What Would You Do?-ABC Fridays at 9:00 p.m.
This show totally hooks me every time I happen by it on the dial. The premise is not a new one, but the questions and concerns that it brings up are culturally relevant and emotion tugging. The show sets up fictional scenarios, which are based on real life phenomenon, using actors. I enjoy the show, because of the sheer variety of situations, from somewhat humorous to downright appalling. One week, the show profiles: a drunk girl being taken advantage of by a strange male, public bike theft (does it matter who the thief is?), a cashier stealing lottery winnings, and shoppers being racially profiled. It shocks me how few people do the right thing. ABC also goes the extra mile to rope in viewers, yes I'm one of them, by bringing in the human connection of real people who have been affected by the same situations that are be re-enacted on the show. Some of the stories that hit my emotions the most are the ones about hate crimes and racial profiling. Every time I watch, I hope that I am the kind of person who would do the right thing, however the show does make a viewer, such as myself, regret times I didn't speak up.
New Favorite youtube Videos:
I would like to thank facebook and my oh so considerate friends for keeping me up to date by status updates and email to the newest and funniest youtube videos! It's still officially summer vacation for me, so I'm no exactly having any long or stressful days, but for those of you who work, funny youtube videos can be the secret to some much needed laughs. The first video was actually introduced to me in person by a dear old friend; it is beyond hilarious! I will not waste time telling you why this video is wonderful, because you only have to watch it to know. The creator of the video has also posted a number of other literal videos for other songs on his/her YouTube Page and I enjoyed Penny Lane, Hero, and One Week, but they didn't quite live up to the outstanding quality of Total Eclipse. The video for Total Eclipse is already so trippy to begin with and also the creator matches the new audio perfectly; just writing this post is making me want to watch it again!
Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video
Hipster Olympics:
Wasted Guy vs Flip Flop
Big Love-HB0. Season five has been ordered, but the air date is forth coming. You can watch seasons 1-4 on Surf the Channel.
The acting and the crazy twists and turns are what keep me coming back to this show. I have been watching Big Love since the beginning and continue to tune in even without HBO. The seasons of this show are short, so each episode packs a big punch and it is very difficult to guess what is coming next. This show helped me to discover my love of dramadies (dramatic comedies) about very unique families with ordinary problems. I also like the show, because there are clear villains, but over time the audience comes to understand and start routing for them. There are no sexual lines drawn in the show either, which is also exciting. The viewer never knows if a son will fall for a sister-wife/mother or if the prophet's wife will end up wed to her daughter's ex-husband. Bill Paxton has been in my heart since I saw Titanic five times in the theater and he shines in Big Love as a well-meaning, but flawed and self-serving husband of three wives. Chloe Sevigny, the second wife of Bill Paxton's character, can do no wrong in my mind ever since her haunting performance in Boys Don't Cry and her follow-up guess spot on Will and Grace. I could go on and on about the merits of the stars and guest-stars of this show, however you must watch to truly understand.
Thank you to one of my favorite old friends for turning me on to this hilariously weird show. Tara is a housewife, mother of two teenagers, married to the delicious John Corbett, and has multiple personalities; this show is a recipe for fun! Tara fits right into one of my favorite television genres: extremely extra-ordinary families (gypsies, polygamists, etc.) that ironically have very normal familial problems. The acting in Tara, much like in another one of my favorites Big Love, is top notch with a perfect combination of humor and drama. Toni Collette, who plays Tara, is as always fabulous, but the new comer supporting cast is really what makes the show shine. This show is also easy to watch, because it's only a half-an-hour long, in fact, I watched seven episodes in one sitting. It will hook you too just wait and see!
White Collar-Tuesdays @ 9:00 p.m. on the USA network
Before beginning my thoughts on White Collar, I will admit a couple of things: I have only seen one episode and I only watched it in the first place because of guest star Hilarie Burton. For those of you who are not teen angst drama t.v. lovers like myself, Hilarie Burton use to star on the CW's One Tree Hill and she also has a semi-secret love child with Jeffrey Dean Morgan. This being said, however, I very much enjoyed the show and not just because star, Matt Bomer, who plays criminal turned FBI aid Neal Caffrey, has beautiful soul searching eyes and a hot body to match. The show was a hit for me right off, because it is, without being unintelligent, a mental and emotional break from the other "blue-collar" horrific crime-filled dramas. The criminals in White Collar steal jewels, paintings, and bonds, they do not rape and murder small children. White Collar is serialized, however, the dynamics between the characters are pretty easy to pick up on. I especially liked the father/son bond and angst that Neal Caffrey has with FBI agent Peter Burke. This show has hooked me and I will definitely be watching all of season one and the first episodes of season two. I also look forward to seeing one of my 90210, the original, throw-backs, Tiffani Thiessen, in action.
Undercover Karaoke
Browsing the internet early in the late at night/early in the morning has really paid off for me this time. I was actually doing some research for Work the City, see how I never rest in my quest to bring my readers the best! It started when I was checking out one of Time's Overrated Blogs, which was of course PerezHilton, which I'll admit I have frequented in ill-begotten moments of the past, but it really has been a long time since I've been there. I have to agree with Time's review of Perez and his site; it's mostly outdated, badly researched, toilet humor news and commentary. I did, however, get the great above video tip and website from Hilton, so that brought him up a few notches in my book. There are many reasons why I loved Undercover Karaoke with Jewel, but I will name just a few here: karaoke is fabulous, karaoke crowds like the one in the video are even more fabulous, I am one of the people who knows every word to Jewel's classic songs and this really brought me back, Jewel looks so cute with a big fake nose, and there are some great comments in the video, like: "It doesn't matter what you look like, with a voice like that you're gonna get laid!" Jewel's Pieces of You album is one of the first c.d's I ever bought, this was before I even had my own c.d player, so I had to listen to it in my parents' dining room. I love Jewel, but I also enjoy a good spoof, so take a look at what Madtv came up with. This video was also beneficial, because it reminded me of a NYC karaoke dive bar that I love: Iggy's! The reason I love Iggy's is because it's a total dive bar that offers the total karaoke experience without the long waits and pretentious "I'm a professional singer" people that more glitzy and popular places have. I stumbled upon Iggy's when I was searching for the perfect location for my 2-you don't really have to know birthday. The bar area at Iggy's is very cramped, but they have a big open dance floor, a stage for singing, and banquets and stools for the audience. I found the staff very friendly and my friends and I had a blast when we got there early and had the place basically to ourselves! Karaoke doesn't start until 8:00 p.m., unless you call ahead and request it at the bar before that. Iggy's offers private parties, but it really isn't necessary if you come early; it didn't start filling up until at least 10 p.m. Sadly, it will cost you $2 a song to belt out your favorites, but if it's your birthday you might get treated! Drinks were pretty cheap, although, be aware there is a $20 minimum on credit cards after 8 p.m. The d.j at this bar made the experience even better with her intermittent singing, her voice was good, and upbeat energy. All and all, I would say Iggy's is a top notch karaoke experience for a laid-back person like myself.
The Real World New Orleans
Tonight for no reason except that it happened to be on before Top Chef, I decided to watch the season premiere of the newest Real World. Watching this show again, it's been awhile for me, reminded me of two things: 1. This show is sleezy as the day is long 2. This show can be extremely entertaining. I have in the past sung Real Word's praises, as it is the mother of reality shows and it was doing its thing way before the likes of Survivor, The Bachelor, More to Love, and Beauty and the Geek. However, I have also been heard to say that the producers of this show have some serious morality issues, illustrated by their repeated casting of mentally unstable people, as well as combative individuals likely to get in violent altercations. I am not psychiatrist, but it seems out of line to intentionally put volatile people together just to create drama for viewer friendly t.v. One reason why I have decided to overlook my concerns about the show is because I now have a personal connection to the show, because I have met Paula from Real World San Diego. You might remember her as, wait for it, a mentally unstable former bulimic and self-mutilator. Here's how the encounter went down: some friends and I were out in midtown, minding our own business when our waitress at the bar just happened to be Paula. No one wanted to believe me at first, but my celebrity recognition skills are spot on. Paula tried to play it cool and I'm not going to lie when I tell you that she was a very bad waitress. My friend was even bold enough to get her autograph by saying: "Paula, we're big fans; don't try to pretend we know who you are."
The first five minutes of this years Real World already sent up red flags for me when it introduced former drug addict Ryan Knight, who goes by Knight. Knight was addicted to prescription drugs only months ago and his therapist is shown on camera saying that she has reservations about him being on the show. The second person that we met is Jemmye ("like a boy"), but she is not at all like a guy. Jemmye is exactly what Real World looks for in casting every single time: hot, flamboyant, loose, and ready to fight! Jemmye also comes with the added bonus of an incredibly thick southern accent. In the first episode there was a full on multiple member fight, which gave us viewers a pretty good idea of what we're in for this season. Jemmye was described by Preston: "She looks like a stripper." Some of Jemmye early lines: "I just want beads!" "I'm looking forward to doing crazy shit with crazy people" "Give it to me I'll suck it!" Preston was my early favorite, the lovable requisite gay guy. Real World has come so far as to make it entirely obvious to the audience that there will be a gay person in every season, so that now cast members seem unsurprised when they find out who it is. I am still standing by Preston, however he was part of the first night fight. The other member of this fight was Ryan, the straight hair dresser. Ryan is what I might describe as severely emotive and extremely annoying. Right off the bat he decides that he doesn't want to room with Knight, because, "who introduces themselves as Knight?" Ryan succeeds in brokering a deal with Ashley ("big lips"), so that she'll room with Knight and after the plan is set he says, "Let's go get that meat head!" I could not make this stuff up! So to close, Preston and Ryan got into it over something pointless that had to do with Ryan not getting any with roommate Kenzie. Later in the evening, clad only in bra and panties, Jemmye got in on the action. At the end of it all, I have decided that my sleeper pick is Eric, because he's straight, very sexy, has a brother, AND he said the best line of the evening: "Bourbon street is just like where God goes to get beer."
Comedy Central Presents
Every time I stumble upon Comedy Central Presents, I discover a new great comedian. These guys are never wrong when it comes to picking comedians to present!
I recently caught Eliot Chang and an hour of laughs ensued. Eliot took on sex, race, and social networking and it was all good.
Just a taste: "You know who loves facebook are pretty women. Pretty women who don't have interesting jobs facebook is their red carpet. Pages of pictures of them posing for paparazzi that aren't there. Updating your facebook status all the time is very dangerous, because if you wanted to stalk someone this would be a really easy way to do it."
"You know how I know that a woman's ass is really hot when I loose control of the volume of my inner voice. I don't care if I ever meet her; I'm just happy she exists; she makes the world a better place. But if she turns around and she's ugly, I feel betrayed. You are a liar ass!"
