Tonight's episode of Private Practice was entertaining, but also angering at times. I will start by giving my (shorter than usual) list of good aspects of the show and then move on to the parts that bothered me.
The good
1) How adorable was Sam and his inhaler? I honestly made me laugh out loud multiple times during the show.
The bad
1) I think it is really awkward that Sam and Naomi are talking about their sex lives with one another.
2) Why did Pete have to play the bad guy who goes against what Sam thinks is right two weeks in a row? Though I do like that he tried to get that drug addict help.
3) Very little Dell = me unhappy. He is just so great to look at.
4) Interactions between Addison and her brother, Archer, are annoying. I already don't like his character.
The ugly
1) Why is it that Violet needs Cooper to move in with her? He can support her without living with her! This is a stupid idea and will only ruin things between him and Charlotte, as they have already begun to do.
As for the previews, I have already made my thoughts on this "crossover event" heard. We'll have to wait to see how it pans out, but I can't see the combination of the two shows going smoothly. What happens for the viewers who only watch one show? I watch both, so I will be interested in all of the storylines, but I do pity those who will be left confused.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
American Idol - Creating a mountain out of a molehill
Why was it necessary for the preview splices throughout the first half of tonight's episode to make the wall/window collapse look like the worst and most dangerous thing that could ever happen? Yes, the window covering behind the judges fell, but people were there to save the day immediately and how it fell, it wasn't like it was even close to hitting any of the judges. American Idol producers at this point are pretty talented at making things look better/worse than they seem.
Lipstick Jungle, how I wish thee would never die
I have been waiting a few weeks for an excuse to write about Lipstick Jungle and now seems like a good time.
I honestly think Lipstick Jungle is one of the best new shows NBC has made in quite a few years. The show is smart and enthralls the viewers. The main characters, three best friends - Nico, Wendy and Victory - are always there for one another and love each other so much you can't help but want to be their friends.
Since Sex and the City there has not been such a great show focused on the lives of female characters. The show has only had a handful of episodes so far, and I fear it will not return, but while it was on regularly it was the one show I looked forward to each week. I can do without 90210 and ER, but Lipstick Jungle? No way.
That said, after watching their season finale two weeks ago, I was convinced the show would not be returning. The true fate of the show had not yet been announced, but why else would they end the episode with a montage recapping the best moments of the series, unless it was a way to say goodbye?
After months of pulling our strings - is it or isn't it being canceled - the most recent announcement is that the network is looking for ways to keep the show, especially after the outcry from viewers following the initial announcement of the show's cancellation. So, needless to say, my fingers are crossed that the show does find a way to make a return. And honestly, I would rather it be sooner rather than later. I'm not sure how long I can go without my fix.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Senate chooses to push back digital change date
Apparently the Senate thinks we are all idiots and that the nearly a year they gave us to get prepared for the switch to all digital transmission wasn't long enough. Read the Boston.com story here.
My opinion: There have been commercials about the change nonstop on all of the cable channels. People know it is coming. They could give us years to get ready and there would still be the handful of people who were oblivious to the whole thing. The Senate shouldn't really be catering to these people who don't pay attention and aren't prepared.
UPDATE: The date may not be pushed back from Feb. 17 after all.
My opinion: There have been commercials about the change nonstop on all of the cable channels. People know it is coming. They could give us years to get ready and there would still be the handful of people who were oblivious to the whole thing. The Senate shouldn't really be catering to these people who don't pay attention and aren't prepared.
UPDATE: The date may not be pushed back from Feb. 17 after all.
American Idol - since when are all the judges so happy?
I have to admit that I have not watched American Idol in a few seasons and even tonight I am only watching it because there is nothing else on TV and I am putting off doing homework. But I have to say, it seems like the judges are yes happy. Maybe they watched that new Jim Carrey movie Yes Man and took it to heart, or is the caliber of contestants just better this season? I've been watching for 20 minutes and all but one contestant has been put through to Hollywood. I used to enjoy watching the first weeks of AI because that was when all the crazy people sang. If I want to see good singers, then I'll watch when they narrow the field down to the top 12.
Any opinions? Why do you watch American Idol? Or have you stopped like I have?
Any opinions? Why do you watch American Idol? Or have you stopped like I have?
Monday, January 26, 2009
Longest (and arguably most intense) daytime sex scene EVER
I know this is almost two weeks old, but I was just informed of it and cannot help but write about it.
You know that saying, "Senior year is like soap operas. You can go away for weeks at a time and come back to find the same old stuff is still going on." Well I absolutely agree with this saying... the soap opera part that is.
I have been watching Days of Our Lives since I was really young. My grandmother always watched it and so did my mom, so eventually I got hooked. I don't watch it daily (because honestly, who has time for that) but I do turn it on if I happen to be in my apartment at 1 p.m. with nothing better to do. So I know all of the characters and can usually pick right up with the storylines. (Sometimes I may call me mom to fill in blanks.) I don't watch the show because it is good television because it obviously isn't, but there is just something about how awful the characters' lives are that makes your own life seem that much more normal.
In recent weeks Days has made public their financial woes. They even cut two longtime characters, Marlena and John, because the salaries of the actors were too much. Then, on Jan. 14, Days showed just how far they were willing to go to gain viewership. Here is a link to the clip of a recent sex scene between the characters Chloe and Daniel from Best Week Ever. The blog claims it was the longest daytime sex scene ever and reference it as "soft-core porn." I don't know if I would go that far but in all honesty I watched the clip with my jaw dropped open thinking, "I can't believe this was on TV in the middle of the afternoon."
What do you think? Did it go too far?
You know that saying, "Senior year is like soap operas. You can go away for weeks at a time and come back to find the same old stuff is still going on." Well I absolutely agree with this saying... the soap opera part that is.
I have been watching Days of Our Lives since I was really young. My grandmother always watched it and so did my mom, so eventually I got hooked. I don't watch it daily (because honestly, who has time for that) but I do turn it on if I happen to be in my apartment at 1 p.m. with nothing better to do. So I know all of the characters and can usually pick right up with the storylines. (Sometimes I may call me mom to fill in blanks.) I don't watch the show because it is good television because it obviously isn't, but there is just something about how awful the characters' lives are that makes your own life seem that much more normal.
In recent weeks Days has made public their financial woes. They even cut two longtime characters, Marlena and John, because the salaries of the actors were too much. Then, on Jan. 14, Days showed just how far they were willing to go to gain viewership. Here is a link to the clip of a recent sex scene between the characters Chloe and Daniel from Best Week Ever. The blog claims it was the longest daytime sex scene ever and reference it as "soft-core porn." I don't know if I would go that far but in all honesty I watched the clip with my jaw dropped open thinking, "I can't believe this was on TV in the middle of the afternoon."
What do you think? Did it go too far?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Spoiler: Private Practice, the copycat
(Because I watch ER at 10 p.m. Thursdays, it is very possible that posts about Private Practice will come a few days late. But I hope that doesn't mean you will enjoy them any less.)
I still don't know how I feel about Private Practice moving to Thursday nights on ABC since it now follows Grey's Anatomy, the show from which it was created. The storylines are pretty similar - especially Thursday night when they both tackled the exact same issue.
On Grey's there was the death row patient who wanted the doctors to allow him to die so that he could donate his organs to a little boy who needed them. Because he was to be executed in days there were doctors, Meredith and Bailey in particular, who thought this seemed like an OK thing to do. On Private Practice a doctor with pancreatic cancer wanted Pete and Sam to provide him with drugs so that he could die sooner rather than later because the later death would have meant a death in a lot of pain.
My favorite line from Private Practice this week was from Pete when he first introduced the idea of assisted suicide to Sam: "It's mercy, not murder." But what I want to know is why would both television shows use this same storyline with the same debate between opposing doctors, some thinking it is the "right" thing to do and others saying it is murder, on the same night?
What is worse is that in two weeks the two shows are combining for what the promo called a "crossover event." If the Grey's people wrote off Addison so that she could have her own show, then what is the point of this combination 2-hour event? I like Addison in her new life and I think muddying it with storylines that include Derek and the others in Seattle may not be a great idea. We'll have to see how it goes, but as a fan of both shows separately, I think this may be a bad idea.
I still don't know how I feel about Private Practice moving to Thursday nights on ABC since it now follows Grey's Anatomy, the show from which it was created. The storylines are pretty similar - especially Thursday night when they both tackled the exact same issue.
On Grey's there was the death row patient who wanted the doctors to allow him to die so that he could donate his organs to a little boy who needed them. Because he was to be executed in days there were doctors, Meredith and Bailey in particular, who thought this seemed like an OK thing to do. On Private Practice a doctor with pancreatic cancer wanted Pete and Sam to provide him with drugs so that he could die sooner rather than later because the later death would have meant a death in a lot of pain.
My favorite line from Private Practice this week was from Pete when he first introduced the idea of assisted suicide to Sam: "It's mercy, not murder." But what I want to know is why would both television shows use this same storyline with the same debate between opposing doctors, some thinking it is the "right" thing to do and others saying it is murder, on the same night?
What is worse is that in two weeks the two shows are combining for what the promo called a "crossover event." If the Grey's people wrote off Addison so that she could have her own show, then what is the point of this combination 2-hour event? I like Addison in her new life and I think muddying it with storylines that include Derek and the others in Seattle may not be a great idea. We'll have to see how it goes, but as a fan of both shows separately, I think this may be a bad idea.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Spoiler: Grey's Anatomy - "We saved a life, that's never a waste"
I want to hear from you: If you had a serial killer as a patient and you knew he was being executed in a few days, would you help him die so that his organs could be donated to a young boy who needed them to live or would you save your patient's life, even if he is a murderer?
This question was at the center of tonight's Grey's episode. And honestly, this is the type of medical taboo storyline I would expect on Private Practice, since Grey's usually focuses more on the relationships between the doctors. But this episode was done well and overall I liked it.
Here are my thoughts:
- I am really over Denny as a "ghost" or whatever he is. Did Izzy finally figure out that she is sick/dying at the end of the show? Does that mean Denny is gone? I'm not sure how to feel about this yet.
- I don't like the Cristina/Owen relationship. How are we supposed to believe they have feelings for one another if they don't talk? And why does he deserve a second chance?
- The Meredith/Cristina fight has lasted too long. I hope they can now be friends again.
- It was amazing to me that almost everyone in the hospital had a hand in trying to save that little boy's life. And having to do with this topic, mothers pleading with their kids to live on these hospital shows is always so difficult to watch. He just had to live!
- Very random idea, but all this time that doctors have been having sex with one another in the on-call room, people have been able to hear them if they are standing right outside the door? That was what was insinuated tonight and it kind of grosses me out.
This question was at the center of tonight's Grey's episode. And honestly, this is the type of medical taboo storyline I would expect on Private Practice, since Grey's usually focuses more on the relationships between the doctors. But this episode was done well and overall I liked it.
Here are my thoughts:
- I am really over Denny as a "ghost" or whatever he is. Did Izzy finally figure out that she is sick/dying at the end of the show? Does that mean Denny is gone? I'm not sure how to feel about this yet.
- I don't like the Cristina/Owen relationship. How are we supposed to believe they have feelings for one another if they don't talk? And why does he deserve a second chance?
- The Meredith/Cristina fight has lasted too long. I hope they can now be friends again.
- It was amazing to me that almost everyone in the hospital had a hand in trying to save that little boy's life. And having to do with this topic, mothers pleading with their kids to live on these hospital shows is always so difficult to watch. He just had to live!
- Very random idea, but all this time that doctors have been having sex with one another in the on-call room, people have been able to hear them if they are standing right outside the door? That was what was insinuated tonight and it kind of grosses me out.
Spolier: ER - Is anyone else confused?
Before I start writing about tonight's episode, let me quickly explain why I watch this show. I feel like telling you the backstory helps you understand me a bit better. I have been watching ER for years. My mom does not watch much TV, but this is one show she has always watched. When I was younger I started watching it when I was in middle school as an excuse to stay up later and I guess you can say I got hooked. Who wouldn't want to watch doctor's arms get cut off by helicopters or emergency room shoot-outs? And at this point, I watch the show every week out of habit. Since this is the final season (as they continuously remind us during commercials for the show) I have no real reason not to watch.
Now onto the good stuff. I'm not sure how many people watched last week's episode, but it was a series of flashbacks from Neela's point-of-view. I enjoyed the episode, though it received mixed reviews from some other loyal watchers I talked to about it. And let me clarify, I enjoyed the episode until I watched tonight and realized that what was shown last week didn't actually happen! So if it didn't happen, was it a dream? I was a bit confused by this turn of events.
As a few side notes:
- Dr. Banfield's pregnancy storyline isn't really doing anything for me. I could do without it.
- This episode was appropriately titled "Love is a Battlefield." I'm not having any fun watching Sam and Tony dance around one another, but their interactions with the older couple who had been married and separated three times made me smile.
- Gary Marshall was too adorable as a guest star on the episode.
Extra, extra
Tvguide.com, and a few other media outlets, are reporting some exciting news for diehard ER fans!
Now onto the good stuff. I'm not sure how many people watched last week's episode, but it was a series of flashbacks from Neela's point-of-view. I enjoyed the episode, though it received mixed reviews from some other loyal watchers I talked to about it. And let me clarify, I enjoyed the episode until I watched tonight and realized that what was shown last week didn't actually happen! So if it didn't happen, was it a dream? I was a bit confused by this turn of events.
As a few side notes:
- Dr. Banfield's pregnancy storyline isn't really doing anything for me. I could do without it.
- This episode was appropriately titled "Love is a Battlefield." I'm not having any fun watching Sam and Tony dance around one another, but their interactions with the older couple who had been married and separated three times made me smile.
- Gary Marshall was too adorable as a guest star on the episode.
Extra, extra
Tvguide.com, and a few other media outlets, are reporting some exciting news for diehard ER fans!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Spoiler: 90210 - The show I wish I didn't watch
From the very first episode of the new rendition of 90210, I have thought about not watching this show. There is nothing pulling me to it and I don't think my life would feel any less special without it. That being said, I usually don't have anything else to do on Tuesday nights so I end up watching it. My posts about this show may not be as frequent as posts about Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill, but every now and then I may have something to say.
Like tonight. So here goes.
Last week's episode was full of tons of highs: Annie and Ethan said I love you for the first time, then almost but didn't have sex for the first time; we found out Adriana is pregnant; Annie and Dixon's grandmother bought the teens a car and there was a huge power struggle between their grandmother and mother.
Then this week's episode was full of lows: Silver and Dixon fought the entire time and eventually broke up; Naomi found out her mother is probably not coming home anytime soon and also witnessed her father having yet another affair; Mr. Matthews returns to school and seems extremely depressed; Adriana is struggling with being pregnant.
This show needs consistency. They need to find a medium between extremes. If we follow the pattern, does this now mean the next episode will be full of shocking material written to catch us off guard? Why can't this show, instead, follow a storyline that is not so high then low?
And now for a few side notes:
- OMG Ty is the father of Adriana's baby!! How did that happen? What a sleaze-ball.
- As the episode dragged on, I couldn't help but realize how whiny and annoying Annie was during this episode. She didn't get the lead in the play. Who cares? Get over it.
- Mr. Matthews is NOT 23 years old. Was Kelly being sarcastic or are we supposed to believe that is really how old he is?
- Good job on the writers' part having Adriana almost get in a car accident so that we forgot a real one was coming. I hope poor Ethan is fine.
Like tonight. So here goes.
Last week's episode was full of tons of highs: Annie and Ethan said I love you for the first time, then almost but didn't have sex for the first time; we found out Adriana is pregnant; Annie and Dixon's grandmother bought the teens a car and there was a huge power struggle between their grandmother and mother.
Then this week's episode was full of lows: Silver and Dixon fought the entire time and eventually broke up; Naomi found out her mother is probably not coming home anytime soon and also witnessed her father having yet another affair; Mr. Matthews returns to school and seems extremely depressed; Adriana is struggling with being pregnant.
This show needs consistency. They need to find a medium between extremes. If we follow the pattern, does this now mean the next episode will be full of shocking material written to catch us off guard? Why can't this show, instead, follow a storyline that is not so high then low?
And now for a few side notes:
- OMG Ty is the father of Adriana's baby!! How did that happen? What a sleaze-ball.
- As the episode dragged on, I couldn't help but realize how whiny and annoying Annie was during this episode. She didn't get the lead in the play. Who cares? Get over it.
- Mr. Matthews is NOT 23 years old. Was Kelly being sarcastic or are we supposed to believe that is really how old he is?
- Good job on the writers' part having Adriana almost get in a car accident so that we forgot a real one was coming. I hope poor Ethan is fine.
Spoiler: Gossip Girl episode last night leaves me feeling a little less than satisfied...
The day following all new Gossip Girl episodes I will be posting in a fashion similar to this. I will link to the New York Magazine article they do weekly grading in either positive or negative scores the happenings in the last episode. It can be found here.
To supplement what they say, I will also add a few grades of my own. So here it goes:
Plus 2 for Rufus saying, after he was caught leaving the Bass home in the morning, that he had been planning to sneak out.
Minus 5 for mentioning how Blair has a perfect transcript full of all As, yet she has never once been shown doing homework, or even staying home on a school night for that matter.
Minus 4 for Blair only applying to one school! No one applies to only one college. You can't put all of your eggs in one basket like that.
Minus 1 for the tackiness surrounding even the idea of issuing a press release because Serena was accepted to Yale. At least she turned it down and thus the need for the release was eliminated.
Plus 5 for Serena listening to her gut and declining the offer to Yale. If she had gone to Yale only to be with her boyfriend I would have barfed.
Plus 2 for Eric attempting to teach Rufus about the Opera. And another Plus 1 for Rufus reading "Opera for Dummies."
Minus 1 for Nate's slicked back hair at the Opera.
Plus 2 for the look on Nate's face as he tried not to laugh when the sick lady sat down next to Vanessa and coughed.
Plus 1 for Rufus shaking Chuck's hand the morning after the attempted rape, from which Chuck saved Lily.
Plus 2 for Chuck finally coming to his senses and agreeing to move back in with Lily, Serena and Eric. And plus another 1 for Chuck admitting that Bart's death was not Lily's fault, but an accident.
Minus 3 because in no way would Yale be informed of such a petty mishap as, God forbid, getting detention.
Minus 5 for the hints at an affair between Dan and new teacher Rachel. And minus another 1 for Rachel calling Dan, Daniel earlier in the episode.
Some other thoughts:
- I hate when all the main characters of teen television shows go to or at least plan to go to the same college. That never happens in real life.
- I love how Serena and Dan come to the conclusion that everything will be OK because Lily and Rufus are not going to last. How about Serena and Dan won't last? That relationship ending badly seems more likely.
- Why is it that Brown is associated with vegans and weird people? Why is it so horrible for Serena to want to go there? Even on The O.C., when Summer went to Brown she changed into an odd activist, a persona that did not seem possible for her character.
- I am so glad Jack is gone, at least for now. I really didn't like him and the attempted rape only further cemented my hatred toward him.
That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to add your own pluses and minuses. What did you like and hate about last night's episode?
To supplement what they say, I will also add a few grades of my own. So here it goes:
Plus 2 for Rufus saying, after he was caught leaving the Bass home in the morning, that he had been planning to sneak out.
Minus 5 for mentioning how Blair has a perfect transcript full of all As, yet she has never once been shown doing homework, or even staying home on a school night for that matter.
Minus 4 for Blair only applying to one school! No one applies to only one college. You can't put all of your eggs in one basket like that.
Minus 1 for the tackiness surrounding even the idea of issuing a press release because Serena was accepted to Yale. At least she turned it down and thus the need for the release was eliminated.
Plus 5 for Serena listening to her gut and declining the offer to Yale. If she had gone to Yale only to be with her boyfriend I would have barfed.
Plus 2 for Eric attempting to teach Rufus about the Opera. And another Plus 1 for Rufus reading "Opera for Dummies."
Minus 1 for Nate's slicked back hair at the Opera.
Plus 2 for the look on Nate's face as he tried not to laugh when the sick lady sat down next to Vanessa and coughed.
Plus 1 for Rufus shaking Chuck's hand the morning after the attempted rape, from which Chuck saved Lily.
Plus 2 for Chuck finally coming to his senses and agreeing to move back in with Lily, Serena and Eric. And plus another 1 for Chuck admitting that Bart's death was not Lily's fault, but an accident.
Minus 3 because in no way would Yale be informed of such a petty mishap as, God forbid, getting detention.
Minus 5 for the hints at an affair between Dan and new teacher Rachel. And minus another 1 for Rachel calling Dan, Daniel earlier in the episode.
Some other thoughts:
- I hate when all the main characters of teen television shows go to or at least plan to go to the same college. That never happens in real life.
- I love how Serena and Dan come to the conclusion that everything will be OK because Lily and Rufus are not going to last. How about Serena and Dan won't last? That relationship ending badly seems more likely.
- Why is it that Brown is associated with vegans and weird people? Why is it so horrible for Serena to want to go there? Even on The O.C., when Summer went to Brown she changed into an odd activist, a persona that did not seem possible for her character.
- I am so glad Jack is gone, at least for now. I really didn't like him and the attempted rape only further cemented my hatred toward him.
That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed it! Feel free to add your own pluses and minuses. What did you like and hate about last night's episode?
Obama Inauguration
I am currently in my Online Journalism class and our assignment for while we watch the inauguration is to blog throughout. We are watching MSNBC. I hope everyone else out there is also watching and taking in this historic moment. So here are my thoughts as it happens:
Pre-oath happenings
- They introduced him as Barack H. Obama and didn't say his middle name. No secret as to why.
- I wonder what he was thinking as he walked down the stairs and saw the hundreds of thousands of people waiting to be a part of this moment.
- Aretha Franklin is singing "My country 'tis of thee." I wonder, why her? And what is with the hat?!
- It is amazing to me how calm and collected Obama looks right now. Wouldn't you be freaking out?
- I love that there are American flags everywhere!
11:56 Bidden takes the oath of office
11:58 There are people crying already. They just showed some woman wiping her eyes.
11:58 More music? Let's get this show on the road.
12:02 Every time they pan to Obama's daughters they are fixing their gloves, moving the blanket on their lap, jiggling around in their seat, etc. They can't sit still! They must be so excited. That is almost the reaction I was expecting from Obama himself.
12:03 Obama is being sworn in!!!
12:04 Michelle is holding the Bible :)
12:04 OMG he is messing this up, stumbling over the words! Maybe he really is nervous!
12:04 Obama is the president!!!!
12:05 To go back a minute: What was with the Brian Williams "Obama became the president four minutes ago?" I guess at noon he became president, but that was weird.
12:06 I love that they are chanting OBAMA!
12:06 Obama's speech begins. Pay attention. He is such a great speech-giver.
12:07 He thanks President Bush and the applause was less than generous.
12:09 Good for him that he isn't sugar-coating things. We are in crisis and it has to be dealt with.
12:12 "We have to begin again the work of remaking America."
12:16 "We are ready to lead once more."
12:17 I can't help but really believe everything he is saying...
12:18 He said our patchwork heritage is a strength not a weakness. I agree!
12:22 "...we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world."
12:23 I didn't think he was going to mention race, but then again how could he not?
12:25 What a wonderful ending to a wonderful speech.
Sorry I didn't post too often throughout the speech, but I had to listen. I hope everyone had the opportunity to experience this. I have goosebumps.
Pre-oath happenings
- They introduced him as Barack H. Obama and didn't say his middle name. No secret as to why.
- I wonder what he was thinking as he walked down the stairs and saw the hundreds of thousands of people waiting to be a part of this moment.
- Aretha Franklin is singing "My country 'tis of thee." I wonder, why her? And what is with the hat?!
- It is amazing to me how calm and collected Obama looks right now. Wouldn't you be freaking out?
- I love that there are American flags everywhere!
11:56 Bidden takes the oath of office
11:58 There are people crying already. They just showed some woman wiping her eyes.
11:58 More music? Let's get this show on the road.
12:02 Every time they pan to Obama's daughters they are fixing their gloves, moving the blanket on their lap, jiggling around in their seat, etc. They can't sit still! They must be so excited. That is almost the reaction I was expecting from Obama himself.
12:03 Obama is being sworn in!!!
12:04 Michelle is holding the Bible :)
12:04 OMG he is messing this up, stumbling over the words! Maybe he really is nervous!
12:04 Obama is the president!!!!
12:05 To go back a minute: What was with the Brian Williams "Obama became the president four minutes ago?" I guess at noon he became president, but that was weird.
12:06 I love that they are chanting OBAMA!
12:06 Obama's speech begins. Pay attention. He is such a great speech-giver.
12:07 He thanks President Bush and the applause was less than generous.
12:09 Good for him that he isn't sugar-coating things. We are in crisis and it has to be dealt with.
12:12 "We have to begin again the work of remaking America."
12:16 "We are ready to lead once more."
12:17 I can't help but really believe everything he is saying...
12:18 He said our patchwork heritage is a strength not a weakness. I agree!
12:22 "...we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world."
12:23 I didn't think he was going to mention race, but then again how could he not?
12:25 What a wonderful ending to a wonderful speech.
Sorry I didn't post too often throughout the speech, but I had to listen. I hope everyone had the opportunity to experience this. I have goosebumps.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Spoiler: OTH picks up the pace
Chad Michael Murray directed last week's episode of One Tree Hill and, honestly, I thought it was a little dry. I felt like nothing really happened. But this week was much better. Here are some random thoughts I have about tonight's episode.
- I love Nathan for being such a team player throughout this episode.
- I love that Brooke wants to follow the same rules she sets for Sam and that she is really striving to be a good role model for the teenager even though Brooke is only a few years older than her foster daughter.
- Later in the episode Lucas tells Brooke "since I don't really like Julian, we try to only talk about the movie," but I have to be honest, they seem to be getting along fine. For the history they share, they almost seem to get along too well. Early in the episode Julian stands up for Lucas and proves they are completely on the same side when they both agree that any director who wants to change the story while filming the movie is not for them.
- It was great to see Dan back on the show. He truly is the character you love to hate.
- How adorable was the interaction about Julian's ugly hat? Even before the characters talked about how awful it was, I had already said to my roommate, who was watching the show with me, what is with the ugly hat?
- Shouldn't things between Peyton and Julian be a bit more awkward? He said goodbye to her as he left the store. I feel like they should be running in the other direction when they see each other coming.
- As Peyton was warning Brooke about Julian and his likelihood to just "disappear," I couldn't help but think that she was being too harsh on him and too blunt about it. And in the end it did come back to bite her. Julian's father proved Peyton wrong in her assumptions about Julian. All Peyton did was freak Brooke out.
- I can't help but love interactions between Lucas and Hailey. They are such an honest portrayal of best friends. It was very fitting that he went to her to show her the ring before he gave it to Peyton. (And on that note, of course Peyton would want Keith's ring even if Lindsey already wore it. The ring is a piece of Keith!)
- How funny was the serial killer reference: "What if you were a serial killer? We actually have those in Tree Hill." It is awesome how the show makes fun of itself.
- While still looking for a director, one of the best lines of the night: "They can all make the movie, but who will screw it up the least?"
- In another scene later in the show, I love Brooke as the voice of wisdom. It was great how she told Lucas to not compromise and to make sure the movie gets made as he sees it. (Just as a note of my confusion, is making a movie really this difficult? If Lucas already wrote the script, then how can all of these director's just come and decide they want to totally change things?)
- I will probably say this is every post I write about OTH, but don't you love how Jamie makes every scene he is in so much better?! How adorable was it that Jamie called Nathan's coach? When it happened there was no better response than awww.
- "The Girl Code" - I'm glad Peyton told Brooke the girl code no longer applied to them since Peyton is engaged to, and pregnant by, Brooke's ex.
- How cliche was it that all Mia needed to write a good song was to find a guy?
- Another cliche: Nathan saves the day by finally being put into the game and passing the ball. Who didn't know that was going to happen?
- I am starting to really like Julian and I am so happy he gave Brooke the jacket back and asked her to "go steady." I am excited to see where this relationship and storyline goes.
- Lucas' speech to the director, Dixon, is so heartfelt and wonderful. The best part was when he said he wanted a director who can "make the little things the big things." But then Dixon used the same words to get the studio head to make him the director of the movie. I don't want to hate Dixon, but he now needs to regain my trust.
Separate note: How many Dawson's Creek fans are out there? My favorite television show of all time is Dawson's Creek and it is great having James Van Der Beek on OTH. His character is priceless. He is crazy and really funny. And how ironic is it that he is playing a director when all his Dawson character ever wanted to be was a movie director? I am looking forward to seeing how his storyline pans out.
As for the previews for the next episode, which is airing in two weeks, I am already excited! They are casting for the movie in the next episode and there promises to be some Tree Hill look-alikes running around.
- I love Nathan for being such a team player throughout this episode.
- I love that Brooke wants to follow the same rules she sets for Sam and that she is really striving to be a good role model for the teenager even though Brooke is only a few years older than her foster daughter.
- Later in the episode Lucas tells Brooke "since I don't really like Julian, we try to only talk about the movie," but I have to be honest, they seem to be getting along fine. For the history they share, they almost seem to get along too well. Early in the episode Julian stands up for Lucas and proves they are completely on the same side when they both agree that any director who wants to change the story while filming the movie is not for them.
- It was great to see Dan back on the show. He truly is the character you love to hate.
- How adorable was the interaction about Julian's ugly hat? Even before the characters talked about how awful it was, I had already said to my roommate, who was watching the show with me, what is with the ugly hat?
- Shouldn't things between Peyton and Julian be a bit more awkward? He said goodbye to her as he left the store. I feel like they should be running in the other direction when they see each other coming.
- As Peyton was warning Brooke about Julian and his likelihood to just "disappear," I couldn't help but think that she was being too harsh on him and too blunt about it. And in the end it did come back to bite her. Julian's father proved Peyton wrong in her assumptions about Julian. All Peyton did was freak Brooke out.
- I can't help but love interactions between Lucas and Hailey. They are such an honest portrayal of best friends. It was very fitting that he went to her to show her the ring before he gave it to Peyton. (And on that note, of course Peyton would want Keith's ring even if Lindsey already wore it. The ring is a piece of Keith!)
- How funny was the serial killer reference: "What if you were a serial killer? We actually have those in Tree Hill." It is awesome how the show makes fun of itself.
- While still looking for a director, one of the best lines of the night: "They can all make the movie, but who will screw it up the least?"
- In another scene later in the show, I love Brooke as the voice of wisdom. It was great how she told Lucas to not compromise and to make sure the movie gets made as he sees it. (Just as a note of my confusion, is making a movie really this difficult? If Lucas already wrote the script, then how can all of these director's just come and decide they want to totally change things?)
- I will probably say this is every post I write about OTH, but don't you love how Jamie makes every scene he is in so much better?! How adorable was it that Jamie called Nathan's coach? When it happened there was no better response than awww.
- "The Girl Code" - I'm glad Peyton told Brooke the girl code no longer applied to them since Peyton is engaged to, and pregnant by, Brooke's ex.
- How cliche was it that all Mia needed to write a good song was to find a guy?
- Another cliche: Nathan saves the day by finally being put into the game and passing the ball. Who didn't know that was going to happen?
- I am starting to really like Julian and I am so happy he gave Brooke the jacket back and asked her to "go steady." I am excited to see where this relationship and storyline goes.
- Lucas' speech to the director, Dixon, is so heartfelt and wonderful. The best part was when he said he wanted a director who can "make the little things the big things." But then Dixon used the same words to get the studio head to make him the director of the movie. I don't want to hate Dixon, but he now needs to regain my trust.
Separate note: How many Dawson's Creek fans are out there? My favorite television show of all time is Dawson's Creek and it is great having James Van Der Beek on OTH. His character is priceless. He is crazy and really funny. And how ironic is it that he is playing a director when all his Dawson character ever wanted to be was a movie director? I am looking forward to seeing how his storyline pans out.
As for the previews for the next episode, which is airing in two weeks, I am already excited! They are casting for the movie in the next episode and there promises to be some Tree Hill look-alikes running around.
Spoiler: Tonight's best GG moment is awful in two senses
I will post a much longer description about how I think tonight's episode was tomorrow, but for now did anyone else hear the Newport Creamery mention in the episode? For those who do not know, Newport Creamery is a Rhode Island chain of restaurants similar to Friendly's. They serve both food and ice cream. I know this not only because I am from RI, but also because I worked as a waitress at a Newport Creamery for a few years in high school and when I first started college. It was cool to hear Rufus say they would like to stop by a Newport Creamery while transporting Dan to Yale and Serena to Brown, but one problem with the mention: Rufus said he wanted to go there to grab a milkshake. While to most of the world this would seem normal, true Newport Creamery experts would know that they are called Awful Awfuls. (As a piece of history, this name stands for Awful big and Awful good.)While they are technically "milkshakes" since they are made with iced milk and flavored syrup, it would have been even more perfect if they had actually been called Awful Awfuls.
Check back tomorrow for more of my thoughts on tonight's Gossip Girl episode.
Check back tomorrow for more of my thoughts on tonight's Gossip Girl episode.
Gossip Girl: the pre-episode discussion
I will post tomorrow discussing my thoughts about tonight's episode, but I wanted to give a little back-story that explains my interest in this show. When I was in high school I was one of the first to find the Gossip Girl novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar. I read every single novel in the series right through the prequel that was published last year. At that point I was too old to be reading high school smut, but I was so drawn into the story that I couldn't help but want to find out what happened next. So when I found out there was a television show based on the books I was very excited.
As I watched, I quickly figured out that the television show is NOT a portrayal of what happened in the books. But I learned to separate the books for the show and from there it was easy to enjoy. At times I do know things that are going to happen before they actually happen (for example, I knew Jenny and Nate were going to date for a while because they did in the books), but other than that the books and the show have little in common. Yet they are both very entertaining in their own ways. I can't help but watch the show. I am just as hooked on the show as I was on the books.
As I watched, I quickly figured out that the television show is NOT a portrayal of what happened in the books. But I learned to separate the books for the show and from there it was easy to enjoy. At times I do know things that are going to happen before they actually happen (for example, I knew Jenny and Nate were going to date for a while because they did in the books), but other than that the books and the show have little in common. Yet they are both very entertaining in their own ways. I can't help but watch the show. I am just as hooked on the show as I was on the books.
Spoiler rules
In this age of DVRs and television shows posted online, I know how easy it is for people to watch shows days after they originally air. I also know how often people will go online and find out information about their favorite television show before they watched it. This is extremely frustrating. It has happened to me a few times and this is why I promise to try my best to never ruin a show for people who have yet to watch it.
Whenever I write about the specifics of a show that just aired I will write Spoiler in the headline of the post. On this same note, if people are posting about specifics, please start your comment with the word Spoiler. From there it is up to the reader to pass over information they do not yet want to know.
Whenever I write about the specifics of a show that just aired I will write Spoiler in the headline of the post. On this same note, if people are posting about specifics, please start your comment with the word Spoiler. From there it is up to the reader to pass over information they do not yet want to know.
Where I look for inspiration
As I mentioned in my first post, I follow a handful of television shows and watch them regularly. I am also open to watching shows cold just to see what they are about. I also plan to use this blog to write about trends, shocking turn of events and almost anything else that has to do with TV.
When my professor told us to think of topics for our blogs, I found myself stuck. I love to read, but would I be able to keep up with posting four to five posts a week about literature? I didn't think so. The next step in my thought process was to think about the blogs I read most often. The first blog I look at daily, and then return to multiple times a day, is Viewer Discretion, a television blog on Boston.com. Two wonderful Boston Globe staffers - Matthew Gilbert and Joanna Weiss provide content for this blog daily. I also go to tvguide.com at least once a day to check out what is happening on my favorite TV shows.
It was then that I realized I really do love television. I think my roommates think I'm crazy for watching so much TV, but now I can tell them it is my homework. I can't wait to hear their response to that!
As I go forward with this blog, I will continue to read Viewer Discretion daily and also look to tvguide.com for interesting ideas and information. I wanted my readers to know where I was coming from, and I thought the best way to do that would be to tell you how the idea for this blog started.
When my professor told us to think of topics for our blogs, I found myself stuck. I love to read, but would I be able to keep up with posting four to five posts a week about literature? I didn't think so. The next step in my thought process was to think about the blogs I read most often. The first blog I look at daily, and then return to multiple times a day, is Viewer Discretion, a television blog on Boston.com. Two wonderful Boston Globe staffers - Matthew Gilbert and Joanna Weiss provide content for this blog daily. I also go to tvguide.com at least once a day to check out what is happening on my favorite TV shows.
It was then that I realized I really do love television. I think my roommates think I'm crazy for watching so much TV, but now I can tell them it is my homework. I can't wait to hear their response to that!
As I go forward with this blog, I will continue to read Viewer Discretion daily and also look to tvguide.com for interesting ideas and information. I wanted my readers to know where I was coming from, and I thought the best way to do that would be to tell you how the idea for this blog started.
Name for blog
As you can probably already tell by the blah heading "Television blog," I am having a difficult time coming up with a name for my blog. I am not particularly witty or original so I asked a few friends for help, but even they left me empty handed. So if anyone out there finds this blog and has an idea for a name, let me know. I am open to suggestions. Until then, I will keep thinking. But if I wait too much longer "Television blog" may end up being the real thing, and I don't think anyone wants that.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Welcome
For an Online Journalism class I am currently taking we were all asked by our professor to start a blog about a topic we feel passionate about and I chose television. In the coming months you will learn a lot about my television tastes, but as an introduction here are the television shows I watch loyally:
Gossip Girl
One Tree Hill
90210
Law & Order: SVU
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice
ER
Lipstick Jungle (rumors say it will be back in the fall, but for now the season is done)
The Hills (when it is in season and if it comes back)
I also dabble a bit into other shows and will be expanding beyond these few in my posts. I look forward to hearing feedback from readers and to fostering a relationship with everyone out there in cyberspace.
Keep reading!
Gossip Girl
One Tree Hill
90210
Law & Order: SVU
Grey's Anatomy
Private Practice
ER
Lipstick Jungle (rumors say it will be back in the fall, but for now the season is done)
The Hills (when it is in season and if it comes back)
I also dabble a bit into other shows and will be expanding beyond these few in my posts. I look forward to hearing feedback from readers and to fostering a relationship with everyone out there in cyberspace.
Keep reading!
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