Glee-ful! October 6, 2009

more about “Hulu – Glee: The Rhodes Not Taken – W…“, posted with vodpod

I am in love with Glee.  We look forward to Wednesday nights with the – well – glee once reserved for Thursday and The Office.  The presence of Jane Lynch drew me in, but I stuck around for the demented fun.  It was only a matter of time before Kristin Chenoweth crashed the party.  I will never understand how such a big voice comes from such a teeny woman.

My mom used to buy me Broadway soundtracks (on cassette tape.  I’m that old.) and subscriptions to The New Yorker in an effort to inject some culture into my life, or possibly turn me into a gay man.  Who knows?  But those big Broadway numbers with perfect crazy harmony still make me all kinds of goofy happy.  So Kristin Chenoweth and Lea Michele absolutely tearing up Maybe This Time from Cabaret (incidentally, has there ever been a weirder, darker musical)?  OMG, the best thing on network TV ever.  My very very hetero husband, who has suspiciously made it a point to linger in the living room for the past two or three weeks during Glee, and my eleven year old son both sat there glued to the screen.  Frickin’ Cabaret of all things!  I don’t know, maybe all of us recognize that talk.  That talk we give ourselves over and over again.  Trying so hard to convince ourselves that this time is the time that it will all be different.  Not believing a word of it, but still hoping against hope that this time, it’s all gonna change.  That it’s our turn now.  That’s kind’ve universal, isn’t it?  That need to believe that things will get better.

So for three short minutes, we sat in the living room, completely silent (no small feat in our house), listening to a broken doll of a girl singing her heart out for her last chance at happiness.  It was perfect.  “Wow,” Ethan whispered when the song ended.  I don’t know whether he was in awe of Michele’s and Chenoweth’s vocal abilities or oddly moved by the hopeless optimism of the song, but yeah kid, wow.

I want to go to there… May 28, 2009

One incredibly productive use of my abundant free time has been spent watching a few episodes of 30 Rock each day on Netflix streaming and then harassing Tina (co-author of this blog KrisTINA not Tina Fey)  while she tries to work by emailing her constantly with my favorites lines.  Since I am too lazy to think of an actual post these days and since my entire personality is basically a collection of pop culture quirks I’ve co-opted over the years anyway, I might as well play to my strengths.  Here are some of the funniest lines from 30 Rock…a completely subjective list of course.

Tracy Jordan:  What is this, Horseville? ‘Cause I’m surrounded by naysayers. Wordplay! (Kristina’s personal fave)

Cerie:  Did he just talk to me like I’m ugly?

Jack to Liz:  What did your mother mean when she said you were a beautiful genius?  Was she taunting you?

Kenneth: I’m a real good sex person.  I do it all the different ways.

Dot com:  What is the world’s only egg-laying mammal?

Tracy:  The Easter Bunny!

Jenna:  You know, I’ve always reminded myself of Grace Kelly.

Liz:  Why are you wearing a tux?

Jack:  It’s after six.  What am I, a farmer?

Jack:  I get my hair cut every two days.  After all, your hair is your headsuit.

Republican Congressman:  I can’t support that.  Dam is a swear word.  I’d support it if instead of a dam we called it a God finger.

Jack:  Are these people your family?  Why are they all smiling?  Who’s being ostracized?

Kenneth:  Science was my most favorite subject, especially the Old Testament.

I need you to be shiny and bright May 27, 2009

Why so forlorn, Betty?

This is how I feel after finding out that season 3 of Mad Men doesn’t start until August.  August?  Fortunately, season 2 DVDs  (very nattily packaged in a crisp shirt and tie, no less) comes out on July 14.

If you are not watching it, get on board.  It is the best damn show on TV, period.  Beautiful and meticulous with wonderfully concise writing.  Nothing is wasted here.  There are no throwaway lines or scenes.  Everything, and I do mean everything, counts.  Repeat viewings are mandatory in order to catch all the gorgeousness.  Meander on over to amctv.com to check out cool behind the scenes stuff.

And simply because he can wear the hell out of a suit, here’s Don Draper himself.

I really don't recall Don Draper ever smiling.

All photos courtesy of  Carin Baer & AMC.

Gee, I think you’re swell May 19, 2009

I promise I will stop posting about movies I want to see.  But The Boat That Rocked?  I swear it’s like some guardian angel reached into my brain & made a sweet little film full of my favorite things.

1. A deadly 60s soundtrack.  Oldies are way overused in movies but in the proper historical context, we’re reminded how important and formative these now quaint songs actually were.  (Besides is there any more adorable way of declaring your love than proclaiming “you’re my pride and joy, etc…”?  That absolutely kills me.)  So The Kinks, Cat Stevens, The Turtles, The Troggs?  Hells yeah, sign me up.
2. PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN!  And more importantly, Phillip Seymour Hoffman out of serious actor mode & just having fun.  I have the most insanely intense crush on this man.
3. Witty malcontents giving a giant middle finger to the establishment.
4. And I will admit that the following lines mist me up just a little.

Governments loathe people being free.

Young men and young women will always dream dreams and put those dreams into song.

Cannot wait!

Nine May 14, 2009

Holy Hell, I don’t know what this is, but I have to see it immediately.  Even the presence of Fergie and Kate Hudson cannot keep me away.

I can’t do this all on my own May 7, 2009

Eric & I were both a touch misty last night as Scrubs took a final bow.  I sent season 1 of it to Eric while he was in Iraq & he reciprocated by sending bootleg copies of the remaining seasons to me (one cool thing about Iraq was the ridiculously copious  pirated DVDs).  I know it’s trite but this silly little show helped us through a rough time, and for that we’ll always have a soft spot for it.  It’s as likely to make me cry as to laugh, and that’s a huge admission from someone who hates to cry.  I think Scrubs possesses an uncanny knack for capturing the truth about the mundanities and small triumphs that comprise everyday existence;  an honest acknowledgment of the necessity of tragedy along with the comic and the desire we all have to have made an impression, to have mattered.  Take this from last night’s episode:

Endings are never easy. I always build them up so much in my head, they can’t possibly live up to my expectations, and I just end up disappointed. I’m not even sure why it matters to me so much how things end here. I guess it’s because that we all want to believe that what we do is very important: that people hang on to our every word, that people care what we think. The truth is, you should consider yourself lucky if you even occasionally get to make someone, anyone, feel a little better. After that, it’s all about the people you let into your life.” -J.D.

And honestly, it’s just a lot of damn fun.  Here are some of my favorite moments.

Dr. Kelso’s Advice

Ted’s Band

Honesty

Romance

My Real Life

Trading Spaces April 28, 2009

A friend recently asked who I’d like to trade lives with. In tossing the question around, I’ve come to conclude that life occasionally sucks but that’s how it goes for everybody. Therefore, my deeply profound answer to the question is “no one”. I’m learning to be content where I am, and with who I am.

Although….

For this one, very brief moment in Hillary Duff’s life, I would most definitely do a Trading Spaces swap with her. I’ve always liked Christmas Vacation and growing up, Three Amigos was one of our favorite movies. However – watching Fletch and Fletch Lives spawned a most unlikely love affair and profound comedic respect for Chevy Chase that I’ve held since my freshman year of college. And no, even though I look it, freshman year wasn’t yesterday…it was 10 years ago.

The ugly rumor is that there is a Fletch remake in the future. This made me cry just a little, because in the beginning I couldn’t wrap my brain around an actor that I’d want to see as Fletch. I’ve heard though that Zachary Levi, from Chuck is rumored to be the new Fletch. If he does in deed play Fletch, I can only hope and pray that he does it well. Half of my heart belongs to Chevy Chase, the other half belongs to Zachary Levi. I’d hate to end a good (make believe) thing.

Twilight Cake=suckage April 28, 2009

This is just funny.  God, I hope Ethan doesn’t want a Twilight cake for his birthday. (Cake Wrecks)

Luc

I can have oodles of charm when I want to.  Kurt Vonnegut

Recycling Matthew McConaughey April 17, 2009

Damn you Kristina, for sending me this while I’m trying to eat!  I choked on my pecan roll.  Too funny not to post.  Here it is:  Matthew McConaughey’s next ten movies.  I can’t wait for “Down for the Count”.   (Cracked)

And since it’s slightly related & because we love Matt Damon: his absolute spot-on impersonation.

And to be fair, a time when McConaughey was not a giant cheeseball (Yay for Cheeseball Day!)

Luc.

I can have oodles of charm when I want to.  Kurt Vonnegut

Pregnant With Emotion? April 12, 2009

As previously mentioned, Tina came to spend a couple of days with me and along with our standard faves of planting ourselves in the bookstore, going for coffee, shopping, and eating yummy food (Hello, Maggiano’s!  You were delicious!), we also managed to watch a movie or two.

Confession: I love Jud Apatow’s brand of humor.  So much so, that Knocked Up is my go-to for when I’m a little blue and need a pick-me-up.  (Well, Knocked Up and the 2005 Pride & Prejudice.  And yes, I am perfectly aware that one of these things is not like the other.  I know that Knocked Up and Pride & Prejudice do not occupy the same sphere and probably should not be mentioned in the same breath, but I love them both, they make me smile, so suck it.)  The fact that I watch it on a religious basis probably goes a long way towards explaining why I have a wee bit of a potty mouth, a healthy crush on Seth Rogen, and a deep love of guy humor.

Last week, I decided in my usual over-bearing, bossy manner, that Tina had to see this movie now, and also I wanted something funny to watch while I enjoyed my new bottle of wine (Anti-oxidants=healthy!).   I wish I could more eloquently explain why I love this movie so very much.  Yeah, it’s funny.  But as someone who got pregnant & became a wife way before I was ready for it, well, the movie speaks to me on a fundamental level.  The themes of arrested development, readiness, and commitment are handled here much more realistically than in any other movie I can remember.  To paraphrase some random film critic, it’s the best family values movie that I can’t in good faith recommend to families.

Luc.

I can have oodles of charm when I want to.  Kurt Vonnegut