2012 Academy Awards…The Oscars!!

I haven’t watched the Oscars in about 2-3 years.  For a while there, it was getting too political with the actors using the platform of the Academy Awards to pontificate their views on what Americans should be supporting and what is bad about the state of our politics.  Basically all the liberal actors were ripping the conservative administration.  Since this isn’t a political blog, I’m not getting into all that.  What I will say is that when I am watching a show for entertainment I don’t like propaganda being force-fed to me for 3 hours…whether I agree with it or not.   But I decided to tune in because, what else was I going to do, and I was pleasantly surprised that this was not “Meet the Press…Celebrity Style.”   But it still doesn’t mean the broadcast was good.

Let’s start with the big debate on Twitter last night (and leading up to the Oscars)…Billy Crystal as host.  I didn’t hate Billy Crystal as much as other people did.  I thought he was fine.  Were some of his bits old and tired, sure.  But I’ve seen worse.  I’ve never put as much emphasis on the host of an awards show as some other people have.  Over the course of 3 hours we get about 30-40 minutes of the host.  So as long as that person isn’t detracting from the enjoyment of the show and really God awful, I don’t pay that much attention to them.  Plus, I don’t think the host is why you chose to watch the Oscars.   I kept seeing comments on Twitter about how young people didn’t know who Billy Crystal was and therefore that was a bad thing.  So because they didn’t know who Crystal was, did they stop watching the Oscars?  I doubt it.  If Channing Tatum was the host, would more people tune in?  I doubt it.  Well maybe if he did the show shirtless I could see a bump in the female demo.  And that’s not a knock on Crystal or Tatum.  I just chose to believe that people who want to watch the Oscars, will watch regardless of who the host is.  Now having said that, I am campaigning for Chris Rock to host again.  That guy is flipping hilarious!!!!  I laughed more during his 5 minutes than I did for the whole 3 hours.  He was great.  And he brought some life to a really dead broadcast.   The other person who was great was Emma Stone.  She was so delightfully dorky and silly I could watch her host an awards show because she brings so much energy and excitement.   That is one thing I agree with Twittershpere on, Crystal was very dull at times.   Overall though, he didn’t bother me and it was nice to see him on stage again.

Next there was the other dominating topic on Twitter….the HORRIBLE sound on the show.  Not only could I barely hear Crystal’s opening melody and Tom Hanks’ opening speech, but the rest of the night, there was some sort of feedback or vibration in the background as each person spoke.  It was horrible.  Before the Oscar’s began, the producer in the truck was telling Robin Roberts (who looked awesome) how they spent 4 months preparing for this night so everything would run smoothly.  Well in those 4 months did ANYONE think to check to make sure the sound would work properly?  At one point, someone on Twitter asked if the mics were bought at Five Below.  It was awful.

Finally, the flow of the show.  Did we really need 3-4 montages of actors talk about how movies have impacted them and why movies are great and magical?  Why did I not get to hear more of Octavia Spencer’s acceptance speech?  Because she was told to wrap it up quickly.  And why was she told to wrap it up quickly?  Because we needed to get to the montage where I had to hear Adam Sandler talk about how awesome movies are.   Seriously?  Look, I’m all for making sure these acceptance speeches don’t go on as long as The English Patient.  But I think they can have a little more time than just 2 minutes to collect their thoughts and thank who they would like to thank.  I think we’ve gone from one extreme to the other.  Instead of montages about the first movie an actor ever saw, I would rather watch clips of the Best Picture movies.  I know they used to do that when only 5 pictures were nominated and now there are 8-10 depending on the year.  But you spent 1-2 minutes showing clips of past movies that won or were nominated.  Who cares.  Show me “The Artist” which I know nothing about.  Show me why I should go see this.  Show me “Hugo”, “Moneyball”, etc.  This night is to celebrate those movies and their accomplishments.  So let’s see them!!!  We had to sit through 4-5 minutes of the “Wizard of Oz” focus group.  What exactly did that accomplish (other than seeing Catherine O’Hara and Christopher Guest whom I love.)  I could have been learning more about “War Horse” and “The Tree of Life.”  You know what else I missed?  When people would perform the songs nominated for Best Original Song.  Now I realize it was slim picking this year and only two songs were nominated.  But I still would have liked to have seen them.

As for the good stuff.  I am THRILLED that Octavia Spencer and Christopher Plummer won for their supporting roles.  I was also stunned to see Dean Pelton from Community up on the stage winning an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for “The Descendants.”   Go Jim Rash!!!!!  I also loved his mocking stance of Angelina Jolie on stage…priceless!!!!  Since I haven’t seen “The Artist” or “Hugo” I can’t comment on their awards but they were clearly the movies to be seen (according to the Academy) so congratulations to all who won!!!   The biggest snub of the evening though, had to be Viola Davis for “The Help.”    It’s certainly no shame to lose to the woman who is arguably the greatest actress of our generation in Meryl Streep.  But this seemed to be Viola’s year.  She was SENSATIONAL in The Help.  Meryl Streep was Meryl Streep.  Always divine and spot on with her character but I though Davis was the brightest star of the bunch.   Can I also say that I was FLOORED when Natalie Portman announced that this was Gary Oldman’s FIRST Oscar nomination.  HIs first????    WHAT???  I was speechless when I heard that.  The man is genius.  He is the male Meryl Streep.  How was he never nominated before?  I can’t get over that!

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the fashion last night.  Overall, I thought it was stunning.  Very elegant and classy.  I’m not going to mention the men because as Brad Pitt said, they were black and white tuxes.  They have it easy.  The only person I need to comment on is Tom Cruise.  I swear to God that man hasn’t aged in 20 years.  I want to be drinking what he’s drinking because he still looks hot as ever.

My favorite dresses of the evening have to go to Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Milla Jovovich, Rooney Mara, Gwyenth Paltrow (minus the cape), Michelle Williams, Cameron Diaz, and Tina Fey.   But the BEST look on the red carpet was hands down Penelope Cruz.  That lavender off the shoulder gown was stunning and looking perfect on her.   The WORST look of the evening…Jennifer Lopez.  For pete’s sake woman, can you tuck the Ta Tas in for one night?   We all know how much you love yourself but really, this is the Oscars not a wet t-shirt contest.  I found it so ironic that she and Cameron Diaz were presenting for costumes and Diaz’s line was about “something tight enough to show you’re a woman” and Lopez’s line was “and something loose enough to show you’re a lady.”  Guess Lopez decided to show us she was not a lady.

What were your thoughts on the Oscars last night?  Did you love it?  Hate it?  Who do you think was most deserving and most snubbed?   Also, here is the winner list below:

Actor in a Leading Role

Demián Bichir in “A Better Life”
George Clooney in “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin in “The Artist” ** WINNER
Gary Oldman in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt in “Moneyball”

Actor in a Supporting Role

Kenneth Branagh in “My Week with Marilyn”
Jonah Hill in “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte in “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer in “Beginners” ** WINNER
Max Von Sydow in “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Actress in a Leading Role

Glenn Close in “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis in “The Help”
Rooney Mara in “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep in “The Iron Lady” ** WINNER
Michelle Williams in “My Week with Marilyn”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Bérénice Bejo in “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain in “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy in “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer in “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer in “The Help” ** WINNER

Animated Feature Film

“A Cat in Paris” Alain Gagnol and Jean-Loup Felicioli
“Chico & Rita” Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal
“Kung Fu Panda 2” Jennifer Yuh Nelson
“Puss in Boots” Chris Miller
“Rango” Gore Verbinski ** WINNER

Art Direction

“The Artist”
Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: RoBert Gould
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo”
Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo ** WINNER
“Midnight in Paris”
Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
“War Horse”
Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

Cinematography

“The Artist” Guillaume Schiffman
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Jeff Cronenweth
“Hugo” Robert Richardson ** WINNER
“The Tree of Life” Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” Janusz Kaminski

Costume Design

“Anonymous” Lisy Christl
“The Artist” Mark Bridges ** WINNER
“Hugo” Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” Michael O’Connor
“W.E.” AriAnne Phillips

Directing

“The Artist” Michel Hazanavicius ** WINNER
“The Descendants” Alexander Payne
“Hugo” Martin Scorsese
“Midnight in Paris” Woody Allen
“The Tree of Life” Terrence Malick

Documentary (Feature)

“Hell and Back Again”
Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner
“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
“Pina”
Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
“Undefeated”
TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas ** WINNER

Documentary (Short Subject)

“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
“God Is the Bigger Elvis”
Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
“Incident in New Baghdad”
James Spione
“Saving Face”
Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy ** WINNER
“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”
Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Film Editing

“The Artist” Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Kevin Tent
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall ** WINNER
“Hugo” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Moneyball” Christopher Tellefsen

Foreign Language Film

“Bullhead” Belgium
“Footnote” Israel
“In Darkness” Poland
“Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
“A Separation” Iran ** WINNER

Makeup

“Albert Nobbs”
Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
“The Iron Lady”
Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland ** WINNER

Music (Original Score)

“The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
“The Artist” Ludovic Bource ** WINNER
“Hugo” Howard Shore
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
“War Horse” John Williams

Music (Original Song)

“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie ** WINNER
“Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Best Picture

“The Artist” Thomas Langmann, Producer ** WINNER
“The Descendants” Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” Scott Rudin, Producer
“The Help” Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
“Hugo” Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
“Midnight in Paris” Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
“Moneyball” Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
“The Tree of Life” Nominees to be determined
“War Horse” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers

Short Film (Animated)

“Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg ** WINNER
“La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
“A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
“Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

Short Film (Live Action)

“Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
“Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
“The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George ** WINNER
“Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
“Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø

Sound Editing

“Drive” Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Ren Klyce
“Hugo” Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty ** WINNER
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
“War Horse” Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom ** WINNER

Sound Mixing

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Bo Persson
“Hugo”
Tom Fleischman and John Midgley  **WINNER
“Moneyball”
Deb Adair, Ron Bochar, Dave Giammarco and Ed Novick
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Peter J. Devlin
“War Horse”
Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson and Stuart Wilson

Visual Effects

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Tim Burke, David Vickery, Greg Butler and John Richardson
“Hugo”
Rob Legato, Joss Williams, Ben Grossman and Alex Henning ** WINNER
“Real Steel”
Erik Nash, John Rosengrant, Dan Taylor and Swen Gillberg
“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon”
Scott Farrar, Scott Benza, Matthew Butler and John Frazier

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

“The Descendants” Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash ** WINNER
“Hugo” Screenplay by John Logan
“The Ides of March” Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
“Moneyball” Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin Story by Stan Chervin
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

Writing (Original Screenplay)

“The Artist” Written by Michel Hazanavicius
“Bridesmaids” Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
“Margin Call” Written by J.C. Chandor
“Midnight in Paris” Written by Woody Allen ** WINNER
“A Separation” Written by Asghar Farhadi

 

REVIEW: Survivor One World “Total Dysfunction” S24 E2

It’s official.  I hate these people.  Between the cocky Mike, Matt, and Jay to the most annoying Survivor ever in Colton.  And don’t get me started on the idiots that is the women’s tribe.  This reminds me of Season 3 Africa where everyone (except Ethan) was so grating and agitating that I hated the season.  Unfortunately, this may be another one of those seasons.

This has to be the dumbest group of Survivors I have ever watched.  Wait, I think I still have to give the nod to the crew from Redemption Island.  I am still steaming that Ashley and Natalie and the like allowed Boston Rob to walk all over them like the Godfather and his minions.  Not that I am upset at the way Boston Rob played because it was genius.  It’s because I hate people who go into Survivor but don’t want to PLAY Survivor.  If you aren’t going to play the game, stay the hell home.  I digress.  But this group is a close second.

First you have Matt pounding his chest about having the “strong man, cool clique” alliance that makes him completely comfortable in his position.  Hey asshole.  You only have four people in your alliance.  You know how many people are on your tribe?  Nine.  If the other 5 team up, which they will, you’re screwed dumb ass. Then you have Kat.  “What does ambiance mean?”   Really?  I know it’s not polite to pick on people’s vocabulary (especially when mine isn’t the greatest either) but come one.  Kat also has problems following the rules of a challenge.  It’s simple..get around the other people on the beam but you can only touch one person at a time, otherwise you have to start all over again.  In fairness to Kat, Cristina was also brain-dead during this challenge as well.  Between Cristina constantly touching other people and Kat jumping in the water wasting time when she didn’t need to, they were dead from the start with their challenge.  Finally Monica said, move away, I’m doing this.   Again, in fairness to Kat, if the other girls were so annoyed at her stupidity (like Nina) then why didn’t some one tell her to get at the end of the line and let someone else go through all eight people? After 3 failed attempts, that’s what should have happened.  Then you have foul-mouthed Alicia who likes to pick fights with everyone.   I would love to know where Survivor finds all these educators who are completely psycho.  Remember NaOnka everyone?   If I were the parents of the kids she teaches, I would move them to another school.

Finally, there’s Colton.  OMFG!!!!!  Easily the most annoying Survivor to date.  All he does is bitch that he doesn’t fit in with the men.  Then he annoys the only people who liked him by constantly begging to live in their camp.  In the course of 3-5 days he has managed to alienate everyone.  How about this Colton?   If you want to fit in, TRY!!  Don’t lounge around camp doing nothing pissing your tribe mates off even more.  Don’t always run to the girls complaining about the guys and how you are more a girl than a guy anyway.  Try to find a way to get along.   I know it’s hard but you had to know going on Survivor that at SOME point you would have to try to work with men on your tribe.  Are you kidding me?

The only people I like right now are Sabrina, Kim, Chelsea, Leif, and Bill.  So in no particular order, I am rooting for them.  Here’s the biggest problem with Survivor these days…people make alliances WAAAAAY too fast.   Idiot Alicia took a look around and saw 4 other girls who “looked” young, strong, and athletic so she created her alliance with them on the walk to the beach.  You haven’t known these people for an hour and you’ve already decided who’s in your alliance?  I give her credit for one thing….at least she can do math.  Maybe she could teach that to Matt.  I have to imagine that Sab, Chelsea, and Kim are kicking themselves aligning with Alicia and Kat.  They even said it at TC last night when they said they would make different alliances at this point in the game.  But what are you going to do?  If someone comes up to you wanting you to be part of the power alliance, what are you going to say?  No?  Let me get to know you first?  You would screw yourself.  What I would do if I were Sab, Kim, and Chelsea?  I would regroup with Monica and Cristina and vote of Kat and Alicia next.  It’s early in the game so they won’t be part of the jury and you won’t have to worry about that coming back to bite you.  It was a mistake to vote off Nina.  Kat should have gone.  And I think changing your alliance at this point, doesn’t make you a liar or fraud.  In this case, it would make them smart.  But I have a bad feeling that won’t happen.

What do you guys think of One World so far?  I think the two biggest things I like are no redemption island and returning castmates.  Other than that, two thumbs down….so far.  We still have 16-17 episodes more to go.  Plenty of time to turn the season around.

 

REVIEW: Castle “Pandora and Linchpin” S4 E15 & 16

I haven’t done a Castle post in a while.  And while it’s one of my favorite shows on TV, I don’t think it warrants a review every week.   But whenever they do these two parters, it’s usually time for a post.

In the past, Castle has been exceptional when it comes to these two-part episodes.  While this one had moments of genius, it was just ok.  It wasn’t bad by any stretch.  Just, ok.  And maybe it’s because I’m so used to such a high level of storytelling, that when it’s average, it feels worse than it actually is.

First off, the case seemed soooooo far-fetched.  I know it’s a TV show and I know I need to suspend disbelief. I get all that.  But killing a little girl in the hopes it will set off WWIII and it was all set it motion by a CIA agent that was former KGB?  Yeah right.  The CIA would have known she was KGB and would NEVER have allowed her to become an agent.   I’m sorry but my suspension only goes so far.  I wasn’t surprised in the least that Sophia (played by Jennifer Beals) was the one behind everything.  My husband called it right away.  But I just thought she was going to be a bad agent…not former KGB!!!  Please!!!  Ok, enough on that.

While I love Ryan and Esposito beyond all comprehension, why were they giving Beckett crap about keeping details from them.   I understand they’re a team.  I understand they always work together and share everything.  But come on.  Beckett is your supervisor.  If she tells you can’t tell you something, you know she must have a solid reason.  And Ryan and Esposito have to be smarter than that….I know they are.  Why were the writers writing them to be so oblivious?  They knew the chief of detectives allowed Beckett and Castle to be discreet with this mission (to the point that they couldn’t even tell Beckett’s boss.)   So put two and two together to figure out that this is probably a FBI or CIA issue and back off.   They know Beckett would never keep anything from them unless she had to, so why give her grief?  And I know Espo was pissed that Castle knew and he didn’t but, they go everywhere together so it’s possible Castle was with Beckett at the time she was brought into this secret mission therefore he had to be brought in as well.  Again, put two and two together!  It drove me crazy.

Finally, Beckett and Castle.  I hate to say this but I am now at my wit’s end.  I’ve had enough.  We have had so many episodes this season where they have acted like a couple towards one another without actually being a couple.  If the writers are going to have them act like a couple, THEN MAKE THEM A COUPLE!!!!!!    Sorry to shout but I am so mad about this!   At first I was annoyed by Beckett’s jealousy.   Then, I backed off because I understood it.  But then it bugged me again.

When Beckett saw the chemistry between Sophia and Rick and learned that she was his inspiration for the CIA agent in the Derek Storm books, I think she felt like she was just another “muse” in a long line of muses that Rick would charm to get his story.   Was she really as special as she thought she was?  It makes perfect sense that she would question this and that she would take a step back and start to question not only his feelings for her but her feelings for him.  Kate is always so guarded and while we have been seeing those walls coming down over the last 2 seasons, I started to see them race back up again with every interaction with Sophia.   But I think Castle noticed this and tried as hard as he could to assure her that his relationship with her (meaning Kate) is much different from his was with Sophia.  But the question is, if you are always going to be jealous every time another woman is around Rick or has a past with Rick, then why not tell him how you really feel so he can assure you of his feelings for you?  I understand Kate’s apprehension but it’s starting to get to the point where you need to make a decision or move on.  Either decide to be with him and be a jealous as you want, or decide not to be with him and back off.

What has got me at my wit’s end is the fact that there have been how many times that either Castle or Beckett or Castle and Beckett are in life or death situations and they STILL have yet to say how they feel about one another.  How many times can the show go there?   The show is getting into Bones territory now.  The writers need to do something with Castle and Beckett.  Either do something to break them up forever or do what the fans want and get them together.  Otherwise you are insulting your fans by constantly having these intense situations where nothing happens to move Castle and Beckett forward.

Have to say, the one thing this show always does well is the edge of your seat moments with Castle and Beckett.  Even though I know neither character is dying, I am still gripping the edge of my couch with white knuckles during those scenes.  From the car was going further and further down into the water to Beckett frantically trying to unbuckle her seatbelt.   From Castle trying to find Beckett’s gun to the water slowly filling up the car.  It was incredible.  I know they aren’t dying but I couldn’t help but think “how the hell are they getting out of this?”  I loved it.  This show does very well with tension.   I also like the idea of Alexis doing more than just school and hanging out at home.  I love her being Lainey’s intern.  It bring both actresses to the forefront in a different light.  So I would like to see that continue in subsequent episodes.

So what are you thinking Castle fans?    Are you as annoyed as I am or are you still on board with the direction of Castle and Beckett?

 

REVIEW: How I Met Your Mother “No Pressure” S7 E16

Are we seriously going down this road again?  This is 100% my FAVORITE comedy on TV but I am so mad at it right now.  Why are we going down the Ted and Robin road again?  This is such a “been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt, stared in the movie” storyline that I really don’t know the point.  Not to mention it feels as though this is coming out of left field.   Seriously, when did Ted all of a sudden start loving Robin again?  We know they don’t end up together, so why are we wasting episodes on this “love affair” that has no chance of surviving?????!!!!!!!

That’s how I felt after last week’s episode “The Drunk Train” which I didn’t get a chance to comment on.  I was seriously pissed off people, let me tell you.  But after last night’s episode, I think I finally get why that happened last week.   This has nothing to do with Ted and Robin, but will set up something (not sure what) even bigger that’s to come.

Remember back to the episode “Ducky Tie”?   This was the episode where Victoria the cupcake maker (played by Ashley Williams) returns and we learn some very interesting details.  Turns out, while they were trying to see if there were still feelings between them, (there weren’t because Victoria’s getting married) Victoria pointed out the one thing that is keeping Ted from true happiness…Robin.  First Victoria tells him that it’s weird that she dated both him and Barney.  Second, she tells him it’s even more strange that they are all still best friends and hang out all the time.  Finally she tells him that she always felt in competition with Robin and that Robin is the reason she, and other girls most likely, didn’t work out with Ted.  At the end of that episode, Future Ted admits that Victoria was right.  The three of them hanging out wasn’t going to work out.  Now if you have read some of my other HIMYM posts, you know I have been very concerned about this.   Looking at this comment in the “glass half full” realm, I would say, it isn’t going to work out because Robin and Barney eventually get together.  (Also that’s what I REAAAAAALY want to have happen.)  “Glass half empty” view, I think it means either Robin or Barney eventually split from the group.  I can’t imagine Carter Bays or anyone else from this show going with the later.  So let’s just say I’m panicking and need about 24 Sam Adams to calm me down.

“No Pressure” was the episode that I think finally and firmly shuts the door on Ted and Robin.  After last week, I was so worried this going down a completely different path….and one I wasn’t thrilled about AT ALL.  But I really need to learn to trust these writers more.  They’ve done it to me several times now where I take something at face value and make a judgement and don’t give it time to develop.  I am going to stop doing that now.   Well, maybe not but I’m going to try really really hard.  I thought this whole Ted and Robin this was coming out of nowhere because I thought Ted had already moved past Robin.  But if you look at the history (and the show did I nice job of going down memory lane over the last 6 seasons) Robin was always Ted’s constant (Lost reference!!!)   She was The One for Ted.  And I think, even though they were very different people who wanted very different things, they still loved each other.  Unfortunately, it’s more the way you love a BFF and not a soul mate.  Deep down, I think Ted knew that all along but he needed one more chance to make sure.  I think Robin needed to hit him over the head with an “I don’t love you” like she did last night, for Ted to finally move on.  Once she did, Ted was making a clean break when Robin suggested that they still keep their “if you’re 40 and still single, we’ll get married” deal going and he said no.  If it’s nothing, then it’s nothing.  He won’t settle and she shouldn’t either.  Ted annoys the crap out of me most of the time, but when it comes to episodes like this, he’s fantastically great.  Both Josh Radnor and Cobie Smulders had amazing scenes together and they were spot on heartbreaking in their performances.    Ultimately, I think Robin is going to be the cause of Ted’s true happiness.   Because even thought Robin isn’t Ted’s “The One,” I think she will be the bridge to Ted meeting The True One.  Look at it this way.  Robin brought Ted to a stream with a broken down bridge over it.  On one side is Ted and other, Robin.  The bridge to Robin is unstable and dangerous.  Basically if Ted tries to cross this bridge, he’s a dead man.  But Robin is on the side of love and happiness.  And while Ted always thought it was Robin he was crossing the bridge to get to, it wasn’t.  She’s there to help him cross to get to the person he is truly meant to be with.  First she had to destroy the bridge (Ted: “Do you love me Robin?”  Robin: “No.”)   BAM!   Bridge destroyed.  Then she is going to help build a stronger bridge which she will help him cross to reach little miss yellow umbrella (like her wedding to Barney perhaps?)   Time will tell on how Robin will build that bridge and help Ted get there.  But I know she will.

I need to touch on Marshall and Lily.  First, Marshall was fantastic in this episode.  He truly showed what it means to be a best friend by going to Robin and asking her to move out so she doesn’t keep breaking Ted’s heart day after day.  Also being the good friend she is, Robin says she understands and starts packing.  Very cool Marshall, having Ted’s back like that!   But you know who’s been really disappointing?   Lily.   What the hell has happened to her character?    Lily was always the core, the foundation of the group.  When someone was about to do something insane, it was always Lily who brought them back down to Earth.  Lily was always people’s champion.  She was always in everyone’s corner.  While the long-term bets on the friends was great, I couldn’t stand how she was trying to sabotage Ted and Robin so she could win a bet.  Who does that?   And I never in a million years, thought Lily would do something like that.  Maybe it’s the pregnancy thing, but Lily has really gotten annoying lately.  From the party she was throwing a few weeks ago to trying to destroy her friend’s happiness for the sake of a bet, Lily isn’t the Lily I have grown to love over the years.   The Lily I know would have sat Ted down and then sat Robin down and talked them through what they were feeling.  She would have been there to support both of them.   She wouldn’t have done things to wreck a potential relationship.  It also makes wonder if the “where do you guys see yourselves in 5 years” talk was really set up to help them or to win her bet.  I’m not going to lie, it knocked her down a few pegs in my eyes.

While I’m 99.9% certain Ted and Robin are done, those dame writers had to leave a slight crack in the vault door open.  During the episode when the bet was that Ted and Stella wouldn’t get married, Marshall kept asking Lily to pay up and she would say, “not yet” at different stages of their relationship.  When Stella finally bailed on Ted, Lilly finally paid up.  In the final scene, when Lily told Marshall to pay up on Ted and Robin, he says to her “not yet.”   Oh Lord.   WHHHHHHHY?  They’re done, over, finished, caput, kaplooee, bridge destroyed!!!  In all seriousness, I wonder what that statement means.

I liked this episode a lot more than I thought I would after last week.  But there are a few things I would like more substantiation from…Ted and Robin being officially done (which I think is the case even thought Marshall made that comment), Robin and Barney…are they going to get together or not, and Ted’s wife.   It’s 7 seasons.  It’s time to meet her.

 

REVIEW: Alcatraz “Paxton Petty” S1 E6

I’m going to try to stay away from doing full-blown recaps.  I want to get into the nitty-gritty of the episode and I’m sure you do as well.  Plus, as each episode progresses, we are getting more and more peeks behind the curtain as to what is going on, who knows what and when, and who’s involved.  I’m not saying I’ve solved the whole mystery of the show, but things are starting to get clearer as more questions are rising.  And if I’m as good predicting Alcatraz as I was predicting Lost, I will have you completely confused because I will be totally wrong.   But at least I’ll have fun trying!

The 63 of Week: Paxton Petty

I have to say, the casting department at Alcatraz has done an AMAZING job casting these criminals.  They are so dastardly creepy and devious.  I love it!!!  I know, how strange does that sound?  I don’t love the criminal acts I just love the actors playing them because they are doing such a good job.

Petty’s a real creep.  His crime is basically that he’s a cry baby.  I’m not kidding.  He’s a cry baby.  He didn’t get the recognition in the war that he thought he deserved so now he is creating land mines and planting them around San Francisco to blow up innocent people.  Talk about sinister.  When people see an explosion, all they want to do is run away from it but in the case of land mines, they usually run right into…you guessed it….another land mine.

The big thing that Petty (played by James Pizzinato) confirmed this week is that the inmates don’t know what the hell is going on and that the “jump” the are experiencing is happening instantaneously.  One minute they are in 1963 and the next they are waking up in 2012.  The question that still remains is whether or not The Big Bads (that’s what I am calling them until I think of something better….or someone else does, which is more likely) are dictating when people “wake up” in 2012 or is it happening naturally?

We have seen some inmates that “arrive” in 2012 with a purpose.  Like Jack Sylvane and Cal Sweeney, they were sent to get keys and Sylvane was sent back to kill someone.  In the case of Ernest Cobb, it’s ambiguous whether or not he was sent to kill Lucy/Dr. Sangupta or she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I lean on the side of it being intentional because on shows like this, things don’t happen “accidentally” or “by dumb luck.”  But that is certainly a debatable topic.  As for Kit Nelson, Guy Hastings, and Paxton Petty, the reasons for their presence are unknown at this point.  Which lead us to another question, how/when does this awakening happen?  Did it happen to all the ’63s at once?  Is it happening in stages?  Is there a rhyme or reason to when and where they are waking up?   The only inmates we know where they woke up was Sylvane (on Alcatraz in present day) and Petty (in the bottom of tomb according to him.)  Another question I have is have they had multiple awakenings?  In the case of Sylvane, he “wakes up” in Alcatraz slightly confused by his surroundings.  But he clearly knows what his purpose is…get the key and kill the one guy.  So was he already coached/brainwashed before this Alcatraz moment?  Or was he asleep the whole time and the brainwashing is happening while they are under.  Or did it happen in ’63 before the jump and they don’t remember.   Most of them seem to not remember how they got there or what happened.   In Petty’s case, he is begging Soto for answers.  Ironically, Soto was hoping he would get some answers from Petty.  Both are out of luck but another really big question pops from their conversation…..

“There Were No Female Doctors on Alcatraz”

Dun dun dun dun!!!!  Our Alcatraz “expert” seems to be stumped yet again.  Soto was certain there were no female doctors on Alcatraz.   As Petty knows and we know, that is 100% not true.  Our very own Lucy was on the island in the 60s.  Talk about throwing Soto’s world for a loop.  Here’s a man who clearly believes he knows everything there is to know about the island and its inhabitants.  As he continues to work with Rebecca and Hauser, he is realizing that there is soooo much he didn’t know.   Here we go with another big question…

Is Lucy/Dr. Sangupta from the future?  I’ll let you sit on that one for a minute.

Minute’s up!   Is it possible that while we believed Lucy was from the past, is it possible, she is from either present or the future and time traveled back to the 60s?   I think this is very possible.  She is obviously someone decades ahead of her time when she is in 1960.  She seems to have the Warden’s support and we know he knows what is going on.  The Warden very easily sides with her when you would think in the 60s, he wouldn’t be so quick to side with a woman.   She is integral to what is going on, I just don’t know how yet.  But I think Lucy is someone from outside the normal time line.

It makes you wonder though, what else have we seen that isn’t “normal” on Alcatraz.  By normal I mean, common knowledge.  According to most people who studied the history of Alcatraz, there were no female doctors on the island.  But we know that isn’t the case.  So what else is common knowledge that isn’t true at all?

Mr Emerson Hauser

Ok, I need to address my man Sam Neill’s character.  I love Sam Neill.  He rocks my world!  No not that way.  Get your mind out of the gutter.  But his character is starting to annoy the crap out of me.

Here’s the thing, Hauser is a good character but he has the potential to be a great character.  But I’m not connecting with him.   Right now, he is the biggest jackass to the two people who are most trying to help him.  So why is he being so evasive and crass?  When Rebecca was working with him to try to crack the code to figure out where Petty buried his latest round of land minds, she was trying to get a better understanding of where his mind-set was so she could be of better assistance and all he did was basically tell her to shut up and “Windward.”  Then hangs up on her.  Would it have killed him to take two seconds to explain it’s a code he’s breaking to the location of the land mines?

Now that we are six episodes in, I’m starting to get to the point that with a character like Hauser, I need more back story.  I know we learned in the pilot that he was an SFPD cop who was responsible for transferring the inmates from the mainland to the island.  We also learned that Petty was his case in the 60s and that while bringing him to the Rock, he instantly falls for Dr Sangupta.  But what I want to know is why he has such a bug up his ass?  In particularly towards Rebecca and Soto.   I do have a theory.

I think Hauser and Sangupta eventually fell in love and they tried to stop the Big Bads from whatever they were trying to do.  That’s how Emerson and Lucy got hooked up in 2012 and it’s why Emerson is so invested in finding these missing people.  I think Sangupta found out what was going on (a clue to that was when she started asking Tommy why a perfectly healthy man was always going to the infirmary.)  She was either part of the initial experiment or in cahoots with the Big Bads until it turned in a direction she didn’t like.  Then she wanted to stop it but didn’t know how.  Enter Emerson Hauser who falls for her and would do anything for her (and he’s a cop.) So they try to stop it somehow but fail in 1963.  Sangupta “jumps” to 2011/2012, she tracks down Hauser, and they pick up where they left off.   That’s my theory on how they got together and why they are doing this.  It still doesn’t answer the question of why he’s so nasty to Rebecca and Soto.  The only thing I can think of is that it has to do with Tommy Madsen and he’s projecting his hatred of Tommy onto his granddaughter.  He may need Rebecca’s help, but he doesn’t like it.  And since he already tried to recruit her Uncle Ray years ago, it’s even more proof this has something major to do with Tommy.  I think the bug of his ass may have everything to do with the Madsen family and Rebecca is receiving the brunt of it.

What I haven’t been able to put my finger on yet is Dr Assface, I mean Beauregard.  He is also the same age as he was in ’63 and he’s also working with Hauser in 2012.  Yet, in the ’60s he and Sangupta clearly didn’t get along and didn’t believe in the other’s methods.  So why were they working together now?  Is he another person that was part of the experiment or involved with the Big Bads but jumped shipped for whatever reason?   Because he seems to have a very special ability of “fixing people.”

If you remember in my post about Cal Sweeney, I mentioned how when you looked in the ’63s room at the white boards, you saw that next to Sylvane, Cobb, and Sweeney’s names it said CAPTURED.  But next to Kit Nelson’s name (who was shot and presumably killed by Hauser) there was nothing.  It was blank.  But Hauser brought his body to Beauregard.  Why?  What can he do?  The same question applies to the last scene from this week’s episode.  Hauser steals Lucy’s body from the hospital after the doctor told him there was nothing more they could do for her and brings her body to Beauregard and shouts “FIX HER” to him and he lays her body on his table.  Fix her?  Fix her how?   What the hell can this man do?  Is he like Crowley the Cross-Road Demon that I can make a deal and bring her back?   What the fudge?  I want to know more.  I need to know more!!!!   Damn it FOX you better not cancel this show on me!!!!

Final Miscellaneous Thoughts

Why oh why do people continue to bring the awesome and gorgeous Mechad Brooks on my TV screen only to kill him off?  As soon as I saw Eggs from True Blood on my screen I knew he was going to die.  I though it was going to be at Windward Elementary school when he finished the sweep of the area announcing “there are no mines here” only to walk away and BOOM.  Well, right location, wrong time.  It happened later as he disarmed the bomb and announced “it’s all good everyone.”  Then, BOOM.

I hate to say this but they really need to start doing something with Soto soon.  Each week it’s the same thing. At the beginning of the show he announces who the inmate is after he hears the details of the crime.  He then relays the information about the criminal to Rebecca and then he basically falls of the radar screen for the rest of the episode.   That is until we get the obligatory shot of Soto grossed out at yet another crime scene.  Jorge Garcia deserves better than this.  They need to find a way to make him more useful to what is going on.  Right now, other than the initial intel he gives Rebecca at the start of the case (and magically knowing the air vent locations off the top of his head in the buildings of San Francisco) I’m not sure what other value he brings to the table.  One thing I would suggest (because I know the writers of the show are waiting with bated breath for my suggestions) is that Soto be in charge of interrogating the inmates and guards as they are captured.  No one knows Alcatraz better than Soto.  So who better to interview and cross-reference their stories, than an Alcatraz expert!  And I think we’re at the point that we need to start revisiting some of the captured inmates (which I think happens next week.)  But this should be Soto’s area.  With the show going a more procedural route…which I don’t think is wrong…Soto needs to change it up a bit.  Otherwise, it looks as if you cast Jorge Garcia as a ratings draw.  And again, he deserves better than that because he’s awesome!

I’m not going to lie, the ratings are starting to scare me.  Each week the show is losing copious viewers.  Here’s the problem.  One of the knocks on Lost was that it was so mythology based that if people came to watch Lost half way through the first season or started in season two, they were so out of loop and confused as to what was going on, they stopped watching.  Therefore, viewership was light, if not steady.  So with Alcatraz, JJ decided to make it more approachable by going a bit more procedural with the mythology thrown in.  That way, he can attract more everyday viewers without them feeling lost.  And as I’ve said, I like that the show clearly and simply states each week in the opening credits what the show is about.  So any new viewer will know what is going on (kind of…LOL!)  But by going this route, people hate it because it’s “boring” or “too procedural.”  I see on Twitter each week.  I guess you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.  But I wish people wouldn’t give up on this show or if they haven’t watched it yet, start to check it out because it gets stronger each week!

I think I’m going to wrap it up there for today.  I’m sure I missed a ton of stuff because I only got to watch the episode once and I’m on the road in Long Island for work so I won’t get to watch it again.  But these are my initial thoughts.

What did you think of Paxton Petty?  And are you happy with the direction of Alcatraz and it’s characters.  let me know!

 

2012 Grammy Awards

I haven’t watched the Grammy’s in years.  Mostly because I’m an old fart and don’t know half the songs nominated.  But there were two things (actually people) that drew me to the Grammy’s this year…Whitney Houston and Adele.  Unless you have been living under a rock, Whitney Houston passed away over the weekend and it turns out that Jennifer Hudson was going to honor her in song.  That’s must see TV.  Also, it was the return of Adele after vocal chord surgery that could have ended her career.  That’s must see TV.  I’m not going to lie that I am still pissed at CBS for not airing The Good Wife for 3 weeks!  And then my girl @Kiki1788 shared with me that even when it comes back, it’s going back on hiatus.  What the hell CBS?  Ok I’ll save that rant for another post.  Back to the Grammys!!!

The Grammy Awards certainly had their highlights and low lights.   Let’s start with the good stuff.   And there was nothing better than number one on my list:

1. Adele
   WOW!!!  First of all, she looked fabulous.   More importantly, she sounded incredible.  There are people who say she sounds even better now than she did before the surgery.  But she brought down the house last night.  And she cleaned up all her categories and went home with 6 Grammys!  She just reminds me of the kind of person I want to go to a pub with and throw back some pints and talk music, life, or whatever else pops up.  If I can get on a soap box for a moment, I think she’s a great role model for young women.  How many stick figured actors and models do you see that you want to just run up to and hand them a Big Mac for fear they may faint from lack of nutrition?  It’s horrifying because that is what so many young girls feel they need to be if they are going to be considered “pretty.”  It is so refreshing to see a real woman, with real curves, who is proud of her figure.  She is a beautiful girl and I hope more girls realize you don’t need to be anorexic to be beautiful.  Ok I’m done.   GO ADELE!!!!
2. Glen Campbell Tribute
   This was fantastic.  I’m not a country music fan…AT ALL.  But The Band Perry and Blake Shelton (both of whom I have never heard of until last night) were awesome!!   And how about 75-year-old Glen Campbell, suffering with Alzheimers, getting on stage and belting it out.   He was great!!
3. Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Tribute
   I am about to get into A LOT of trouble for what I am about to say.   But it has to be said.  And I’m going to preface this with I think Jennifer Hudson is sensational.    Her rendition of “I Will Always Love You” didn’t blow me away, but I loved it at the same time.  It was not “perfection” “Whitneyesque” or “better than Whitney’s version.” It was not “horrific” “an embarrassment” or “so bad Whitney be spinnin in her grave.”   Those were some of the comments on Twitter last night.   Really people.  Why does it have to be one extreme or the other?  To me, Hudson’s tribute was heartfelt, beautiful, and appropriate.  It’s not fair to compare her to Whitney.  They have two completely different types of voices.  It’s like comparing Tom Brady to Roy Halladay and asking who is the better athlete.  Yes they are both professional athletes but have completely different specialties.  To me, performers like Whitney Houston come along once in a blue moon.  I wouldn’t say Whitney is the best singer ever (but she’s in the top 3 on my list) but she is so far and away better than 98% of the performers out there.  I feel the same way about Julie Andrews.  I know my mother feels that way about Judy Garland.  But that’s what is so great about music…it’s subjective and the source of some great debates.  So I thought the tribute was nice.  Not mind blowingly awesome.   But nice.
4. Etta James Tribute by Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt
   This was very nicely done.  But I’m still mad she wasn’t part of the “In Memoriam” piece.
5. The Foo Fighters “Walk”
   This was great.  I haven’t really paid attention to the Foo Fighters since college but listening to them last night reminded me of why I liked them in the first place.
6. Sir Paul McCartney Riffing with Everyone
   To wrap up what was clearly a strange evening, Sir Paul did a Beatles medley with Bruce, Dave Ghrol, and Joe Walsh.  It was fantastic!

And now for the low lights:

1. Chris Brown Performing…..TWICE!!!!
   I refuse to spend much time on this piece of garbage but why was he on stage last night…TWICE?  And why of all places did you put him on stage after the Whitney tribute?   Seriously?   Some one should get demoted for that decision.  This thug had no business being on stage.  He should be in jail.
2. Nicki Minaj 
   OMFG!  What the hell was that?  She was vibrating through her song, there was actually a 1 minute video played in the style of the Exorcism, I really have no other words other than….HORRIBLE!!  I don’t know her music at all but I have heard her name and of course other musician praise the crap out of each other so I have heard people go on and on about how talented she is.  Well if that’s how talented she is, then next year, I’ll be performing at the Grammys.   HORRIBLE!!!!
3. The Beach Boys Tribute
   First Maroon 5 butchers Surfer Girl.  I mean Adam Levine looked like he couldn’t get off that stage fast enough.  He looked completely disinterested in being there.  But their rendition was terrible.  Then to top it off Foster the People (never heard of them before either) take a fun little song like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and make it boring and lifeless.  Finally when the Beach Boys came out to do “Good Vibrations” I was reminded that sometimes it’s best to let the original artists do their thing. As someone on Twitter said last night, watching the first two “tributes” reminds you just how good the Beach Boys are.
4. The Techno Mickey Mouse Portion of the Show
   This was another “what the hell am I watching” moment.  Awful.
5. Etta James Not Part of the In Memoriam
   I know I know I know.  5,000 people reminded me on Twitter that Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt did a tribute to her.  Yes they did and it was beautiful.  But Jennifer Hudson did a tribute to Whitney Houston and she was in the memorial.  So where was Ms. James?  She was that big of a star in the music industry that she should have been in the memorial section even if she was honored earlier in the evening.  It’s Etta James for pete’s sake!!!
6. The Jerks Texting in their Seats during Glen Campbell Tribute
   Everyone in that audience is giving Glen Campbell the standing ovation he deserves while a handful of imbeciles are texting on their phone siting down.  I’m sorry, if Glen Campbell and the Grammys are boring the shit out of you, then leave.  How rude!
7. Taylor Swift
   This is going to be horrible and I’m so sorry but she’s terrible.  Her songs are pedestrian at best and while she has a nice little voice, I know people I went to school with who can sing and write songs better than she can.  This is one performer, I don’t get the buzz around.  And I am SOOOOO sick and tired of the “Oh my gosh are they really applauding for me” look on her face every time someone claps for her after a performance.  (Maybe I shouldn’t be because with her lack of talent she should be somewhat surprised.)   But it comes across as fake and absurd.  Your are a professional performer.  OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO APPLAUD YOU!!!!   HOW ARE YOU NOT USED TO THAT?????  I’m sorry but I hate fake people and she screams ‘fraud” to me.  I know, “why I gotta be so mean” as she would write and sing.

So that’s the 2012 Grammys in a nut shell.  What did you think?  Love it or hate it?  Or really didn’t care either way?

 

RIP Whitney Houston 1963-2012

My husband and I were watching Supernatural on our DVR last night when he randomly picked up his iPad to look up something.  His home page is MSN.  While watching the show, I hear my husband say “Oh my God” in a way that let’s me know something really sad and surprising has just happened.  He passes me his iPad and on the top of the screen in a huge font it reads:

WHITNEY HOUSTON DEAD AT 48.

I couldn’t believe it.  Well, after her battle with addiction over the years I could believe it, but I was still shocked.  It was the same way I felt when I heard Michael Jackson has passed away.  We finished watching Supernatural (which only had about 8-10 minutes left) and then turned on the news channels to watch the coverage.  At this point, she had only been gone about 3 hours.  It was so hard to fathom.

Growing up in the 80s as a really young kid, there were two female recording artists that were the biggest and the best and my friends and I had all their albums and knew all their songs….Madonna and Whitney Houston.  At that time in your life when you’re in grade school and heading into high school in the late 80s, I can hear Whitney Houston songs and equate them to certain moments in my life…my first school dance, the first boy who asked me to dance, sleep overs at friends houses, summers at the shore.  I remember the first time I heard a Whitney Houston song off her first self titled album.  It was “Saving All My Love for You” and I remember thinking I have never heard a voice like that in my life.  The more her music permeated into our everyday lives, the more she was on TV.   You saw interviews with her where she came across as the kind of person you would love to grab a cup of tea with and sit down talk about whatever.  She was warm, friendly, humble, and gracious.  A real class act.

I think most people remember Whitney Houston for three magical songs (although her career spawned multiple hits)….”I Will Always Love You”, “One Moment in Time”, and “The Star Spangled Banner.”  I don’t know one person who when they hear the name “Whitney Houston” doesn’t say something like “Wow, she still has the greatest rendition of the National Anthem I have ever heard.”   I also know people who are still annoyed that her “One Moment in Time” has been replaced by some Jennifer Hudson song that doesn’t even come close.  But since “The Bodyguard” is one of the Top 10 selling albums of all time, most people remember her remake of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”  It still moves me to tears….especially today.

I know Ms. Houston had her struggles the last several years and a very difficult marriage to Bobby Brown.  I don’t want to get into that but all I want to say is that I was heartbroken for her because I’m sure that time in her life, while happy at some points, wasn’t all she had hoped for.

People may say, “why do you get so upset when a musician or actor dies?  It’s no sadder than anyone else and it’s not like you knew the person.”   That is true.  And I don’t get upset when every celebrity passes away.  When Amy Winehouse died, my first thought was “there’s a surprise.”  I don’t mean that to sound cold, it’s just that her music has no connection for me.  I’m sure her fans were devastated by the news.  And it goes without saying that you pray for her family and friends when something that tragic happens.  The reason a death like Whitney Houston hits me so hard is that her music juxtaposes my life in so many ways.  Like I mentioned before, many big moments from my youth, I can attach to one of her songs.  When I hear that certain song, it brings me back to that time.  So in a way, she and I did have a personal connection.   And I think when you speak of an icon in an industry like Whitney Houston was in hers, you will find many more people with stories like mine because she touched so many lives that she never even knew.

I want to extend my deepest condolences, sympathies, and prayers to her daughter Bobbi Kristina, her mother Cissy, and all her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

We’ve lost an angel down here on Earth.  But Heaven has gained a new one.  May you finally find the peace and happiness you deserve!

 

REVIEW: Supernatural Season 7 Up to Now

I bet you are wondering where all the Supernatural recaps and reviews have been.  If I have issues with blogging, Supernatural is usually one I keep up on….typically because it’s on a Friday night and I can get to it on the weekend.  But I am sad to say that I can’t blame work for this one.  I hate to say it but Supernatural has stopped becoming must see TV for me.   That doesn’t mean I don’t love the show anymore.  It just means that I don’t feel it’s necessary to rush to discuss it because I don’t really know what to discuss anymore.

What made this show so great in the beginning was that the “monster of the week” either lined up with the over all story arc or complimented it in someway.  But the last two seasons seem to have lost their way.  I thought this season was off to a good start but it has gone downhill quickly.  And no, it’s not just because I’m angry at the fact that Bobby died for apparently no reason (which I am…fuming!)  It’s just another season of a “Big Bad” being introduced to us and then somewhat forgotten about.  It’s hard to take a story line seriously when you ignore it for several weeks at a time.  What makes it worse is the timing of the omission.  Only having three episodes since the early December break, we haven’t had a Leviathan centric episode since around Thanksgiving!

What would have made this whole Leviathan story stronger is if Bobby was killed by them earlier in the season.  If you planning to kill Bobby, then kill him early and have that be the reason the boys are going after these creatures.   Once you have fought Lucifer, God, all of Heaven and Hell, anything else seems manageable.  But if a supernatural entity was responsible for killing Bobby, then it gives the boys a purpose and the audience a rooting interest.  This season was pitched to us as the boys fighting a force like nothing they’ve ever seen.  Well how could something be more powerful than God and Lucifer?  But alright, I’ll suspend my disbelief.  I personally would have bought into this season more if it was pitched as the boys having a personal reason for fighting these monsters.  And that personal reason ended up being the death of Bobby.  When Bobby was killed, we were already introduced to these…things…and because it’s what the boys do, they are looking for ways to destroy them.  But wouldn’t it have been more powerful and engaging (if the writers were planning on killing Bobby regardless) if Bobby’s death drove the Winchesters this season?  I think so.  It also makes me wonder if Bobby won’t somehow reappear alive again.  Sam and Dean have died and come back so why not Bobby?   The only reason I feel it’s possible is because of the way Bobby’s death was handled…very quickly and as an after thought.  And if that’s not the case and the reason for Bobby’s death was to give darker layers to Dean, then I am crying foul.   Dean certainly didn’t need any darker layers dumped on top of him.  He was already in a pretty bad place blaming himself for what happened to Sam, what happened to Cas, impacting Lisa and Ben’s lives, not living up to his father’s expectations…I could go on and on.  The guilt and pain that Dean carries on his shoulders everyday is obvious.   And if you can’t see it, there is no better show of his grief and guilt than his ongoing battle with drinking.   That’s the one area of character development that the writers have done well with this season.   It makes sense that after years of seeing what they have seen and going through what they have gone through, that it would take a toll on you mental well-being and you would find way to cope with it through an escape mechanism…like alcohol.  If Dean and Sam just kept going about their days without any impact, it would be bogus.  So Dean using alcohol to drown his sorrows and guilt and use it to escape their insane life seems logical if not depressingly sad.   But how much more can they take?

And while we have spent much of the season seeing how everything has impacted Dean, what about Sam?  I’m sure Sam is also struggling with the death of Bobby.   Maybe not to the level Dean is but he loved Bobby every bit as much as Dean.   Also his issues with the wall coming down and seeing Lucifer in his head has vanished.  Although it will be revisited next week.  Even if the writers didn’t want to focus on this constantly, the least they could have done to show they haven’t completely ignored it, is seeing signs of Sam struggling here and there.  It feels like lately there have been seasons where we focus on Sam and seasons where we focus on Dean.  So far, this has been a Dean season.   Which I’m not complaining about!   But why can’t there be a balance between the two?    There used to be.  So what happened?

As for Bobby’s death, I can’t even begin to tell you how angry I am.  So in one season, the show has gotten rid of two of the most beloved characters in the history of the show in Castiel and Bobby.   Why?  Everyone fans knew and loved (depending on who you ask) is gone…John, Bobby, Cas, Rufus, Ellen, Jo.  Only Sheriff Mills remains and I don’t think you can lump her into the other group with the likes of Bobby and Cas.  And all I want to know is why?  If getting rid of Cas and Bobby has significant storyline or character implications (over and above making the boys more brooding) then ok, show me what that is.  So far I haven’t seen it.  Have you guys?   If I’m missing something please let me know.   And it can’t be to go after the Leviathan’s because they were doing that anyway because it’s their job.  So why is Bobby gone?  My husband and I always joked that if Bobby dies, we will stop watching the show.   Well that hasn’t happened obviously but we certainly aren’t as interested as we used to be.  Bobby grounded Dean and Sam.  When one or the other was going down a path that could hurt them, Bobby was the one to make sure it didn’t happen.  When the boys needed some semblance of a regular life, Bobby was the one to make sure it happened…even if it was just having beer and burgers to watch a football game.   Bobby tried to keep the boys sane in the most insane profession you could conjure up.  Now, he’s gone.   And for what exactly?   I have no idea.   And who is going to be that person for the boys now?  Sheriff Mills?  Yeah, not even close.  If the writers think Mills can replace Bobby, they are sadly mistaken.

Like I said, I still enjoy this show.  The 1944 episode was great.  Even last night’s episode was entertaining.  But that’s what Supernatural has become….a nice little entertaining show.  It’s a show where we follow the lives of these two men but that’s it.  Nothing more, nothing less.   That’s not good enough for me.   I want more and I have come to expect more because that is the standard the show set for itself back in the first season.  If all this show is going to be moving forward, is us going through Sam and Dean’s everyday lives, then I would rather the show end now.   But if the show thinks it can get back to the glory days of solid story telling and character development (and the character development is still strong in spurts) then I am still along for the ride.   But season 7 better get somewhere fast if Sera Gamble doesn’t want to lose me as a viewer forever.

 

NEW SERIES PREMIERE REVIEW: Smash “Pilot” S1 E1

I know I said I was on hiatus this week because of work.   But I had to pull away and forego my lunch break to talk about the show I was MOST excited for this mid-season (the other was Alcatraz.)   Smash was even better than the pilot that I watched last summer.  Which is silly to say because it didn’t change all that much (except for one scene that I noticed.)  But I watched it so long ago and I remember loving it, but I forget how incredible it was until last night.  I really don’t want to jinx poor NBC but…….could this finally be the hit show they have been looking for since ER and Law & Order went off the air?

I’m not going to get into a full recap but I’m sure they are out there but I will touch on the highlights.  The thing that surprised me the most about Smash is that you think this is going to be a show all about Karen Cartwright (played by Katharine McPhee) and her journey to the Broadway stage.  And while Karen’s character is the ingenue most people will want to root for, there are so many other levels to this story.  First you have Julia Houston (played by the wonderful Debra Messing) who is part of the creative writing team behind other Broadway hits and who is taking some time away from writing to adopt a baby.  I’m not going to lie, I could care less about this storyline.   The only good part about it, is that I get to see Broadway vet Brian D’Arcy James play her husband, Frank.  And somehow, someway, the producers HAVE to make sure that James sings!!!  Please!   But if they decided to do away with this storyline, I would be thrilled.  Unfortunately, Julia’s time off is short lived (much to Frank’s displeasure) because her partner-in-crime, Tom Levitt (played by another Broadway vet, Christian Borle) has been drawn down the path of creating a new musical based on a suggestion from his new intern, whom he has googly eyes for, Ellis (played by Jaime Cepero), who was reading about the life of Marilyn Monroe while house sitting for Tom.   Marilyn: the Musical is born.   I love that both Tom and Frank said “you could do a baseball number” since Marilyn was married to Joe DiMaggio.  More on that number later.

In addition you have a famous producer, Eileen Rand (played by the incomparable Angelica Houston), who is going through a nasty divorce and as a result her current project of a revival of My Fair Lady has been postponed.  So she and the man she has scheduled to direct My Fair Lady, Derek Wills (played by Jack Davenport) are now available to put all their eggs in the Marilyn: the Musical basket.  We learn that there is some bad blood between Tom and Derek, which could make this partnership slightly challenging.  We don’t know what started or caused the bad blood, but it has to be juicy (this is Broadway after all) and I can’t wait to see those onion layers peeled back!

Finally rounding out the cast is the biggest surprise in terms of character likability but certainly not in talent if you are a Broadway fan, is the woman competing with Karen for the iconic lead role of Marilyn, Ivy Lynn (played by the sensational Megan Hilty.)  I really thought the writers of this show were going to make Karen the likable person, the underdog that everyone is going to pull for while Ivy would be the bitchy, manipulative snake we would all love to hate.  But that didn’t happen at all.  I’ve already seen people say “Team Karen” or “Team Ivy” on the message boards and I think that’s a good thing.   (Team Ivy right here in case you were wondering.)  This show (and I’m talking Smash not Marilyn here) really hinges on these women.  While I think you could make each woman ambitious, you can make them both likable and make the audience torn on who they want to see play buxom beauty.  And I think the writers did that very successfully.  Two scenes really showed that last night.  The first was Karen’s scene at Derek’s apartment when he asks for a “private” call back and wants her to “do the sexy” right there in his apartment.  She excuses herself to the ladies room and while her eyes well up with tears, she pulls herself together enough to do what Derek wants her to do.   But she also stops him when he leans in for the kiss and says “Not gonna happen.”  You go Karen.  I’m not a huge McPhee fan (although you cannot deny her voice) but I couldn’t help but get in Karen’s corner after that scene.  I still don’t think McPhee has the acting chops just yet, but this scene showed she has the potential to get there because she played in beautifully.  The other scene was when Ivy was calling her mom to tell her about her call back for the role of Marilyn.  Hilty plays this scene so perfectly in that you know exactly how much her mother is blowing her off on the other end without ever hearing her mother speak.  You see it in Ivy’s face and hear it in her voice as it’s cracking.  Ivy’s a 10 year Broadway vet but has always been in the chorus.  This is her chance, her big break.  While I’m sure people will want to pull for underdog Karen, and I can understand why, I can’t help but pull for the girl who’s been breaking her neck in the chorus, who’s paid her dues, and is ready to take that next step.   Team Ivy!!!!!!

As for the musical numbers, there were some I loved, some I liked and one that was, meh.   The best number of the night was “Let Me Be Your Star.”   Both my husband and I said “Wow” at the end of that number.  This is where McPhee can go toe to toe with Hilty.  Vocally, these women are very different but can both sing the crap out of this song.  Where McPhee loses the edge, the acting.  You can tell Hilty has the Broadway acting experience because of how expressive she is during her audition, while McPhee just likes to stand there and extend her arms in the air all the time.  Edge: Ivy.  The two numbers I really liked were “Beautiful” and “National Pastime.”  Having said that, if National Pastime were just sung instead of choreographed, it would have gone in the meh column for me.  The song itself was ok but the choreography was terrific and Hilty pulled off Marilyn’s breathy flirtation with all the baseball players very well.   The meh song was “Never Give All the Heart.”  Now maybe it’s because it was just a snippet or just some one standing around belting out a tune, but it didn’t really pack much of a punch with me.

There has clearly been a line drawn in the sand.  One one side you have Derek and Karen and on the other you have Tom and Ivy.   Derek wants to create a star in Karen while Tom wants to support the woman who is ready for the next level in Ivy.  Julia and Eileen seem to be Switzerland at this point.   But I can’t wait to see who eventually gets the coveted role.  I think, it should go to Ivy, Karen could have a part in the chorus and be the understudy.  That’s my solution.   But as I mentioned before, the writers are going down the path of giving the audience the choice of whom to support instead of it being dictated to us, which is the smart way to go.  I think we’re still going to see some crafty sides to Ivy and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some of that from Karen as well.  She may be “light” but she certainly isn’t stupid and is highly ambitious.

Ultimately, this show is about characters.  This is NOT, I repeat, NOT a Glee knockoff.  I would never insult the writers or cast by calling it that.  The only two similarities are that there are Broadway actors cast in the show and that there are musical numbers.   THAT’S IT.  This is a point I continue to drive home because other than teenagers who wouldn’t know good TV if it jumped out of their smartphones and bit them on the nose, NO ONE thinks Glee is a good show.  It isn’t.  I don’t want this to turn into a Glee bashing post (I’ll save that for another time) but I want people to give this show a chance.  I don’t want Smash to be lumped into the disaster that is Glee and people not watch it for fear of watching a terrible show.  Smash is a terrific show that has the perfect balance of plot and character development (something Glee hasn’t seen since early in its first season.) This is a show about the people who just so happen to be putting on a Broadway musical.  You don’t have to be a Broadway or Musical Theater fan to enjoy Smash.  If you like watching smart TV with a strong story and solid character development, you’ll LOVE Smash.   So you need to check it out for the next 14 episodes Monday nights at 10pm on NBC.

Now it’s your turn to tell me what you thought!

DVRs: 5!!!!

 

On Hiatus for A Week!

Have you ever had one of those really busy or really bad (or both) work weeks that stretched into another week? I’m having one of those right now.  Have you ever been so in the weeds with work you miss family functions over the weekend and a Sunday Big Game* party with your friends?  I just had one of those.  Compounding all my issues, the Giants won the Sunday Big Game*, which angers me, but that’s a post for my buddy Bruce at SportsAttitudes!

So For the Love of TV has to go on hiatus this week to get caught up and out of the weeds with work.  I will try as hard as I can to discuss Alcatraz and the premiere of Smash but I may not get to it until next week.

Until then, please pray for my sanity!

* After reading Bruce’s post on his web site, I got severely freaked out using the words that will be oh so cleverly hidden in this SUPER post.  I knew you had to pay the NFL to use those specific words in official documents but I thought a harmless TV blog that could fit all of its readers into a really small salad BOWL, would be ok.  But just to be safe, I’m calling it the Sunday Big Game!  Hopefully you all know what I mean.