What I don't like

So the other day the AV Club, who I adore reading, posted this Q&A and it got me thinking about it's topic, "Guilty Displeasures" things that you don't particularly care for but feel bad about because of their supposed greatness.



For me? Its always been The Catcher in The Rye. I know, when I read it as a sixteen year old, I was supposed to relate to Holden Caulfield and his agnsty nervous breakdown. But I've never liked the book. I think Holden is an asshole and annoying and I kind of wish he had succeeded in his suicide attempt because then I wouldn't have had to read that 100 or so pages about him.


That and The Sex Pistols. I can't stand The Sex Pistols. I like punk, so I like them on the basis that I like the movement that they started, but I can't stand their music. I think The Ramones are a lot better. Why? I guess because of the whole you can actually sing a long to the Ramones thing...or maybe I just don't like The Sex Pistols.



Oh right, and The Matrix. Now don't get me wrong, I get The Matrix, I get the whole philosophical aspect, I get the revolutionary technological aspects, I even enjoy watching Neo as a Christ figure, I just don't particularly enjoy watching the movie, and I downright hate watching the sequels.

So that's my little list. What about any of you? What are your guilty displeasures? Things that you've never liked that you always felt kind of odd about not liking. I'd love to hear from people.

Frightening prospect

Last night Katie and I hit Revolutionary Road. It was a pretty good movie, anchored by Leo, no matter what pro critics are saying about Kate's performance. She was a little over the top, and her character was so unlikable that it was hard to enjoy any time she was on screen, where as Leo had a more nuanced and basic performance that ran the gambit from sweet and naive to frightening and angry. He was very very good, and I'm pretty upset now that he didn't even get the Oscar nomination.

As for the movie itself, I wasn't expecting sunshine and bunnies, because, let's be honest, its Sam Mendes, the man doesn't direct happy movies. But it painted such a grim picture of life in suburbia, Katie and I couldn't help but be unsettled. Those were our lives, kind of, that's our parents. Well, not exactly, but it was the lifestyle that we grew up in and we don't think its that bad.

So that was our problem with it, that and as any Mendes piece it was just slightly over directed. But it is very very good.

Benny and The Wizard

Broadway actor's who need employment juggernaut Private Practice threw us another one last week. I just watched it, and Joel Grey showed up playing an older doctor who was dying and on his death bed dispensing wisdom to Sam and Pete.

As you saw from last night's hysterical post, I love bizarre reunions. Love them. I think they're great. But this was a particularly special one for me.

My nethandle has been since I was sixteen "Galindapopular." Wicked is an incredibly important part of my past and some of the connections with my friendships were formed around our love for it. Little known fact, (Or widely known in some circles) The first year of its run Norbert Leo Butz, who played Fiyero sustained a back injury that knocked him out for two weeks. And Taye in a wonderful act of husbandly perfectness stepped in and played the role opposite his wife Idina Menzel. People who caught the performance said it was wonderful and hard core Wicked fans (I hold myself to that standard) have all watched at least clips of it online, and most of us are pushing for him to take the role for the film version that really had better happen soon.

So this reunion was particularly special for me and prompted me to refind this:



and this:



Seriously, I wasn't completely obsessed with this show for no reason. It's really something special. I may run down to FYE right now and buy another copy of the OBC...I've mislaid my copy and lost the MP3 files when my computer crashed this summer. It is one that I need.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, so as if the whole Vanderbeek on OTH thing wasn't enough for Creek addicts to get their fill of the good old days, Fringe just made my (and btw any other Creek Freak's) WEEK.

First and foremost, Josh got a haircut and trimmed the beard and he looks fine, and they're upping the stakes, now there's chemistry between him and Olivia's sister. I know its only season one and they can't hook up yet, but still, even Pacey wouldn't have screwed Bessie, and he did some pretty insensitive things.

That's not the exciting part, this is:


Yes friends, that is Mary Beth Piel. Better known as Grams. Better known as Jen's surprisingly awesome grandmother from DC. Oh yeah. Talk about your awesome reunions.

Shut up, this is exciting.

Wish list

So I've been marathoning Entourage for the past few days, nearing the end of season 2, and I'm starting to compile my Entourage final season wish list.

1. Sloane and E reunited. Because I've been watching Season 2 and seeing the wonderful Eric and Sloane beginning, and the remembering sheer ridiculous stupidness that was their breakup, as well as their random awkward "We're obviously still in love" encounters, basically amount to Sloane and E are meant to be...see, I can rhyme.
2. Sal's opens. As always I want to see my Turtle succeed. Honestly? If Jaime Lynne Sigler puts the money into his Italian restuarant, I would eat there. It could be a fun little tie in, especially since she and Jerry Ferrara are a real couple now.
3. Vinnie gets an Oscar nod, if not a win. He's got Scorcese behind him now. Aquaman is back!
4. More Gold family. Period. End of story. I love the little boy who plays Ari's son, I think he's super cute. The Sarah story lines are always good, and Mrs. Ari might be my favorite character on the show.
5. Billy Walsh's return. True he almost sank Vince's career, and he's a massive tool, but he also gave us the best random movie line from any of the random parts of Vince's movie's we've seen, "Are you kidding? I am Queen's Boulevard."
6. Lloyd gets promoted. Really, the guy has put up with so much and been unflinchingly loyal and he's responsible for Johnny Drama's comeback. He should be an agent by now.
7. Honestly? Don't care much how things turn out for Drama, he's where he needs to be.
8. Josh Weinstein goes down forever. Also Adam Davies.
9. Another wish for Turtle. He gets Saigon back, or discovers someone else.
10. Eric's company takes off. Really.

Puppies in Space.

OK, I really appreciated the original Air Bud movie when it came out. I mean it had every good mark of 90s kid cinema.

A lonely kid, an animal who he loves and as a result is coaxed out of his shell, a failing sports team turned around, a killer Michael Jordan reference, an evil clown. Oh right, and a dog that played basketball.

The sequels that came after, uh well, Golden Reciever alright, and I think he played baseball in one, not the point, the point is then along came Air Buddies, who I suppose are the children of Air Bud? Maybe? I don't know, I haven't seen the movie. But I'm fairly sure they don't play basketball at all, and they talk.

Air Bud didn't talk, he was just a normal dog that happened to have a killer jump shot.

Now in their newest adventure the Air Buddies are going into space? What does that have to do with anything?

God these people are stupid.

Inspiration

There are lots of times when I think about what kind of writer I want to be.

Some days I want to be like Joss Whedon and Josh Schwartz and Amy Sherman Pallidino and invent my own kind of lingo and rhythm like they did and have people on the internet praise my greatness, change pop culture forever with a television phenomenon. (I mean honestly, where would my generation be without Buffy, The OC, and Gilmore Girls respectively?)

Other times I want to be one of those writers that people in 100 years still talk about what I've written. You know like Jane Austen or Mellville or something.

A lot of the time I want to be Tina Fey. I think the reasons for that are obvious, so I won't elaborate.

And then there are nights like tonight. I'm watching Sleepless in Seattle and I realize that I really truly want to be a writer like Nora Ephron. I mean, I want to write something that totally transcends myself, the time it was written and the genre that it's in. Obviously Sleepless in Seattle isn't that piece, for her it was When Harry Met Sally. But that's what I want, I want to write something that changes people, that makes them happy and makes them cry and that they see themselves in.

I picked up my copy of I feel bad about my neck because of this and just reread the chapter about cook books, and how whatever cook book you use most is a reflection of your philosophy. Who thinks that way? She's truly brilliant.

Of course tomorrow I'll probably watch Sex and The City and decide I want to be Michael Patrick King. Or when I start doing my reading for the semester in a couple weeks, I'll want to be one of those writers. But for now, I definitely want to be Nora Ephron.

Lizzie McGuire ESQ

Soo, I've been tracing for a few months the new Hilary Duff sitcom. I've always been a big fan of Hilary's, I think she's great. I related to Lizzie McGuire more than I did to most more so called "realistic" teenage heroines out there and I happen to enjoy her music in that ironic cheesy pop kind of way. Sure, most of her movies have been big fat stinking turds, I actually twitch when I watch A Cinderella Story but Raise Your Voice is pretty damn awesome, and she actually shows some acting chops in it and I know it's her cultivated image, but I could see myself being friends with her, which is one of the things I look for in a celebrity. I also enjoy people who when their careers aren't doing much, don't show up in People (Why Hilary is better than Lindsey people!)

So her new show "Barely Legal" which is incidentally is about an 18 year old who graduates from law school. Does that little plot sound familiar? Yeah, that's because it's been done before...remember this?



Not that I'm not all for the legal profession getting the Doogie treatment and NPH hasn't done poorly for himself so if this gives Hilary that little career boost that she needs to be taken seriously, I think it's great.

Yes, I'm going to watch it. Come on! You know you want to see Lizzie get her Lawyer on. I'm pretty sure there's a mock trial episode that she rocked out on. And we all know the clothes are going to be fantastic!

Oh right and I missed LOST...I'm working on it.

Reflection

So I know today was Martin Luther King Jr. Day and tomorrow we're swearing in a historical new president and I'm really proud of my generation and my country and that's where my mind should be.

But alas that is not who I am, so as a result today I will, as promised, I will be talking about James Vanderbeek's guest spot on One Tree Hill.

I was looking for a picture of Dawson and Charlie to post, and while I was looking I found this little video.



It's of Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton on the Spring Break episode of Dawson's Creek, back when she was just a little MTV VJ and he was playing a wannabe rockstar who was trying to bang Joey, and evidently Hilarie Burton, he succeeded in both eventually, do kudos to you.

Alright, so Adam Dixon (Dawson, but a huge douche bag) showed up in Tree Hill and got the job directing "An Unkindness of Ravens" which although it is technically a memoir people on the show keep calling it a novel, it's kind of annoying, but I guess just to a book nerd like me.

The top moment for me came though when Lucas told Adam that he "couldn't relate to this world" and Adam cracked a little knowing smile, as if to say "Kid, I can't relate to this world? This was my world first! Remember I made a movie that you starred inright before you boinked my soulmate?"

Next new episode we get to see casting. It should be fun to see who they pick to play the various characters and if Adam and Lucas will ever get their visions in line. Will the film version of "Unkindness" have the Dawson-esque ending of Haley and Lucas (GROSS!) and Brooke and Peyton die? Hmm? Really, I just want to see a rowboat somewhere in these episodes. Anywhere, I don't care, I really don't.

Tomorrow in my speech class I'm giving a speech on the evolution of the Teen Soap...complete with photos. I'm not using OTH as an example, mostly because it didn't do anything new for the genre. I'll let everyone know how that goes.

Oh right and that little innaugaration thingy...yeah, that.

The End of An Era

I came home from school this weekend and had a great relaxing and wonderful weekend. I spent Thursday night with my NJ girls and it was amazing, and then Friday shopping with my mother (I got a pair of jeans, seriously, I know I've been wearing Gap jeans since I was 10, but honestly, they fit me so well!) and then spent Saturday reading Forever Princess, the tenth and final book in The Princess Diaries series.

It's weird for me to say goodbye to my literary doppelganger, I've always considered myself a total Mia. The writing, the dorkiness, the obsessive nature, the television obsession. I'm still looking for my Michael, and he and Mia got back together in the last ten pages (Thank God!) and Mia and Lilly mended their friendship, (Just like me and my own Lilly...love ya Al! *blows kiss*) and decided to attend Sarah Lawrence with a major in creative writing. I am interested in seeing the next step in Meg's career. I mean, I've read most of her books, and I love them so much, my own writing style is highly influenced by her and I think she's great.

Actually I'm kind of hoping that all the girls who navigated adolescence with Mia will navigate young adulthood with Lilly. (My Lilly, Lilly Collins, not Lilly Moscovitz, I can see how that would be confusing.) Anyway, I just wanted to mark the time. I've been reading about Mia and her friends, boyfriends, heartbreaks and obsessions for almost ten years now. Seeing her finally get her act together in the last 20 pages of her saga. It's also hard to believe that Meg managed to write an almost 400 page Princess Diaries book.

Also new and exciting...I'm going to pay more attention to the blog, not just for updating, I'm going to really do this. Chech out the cool new logo I put up as the header! If you can figure out the lettering I'll give you a cookie! (The virtual kind!)

And The Beek goes back to the Creek tomorrow night...yeah, Dixon's showing up in Tree Hill...personally I hope he makes Lucas balance in a boat and stare out over the water while the sun's setting. It'll be cyclical. Anyway, I'll be sure to get into that. And Fringe and Lost come back, so I'll be gettin a little more intellectual! Or you know talk about the great Jack vs Sawyer debate (I'm Jack all the way, although Sawyer has his shirt off a lot more.) and I'm hoping to read Bitter is The New Black at some point before the regular semester starts and my life gets eaten by school work and choir!

OMG! It's GG

Gossip Girl was at the top of its game tonight.

We had:

Chuck doing coke with two hookers and Blair and the board of Bass Industries, which he just took control of, walking in on him. If his evil Uncle Jack weren't so, well, a young hot version of Caleb from The OC I would hate him even more. I am sad that they won't let Blair and Chuck be happy for even an episode, but the season is young.

The minions trying to destroy Serena and Dan and failing miserably. I am sad to see Nellie Yuki go over to the dark side, but it makes for good TV.

The mini minions returned, confronting Dan and Vanessa in a candy story and yelling Dan about screwing up his relationship with Serena and praising Vanessa for failing up. (Are you kidding me? Going after Dan Humphrey and getting Nate Archibald?)

Nate and Chuck bromance back on. Nate and Dan bromance back on. All is right at St. Jude's once again. Oh right, and Nate was actually in the episode, not doing anything interesting mind you, but he was there.

Jenny and Erik taking on their official duties as Teen Fag and Hag and doing the title proud. Jen and Jack and Marco and Ellie could not have done better with the bantering. Plus they're brother and sister...kinda sorta, so that rules. God knows no one at West Bev is stepping up, and for some reason there are no gay people in Tree Hill. Except that bisexual girl from season 2. But whatever, the space has been filled, and they're quickly becoming the best part of the show. You know, like Jen and Jack were. And Marco and Ellie.

And most important of all:

Lilly and Rufus TOTALLY DID IT! And they're together, and everyone's cool with it. As if this situation could get better? Serena's example of why it's not gross for her and Dan to be together still (It is, you know what should happen? They should break up and Serena should get together with Nate. They're my new Lorelai and Christopher, I will continue to hope against hope that this happens) was Clueless! That's right. And well, Penn is kinda Paul Rudd-ish, although nowhere near as cute!

Anyway, I love that GG is back. I really do. I don't know what I would do without it!

You know you love me! XOXO Popgirl

Happy New Year from Studio 8H!

OK, so first off I hope everyone had a really great holiday season. I took a few weeks off, as you can see but I'm back now, ready for a new year of reporting to all of you the useless information of what's going on in pop culture.

I'm starting with what got my wheels turning again for the first time this year, the first new SNL. I've considered but never written the things I think that is helping SNL get back to something resembling it's former glory. The first was luck, Sarah Palin, but I've talked about that already, I mean overall. First of all, they've cut the cast down. It's one of the smallest casts in a while, and as a result almost everyone is strong. The only people I don't love on the show right now are Will Forte and Fred Armisen, but I understand why they're there. Pretty much everyone in the cast right now is brilliant, and just like in the early nineties there seem to be two distinct groups both of which bring an interesting perspective to the show. There's the older style people, led by Jason Sedakis and Seth Meyers, included in this group are Kristen Wiig, Armisen, Forte and Keenan, comparitively they're Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey, Mike Meyers, Julia Sweeney, those guys, really traditional brilliantly funny sketch comedians. Then there are the new "bad boys." Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Bobby Moinahan. Don't tell me the way these guys work doesn't remind you of Sandler, Spade and Farley. They can't touch them brilliance wise because they aren't reinventors like those three were (OK, so the digital shorts are a huge part of the resurgance, but I'll get to that later.) This dynamic worked back then, and from the looks of things, it's going to work again.

Next, they cut sketch length down. Sketches now are five minutes max, I don't know if that was conscious or not, but it's great, it gives jokes enough time to breath and keeps them from getting old. Last night's "Actors with Two First Names Talk Show" was the perfect example. Of course maybe it was just NPH's pitch perfect dry delivery that did it, but it was a hilarious sketch.

Seth Meyers. Period. End of story. At first I was nervous about Seth taking on update by himself. I mean, the last time anyone soloed the desk it was Colin Quinn, and his update is so iconic that Jimmy Fallon refused to do it alone (which gave us Tina in front of the camera! THANK YOU JIMMY!) but Seth's silly sarcastic delivery is like the perfect blend of Kevin Nealon, Norm McDonald, and Quinn. It actually almost resembles Chevy Chase's original. Really? Really!

The digital shorts. It's hard to believe that it all started with a quiet late in the show send up of The OC. But with Laser Cats, people began to see exactly how brilliant Andy Samberg and Bill Hader's little mini movies were. And then the dam broke, Dick in a Box made everyone laugh til they peed, and they've only gotten funnier. James Franco's tiny penis, "Iran so far away," last night's, where NPH played the Doogie Houser, MD theme on a key board while the cast began appearing around him dressed as Doogie playing different instruments. It's was offbeat and perfectly suited to him.

And probably the most crucial:

People want comedy right now. Times are tough, and SNL is the funhouse mirror that we look at the current times in, they take what's bothering us, what's difficult, what we're obsessed with and project it back to us and make us all laugh about it. I already posted on my live journal how obsessed I am with the "Dying Broadway" sketch from last night, but it was hilariously funny. What's happening on Broadway right now isn't funny when you think about it casually, tons of people are out of work, an art form that I'm passionate about (I love musical theatre) seems to be in deep trouble artistically, and the lights seem to be going out, but reflected back in the SNL crazy mirror, it seemed less bad, watching my favorite Broadway characters throw down (Seriously watching Mark Cohen bitch out Elphaba was hiliarious) made it all seem a little silly. That's what the country needs right now, we need to laugh and finally our number one place to go do that is back, and you know, actually funny.

So thank you SNL, thank you very very much.