Thursday, July 29, 2010

The Big C on Showtime Aug. 16



The Big C premieres on Showtime Monday, Aug 16th. It stars Laura Linney, as a women diagnosed with terminal cancer and how that effects her. I think this show is going to be so relatable for so many of us. At this point in my life, I have had several important people in my life go through cancer with good out comes and the worst possible for a couple too.

I love this thing that Linney said about how when this character is diagnosed she doesn't create a bucket list, she just wants to be the person she always wanted to be, but right now. I feel like that has been more my experience. People don't care about seeing the Eiffel Tower, they want to be the friend, parent, artist, whatever it is, they want to get that in before they're gone.

Linney's costars are Oliver Platt, as her husband, who I really love, and Gabourey Sibide, as a student. Cynthia Nixon will be joining the cast as Linney's wild college friend and Liam Neeson for at least one episode.

Hopefully, this show will be as good, funny, and emotionally poignant as I'm expecting.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Rubicon on AMC


Rubicon premieres on AMC this Sunday, August 1st, from 8pm-10pm. AMC has given me the first few episodes of this show, and I'm dying for the rest of the season. The series has a very muted palate and subdued energy. I think I've heard at least three people who watched the preview last week say it reminds them of Three Days of The Condor, which is exactly what came to my mind too.
The show stars James Badge Dale, who you may remember from The Pacific, he played Peaches/Robert Leckie. I will admit to a crush on him. Here he plays Will Travers a widower who is a government analyst, trying to get to the bottom of what appears to be a conspiracy.
There is definitely a note of X files in this show. We have a main theme of a large conspiracy, with smaller issues resolved in each episode. The cast as a whole is very strong and the writing is really riveting.
Hopefully, the rest of the season will be just as absorbing.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Target Stores Support Anti Gay Candidate


Target is supporting an anti gay political group in Minnesota, to the tune of $150,000. The Group is called Minnesota Forward, more like backward if you ask me. This is being reported all over from The Advocate to NBC news.

I have a zero tolerance policy for bigotry, so as painful as it is, Target has seen the last of me. I hope all moms will boycott Target. I know we all go there three times a week and drop at least $100 bucks. They will definitely feel it.

I refuse to patronize a company that promotes a homophobic world future for my family. Please pass it on.

Monday, July 26, 2010

TCM's Summer Under the Stars















TCM's Summer Under The Stars returns this August. Each day of August a different star will be featured. It kicks off with Basil Rathbone and finishes with Clint Eastwood. I love to watch these days and see the career of an actor spread out in front of me.
My picks would be Ingrid Bergman on the 6th, Walter Mathau on the the 11th, Norma Shearer on the 12th,Katherine Hepburn on the 20th, Paul Newman on the 21st, and well, just about everyday on the calendar.
While you're hanging out in TCM land sign up for the TCM Film Festival newsletter. It was such an amazing time last year. I highly recommend attending in 2011.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Celebrity Autobiography at The Broad














The last performance of Celebrity Autobiography is coming to The Broad Sept. 26th.
I don't think they've announced a cast yet, but I would keep checking.

Here's their synopsis:
A Critic's Pick in New York, it returns home to LA with a rotating roster of comedy titans. Kristen Wiig, Rita Wilson, Fred Willard, Rachel Dratch, Brooke Shields and Ryan Reynolds are among the A-listers channeling the tell-all memoirs of such noted authors as Vanna White, Sylvestor Stallone, Elizabeth Taylor and Mr. T. Created by Eugene Pack, winner of the 2009 Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience." In its honor, we're transforming The Edye Second Space into a 21st Century Cabaret (cozy tables and bar). Adults only.

Mad Men Season 4 Predictions and Recap



Don Draper seems much darker in the Mad Men season 4 opener. I don't know if it's the loss of his family, or his general misery with life, taking him over. Love the Glo Coat commercial as allegory to Don's "escape" from his marriage. He is no longer trapped in Betty's kitchen. I was not that shocked by his new interest in S and M with a paid for Dominatrix. Even with the 2 piece swim suit client, he's no longer willing to play nice. It's his way or the highway.
I am concerned Don will repeat his mistakes with this new girlfriend Bethanny, Jane's friend, however. She's basically Betty 2.0. He could easily play out the same pattern he did with Betty. Let's hope he's more insightful than that, or she sees through him faster.

Speaking of Betty, her marriage doesn't look like it's going too well. Henry Francis is seeing her harder side with her children, and though he is trying to over look it, it doesn't seem to be working. Especially with his mother pointing out Betty's flaws and Betty refusing to move out of her and Don's house. I did notice she had redecorated the bedroom. I predict a rocky year for them. I bet they'll make the best of it for appearances sake. More fabulous marriage modeling for Sally and Bobby.

I am dying to get a better look at Joan this season. I'm really curious how she made it into her 30's before getting married. She obviously wanted to be, and she's the kind of women who could make that happen. I did notice several times through out the series her coughing (spraying the broken ant habitat, in her goodbye scene with Peggy with the John Deere running, etc..). Is it possible she had Polio? I did a little googling and she would be the right age to have gotten it during the big outbreak in her late teens. There was also that line about her not liking to eat near a bed, it reminds her of a hospital.

Pete and Peggy are both my parents age, too old to really get wrapped up in the hippie scene, but young enough to internalize the changing times. It will be interesting to watch them develop into the people they can be. Particularly Pete who has so far to go. Peggy already seems so much more confident.

The new offices are great. I love the way John Slattery (who directed)introduced it with them all walking through in a line. I had hoped we'd see Hildy and Lois. But no such luck, just yet. Hope they don't go the way of Peggy's priest and Sal.

Can't wait for next week!

Correction: Phil Abrahams directed this episode. I could have sworn I read that John Slattery was directing the first episode, I should have checked it on the credits. Thanks to my readers for catching the err.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Yahoo! Motherboard



Last week I was whisked away, by The Yahoo! Motherboard for a lovely trip to Palo Alto, or more specifically Sunnyvale where Yahoo's offices are. I was joined by about 50 of my fellow Yahoo! Motherboard members and we were wined and dined at the Four Seasons Hotel, and the lovely and delicious NOLA restaurant in Palo Alto.

All of that was great, but equally great was our full day summit with Yahoo's various departments. My favorites were Yahoo's You In? Program, which you may remember I participated in last December, by paying people's postage at the post office. I also really like their Yahoo Green program, where you can get great info on all things, you guessed it, GREEN.

There was so much to enjoy about the trip. But my most favorite part of any blogger convention/summit is meeting all the amazing bloggers. You can link to all their sites at The Yahoo! Motherboard site.

I do have one major complaint, and that is that the trip really did in my cleanse. It's taken me most of this week to get it back on track. But I guess that is more my lack of self control than Yahoo's fault. So their back in my good graces.

Celebrity Gossip

One thing you will not see on my blog is celebrity gossip. I wish it wasn't such a draw in our society. But it is, and it's practically inescapable. Even if you don't buy the magazines, it's on the radio, and TV, and in my case, in my Twitter stream, not to mention dinner parties.
I feel badly for the celebrities who find themselves the chum of a feeding frenzy. Even people like Mel Gibson. Who knows what led him to the place he is at now. He should be dealt with legally but not made a public spectacle to be disected over drinks by strangers.
We have all done things we are ashamed of, or said things in anger we would not want broadcast to the nation. I spent a night in jail once when I was 21. I'm not proud of it, but it did happen. I remember being furious with my sister for telling a few friends. And thank god I didn't have cameras following me around night and day in those days. I'd have given them their moneys worth. Thankfully, I wasn't Lindsay Lohan.
I love "my" celebrities. They give me all the theatre, TV, film, and music I enjoy so much. I don't want to tear them down.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Mad Men Season 4 Sneak Peak


























Mad Men Season 4 starts in just one week. As hard as it was to wait all this time, I found something more painful. I got an advance copy of the first episode a week ago and I can't talk about it. Truly, I wouldn't want to spoil it for all of you anyway.

What I will say is this, Matt Weiner does not disappoint. The first episode answers a lot of our questions from season three. Everything is familiar but different. Roger Sterling's quips are hilariously inappropriate, the clients aren't happy, office camaraderie is in full swing and Don's got girls stashed all over town. Many of the characters seem to have intensified certain aspects of their personality, some for the better and some for the worse.

I think we'll have lots of twists and turns this season, some of which seem to be foreshadowed in the season opener. I have a bunch of theories but those will have to wait until after this episode airs.

Could I be any vaguer. It's like I said Sunday July 25th can not come soon enough. I'm dying to talk details.

If you're interested here is the interview and post I did when Janie Bryant was at LACMA a month ago.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Covert Affairs Tonight on USA



















Covert Affairs premiers tonight on USA. I haven't seen any of this show, but I love my female lead cable shows so I'll be checking it out. Just wanted to give you all the heads up. It's about a new CIA agent who is extremely bright and has been pulled out of training early to go into the field.
It stars Piper Perabo, who I last saw in Beverly Hills Chihuahua, which my daughter loved, so I owe her. It also has Peter Gallagher, who is dreamy.
I'll be tweeting it tonight #covertaffairs Pacific time though. See you there.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Rizzoli and Isles on TNT tonight













Rizzoli & Isles premieres tonight on TNT after The season 6 opener of The Closer. TNT sent me an advance copy and I liked it. It stars Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. Harmon plays a police detective and Alexander a medical examiner. Their relationship reminds me of Nurse Jackie and the Doctor on Showtime. Alexander's character, Isles is beautifully dressed at all times, and the two do quite a bit of verbal sparring.
The show is violent and bloody. Sometimes, the first episode was a little too scary for me, but again I'm kind of a baby, so it may not be a problem for you. Check it out tonight and see for yourself.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The Lieutenant of Inishmore at The Mark Taper













The Lieutenant of Inishmore opens tonight at The Mark Taper. I won't be seeing it for another week or so, but I've heard it is very dark, very bloody and very funny from several reliable sources. Based on that I'll recommend it.
The cast includes Ian Alda ( I looked, he's Alan Alda's nephew), Andrew Connolly, Coby Getzug, Seán G. Griffin, Kevin Kearns, Zoe Perry, Chris Pine and Brett Ryback. I saw Chris Pine Last Year in Farragut North at The Geffen and thought he was really good. So I've got that to go on too.
If you saw it in preview or catch it over the next week let us know your impressions.

I'll be taking my mother so I hope the funny makes up for the gruesomeness, for her sake.

Also the FTC would like me to tell you that the people at The Center Theatre Group have given me tickets to this show.

Update and Review:
Lieutenant of Inishmore is the story of an IRA splinter group member's incredible love for his cat. Yes, you read that right.
The story is hysterical, and ridiculous. I mentioned above that it is also very bloody, but that is an understatement. If you were thinking blood bath, think blood pool, Olympic size pool in fact.
I spent half the play just listening as the stage was too gruesome to look at. I would not recommend this play to anyone who gets sick at the sight of blood. Still it is very funny even just listening, and it's really only the last half that is off the charts bloody. So maybe just go, even if blood does make you sick, and stare at the floor for the last half.
I give it two severed thumbs up!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
























I just watched Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief on DVD with my daughter. It reminded me how I learned just about everything I know about greek mythology from Clash of the Titans. Not the recent one, the old one with Harry Hamlin.
This series reminds me of the Harry Potter series, but your kids will learn some greek mythology, which comes up more than you would think in life. Especially if your kid get in to astology or that lesser science of astonomy.

Monday, July 5, 2010

The Closer New Season on TNT


















The Closer premieres it's 6th season on TNT Monday, July 12.
I love this show. Kyra Sedgwick is great as the southern belle/Deputy Police Chief.
TNT sent me the first episode and it is every bit as good as last season, and sets up some interesting new story lines for this season.
I'll be watching every Monday night this summer!