I watched America's Next Top Model this season.
I know. I know.
Haven't watched it in years (and to think that, 3.5 years ago, in the first year of the CW's existence, I was talking about it with EPs on job interviews... because they watched, too).
The change in the prizes definitely made me interested again. I seem to have been the only one, as the ratings for this cycle continued the downward trend ANTM has been on since Cycle 9. The show retained some of the cattiness of prior seasons, but some of the outright silliness was stripped away... which was a good thing. For me, anyway. I don't think the models were outright "better" this cycle than those I remembered back when I was watching regularly (hell, in the finale, both finalists were criticized for their runway walks). But seeing actually well-known photographers and designers was an improvement. I'd be back for another "elevated" season if they did one. After all... there's nothing really going on at 8pm on Wednesdays for me (I've never been a Survivor watcher and I only watch The Middle when people have told me about a particularly good episode).
I seem to have an addiction to fashion-based TV. Despite the changes since the move to Bunim/Murray and Lifetime, I'm still watching Project Runway (no, I will not opine about this season's finale... except to say that the casting process really needs to step it up and find contestant who are both interesting personalities and capable designers... it can't be that hard, can it?)
I'm actually loving this season of The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection. It was a PR knockoff in the first season and Kelly Rowland was snooze-worthy as a host. But Iman is pure gold (especially if one takes the Tom and Lorenzo approach of picturing every line she utters as if said by a supervillainess... which isn't a stretch by any means) and they figured out a way to cover up potential lulls in the drama by making every week a team challenge (which tend to be Project Runway's most "dramatic" episodes). The designs aren't anything groundbreaking, but they've found a few interesting characters. Anyone else watching? I realize, based on the cellar-dweller ratings, you may not be. With the networks going into rerun mode / winter hibernation, you should take an hour to check it out.
Currently putting together a small blog on last night's Top Chef All-Stars premiere. Look for it later today :D
Showing posts with label Project Runway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Project Runway. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursday, October 9, 2008
It's all wrong.
ANTM: Wrong! Lauren Brie? Really? She of the "Top 5 ANTM Photos Ever"? Gone with SEVEN GIRLS REMAINING? She didn't have much of a big personality... but whatever! I mean, really, of working high fashion models, how many really have "signature" walks and poses? Hm? Sheena isn't going much of anywhere in the fashion world until someone pays for her augmented breasts to get removed. Anyway.
Project Runway: Wrong! Or at least sorta wrong. We don't get a great look at the collections in the first part of the finale, but the glimpses we saw, I really wish Jerrell had made it to the official section of Bryant Park (he obviously still showed his collection). What glimpses we got had that regal, colorful, shiny, assymetrical flair. I just don't see Korto's collection winning in anything resembling the state we saw some of the pieces (which was the furthest from the designers returning to NYC, so who knows). That wedding dress was bad. Anyway, based on the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, Leanne and Kenley totally deserved to show their collections, so... sorta wrong. But, y'know, I loved a lot of Korto's designs, so whatevs, all bets off. Unfortunately for all of them, nothing is gonna stand up to Christian Siriano's collection.
South Park: Wrong! Because it's so right. Even though the show has already riffed on Speilberg and Lucas for their changing and remastering of their classic films (6 years ago in "Free Hat"), this episode was right on the money with the B-plot repressed memory most of the characters had of Indiana Jones getting raped by the two directors during Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Seriously. Cartman/Butters A-plot of Cartman having nightmares about the Chinese Olympics opening ceremonies and the Chinese taking over the world. ROFL.
Pushing Daisies: Wrong... because I think it's time to start getting detached from this whimsical, nonsensical, colorful mess. It will probably be 5th place in the timeslot in A18-49, and by November it might be behind ANTM in viewers (okay, that's a stretch... but who knows! After all, this is a world where Heroes is so bad - and it is - that it's tying HIMYM in the demo on Mondays... OMG Heroes is so bad...)
Project Runway: Wrong! Or at least sorta wrong. We don't get a great look at the collections in the first part of the finale, but the glimpses we saw, I really wish Jerrell had made it to the official section of Bryant Park (he obviously still showed his collection). What glimpses we got had that regal, colorful, shiny, assymetrical flair. I just don't see Korto's collection winning in anything resembling the state we saw some of the pieces (which was the furthest from the designers returning to NYC, so who knows). That wedding dress was bad. Anyway, based on the wedding gown and bridesmaid dresses, Leanne and Kenley totally deserved to show their collections, so... sorta wrong. But, y'know, I loved a lot of Korto's designs, so whatevs, all bets off. Unfortunately for all of them, nothing is gonna stand up to Christian Siriano's collection.
South Park: Wrong! Because it's so right. Even though the show has already riffed on Speilberg and Lucas for their changing and remastering of their classic films (6 years ago in "Free Hat"), this episode was right on the money with the B-plot repressed memory most of the characters had of Indiana Jones getting raped by the two directors during Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Seriously. Cartman/Butters A-plot of Cartman having nightmares about the Chinese Olympics opening ceremonies and the Chinese taking over the world. ROFL.
Pushing Daisies: Wrong... because I think it's time to start getting detached from this whimsical, nonsensical, colorful mess. It will probably be 5th place in the timeslot in A18-49, and by November it might be behind ANTM in viewers (okay, that's a stretch... but who knows! After all, this is a world where Heroes is so bad - and it is - that it's tying HIMYM in the demo on Mondays... OMG Heroes is so bad...)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Return of the Fug
So... I'm behind in TV. I haven't watched Tuesday's The Shield yet. And probs won't get to tonight's Bones until tomorrow or perhaps the weekend (hey, the Gormogon plotline was the main thing that changed that show from being "save of the weekend" TV to "must see same day" TV... and that ended disastrously... though I am really invested in Booth/Bones and the long-arc plot with Bones' family).
But some things take precedence! And sadly they're all reality TV. Sorry, but nothing scripted has the same urgency as not being spoiled on eliminated aspiring models and designers! And, um, that kills me as a writer...
Anyway. The Project Runway challenge is create an avant garde look based on one of the pair of designers' zodiac signs. But the competing designers are paired with the eliminated designers.
And Stella and Blayne are put together. In the words of the promo'd Heidi clip... "Ooooh, that's bad."
The only thing worse would be if Blayne, Stella, and Suede were put on a team together. It would be a neverending string of incessant catchphrasing evil.
Nothing that comes out of this group of designers comes close to touching Team Fierce's avant garde design(s) last season.
I agree with the judges on Blayne, and I know that the show says "one week you're in, the next you're out"... but Terri leaving instead of Suede? There has to be some room for consistently good work (and terrible teammates).
Also I had drinks with someone this morning who told me that the tranny was eliminated this week on ANTM (some interview she said she heard on Today or something) so I was super happy to see that Isis escaped from the bottom two and remains in the game.
But some things take precedence! And sadly they're all reality TV. Sorry, but nothing scripted has the same urgency as not being spoiled on eliminated aspiring models and designers! And, um, that kills me as a writer...
Anyway. The Project Runway challenge is create an avant garde look based on one of the pair of designers' zodiac signs. But the competing designers are paired with the eliminated designers.
And Stella and Blayne are put together. In the words of the promo'd Heidi clip... "Ooooh, that's bad."
The only thing worse would be if Blayne, Stella, and Suede were put on a team together. It would be a neverending string of incessant catchphrasing evil.
Nothing that comes out of this group of designers comes close to touching Team Fierce's avant garde design(s) last season.
I agree with the judges on Blayne, and I know that the show says "one week you're in, the next you're out"... but Terri leaving instead of Suede? There has to be some room for consistently good work (and terrible teammates).
Also I had drinks with someone this morning who told me that the tranny was eliminated this week on ANTM (some interview she said she heard on Today or something) so I was super happy to see that Isis escaped from the bottom two and remains in the game.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Ugh
We are two episodes into Project Runway and I'm 1/3 of the way through the third episode.
And. I. Want. To. Kill. Suede.
And then I sorta want to kill Blayne.
But Suede first. The first time he talked about himself in the third person it was annoying. I think we're up to number 70?
And I'm started to get homicidal towards Stella. But because she's complain-y-annoying, not, like, annoying-annoying.
Tonight was the night of a hundred failed catchphrases.
- "If they don't like it, they can get the fuck outta here."
- "Holla atcha boy."
- "-licious."
- "Suede."
Jennifer's garment mades her model look old and fat/pregnant. Those sleeves are awful. I bet she's out. Unless Emily is out for being too blah. I think there's too much work in Keith's for him to go. Give him a slap on the wrist for not editing like you that gave Leanne last week.
And. I. Want. To. Kill. Suede.
And then I sorta want to kill Blayne.
But Suede first. The first time he talked about himself in the third person it was annoying. I think we're up to number 70?
And I'm started to get homicidal towards Stella. But because she's complain-y-annoying, not, like, annoying-annoying.
Tonight was the night of a hundred failed catchphrases.
- "If they don't like it, they can get the fuck outta here."
- "Holla atcha boy."
- "-licious."
- "Suede."
Jennifer's garment mades her model look old and fat/pregnant. Those sleeves are awful. I bet she's out. Unless Emily is out for being too blah. I think there's too much work in Keith's for him to go. Give him a slap on the wrist for not editing like you that gave Leanne last week.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Brava
Well, it looks like Bravo's attempt to lay Project Runway off worked... ish. Here are the premiere numbers.
- 1.9/3 households
- 1.4/4 A18-49
- 2.915 million viewers
While not at, er, girlicious... fierce... whatever... While not as good as last season's premiere, given the fact that the cable network didn't promote the show to the extent to which it has in the past, these are good results.
Plus, it gave Shear Genius a boost, which is ultimately far more important to Bravo now that PR is headed for different pastures:
Shear Genius (versus last week)
- 1.5/3 households (vs. 0.9/2)
- 1.0/3 A18-49 (vs. 0.6/2)
- 2.164 million viewers (vs. 1.159)
ETA: It's come to my attention (read: TVGuide.com is reporting) that this is the best PR premiere rating, not lower than last season's. I swear I recall PR4 getting in the 3 millions for viewers... but upon research into the bowels of PIFeedback.com, it turns out that PR5 did do the following compared to PR4:
- equal households (1.9/3)
- slightly worse A18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.5/4)
- slightly better viewers (2.915 million vs. 2.890 million)
So... considering the relative lack of promotion, this is a complete victory for Bravo.
- 1.9/3 households
- 1.4/4 A18-49
- 2.915 million viewers
While not at, er, girlicious... fierce... whatever... While not as good as last season's premiere, given the fact that the cable network didn't promote the show to the extent to which it has in the past, these are good results.
Plus, it gave Shear Genius a boost, which is ultimately far more important to Bravo now that PR is headed for different pastures:
Shear Genius (versus last week)
- 1.5/3 households (vs. 0.9/2)
- 1.0/3 A18-49 (vs. 0.6/2)
- 2.164 million viewers (vs. 1.159)
ETA: It's come to my attention (read: TVGuide.com is reporting) that this is the best PR premiere rating, not lower than last season's. I swear I recall PR4 getting in the 3 millions for viewers... but upon research into the bowels of PIFeedback.com, it turns out that PR5 did do the following compared to PR4:
- equal households (1.9/3)
- slightly worse A18-49 (1.4/4 vs. 1.5/4)
- slightly better viewers (2.915 million vs. 2.890 million)
So... considering the relative lack of promotion, this is a complete victory for Bravo.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Fierce Bitches
So pleased with the outcome of Project Runway (though I wish the person who came in third had come in second because I believe that collection was better... but obviously I'm not qualified like those judges!)
Top 8 Women on Idol:
Asia'h: Forgettable.
Kady: I thought she was flat throughout much of the song.
Amanda: Girl brought it.
Carly: Agree with Simon, she's better than that song, she hasn't found the right song choice to get her "wow" moment yet.
Kristy: Liked the country twang, but I thought she was off pitch for a lot of the song, too.
Ramiele: Back to ballads. Good for her. This girl has great tone and control, and could've easily oversung that song, but didn't.
Brooke: Her embarrassing moment was hilarious. And, y'know? She does well with these stripped down performances. This "Love Is A Battlefield" rendition is really different. I repeat that this girl will have a great career on the indie/alternative circuit as a singer/songwriter.
Syesha: This, I think, was oversinging.
Paula remains off her meds. Or... what are they putting in her Coca-Cola?
Bottom 2: Kady and either Kristy or Asia'h.
Top 8 Women on Idol:
Asia'h: Forgettable.
Kady: I thought she was flat throughout much of the song.
Amanda: Girl brought it.
Carly: Agree with Simon, she's better than that song, she hasn't found the right song choice to get her "wow" moment yet.
Kristy: Liked the country twang, but I thought she was off pitch for a lot of the song, too.
Ramiele: Back to ballads. Good for her. This girl has great tone and control, and could've easily oversung that song, but didn't.
Brooke: Her embarrassing moment was hilarious. And, y'know? She does well with these stripped down performances. This "Love Is A Battlefield" rendition is really different. I repeat that this girl will have a great career on the indie/alternative circuit as a singer/songwriter.
Syesha: This, I think, was oversinging.
Paula remains off her meds. Or... what are they putting in her Coca-Cola?
Bottom 2: Kady and either Kristy or Asia'h.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Top 10 Women (also other reality shows on Wednesday, because that's all that is on, apparently)
Carly Smithson: Better than last week, and I thought she was among the best last week. It only is going to get better from her.
Syesha Mercado: Baby cry = freaky! Man, I wish this girl busted out so funky disco stuff. Am I the only one who thinks that there was disco music in this decade? Pretty boring arrangement, IMHO.
Brooke White: Love that she played the guitar (recall, she also played the keyboard during Hollywood Week). Her "You're So Vain" is simple. Very Carly Simon/Sheryl Crow, to be honest. And since Brooke doesn't have (or hasn't exhibited) the powerful voice that Carly and Syesha have (but don't always use), I think it's wise to get a little more alternative. And the judges dig the performance and the song choice. Brava, Brooke.
Ramiele Malubay: I'm not surprised that she Polynesian danced when she was young. OMG, FINALLY some disco fun. The song got a bit away from her, but Ramiele found it again. I'd say 80% of it is awesome. This is actually the song I wanted Syesha to sing. Maybe I'm on the wrong page about the '70s (or at least a different one than the judges)... because I want more disco! Ramiele is totally safe, though.
Kristy Lee Cook: She needs to do much, much better than last week (no flu excuse to fall back on). Good lord, she's rocking the outfit this week. I feel like this performance is right in line with the song at the beginning, though... no good. It's much better than last week, though. She needs to break out the expressive vocals and range that she showed in her auditions. Randy's right, there was no moment in the song. Simon advises the country route... hm, what will Alaina Whitaker (aka "Carrie Underwood looks like me") think of that? She seems like more of a pop singer to me... shrug.
Amanda Overmyer: Okay, I like this girl... but she needs to prove her voice outside of the rock edge. See the softer side of, um, well, not Sears, but you get it. Hm, I wonder what Supernatural fans will think of her "Carry On My Wayward Son"? She's pitchy and flat in places... sounds a bit hoarse. I bet "karaoke" is used by the judges. Once again, though, her pants are FABulous. Simon is totally wrong about the pants. I hope Amanda stays, but it's a pretty talented female pool this season (not reaching the heights of the best Idol women, but it's a well above average group). But no one said karaoke. I lose.
Alaina Whitaker: Hahah, I <3 her food quirk (foods can't touch each other on her plate). Her performance starts too old fashioned for her age. About halfway through, she breaks out into... something off-pitch. A bad performance. A bad song choice. A bad arrangement (too slow... I wonder what that song sounds like peppy). Simon totally pegs the old fashioned element. And there's some entertaining "ask Ryan about fashion" banter.
Alexandréa Lushington: That is just a weird name. I don't lie the hoodie-vest on her. Or her hair this week. Or the shorts. And the song... not good for her. She's gone.
Kady Malloy: Enough with the Britney impressions. I mean... she's got to find her own voice, reminding us how well she can do Brit's is not good (for her)! She takes a pot shot at Simon. Better follow that up with a killer performance. I don't know what song this is to start off with, but it's pretty boring. And Kady's singing is fighting with the backup and the band. There was no opera present in this song. Maybe she should've chosen a song to incorporate her, uh, singing ability? I think she's probably a goner, too.
Asia'h Epperson: A very dour performance from Asia'h, and such a contrast to her video package that was like "you gotta be fun and bring the energy" etc. Once she hits the refrain she starts to power belt and gets lost in the notes. Oh, Randy says she's sick. It was not great, Paula. The ending she got... but the rest of it she missed. Simon is right, she shouldn't have chosen a song so out of her reach (witness, Brooke White singing a song without a huge range, but hitting it out of the park).
Bottom 2: Gotta be Alexandréa and Kady for me. Amanda could be in the danger zone, too.
Is it too soon to predict the final four? Through the auditions, Hollywood, and these two performance weeks, I'm at:
- David Archuleta
- Carly Smithson
- Syesha Mercado
- Ramiele Mulabay
I'd be really interested in a David vs. Carly finale.
Meanwhile, after tonight I think Brooke White could be a fantastic addition to the Sheryl Crow/Michelle Branch brand of mellow alternative "chick with a guitar" music.
Top Model: Um... Kim? The wha~!? Also, how prescient it was of the show to bring 14 models and have one walk out and then be able to eliminate one, bringing the show down to 12! That's like some series Magic 8 Ball hocus pocus form the producers. Next week... MAKEOVERS! My viewing buddy and I have a phrase we chant during the makeover show... SHAVE THAT BITCH'S HEAD! We're pulling for Marvita to get her 'hawk hedged. But we think Fatima might look good with the bald look, too. Marvita will be far more entertaining about it, though (er, for the sadistic viewing audience). I'm liking Paulina as a judge. She has opinions! And was actually kind of advice-giving and helpful!
Project Runway: Shut. Up. No f***ing way were Rami's three pieces better than Chris' three pieces! Ugh. I'm so annoyed right now. SO ANNOYED. Was it the "human hair" (record scratch SFX) fringing? Whatever, Jillian and Christian (OMG, he lives/sleeps/works in the tiniest room evar) are going to wipe the floor with Rami and his oversized, kitchen-sink design element blue coat. And that "dramatic" gown thing made out of god-knows-what... it fit the model TERRIBLY. I was so bothered by the bodice and those hip circle protrusion things.
Syesha Mercado: Baby cry = freaky! Man, I wish this girl busted out so funky disco stuff. Am I the only one who thinks that there was disco music in this decade? Pretty boring arrangement, IMHO.
Brooke White: Love that she played the guitar (recall, she also played the keyboard during Hollywood Week). Her "You're So Vain" is simple. Very Carly Simon/Sheryl Crow, to be honest. And since Brooke doesn't have (or hasn't exhibited) the powerful voice that Carly and Syesha have (but don't always use), I think it's wise to get a little more alternative. And the judges dig the performance and the song choice. Brava, Brooke.
Ramiele Malubay: I'm not surprised that she Polynesian danced when she was young. OMG, FINALLY some disco fun. The song got a bit away from her, but Ramiele found it again. I'd say 80% of it is awesome. This is actually the song I wanted Syesha to sing. Maybe I'm on the wrong page about the '70s (or at least a different one than the judges)... because I want more disco! Ramiele is totally safe, though.
Kristy Lee Cook: She needs to do much, much better than last week (no flu excuse to fall back on). Good lord, she's rocking the outfit this week. I feel like this performance is right in line with the song at the beginning, though... no good. It's much better than last week, though. She needs to break out the expressive vocals and range that she showed in her auditions. Randy's right, there was no moment in the song. Simon advises the country route... hm, what will Alaina Whitaker (aka "Carrie Underwood looks like me") think of that? She seems like more of a pop singer to me... shrug.
Amanda Overmyer: Okay, I like this girl... but she needs to prove her voice outside of the rock edge. See the softer side of, um, well, not Sears, but you get it. Hm, I wonder what Supernatural fans will think of her "Carry On My Wayward Son"? She's pitchy and flat in places... sounds a bit hoarse. I bet "karaoke" is used by the judges. Once again, though, her pants are FABulous. Simon is totally wrong about the pants. I hope Amanda stays, but it's a pretty talented female pool this season (not reaching the heights of the best Idol women, but it's a well above average group). But no one said karaoke. I lose.
Alaina Whitaker: Hahah, I <3 her food quirk (foods can't touch each other on her plate). Her performance starts too old fashioned for her age. About halfway through, she breaks out into... something off-pitch. A bad performance. A bad song choice. A bad arrangement (too slow... I wonder what that song sounds like peppy). Simon totally pegs the old fashioned element. And there's some entertaining "ask Ryan about fashion" banter.
Alexandréa Lushington: That is just a weird name. I don't lie the hoodie-vest on her. Or her hair this week. Or the shorts. And the song... not good for her. She's gone.
Kady Malloy: Enough with the Britney impressions. I mean... she's got to find her own voice, reminding us how well she can do Brit's is not good (for her)! She takes a pot shot at Simon. Better follow that up with a killer performance. I don't know what song this is to start off with, but it's pretty boring. And Kady's singing is fighting with the backup and the band. There was no opera present in this song. Maybe she should've chosen a song to incorporate her, uh, singing ability? I think she's probably a goner, too.
Asia'h Epperson: A very dour performance from Asia'h, and such a contrast to her video package that was like "you gotta be fun and bring the energy" etc. Once she hits the refrain she starts to power belt and gets lost in the notes. Oh, Randy says she's sick. It was not great, Paula. The ending she got... but the rest of it she missed. Simon is right, she shouldn't have chosen a song so out of her reach (witness, Brooke White singing a song without a huge range, but hitting it out of the park).
Bottom 2: Gotta be Alexandréa and Kady for me. Amanda could be in the danger zone, too.
Is it too soon to predict the final four? Through the auditions, Hollywood, and these two performance weeks, I'm at:
- David Archuleta
- Carly Smithson
- Syesha Mercado
- Ramiele Mulabay
I'd be really interested in a David vs. Carly finale.
Meanwhile, after tonight I think Brooke White could be a fantastic addition to the Sheryl Crow/Michelle Branch brand of mellow alternative "chick with a guitar" music.
Top Model: Um... Kim? The wha~!? Also, how prescient it was of the show to bring 14 models and have one walk out and then be able to eliminate one, bringing the show down to 12! That's like some series Magic 8 Ball hocus pocus form the producers. Next week... MAKEOVERS! My viewing buddy and I have a phrase we chant during the makeover show... SHAVE THAT BITCH'S HEAD! We're pulling for Marvita to get her 'hawk hedged. But we think Fatima might look good with the bald look, too. Marvita will be far more entertaining about it, though (er, for the sadistic viewing audience). I'm liking Paulina as a judge. She has opinions! And was actually kind of advice-giving and helpful!
Project Runway: Shut. Up. No f***ing way were Rami's three pieces better than Chris' three pieces! Ugh. I'm so annoyed right now. SO ANNOYED. Was it the "human hair" (record scratch SFX) fringing? Whatever, Jillian and Christian (OMG, he lives/sleeps/works in the tiniest room evar) are going to wipe the floor with Rami and his oversized, kitchen-sink design element blue coat. And that "dramatic" gown thing made out of god-knows-what... it fit the model TERRIBLY. I was so bothered by the bodice and those hip circle protrusion things.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday Night TV
American Idol: Damn you, FOUR MINUTES OF OVERRUN. Seriously, that's just unacceptable. At least have the programming department tell the EPGs that it's going to run over. I was planning to leave the apartment at 9pm, so I started watching around 8:15pm. Anyway... WTF so many people in the Top 24 that I don't think I've seen their names before, much less heard ANY audition from them? Ever? Not in the audition phase, not throughout Hollywood Week. Doesn't seem to gel with the "build contestant stories more" mandate. Plus it makes it impossible to think about who is going to make the Top 12... because I haven't heard note one from almost half the contestants. Anyway... hopefully both Josiah and Cardin will be back for Idol 8. Oh, and please, never subject me to another opening like tonight's with Fox plugging 20th Century's Jumper. Although, hilarious tangent, I'm not sure who looked more uncomfortable and did a worse job acting/shilling: Hayden Christensen or Ryan Seacrest. Frightening.
Project Runway: Really, Rami? REALLY? Ugh, I'm so over his love of draping. And I'm so disappointed that he even has a chance to knock Chris March out of Bryant Park (as far as the competition is concerned, anyway). Ferosha Coutura was on fire. It would be anticlimactic for Christian to win in all... but I'm pretty sure he's going to. It's either him or Jillian, since whatever Chris busts out will probably be haute costume, but not couture, and if it's Rami, it's going the be MORE DRAPES. YAWN.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart/The Colbert Report: It's kinda insane how different (and better) these shows were now that the writers are back. I mean... night and freaking day.
Project Runway: Really, Rami? REALLY? Ugh, I'm so over his love of draping. And I'm so disappointed that he even has a chance to knock Chris March out of Bryant Park (as far as the competition is concerned, anyway). Ferosha Coutura was on fire. It would be anticlimactic for Christian to win in all... but I'm pretty sure he's going to. It's either him or Jillian, since whatever Chris busts out will probably be haute costume, but not couture, and if it's Rami, it's going the be MORE DRAPES. YAWN.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart/The Colbert Report: It's kinda insane how different (and better) these shows were now that the writers are back. I mean... night and freaking day.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Under the Weather
Been sick (damn you, catching the colds everyone else in LA got when it was raining), but I had to comment about Project Runway if only to say finally.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Playing Catch Up
Having now caught up on The Wire (through last Sunday's episode), what's really impressed me about the three episodes to far this season is the show's ability to service a truly astounding number of characters while connecting stories that chart back through the first season... plus seeming to bring the second season back into the fray! Beattie (Amy Ryan)! The Greek!
In that spirit, I must ask... where are Prez and Bunny?
Man, season four still brings tears to my eyes.
Ugh, I've spent much of the last few days in seclusion (a combination of attempting to finish work on some projects and strike-inspired antisocial...-ism? -ness?). Plus my ratings source was sick and thus I wasn't getting nationals, meaning nothing to report. Hopefully I'll be getting stuff on time (not to mention waking up on time), since I'll be posting the prelims at PIFeedback.com for Marc Berman while he's in NATPE (fingers crossed).
Moving on to this week's TV (bottom line: not enough to tide me over through a hopeful-May/probable-September). Seriously, I looked at what's scheduled to record for the next 10 days (most shows are in repeats/skips this week... how much can I not wait for Lost's return???) I'm this close to recording Lipstick Jungle on February 7th simply because it'll be on...
Anyway, I'll probably miss some stuff, so... forgive me?
Friday Night Lights: You know, I don't post thoughts on FNL enough. The 2008 string of episode have really been so back-in-form that I (sorta) haven't missed the football games. Nice to have volleyball and some good, fun Tyra action in this episode. And how much fun is Matt Czuchry as something other than a Huntzberger? Not sure how many episodes are left... wonder if we'll actually be able to see any real fallout from Smash not eating his episode-title-humble-pie. He apparently attended the Ben Silverman school of how to talk to journalists.
Chuck: What can really be said about these two episodes except... Chuck, I'll miss you most of all (now that you're out of episodes). Come back soon! Please?
Ugly Betty: Gene Simmons can't be Amanda's father. It's way too easy (although, very, very, very fun to have "It's Mandy, Bitch" rocking out with the IRS). Not that we should really put stock in what any TV psychic played by Annie Potts has to say, but she did say "the kiss will lead [Amanda] to [her] father." So... where was Gene taking our Mandy? I couldn't care less about what Wilhelmina's sister's secret is. And someone needs to remind the writers (when they return) that Betty has a family, and they used to have plots of their own.
Big Shots: It's over. I'm pretty sure I can delete it from my FauxVo/TiFaux's fake Season Pass.
Make Me A Supermodel: The reviewer at Zap2it.com misses the point of the show's title. The "Make" isn't about the judges creating a supermodel (and while there was no instruction in this episode, they did have runway sessions in the first two... they also had the good-to-know measurement system to track fitness). The "Make" is about the viewer vote. Though I do agree on the point that the show is too slow moving and we don't get a real look at the "characters" (as I noted last week, I get it because of the rush-job the show's post-production schedule requires... it would be too difficult to include non-task related stories from the time between putting wannamodels up for elimination and the elimination ceremony). Man, if Frankie (tres annoying, no?) were up for elimination this week, he'd be so very gone. I sincerely hope that Jay leaves this week because I like both Aryn (she is part of the hilarious extra-marital Ronnie/Ben/Aryn sandwich... oh, dear, I wonder what Ben's wife thinks...) and Holly (in the words of Roxette, she's got the look).
American Idol: Zzzzz. What a terrible week of auditions. "Limited" by the one-hour running time each night, the show failed to feature much real talent, and the "freak" portions weren't even that terribly funny (more of just terrible). Ordinarily I'd be really happy about Idol's ratings decline... but not so much this season (no, I don't have money on it... yet...) With Idol no longer breaking 30 million viewers, it points to really, really bad signs about broadcasting television in general. We're pretty much guaranteed a post-strike world were the networks act more like cable and ordering precious few pilots to series (ordering, perhaps, more scripts of pilot scripts they like before giving the series order) and far smaller writing staffs on shows (so, yay to being a baby writer). Though, perhaps, a new development system will help Hollywood inch closer to being a meritocracy instead of a place where the shit and the gold both float to the top (and you know it does in the current system). I'm getting away from myself here... and with my foot squarely secured in my mouth.
Project Runway: Oh, Ricky. You cry even when you're complimented. You should've been booted episodes ago. Anyway, do we hear me complaining about Victorya getting auf'd?
Nip/Tuck: What's really left to say about this show? I wasn't even aware the show had set this episode up as a "we're going to kill someone" episode. So the (I guess) fake-outs with Julia's illness only bothered me inasmuch as they were just... blech. Shame the bring Gina back for two episodes (and to only have her serve as a plot device to wedge in between Christian and Julia) and kill her. Although I was definitely surprised by it. And a bit put off by the over-black "This is love" echo.
In that spirit, I must ask... where are Prez and Bunny?
Man, season four still brings tears to my eyes.
Ugh, I've spent much of the last few days in seclusion (a combination of attempting to finish work on some projects and strike-inspired antisocial...-ism? -ness?). Plus my ratings source was sick and thus I wasn't getting nationals, meaning nothing to report. Hopefully I'll be getting stuff on time (not to mention waking up on time), since I'll be posting the prelims at PIFeedback.com for Marc Berman while he's in NATPE (fingers crossed).
Moving on to this week's TV (bottom line: not enough to tide me over through a hopeful-May/probable-September). Seriously, I looked at what's scheduled to record for the next 10 days (most shows are in repeats/skips this week... how much can I not wait for Lost's return???) I'm this close to recording Lipstick Jungle on February 7th simply because it'll be on...
Anyway, I'll probably miss some stuff, so... forgive me?
Friday Night Lights: You know, I don't post thoughts on FNL enough. The 2008 string of episode have really been so back-in-form that I (sorta) haven't missed the football games. Nice to have volleyball and some good, fun Tyra action in this episode. And how much fun is Matt Czuchry as something other than a Huntzberger? Not sure how many episodes are left... wonder if we'll actually be able to see any real fallout from Smash not eating his episode-title-humble-pie. He apparently attended the Ben Silverman school of how to talk to journalists.
Chuck: What can really be said about these two episodes except... Chuck, I'll miss you most of all (now that you're out of episodes). Come back soon! Please?
Ugly Betty: Gene Simmons can't be Amanda's father. It's way too easy (although, very, very, very fun to have "It's Mandy, Bitch" rocking out with the IRS). Not that we should really put stock in what any TV psychic played by Annie Potts has to say, but she did say "the kiss will lead [Amanda] to [her] father." So... where was Gene taking our Mandy? I couldn't care less about what Wilhelmina's sister's secret is. And someone needs to remind the writers (when they return) that Betty has a family, and they used to have plots of their own.
Big Shots: It's over. I'm pretty sure I can delete it from my FauxVo/TiFaux's fake Season Pass.
Make Me A Supermodel: The reviewer at Zap2it.com misses the point of the show's title. The "Make" isn't about the judges creating a supermodel (and while there was no instruction in this episode, they did have runway sessions in the first two... they also had the good-to-know measurement system to track fitness). The "Make" is about the viewer vote. Though I do agree on the point that the show is too slow moving and we don't get a real look at the "characters" (as I noted last week, I get it because of the rush-job the show's post-production schedule requires... it would be too difficult to include non-task related stories from the time between putting wannamodels up for elimination and the elimination ceremony). Man, if Frankie (tres annoying, no?) were up for elimination this week, he'd be so very gone. I sincerely hope that Jay leaves this week because I like both Aryn (she is part of the hilarious extra-marital Ronnie/Ben/Aryn sandwich... oh, dear, I wonder what Ben's wife thinks...) and Holly (in the words of Roxette, she's got the look).
American Idol: Zzzzz. What a terrible week of auditions. "Limited" by the one-hour running time each night, the show failed to feature much real talent, and the "freak" portions weren't even that terribly funny (more of just terrible). Ordinarily I'd be really happy about Idol's ratings decline... but not so much this season (no, I don't have money on it... yet...) With Idol no longer breaking 30 million viewers, it points to really, really bad signs about broadcasting television in general. We're pretty much guaranteed a post-strike world were the networks act more like cable and ordering precious few pilots to series (ordering, perhaps, more scripts of pilot scripts they like before giving the series order) and far smaller writing staffs on shows (so, yay to being a baby writer). Though, perhaps, a new development system will help Hollywood inch closer to being a meritocracy instead of a place where the shit and the gold both float to the top (and you know it does in the current system). I'm getting away from myself here... and with my foot squarely secured in my mouth.
Project Runway: Oh, Ricky. You cry even when you're complimented. You should've been booted episodes ago. Anyway, do we hear me complaining about Victorya getting auf'd?
Nip/Tuck: What's really left to say about this show? I wasn't even aware the show had set this episode up as a "we're going to kill someone" episode. So the (I guess) fake-outs with Julia's illness only bothered me inasmuch as they were just... blech. Shame the bring Gina back for two episodes (and to only have her serve as a plot device to wedge in between Christian and Julia) and kill her. Although I was definitely surprised by it. And a bit put off by the over-black "This is love" echo.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Pissed Auf
Okay... I have this to say about Project Runway: it is completely unfair that Ricky remains in the competition while Kit is eliminated. Yes, I know, the buck stops with her because she was team leader, but week after week, Ricky produces poorly constructed, poorly designed garments. Cut him loose already!
Meanwhile, I am totally on board with Team Fierce.
And I really have to question Victorya and Jillian, who constantly complain about stress and lack of time management skills, but still produce the work they wanted and that the judges clearly liked. You may think you don't have time management skills, but the truth is, you just create things that take a long time to get right and thus come together at the last minute so it seems like poor time management. If you can rock a pair of outfits like those out in 2 days... yeah, it's gonna be stressful. But you get the job done. Poor time management would be if you were caught by the camera crews lounging around and not working.
Meanwhile, I am totally on board with Team Fierce.
And I really have to question Victorya and Jillian, who constantly complain about stress and lack of time management skills, but still produce the work they wanted and that the judges clearly liked. You may think you don't have time management skills, but the truth is, you just create things that take a long time to get right and thus come together at the last minute so it seems like poor time management. If you can rock a pair of outfits like those out in 2 days... yeah, it's gonna be stressful. But you get the job done. Poor time management would be if you were caught by the camera crews lounging around and not working.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A Couple Thoughts
First off, Cashmere Mafia is a show that I am not recording, but am perfectly willing to go over to a friend's house and watch (especially now that Top Model / Gossip Girl Wednesday has been thrown to the lions... until Top Model returns anyway). It's not a good show. It's better than a terrible show. But I've no need to see it. Especially given the ratings, since it won't be coming back and I think they only got 7 episodes out of it, so I doubt there'll even be any resolution to the stories. I did enjoy the last scene in the episode, though, with Frances O'Connor's character pointedly telling Krista Allen's Juicy Couture-wearing housefrau to shut up ("I can't talk, I'm on a conference call", digging at the Create-A-Bear Allen's character had her kids make for her). I'm not invested in these characters or situations, though, and I find most of them to be completely ungrounded... but in a way that I don't care for.
Meanwhile, Gossip Girl had a very fun forced-finale. At least the producers were wise enough to craft thirteenth episode (the one that would be the last if the show hadn't gotten a full-season order... and now is the last thanks to the ongoing strike) that changes the game up a bit. The dethroning of Blair Waldorf was a sight to behold, though I have to say I'm a little disturbed the show decided to re-villainize Chuck. I understood his actions as far as "jealous, spurned ex-lover" go, but when Blair came to him towards the end of the episode and he said that he wasn't interested in her any longer because she was used goods... that sucked. They spent eleven episodes taking us from "Chuck is a rapist" to "Chuck is a manipulative, privileged jerk, but he's entertaining" and now all I can think about is "Chuck is a rapist". I liked that Dan's confession of why he loves Serena is what prompts Serena to go after Blair and stop her from repeating Serena's own history. Can't wait to see what happens next.
My recording of Project Runway recorded, but for whatever reason Bravo's clock doesn't match my television's, and I didn't see who got auf'd... Kevin or Christian (I later read that it was Kevin). There are 9 designers left and these two were in the bottom two? Based on raw talent, I'd never have expected that. But Kevin's dress was unfinished and heinous, and Christian did a bad thing by blaming his client instead of himself for not pushing hard enough to get the dress where it needed to be. Meanwhile, Ricky cried once. Why didn't he get auf'd? He is consistently terrible with his construction and that dress was a mess, not to mention bland and it washed his model out (although I guess on the flip side, Kevin's was just as bad with regards to color and his model's complexion). Sweet P should have won, that dress was beautiful and that girl is going to see it in her closet twenty years from now and it'll still be beautiful to her. I was surprised Chris wasn't in the Top 3, but the show went for a Bottom 4 this time (to yell at immune Rami). At this point, the show needs to kick Ricky off. As soon as it does, it will have a pool of serious designers (I would have said it also needed to kick Chris off two weeks ago, but he's done a really stand-out job these last two episodes).
Meanwhile, Gossip Girl had a very fun forced-finale. At least the producers were wise enough to craft thirteenth episode (the one that would be the last if the show hadn't gotten a full-season order... and now is the last thanks to the ongoing strike) that changes the game up a bit. The dethroning of Blair Waldorf was a sight to behold, though I have to say I'm a little disturbed the show decided to re-villainize Chuck. I understood his actions as far as "jealous, spurned ex-lover" go, but when Blair came to him towards the end of the episode and he said that he wasn't interested in her any longer because she was used goods... that sucked. They spent eleven episodes taking us from "Chuck is a rapist" to "Chuck is a manipulative, privileged jerk, but he's entertaining" and now all I can think about is "Chuck is a rapist". I liked that Dan's confession of why he loves Serena is what prompts Serena to go after Blair and stop her from repeating Serena's own history. Can't wait to see what happens next.
My recording of Project Runway recorded, but for whatever reason Bravo's clock doesn't match my television's, and I didn't see who got auf'd... Kevin or Christian (I later read that it was Kevin). There are 9 designers left and these two were in the bottom two? Based on raw talent, I'd never have expected that. But Kevin's dress was unfinished and heinous, and Christian did a bad thing by blaming his client instead of himself for not pushing hard enough to get the dress where it needed to be. Meanwhile, Ricky cried once. Why didn't he get auf'd? He is consistently terrible with his construction and that dress was a mess, not to mention bland and it washed his model out (although I guess on the flip side, Kevin's was just as bad with regards to color and his model's complexion). Sweet P should have won, that dress was beautiful and that girl is going to see it in her closet twenty years from now and it'll still be beautiful to her. I was surprised Chris wasn't in the Top 3, but the show went for a Bottom 4 this time (to yell at immune Rami). At this point, the show needs to kick Ricky off. As soon as it does, it will have a pool of serious designers (I would have said it also needed to kick Chris off two weeks ago, but he's done a really stand-out job these last two episodes).
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Back from the Dead (aka Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008 has original TV on!)
Hey there, Upper East Siders unwashed masses. I'm not dead! And, for the time being, neither is television (poor girl's on life support, though).
On deck tonight (with commentary to follow / be updated as I watch and snark)...
Gossip Girl: CW advertising (blech, btw) has promoted these final two produced episodes as The. Best. Yet. Remains to be seen. One thing is certain: CW in HD has just been added to my cable line-up, so this will be the visually crispest episode to date.
We open on a late-night shindig (would the kiddies on the show use that word? Maybe for its retro-pastiche value?) at a pool, which features a return of Gossip Girl's oh-so-fabulous "Upper East Sider teenagers drink a lot of alcohol and also do drugs" parties. Chuck is amusingly lifeguard attired (Ed Westwick's wardrobe line/closet is the best on television, I'm convinced). Dan and Dead Fish Eye Vanessa join the party (seriously, who cast that girl, and why haven't they written her off?) just as some Red Shirt gets wanged on the head by a pole (seriously, who put that there) and falls into the pool. And starts bleeding. Yay? Oh, the pool's on school grounds (that was PROBABLY a bad idea, and it looks like it's outdoors and I'm confused because I'm from near NYC and it was rarely pool weather AT NIGHT IN JANUARY)... which will probably not be a good thing. But, hey, Chace Crawford is diving into the water shirtless (which I decry as a former lifeguard, but applaud as a surveyor of mancandy). Leighton Meester is not given nearly enough credit for how hot she is. So begins a Very Special Episode (VSE) of Gossip Girl.
Someone left a cell phone at the scene... which, given this show's world view of cell-phone-as-life-line, is insane. More insane: the school blows up pictures taken on the phone on an LCD HD TV... and they're crystal clear. Suuuuure. But wait! The kid is apparently okay, but the school needs to make with the punishment. This VSE is veering towards lame... especially with the inclusion of a new headmistress (who REEKS of "Dean of Discipline" from The OC's third season, but without being male or hot like Eric Mabius) who has the audacity to ask our empowered youths "what the hell is wrong with [them]". And, basically, this episode has become a Prisoner's Dilemma. I wonder why Dan was involved with the group getting lecture-threaten, since he'd only just arrived when the event happened. Surely there was no picture of him (I mean, he's Lonely Boy, no one takes his picture). And SURELY the real Blair Waldorf would've told him that he wasn't given permission to speak when he asked the small conspirator group if their plan would work. You know, when I first watched the pilot back in May, I thought that the show needed to be centered around Dan because he was the everyman eyes into the rich kids' world. But as they've fleshed the story out... he's boring. So very boring. And the rich kids are interesting and fun. I guess that's why you can't judge a series based on its pilot. Morals and conscience have no place in this world. But I digress...
Ooh, a scene with the Adults. That was such an afterthought. Again, I find it insane that in this show's world, Lily Van Der Woodsen does not listen to the messages on her cell phone before getting on a plane (since the message was left before there were even plans to board a plane). But whatever, the adults can have their minor plotline.
Who let Vanessa into Blair's house? And how do they not think that FILMED EVIDENCE OF THEIR CONSPIRACY PAPER WRITING SHIT is something to be apathetic about? Anyway, Chuck just told Dan what I thought Blair should've told him (and added "Humphrey-Dumpty" to the list of names I want to refer to him as). Nate and Blair crap... hm, I wonder if he's going to use the discovery of the key in her desk drawer as blackmail to make her pay attention to him (which, of course, competes with Chuck's blackmail forcing her to do the opposite). These games are fun! Meanwhile, Dan and Serena get into their episodic fight about the class-struggle. And... Gossip Girl referred to Dead Fish Eyes as "V". This saddens me. V does not belong on Gossip Girl (the in-show website, that is). However, this was one time that the voiceover made sense (someone could actually be watching/reporting what Kristen Bell so expertly narrates! A Gossip Girl first?)
Hm, Nate does a chivalrous, but not well thought out, thing instead of blackmail. Zzzz. A thought, re Blair's talk with "V" (ugh)... money is no object to most of the people on this show. "V" (ugh) needs money. So, Blair... just give her the money? Oh, look, once again the thing that I thought Blair should do is being done by Chuck. I know he's a rapist, but gods help me if he's not the best character on this occasionally brilliant, generally mediocre show. But, poor "V" (ugh)... she doesn't come from money and so, naturally, has morals (though not enough to not take Chuck's money... and you KNOW that wasn't the tape with the incriminating footage).
Wait... so, with Nate's suspension (the stakes of which were previously stated as being akin to expulsion), Gossip Girl is saying that being chivalrous yet stupid is a bad thing? This is totally the only show EVER to make self-sacrifice NOT the holiest virtue to which a protagonist can aspire (even placing self-sacrifice below honesty in the World of Gossip Girl... a world in which NEITHER belong). It's nice how the show has to clearly and repeatedly laid out the moral grounds which is attempts to tread (i.e. the "damned if you do, screwed if you don't" of Dan and Serena's situation).
And here's where the brilliance kicks in... Serena talks with her mother about the ick factor of Lily dating Rufus (which... really? do people even name DOGS Rufus anymore?) while she's dating Dan, makes a valid point about knowing that teenage love isn't permanent (which totally echoes the Lily/Rufus romance anyway) but that it feels like it. Burn. Lily is totally going to stand Rufus up now (but not tell him the reason she's doing it, because logic doesn't exist when it comes to television romance).
Ugh, "V" (ugh) continues to worm her way into interactions with characters. When she showed up and gave the tape to Blair I thought she was going to ask for more money (which would've been hilarious). And then she has the audacity to comment on Blair not talking to Nate... boo. Although I was a bit surprised that the revelation of the motivation behind Nate's "chivalrous yet stupid" act wasn't enough to melt Blair's icy, black(mailed) heart.
How did Serena "cut more classes than she attended" in Sophomore year, considering that, in the show, she was GONE FOR A YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL and is currently a Junior? Just asking. Whatever. I am interested how the Headmistress (who I will now refer to as Umbridge... because) will balance Nate's "chivalrous yet stupid lie" against Dan's "chivalrous yet stupid lie" (should it come out that he knew Serena was responsible and lied).
"Blair Waldorf is not indebted to anyone." Love it. Also surprised to enjoy "V" (ugh?) creating a "grant for teens with genital herpes" in Chuck Bass's name. And, good lord, when is the other shoe of Blair's blackseat-of-a-limo fling with Chuck going to drop? Because it totally could've during their make up scene. SAD NOW.
And look, the Adult storyline intersects with the Teenage storyline! Just as Serena is gaping about how she inexplicably got off easy and expecting an upstairs-downstairs comment from Dan, we find out that Bart Bass made a call on her behalf (interesting because she's responsible for Lily and Bart winding up together, complicated by Chuck telling his father to help get Serena off trouble-free, and worsened by Bart's lack of respect for Serena's newfound non-trouble-maker persona)... and, yes, the problem was SOLVED BY MONEY.
And a final, juicy twist. Serena goes to Rufus and tells him that she's the one who stopped him from consummating his love of Lily this time around (it was her grandmother the last time). Oh, wait, no, she doesn't. But it's still juicy.
Next Week: The Blair Waldorf pregnancy scare (and premature season-finale). Nice.
Project Runway: It's been so long since the last episode aired... I barely remember who the contestants are! Wow, was it really only last episode that Super Jack left?
OMG. The challenge is to create an outfit out of CANDY/CHOCOLATE. That's great. Best challenge this season, in wild concept.
How do these people avoid killing Christian on a daily basis?
Based on the safe versus risky elements... I'd say Kevin is screwed. But that's not the chief element here, so whatevs! Based on aesthetic, I'm worried about resident screwball sprite Elisa (especially after they took time out of the episode to go over her Tragic Back Story) because that thing totally missed the mark (it's not completely "safe", but it's also not that striking other than the silver arm/shoulder/things). Rami's is pretty cool. Sweet P's is nothing but "eh". Naturally, Jillian, the designer who was Most Worried Going Into The Runway Show has nothing to worry about in my eyes because da-yum. I totally want to eat that dress. Victorya's model was STIFF and apparently she TOLD the model to walk that way. Bad call, IMHO.
Kinda disappointed for Jillian that she didn't win, considering the extra effort of using real food. With Elisa and Sweet P in the bottom two, it's almost impossible for Elisa to stay, given the Tragic Back Story insertion in the episode and the lack of focus on Sweet P. So... g'bye, screwball sprite! I think she was sent home more for the underwhelming... thing... she made given how the challenge ought to have worked in her crazy favor.
Ricky Cry Count: 0...? (but he was red-eyed in the next on, so here's hoping! CRY, DAMN YOU!)
Side note. Top Chef 4: Chicago is not "Coming Soon/2008", but now "Coming in Spring". I'll be eager for it, but I have to ask... already? The last edition (which started and ended a tad later than it ought to have) just ended in October. But... given the lack on things on the air I'll be excited about, TC4 can't be a bad thing, whenever it comes. It just feels like such a great summer series (i.e. begin it after Memorial Day, end it right around Labor Day).
CBS Late Night (Letterman/Ferguson): I normally only watch Stewart/Colbert at late night, but since Worldwide Pants made a deal with the WGA, I'm switching over to these two until the strike is resolved. So, yes, they've gained me as a viewer through the stroke of a pen. Kudos, WWP.
Letterman opens with a taped "joke" from Hillary '08. It was passable. Now if only she'd fire the AMPTP's PR firm (which is also her PR firm). HAH! Rockettes with picket signs! Oh, man, I need a screencap of that shiz. "Questions about the Writers Strike" was a weird segment... all the people asking questions were his writers, right? No? Because weird questions if not planted. I wish this was slightly more subtle. But... hey, media awareness is media awareness and Big Media has been doing a pretty good job of keeping the strike out of the main press and news so... whatevs!
The Top Ten (demands from striking writers) list's best, IMHO, was number 5: "I'd like a date with a woman." Damn, they got Nora Ephron on? Nice.
Ferguson's opening sheep sketch was kinda amusing. But his monologue is crackling. Craig Ferguson is not a pretty man...
On deck tonight (with commentary to follow / be updated as I watch and snark)...
Gossip Girl: CW advertising (blech, btw) has promoted these final two produced episodes as The. Best. Yet. Remains to be seen. One thing is certain: CW in HD has just been added to my cable line-up, so this will be the visually crispest episode to date.
We open on a late-night shindig (would the kiddies on the show use that word? Maybe for its retro-pastiche value?) at a pool, which features a return of Gossip Girl's oh-so-fabulous "Upper East Sider teenagers drink a lot of alcohol and also do drugs" parties. Chuck is amusingly lifeguard attired (Ed Westwick's wardrobe line/closet is the best on television, I'm convinced). Dan and Dead Fish Eye Vanessa join the party (seriously, who cast that girl, and why haven't they written her off?) just as some Red Shirt gets wanged on the head by a pole (seriously, who put that there) and falls into the pool. And starts bleeding. Yay? Oh, the pool's on school grounds (that was PROBABLY a bad idea, and it looks like it's outdoors and I'm confused because I'm from near NYC and it was rarely pool weather AT NIGHT IN JANUARY)... which will probably not be a good thing. But, hey, Chace Crawford is diving into the water shirtless (which I decry as a former lifeguard, but applaud as a surveyor of mancandy). Leighton Meester is not given nearly enough credit for how hot she is. So begins a Very Special Episode (VSE) of Gossip Girl.
Someone left a cell phone at the scene... which, given this show's world view of cell-phone-as-life-line, is insane. More insane: the school blows up pictures taken on the phone on an LCD HD TV... and they're crystal clear. Suuuuure. But wait! The kid is apparently okay, but the school needs to make with the punishment. This VSE is veering towards lame... especially with the inclusion of a new headmistress (who REEKS of "Dean of Discipline" from The OC's third season, but without being male or hot like Eric Mabius) who has the audacity to ask our empowered youths "what the hell is wrong with [them]". And, basically, this episode has become a Prisoner's Dilemma. I wonder why Dan was involved with the group getting lecture-threaten, since he'd only just arrived when the event happened. Surely there was no picture of him (I mean, he's Lonely Boy, no one takes his picture). And SURELY the real Blair Waldorf would've told him that he wasn't given permission to speak when he asked the small conspirator group if their plan would work. You know, when I first watched the pilot back in May, I thought that the show needed to be centered around Dan because he was the everyman eyes into the rich kids' world. But as they've fleshed the story out... he's boring. So very boring. And the rich kids are interesting and fun. I guess that's why you can't judge a series based on its pilot. Morals and conscience have no place in this world. But I digress...
Ooh, a scene with the Adults. That was such an afterthought. Again, I find it insane that in this show's world, Lily Van Der Woodsen does not listen to the messages on her cell phone before getting on a plane (since the message was left before there were even plans to board a plane). But whatever, the adults can have their minor plotline.
Who let Vanessa into Blair's house? And how do they not think that FILMED EVIDENCE OF THEIR CONSPIRACY PAPER WRITING SHIT is something to be apathetic about? Anyway, Chuck just told Dan what I thought Blair should've told him (and added "Humphrey-Dumpty" to the list of names I want to refer to him as). Nate and Blair crap... hm, I wonder if he's going to use the discovery of the key in her desk drawer as blackmail to make her pay attention to him (which, of course, competes with Chuck's blackmail forcing her to do the opposite). These games are fun! Meanwhile, Dan and Serena get into their episodic fight about the class-struggle. And... Gossip Girl referred to Dead Fish Eyes as "V". This saddens me. V does not belong on Gossip Girl (the in-show website, that is). However, this was one time that the voiceover made sense (someone could actually be watching/reporting what Kristen Bell so expertly narrates! A Gossip Girl first?)
Hm, Nate does a chivalrous, but not well thought out, thing instead of blackmail. Zzzz. A thought, re Blair's talk with "V" (ugh)... money is no object to most of the people on this show. "V" (ugh) needs money. So, Blair... just give her the money? Oh, look, once again the thing that I thought Blair should do is being done by Chuck. I know he's a rapist, but gods help me if he's not the best character on this occasionally brilliant, generally mediocre show. But, poor "V" (ugh)... she doesn't come from money and so, naturally, has morals (though not enough to not take Chuck's money... and you KNOW that wasn't the tape with the incriminating footage).
Wait... so, with Nate's suspension (the stakes of which were previously stated as being akin to expulsion), Gossip Girl is saying that being chivalrous yet stupid is a bad thing? This is totally the only show EVER to make self-sacrifice NOT the holiest virtue to which a protagonist can aspire (even placing self-sacrifice below honesty in the World of Gossip Girl... a world in which NEITHER belong). It's nice how the show has to clearly and repeatedly laid out the moral grounds which is attempts to tread (i.e. the "damned if you do, screwed if you don't" of Dan and Serena's situation).
And here's where the brilliance kicks in... Serena talks with her mother about the ick factor of Lily dating Rufus (which... really? do people even name DOGS Rufus anymore?) while she's dating Dan, makes a valid point about knowing that teenage love isn't permanent (which totally echoes the Lily/Rufus romance anyway) but that it feels like it. Burn. Lily is totally going to stand Rufus up now (but not tell him the reason she's doing it, because logic doesn't exist when it comes to television romance).
Ugh, "V" (ugh) continues to worm her way into interactions with characters. When she showed up and gave the tape to Blair I thought she was going to ask for more money (which would've been hilarious). And then she has the audacity to comment on Blair not talking to Nate... boo. Although I was a bit surprised that the revelation of the motivation behind Nate's "chivalrous yet stupid" act wasn't enough to melt Blair's icy, black(mailed) heart.
How did Serena "cut more classes than she attended" in Sophomore year, considering that, in the show, she was GONE FOR A YEAR AT BOARDING SCHOOL and is currently a Junior? Just asking. Whatever. I am interested how the Headmistress (who I will now refer to as Umbridge... because) will balance Nate's "chivalrous yet stupid lie" against Dan's "chivalrous yet stupid lie" (should it come out that he knew Serena was responsible and lied).
"Blair Waldorf is not indebted to anyone." Love it. Also surprised to enjoy "V" (ugh?) creating a "grant for teens with genital herpes" in Chuck Bass's name. And, good lord, when is the other shoe of Blair's blackseat-of-a-limo fling with Chuck going to drop? Because it totally could've during their make up scene. SAD NOW.
And look, the Adult storyline intersects with the Teenage storyline! Just as Serena is gaping about how she inexplicably got off easy and expecting an upstairs-downstairs comment from Dan, we find out that Bart Bass made a call on her behalf (interesting because she's responsible for Lily and Bart winding up together, complicated by Chuck telling his father to help get Serena off trouble-free, and worsened by Bart's lack of respect for Serena's newfound non-trouble-maker persona)... and, yes, the problem was SOLVED BY MONEY.
And a final, juicy twist. Serena goes to Rufus and tells him that she's the one who stopped him from consummating his love of Lily this time around (it was her grandmother the last time). Oh, wait, no, she doesn't. But it's still juicy.
Next Week: The Blair Waldorf pregnancy scare (and premature season-finale). Nice.
Project Runway: It's been so long since the last episode aired... I barely remember who the contestants are! Wow, was it really only last episode that Super Jack left?
OMG. The challenge is to create an outfit out of CANDY/CHOCOLATE. That's great. Best challenge this season, in wild concept.
How do these people avoid killing Christian on a daily basis?
Based on the safe versus risky elements... I'd say Kevin is screwed. But that's not the chief element here, so whatevs! Based on aesthetic, I'm worried about resident screwball sprite Elisa (especially after they took time out of the episode to go over her Tragic Back Story) because that thing totally missed the mark (it's not completely "safe", but it's also not that striking other than the silver arm/shoulder/things). Rami's is pretty cool. Sweet P's is nothing but "eh". Naturally, Jillian, the designer who was Most Worried Going Into The Runway Show has nothing to worry about in my eyes because da-yum. I totally want to eat that dress. Victorya's model was STIFF and apparently she TOLD the model to walk that way. Bad call, IMHO.
Kinda disappointed for Jillian that she didn't win, considering the extra effort of using real food. With Elisa and Sweet P in the bottom two, it's almost impossible for Elisa to stay, given the Tragic Back Story insertion in the episode and the lack of focus on Sweet P. So... g'bye, screwball sprite! I think she was sent home more for the underwhelming... thing... she made given how the challenge ought to have worked in her crazy favor.
Ricky Cry Count: 0...? (but he was red-eyed in the next on, so here's hoping! CRY, DAMN YOU!)
Side note. Top Chef 4: Chicago is not "Coming Soon/2008", but now "Coming in Spring". I'll be eager for it, but I have to ask... already? The last edition (which started and ended a tad later than it ought to have) just ended in October. But... given the lack on things on the air I'll be excited about, TC4 can't be a bad thing, whenever it comes. It just feels like such a great summer series (i.e. begin it after Memorial Day, end it right around Labor Day).
CBS Late Night (Letterman/Ferguson): I normally only watch Stewart/Colbert at late night, but since Worldwide Pants made a deal with the WGA, I'm switching over to these two until the strike is resolved. So, yes, they've gained me as a viewer through the stroke of a pen. Kudos, WWP.
Letterman opens with a taped "joke" from Hillary '08. It was passable. Now if only she'd fire the AMPTP's PR firm (which is also her PR firm). HAH! Rockettes with picket signs! Oh, man, I need a screencap of that shiz. "Questions about the Writers Strike" was a weird segment... all the people asking questions were his writers, right? No? Because weird questions if not planted. I wish this was slightly more subtle. But... hey, media awareness is media awareness and Big Media has been doing a pretty good job of keeping the strike out of the main press and news so... whatevs!
The Top Ten (demands from striking writers) list's best, IMHO, was number 5: "I'd like a date with a woman." Damn, they got Nora Ephron on? Nice.
Ferguson's opening sheep sketch was kinda amusing. But his monologue is crackling. Craig Ferguson is not a pretty man...
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