I realize my posts have been unusually brief or just plain non-existant. The reason for this is a show I'm in called "Children of Eden," which opens to the paying public tomorrow night! Tonight is our preview show, which means we'll have a "pay as you can" audience, and some family and friends we gave free tickets to.
I have to say this show took a lot of hard work to pull together, but now that it's ready, I'm very excited to have an audience! And the other day I found a song that just made me laugh thinking about opening the show, so I thought I'd put it on here for your listening pleasure. It's from a Sondheim show called "The Frogs" and it's the introduction to the show, during which the two main characters remind their audience of proper theatre-viewing etiquette.
So here ya go:
I promise to do a REAL post soon; next week we won't have rehearsals every night so I'll have more time to putter around and catch up on this stuff.
Until then!
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
twenty-five
This came from a Facebook game, and I'm not asking anyone to play it here...although it does make for a kind of fun blog post if you want to try it! I just thought I'd post mine on here for that very reason.
(The Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, you choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.)
Here are my 25 REALLY random things:
1. I am a social networking junkie. I have a blog, two YouTube channels, a Twitter feed, and (of course) Facebook! I don't have MySpace, though. Do people still use that?
2. I wouldn't say I hate cooking, but I don't enjoy cooking just for myself. (And I don't mean making burgers in the George Foreman or scrambling up an egg omelette -- in my book it only counts as cooking if you actually measure out ingredients and stuff.)
3. I do enjoy living on my own, even if that does mean cooking (or frying, or microwaving) for one!
4. I love my job. Even on the days when things don't go well. It doesn't matter how much money I make...I just love what I do.
5. I'm left-handed. Did everybody know that?
6. I have so. Many. Shoes. Most of them are heels because...
7. I am 5'2". Just like Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Tisdale, and Amy Poehler!
8. My dream jobs include: Marci Klein's job at SNL, Gellman's job on Regis & Kelly, being a personal assistant to Tina Fey just so I could soak up her awesomeness (did you catch how that's a reference to Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey?!), producing my own TV show, performing on Broadway.
9. I'd really like to write and publish a book someday.
10. I am so proud of my friends; so many people I know from high school, church, college, and after college are incredibly talented and I can't wait to see them make it big so I can cash in on those friendships. Totally kidding. But I truly believe that so many people I know have absolute star quality!
11. I have lived without cable television for 3 and a half years. I still keep up with a lot of TV shows; I just watch them all online or buy them by the season on DVD.
12. I do not, and probably never will, like the taste of coffee. I think it smells good, but tastes gross.
13. I don't remember a moment in my life where I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Most people can tell a story about how they found out, but I have no recollection of that happening...which makes me think I probably still believe in Santa Claus.
14. I also don't remember a point in my life where I started believing in God and in Jesus. Most people have a story to tell about that moment, too. But for me, the belief has just always been there, although that belief has definitely evolved and been challenged and dissected throughout my lifetime.
15. Back to accessories...I also love handbags and hats. I think my love of hats is what gets me through the winter.
16. I think it'd be really cool to live in the South, but I love-love-love the change in seasons that we get here in the Midwest. I would have a hard time giving that up.
17. I want a dog, really really a lot. I think everyone knows that. Hopefully I'll have one by this summer!
18. A lot of people ask me this, so in case you're wondering, here's what my work/sleep schedule is like: I go into work around midnight. I stay until 8 AM (give or take, depending on how much other work I need to do), then I go home and go to bed, usually from 8 or 9 AM until 4 or 5 PM. I don't have black curtains or heavy shades to block out the daylight. I'm just nocturnal, like an owl or a vampire.
19. My all-time, hands-down, no-contest favorite song in the world is "More Than Words" by Extreme for three reasons: (1) it reminds me of being at the lake (I don't know why), (2) the harmonies are beautiful, and (3) I love the lyrics and I think they have an awesome meaning. YouTube it and listen.
20. $20 bills are the worst. It seems like most bank machines and cash-back options always start at $20, which annoys me because usually I just need 5 bucks to put on my laundry card and I don't want to spend money just to break the 20, and I feel like a jerk just walking up to a random cashier and saying, "Hi, I'm not gonna buy anything, but will you just break this for me?" And it's hard for me to actually go to the bank and get cash in the amount that I want because I'm usually asleep during bank hours.
21. There's an episode of "The Office" where everyone was naming the five movies they'd bring with them if they were going to be on a desert island (the game is called "Desert Island" and it's supposed to be books, but I guess everyone was mildly illiterate, so they did movies). So anyway, here are my Desert Island 5: Big Fish, Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. I think. I'm never completely sure; I like a lot of movies!
22. My favorite color is pink. I feel like everyone knew that one too. My dad actually ordered me a pink phone without me having to ask. Isn't that awesome?!
23. On your 23rd birthday, you go off your parents' insurance. When I turned 23 I was working two part-time jobs, so I didn't have any insurance. It was that way for a few months until I got hired full-time at the TV station. Luckily, nothing bad happened.
24. I have a lot of fake foliage in my apartment. Fake flower vines around my kitchen, fake lilies in a vase on my counter, fake ferns on my window sill, a sconce with a fake bouqet on my wall, a vase of fake flowers in my bathroom, and a big fake flower sitting on my dresser in my bedroom. Low maintenance beauty, folks. That's what it's all about. Although I do enjoy real flowers too.
25. My favorite magazine is "Lucky." (I just bought one today, so that's what made me think of it.) I like it because you don't have to see any stories like "most embarrassing moments" or "101 sex tips." It's just all about clothes, which is my only reason for reading fashion magazines anyway.
And that's it! You might give it a try...just start at one and write about the first 25 things that sort of just pop into your head!
Have a great weekend :) Until later!
(The Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, you choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.)
Here are my 25 REALLY random things:
1. I am a social networking junkie. I have a blog, two YouTube channels, a Twitter feed, and (of course) Facebook! I don't have MySpace, though. Do people still use that?
2. I wouldn't say I hate cooking, but I don't enjoy cooking just for myself. (And I don't mean making burgers in the George Foreman or scrambling up an egg omelette -- in my book it only counts as cooking if you actually measure out ingredients and stuff.)
3. I do enjoy living on my own, even if that does mean cooking (or frying, or microwaving) for one!
4. I love my job. Even on the days when things don't go well. It doesn't matter how much money I make...I just love what I do.
5. I'm left-handed. Did everybody know that?
6. I have so. Many. Shoes. Most of them are heels because...
7. I am 5'2". Just like Reese Witherspoon, Ashley Tisdale, and Amy Poehler!
8. My dream jobs include: Marci Klein's job at SNL, Gellman's job on Regis & Kelly, being a personal assistant to Tina Fey just so I could soak up her awesomeness (did you catch how that's a reference to Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey?!), producing my own TV show, performing on Broadway.
9. I'd really like to write and publish a book someday.
10. I am so proud of my friends; so many people I know from high school, church, college, and after college are incredibly talented and I can't wait to see them make it big so I can cash in on those friendships. Totally kidding. But I truly believe that so many people I know have absolute star quality!
11. I have lived without cable television for 3 and a half years. I still keep up with a lot of TV shows; I just watch them all online or buy them by the season on DVD.
12. I do not, and probably never will, like the taste of coffee. I think it smells good, but tastes gross.
13. I don't remember a moment in my life where I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Most people can tell a story about how they found out, but I have no recollection of that happening...which makes me think I probably still believe in Santa Claus.
14. I also don't remember a point in my life where I started believing in God and in Jesus. Most people have a story to tell about that moment, too. But for me, the belief has just always been there, although that belief has definitely evolved and been challenged and dissected throughout my lifetime.
15. Back to accessories...I also love handbags and hats. I think my love of hats is what gets me through the winter.
16. I think it'd be really cool to live in the South, but I love-love-love the change in seasons that we get here in the Midwest. I would have a hard time giving that up.
17. I want a dog, really really a lot. I think everyone knows that. Hopefully I'll have one by this summer!
18. A lot of people ask me this, so in case you're wondering, here's what my work/sleep schedule is like: I go into work around midnight. I stay until 8 AM (give or take, depending on how much other work I need to do), then I go home and go to bed, usually from 8 or 9 AM until 4 or 5 PM. I don't have black curtains or heavy shades to block out the daylight. I'm just nocturnal, like an owl or a vampire.
19. My all-time, hands-down, no-contest favorite song in the world is "More Than Words" by Extreme for three reasons: (1) it reminds me of being at the lake (I don't know why), (2) the harmonies are beautiful, and (3) I love the lyrics and I think they have an awesome meaning. YouTube it and listen.
20. $20 bills are the worst. It seems like most bank machines and cash-back options always start at $20, which annoys me because usually I just need 5 bucks to put on my laundry card and I don't want to spend money just to break the 20, and I feel like a jerk just walking up to a random cashier and saying, "Hi, I'm not gonna buy anything, but will you just break this for me?" And it's hard for me to actually go to the bank and get cash in the amount that I want because I'm usually asleep during bank hours.
21. There's an episode of "The Office" where everyone was naming the five movies they'd bring with them if they were going to be on a desert island (the game is called "Desert Island" and it's supposed to be books, but I guess everyone was mildly illiterate, so they did movies). So anyway, here are my Desert Island 5: Big Fish, Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, and Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. I think. I'm never completely sure; I like a lot of movies!
22. My favorite color is pink. I feel like everyone knew that one too. My dad actually ordered me a pink phone without me having to ask. Isn't that awesome?!
23. On your 23rd birthday, you go off your parents' insurance. When I turned 23 I was working two part-time jobs, so I didn't have any insurance. It was that way for a few months until I got hired full-time at the TV station. Luckily, nothing bad happened.
24. I have a lot of fake foliage in my apartment. Fake flower vines around my kitchen, fake lilies in a vase on my counter, fake ferns on my window sill, a sconce with a fake bouqet on my wall, a vase of fake flowers in my bathroom, and a big fake flower sitting on my dresser in my bedroom. Low maintenance beauty, folks. That's what it's all about. Although I do enjoy real flowers too.
25. My favorite magazine is "Lucky." (I just bought one today, so that's what made me think of it.) I like it because you don't have to see any stories like "most embarrassing moments" or "101 sex tips." It's just all about clothes, which is my only reason for reading fashion magazines anyway.
And that's it! You might give it a try...just start at one and write about the first 25 things that sort of just pop into your head!
Have a great weekend :) Until later!
Friday, December 26, 2008
my time of day
It's Christmas night/early in the morning the day after, I'm at work, and things are very quiet around here. So I'm just listening to some showtunes. And a song from "Guys and Dolls" caught my attention -- is this my song or what?
My time of day is the dark time
A couple of deals before dawn
When the street belongs to the cop
And the janitor with the mop
And the grocery clerks are all gone.
When the smell of the rainwashed pavement
Comes up clean, and fresh, and cold
And the streetlamp light
Fills the gutter with gold
That's my time of day
My time of day
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I'm still new to the texting thing, so I didn't get on the ball with the holiday text message, but I really appreciated the texted Christmas wishes I got from my friends!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Lis
My time of day is the dark time
A couple of deals before dawn
When the street belongs to the cop
And the janitor with the mop
And the grocery clerks are all gone.
When the smell of the rainwashed pavement
Comes up clean, and fresh, and cold
And the streetlamp light
Fills the gutter with gold
That's my time of day
My time of day
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I'm still new to the texting thing, so I didn't get on the ball with the holiday text message, but I really appreciated the texted Christmas wishes I got from my friends!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Lis
Saturday, December 20, 2008
grey gardens and newsroom nuggets
Let me first just say that I'm home in K-town for the weekend, I'm snuggled up in bed with my laptop in my pitch-black dark bedroom...and our cat (also black, like the night and this bedroom right now) is as nocturnal as I am and he is on the prowl. I keep hearing him stalking around, but I can't see him. Creepy...
OK, so anyway, I just thought I'd catch up and I apologize in advance because this is gonna be a long blog.
~~~
First, thoughts from the newsroom...
This morning was busy! When winter weather hits the Midwest, it really becomes the meteorologist's show, and today was a perfect example. I knocked out pretty much all of the news stories just for live shots and stories about road conditions, and I gave a TON of time to the meteorologist. Plus, schools were delaying and then cancelling, so that kept things hopping around the station as well. In case you didn't tune in last year, I am the person the superintendants call to say that school is canceled, and I am the one who puts it on the air in the little bar at the bottom of the screen. A friend of mine said yesterday, "Do you realize how much power you have? I mean, you could make a LOT of money off of that." That's assuming high school kids would be willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money to have me "accidentally" cancel school. It would have to be a ridiculous amount of money because I would get fired.
Anyway, this is just a small joy, but I noticed yesterday that two of my stories made it all the way through the day to the 11:00 news. Now let me explain why this is significant to me -- The only time I write anything is if it's new for the morning or if we have breaking news. The other day we had two breaking news stories: a train crash and an armed robbery. Now, usually these stories run again at noon, but by five or six, they don't make the news because there is a lot more new stuff twelve hours after my show. If the story does make the evening news, it's usually rewritten as a VOB or as a package. But when a story that I actually wrote makes it through the whole day, I always feel a small sense of pride. And yesterday it wasn't just one, but TWO!
Oh, lord, the cat is in here...somewhere...I wish I could explain how creepy this is! Haha!
~~~
OK, topic two -- Grey Gardens. Grey Gardens is a documentary made in 1973 about a house of the same name, and the two ladies who lived there -- Edith Bouvier Beale and her adult daughter Edie Beale (or, "Big Edie" and "Little Edie.") Big Edie was Jackie Kennedy's aunt, making Little Edie Jackie's cousin, and like the rest of that well-connected family, they used to be very wealthy socialites. Then for a reason unknown to me (I'm going to have to find a biography), the glamour, wealth, and men in their lives faded away to leave a mother and daughter in a dysfunctional, codependent relationship. The two women became very eccentric and their once-fashionable home in East Hampton became a run-down house full of cats and raccoons. The Beales never left the house and lived in such squalor that apparently their home was finally inspected with a threat of eviction. After they passed the inspection, a pair of brothers came out to the house to film a documentary of the two women in their current lifestyles. The result is Grey Gardens, a charming yet disturbing chronicle of these two women and how they chose to live.
It's equally heartwarming and heartbreaking to watch the mom and daughter's eccentric mannerisms, conversations, and choices of clothing -- Big Edie is exposing herself half the time ("I'm about to get naked, so you better watch out!") while reliving her days as a singer by warbling to old records from the 1930s and talking about how she had a wonderfully fulfilling life..."I had my cake, loved it, masticated it, chewed it and had everything I wanted." Meanwhile, Little Edie fashions clothes out of everything in the house, always covering her hair with a dark scarf, dancing around the room, and talking about how her days at Grey Gardens are numbered and how much happier she'd be in "the city" (meaning New York City, where she once lived before her mother persuaded her to come back and take care of her). The soundbytes from the two ladies are so priceless and perfect that you'd think someone had written the lines ahead of time, and yet they are so delusionally and earnestly spoken that you know no one could ever come up with this dialogue.
Now, a few years ago, someone had the idea to make Grey Gardens into a musical, and it started off-broadway. It then came to Broadway in (I believe) 2007, where it didn't run for long, but definitely made an impact, winning several awards. Now that I've seen the documentary, I'm exploring YouTube for snippets from the show, and it looks like it too would have been fascinating to see. The first act is a sort of historical fiction of what the Beales' life would have been like when Little Edie was a young woman hoping to be married, showing how Big Edie's selfish desire to keep her daughter from leaving drove the two apart; Little Edie leaves with a suitcase at the end of the first act. Act two opens on the delapidated 1970s version of Grey Gardens, and (from what I've seen) weaves the wonderful lines from the film into song and dialogue between the now eccentric mother and daughter. Christine Ebersole played the role of Big Edie in Act One, and Little Edie in Act Two, and she is sensational. In all my research of the show so far, all I see is people pointing to her and saying, "Now that is how you sing a song on Broadway. Now that is talent!"
If by any chance I've sparked your curiosity, look up "Grey Gardens" on YouTube...the entire documentary is there in sections, as are several songs from the Broadway show. Especially check out "Revolutionary Costume for Today" and "Around the World." I would watch the documentary first because it gives you much greater appreciation for the songs, their lyrics, and Ebersole's ability to capture the essence of the women in the documentary.
OK, that is it for me! Sorry, I told ya it was going to be a long one! But hopefully I've given you an interesting read.
And I think the cat just farted. Is that possible? Do cats fart?
Until later!
OK, so anyway, I just thought I'd catch up and I apologize in advance because this is gonna be a long blog.
~~~
First, thoughts from the newsroom...
This morning was busy! When winter weather hits the Midwest, it really becomes the meteorologist's show, and today was a perfect example. I knocked out pretty much all of the news stories just for live shots and stories about road conditions, and I gave a TON of time to the meteorologist. Plus, schools were delaying and then cancelling, so that kept things hopping around the station as well. In case you didn't tune in last year, I am the person the superintendants call to say that school is canceled, and I am the one who puts it on the air in the little bar at the bottom of the screen. A friend of mine said yesterday, "Do you realize how much power you have? I mean, you could make a LOT of money off of that." That's assuming high school kids would be willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money to have me "accidentally" cancel school. It would have to be a ridiculous amount of money because I would get fired.
Anyway, this is just a small joy, but I noticed yesterday that two of my stories made it all the way through the day to the 11:00 news. Now let me explain why this is significant to me -- The only time I write anything is if it's new for the morning or if we have breaking news. The other day we had two breaking news stories: a train crash and an armed robbery. Now, usually these stories run again at noon, but by five or six, they don't make the news because there is a lot more new stuff twelve hours after my show. If the story does make the evening news, it's usually rewritten as a VOB or as a package. But when a story that I actually wrote makes it through the whole day, I always feel a small sense of pride. And yesterday it wasn't just one, but TWO!
Oh, lord, the cat is in here...somewhere...I wish I could explain how creepy this is! Haha!
~~~
OK, topic two -- Grey Gardens. Grey Gardens is a documentary made in 1973 about a house of the same name, and the two ladies who lived there -- Edith Bouvier Beale and her adult daughter Edie Beale (or, "Big Edie" and "Little Edie.") Big Edie was Jackie Kennedy's aunt, making Little Edie Jackie's cousin, and like the rest of that well-connected family, they used to be very wealthy socialites. Then for a reason unknown to me (I'm going to have to find a biography), the glamour, wealth, and men in their lives faded away to leave a mother and daughter in a dysfunctional, codependent relationship. The two women became very eccentric and their once-fashionable home in East Hampton became a run-down house full of cats and raccoons. The Beales never left the house and lived in such squalor that apparently their home was finally inspected with a threat of eviction. After they passed the inspection, a pair of brothers came out to the house to film a documentary of the two women in their current lifestyles. The result is Grey Gardens, a charming yet disturbing chronicle of these two women and how they chose to live.
It's equally heartwarming and heartbreaking to watch the mom and daughter's eccentric mannerisms, conversations, and choices of clothing -- Big Edie is exposing herself half the time ("I'm about to get naked, so you better watch out!") while reliving her days as a singer by warbling to old records from the 1930s and talking about how she had a wonderfully fulfilling life..."I had my cake, loved it, masticated it, chewed it and had everything I wanted." Meanwhile, Little Edie fashions clothes out of everything in the house, always covering her hair with a dark scarf, dancing around the room, and talking about how her days at Grey Gardens are numbered and how much happier she'd be in "the city" (meaning New York City, where she once lived before her mother persuaded her to come back and take care of her). The soundbytes from the two ladies are so priceless and perfect that you'd think someone had written the lines ahead of time, and yet they are so delusionally and earnestly spoken that you know no one could ever come up with this dialogue.
Now, a few years ago, someone had the idea to make Grey Gardens into a musical, and it started off-broadway. It then came to Broadway in (I believe) 2007, where it didn't run for long, but definitely made an impact, winning several awards. Now that I've seen the documentary, I'm exploring YouTube for snippets from the show, and it looks like it too would have been fascinating to see. The first act is a sort of historical fiction of what the Beales' life would have been like when Little Edie was a young woman hoping to be married, showing how Big Edie's selfish desire to keep her daughter from leaving drove the two apart; Little Edie leaves with a suitcase at the end of the first act. Act two opens on the delapidated 1970s version of Grey Gardens, and (from what I've seen) weaves the wonderful lines from the film into song and dialogue between the now eccentric mother and daughter. Christine Ebersole played the role of Big Edie in Act One, and Little Edie in Act Two, and she is sensational. In all my research of the show so far, all I see is people pointing to her and saying, "Now that is how you sing a song on Broadway. Now that is talent!"
If by any chance I've sparked your curiosity, look up "Grey Gardens" on YouTube...the entire documentary is there in sections, as are several songs from the Broadway show. Especially check out "Revolutionary Costume for Today" and "Around the World." I would watch the documentary first because it gives you much greater appreciation for the songs, their lyrics, and Ebersole's ability to capture the essence of the women in the documentary.
OK, that is it for me! Sorry, I told ya it was going to be a long one! But hopefully I've given you an interesting read.
And I think the cat just farted. Is that possible? Do cats fart?
Until later!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
turkey lurkey
Of course on the day that I don't have to wake up early, I just go ahead and wake up early. Maybe some blogging will get things out of my head and then I can go back to sleep!
I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year! Don't get me wrong, I always look forward to it, but I usually don't actually get count-down-the-days excited for it like this. I've always been a huge Christmas fanatic, so for me Thanksgiving always kind of marked the beginning of the last stretch before my favorite holiday. In high school, Thanksgiving could never be fully enjoyed because finals and school projects were looming overhead, not to mention the early-morning swim practice the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.
And in college, Thanksgiving was just a quick oasis from Christmas Show rehearsals and classes. And what did I take home? My Christmas Show music and my textbooks. And in college, I was in Christmas mode by the beginning of October, when the Christmas Show concept was unveiled and we started rehearsals. So by Thanksgiving, it had been Christmas for like a month and a half.
Here's the thing that got me most excited about Thanksgiving: the Macy's parade. Because back before YouTube, that was pretty much one of my only chances to see glimpses of Broadway musicals (the other chance was in the summer when the Tonys were on). I would always have my mom wake me up in time to watch the parade with her, and I would figure out the best strategy for flipping between the major networks so I could view the most performances possible.
But this year, I'm proud to say just how excited I am for Thanksgiving, not as the second-born child to Christmas, but completely on its own merit. Now that I have this job, I don't get any time off for Thanksgiving. It's just a full work week during which I drive to a relative's home one day to eat turkey and hang out with relatives for awhile before driving back and going back to work. And I think that makes me appreciate it more. And this year, I only have to drive as far as Kokomo to my grandparents, which will be a piece of cake! And then I'll get to take home some scrumptuous left-overs, which soothes the pain of having to go back to work that night. And everyone is coming home for Thanksgiving break...all of my little HSM buddies! So getting everyone together for the first time since August will be so exciting! And thankfully (ahh haha) we've all kept in touch, so it won't be that weird thing where everyone comes back from college and doesn't know each other anymore. I don't think. Anyway, I'm just super-excited about Thanksgiving this year...going home, eating turkey and cranberries, catching up with friends...it's gonna be great.
And hopefully I'll be able to catch some of the Macy's Parade after work that morning!
Oh...and there may be a potentially exciting piece of news regarding me, the mall, a microphone, and the day after Thanksgiving. But we'll have to see what happens. I'm gonna leave it at that.
Until later! :)
I am so excited for Thanksgiving this year! Don't get me wrong, I always look forward to it, but I usually don't actually get count-down-the-days excited for it like this. I've always been a huge Christmas fanatic, so for me Thanksgiving always kind of marked the beginning of the last stretch before my favorite holiday. In high school, Thanksgiving could never be fully enjoyed because finals and school projects were looming overhead, not to mention the early-morning swim practice the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.
And in college, Thanksgiving was just a quick oasis from Christmas Show rehearsals and classes. And what did I take home? My Christmas Show music and my textbooks. And in college, I was in Christmas mode by the beginning of October, when the Christmas Show concept was unveiled and we started rehearsals. So by Thanksgiving, it had been Christmas for like a month and a half.
Here's the thing that got me most excited about Thanksgiving: the Macy's parade. Because back before YouTube, that was pretty much one of my only chances to see glimpses of Broadway musicals (the other chance was in the summer when the Tonys were on). I would always have my mom wake me up in time to watch the parade with her, and I would figure out the best strategy for flipping between the major networks so I could view the most performances possible.
But this year, I'm proud to say just how excited I am for Thanksgiving, not as the second-born child to Christmas, but completely on its own merit. Now that I have this job, I don't get any time off for Thanksgiving. It's just a full work week during which I drive to a relative's home one day to eat turkey and hang out with relatives for awhile before driving back and going back to work. And I think that makes me appreciate it more. And this year, I only have to drive as far as Kokomo to my grandparents, which will be a piece of cake! And then I'll get to take home some scrumptuous left-overs, which soothes the pain of having to go back to work that night. And everyone is coming home for Thanksgiving break...all of my little HSM buddies! So getting everyone together for the first time since August will be so exciting! And thankfully (ahh haha) we've all kept in touch, so it won't be that weird thing where everyone comes back from college and doesn't know each other anymore. I don't think. Anyway, I'm just super-excited about Thanksgiving this year...going home, eating turkey and cranberries, catching up with friends...it's gonna be great.
And hopefully I'll be able to catch some of the Macy's Parade after work that morning!
Oh...and there may be a potentially exciting piece of news regarding me, the mall, a microphone, and the day after Thanksgiving. But we'll have to see what happens. I'm gonna leave it at that.
Until later! :)
Friday, October 3, 2008
Help a girl out...
Hey Lisa...embed much?
I know, it's been ridiculous how much I've been embedding videos lately, but I promise this is the last one for awhile. I am just asking you to do a favor for these super-nice girls trying to make it in Hollywood. You may remember me writing about Whatever Hollywood in the past, but just for a review, these girls are all aspiring entertainers who make these cute videos in the meantime. But they don't just wait around for fame...they really go after their goals! And their newest goal is to get to do a show with Jimmy Kimmel, their favorite late-night guy.
They made this video to convince him to appear with them.
And here's the deal: They were told they had to get 100,000 views on YouTube to be taken seriously, so if you wouldn't mind watching this video, it would help them out a bunch. I promise it will make you laugh, and then if they ever DO end up on Jimmy Kimmel, you can say it's because of you!
OK, enough with me and my plugs. Enjoy Whatever Hollywood! :)
Love!
Lis
Oh, PS I am totally addicted to the soundtrack for the Broadway musical "In the Heights" right now. It's like, Latin-rap-salsa-R&B amazingness! And if you don't wanna dance when you hear the music...shame on you.
That's all!
I know, it's been ridiculous how much I've been embedding videos lately, but I promise this is the last one for awhile. I am just asking you to do a favor for these super-nice girls trying to make it in Hollywood. You may remember me writing about Whatever Hollywood in the past, but just for a review, these girls are all aspiring entertainers who make these cute videos in the meantime. But they don't just wait around for fame...they really go after their goals! And their newest goal is to get to do a show with Jimmy Kimmel, their favorite late-night guy.
They made this video to convince him to appear with them.
And here's the deal: They were told they had to get 100,000 views on YouTube to be taken seriously, so if you wouldn't mind watching this video, it would help them out a bunch. I promise it will make you laugh, and then if they ever DO end up on Jimmy Kimmel, you can say it's because of you!
OK, enough with me and my plugs. Enjoy Whatever Hollywood! :)
Love!
Lis
Oh, PS I am totally addicted to the soundtrack for the Broadway musical "In the Heights" right now. It's like, Latin-rap-salsa-R&B amazingness! And if you don't wanna dance when you hear the music...shame on you.
That's all!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Reality, Reviews, and Randomness
I haven't posted anything lately, and I don't really have anything in particular that I wanted to blog about, so this is gonna be pretty random.
Firstly, let's do a little reality recap.
The Bachelorette
I know, right??? That was over so long ago, but I need to dish about it one last time! I had a feeling DeAnna would pick Jesse just because she always seems to do what we wouldn't expect her to. And I think it's funny that she keeps saying how important her family is to her, because I'm pretty sure she picked the guy her family liked least out of the final two. I mean, Papa Pappas didn't exactly look brimming over with joy when they announced their wedding plans on national network television. It will be interesting to see what happens.
And of course the part of the special "Where Are They Now" episode that made my jaw drop was the very, very end of the show, where we see good ol' Brad Womack (who DeAnna seems to have forgiven because now she realizes there is no way you can go on this show and NOT make someone feel they have been led on) sitting in a recliner in what I guess is supposed to be his bach pad, eating a sandwich and watching TV. Cut to an over-the-shoulder shot of what's on the TV (a teeny little flatscreen--we know Brad's REAL bach pad would have one much bigger), and it's DeAnna, self-proclaimed happiest woman in the world, getting engaged and having all her dreams come true. Cut to commercial. WHAAAAAAT. How would they ever get Brad, who they've been bashing all season, to agree to shooting that? Well, I found out that they didn't. This article explains where the sandwich-eating footage came from and how it was originally supposed to be used. Annnnd that's why they make you sign your life away to be one one of these shows. So they can humiliate you later, and you can't do a thing about it.
Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods
I think in our heart of hearts, we all knew from the beginning that Southern belle Bailey would nab the role of Elle by the end of the show. And I really, really feel for Autumn; how much does it suck to be told by the director of a Broadway show that you have the best voice of anyone in the entire competition, and then NOT get cast? I guess that's why that industry is so tough. Just having a kick-ass voice isn't enough to get you a show. But the cool part is how awesome it must have been to perform three Broadway numbers on a Broadway stage for your family. Whether you end up winning or not, that's still awesome. Although it would be much more awesome if you won so Mom and Dad could see you do the whole show.
And Bailey debuted this week! If you visit the show's site, you can see a video of her recording "So Much Better," which is now available on iTunes. And typical of Bailey, the song sounds a little too perfect. But I mean, she's good. I can't hold a note as long as she does at the end of that song, that's for sure! I just think when Bailey talks she has this sort of animated Disney princess quality that's a little less believable than Laura Bell Bundy's quick, quippy raspiness (which I didn't particularly like either...I guess I just wish they could put Reese Witherspoon onstage instead; I'm just a die-hard for the movie version). I'm trying to find a review of Bailey's first performance, but I haven't had any luck.
Speaking of reviews...
We got one for HSM in the Journal and Courier. I guess it was good considering who wrote it--apparently the guy has it in for our director and our Miss Darbus, and both of them knew that--but luckily Cody, Issa, and I were described as "notable" performers, and the rest of the young cast was spared from any of Mr. Jaeger's snarky remarks. I've never been reviewed for doing a show before; it was kinda weird. But I think the important thing is that no one really cares what's in the review; they care more about what friends, family, and respected theatre patrons have to say. And all of THEIR reviews were pretty good. I know the 12-and-under crowd was happy with it anyway!
What else is new? Oh! I am helping a friend of mine who coaches the Twin Lakes color guard. He needed a "movement technition"...basically someone to help teach the girls better dance technique, and asked me if I'd do it. Now, I have never been in color guard, so I know I am going to learn a LOT. So far the girls are doing great; they have been working really hard and picking things up quickly. But I'm sure after a couple of weeks my novelty will wear off and they will stop liking me...lol I just remember that you always liked a new coach or director for like a week and then you stopped thinking they were fun. So I'm just kind of waiting for that to happen! They call me "Miss Stanforth," which is really weird but I guess I'll just have to get used to it. Meanwhile, I'm just worried about whether I'm teaching them the right things in the right way. I've just never really coached anything, and I like it, but I just worry about doing a good job. I am, however, totally excited to get to go watch them at football games and competitions! In high school I had a lot of friends who were in marching band and I was always fascinated about how they got everyone to move into those formations and everything, so I'm stoked to get to see it from the other side.
Lastly, people are leaving!!! :(
My on-stage brother (he played Ryan to my Sharpay) is now gone. He's doing a grad school/dorm director program in Illinois and he left Tuesday. We really bonded and I do actually feel like he's my brother, and I miss him a metric ton. And the weirdest part is, I don't talk to him every day now, and so I feel like it's been ages since we've spoken! I did get to talk to him Wednesday night and I was already going "It's so good to hear your voice!" Geez, I sound like my parents! But I am sure he is super-busy getting ready for the school year to start and for all of the undergrads to get there! Everyone else from the HSM group is still in town, but now we're all leaving on vacations, so we're not doing the "big group" activities so much anymore. In a way, though, it's nice because I'm getting more one-on-one time with people and getting to know them better, which is very awesome. I think we're going to try for one more big group day/night before the rest of the kids head off to IU and Butler and wherever else. And then, I know the Purdue kids will still be in town, but I also know their schedules will fill up, and they'll get back in the swing of things with their college friends and roommates, and I won't see them as much, so I'm trying to treasure moments with them now too. Although, it sounds like we will all see each other at tailgates on game days, which will be SO much fun! So that will be good. Also, one of my friends from the station is leaving for a new job in Oklahoma, and although I know it's going to be great for her, I am bummed that she won't be around anymore. The thing that stinks about TV is that people come and go very quickly. Thank God for Facebook!!!
Well, this is getting longer and longer, so I guess I'll just stop here before I think of something else to talk about!
Until later!
lis
Firstly, let's do a little reality recap.
The Bachelorette
I know, right??? That was over so long ago, but I need to dish about it one last time! I had a feeling DeAnna would pick Jesse just because she always seems to do what we wouldn't expect her to. And I think it's funny that she keeps saying how important her family is to her, because I'm pretty sure she picked the guy her family liked least out of the final two. I mean, Papa Pappas didn't exactly look brimming over with joy when they announced their wedding plans on national network television. It will be interesting to see what happens.
And of course the part of the special "Where Are They Now" episode that made my jaw drop was the very, very end of the show, where we see good ol' Brad Womack (who DeAnna seems to have forgiven because now she realizes there is no way you can go on this show and NOT make someone feel they have been led on) sitting in a recliner in what I guess is supposed to be his bach pad, eating a sandwich and watching TV. Cut to an over-the-shoulder shot of what's on the TV (a teeny little flatscreen--we know Brad's REAL bach pad would have one much bigger), and it's DeAnna, self-proclaimed happiest woman in the world, getting engaged and having all her dreams come true. Cut to commercial. WHAAAAAAT. How would they ever get Brad, who they've been bashing all season, to agree to shooting that? Well, I found out that they didn't. This article explains where the sandwich-eating footage came from and how it was originally supposed to be used. Annnnd that's why they make you sign your life away to be one one of these shows. So they can humiliate you later, and you can't do a thing about it.
Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods
I think in our heart of hearts, we all knew from the beginning that Southern belle Bailey would nab the role of Elle by the end of the show. And I really, really feel for Autumn; how much does it suck to be told by the director of a Broadway show that you have the best voice of anyone in the entire competition, and then NOT get cast? I guess that's why that industry is so tough. Just having a kick-ass voice isn't enough to get you a show. But the cool part is how awesome it must have been to perform three Broadway numbers on a Broadway stage for your family. Whether you end up winning or not, that's still awesome. Although it would be much more awesome if you won so Mom and Dad could see you do the whole show.
And Bailey debuted this week! If you visit the show's site, you can see a video of her recording "So Much Better," which is now available on iTunes. And typical of Bailey, the song sounds a little too perfect. But I mean, she's good. I can't hold a note as long as she does at the end of that song, that's for sure! I just think when Bailey talks she has this sort of animated Disney princess quality that's a little less believable than Laura Bell Bundy's quick, quippy raspiness (which I didn't particularly like either...I guess I just wish they could put Reese Witherspoon onstage instead; I'm just a die-hard for the movie version). I'm trying to find a review of Bailey's first performance, but I haven't had any luck.
Speaking of reviews...
We got one for HSM in the Journal and Courier. I guess it was good considering who wrote it--apparently the guy has it in for our director and our Miss Darbus, and both of them knew that--but luckily Cody, Issa, and I were described as "notable" performers, and the rest of the young cast was spared from any of Mr. Jaeger's snarky remarks. I've never been reviewed for doing a show before; it was kinda weird. But I think the important thing is that no one really cares what's in the review; they care more about what friends, family, and respected theatre patrons have to say. And all of THEIR reviews were pretty good. I know the 12-and-under crowd was happy with it anyway!
What else is new? Oh! I am helping a friend of mine who coaches the Twin Lakes color guard. He needed a "movement technition"...basically someone to help teach the girls better dance technique, and asked me if I'd do it. Now, I have never been in color guard, so I know I am going to learn a LOT. So far the girls are doing great; they have been working really hard and picking things up quickly. But I'm sure after a couple of weeks my novelty will wear off and they will stop liking me...lol I just remember that you always liked a new coach or director for like a week and then you stopped thinking they were fun. So I'm just kind of waiting for that to happen! They call me "Miss Stanforth," which is really weird but I guess I'll just have to get used to it. Meanwhile, I'm just worried about whether I'm teaching them the right things in the right way. I've just never really coached anything, and I like it, but I just worry about doing a good job. I am, however, totally excited to get to go watch them at football games and competitions! In high school I had a lot of friends who were in marching band and I was always fascinated about how they got everyone to move into those formations and everything, so I'm stoked to get to see it from the other side.
Lastly, people are leaving!!! :(
My on-stage brother (he played Ryan to my Sharpay) is now gone. He's doing a grad school/dorm director program in Illinois and he left Tuesday. We really bonded and I do actually feel like he's my brother, and I miss him a metric ton. And the weirdest part is, I don't talk to him every day now, and so I feel like it's been ages since we've spoken! I did get to talk to him Wednesday night and I was already going "It's so good to hear your voice!" Geez, I sound like my parents! But I am sure he is super-busy getting ready for the school year to start and for all of the undergrads to get there! Everyone else from the HSM group is still in town, but now we're all leaving on vacations, so we're not doing the "big group" activities so much anymore. In a way, though, it's nice because I'm getting more one-on-one time with people and getting to know them better, which is very awesome. I think we're going to try for one more big group day/night before the rest of the kids head off to IU and Butler and wherever else. And then, I know the Purdue kids will still be in town, but I also know their schedules will fill up, and they'll get back in the swing of things with their college friends and roommates, and I won't see them as much, so I'm trying to treasure moments with them now too. Although, it sounds like we will all see each other at tailgates on game days, which will be SO much fun! So that will be good. Also, one of my friends from the station is leaving for a new job in Oklahoma, and although I know it's going to be great for her, I am bummed that she won't be around anymore. The thing that stinks about TV is that people come and go very quickly. Thank God for Facebook!!!
Well, this is getting longer and longer, so I guess I'll just stop here before I think of something else to talk about!
Until later!
lis
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
i could do this forever...
I am about to run off to Broadway.
Not really. But it amazes me how much joy you can get out of doing something. And I get SO much joy out of performing!
We opened "High School Musical" last weekend, and we had two really good shows. And I think this is the coolest thing I've ever done...maybe even cooler than Christmas Show. And that, for me, is saying a lot.
It's just the best of everything. My favorite play I've ever been in. My favorite role I've ever played. Cute costumes. An awesome set. Huge depth of talent in the cast. Super-nice, amazing people who have become great friends. Fun, challenging choreography. Super-fun music. Fireworks! And a built-in fan base of kids from 4 to 14 who go absolutely nuts over anything HSM-related.
I haven't gotten to do any real performing in about a year, so I just felt absolutely spoiled performing in front of a full house Friday night! There is something about hearing the applause, the laughs, and feeling the electricity surging between the house and the stage that I absolutely love. And when the lights went down on our last note Friday night, I watched the fireworks popping overhead and heard the cheering audience, and it just washed through me and overwhelmed me, and I got tears in my eyes. I missed this. Then Caitlin grabbed my hand and ran up the hill with me from the backstage area to the front entrance to the house. Ryan checked to make sure I had an autograph pen, which I had but felt a little presumptuous holding on my way up to meet the audience. Out of nowhere, Adrienne appeared next to me and shoved a mint in my mouth. These guys are pros, I thought. And then there were people everywhere. People I knew...Kels, Isaac, the Hainje girls, people's parents.
And then there were kids. Everywhere. All around, holding up their programs for me to sign! Some of them grabbed my hand, eager to shake it, and some were so shy they could barely muster up the gumption to look at me. There were parents encouraging their kids to be patient while I tried to sign every piece of paper thrust anxiously in front of me. They wanted hugs. They wanted pictures. They wanted their HSM t-shirts signed. They wanted to talk to me. They wanted to hide behind their moms. It. Was. Awesome.
I think that was what really made it special for me...those kids were sooo excited about that show, and so beside themselves with enthusiasm, that it made me feel so good to have been a part of something that they were so excited about! And the parents were so appreciative. I can imagine long weeks for some parents with kids counting down the days until HSM, buying tickets and t-shirts, and probably hoping the excitement would die down at some point so they could get the kids to go to sleep that night. You could tell it meant a lot to them for us to meet their kids and spend a few moments with them. I can't imagine what it's like for people who do this sort of thing every day. I'm sure it gets tiring, but at the same time, what an incredible phenomenon to be able to make a kid happy just by saying hello or signing a book or a piece of paper. That meant more than all the applause, definitely, definitely.
And this weekend we get to do it again!
I feel like I could do this every weekend forever; it's just that much fun. I know that after this weekend, my life will be back to normal. I will be the girl sitting at the computer all night and behind the cameras all morning; the girl that no one sees, hears, or knows about. The person pulling and pushing invisible strings and buttons to put a show on the air. The girl no one recognizes in public. But that's ok! I am so happy to have had a little part in people's lives for just one evening...and hopefully to have made some kid's day by talking to them and sending them home with a picture and a piece of paper with a pink signature on it.
Sweet dreams!
Lis
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
he knew
Graham knew he was going home this week.
I just finished watching the newest episode of the Bachelorette, and was it a good one or WHAT! The stakes are much higher, with four guys left, each taking Deanna home to meet their families.
All of the hometown visits went unbelievably well, except for Graham's. First all was fine, as Graham finally got to relax with Deanna and be in his own environment, and she was excited that he was more talkative. But you could see that Deanna was in major puppy love...she was practically wagging her tail when she got out of the car to meet him. After the conversation with Graham's mom, though, reality kicked in and Deanna could see that Graham still was a long way from the super-attentive, totally committed person she was hoping for in a husband. Then they left the house and sat on that bench in the woods and you could just tell...he wasn't there. And here is my theory:
Graham wasn't into the show. He wasn't into bunking with a bunch of other guys and dating the same girl as all of them. He wasn't into the cameras. And he wasn't into falling all over himself to keep Deanna's attention. And I respect that. I said before that Graham seems like a real person, and what is he doing on this show? I think this episode proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. My theory is that he got quiet on that bench because (a) he's a quiet guy and (b) all those cameras were around and he realized, this is what the deal is until they get ENGAGED. They will never truly be alone with each other in the moment until after this show is over, and by then it will be proposal time! And he's probably not ready for that. Then when she starts trying to pick his brain (which I would've done too, I admit), he realized, this is what the deal is until she DIES! Deanna will never be content with Graham handling things internally; she'll just insist that he's "running away." And he knew in that moment, I think, that it wasn't going to work.
And when he showed up to the rose ceremony in jeans, I KNEW that he knew he was headed right back out that door again.
The scene on the bench broke my heart, but only because I know what it's like telling someone goodbye when you know it's absolutely the right thing to do even though you think you want to keep him around so badly. And I'm not a big Deanna fan, but I was kind of "proud" of her for putting Graham in that limo. They weren't for each other, which was clear, but she wanted him to be The Guy so badly that it was hard to admit it wasn't the right thing. I've definitely been there, and I know that while she was second-guessing herself in that moment, she'll look back at that now and be glad she let him go. I may be projecting a little bit. Yeah, I think I am. But I also really think that's what went on there.
And the way Graham turned away from her, obviously crying...that was a sure sign that he wasn't at that point where she wanted him to be, if he couldn't cry in front of her. That's just not who he is...or maybe she's just not that person for him to feel like he can cry in front of, hence another sign that it was over. But you could see in his face that he knew he had blown his chance. And then the NOTE!!! OMG...I think he had that note ready because he knew he was going home. And I honestly felt for both of them at that point because I think they both wanted it to work out, but just knew down in the bottom of their hearts that it wasn't going to pan out. She held out her hand to walk him to the car, he didn't take it. He held out the note to her, and she didn't take THAT. He sets it on the bench. And then he says, "This is for you to read ONLY. Not for some show..." AGGGGHHH!!! Does that not seal it? This guy was not ready to let his guard down and let his feelings out in front of a girl, in front of a camera! And then his brimming tears and that subtle shake of his head as he drove away...ohhhh it just broke my heart. It was like watching a real break-up. Maybe it's just because I'm PMSing. But GEEZ!!!
Oh, and I can't WAIT to see next week's episod when they go on the exotic dates. Jesse totally sold me when they showed what happened when she gave him the card for the fantasy suite. (In case you don't know how this gameshow works, the "exotic" dates end with the possibility of Deanna inviting the guy to stay with her in the fantasy suite overnight, rather than stay in their own separate rooms.) So they preview Jason, who I love, who starts reading the card and stops mid-sentence, throws the card to the side and says, "Yeah!!!" (Which is cute.) And then they show Jesse, who reads the card and says, "I don't know if I can do this until after I've met your father." YES YES YEEEEESSSSSS!!!! This guy is A+ Excellent quality! (Just not physically attractive to me personally.) But oh WOW, has that ever happened in the history of this show??! This guy won't make it past next week, but I love him and I think he has proven time and time again that he is the ultimate in chivalry. Any girl would be lucky to marry this kid.
OK, the pool is calling. Oh, and WTF, MTV? Thanks for not posting last night's episode of "The Search for Elle Woods!" Luckily, they did post the audition sequences and I think Lauren and Rhiannon did exceptionally well. Pleeeeeaaase tell me Celina went home. No, don't tell me. I can wait till Thursday when they post the episode. I didn't buy Cassie's performance either...I think she'd be better in a goofy, comedic supporting role than as a leading lady. Plus, she has some serious pitch/hearing issues. And Bailey did the song like a clone of Laura Bell Bundy :-P Boo...she sounded good though. OK, I'm done talking about this because I'm going to the pool!!! Bye!
I just finished watching the newest episode of the Bachelorette, and was it a good one or WHAT! The stakes are much higher, with four guys left, each taking Deanna home to meet their families.
All of the hometown visits went unbelievably well, except for Graham's. First all was fine, as Graham finally got to relax with Deanna and be in his own environment, and she was excited that he was more talkative. But you could see that Deanna was in major puppy love...she was practically wagging her tail when she got out of the car to meet him. After the conversation with Graham's mom, though, reality kicked in and Deanna could see that Graham still was a long way from the super-attentive, totally committed person she was hoping for in a husband. Then they left the house and sat on that bench in the woods and you could just tell...he wasn't there. And here is my theory:
Graham wasn't into the show. He wasn't into bunking with a bunch of other guys and dating the same girl as all of them. He wasn't into the cameras. And he wasn't into falling all over himself to keep Deanna's attention. And I respect that. I said before that Graham seems like a real person, and what is he doing on this show? I think this episode proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. My theory is that he got quiet on that bench because (a) he's a quiet guy and (b) all those cameras were around and he realized, this is what the deal is until they get ENGAGED. They will never truly be alone with each other in the moment until after this show is over, and by then it will be proposal time! And he's probably not ready for that. Then when she starts trying to pick his brain (which I would've done too, I admit), he realized, this is what the deal is until she DIES! Deanna will never be content with Graham handling things internally; she'll just insist that he's "running away." And he knew in that moment, I think, that it wasn't going to work.
And when he showed up to the rose ceremony in jeans, I KNEW that he knew he was headed right back out that door again.
The scene on the bench broke my heart, but only because I know what it's like telling someone goodbye when you know it's absolutely the right thing to do even though you think you want to keep him around so badly. And I'm not a big Deanna fan, but I was kind of "proud" of her for putting Graham in that limo. They weren't for each other, which was clear, but she wanted him to be The Guy so badly that it was hard to admit it wasn't the right thing. I've definitely been there, and I know that while she was second-guessing herself in that moment, she'll look back at that now and be glad she let him go. I may be projecting a little bit. Yeah, I think I am. But I also really think that's what went on there.
And the way Graham turned away from her, obviously crying...that was a sure sign that he wasn't at that point where she wanted him to be, if he couldn't cry in front of her. That's just not who he is...or maybe she's just not that person for him to feel like he can cry in front of, hence another sign that it was over. But you could see in his face that he knew he had blown his chance. And then the NOTE!!! OMG...I think he had that note ready because he knew he was going home. And I honestly felt for both of them at that point because I think they both wanted it to work out, but just knew down in the bottom of their hearts that it wasn't going to pan out. She held out her hand to walk him to the car, he didn't take it. He held out the note to her, and she didn't take THAT. He sets it on the bench. And then he says, "This is for you to read ONLY. Not for some show..." AGGGGHHH!!! Does that not seal it? This guy was not ready to let his guard down and let his feelings out in front of a girl, in front of a camera! And then his brimming tears and that subtle shake of his head as he drove away...ohhhh it just broke my heart. It was like watching a real break-up. Maybe it's just because I'm PMSing. But GEEZ!!!
Oh, and I can't WAIT to see next week's episod when they go on the exotic dates. Jesse totally sold me when they showed what happened when she gave him the card for the fantasy suite. (In case you don't know how this gameshow works, the "exotic" dates end with the possibility of Deanna inviting the guy to stay with her in the fantasy suite overnight, rather than stay in their own separate rooms.) So they preview Jason, who I love, who starts reading the card and stops mid-sentence, throws the card to the side and says, "Yeah!!!" (Which is cute.) And then they show Jesse, who reads the card and says, "I don't know if I can do this until after I've met your father." YES YES YEEEEESSSSSS!!!! This guy is A+ Excellent quality! (Just not physically attractive to me personally.) But oh WOW, has that ever happened in the history of this show??! This guy won't make it past next week, but I love him and I think he has proven time and time again that he is the ultimate in chivalry. Any girl would be lucky to marry this kid.
OK, the pool is calling. Oh, and WTF, MTV? Thanks for not posting last night's episode of "The Search for Elle Woods!" Luckily, they did post the audition sequences and I think Lauren and Rhiannon did exceptionally well. Pleeeeeaaase tell me Celina went home. No, don't tell me. I can wait till Thursday when they post the episode. I didn't buy Cassie's performance either...I think she'd be better in a goofy, comedic supporting role than as a leading lady. Plus, she has some serious pitch/hearing issues. And Bailey did the song like a clone of Laura Bell Bundy :-P Boo...she sounded good though. OK, I'm done talking about this because I'm going to the pool!!! Bye!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
reality check
***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
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
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!
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
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Happy Birthday, Blog!
My blog is one year old today! Happy birthday, Blog!!! :)
Things are going great. I'm having a blast with HSM rehearsals and making lots of friends. People there are so friendly, talented, and fun! I know this summer will go so fast.
I watched the premiere of MTV's "The Search for Elle Woods." That's right, they are casting the lead in a Broadway show using a cable reality TV show. I know. But it is entertaining, and I think it will be a good way to give people a closer look at musical theatre. But so many of the girls on that show are SOOOO full of themselves. Here are some things they actually SAID on camera:
"I would say on a scale of one to ten, my voice is...a ten." (PS, the girl who said this didn't make the top ten cut.)
"I love the sound of my voice. I love hearing it, I love how it feels...It's like heaven."
"I feel like I really zen with Elle Woods." (What???)
"I think Elle Woods and I are like twin sisters but with different hair color."
OK, so that should be a blast to watch, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot about auditioning and what it really takes to get on Broadway. Besides getting cast in a reality TV show.
Also, the Bachelorette had yet ANOTHER 2-hour episode last night...they are really moving these guys through! I only lost one of the guys I liked--Richard, the science teacher. But I think it was a good decision for Deanna to make; they were both talking a lot about feeling chemistry between them, and she obviously wasn't feeling it (by the way, did NOBODY at ABC pick up on that pun, with him being a science teacher??!! Get on the ball, people! I was expecting some cheesy line about "chemistry with the science teacher" but not once did I hear it!). It was so awkward when he was trying to find a way to plant a kiss on her and "brushed her hair out of her face" when her hair was in a ponytail and her bangs were back, which equals no hair actually IN her face...I almost couldn't watch, I felt so bad for him because it was so obviously awkward. Almost as awkward as when Deanna stopped their Cinderella pumpkin carriage in the middle of a street in LA to LITERLLY kick Richard to the curb. A taxi was there to pick him up, and I was like, "How do they do this, do they have like walkie-talkies so they know where they are and can call the cab to pick him up?" Creepy.
Single-dad Jason did much better on his one on one date. He finally told Deanna about his son Ty and she was very receptive to it. What I loved was how much he could be himself now that the most important thing in his life was out in the open. And what was so great was that a fantastic exchange followed--Jason asked Deanna about her mom, and she really opened up about the actual experience of losing her mom and how it's affected her personality. Then she said no one she dated had ever wanted to know about her mom. What? Whatever, as long as that means Jason gets to stay! The next great part was when they were both feeling the mutual attraction in the observatory and he asked her if he could kiss her. I LOVED that. I think there is something so sweet about a guy asking to kiss you because A) it's polite and respectful, B) it eliminates that uncomfortable, awkward, and potentially disastrous effect of trying to just "feel out" the right moment, and C) if a guy asks, it's a lot more likely (in my opinion) that the girl will be like, "Aww sure, what the hell?" because she doesn't feel pressured. Deanna does a really great thing later and gives Jason a certificate that says she's had a star named after Ty. Jason is so visibly touched that I almost cried watching this. And Deanna played it super-smart and sensitive here because this could go one of two ways--he doesn't make it to the end but has this great thing to take back to his son, OR they get married and have this great story to tell Ty about what happened when they started dating. Besides that they met on national television. Ok, anyway...
Fred got a rose when they went to see Ellen, which I was so pumped about! Ellen had some surprisingly mature and insightful advise for Deanna about the boys. I was so glad she kind of pulled Fred out of the background, because he seems like such a sweetie and I feel like he's getting lost in the shuffle, and he has yet to have any true one-on-one time with Deanna...there's always another guy around.
I was glad Brian made it back, because I haven't seen really any one-on-one interaction with him and Deanna yet either, but I like him from what I've seen.
I'm soooo glad that Mister Older and Wiser, Guy's Guy, Motivational Speaker Ron didn't get a rose this week. I love how he gave HIMSELF a motivational speech on his way back to his barber shop down by the river: "Deanna didn't reject me; she chose other guys." Also known as, she rejected you. He and Deanna has this talk before the rose ceremony that was like...
Deanna - We always talk in depth and serious and I want to have fun with you. So tell me something fun about you.
Ron - Where do I even begin? Everything about me is fun. Long pause, looooong, smug stare from Ron.
I would've been like. "Ok, so...go. Like what? What's fun? This isn't fun."
Also, Canada Paul went home. Frankly, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did. Twilly continued to surprise America by winning another rose and living to tell another long-winded, pointless story. (I shouldn't make fun of him; my stories tend to be of the same quality.)
Jesse is growing on me more and more, and I think he's really playing it smart. He shows up dressed weird, acting wild and crazy, and we're all like "no way." But I guarantee ABC was like, "Deanna, if you keep this guy around for a week or two, we'll give you a helicopter ride." And then we find out that this guy is actually pretty cool and a little bit of a sweetie-pie, and that he looks like when the Beast turns into the Prince in Beauty and the Beast...surprisingly handsome. THEN he shows up this week in a very nice suit and tie. Now that we already love his personality, he's showing us that he can be a gentleman and dress to impress so we don't have to be embarrassed in public with him. (I'm using the royal "We" to include Deanna and all of us watching.) So, go Jesse!
OK, I think that is all I've got. I just thought my blog deserved a nice big blog entry on its birthday! I can't believe it's been a year!
Until later!
Things are going great. I'm having a blast with HSM rehearsals and making lots of friends. People there are so friendly, talented, and fun! I know this summer will go so fast.
I watched the premiere of MTV's "The Search for Elle Woods." That's right, they are casting the lead in a Broadway show using a cable reality TV show. I know. But it is entertaining, and I think it will be a good way to give people a closer look at musical theatre. But so many of the girls on that show are SOOOO full of themselves. Here are some things they actually SAID on camera:
"I would say on a scale of one to ten, my voice is...a ten." (PS, the girl who said this didn't make the top ten cut.)
"I love the sound of my voice. I love hearing it, I love how it feels...It's like heaven."
"I feel like I really zen with Elle Woods." (What???)
"I think Elle Woods and I are like twin sisters but with different hair color."
OK, so that should be a blast to watch, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot about auditioning and what it really takes to get on Broadway. Besides getting cast in a reality TV show.
Also, the Bachelorette had yet ANOTHER 2-hour episode last night...they are really moving these guys through! I only lost one of the guys I liked--Richard, the science teacher. But I think it was a good decision for Deanna to make; they were both talking a lot about feeling chemistry between them, and she obviously wasn't feeling it (by the way, did NOBODY at ABC pick up on that pun, with him being a science teacher??!! Get on the ball, people! I was expecting some cheesy line about "chemistry with the science teacher" but not once did I hear it!). It was so awkward when he was trying to find a way to plant a kiss on her and "brushed her hair out of her face" when her hair was in a ponytail and her bangs were back, which equals no hair actually IN her face...I almost couldn't watch, I felt so bad for him because it was so obviously awkward. Almost as awkward as when Deanna stopped their Cinderella pumpkin carriage in the middle of a street in LA to LITERLLY kick Richard to the curb. A taxi was there to pick him up, and I was like, "How do they do this, do they have like walkie-talkies so they know where they are and can call the cab to pick him up?" Creepy.
Single-dad Jason did much better on his one on one date. He finally told Deanna about his son Ty and she was very receptive to it. What I loved was how much he could be himself now that the most important thing in his life was out in the open. And what was so great was that a fantastic exchange followed--Jason asked Deanna about her mom, and she really opened up about the actual experience of losing her mom and how it's affected her personality. Then she said no one she dated had ever wanted to know about her mom. What? Whatever, as long as that means Jason gets to stay! The next great part was when they were both feeling the mutual attraction in the observatory and he asked her if he could kiss her. I LOVED that. I think there is something so sweet about a guy asking to kiss you because A) it's polite and respectful, B) it eliminates that uncomfortable, awkward, and potentially disastrous effect of trying to just "feel out" the right moment, and C) if a guy asks, it's a lot more likely (in my opinion) that the girl will be like, "Aww sure, what the hell?" because she doesn't feel pressured. Deanna does a really great thing later and gives Jason a certificate that says she's had a star named after Ty. Jason is so visibly touched that I almost cried watching this. And Deanna played it super-smart and sensitive here because this could go one of two ways--he doesn't make it to the end but has this great thing to take back to his son, OR they get married and have this great story to tell Ty about what happened when they started dating. Besides that they met on national television. Ok, anyway...
Fred got a rose when they went to see Ellen, which I was so pumped about! Ellen had some surprisingly mature and insightful advise for Deanna about the boys. I was so glad she kind of pulled Fred out of the background, because he seems like such a sweetie and I feel like he's getting lost in the shuffle, and he has yet to have any true one-on-one time with Deanna...there's always another guy around.
I was glad Brian made it back, because I haven't seen really any one-on-one interaction with him and Deanna yet either, but I like him from what I've seen.
I'm soooo glad that Mister Older and Wiser, Guy's Guy, Motivational Speaker Ron didn't get a rose this week. I love how he gave HIMSELF a motivational speech on his way back to his barber shop down by the river: "Deanna didn't reject me; she chose other guys." Also known as, she rejected you. He and Deanna has this talk before the rose ceremony that was like...
Deanna - We always talk in depth and serious and I want to have fun with you. So tell me something fun about you.
Ron - Where do I even begin? Everything about me is fun. Long pause, looooong, smug stare from Ron.
I would've been like. "Ok, so...go. Like what? What's fun? This isn't fun."
Also, Canada Paul went home. Frankly, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did. Twilly continued to surprise America by winning another rose and living to tell another long-winded, pointless story. (I shouldn't make fun of him; my stories tend to be of the same quality.)
Jesse is growing on me more and more, and I think he's really playing it smart. He shows up dressed weird, acting wild and crazy, and we're all like "no way." But I guarantee ABC was like, "Deanna, if you keep this guy around for a week or two, we'll give you a helicopter ride." And then we find out that this guy is actually pretty cool and a little bit of a sweetie-pie, and that he looks like when the Beast turns into the Prince in Beauty and the Beast...surprisingly handsome. THEN he shows up this week in a very nice suit and tie. Now that we already love his personality, he's showing us that he can be a gentleman and dress to impress so we don't have to be embarrassed in public with him. (I'm using the royal "We" to include Deanna and all of us watching.) So, go Jesse!
OK, I think that is all I've got. I just thought my blog deserved a nice big blog entry on its birthday! I can't believe it's been a year!
Until later!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Officially Summer
I think summer has officially started. Here are some sure signs:
1) The pool is open at my apartment. Or it will be by the end of this week. I'm so excited to be able to lay in the sun this summer; last year I worked all the time so I never got outside, and I was so sadly pale. Not this year!
2) West Lafayette's co-ed softball league is in full swing. Pun! In! Tended!!! Yes, we had our first game last night, and we won! When I initially signed up to play, I had fully expected to keep the bench warm, cheer everyone on, and look as cute as possible to make up for my extreme lack of athleticism. But last night I actually got to play, and I'm glad I did! I caught for a couple innings, and I even got to bat and I hit the ball! Barely. It seriously went about a foot from the plate, but it totally counted! And I didn't have any strikes! So I was super-excited about that.
3) It's Tony Time. The Tony Awards season always sneaks up on me. And I'm pretty sure I'm one of maybe like five people in Indiana who even care about the Tonys. But I love them. And I love trying to predict the winners! Today they are announcing the nominees, so I'll have to do my homework and find out about all the musicals I've never heard of so I know what the heck is going on on awards night. The great part is that CBS carries the Tonys, so I'll have access to video clips of the show and I can force a little Broadway culture into people's mornings!
On a related note, I picked up The Little Mermaid Broadway soundtrack, and it is fantastic. I always worry when they take a beloved Disney movie and turn it into a Broadway show because everyone loves those songs so much that if and when they get changed, it sometimes kind of ruins it. And the Little Mermaid carries a lot of weight--this was the film that pretty much saved Disney and especially its animation department back in the late 80s/early 90s. This was the first of the Alan Menken-Howard Ashman golden nuggets that my generation thinks of when we think "Disney." So I think there is a lot of importance riding on turning the Broadway version into something people would love instead of resent for "ruining" the movie. It's awesome. All the original songs are done with great integrity, and the new songs are so great and fit so well with the original score. And Sierra Boggess, who plays Ariel, is amazing! She definitely embodies the character we've all known, loved, and memorized for almost 20 years.
OK, I'm off that rant.
4) There are so many movies I want to see! What a great year for summer blockbusters! I personally am not into Iron Man or Speed Racer, but I can't wait to see Prince Caspian and Indiana Jones! I will probably also go see Sex in the City with my best girls, as we once spent an entire summer watching every season episode by episode. My co-workers will really give me a hard time about it, but whatever.
OK, gotta go! They are about to announce the Tony nominees on the Early Show! It's summer, and I'm so glad! It's my favorite time of year!
1) The pool is open at my apartment. Or it will be by the end of this week. I'm so excited to be able to lay in the sun this summer; last year I worked all the time so I never got outside, and I was so sadly pale. Not this year!
2) West Lafayette's co-ed softball league is in full swing. Pun! In! Tended!!! Yes, we had our first game last night, and we won! When I initially signed up to play, I had fully expected to keep the bench warm, cheer everyone on, and look as cute as possible to make up for my extreme lack of athleticism. But last night I actually got to play, and I'm glad I did! I caught for a couple innings, and I even got to bat and I hit the ball! Barely. It seriously went about a foot from the plate, but it totally counted! And I didn't have any strikes! So I was super-excited about that.
3) It's Tony Time. The Tony Awards season always sneaks up on me. And I'm pretty sure I'm one of maybe like five people in Indiana who even care about the Tonys. But I love them. And I love trying to predict the winners! Today they are announcing the nominees, so I'll have to do my homework and find out about all the musicals I've never heard of so I know what the heck is going on on awards night. The great part is that CBS carries the Tonys, so I'll have access to video clips of the show and I can force a little Broadway culture into people's mornings!
On a related note, I picked up The Little Mermaid Broadway soundtrack, and it is fantastic. I always worry when they take a beloved Disney movie and turn it into a Broadway show because everyone loves those songs so much that if and when they get changed, it sometimes kind of ruins it. And the Little Mermaid carries a lot of weight--this was the film that pretty much saved Disney and especially its animation department back in the late 80s/early 90s. This was the first of the Alan Menken-Howard Ashman golden nuggets that my generation thinks of when we think "Disney." So I think there is a lot of importance riding on turning the Broadway version into something people would love instead of resent for "ruining" the movie. It's awesome. All the original songs are done with great integrity, and the new songs are so great and fit so well with the original score. And Sierra Boggess, who plays Ariel, is amazing! She definitely embodies the character we've all known, loved, and memorized for almost 20 years.
OK, I'm off that rant.
4) There are so many movies I want to see! What a great year for summer blockbusters! I personally am not into Iron Man or Speed Racer, but I can't wait to see Prince Caspian and Indiana Jones! I will probably also go see Sex in the City with my best girls, as we once spent an entire summer watching every season episode by episode. My co-workers will really give me a hard time about it, but whatever.
OK, gotta go! They are about to announce the Tony nominees on the Early Show! It's summer, and I'm so glad! It's my favorite time of year!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Winter Break
Here's some irony for ya...I don't get a winter break this year for the first time since I was 5, because I'm not in school anymore...
But the term "Winter Break" applies to this time in my life better than I can possibly describe.
I'll describe it anyway :)
First of all, the break-up. This is the perfect time for a break-up, because everyone is gone, so none of these parties/get-togethers where people are telling you what they think about your break-up, and none of those uncomfortable moments where you both end up in the same place and everyone starts watching like you're suddenly the newest episode of "Grey's Anatomy." That actually happened once and I ended up crying...and not really because I was upset, but just because I felt all this pressure leaning in on me from around the room, and I literally cracked. So...none of those moments for awhile!
Also, some pretty big things happened...well, ONE pretty big thing happened just a few days ago. Our music director at Purdue announced that he was retiring, effective December 31. Which was a huge shock to people, since there are a lot of big things happening next semester that he won't be there for anymore. And it just makes everyone wonder...what's going to happen? This will change so many things for those kids. I am glad that a) I have already graduated and b) that it is winter break, so all the kids are at home where they can digest this with their families instead of rehash it at school...I mean, they'll do that anyway, but at least they'll have done it with their families first.
Finally, I got sick. It's just a cold, not the flu, but I honestly cannot remember the last time I've felt this gross. And since no one is in town and I don't have a boyfriend anymore, I can spend all day in bed, looking gross, and not having to go anywhere. I haven't been sleeping well because of being sick, so by yesterday I was exhausted when I got home from work. I went to bed about 9 a.m., and from then until about 6 this morning I have been in bed, with only small breaks for answering the phone (sometimes), going to the bathroom, taking medicine, and occasionally getting online for AIM, email, or facebook. And that's it! It's been a real break! All around! And it's not even Christmas yet!
I set up my first very own Christmas tree and did my shopping, and all my presents are wrapped and under my tree...and I'm so proud everytime I look at it! It's weird, for some reason I am the least excited for Christmas that I've ever been, and I don't know why. I am excited to go home, but I don't really feel like it's only a few days till Christmas, and I think it might be because every day at work just makes me feel like...every day is just another day. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, it's just that difference of not having a build-up. No Christmas show rehearsals, no finals, no packing and going home. I think that must be it. I have one day off to look forward to; Christmas Eve night/Christmas morning, and then on Christmas night I go back to the newsroom. Holidays come and go so fast because I don't get to relish them for days, just for hours. The only thing that gets me excited is Christmas shopping and wrapping presents. And looking forward to seeing the Christmas Show on TV!
Speaking of TV, here are my media picks of the moment:
TV...well, nothing is on TV right now thanks to the writers' strike, but here are some shows I started watching and hope to be caught up on by the time WGA lets Hollywood get back to business:
1. The Office -- I love Christopher Guest movies, and this is like if a Chris Guest movie were made into a TV show. I bought the first season on DVD, which to my disappointment only had six episodes...they must have really been counting on this one to fail! Which is understandable, considering the fact that it was based off of a British show of the same title. It's subte, dry, every-day humor and I love it. I am very much in love with the character Jim Halpert (who isn't?) as well as the Jim-Pam love story, or "JAM" as some fans call it. "The Office" never fails to cheer me up and give me stomach cramps.
2. Pushing Daisies -- I had seen the promos for this when the new TV season started, and it looked interesting, but I was busy enough watching "The Bachelor" on abc.com, so I didn't look into it. But I kept hearing my director obsess over it, so now that I've run out of other stuff to watch, I thought I'd give the show a look. I also found out that one of my favorite Broadway people, Kristen Chenoweth, is in it, so that was what really made me decide to check it out. I love it. It's like Tim Burton, Gilmore Girls, and CSI all rolled into one show! Every episode is like a little movie. It's whimsical, colorful, dark, and old-fashioned, with that rapid-fire wit of Gilmore Girls but finally in an atmosphere fitting of that writing style. And it's a murder mystery, so you just can't stop watching as every twist leads you to the next commercial break. Luckily, I was watching online and didn't have to sit through much of a commercial break! And Kristen Chenoweth even sings! The best part, too, is that when characters sing in this show, they just sort of naturally burst forth without needing an excuse to, and for this show, that works and makes sense. That's hard to do in a movie, let alone a tv show! More about that in the movie section...
Movies...
1. I rented "The Wendell Baker Story" from a redbox and it was really good. One of those movies that got totally missed by everyone, even though it was written and directed by the Wilson brothers (Luke, Andrew, and Owen -- actually Owen just acted in it). It was a quirky little story about a con man who decides to clean up his act after his shinannigans cost him his girl, his best friend, and some prison time. He goes to work in a retirement home where he finds out about the shady dealings of the owner and decides to help out, and make friends with, the hilarious senior citizen residents. The movie isn't flashy or over-the-top in any way, which is probably why it flew under the radar for the public, but to say it's worth the dollar it costs to rent it at a redbox vending machine for the night is an understatement.
2. High School Musical 2. Yes, I bought it. I am a sucker for this stuff. It's campy, cheesy, and not made for people my age...but I totally don't care. This is the part of me that never got past the age of 12: I love any show where singing and dancing is involved, and I love Ashley Tisdale. This movie was even better than the first one because there were much more songs, especially big group numbers, and the dancing was a lot more complicated. Also, this had more of a musical feel to it because more of the songs came out of the storyline and happened "spontaneously," whereas in the first movie most of the music was explained by an audition or even kareaoke. I am one of those people who wish life was a musical, and in that musical, the singing and dancing tells the story, everyone already knows the words, and uniform dance moves happen not because someone taught it that way, but because everyone was feeling the same emotion, which led them to move as one. Of course! So I respond better to a show where the songs seem to kind of just happen, rather than be rationalized. Because it's less realistic! Makes perfect sense, right?
Ok, that's all I have for now. Time to find something to eat and start cleaning up my "sick person" mess around the house!
But the term "Winter Break" applies to this time in my life better than I can possibly describe.
I'll describe it anyway :)
First of all, the break-up. This is the perfect time for a break-up, because everyone is gone, so none of these parties/get-togethers where people are telling you what they think about your break-up, and none of those uncomfortable moments where you both end up in the same place and everyone starts watching like you're suddenly the newest episode of "Grey's Anatomy." That actually happened once and I ended up crying...and not really because I was upset, but just because I felt all this pressure leaning in on me from around the room, and I literally cracked. So...none of those moments for awhile!
Also, some pretty big things happened...well, ONE pretty big thing happened just a few days ago. Our music director at Purdue announced that he was retiring, effective December 31. Which was a huge shock to people, since there are a lot of big things happening next semester that he won't be there for anymore. And it just makes everyone wonder...what's going to happen? This will change so many things for those kids. I am glad that a) I have already graduated and b) that it is winter break, so all the kids are at home where they can digest this with their families instead of rehash it at school...I mean, they'll do that anyway, but at least they'll have done it with their families first.
Finally, I got sick. It's just a cold, not the flu, but I honestly cannot remember the last time I've felt this gross. And since no one is in town and I don't have a boyfriend anymore, I can spend all day in bed, looking gross, and not having to go anywhere. I haven't been sleeping well because of being sick, so by yesterday I was exhausted when I got home from work. I went to bed about 9 a.m., and from then until about 6 this morning I have been in bed, with only small breaks for answering the phone (sometimes), going to the bathroom, taking medicine, and occasionally getting online for AIM, email, or facebook. And that's it! It's been a real break! All around! And it's not even Christmas yet!
I set up my first very own Christmas tree and did my shopping, and all my presents are wrapped and under my tree...and I'm so proud everytime I look at it! It's weird, for some reason I am the least excited for Christmas that I've ever been, and I don't know why. I am excited to go home, but I don't really feel like it's only a few days till Christmas, and I think it might be because every day at work just makes me feel like...every day is just another day. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, it's just that difference of not having a build-up. No Christmas show rehearsals, no finals, no packing and going home. I think that must be it. I have one day off to look forward to; Christmas Eve night/Christmas morning, and then on Christmas night I go back to the newsroom. Holidays come and go so fast because I don't get to relish them for days, just for hours. The only thing that gets me excited is Christmas shopping and wrapping presents. And looking forward to seeing the Christmas Show on TV!
Speaking of TV, here are my media picks of the moment:
TV...well, nothing is on TV right now thanks to the writers' strike, but here are some shows I started watching and hope to be caught up on by the time WGA lets Hollywood get back to business:
1. The Office -- I love Christopher Guest movies, and this is like if a Chris Guest movie were made into a TV show. I bought the first season on DVD, which to my disappointment only had six episodes...they must have really been counting on this one to fail! Which is understandable, considering the fact that it was based off of a British show of the same title. It's subte, dry, every-day humor and I love it. I am very much in love with the character Jim Halpert (who isn't?) as well as the Jim-Pam love story, or "JAM" as some fans call it. "The Office" never fails to cheer me up and give me stomach cramps.
2. Pushing Daisies -- I had seen the promos for this when the new TV season started, and it looked interesting, but I was busy enough watching "The Bachelor" on abc.com, so I didn't look into it. But I kept hearing my director obsess over it, so now that I've run out of other stuff to watch, I thought I'd give the show a look. I also found out that one of my favorite Broadway people, Kristen Chenoweth, is in it, so that was what really made me decide to check it out. I love it. It's like Tim Burton, Gilmore Girls, and CSI all rolled into one show! Every episode is like a little movie. It's whimsical, colorful, dark, and old-fashioned, with that rapid-fire wit of Gilmore Girls but finally in an atmosphere fitting of that writing style. And it's a murder mystery, so you just can't stop watching as every twist leads you to the next commercial break. Luckily, I was watching online and didn't have to sit through much of a commercial break! And Kristen Chenoweth even sings! The best part, too, is that when characters sing in this show, they just sort of naturally burst forth without needing an excuse to, and for this show, that works and makes sense. That's hard to do in a movie, let alone a tv show! More about that in the movie section...
Movies...
1. I rented "The Wendell Baker Story" from a redbox and it was really good. One of those movies that got totally missed by everyone, even though it was written and directed by the Wilson brothers (Luke, Andrew, and Owen -- actually Owen just acted in it). It was a quirky little story about a con man who decides to clean up his act after his shinannigans cost him his girl, his best friend, and some prison time. He goes to work in a retirement home where he finds out about the shady dealings of the owner and decides to help out, and make friends with, the hilarious senior citizen residents. The movie isn't flashy or over-the-top in any way, which is probably why it flew under the radar for the public, but to say it's worth the dollar it costs to rent it at a redbox vending machine for the night is an understatement.
2. High School Musical 2. Yes, I bought it. I am a sucker for this stuff. It's campy, cheesy, and not made for people my age...but I totally don't care. This is the part of me that never got past the age of 12: I love any show where singing and dancing is involved, and I love Ashley Tisdale. This movie was even better than the first one because there were much more songs, especially big group numbers, and the dancing was a lot more complicated. Also, this had more of a musical feel to it because more of the songs came out of the storyline and happened "spontaneously," whereas in the first movie most of the music was explained by an audition or even kareaoke. I am one of those people who wish life was a musical, and in that musical, the singing and dancing tells the story, everyone already knows the words, and uniform dance moves happen not because someone taught it that way, but because everyone was feeling the same emotion, which led them to move as one. Of course! So I respond better to a show where the songs seem to kind of just happen, rather than be rationalized. Because it's less realistic! Makes perfect sense, right?
Ok, that's all I have for now. Time to find something to eat and start cleaning up my "sick person" mess around the house!
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