Must See TV?

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The network TV “upfront” presentations wrapped up yesterday in New York, thus the new fall schedules have been announced for the 2013/2014 season.  As soon as I remove the black armband I’ve been wearing in protest of ABC’s cancellation of Happy Endings, I’ll work up some enthusiasm for the highly anticipated new and returning shows.

This time last year I wrote a blog about which new series I was most excited for heading into the 2012/13 TV season.  For FOX I picked The Mindy Project.  I have, indeed, enjoyed it immensely and the network announced that they are bringing it back next year. Yea Mindy!  Yea me!

For NBC I chose The New Normal, which went on to win the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy in January.  I stuck with it all season. Although it could get a little preachy from time to time, I was charmed by each episode and even got a little choked up during the finale.  NBC has opted to not renew the show for next year.  Boo!

If I wanted to maintain a shred of credibility I should probably not remind you of my other two must-sees from last year, but I can’t help but be up front about what I thought of the upfronts.  For ABC I chose 666 Park Avenue.  The network only aired 9 of thirteen episodes before yanking it from their schedule.  For CBS I picked — wait for it — Made in Jersey, which was officially cancelled after only two episodes.  Am I the only one who even remembers that show?  I swear that the clips they showed made it look good.

Do I know how to pick ‘em, or what?

But with the new season comes a new crop of televised entertainment and a new chance to pontificate over which ones have piqued my interest.  Let the record show that I attended two of the upfront presentations in person (NBC, The CW), watched two via live web streams (ABC, FOX) and didn’t get an invitation for CBS.  Which is curious because that’s the network which has aired the People’s Choice Awards for the past 40 years.  Go figure.

What follows is in no way meant to be a prediction of potential success; these are merely my personal choices for the new programs which I will be sure to check out come September.  (Besides, I clearly have a really bad track record in predicting potential success.)

NBC:  The Michael J. Fox Show.  MJF is Mike Henry, a New York news anchor who goes back to work after taking five years off to focus on family and his battle with Parkinson’s.  Hilarity ensues.

FOX:  Us & Them.  Based on the hit Britcom Gavin & Stacey, Jason Ritter and Alexis Bledel play the title characters whose families are from different socioeconomic backgrounds.  Hilarity ensues.

ABC:  Trophy Wife. Dreamy, dreamy Malin Akerman is Bradley Whitford’s third, much younger wife.  She battles with three step children and Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden as one of Whitford’s exes.  Hilarity ensues.

CBS:  Mom.  Dreamy, dreamy Anna Faris is a newly sober single mom.  Emmy winner Allison Janney plays her mom.  Hilarity ensues.

CW:  Reign.  Mary Queen of Scots goes to France to marry Prince Francis.  Her ladies-in-waiting/BFFs/mean girls accompany her.  Drama ensues.

There you have ‘em… the new network TV shows I find most intriguing for the 2013/14 season .  Here’s hoping there turns out to be more Mindy Projects in the mix and fewer Made in Jerseys.

Today’s Poll:  Several beloved stars are returning to network TV shows this fall.  Who is your favorite?

Alexis Bledel (FOX)

Allison Janney (CBS)

Michael J. Fox (NBC)

Bradley Whitford (ABC)

Post a Comment (1) 8:44 am on May 17, 2013

New York’s Hottest Club Is…

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I was so sad to read the news yesterday morning that Bill Hader would be leaving Saturday Night Live at the end of the current season, which just happens to be this coming Saturday. He is one of my favorite cast members as of late, mainly due to his portrayal of Stefon, the Weekend Update correspondent that knows everything there is to know about the hot NYC club scene. Hader first introduced us to Stefon Zolesky in a sketch with then host, Ben Affleck, where the two played the Zolesky brothers and pitched coming-of-age movie ideas. But it was on April 24, 2010, that Stefon first took his seat next to Seth Meyers on the Weekend Update set to give his report: “If you’re looking for a good time, look no further: New York’s hottest club is Crease. Club promoter Tranny Oakley has gone all out, and inside it’s just everything: lights, psychos, Furbies, screaming babies in Mozart wigs, sunburnt drifters with soapsuds beards…It’s that thing where a hobo becomes a rich man, so they take the big bubble bath.” WHAT?! Whether you understood it, didn’t understand it, loved it or hated it, you have to admit that every report by Stefon invoked hearty belly laughs, instant replays and watercooler discussions. I, for one, hope that Hader, and Stefon’s co-creator John Mulaney, decide to bring the character to the big screen, as many former SNL characters have done before. Let’s talk about our favorites, shall we?

The Blues Brothers - This 1980 flick starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd has been dubbed the best of the SNL-inspired films by many a critic. The characters, Jake and Elwood Blues, had not only received fame on TV but via a hit album and touring act, making the movie a sure bet. Things got a little complicated, however, during filming (Belushi’s drug problem didn’t help matters) and the movie became one of the most expensive comedies ever made. But, with guest stars including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and James Brown, the film was able to walk away with a cool $115 million in worldwide ticket sales.

Wayne’s World – Based on the SNL characters Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar, 1992′s Wayne’s World made Mike Myers and Dana Carvey household names and introduced a new generation to the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody”. The movie, which basically centered around a bunch of one-liners from the comedy duo, also launched the career of Tia Carrere and made Rob Lowe cool again. The movie spawned a sequel in 1993. While it has its fans – myself included, SCHWING! – critics claimed that following two people around in their mother’s basement does not a good movie make.

A Night at the Roxbury – Will Ferrell can do no wrong in my eyes which is why this film, even though it lacks a certain level of maturity, still counts as an SNL inspired favorite for me. In the 1998 flick, Ferrell and Chris Kattan play two creepy, pushy guys whose sole purposes in life is to get girls to dance with them in nightclubs. Funny in a 3 minute sketch on TV? Yes. Funny in a 90-minute movie? Not so much, but it still makes me giggle to imagine them bumping unsuspecting women back and forth between then and then not understanding why said women choose to find company elsewhere. Roxbury marked Ferrell’s first starring role in a movie and, as we all know, the actor has achieved much box office success since. Kattan, however, hasn’t been as lucky.

Superstar – Thinking of Mary Katherine Gallagher, star of  numerous SNL skits and 1999′s Superstar just makes me laugh. Molly Shannon played to perfection the Catholic high-school girl who tried to fit in, but always fell – literally fell – short. Gallagher was notorious for making uncomfortable situations even worse by smelling her armpits, or falling through a table, all while trying to win the affections of Sky Corrigan (Will Ferrell’s high-school character). Critics blasted the movie for its cringe-worthiness, but at least Shannon can take credit for being the first, before the likes of Sacha Baron Cohen, to make you cringe in your seat while watching.

Here’s hoping Stefon is seen on the big screen soon, telling us about the latest hot spot, like he did on the December 10, 2011 episode of SNL: “If you’re ordinary or love salt, I’ve got just the spot for you. New York’s hottest holiday club is BAAAAAAA-BAANAM. Opened and condemned in 1904, this seasonal psycho ward is the creation of Hanukkah cartoon character Menorah the Explorer, and this place has everything: Kiwis, Spud Webb, Clio Awards, some guy’s mom, plus a special showing of the African holiday classic A Fish Called Kwanza.”

Which of these movies based on SNL skits is your favorite?
The Blues Brothers
A Night at the Roxbury
Superstar
Wayne’s World

Post a Comment (0) 9:13 am on May 16, 2013

Angelina Jolie: Shares Her Story, Inspires Women Everywhere

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It’s all about Angie this week. And not in a silly leg-meme kind of way, but in a very real and powerful way. She sent the media into a frenzy by revealing yesterday morning through an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times that she elected to have a double mastectomy as a preventive measure against breast cancer. If you hadn’t already heard, here’s some background: Apparently her mother had passed away after a ten year battle with the illness, and for years she lived under the cloud of the very real possibility that she too may develop cancer. Her children have often asked her if she will suffer the same fate as their grandmother, which is a very real fear for them to have to face. Through a simple blood test that modern science has made possible, doctors were able to determine that she is, in fact, highly likely to develop breast cancer due to the fact that she has a “faulty” BRCA1 gene, which can be a precursor to both breast and ovarian cancer. In Angie’s case, she is 50% a to develop ovarian cancer, and a shocking 87% likely to develop breast cancer. Armed with that information, she made a very bold and undoubtedly very difficult decision to have a double mastectomy to ensure that she would be around for her kids for years to come and not suffer the same demise as her mother unfortunately had. Of course, it’s no guarantee, but when faced with a staggering 87% chance of developing a severe illness, she made a choice with which I can certainly empathize.

As a woman, I am in awe of her bravery and applaud her decision to undergo the procedure. And as if that wasn’t difficult enough, she shared her story with the world in hopes of inspiring other women to get tested and take control of their personal health. To be clear, she is not advocating preventive mastectomies - this was her own personal choice. But she is setting a strong example that it’s better to face your fears and leverage the medical technology that is available to us today. Almost every household in this country is affected by the disease (either directly or through friends and family) and while drastic measures are not always the right answer, educating ourselves and other women is imperative to avoid unnecessary illness, suffering and in the worst case scenario, untimely death.

Now I’ll admit, I wasn’t always Angie’s biggest fan. Back in the days when she wore a vial of blood around her neck and nearly French kissed her brother at the Oscars, I can honestly say I did not like her very much. I also had been known to consider her a home wrecker back when Brad and Jen split up. But boy, has she come a long way since then - so far that I’d bet even Jen harbors less ill will towards her given all the good that she has done in the world. OK, maybe that’s a stretch, but I do believe that she has more than made up for her questionable behavior and has shown the world that she genuinely has the best interests of humanity at heart.

She has adopted not one, but three children from three different countries. She has made it her personal mission to help refugees around the globe after what she saw and learned while filming Lara Croft in Cambodia and later witnessing the shocking conditions at refugee camps in Sierra Leone and Tanzania. Working closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, she was named UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador back in 2001 and has not stopped working towards the betterment of the lives of refugees around the globe. She has clearly made a choice to leverage her notoriety for good, taking every opportunity she can to promote humanitarian causes. She’s formed several charitable organizations and continues to work tirelessly towards improving the lives of people in need in any way she can. She even chose to make her directorial debut a film (In the Land of Blood and Honey) set in Bosnia-Herzegovina to draw attention to the people still suffering from the aftermath of the recent war.

I don’t know about you, but I say that is one admirable lady. All that, and she proactively subjected herself to a traumatic, life changing, painful, aggressive surgery. And rather than keeping it private and moving on with her life, which would certainly have been hard enough to do in itself, she shared her story with the world, opening up about an incredibly personal choice, all with the hope that it will help other women who are struggling with the same reality that she was. If that’s not selfless,  I don’t know what is.

On behalf of women everywhere, I commend you, Angelina, and I hope that you just added decades to your life - for your sake, your family’s sake, and for the sake of all those whose lives you positively affect through your heroic actions.

Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of Angelina Jolie’s roles is your favorite?

Actress
Director
Humanitarian
Mother

Post a Comment (0) 10:43 am on May 15, 2013

Can’t Keep A Good CTU Agent Down: The Return of 24 and Jack Bauer

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And so it has begun! The 2013-14 television season is being birthed in earnest as we recover from last week’s bloody cancellation of over twenty failed shows by the big four (and little one) broadcast networks. They are making way for shinier, newer and hopefully more successful offerings that are to restore our faith in broadcast television again.

Most of the hard decisions were made late last week in a flurry of life affirming pilot pick-ups and deadly swinging of the cancellation axe. By the weekend most people were trying to decide if it was worth watching the series finales of Vegas and Touch or if they should start reading up on Kass Morgan’s The 100 book series since it is now a bona fide show on The CW come this fall.

While I lost two shows I was pulling hard for (I’ll miss you Guys With Kids and Deception!) my grief was very short-lived. I rejoiced when news broke that a show long dead (3 years to be exact) was to be resurrected to live and entertain me another day:  The Jack Bauer Power Hour, aka, 24.

To say I was overjoyed would be an understatement. I squealedlike a teenager. I posted the news on social media to alert the masses that Jack was back (no maybe about it!). Myfriends congratulated me on the return of the show over wihch they knew I was a wee bit unhealthily obsessed. I even called my Dad to let him know that 24 was coming back to television to which his reply was:  ”Good, now we can get Jack Bauer Kiefer instead of Touchy feely Kiefer.”

I know it’s only a  show, but good television can sometimes make or break one’s day. Tell me that during Lost or some other beloved show’s heyday you didn’t wake up in the morning and think to yourself ‘Today’s LOST day!’ and spring out of bed with just a little more pep in your step because you knew that no matter what happened that day, you had an awesome episode of Lost to look forward to that night. No? Really? And you call yourself a TV fanatic.

But seriously, it tells you the state of the television industry when the majority of online opinion about a show being resurrected was ‘Whaaaat? When? Count me in!’ and ‘This is the best idea ever!’  There hasn’t been a show quite like 24 to fill the soap-opera-on-crack void; Homeland has come close, but Carrie Mathieson and Nicholas Brody are no Jack Bauer. FOX, in their infinite wisdom, admit when they’ve made a mistake (much like with the resurrection of Family Guy), and need some juice in their 2013-14 primetime schedule. They moved quickly to appease Kiefer after the cancellation of Touch (and I do mean quickly, the announcement for the return of 24 came 2 hours after the cancellation of Touch) and have decided to bring 24 back as a limited event series for May 2014.

Will it be 24 one hour episodes to comprise a 24 hour day? No, it’ll be 12 episodes.

Will it be in real time? No

Will it have Chloe and Tony and Kim Bauer back? We don’t know (although with Happy Endings cancelled, Elisha Cuthbert IS available)

Do I care about any of the above? No. Well, I’d like Chloe back, but it’s not a deal breaker for me if she doesn’t return’. Unless she’s been killed off. At which point I will be torching all my 24 DVDs.

But it’s too soon to buy the lighter fluid and matches since we don’t know what awaits the CTU faithful in May 2014.  Could be that Renee Walker didn’t’ die after all and she and Jack are gun packing mercenaries for hire or married with a couple of kids. Could be Jack’s trotting around Europe kicking sex traffickers’ butts when Liam Neeson isn’t. Could be Jack is preparing to break his “ride or die” BFF Chloe O’Brien out of prison after she was arrested for aiding his escape from authorities in the final season.  Whatever he’s up to, I can’t wait to find out and hear that ‘beep…boop…beep…boop…’ one more time.

POLL Question: 24 is coming back! what other television show should get a surprise resurrection?

Rome

LOST

Serenity

Law and Order

Dark Angel

Post a Comment (2) 9:10 am on May 14, 2013

The World’s Most Famous Arena

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The sights and sounds of the world’s most famous arena are incomprehensible to those who have never attended. It is the home of the Knicks and Rangers, and has been the stage for some of the greatest performances over the last four decades. From Muhammad Ali and Walt Frazier’s “Fight of the Century” in 1971 to the incredible lineup of artists for the benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the garden attracts the biggest artists and the most memorable performances. Ask anyone who has been there a few times and you will learnit is one of those places that people just never forget. Whether you were sitting in the nose bleeds or standing feet from the stage, everyone has their MSG moment.

For my dad, it was after Ali vs. Frazier II in 1974 (when he ended up in the hospital for a broken nose after sparring with his brother in the line outside of the arena); for my mom, it came during the Grateful Dead’s performance of “Candyman”  87’ (the first concert sheand my dad attended after my brother was born);  and for me, it was January 27th 2007. Beyonce’s  “Irreplaceable” was on top of the charts; Justin Timberlake was bringing sexy back; the Knicks were awful; and a band called O.A.R was about to perform what would later be one of their greatest sets.

I had gotten tickets only a few days before, and at the time, thought I had overpaid. We got to the arena a little early and pushed our way about midway through the mob. Within minutes we were greeted by the opening bars of “Love and Memories” followed closely by “Untitled” and “Hey Girl.” The moment for me didn’t come however, until about an hour in. The band opened with a 5 minute intro, with lyrics no one had ever heard before. People were trying to sing, but even the diehards had no idea what was going on. But then, the guitarist broke into the well-known opening guitar rift to “That was a Crazy Game of Poker,” and the crowd went nuts. My moment lasted for every single second of the rendition. 14 minutes of pure unadulterated MSG ecstasy.

The audience sang every lyric in perfect harmony, and it didn’t stop there. Even after the song ended, the band kept playing, and finished the concert with two ten minute renditions of “52-50” and “City on Down.” As I left the theater though, I was sure it was over. But sometimes, when you are treated to a great performance, the gift just keeps on giving. The band decided to release a recording of that night a few months late which I quickly purchased. To this day,  the CD remains my most played album (a place that will probably last for eternity.)

So there is my favorite moment from the world’s most famous arena. I will be returning to MSG on Tuesday for The Killers, and while I do not anticipate I will have a second moment, hopefully I will be able to see someone around me having theirs.  Please take a moment to write in the comment section with your favorite concert moment, whether or not it was at MSG.

Today’s Poll

Which artist on tour in 2013 is your favorite? 

Beyonce

Bruno Mars

Carrie Underwood

Rihanna

Post a Comment (0) 9:33 am on May 13, 2013

The It-Better-Be-Great Gatsby

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Baz Luhrmann’s take on The Great Gatsby comes out today and I really, really, really want it to be good.  I know…. that’s putting an awful lot of pressure on the tiny but well-toned shoulders of Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan and Tobey Maguire, but I just can’t help it.   I haven’t been this excited about a new movie release since Step Up 2: The Streets.

Why am I so filled with anticipation for this particular flick?  I can think of three really good reasons.  No, make that four.

1.  The source material.  I loved The Great Gatsby when I read the novel in high school and loved it again when I re-read it in my 20s.  I’m also slightly obsessed with the mystique surrounding F. Scott Fitzgerald and his “lost generation” confreres who stumbled drunkenly and fabulously around Jazz Age New York and Paris.  They might have been profoundly unhappy but, boy, did they look good!  (BTW, I’ve never seen the much maligned 1974 movie version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, so I have no comment on that “source material.”)

2.  The director.  Baz Luhrmann has a nearly perfect track record as a director.  I present for consideration the following evidence..

Exhibit A:  Strictly Ballroom.  One of my favorite movies of all time.  Tina Sparkle!  Paso Doble!  The Pan-Pacifics!  If you’ve never seen this little gem, I demand you watch it on demand immediately.  It’s absolutely delightful.

Exhibit B:  Romeo + Juliet.  The movie that made Shakespeare sexy.  Leo + Claire!  Tybalt with a gun!  The soundtrack that includes “#1 Crush” (Garbage), “Lovefool” (The Cardigans) and “You and Me Song” (The Wannadies)!  The dialogue might be from 1591, but the movie is SO 1996.  In a good way.

Exhibit C:  Moulin Rouge.  Eight Oscar nominations don’t lie.  Nicole and Ewan!  John Leguizamo as Toulouse-Lautrec!  “Lady Marmalade”!  Come what may, I will love this movie until my dying day.

 

Exhibit D:  Australia.  Okay, I never saw it. Nobody did.  Whatever.  I said Baz’s track record was nearly perfect.

If nothing else, with Luhrmann at the helm, we can feel confident that The Great Gatsby will be visually stunning and will include a soundtrack chock full of super groovy — albeit anachronistic — tunes.

 

3.  The cast.  They’ve assembled quite the threesome. DiCaprio can basically do no wrong.  I fell in love with Mulligan during her break-through performance in An Education.  Maguire has proven he can do both indies (The Ice Storm) and blockbusters (Spider-Man) with aplomb.   And if the trailer is any indication, a bunch of other very attractive people are also in the film.  Sold.

And…

4.  The delay.  Nothing sparks the ol’ curiosity like a much publicized schedule change.  The movie was supposed to come out last December in time for Oscar consideration, but was moved five months later to the land of Iron Man 3, The Hangover: Part III and Fast & Furious 6.  What gives?

I, for one, plan on finding out later today.

Today’s poll:  The Great Gatsby hits theaters today.  Which of the movie’s stars is your favorite?

Leonardo DiCaprio

Tobey Maguire

Carey Mulligan

Post a Comment (0) 8:01 am on May 10, 2013

Order in the Court!

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Yesterday, America watched the justice system hard at work as it passed down a guilty verdict for Jodi Arias. In case you have been living under a rock, Arias is the 32-year-old Arizona woman who, five years ago, admitted to killing her lover Travis Alexander by stabbing him and shooting him 27 times in his own house. The trial, broadcasted on HLN, featured graphic testimony from Arias who testified that she killed Alexander in self-defense. The defense team painted a vivid picture of Arias throughout the trial as a spiteful ex-girlfriend who planned the vicious murder out of jealousy. At 4:30 yesterday, you could have watched the verdict announcement on any number of networks or websites including CNN.com, People.com, or simply heard about it on Twitter. And, if you are just learning about the saga of Arias for the first time, don’t fret. The case has already inspired an upcoming TV movie, starring Tania Raymonde of “Lost” fame, which was in the works even before the verdict was read. Americans love watching trials, and I don’t necessarily believe it is because they are paying homage to the judicial system. These trials are real life soap operas, filled with tears, emotional outbursts and riveting cross-examinations which all ultimately can lead to someone living or dying.

The courtroom scene has become a staple in the popular culture. I remember when I used to work on the soaps, the courtroom set went up at least once a week to provide the appropriate backdrop to so-and-so’s murder trial. There are dozens of TV shows that are dedicated to the criminal justice system — these are commonly referred to as procedurals — so many that they get their own category in the People’s Choice Awards. And how can we forget the infamous trial that wrapped up nine seasons of my beloved “Seinfeld” by declaring the funny foursome guilty of “doing nothing.” But, it’s the silver screen that can really bring the courtroom to life, particularly in the following films:

A Few Good Men – A young, arrogant Daniel (Tom Cruise) is assigned a murder case that no one expected to go to trial. But, JoAnne (Demi Moore) believes in the innocence of the defendants and makes a case that they should get their day in court. Col. Nathan Jessup (Jack Nicholson) is called to the stand to testify, and the rest is history. “I want the truth!”, screams Cruise at Nicholson in front of a shocked jury, a bewildered prosecutor (Kevin Bacon) and a proud Moore. I’ll spare you every other quote from the movie (I can literally recite them all) in the hopes that if you haven’t seen it, you will be intrigued to rent/download/stream the film. It is my favorite courtroom drama of all time and it deserves recognition.

A Time to Kill – A little known fact is that Matthew McConaughey gave up pre-law college studies to become an actor. He has easily made up for it with roles in Amistad, The Lincoln Lawyer, and one of my favorites A Time to Kill. Carl Lee (Samuel L. Jackson) kills the two white men on trial for raping his daughter in fear that the mostly white jury would acquit them. With the help of Ellen (Sandra Bullock), Jake (McConaughey) must now defend Carl Lee, while protecting his own family from the likes of Freddie (Kiefer Sutherland) and his fellow Klan members. Based on the book with the same name from the procedural master, John Grisham, the movie is an emotional roller coaster that requires a tough stomach to watch.

My Cousin Vinny – Who said all courtroom movies had to be dramas? In this delightful comedy, Vinny (Joe Pesci) must come to the rescue of his cousin and a friend who have been wrongfully accused of murder. In order to do this, he relocates from Brooklyn to a rural Alabama town and presents his case, all the while trying not to piss off the judge or rub the fellow townspeople the wrong way. Hilarity ensues as Vinny is held in contempt for his attitude/style of dress/lack of courtroom knowledge but, it’s Vinny’s fiancé Mona Lisa (Marisa Tomei) who saves the day as a key witness. Marisa won an Oscar and Pesci proved he could do comedy as well as gangster.

Primal Fear – Unlike the other movies on this list, I have seen this movie only once. So, while I can’t quote it or speak about its specific details, I can tell you that the ending is a whopper which stays with you for days afterwards. In the film, a young altar boy, Aaron (Edward Norton) is accused of killing a priest and Martin (Richard Gere) serves as his defense attorney. It’s Norton’s debut role so the audience is introduced to a real talent. Throughout the movie, we are left to wonder what his real motives are.

There are so many more quality movies that take place in a courtroom. You are probably rolling your eyes at me for not including Jim Carrey’s Liar Liar, Tom Hanks’ Philadelphia or Julia Roberts’ Erin Brokovich but, what can I say? It’s my list. And then there are the classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men which I didn’t even touch. Bottom line, the courtroom makes for a good movie, a good TV episode, and, in the case of the Jodi Arias trial, a good reality show.

Which of these  courtroom movies is your favorite?

A Few Good Men

A Time to Kill

My Cousin Vinny

Primal Fear

Post a Comment (0) 9:14 am on May 9, 2013

Limerick for Lauryn

Lauryn-HillThere once was a young girl named Lauryn
Who really could sing like a siren
She starred in a movie
And became a Fugee
And from then on was known for her rhymin’

She put out her Miseducation
It took off and spread ‘cross the nation
She was top of the charts
She touched all our hearts
With her beautiful joy for her Zion

Now she’s a little bit older
And Zion has sisters and brothers
But mommy’s been bad
And they’ll all be sad
When she’s locked up for three months at Rikers*

I mean, really Lauryn? Should we all simply stop paying our taxes because it’s a system that’s been “imposed” on us? A system that, by the way, allowed you to skyrocket to fame and make your millions? And then to compare the imposition of having to pay taxes to… slavery? On behalf of all oppressed people of the past and present, may I just say, “??????!!!!!!”

Honestly, I could not have been a bigger fan of hers and always looked up to her as an incredible talent with a strong message and a beautiful passion for life. Now I can’t help but feel embarrassed for and disappointed in her. What is with the rich and famous trying to duck out of paying taxes? I just don’t get it.

“Lauryn, baby, use your head” may not have resonated with her when she got pregnant back in the day, but she certainly could have used a little tough love about her more recent choices in life.

Ready or not, Lauryn, it’s time to face the music.

Voice your choice in today’s featured poll and tell us which of Lauryn Hill’s personas is your favorite?

Actress
Member of the Fugees
Solo Artist

*I know she’s not going to Rikers, but my limerick was begging for it!

Post a Comment (1) 9:44 am on May 8, 2013

Summer Reading For Television Addicts

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As the official television season winds down, I’m preparing to get my summer reading groove on with a long list of books that I’ve collected over the broadcast television year. Given that I intend to keep up with my summer TV schedule, summer movie schedule, and see a few music concerts or three (Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, and NKOTB; Boyz II Men: 98 Degrees’ The Package I’m talkin’ ‘bout YOU) I’ll be hard pressed to zip through even a fraction of the titles on my list.

Still, my brain needs some literary treats and so I’m determined to knock off as many as I can before the September deluge of new TV content overwhelms me again. Below are my top books to read for this summer. That they relate in some ways to TV or movies is not purely coincidental.

1. The Great Gatsby. With Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby lushily and colorful making it’s way into theater’s this coming Friday, revisiting F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic doesn’t seem like a bad way to start the summer. I read this book eons ago when I was in high school, liked it, and then promptly forgot it as I plugged on to the next title on my school reading list. Being older, faster at reading, and with a larger vocabulary, I have no doubt that I’ll get more out of the book this time, especially with imagining Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby with Carey Mulligan as his Daisy

2. Elmore Leonard’s Raylan. With the fifth season of Justified over six months away, I can get a nice Raylan Givens fix with Leonard’s latest novel. While Givens was already the center of two novels and a short story before Timothy Olyphant took up the Stetson on Justified, what makes Raylan a treat is that Leonard’s incorporated a bit more of the Justified Raylan into the book Raylan. Some of the show characters are involved in a new adventure in Harlan County for show lovers and book lovers alike. Or mostly new since Raylan came out in 2012. I told you, I’m playing catch-up with this book list!

3. I’m a sucker for history, especially television history, and between The Revolution Was Televised, (by Hitfix.com’s TV critic Alan Sepinwall) and TV on Strike: Why Hollywood Went to War over the Internet (by Cynthia Littleton) I’m sure to get my fill. With Televised, Sepinwall takes us through the most recent golden age of television and discusses how shows like The Sopranos, Buffy, Lost, and others heralded in a whole new level of television that we’re enjoying the benefits of even now. TV on Strike details the 2007 writers strike: what they were fighting for, why, and how in conjunction with the recession and changes in social media it had a dramatic impact on television and the web that’s still playing out today.

4. My next pick, Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, is less a book based on a show and more a book that  inspired one of my favorite shows, CBS’s Person of Interest. POI has continually straddled the line between drama and science-fiction in regards to its central character, The Machine, a highly advanced program created to suss out bad things before they happen. Well, in season two’s penultimate episode we got a surprise: the Machine spoke. (As in called up the heroes to ask in a disturbing cobbling of voice clips ‘Can you hear me?’) The only thing to make that last line more chilling would’ve been to have the famous music sting from Terminator  play before fading to black. With POI’s season two cliffhanger approaching, I think good ole Issac’s classic would be a great summer read to bridge the gap between seasons in preparation of the apparent rise of Skynet The Machine.

5. As I’m enjoying NBC’s Hannibal so much, I’m considering doing a reread of all the Thomas Harris novels involving the diabolical serial killer (Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal) to see what Bryan Fuller has tweaked and prime myself to spot the planted easter eggs in (hopefully) season two. Another reread I’m anticipating and dreading is books three and four of George R.R. Martin’s series A Song of Ice and Fire, aka A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows. Anticipating because those books are always great reads and dreading for reasons I can’t get into because it would involve a visit to spoiler city. To paraphrase Martin Lawrence’s famous line from Bad Boys: ‘This stuff just got real!’ I expect to see a LOT of people reading A Storm of Swords on the subway and on the lawn in Central Park this summer as non-book readers will not be able to wait a year for season four of Game of Thrones.

What book are you planning to read to prep for the movie adaptation?

The Great Gatsby

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

The Star Trek Into Darkness Novelization

 

 

Post a Comment (1) 9:01 am on May 7, 2013

Arrested Meme Development

arrested-development__oPt

In anticipation of the long awaited return of Arrested Development, I began binge watching the hilarious series this past weekend. Though I am 10 years late, it is reassuring to know that the show has not yet gone out of favor in pop culture. From the barrage of memes of Presidential candidate Mitt Romney next to Gob Bluth’s running catch phrase “I’ve Made a Huge Mistake” to the almost never ending memes of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” lyric pasted on images of the original woman everyone considered calling: Maeby Fünke (Alia Shawat). Though I am only one season in, I am more than obsessed and cannot wait to get home to watch season 2. As I finished the first DVD, though, it got me thinking about other iconic shows that are still relevant today.

Even after its season finale 15 years ago, Seinfeld is still probably the most quotes show to this day. Maybe it has something to do with living in New York City, but I find that I can reference the show at least 20 times a week.  Every morning I get a coffee at Crumbs Bakery and have to hold myself back from saying, “top of the muffin of to you,”
to the employees behind the counter. When I see my roommate, who is style challenged, I think about how recently he has adopted the George Costanza model for decision-making (i.e. whenever he likes an article of clothing, he puts it down and gets the exact opposite.) So far, it has actually worked! And just yesterday, he was complimented by one of the editors of Nylon magazine who attended our Cinco De Mayo party. I, for one, believe I am more like Jerry.  Though I will occasionally make bad purchases I always tend to make a few exceptional ones and thus always even out.

Yet another show that never feels like it has truly left, is Sex and in the City. Though I had not watched the series, my colleagues make references on a pretty regular basis. When talking about whether or not a relationship has gotten to the point where all romance has gone out the window, they turn to Miranda, who famously said, “I’m dating skid-marks guy. When your boyfriend is so comfortable that he cannot be bothered to wipe his butt, there’s a problem.” Or, when deciding between buying yet another pair of shoes, they think back to Carrie, “I’ve spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes.” Of course, this does not stop them from returning to Neiman Marcus to purchase the latest pair of Manolo Blahniks

Though still on the air, a show that is quickly becoming iconic is Parks and Recreation. “Swanson’s Pyramid of Greatness” can be referenced in a myriad of situations ranging from deciding between romantic love or a haircut (haircut, of course) to the ever present debate of eating pig protein or having friends (pig protein, always wins). It is a show that has already brought us such great lines as “You had at me at Meat” to “That is Groffle, the awful waffle.” And not surprisingly, the show continues to be the source of a millions of hilarious memes.

It is for these shows that I love being a fan of TV. Of course, there are many others like Friends, 90210, The Simpsons, and Family Guy to name a few, and I would love to hear your thoughts about why you think they never seem to disappear. I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and if you are nervous about writing a comment, just think about what Lucille Bluth would say, “I don’t criticize you! And if you’re worried about criticism, sometimes a diet is the best defense.”

The new season of Arrested Development premieres in less than 3 weeks! Which character from the hilarious series is your favorite?

David Cross as Dr. Tobias Fünke

Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth

Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth

Portia De Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Fünke

Post a Comment (0) 10:22 am on May 6, 2013

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The People's Choice Awards staff is dedicated to providing commentary about the world of pop culture through our daily blog. We are TV producers, digital mavens, PR professionals, and entertainment executives who share a love for movies, music and TV. Each day, a member of our team will divulge insights and opinions on topics from TV star trivia to musical inspirations to the ultimate pop culture guilty pleasures, and everything in between. We can’t guarantee you'll agree with every word, but we promise to always be honest, positive and celebratory in true People's Choice Awards fashion.

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