Television

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The things we do for strangers

Tonight was the last night I had Wicked duty this week.  I came home (after being at the theater for the last eleven hours) and had a ton of emails.  One of them was a comment to this post asking where one of the receptions occurred.  I have no idea.  The show was on almost eight weeks ago, and it didn’t make a great impression on me at the time.

Instead of just ignoring the comment, what do I do?  I sit at the computer and try to research the info.  I know the name of the bride (maiden and married, to boot).  I know how much she and her now-husband paid in real estate taxes last year.  I know that there are a LOT of people that either love or hate the show.  But I cannot find a show recap that has detail in any location. And it doesn’t look like TLC will be rebroadcasting that particular episode of Four Weddings any time in the near future.

Before I knew it, over TWO HOURS had passed.  I have to call it quits.  I am exhausted and I have to get ready for my shower and bed.

So Alison, my dear, I’m sorry.  I don’t know.  It was a great restaurant, with an awesome view, but I haven’t got the foggiest idea where the reception was held.

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When the experience doesn’t live up to the hype

I love Lost.  Sure, it has some bad memories from the first seasons with he-who-is-gone, but the show itself I love.  This season, some friends and I gather to watch it every Tuesday night.  Last week we were staring at the teaser for this week’s episode in slow-mo trying to see what was going on.  “So big we can’t show you a preview” was the general theme.

Well, the show was good, but not that good.

I mean who doesn’t love Sayid.  And who wouldn’t like a show centered around him.  Confused as all get out when his brother is married to Nadia, the love of his life.  Can’t believe he turned rogue on the temple.

But all in all?  A bit disappointing.

Now I know that Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse have had the entire season plotted out and have vowed to answer some of the questions, but don’t you think that they shouldn’t be creating questions at this point?
Still, it’s one of the best hours on TV right now, so I enjoy it.  Plus who doesn’t like getting together with friends once a week??? 🙂
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Sheldon Cooper is my hero

Sunday night is the night where the girls hang out.  We watch tv or movies or play games, and two of the three of us knit or crochet to pass the time while watching television.  Tonight there is no new episode of Grey’s Anatomy or Private Practice, so we decided to catch up one of the girls with the Big Bang Theory.  She is through the first season, and we’re now into season two.

More than anything else, I love Sheldon Cooper.  There are just things he says to be a part of the conversation that crack me up.  His complete and total lack of comprehension of social norms is a hoot, and then there is the new go-to word for fun times.

BAZINGA!

Going back to season two now.  Have a great night!

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Proof that Industry Standards need to change

Project Runway is one of my favorite reality television shows.  Yes, it’s starting to cycle.  Yes, it’s all starting to run together.  Yes, it’s formulaic.  But it’s still impressive to see the amazing talent (and incredible delusion) that the contestants have.  The new follow-up show, Models of the Runway, has been fun as well.  It’s been interesting to see the girls that never talked before and how they are going through the competition.

Last season there was a model that was visited by her son.  I remember thinking that there was no way on earth that those hips had borne a child.  This woman–a statuesque 5’10”, beautiful complexion, skeleton with skin–was just so stinkin’ skinny, I could not imagine her pregnant.  The picture I have in my head is of a woman toppling over because the weight of the pumpkin sitting on her front was pulling her over.

That being said, this past month was New York Fashion Week.  Models galore with the opportunity to walk the catwalk for genius designers, some working as many as three shows a day.  One of the more famous models recently is the lovely 21-year-old Coco Rocha.  At 120 pounds, she is, in my opinion, underweight for her 5’10” frame.  Yet the people in New York have been denying her work because her size 4 frame is considered too fat for fashion.

The average American woman is at least a size 12.  The average runway model has gained weight and moved to a size zero from a size double zero.  What about this is normal?  What happened to the Christie Brinkley’s and the Cindy Crawfords of old, the women with curves?  What happened to HEALTHY looking women?  Did the Kate Moss era change the perspective of every human?  Do people really think that skeletal hipbones are healthy and normal?

I’m not advocating a nation of obese people.  I’m not saying we all need to have Krispy Kreme for three meals every day.  I am just asking what the perception of normal is in an industry that is supposed to appeal to the common woman.

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In defense of the worst, part one

I recently saw a listing of the worst TV shows released in the past decade. Some of them, like According to Jim and Kath and Kim, rightfully belong in the top five (I still can’t believe that According to Jim was on the air for several seasons!  Maybe these two should be a lesson to not name the sitcom after the main character?).

I took issue with one of the ‘winners’ in particular: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.  Granted, it wasn’t Aaron Sorkin’s brightest shining moment.  And yes, it was obvious from the character of Harriet Hayes that he was bitter about his then-recent breakup to noted Christian Kristin Chenoweth.  But there were some parts of the show that were outstandingly brilliant, and I think it deserves to be recognized as such.  It came on the air the same time that 30 Rock debuted, and as an hour-long drama instead of a half hour sitcom it was the runner up in the on-air battle.  Yanked before it’s episodes finished running, the set was destroyed before the final episodes aired. Thanks to DVDs, however, I am able to watch it in its entirety about twice a year.

Admittedly, I felt like it was overkill with the ‘you’re going to hell and I’m not just because I was baptized and you are a heathen’.  But correct me if I’m wrong, isn’t premarital sex, monogomy, and blasphemy outlawed by the Bible as well?  In which case, said character would be going to hell also, correct?

That aside, however, it was a remarkable use of an amazing cast.  Continue reading →

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Big Bang Theory Quotes Part 2

Okay, this show continues to crack me up. I managed to catch one today that I hadn’t seen during the season, and here are some great lines.  From “The Cushion Saturation”:

Leonard: You know what baffles me, Sheldon?
Sheldon: Based on your academic record, any number of things I would imagine.

Leonard: Are you done?
Sheldon: No. (pause) Despite what the name would suggest, the sivid cat is not a true cat. (pauses again) Now I’m done.

Wolowitz: One way to look at this is that I am getting new equipment and you’re not, and that’s unfair; but a better way to look at it is that I’m getting sex and you’re not and that’s delightful!

Sheldon: Hello Penny
Penny: Hello Sheldon
Sheldon: You’re in my spot.

Penny (regarding Sheldon): You know I love him, but he is one serious whackadoodle.

Penny: No, I’m from Nebraska. When we shoot things it’s because we want to eat them or make them leave our boyfriends alone.

Leonard: We?  No, no, no.  You had your chance to be a ‘we’ for a year and a half now.  You’re on your own.

Wolowitz as phone rings: Oooh! It looks like I’m going to have sex tonight!
Penny in an aside to Leonard: His right hand is calling?

Leslie Winkle, post coitus: You’re improving!
Wolowitz: Thank you! It helps when I get to practice with a real woman.

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Big Bang Theory Quotes Part 1

It may be dweeby, but this show cracks me up.  And some nights, like tonight, there are lines that have me rolling over I’m laughing so hard.  So I’ve decided to start a running list of quotes from Big Bang Theory.  From the May 4 episode titled “The Classified Materials Turbulence”

Sheldon: For what it’s worth, my mother says that when we deceive for personal gain we make Jesus cry.

Wolowitz (with amazement): You don’t know what thing thing is?
Stuart/Comic Guy (looking befuddled): No
Wolowitz: Good. Get out!

Koothrappali: Oh get over yourself. It’s a high tech toilet.

Leonard: It must be hell inside your head.
Sheldon: At times.

Wolowitz: We gotta find a way using nothing but this to reinforce this so the waste material avoids the spinning turbine.
Koothrappali: You mean so it doesn’t hit the fan?

Sheldon: You know, I have to say I thought the toilet humor would get less funny with repetition.  Apparently there is no law of diminishing comedic returns with space poop.

Koothrappali:  Of course you feel terrible, you completely screwed up your karma dude!
Sheldon: You don’t really believe in that superstition, do you?
Raj: It’s not superstition, it’s practically Newtonian.  For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  Leonard pretends to be a friend and acts like a two-faced bitch, therefore he is reborn as a banana slug.  It’s actually a very elegant system.  You know, what goes around comes around.
(Later, after Leonard delays a coffee run to knock on Penny’s door to ask how her date went and apologize for giving bad advice and is rebuffed) Raj: You really want to clean up your karma, go get my freakin’ latte.

Wolowitz: Sheldon, I know what I am doing.
Sheldon: If you knew what you were doing there wouldn’t be a space toilet where my coffee table should be.

Sheldon: That was a joke.  It’s funny, because it’s true.

Penny: What the hell was THAT?
Wolowitz: Meatloaf.
Leonard: What was it doing on the ceiling?!
Wolowitz: That’s classified.