I feel as though the ABC execs kidnapped a genie and used all three wishes on their Fall 08 lineup... I did not think a network channel still had the power to keep me in front of a TV for 3 straight hours on a Wednesday night....and possibly Friday between 9 and 10.... I am writing this without checking out the rest of their schedule, but a pop culture student can only take so much.
Here are some brief comments which should make you commit to watching these shows at least once...you will get hooked.
Private Practice (Grey's Anatomy Spinoff)
Marti Noxon on staff for Prvate Practice is probably one of the best decisions ever made by an exec. Casting my Judging Amy on a hot new --and I stress, well written-- spinoff is more than an early Christmas gift.
Pushing Daisies
I feel, after one episode, that it is filmed like Hitchhiker's Guide and I applaud their different take on what is accepted on the four big networks. In fact, it is so well done (and expertly casted) that I refuse to talk about it in detail for at least a few weeks. Last, but not least, is the fact that Kristen Chenoweth is not only in the cast but sings!
Other shows I am watching right now:
Californication (Showtime)
Weeds (Showtime)
Pushing Daisies (ABC)
Private Practice (ABC)
Women's Murder Club (ABC)
House (Fox)
Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi)
What I am mad at:
SVU (NBC)
Bionic Woman (NBC)
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Brave One Review
I have always believed that state of mind, time of day, and weather play into my reaction to a film. It would be quite dishonest of me to omit the fact that directors and actors also play a strong part in my biases. That said, I went to see The Brave One with Jodie Foster earlier today (the 12:40 show on a crisp, fall-like sunny day). I have been waiting for months to see the latest Jodie film and, being quite a fan of her work, I knew it would be fantastic. I underestimated her- something I never thought possible considering this is Clarice Starling we are talking about.
The trailers provided the audience with the facts that she lost her boyfriend, was beaten almost to death herself by a posse of kids in the park, and decided to take up the long lost art of vigilantism. Going in with this information, I was prepared when the happily engaged couple walked into the tunnel in "Strangers Gate" park only to meet their fate with a lead pipe and a group of amateur filmmaker delinquents. The following scene left me sobbing, there are no other words to describe it. Rivaling the end of Up Close and Personal, the relational editing of the emergency room/ bedroom scene was nothing short of masterful. Placing a Sarah McLachlan song behind it finished it off, guaranteeing a Love Story-esque angst ridden scene. I would call it the best scene in the film without hesitation... so good that you will have to see it, I refuse to describe it in my own words.
As Erica moves through the film, changing into a, "stranger using my legs", the lines between black and white begin to blur for us as well. The audience is brilliantly positioned on both sides of the case, empathizing with both Erica's urge for vigilantism and Detective Mercer's (Terence Howard) code of law abiding justice. I admit, the events leading her to continue on her path are a bit too "afternoon special" for me, but it is nice to see actual justice on the streets of a post- 9/11 New York City. What is also key to note, and will be expanded on with a critical analysis of the film, is the constant focus of the police force for a male vigilante. I was equally unsurprised (and considering the ending, intellectually deflanted), after reading countless film articles on both gender and race studies, that it was an African-American male detective/female predator dynamic.
Overall, I feel that this was a perfect film for the Fall season. With perfect Oscar timing, I think nominations for Foster, director Neil Jordan, and film editor Tony Lawson are almost a given. I agree with many of the critics that the end of the film was the weakest point, but I feel that the message reverberates the underlying feelings in today's society.
The trailers provided the audience with the facts that she lost her boyfriend, was beaten almost to death herself by a posse of kids in the park, and decided to take up the long lost art of vigilantism. Going in with this information, I was prepared when the happily engaged couple walked into the tunnel in "Strangers Gate" park only to meet their fate with a lead pipe and a group of amateur filmmaker delinquents. The following scene left me sobbing, there are no other words to describe it. Rivaling the end of Up Close and Personal, the relational editing of the emergency room/ bedroom scene was nothing short of masterful. Placing a Sarah McLachlan song behind it finished it off, guaranteeing a Love Story-esque angst ridden scene. I would call it the best scene in the film without hesitation... so good that you will have to see it, I refuse to describe it in my own words.
As Erica moves through the film, changing into a, "stranger using my legs", the lines between black and white begin to blur for us as well. The audience is brilliantly positioned on both sides of the case, empathizing with both Erica's urge for vigilantism and Detective Mercer's (Terence Howard) code of law abiding justice. I admit, the events leading her to continue on her path are a bit too "afternoon special" for me, but it is nice to see actual justice on the streets of a post- 9/11 New York City. What is also key to note, and will be expanded on with a critical analysis of the film, is the constant focus of the police force for a male vigilante. I was equally unsurprised (and considering the ending, intellectually deflanted), after reading countless film articles on both gender and race studies, that it was an African-American male detective/female predator dynamic.
Overall, I feel that this was a perfect film for the Fall season. With perfect Oscar timing, I think nominations for Foster, director Neil Jordan, and film editor Tony Lawson are almost a given. I agree with many of the critics that the end of the film was the weakest point, but I feel that the message reverberates the underlying feelings in today's society.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
When "Oops" is Calculated
Ah Britney...love her or hate her, she is all over blogs, news, TV, etc. If you have been living under a rock and managed to miss her MTV VMA performance this past weekend, trust me you missed a major turn in celebrity culture. Brit's opening act comeback performance was the selling point of the VMAs this year and I believe it accomplished what MTV wanted. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but doesn't "fallen celebrity" sell better than "amazing comeback"? In today's society are you going to watch a brilliant performance from a struggling popstar or search for the "train wreck performance"? Obviously if it bleeds (or comes out lathargically lip-synching in a too tight costume) it leads. Could this work for Britney as well as it did, and continues to do, for MTV? I believe so. Is it a coincidence that this year MTV decided to have the performances available on their website for all to watch and watch again, cable subscriber or not? I do not think so. This was a well planned public execution orchestrated by a channel desperate for ratings. The bottom lines:
1. "Gimme More" is an incredible single that plays extremely well in the clubs.
2. The public will rush out for the newest Spears CD in November when it drops; if for any other reason than to hear it first hand so they can reference it at the watercooler.
3. We love a successful underdog story as much as we love someone in the public eye spiraling downward.
Will I be in line for her CD? Yes. Hey, you can't turn away from a good possible comeback... especially at the cheap price of $9.99 and a little bit of your dignity.
1. "Gimme More" is an incredible single that plays extremely well in the clubs.
2. The public will rush out for the newest Spears CD in November when it drops; if for any other reason than to hear it first hand so they can reference it at the watercooler.
3. We love a successful underdog story as much as we love someone in the public eye spiraling downward.
Will I be in line for her CD? Yes. Hey, you can't turn away from a good possible comeback... especially at the cheap price of $9.99 and a little bit of your dignity.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Which Superhero Are You?
Your results:
You are Green Lantern
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
You are Green Lantern
| Hot-headed. You have strong will power and a good imagination.  |
Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...
Which Super Villian Are You?
Your results:
You are Dark Phoenix
Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test
You are Dark Phoenix
| A prime example of emotional extremes: Passion and fury incarnate. |
Click here to take the Super Villain Personality Test
Monday, June 11, 2007
Fandom Basics
Since this is the first post on my new blog, I have decided to christen it with a fun list. Here are the parameters, and I welcome postings of your favorites!
Directions:
Pick your top fandoms, and answer the following questions for each:
1. The first character I first fell in love with:
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't:
4. The character I love that everyone else hates:
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer:
6. The character I would shag anytime:
7. The character I'd want to be like:
8. The character I'd slap:
9. A pairing that I love:
10. A pairing that I despise:
11. Favorite character:
12. Favorite villain:
STARGATE SG-1
1. The first character I fell in love with: Vala
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: the O'Neill
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Sha're
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: the Orici
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Osiris
6. The character I would shag anytime: the Mal Doran
7. The character I'd want to be like: Sam
8. The character I'd slap: any member of the Tollan and the Senator
9. A pairing that I love: Daniel/Vala; Sam/Janet
10. A pairing that I despise: Daniel/Carter
11. Favorite character: tough. very tough. pre-Vala off worlder it is
Martouf. pre-Vala Taur'i it is Sam. post Vala it is, well, Vala.
12. Favorite villain: system lord: Ba'al.
The X-FILES
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Mulder
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Reyes
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: the Gunmen
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Marita...or Hottchek
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: X
6. The character I would shag anytime: think First Person Shooter...
7. The character I'd want to be like: Scully
8. The character I'd slap: Kirsch
9. A pairing that I love: Mulder/Scully
10. A pairing that I despise: Mulder/Diana
11. Favorite character: Dana Katherine Scully
12. Favorite villain: the HottChek (Krychek), CSM, and Donnie Pfaster (ooh very scary)
DARK ANGEL
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Max
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Lydecker
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Asha
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Alec
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Logan
6. The character I would shag anytime: Max
7. The character I'd want to be like: Max
8. The character I'd slap: Normal
9. A pairing that I love: Max/Alec
10. A pairing that I despise: Logan/Asha
11. Favorite character: Max...non-Max is TInga
12. Favorite villain: Amesy White
FARSCAPE
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Aeryn
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Braca
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Zhaan
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Grayza
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Shikozu
6. The character I would shag anytime: Aeryn
7. The character I'd want to be like: Crichton...it's the Aurora chair
8. The character I'd slap: the fucking Scarran who tortured my Sebacean
9. A pairing that I love: um hello... Aeryn and Crichton!!!
10. A pairing that I despise: Chiana/Jothie
11. Favorite character: Aeryn
12. Favorite villain: Scorpy my love
BUFFY/ANGEL
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Spike
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Cordelia
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Dawn and Riley
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Faith
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Buffy
6. The character I would shag anytime: Tara (Buffy) Cordelia (Angel)
7. The character I'd want to be like: Cordy (Angel) Willow (Buffy)
8. The character I'd slap: Andrew
9. A pairing that I love: Willow/Tara, Angel/Cordy, Buffy/
Spike, Wes/Fred
10. A pairing that I despise: Willow/Oz, Willow/Kennedy
11. Favorite character: Cordelia/Darla
12. Favorite villain: Spike
FIREFLY
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Inara
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Mal
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Wash
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Jayne
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Zoe
6. The character I would shag anytime: Inara
7. The character I'd want to be like: River
8. The character I'd slap: a Reaver..but it would hurt...a lot
9. A pairing that I love: Mal/Inara
10. A pairing that I despise: Jayne and River
11. Favorite character: Inara
12. Favorite villain: um hello Objects in Space
SVU
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Detective Olvia Benson
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Cragen
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Fin
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Alex Cabot
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Stabler...we are
having issues
6. The character I would shag anytime: Benson
7. The character I'd want to be like: a mix of Benson and Cabot
8. The character I'd slap: Casey
9. A pairing that I love: Livvy and Alex
10. A pairing that I despise: Elliot and Kathy
11. Favorite character: please. air. Benson. sustenance
12. Favorite villain: 1 Police Plaza...it is their fault my people
cannot consummate their relationship without fear of getting fired.
However, it does add to the angst....
L WORD
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Bette...until Helena's season two arrival
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Alice
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Dana
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Jenny...I wish I could be that honest.
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Tina...she lost me at the end of season 1
6. The character I would shag anytime: Helena
7. The character I'd want to be like: Bette
8. The character I'd slap: Tina...as of season 4: Jenny
9. A pairing that I love: Helena/ anyone but Katherine
10. A pairing that I despise: Tina/Henry
11. Favorite character: Helena
12. Favorite villain: Jenny (she keeps teetering)
Battlestar Galactica (new)
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Starbuck
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Tigh
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Chief
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Six
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Lee Adama
6. The character I would shag anytime: Six, Starbuck
7. The character I'd want to be like: Roslin
8. The character I'd slap: Gaius
9. A pairing that I love: Gaius/Six
10. A pairing that I despise: Chief/ Callie
11. Favorite character: tough. Toss between Starbuck and Roslin
12. Favorite villain: These titles are not black and white on this wonderfully gray show. Maybe D'Anna if the Cylons are considered to be villains...granted I do not agree with that belief.
Directions:
Pick your top fandoms, and answer the following questions for each:
1. The first character I first fell in love with:
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't:
4. The character I love that everyone else hates:
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer:
6. The character I would shag anytime:
7. The character I'd want to be like:
8. The character I'd slap:
9. A pairing that I love:
10. A pairing that I despise:
11. Favorite character:
12. Favorite villain:
STARGATE SG-1
1. The first character I fell in love with: Vala
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: the O'Neill
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Sha're
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: the Orici
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Osiris
6. The character I would shag anytime: the Mal Doran
7. The character I'd want to be like: Sam
8. The character I'd slap: any member of the Tollan and the Senator
9. A pairing that I love: Daniel/Vala; Sam/Janet
10. A pairing that I despise: Daniel/Carter
11. Favorite character: tough. very tough. pre-Vala off worlder it is
Martouf. pre-Vala Taur'i it is Sam. post Vala it is, well, Vala.
12. Favorite villain: system lord: Ba'al.
The X-FILES
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Mulder
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Reyes
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: the Gunmen
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Marita...or Hottchek
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: X
6. The character I would shag anytime: think First Person Shooter...
7. The character I'd want to be like: Scully
8. The character I'd slap: Kirsch
9. A pairing that I love: Mulder/Scully
10. A pairing that I despise: Mulder/Diana
11. Favorite character: Dana Katherine Scully
12. Favorite villain: the HottChek (Krychek), CSM, and Donnie Pfaster (ooh very scary)
DARK ANGEL
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Max
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Lydecker
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Asha
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Alec
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Logan
6. The character I would shag anytime: Max
7. The character I'd want to be like: Max
8. The character I'd slap: Normal
9. A pairing that I love: Max/Alec
10. A pairing that I despise: Logan/Asha
11. Favorite character: Max...non-Max is TInga
12. Favorite villain: Amesy White
FARSCAPE
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Aeryn
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Braca
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Zhaan
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Grayza
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Shikozu
6. The character I would shag anytime: Aeryn
7. The character I'd want to be like: Crichton...it's the Aurora chair
8. The character I'd slap: the fucking Scarran who tortured my Sebacean
9. A pairing that I love: um hello... Aeryn and Crichton!!!
10. A pairing that I despise: Chiana/Jothie
11. Favorite character: Aeryn
12. Favorite villain: Scorpy my love
BUFFY/ANGEL
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Spike
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Cordelia
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Dawn and Riley
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Faith
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Buffy
6. The character I would shag anytime: Tara (Buffy) Cordelia (Angel)
7. The character I'd want to be like: Cordy (Angel) Willow (Buffy)
8. The character I'd slap: Andrew
9. A pairing that I love: Willow/Tara, Angel/Cordy, Buffy/
Spike, Wes/Fred
10. A pairing that I despise: Willow/Oz, Willow/Kennedy
11. Favorite character: Cordelia/Darla
12. Favorite villain: Spike
FIREFLY
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Inara
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Mal
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Wash
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Jayne
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Zoe
6. The character I would shag anytime: Inara
7. The character I'd want to be like: River
8. The character I'd slap: a Reaver..but it would hurt...a lot
9. A pairing that I love: Mal/Inara
10. A pairing that I despise: Jayne and River
11. Favorite character: Inara
12. Favorite villain: um hello Objects in Space
SVU
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Detective Olvia Benson
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Cragen
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Fin
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Alex Cabot
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Stabler...we are
having issues
6. The character I would shag anytime: Benson
7. The character I'd want to be like: a mix of Benson and Cabot
8. The character I'd slap: Casey
9. A pairing that I love: Livvy and Alex
10. A pairing that I despise: Elliot and Kathy
11. Favorite character: please. air. Benson. sustenance
12. Favorite villain: 1 Police Plaza...it is their fault my people
cannot consummate their relationship without fear of getting fired.
However, it does add to the angst....
L WORD
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Bette...until Helena's season two arrival
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Alice
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Dana
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Jenny...I wish I could be that honest.
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Tina...she lost me at the end of season 1
6. The character I would shag anytime: Helena
7. The character I'd want to be like: Bette
8. The character I'd slap: Tina...as of season 4: Jenny
9. A pairing that I love: Helena/ anyone but Katherine
10. A pairing that I despise: Tina/Henry
11. Favorite character: Helena
12. Favorite villain: Jenny (she keeps teetering)
Battlestar Galactica (new)
1. The first character I first fell in love with: Starbuck
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Tigh
3. The character everyone else loves that I don't: Chief
4. The character I love that everyone else hates: Six
5. The character I used to love but don't any longer: Lee Adama
6. The character I would shag anytime: Six, Starbuck
7. The character I'd want to be like: Roslin
8. The character I'd slap: Gaius
9. A pairing that I love: Gaius/Six
10. A pairing that I despise: Chief/ Callie
11. Favorite character: tough. Toss between Starbuck and Roslin
12. Favorite villain: These titles are not black and white on this wonderfully gray show. Maybe D'Anna if the Cylons are considered to be villains...granted I do not agree with that belief.
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