparently supposed to be meeting handsome, brooding gentlemen in bars and gyms and when they ask us out, we are supposed to say "no" and make them play hard to get. Okay, I would like to know how many quality men hang out in bars that aren't afraid to go up to a woman in a group full of OTHER women and ask her out who isn't a total douche. But I digress. I am FULLY guilty of this. Why can't my relationship be this amazing? Why doesn't he look at me the way he looks at her? Why don't I get flowers delivered to my office...yada yada yada. This leads me to my next point.
Yes, we have been sold out by the WGA as to what a normal adult relationship entails, but whats worse, is that we have been sold out by our signifigant others as well. Now there is the excuse, "this isn't a movie--this is real life." You are right, this is real life, but I don't know why the two can't coexist and blend into a new hybrid of good relationship. When did we settle?
Now, men seem to send flowers when they have done something wrong--or worse, send flowers once and assume that will be good for a century of romantic credit. Why not take a cue from Hollywood and go to town? There is litterally thousands of hours of material on how to make a woman turn to mush, so why hasn't this been tapped? What is so ironic is that men neglecting their counterparts ends up creating the cycle all over again...when we need to feel good about the state of the world, we go see a romantic movie--giving Hollywood more money and a cue to make more of them--and more movies to make women feel underappreciated and unloved.
Funny enough, a book that does not exist had a quite a piqued interest this summer when it was featured in the creme-de-la creme of chick flicks, Sex and the City this summer. Carrie reads a book called "Love Letters of Great Men" in bed whilst researching her new book. She reads Big the words of Napolean, et al and you could almost hear the sighs emitting from the women surrounding me. So, women all over the country have tried to get their hands on said book, but alas, it doesn't actually exist--and they have apparently been settling on "Love Letters of Great Men and Women: From the 18th Century to the Present Day" that has had a sky-rocketing jump in sales since it's publication in 1924.
We are so emotionally dehydrated that we are willing to buy a book that doesn't even exist to fill our void. This wasn't always the case. It used to be "cool" to be a gentleman that lavished his mate and told the world how she was the only one for him. When did it go out of fashion? Did women's lib have anything to do with it? Maybe, maybe not. I however, do not like this trend. Instead of having to pay $12 to see it on screen I would rather be living it, breathing it, feeling it.
So, American men, step it up. There is a reason Matthew McConaughy stares at us from our screen savers.
There is actually a fully-functioning industry of paltry trade paperbacks devoted SOLEY to this idea of women being swept off their feet by strapping, diamond-in-the-rough paperboys or whatever. Since I have already addressed the idea of fantasy in a previous post, I won't repeat myself (mostly). But there is something deeper (no Jon, NOT thats what she said,) going on here. We all fantasize about something greater than what we already have, but why do romantic comedies seem to trump all other genres when it comes to women's preferences in movies and/or television shows? Most of America's adult population is married and/or settled into a relationship, so why do we find the need to stare at someone elses for 2 hours or read about one for 48-hours (ahem, Twilight).
Why, because the best writers in Los Angeles tell us that THIS is what a relationship is supposed to be like. We are apparently supposed to be meeting handsome, brooding gentlemen in bars and gyms and when they ask us out, we are supposed to say "no" and make them play hard to get. Okay, I would like to know how many quality men hang out in bars that aren't afraid to go up to a woman in a group full of OTHER women and ask her out who isn't a total douche. But I digress. I am FULLY guilty of this. Why can't my relationship be this amazing? Why doesn't he look at me the way he looks at her? Why don't I get flowers delivered to my office...yada yada yada. This leads me to my next point.
Yes, we have been sold out by the WGA as to what a normal adult relationship entails, but whats worse, is that we have been sold out by our signifigant others as well. Now there is the excuse, "this isn't a movie--this is real life." You are right, this is real life, but I don't know why the two can't coexist and blend into a new hybrid of good relationship. When did we settle?
Now, men seem to send flowers when they have done something wrong--or worse, send flowers once and assume that will be good for a century of romantic credit. Why not take a cue from Hollywood and go to town? There is litterally thousands of hours of material on how to make a woman turn to mush, so why hasn't this been tapped? What is so ironic is that men neglecting their counterparts ends up creating the cycle all over again...when we need to feel good about the state of the world, we go see a romantic movie--giving Hollywood more money and a cue to make more of them--and more movies to make women feel underappreciated and unloved.
Funny enough, a book that does not exist had a quite a piqued interest this summer when it was featured in the creme-de-la creme of chick flicks, Sex and the City this summer. Carrie reads a book called "Love Letters of Great Men" in bed whilst researching her new book. She reads Big the words of Napolean, et al and you could almost hear the sighs emitting from the women surrounding me. So, women all over the country have tried to get their hands on said book, but alas, it doesn't actually exist--and they have apparently been settling on "Love Letters of Great Men and Women: From the 18th Century to the Present Day" that has had a sky-rocketing jump in sales since it's publication in 1924.
We are so emotionally dehydrated that we are willing to buy a book that doesn't even exist to fill our void. This wasn't always the case. It used to be "cool" to be a gentleman that lavished his mate and told the world how she was the only one for him. When did it go out of fashion? Did women's lib have anything to do with it? Maybe, maybe not. I however, do not like this trend. Instead of having to pay $12 to see it on screen I would rather be living it, breathing it, feeling it.
So, American men, step it up. There is a reason Matthew McConaughy stares at us from our screen savers.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Take My Money India, For I Have Lost My Will to Live
November 18, 2007 - Sunday
Worst Birthday Eve EVER!
So, I just thought I would share a little story regarding my Saturday night--taking place on both my Birthday Eve and then finishing on my actual birthday. No, this doesn't involve drinking too much, or falling off a stage (ahem, Justin)...I could only WISH that was what my night entailed.
It all started with IKEA yesterday. I do not blame the large royal blue and yellow mecca, but I must put some of this on them because their furniture directions are nothing if not complex and thus created my mood of frustration and fury that started off my day.
After putting together a day bed--the LAST of the 3 large pieces of furniture I managed to wrangle today, I looked down on my guest room floor and saw my NETGEAR installation CD and remembered that i never encrypted my wireless network. Being the granddaughter of an incessant worrier, the daughter of a librarian and the wife of a diplomat, I realized that the guilt of having an open wireless network was just too much to bear. So, I decided to pop back in the CD and start over and try to encrypt my network...by myself. (Insert bad decision music from a horror film...dum-dum-dum!)
The CD says it cant detect my wireless network...weird since it was using it at the moment, but whatever. So, I go to the netgear website and start the troubleshooting. I type in "encrypt" into the search engine and I find out how to secure my network. I could really bore you here, but instead I will skip ahead many frustrating steps to it telling me to find my MAC address (WHAT?) so I do a google search to find it only to type it in and it tell me, gasp, it's incorrect. So, I try many times until finally the IP address 192.168.1.1--thats right, I memorized it, stopped working and I finally had to stop or me risk my computer ending up killing the poor cats that meow (loudly) on the balcony below me.
I return a few hours later and decide to try again. I realized that my MAC address need colons--not dashes! Now why wouldn't I know that! And it seems to work! YAY! Uh oh...no more wireless network--it completely shuts down...I can plug in my Internet cord directly and it will work, but the wireless will not...
So, I call NETGEAR for the second time in one week and it takes 16 minutes to connect me with a LOVELY Indian gentleman named Victor on the other side of the world--I should send Jon to go beat him up. It will only take him a day's donkey ride to invade that disgusting doppelganger of Silicon Valley.
ANYWAY, Victor decides he had to register my wireless router, so 15 minutes later we are back to where we started and he has to go through all the steps that I did--correctly may I add--and after many attempts at connecting to my encrypted "Erin" network--no dice. Windows will not let me connect--nothing. So, after 45 minutes Victor cheerfully tells me that it is not his problem, it's Gateway's and I have to call them and get the "network utility disconnected" and then call back. Click. I want to go kick his camel so he has no way to get home
So, I decided I have nothing better to do--so I call Gateway. After choosing 18 different items on the menu and almost telling the automatic customer service rep to go fuck herself--they tell me that because my serial number has a letter in it--they can't help me--I purchased the computer at a retail store....because yes, so many of us purchase $1400 computers from a website where we have neither seen nor touched anything...and they give me an ALTERNATE phone number. So, I call the alternate phone number, have to go through the same hoops from the first phone call only to finally be connected to Tammy from Salt Lake City. I tell her that I need to "disconnect my network utility" and she types some nonsense into her speak-and-say and guess what--I have to register my product with Tammy too! YAY! After 15 minutes I hear..."hmm...it looks like your product is out of warranty. To get any help from us it will cost you $39 and there is no guarantee that we can help." WHAT THE FUCK!?! This is where it gets good.....
I guess from the overall day of furniture-building, Zoie peeing in places she's not supposed to, the fact that its my birthday and I am on the phone with Tammy instead of enjoying a fun evening with friends/Jon, computer problems and just Jon not being here in general--I start BAWLING. I don't mean contain a tear and play it off as allergies...I mean death in the family, kicked of "The Bachelor" BAWLING. Poor Tammy. She doesn't know what to do. She probably hates herself for having to ask for $40 for what amounts to the worst investment in history. She puts me on hold. During my hold period--and listening to Gateway's version of Sad FM...I compose myself (a little) and decide to just pay the blood money just to get this over with. After some awkward silences whilst she is ticking away at her computer, she asks me if it's cold here....? What? I am in Texas. I realize she is actually not an IT person. She has to CALL THE TECH DEPT. Super! She basically puts me on hold for 20 minutes to come back with a solution of a system rollback recovery--wow--very creative. So we do that song and dance and roll back my computer to its configuration on Friday, and no good--wireless still doesn't work. We then try and do a "Ping"...this all the while her Tech supervisor is telling her what to do to tell me what to do. She acts as if I can't hear her lesbian Mormon supervisor...so I play dumb and wait to do all the steps until Tammy tells me to do them to save Tammy further humiliation from this God-forsaken phone call. The ping basically says that it's my modem that has the problem, but just to be sure, we do a power re-boot. I unplug everything, and guess what--no wireless. Sigh.
Tammy has hung up on me and I start bawling again. WHY GOD?!?!? I compose myself yet again and google the brand name of my modem..."Terayon" hmm, this can't be good. The Terayon site directly takes me to the Motorola site....okay....So I go to the support tab, and the only options are for cell phones. I should be furious, but I am numb to the injustices of the world at this point and I have no more tears to cry. So, I decide to call Victor back in India--I think this was all his fault (and IKEAs) but I didn't think Sweden would take my call. As I am on hold for another NETGEAR person, I decide to go to the netgear website one more time and try to troubleshoot. I scroll the page to find out if your secure network won't let you get on the Internet. Their resolution: under encryption, click "None." This is not possible--how can this be? So, I type 192.168.1.1 one more time and click "None" where I am supposed to. Just as "Bob" picks up the phone to tell me his employee number, my wireless starts to think about it, and DING--connected. I tell Bob what just happened. He cheerfully asks if I would like him to help me try and re-encrypt my wireless network. No Bob, I would not like you to do that, but thank you so much for asking.
After $40, a used box of Kleenex, endless hours I cannot reclaim, two calls to India, two MISSED calls from Jon, I am back to where I started--using an unsecure network to learn about such useful information as which movie will claim the number one spot this weekend.
I don't know why God doesn't want me to have a secure wireless network...I guess he wants that douche-bag who plays Kenny Chesney really loudly on Thursday nights to have access to my checking account. Go ahead, Kenny-lover--take my $1300.
Worst Birthday Eve EVER!
So, I just thought I would share a little story regarding my Saturday night--taking place on both my Birthday Eve and then finishing on my actual birthday. No, this doesn't involve drinking too much, or falling off a stage (ahem, Justin)...I could only WISH that was what my night entailed.
It all started with IKEA yesterday. I do not blame the large royal blue and yellow mecca, but I must put some of this on them because their furniture directions are nothing if not complex and thus created my mood of frustration and fury that started off my day.
After putting together a day bed--the LAST of the 3 large pieces of furniture I managed to wrangle today, I looked down on my guest room floor and saw my NETGEAR installation CD and remembered that i never encrypted my wireless network. Being the granddaughter of an incessant worrier, the daughter of a librarian and the wife of a diplomat, I realized that the guilt of having an open wireless network was just too much to bear. So, I decided to pop back in the CD and start over and try to encrypt my network...by myself. (Insert bad decision music from a horror film...dum-dum-dum!)
The CD says it cant detect my wireless network...weird since it was using it at the moment, but whatever. So, I go to the netgear website and start the troubleshooting. I type in "encrypt" into the search engine and I find out how to secure my network. I could really bore you here, but instead I will skip ahead many frustrating steps to it telling me to find my MAC address (WHAT?) so I do a google search to find it only to type it in and it tell me, gasp, it's incorrect. So, I try many times until finally the IP address 192.168.1.1--thats right, I memorized it, stopped working and I finally had to stop or me risk my computer ending up killing the poor cats that meow (loudly) on the balcony below me.
I return a few hours later and decide to try again. I realized that my MAC address need colons--not dashes! Now why wouldn't I know that! And it seems to work! YAY! Uh oh...no more wireless network--it completely shuts down...I can plug in my Internet cord directly and it will work, but the wireless will not...
So, I call NETGEAR for the second time in one week and it takes 16 minutes to connect me with a LOVELY Indian gentleman named Victor on the other side of the world--I should send Jon to go beat him up. It will only take him a day's donkey ride to invade that disgusting doppelganger of Silicon Valley.
ANYWAY, Victor decides he had to register my wireless router, so 15 minutes later we are back to where we started and he has to go through all the steps that I did--correctly may I add--and after many attempts at connecting to my encrypted "Erin" network--no dice. Windows will not let me connect--nothing. So, after 45 minutes Victor cheerfully tells me that it is not his problem, it's Gateway's and I have to call them and get the "network utility disconnected" and then call back. Click. I want to go kick his camel so he has no way to get home
So, I decided I have nothing better to do--so I call Gateway. After choosing 18 different items on the menu and almost telling the automatic customer service rep to go fuck herself--they tell me that because my serial number has a letter in it--they can't help me--I purchased the computer at a retail store....because yes, so many of us purchase $1400 computers from a website where we have neither seen nor touched anything...and they give me an ALTERNATE phone number. So, I call the alternate phone number, have to go through the same hoops from the first phone call only to finally be connected to Tammy from Salt Lake City. I tell her that I need to "disconnect my network utility" and she types some nonsense into her speak-and-say and guess what--I have to register my product with Tammy too! YAY! After 15 minutes I hear..."hmm...it looks like your product is out of warranty. To get any help from us it will cost you $39 and there is no guarantee that we can help." WHAT THE FUCK!?! This is where it gets good.....
I guess from the overall day of furniture-building, Zoie peeing in places she's not supposed to, the fact that its my birthday and I am on the phone with Tammy instead of enjoying a fun evening with friends/Jon, computer problems and just Jon not being here in general--I start BAWLING. I don't mean contain a tear and play it off as allergies...I mean death in the family, kicked of "The Bachelor" BAWLING. Poor Tammy. She doesn't know what to do. She probably hates herself for having to ask for $40 for what amounts to the worst investment in history. She puts me on hold. During my hold period--and listening to Gateway's version of Sad FM...I compose myself (a little) and decide to just pay the blood money just to get this over with. After some awkward silences whilst she is ticking away at her computer, she asks me if it's cold here....? What? I am in Texas. I realize she is actually not an IT person. She has to CALL THE TECH DEPT. Super! She basically puts me on hold for 20 minutes to come back with a solution of a system rollback recovery--wow--very creative. So we do that song and dance and roll back my computer to its configuration on Friday, and no good--wireless still doesn't work. We then try and do a "Ping"...this all the while her Tech supervisor is telling her what to do to tell me what to do. She acts as if I can't hear her lesbian Mormon supervisor...so I play dumb and wait to do all the steps until Tammy tells me to do them to save Tammy further humiliation from this God-forsaken phone call. The ping basically says that it's my modem that has the problem, but just to be sure, we do a power re-boot. I unplug everything, and guess what--no wireless. Sigh.
Tammy has hung up on me and I start bawling again. WHY GOD?!?!? I compose myself yet again and google the brand name of my modem..."Terayon" hmm, this can't be good. The Terayon site directly takes me to the Motorola site....okay....So I go to the support tab, and the only options are for cell phones. I should be furious, but I am numb to the injustices of the world at this point and I have no more tears to cry. So, I decide to call Victor back in India--I think this was all his fault (and IKEAs) but I didn't think Sweden would take my call. As I am on hold for another NETGEAR person, I decide to go to the netgear website one more time and try to troubleshoot. I scroll the page to find out if your secure network won't let you get on the Internet. Their resolution: under encryption, click "None." This is not possible--how can this be? So, I type 192.168.1.1 one more time and click "None" where I am supposed to. Just as "Bob" picks up the phone to tell me his employee number, my wireless starts to think about it, and DING--connected. I tell Bob what just happened. He cheerfully asks if I would like him to help me try and re-encrypt my wireless network. No Bob, I would not like you to do that, but thank you so much for asking.
After $40, a used box of Kleenex, endless hours I cannot reclaim, two calls to India, two MISSED calls from Jon, I am back to where I started--using an unsecure network to learn about such useful information as which movie will claim the number one spot this weekend.
I don't know why God doesn't want me to have a secure wireless network...I guess he wants that douche-bag who plays Kenny Chesney really loudly on Thursday nights to have access to my checking account. Go ahead, Kenny-lover--take my $1300.
Fantasy...why such a dirty word?
As I was reading my last posting--and please pardon all of my grammatical errors--I began a new subject of random musings. I used the word "fantasy" a few times to describe the genre of books, etc that make us escape. However, when did this word become a faux-pas and left only for geeks or young adults?
When I tell people I love Harry Potter--I am either welcomed into open arms by other quarter-century addicts who feel just as ostracized as I do, or laughed at and considered a social pariah. The latter happens MUCH more frequently.
What primarily drives my confusion is the fact that the word "fantasy" has a completely different connotation in the, well, bedroom. I don't think I could tell you one sitcom that hasn't breached this subject at least once. What is is that their partner truly fantasizes about? Is it doing in public? Alone on a deserted beach? A princess captured and pillaged by a pirate? What? So, if the idea of role-play and fantasy is so erotic and mesmerizing in bed, why is it so chastised and given an all-encompassing blanket of nerdiness in the real world?
We who fully admit to liking the escapism quality have nothing to hide...so this makes me think EVERYONE would really like to read what I read, but are too afraid to admit it. I call this the "American Idol" syndrome. No one likes to admit they watch such a paltry way to get Americans to buy more Coca-Cola products and watch Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell play "You're more gay than I am..." but it's the most-watched show on television--so SOMEONE has to be watching it. And we are not all 14-year old girls...
Those who pretend they don't like fantasy say it's because "it could never happen..." Well, that's exactly the point isn't it? Who the FUCK wants to read about the pitiful state of the world that we live in at the moment. Not that I totally erase non-fiction from my bookshelf, everyone needs balance in their life, but nothing ever makes me salivate and dream like a good fantasy book. Even women who love their Harlequin Romance novels are reading fantasy...just because there are no elves and fairy dust doesn't mean it's not a fantasy...no stable boy is THAT good-looking.
So, America--stop hating on me. You fantasize too, just take it out of the bedroom and put it all out there...no one will judge you (or at least I won't.)
When I tell people I love Harry Potter--I am either welcomed into open arms by other quarter-century addicts who feel just as ostracized as I do, or laughed at and considered a social pariah. The latter happens MUCH more frequently.
What primarily drives my confusion is the fact that the word "fantasy" has a completely different connotation in the, well, bedroom. I don't think I could tell you one sitcom that hasn't breached this subject at least once. What is is that their partner truly fantasizes about? Is it doing in public? Alone on a deserted beach? A princess captured and pillaged by a pirate? What? So, if the idea of role-play and fantasy is so erotic and mesmerizing in bed, why is it so chastised and given an all-encompassing blanket of nerdiness in the real world?
We who fully admit to liking the escapism quality have nothing to hide...so this makes me think EVERYONE would really like to read what I read, but are too afraid to admit it. I call this the "American Idol" syndrome. No one likes to admit they watch such a paltry way to get Americans to buy more Coca-Cola products and watch Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell play "You're more gay than I am..." but it's the most-watched show on television--so SOMEONE has to be watching it. And we are not all 14-year old girls...
Those who pretend they don't like fantasy say it's because "it could never happen..." Well, that's exactly the point isn't it? Who the FUCK wants to read about the pitiful state of the world that we live in at the moment. Not that I totally erase non-fiction from my bookshelf, everyone needs balance in their life, but nothing ever makes me salivate and dream like a good fantasy book. Even women who love their Harlequin Romance novels are reading fantasy...just because there are no elves and fairy dust doesn't mean it's not a fantasy...no stable boy is THAT good-looking.
So, America--stop hating on me. You fantasize too, just take it out of the bedroom and put it all out there...no one will judge you (or at least I won't.)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Rescue You or Rescue Me?
As I lay into approximately the 5th straight day of reading non stop Vampire lore, I am beginning to wonder about my reasons and my mental state.
As someone who loves fantasy and loves to escape, I am prone to becoming a bit obsessed when I find something I can really, pardon the pun, sink my teeth into. I have become a recent fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series and am now half-way through the third and penultimate book in the series. The irony of my choice to start reading this series NOW, when I have seen the enigmatic high-gloss black novels on the stands next to my beloved HP series for the last couple of years is laughable.
I too started dabbling in the occult at exactly the same point in the Harry Potter series. I started in the summer, just after school was released for the year (although I laugh at that considering I am WAY beyond graduation age,) when there were only 3 HPs at the time, and the 4th was due out in merely a month....odd. However, Stephenie Meyer's choice to only have 4 novels instead of lucky number seven will bring on my impending depression that much sooner. However, one could argue that HP #4, The Goblet of Fire was the beginning of the end of the series, so there are more similarities again...another time another place.
So, I began to wonder...why am I so drawn to Twilight just as I was to HP? I know other people are obsessed too--I am by no means THAT vain to think that I alone share my obsession. Once I put down the Deathly Hallows I honestly didn't think I would ever find anything else ever again to pique my interest even a fraction of what I held in my heart for the Trio.
When I read something, I escape into it's aura and the mileu that is surrounding the story...to a degree. However, when I started reading Sorcerer's Stone all those many years ago, I had a feeling of just not escape, but of actual jealousy that this was a world that I would never belong to--no matter how ambitious I chose to be. I love books, I read as much as I can. I love Jane Green, Chuck Klosterman, David Sedaris--they help me escape my mundane existance...but nothing enchanted me the way Hogwarts did. Until now. When I say I enchant--I mean I actually bleed into the books that enthrall me. I can't stop thinking them--when I have to answer the phone, I get angry--when I have to eat I read while I chew. When I shower I am thinking about what I have just read. I dream about it--I actually want to be a part of it. When I picked up Twilight four days ago...I got the same rush of adrenaline and the inability to put it down. However, this was not some hidden magic kingdom in the middle of England...this was Washington State--WHAT? For arguments sake however, the same hidden world inside our mortal boring world holds the same for both the former and the latter.
In Twilight, I was introduced to Bella Swan--a boring, somewhat nondescript 17 year old who moved away from her mother to live with her father in the small town of Forks, Washington. However, I didn't really care that much until I met Edward Cullen (insert sigh) The uncharacteristically beautiful "vegetarian" vampire who was bewitched by Bella's every move. He was attracted to her scent (she would have been the ideal victim--my beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas) if he still hunted humans. But it was the idea that this perfect man could fall for such a boring female that was so mesmerizing: every woman's fantasy.
However, HP has a love story--but it is a far third place thematically as compared to Good vs. Evil and the power of friendship. So, what made it so similar in my desire? I started mulling out comparisons in my head (THIS is why it is difficult to be my friend.) There are quite a few similarities in the fantasy aspect--but that is just a section in a bookstore in my opinion. So, let my wax Carrie Bradshaw for a moment and ponder what made my head spin so much...I think it was the dark romantic notion of being rescued.
In a normal world, ie the one that we are all a part of--unless JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Philip Pullman, et al truely know something we dont...man and woman or in some instances, man and man or woman and woman, meet, have dinner, see a movie, have sex eventually, and fall in love--in no particular order....They get married, have babies and cease to exist as enigmatic beings and just become "mom and dad", or again, my two mommies." There generically is not a knight on a white horse whisking away his immortal beloved and living in pure entrancement of eachother for the rest of their lives.
But this is not a typical story of rescue--no Rapunzel (sp?) or hooker with a heart of gold pulled of Hollywood and Vine in a Lotus. These are both stories where two typically normal characters (Harry and Bella) are torn from monotony--yes, Harry's life was much worse, being tormented by the Dursley's, but he was in for a few more years of indentured servitude before he would start living off the Dole like the rest of Great Britain. I am begining to think that there is an innate, deep desire in all of us that all we want to be is rescued from whatever life we may lead and be drawn into a new one. Harry was rescued into wizardry, Bella was rescued by her ideal mate (albeit the bloodsucking part) into a life of pure true love. Although Harry's rescue is more desireable on the forefront--Bellas's is so enticing because she is being fought for, wanted, lusted-after and adored. Even Edward's fatal flaw--the fact that his deep carnal desire is to kill her actually makes it that much more interesting and, well...hot. Can any human relationship compete? Will any of us be happy knowing that some people are happier than us?
I guess since I live on Earth in 2008, I will just have to rescue myself--and go back to reading again.
As someone who loves fantasy and loves to escape, I am prone to becoming a bit obsessed when I find something I can really, pardon the pun, sink my teeth into. I have become a recent fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Series and am now half-way through the third and penultimate book in the series. The irony of my choice to start reading this series NOW, when I have seen the enigmatic high-gloss black novels on the stands next to my beloved HP series for the last couple of years is laughable.
I too started dabbling in the occult at exactly the same point in the Harry Potter series. I started in the summer, just after school was released for the year (although I laugh at that considering I am WAY beyond graduation age,) when there were only 3 HPs at the time, and the 4th was due out in merely a month....odd. However, Stephenie Meyer's choice to only have 4 novels instead of lucky number seven will bring on my impending depression that much sooner. However, one could argue that HP #4, The Goblet of Fire was the beginning of the end of the series, so there are more similarities again...another time another place.
So, I began to wonder...why am I so drawn to Twilight just as I was to HP? I know other people are obsessed too--I am by no means THAT vain to think that I alone share my obsession. Once I put down the Deathly Hallows I honestly didn't think I would ever find anything else ever again to pique my interest even a fraction of what I held in my heart for the Trio.
When I read something, I escape into it's aura and the mileu that is surrounding the story...to a degree. However, when I started reading Sorcerer's Stone all those many years ago, I had a feeling of just not escape, but of actual jealousy that this was a world that I would never belong to--no matter how ambitious I chose to be. I love books, I read as much as I can. I love Jane Green, Chuck Klosterman, David Sedaris--they help me escape my mundane existance...but nothing enchanted me the way Hogwarts did. Until now. When I say I enchant--I mean I actually bleed into the books that enthrall me. I can't stop thinking them--when I have to answer the phone, I get angry--when I have to eat I read while I chew. When I shower I am thinking about what I have just read. I dream about it--I actually want to be a part of it. When I picked up Twilight four days ago...I got the same rush of adrenaline and the inability to put it down. However, this was not some hidden magic kingdom in the middle of England...this was Washington State--WHAT? For arguments sake however, the same hidden world inside our mortal boring world holds the same for both the former and the latter.
In Twilight, I was introduced to Bella Swan--a boring, somewhat nondescript 17 year old who moved away from her mother to live with her father in the small town of Forks, Washington. However, I didn't really care that much until I met Edward Cullen (insert sigh) The uncharacteristically beautiful "vegetarian" vampire who was bewitched by Bella's every move. He was attracted to her scent (she would have been the ideal victim--my beef fajitas and cheese enchiladas) if he still hunted humans. But it was the idea that this perfect man could fall for such a boring female that was so mesmerizing: every woman's fantasy.
However, HP has a love story--but it is a far third place thematically as compared to Good vs. Evil and the power of friendship. So, what made it so similar in my desire? I started mulling out comparisons in my head (THIS is why it is difficult to be my friend.) There are quite a few similarities in the fantasy aspect--but that is just a section in a bookstore in my opinion. So, let my wax Carrie Bradshaw for a moment and ponder what made my head spin so much...I think it was the dark romantic notion of being rescued.
In a normal world, ie the one that we are all a part of--unless JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Philip Pullman, et al truely know something we dont...man and woman or in some instances, man and man or woman and woman, meet, have dinner, see a movie, have sex eventually, and fall in love--in no particular order....They get married, have babies and cease to exist as enigmatic beings and just become "mom and dad", or again, my two mommies." There generically is not a knight on a white horse whisking away his immortal beloved and living in pure entrancement of eachother for the rest of their lives.
But this is not a typical story of rescue--no Rapunzel (sp?) or hooker with a heart of gold pulled of Hollywood and Vine in a Lotus. These are both stories where two typically normal characters (Harry and Bella) are torn from monotony--yes, Harry's life was much worse, being tormented by the Dursley's, but he was in for a few more years of indentured servitude before he would start living off the Dole like the rest of Great Britain. I am begining to think that there is an innate, deep desire in all of us that all we want to be is rescued from whatever life we may lead and be drawn into a new one. Harry was rescued into wizardry, Bella was rescued by her ideal mate (albeit the bloodsucking part) into a life of pure true love. Although Harry's rescue is more desireable on the forefront--Bellas's is so enticing because she is being fought for, wanted, lusted-after and adored. Even Edward's fatal flaw--the fact that his deep carnal desire is to kill her actually makes it that much more interesting and, well...hot. Can any human relationship compete? Will any of us be happy knowing that some people are happier than us?
I guess since I live on Earth in 2008, I will just have to rescue myself--and go back to reading again.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Do I add you, or do I wait for you to notice me?
Do I add you, or do I wait for you to notice me?
So, I am sick of feeling apprehensive, self-conscious and weird. I hate feeling like a teenage stalker, but yet, I can’t stay away. With all the new media involving Internet social sites, how do I know when I have gone from social butterfly, to social disaster and embarrassment? I am of course talking about the Facebook Quasi-Friend.
I have friends that I have no qualms about adding as "friend" immediately, but there are others....those that you knew 5 or so years ago, or friends of friends that you remember, but you are not sure if they would remember you--that you just do not know what to do with.
Its the same passive-aggressive song and dance that you do when you go back to your hometown and go to the local bar...ahem, The Oui, when you see people that you know EXACTLY who they are, but you really don't’ know what to say to them, so you take the high road and just pretend to not see them.
So, whats a girl to do? Do I add you and assume that you don’t REALLY think that I care that much about what you are doing, or are you going to think...."why is this bitch adding me as a friend?....I don't really remember how I know her, but we went to the same high school, so I guess I knew her, but whatever...weirdo."
THIS is the new dilemma of always being online. I even have the option of checking my Facebook from my iPhone whilst I am supposed to be teaching young, impressionable minds. BAH!
So, at the end of the day, we just Facebook stalk those whom we are patiently waiting for THEIR add. Ironically, they are probably doing the same to us.
And we all live awkwardly ever after.
UPDATE (7/25/08): After experiencing this stalker-esque phenomenon day after day and having Facebook add their "People You May Know" application...yes, I DO know them!! But do they know me?!?! I have decided to coin this phrase "Facebook Addxiety." There-it's trademarked. TMZ will be jealous.
So, I am sick of feeling apprehensive, self-conscious and weird. I hate feeling like a teenage stalker, but yet, I can’t stay away. With all the new media involving Internet social sites, how do I know when I have gone from social butterfly, to social disaster and embarrassment? I am of course talking about the Facebook Quasi-Friend.
I have friends that I have no qualms about adding as "friend" immediately, but there are others....those that you knew 5 or so years ago, or friends of friends that you remember, but you are not sure if they would remember you--that you just do not know what to do with.
Its the same passive-aggressive song and dance that you do when you go back to your hometown and go to the local bar...ahem, The Oui, when you see people that you know EXACTLY who they are, but you really don't’ know what to say to them, so you take the high road and just pretend to not see them.
So, whats a girl to do? Do I add you and assume that you don’t REALLY think that I care that much about what you are doing, or are you going to think...."why is this bitch adding me as a friend?....I don't really remember how I know her, but we went to the same high school, so I guess I knew her, but whatever...weirdo."
THIS is the new dilemma of always being online. I even have the option of checking my Facebook from my iPhone whilst I am supposed to be teaching young, impressionable minds. BAH!
So, at the end of the day, we just Facebook stalk those whom we are patiently waiting for THEIR add. Ironically, they are probably doing the same to us.
And we all live awkwardly ever after.
UPDATE (7/25/08): After experiencing this stalker-esque phenomenon day after day and having Facebook add their "People You May Know" application...yes, I DO know them!! But do they know me?!?! I have decided to coin this phrase "Facebook Addxiety." There-it's trademarked. TMZ will be jealous.
Synergy at it's Best
Well, well, well...
I was wondering when the conglomerate that is American Idol was going to do it's tradition of hocking cross-promotional products--I don't even count Ruben Studdard's terrible send-off song because no one cares about Ruben Studdard anymore. Tonight, however was ingenious because of the severe subtlety.
During Round One of the Top 3, it was the Judge's choice for songs that the contestants would sing. Simon Cowell had David Cook, and oddly chose "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack...very bizarre considering Simon likes his singers to stay "young and fresh," and hates it when they do things that are "old and boring."
Well, Simon's brainchild Leona Lewis who is hot on every Pop chart across the globe with her catchy, "Bleeding Love" has an album, and guess what song is on her album--take a friggin guess. Simon pockets like 75% of Leona's profits off that album and resurrected a song that many people of my generation have never heard of.
Well played Cowell, well played.
I was wondering when the conglomerate that is American Idol was going to do it's tradition of hocking cross-promotional products--I don't even count Ruben Studdard's terrible send-off song because no one cares about Ruben Studdard anymore. Tonight, however was ingenious because of the severe subtlety.
During Round One of the Top 3, it was the Judge's choice for songs that the contestants would sing. Simon Cowell had David Cook, and oddly chose "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack...very bizarre considering Simon likes his singers to stay "young and fresh," and hates it when they do things that are "old and boring."
Well, Simon's brainchild Leona Lewis who is hot on every Pop chart across the globe with her catchy, "Bleeding Love" has an album, and guess what song is on her album--take a friggin guess. Simon pockets like 75% of Leona's profits off that album and resurrected a song that many people of my generation have never heard of.
Well played Cowell, well played.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thank God the strike is over
Yay for TV again!
I was starting to go super crazy watching all the sub par third string reality shows. ABC started up their new shows this week...thank God.
"Brothers and Sisters" was refreshing and funny--my Sunday nights were starting to drown in the supposed to feel-good ABC dribble that made me want to shoot myself. So, hopefully "Ugly Betty," "Grey's Anatomy" and "LOST" will lift me up as well. Now I just have to kill the meteorologists that did not let "The Office" show last Thursday night.
And why does Rob Lowe look so good in a button-down? DAMN!
Until Thursday night...
I was starting to go super crazy watching all the sub par third string reality shows. ABC started up their new shows this week...thank God.
"Brothers and Sisters" was refreshing and funny--my Sunday nights were starting to drown in the supposed to feel-good ABC dribble that made me want to shoot myself. So, hopefully "Ugly Betty," "Grey's Anatomy" and "LOST" will lift me up as well. Now I just have to kill the meteorologists that did not let "The Office" show last Thursday night.
And why does Rob Lowe look so good in a button-down? DAMN!
Until Thursday night...
Friday, April 18, 2008
MCLVN!
Welcome All,
I decided I needed an official space to publish all things Pop Culture-related, because obviously, you are not inundated enough with filth and trivial matters that clog up your cranial nerves.
I cannot help it if I love pop culture. Everyone does, even if they don't admit it. Yes, it might be to some the lowest common denominator, but what they do not realize is that pop culture affects us all...anything from why Pier1 suddenly had to stock more martini glasses to what you think you might want to name your child. So, scoff all you want--YOU are what makes pop culture what it is--popular.
Enough of the drab introduction...I will critique what I thought was a very funny movie later on, but for right now, I am just PISSED. During my screening of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," I had my civil rights violated by the lowest of the low...my fucking license plate was stolen. Yes, I am well-aware that on the broad spectrum of criminal acts this doesn't even come in the top million, but to me, it's just another thing that made my day suck.
First of all, let me begin by saying that I love Judd Apatow, I think he is a creative genious who doesn't take filmmaking too seriously, and in turn, creates great movies. I decided to honor him in a small frat-tastic way by having my license plate be a beacon to those fellow Judd-heads everywhere--so I chose "MCLVN." Not a perfect rendering of Christoper Mintz-Plasse's unforgetable character, but it was as good as the Texas Department of Transportation could do.
So, as I mentioned before, I was seeing "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" on it's opening night to show my love, and I SUPPOSE there were other Judd-heads there as well, because instead of some stoner pointing to the plate and congratulating me on knowing my shit, they fucking STOLE IT. I guess the only silver lining in this is that I should be flattered...that my decision to pay $40 and wait in 10 different lines to get said license plate was at least half worth the trouble since someone out there recognized my effort.
However, the real bitch of it is, I had to file a fucking police report! And might I add--there is drastically little information about what you are supposed to do IF your license plate gets stolen on the internets--Sergei Brinn needs to get on that shit. So, the one answer I found was that I have to file a police report in order to get a new plate--well guess what--now MCLVN comes up as stolen so I CANT FUCKING KEEP IT! So, I am sure the weeded-out punk kid who stole my precious MCLVN was actually trying to applaud me by hanging the plate on his wall next to his Pamela Anderson and Bob Marley posters, but you know what--FUCK YOU.
Get ready workers at the local Tarrant County Tax Office--I'm coming there tomorrow and I am going to be angry, sad and pissed off when you see me so brace yourselves!
Hell hath no fury for a woman scorned by petty theft.
I decided I needed an official space to publish all things Pop Culture-related, because obviously, you are not inundated enough with filth and trivial matters that clog up your cranial nerves.
I cannot help it if I love pop culture. Everyone does, even if they don't admit it. Yes, it might be to some the lowest common denominator, but what they do not realize is that pop culture affects us all...anything from why Pier1 suddenly had to stock more martini glasses to what you think you might want to name your child. So, scoff all you want--YOU are what makes pop culture what it is--popular.
Enough of the drab introduction...I will critique what I thought was a very funny movie later on, but for right now, I am just PISSED. During my screening of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," I had my civil rights violated by the lowest of the low...my fucking license plate was stolen. Yes, I am well-aware that on the broad spectrum of criminal acts this doesn't even come in the top million, but to me, it's just another thing that made my day suck.
First of all, let me begin by saying that I love Judd Apatow, I think he is a creative genious who doesn't take filmmaking too seriously, and in turn, creates great movies. I decided to honor him in a small frat-tastic way by having my license plate be a beacon to those fellow Judd-heads everywhere--so I chose "MCLVN." Not a perfect rendering of Christoper Mintz-Plasse's unforgetable character, but it was as good as the Texas Department of Transportation could do.
So, as I mentioned before, I was seeing "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" on it's opening night to show my love, and I SUPPOSE there were other Judd-heads there as well, because instead of some stoner pointing to the plate and congratulating me on knowing my shit, they fucking STOLE IT. I guess the only silver lining in this is that I should be flattered...that my decision to pay $40 and wait in 10 different lines to get said license plate was at least half worth the trouble since someone out there recognized my effort.
However, the real bitch of it is, I had to file a fucking police report! And might I add--there is drastically little information about what you are supposed to do IF your license plate gets stolen on the internets--Sergei Brinn needs to get on that shit. So, the one answer I found was that I have to file a police report in order to get a new plate--well guess what--now MCLVN comes up as stolen so I CANT FUCKING KEEP IT! So, I am sure the weeded-out punk kid who stole my precious MCLVN was actually trying to applaud me by hanging the plate on his wall next to his Pamela Anderson and Bob Marley posters, but you know what--FUCK YOU.
Get ready workers at the local Tarrant County Tax Office--I'm coming there tomorrow and I am going to be angry, sad and pissed off when you see me so brace yourselves!
Hell hath no fury for a woman scorned by petty theft.
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