Why is Liz Lemon on the McCain ticket?
8.29.2008
Breaking New Re: Zack Morris's Terrible New Hair
Television Without Pity, the world's best television site (actually... formerly the world's best television site. Bravo bought it, the founders left, and now it kind of sucks), had an interview with Zack about Raising the Bar, and they brought up his ridiculous, ridiculous, hideous hair. Here we go:
TWOP: One last question, since you did bring it up: the hair. I was thinking about when No Country for Old Men came out and the Coen brothers said that Javier Bardem's hair was sort of like a character in and of itself. I was thinking the same thing when I saw your mop. Do you think that had some sort of bearing on your character? Or the development of your character? What sort of role does that play?
MPG: I don't think we started off as having it be a character in and of itself but it has becomes sort of a polarizing discussion as well or sort of a polarizing element of a discussion. You might hate it or love it. I know my wife absolutely hates it. I know Steven Bochco hates it and Steven Bochco's wife loves it... Who knows where it is going to go from here but you know, it kind of goes with the character. Steven wanted me to be as far removed from John Clark Jr. and NYPD Blue as possible. [MB: Not... as far removed from ZACK MORRIS as possible? You're telling me Steve "Deity of Television Producing" Bochco has forgotten about SBTB. I don't think so.] ...It works for the character because he is a bit of an individual that doesn't conform to the system and the hair is a symbol in a way. More so than that, I don't think its even conscious for Jerry, I think that he doesn't care about his appearance, he doesn't care about his clothes. It takes too much effort and he'd rather put his effort into his clients and into fighting the system.
TWOP: What conditioner do you use?
TWOP: One last question, since you did bring it up: the hair. I was thinking about when No Country for Old Men came out and the Coen brothers said that Javier Bardem's hair was sort of like a character in and of itself. I was thinking the same thing when I saw your mop. Do you think that had some sort of bearing on your character? Or the development of your character? What sort of role does that play?
MPG: I don't think we started off as having it be a character in and of itself but it has becomes sort of a polarizing discussion as well or sort of a polarizing element of a discussion. You might hate it or love it. I know my wife absolutely hates it. I know Steven Bochco hates it and Steven Bochco's wife loves it... Who knows where it is going to go from here but you know, it kind of goes with the character. Steven wanted me to be as far removed from John Clark Jr. and NYPD Blue as possible. [MB: Not... as far removed from ZACK MORRIS as possible? You're telling me Steve "Deity of Television Producing" Bochco has forgotten about SBTB. I don't think so.] ...It works for the character because he is a bit of an individual that doesn't conform to the system and the hair is a symbol in a way. More so than that, I don't think its even conscious for Jerry, I think that he doesn't care about his appearance, he doesn't care about his clothes. It takes too much effort and he'd rather put his effort into his clients and into fighting the system.
TWOP: What conditioner do you use?
8.28.2008
8.27.2008
Chalk
An acquaintance of mine, Michael Neff (my friend set us up when I was trying to work in advertising, and he did everything he could to dissuade me. It was very helpful), is a photographer and has recently been doing these chalk outline pieces.
Aren't they cool? That last one is of one of those David Byrne bike racks around the city, and turns a fairly uninspired piece of functional public art into a really interesting image (should I be dissing David Byrne in public? I feel like the McSweeney's set will find out and lynch me). I also like that the photograph involves creating the image, rather than just capturing one. I think all this art mulling comes from seeing Vicky Cristina Barcelona the other night. I can't help it, guys! I thought it was great!
Anyway, you can see some of Neff's other work here.
Aren't they cool? That last one is of one of those David Byrne bike racks around the city, and turns a fairly uninspired piece of functional public art into a really interesting image (should I be dissing David Byrne in public? I feel like the McSweeney's set will find out and lynch me). I also like that the photograph involves creating the image, rather than just capturing one. I think all this art mulling comes from seeing Vicky Cristina Barcelona the other night. I can't help it, guys! I thought it was great!
Anyway, you can see some of Neff's other work here.
8.26.2008
Best Season Ever
Season one of The OC was ridiculously good. This is not a controversial opinion. And now the first 13 (pre-Oliver) episodes are on Hulu! That's just great.
But-- WTF is up with its promotional picture?
Marissa looks like an extra from season 5a of Sex and the City, Summer seems to think there's going to be an Austin Powers 4, and Julie Cooper was clearly angling for a role in the new Watchmen.
Kirsten looks good, though.
Whatever happened to Ben McKenzie?
But-- WTF is up with its promotional picture?
Marissa looks like an extra from season 5a of Sex and the City, Summer seems to think there's going to be an Austin Powers 4, and Julie Cooper was clearly angling for a role in the new Watchmen.
Kirsten looks good, though.
Whatever happened to Ben McKenzie?
Fun With Fall Television
I was going to do a whole fall TV preview, because I have a painful compulsion to watch every pilot each autumn, and also part of my job includes keeping tabs on networks. But then I realized Entertainment Weekly's Fall TV Preview issue is like, my joy; do I really want to compete with my mentor? It would be like Dr. Phil going head-to-head with Oprah. The student cannot yet surpass the master.
But that doesn't mean I can't do anything at all on Fall TV. So I give you: Fringe.
Fringe is from J.J. Abrams and the guys who wrote Transformers. It's a combination of the The X-Files and Law and Order: Criminal Intent, with maybe a splash of CSI (did you know Laurence Fishburne is taking over as the lead on CSI after allegedly battling for the role with John Malkovich? CUH-RAZY. Bet you didn't see that one coming, Petersen).
Here's the poster:
I like it. It's kind of creepy and the random unknown actress looks like she's reaching across the platform to possibly push you into the path of the oncoming train. Also, apparently she's the only one who has to wear a suit to work. Plus that cloud in the background is in just too perfect a pattern... what's that, you say? The main mystery of the show is a recurring paranormal secret called The Pattern? JESUS CHRIST, J.J., DID YOU LEARN NOTHING FROM ALIAS? Um, anyway, I hope that The Pattern is not like Rambaldi, or The Dharma Initiative, or Felicity's Roommate's Secret Box. J.J. is allegedly trying to keep the story fairly simple, but I'm not sure I trust him anymore. I mean... he created What About Brian?.
Hey! There's Joshua Jackson! I didn't even see him there. Do you think he envisioned bigger things after the end of Dawson's Creek? I never thought that Pacey Witter would be the third lead on a Fox show after Denethor of Gondor, either, but you know, I also never thought that Charlie Conway would still be acting professionally after D3. I guess J.J. never saw The Skulls.
But that doesn't mean I can't do anything at all on Fall TV. So I give you: Fringe.
Fringe is from J.J. Abrams and the guys who wrote Transformers. It's a combination of the The X-Files and Law and Order: Criminal Intent, with maybe a splash of CSI (did you know Laurence Fishburne is taking over as the lead on CSI after allegedly battling for the role with John Malkovich? CUH-RAZY. Bet you didn't see that one coming, Petersen).
Here's the poster:
I like it. It's kind of creepy and the random unknown actress looks like she's reaching across the platform to possibly push you into the path of the oncoming train. Also, apparently she's the only one who has to wear a suit to work. Plus that cloud in the background is in just too perfect a pattern... what's that, you say? The main mystery of the show is a recurring paranormal secret called The Pattern? JESUS CHRIST, J.J., DID YOU LEARN NOTHING FROM ALIAS? Um, anyway, I hope that The Pattern is not like Rambaldi, or The Dharma Initiative, or Felicity's Roommate's Secret Box. J.J. is allegedly trying to keep the story fairly simple, but I'm not sure I trust him anymore. I mean... he created What About Brian?.
Hey! There's Joshua Jackson! I didn't even see him there. Do you think he envisioned bigger things after the end of Dawson's Creek? I never thought that Pacey Witter would be the third lead on a Fox show after Denethor of Gondor, either, but you know, I also never thought that Charlie Conway would still be acting professionally after D3. I guess J.J. never saw The Skulls.
8.25.2008
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Gawker Bump
In case you were curious, this is the bump you get if your blog gets a random, buried in the story link on a Gawker item. Not the most lasting thing ever--- but now I think I understand why Julia Allison is famous.
Best Times Story Ever, Maybe
It's about a "tough guy" animal rescue group called Rescue Ink. Because they're all super-tattooed; get it?
Here they are feeding a rescued kitten.
Oh, my lord. I want a kitten. I want THAT kitten. Or maybe a rescued pit bull puppy.
Bikers! They're just like US!
Here they are feeding a rescued kitten.
Oh, my lord. I want a kitten. I want THAT kitten. Or maybe a rescued pit bull puppy.
Bikers! They're just like US!
8.22.2008
I Wash My Hands
Kelly Kapoor, I am so over you. Just because I've been watching a little bit of The Office on TBS and you make me giggle and lose control of my brain from time to time, followed by a big ole involuntary belly laugh... oh God, Kelly, why must you do this to me? You got me addicted to your delightful consumeristic blog, introduced me to So Low yoga pants, and then you STOPPED BLOGGING. Oh, blogging doesn't pay you? Doesn't pay you as much as being a staff writer on The Office and possibly (probably) the spinoff? You're crazy busy working on one hit and another soon-to-be-hit television show? You don't even have time to breathe, let alone buy stupid yet charming shit and then write witty blurbs about it??? What about ME, Kelly?
Whatevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvs.
8.20.2008
Pandamonium
Saturday night, Dan, Ameet and I were gearing up for for a night of Olympics and light couch-drinking, and decided to fuel it with dinner at Teddy's (Teddy's Bar & Grill's excellent tomato salad is a recent discovery). We walked over to Bedford and saw: 1 fire truck, 2 armored police trucks, 2348972 cops, 2938472938472 inebriated spectators, and a handful of people like us, who had stumbled into some kind of aftermath, kind of looking around for the presumable bar fire. Then a police chopper started flying around with a searchlight.
Had there been a riot? A Hipster Uprising? Gang violence? We walked on to Teddy's, watched Michael Phelps cinch his endorsement deals with the rest of a very enthusiastic crowd, and then headed home under the flying searchlights, still fairly confused.
The next morning, Dan's cousin filled us in. "Yeah, when I was getting on the subway earlier, there was like a giant sea of people getting off in panda costumes."
"Panda costumes?"
"Yeah. They were shouting, like, 'It's time for PANDA-MONIUM!!!'"
One of these would've helped:
So, apparently, it was a roving street party with a Twitter page. Cops did no likey.
(Just realized that Frooze, the videographer, is a waitress at the Radegast Hall & Biergarten... ah me and my useless memory).
You guys? Pandas?
I don't know. The fact that I think this whole thing--the total overreaction, the "pandamonium" itself--is pretty stupid makes me feel old.
Photos.
Had there been a riot? A Hipster Uprising? Gang violence? We walked on to Teddy's, watched Michael Phelps cinch his endorsement deals with the rest of a very enthusiastic crowd, and then headed home under the flying searchlights, still fairly confused.
The next morning, Dan's cousin filled us in. "Yeah, when I was getting on the subway earlier, there was like a giant sea of people getting off in panda costumes."
"Panda costumes?"
"Yeah. They were shouting, like, 'It's time for PANDA-MONIUM!!!'"
One of these would've helped:
So, apparently, it was a roving street party with a Twitter page. Cops did no likey.
(Just realized that Frooze, the videographer, is a waitress at the Radegast Hall & Biergarten... ah me and my useless memory).
You guys? Pandas?
I don't know. The fact that I think this whole thing--the total overreaction, the "pandamonium" itself--is pretty stupid makes me feel old.
Photos.
8.19.2008
Whoa, Nelly
Remember that whole pooping intern story from NBC? Somehow Gawker picked up on it and linked to my post. Welcome, Gawker readers! Or at least those who decided to check out the home page. I write sometimes about my painfully hip life in the 'burg... but I usually write about television. Stick around; we're glad to have you.
8.18.2008
Bad Morning, Miss Bliss
So there's a highly anticipated new show on TNT this fall. It's from Steven Bochco, who created NYPD Blue, and stars this acclaimed actor:
Any idea who this is? Do you even want to know? I'm not sure you do. You're probably figured it out, actually, but I bet that deep down you're hoping I tell you you're wrong.
Get ready...
Are you sure?
Okaaaaayyyyyy...
If you're really sure.
(small voice) I know.
The Fug Girls have already written about it, but what can I do? Can I remain silent? In the promos, the mane flies out in the breeze as Zack runs down the hall to right a legal wrong or whatever.
No. Silence is not an option. PREPPIE, WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HEAD? YOUR HAIR, ZACK! Your hair. Your hair made you a golden god, and now look at you. You were a ten. A blonde Tom Cruise. This is not the way to become a serious actor. A true actor would accept that everyone between 20 and 35 will always, no matter what, see you as a kicky, Ferris Bueller-like Bayside misfit who belongs with Kelly Kapowski, "hangs" at The Max, and has little regard for the fourth wall--and just move on. Take a part as a lovable stoner in the next Seth Rogen movie. Look confused if someone hands you a legal brief, gun, or bottle of brown hair dye: these things can only change gradually. And please GO BACK TO THE BLONDE. Embrace Zack Morris, Mark-Paul--I'm pretty sure he's paying your mortgage.
Any idea who this is? Do you even want to know? I'm not sure you do. You're probably figured it out, actually, but I bet that deep down you're hoping I tell you you're wrong.
Get ready...
Are you sure?
Okaaaaayyyyyy...
If you're really sure.
(small voice) I know.
The Fug Girls have already written about it, but what can I do? Can I remain silent? In the promos, the mane flies out in the breeze as Zack runs down the hall to right a legal wrong or whatever.
No. Silence is not an option. PREPPIE, WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR HEAD? YOUR HAIR, ZACK! Your hair. Your hair made you a golden god, and now look at you. You were a ten. A blonde Tom Cruise. This is not the way to become a serious actor. A true actor would accept that everyone between 20 and 35 will always, no matter what, see you as a kicky, Ferris Bueller-like Bayside misfit who belongs with Kelly Kapowski, "hangs" at The Max, and has little regard for the fourth wall--and just move on. Take a part as a lovable stoner in the next Seth Rogen movie. Look confused if someone hands you a legal brief, gun, or bottle of brown hair dye: these things can only change gradually. And please GO BACK TO THE BLONDE. Embrace Zack Morris, Mark-Paul--I'm pretty sure he's paying your mortgage.
8.15.2008
Olympics
Y'all, if this girl is sixteen, I will eat my hat. She BETTER not be 16, because if she is, the Chinese gymnastic academy place has been storing her in a small box to stunt her growth like a goldfish.
Thing is, I don't really care if half the Chinese team is 14, which is most likely true. I would just be so pissed if I were a crazy talented 14-year-old American gymnast and the government refused to falsify my passport. If that's what goes these days, it should apply across the board, right?
Carpe Diem
Today is a lucky day. My commute went quickly, my chronic twitchy eye is less twitchy than usual (did you know about this? Probably not. I don't like to burden you with my throbbing eyelid problems when "vacation" is an available topic), and there was no line at the Starbucks in my office building.
So today is the day that I will get a Ko reservation. I can feel it.
So today is the day that I will get a Ko reservation. I can feel it.
8.14.2008
Miles Are Awesome
Subject: Your United flight confirmation
Your ticket(s) have been issued as an E-Ticket
Total taxes, fees and surcharges: USD $20
Wed, Nov 05, 2008 - New York, NY (LGA) to Honolulu, HI (HNL)
Depart: LGA 7:45 AM
Arrive: DEN 10:23 AM Non-stop
4h 38m
<<< connecting to >>>
Depart: DEN 11:45 AM
Arrive: HNL 4:18 PM Non-stop
7h 33m
----------------
What-- you thought we'd only take ONE sick vacation this year?
Your ticket(s) have been issued as an E-Ticket
Total taxes, fees and surcharges: USD $20
Wed, Nov 05, 2008 - New York, NY (LGA) to Honolulu, HI (HNL)
Depart: LGA 7:45 AM
Arrive: DEN 10:23 AM Non-stop
4h 38m
<<< connecting to >>>
Depart: DEN 11:45 AM
Arrive: HNL 4:18 PM Non-stop
7h 33m
----------------
What-- you thought we'd only take ONE sick vacation this year?
Wilco At The Pool
I never got into Wilco, for some reason--it was just one of those bands that passed me by. Maybe they got popular while I was studying abroad or something. I've heard their newer album multiple, multiple times, though, because it somehow replaced the Dreamgirls soundtrack and Whitney Houston's "Whitney: The Greatest Hits" on my downstairs neighbor's stereo.
But none of that matters when you have an opportunity to see a purportedly awesome live band at McCarren Park Pool; you just say yes. And man, I'm glad I did. They played for three hours (in lovely cool-ish weather), getting progressively jammier and layered and I don't know, I'm not a music writer. Anyway. I thought they were awesome. Transporting, even. Also, we stood next to Chuck Klosterman, and got pushed by security to make way for Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.
(Pictures from Flickr).
But none of that matters when you have an opportunity to see a purportedly awesome live band at McCarren Park Pool; you just say yes. And man, I'm glad I did. They played for three hours (in lovely cool-ish weather), getting progressively jammier and layered and I don't know, I'm not a music writer. Anyway. I thought they were awesome. Transporting, even. Also, we stood next to Chuck Klosterman, and got pushed by security to make way for Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon.
(Pictures from Flickr).
8.12.2008
Recent Events
Last week was pretty crazy. I went home on Wednesday night to say goodbye to my sister, who is now kicking balls for credit at Holy Cross, and developed some kind of deathly illness at work on Thursday. But I couldn't go home, because Dan's friend had gotten us VIP tickets to the final concert for The Police ever and had hinted that we might get to meet some of Sting's superstar friends such as, um, THE BOSS.
(We didn't. But we did see Best Jersey Icon Ever #3, James Gandolfini).
So obviously, I was like, fuck the cold, I'm going to the concert, and it was great. Then I spent the whole weekend enjoying tourist sites around New York and going to bed at 9:30.
I feel better now.
And then last night Katie and I went to Lure for happy hour, which I'm now going to do once a week, because it involves dollar oysters, $6 dark and stormys, and $2 oyster shooters (oyster, vodka, Bloody Mary mix): all things I love. Then I watched a new Mad Men!
Plus I obtained the code for the Drudge siren, thank God.
Life is great!
(We didn't. But we did see Best Jersey Icon Ever #3, James Gandolfini).
So obviously, I was like, fuck the cold, I'm going to the concert, and it was great. Then I spent the whole weekend enjoying tourist sites around New York and going to bed at 9:30.
I feel better now.
And then last night Katie and I went to Lure for happy hour, which I'm now going to do once a week, because it involves dollar oysters, $6 dark and stormys, and $2 oyster shooters (oyster, vodka, Bloody Mary mix): all things I love. Then I watched a new Mad Men!
Plus I obtained the code for the Drudge siren, thank God.
Life is great!
8.11.2008
My Friends Are Famous
J. Fuller had a letter to the editor printed in the New York Times this morning! Go Jessiqua!
Also, ck was in the Christie's Staff Art Show! His piece naturally attracted the largest crowd. You can check out the video portion here.
And now I want to do an art project.
Also, ck was in the Christie's Staff Art Show! His piece naturally attracted the largest crowd. You can check out the video portion here.
And now I want to do an art project.
8.06.2008
8.05.2008
Dreamz
Just listened to Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," which apparently everyone on earth knew about but me. (He left off the bullet point, "Be super ridiculously smart.") Touching stuff.
My dream careers, circa age 13:
Fuuuuuuuck.
My dream careers, circa age 13:
Senator
Madonna
Madonna's assistant
Deity
Fiction editor at The New Yorker
New York apartment owner
Fuuuuuuuck.
8.04.2008
It's Never Sunny In Fx-Land
Sometimes, I watch a show and I hate it, then revisit it like 2 years later after listening rave upon rave, and then I sheepishly love it. It's mildly embarrassing, admitting I'm wrong, but I accept my flaws with a Zen serenity.
I thought that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia might be one of those shows. It has a great back story--the guys shot the pilot for like $85 and Danny DeVito liked it so much he came on for season two and shot all of his scenes in ten days. I was friendly with one of the recurring characters in LA. But I watched a few episodes during my unemployment period and I thought they mostly just talked over each other a lot, like an interminable amateur improv scene.
So I watched a newer one. Maybe they found their footing, you know? The Office wasn't that great at first. Even The Colbert Report took some time to take off.
Nope. Still stinks.
I thought that It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia might be one of those shows. It has a great back story--the guys shot the pilot for like $85 and Danny DeVito liked it so much he came on for season two and shot all of his scenes in ten days. I was friendly with one of the recurring characters in LA. But I watched a few episodes during my unemployment period and I thought they mostly just talked over each other a lot, like an interminable amateur improv scene.
So I watched a newer one. Maybe they found their footing, you know? The Office wasn't that great at first. Even The Colbert Report took some time to take off.
Nope. Still stinks.
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