How I Met Joel McHale

Copying and pasting this from an email I sent to a total stranger today.   She's a friend of a friend, and noticed my Joel Profile picture and wanted to know how I met him...

I am a MASSIVE Community fan. MASSIVE. So the week Community came back from that awful winter hiatus, Joel announced he was doing a show at Caroline's Comedy Club in Manhattan, and I was like , I HAVE to go. I go to the website and the tickets are 50 bucks, plus handling fee, plus 2 drink minimum. Being poor, I decided I couldn't afford it and was DEVASTATED. So I publicly bitch about it on Facebook and proceed to go about my day. I come back to my desk during a break in a looooong meeting and find that a friend sent me an email paypal-ing me 50 bucks. The email said "Just buy the ticket, Kim. Happy belated birthday." So I did.

Joel did 2 shows, and we (cause 2 other pals got tix as well) went to the early show where he not only did standup, he paused his show so we could all watch that night's Community together. After the show, I said to my friends we are SOOOOOOO meeting him. We go across the street to have a few beers while we wait for him to do the late show. We go back to Caroline's circa 11:30 to stake out the stage door. We even asked a street cleaner where they normally come out. He pointed us towards 2 possible places. We stake them out. One of us waited at one, and me and my other friend were at the other, with phones in hand to alert each other. My friend Amy and I are waiting at the front entrance of the club, cause there were a bunch of town cars there, and our logic was...Joel wouldn't just walk out and hail a cab, right?

Midnight rolls around, it is FREEZING, and there is no sign of him. It is clear that the club is empty. I decide that we have missed him (HOW? He's 6'4"). So we go to get Michelle, we round the corner...and there he was. He had just come out the back entrance, and Michelle had her phone in hand calling us. I ran up to him, jumped and planted and said "Aha!! We found you!!" To which he replied, "You WIN Well, actually your friend wins because she was here first!". And then he apologized for taking so long to come out. And it was only me and my two friends (which I could not believe), and he stood on that street corner and just chatted with us for a good while. I got to tell him the story of the time he retweeted me on twitter and Michelle and I told him how we went to the live stream of the LA Paley event at Paley Center NY dressed as Annie and Britta. He took pictures with all of us (in which he was very snuggly.  Seriously, he should trademark McSnuggle), shook all of our hands when we left, looked us in the eyes, and said Thank you for watching the show.

In other words, it was a completely flawless celebrity encounter. He was everything I wanted him to be, and more. Beautiful. TALL. And as nice and humble as he could be. Everytime I pass that street corner I smile.

It pays to be nice. And eloquent. And not bash NBC.

Spurred on by the news that my beloved Community (WHY AREN'T YOU WATCHING AMERICA????) is being benched mid-season, I wrote Leslie Schwartz, who is the media contact for Community at NBC. I resisted the urge to rant and say that NBC sucks or that other shows that shall remain nameless suck. And it paid off, because she answered me within MINUTES of me sending this...

Dear Leslie,

I am sure (I hope so anyway) your email inbox has been flooded by Community fans today. Allow me to add one more voice.

I watch a LOT of television, and I have been passionate about many shows. But I have never written to a network/joined a "save this show" campaign. Until now. I will admit, I was a latecomer to the awesomeness that is Community. A friend gave me the season one DVD last winter and said "Just watch". And I devoured the first season in a weekend, and then caught up on season Two via nbc.com. I fell in love and I fell in love HARD. I look forward to Thursdays because it is Community night, and I am sad after every episode is over because I have to wait a whole week for a new episode. I watch the episodes live, and then I often go back and rewatch them on my DVR to make sure I caught everything. So I was devastated to come home last night to discover that my beloved Greendale Study Group had been benched for the midseason. I don't want to spew vitriol at any of your other shows, as I am sure many have. That won't get us anywhere. I just want to express my love for the brilliance that is Community. What other show would even attempt ambitious episodes like "Remedial Chaos Theory" (which I can not bring myself to delete from my DVR. I've lost track of how many times I have watched it), "Paradigms of Human Memory", "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps", and of course the epic trilogy of "Modern Warfare", "A Fistful of Paintballs" and "For a Few Paintballs More"? No other show on Network TV, and that's the truth.

I understand that TV is a business. And yes, Community has been struggling in the ratings. The Nielsen System, however, is broken, and I think you all know that. We watch TV differently now, and I really feel that this applies to the people who watch Community. But NBC has had other shows struggle in ratings (Chuck, Friday Night Lights and even Parks and Rec and 30 Rock) and the network has gotten behind them because you believed in the shows and you believed in the fans. So please, believe in Community. Believe in the brilliance of Dan Harmon, the writers, and the fantastic ensemble of actors (don't even get me started on how many Emmy Nominations they should have by now). Community is a 4 year story, and I desperately want to see Jeff Winger and Company graduate. Please allow the creators to tell the story they mapped out from the beginning and the story that we the fans have invested in for two and a half seasons. I'm metaphorically on my knees here, Leslie.

Thank you and NBC for giving us Community in the first place. Please give it back to all of us Human Beings of Greendale ASAP.
Sincerely,
Kim Rogers

PS I DO look forward to Smash.

And I am not joking, she responded within 3 minutes. I almost fell out of my chair. Sure, it was a short response:

Hi Kim. Keep the faith. Just curious who has given out my email? Can you tell me? Thanks!
Leslie

But I was still heard. I told her I had gotten her email through a friend via Twitter, but her email was also on various Save Community blogs, and I gave her their addresses (this is the big one: http://savenbccommunity.tumblr.com/)and the link to the Save Community petition (http://www.save-community.com/).

If you want to express your support (in a classy and eloquent way) for Community her email is: Leslie.Schwartz@nbcuni.com

Clearly, she at least sees the emails.

And for the love of Greendale, watch the show either as it airs tomorrow or within three days on your DVR.

Bradley Cooper is Hot (Or, Why I Will Be Seeing The A-Team)

The new trailer for The A-Team has hit the internets...



Now, I have very few memories of the TV show (I was too young/my mom wouldn't let me watch it) so the thought of this movie holds little in the area of nostalgia for me and I won't be one of those people comparing it to the show/complaining how much they changed. But (aside from boring Jessica Biel) the cast looks promising. How can you not love bad ass Liam Neeson? Also, judging from the trailer, the movie doesn't seem to take itself too seriously...which was the main problem with the G.I. Joke trailer/movie, in my opinion. (Not that I have seen it. The trailer convinced me not to.)

From the looks of it we will be getting lots of explosions, machine guns, and snark. But most of all, when you combine this trailer and the first one, lots of half naked Bradley Cooper. That alone will get my butt in the theater, and I am not ashamed of admitting that.

How to Train Your Hot Tub Time Machine

Dear Blog, I know it has been far too long since I've written. I hope you can forgive me for my laziness/no discipline/no one is reading this so why bother writing lack of posting. I hope I can do better from here on out. Love, Kim

A dreary Sunday afternoon tends to mean one thing to me: time to throw some soup ingredients into my beloved Crockpot (this week's soup: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/02/original-taco-soup-crockpot-recipe.html) and head off to the Kaufman Astoria movie theater for a double feature. On tap this week: Hot Tub Time Machine and How to Train Your Dragon.

Hot Tub Time Machine, much like Snakes on a Plane, gets a good deal of chuckles from the moment the title is mentioned in a line of dialogue (Let's face it "Mother fucking snakes on this mother fucking plane" is the best part of that movie.) HTTM, however, is executed much better than SoaP. Let's face it...I'm a sucker for anything that pokes fun at the 80's.

I think it was a brilliant move to cast 80's Icons John Cusack, Chevy Chase, Crispin Glover (especially with the Back to the Future-esque plot). There is a cameo by Johnny from the Karate Kid. Really, all that is lacking is an appearance by Annabeth Gish, Molly Ringwald, or Phoebe Cates. Now THAT would have been awesome. Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry, and relative newcomer Clark Duke (who will be seen later this month in "Kick Ass") complete the ensemble and all have great moments. I am especially a fan of Robinson..there is just a way in which he delivers his lines (be it here or as Darryl on "The Office") that always makes me chuckle.

While I enjoyed the movie, I also feel like it didn't really reach its full potential. I think they could have done more with the fact that when they were transported back to the 80's they were also put back into their bodies from the 80's...there was definitely more comedy that could have come out of that. There was the great moment where they realized this, and then not too much was done with it after. However, the running gag of how Crispin Glover's bellhop, who has one arm in present day, will eventually lose his arm IS executed perfectly. There are the obligatory boob and fat/ugly guy ass shots, but most of the raunch in the movie comes from projectile puke/poop/bodily function jokes. I also thought, given the plethora of 80's people in the cast, they could have gone further with some of the self aware winking at the audience jokes. I didn't think it was as funny as The Hangover, given there was never a moment I (or the audience) was laughing so hard that I missed the next line of dialogue or I had tears streaming down my face, but I DO think it had more heart. B-

Given my skill at planning double features, HTTM let out in the perfect window of time to scurry into the next 3-D showing of Dreamworks' How to Train Your Dragon (for which I had brought my handy spare 3-D glasses from a previous 3-D outing). First thing I have to mention: the 3-D trailer for Toy Story 3 is freaking fantastic. I can NOT wait for it. In fact, I had a bunch of good trailers before this one...Despicable Me and Shrek 4 were also standouts.

The bottom line with HTTYD: if you are going to see this movie, you absolutely need to see it in 3-D. The animation, especially in the flying sequences, combined with the 3-D is spectacular. The movie is a theme park ride in the making. Pixar definitely has competition when it comes to the animation quality...Dreamworks gets stronger and stronger animation-wise with every movie they put out.

The voice cast was strong. Gerard Butler (who must be glad this came out so soon after the dreck that is The Bounty Hunter. Not that I have seen The Bounty Hunter. But please...it has dreck written all over it, and I have a very high tolerance for shitty romantic comedies. But...I digress) is in his element as Hiccup (Jay Baruchel)'s overbearing father. Craig Ferguson also surprised as the dragon fighting teacher (and I spent most of the movie trying to figure out whose voice it was).

Where Pixar will always have the edge for me is in the strength of their screenplays. HTTYD is a simple story, and it's one we've all heard before...misunderstood boy connects with a creature and finds his purpose and self worth outside of what his overbearing father expects of him and still gets the girl and saves the day. Now, the fact we know this story doesn't make it any less effective. I still laughed, I still cheered, and yes, I still cried. But unlike recent Pixar gems like Up and Wall-E, this screenplay very much played to children and lacked the wit and sophistication of its Pixar counterparts. Again, not that there is anything wrong with that...for me it is just what keeps most Dreamworks Animation movies from taking it to the next level. But HTTYD is still a wonderful movie, especially for the kiddos and anyone who has dreamed of being able to fly : -) A-

All in all, a very enjoyable afternoon at the movies. And I had a delicious dinner waiting at home for me.

Oscar, Oscar!

I love Oscar nomination day. I set my alarm early, make my coffee and turn on E! for the live announcement of the nods. I gasp, I cheer, I groan...and then I blog about it. So I bring you my thoughts on the 6 major categories, plus some other tidbits...

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

I personally was shocked that The Dark Knight was left off this list. After all, it got nods from The Producer's Guild and the DGA, and just about every Oscar predictor was saying it was in. Plus, many viewed it as THE movie of 2008. But we forget that that Tricksy Harvey Weinstein (who basically stole Saving Private Ryan's Oscar) is behind The Reader. He is the KING of Oscar campaigns. Now, I have seen all the nominees already, and I am not debating the excellence of The Reader or any of the other films. Just saying I am surprised is all. And to Scott and Kaysie, if you read this, I TOLD you Ben Button would get nominated for Best Picture.

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Gus Van Sant, Milk

Again, I am a little shocked at Christopher Nolan not getting in here. It is rare that director and picture match up 5/5, so I was thinking that even if TDK didn't make picture, Nolan would still get in. Oh well. Side note: Stephen Dalrdry has made three films: Billy Elliott, The Hours, and The Reader. He has been Oscar nominated for all three. Well done.

Best Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

The only one of these performances I have not seen is Jenkins, who was in an Indie movie that came out much earlier in the year. However, I think his nomination is the reward in itself. This is a three way race between Langella, Penn, and Rourke. I really don't know who will take this. All three performances are breathtaking. Maybe we'll get some clarity after the SAG's on Sunday.

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Kate had been campaigning her performance in The Reader as supporting, in order to not compete with her role in Revolutionary Road, directed by her hubby Sam Mendes. The Academy chose not to listen, putting her performance for The Reader in lead. She was excellent in both, and I really think she will FINALLY win. If she does, that episode of Extras she did will become all the more brilliant. I really think Meryl is her strongest competition, and the performance has been too divisive. Anne Hathaway could also be trouble, but I think the lack of support for her film will keep her from taking this.

Best Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Let's face it. Heath has pretty much had this sewn up since July. That being said, I am thrilled to see Michael Shannon in this after getting no attention whatsoever for his wonderfully disturbing performance in Revolutionary Road. I think the only threat to Heath may be Brolin, who has really had a hell of a few years.

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Penelope Cruz has to be the happiest woman in Hollywood right now, thanks to Kate not being in this group. It pretty much paves the way for her to win, as the Doubt ladies will most likely cancel each other out. Penelope is fantastic in VCB, so I wouldn't have a problem with that.

Other Tidbits:
-Miley Cyrus did not get a nom for her song from Bolt. Thank God. However, the Academy made a bone-headed move in not nominating Springsteen's "The Wrestler" in Best Original Song. It was a song that perfectly captured the spirit of that movie.
-Yay for Martin McDonagh getting nommed for his In Bruges screenplay. I need to bump this up in my Netflix queue.
-I still wish Wall-e had gotten nominated for Best Picture. But its win for animated feature is basically a shoe-in.

That's all from my end...thoughts?

Amazing

I still haven't seen "In the Heights" (dammit!!), but this video is pretty freaking awesome. If you don't get a little choked up, you may be a little dead inside.



PS If anyone wants to help me get rush tickets before Lin Manuel Miranda leaves on Feb 15, let me know.

Oh Hugh...

Seriously, I mean I am DYING for Australia, but when is Hugh gonna come back to Broadway? Or at least star in a Major Movie Musical??