~from "Product Recall", season threeThe Office season six premiere in T-minus 15 days! That's what she said. ;)
(inspired by a series of Office-related posts here.)
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
In
comedy,
inspired,
television
1
1
"Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica."
~from "Product Recall", season threeThe Office season six premiere in T-minus 15 days! That's what she said. ;)
(inspired by a series of Office-related posts here.)
In
comedy,
current events,
random,
television,
video
3
3
"Damn, random person in the Congo! You just got served!"
In
comedy,
current events,
sports,
television,
video
2
2
Cirque de la Mort
All the insightful (or stupid) revelations of Michael Jackson's death, courtesy of the media and The Daily Show.
In all seriousness, the nonstop coverage, make that media circus surrounding Jackson's death has perhaps turned into the death of news as we know it. There are all kinds of events going on, and yet, every single news network feels the need to dissect whatever information they can find about something that already happened. A legal panel on his will, a tour of the empty Neverland ranch, interviews with his choreographers about how excited he was for his "This Is It" tour, medical reports, more medical reports... It's really just a rehash, an excuse to talk about it some more. Why are they taking the "new" out of news?? The Jackson family is even seizing this opportunity for attention. During a CNN interview, Jackson's father sidestepped questions about his son and instead plugged his new record label. Wow.
We get it: He was a legendary performer and a mysterious public figure. What else is there to say?
But today, we pause for this special announcement from Sarah "Drill, baby, drill" Palin. So now the media has moved on, at least for a moment. They'll probably return to analyzing every minute detail of Michael Jackson's death, but in the meantime, they can bring in their political panels and discuss this unexpected development.
My question is: why won't Palin serve out the rest of her term? That would
seem like a better political move in my mind. She could then focus on her presidential ambitions. (You know she wants to run 'cuz there ain't no satisfaction in Wasilla.) But leaving abruptly without a clear explanation is a bad move. She'll seem too pushy, too impatient. It won't be long before she takes over the airwaves again. *rolls eyes*
On a lighter note, I'm finding Wimbledon to be a nice distraction from cable news and its shenanigans. Today's Murray-Roddick semifinal was a blast to watch, except Murray had some anger issues during the match. I am very glad Roddick won; he's finally bringin' back his A-game. This weekend should be fun. Happy early 4th of July!
More musings...
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| The Rippy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Obitutainment | ||||
| ||||
In all seriousness, the nonstop coverage, make that media circus surrounding Jackson's death has perhaps turned into the death of news as we know it. There are all kinds of events going on, and yet, every single news network feels the need to dissect whatever information they can find about something that already happened. A legal panel on his will, a tour of the empty Neverland ranch, interviews with his choreographers about how excited he was for his "This Is It" tour, medical reports, more medical reports... It's really just a rehash, an excuse to talk about it some more. Why are they taking the "new" out of news?? The Jackson family is even seizing this opportunity for attention. During a CNN interview, Jackson's father sidestepped questions about his son and instead plugged his new record label. Wow.
We get it: He was a legendary performer and a mysterious public figure. What else is there to say?
But today, we pause for this special announcement from Sarah "Drill, baby, drill" Palin. So now the media has moved on, at least for a moment. They'll probably return to analyzing every minute detail of Michael Jackson's death, but in the meantime, they can bring in their political panels and discuss this unexpected development.
My question is: why won't Palin serve out the rest of her term? That would
seem like a better political move in my mind. She could then focus on her presidential ambitions. (You know she wants to run 'cuz there ain't no satisfaction in Wasilla.) But leaving abruptly without a clear explanation is a bad move. She'll seem too pushy, too impatient. It won't be long before she takes over the airwaves again. *rolls eyes*On a lighter note, I'm finding Wimbledon to be a nice distraction from cable news and its shenanigans. Today's Murray-Roddick semifinal was a blast to watch, except Murray had some anger issues during the match. I am very glad Roddick won; he's finally bringin' back his A-game. This weekend should be fun. Happy early 4th of July!
In
comedy,
current events,
television,
video
2
2
Late Night Critique
I've been watching parts of Conan O'Brien's new Tonight Show, sometimes on TV, but mostly online. He's obviously had some big shoes to fill. Now, I may not be the best person to comment on Conan's first few weeks: I've been a fan over the years, and Conan's style appeals to people my age. Of course, his physical comedy (the "string dance") and self-deprecating humor (pale Irish guy with oddly arranged hair) may not go well with his new target audience: middle aged average Joes, the people who made Jay Leno #1 for over a decade. Time will tell if a) Conan can rebrand himself to reach wider demographics and b) loyal Jay Leno fans will permanently adopt Conan as their new go-to late night host. It does not help that Jay will be back on NBC in September with a primetime talk and variety show every day at 10pm, and his old viewers might tune in then, skip Conan, and go to sleep earlier. In the meantime, Conan figured out a way to find out what people really think of him:
Btw, regarding another late night host: can we please get over Letterman's controversial remarks about Sarah Palin??? Yes, he crossed the line, but is that a reason to fire him? People like him push the envelope for a living, and yet, this particular instance has made people angry as hell. Moving on...
The Adventures of Obama & the Fly: OK, you've probably heard about Obama's fly swatting during a CNBC interview; the blogosphere has discussed it ad nauseum. Conan, as well as the always entertaining Jon Stewart, each offer their own thoughts on this frivolous pop culture moment. Conan adds a little addition, while Jon recounts a similar experience.
Hope summer is treating everyone well. I've still been busy, but I'm trying to relax too.
More musings...
Btw, regarding another late night host: can we please get over Letterman's controversial remarks about Sarah Palin??? Yes, he crossed the line, but is that a reason to fire him? People like him push the envelope for a living, and yet, this particular instance has made people angry as hell. Moving on...
The Adventures of Obama & the Fly: OK, you've probably heard about Obama's fly swatting during a CNBC interview; the blogosphere has discussed it ad nauseum. Conan, as well as the always entertaining Jon Stewart, each offer their own thoughts on this frivolous pop culture moment. Conan adds a little addition, while Jon recounts a similar experience.
Hope summer is treating everyone well. I've still been busy, but I'm trying to relax too.
In
brief,
comedy,
television,
video
3
3
Jandy Timsamlake!
Word.
I'm pretty pumped for this week's SNL. The very talented Justin Timberlake has been a kick-ass host in the past, with such classics like Homelessville, The Barry Gibb Talk Show (with Jimmy Fallon), and Hip Hop Kids. I've been uber-stressed and very volatile lately, so that video put me a better mood temporarily.
Here's one of his recent cameo appearances:
More musings...
I'm pretty pumped for this week's SNL. The very talented Justin Timberlake has been a kick-ass host in the past, with such classics like Homelessville, The Barry Gibb Talk Show (with Jimmy Fallon), and Hip Hop Kids. I've been uber-stressed and very volatile lately, so that video put me a better mood temporarily.
Here's one of his recent cameo appearances:
In
brief,
comedy,
literature,
television
3
3
If bitch is the new black, then summer must be the new spring.
The weather has been odd lately: kind of chilly, then suddenly humid. I'm not a big fan of abnormal weather or humidity in general, so busy me is not particularly enjoying it.
I haven't been thinking in complete thoughts lately. School has been draining my mind of coherence. The year is winding down, but the work has only increased. Blerg.
The good news is I finally got around to reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, an incredible novel that paints a picture of Afghanistan's tumultuous modern history through the eyes of two generations of women. It effortlessly weaves fact with fiction and was equally as easy to read.
I am currently whipping through another fantastic novel, The Namesake. I can't seem to put the book down, and it has led to some late nights. I suppose it is because, not surprisingly, I can relate to it. The main character, Gogol Ganguli, is a first generation Indian-American struggling to accept his identity and his past. He despises his odd name and tries every effort to sever ties with the rigid traditions of his Indian parents. I see a lot of myself in him.
Lastly for some comic relief (read: procrastination for me), I imagine my fellow "Dunderheads" will greatly enjoy this ingenious video:
Only 3 new Office episodes left this season! (*tear*)
Off to rehearsal. changetheworld360 out.
More musings...
I haven't been thinking in complete thoughts lately. School has been draining my mind of coherence. The year is winding down, but the work has only increased. Blerg.
The good news is I finally got around to reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, an incredible novel that paints a picture of Afghanistan's tumultuous modern history through the eyes of two generations of women. It effortlessly weaves fact with fiction and was equally as easy to read.I am currently whipping through another fantastic novel, The Namesake. I can't seem to put the book down, and it has led to some late nights. I suppose it is because, not surprisingly, I can relate to it. The main character, Gogol Ganguli, is a first generation Indian-American struggling to accept his identity and his past. He despises his odd name and tries every effort to sever ties with the rigid traditions of his Indian parents. I see a lot of myself in him.
Lastly for some comic relief (read: procrastination for me), I imagine my fellow "Dunderheads" will greatly enjoy this ingenious video:
Only 3 new Office episodes left this season! (*tear*)
Off to rehearsal. changetheworld360 out.
Under the Weather
So here's how I feel right now.
Yep, not so well. I've succumbed to the common cold, unfortunately. Of course, it did not come as a surprise, since colds spread like rapid fire this time of year. My nose is congested, I think I might have a fever (possibly), and I am currently surviving on cough drops. I made the wrong decision to go to school this week, seeing as this damn cold has greatly reduced my productivity level. I kept zoning in and out during class today and felt hungry every two seconds. Odd. Not to mention, this week has been such a bore. In the meantime, these people sure as hell aren't reduced to sneezing every second like me, unless they fall ill on their boat. (Just a reminder: as with all SNL material, there is some vulgarity, so be aware!)
Btw, we totally need more of the rest of The Lonely Island. Love Andy, but Akiva and Jorma are hilarious as well, not to mention the masterminds behind all Digital Shorts. None of them will ever be as great as Lazy Sunday, but one can dream.
More musings...
Yep, not so well. I've succumbed to the common cold, unfortunately. Of course, it did not come as a surprise, since colds spread like rapid fire this time of year. My nose is congested, I think I might have a fever (possibly), and I am currently surviving on cough drops. I made the wrong decision to go to school this week, seeing as this damn cold has greatly reduced my productivity level. I kept zoning in and out during class today and felt hungry every two seconds. Odd. Not to mention, this week has been such a bore. In the meantime, these people sure as hell aren't reduced to sneezing every second like me, unless they fall ill on their boat. (Just a reminder: as with all SNL material, there is some vulgarity, so be aware!)
Btw, we totally need more of the rest of The Lonely Island. Love Andy, but Akiva and Jorma are hilarious as well, not to mention the masterminds behind all Digital Shorts. None of them will ever be as great as Lazy Sunday, but one can dream.
In
comedy,
random,
television,
video
4
4
Shorts
"Rejected Shorts" A random selection picked out from my YouTube favorites after a long day. My Saturdays always tend to be long, since they are spent at Forensics tournaments... (Friendly warning: the video is slightly inappropriate. =D)
Hmm...nothing else to look forward to. Oh wait, new SNL tonight with the classic Steve Martin hosting and Jason Mraz as musical guest! And tomorrow night after the Super Bowl, a.k.a. the biggest TV event of the year, there's an hour-long Office episode. It should entail some interesting Dunder-Mifflin developments b/c those always happen in the hour-long shows. :) And, I'm starting an exciting (I hope!) series of posts on- you guessed it -cinema. Again, I apologize if the "film-bitching" bores you. I know I inevitably dwell on that topic around this time every year. I promise I don't talk about movies nearly this much during the rest of the year, except for maybe the summertime. Hope everyone is having an enjoyable weekend!
In
awards season,
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cinema,
comedy,
extravaganza,
television,
video
6
6
Live-writing: The 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Sorry for the delay, and I also apologize greatly if I've been boring you with all of this awards/cinema crap. I realize not all of you are interested, and that's perfectly OK. This is why I added a jump to this post, so you don't have to read all of this if it bores you. (Which it might... :/) I added some video clips as well = good entertainment for a frigid Friday.
Live-writing ended up being pretty much an epic failure. I had to eat dinner during red carpet, and there was no way I was going to keep up on typing while eating. Also, from years of mindless red carpet watching, I have developed a habit of not paying close attention to that madness. Unfortunately, I literally bore myself because I tend to either reiterate the obvious or say whatever random remark that pops into my head at any given moment, so my live-writing skills are not adept as others I have read. Boooooring. (Gah, other people make it look so easy!) My ongoing goal is to conjure up more witty and unique things to say. Nevertheless, here is my running commentary from during the show. Sorry, Zany. Some of the clips are from Hulu. :(
More musings...
Red Carpet: (as usual, channel surfing between E!, TV Guide, and the NBC pre-show)
-Ryan Seacrest: no one cares about the weather and air-conditioned limos. Is that all you got? This is going to be a long evening.
-One of the first "victims", Taraji P. Henson. She seems so down-to-earth, and I didn't know her name was Swahili! Nice! :)
-The Office crew: charismatic and cheery as always. But, what kind of frock is Jenna Fischer wearing? It looks like too much of a summer, casual dress that washes her out.
-Alec Baldwin: sometimes, he scares me, but speaking the truth never hurts. "Don-tcha just hate when E! asks you dumb questions?" LOL.
-Tina + Amy: Amy recovered really quickly from "Baby Mama" status. And, Tina is just so cleverly classy, if that makes any sense. (I know I will using those words a lot tonight.)
-Jonas Brothers, Zac Efron, etc.: Screaming tweens unite!
-Miley Cyrus: that dress is actually really nice, but she shouldn’t be wearing it. It doesn't look good on her. Also, why can't she ever shut up??? I don't care that her mother won't buy her the car she wants!
-Kate + Leo: 2 things: 1. I know black is incapable of reflecting light, but they look luminous. These "homies" need to stop making us all look like failures. (Just kidding; love them.) 2. They are forced to bear the brunt of one of Ryan Seacrest's dumbass questions: “Leo, you live out here, so you’re not used to the whole domesticated life. How did you handle that?” Umm, dude…it’s called acting.
-Brangelina: this moment of PURE INSANITY, with swarms of cameras & people all around. 'Nuff said. I guess they don't like Seacrest either.
-Anne Hathaway: Lovely blue, strapless dress. She's definitely learned her lesson from two years ago. With her harrowing turn in Rachel Getting Married, get ready for a fruitful awards season, girl!
-Slumdog Millionaire is, to the blogosphere, becoming slightly overrated at this point. Don't get me wrong; people love the movie very much (as do I), but does it deserve "Best" citations from practically everyone? That said, the cast and crew is doing a fantastic job of promoting the film and having a blast! =D Note to E!: "phone a celebrity"? Really? Clearly she hasn't the movie.
-Where's Meryl? That woman always knows what to say. As does Emma Thompson.
The Show: (Finally, shallowness over.)
-opening montage: Why on earth did they pick the song “When I Grow Up” by the Pussycat Dolls to use? Lame.
-JLo: “Mama talking.” And the 1st award of the night goes to: a very flustered Kate Winslet for The Reader. Personally, I was rooting for Viola Davis to pull an upset. She absolutely knocks it out of the park in Doubt, and Penelope Cruz, also great in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, currently leads in critics awards. I haven't seen The Reader yet, but it's on my list, of course. Loved Kate's speech even though I usually dislike when people read from prepared lists. She gave shoutouts all the right people, which is sharp. A lot of people forget to mention the author of the source material, but she didn't. Thanking her kids was so cute. Breathe, girl, breathe!
-Memo to Miley Cyrus: we don’t need to see your tongue, dear.
-Original Song: "The Wrestler" is such a beautiful song. Though, Clint Eastwood looks pissed and ready to do the Gran Torino finger-gun thing to Bruce Springsteen: "Get off my Golden Globe!!!"
-Burn After Reading clip: Hey Coen Bros.! Don Cheadle wants to work with you! [/shameless plug]
-liked the speech (or lack thereof) from the HFPA president.
-I’m not as well read on TV, but I’m surprised Jon Hamm (Mad Men) lost for Best Actor in a Drama series.
-My mother (who is complaining) needs to cut the delightful Sally Hawkins some slack. She gave (with some security from the witty Emma Thompson) a decent speech, considering that she is a Hollywood newcomer. Yes, she rambled and paused and did this and that, but she seems like a lovely person. I'm really happy she won, because her performance is quite easily one of the best comedic roles this year and deserved the high praise. I guess maybe there was the chance Meryl would win because: A. She's Meryl. B. Mamma Mia!'s box office clout. C. She gives the best speeches, making for wonderful television. D. She has 2 nominations and they might not want her to go home empty-handed. Anyway, it's so unfair that Sally had such a crappy seat, so it took her forever to get up on stage.
-Ricky Gervais venting about not being nominated. "How rude are you lot?" "Well done, Winslet! I told you, do a Holocaust movie and the awards start coming." [A reference to her self-parody on his hilarious sitcom Extras, starting at 3:25 on the video]
-On the TV miniseries front, HBO's John Adams is doing very well, with wins for the show, Laura Linney, and Paul Giamatti. Tom Hanks is usually pretty awesome, but is he high tonight? Then again, everyone at the Globes seems like that, always. I have a hunch that the spontaneous and unexpected moments are primarily the result of A LOT of champagne being served.
-Of course, a very deserved standing ovation for the late Heath Ledger. It’s going to be so sad on Oscar night. Unfortunately, all this awards buildup for him takes away from the excitement of the rest of awards season.
-Tom Brokaw???? Oh, he’s presenting the Frost/Nixon clip. My bad. He must feel so out of place.
-Foreign Film: I agree with the Waltz with Bashir director's quote on how he hopes children of the future can watch the film and think it's an "ancient video game that could never happen", but the quote is getting ancient. He's used it for every award the film has won.
-Seth Rogen’s cocaine/Mickey Rourke joke really fell through.
-Patrick Dempsey and Amy Poehler echoing: “And-and the-the Golden-Golden Globe-Globe goes-goes to-to: Alec Baldwin!" That guy is hilarious on 30 Rock, as is the entire cast. Unfortunately, he acts like a douche sometimes, detracting from the character he plays.
-Renee Zellweger’s scrunchy face perpetually disgusts me. It always looks like she ate too many lemons before coming. Also, what’s with the see-through dress? Atrocious.
-Awkward presenter pairings: P. Diddy and Kate Beckinsale, Megan Fox and Terrence Howard (btw, why does he over-enunciate his words?) Whoever picks this combinations might have had too much champagne too.
-Best Comedy series: HAHAHAHA! The most random clip for The Office: Dwight giving birth to a watermelon. (1:35 on the video)
-30 Rock wins! YAY! Tracy Morgan’s speech (2:58 on the above video), not so much. Thank God he left before he could say something super controversial. "Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!" (Whaaaat???)
-Argh, I hate when the presenter is biased, like Jane Krakowski presenting Best Actress in a Comedy Series to Tina Fey. Just kidding, I love all the 30 Rock guys! Tina’s speech = short & sweet, excellent as usual. All the haters can just suck it! But seriously, that woman truly does not deserve the hate she's received this year. It's not her fault that most people think she is actually Sarah Palin; the media firestorm behind the phenomenon is partially to blame too. I also find it amusing that she actually reads the blogosphere, but I'm glad she's well aware of the unfair criticisms.
-Steven Spielberg: a very deserved tribute to a man who has contributed so much to the magical world of cinema. You just can’t imagine movies without him. I agree with what he said: "People want to make movies that appeal to broader audiences, but we can't forget that we are an audience of individuals." However, this award always makes everyone snooze. No offense Mr. Spielberg, but I think this is the first time you've nearly made me doze off. zzzzzzzzz
-Whimsical pairing: Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. Emma's joke backfired a bit, but she took it all in stride. Dustin, on the other hand: lighten up!
-Colin Farrell winning for In Bruges, another win I didn't see coming. We didn't need to know that he has a cold, though. And, Sandra Bullock's remarks made energy level shoot way down.
-Wow, that energy level is still at low levels with Sacha Baron Cohen’s monologue. The Madonna/Guy Ritchie joke was funny, though. I guess Salma Hayek didn’t agree (cutaway shot).
-Vicky Cristina Barcelona wins! I was actually predicting that. That producer’s speech was too drab though. Random thought: why did no one except Penélope show up??
-By far one of the most unexpected moments: Kate part deux. I thought there was no way she was winning twice, especially if Meryl was gonna go home empty-handed… I WAS WRONG!!! Oh my God, she won 2 awards! (My brain is desperately trying to process this as she hobbles up onstage, with the help of Leo, Emma, and a myriad of other scrambling people, and not one but two guys to escort her onstage. Amid the shock, I accidentally tune out half the speech!) She had absolutely no clue she was going to win for this, so no prepared list this time. Classy shoutouts to her fellow nominees, albeit forgetting Angelina (of all people! LOL, but I don't blame her. She is genuinely shocked.) and acknowledging the gifted author of Rev. Road, Richard Yates. After more rambling and "not wrapping up", she does wraps up...here come the waterworks. Girl, please hold it together. Btw, your husband’s right there, so don’t spill out everything. For the most part, it was a heartfelt, honestly delivered speech (yes, even at 3:59 when it gets awkward maybe). However, that was a lot to digest. One more time: oh my God, she won 2 awards! I have to get it out of my system.
-Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) and Rainn Wilson (The Office): awkward pairing handled reasonably well with an effective joke. Mad Men wins Best Drama series! I was wondering when all the love for that show was actually going to arrive.
-I knew Mickey Rourke had a shot at winning tonight. It was going to be either him or Sean, unless HFPA felt like throwing a curveball. Now, on to the Oscar! Although he seems a little confused (again, I don't blame him. He's not used to all the attention.), he gives a surprisingly contained speech, besides the obvious errors in not thanking the HFPA but thanking his dogs and Axl Rose (??). Censors probably not pleased at Darren Aronofsky, however. Btw, Leo DiCaprio is one classy dude for embracing the Mickster, but we already knew that. Where is Sean?? Mickey's "down and out" speech gives a pretty needed boost to his PR campaign this season. This is truly the comeback of the year: has-been B-list --> Oscar winner, perhaps? Despite prognosticators saying it would be too much of a risk to award Mickey, due to his iffy reputation in the industry, it's looking more and more feasible.
-Slumdog sweeps. Surprise, surprise. Jai ho!
Lastly, here are some brief post-show comments from my eccentric, "quote machine" friend Megan:
More musings...
Live-writing ended up being pretty much an epic failure. I had to eat dinner during red carpet, and there was no way I was going to keep up on typing while eating. Also, from years of mindless red carpet watching, I have developed a habit of not paying close attention to that madness. Unfortunately, I literally bore myself because I tend to either reiterate the obvious or say whatever random remark that pops into my head at any given moment, so my live-writing skills are not adept as others I have read. Boooooring. (Gah, other people make it look so easy!) My ongoing goal is to conjure up more witty and unique things to say. Nevertheless, here is my running commentary from during the show. Sorry, Zany. Some of the clips are from Hulu. :(
More musings...
Red Carpet: (as usual, channel surfing between E!, TV Guide, and the NBC pre-show)
-Ryan Seacrest: no one cares about the weather and air-conditioned limos. Is that all you got? This is going to be a long evening.
-One of the first "victims", Taraji P. Henson. She seems so down-to-earth, and I didn't know her name was Swahili! Nice! :)
-The Office crew: charismatic and cheery as always. But, what kind of frock is Jenna Fischer wearing? It looks like too much of a summer, casual dress that washes her out.
-Alec Baldwin: sometimes, he scares me, but speaking the truth never hurts. "Don-tcha just hate when E! asks you dumb questions?" LOL.
-Tina + Amy: Amy recovered really quickly from "Baby Mama" status. And, Tina is just so cleverly classy, if that makes any sense. (I know I will using those words a lot tonight.)
-Jonas Brothers, Zac Efron, etc.: Screaming tweens unite!
-Miley Cyrus: that dress is actually really nice, but she shouldn’t be wearing it. It doesn't look good on her. Also, why can't she ever shut up??? I don't care that her mother won't buy her the car she wants!
-Kate + Leo: 2 things: 1. I know black is incapable of reflecting light, but they look luminous. These "homies" need to stop making us all look like failures. (Just kidding; love them.) 2. They are forced to bear the brunt of one of Ryan Seacrest's dumbass questions: “Leo, you live out here, so you’re not used to the whole domesticated life. How did you handle that?” Umm, dude…it’s called acting.
-Brangelina: this moment of PURE INSANITY, with swarms of cameras & people all around. 'Nuff said. I guess they don't like Seacrest either.
-Anne Hathaway: Lovely blue, strapless dress. She's definitely learned her lesson from two years ago. With her harrowing turn in Rachel Getting Married, get ready for a fruitful awards season, girl!
-Slumdog Millionaire is, to the blogosphere, becoming slightly overrated at this point. Don't get me wrong; people love the movie very much (as do I), but does it deserve "Best" citations from practically everyone? That said, the cast and crew is doing a fantastic job of promoting the film and having a blast! =D Note to E!: "phone a celebrity"? Really? Clearly she hasn't the movie.
-Where's Meryl? That woman always knows what to say. As does Emma Thompson.
The Show: (Finally, shallowness over.)
-opening montage: Why on earth did they pick the song “When I Grow Up” by the Pussycat Dolls to use? Lame.
-JLo: “Mama talking.” And the 1st award of the night goes to: a very flustered Kate Winslet for The Reader. Personally, I was rooting for Viola Davis to pull an upset. She absolutely knocks it out of the park in Doubt, and Penelope Cruz, also great in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, currently leads in critics awards. I haven't seen The Reader yet, but it's on my list, of course. Loved Kate's speech even though I usually dislike when people read from prepared lists. She gave shoutouts all the right people, which is sharp. A lot of people forget to mention the author of the source material, but she didn't. Thanking her kids was so cute. Breathe, girl, breathe!
-Memo to Miley Cyrus: we don’t need to see your tongue, dear.
-Original Song: "The Wrestler" is such a beautiful song. Though, Clint Eastwood looks pissed and ready to do the Gran Torino finger-gun thing to Bruce Springsteen: "Get off my Golden Globe!!!"
-Burn After Reading clip: Hey Coen Bros.! Don Cheadle wants to work with you! [/shameless plug]
-liked the speech (or lack thereof) from the HFPA president.
-I’m not as well read on TV, but I’m surprised Jon Hamm (Mad Men) lost for Best Actor in a Drama series.
-My mother (who is complaining) needs to cut the delightful Sally Hawkins some slack. She gave (with some security from the witty Emma Thompson) a decent speech, considering that she is a Hollywood newcomer. Yes, she rambled and paused and did this and that, but she seems like a lovely person. I'm really happy she won, because her performance is quite easily one of the best comedic roles this year and deserved the high praise. I guess maybe there was the chance Meryl would win because: A. She's Meryl. B. Mamma Mia!'s box office clout. C. She gives the best speeches, making for wonderful television. D. She has 2 nominations and they might not want her to go home empty-handed. Anyway, it's so unfair that Sally had such a crappy seat, so it took her forever to get up on stage.
-Ricky Gervais venting about not being nominated. "How rude are you lot?" "Well done, Winslet! I told you, do a Holocaust movie and the awards start coming." [A reference to her self-parody on his hilarious sitcom Extras, starting at 3:25 on the video]
-On the TV miniseries front, HBO's John Adams is doing very well, with wins for the show, Laura Linney, and Paul Giamatti. Tom Hanks is usually pretty awesome, but is he high tonight? Then again, everyone at the Globes seems like that, always. I have a hunch that the spontaneous and unexpected moments are primarily the result of A LOT of champagne being served.
-Of course, a very deserved standing ovation for the late Heath Ledger. It’s going to be so sad on Oscar night. Unfortunately, all this awards buildup for him takes away from the excitement of the rest of awards season.
-Tom Brokaw???? Oh, he’s presenting the Frost/Nixon clip. My bad. He must feel so out of place.
-Foreign Film: I agree with the Waltz with Bashir director's quote on how he hopes children of the future can watch the film and think it's an "ancient video game that could never happen", but the quote is getting ancient. He's used it for every award the film has won.
-Seth Rogen’s cocaine/Mickey Rourke joke really fell through.
-Patrick Dempsey and Amy Poehler echoing: “And-and the-the Golden-Golden Globe-Globe goes-goes to-to: Alec Baldwin!" That guy is hilarious on 30 Rock, as is the entire cast. Unfortunately, he acts like a douche sometimes, detracting from the character he plays.
-Renee Zellweger’s scrunchy face perpetually disgusts me. It always looks like she ate too many lemons before coming. Also, what’s with the see-through dress? Atrocious.
-Awkward presenter pairings: P. Diddy and Kate Beckinsale, Megan Fox and Terrence Howard (btw, why does he over-enunciate his words?) Whoever picks this combinations might have had too much champagne too.
-Best Comedy series: HAHAHAHA! The most random clip for The Office: Dwight giving birth to a watermelon. (1:35 on the video)
-30 Rock wins! YAY! Tracy Morgan’s speech (2:58 on the above video), not so much. Thank God he left before he could say something super controversial. "Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!" (Whaaaat???)
-Argh, I hate when the presenter is biased, like Jane Krakowski presenting Best Actress in a Comedy Series to Tina Fey. Just kidding, I love all the 30 Rock guys! Tina’s speech = short & sweet, excellent as usual. All the haters can just suck it! But seriously, that woman truly does not deserve the hate she's received this year. It's not her fault that most people think she is actually Sarah Palin; the media firestorm behind the phenomenon is partially to blame too. I also find it amusing that she actually reads the blogosphere, but I'm glad she's well aware of the unfair criticisms.
-Steven Spielberg: a very deserved tribute to a man who has contributed so much to the magical world of cinema. You just can’t imagine movies without him. I agree with what he said: "People want to make movies that appeal to broader audiences, but we can't forget that we are an audience of individuals." However, this award always makes everyone snooze. No offense Mr. Spielberg, but I think this is the first time you've nearly made me doze off. zzzzzzzzz
-Whimsical pairing: Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. Emma's joke backfired a bit, but she took it all in stride. Dustin, on the other hand: lighten up!
-Colin Farrell winning for In Bruges, another win I didn't see coming. We didn't need to know that he has a cold, though. And, Sandra Bullock's remarks made energy level shoot way down.
-Wow, that energy level is still at low levels with Sacha Baron Cohen’s monologue. The Madonna/Guy Ritchie joke was funny, though. I guess Salma Hayek didn’t agree (cutaway shot).
-Vicky Cristina Barcelona wins! I was actually predicting that. That producer’s speech was too drab though. Random thought: why did no one except Penélope show up??
-By far one of the most unexpected moments: Kate part deux. I thought there was no way she was winning twice, especially if Meryl was gonna go home empty-handed… I WAS WRONG!!! Oh my God, she won 2 awards! (My brain is desperately trying to process this as she hobbles up onstage, with the help of Leo, Emma, and a myriad of other scrambling people, and not one but two guys to escort her onstage. Amid the shock, I accidentally tune out half the speech!) She had absolutely no clue she was going to win for this, so no prepared list this time. Classy shoutouts to her fellow nominees, albeit forgetting Angelina (of all people! LOL, but I don't blame her. She is genuinely shocked.) and acknowledging the gifted author of Rev. Road, Richard Yates. After more rambling and "not wrapping up", she does wraps up...here come the waterworks. Girl, please hold it together. Btw, your husband’s right there, so don’t spill out everything. For the most part, it was a heartfelt, honestly delivered speech (yes, even at 3:59 when it gets awkward maybe). However, that was a lot to digest. One more time: oh my God, she won 2 awards! I have to get it out of my system.
-Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) and Rainn Wilson (The Office): awkward pairing handled reasonably well with an effective joke. Mad Men wins Best Drama series! I was wondering when all the love for that show was actually going to arrive.
-I knew Mickey Rourke had a shot at winning tonight. It was going to be either him or Sean, unless HFPA felt like throwing a curveball. Now, on to the Oscar! Although he seems a little confused (again, I don't blame him. He's not used to all the attention.), he gives a surprisingly contained speech, besides the obvious errors in not thanking the HFPA but thanking his dogs and Axl Rose (??). Censors probably not pleased at Darren Aronofsky, however. Btw, Leo DiCaprio is one classy dude for embracing the Mickster, but we already knew that. Where is Sean?? Mickey's "down and out" speech gives a pretty needed boost to his PR campaign this season. This is truly the comeback of the year: has-been B-list --> Oscar winner, perhaps? Despite prognosticators saying it would be too much of a risk to award Mickey, due to his iffy reputation in the industry, it's looking more and more feasible.
-Slumdog sweeps. Surprise, surprise. Jai ho!
Lastly, here are some brief post-show comments from my eccentric, "quote machine" friend Megan:
KER-SPAZ. SLUMDOG WON EVERYTHING IT WAS NOMINATED FOR. AND KATE WINSLET GOOD LORD WOMAN YOU LOVE LEO MORE THAN YOU LOVE YOUR HUSBAND BUT GOOD FOR YOU GIRL.The spontaneity of live television never ceases to surprise us all. :)
I love awards season. And I really love live television, where people in the audience can give presenters the bird and nobody can do anything about it. Love love love.
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4
4
2008 Discoveries
As promised, here are a few of my favorite things I discovered this year. Many of them were not really discoveries in every sense, but rather, they were reiterations of why I enjoy them. You'll see what I mean.
-Hulu.com: From catching up on episodes of my favorite shows, to reliving SNL clips, to viewing hilarious Office outtakes, this site was the place to be in 2008. Everything is perfectly legal, and it's so easy to find and access whatever you want. I'm a busy person and I often feel like I never have time to watch TV when something I want to watch is on. Hulu makes it very simple to watch TV anytime.
-Film Experience blog: I've been reading the clever, offbeat musings of Nathaniel & friends on and off since 2005, but this year, I finally became a regular reader and a big fan. Nathaniel can always be trusted to provide well-needed wit and wisdom about the enigmatic world of cinema. He shares his own opinions and is at times a fanboy, but at the end of the day, his unique analysis overshadows all else. His contributors also bring some spice and flavor into the scheme of things, and his podcasts are very insightful and entertaining. Basically, they're Film Experience on the go.
-the political influence of Saturday Night Live: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin = 'nuff said. That alone became quite a phenomenon. But there are other equally interesting examples of the influence SNL had on American politics this past year. After the primary debate sketch in February, the media finally acknowledged the growing complaints that accused them of giving Obama "a free ride" during the thick of the Democratic primaries. Furthermore, politicians realized they could reach a wider audience, particularly young voters, so they all booked cameos on the show. Before long, there was a presidential candidate appearance almost every week.
-Franklin Covey planners: Where would I be without these things? I think I have a problem with organization because I have the urge to write everything down. If it's not on my list, I most likely will forget it. These spiffy planners allow me to make to-do lists of my assignments, priorities, reminders, notices, etc. and jot down random thoughts. I've used assignment notebooks for years, but there's something I really like about these things. Perhaps, it's the way they pre-organize everything for you (in different categories or slots), and then you can write whatever you want, wherever you please. Writing is an inherent part of me; I write about anything and everything. I often get sparks of inspiration from out of the blue, and I quickly write them down in my planner and make a mental note to return to them later. The planner is a convenient size too; I can shove it in a bag or purse, and it goes with me everywhere. These planners also make great gifts.
Yes, I realize these selections are very random, and I picked them for no apparent reason. However, I hope you can benefit from these items as much as I have. ;)
More musings...
-Hulu.com: From catching up on episodes of my favorite shows, to reliving SNL clips, to viewing hilarious Office outtakes, this site was the place to be in 2008. Everything is perfectly legal, and it's so easy to find and access whatever you want. I'm a busy person and I often feel like I never have time to watch TV when something I want to watch is on. Hulu makes it very simple to watch TV anytime.
-Film Experience blog: I've been reading the clever, offbeat musings of Nathaniel & friends on and off since 2005, but this year, I finally became a regular reader and a big fan. Nathaniel can always be trusted to provide well-needed wit and wisdom about the enigmatic world of cinema. He shares his own opinions and is at times a fanboy, but at the end of the day, his unique analysis overshadows all else. His contributors also bring some spice and flavor into the scheme of things, and his podcasts are very insightful and entertaining. Basically, they're Film Experience on the go.
-the political influence of Saturday Night Live: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin = 'nuff said. That alone became quite a phenomenon. But there are other equally interesting examples of the influence SNL had on American politics this past year. After the primary debate sketch in February, the media finally acknowledged the growing complaints that accused them of giving Obama "a free ride" during the thick of the Democratic primaries. Furthermore, politicians realized they could reach a wider audience, particularly young voters, so they all booked cameos on the show. Before long, there was a presidential candidate appearance almost every week.
-Franklin Covey planners: Where would I be without these things? I think I have a problem with organization because I have the urge to write everything down. If it's not on my list, I most likely will forget it. These spiffy planners allow me to make to-do lists of my assignments, priorities, reminders, notices, etc. and jot down random thoughts. I've used assignment notebooks for years, but there's something I really like about these things. Perhaps, it's the way they pre-organize everything for you (in different categories or slots), and then you can write whatever you want, wherever you please. Writing is an inherent part of me; I write about anything and everything. I often get sparks of inspiration from out of the blue, and I quickly write them down in my planner and make a mental note to return to them later. The planner is a convenient size too; I can shove it in a bag or purse, and it goes with me everywhere. These planners also make great gifts.
Yes, I realize these selections are very random, and I picked them for no apparent reason. However, I hope you can benefit from these items as much as I have. ;)
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3
3
Lazy Sunday
The title, of course, is honor of the classic (well, kind of) SNL Digital Short, as well as the fact that it feels like that kind of day. Is it just me, or has the quality of the Digital Shorts decreased significantly since the days of Lazy Sunday, especially this season?
Speaking of SNL, last night's episode with John Malkovich hosting definitely hit some high notes. I enjoyed his monologue with the twisted 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as the "Cool Obama" commercial and the sketch with Fred and John as twins who get a calculator for Christmas. (All have been uploaded to Hulu.com, so I'm too lazy to post the links) It was nice to see Amy back on Weekend Update, even though Seth soloing worked out pretty well.
I'm a bit late in posting this, but for the record, I just watched it now. More comedy, this time on Prop 8, courtesy of FunnyOrDie: (you'll definitely recognize some of the faces)
On a more serious note: Awards Watching update; this might become a regular feature.
-Lisa Schwartzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) 's reviews of Frost/Nixon and Doubt have me very interested in the former and quite frankly, worried for the latter. After reading reviews from other reliable sources, I think my sentiments are shared by others.
-Milk's rave reviews make me wonder when I'll have a chance to see it. Hopefully very soon.
-Last week brought the first precursors but not much to note, aside from the ongoing rise of Slumdog Millionaire. This week's precursors are much more significant, with the Broadcast Film Critics (BFCA) and New York (NYFCC), Los Angeles (LAFCA), and Chicago area critics announcing their nominees, as well as the Golden Globe nominations, all of which should spice things up a bit.
As for me, back to studying slant asymptotes and other such useless things for PreCalc...have a good week and stay warm (it's frigid here)!
More musings...
Speaking of SNL, last night's episode with John Malkovich hosting definitely hit some high notes. I enjoyed his monologue with the twisted 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, as well as the "Cool Obama" commercial and the sketch with Fred and John as twins who get a calculator for Christmas. (All have been uploaded to Hulu.com, so I'm too lazy to post the links) It was nice to see Amy back on Weekend Update, even though Seth soloing worked out pretty well.
I'm a bit late in posting this, but for the record, I just watched it now. More comedy, this time on Prop 8, courtesy of FunnyOrDie: (you'll definitely recognize some of the faces)
On a more serious note: Awards Watching update; this might become a regular feature.
-Lisa Schwartzbaum (Entertainment Weekly) 's reviews of Frost/Nixon and Doubt have me very interested in the former and quite frankly, worried for the latter. After reading reviews from other reliable sources, I think my sentiments are shared by others.
-Milk's rave reviews make me wonder when I'll have a chance to see it. Hopefully very soon.
-Last week brought the first precursors but not much to note, aside from the ongoing rise of Slumdog Millionaire. This week's precursors are much more significant, with the Broadcast Film Critics (BFCA) and New York (NYFCC), Los Angeles (LAFCA), and Chicago area critics announcing their nominees, as well as the Golden Globe nominations, all of which should spice things up a bit.
As for me, back to studying slant asymptotes and other such useless things for PreCalc...have a good week and stay warm (it's frigid here)!
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5
5
"Microgement"
Classic. Now we know how Dunder Mifflin really sells paper. (From this week's episode, "Customer Survey")
More musings...
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3
3
Election "Magic Map"
On last night's SNL Weekend Update Thursday, Fred Armisen made me laugh so hard with his uncanny spoof of the "magic map" CNN (primarily Chief National Correspondent John King) uses for their election coverage. It's about mid-way through the clip.
It's been all over the Internet today, and here's what John King had to say on AC360 just about an hour after the episode aired.
Lol about what he said about Lou Dobbs. =D Currently, SNL's increasing relevance adds some biting satire to this intense election season. 10 days to go until Election Day!
I wasn't quite feeling "The Office" last night. There were too many plot lines to cover in barely 20 minutes, but everything has its highs and lows. An aside: I MISS PAM! :( The Crime Aid (Crime Reduces Innocence Makes Everyone Angry I Declare) auction was pretty creative, and the return of Roy was an interesting twist, although Roy has somewhat frightened me ever since the episode way back in Season 3 when he tried to kill Jim.
In other less important pop culture news, High School Musical 3 was released today. Expect movie theatres across the country to be teeming with obnoxious tweens and teeny-boppers, and SNL will probably mention it on tomorrow night's episode, so stay tuned. I never understood the big deal about that franchise. Perhaps it is b/c I am out of touch with my generation, which could be true, b/c most films I watch are not the typical things teenagers are interested in. Btw, is it supposed to appeal to tweens, teens, or both? It seems like its target audience is tweens, but I know people my age who love it as well. I'm not sure. But, I think the main explanation this baffles me is simply: it's a really stupid phenomenon. I apologize for my blunt remarks, but those who share my opinion would probably say the same. My posts have been rather uninspired lately (basically SNL videos, but TV can be inspirational), so bear with me while I try to find some more interesting material to write about. Have a good weekend!
More musings...
It's been all over the Internet today, and here's what John King had to say on AC360 just about an hour after the episode aired.
Lol about what he said about Lou Dobbs. =D Currently, SNL's increasing relevance adds some biting satire to this intense election season. 10 days to go until Election Day!
I wasn't quite feeling "The Office" last night. There were too many plot lines to cover in barely 20 minutes, but everything has its highs and lows. An aside: I MISS PAM! :( The Crime Aid (Crime Reduces Innocence Makes Everyone Angry I Declare) auction was pretty creative, and the return of Roy was an interesting twist, although Roy has somewhat frightened me ever since the episode way back in Season 3 when he tried to kill Jim.
In other less important pop culture news, High School Musical 3 was released today. Expect movie theatres across the country to be teeming with obnoxious tweens and teeny-boppers, and SNL will probably mention it on tomorrow night's episode, so stay tuned. I never understood the big deal about that franchise. Perhaps it is b/c I am out of touch with my generation, which could be true, b/c most films I watch are not the typical things teenagers are interested in. Btw, is it supposed to appeal to tweens, teens, or both? It seems like its target audience is tweens, but I know people my age who love it as well. I'm not sure. But, I think the main explanation this baffles me is simply: it's a really stupid phenomenon. I apologize for my blunt remarks, but those who share my opinion would probably say the same. My posts have been rather uninspired lately (basically SNL videos, but TV can be inspirational), so bear with me while I try to find some more interesting material to write about. Have a good weekend!
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4
Drama in three parts
I really need to mention this! The videos speak for themselves. And for those of you who already know about this, it wouldn't hurt to watch it again. =D
4 October 2008- The original incident
16 October 2008- Response, build-up?
18 October 2008- Hilarity ensues.
Btw, this week's episode was probably the best in a while, mainly due to the Mark Wahlberg cameo and Amy Poehler's Palin rap. Josh Brolin was a fantastic host, and for some reason, this week's material just felt like more of the top-notch "SNL-ness" we need right now. (I wrote a review about the current season so far for English, so I could elaborate on this topic, but I'm too lazy to do that right now...) I'm also enjoying the additional "Weekend Update Thursday" shows after "The Office".
Sorry for today's brief dispatch. It's been a busy week, and the next few weeks will be no different. In the meantime, I wish you all a pleasant week (if that's possible)!
More musings...
4 October 2008- The original incident
16 October 2008- Response, build-up?
18 October 2008- Hilarity ensues.
Btw, this week's episode was probably the best in a while, mainly due to the Mark Wahlberg cameo and Amy Poehler's Palin rap. Josh Brolin was a fantastic host, and for some reason, this week's material just felt like more of the top-notch "SNL-ness" we need right now. (I wrote a review about the current season so far for English, so I could elaborate on this topic, but I'm too lazy to do that right now...) I'm also enjoying the additional "Weekend Update Thursday" shows after "The Office".
Sorry for today's brief dispatch. It's been a busy week, and the next few weeks will be no different. In the meantime, I wish you all a pleasant week (if that's possible)!
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4
Channel Surfing
I'm horrible at time management (on top of busyness), which usually leaves me no time to do anything aside from my academic studies and activities. Each year, one of my goals is to improve my time management skills, and I can say that I've gotten a little bit better over time. So far this year, I've done a fairly reasonable job of not procrastinating and wasting valuable time, and I've gotten to do some necessary channel surfing.
Thankfully, I did not have a ridiculous amount of homework and activities during the latter part of this week, which left me time to watch the season premiere of arguably the best sitcom on TV right now, "The Office", another one of the select few shows I try to watch rather religiously. A brief history of my love for this show: I watched most of the second season and have been thoroughly amused by it ever since. I missed a lot of episodes during the third and fourth season, which I compensated for by getting recaps from my friends and catching up during the summers. Now, here I am on the fifth season and counting (hopefully!). 'The Office" is fantastic b/c it is so original (even if it's based on Ricky Gervais' British version) and realistic. The show flawlessly weaves together hilarity with seriousness and irony. The jokes hardly ever get old, but the topics portrayed are extremely pertinent to the real world. And of course, the characters are very relatable.
The Season 5 premiere definitely tied up some loose ends from the cliffhanger Season 4 finale. I enjoyed the time lapse of this episode. For the first time, we see the Dunder Mifflin staff during the summer, week by week. Mismatched Andy and Angela still have a "failure to connect" following his surprise proposal, and Andy is still not very aware of the awkward love triangle involving them and Dwight. (That proposal was really surprising, not to mention it ruined the long overdue Jim-Pam proposal that was scheduled to occur. I will mention this later.) Michael is attempting to be "friends" with Holly, the new HR rep; he wants to pursue a relationship so badly. They do seem to have a "dork-ship" so to speak, referenced by their rap. The Dunder Mifflin staff participates in a summer weight loss program which takes many of them to drastic measures. Jim misses Pam, who begins her 3 month art program in New York City, and Ryan somehow returns as a temp to replace her ("how's my favorite branch doing?"). He was arrested for fraud at the end of last season and had to perform court-ordered community service, which Jim mocks him about. Classic Michael: he told the office that he is the father of Jan's baby, even though he isn't (wow). He also makes some offensive remarks about weight loss to Stanley, Kevin, and particularly Phyllis, and as usual, he is oblivious to the fact that he is upsetting them. He introduces his Michael Clump character, which I guess was originally meant to ridicule obese people, but he has attempted adapting it to respect them: "I say, I say, I sit on you!" (lol.) At the end, we catch up with Toby, who has been in a hospital in Costa Rica for 5 weeks, after breaking his neck on a broken zip-line his 3rd day there. Bummer.
Now, I must inevitably mention the most jaw-dropping development that I'm sure most everyone has been talking about lately: Jim's proposal!!! Finally! I thought the writers were going to drag out the anticipation a lot further into the season (as they usually do with things like this), especially when Pam starts talking to that guy in her art class, which I thought could present a roadblock in the "Jam" engagement process. It could possibly return in the future...who knows? Of course, the near proposal last season also presented a potential conflict. As far as the proposal itself, I totally did not see it coming! The setup was conventional; Jim hasn't seen Pam in 10 days, so they arrange to meet at a rest stop halfway between Scranton and NYC, although it's a pretty rainy day. It was only when I noticed Jim bending down, I realized what was going on; my jaw just dropped. Then he pulls out the ring and pops the question. Here, I was literally holding my breath for seemingly forever, and then she says yes. The look on Pam's face is so priceless: first confusion, then shock, then joy. Afterwards, I was doing this silly happy dance in front of my TV...yeah, stupid. :) The proposal didn't come with overly dramatic theatrics and cheesy music; it was simple and unexpected, like many things on "The Office".
So bottom line: "The Office" is back with a bang! This episode was a great start to Season 5, so I'm highly looking forward to what else is in store this season. Another TV sidenote: I managed to get most of my work done yesterday, so I might check out "Mad Men" tonight. People seem to love it, especially since it's won a ton of awards, and I've been meaning to watch it for quite some time. The little glimpses I've previously seen have been interesting.
More musings...
Thankfully, I did not have a ridiculous amount of homework and activities during the latter part of this week, which left me time to watch the season premiere of arguably the best sitcom on TV right now, "The Office", another one of the select few shows I try to watch rather religiously. A brief history of my love for this show: I watched most of the second season and have been thoroughly amused by it ever since. I missed a lot of episodes during the third and fourth season, which I compensated for by getting recaps from my friends and catching up during the summers. Now, here I am on the fifth season and counting (hopefully!). 'The Office" is fantastic b/c it is so original (even if it's based on Ricky Gervais' British version) and realistic. The show flawlessly weaves together hilarity with seriousness and irony. The jokes hardly ever get old, but the topics portrayed are extremely pertinent to the real world. And of course, the characters are very relatable.
The Season 5 premiere definitely tied up some loose ends from the cliffhanger Season 4 finale. I enjoyed the time lapse of this episode. For the first time, we see the Dunder Mifflin staff during the summer, week by week. Mismatched Andy and Angela still have a "failure to connect" following his surprise proposal, and Andy is still not very aware of the awkward love triangle involving them and Dwight. (That proposal was really surprising, not to mention it ruined the long overdue Jim-Pam proposal that was scheduled to occur. I will mention this later.) Michael is attempting to be "friends" with Holly, the new HR rep; he wants to pursue a relationship so badly. They do seem to have a "dork-ship" so to speak, referenced by their rap. The Dunder Mifflin staff participates in a summer weight loss program which takes many of them to drastic measures. Jim misses Pam, who begins her 3 month art program in New York City, and Ryan somehow returns as a temp to replace her ("how's my favorite branch doing?"). He was arrested for fraud at the end of last season and had to perform court-ordered community service, which Jim mocks him about. Classic Michael: he told the office that he is the father of Jan's baby, even though he isn't (wow). He also makes some offensive remarks about weight loss to Stanley, Kevin, and particularly Phyllis, and as usual, he is oblivious to the fact that he is upsetting them. He introduces his Michael Clump character, which I guess was originally meant to ridicule obese people, but he has attempted adapting it to respect them: "I say, I say, I sit on you!" (lol.) At the end, we catch up with Toby, who has been in a hospital in Costa Rica for 5 weeks, after breaking his neck on a broken zip-line his 3rd day there. Bummer.
Now, I must inevitably mention the most jaw-dropping development that I'm sure most everyone has been talking about lately: Jim's proposal!!! Finally! I thought the writers were going to drag out the anticipation a lot further into the season (as they usually do with things like this), especially when Pam starts talking to that guy in her art class, which I thought could present a roadblock in the "Jam" engagement process. It could possibly return in the future...who knows? Of course, the near proposal last season also presented a potential conflict. As far as the proposal itself, I totally did not see it coming! The setup was conventional; Jim hasn't seen Pam in 10 days, so they arrange to meet at a rest stop halfway between Scranton and NYC, although it's a pretty rainy day. It was only when I noticed Jim bending down, I realized what was going on; my jaw just dropped. Then he pulls out the ring and pops the question. Here, I was literally holding my breath for seemingly forever, and then she says yes. The look on Pam's face is so priceless: first confusion, then shock, then joy. Afterwards, I was doing this silly happy dance in front of my TV...yeah, stupid. :) The proposal didn't come with overly dramatic theatrics and cheesy music; it was simple and unexpected, like many things on "The Office".
So bottom line: "The Office" is back with a bang! This episode was a great start to Season 5, so I'm highly looking forward to what else is in store this season. Another TV sidenote: I managed to get most of my work done yesterday, so I might check out "Mad Men" tonight. People seem to love it, especially since it's won a ton of awards, and I've been meaning to watch it for quite some time. The little glimpses I've previously seen have been interesting.
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6
6
Empty Thoughts
The folks at About.com's Political Humor site mused about Tina Fey's return to SNL this weekend. Personally, I loved it; best sketch of the night. The rest with host Michael Phelps was all right, I guess. Realizing Michael isn't an actor and isn't the most eloquent person (coming from his poolside interviews at the Olympics), I wasn't expecting much from him. Although, I must mention a few non-actors have done well as host: Brian Williams last season immediately springs to mind. He was exceptionally funny for a non-actor. Back to this week, Michael had mostly small parts in his sketches and played himself in a sketch or two. So overall, it was OK, but it got some pretty high ratings, according to Nielsen. Obviously, everyone enjoyed seeing Tina's cameo. She got a lot of cheers and applause as the show began.
Right now, I'm busy and stressed as usual, so not in a very good mood. I am also a little angry at someone who keeps forgetting to give me the e-mail address of my friend who moved to Connecticut over the summer. I've given him more than enough time to get it to me. Apparently, this friend sent me e-mails throughout the summer that I never got, so I need to e-mail him. Plus, I feel a little bad that I didn't get them, probably a combination of him typing my e-mail address wrong and me writing illegibly in his yearbook. Besides being stressed, I am also kind of an emotional wreck, which is typical, so typical that I'm so used to it. But a lot of times over the years, I've wondered if this is just a phase in my life, if I can make sense of my life later on. When will things start to fall into place a little more? Maybe I'm searching for that peace of mind that I so desperately need.
Anyway, enough deep thoughts; going to work on my English piece. I'm suffering from some severe writer's block, but hopefully I'll come up with something to write.
More musings...
Right now, I'm busy and stressed as usual, so not in a very good mood. I am also a little angry at someone who keeps forgetting to give me the e-mail address of my friend who moved to Connecticut over the summer. I've given him more than enough time to get it to me. Apparently, this friend sent me e-mails throughout the summer that I never got, so I need to e-mail him. Plus, I feel a little bad that I didn't get them, probably a combination of him typing my e-mail address wrong and me writing illegibly in his yearbook. Besides being stressed, I am also kind of an emotional wreck, which is typical, so typical that I'm so used to it. But a lot of times over the years, I've wondered if this is just a phase in my life, if I can make sense of my life later on. When will things start to fall into place a little more? Maybe I'm searching for that peace of mind that I so desperately need.
Anyway, enough deep thoughts; going to work on my English piece. I'm suffering from some severe writer's block, but hopefully I'll come up with something to write.
Democratic National Convention Update
I've been tuning into the convention these last two nights, mostly just as an casual observer. I only watched the headlining speakers and a little bit of CNN's commentaries, so not very in-depth viewing. Monday night, Michelle Obama spoke about her journey from growing up on Chicago's South Side, to her education at Princeton and Harvard, to her public service in Chicago. She mentioned the two historic elements of this week, the 88th anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, and the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. Both of these landmarks obviously shaped her as a person. Overall, it was a very personal speech that really connected with delegates and gave voters a better impression of her character.
Last night was mainly Hillary Clinton's night. Strategically speaking, her remarks hit all the right points. She thanked her supporters, but urged them to support Barack Obama. She reminded us of the importance of this election, that it's all about bringing change to people. She went on to tell the stories of some of the many people she met while campaigning. She even reached out to Michelle Obama, saying she would make a great first lady, and Joe Biden and his wife Jill. Everything in her speech was connected back to Obama. CNN's commentators all agreed she delivered for Obama, and did what she needed to do, so the general consensus was positive. They also indicated she was probably the best loser they had ever seen, mentioning Barack Obama by name numerous times during her speech. The crowd surely loved it, giving her a long standing ovation before and after she spoke. In simple terms, most would agree it was an energized, inspirational, and gracious speech, and Chelsea Clinton's introduction video was very poignant as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4wzPHjBjzU) A side note: I enjoyed seeing the clips of SNL's Amy Poehler (poking fun at Hillary's guffaw) & Tina Fey (openly backing Hillary). Hopefully, this occasion will convince Hillary supporters to back Obama if they haven't already, for the sake of party unity.
As much as I try to remain unbiased, I cannot help but say that Hillary Rodham Clinton is truly a courageous woman. She has spent her entire life in public service, fighting for what she believes in and helping people achieve their dreams. Personally, she has been and will continue to be an inspirational figure in my life. Whether you like her or not, it is undeniable that she has motivated this generation to reach for higher heights and never give up.
More musings...
Last night was mainly Hillary Clinton's night. Strategically speaking, her remarks hit all the right points. She thanked her supporters, but urged them to support Barack Obama. She reminded us of the importance of this election, that it's all about bringing change to people. She went on to tell the stories of some of the many people she met while campaigning. She even reached out to Michelle Obama, saying she would make a great first lady, and Joe Biden and his wife Jill. Everything in her speech was connected back to Obama. CNN's commentators all agreed she delivered for Obama, and did what she needed to do, so the general consensus was positive. They also indicated she was probably the best loser they had ever seen, mentioning Barack Obama by name numerous times during her speech. The crowd surely loved it, giving her a long standing ovation before and after she spoke. In simple terms, most would agree it was an energized, inspirational, and gracious speech, and Chelsea Clinton's introduction video was very poignant as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4wzPHjBjzU) A side note: I enjoyed seeing the clips of SNL's Amy Poehler (poking fun at Hillary's guffaw) & Tina Fey (openly backing Hillary). Hopefully, this occasion will convince Hillary supporters to back Obama if they haven't already, for the sake of party unity.
As much as I try to remain unbiased, I cannot help but say that Hillary Rodham Clinton is truly a courageous woman. She has spent her entire life in public service, fighting for what she believes in and helping people achieve their dreams. Personally, she has been and will continue to be an inspirational figure in my life. Whether you like her or not, it is undeniable that she has motivated this generation to reach for higher heights and never give up.
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current events,
random,
shoutout,
television
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Earthquake Relief Fundraiser (& a shout-out to Tina Fey)
By now, I'm sure you've heard about the 7.9 earthquake that ravaged parts of central and western China this week, mainly in Sichuan Province. My friend Kyle Zhu has come up with a few ways we can do our part to help.
If you have Facebook, please join Kyle's cause helping the earthquake victims in China.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/87196?recruiter_id=4545546
Also, if you are a NAI student, come to a meeting after school on Wednesday. We'll be discussing ways to raise money for this. One way we might do this is by selling tea and snacks in the cafeteria, but we will talk about it further at the meeting.
All are welcome! If you have any questions, see Kyle.
On another note, happy birthday to the great Tina Fey, who turns 38 today! If you are not familiar with her, Tina was the first female head writer on SNL and a cast member from 1997 until 2006, when she left to write and star in the NBC comedy series "30 Rock". She also wrote the screenplay of Mean Girls. Happy Birthday!
More musings...
If you have Facebook, please join Kyle's cause helping the earthquake victims in China.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/87196?recruiter_id=4545546
Also, if you are a NAI student, come to a meeting after school on Wednesday. We'll be discussing ways to raise money for this. One way we might do this is by selling tea and snacks in the cafeteria, but we will talk about it further at the meeting.
All are welcome! If you have any questions, see Kyle.
On another note, happy birthday to the great Tina Fey, who turns 38 today! If you are not familiar with her, Tina was the first female head writer on SNL and a cast member from 1997 until 2006, when she left to write and star in the NBC comedy series "30 Rock". She also wrote the screenplay of Mean Girls. Happy Birthday!
