Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv. Show all posts

11 February 2008

In the great words of Phil Elvrum, I Am Bored.


I got nothing. The only thing that's somewhat newsworthy is last night's Grammys, and that was a huge snorefest. Kanye's performance was the only phenomenal performance, which was good. I love Feist to death, but her performance was way subdued.

Man. What a disappointing weekend.

Listen:

01 February 2008

Honestly, I love Conan without the writers, too.


I think it's good that he shows more of his personality and that they're free-forming it, which I think makes it even more hilarious. That bit where he sits in the back row audience last night was fucking hilarious. Free donuts? Camman, that's too funny. And that crazy ass performance with Les Savy Fav? It was too delicious that I turned the channel.

Yay, Conesy.

25 January 2008

Farewell, Betty, farewell.

Photo courtesy of ABC

What can I say? Saying I "love" Ugly Betty is quite an understatement. For one, Thursday nights between 8 and 9 p.m. were off limits. I watch this show like those who watch Rocky Horror Picture Show during the midnight show. I throw bananas at the screen when I dislike a scene; I cry when the characters cry; I gush whenever the characters gush; I even dressed up! Boy, I can go on and on, but my sanity is at stake.

So seeing the premature season finale of one of my favorite shows in history was pretty heartbreaking, but luckily, I was prepared for this for some time now. I have accepted the fact that I'll never see this show again. Well, until the next season rolls around. I can say this, though: I can relax now for I am no longer fanatical about it, until, of course, next season.

I'm actually surprised the show had a really good run like it did. I thought it was gonna be really affected by the strike and be just total shit, but it was the direct opposite. The last show could've been tweaked a little bit, but at the state the entertainment industry's in, that's apparently asking for a lot.

I've seen people in message boards comparing this show to Will & Grace where the supporting cast makes the show and that they're tired of Betty and Henry's "cute" relationship, especially when our last glimpse of them together is them singing Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's "It Takes Two." But then I realize that during the modern TV age, we've only seen a chase between two people who actually love each other but something's always in the way. Joanie and Chachi. Ross and Rachel. Ed and Carol (anybody watch Ed?). Jake and Dylan (anybody watch Good Morning Miami?). Pam and Jim. Gah, the list goes on and on and on and on and on until somebody gets bored watching these goddam love chases. Who has time for that? Why is that the only suspense of a sitcom?

That's why I love Ugly Betty because the love story is in the back-burner. They either conquered it or failed and continued to keep it moving. I guess people were hoping for Henry and Betty to have a meltdown and not be so "adorkable." It's like those people who believe that a relationship gets boring after you've got your guy or gal--it's the chase that brings them the adrenaline rush. Yawn. If I'm chasing somebody, I get real over it, real quick.

While I'm glad that Amanda finally discovers her father and that it is, in fact, Gene Simmons, I think the juiciest sub-plot is Christina eavesdropping any possible way she can to dig up the dirt on Wilhemina and her sister's, Rene, involvement with Daniel. That was the major cliffhanger that left not a single trace of clues as to what Rene could be keeping a secret as Willy warns her that he'll eventually find out who she "really is." Yowsah.

And Claire Meade starting a new magazine for mature woman called Hot Flash? Camman. Too classic.

I will say that I wish Alexis Meade's life would've played out more in the show, but with the show being cut in half, I'm sure they had something cooked up.

If anything, I'm definitely looking forward to a stronger comeback season in the fall, if everything works out with the strike. And seriously, it should. I'm getting bored of this dilly-dallying bullshit. Let's pay the chump change that the writers want and keep it moving, greedy studio execs. Damn.

Sidebar: Big ups to Caribou for lending their song "Melody Day" in the bar scene.

03 January 2008

At least late-nighters can watch fresh material.


The strike ended for David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, which is a sign of a little progress, I 'spose.

Watch this video. It's funny. A little old, but funny, nonetheless.

06 December 2007

Ugly Betty is for (nerd-) lovers.

Image courtesy of ABC

If tonight's episode of Ugly Betty wasn't downright delicious, then I need to go to the doctor to get my taste buds checked out. That show has made me regret ever regretting being a straight-up nerd. I'm talking coming to grips with my thirty-minute space-out sessions, spewing out random facts that no one will ever think about but will always appreciate down the road when they want to prove they are knowledgeable about something to someone they're trying to impress, and other nerdly things that nerds like myself enjoy.

Other ABC popular shows like Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy focus too much on the "normal" people who are shallow and boring and annoying and lame and ridiculous and pathetic and--surprise, surprise--not too bright. Ugly Betty pokes fun of said kinds harshly and makes the nerds out to be the heroes. And it's a Latina--as Betty said once on the show, the only hero Mexicans ever had was a speedy little mouse. So true--dayum, guh!

They're really doing a tremendous job with the Betty-Henry relationship, too. It's such an organic relationship, the actual kind that should be on TV because it actually focuses on love and the meaning of it and the joy of it and the ugliness of it and the beauty of it--in short, the whole process of it. That really melts my heart.

I also like the fact that after Betty came back to Mode, she has been less involved with the drama and scandals going on there and has focused on her life solely. I also like how ambitious Wilhemina is to get that damn magazine of hers up and running. Seriously, planting a dead man's semen in your va-jay-jay? Is it really that serious? Damn.

In other news:

Henry (Christopher Gorham) is a hot. I'm not talking hot like, "Ohhhhhhhhhh, oweee, hot hot hot!" I'm talking, "Ohmigod if he walks by me my undies will literally melt through my skin and leave a permanent mark which will forever remind of the hotness that exists in his mere presence" hot. It's unfortunate that he doesn't get interviewed a lot. Or isn't shirtless with ice cream on his body in every scene.

I objectify men, what can I say. I'm OK with that. Do not judge me.

20 November 2007

Writer's strike is pretty serious, folks.


Being a writer myself, I'm all for the writer's strike. It's definitely deserved. I just hate that I'm so fucking enthralled with Ugly Betty that I'll actually be hurt when the lights go out too soon.

But can't say I don't feel their pain. I know I'm not the only one when I say that I didn't even think about writer's not receiving revenue for DVD and iTunes sales. Now that I think about it, that's pretty messed up for the TV industry to not even consider that shit. Don't they know that people don't even bother watching shows during its actual air time, that they just would rather wait to engorge in watching commercial- and interruption-free episodes of their favorite shows?

If anything, I hope the strike gets the writers what they want--and deserve.

More on the strike:
SHIFT: The technology driving the Hollywood writer's strike

19 November 2007

When Comedians Ruled the World: Arsenio Hall

Arsenio at the 1989 Emmy Awards. Photo by Alan Light.


A recent dream and a newfound interest in doing the "Woo Woo Woo" fist pump in public places got me wondering what the hell happened to Arsenio Hall.

After seeing Eddie Murphy's successful attempts at a comeback (Oscar nomination, hello!), it's really depressing to see Arsenio's best comeback so far has been his short-lived stint on the return of Star Search four years ago and some appearances on VH1's "I Love The 90s" series.

Nevertheless, he sure is missed. No matter how much I love Conan O'Brien, The Arsenio Hall Show will always be my favorite talk show.

Highlights:
Arsenio interview Jason Voorhees


Aresnio interviews Madonna


Arsenio interviews Tupac (post-controversial interview with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan)


Arsenio and BFF Eddie Murphy, pt. 1-4:





You have a fan in me, Arsenio.