Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I haven't posted for awhile so here's a quick recap.
After complaining about work being boring for the first part of the semester, it has been crazy busy the last few weeks! I feel uninformed because I haven't been able to do my daily internet reading of the major newspapers. Whenever I do read something, however, it seems to be depressing. The world really sucks lately.
The Patriots are looking pretty good. I'm impressed that they've managed to compete with so many key players injured. I'm still hoping for the return of Lamont Jordan though. He looked good in those first few games and we could use a running back upgrade. I still have faith that we can make the playoffs as a wildcard if we can't catch up with the Jets. Frankly the defense is worrying me much more than Cassel and the offense. They really need to make some key stops.
I saw Legally Blonde with Nicki. I'm glad I went for free. The performances were fine (although not spectacular), but the show itself did not interest me at all. I did enjoy the movie, but the plot and character development was too nonexistent in this version and the music and lyrics were unmemorable.
I'm mad at ABC for canceling Pushing Daisies. It seems like the major networks are killing all the original programs to make room for more horrible reality shows or fifty more cop/medical drama spin-offs. I'm also annoyed that Dollhouse is going to air at the same time as Lost on Wednesday nights. That's going to take away a bunch of sci-fi viewers. That's not a good idea for a new show. I hope it will be awesome enough to overcome that.
In other random news, I stopped watching the Office and I haven't missed it at all! I haven't found it very funny or interesting for awhile and I was feeling obligated to watch it instead of excited to watch it. I only laughed a few times each episode. Now, I'm enjoying Ugly Betty instead.
I almost stopped watching Fringe too, but I'm still giving that a chance because I enjoy John Noble's character. I wish they had less gore in the episodes though. As everyone knows, I don't enjoy watching gross things. : )
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sucks to Be Me
Well, I didn't get a new job and it does suck as much as I thought it would since I made it all the way to the final round. I did manage to limit my major crying yesterday to 5 minutes in the bathroom at work when I first found out, which I thought was commendable. Now, I'm just kind of depressed. I need to find something to look forward to. I wish they had told me sooner so I wouldn't have wasted a whole month being stressed out and worried about it and getting my hopes up.
Review: Rent Live
I went to see Rent: Live on Broadway this past weekend and it was very good. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the musical, and I thought it was better than the film version. The Sony reps who were at the screening giving out surveys said that it had been very positively reviewed and they would most likely be releasing it on DVD.
It was a little disconcerting to learn that it was the combination of two different performances, one performed mostly without an audience and then the last night of the production. Although you couldn't tell that it was two shows, I would have been happier with a slightly less film-like version of only the last performance. I think the energy of the show is different at a real performance and little mistakes in theater don't bother me. They are what makes theater more alive.
In addition, the film tended to use close ups of performers. Although it was cool to see the emotions of the actors up close in intimate scenes, the zooming in on chorus members in big group numbers was distracting. If you're going to film a live Broadway show, I think you need to keep in mind that the blocking and staging was done for a reason and the audience is intended to focus on a group scene as a whole and not each background chorus person.
The zooms were not usually horrible, but they were especially bad in What You Own when the camera kept switching back and forth to face Roger and then Mark directly instead of keeping a straight-on, from the audience view. When filmed that way, it was impossible to see that they were physically moving and switching places without directly addressing each other. I also did not need to be that close to Mimi's spandex clad legs and butt during Out Tonight or see that the soloist in Seasons of Love had fillings in her mouth (audience members actually laughed at this).
These complaints are minor, however. I love it, but Rent as a show is not perfect. Jonathan Larson intended to continue to revise the show before his unexpected death. When he died, it continued on as the version that existed at the time. The plot and character developments don't always make a lot of sense and if you see the wrong production, it can feel a bit tired and dated. The best casts are so emotionally involved and high energy that you forget about all that and just see it as snapshots of "a year in the life of friends." This was one of those casts.
Will Chase was the best Roger I have seen (beating Adam Pascal in the film version, but I may have to revise when I see Pascal live on stage in July). I enjoyed Will Chase in High Fidelity, but he really impressed me in this. Normally, I focus on my favorite character, Mark, but I was fascinated by Roger in this production. The close-ups certainly helped in that regard because Will Chase's subtle acting was superb and you could really follow his emotional journey.
As for the rest of the cast, Renee Elsie Goldberry, who played Mimi, was also the best I've seen in that role. She had the right balance of spunk and vulnerability and had an extremely powerful voice. Justin Johnston who played Angel was probably the funniest Angel I've seen and hit the right notes both vocally and in his interactions with the other cast members. While I love Idina Menzel, Eden Espinosa's performance of Maureen was on par with Idina's.
The other cast members weren't stand-outs, but they held their own. Adam Kantor was decent as Mark, but I've seen better. I adore Tracie Thoms, both in Wonderfalls and in the movie version of Rent, but her voice wasn't quite powerful enough to match Eden Espinosa's. Her acting was strong, but Take Me As I Am was a little disappointing on the Joanne verses. I really feel that Joanne and Maureen need to have equally strong voices. Michael McElroy as Collins was another strong actor with a mediocre voice. I appreciated the convincing love he had for Angel, but his I'll Cover You (reprise), which always makes me bawl, really was no comparison to Jesse L. Martin's great performance of that song in the film. Overall, the cast was very solid though. It was a great group to end the Broadway run and I'm grateful to Sony for letting fans around the country get a taste of what it was like during the final weeks.
It was a little disconcerting to learn that it was the combination of two different performances, one performed mostly without an audience and then the last night of the production. Although you couldn't tell that it was two shows, I would have been happier with a slightly less film-like version of only the last performance. I think the energy of the show is different at a real performance and little mistakes in theater don't bother me. They are what makes theater more alive.
In addition, the film tended to use close ups of performers. Although it was cool to see the emotions of the actors up close in intimate scenes, the zooming in on chorus members in big group numbers was distracting. If you're going to film a live Broadway show, I think you need to keep in mind that the blocking and staging was done for a reason and the audience is intended to focus on a group scene as a whole and not each background chorus person.
The zooms were not usually horrible, but they were especially bad in What You Own when the camera kept switching back and forth to face Roger and then Mark directly instead of keeping a straight-on, from the audience view. When filmed that way, it was impossible to see that they were physically moving and switching places without directly addressing each other. I also did not need to be that close to Mimi's spandex clad legs and butt during Out Tonight or see that the soloist in Seasons of Love had fillings in her mouth (audience members actually laughed at this).
These complaints are minor, however. I love it, but Rent as a show is not perfect. Jonathan Larson intended to continue to revise the show before his unexpected death. When he died, it continued on as the version that existed at the time. The plot and character developments don't always make a lot of sense and if you see the wrong production, it can feel a bit tired and dated. The best casts are so emotionally involved and high energy that you forget about all that and just see it as snapshots of "a year in the life of friends." This was one of those casts.
Will Chase was the best Roger I have seen (beating Adam Pascal in the film version, but I may have to revise when I see Pascal live on stage in July). I enjoyed Will Chase in High Fidelity, but he really impressed me in this. Normally, I focus on my favorite character, Mark, but I was fascinated by Roger in this production. The close-ups certainly helped in that regard because Will Chase's subtle acting was superb and you could really follow his emotional journey.
As for the rest of the cast, Renee Elsie Goldberry, who played Mimi, was also the best I've seen in that role. She had the right balance of spunk and vulnerability and had an extremely powerful voice. Justin Johnston who played Angel was probably the funniest Angel I've seen and hit the right notes both vocally and in his interactions with the other cast members. While I love Idina Menzel, Eden Espinosa's performance of Maureen was on par with Idina's.
The other cast members weren't stand-outs, but they held their own. Adam Kantor was decent as Mark, but I've seen better. I adore Tracie Thoms, both in Wonderfalls and in the movie version of Rent, but her voice wasn't quite powerful enough to match Eden Espinosa's. Her acting was strong, but Take Me As I Am was a little disappointing on the Joanne verses. I really feel that Joanne and Maureen need to have equally strong voices. Michael McElroy as Collins was another strong actor with a mediocre voice. I appreciated the convincing love he had for Angel, but his I'll Cover You (reprise), which always makes me bawl, really was no comparison to Jesse L. Martin's great performance of that song in the film. Overall, the cast was very solid though. It was a great group to end the Broadway run and I'm grateful to Sony for letting fans around the country get a taste of what it was like during the final weeks.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Waiting
Having to wait without being able to influence anything makes me stressed out. I know it shouldn’t, because there is nothing I can do, but that’s just my personality. I’ve been tense for about two weeks now because I’m waiting to hear back from a potential employer.
For those who haven’t heard the full story, I applied to one position at this company and went for an interview (which went very well), but didn’t get that position. The person who interviewed me passed my materials to her two colleagues in the same department, however. Next, I went in for what I thought was a single interview for one of the other two open positions in the same department and they had me interview for both. For an hour and a half, I was interviewed by three people, then another person, then another two people. (Each position served a group of editors.) Considering the fact that it was a marathon interview session, I think I did decently well.
That was two weeks ago and I got more and more stressed because I just wanted to know either way. Yesterday afternoon, a different editor called me last minute to ask if I could come in again this afternoon for yet another interview and a proofreading test. She also wanted my references. This was the one editor who was not around the day of the marathon interviewing. Obviously, I said yes, but I really just need this whole thing to be over so I can relax. It’s going to suck at this point if they don’t pick me for one of the positions. I’ve met with 8 people in this department! I guess that’s life though.
Think happy thoughts for me at 1:00. I’m nervous about the proofreading test because I don’t have a lot of experience proofreading.
For those who haven’t heard the full story, I applied to one position at this company and went for an interview (which went very well), but didn’t get that position. The person who interviewed me passed my materials to her two colleagues in the same department, however. Next, I went in for what I thought was a single interview for one of the other two open positions in the same department and they had me interview for both. For an hour and a half, I was interviewed by three people, then another person, then another two people. (Each position served a group of editors.) Considering the fact that it was a marathon interview session, I think I did decently well.
That was two weeks ago and I got more and more stressed because I just wanted to know either way. Yesterday afternoon, a different editor called me last minute to ask if I could come in again this afternoon for yet another interview and a proofreading test. She also wanted my references. This was the one editor who was not around the day of the marathon interviewing. Obviously, I said yes, but I really just need this whole thing to be over so I can relax. It’s going to suck at this point if they don’t pick me for one of the positions. I’ve met with 8 people in this department! I guess that’s life though.
Think happy thoughts for me at 1:00. I’m nervous about the proofreading test because I don’t have a lot of experience proofreading.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Review: Zocalo
I finally went to Zocalo on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton. They serve Mexican food. I can't attest to its authenticness, but it is probably more authentic than chains like Anna's and Qdoba. Due to the closeness of the tables and the general cheery din of the waiters, upbeat music, and other patrons' conversations, it would be better for a dinner with friends than a romantic date. The candles on the table are nice though. If you can, get a seat near the floor to ceiling window that faces Commonwealth. It's great for people watching and makes you feel a bit more private.
The food was a bit pricey for what is was (it cost $6.50 for chips and guacamole!), but the service was quick and non-intrusive. Although the restaurant was busy, everything came out promptly. The waiters didn't ignore you, and they also didn't constantly ask you how you were doing. Instead, they seemed to know exactly when you were finished and promptly took the plates away without a long wait.
I got the carnitas. The meat was a bit dry, but it was still tasty. The portions here are not the oversized as they are in many places. If I liked black beans, it would have been the perfect size to eat all of it and not feel hungry or overfull. For dessert, I tried flan. Since I've never had it before, I can't say whether or not it was done well. It was, however, sweet and satisfying. I'm not sure if I'll get it again because the texture made me think of eating a vanilla flavored omelet, but I think that is a quality of flan in general and not this particular flan. Jason got the chocolate souffle, which I recommend if you like very rich and dense chocolaty flavor. My favorite aspect of the meal was the Mango Sangria. It was sweet, not too potent, and came with a delightful cinnamon stick stirrer. You couldn't taste the cinnamon, but it made the sangria smell great.
If you have some extra money, it's worth a visit. The service outshines the food, but the atmosphere is fun and the many flavors of sangria are worth sampling.
The food was a bit pricey for what is was (it cost $6.50 for chips and guacamole!), but the service was quick and non-intrusive. Although the restaurant was busy, everything came out promptly. The waiters didn't ignore you, and they also didn't constantly ask you how you were doing. Instead, they seemed to know exactly when you were finished and promptly took the plates away without a long wait.
I got the carnitas. The meat was a bit dry, but it was still tasty. The portions here are not the oversized as they are in many places. If I liked black beans, it would have been the perfect size to eat all of it and not feel hungry or overfull. For dessert, I tried flan. Since I've never had it before, I can't say whether or not it was done well. It was, however, sweet and satisfying. I'm not sure if I'll get it again because the texture made me think of eating a vanilla flavored omelet, but I think that is a quality of flan in general and not this particular flan. Jason got the chocolate souffle, which I recommend if you like very rich and dense chocolaty flavor. My favorite aspect of the meal was the Mango Sangria. It was sweet, not too potent, and came with a delightful cinnamon stick stirrer. You couldn't taste the cinnamon, but it made the sangria smell great.
If you have some extra money, it's worth a visit. The service outshines the food, but the atmosphere is fun and the many flavors of sangria are worth sampling.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Early One Morning
I like it when I get to my office before everyone else in the summer. The whole floor is quiet and peaceful and I can just sip tea and listen to the hum of the air conditioner (which I can set to whatever I want since I'm the first one here). Since the second set of summer courses ended and instructors haven't begun preparing for the fall yet, I rarely have to answer the phone or help anyone in person. I can do what little work I have without getting interrupted and without any time pressures. I can also just sit in the quiet and stare blankly at the wall if I want without anyone caring. This is especially good after insomnia nights like last night. Since I'm the only person on the administrative staff that is not salaried, I'm the only one with a real schedule. I show up at 9:00 and everyone else wanders in and out when they feel like it. It's a little annoying since I always seem to be working more hours than my bosses, but it's nice at times like these.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Local Theater and Assassins
I love theater, but I haven't gone to many shows by local Boston companies. I tend to save my money for occasional trips to Broadway and any good touring shows that I don't get free tickets to (my friend works for a theater company and generously gets me free tickets to a lot of the national touring shows . . . she is awesome!). Still, there are some great local groups here and they generally offer cheaper tickets to their shows. At the Huntington Theater, for example, you can join the 35 and under club for free and get extremely discounted tickets and subscriptions!
In the past I've seen some good and bad local theater. Present Laughter at the Huntington a year or two ago was quite well done and Victor Garber was awesome in it. I've enjoyed several of the Longwood Players shows. They're not a professional company, but they have some pretty good talent. My favorite of their productions was A New Brain. I also saw a fairly bad production of The Last Five Years in Watertown, but at least I got to see a production of that show.
My mission this year is to attend more local shows, especially those by professional companies that I haven't seen before. I started my quest earlier this month by seeing Company One's production of Assassins at the BCA.
First, a little background. I have a love/hate relationship with Sondheim. I respect that he addresses challenging issues and writes ambitiously, but I don't always enjoy his shows. Usually I like a few songs from the shows I don't like and not the "plot" or the other songs. I like Into the Woods, but I've only seen the filmed version. I went to Company on Broadway last year and was bored and not really into it. Granted, I had back of the balcony seats, but I don't think it would have mattered if I had better seats. The instrument playing was impressive from a musical standpoint and Raul Esperanza was strong especially when he sang Being Alive, but overall, it didn't excite me.
On the other hand, I saw the touring production of Sweeney Todd this past year in the Colonial and loved it. Without actually showing much blood or having much of a set, it managed to be far more creepy and deep than the movie version. The actors/musicians angle worked perfectly with the insane asylum premise. In a world of crazy and disilllusioned people who may or may not be imagining or remembering real events, playing an instrument only enhanced the dreamlike (or nightmare like) quality.
I do like the music in Assassins, especially the revival cast. I was disappointed that Company One was doing the original version because I want to see how the transformation of the Balladeer is handled in the revival. I also missed the "Something Just Broke" song because it is haunting and one of my favorite additions to the show. Still, it was an excellent production. The set was simple, but easy to see from all sides and the staging effectively had the actors playing to different parts of the audience for appropriate amounts of time. When someone sang to one side of the room, either someone else would be singing to your part or the actor would sing a later verse in your direction. The small theater worked well for the show. In Assassins, you should feel as if you were right there with the assassins and it should make you uncomfortable.
The singing and acting were also strong. The Balladeer was a tiny bit hoarse, but we caught them at the end of their run. Each of the main actors had a microphone, which I felt was unneccesary and distracting. The theater was small and they all had powerful voices already. Some of their voices were so powerful in fact that I felt the songs were too loud. I don't know if this was an intentional choice to add to the discomfort level. The few microphone cut outs took you out of the scene. In addition, the chorus members weren't miked and sounded really quiet and odd in comparison.
The show itself is interesting because it presents situations, but not neccessarily reasons, solutions, or messages. You can understand what led the assassins to do their deeds, but it isn't villified or rationalized. It is up to the audience to decide if they were justified in any way.
Overall, it was a solid production that entertained and inspired thought. I'll definitely look for more Company One shows in the future.
In the past I've seen some good and bad local theater. Present Laughter at the Huntington a year or two ago was quite well done and Victor Garber was awesome in it. I've enjoyed several of the Longwood Players shows. They're not a professional company, but they have some pretty good talent. My favorite of their productions was A New Brain. I also saw a fairly bad production of The Last Five Years in Watertown, but at least I got to see a production of that show.
My mission this year is to attend more local shows, especially those by professional companies that I haven't seen before. I started my quest earlier this month by seeing Company One's production of Assassins at the BCA.
First, a little background. I have a love/hate relationship with Sondheim. I respect that he addresses challenging issues and writes ambitiously, but I don't always enjoy his shows. Usually I like a few songs from the shows I don't like and not the "plot" or the other songs. I like Into the Woods, but I've only seen the filmed version. I went to Company on Broadway last year and was bored and not really into it. Granted, I had back of the balcony seats, but I don't think it would have mattered if I had better seats. The instrument playing was impressive from a musical standpoint and Raul Esperanza was strong especially when he sang Being Alive, but overall, it didn't excite me.
On the other hand, I saw the touring production of Sweeney Todd this past year in the Colonial and loved it. Without actually showing much blood or having much of a set, it managed to be far more creepy and deep than the movie version. The actors/musicians angle worked perfectly with the insane asylum premise. In a world of crazy and disilllusioned people who may or may not be imagining or remembering real events, playing an instrument only enhanced the dreamlike (or nightmare like) quality.
I do like the music in Assassins, especially the revival cast. I was disappointed that Company One was doing the original version because I want to see how the transformation of the Balladeer is handled in the revival. I also missed the "Something Just Broke" song because it is haunting and one of my favorite additions to the show. Still, it was an excellent production. The set was simple, but easy to see from all sides and the staging effectively had the actors playing to different parts of the audience for appropriate amounts of time. When someone sang to one side of the room, either someone else would be singing to your part or the actor would sing a later verse in your direction. The small theater worked well for the show. In Assassins, you should feel as if you were right there with the assassins and it should make you uncomfortable.
The singing and acting were also strong. The Balladeer was a tiny bit hoarse, but we caught them at the end of their run. Each of the main actors had a microphone, which I felt was unneccesary and distracting. The theater was small and they all had powerful voices already. Some of their voices were so powerful in fact that I felt the songs were too loud. I don't know if this was an intentional choice to add to the discomfort level. The few microphone cut outs took you out of the scene. In addition, the chorus members weren't miked and sounded really quiet and odd in comparison.
The show itself is interesting because it presents situations, but not neccessarily reasons, solutions, or messages. You can understand what led the assassins to do their deeds, but it isn't villified or rationalized. It is up to the audience to decide if they were justified in any way.
Overall, it was a solid production that entertained and inspired thought. I'll definitely look for more Company One shows in the future.
Sports post
Can you believe I haven't been posting because I have too much to post about? I had planned to post about a whole bunch of topics, but I haven't had the time lately and now I am behind! I guess I'll have to stop doing interesting things for awhile. Unfortunately, for the blog's sake, I'm going to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Musuem today and I have a trip to New Jersey and New York City next weekend.
I watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics last night. It was excessive, but actually pretty artistic and cool this year. My favorite portion was the large square of individually square blocks that popped up in different configurations to make pictures. The performers moving them must have practiced for a long time. My least favorite part was Sarah Brightman standing on top of the world singing with a surprisingly average looking Chinese pop star. I already believe she's an alien; I don't want to see her standing in top of the world with those creepy, spaced-out eyes and that plastic smile ready to eat all of its citizens. I also enjoyed how whenever they cut to Bush he was either checking the time or talking to Putin or Laura and not watching the performance. Oh, except for when Iraq came out in the parade of nations. He must have realized they would zoom in on him then. Granted, I would also be bored out of my mind by the parade of nations, but he was the one who wanted to go to it and it's part of his job to look attentive at diplomatic appearances.
I also watched Patriots pre-season on Thursday, but I don't have much to say about that. I tried to be excited . . . I really did! Patriots just aren't the Patriots without their starting players. At least Welker had no facial hair. : ) On the plus side, some of the rookies and newcomers look like they have potential. Lamont Jordon from Oakland could be our new "power it in" guy easily even if he is a little older (he'll fit right in with the other older guys). Mayo and Crable looked good on a few plays too. I thought their quarterback draft pick Kevin O'Connell played the best out of the three backups too. He moved well and seemed the most accurate with his throws. That said, if Brady gets hurt this season we're totally screwed. I'm sure the three backups would do better surrounded by the starting players, but they're still not ready to take over for Brady anytime soon.
I watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics last night. It was excessive, but actually pretty artistic and cool this year. My favorite portion was the large square of individually square blocks that popped up in different configurations to make pictures. The performers moving them must have practiced for a long time. My least favorite part was Sarah Brightman standing on top of the world singing with a surprisingly average looking Chinese pop star. I already believe she's an alien; I don't want to see her standing in top of the world with those creepy, spaced-out eyes and that plastic smile ready to eat all of its citizens. I also enjoyed how whenever they cut to Bush he was either checking the time or talking to Putin or Laura and not watching the performance. Oh, except for when Iraq came out in the parade of nations. He must have realized they would zoom in on him then. Granted, I would also be bored out of my mind by the parade of nations, but he was the one who wanted to go to it and it's part of his job to look attentive at diplomatic appearances.
I also watched Patriots pre-season on Thursday, but I don't have much to say about that. I tried to be excited . . . I really did! Patriots just aren't the Patriots without their starting players. At least Welker had no facial hair. : ) On the plus side, some of the rookies and newcomers look like they have potential. Lamont Jordon from Oakland could be our new "power it in" guy easily even if he is a little older (he'll fit right in with the other older guys). Mayo and Crable looked good on a few plays too. I thought their quarterback draft pick Kevin O'Connell played the best out of the three backups too. He moved well and seemed the most accurate with his throws. That said, if Brady gets hurt this season we're totally screwed. I'm sure the three backups would do better surrounded by the starting players, but they're still not ready to take over for Brady anytime soon.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Review: The Guild (www.watchtheguild.com)
After I read about Felicia Day's web series, The Guild, in a Dr. Horrible article, I decided to check it out. She writes and stars in The Guild, which features short web episodes of around 4-8 minutes shot on a low budget (Season One was partly financed by donations). It won the 2007 YouTube video award and the 2008 Yahoo video award. The series features a diverse group of massive multi-player online gamers (think World of Warcraft or Everquest) who reluctantly decide to meet in real life to address a problem with another group member.
Although I've never played an MMORPG, I still found the series to be cute and amusing. Some references went over my head and I'm sure it would have been funnier if I had more of a gaming background, but the awkward relationships between the characters were still entertaining. Felicia is quite endearing as Codex, the young, unemployed, and slightly unhinged protagonist with an addiction to online gaming. She comes across very naturally, as if she isn't acting at all. It goes well with the whole "this could be a real story" type of vibe the series projects with her video blog entries and low budget, realistic settings. The other actors also fill their roles well. Jeff Lewis, who plays Vork, reminds me (in a good way) of Paul Lieberstein, who plays Toby on The Office.
Unless you're an online gamer, the series probably won't make you laugh out loud. It's still worth a watch though if you've got some free time. It's good, low-budget, cute, and amusing internet watching. The "Boss Fight" episode is especially clever and funny.
Best of all, it led to a successful promotion on my part! I frequently try to entice people to watch dorky things I love, usually without much success. This is partly because I don't know all that many people and don't like to talk to strangers. It is also partly because most of my friends either already love the same things I do or are totally uninterested and will never convert.
I've had the occassional success. I'd like to think I had a hand in addicting one of my close friends to the Whedonverse in college and the first time I hung out with my boyfriend outside of the place where we worked at the time was to force him to watch Firefly with me. (He did. He enjoyed it. He later watched the both the entire series of Buffy and of Angel in a massive many month marathon with me.) My Guild success was more exciting, however, because it took place at work and I enticed two people I don't know well who had never heard of it to go watch it. They met playing D&D and enjoyed Dr. Horrible so I thought it was a safe bet. Plus it inspired them to exclaim "Wow, I didn't know you were a secret geek!" in front of a bunch of my coworkers. Oh, and the husband works for our IT Department and will probably tell his friends there about it. I rock.
Unless you're an online gamer, the series probably won't make you laugh out loud. It's still worth a watch though if you've got some free time. It's good, low-budget, cute, and amusing internet watching. The "Boss Fight" episode is especially clever and funny.
Best of all, it led to a successful promotion on my part! I frequently try to entice people to watch dorky things I love, usually without much success. This is partly because I don't know all that many people and don't like to talk to strangers. It is also partly because most of my friends either already love the same things I do or are totally uninterested and will never convert.
I've had the occassional success. I'd like to think I had a hand in addicting one of my close friends to the Whedonverse in college and the first time I hung out with my boyfriend outside of the place where we worked at the time was to force him to watch Firefly with me. (He did. He enjoyed it. He later watched the both the entire series of Buffy and of Angel in a massive many month marathon with me.) My Guild success was more exciting, however, because it took place at work and I enticed two people I don't know well who had never heard of it to go watch it. They met playing D&D and enjoyed Dr. Horrible so I thought it was a safe bet. Plus it inspired them to exclaim "Wow, I didn't know you were a secret geek!" in front of a bunch of my coworkers. Oh, and the husband works for our IT Department and will probably tell his friends there about it. I rock.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Healthy Foods that Taste Good
One of my New Year's resolutions was to eat healthier food on a regular basis. I'm not dieting or attempting to lose weight, I just want to eat more nutritious food. I have lost a few pounds, but that happened because I have been exercising more regularly too. Exercising and eating healthier food makes you lose weight? Crazy!
I can't stand those people who don't eat bread or suddenly only eat grapefruit. A little of most things is all right as long as you're eating them in moderation, choosing healthier options like whole grains instead of white, and exercising. Plus, you're more likely to stick with something that is remotely normal in the long run. I've found it easier to find healthier versions of things I crave then to try to ignore them completely. After half a year of trying to choose better foods, I actually have stopped craving some types of food. Fast food of the burger and fried variety and overly sugary stuff tends to disgust me now. I eat it every once in awhile when I feel like it and I still love my quesadillas, but it's nice to get hungry and crave fruit instead.
I thought I'd share a few tasty, healthier products I've been eating over the last few months.
1. Morningstar Farms, fake cheddar burger. No, it doesn't taste like a real burger. It does taste good though! These are great as a break from sandwiches for lunch or when I'm craving a cheeseburger, but don't want to give in.
2. Weight Watchers, creamsicles and chocolate mousse pops. I don't know anything about the point system and I was skeptical about an all diet brand, but both of these are really good for a light dessert. I like that the creamsicle flavors aren't generic. They have key lime, passion fruit, and strawberry and they actually are creamy. Best of all, they are very low in calories so it's good for when you aren't actually that hungry but are craving a dessert anyways.
3. Ben and Jerry's, frozen yogurt or Lighten Up brand. It's expensive, but worth it. I actually prefer the Lighten Up chocolate fudge brownie flavor to the original because it is still outrageously decadent and you don't feel bad eating it.
4. Simply Soy (I think, maybe Healthy Soy?) Mango Vanilla frozen dessert from Trader Joes. It tastes like a mango creamsicle. I was wary of the soy, but it tastes like a mix between ice cream and sherbert. Slightly creamier than sherbert, but lighter than ice cream. Either way, it's yummy.
5. Smoothies. I've become a huge fan of the smoothie. We have a standard healthy recipe made with orange juice, ice, fruit and, a little silken tofu for texture and some added soy (don't worry if you don't like tofu, you can't taste it), and we just switch the fruit to whatever we feel like at the time. You can buy frozen fruit and save it until needed. My favorites are Mango and Mango Strawberry. We also use pinapple and bannanas. I wouldn't recommend anything with seeds though. That gets messy.
Okay, those were mostly desserts. My weaknesses are cheese and chocolate though so it figures. Any one else have some healthier products I should try?
I can't stand those people who don't eat bread or suddenly only eat grapefruit. A little of most things is all right as long as you're eating them in moderation, choosing healthier options like whole grains instead of white, and exercising. Plus, you're more likely to stick with something that is remotely normal in the long run. I've found it easier to find healthier versions of things I crave then to try to ignore them completely. After half a year of trying to choose better foods, I actually have stopped craving some types of food. Fast food of the burger and fried variety and overly sugary stuff tends to disgust me now. I eat it every once in awhile when I feel like it and I still love my quesadillas, but it's nice to get hungry and crave fruit instead.
I thought I'd share a few tasty, healthier products I've been eating over the last few months.
1. Morningstar Farms, fake cheddar burger. No, it doesn't taste like a real burger. It does taste good though! These are great as a break from sandwiches for lunch or when I'm craving a cheeseburger, but don't want to give in.
2. Weight Watchers, creamsicles and chocolate mousse pops. I don't know anything about the point system and I was skeptical about an all diet brand, but both of these are really good for a light dessert. I like that the creamsicle flavors aren't generic. They have key lime, passion fruit, and strawberry and they actually are creamy. Best of all, they are very low in calories so it's good for when you aren't actually that hungry but are craving a dessert anyways.
3. Ben and Jerry's, frozen yogurt or Lighten Up brand. It's expensive, but worth it. I actually prefer the Lighten Up chocolate fudge brownie flavor to the original because it is still outrageously decadent and you don't feel bad eating it.
4. Simply Soy (I think, maybe Healthy Soy?) Mango Vanilla frozen dessert from Trader Joes. It tastes like a mango creamsicle. I was wary of the soy, but it tastes like a mix between ice cream and sherbert. Slightly creamier than sherbert, but lighter than ice cream. Either way, it's yummy.
5. Smoothies. I've become a huge fan of the smoothie. We have a standard healthy recipe made with orange juice, ice, fruit and, a little silken tofu for texture and some added soy (don't worry if you don't like tofu, you can't taste it), and we just switch the fruit to whatever we feel like at the time. You can buy frozen fruit and save it until needed. My favorites are Mango and Mango Strawberry. We also use pinapple and bannanas. I wouldn't recommend anything with seeds though. That gets messy.
Okay, those were mostly desserts. My weaknesses are cheese and chocolate though so it figures. Any one else have some healthier products I should try?
Review: Boston Harbor Islands
On Saturday, after several years of procrastinating, my friends and I finally went to one of the Boston Harbor Islands. We chose Georges Island because the ferry from Long Wharf goes directly to it and it has some modern amenities like rest rooms and a snack bar. The tickets cost $14 for a round trip and include access to Georges Island and Spectacle Island. You can catch different boat to one of the other many islands from Georges or Spectacle for a few more dollars. You are required to select a return time when you buy the tickets, so it helps to plan ahead. Apparently, this is to prevent everyone from attempting to return on the last ferry of the day, which would not have enough seats. You can try to switch return times, but you will be on standby and will not be guaranteed a seat. The trip to Georges takes about 25 minutes.
Georges Island is 39 acres and most of that is taken up by Fort Warren, a National Historic Landmark. Fort Warren was built in 1847 and served as a prison for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. We decided to forgo a ranger-led tour, which was offered only a few times during the day, and explore on our own using a brochure. I can't say I learned a lot, but it was fun to wander aimlessly about a historical place. I enjoyed that nothing was really preserved or recreated and the only places that were off limits were spots with dangerous structural damage. Wandering into whatever rooms you wanted and descending blindly down stairs into blackness without rails or lights has its charms. It was fun to not know where you'd end up. It made me feel like a little kid exploring somewhere cool that was off limits.
The rest of the island is cute and has some pretty views of other islands and the distant Boston skyline. Although the island is not very big, it was easy to get away from other visitors. Most people congregated in the picnic area, by the snack bar, and in the main part of the fort. If you don't like crowds, try wandering between the shore line and the outside wall of the fort. We went right from the dock area and only encountered one or two other visitors walking that way.
I'd recommend bringing your own lunch or, if you are ambitious, having your own mini-barbecue in the picnic area. The snack bar has limited, overpriced options and is run inefficiently. We ordered burgers inside a small room, were given a small slip of paper with burger written on it, and gave the slip to the cashier to pay. Next we wandered outside to the grill area. After waiting for several minutes, we finally realized that we were supposed to give the grill guy the slip of paper. He told us it would take 15-20 minutes to cook our burger and we were towards the beginning of a large group of people. As we waited impatiently, we realized even when our burgers were ready, we had no way of identifying our order. No one had written our names or a number on the slip of paper. As a result, people ahead of us in line grabbed burgers that should have been ours. This could have easily been remedied by having the cashier write a number on the slip or having the customer write her name. The cashier should also have told people to give their slips to the grill man. The cheeseburger was decent, but not worth a half an hour wait and all the hassle.
Our attempt at walking on the rocky beach ended quickly when we realized we were in the middle of a bunch of dead (I think) jellyfish. They were about the size of a saucer and didn't move, but it was still unnerving. I'm not sure if you can be stung by coming into contact with a dead jellyfish, but I certainly didn't want to step in one! If you walk on the beaches, watch your step.
We left on the 10:30 ferry and returned on the 2:00 ferry. Unless you are planning on visiting other islands, this is a good amount of time to allot. Since Georges Island is fairly small, three hours is plenty of time to explore and eat without getting bored or feeling rushed. Make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses or a hat, and a bottle of water with you. The midday sun can be draining and if you are walking around, there is not much way to avoid it. Overall, it was a cheap and relaxing experience away from the city. I'd gladly visit some of the other islands for more day trips.
Georges Island is 39 acres and most of that is taken up by Fort Warren, a National Historic Landmark. Fort Warren was built in 1847 and served as a prison for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. We decided to forgo a ranger-led tour, which was offered only a few times during the day, and explore on our own using a brochure. I can't say I learned a lot, but it was fun to wander aimlessly about a historical place. I enjoyed that nothing was really preserved or recreated and the only places that were off limits were spots with dangerous structural damage. Wandering into whatever rooms you wanted and descending blindly down stairs into blackness without rails or lights has its charms. It was fun to not know where you'd end up. It made me feel like a little kid exploring somewhere cool that was off limits.
The rest of the island is cute and has some pretty views of other islands and the distant Boston skyline. Although the island is not very big, it was easy to get away from other visitors. Most people congregated in the picnic area, by the snack bar, and in the main part of the fort. If you don't like crowds, try wandering between the shore line and the outside wall of the fort. We went right from the dock area and only encountered one or two other visitors walking that way.
I'd recommend bringing your own lunch or, if you are ambitious, having your own mini-barbecue in the picnic area. The snack bar has limited, overpriced options and is run inefficiently. We ordered burgers inside a small room, were given a small slip of paper with burger written on it, and gave the slip to the cashier to pay. Next we wandered outside to the grill area. After waiting for several minutes, we finally realized that we were supposed to give the grill guy the slip of paper. He told us it would take 15-20 minutes to cook our burger and we were towards the beginning of a large group of people. As we waited impatiently, we realized even when our burgers were ready, we had no way of identifying our order. No one had written our names or a number on the slip of paper. As a result, people ahead of us in line grabbed burgers that should have been ours. This could have easily been remedied by having the cashier write a number on the slip or having the customer write her name. The cashier should also have told people to give their slips to the grill man. The cheeseburger was decent, but not worth a half an hour wait and all the hassle.
Our attempt at walking on the rocky beach ended quickly when we realized we were in the middle of a bunch of dead (I think) jellyfish. They were about the size of a saucer and didn't move, but it was still unnerving. I'm not sure if you can be stung by coming into contact with a dead jellyfish, but I certainly didn't want to step in one! If you walk on the beaches, watch your step.
We left on the 10:30 ferry and returned on the 2:00 ferry. Unless you are planning on visiting other islands, this is a good amount of time to allot. Since Georges Island is fairly small, three hours is plenty of time to explore and eat without getting bored or feeling rushed. Make sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses or a hat, and a bottle of water with you. The midday sun can be draining and if you are walking around, there is not much way to avoid it. Overall, it was a cheap and relaxing experience away from the city. I'd gladly visit some of the other islands for more day trips.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Review: The Dark Knight (and a comment on reviews)
I've decided to label my review posts as reviews to differentiate them from my more meandering personal entries and comments. This way if readers want to only read reviews or only personal entries they will know the type of entry right away from the title of the post. I realize that only a few people actually read this and I usually talk to those people about the contents of the entries in person anyway, but part of the fun of having a blog is deluding yourself into thinking you are writing for a vast hidden audience of internet fans. So, I address this to the world!
The Dark Knight (Contains spoilers)
When I first heard about a sequel to Batman Begins, I was excited. I haven't read any Batman comics, but I've always found Batman to be one of the most interesting of the standard superheros because his vigilante status and the harsh world of Gotham City. I like darker themes and I like my lead characters less squeaky clean than Superman. Nolan's Batman is less exaggerated and less comic than the previous versions; thus, his Batman is better able to address and depict more serious issues like the effect of fear on public behavior. This Batman can entertain, but also provoke thought. The Dark Knight had great potential for commentary on human nature.
For the most part, it did not disappoint me. It certainly stayed "dark" and also rather creepy. The descent of Gotham City from on the brink of hope with the emergence of the charismatic Harry Dent to plunging into complete panic and chaos fascinated me. It was completely believable, which made it scarier.
In these movies, Batman/Bruce doesn't go through much character development. He never really changes as a person or has any great realizations; rather, as the dialogue in the final scene notes, he seems to reflect the needs of the general public. If they need a hero, he will be one. If they need a target to blame and hate--someone to focus their anger on instead of each other or a villain they can't comprehend or reach--then Batman will be that person instead.
In these movies, Batman/Bruce doesn't go through much character development. He never really changes as a person or has any great realizations; rather, as the dialogue in the final scene notes, he seems to reflect the needs of the general public. If they need a hero, he will be one. If they need a target to blame and hate--someone to focus their anger on instead of each other or a villain they can't comprehend or reach--then Batman will be that person instead.
With the exception of Bruce's affection for Rachel, Alfred, and Commisioner Gordon, the character rarely displays personal motivation or feeling. His voice is robotic. His suit and mask conceal any subtle emotions that Christian Bale might convey. In his own movie, Batman tends to fade into the night while the others like Joker and Dent are bright, attention-grabbing lights. This could be considered a fault. Bale certainly won't be nominated for any acting awards for this role and you tend to remember his suit and gadgets more than his face or line delivery. I, however, like this interpretation. Whether intentional or not, this portrayal shifts the focus from one man to a larger world. It becomes not Batman's story, but the story of Gotham City reflected by him.
Joker certainly delved into the darker side of human nature as well. Although it has been said many times already, I'll say again that Heath Ledger's portrayal was impressive and very creepy. Although I feel the film itself has been slightly overrated, I don't believe Heath Ledger's performance has been overrated because of his death. Ledger embodies the chaos and "unstoppable force" that Joker represents perfectly.
He plays the part using an odd combination of awkward self-consciousness and focused drive towards and relishing of madness. The licking of his lips and other awkward gestures make the viewer feel uneasy. I'm not a very outgoing person and if I am forced to interact with a socially awkward and nervous person, I become much more nervous myself because they are unpredictable and I feel responsible for directing the conversation. The Joker says himself that people feel comfortable when they expect things, even if those things are horrible. By playing with odd mannerisms in the character, I feel Ledger really hits the level of contained, evil, unpredictability that makes viewers and other characters uneasy and on edge.
He plays the part using an odd combination of awkward self-consciousness and focused drive towards and relishing of madness. The licking of his lips and other awkward gestures make the viewer feel uneasy. I'm not a very outgoing person and if I am forced to interact with a socially awkward and nervous person, I become much more nervous myself because they are unpredictable and I feel responsible for directing the conversation. The Joker says himself that people feel comfortable when they expect things, even if those things are horrible. By playing with odd mannerisms in the character, I feel Ledger really hits the level of contained, evil, unpredictability that makes viewers and other characters uneasy and on edge.
Although enjoyable, this movie wasn't perfect by any means. The mob subplot was confusing when you thought about it and not interesting enough to make you think about it. It seemed to be there only to give Batman the opportunity to beat up common criminals with fancy gadgets. The Dark Knight is around 2 and a half hours long; cutting the mob subplot or substantially downsizing it could have made it a much tighter 2 hour movie.
It also might have allowed the transformation of Harvey Dent to Two Face to occur more gradually. My friends and I agreed that he went from family guy/paragon to crazy, melty- faced villain far too quickly. Although his makeup was convincing (and gross), I couldn't completely buy his internal transformation in such a short amount of time. Not only that, but Two Face lasted less than a half an hour! You can't really be a villain if you have one failed kidnapping attempt and then are killed. I would have rather seen more of Two Face earlier in the movie, a more gradual conversion, and then a continuation into a potential future movie.
Rachel was still Rachel. I liked Maggie Gyllenhaal better than Katie Holmes, but the character is still your stereotypical plucky yet ultimately ineffective (and in need of saving by a guy) kind of girl. I did like that she chose Harvey over Bruce and I was surprised they killed her. I was not overly upset though. Even Batman didn't seem overly upset, and she was supposedly his great love! At least with her death we have the possibility of a better love interest in a sequel.
The editing and cuts towards the end got kind of Moulin Rouge spastic, but after thinking about it, I realized that it represented the chaotic things that were occurring at the end of the movie fairly well.
Overall, I rate this movie an 8 out of 10. Although it lost some control of its subplots and could have been shorter, it was a very enjoyable, dark superhero movie with some excellent acting and fun action scenes.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Ode to Neil Patrick Harris
I forgot to add that I'm now obsessed with how LEGEN--wait for it--DARY Neil Patrick Harris is. He's way underrated as an actor and after seeing Dr. Horrible I wish he would go back to Broadway eventually. I'm even about to go watch the YouTube video of him as the Tooth Fairy on Sesame Street. Yes, I am that pathetic. : )
I love my boyfriend, but I've always had a weak spot in my heart for slightly dorky guys who sing beautifully and give me the shivers. I think I'm allowed. It's not like I actually want to date them or I ever could. I just love how they can make so many people feel so strongly. I want to be close to that much talent so maybe a little will soak into me or maybe a little of me could inspire even more. Assuming he is as nice a guy as he appears in the media, NPH's boyfriend is a lucky man! I'd heard NPH sing in the Assassins revival and in Sweeney Todd in Concert, but that was before I fell in love with How I Met Your Mother so I didn't pay as much attention to how good he actually was.
It's odd, but I don't find him as attractive as Barney on HIMYM. I find Barney hilarious, but Ted is more my type. Barney is just too polished looking. He never has a hair out of place and he's almost always impeccably suited up. Bascially the type of guy I could never ever be remotely cool around in real life. Plus, I'm not into snarky womanizers. Neil rocks the mussed and casual look as Billy in Dr. Horrible though. Very approachable and very adorable. I guess my actor crush type is cynical, potentially world-dominating, shy, secretly romantic, evil dorky men . Hmmm.
As a side note, I successfully converted one of my friends into a How I Met Your Mother fan! (Insert Dr. Horrible laugh here.) I formed my evil plan when the momentous events at the end of "Sandcastles in the Sand" happened and I had no one to jump up and down and squeal like a little girl with. : ) My boyfriend loves the show too, but I think only a girl can appreciate the squealworthiness of that moment. If you don't watch HIMYM, check it out. It's a smart and funny show and it has aspects that I think will appeal to a wide range of people. Just don't watch the Britney Spears episodes first!
I love my boyfriend, but I've always had a weak spot in my heart for slightly dorky guys who sing beautifully and give me the shivers. I think I'm allowed. It's not like I actually want to date them or I ever could. I just love how they can make so many people feel so strongly. I want to be close to that much talent so maybe a little will soak into me or maybe a little of me could inspire even more. Assuming he is as nice a guy as he appears in the media, NPH's boyfriend is a lucky man! I'd heard NPH sing in the Assassins revival and in Sweeney Todd in Concert, but that was before I fell in love with How I Met Your Mother so I didn't pay as much attention to how good he actually was.
It's odd, but I don't find him as attractive as Barney on HIMYM. I find Barney hilarious, but Ted is more my type. Barney is just too polished looking. He never has a hair out of place and he's almost always impeccably suited up. Bascially the type of guy I could never ever be remotely cool around in real life. Plus, I'm not into snarky womanizers. Neil rocks the mussed and casual look as Billy in Dr. Horrible though. Very approachable and very adorable. I guess my actor crush type is cynical, potentially world-dominating, shy, secretly romantic, evil dorky men . Hmmm.
As a side note, I successfully converted one of my friends into a How I Met Your Mother fan! (Insert Dr. Horrible laugh here.) I formed my evil plan when the momentous events at the end of "Sandcastles in the Sand" happened and I had no one to jump up and down and squeal like a little girl with. : ) My boyfriend loves the show too, but I think only a girl can appreciate the squealworthiness of that moment. If you don't watch HIMYM, check it out. It's a smart and funny show and it has aspects that I think will appeal to a wide range of people. Just don't watch the Britney Spears episodes first!
Dr. Horrible Spawns Internet Show Craze?
Since watching Dr. Horrible for a second time yesterday, I decided to read some media and fan reviews. I'll talk about the fan comments in a separate post. Most of the media articles (and there are quite a few and several in major newspapers and magazines) seem to be focused on the internet "event" and independently produced internet show as a new movement for writers, actors, and production staff and the question of whether this movement will be commercially viable. They use Dr. Horrible as a main example.
Can it make money? I personally believe that Dr. Horrible will make back its production costs (low six figures) and more after the release of the dvd. Joss Whedon has a large fan base and most people who bought the series on Itunes like I did will also buy the dvd and possibly some merchandise. Essentially, the fans will contribute money to the project several times. Based on the high download rankings on Itunes, the grassroots, word of mouth advertising buzz has also hooked many people who aren't hardcore Whedon fans. It's not going to be a huge money maker, but it will have a huge audience and the people associated with it will make a bit of extra cash.
Will this launch a new internet movement? TV-like shows on the internet made available for free or a low cost are not new. I never watched the internet show Quarterlife that they tried to transfer to network tv, but I know it was popular online. There are plenty of others and I'm not even counting YouTube. I think the following aspects of Dr. Horrible are causing it to get more attention as a possible new entertainment model.
1) It features very high quality, fairly well known actors having fun and doing the project because they believe in it. They were not guaranteed to earn any money and the amount of money that the actors will eventually receive will most likely be fairly inconsequential to them. It could easily have been a huge flop. Obviously, the main motivation for doing it was because it interested them as actors and they thought it would be fun and worth making. Add the writing staff and Joss (some of them prolific network-employed tv screenwriters and directors), and plenty of favors from industry professionals, and you have a group of people that indicate to the audience that this is "professional" level work. It automatically raises expectations and provides reassurance that it might be worth watching. After all, these high level people thought it was worth making.
2) Dr. Horrible was produced specifically for the internet audience and format. It is obvious that the costuming and set budget were kept much lower than a comparable hour of network tv. For example, Captain Hammer's costume is just cargo pants, a t-shirt with a hammer logo, and some gloves. This works fine online where people are used to watching YouTube videos with homemade costumes. It also fits perfectly in the world of a low-rent supervillian who doesn't own his own washer and dryer. The story is interspersed with internet video blog entries from Dr. Horrible. It was available for free for a week and later for only $4.99 on Itunes. It is only 40 minutes long. All of these aspects cater to a web audience that looks for cheap, quick, but still quality entertainment.
3) Dr. Horrible has built-in fan bases to build support on and help spread the word. Joss Whedon has a huge following, Neil Patrick Harris has plenty of fans, and even Nathan Fillion is somewhat of a cult favorite among science-fiction and Whedon fans. A project made with these people pretty much has a guaranteed base audience which will watch the series, or at least the first part. Of course, it is harder to keep their attention and encourage them to pay money for it. Nonetheless, it is much easier for a quality show with this base foundation of fans to succeed. An equally well-made show that is produced by and acted in by total unknown has a much harder path to commercial viability.
Soooooooo . . .
I conclude that if Dr. Horrible does make money, other independent, internet ventures by industry professional may indeed follow. If they have talented and recognizable people involved, are created specifically for the internet, and have a foundation of fans, I think they have the potential to do as well or better. I, for one, would love to see this. There are a few quality shows on tv currently, but overall there is a glut of bad reality shows and poorly written sitcoms and dramas. Too often the few great shows like Firefly are derailed by network politics or mismanagement. Internet shows would be an accessible and cheap way to see quality entertainment that isn't dictated by network producers or profit.
Can it make money? I personally believe that Dr. Horrible will make back its production costs (low six figures) and more after the release of the dvd. Joss Whedon has a large fan base and most people who bought the series on Itunes like I did will also buy the dvd and possibly some merchandise. Essentially, the fans will contribute money to the project several times. Based on the high download rankings on Itunes, the grassroots, word of mouth advertising buzz has also hooked many people who aren't hardcore Whedon fans. It's not going to be a huge money maker, but it will have a huge audience and the people associated with it will make a bit of extra cash.
Will this launch a new internet movement? TV-like shows on the internet made available for free or a low cost are not new. I never watched the internet show Quarterlife that they tried to transfer to network tv, but I know it was popular online. There are plenty of others and I'm not even counting YouTube. I think the following aspects of Dr. Horrible are causing it to get more attention as a possible new entertainment model.
1) It features very high quality, fairly well known actors having fun and doing the project because they believe in it. They were not guaranteed to earn any money and the amount of money that the actors will eventually receive will most likely be fairly inconsequential to them. It could easily have been a huge flop. Obviously, the main motivation for doing it was because it interested them as actors and they thought it would be fun and worth making. Add the writing staff and Joss (some of them prolific network-employed tv screenwriters and directors), and plenty of favors from industry professionals, and you have a group of people that indicate to the audience that this is "professional" level work. It automatically raises expectations and provides reassurance that it might be worth watching. After all, these high level people thought it was worth making.
2) Dr. Horrible was produced specifically for the internet audience and format. It is obvious that the costuming and set budget were kept much lower than a comparable hour of network tv. For example, Captain Hammer's costume is just cargo pants, a t-shirt with a hammer logo, and some gloves. This works fine online where people are used to watching YouTube videos with homemade costumes. It also fits perfectly in the world of a low-rent supervillian who doesn't own his own washer and dryer. The story is interspersed with internet video blog entries from Dr. Horrible. It was available for free for a week and later for only $4.99 on Itunes. It is only 40 minutes long. All of these aspects cater to a web audience that looks for cheap, quick, but still quality entertainment.
3) Dr. Horrible has built-in fan bases to build support on and help spread the word. Joss Whedon has a huge following, Neil Patrick Harris has plenty of fans, and even Nathan Fillion is somewhat of a cult favorite among science-fiction and Whedon fans. A project made with these people pretty much has a guaranteed base audience which will watch the series, or at least the first part. Of course, it is harder to keep their attention and encourage them to pay money for it. Nonetheless, it is much easier for a quality show with this base foundation of fans to succeed. An equally well-made show that is produced by and acted in by total unknown has a much harder path to commercial viability.
Soooooooo . . .
I conclude that if Dr. Horrible does make money, other independent, internet ventures by industry professional may indeed follow. If they have talented and recognizable people involved, are created specifically for the internet, and have a foundation of fans, I think they have the potential to do as well or better. I, for one, would love to see this. There are a few quality shows on tv currently, but overall there is a glut of bad reality shows and poorly written sitcoms and dramas. Too often the few great shows like Firefly are derailed by network politics or mismanagement. Internet shows would be an accessible and cheap way to see quality entertainment that isn't dictated by network producers or profit.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog!
Everyone must watch this: www.drhorrible.com.
You should watch if
1. You love musicals
2. You love Joss Whedon
3. You love Neil Patrick Harris or Nathan Fillian
4. You love entertaining, non-corporate, unpretentious, fun, and well acted comedy
5. You are a human (at least try the first act . . . it's only 14 minutes and it's free this week!)
It is a 40 minute musical about a low rent super villain and his laundrymat crush written by Joss Whedon the creater of everything great about tv (also known as Buffy, Angel, Firefly, etc.). It was produced independently during the writer's strike. You can read more about the project's creation and aims in Whedon's letter on the website.
There are several tv shows I currently enjoy watching, but none I truly love as much as the Joss Whedon shows that aren't on the air anymore. Somehow his ideas, style, writing, and selection of talent and writers perfectly matches my tastes in everything. I can't wait until his new series, Dollhouse, premieres in January! It's been far too long.
Watch Dr. Horrible!
You should watch if
1. You love musicals
2. You love Joss Whedon
3. You love Neil Patrick Harris or Nathan Fillian
4. You love entertaining, non-corporate, unpretentious, fun, and well acted comedy
5. You are a human (at least try the first act . . . it's only 14 minutes and it's free this week!)
It is a 40 minute musical about a low rent super villain and his laundrymat crush written by Joss Whedon the creater of everything great about tv (also known as Buffy, Angel, Firefly, etc.). It was produced independently during the writer's strike. You can read more about the project's creation and aims in Whedon's letter on the website.
There are several tv shows I currently enjoy watching, but none I truly love as much as the Joss Whedon shows that aren't on the air anymore. Somehow his ideas, style, writing, and selection of talent and writers perfectly matches my tastes in everything. I can't wait until his new series, Dollhouse, premieres in January! It's been far too long.
Watch Dr. Horrible!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Lots of Random Things in One Post
I just found out my office building has cockroaches and now I'm super paranoid. I keep looking everywhere I step. I actually prefer mice to cockroaches (we have mice problems on and off also) because at least they are scary and cute. Cockroaches are just gross.
Job hunting is so frustrating. I know I just have to be patient and if I keep applying to places eventually I'll probably get an interview somewhere, but it is still hard to keep applying when no one seems to even acknowledge it. At least the last person who expressed some interest was courteous enough to notify me that they had hired someone else. I hate it when companies don't even send you a form letter or email. Looks like I'll be at my current job for at least a few more months. It's not bad; it's just fairly boring and not challenging. Summer is especially slow.
Project Runway is back! I didn't like the last season very much, but there seem to be some interesting contestants on this one and no one is horrendously annoying yet. In honor of Project Runway, I will list some of my summer fashion pet peeves.
1. Crocs. I don't care how comfortable they are, they are UGLY! I make an exception for little kids and beach wear. They seem like durable kids shoes and good water/sand shoes.
2. Bug Eye Sunglasses. I hate those huge round sunglasses that take up a person's entire face. It seems like every college girl has them. They only look good on a few select people any way. Sunglasses have glasses in their name for a reason--they are supposed to cover your eyes, not your whole face!
3. Mini skirts. If you can't sit down without flashing everyone, don't wear it.
4. Thong sandals with business clothes. It's fine to wear them to work and then change, but I know of people who keep them on at the office. It just looks silly and unprofessional. Why bother to wear business clothes if you're going to wreck the look with your shoes?
Job hunting is so frustrating. I know I just have to be patient and if I keep applying to places eventually I'll probably get an interview somewhere, but it is still hard to keep applying when no one seems to even acknowledge it. At least the last person who expressed some interest was courteous enough to notify me that they had hired someone else. I hate it when companies don't even send you a form letter or email. Looks like I'll be at my current job for at least a few more months. It's not bad; it's just fairly boring and not challenging. Summer is especially slow.
Project Runway is back! I didn't like the last season very much, but there seem to be some interesting contestants on this one and no one is horrendously annoying yet. In honor of Project Runway, I will list some of my summer fashion pet peeves.
1. Crocs. I don't care how comfortable they are, they are UGLY! I make an exception for little kids and beach wear. They seem like durable kids shoes and good water/sand shoes.
2. Bug Eye Sunglasses. I hate those huge round sunglasses that take up a person's entire face. It seems like every college girl has them. They only look good on a few select people any way. Sunglasses have glasses in their name for a reason--they are supposed to cover your eyes, not your whole face!
3. Mini skirts. If you can't sit down without flashing everyone, don't wear it.
4. Thong sandals with business clothes. It's fine to wear them to work and then change, but I know of people who keep them on at the office. It just looks silly and unprofessional. Why bother to wear business clothes if you're going to wreck the look with your shoes?
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Summer Adventures
Every summer I say I will do a bunch of excursions that I never end up doing. I want to do at least a few of these things this year so I'm going to list them below. If you are interested in any of them, let me know and we can set dates.
1. Day trip to the Harbor Islands. My boss is actually camping there right now! I just want to go walk around in a relaxing mostly natural environment. It's not too far and fairly cheap.
2. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. One of the few museums in Boston I haven't visited. It's supposed to be very beautiful and have some great paintings.
3. White water rafting in Maine. Jason and I were planning to go with my brother and some of his friends in a few weeks if he did a medium-level rapids , but he suddenly had to go out to sea for a month. With some luck, I'll still be able to go in late August when he gets back. Anyone who wants to is welcome to come along.
4. Day or weekend trip to New York City. This is pretty much set, but I like to have it on the list because it is something to cross off already! I'm excited for this.
5. Day trip to Ipswich and Wolf Hollow. You can go from North Station and catch a shuttle bus that will drive you around Ipswich or Essex. Ipswich supposedly has a nice beach, cute little shops and restaurants, and orchards, but the coolest thing on the bus loop is the wolf hollow center. They do a short informational presentation and you get to see some rescued wolves up close.
6. Hiking around the Arboretum. I've been meaning to do this for several years.
7. Try some new restaurants. I always end up going to the same places. I'd like to try Zocalo, Soul Fire, Addis (the Ethiopian place), Golden Temple, or anywhere else I haven't been.
8. I'd also be up for visiting some other museums I haven't been to in the last year like the MFA or the Aquarium. I've never been to the ICA either.
I'm free pretty much any weekend except the weekends of July 11th and August 15th. My goal is to do at least 4 of these 8 excursions.
1. Day trip to the Harbor Islands. My boss is actually camping there right now! I just want to go walk around in a relaxing mostly natural environment. It's not too far and fairly cheap.
2. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. One of the few museums in Boston I haven't visited. It's supposed to be very beautiful and have some great paintings.
3. White water rafting in Maine. Jason and I were planning to go with my brother and some of his friends in a few weeks if he did a medium-level rapids , but he suddenly had to go out to sea for a month. With some luck, I'll still be able to go in late August when he gets back. Anyone who wants to is welcome to come along.
4. Day or weekend trip to New York City. This is pretty much set, but I like to have it on the list because it is something to cross off already! I'm excited for this.
5. Day trip to Ipswich and Wolf Hollow. You can go from North Station and catch a shuttle bus that will drive you around Ipswich or Essex. Ipswich supposedly has a nice beach, cute little shops and restaurants, and orchards, but the coolest thing on the bus loop is the wolf hollow center. They do a short informational presentation and you get to see some rescued wolves up close.
6. Hiking around the Arboretum. I've been meaning to do this for several years.
7. Try some new restaurants. I always end up going to the same places. I'd like to try Zocalo, Soul Fire, Addis (the Ethiopian place), Golden Temple, or anywhere else I haven't been.
8. I'd also be up for visiting some other museums I haven't been to in the last year like the MFA or the Aquarium. I've never been to the ICA either.
I'm free pretty much any weekend except the weekends of July 11th and August 15th. My goal is to do at least 4 of these 8 excursions.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Great Kitty Debate
We are considering getting a kitten. Jason has always thought it was a good idea. He originally wanted to adopt two kittens from Kira's litter, but there weren't enough. I'm still having an internal debate about it. Here's what I've been thinking about the situation. Please offer your opinions.
Points
1. It would be a companion for Kira. She is alone for a lot of time during the week in a small apartment and another cat would help her be less bored and lonely.
BUT Maybe she isn't really bored or lonely and I'm just assuming that because I would be bored and lonely. It's hard to tell. She's not being destructive and she does like to sleep and watch birds during the day. On the other hand, she always wants to play more, especially right when we get home and another cat might play with her during the day. Also, there is no guarantee that they would like each other. I would hate to get a cat that made her annoyed and miserable all the time!
2. Kittens are adorable and lots of fun!
BUT the first few months, especially introducing the two cats is bound to be annoying at times and a lot of work. You have to keep them separated for awhile.
3. It is good to save an animal from living at a shelter and potentially being euthanized. I know kittens are usually not euthanized because people adopt them over older cats, but it's still good to give them a real home.
4. Having two cats is more expensive. There would be initial expenses like adoption fees, shots, spaying or neutering if it is needed, and buying new supplies like a litter box. After those expenses, on a normal month we would individually be paying about $25 more a month for a second cat.
BUT I can afford $25 a month.
5. We rent a one bedroom apartment. Cats need their own spaces in a home and I'm not sure there is enough room in our apartment. Also, we'd need to figure out where to put a second litter box and deal with having two cats in a small space. If we have to move to another rental place, it will be harder to find one that takes two cats and harder to move with two cats. Does anyone know of any situations with multiple indoor cats in a one bedroom apartment or small living space?
6. Two cats means more fur! I'm not sure if I'm allergic to kitty litter, fur (well, dander really), or something else like dust and pollen, but I'm always sneezing and getting a runny nose in our apartment. If I clean the litter box without wearing a cleaning mask, I sneeze the rest of the night. Two cats, especially a long haired cat, might make the problem worse.
I'm most concerned with points one and five. I want Kira to be happy and I don't know if getting a kitten would make her more or less happy. I'm sure it would make her less happy at the beginning, but if they became friends it would definitely make her more happy. I'd also be less hesitant if I lived in a bigger apartment or house.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Points
1. It would be a companion for Kira. She is alone for a lot of time during the week in a small apartment and another cat would help her be less bored and lonely.
BUT Maybe she isn't really bored or lonely and I'm just assuming that because I would be bored and lonely. It's hard to tell. She's not being destructive and she does like to sleep and watch birds during the day. On the other hand, she always wants to play more, especially right when we get home and another cat might play with her during the day. Also, there is no guarantee that they would like each other. I would hate to get a cat that made her annoyed and miserable all the time!
2. Kittens are adorable and lots of fun!
BUT the first few months, especially introducing the two cats is bound to be annoying at times and a lot of work. You have to keep them separated for awhile.
3. It is good to save an animal from living at a shelter and potentially being euthanized. I know kittens are usually not euthanized because people adopt them over older cats, but it's still good to give them a real home.
4. Having two cats is more expensive. There would be initial expenses like adoption fees, shots, spaying or neutering if it is needed, and buying new supplies like a litter box. After those expenses, on a normal month we would individually be paying about $25 more a month for a second cat.
BUT I can afford $25 a month.
5. We rent a one bedroom apartment. Cats need their own spaces in a home and I'm not sure there is enough room in our apartment. Also, we'd need to figure out where to put a second litter box and deal with having two cats in a small space. If we have to move to another rental place, it will be harder to find one that takes two cats and harder to move with two cats. Does anyone know of any situations with multiple indoor cats in a one bedroom apartment or small living space?
6. Two cats means more fur! I'm not sure if I'm allergic to kitty litter, fur (well, dander really), or something else like dust and pollen, but I'm always sneezing and getting a runny nose in our apartment. If I clean the litter box without wearing a cleaning mask, I sneeze the rest of the night. Two cats, especially a long haired cat, might make the problem worse.
I'm most concerned with points one and five. I want Kira to be happy and I don't know if getting a kitten would make her more or less happy. I'm sure it would make her less happy at the beginning, but if they became friends it would definitely make her more happy. I'd also be less hesitant if I lived in a bigger apartment or house.
Any thoughts or ideas?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
TV Alert
I saw the best commercial last night. Apparently, on July 7th (I think) there will be Celebrity Family Feud featuring . . .
The cast of the Office vs. the American Gladiators!
How awesome is that! I know no one else watches Gladiators, but the commercial showed Phyllis facing off against Wolf (see here, http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/bios/wolf.shtml). It was priceless. Since both casts are funny, it should be a pretty amusing show. I just can't get over that image. I think I laughed for five minutes.
The cast of the Office vs. the American Gladiators!
How awesome is that! I know no one else watches Gladiators, but the commercial showed Phyllis facing off against Wolf (see here, http://www.nbc.com/American_Gladiators/bios/wolf.shtml). It was priceless. Since both casts are funny, it should be a pretty amusing show. I just can't get over that image. I think I laughed for five minutes.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Let's Go To The Mall!
The title must be sung Robin Sparkles style. If you don't know what I'm talking about, watch How I Met Your Mother. That song makes me laugh every single time I hear it. I am going to Cambridgeside today. I probably shouldn't buy a bunch of clothes, but I probably will anyway because I don't go to a normal mall very often and I like to take advantage of decent prices when I can. Does anyone else find it weird that there are no mainstream/non-luxury malls in downtown Boston? It seems like a mall like Cambridgeside with stores like Old Navy, H&M, Borders, Sears, etc would do really well in the downtown area. I guess most of the stores have individual locations in Boston, but it would be nice to have them all in one location that wasn't an hour away on the T.
I've been feeling very materialistic lately, which makes me feel guilty and selfish. I really want to buy clothes, books, and shoes. The problem is that I somehow have a bunch of extra money this month to indulge my materialistic urges. I guess it happened because May was a five paycheck month and I got that government stimulus money. Still, I did go on a vacation and put a bunch of the government money into my savings account. I guess having more money than anticipated is not a bad thing, but it means I'll probably buy stuff I don't really need.
On a random note, does anyone know of a low brow used bookstore that will buy books from me? Most of what I want to sell is genre fiction or general fiction (not hugely literary) and the used stores I know of only take more scholarly material.
I've been feeling very materialistic lately, which makes me feel guilty and selfish. I really want to buy clothes, books, and shoes. The problem is that I somehow have a bunch of extra money this month to indulge my materialistic urges. I guess it happened because May was a five paycheck month and I got that government stimulus money. Still, I did go on a vacation and put a bunch of the government money into my savings account. I guess having more money than anticipated is not a bad thing, but it means I'll probably buy stuff I don't really need.
On a random note, does anyone know of a low brow used bookstore that will buy books from me? Most of what I want to sell is genre fiction or general fiction (not hugely literary) and the used stores I know of only take more scholarly material.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Dumb Reality Shows
I'm excited for the Olympics, but until August I'm stuck watching dumb reality shows to kill time. I have been watching The Mole and Next Food Network Star. Does anyone else watch these? If you haven't seen the last episodes of each of them, don't read the rest of this post.
The Mole
In order of likelihood, I think the mole is Victoria, Craig, Clay, or Kristen. I think it is definitely not Paul, Nicole, or Mark. I also had ruled out Ali and Bobby, the two people who were eliminated this week, so go me! I don't like this new version as much as the older ones. The people on this cast seem more like generic reality show stereotypes and they don't get the concept that they need to work together to add more money to the pot. Plus, there are some horrendously annoying jerks on this one and no Anderson Cooper. I'll probably keep watching though.
Next Food Network Star
Sometimes I don't understand how these contestants could have been chosen from thousands of applicants. I can't really see any of them as a star and a great number of them have produced horrible meals in multiple challenges (like raw eggs). That said, I think the remaining African American man, the one who is bald and made fancy salad dressing in the Martha Stewart challenge, should win. He has the most "tv" personality, seems like a fun and down-to-earth guy, and has received good reviews for his cooking. I'd watch a show with him.
The Mole
In order of likelihood, I think the mole is Victoria, Craig, Clay, or Kristen. I think it is definitely not Paul, Nicole, or Mark. I also had ruled out Ali and Bobby, the two people who were eliminated this week, so go me! I don't like this new version as much as the older ones. The people on this cast seem more like generic reality show stereotypes and they don't get the concept that they need to work together to add more money to the pot. Plus, there are some horrendously annoying jerks on this one and no Anderson Cooper. I'll probably keep watching though.
Next Food Network Star
Sometimes I don't understand how these contestants could have been chosen from thousands of applicants. I can't really see any of them as a star and a great number of them have produced horrible meals in multiple challenges (like raw eggs). That said, I think the remaining African American man, the one who is bald and made fancy salad dressing in the Martha Stewart challenge, should win. He has the most "tv" personality, seems like a fun and down-to-earth guy, and has received good reviews for his cooking. I'd watch a show with him.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Review: The Tony Awards
I mostly watch the Tonys for the performances and I was excited that they had so many shows perform this year. It made the broadcast go faster. Of course, there were a bunch of shows that, in retrospect, I could have done without. Here are some quick thoughts on the overall production.
Whoopi
She was okay. I didn't find any of her segments funny, but she didn't annoy me overly much either. I much prefer Hugh Jackman though. I think the frequent costume change bit has been overused at award shows.
Performances
My Favorites
Of the shows I was unfamiliar with, Cry Baby intrigued me the most. It seemed old school, but catchy and high energy. Plus, I think huge dance numbers are fun. I wasn't into In the Heights at the start of the song because I had a bad impression of the lead guy and I didn't like the spoken word/rapping style much. I did enjoy it more towards the end, however, especially when the Asian woman began singing over the rapping. She had a really gorgeous voice.
Pretty Good Performances
I don't know Gypsy very well, but I've never really liked the song Everything is Coming Up Roses. Patti Lupone was good obviously, but I think I would have appreciated her performance more if I had seen it in the context of the show (all I know about the plot is that she plays a crazy stage mom). It did annoy me a bit when people gave her a standing ovation. I can't say exactly why it bothered me. If it had been during a performance of Gypsy, it would have been cool. It just seemed rude to all the other performers from other shows to do it in the middle of the Tonys when no one else received a standing ovation.
The Rent tribute was decent, but nothing special. I loved the cute Idina and Taye look at the beginning. Overall, not the best rendition of not the best song from that show. Everyone really seemed to care though. Darn, that Mimi was scary looking!
Although I didn't care much for the song they sang, I enjoyed watching Sunday in the Park with George and being able to see a bit of the much talked about "modern technology" set. It was very cool. I also loved the male performer (Daniel Evans?). He exuded boyish charm and hope and had a pleasant voice. The actor just seemed like a fun and nice guy whenever they cut to him in the audience. He even sang along with Seasons of Love!
Xanadu also seemed harmlessly fun and good natured. I bet the actual show is very funny.
Performances I only half-watched
Yes, the costumes in Lion King are amazing, but, sadly, they get less amazing when you've seen Circle of Life a zillion times. I could do without Lion King for awhile.
South Pacific was well performed, but I hate most of the music. I'm don't usually like Rodgers and Hammerstein or older "classic" musicals in general. I respect that they laid the foundation for current shows, but I just don't enjoy them. South Pacific seems so dated. I know the big deal with this production was that it made it feel relevant to current events, but I didn't get that at all from this medley. Also, I felt vaguely embarrassed for the girl when she was running around giggling to herself.
Painful performances I wish I hadn't watched
Passing Strange's performance completely crushed any desire I had to learn anything more about that show. Stew (Note to Stew: if you're going to use only one name you better be really famous or extremely talented and you're not) basically just shouted one phrase over and over again for at least three minutes. How is that a musical theater song? It wasn't even a good rock song.
The rejected shows medley should have stayed rejected. All of them just looked bad. I swear that Faith Prince missed a bunch of notes.
Nothing can redeem Grease. Granted, the show is not great to begin with, but the stars need a presence to pull it off. The two leads faded into the background. I wasn't even sure who Sandy was at first. Ouch.
Speeches
Award show speeches usually annoy me by being boring, narcissistic, babbling, gimmicky, or way too long. There were plenty of all of these things. The In the Heights guy's rap speech really made me dislike him. It liked it a little better when I realized that that was the style of some of the show lyrics. Granted, the rap was clever, it just was so gimmicky and pretentious to me. He seemed so full of himself every time they showed him. His show seemed entertaining and deserving of the win, but he acted like it was this huge groundbreaking event of theater. Sondheim, yes. Rent, yes. In the Heights, not so much.
The worst was the best actor in play winner from 39 steps. I was already disappointed because I wanted Patrick Stewart to win and then this guy tells this totally nonsensical "story" that isn't funny, comprehensible, or remotely related to theater.
I like people who seem genuinely thankful. The younger women from Gypsy seemed nice for example and honestly thankful and excited and the August: Osage County winner who told the audience how she always watched the Tonys on tv and only did regional theater was sweet too.
Whoopi
She was okay. I didn't find any of her segments funny, but she didn't annoy me overly much either. I much prefer Hugh Jackman though. I think the frequent costume change bit has been overused at award shows.
Performances
My Favorites
Of the shows I was unfamiliar with, Cry Baby intrigued me the most. It seemed old school, but catchy and high energy. Plus, I think huge dance numbers are fun. I wasn't into In the Heights at the start of the song because I had a bad impression of the lead guy and I didn't like the spoken word/rapping style much. I did enjoy it more towards the end, however, especially when the Asian woman began singing over the rapping. She had a really gorgeous voice.
Pretty Good Performances
I don't know Gypsy very well, but I've never really liked the song Everything is Coming Up Roses. Patti Lupone was good obviously, but I think I would have appreciated her performance more if I had seen it in the context of the show (all I know about the plot is that she plays a crazy stage mom). It did annoy me a bit when people gave her a standing ovation. I can't say exactly why it bothered me. If it had been during a performance of Gypsy, it would have been cool. It just seemed rude to all the other performers from other shows to do it in the middle of the Tonys when no one else received a standing ovation.
The Rent tribute was decent, but nothing special. I loved the cute Idina and Taye look at the beginning. Overall, not the best rendition of not the best song from that show. Everyone really seemed to care though. Darn, that Mimi was scary looking!
Although I didn't care much for the song they sang, I enjoyed watching Sunday in the Park with George and being able to see a bit of the much talked about "modern technology" set. It was very cool. I also loved the male performer (Daniel Evans?). He exuded boyish charm and hope and had a pleasant voice. The actor just seemed like a fun and nice guy whenever they cut to him in the audience. He even sang along with Seasons of Love!
Xanadu also seemed harmlessly fun and good natured. I bet the actual show is very funny.
Performances I only half-watched
Yes, the costumes in Lion King are amazing, but, sadly, they get less amazing when you've seen Circle of Life a zillion times. I could do without Lion King for awhile.
South Pacific was well performed, but I hate most of the music. I'm don't usually like Rodgers and Hammerstein or older "classic" musicals in general. I respect that they laid the foundation for current shows, but I just don't enjoy them. South Pacific seems so dated. I know the big deal with this production was that it made it feel relevant to current events, but I didn't get that at all from this medley. Also, I felt vaguely embarrassed for the girl when she was running around giggling to herself.
Painful performances I wish I hadn't watched
Passing Strange's performance completely crushed any desire I had to learn anything more about that show. Stew (Note to Stew: if you're going to use only one name you better be really famous or extremely talented and you're not) basically just shouted one phrase over and over again for at least three minutes. How is that a musical theater song? It wasn't even a good rock song.
The rejected shows medley should have stayed rejected. All of them just looked bad. I swear that Faith Prince missed a bunch of notes.
Nothing can redeem Grease. Granted, the show is not great to begin with, but the stars need a presence to pull it off. The two leads faded into the background. I wasn't even sure who Sandy was at first. Ouch.
Speeches
Award show speeches usually annoy me by being boring, narcissistic, babbling, gimmicky, or way too long. There were plenty of all of these things. The In the Heights guy's rap speech really made me dislike him. It liked it a little better when I realized that that was the style of some of the show lyrics. Granted, the rap was clever, it just was so gimmicky and pretentious to me. He seemed so full of himself every time they showed him. His show seemed entertaining and deserving of the win, but he acted like it was this huge groundbreaking event of theater. Sondheim, yes. Rent, yes. In the Heights, not so much.
The worst was the best actor in play winner from 39 steps. I was already disappointed because I wanted Patrick Stewart to win and then this guy tells this totally nonsensical "story" that isn't funny, comprehensible, or remotely related to theater.
I like people who seem genuinely thankful. The younger women from Gypsy seemed nice for example and honestly thankful and excited and the August: Osage County winner who told the audience how she always watched the Tonys on tv and only did regional theater was sweet too.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Top Model
Top Model Cycle 10 premiered this week. It's a bad show, but I watch it anyway. It's fun to discuss the next day, and watching Tyra is like watching a train wreck. I'd like to think that not all models are dumb, but, sadly, this last crop doesn't seem to disprove the stereotype. They couldn't find any beautiful AND smart contestants? I noted four or five that were articulate (Cornell girl, plus-size girl, dark-haired Sarah Silverman look-a-like girl, Fatima, and I drink my own breast milk girl), but the rest were either completely dumb, very inarticulate, or super ghetto (and I mean this in the bad ghetto way, as clarified in the episode). The Boston girl who wanted to "trick out her Impala" was embarrassing and Anya (?) from HI seemed high the whole time. Is that really a Hawaiian accent? It sounded like she was European originally.
Perhaps, Fatima will be the one reality contestant from Boston that I like. I've disliked Neil and Jay & Mark from Biggest Loser and crazy, giggly, blond chick from last cycle (Milena?). I already hate the smushed-face, Barbie girl from Worchester. To her credit, however, when Tyra asked "Do you ever take money?" and she answered "All the time," I also assumed Tyra was asking if she handled money as part of her job as a teller. After all, why would she ask if she stole it? It's not like the girl would say so on tv even if she did steal money! Note to self: Never go to a bank in Worchester.
I think I liked Marvita more last season. She seems less outwardly crazy, but more inwardly psychotic now. In any case, at least the contestants seem more interesting than last season. My favorites, based on the one episode, are Sarah Silverman girl, plus-size girl, and Fatima. Let the insanity begin!
Perhaps, Fatima will be the one reality contestant from Boston that I like. I've disliked Neil and Jay & Mark from Biggest Loser and crazy, giggly, blond chick from last cycle (Milena?). I already hate the smushed-face, Barbie girl from Worchester. To her credit, however, when Tyra asked "Do you ever take money?" and she answered "All the time," I also assumed Tyra was asking if she handled money as part of her job as a teller. After all, why would she ask if she stole it? It's not like the girl would say so on tv even if she did steal money! Note to self: Never go to a bank in Worchester.
I think I liked Marvita more last season. She seems less outwardly crazy, but more inwardly psychotic now. In any case, at least the contestants seem more interesting than last season. My favorites, based on the one episode, are Sarah Silverman girl, plus-size girl, and Fatima. Let the insanity begin!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
New Concept and Comics
Since I don't have as much time to write reviews as I originally thought, I changing this to a more general blog. I'll include random musings along with recommendations and reviews. I'm hoping this will motivate me to post more!
I've become fascinated by web comics lately. I started reading one, Order of the Stick, when I was bored at work and I've branched out to include others. At first, I was skeptical. I'm not much of a comic reader. I've read a few graphic novels, which I enjoyed, but I still tend to prefer novels. Now, I've realized that comics don't have to be like the dailies in newspapers. They can have long-running storylines, complex characters, and they don't necessarily have to be focused on humor. Here some good webcomics to check out.
Order of the Stick by Art Burlew (www.giantitp.com/comics)
This is a funny, long-form comic parodying role-playing games, specifically Dungeons and Dragons. The characters are modified stick figures and go on fantasy adventures. I didn't understand most of the jokes until I played Dungeons and Dragons, but you'll get most of them if you know the basic rules and format of D&D. Although it has some poignant and dramatic moments, OOTS is primarily a funny comic with puns, sight-gags, and character-based humor. OOTS is updated three times a week on no particular days.
Gunnerkrigg Court by Tom Siddell (www.gunnerkrigg.com)
Another long-form comic about Antimony, a 6th grade (or technically 7th form) girl at a mysterious boarding school in London. There are mythical creatures, gods, robots, and classic teenage drama and comedy. It is more serious than Order of the Stick, but has plenty of funny moments. Anyone who loves Harry Potter should check it out. Although Antimony and her friends aren't wizards, the story has a similar feel with an added science vs. mysticism aspect. Gunnerkrigg Court is updated Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is my current favorite comic.
The Phoenix Requim by Sarah Ellerton (http://requiem.seraph-inn.com/)
Phoenix is more cheesy and anime in style, but still entertaining. It is about Anya, a young woman in a small frontierish town attempting to become a doctor in the male-dominated field. A mysterious stranger comes to town and a strange sickness takes hold. This is a new comic, so she hasn't written many strips yet.
Although the comics I suggested are all long-form and related to fantasy, there are webcomics of every genre and style. Other than OOTS, which was recommended, I found the others by googling the Webcomic Awards. Enjoy!
I've become fascinated by web comics lately. I started reading one, Order of the Stick, when I was bored at work and I've branched out to include others. At first, I was skeptical. I'm not much of a comic reader. I've read a few graphic novels, which I enjoyed, but I still tend to prefer novels. Now, I've realized that comics don't have to be like the dailies in newspapers. They can have long-running storylines, complex characters, and they don't necessarily have to be focused on humor. Here some good webcomics to check out.
Order of the Stick by Art Burlew (www.giantitp.com/comics)
This is a funny, long-form comic parodying role-playing games, specifically Dungeons and Dragons. The characters are modified stick figures and go on fantasy adventures. I didn't understand most of the jokes until I played Dungeons and Dragons, but you'll get most of them if you know the basic rules and format of D&D. Although it has some poignant and dramatic moments, OOTS is primarily a funny comic with puns, sight-gags, and character-based humor. OOTS is updated three times a week on no particular days.
Gunnerkrigg Court by Tom Siddell (www.gunnerkrigg.com)
Another long-form comic about Antimony, a 6th grade (or technically 7th form) girl at a mysterious boarding school in London. There are mythical creatures, gods, robots, and classic teenage drama and comedy. It is more serious than Order of the Stick, but has plenty of funny moments. Anyone who loves Harry Potter should check it out. Although Antimony and her friends aren't wizards, the story has a similar feel with an added science vs. mysticism aspect. Gunnerkrigg Court is updated Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is my current favorite comic.
The Phoenix Requim by Sarah Ellerton (http://requiem.seraph-inn.com/)
Phoenix is more cheesy and anime in style, but still entertaining. It is about Anya, a young woman in a small frontierish town attempting to become a doctor in the male-dominated field. A mysterious stranger comes to town and a strange sickness takes hold. This is a new comic, so she hasn't written many strips yet.
Although the comics I suggested are all long-form and related to fantasy, there are webcomics of every genre and style. Other than OOTS, which was recommended, I found the others by googling the Webcomic Awards. Enjoy!
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