7 posts tagged “watching”
Really quick, just a few thoughts about what's on this fall:
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - OK, I know I'm probably not the first person to say this, but... in order for me to truly enjoy this show about the backstage antics of a failing live sketch comedy show that is being revamped and made amazing and funny and better with the new guys in charge, well, here's the thing. The sketches they show? Have got to be funny and edgy and amazing. So far, not so good. But I still love the backstage stuff, I just wish I wasn't so disappointed everytime I see another stale "Jeopardy" ripoff. Also - Rob Reiner as the guest host? Really? Really?
Heroes - I am not a comic book geek, but I have dated comic book fans. I've read "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay." I've watched the "Superhero Comic Documentary" on one of the cable channels, twice, and enjoyed it. So I have a little bit of knowledge about comic book superheroes. And this just seems like an X-Men rip off. But there are a couple of characters I like, so I think I can put that aside.
Veronica Mars - I watched the season premiere last night and thought it was good, but nowhere near as great as the first season. I'm hoping it will hit its stride in the next few episodes, when we get into the "good" mystery of the campus rapist, which should be much more fun than the "welcome wagon" mystery of the week. However - please tell me someone else out there thought the same thing I did when Veronica handed Piz a bag full of (presumably) Duncan's clothes, and I thought "Dude, I hope you like argyle." Then, he showed up wearing the argyle shirt? Priceless!
Project Runway - OK, I'm putting this out there and saying Uli is going to win, based solely on the few pictures I saw in EW of the Bryant Park shows. I also realized that an awful lot of the wins this season were based on the models as well as the designs - I really think Nazri (sp?) can work the runway, and I think it was completely unfair that the models could be "shook up" so close to the end. As much as Michael said it didn't phase him, I really think it did.
Jeffrey, you made Angela's mom CRY. She wasn't setting you up for sabotage, she just didn't like the monstrosity you designed for her. Get over yourself.
I have picked my three favorites that I hope make it to fashion week, which means they probably won't: Uli, Michael and... Laura. Which surprises me, because she seems a bit of a one-trick pony, but considering who's left? I like her designs the best.
Also, I don't think Laura is quite the bitch everyone else seems to think she is. I think she just tells it like it is, in a way that's very direct and sometimes with a very dry wit. I dig that, because it's how I wish I could be sometimes.
Watch, next week she'll club a baby seal and use the pelt for a fur collar. But for now I like her.
I've been feeling grumpy lately, so I've decided to put a few things and people ON NOTICE:
1. Pigeons. Especially you poopy ones out there. You know who you are.
2. Idiot dog owners. Especially the idiots who let your dog off the leash in public areas. Sure, your cuddle-wumpkins-pwecious-baby wouldn't hurt a fly, but that doesn't mean you can sic him on me. Leash your dog, idiot. And pick up his poop while you're at it.
3. Comcast. Get my digital cable working like it should. Are you in cahoots with the government? Is that why our news channels aren't working? Get it fixed, dammit.
4. Creepy Guy on the Bus. I'm wearing an iPod and doing a crossword. What makes you think I want to talk to you? And stop rubbing up against me with your arm - you smell like stale beer and I don't think you've showered recently. Back the hell off.
5. Humidity. I just want to to blow-dry my hair at some point this summer. These ponytails are giving me a headache.
6. Phantom urine smell. I love Chicago, but those clouds of random urine smells that hit you as you're walking around in the summer? Those have got to go.
7. Pole leaners. Hey, asshole, please know that if you insist on leaning on the pole on the el, I will grab it anyway and dig my knuckles into your back. Consider this fair warning.
8. MS Excel. I'm so sick of you, I can't stand it.
Phew, I fell better. Go here and make your own.
First of all, thank you all for the music suggestions! Keep them coming, because I feel I need to catch up with the rest of the world with what's hip with that crazy newfangled rock 'n' roll. Or whatever.
I don't have much to discuss today, but thought you might enjoy a grainy, dark, soundless (therefore work safe!) video of our kittens. It's a couple of months old, but it shows our kittens while they attempt to work out a problem - namely, how to get hold of the cat treats we had placed on a mesh canopy.
Yes, they could have just climbed up and eaten them, but using poking the mesh and making it trampoline the treats was much more fun.
Last weekend, when the temps soared and the only cool place to be was our air-conditioned bedroom, I watched a LOT of TV. Or, rather, a lot of TV on DVD, as there is no cable in the bedroom.
One thing I finally watched was the entire 13 episode series of Wonderfalls.
I know. I'm a little late, as this was cancelled, oh, three years ago? I have no excuse. I did enjoy it, though, and found that the 13 eps had a nice arc. Knowing there weren't anymore episodes, I didn't feel gipped or cheated when I watched the last one - it wrapped up nicely and seemed complete.
Was it the best show on TV? I wouldn't go that far. Was it a shame it got cancelled after only airing 4 episodes? Yes, yes it was. I can't see the premise (girl hears inanimate objects talking to her, girl does what the voices tell her, girl does good for others) would have lasted much longer than a year or two before getting super, super old, but still - it's better than a lot of shows out there.
The kittens woke me up very, very early on Saturday. Rather than going back to sleep I went to the living room with them and ended up watching a very good movie.
Despite a schlocky ending, I really enjoyed this movie. Young Darth Vader did an admirable job playing a nebishy puppy dog who made up sources and generated dozens of not-so-true-news pieces for the New Republic in the mid-90s. The most amazing thing to me was the fact that despite the overwhelming evidence that his latest story was a complete fake, many of his colleagues didn't want to fire him because... "he's just a kid, and he's very upset." Gah. Great performances all around, including Peter Sarsgaard as the straightforward editor, and Melanie Lynskey (who, though has done a lot of work, I haven't seen since "Heavenly Creatures") as the quiet, not-so-funny writer.
If you're like me, and need to learn everything about a "based on true events" movie subject, there's a great compilation of Steven Glass info on this site.
What did you do this weekend?
I watched two movies! Which is more than I've watched in a long time.
I was absolutely in love with the BBC Miniseries of Pride & Prejudice that came out a few years ago, and must admit that I didn't think "that girl from Pirates" would be very good in the role of Lizzie. Boy, was I in for a surprise. I loved this movie, which was completely different from the miniseries in a way that made me appreciate it all on its own. Darcy was... much a much sweeter arrogant ass than I would have expected, but I liked it.
And, on a completely different note, right after Pride & Prejudice I watched Murderball, a documentary about the US wheelchair rugby team that competes in the Paralympic Games. These guys are exactly like the rugby player types I remember from my brother's rugby games - 100% jocks who play to win, no matter what. The only difference is the gear - they happen to be in wheelchairs. The best parts, to me, were seeing the guys off the field, and seeing them interact with a newly wheelchair-bound jock as well as injured soldiers just back from Iraq. Really, though, it was a great sports doc.