the grass is always GREENer…
green: Being in an early period of growth or development. See youth. Lacking experience and the knowledge gained from it: inexperienced, inexpert, raw, uninitiate, uninitiated, unpracticed, unseasoned, unversed.Joseph Gordon-Levitt, best SNL host yet this season [Exhibit A]:
So I almost lost hope when January Jones, who was so clearly nervous/unfunny that they barely used her, hosted “Saturday Night Live” 2 weeks back. And I was a little apprehensive when Joseph Gordon-Levitt took the stage, launching his monologue as if he was on at least three different uppers…until about 40 seconds into the song-and-dance number he did.
His zealous schitck played nicely into the whole musical comedy thing he was going for. And he gets bonus points for the back flips off the walls. NBD.
This episode had three major strikes against it in my book:
I don’t even feel like I have to explain this.
I hate this bit. It’s like the writers never thought about how to deal with the problem of writing an annoying character without annoying the audience.
3. Al Gore
Regardless of how much you care about global warming, it’s NOT NARRATIVE ENTERTAINMENT. It’s not even docu-tainment. Did you see “An Inconvenient Truth?” It was a power-point presentation. A POWER-POINT. I will have an Oscar someday.
And with all of that, the show still managed to be one of my favorites, largely due to THIS.
They managed to endear Dave Matthews by not only poking fun at him, but getting him to declare his own voice makes him want to throw up in his hands. Fantastic.
Also, how great is JGL’s Jason Mraz voice?
Also, how great is it when Andy Sandberg almost starts laughing?
Also, frosty horchata.
MURDER SQUAD, a proper plug
So I’ve been mentioning it for weeks, but the time has come to tell you all about it. MURDER SQUAD, the web series that is about to rock your world. Or at least your perception of webisodes, procedural crime shows, and sex offenders.
Last night was the premier of this independently-produced crime comedy web show that I worked on as a script supervisor. It follows junior FBI agent pencil-pushers Ryan and Greg, their receptionist friend Samantha, their office high jinxing. A wittier and more detailed description can be found here, but all you really need to know follows…
Do you like “Guitar Hero?” Then you already like Adam Jennings.
Do you like “Heroes?” “Glee?” Handsomeness? Then you already like Jayson Blair.
Jayson as a young Nathan Petrelli on "Heroes"
Jayson on "Glee"
Do you like smart, funny, totally cute girls? Then you’re about to LOVE Tristan MacDonald.
And that’s just the principal cast. I haven’t even mentioned “Cougar Town“’s Ian Gomez, comic genius Jason Rogel, or my middle finger, which makes a glorious blip of an appearance in Episode 2 (THANKS A LOT, MATT).
Oh yeah, and the writers are pretty good, too.
Check it out at murdersquad.net. Rated R-ish. A new episode every week!
“A man needs to be a man. Not a male.” [Exhibit A]:
Around 3 minutes, he asks “Is this a joke.”
Weird, because around 5 seconds, I asked myself the same thing. Cheers, Mark Driscoll.
How did I not know about this?
So I’m writing a post for a blog category that doesn’t exist. It’s my blog and I can do what I want. I have the feeling changes are coming soon to this site anyway.
Here are some NEW DISCOVERIES I feel like I should have known about a lot sooner.
UP TO NOW (Snow Patrol)
Snow Patrol’s new double album “Up to Now: The Best of Snow Patrol,” is out as of yesterday (in stores for the Brits and online for the rest of us). It includes three previously unrecorded tracks and live versions of “Run” and “Chasing Cars.” If only it had a live recording of Gary Lightbody’s uber-charming Irish-accented witticisms between songs…
POLYVORE.COM
Polyvore.com is quite possibly the most fantastic way to waste time looking at clothes and putting together looks. Actually, perhaps not a waste of time when I do stuff like this.
UH HUH HER
Because the new Snow Patrol single will get you in an indie electro-pop kind of mood. This LA-based duo’s music is both fun and pretty. Hurray for harmonizing.
“SALT” TRAILER
The trailer is out! Yep, this is the almost-Tom Cruise thriller that was rewritten so that Angelina Jolie could star. Too bad it’s too late for “The Outsiders.” I would have liked to see her play all those rolls.
Immortals
No, I’m not talking about everyone’s favorite sparkly-faced vampires wearing a strange assortment of winter wear. I AM talking about their upcoming movie’s soundtrack…sort of. Already, with “New Moon” not even out yet, Death Cab for Cutie’s “Meet Me on the Equinox,” which is featured on the album, is being played ALL THE TIME. And already, I’m trying to distance myself from it to avoid over-exposure.
Because no matter how awesome the band, my own tendency to play whatever I’m currently excited about over and over and over again, combined with radio air time, can render me forever uninterested in a song or artist. Sorry, Jack Johnson, for Lennie-ing you to death in my musical heart. I just loved you too much once.
However, there exists a rare handful of albums that refuse to let me get sick of them, no matter how much I abuse and overuse. They are true and loyal friends.
ALBUMS THAT SEEM TO BE IMPERVIOUS TO DEATH BY OVER-PLAY:
“Sainthood” – Tegan and Sara
My newest obsession. It’s SOOO good. I’ve had the album for only a few weeks, so this is an early call. But I’m confident enough in its stamina power that I’m making no effort to maintain healthy space from it. Also, the Bonus Track version with “Light Up” and “Wrists” is totally worth it.
“Final Straw” – Snow Patrol
There was a magical moment in high school when I first heard Snow Patrol playing “How to Be Dead” live on Live105, and I knew that I had go buy the album as soon as I could. ”Final Straw” was shortly thereafter immortalized in my memory while on a trip to England when my sister was deathly ill, the weather was deathly cold, and I missed my boyfriend a lot—so every song felt especially dramatic and meaningful. I listened to it non-stop, and logic dictates that it should have gotten old after being on loop for the 13 hour flight to London itself. But I still love it.
“The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me” – Brand New
I love this band, but their sound is different with each album, and this is by far my favorite. I cannot tire of it.
“Parachutes” – Coldplay
I liked them so much better before Chris Martin started wearing those weird jackets. Also, before “X & Y.” I know it’s probably not cool to like them at all anymore, but I think that ship sailed when I referenced the Twilight saga yet again at the beginning of this post. And “Parachutes” songs are classic chill music, dripping in my adolescent nostalgia.
“Silent Alarm” – Bloc Party
My favorite driving music. I love me some dance-y Brit pop.
Audrey 3 + 1 Freebie
My friend Lizzy is giving away this pink tiered leopard top on her blog Rocket Out! It’s Audrey 3 + 1, an American-made label based in Los Angeles. One Audrina likes…
Audrina packing an Audrey 3 + 1 dress on the latest episode of "The Hills"
Just sayin.’
Leave Lizzy a comment here to enter to win. You have a week.
Rachel Zoe has a horribly inflated ego about her verbiage [Exhibit A]:
An except from TZR: Living in a Lace World
Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe offers daily updates via her website on the latest in totally bananas fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. The “colorful” vocabulary she exhibits on “The Rachel Zoe Project” sometimes creeps in—and as she sometimes throws in “I die” (“literally!“), she sometimes has to clarify her meaning.
The above is a selection from her most recent post (which I read for WORK and RESEARCH) on lace leggings.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
Thanks, Rachel. Thanks for coining that, and then explaining it.
Seasoned
So it’s been long enough into the fall television season to judge what shows I’m adding to my list of the Religiously Watched. And as I’ve been somewhat busy lately (long time no post, sorry), I did actually have to edit the list.
NEWBIES:
“Community” – I’m always in awe of the sheer number of brilliant throwaway lines this show delivers. Great dialog. Great cast. GREAT end tags.
“Flashforward” – It’s like “Lost” in the sense that the beginning of the series revolves around interesting characters and delivers their stories in teasing pieces. It’s unlike “Lost” in that it hasn’t progressed enough seasons for the script to completely ignore its interesting characters stories in loo of a lame convoluted and frustrating space/time plot device.
“Modern Family” – Each episode rounds out a little too nicely with a saccharine voice-over, but getting there is a lot more fun.
“Glee” – Sue Sylvester’s lines (“I like minorities so much, I’m thinking of moving to California to become one.”) make the awkward dancing and rapping tolerable. And its over-the-top heightened reality reminds me of “Pushing Daisies,” a show that, like “Arrested Development,” was simply aired before its time. NOW people are watching that kind of stuff and it’s too late to save them. Sigh.
“Bored to Death” – The engine of the show (Jason Schwartzman solves a mystery as an unlicenced P.I.) is pretty weak, but supporting characters like Ted Danson as the boss and Zach Galifinakis as the bff make up for it.
“The Vampire Diaries” – Before you throw tomatoes at your computer screens, let me preface “GUILTY PLEASURE!” I openly enjoy such crap as “Twilight” for its countless opportunities to make fun, and I have no qualms saying this show is better than “Twilight.” It’s probably closer to “Buffy” anyway. I mean, stuff actually happens. Like conflicts and fighting and biting. What a novel concept for a vampire story, I know.
OLD FAVORITES I’M FAITHFUL TO:
“30 Rock” – Tracy Morgan asked someone if his name was “Swimming” two episodes back. Enough said.
“Dexter“ – John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer is perfect. Dexter is always b.a., and I love that he’s finally decided he wants his family. And it seems Deb will have oodles of great material to work with this season. I’m so excited!
“The Biggest Loser” – The contestants make me cry and Jillian Michaels makes me swoon. I love her. I didn’t get sucked into this show until last year, and it’s safe to say our entire apartment of 4 was infected with Jillian awe/fear.
“The Office” – If only Creed got real B stories…
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” – Wasn’t thrilled with the first couple episodes, but I thoroughly enjoyed the World Series defense. And I recently found out that Charlie and the waitress are married in real life, so naturally, I love the show more for it.
DROPPED:
“Mad Men” – Gave it another fair shot, because I know all cool, smart people love it. It still puts me to sleep. Guess I’m not smart.
“Mercy” – Didn’t get past the pilot.
“Three Rivers” – I WANTED to like this, because I met its star Alex O’Loughlin while I worked at Storyline. And he is one of the most handsome people I have ever seen in real life (I remarked on it after passing him in the lobby before I even knew who he was). And he’s totally lovely and charming to boot. And Katherine Moennig is great too. But the show has such cheese factor that it even out-dramatizes ”Grey’s Anatomy.” Barf.
“Heroes” – We just broke up for about the fifth time. However, I’ll probably come running back if Jayson Blair, super handsome star of MURDER SQUAD is on ever again (playing Nathan Patrelli in flashback).
“Where the Wild Things Are” is the stuff of hipster dreams [Exhibit A]:
So Spike Jonze—the guy who directed “Being John Malchovich” and “Adaptation.” and Bjork videos—directs a movie he writes with Dave Eggars—author of Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (the book most recommended to me this year)—based on a children’s book (that Urban Outfitters sells) by Maurice Sendak (who does things like, oh, illustrating the cover of “Rolling Stone“ in 1976).
They cast Catherine Keener and Catherine O’Hara—who add cool factor to any movie they do, Forest Whitaker— who has an Oscar, Chris Cooper—who has an Oscar AND was in “American Beauty,” Lauren Ambrose—who seems like she would be in “American Beauty” even though she wasn’t, Paul Dano—whose breakout character was a teenage mute who was into Nietzche, and an adorable little kid who has the bone structure of Ellen Page.
Max Records
Ellen Page
Then they go to Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Carter Burwell of prolific score-making fame for the music. And Karen O. goes to members of The Raconters, The Liars, and Deerhunter to comprise her band “The Kids” for this project. And then they stick an UNFINDABLE version of Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” on the trailer, which looks visually stunning and amazing and moving already.
And with all of that contributing, I don’t know why I ever even wondered if it would be good. It was, by the way.
