Be still, my beating heart...

Something tells me there may be a 4th season of Slings and Arrows! Or I'm just starting a big rumor. But why else would the Sundance Channel air a marathon of Seasons 1-3 on New Years day. Maybe there's more to come.

I was going to give you all a big list of my favorite TV shows of 2007 but upon this discovery of this marathon I'm declaring my one and only favorite TV show of 2007- Slings and Arrows. I discovered it in 2007 (I know way late) and then watched all the seasons by mid year. I would be so happy to see this show come back for another round. Please, please, pretty please!

Also, for those of you don't get the Sundance Channel you can rent the entire series run on DVD through Netflix. I promise you won't be disappointed with this well crafted comedic/drama satire.

Good news for the New Year!

Sick on the couch today I was happy to see this news alert. The ultimate funny man is coming back to late night TV with his writers in tow! What a man! I knew there was a reason I spent the night on the streets of San Francisco when you came for a visit my freshman year of college. I finally forgive you for giving my stand by ticket to Joe Montana!

Seriously though, thanks Mr. Letterman for being fair to the writers. You're the best and CBS will be the best in late night thanks to you.

all i want for christmas...

are my TV shows to come back! And the writer's strike to come to a beautiful end negotiation.

Ali G is dead

So very sad.
I was really hoping for a new and improved Ali G movie. But I here Bruno is coming to theaters soon.

I dig to get jiggy wiv that.

i was so very wrong

Oops I got it wrong! Nick pulled it out. I hear Patti's pissed!

My Clash with the Choirs

I'm going to take a wild guess here and predict that Patti LaBelle's choir is going to win tonight on Clash of the Choirs on NBC. If you have no idea what I'm talking about- no worries- no need to tune in. I did it for you on Monday night.

I've got to say these celebrities are very enthusiastic about their choirs, they almost had me fooled. All of their smiling and crying didn't rub off on me. I tried to watch the 2nd episode on Tuesday night and I couldn't stomach it. I felt like I was turning into my mom about music. She used to say in the car when I listened to the radio, "turn off all that yelling." My mom was never one for singing. But she did like the Beatles, I'll give her that. So I didn't actually want to say, "turn off all that yelling" but I actually did and turned off the tube and it made me sad.

The one highlight from Monday night was Patti LaBelle's choir - they were absolutely amazing with their voice work. Here's a clip. When they did the thing at the end where they threw back their "ohs" and "ahs" I was dancing in my living room. Okay, for a second.

My Comcast cable service actually crapped out for the 5 minutes where Michael Bolton's choir performed. So unfortunate as I was really looking forward to making fun of it. I didn't see my DH pal Nicole in the audience supporting her man. Come on Nicole, you don't like over hyped TV shows with choirs singing oldies but goodies with terrible dance moves. I don't blame you.

So remember I called it will be Patti's choir. It just can't be any other way.

Another Sci Fi show bites the dust

For you Sci Fi lovers that I’ve grown to love…big news yesterday out of the USA Network. They’ve decided not to bring back The Dead Zone after six seasons (a truly sad day for Anthony Michael Hall), and The 4400 after 4 seasons.

I got sucked into The 4400 vortex last season with my husband and like I’ve said before it was much better than Heroes. More depth in storytelling, better acting, story arcs paid off for the viewer, etc. Anyway, it just didn’t have the budget frills of its network competitor. I mean poor NTAC agent Diana Skouris and her blue turtlenecks and black blazers. The show really did need a makeover when it came to set design and costume.

I am glad that The Dead Zone is finally laid to rest. That show went on for way too long and never delivered the Apocalypse it promised in Season One.

What I’m Watching Part 2

Well the writer’s strike is still going strong and no quality television is on the horizon. I’ve made my to do list which is pretty pathetic. I really can’t find anything to watch. I WANT MY CHUCK, PD, DH, THE OFFICE, and 30 ROCK!

It’s a bit telling that the network’s websites point you to their new selling DVDs or full episodes online. I will not bend or compromise on this. I wonder what numbers they are pulling in with people watching online episodes, would be interested to know. They are also promoting 6-night events on their front pages. Wow, when was the last time anyone watched a 6-night event. I’ve never looked at the TV week lineup and literally found nothing that interests me. So my list this week goes down to a mere 5 shows! Eek!

1. Hard As Nails, HBO at 8pm- This looks intense and a must see as the Church in America relating to the Youth of America is always a hot debate in my house.

2. Clash of Choirs, NBC at 8pm- This is only so I can write a scathing review of this show. I don’t get it now and I don’t think the show will convince me that we somehow have to believe that Nick Lachey and Michael Bolton (yes you heard right) are really “celebrity choir directors.” Don’t you just love how TV comes up with these titles?!

3. NBC is airing Clash of the Choirs again Tuesday tonight and every night this week, so sad! I think I’ll watch the scandalous new Nip/Tuck episode on FX at 10pm.

4. The Tuesday night reality staple- The Desperate Housewives of Orange County, Brave at 10pm. The girls are going to SD!

5. Okay, I don’t have a #5. Isn't it sad that my list has petered out at Tuesday night? I might just turn off the tube and finish wrapping presents and make mulled cider again with a jigger of rum! Can you make a suggestion?

Things are heating up…

So I’m a bit behind on TV with all these merry holiday parties. I woke up tired this morning to a flashing headline in my email box (which I missed yesterday) about the writer’s strike. Holy crap the WGA has filed charges against the AMPTP. I guess the WGA feels that they were treated unfairly last week, so unfairly that they believe that the AMPTP violated federal law. Go writers!

Man, of course, this news only leads to a more depressing 2008 January TV season show lineup. But you know what, I can’t be selfish any longer. I’d rather have the TV and movie industry start taking the Internet more seriously and pony up the cash to the people hard at work.

On another non-scripted subject... I was able to catch THE PAPER the other night. This was a PBS Independent Lens production. I revved up the Tivo and pushed play thinking that I’d get bored quickly and take a nap on the couch. But I was riveted. Penn State’s Daily Collegian has one of the largest distributions for a college newspaper- 20,000 people. Wow. But as this doc starts they are losing their audience- down to 15,000. The college newspaper made up entirely of students has to get people reading their paper and fast.

The doc portrays the newsroom as thrilling, challenging, and even threatening as they strive to win back their readership. I was so impressed by the commitment level of the student reporters and editors. I mean, what was I doing in college? Only a couple student projects- I didn’t have to tackle issues of diversity, violence towards women and sports bullies when I did my little measly video projects. Kudos to these students and I’m sure they are moving on to better things at newsrooms across America. Oh, wait readership is down with national newspapers too. Well, I’m sure they will figure it out in the digital age.

Don't be as bitter as Pete Wentz

Today, the Golden Globe award nominations were announced. Glad to see my peps representing. I’ve downsized it below giving you the TV winners. j/k I really don’t know, but you compare this list to the winners on January 13th and you will drop your cocktail at your fancy Hollywood party.

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

MAD MEN (AMC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

EDIE FALCO – THE SOPRANOS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

MICHAEL C. HALL – DEXTER

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

PUSHING DAISIES (ABC)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL

TINA FEY – 30 ROCK

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

RICKY GERVAIS – EXTRAS

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE (HBO)

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD – AS YOU LIKE IT

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

ADAM BEACH – BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED – KNEE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

ANNA PAQUIN – BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED - KNEE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

KEVIN DILLON – ENTOURAGE

mutant mice

A mouse that doesn't smell fear? A mutant mouse! But I still don't understand why the cat isn't afraid of the mouse? I guess I've been confused about this cat and mouse game my whole life. I thought that the cat wanted to eat the mouse, I didn't think it was just because the mouse was scared of it. My whole paradigm has shifted now.

Project Runway 4 - ep. 5 - Everyday Women

Tonight's challenge: to design a new look for an everyday woman who's just lost a lot of weight. These women would be the designers' client and model. They lost anywhere from 50 lbs. to 140 lbs. each. It's a clever challenge that incorporates aspects of what's worked in previous seasons: making new clothes out of old clothes, using "normal" women as models, designing for a client.

But this episode will be most remembered for a never-before-happened event. Jack voluntarily leaves Project Runway! This storyline has been teased to us for three episodes. Though spoilers are all over the Internet, tonight was the episode where he quits. Jack, who's HIV-positive, developed an infection that required him to seek medical treatment. Last week's losing designer Chris March gets a second chance. He's brought back to take Jack's vacated space and embarrasses himself by continuing to design costumes.

Chris March's design, a blue top over a black skirt with red trims, is hideous enough to elicit two of my favorite quotes this episode:























"It's a little Shirley MacLaine when she played a hooker with a heart of gold." - Michael Kors
"That was so Paris hooker 50's." - Michael Kors

The judges had to select between Kevin's and Christian's designs. I like both designers and Christian ends up winning. His design not only fit his client/model very well, it was also praised for being "commercial" in its look. Significantly, the guest judge was the head designer from Gap Inc., someone who knows the value of a commercial look for normal, everyday people.

Let me have my fun!

Sorry for the grouchy post yesterday but I did only watch the worst show on TV! Okay I'll try to get over it...

After falling a bit out of love early in the season with The Hills I was actually surprised to be quite taken with the finale on Monday night. I was rooting for LC to go to Paris and for Heidi to walk out on Spencer. And for Audrina to well, not sure, maybe have a self-respecting relationship? Anyway, it was good times. But then during the after show, LC announced the “announcement” that we had been waiting for all night. Um, it was a let down. She could finally announce that there were eight more surprise episodes of The Hills and they would include her jaunt to Pare-Ree. I was really hoping for “Brody and I are getting married,” or “I’m coming out with my own fashion line.” Some superfluous statement would be better than a blatant promotion of this fake show that I’ve come to love.

Another thing that is chapping my hide is this business where all the tabloids and fame monger bloggers keep running articles on the episodes not aired yet. Showing us LC’s new boy toy in Paris or giving us details into Heidi and Spencer’s alleged reunion. Will you stop it already! I know it’s fake, I know it’s contrived, let me enjoy it damn it! (sorry still grouchy!)

I'm Not Going Down This Road...

So beware my friends, there's a show called October Road on Monday nights at 10pm that is the worst TV show on- not just right now- but ever. This show wasn't on my to do list this week but I happened to catch it because I was avoiding everything else I should be doing. I actually saw an episode from the 1st season and it only stunk moderately but I'm here to report that the stench from this drippy hopeless TV drama has only increased in its 2nd season.
And I have to hold my fingers over my nose and close my mouth tight so not to let in these irritating characters with their unreal town and boring moral dilemmas.

The worse thing about this show is the dialogue- it is not real. And it's not even basic real TV dialogue. It's almost like they are making it bad on purpose (as an evil joke) or someone thinks they are creating this world of new dialogue. People will never talk in complete sentences back and forth completely making sense at all times. So please- stop creating characters in TV and film that do.

Anyway, I must tell you why this really is the worst TV show ever. I tuned in last week and heard the names of the twins boys fathered by Ray "Big Cat" Cataldo, a hopeless character on this show. Anyway his children are named...Jasper and Casper. Yes, you heard me right..someone on TV named their twin children Jasper and Casper. And that person is a cat with a friendly ghost and a gem for sons. I should have turned off the TV right then and there and cancelled my cable subscription. I mean, really-terrible-this thing called TV is sometimes and I'm even more embarrassed that I wasted an hour or more (well, really sped through both episodes with Tivo) of my life on this show.

I guess ABC had these episodes lying around and due to an empty pantry they thought they would unleash us into this town nicknamed the "Ridge" with hopeless plot lines that run in circles. Please do not watch this, I've done the work for you. Please make it my Christmas present. But please put a pretty bow on it and bring me a cocktail too.

What I'm Watching

So I hear there's still no resolution on the writer's strike. Thus, TV is really getting boring.

Here's 10 shows I'm watching this week...with or without the writers in tow.

1. Tin Man on Sci Fi, I'll watch the encore presentation (fancy word for re-runs), my husband was enthralled by this last week and I need to give it another go.

2. Sand and Sorrow - 10:30pm TONIGHT on HBO- Documentary about crisis in Darfur with the honorable George Clooney taking us there in narration.

3. The Hills- Season 3 finale- 10pm- TONIGHT. Okay so we all know what decision LC is going to make, but it's still fun to watch the drama unfold.

4. The Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo this Tuesday at 10pm. This stinks like a dirty habit, not as good as last season but of course I need to watch a few more episodes to make an educated decision where or not to purge it.

5. Nip/Tuck on FX this Tuesday at 10pm. I'm one episode behind on this one, I think I must be getting bored with the boys in LA.

6. The Paper on Independent Lens on PBS this Tuesday at 11pm. Behind the Scenes at a University paper! The job I never had, sniff, sniff. I think this will probably make me dream of starting over and going to a very liberal East Coast college where I can drum up stories filled with high ideals and stay up late making posters for protests in the quad. And learn when to use run-on sentences.

7. Pushing Daisies on ABC this Wednesday at 10pm. Need I say more? I'm just glad there's another new episode.

8. The Real World: Sydney- Wednesday at 10pm on MTV. OMG! OMG! KellyAnne may be preggers! Not! Made you watch!

9. 30 ROCK on NBC, Thursday at 9:30pm. Glad this one is still in business for now.

10. The extra special Extras episode on HBO on Sunday, December 16th. this is the series finale, cry, cry, sniff, sniff, so upsetting. But all good things must come to an end. I love you Ricky Gervais. Your the 2nd funniest man in my life.

Divine Unions

I stumbled upon Season Two of Iconoclasts last year on the Sundance Channel and thank goodness.

I have to be honest I had never heard of an Iconoclast, it certainly had never entered my vocabulary. According to Wikipedia- an iconoclast is a

* A person who performs iconoclasm, destruction of a culture's religious symbols.
* An innovator.
* One who attacks cherished beliefs.

For the sake of this distinguished series we are choosing the idea of an innovator. Although some may argue the guests on the series have from time to time destructed a culture’s religious symbols or attacked cherished beliefs. Anyway, the series pairs up two innovators or visionaries in separate fields of industry or worlds and allows us a pretty deep look into their lives.

Last year I caught the Laird Hamilton and Eddie Vedder episode. As some friends know, I went through a big grunge phase (that unfortunately lasted way too long) so of course I was drawn to this episode. And I mean, Laird Hamilton, he is a dreamy surfer and I am a California girl. So I was hooked. I think I watched the episode 4 times. I loved how the show let me into these men’s lives, I was able to meet their families, meet their politics and their creative process. Sometimes with the pairings it can be somewhat of a collision but most of the time it’s a beautiful union.

Other episodes of highlight were Quentin Tarantino and Fiona Apple. They journeyed through Austin, TX together in the episode, one of my favorite American cities. And even though Tarantino is one of my favorite directors but not one of my favorite people I loved every minute. Another good one was Paul Simon and Lorne Michaels.

So I have embraced Season Three this fall. I recorded about 3 episodes and had a marathon the other night. If you haven’t tuned in to this fabulous series please do. You can watch some clips here.

The Mike Meyers and Deepak Chopra episode was enlightening. Or so they think they are enlightened- which Chopra says “is lightening up.” In that case I’m going to work on this. Anyway I don’t necessarily adopt all the spiritual laws that Chopra dictates in his books but I loved the way that Meyers and Chopra connected humor to the soul.

Then I watched the Ashley Judd and Madeleine Albright episode and I was deeply saddened. This episode was disjointed and I think Judd was overacting or something. I didn’t understand why these two women should or were connect/ed. I think they were trying to hard and I think Angelina Jolie must have been their first choice.

Thankfully, the Norman Lear (TV Producer) and Howard Shultz (Starbucks CEO) was amazing. Lear is inspiring, this man is in his eighties, fit and trim and still making television. And I even admired Shultz. Even though I only go to Starbucks when someone gives me a gift card.

I didn’t get to watch the Sean Penn and Jon Krakauer episode. I hope Seanny boy doesn’t smoke the entire episode or I’ll beat him with a stick! I’ll record that and let you know how Penn behaved. Probably not well but that’s why I like to watch him.

Picking up their laptops?

Will the TV and movie writers pick up their laptops again? Looks likely, think good thoughts. Today the news everywhere is reporting optimistic talks between the Writers Guild of America and The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

Thank goodness. Yesterday marked a month of striking by the WGA. I was starting to worry about future episodes of LOST, PD and DH. Interesting that this news would occur a night after I broke my fast of not watching TV programming online. Yes, I did the unthinkable, my Tivo missed an episode of something and I had to indulge online. I feel even more guilty as it is a program that I've allegedly purged.

Well, keep your fingers crossed for the WGA.

Project Runway 4 - Episode 4 - making the out in again

FADS! We didn't like them the first time around, but they're bringing them back. Horrible fashion trends such as overalls, baggy sweaters, neon, and shoulder pads!

The designers group themselves into teams of three to create a collection of 3 looks that incorporates all 3 outdated trends, but is relevant and cohesive for today.

The teams:

Jillian, Kevin and Rami - overalls, poodle skirt, 70's flare
Ricky, Elisa and Victorya - neon, cutouts, underwear as outerwear
Jack, Kit, Christian - zoot suit, pleather, fringe
Chris, Sweet P and Steve - shoulder pads, dancewear, baggy sweater

Kevin, Jillian and Rami won. Jack, Kit and Christian were in. These six designers are distinguishing themselves as the upper crust. Jillian has won twice already.

During the show Victorya railroaded Ricky. I thought Ricky was dead meat -- he didn't do well last week. But in the end it was Chris who was out for being a poor leader and for designing a jacket with shoulder pads that still looked trapped in the 80's.

I'm developing a fondness for these designers:

Christian, for being young and cocky. These happen to be the two qualities that made a poor first impression on me, but four weeks into the show and Christian's youth and self-assuredness are endearing.




Sweet P, for being older and plaintive. She's also been able to hold her own with her designs. I cheered for her when Donna Karan praised the dress she designed, an update of the baggy sweater.




Elisa, for being kooky and yet having integrity. Like Sweet P, she also emerged as a blameless member of this challenge's worst half. I'm intrigued by how accomplished she is pre-Project Runway and I expect her to kick ass.



Though I still don't have a favorite that I want to see win.

This episode was all about the conflict between Victorya and Ricky. There was enough going on between the two of them to overshadow all else.

My favorite quote:
"You never know, the judges might die over it. Or they might die because of it." - Christian on Team Ricky's and Team Chris's collections

Unfortunately Michael Kors didn't come up with a memorable quote this episode. I'm disappointed.

parents, forgive me

So I'm posting this personal story today that has nothing to do with TV. Forgive me parents and readers.

So I had a terrible morning, Bobby's car got broken into in our back alley, broken glass and broken dreams. Okay not that dramatic but it is very irritating.

Anyway, so my parents are on a cruise in Mexico, I think they made it to Cabo today. They asked me to change their cat's litter every 3 days. As a cat owner I take this quite seriously so I drove out there this morning even after the break in. I was a bit spooked by the break in of the car at the house so I left right afterwards and decided to take a shower at my parent's house before I went to work.

After taking a shower I was looking for something in the bathroom drawers - a comb or something - and discovered some moist wipes. I thought- "this is perfect for a coffee splash in my car that happened this morning." So i grabbed it and put it in my purse promising to return it later.

I got ready and in the car. Immediately I wiped down the car- deciding to wipe down the entire dashboard and car interior surface. I noticed that it didn't work so well. I looked at the package and to my dismay the outside of the package read...."Medicated Wipes- for hemorrhoidal and vaginal care."

Now mind you this is not what I used it for but now my car smells like a clean butt and it's not making my day. AND I'M ALSO WONDERING WHY MY PARENTS HAVE THIS IN THE GUEST BATHROOM.

SOS on Wisteria Lane

Only on your favorite weekly soap opera could your problems be solved with a white picket fence and a tornado. I mean, I dream of the day where I can literally erase people who are threatening the sanity of my life with a natural disaster.

Desperate Housewives is at its finest when the ladies are literally desperate with their men, their families and friends. Lynette and Susan are a bit whinier these days which is really irritating me. But I love what they have done with storyline/romance of Gaby and Carlos.

The thought of a soap opera like DH may cause you to sigh and gag. But peps don't hate on it. I was raised to NOT watch this stuff but I can't stop. As a youngster when I would come home from a friend's house riddled with Days of Our Lives or Dallas episodes my mother would rant on about how those shows were ruining society and how I was not to watch that trash. For years, I wondered why I was so drawn to them.

The mystery was solved when I noticed that my dear grandmother spent her free time reading trashy romance novels she picked up at the local Goodwill. Her and her sister in Arkansas would actually trade their books, sending large boxes across the country- with books brimming over the top- Romeo's and Juliette's on the cover. See people I tell you- it's in my blood. My mother denied it but I cannot. Love live the soap opera format - it comes in all shapes and sizes. Day time trash, HBO, ABC, AMC, you name it, it’s everywhere and as long as I'm watching you can't get rid of it.