Doubt

Oooohh...the trailer for Doubt has hit, and it looks GOOD.



Meryl is positively bone chilling. Look for her to be one of the top contenders for Best Actress. In fact, she is long overdue for #3, so she very well may win. Actually, I think all four principle actors will be contenders in their respective category races. Ahhh, friends, I can smell it in the fall air...the Oscar season is soon upon us.

Confessions of a TV Junkie...

Oh friends...happy times are upon us. The new TV season is here. After months of crap TV, my shows are returning. Some of them already have (I heart you Bones). But as always, with the return of Fall TV, I have to sit down with my handy EW fall preview and literally plot out my nights of television. I have my committed shows, and I always want to check out some of the new ones. This year, thanks to the writer's strike, there aren't that many new shows...which is great, cause really...unless the show is on Friday or Saturday, I really can't commit to any new shows. My DVR is booked. It can only record 2 things at once. Someone needs to invent a DVR that records three things at once. Or the suits need to stop scheduling shows I like all in the same time slot. Cause really, it makes things tough.

So here's a look at my TV schedule. Don't judge. Refer to the title of my blog. If you are curious about something...ask me. I probably watch it. :)

Sunday:
Luckily this is a day with very little conflict.

8:00 PM: The Amazing Race. One of the best reality shows out there. It's one that I would actually apply for. The only problem is, with CBS having Sunday afternoon football, if the game runs over, it throws off the schedule, and DVR does not know this. So I have to remember to program it to tape "The Unit" as well if I want to catch the full episode.
9:00 PM: Desperate Housewives. I can't quite break up with this show yet. Last season was a total creative rebound, back up to the quality of season 1, and Marc Cherry totally shook up the show with the finale's flash forward. Hmmm...steal ideas from Lost, much? Still, I am invested enough to keep watching.
10:00 PM: Brothers and Sisters. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows. Sally Field's Nora Walker IS my mother. I'm intrigued/scared where they are going with the whole Justin/Rebecca thing though...

Monday:
Here starts a bit of the DVR clusterfuck. Really, it only gets worse from here...

8:00-9:30 PM: Dancing with the Stars. Yes, it's cheesy. Yes, how many of them are really "stars"? And yes...I absolutely effing love this show. Don't Judge. Also, if anyone wants to take Ballroom Classes with me...let me know. I want to dance.
8:30-9:00 PM: How I Met Your Mother. Best. Sitcom. On. TV. It's legen...wait for it...and I hope you are not lactose intolerant, cause the last part of that word is DARY! Seriously, people, you should be watching.
9:00-10:00 PM: Heroes. Yes, the second season blew chunks. But all the word coming out of the various conventions is that Season 3 has completely rebounded and is effing awesome. Now, I think I MAY be a bit screwed, cause they are having a 2 hour premiere, which I HOPE is scheduled from 9-11...otherwise, I am going to have to choose between the premieres of DWTS and HIMYM. I don't want to make that choice, friends.
9:30-10:00 PM: Samantha Who. A charming little sitcom, worth watching just for Christina Applegate's incandescent performance.
10:00-11:00 PM: I MAY check out My Own Worst Enemy. We'll see. I usually give a pilot 15 minutes to hook me, and if it doesn't have me by then, I don't watch the show. This show seems very high concept, and has to be done extremely well to work. However, once the Bachelor comes back to this Time Slot in January, I will be watching that.

TUESDAY:
I really gotta tell you. I hate two hour episodes of things. It totally messes with my schedule...

8:00-10:00 PM: The Biggest Loser. I dare you to watch this and not be moved.
8:00-9:00 PM: House. I love you Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard....
9:00-10:00 PM: Fringe. One of the new shows I am most intrigued about. JJ Abrams + Pacey in an X-Files-esque show? Sign me up!

*Casualties of the 8-10 conflict* -The new 90210, whose pilot and second episode did not really impress me. -The DWTS results show, which really I can just find the results online...but again, I am pretty sure the premiere week has DWTS airing competition stuff on Tuesday. I will probably have to just watch that online.

10:00-11:00 PM: Eli Stone. I am so glad this show got picked up for a second season. It really is a delight, and got better and better as its first season went on. I am so intrigued as to where it is going to go this year.

WEDNESDAY:

8:00-9:00 PM: Bones. One of my new obsessions that moved up to must see status over the summer.
8:00-9:00 PM: Pushing Daisies. One of the best new shows of last season, that got suspended thanks to the Strike. It may be on borrowed time, cause the ratings were not fantastic, but the lack of pilot season has given it new life.
*Casualty of this hour* America's Next Top Model, which airs repeats on Friday nights, so I will catch it then.
9:00-10:00 PM: Privaate Practice. I wanted to hate this show. I really did. And I am kinda embarassed that I like it. Guilty pleasure people, guilty pleasure.
10:00-11:00 PM: Dirty Sexy Money. Another show, also on borrowed time. I know they have been tweaking the show alot. It's just great soapy fun. Lucy Liu joins the cast, and I sure will be a great addition.

THURSDAY:
8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Ugly Betty. I heart America Ferrera. And that's why I keep watching.
8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Smallville. I was on the verge of breaking up with this show towards the end of last year. Really, I think they have stretched the pre-comics Superman mythology as far as it can go, and they are eventually either gonna have to go off the air, or merge into the know mythology.
8:00 PM-9:00 PM: Survivor. If I break up with Smallville, I always go back to Survivor. And I will probably watch this online the next day anyway. CBS is uber good about putting their shows online.
9:00 PM-10:00 PM: Grey's Anatomy. Yes, it has been to the dark place. But last year's finale was the Grey's that I fell in love with. I can't let it go.
9:00-9:30 PM: The Office. Jim Halpert...why are you not real???
10:00-11:00 PM: Life on Mars. Another buzzy new show I am going to check out. It could go either way. And I am pretty sure Lost will get this slot back come January.
10:00-11:00 PM: ER. I finally broke up with ER last year. It just wasn't holding my interest anymore. However, it is the final season. I may have to come back to it.

And that's basically it. I am a little curious about The Ex List, which stars Grey's Alum Elizabeth Reaser, but it airs on Fridays, and I don't watch anything else then, as I am usually at the movies :).

Yes, I know I watch alot of TV, but I love it. What shows are YOU dying for? What show (Gossip Girl, 30 Rock) are you SHOCKED that I don't watch...and give me a reason why I should...

Harry Potter Trailer!!!!!!!!

Oh dear Lord, I think I just peed my pants a little...


Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Exclusive Trailer

The Cell Block Tango...Disney Style

So it's a slow day at work, so I have been perusing some of my favorite blogs. One of my absolute favorites is called the film experience (http://filmexperience.blogspot.com/), which any movie lover should check out. Anyway, I have previously discussed the concept of the fan made video on youtube, and the blog writer posted this gem of a video that I just HAD to share...

It's some of the Disney Villainesses "singing" the Cell Block Tango from Chicago. Brilliant!



a) This person masterfully timed the clips to the dialouge. WHO HAS TIME FOR THIS?!
b) I still think it is kinda sad I find these endlessly entertaining. I spent a good deal of Saturday watching fan made Mulder and Scully videos. HELLLLLP!!!!!

Damn You Nicholas Sparks...

The Title of this entry really should be "How I Spent My Saturday Evening"...

I didn't really feel like going out this evening (ME?! wha??). It's been a very busy past couple of weeks, and I am trying to conserve fundage that I know I will eventually spend on concerts. I went to the gym almost every day this week, running a total of 25 miles, so I went and rewarded myself by getting a scoop of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream from Baskin Robbins, then returned home and faced my DVD library and picked out a flick.

Tonight I settled on "A Walk to Remember". Don't roll your eyes at me. Yes, it is a sappy bordering on saccharine movie. But dammit if I don't love it. Nicholas Sparks gets a bad rap for being overly sentimental, but isn't that heightened sentiment why we choose to read or watch things like that in the first place? I know I do. Sometimes you just need a sappy movie, a box of tissues, and a good cry. "A Walk to Remember" will never be in the pantheon of great movies, or even very good ones. But man, it makes me want to find a love like that. It makes me want to believe that kind of love is possible...and that's why I watch. And oh did I cry...especially cause I hadn't watched this movie in awhile.

And because I am a masochist/emotional cutter, once that movie ended, guess what movie I put in next? If you guessed "The Notebook", then gold star for you. I heart this movie something fierce. It rides the border of almost too saccharine and cliche, but what kept it from doing so is the unbelievably real performances by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. Wow did that casting director catch lightning in a bottle when he/she cast those two in those roles or what? I have quite a girl crush on Rachel McAdams, and I really wish she worked more, cause I freaking love her as an actress. And the story is right up there in the best movie love stories for me. I will say it again about Sparks...say what you want about him, but the man writes a damn good love story. I laughed. I cried. I felt my heart swell with love. It made me forget for a few hours the cynicism I have increasingly grown accustomed to in that area in my life and believe once again in soulmates. Really, what more can you ask for in a movie? Not too much, and that's why I keep coming back for more. It's funny, cause at the beginning of my evening, I wouldn't have told you that I was in the mood for a sappy romance night, but apparently I was. Always trust your first instincts when picking out a movie to watch :)

So that's how I spent my evening...crying my eyes out (they are gonna look lovely in the AM) and wishing I could be in love in the movies. Good times.

Maybe I'll continue the crying jaunt and pop in Titanic next... ;-)

One for the Ages...

Believe the hype about The Dark Knight. It IS that good.

I'm gonna keep this spoiler free out of respect for those of you who haven't seen it, cause I would never want to ruin for you what I experienced last night.

I love event movies. There is nothing like experiencing a movie like Indy 4 or TDK at midnight as soon as it becomes release day with a bunch of superfans just like you (many of whom are in costume) who view the movie with the utmost respect. These are the people who burst into applause at the right moments. The people who were so quiet once it started you could hear a pin drop in a massive theatre on 42nd Street (a rarity if you have ever seen a movie there). Not one cell phone went off during the movie. No one talked in inappropriate places. We were all at the church of movie going, and no one wanted to ruin the experience for any of their fellow congregants...

The Dark Knight is a movie that transcends all definitions of genre. It is just an excellent movie. My only minor quibble with it is that after the opening set piece, the exposition and set up takes a wee bit too long in my opinion. But really, it's a MINOR problem, cause said exposition was still enjoyable. The script, penned by director Christopher Nolan and his brother, is excellent. It's dark and twisty. It takes you to places you don't really expect it to. It shocks and it awes. The direction (with the exception of the very beginning) is taut and has you on the edge of your seat.

The cast is excellent as can be expected. Christian Bale once again turns in a fantastic (and understated) performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman. What makes him so good is that he is good at playing both Hero and alter Ego, whereas previous actors have been good at one or the other (like Michael Keaton was an excellent Batman, he wasn't as good as Bruce. The very opposite was true with George Clooney). Excellent support comes from Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman, perfectly cast in their roles. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a vast improvement over Katie Holmes, even though the role of Rachel Dawes is still a pretty thankless one. Aaron Eckhart was excellent as Harvey Dent...his golden boy looks and chiseled features perfectly embodying the potential white knight DA of Gotham. He was also a great foil for Bale looks wise, All American Blondie vs. Dark and Brooding. Well done.

But the movie belongs to the late Heath Ledger, who truly does give a performance for the ages. The performance has been hyped ever since his tragic passing, so it had alot to live up to...and it surpassed my expectations. I was prepared to be upset and think about his death when he showed up on screen, but Heath so fully embodied the character that you forgot about it. He was just so ALIVE in the Joker...a performance that oozed out of every pore of his being, one so fully and terrifyingly realized I couldn't get enough of it. He was both comic and evil, a ticking time bomb of a character that fills you with a visceral dread anytime he comes on screen. Only when the screen went dark, and the "In Memory of our friend Heath Ledger" screen came up, was I jolted back into the reality that he is no longer with us.

It breaks my heart that he is not here to see the reception and accolades this performance has been given (although it probably would have made him uncomfortable). It hurts me that we will never again see what else this immensely talented man had up his sleeve. Because I feel like he was only beginning to really come into himself as an actor. But what a swan song he gave us...

Rest in Peace, Heath. You are missed already.

Emmy Nominations!

I love the day nominations for awards shows come out. I admit, I am one of those losers who gets up early, turns on E! and watches the live announcement. I just love witnessing the atmosphere of this room in LA packed full with eager publicists and journalists (at 5 AM LA time no less) ready to hear the good or bad news for their clients and favorite shows. And today it was great cause my imaginary BFF Neil Patrick Harris and Broadway vet turned Pushing Daisies star Kristin Chenoweth announced the noms and there was great spontaneous banter between them as they read off the nominees. Good times.

Now, onto the nominees themselves...I will say, that with the announcements of the top ten semifinalists in each category, I was a bit more prepared for the fact that some of my shows (my beloved HIMYM) weren't going to make the cut. While painful, it was a bit easier just knowing I wouldn't hear them called. Sigh. But it doesn't mean that I am still not outraged on some of my shows' behalf. :-)

DRAMA SERIES:
"Boston Legal," ABC
"Damages," FX
"Dexter," Showtime
"House," Fox
"Lost," ABC
"Mad Men," AMC

Well, in my earlier post on the semi-finalists, I correctly guessed 4 out of these 6 (there must have been a tie for the 5th slot, hence the 6 nominees). I should learn after all these years, to never count out Boston Legal. The Emmy voters LOVE this show...or at least nominating it, as it has yet to win. Mad Men got 16 nominations in total. I just started watching this show (a blog on it is to come once I finish Season 1), and let me just say that it is excellent, and may be a favorite in this race.
-Note that Mad Men, Damages, and Dexter made history today in being the first non-HBO cable shows to be nominated in the series category. Also for the first time in a LONG time, HBO is not represented in the drama category.
-Once I found out that Grey's only screened part 1 of their finale, I am not surprised they didn't get in. Way to leave the judges hanging in the middle of a story, Shonda...
-YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY Lost!!!! The episode they submitted was the instant classic "The Constant", so it may challenge Mad Men for that Statue.
-I am still bitter that Brothers and Sisters didn't even make the top ten. Clearly Emmy voters don't like Soapy dramas.

COMEDY SERIES:
"Curb Your Enthusiasm," HBO
"Entourage," HBO
"The Office," NBC
"30 Rock," NBC
"Two and a Half Men," CBS

Um, how unoriginal can you get? They must have blown their wads in the Drama category, cause these 5 were the same nominees as last year. YAWN. However, I called it, except I would have put in the wonderful Pushing Daisies over Curb Your Enthusiasm. Sadly, the Emmy Voters find that Two and a Half Men is one of the funniest shows on TV. Again, if anyone can explain this phenomenon to me, I would greatly appreciate it.
-30 Rock scored a record 17 nominations, so it has to be the current favorite. I really need to get into this show.

ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES:
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House"
James Spader, "Boston Legal"

Once again, we have six nominees. Fricking Hugh Laurie has yet to win the Emmy for his brilliant performance on House. The episode he submitted, called "House's Head" is a tour de force performance, and hopefully he will finally triumph this year. But never count out James Spader, who has won this many times before. The Emmy Voters have quite a hard-on for his performance as Alan Shore, and he always gets to submit big grandstanding courtroom speech episodes.
-However, don't count out Mad Men's Jon Hamm, who won the Golden Globe. He had a speech in an episode I just watched, where he was pitching a campaign for LIPSTICK that almost moved me to tears...it was that good.

ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES:
Glenn Close, "Damages"
Sally Field, "Brothers and Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit"
Holly Hunter, "Saving Grace"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

YAWN. Same nominees as last year, save for Glenn Close subbing in for Patricia Arquette. Close looks to be the favorite here...although no one saw Sally Field's win coming, so who knows.

ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES:
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Lee Pace, "Pushing Daisies"
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"
Charlie Sheen, "Two and a Half Men"

This is also the list of usual suspects, save for newcomer Lee Pace for his delightful performance on Pushing Daisies. Remind me again HOW this show did not get a series nom? I would say that Alec Baldwin's name was already engraved on this, but they fricking LOVE Tony Shaloub. If Charlie Sheen wins, I may do something drastic...

ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES:
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"

It's offical...Emmy voters are over the ladies of Desperate Housewives. I find it a bit surprising, as this season was a true return to first season glory for the show. I knew Christina Applegate would get in. She carries that entire show on her incredibly funny shoulders. She could be a dark horse to win, as Emmy can love a comeback story. Is this really the same girl who was Kelly Bundy on Married With Children? However, last year's winner Tina Fey has to be a favorite.

SUPPORTING ACTOR, COMEDY SERIES:
Jon Cryer, "Two and a Half Men"
Kevin Dillon, "Entourage"
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Rainn Wilson, "The Office"

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY for Neil! The episode he submitted, The Goat, is excellent, and gives him a really good chance at winning...if they don't go for two time champ Piven AGAIN. I was cool with it the first year, but really when someone wins multiple years in a row, I have a hard time believing that they really ARE the best in their field every single year. I more think that voters are just lazy and vote for the most recognizable name. Neil has been on an arudous publicity campaign for HIMYM (and himself), and he is incredibly likable, so hopefully that will pay off for him.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, COMEDY SERIES:
Kristin Chenoweth, "Pushing Daisies"
Amy Poehler, "Saturday Night Live"
Jean Smart, "Samantha Who?
Holland Taylor, "Two and a Half Men"
Vanessa Williams, "Ugly Betty"

It's quite huge that Amy Poehler pulled off this nomination. Rumor is that the spin off to The Office is going to be built around her, so this could be a good send off for her days on SNL. This is a very strong category. I could see any of these ladies taking it.

SUPPORTING ACTOR, DRAMA SERIES:
Ted Danson, "Damages"
Michael Emerson, "Lost"
Zeljko Ivanek, "Damages"
William Shatner, "Boston Legal"
John Slattery, "Mad Men"

Michael Emerson MUST WIN this. That's all I am going to say about that. It's going to be a toughie though.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS, DRAMA SERIES:
Candice Bergen, "Boston Legal"
Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers and Sisters"
Sandra Oh, "Grey's Anatomy"
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment"
Chandra Wilson, "Grey's Anatomy"

History dictates that when Candice Bergen is nominated, she usually wins. I would love to see Chandra Wilson take this though. Her performance as Miranda Bailey is a consistent high point on Grey's, and she was given great material this year. The episode she submitted this year (the one where her son almost died in a freak accident) was an uber tearjerker, and she was fantastic in it.

REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM:
"The Amazing Race," CBS
"American Idol," FOX
"Dancing With The Stars," ABC
"Project Runway," Bravo
"Top Chef," Bravo

Will one of these shows finally break the stronghold that Amazing Race has in this category? It has never lost in all the years they have given out this award.

REALITY HOST:
Tom Bergeron, 'Dancing With The Stars'
Heidi Klum, 'Project Runway'
Howie Mandel, 'Deal Or No Deal'
Jeff Probst, 'Survivor'
Ryan Seacrest, 'American Idol'

This has to be Ryan Seacrest's award to lose. The man is one of the hardest workers in Hollywood, and it may finally be a way for the Emmys to reward TV's highest rated show.

So, all in all, there were no real OUTRAGES this morning...but that is mainly because I had worked through all of my rage already, and had moved into the phase of acceptance :-)