The Orchestra Was Gigantic

Okay, I lied. I said I would post on Friday more about Josh Ritter, but I didn’t. I had to get ready for the show and I had no idea it would take me hours to prettify myself (it’s been a while). So, quick recap – I went to see my current favorite singer/ songwriter perform at Symphony Hall in Boston on Friday, accompanied by his band and members of the Boston Pops Orchestra. If you don’t know Josh’s music, it’s hard to describe. He’s poetic with influences of rock, country, folk, and rockabilly in his “sound” (that’s right, he has a “sound”). He’s like Bob Dylan, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash, and Bruce Springsteen in a blender. Please check him out, so he’ll get really famous and I won’t think he’s cool anymore, and I’ll stop talking about him. Anyway, so Friday was the big show. I’d been to Symphony Hall in college once or twice when the hubby was in his classical music phase, but it’s usually not a ticket I run out for. When I heard Josh was going to be there (from his newsletter, dorky, I know) with the Pops, I was shaking trying to get tickets online. Happily, I scored two second row VIP tickets, including a meet and greet and a poster. Wow. See, there are benefits to getting into an artist on the ground floor, people. When I mentioned I was going to the show to most normal people, they said “Who??” so I didn’t know what to expect. Well, the place was sold out. My section, which were the cabaret tables, was all the hard-core fans (many of them seemed to know each other). Most people were nicely dressed (including a guy at the table in front, who, before the show, managed to spill an entire glass of red wine on his buddy’s khaki crotch. And break the glass. Twice. Way to class it up, kids). Drinks and snacks were available and the service seemed like they were on top of it. They were probably used to a much fancier crowd (the joint had a Kentucky Derby blueblood kind of vibe). I’ll admit I did not like the cabaret seating as it was too close for comfort. They guy to my left kind of wanted to make friends (and I am not friendly) and the people to my right kept insisting they were going to have to take the Hubby’s seat (who was a-peeing) since they had difficulty with counting to five and realizing there were enough seats at the table. But then, the show began! The Pops filed in, looking so classy and serious. Then, Josh and his band came onto the stage, looking hipster cool in suits. Josh was bubbling over with excitement. I thought he was going to pee himself (which is another reason why we love him – sometimes I think he’s having more fun than the audience, if that’s possible). Here’s the setlist that I grabbed from the forum (thanks to aurora borealis for posting for those of us with fuzzy memories):

idaho (solo)
best for the best (with pops)
other side (with band and pops)
rumors (with band and pops)
girl in the war (with band and pops)
wolves (with band)
monster ballads (with band and pops)
thin blue flame (with violin soloist)
the temptation of adam (with pops)
to the dogs or whoever (with band)
right moves (with band and pops)

robert pinsky - 2 poems
- the want bone
- the wave
(both poems read to edge of the world )

bone of song (solo until the final line, then pops)
kathleen (with band and pops)

ENCORE
wildfires – "for the people of burma" (with band)
empty hearts – with audience sing a long (with band and pops)

It was an amazing show. Josh was fantastic and pumped (so pumped, he screwed up a few times, which made it seem more genuine). His band sounded great, the Pops arrangements were beautiful (even though I wondered how many of the musicians knew who this kid was). Conductor John Mclaughlin and Josh kept winking at each other the whole time, so I could tell this was new to both of them. Former Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky’s poems were interesting (very sexual) but he also had a weird Bobby Deniro vibe going on. It was a great night and I didn’t want it to end. I posted Rumors from Youtube, which I think was the theme song for the whole show, and my favorite song, The Temptation of Adam. Enjoy and tomorrow I’ll recap the meet and greet, including a bear hug from Josh and how tiny Natalie Merchant looks in person!

Tomorrow’s Really Big Show

Tomorrow is an exciting day for me -- I’m going to see Mr. Josh Ritter at Symphony Hall in Boston, with the effing Boston Pops. I can barely contain myself. His orchestra is gigantic after all (see Rumors). I’ll post more on this tomorrow and a full recap on Monday, but for today, I leave you with a classic Ritter video from his last Letterman appearance:

I Survived Watching I Survived a Japanese Game Show

Let me start by telling you that Japan is one of the most wonderful places in the whole world. It’s where I first met cold sake (as opposed to the warm stuff they feed you in local strip mall restaurants), not to mention the most gentle, polite people. So, when I heard there was going to be a new show called I Survived a Japanese Game Show I thought, cool, maybe they’ll show some behind-the-scenes culture and teach America how great Japan is. How wrong was I. They seem to have found the most sheltered boobs in America to bring to Japan. They’re spitting sake out (because it “tastes like lighter fluid” instead of the wine cooler they were expecting), they think mochi balls are like putty (not delicious bits of heaven they are) and they wear their shoes . . . indoors (everyone knows you take your shoes off, right?). One girl sees her darling little tatami mat and exclaims ‘I don’t want to sleep on the floor.” Sigh. I hope the Japanese get a good laugh at them (= us) because we deserve it for spending so much time saying how silly/ weird the Japanese are. I think most Americans think all Japanese people either shout like the Chairman on Iron Chef or are sumo wrestlers. This show doesn’t help. I suppose asking TV to educate is asking too much. I guess I’ll go back to my elitist green tea and mochi and shut the hell up.

The Art of Exaggeration

I’ve been known to spin a large whale tale or too in my time, but it clarifications and mea culpas seem to be the theme of today’s headlines. Cases in point:

-Hoax of lost Amazon tribe

-Pregnant Teen: There Was No Pact

-Larry Birkhead Clarifies Comments

-Winehouse Dad's Overblown Diagnosis

Why all the exaggeration, jumping to conclusions, or just the out and out lies to and by the media lately? So, there’s no orange people tribe (or there is, but we've known about it for a while), no gang of pregnant teens (just a town with some confused girls), Larry Birkhead didn’t by Anna Nicole’s lingerie for their daughter now (it’s for later, thanks Dad), and Amy Winehouse is not on her deathbed (but we advise she stil should put down the crack pipe). Can we all get our stories straight from here on out? Well, I suppose that would create 100% less news because they wouldn’t need to write a retraction for every story. Maybe we can write longer more truthful articles and call it a day? No? Well, I tried.

Party of One: Megan Ward

Last night, The Hubby made me watch a short marathon (2 episodes) of Party of Five while he had an ironing triathalon. Bless On Demand for giving us this gift. These episodes involved the short arc featuring Megan Ward as Jill – Bailey’s hard partying girlfriend, who will eventually meet her demise. She was channeled by Drew Barrymore in Mad Love, who was channeled by Kirsten Dunst in Crazy/ Beautiful (do you see a crazy girl theme?). It’s the age old story of drunk/ mentally unstable blonde girl meets nice boy who doesn’t realize he’s got his hands full until it’s too late. Boy tries to save girl, but it’s going to turn into in Aerosmith video at some point with Alicia Silverstone bungee jumping on the highway. Anyway, I enjoyed Megan Ward immensely on her pre-Po5 show, Class of ’96, which was a short year in the lives of freshmen (in ’93, natch) at an Ivy League school. It was my first year of college too, so I found the show very exciting, but it did not live to see another season. Luckily for Megan, she’s been on the righteous path of guest starring on serial dramas for the past 15 years, and is currently on General Hospital (she also did 7 episodes of Melrose Place!) And fun fact – she speaks Japanese and hosted a Japanese TV show at one point (due to her teen modeling there). I believe that earns her a spot in the Cold Sake Hall of Fame! Congrats, Megan!

What’s Up, Melrose Place?

In order to make up for yesterday’s lack of a post (I was sleeping off a mid-week Anniversary bash with the Hubby), here’s a supersized post to last all weekend. Watching Swingtown (as a stop-gap effort until better television is on) has inspired me to check in with the cast of 90210’s slutty little sister, Melrose Place. I stopped watching it a couple of seasons in, around the time Allison became an alcoholic, but not before Kimberly turned into massive head wound Harry. Therefore, I’ll be checking in with the original season-one cast only, because we all know what Lisa Rinna and Kristin Davis are up to, yet don’t care what David Charvet is doing.

Grant Show (Jake Hansen) -- Originally the bridge between Melrose and Beverly Hills, via Kelly Taylor’s mom’s huppah. He now plays sleazy Tom Decker, the predatory pilot from Swingtown. I’m hoping he develops a soul (or even a personality) to keep the show from being the completely one-dimensional Time Life Hits of the 70’s CD collection commercial it currently is.

Andrew Shue (Billy Campbell) – Ah, the dopey soccer-obsessed puppy with a lisp we all loved. Where Shue ended and Billy began, we’ll never know. Seems like he’s been making soccer-themed movies the past few years (how did he miss a part in Ladybugs, you may be wondering?), founding various non-profits (remember “DO Something”? I so wanted to DO Something while reading about the group in Sassy Magazine but could never figure out something, exactly, to do.) and playing professional soccer around the world. Guess the guy found a hobby and is sticking to it!

Courtney Thorne-Smith (Allison Parker) – I always felt a kinship with ad exec Allison – we were both in the same profession, we both thought Andrew Shue was cute, we both drank Absolut straight from the freezer, er, scratch the last one. Poor Thorne-Smith has been toiling away the past few years on According to Jim, probably praying it gets cancelled so that she doesn’t have to make out with Jim Belushi any more. She also wrote a book, Outside In, and produced a baby. She’s been one busy lady. I hope she takes it easy on the vodka.

Thomas Calabro (Michael Mancini) – I always thought there was something shifty about building manager/ doctor Michael Mancini. Turns out there was as he morphed from loving husband to building sleazebag before our eyes. The most prolific of all cast members, clocking in 219 episodes, Calabro has been working steadily for the last ten years, doing guest spots around town (Nip/ Tuck, Cold Case) and most recently, an episode of Greek. It would be fun to get him on Desperate Housewives eventually (see below).

Josie Bissett (Jane Mancini) – Sweet, innocent Jane, with the Wilson Phillips hair. She had to put up with Michael, sister Sydney, Michael’s mistress Kimberly. It was always so much. Lately, Bisset has been doing infomercials and one or two guests spots, but not a ton. Maybe they can work her in to the 90210 spinoff in development at the CW?

Marcia Cross (Kimberly Shaw) – Arguably, currently the most A list of the bunch, she started as friend to Dr. Michael back in the day, as he experienced growing pains with wife Jane. She soon morphed into second wife of Michael, town crazy, and the one with the big scar on her head (one of the most memorable scenes of the series, IMO). Cross now resides on Wysteria Lane and keeps the paparazzi busy photographing shots of her playing with her twin daughters in the park. Only time will tell if that scar was real.

Doug Savant (Matt Fielding) – We knew him as Matt-the-gay-social-worker, who couldn’t catch a break (or a real story line). Savant is now Cross’s neighbor on Wysteria Lane on Desperate Housewives, which is funny since not a whisper of their past life in L.A. remains. In real life, Savant is also married to former cast member Laura Leighton. Who knew Matt had it in him!

Vanessa Williams (Rhonda Blair) – No, not that Vanessa Williams (SAG rules at the time forced the Ugly Betty star to be billed as Vanessa L. Williams). Rhonda’s reign at “the Place’ was limited to one season. She didn’t really fit in with the rest of the crowd. She was an aerobics instructor after all. With her departure, went the only diversity Melrose place would ever know. Williams has also been working steadily, her biggest project was the 2000-2004 series Soul Food, and an episode of Cold Case, of course.

Amy Locane (Sandy Louise Harling) – I was a big fan of Locane’s from School Ties and Cry-Baby, back in the day. Her character on Melrose was silly and probably why she was shipped off after only 12 episodes. Locane played Rhonda’s country roommate, Sandy, who also had a thing for Jake. In real life, Locane’s career seemed busy for a spell, but her filmography ends at 2005, presumably since she’s taken up motherhood full time (having had a baby last year).

Daphne Zuniga (Jo Reylnolds) -- Jo was Rhonda’s mysterious new roommate, after Sandy moved out. She had some sort of dark, mysterious past, which was so mysterious I can’t even remember what it was (maybe an estranged husband?) Zuniga, or Princess Vespa as I like to think of her, has had success in other series such as American Dreams and One Tree Hill. I see that there may be a Spaceballs animated series in her future (everyone loves a Druish princess).

Laura Leighton (Sydney Andrews) – When Jane’s little sister moved in (and moved on Jane’s husband), all hell began to break loose at the apartment. Leighton has had lots of short-lived series and pilots in the past few years mostly named after body parts (Skin or Eyes anyone?) and has also been married to Savant as mentioned above. I wonder if she comes to visit the set of Desperate Housewives if she and Kimberly ever “get into it” for old times sake.

Heather Locklear (Amanda Woodward) – Locklear’s addition to the cast was the end of a nice, sweet show about an apartment complex and the beginning of a slapfest with explosions and pool wrestling. Season’s later, she somehow maintained her “Special Guest Star” billing. Spin City was huge for her, and a bunch of TV movies and failed pilots have followed. Lately, she’s been busy in the tabloids, breaking off her marriage of 7 years to Richie Sambora, dating David Spade and Jack Wagner. I guess blondes have more fun, together.

And that concludes our recap of Melrose Place. We’ll see if I feel motivated enough to check up on the stars of Central Park West anytime soon!

30 Days to Change Your Life

Now that This American Life has ended its miniature season, I am so happy to welcome 30 Days back into my summer TV lineup (no, it’s not a zombie movie). It’s the same kind of stories – human stories from around America, led by a hipster-in-disguise host. Instead of the heavily bespectacled Ira Glass, we have the handlebar mustached Morgan Spurlock. You may remember Morgan as the guy who stuffed his face with Big Macs and shakes for a month in Supersize Me. He now brings the same principal of doing something opposite of you for one month to others. This season, he’s already become a West Virginia coal minor, narrowly avoiding the dreaded “Black Lung,” while he hooked an NFL player up with a wheelchair, and sent a hunter to live with a PETA family. It’s usually less of a shouting match than Wife Swap, focusing on thoughtful discussion and debate rather than drama for ratings sake. I realized last night the situations are a little slanted to the left as he seems to take conservative people (like next week’s episode where a straight mom goes to live with a gay family) and plop them with a bunch of liberals, but they always meet somewhere in the middle by the end of the show and humanity wins. This concept has worked for the past three seasons, because you realize people are just people in the end. That is, until he tries to put a lingerie model with members of the Taliban. For now, I’ll tune in to see what wacky situations every is getting into and ponder if a burger, fries and a vanilla shake is really a bad idea, especially if you make that burger PETA-friendly veggie?

New Kid on the Blog

I’ve been setting such a good example of procrastination through blogging at home that The Hubby has decided to get in on the act. I hereby introduce the Gourmet, all the way blog, where he cooks his way through the Gourmet Magazine Cookbook (I know, it sounds like food porn because it is). I am somehow expected to eat all of this (in which case he better make some friends for the meaty chapters). Best case scenario, we’ll get a book/movie deal, a la Julie Powell. Worst case, a major bout of indigestion (but less butter weight than the Julie Child cookbook was giving me). Believe me, I tried to push a raw cookbook, but he ain’t buying it, yet. So, check out his inaugural posts and hopefully my pop culture junkie readers and his gourmet friends can all get along (maybe we meet in the middle at Top Chef).

Liveblogging the Tonys – NOT!

For a millisecond, I thought it would be fun to liveblog the Tony Awards last night. Then I realized the only two people who care are me and some lady with a thousand cats in New Jersey. If it makes it any more butch, I flipped between the awards and the Celtics game. Anyway, it was a pretty good show to pay 50% attention to (I was ripping articles out of old issues of Cooking Light from 2005) and it had some moments:

-The irascible Patti Lupone (best know to me as Corky’s mom on Life Goes On) took home the Best Actress in a Musical trophy, for her portrayal of Mama Rose in the revival of Gypsy. What a powerhouse!

-Some play called August: Osage County took home a bunch of awards, but I don’t really care because it’s a play and has talking, not enough singing and dancing. Life’s too short not to sing and dance on Broadway.

-Lin-Manuel Miranda rapped his acceptance speech for Best Score for In the Heights and the cast gave an incredible performance from the show. I am now itching to take the next Acela to NYC to see this show. It like the fortieth show to be called “The Next Rent,” but it seems like a modern, completely original show that I would enjoy. It also took home Best Musical.

-The cast of Passing Strange also performed and got down with a funky rock number. Stew, the brains behind the show, reminds me of Cee-lo from Gnarls Barkley, but that makes me love him even more. I don’t know if it’s Acela worthy, but maybe worth a drive?

-My people, the original cast of Rent performed. I know I’ve seen it a million times, but it still gives me goose bumps. Sigh.

-And the Celtics lost.

So that does it for awards season, until the Emmys in September. (I am avoiding the Daytime Emmys like the plague).

Top TV Dads Right Now

Because I honored current TV moms, I feel I must pay respect to the dads as well. Let me tell you, it’s slim pickings out there for good dad role models (a reflection of our times?). As you’ll notice, these are the same shows as the moms, but what can you do? It’s what I watch. So, off we go:

Joe Dubois (Medium) -- He’s got quite the load to split with wife Allison. They seem to share household duties, childrearing and transportation, while also on the lookout for employment. Not to mention it’s been years since he’s had a whole night of uninterrupted sleep, with her nightmares and all. Sure, he’s the Scully to her Mulder, always skeptical, but he goes along with sudden deafness, multiple personalities, and ghosts in the house. Living in a houseful of women with, uh, abilities, can’t be easy ( I wonder if the synch up).

Bill Henrickson (Big Love) – Bill has a lot going on – seven children (and one on the way), three wives, a booming business, a war with his compound-ruling in-laws, his crazy mother, brother, father, sister-in-law. He somehow manages all of it while never messing up his side part. And to think he was considering a fourth wife – is he crazy?

Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother) – Any dad that recounts every hookup of him and his friends to his kids can’t be all bad. Who knows? Maybe in the future, dads are more open about their sexual conquests. But Ted, who is your damn wife? You’re killing us.

Ignacio Suarez (Ugly Betty) – I wish my dad kept me in a constant supply of empanadas. But, the obsessive telenovela watching is a little annoying. He needs a ladyfriend or a hobby or something. I suppose if it prevents him from getting deported again, can’t hurt.

Hmmm, that’s about it. Grey’s has zippo dads, Michael may be a dad (sort of) on The Office (so we’ll catch him next year). And, I think all the dads on Lost are deceased (they have parent issues on that show). Did I miss any?

Kathryn Heigl Withrdraws from Emmy Race

Kathryn Heigl has announced that she is withdrawing her name from Emmy nomination consideration this year because she feels she lacked the material on Grey’s Anatomy to qualify for such an honor. I hereby, in a move of solidarity, will withdraw my name as well. I really didn’t do anything on TV this year that would qualify me. Hell, while I’m at it, please withdraw any upcoming nominations for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Tony, a Nobel, a Pulitzer, and even a Razzie. I’m on the fence about the People’s Choice Award (it’s really the people’s decision, not mine). Oh, don’t forget about a Grammy, an AMA, a CMA (for my country fans), a Kid’s Choice Award, an MTV Popcorn thingy, and anything else you can possibly think of. But, this is for just this year only. I expect much juicier material in the upcoming year, based on what my agent, I mean my mom, is telling me.

Seriously, Heigl, you already won before. Could it possibly be that the Grey’s staff wanted to spread out a little this year and beef up the roles of underused talent, such as Chandra Wilson? No, not possible if the world revolves around you. Sheesh.

Top Chef Finale: Part Deux

Alas, no pork was left out on the Top Chef Finale, but the episode was chock full of Lisa-tude. We begin in tropical Puerto Rico during an uncomfortable breakfast with Richard, Stephanie, and Lisa. Richard is already sending Lisa steely glances as he doesn’t think she belongs there (as do I). They are then introduced to three piles of festering meat and seafood, behind which stands their sous chef – Eric Ripert (!), April Bloomfield (!), and Dan Barber (!). Stephanie pairs with Ripert (wise choice), Richard takes Dan, and Lisa goes all girl power with April. What’s funny is watching Stephanie tell a Michelin chef how to fillet a fish and Richard showing the crowd some of his liquid nitrogen tricks. And Lisa just whines in the background. She keeps saying how un-nervous she is, which I’m hoping is the TV editing kiss of death. They adjourn for the day, to return the next day to the news it’s a sous-chef sick-out and they’re on their own. Richard is sweating it, Stephanie is doubtful of her abilities, and Lisa’s awesome (in her own mind). The dishes are presented, Lisa is over confident, Richard has decided to 86 his Tabasco ice-cream with oysters, and Stephanie is hating on her dessert. After the tasting of the 12 dishes commences, I deduce Stephanie and Lisa draw round one, Lisa takes two, Stephanie three, and Lisa (grumble) four. Lisa also comes to this conclusion and says this to Stephanie IN FRONT OF RICHARD, who has just confided to the judges that he has choked by way of pork belly. But my, does Tom Colicchio look dapper all cleaned up (but he’s still a dick). Oh, and why 9 judges? Where’s Nina Zagat for an even 10? Anywho, I was sweating by this point that Lisa would take it due to the rave reviews (even though only 4% of viewers wanted her to win, according to the call in poll). Thank Anthony Bourdain (you know, God), Stephanie won, well deserved (but it bums me out that Richard did so poorly, despite the well received bacon ice cream.) But wait, there’s more – a cast reunion next week. Can’t wait to see if Spike’s got a new hat!

Don't Just Sit There!

In my trip down memory lane the other day, I was reminded of my favorite show from 1988 – Don’t Just Sit There. It was on Nickelodeon in the evening (maybe around 6 or 7 pm) and was a mix of Letterman and sketch comedy. It was hosted by four teens, Matt Brown, Wendy Douglas, B.J. Schaffer, Alie Smith, and later Will Friedle (the most famous of the bunch, for dating J-Love and starring on Boy Meets World after this). I thought this show was the bomb and never missed an episode (until it was cancelled). They even had a house band, Out of Order, and had superstar musical guests, like New Kids on the Block. Ring any bells, people? If anyone has any more info about this show or has clips, please send ‘em along!

Search for the Next Food Network Star (Maybe)

So, with The Hubby’s new foodie obsession, I’ve not only been forced to watch the good (Top Chef), but also the bad (The Next Food Network Star). If you’re not familiar with the latter, it’s like the slow cousin of Top Chef. People, with less culinary training and skills, compete to be the next Rachael Ray. The food they cook doesn’t look or taste very good (and usually isn’t thoroughly cooked). Instead of a spot in Food and Wine, they get the less edgy Bon Apetit. The best part, if they win, they get their own show on Food Network (sort of). Sure, Guy Fieri, a past winner, is a big deal now in the chili dog crowd, but last year’s winner only hit the air a few times (at Sunday at 2pm) before she disappeared from the airwaves. So, you can scramble and claw your way to the top of Chelsea Market, impress judge Bobby Flay wit your spice rub, but if network VP Bob Tuschman still ain’t feelin’ it, you’ll be fired Trump-style.

Who Screwed Over Alanis the Most?

We all know the story by now that the Alanis Morissette song “You Outta Know” was inspired by Dave “Joey Gladstone” Coulier (the stud with the moose puppet on Full House). That song was the angry girl anthem of the 90’s (until I discovered No Doubt, that is). Jagged Little Pill was arguably one of the best albums of it’s time and the best complete album by Morissette Then she went to India, got all Zen, and wrote nice songs about politeness (“Thank You”). Yeah, she had a few songs angry songs mixed into her later albums, such as that one about the producer who took advantage of her in her youth (“Hands Clean”), but she was still centered about the whole experience. So, what in the hell did Ryan Reynolds do to her to have reawoken the fury? On every talk show she’s been on she describes the last few years as “hitting rock bottom.” You mean worse than with Cool-yay? Is it the fact that Reynolds moved on to the younger, bustier Scarlett Johansson (good for Reynolds for sticking with the curvy girls at least)? Or did they implode for some other reason we’re not privy to (like Ryan forgot to separate the recycling)? Well, fans are thanking Reynolds for inspiring this burst of creativity, which we haven’t seen the likes of in years. I’m still waiting for the lost album from her Robin Sparkles phase, where she tells You Can’t Do That On Television co-star Alasdair Gillis to leave her the f@%$ alone.

Swingin in the 70’s

I watched the premiere episode of the suburban spouse-swapping drama last night. Swingtown. I’m not sure what to think. It’s like Mad Men and Big Love, thrown in a blender and watered down with a constant heaping of a Dance Fever soundtrack, sprinkled with every other 70’s cliché you can imagine. A nice couple moves in across the street from the Cougarsons, who are constantly on the prowl for fresh meat (what’s up Grant Show?). I thought it would take at least 3 episodes before everyone ends up in bed together, Bob, Ted, Carol, and Alice-style, but it was a done deal by the end of the eppie. And I expected the nice lady to feel a little icky the next morning, but she was lovin’ life. Where do we go from here? Are they gonna conquer the super-freaked out lady a few blocks over (who was scrubbing her oven in horror at what she saw at the neighborhood BBQ, when we last saw her). The kids in the show were all way young and way intense looking themselves, so drama will ensue for them too, I’m sure. Also, I’m intrigued by the other lady that lives across the street (keep up) and covered her windows in tinfoil. Hmmm. On a good note, Liz Phair is scoring the show and she is my idoless. And http://www.last.fm/group/swingtown has the persistent soundtrack from last night (sadly, this link is un-Phair). So, I’ll tune in next week and see if I’m feelin’ the love yet for Swingtown.

Somebody Left Their Pork Out

The Hubby exclaimed this during Top Chef finale (part une) last night and it immediately caught my attention and made me start watching (because, as far as I knew, it was Richard and 3 women, so . . .) It was a building episode to next week's big finale, but here are some observations:
-These dweebs had like 6 months to study Puerto Rican food -- they did that, right?
-Richard came thisclose to burning that faux hawk right off in an explosion of flames. That would have been cool.
-Lisa is a continuing study in negativity, yet SOMEHOW survived another week . Sheesh.
-It was Dale who left out Stephanie's pork, all night (yeah baby). And there was a split second when they considered using it (ewwwww).
-And why was Dale even there, you might ask? Well, Spike's back too, hat and all, to help Richard. Nikki and Andrew appeared as well (producers faves, perhaps?)
-Everytime Padma said the name of guest judge Wilo Benet, I expected a dwarf from a Ron Howard movie.
-Pigs are really gross.
-Antonio went home, so I don't have to hear about her daughter any more.
-Lisa stayed, so I have to listen to her whine. God, please, don't let her win!


Tune in next week, for more on Top Chef: 51st State Edition!

Ad-itude: Mohegan Sun Commercials

Coming from a background in advertising, I have a thorough knowledge of ad campaigns using songs that are wildly inappropriate, such as Royal Caribbean using “Lust for Life,” (a song about drug addiction) in ads for their cruise ships. Well, there’s a new one to add to the list – the Mohegan Sun campaign that uses raunchy 80’s tunes, but rewrites the lyrics into a song and dance spectacular. Selections include “My Sharona” and “Superfreak.” Yeah, songs about underage relationships and freaky sex are a good way to market a casino that caters to old folks in Connecticut (I’ve been there, and you should be prepared to bring your whole social security check to cash in and a carton of cigarettes to smoke if you want to go along with the crowd. Just be sure to turn your oxygen machine down). I suppose the third spot, using Toto’s “Hold the Line,” is tame, but it still lame as it includes super goofy singing and dancing. Holy Martha Quinn! The Ad Wizards should be ashamed! Below, a sampling:

The Cougars Cometh!

When I saw the sign the said “Cougars 4 Cook” during the American Idol finale, I knew something was going on. Now, look at the numbers for Sex in the City, co-starring Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, the O.G. cougar. Older women are embracing the new slang for a vivacious woman on the prowl for younger men. There’s even DateaCougar.com. Madonna is back, trying to save the world with young little Justin Timberlake. And Jennifer Anniston and John Mayer’s relationship is teetering on the edge of cougardom. I think there’s a very good reason for the recent feline explosion – cougars fall into the 40-60 age group. Guess who also falls into that age group? Baby boomers! There’s so damn many of them, they’re defining the way they are being perceived. Sure, it may be sexist, but the older chicks are definitely popularizing the next evolution of the MILF. This can only mean the Hormone Replacement Therapy and giant panties will be the next trends. I think I feel a hot flash coming on, and I mean HOT!

Another Round of Cosmos, Please!

Wow. Way to go girl power. This weekend, the ladies came out en masse to kick Indy’s wrinkly old ass. And I saw all the action first hand. My local theater’s showings of Sex and the City were sold out all night and my friend and I ended up at the older, less fancy theater (more likely to get cinema muck on the stilettos, ya know?). The crowd was 98% women (and one scared looking guy) and so young! I figure the Cougar Patrol would be in full affect, but they all looked like high school girls. And they were a rowdy bunch, cheering at the opening titles, which is why you go opening night. The movie was fantastic (even though I didn’t forgive Big) and like an oversized episode with more meat. The ladies looked a little older (maybe it’s because one-foot-tall crow’s feet on the big screen is harder to ignore), but I thought that was cool that they look and seem to be acting their age, for the most part. Great cameos by Candice Bergen, Mario Cantone, and the rest of the extended SATC family, as well as (Renthed alert!) small part with Daphne Rubin Vega as a disillusioned society chick. I wasn’t really sure what the point of Jennifer Hudson’s role was (other than a nod to African-American and heavy girls), but she was good (not going to win another Oscar, though). Charlotte York makes me cry every time she talks (we have a lot in common). And, I’ve been somewhere before Miss Bradshaw (went to Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel this Christmas. It’s a time warp of a bar, if you get the chance). So, the movie was not a let-down – it was everything I hoped and dreamed and more, and I wouldn’t complain if they had a really good story for a sequel. Sigh, another week, another obsolete box set!