***Disclaimer! I started writing this on Thursday and I kept dozing off, so I had to finish it tonight, seeing as Monday night is just around the corner and I don't want to get behind!***
Wow, I actually haven't blogged yet this week. It's Thursday! I'm so excited! OK, I feel the need to recap my two current reality obsessions.
The Bachelorette
I'm gonna save the you the trouble of pretending to be entertained by my comments when everything I have to say wouldn't compare to Lincee, queen of the Bachelor recap blog domain. It was a killer episode, but I'll just leave it to the pro.
Moving on...
The Search for Elle Woods
First of all, can I just say that I know at LEAST 10 girls that I could put on this show who would be more talented than this bunch? With a few exceptions. I think a few of them are really tough. But most of the time, I feel like I'm watching high school theatre.
We get a flashback of the last episode, in which Nikki Snelson of the LB Broadway cast dropped lines on the girls, and Cassie O. was sent home. Then we see what's going to happen...and it can be summed up with one fitting word: Da-RAMA!
The girls are starting to realize after the first of the top ten left, it became clear that this is truly a competition...not just musical theatre camp.
The two remaining of the "bottom three" return. Everyone is glad to see Lindsay, but less thrilled about stage poodle Cassie S. Cassie observes to the camera that Lindsay got way more hugs than she did, followed by, "Oh, it is ON!!!"
Oh. My. Gosh.
I would also like to point out at this point that all these girls are wearing matching LB sweats. What? They are wearing these stinking things all the time. It's like the only time they AREN'T instructed specifically on what to wear is when they receive their cryptic "call sheets."
Speaking of the call sheet, it sends them to a gym where they meet their vocal coach for some exercise/singing rehearsal. This is actually a pretty awesome way to show how talented some of these girls are. I mean, I can hardly carry a conversation on a spin bike, much less belt a song. So, props to these girls...except Cassie S. Who, by the way, the producer has decided to hate on this episode. I don't mind, if you don't. She is the ONLY person who is vocally all over the place with her pitch...like, is this even real? And then cut to Cassie confessing to the camera that she is sooo impressed with how good she was.
Hayley Duff comes in to help the vocal coach announce the winner of the workout/singing session. Lauren wins for fierce belting, and she picks Cassie S. to share the prize with her in an effort to show friendship to the girl everyone hates...how Elle of her! Cassie is pissed to be picked out of "pity." The reward is "a mani-pedi" with Orfeh, who plays Paulette in LB on B'way.
The girls make good use of their time by asking Orfeh for advice. Orfeh makes good use of OUR time by attempting to dig into the dirt on what goes on inside the house. Cassie tells the camera how stupid it is that everyone says they get along in the house. Here's what I know about girls---the ones who say we're all getting along are the ones who are trying to create a positive atmosphere. The ones who say it's catty are the ones who are making it catty.
The girls say goodbye and Cassie tells Orfeh to "watch the nails" like she and O. are best buds. Ugh...
The tension is high when Lauren and Cassie get back. Everyone is jealous of their mani-pedi treatments. Emma tells us how unhelpful it would've been for her to meet a Broadway star because she grew up in a Broadway family. "Whatever." Many of the girls express to the camera that Emma should've won. Too bad she wouldn't have cared about the reward.
Next morning, the call sheet arrives just in time to give the girls a big pink panic attack because they only have a half-hour to get ready for their call time. Some girls brag about how quickly they can get ready in the morning.
The girls show up at the rehearsal studio to find out they will not only be learning Elle's part for the audition song, "Omigod," but they will also learn the chorus parts to perform for each other's auditions. Vocal dude notices how much the girl half-ass it when they're not singing Elle's part, and predicts some serious "biotchery" in the house.
The girls head back to the loft where they decide to run the piece and give everyone a chance to run it as Elle. Flashback to elementary recesses when my little friends and I would "take turns" singing songs from Disney movies...and it was the same thing. Everyone wants to sing the princess part. No one wants to be Aladdin, or the Beast, or Sabastian, or Zazu. We see the girls dwindle away, until finally it's Cassie's turn and Bailey decides to rest her voice...along with three other girls who aren't called out for not participating.
The girls are soooo nervous for the auditions. I would be, too. They each go through the piece with "local actress" Nicole who plays the shop girl's part.
Haylie Duff keeps saying "at least" one of the girls will go home after the audition...hmm?
Autumn goes first. I kind of love this girl...she cracks me up in her little camera confessionals. She is good; she messes up the words, but she totally covers herself. She is much older than most of the other girls, and her maturity puts her on a whole different level than the other girls competitively. She's not even worried about whether people hug her or not. Poodle, please!
Rhiannon is next. She is so adorable, but so young in contrast to Autumn that it makes me have a hard time believing her as a college grad. The judges think she is a "joyologist." Cue Molly Shannon, anyone? "I love it I love it I love it!!!"
And I would like to mention at this point that Cassie S. can be spotted "giving 100%" for all the other girls in the background...but I know what this is. She's not being helpful and selfless. She's trying to be noticed. We used to have a girl in the PMO Kid's Choir who was always overdoing everything, including her reactions to other people's solo parts, in an attempt to keep all eyes on her. It's not helpful. It's a-freaking-nnoying, and she needs to cut it out. But that's why we love to hate her, right?
Anyway, on with the auditions. Bailey is too Disney. Emma is too harsh. Natalie does pretty stinkin' well...we see a pleased smile from Bernie. Cassie S. does a good job...and then the judges put her on the spot: "Do you think you should go home?" She makes the brilliant move to say she thinks other girls should go before her. The judges ask for names, and she cops out by saying she wants to say a name but not on a personal level. Then the judges ask a question written down by the producers of the MTV reality show..."Do you think other girls weren't supporting you when you practiced in the house last night?" Of course, Cassie tells the truth and the girls backstage get pissed and coin the title of this episode: "Omigod, She Threw Us Under the Bus!"
Back to the auditions! Lindsay gives a high school theatre-level performance. Lauren starts every phrase of her song with an "H." Celina is too sexy. And scary. And mean. Seriously, what is she DOING here?!
The judges give Celina some criticism and then she cries to the camera about being talked down to and not being treated like a person. Um...welcome to show business?
The judges do their deliberating and then Haylie brings the girls out to tell them FOUR of them will go to the casting office today...dun dun dun. The List of girls who are safe for the week are Autumn, Bailey, Rhiannon, Natalie, and...Cassie!
WHA????!!!!
OMG, are all the girls pissed or WHAT! Celina, Lindsay, Emma, and Lauren all head to the casting office. But the best part is the "photo finish" moment when Cassie walks into the dressing room, revealing Bailey's reaction when she walks in. Total shock and horror...Priceless.
The judges do their best to deliver the lines written by the MTV producer in as natural a form as possible. "You're here today because your auditions didn't soar." "Your dream of becoming Elle Woods may be over."
After giving their criticisms to the girls, the judges tell Emma they want to see more colors. They tell Celina she has potential. They tell Lauren she is wasting their time. They tell Lindsay she's cut.
Lindsay has a great exiting speech to the camera. She is hopeful for a career on Broadway in the future. It's ok, Lindsay, I don't know why they sent you home and kept Celina either!
OK, that's it. I'm ready for the next installment! And I can't wait to see Bachelorette hometown visits this week! :)
Until then!
Lis
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
why i hate the paparazzi
What would you do in a situation like this?
Check out the looks on their faces.
Can you imagine going to a McDonald's drive-thru and having people taking pictures of you, standing in the way of your car, and yelling while you were trying to order food?
How do you not flip out and start running people over?
Here's another video that I think is VERY interesting.
Notice how defensive this woman is right from the get-go. I hate how these people try to justify what they are doing as if they're just doing "journalism" and not doing anything wrong.
I don't care if they call it "citizen journalism." This is NOT journalism. This is sensationalist crap. Unfortunately, the "real" news media is moving further and further into this sensationalist territory. So help me GOD, I will do everything in my power during my career to not follow that trend.
Check out the looks on their faces.
Can you imagine going to a McDonald's drive-thru and having people taking pictures of you, standing in the way of your car, and yelling while you were trying to order food?
How do you not flip out and start running people over?
Here's another video that I think is VERY interesting.
Notice how defensive this woman is right from the get-go. I hate how these people try to justify what they are doing as if they're just doing "journalism" and not doing anything wrong.
I don't care if they call it "citizen journalism." This is NOT journalism. This is sensationalist crap. Unfortunately, the "real" news media is moving further and further into this sensationalist territory. So help me GOD, I will do everything in my power during my career to not follow that trend.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
You say "tomato," and I say "salmonella"...
Christopher: Tomahto? What's that?
Jimmy: It's just how they say it.
Christopher: Okay, I'll give it a try.
~Monologue with Christopher Walken and Jimmy Fallon, SNL
I am at work, and I just got a Jimmy John's sandwich delivered to me. I go to bite into it and I'm like, "Wait, something is missing from this sandwich!"
The tomatoes.
You know how we're having that salmonella scare and no one is serving tomatoes on their food? That stinks.
I miss tomatoes. Let's call the whole thing off!
Jimmy: It's just how they say it.
Christopher: Okay, I'll give it a try.
~Monologue with Christopher Walken and Jimmy Fallon, SNL
I am at work, and I just got a Jimmy John's sandwich delivered to me. I go to bite into it and I'm like, "Wait, something is missing from this sandwich!"
The tomatoes.
You know how we're having that salmonella scare and no one is serving tomatoes on their food? That stinks.
I miss tomatoes. Let's call the whole thing off!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
reality recap
I didn't have time earlier to rant about my two current reality shows, so I'm gonna do that now before I have to go to work.
The Search for Elle Woods
Quick recap: We're down to 10 girls in the running for the role of Elle Woods on Broadway. I still can't get over how ludacris this concept is. But that's ok...that's entertainment!
Today it's all about the acting; the girls have a workshop with an acting coach and a reading partner, where they read a scene from the show between Emmett and Elle. They each get pointers. Just like in ANTM, the acting coach picks a "winner" who he thinks was the most impressive in the workshop. He picks Bailey, who is able to cast off her thick southern accent while reading the scene. Bailey gets to pick a friend (Lindsay) and they together go enjoy their reward, which is meeting and working with Nikki Snelson, one of the stars of the Broadway show. The girls also find out that Nikki will be doing the audition scene with them later for the judges, so Bailey and Lindsay have a serious leg-up on the rest of the girls.
First, let me say...I love Bailey. She looks the part, and she has a lot of the warmth and friendliness that the character of Elle Woods is known for. I think Lindsey is also perfect for the part, but needs to step up her game a little bit or she'll be cut.
In this episode, we get to see the loft where the gals are living together during the show. Of course, everything is pink, and there is a piano and a barre (like the girls are gonna do some rond des jambs before bed???). So the girls spend the rest of the day at their loft rehearsing the scene they have to have memorized for the elimination audition later.
At the auditions, the judges ask Nikki to purposely drop a line to see how the girls do in a "think on your feet" situation. This to me seems a little cruel, but whatever. Most of the girls don't get what's going on and we are treated to hours and hours of awkward silence. But a few of the girls go for it and save the scene. The one who, in my opinion, does the best job, is Autumn, who until that point I wasn't too sure about. But she really stepped it up and so now I'm rooting for her.
Seven of the girls are put on "the list" and told they are safe for this week. Three are left, and Hayley Duff (the host) tells them the judges were disappointed in them and wanted to see them in the CASTING OFFICE!!!! Dun dun dun!!!
The two Cassies and Lindsay go to the casting office, where each of the girls' portraits are hanging on the wall. A true BB fan, I know what this is! A memory wall! And I say, "I guarantee the little light turns off over the picture of the girl that gets cut!"
The judges tell Lindsay she needs to step up her game because she totally looks the part but isn't being very impressive. They tell Cassie S. that she needs to cut the crap and show them something genuine. This is soooo ture. Cassie S. told us in Episode One that she is from a performing family, and it's so evident. She's a total show dog; everything is spot-on, but way too refined. She's like a little stage robot. Ugh...she bugs me.
I don't even remember what they told Cassie O...I just knew she was going home. She doesn't look the part, or...anything. I think they said she had the best voice there but that was it, so they cut her and (I knew it!!) the little light over her headshot clicked off.
Next week, we see the girls working on the dress shop scene of the opening number, "Omigod!" and we see Cassie S. being a little stage snot...what fun! I have it in for Celina...I don't know for the life of me why she's on this show. So I'm probably gonna hope she goes home.
The Bachelorette
Deanna, what is WRONG with you??! She got rid of two of my favorite guys, Brian and Fred. I was especially upset to see Fred go, because he just kept showing what a terrific guy he is. I seriously may look him up in Chicago. No, just kidding. Maybe. Brian never really stood a chance, but at the same time, I don't think Deanna made any real effort to get to know him. I guess he's headed back to Texas to coach his high school football guys...sigh. And what the hell is Twilley still doing there??!
OK, here is the part I don't get. Yah, maybe she did the right thing by getting rid of Fred rather than leading him on, but what IS it about Twilley that is keeping him around? I would have definitely said goodbye to Twilley before letting Fred go! Also, poor Fred got the rug pulled from under him because he went on the two-on-one date with Robert and saw Deanna send Robert home, so he KNEW he was getting the rose and staying safe and in the house for another week. Then Deanna came back and totally put him in the Friend Zone. Aggh!!! But it was good in a way because Fred was sooo sweet and gracious about it, and he didn't cry or act awkward about it. And he didn't say anything bitter or stupid. You can tell, too, from what the other guys said about him that he was a great guy.
Robert, on the other hand, acted like a little girl, which is exactly what I am convinced he is, and wouldn't even look Deanna in the eye when she told him goodbye. Then he slouched all over the back seat of his limo and whined about everything, and then a tear rolled down his cheek and he TOTALLY turned his face to the camera to make sure they got that. Get a clue, guy. You asked to kiss her, and she gave you the dodge. You think you can sing, and you pop your collars, and your hair is so 90s. You give me d-chills. Goodbye!!!
Um, also I have mucho respect for Graham, who Deanna pulled aside during a group date for a make-out session and he was soooo not having it because he didn't just want to be one of a bunch...or whatever he said. Basically, she's all over him and he's like, "Chill, lady, I know I'm hot, but if you're just keeping me around as man candy, forget it." He seems like an actual real person to me. Why is he on this show?!
At least Jason is still there. Single-dad Jason is either going to the final two, or going home next week. He WILL make out with Deanna, and totally did when she came home from dumping Fred and Robert and he was the only guy left in the mansion. So I think she will keep him around to cuddle with and then decide at the final two that she doesn't want to be Ty's mommy just yet and send him home. OR she will continue to surprise all of us and get rid of the good guys, keeping her focus on Jeremy and Graham. I think Jeremy will be one of the final two, and I think Graham will as well if Jason doesn't make the cut next week.
OK, that's out of my system. Time to get ready for work! Until later!
The Search for Elle Woods
Quick recap: We're down to 10 girls in the running for the role of Elle Woods on Broadway. I still can't get over how ludacris this concept is. But that's ok...that's entertainment!
Today it's all about the acting; the girls have a workshop with an acting coach and a reading partner, where they read a scene from the show between Emmett and Elle. They each get pointers. Just like in ANTM, the acting coach picks a "winner" who he thinks was the most impressive in the workshop. He picks Bailey, who is able to cast off her thick southern accent while reading the scene. Bailey gets to pick a friend (Lindsay) and they together go enjoy their reward, which is meeting and working with Nikki Snelson, one of the stars of the Broadway show. The girls also find out that Nikki will be doing the audition scene with them later for the judges, so Bailey and Lindsay have a serious leg-up on the rest of the girls.
First, let me say...I love Bailey. She looks the part, and she has a lot of the warmth and friendliness that the character of Elle Woods is known for. I think Lindsey is also perfect for the part, but needs to step up her game a little bit or she'll be cut.
In this episode, we get to see the loft where the gals are living together during the show. Of course, everything is pink, and there is a piano and a barre (like the girls are gonna do some rond des jambs before bed???). So the girls spend the rest of the day at their loft rehearsing the scene they have to have memorized for the elimination audition later.
At the auditions, the judges ask Nikki to purposely drop a line to see how the girls do in a "think on your feet" situation. This to me seems a little cruel, but whatever. Most of the girls don't get what's going on and we are treated to hours and hours of awkward silence. But a few of the girls go for it and save the scene. The one who, in my opinion, does the best job, is Autumn, who until that point I wasn't too sure about. But she really stepped it up and so now I'm rooting for her.
Seven of the girls are put on "the list" and told they are safe for this week. Three are left, and Hayley Duff (the host) tells them the judges were disappointed in them and wanted to see them in the CASTING OFFICE!!!! Dun dun dun!!!
The two Cassies and Lindsay go to the casting office, where each of the girls' portraits are hanging on the wall. A true BB fan, I know what this is! A memory wall! And I say, "I guarantee the little light turns off over the picture of the girl that gets cut!"
The judges tell Lindsay she needs to step up her game because she totally looks the part but isn't being very impressive. They tell Cassie S. that she needs to cut the crap and show them something genuine. This is soooo ture. Cassie S. told us in Episode One that she is from a performing family, and it's so evident. She's a total show dog; everything is spot-on, but way too refined. She's like a little stage robot. Ugh...she bugs me.
I don't even remember what they told Cassie O...I just knew she was going home. She doesn't look the part, or...anything. I think they said she had the best voice there but that was it, so they cut her and (I knew it!!) the little light over her headshot clicked off.
Next week, we see the girls working on the dress shop scene of the opening number, "Omigod!" and we see Cassie S. being a little stage snot...what fun! I have it in for Celina...I don't know for the life of me why she's on this show. So I'm probably gonna hope she goes home.
The Bachelorette
Deanna, what is WRONG with you??! She got rid of two of my favorite guys, Brian and Fred. I was especially upset to see Fred go, because he just kept showing what a terrific guy he is. I seriously may look him up in Chicago. No, just kidding. Maybe. Brian never really stood a chance, but at the same time, I don't think Deanna made any real effort to get to know him. I guess he's headed back to Texas to coach his high school football guys...sigh. And what the hell is Twilley still doing there??!
OK, here is the part I don't get. Yah, maybe she did the right thing by getting rid of Fred rather than leading him on, but what IS it about Twilley that is keeping him around? I would have definitely said goodbye to Twilley before letting Fred go! Also, poor Fred got the rug pulled from under him because he went on the two-on-one date with Robert and saw Deanna send Robert home, so he KNEW he was getting the rose and staying safe and in the house for another week. Then Deanna came back and totally put him in the Friend Zone. Aggh!!! But it was good in a way because Fred was sooo sweet and gracious about it, and he didn't cry or act awkward about it. And he didn't say anything bitter or stupid. You can tell, too, from what the other guys said about him that he was a great guy.
Robert, on the other hand, acted like a little girl, which is exactly what I am convinced he is, and wouldn't even look Deanna in the eye when she told him goodbye. Then he slouched all over the back seat of his limo and whined about everything, and then a tear rolled down his cheek and he TOTALLY turned his face to the camera to make sure they got that. Get a clue, guy. You asked to kiss her, and she gave you the dodge. You think you can sing, and you pop your collars, and your hair is so 90s. You give me d-chills. Goodbye!!!
Um, also I have mucho respect for Graham, who Deanna pulled aside during a group date for a make-out session and he was soooo not having it because he didn't just want to be one of a bunch...or whatever he said. Basically, she's all over him and he's like, "Chill, lady, I know I'm hot, but if you're just keeping me around as man candy, forget it." He seems like an actual real person to me. Why is he on this show?!
At least Jason is still there. Single-dad Jason is either going to the final two, or going home next week. He WILL make out with Deanna, and totally did when she came home from dumping Fred and Robert and he was the only guy left in the mansion. So I think she will keep him around to cuddle with and then decide at the final two that she doesn't want to be Ty's mommy just yet and send him home. OR she will continue to surprise all of us and get rid of the good guys, keeping her focus on Jeremy and Graham. I think Jeremy will be one of the final two, and I think Graham will as well if Jason doesn't make the cut next week.
OK, that's out of my system. Time to get ready for work! Until later!
like riding a bike
"Just you and me, Johnny, like old times."
~Will Ferrell as Robert Goulet on the Conan O'Brian Show
This morning at work was a little crazy. Usually all of the production assistants are supposed to be there by 4:30. Well, two of the guys overslept, which is easy to do when you have to be at work that early in the morning. But one of the guys lives almost an hour away, so not only was he not answering when I called him (re: still asleep), but once we finally got ahold of him, it was 5:30 so he wouldn't be there until 3/4 of the way through the show. Poor guy; I don't even want to know how many missed calls were on his phone by the time he woke up. That is the worst feeling!
So, until he got there, we were short a person. It takes four production people to do a show: a director, an audio board runner, a graphics operator, and a floor director. Oh, and Kim was directing, because our usual director is on vacation this week. So imagine filling in for a week at something you haven't done a whole ton of times and realizing that two of your people were missing.
We went without graphics until one of the late-sleepers got there. Meanwhile, Kim put our engineer out on the floor. But then one of our cameras started flipping out and losing its reds, making everyone look like Smurfs, so I decided to take my time sheets out to the studio and floor direct so we could get the engineer back in the control room to diagnose the problem with Camera 2.
Just like old times.
It was funny putting the old portable headset on and picking up the prompter control. And then I started giving cues and everyone goes, "Oh my gosh, I forgot you used to do this!"
Yep. A year ago, I was a floor director! How's that for a landmark moment?
It was fun producing from the floor, but luckily were were hitting everything on time, or it would've been a lot harder. But I had direct communication with my talent and my director, which are pretty much all I need, although I couldn't answer the phone or take care of any of that stuff from the floor, and we had a satellite interview later in the show, so it would've been impossible to be on the floor and produce that. Luckily I was only out on the floor for the first half-hour, and then the production manager came in to hold down the fort--or floor...hahaha--until our last production guy got in.
But it was a fun little blast from the past for the morning! Just thought I would share that.
OK, time for some singin' and some dancin'.
~Will Ferrell as Robert Goulet on the Conan O'Brian Show
This morning at work was a little crazy. Usually all of the production assistants are supposed to be there by 4:30. Well, two of the guys overslept, which is easy to do when you have to be at work that early in the morning. But one of the guys lives almost an hour away, so not only was he not answering when I called him (re: still asleep), but once we finally got ahold of him, it was 5:30 so he wouldn't be there until 3/4 of the way through the show. Poor guy; I don't even want to know how many missed calls were on his phone by the time he woke up. That is the worst feeling!
So, until he got there, we were short a person. It takes four production people to do a show: a director, an audio board runner, a graphics operator, and a floor director. Oh, and Kim was directing, because our usual director is on vacation this week. So imagine filling in for a week at something you haven't done a whole ton of times and realizing that two of your people were missing.
We went without graphics until one of the late-sleepers got there. Meanwhile, Kim put our engineer out on the floor. But then one of our cameras started flipping out and losing its reds, making everyone look like Smurfs, so I decided to take my time sheets out to the studio and floor direct so we could get the engineer back in the control room to diagnose the problem with Camera 2.
Just like old times.
It was funny putting the old portable headset on and picking up the prompter control. And then I started giving cues and everyone goes, "Oh my gosh, I forgot you used to do this!"
Yep. A year ago, I was a floor director! How's that for a landmark moment?
It was fun producing from the floor, but luckily were were hitting everything on time, or it would've been a lot harder. But I had direct communication with my talent and my director, which are pretty much all I need, although I couldn't answer the phone or take care of any of that stuff from the floor, and we had a satellite interview later in the show, so it would've been impossible to be on the floor and produce that. Luckily I was only out on the floor for the first half-hour, and then the production manager came in to hold down the fort--or floor...hahaha--until our last production guy got in.
But it was a fun little blast from the past for the morning! Just thought I would share that.
OK, time for some singin' and some dancin'.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Email, Snail Mail, and the Music Man
What a great day! It started out quite rainy, which was a little bit of a bummer as I headed out the door to meet some of the HSM cast for lunch. But I decided to check my mail on my way out, and what should be in the mailbox but my new swimsuit! I didn't have time to try it on; I just took the package with me in the car.
Lunch was great. One of the members of our party just got back from a vacation in Mexico, so it was great to hear about his trip and catch up! We had a really awkward waitress, and for some reason, I always seemed to be the person who made matters worse, even though I was trying to make things better...everything I said as a joke or to ease the tension ended up sounding rude! Oh well...I left her a big tip, so hopefully that made things better.
One of the kids in our group is as obsessed with musicals as I am, and we ducked into the nearby Borders to see what shows they had on DVD. And I found the Disney made-for-TV version of "The Music Man," which I had always wanted to see but until now hadn't had the chance to. I'm watching it right now, and it's great fun. Probably not as good as the original, but equally as enjoyable for different reasons. An all-star cast, delightful choreography, and all the sweet, soft, squeaky-clean sets, costumes, and cast a Disney movie could ever conjure. I love Matthew Broderick, and his smooth, fast-talking Ferris Bueller really comes through in the character of Harold Hill. Kristen Chenoweth is pretty much my favorite Broadway person ever, and she brings a freshness and sass to the role of Marian Paroo that I have never seen. I always tend to get bored with the songs Marian sings in the show, because they are these super-soprano, old-fashioned warbly numbers, but they did a great job with the orchestral score on this, making it much more interesting. And Kristen has the unbelievable ability to combine her opera-trained pipes with her Broadway chops to kick these songs' butts. This was my favorite---
OK, going on...
So I got home after lunch and Borders and hopped on my laptop, and what did I find in my email's inbox but a note from the girls at Whatever Hollywood! I had left a little post on their blog saying I liked their stuff. It was so cool of them to write back! Anyway, soon the sun came shining out through the trees and I decided to try on my new suit and hit the pool. And now I'm comfy on the couch, laptop in my lap, watching "The Music Man."
And I just have to say...I LOVE musicals! They just make me feel so good inside!
OK, until later!
Lunch was great. One of the members of our party just got back from a vacation in Mexico, so it was great to hear about his trip and catch up! We had a really awkward waitress, and for some reason, I always seemed to be the person who made matters worse, even though I was trying to make things better...everything I said as a joke or to ease the tension ended up sounding rude! Oh well...I left her a big tip, so hopefully that made things better.
One of the kids in our group is as obsessed with musicals as I am, and we ducked into the nearby Borders to see what shows they had on DVD. And I found the Disney made-for-TV version of "The Music Man," which I had always wanted to see but until now hadn't had the chance to. I'm watching it right now, and it's great fun. Probably not as good as the original, but equally as enjoyable for different reasons. An all-star cast, delightful choreography, and all the sweet, soft, squeaky-clean sets, costumes, and cast a Disney movie could ever conjure. I love Matthew Broderick, and his smooth, fast-talking Ferris Bueller really comes through in the character of Harold Hill. Kristen Chenoweth is pretty much my favorite Broadway person ever, and she brings a freshness and sass to the role of Marian Paroo that I have never seen. I always tend to get bored with the songs Marian sings in the show, because they are these super-soprano, old-fashioned warbly numbers, but they did a great job with the orchestral score on this, making it much more interesting. And Kristen has the unbelievable ability to combine her opera-trained pipes with her Broadway chops to kick these songs' butts. This was my favorite---
OK, going on...
So I got home after lunch and Borders and hopped on my laptop, and what did I find in my email's inbox but a note from the girls at Whatever Hollywood! I had left a little post on their blog saying I liked their stuff. It was so cool of them to write back! Anyway, soon the sun came shining out through the trees and I decided to try on my new suit and hit the pool. And now I'm comfy on the couch, laptop in my lap, watching "The Music Man."
And I just have to say...I LOVE musicals! They just make me feel so good inside!
OK, until later!
Friday, June 6, 2008
just like oprah...but without all the free stuff.
It's my favorite things! Disclaimer: I totally copied this idea from Kels (check out her blog for her favorite things--it's a great compilation!) I tried to run the gammot of random interests, but it was hard to narrow things down and I'm sure that as soon as I finish this blog post, I'll think of a few things that I love and think, "How could I leave that out?!!" I even squeezed extra favorites in by highlighting them in bold even though there's not a picture for some of them. Like I said, hard to narrow it down.
Here we go!
First of all, I can't tell you have many times a day I Google things. I am truly a child of the Information Age. I even used Google Images to find most of these pictures!
Since the days of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire, I haven't ever quite outgrown the DC. I know it's cheesy and over-the-top, but it's also fun and very cute, and who doesn't love Disney Channel Original Movies? Plus, the fact that I check in on the Disney Channel from time to time is very helpful in babysitting situations, because I actually have stuff to talk about with the kids.
My job! I love my job so much that a lot of times I forget that I "go to work" every day...or I guess I should say, every night. And I know I have it better working in the mornings because the people are great and compared to the daytime/evening hours, it's a lot less stressful! The people I work with are all hilarious, sweet, and easy to get along with. I love my job!
Arrested Development is one of my newest TV addictions, and I am so glad msn.com has given me the ability to watch all the episodes online for free! I did buy the first season on DVD though, and I will probably buy the other two as well. This show is hysterically funny and because of it I am so in love with this guy...
...Jason Bateman. Except for in Juno, where he played a guy that was a total loser at life. But seriously, watch his interviews for Juno with Michael Cera...so cute!
Bateman and Cera played father and son in "Arrested Development" and were never actually on screen together in "Juno" but they got to do this press junket/EPK stuff together, which was great! Too bad Jason is already happily married with a kid (becaaaause I would have a better chance of marrying him then? Whoa, dream big!)
While we're talking about guys I love but can't marry because they're already taken (and famous), let's talk about this guy right here. Bill Hader has this quirky quality that I find totally appealing. Oh yeah, plus he's hilarious. You can find him on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Superbad, Hot Rod, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Every time I see one of these camera commercials, I want to marry this guy. Again, not a possibility. But Ashton Kutcher is so lovable not only because yeah, he's hot, but also because he's got his stuff together. A true Midwestern boy, he has a goofy guy-next-door comedic appeal that works for him despite his model looks. And he's successfully gone from TV sitcom acting to producing his own TV shows as well as remaining an in-demand leading man in several different genres of film. Plus, he does these cute commercials!
Now onto something I love and can have whenever I want: Baja chicken chalupas from Taco Bell. They are my absolute vice. I don't eat them often because I know they can't be good for you, but every once in a while, I treat myself to this delicious, spicy, carb-loaded bundle of delight. Yum!
Put this on just about anything and I will eat it. JIF extra-crunchy peanut butter is a staple in my home. That and toilet paper.
CAPAKIMAJU is my grandparents' cabin on Kjostad Lake in Orr, Minnesota. It is my favorite place in the world and I'm so excited to go this summer! I think that when I go to heaven it will be a lot like Kjostad Lake.
Ralph Lauren's Romance perfume is my favorite scent. I got my first (and only) bottle my freshman year of college and I am finally running out, so...I will probably be asking for it this Christmas!
This, to me, is the best TV show ever. And I'm pretty sure I mean that. The Office has figured out how to make me feel happy, uncomfortable, sad, mad, in love, and ready to pee my pants from laughing all at once. It also has the magical ability to cheer me up in emergency situations.
I love Waiting for Guffman and all of the other movies Christopher Guest has created with his hand-picked improv troupe extraordinaire. And another thing I love is that people from this group keep showing up in Arrested Development and The Office as well as in Judd Apatow movies...it's just fun to see where and when and how they will pop up next!
I am just tickeld by Teen Girl Squad and most other things from homestarrunner.com. Even the introduction to the website cracks me up! I always want to quote this stuff in conversation, but it can only be with a few people I know who have watched it enough times to know what I'm talking about. I've been enjoying this website since my senior year of high school in newspaper class.
Another website I enjoy visiting is www.dorm-life.com, the homepage for a web series in mockumentary format (similar to The Office or a Chris Guest movie) about a group of college kids living on the same floor. They recently ended the first season and I am already stoked for more!
And while we're talking about fun shows on the web, I also wanted to highlight Whatever Hollywood, who I've talked about in my blog before. I suggest checking them out because they'll be famous someday!
Any excuse I can find to eat with chopsticks, I will do it. I don't know why, but I love eating with chopsticks! I even have a couple "permanent" pairs that I wash with my silverware and use again!
I love Purdue. So much. I bleed gold and black. Go Boilers!!!
Oh, Reese Witherspoon. If there's any one celebrity I love no matter what, it's Reese. She is beautiful, funny, smart, and so talented. And she's 5'2" like me! And you can make fun of me all you want, but Legally Blonde will always be one of my favorite movies.
I am kind of obsessed with this girl. Which is kinda weird, I know, because she's like my age. But not only do I love Ashley Tisdale for being Sharpay in High School Musical, I also think she is a great role model for the kids in her audience. She doesn't drink, smoke, or go to the clubs, and therefore she stays out of all sorts of trouble that her peers have gotten into. And I just saw the trailer today for her new little made-for-TV movie that premieres on ABC Family July 13th. The same weekend as we open our production of High School Musical in which I play Sharpay! See, obsessed. I even bought her first recording album when it came out last summer.
Also obsessed...with these two. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are awesome not only because they are so funny, but because of all the other cool things they stand for. The first all-female cast of Weekend Update on SNL, they are also very good friends and, from what I can tell, really cool people. I love Tina's series "30 Rock" on NBC, and I love her adaptation of the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes" to its film version, "Mean Girls." Amy Poehler joins Reese and Ashley on my list of favorite blondes. I love and imitate to exhaustion her character "Kaitlin" from SNL, and I think that she and husband Will Arnett (Arrested Development, 30 Rock) have to be the cutest, funniest couple ever. And I loved "Baby Momma."
My parents always say if I went to New York City I would never come back. And they would be correct. I have never been, but when I do you can bet I won't leave before seeing at LEAST one show on Broadway. I love keeping up with what productions come to the Great White Way every season, and I even get excited for the Tony Awards every summer! I know it's dorky because I'm out here in Indiana, but I mean, whatever.
And finally, I love jeans. I think I wear them literally every day. I love them. I know, who doesn't? But really, what would we do without jeans?
OK, so those are some of my favorite things, in no particular order. And now I'm hungry for a chalupa so...I might have to go do something about that.
Until later!
lis
Here we go!
First of all, I can't tell you have many times a day I Google things. I am truly a child of the Information Age. I even used Google Images to find most of these pictures!
Since the days of Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire, I haven't ever quite outgrown the DC. I know it's cheesy and over-the-top, but it's also fun and very cute, and who doesn't love Disney Channel Original Movies? Plus, the fact that I check in on the Disney Channel from time to time is very helpful in babysitting situations, because I actually have stuff to talk about with the kids.
My job! I love my job so much that a lot of times I forget that I "go to work" every day...or I guess I should say, every night. And I know I have it better working in the mornings because the people are great and compared to the daytime/evening hours, it's a lot less stressful! The people I work with are all hilarious, sweet, and easy to get along with. I love my job!
Arrested Development is one of my newest TV addictions, and I am so glad msn.com has given me the ability to watch all the episodes online for free! I did buy the first season on DVD though, and I will probably buy the other two as well. This show is hysterically funny and because of it I am so in love with this guy...
...Jason Bateman. Except for in Juno, where he played a guy that was a total loser at life. But seriously, watch his interviews for Juno with Michael Cera...so cute!
Bateman and Cera played father and son in "Arrested Development" and were never actually on screen together in "Juno" but they got to do this press junket/EPK stuff together, which was great! Too bad Jason is already happily married with a kid (becaaaause I would have a better chance of marrying him then? Whoa, dream big!)
While we're talking about guys I love but can't marry because they're already taken (and famous), let's talk about this guy right here. Bill Hader has this quirky quality that I find totally appealing. Oh yeah, plus he's hilarious. You can find him on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Superbad, Hot Rod, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Every time I see one of these camera commercials, I want to marry this guy. Again, not a possibility. But Ashton Kutcher is so lovable not only because yeah, he's hot, but also because he's got his stuff together. A true Midwestern boy, he has a goofy guy-next-door comedic appeal that works for him despite his model looks. And he's successfully gone from TV sitcom acting to producing his own TV shows as well as remaining an in-demand leading man in several different genres of film. Plus, he does these cute commercials!
Now onto something I love and can have whenever I want: Baja chicken chalupas from Taco Bell. They are my absolute vice. I don't eat them often because I know they can't be good for you, but every once in a while, I treat myself to this delicious, spicy, carb-loaded bundle of delight. Yum!
Put this on just about anything and I will eat it. JIF extra-crunchy peanut butter is a staple in my home. That and toilet paper.
CAPAKIMAJU is my grandparents' cabin on Kjostad Lake in Orr, Minnesota. It is my favorite place in the world and I'm so excited to go this summer! I think that when I go to heaven it will be a lot like Kjostad Lake.
Ralph Lauren's Romance perfume is my favorite scent. I got my first (and only) bottle my freshman year of college and I am finally running out, so...I will probably be asking for it this Christmas!
This, to me, is the best TV show ever. And I'm pretty sure I mean that. The Office has figured out how to make me feel happy, uncomfortable, sad, mad, in love, and ready to pee my pants from laughing all at once. It also has the magical ability to cheer me up in emergency situations.
I love Waiting for Guffman and all of the other movies Christopher Guest has created with his hand-picked improv troupe extraordinaire. And another thing I love is that people from this group keep showing up in Arrested Development and The Office as well as in Judd Apatow movies...it's just fun to see where and when and how they will pop up next!
I am just tickeld by Teen Girl Squad and most other things from homestarrunner.com. Even the introduction to the website cracks me up! I always want to quote this stuff in conversation, but it can only be with a few people I know who have watched it enough times to know what I'm talking about. I've been enjoying this website since my senior year of high school in newspaper class.
Another website I enjoy visiting is www.dorm-life.com, the homepage for a web series in mockumentary format (similar to The Office or a Chris Guest movie) about a group of college kids living on the same floor. They recently ended the first season and I am already stoked for more!
And while we're talking about fun shows on the web, I also wanted to highlight Whatever Hollywood, who I've talked about in my blog before. I suggest checking them out because they'll be famous someday!
Any excuse I can find to eat with chopsticks, I will do it. I don't know why, but I love eating with chopsticks! I even have a couple "permanent" pairs that I wash with my silverware and use again!
I love Purdue. So much. I bleed gold and black. Go Boilers!!!
Oh, Reese Witherspoon. If there's any one celebrity I love no matter what, it's Reese. She is beautiful, funny, smart, and so talented. And she's 5'2" like me! And you can make fun of me all you want, but Legally Blonde will always be one of my favorite movies.
I am kind of obsessed with this girl. Which is kinda weird, I know, because she's like my age. But not only do I love Ashley Tisdale for being Sharpay in High School Musical, I also think she is a great role model for the kids in her audience. She doesn't drink, smoke, or go to the clubs, and therefore she stays out of all sorts of trouble that her peers have gotten into. And I just saw the trailer today for her new little made-for-TV movie that premieres on ABC Family July 13th. The same weekend as we open our production of High School Musical in which I play Sharpay! See, obsessed. I even bought her first recording album when it came out last summer.
Also obsessed...with these two. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are awesome not only because they are so funny, but because of all the other cool things they stand for. The first all-female cast of Weekend Update on SNL, they are also very good friends and, from what I can tell, really cool people. I love Tina's series "30 Rock" on NBC, and I love her adaptation of the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes" to its film version, "Mean Girls." Amy Poehler joins Reese and Ashley on my list of favorite blondes. I love and imitate to exhaustion her character "Kaitlin" from SNL, and I think that she and husband Will Arnett (Arrested Development, 30 Rock) have to be the cutest, funniest couple ever. And I loved "Baby Momma."
My parents always say if I went to New York City I would never come back. And they would be correct. I have never been, but when I do you can bet I won't leave before seeing at LEAST one show on Broadway. I love keeping up with what productions come to the Great White Way every season, and I even get excited for the Tony Awards every summer! I know it's dorky because I'm out here in Indiana, but I mean, whatever.
And finally, I love jeans. I think I wear them literally every day. I love them. I know, who doesn't? But really, what would we do without jeans?
OK, so those are some of my favorite things, in no particular order. And now I'm hungry for a chalupa so...I might have to go do something about that.
Until later!
lis
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