Justin Bobby

For those of you who don't watch The Hills on MTV here's a brilliant parody (from Funny or Die.com the people who brought you little Pearl) of the conversations that take place. I think this scene is exactly the conversation that Justin Bobby and Audrina had (or memorized) when they went out on a date. Of course I'm probably the only person who finds this funny. I promise if you've invested as much time as I have in the lives of LC, Heidi, Spencer, Whitney, Lo, Justin Bobby and Audrina you would be cracking up too.

I still think that James Franco can't really live up to the real Justin Bobby. And I actually don't think JB can really act and his conversations must be the only ones that producers can't control. And this is why this exchange is so funny. Okay, enough, and thanks everyone for watching my Corvette show!

Project Runway 4 - Episode 3 - Tiki Barber menswear challenge

The show start includes a shot of half-naked, tattooed male designers in the bathroom at the start of their day. The theme for this episode is set. MEN! The challenge is to design and create an outfit for NY Giants running back and Today Show correspondent Tiki Barber. And, in a first for Project Runway, MALE MODELS were used for the runway show. Beautiful, hot, sculpted male models...finally.

When Tiki Barber was introduced, Kevin Christiana was the only male designer in the group who recognized him. Kevin reminded us again this episode that he's also the only straight man among the designers.

Any pro football player would be a challenge to fit into a suit. Tiki Barber admitted his own peculiarities are his big neck, big butt, and skinny waist. But the fact that almost all of the designers had no experience with menswear was the true nature of this challenge.

Freelance designer Sweet P, who's been receiving plenty of screen time for the third episode in a row, has never done men's clothing and yet she tried to make a suit. Her shirt's collar couldn't stand up and she never got to make a jacket.


Former model Carmen Webber was worse off. She had no shirt for her model and draped a piece of cloth around his neck to cover his nakedness.


Lingerie designer Ricky Lizalde made a three-piece suit, but ran out of time to sew the jacket. It was held together with pins.



There was a funny bit where Elisa Jimenez played demure and averted her eyes when her model disrobed in the room to try on the outfit. Ha ha, Elisa!

All in all this episode wasn't as funny as last week's. The designers were freaked out and it was a little agonizing to watch. The male models, however, were a nice visual relief. (Don't look, Elisa!)

Jack Mackenroth wins and Tiki says he'll wear the design on the Today show. Hetero Kevin Christiana comes in second.

My favorite quotes:

• "After almost being eliminated, I'm not as confident as I was before..." - Christian Siriano
  
• "The menswear has brought forth the claws." - Kit Scarbo on the tensions in the workroom
  
• "What was it that they had on the Titanic before it sank? Oh, yeah, PANIC!" - Steve
• "If that wasn't a navy fleece, like, give me a Xanax and I'm asleep." - Michael Kors about Kit's jacket
• "I can't be on the air looking like an idiot." - Tiki Barber

I'm a little confused about one thing. Last week the preview for today's episode showed Tim Gunn saying that Jack had an announcement and the other designers were crying. I didn't imagine this. I thought tonight's out-of-the-blue talking head soundbite from Jack who revealed he's been HIV-positive for the last 17 years would have something to do with this. But there was none of it tonight.

Some websurfing provides some clues, or rather spoilers. You don't want me to skip too far ahead so I'll stop here.

Chuck Wins!

This is no surprise! I was watching Chuck on Monday night hoping that my favorite new TV show would not be lost on the execs. Glad Chuck won this round and got another season.

The last few episodes have been non stop hilarity and filled with energy. I loved when Chuck exclaimed "Wow, they really are great," while watching Bryce and Sarah fighting off the bad guys. Loved the Klingon speak too. But again this show rests on the talent of Zachary Levi. And an hour is tough to fill each week. So I hope they keep it up.

This week...Bryce the alleged rogue agent left for deep cover at the end of the show. Now we are left to wonder if Sarah will go to Omaha? Will she? Oh, you know she won't! She loves that Chuck boy.

A Cup Pie

I want a couple of things after finally watching last week’s episode of Pushing Daisies:

- a cup pie (a single serve pie with honey baked crust)
- more musical numbers perfectly placed in television shows
- to be a mermaid or to wear the mermaid costume that Olive wore (can I look that good too?)
- to make a pop up book
- all of Chuck’s wardrobe pieces in my closet
- and more Paul Reubens in future episodes!

p.s. Bakespace.com has designated a special site to recipes honoring the fictional Pie Hole. And look there’s a recipe for Cup Pies! I love it!

Keys Me

Okay, this is so hilarious. I can't even stand it! Pure genius.

Thanks to my wonderful co-worker Thanh I can provide you with this brilliant performance of Keys Me.

Project Runway 4 - Episode 2 - Sarah Jessica Parker

After a week of wondering which "fashion icon" would guest on today's episode, Tim Gunn introduces the remaining 14 designers to Sarah Jessica Parker. I myself was shocked when the actress made her appearance. Chris March wept in the presence of the "Sex and the City" star who was as famous for being the lead in the HBO series as she was for dressing in designer duds in each episode. At least the Project Runway fashion icon for this season is a real person and not a toy like the Barbie doll.

The challenge was to pair up with a partner and spend only $15 on materials for a two-piece outfit that could retail for $40 on the Bitten line. Details like this on Project Runway inform the audience about how much of the cost of clothing goes to the labor of the design, not the materials nor the production.

Having the two-person-team episode this early in the season reveals a lot about how the designers esteem one another. There's the top tier of designers, the ones who carry themselves above the indignities of being on a reality show by not exhibiting any extreme emotions or controversial quirks.

The top tier thus far: serene Victorya picks Kevin, Rami (who has immunity) selects Jillian. Recall that Victorya and Rami were in the top two last week.

The middle tier with the quieter contestants: blonde Kit takes the weeping Chris, Marion pairs up with Steven.

The wacky ones: emotional lingerie designer Ricky goes with tall-dark-and-handsome Jack. I'd put Jack on the middle tier, but Ricky Lizalde keeps crying! Not a meltdown under stress a la Andrae from PR3, mind you. Ricky cries during his interviews!

Also wacky is the asymmetrically-hairstyled Christian. He picks as his partner ex-model Carmen, who'll spill tears of her own on the runway. Multimedia artist Elisa is left with Sweet P and she declares that's who she wanted all along.

Elisa continues to shock the audience. In this week's episode we learn that she spits on the fabric as a way of marking it and because "I want to imbibe it with energy..." Now that we're all grossed out and biased against her, I took a peek at Elisa's bio on the official Project Runway website. Guess what?

Vogue discovered Elisa and acknowledged her as the forefront of the new avant-garde, as well as one of the top 10 American Designers in the independent realm. (all boldface mine)

The bio also says Elisa's celebrity work includes Sarah Jessica Parker and "Sex and the City." Ugh, I'm getting frustrated with how seasoned and well-established this season's designers are! I feel manipulated... but I keep watching anyway.

This week's winner is Victorya. The judges love the shirt dress and the unusual vest she executed with Kevin. Surprise second-placers are Elisa and Sweet P. Despite all indications to the contrary, the polymorphic dress and the cape are beautiful pieces that drape very well. But now I know to expect more from the avant-garde Elisa who's already one of the top designers in the country, apparently.

Marion and Steven's potato sack of a dress -- or was it a top and skirt? -- and Christian and Carmen' overly-retro dress and jacket invoke two great quotes from Michael Kors this week (see below).

The last two designers on the runway are Christian and Marion. And the Project Runway judges consistently boot off the designer with the poor construction -- Marion. They can tolerate a badly designed dress, but not a badly sewn one.

My favorite quotes:

• "Fashion shouldn't be a luxury and quality shouldn't be a privilege." - Sarah Jessica Parker
• "Basically I'm on planet Earth and Elisa is on some happy planet, I'm not sure of the name." - Sweet P
• "It looks a bit costume-y, like Pocahontas..." - Michael Kors about Marion & Steven's dress
• "Next thing you know, you have big button earrings and you're on 'The Facts of Life'!" - Michael Kors about the dress by Christian & Carmen

Chuck Versus Moi

I enjoyed Chuck last night. The last two episodes actually have been quite enthralling. I tried to watch this program a few times before and it seemed to lose air after 10 minutes. But the addition of Rachel Bilson (of "The OC" fame) and Chuck's further involvement in spy games and infatuation with co-spy Sarah proves to be giving the show more energy.

This whole show really rests on Chuck- Zachary Levi- he has to pull this geek sitcom/spy game/drama off. Lots of pressure considering the action sequences are all low budge, his co-stars are a bit lackluster and there's really no spyish international travel. Maybe they can take Chuck out of LA? But I guess you have the whole geek squad element at the Buy More store and that's what makes everything work. And if Chuck's brain offers more dangerous and humorous exploits with NSA agents Sarah Walker, Major John Casey and Bryce the show will get more entertaining. Maybe they could turn the tables on us? Maybe there's another rogue agent in the mix?

If this makes another season I think the show will really flourish. I find that you have to have some imagination with these network shows as they don't take a lot of risk in production design or in depth story in the first run. Everyone seems to be so scared of audience loyalty and ratings so they go soft on good humor or dramatic storyline.

Unfortunately I've missed some episodes, maybe I can catch on Comcast On Demand. Or would that be breaking the rules of my online media boycott?

Project Runway 4 premieres!

Hey, there! I'm a friend of Juls and though she and I may have different tastes in television, we both enjoy watching it. I'll be guest blogging about the latest season of Bravo's fashion reality show Project Runway.



This new season I'm a little irked that many of the contestants have established careers. Like Rami, who's already worked with Jessica Alba. I resented Jeffrey Sebelia, winner of Project Runway 3, for being in a different league than everyone else that season.

The first episode of any reality show is always the most crowded one, but...

Who I like so far: Kevin, for boasting about being straight... Sweet P, because I saw a photo of her years ago in a magazine from back when she designed flowery wallpaper...

Who I like to dislike: 21-year-old Christian, the egotistical guy with the asymmetrical haircut and whiny tone of voice... lingerie designer Ricky, who almost cried when talking about Project Runway and LIFE... Elisa, the wacky multimedia artist and "accidental fashion designer"...

My favorite quotes:

• "I think there's some hand-sewn crap up in here!" - Christian
• "M. O. B. Mother of the bride." - Michael Kors
• "Her model looked like she was pooing fabric." - Heidi

The challenge was to create a garment that says who you are as a designer using whatever you could grab from $50,000 worth of Mood fabrics arrayed in tents you had to race to. The winner was that highly experienced Rami (ugh, just what we need -- a frontrunner from the get-go).

And I was surprised that the judges got rid of Simone for her poorly constructed dress instead of fish-out-of-water Elisa who got her model tangled up in the overly conceptual blue dress. But that gives us next week's episode to see how she'll embarrass herself next.

the receding hills

I was so very disappointed in the last Hills episode. I mean the tease for the new episode was a real shocker. I mean, Lauren said to Heidi, "I want to forgive you and forget you." Wow. But for some reason seeing it in the flesh - on the air- didn't do it for me.

I think this feud between LC and Heidi has lasted long enough. They really need to make up for the sake of the show. I've lost interest. The drama has only exacerbated my never ending headache this week and left me tired and ready for bed.

Although I really enjoy all the behind the scenes segments of the fashion shows. And seeing Marc Jacobs on the previous episode was kind of cool. But didn't you think Lauren's reaction to meeting him was just a bit muted. I mean, it's her "favorite" designer and she barely managed a peep. Audrina is the same way at all her music shows and around the bands. Show some enthusiasm girls!

Okay, just a note to go on record to say that The Hills has lost its magic.

TV's Greatest Icons

TV Land and Entertainment Weekly magazine released a list today of "The 50 Greatest TV Icons.” I only take issue with #49. But I so agree that Lucille Ball got #2. If you don’t know she’s my idol.

I guess this is all part of a TV special airing this Friday night on TV Land. I may Tivo it although I’m not for these types of shows.

If you’re wondering about Lucille Ball – she was only the pioneer of the 3-camera setup in the American sitcom and was a fabulous writer and director. And she was the first woman to run her own studio. She was before her time. And I fell in love with her when I was 12 years old. I told my mom I wanted to meet her and then she died a few years later.

prevent-it.ca

I saw this Canadian PSA on Attack of the Show on G4. OMG! This is crazy! Watch with caution.

that's right ladies! march!

So it's just getting worse! The Office is closed, Keifer has to go to jail and LOST will be just that at the start of the new year. And I really feel that up here in SF there's nothing that I can do. It's simply hilarious that The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers claims they can't track "new media." I mean what does that mean? I can track every single hit and move on my measly blog through Google Analytics. I'm sure that when ABC.com streams a show they aren't just showing those ads for kicks.

I've thought about the idea of abstaining from programming on new media sources. I don't own any DVDs of TV shows except for The Office (British version) which I think is in the hands of one of my husband's coworkers. I haven't downloaded a TV program off iTunes in about 4 months. And...there's not much I want to watch on the web streaming from the networks. Although I will admit it's my last ditch effort to catch up on TV shows I forgot to Tivo. So I guess officially TODAY I'll abstain from watching TV programming online, on DVDs and iTunes.

Some of you may feel the other way around. You're thinking - Why don't we watch the new media to prove to the industry that the medium is critical and easy to track? I've thought about this and you know I think they already know this. So I'm betting on supporting the writers. I'll stick to the tube for now.

2005 Review

I’ve just escaped a month of pouring over 2005 receipts…don’t ask or they will come after you as well. 2005 was a busy year…I produced one show about Venice in Vegas, another about a secret government fortress, a thrilling one about the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, and yet another volcano science show and at the tail end of that same year completed my first docudrama. It’s no wonder I ended up at the end of the year passed out at an undisclosed location in a quiet retreat with no speaking, TV or cell phones.

So I’m glad 2005 is behind me. Kind of…so I started thinking about TV in general in the wonderful year of 2005. What fantastic shows did the TV gods give to us that year?

In 2005, we got …

- The American version of The Office (but the British is still better I think- more subtle)

- Weeds premiered on Showtime (I watched it for the 1st time in 2006 thanks to the DVD set),

- The Colbert Report (really this gives Jon Stewart a run for his money),

- Grey’s Anatomy (I just gave this dirty habit up, Meredith’s sad pathetic life lasted a season for me)

Some DUDS that are now thank goodness behind us…

- Fat Actress (who really watched this?)

- Britney & Kevin: Chaotic (really, so sad)

- Taradise (I mean how can you compare her to Paradise??)

Some DUDS that aren’t behind us BUT should be…

- Dancing with the Stars (I have no interest in watching people dance)

- Battlestar Galactica (my husband will kill me for this)

- How I Met Your Mother (um, why?)

Okay, that’s enough…just a trip down memory lane. Did I miss one people?

Holy Crap!

"Tuesday afternoon, the AP reported that Fox's "Back to You" and "'Til Death," ABC's "Desperate Housewives," and CBS' "Rules of Engagement" will stop production and go on hiatus because of the Hollywood writers' strike. The annoucements came a day after the late night comedy shows -- including those of Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel -- went into reruns."

Not DH! I can live without the...wait...are those really shows on television? Back to you...'Til Death..sounds like old sitcoms from the 70's. Oh wait, they are!?

Anyway, this is a real drag! They are predicting a real marathon between the producers and writers. And I thought TV was boring right now, I'm getting ready to turn it off soon. Shoot, back to DVDs and reading books! Scratch that on the DVDs, not sure if the writers get their share on those. What shows can you NOT live without?

didn't i say i loved Tina Fey!

WRITER'S BLOCK

Oh man, this is bad!

"Producers said writers were not willing to compromise on their major demands. Writers said they withdrew a proposal to increase their share of revenue from the sale of DVDs that had been a stumbling block for producers. They also said the proposals by producers in the area of Internet reuse of TV episodes and films were unacceptable."

Well polished scripts, monologues,and dialogue- its the foundation for GOOD TV. Please PRODUCERS bend your ways, give in, I hear you only pay pennies per DVD! And this doesn't sound too good...

"The strike is the first walkout by writers since 1988. That work stoppage lasted 22 weeks and cost the industry more than $500 million."

tuck it in a bit

I thoroughly enjoyed the season premiere of Nip/Tuck on FX Tuesday evening. Wow, talk about a 180. Last season was so dark and sluty. So glad they've opened this one with some humor and human struggle.

As Christian and Sean grapple with their new market- LA- I will love watching them overcome the obvious obstacles- market saturation, fame, Hollywood, and Hollywood women. And it was great to see Sean be the hot one, instead of Christian always stealing the scene!

Fun stuff. Let's just pray for less gratuitous nudity- because you know I'm not a fan. And more actual depth in storyline and character development.