candall

Ooh, "Progressive news & media coverage." Perfect; love it. Thanks!

Oh, I think you'd have to book a stadium for that picnic. I was all excited about an episode this morning because I couldn't recall exactly every little detail about how Tiananmen Square fit in with the old lady's bronze antiquities collection. I thought it was better not to reference Benson's prison assault. It didn't really serve a purpose because Liv would be fully on board either way. I'd forgotten it myself, until reminded, because I don't scour the SVU re-runs as much as the other two. (I got tired of Stabler, Staber's rage issues, Stabler's separation, Stabler's wayward daughter, etc.)

Regarding "fan reaction," did anyone see any of those The Internet Ruined My Life shows? Internet anonymity has somehow licensed and emboldened people to respond at unbelievably horrifying levels--threats of rape, decapitation, killing someone's children--for stuff that is nothing. As in, totally inconsequential, zero impact. If scads of people can go berserk because some random teenager applies too much makeup in her Before&After picture (to name one example,) I'm sure Shonda gets a fuck-ton of whacko reaction for "killing" a popular television character.

Well, there wasn't a new episode last night, so I just watched this one again. It was really a very good episode, since I wasn't loaded for bear the second time around. (Looking forward to that LBJ movie with Cranston.) The mod has curtailed the poli-talk, so does anyone have a recommendation for a political discussion site whether the decibel level is similar to this one--i.e. where the contributions are pithier than a string of #$%^&* comments?

What the fuck, Debbie?

Oh, gosh, I really enjoyed it. The recapper certainly made thoughtful valid points about the rough edges and fuzzy objectives, but sometimes it's interesting to see a new reality show concept before it gets all slicked up. Amazing when the first Survivor batch was reduced to roasting rats because they were famished. Hello "survival." I thought it was a decent mix of inmate subjects--the tough cop, the goody two-shoes, the blowhard, the wuss, the naïf, the marine and, umm, Maryum. The people who need better casting are on the law enforcement side--those two low-affect dudes were a serious drawback. (LOL at "taking notes on a business card." And that one pointy toothbrush was obviously NOT the entire weapons arsenal Zac reported was being accrued.) I'm still a big Tami fan and think she might net out the most change from the whole thing. I don't see her sending her next jaywalker to The Big House, which she probably relished before. Plus that was some fucked up police brutality, squeezing the very last minute of incarceration desperation out of her. For Maryum, I thought it would do her good not being "Muhammad Ali's Daughter" for awhile. I get the feeling that's her most basic self-identity and she's probably always mentioned it within minutes when she's introduced herself to anyone. (I'll take further thoughts to her thread.) That whole issue with the missing lunch tray was a horrifying example of how everything just gets so skewed in an environment like that. Which made me extremely disappointed to see the three women pick up where they left off, in the reunion preview. I wanted them to meet each other and agree: "Man, that was some kinda crazy in there, wasn't it?" I need to go now and scribble a greeting card to the person I know in prison.

This new thing with Jo finally forced me to put some thought into why I dislike Jo & Alex as a couple. Alex is now a big solid, grounded, mature adult and a professional who excels in his chosen field. (Which is good, since it took him over a decade to stabilize.) Jo is, comparatively, a little wisp who's still making her way along the path, professionally. The decision to offer a compromise baby instead of her "secret" makes her seem so young and foolish. I love Alex and would probably love Jo too, as an independent character. For example, they could make a decent story about a capable young surgeon whose professional credentials are threatened by a phantom from her past. Turning all that angst into a big ol' stumbling block for Jolex, eh. Feels like watching a yo-yo on it's 14th spin, with several more to come.

I thought the breasts Cleen drew were okay--for appendages attached to the chest wall via some sort of suction-cup device.

Smart. Tough for primary characters to eclipse established identities. Especially when they decide the trick is to be so oppo. I tried to give pixie-esque little Chyler Leigh a chance in her role as a badass cop, kickin' ass and takin' names, but I had to take a hard pass on ex-CIA Heigl's "political thriller." (I heard it was a fairly intelligent show, but I just could not.) I guess when Patrick Dempsey is ready to re-apply his mousse, I'm available to be twinkled at.

Can't really get much plainer than that. Ha, I certainly thought Aubry had it in the bag. Until someone on LiveChat pointed out FOUR votes would carry the day. With Cydney still feeling the fresh sting of losing a head-to-head and low-watt Julia voting her bestie, what? the Jerky Boys are suddenly going to transform into founts of rational thinking and good sportsmanship? Maybe they need to arrange for more people on the jury, not fewer.

SO interesting. I had a transvestite friend who told me the first day he appeared in public dressed as a woman, he and another man smashed right into each other in a huge empty marble hallway. He concluded it's always the woman who--subconsciously or otherwise--adjusts her walking speed when two people are on a collision course. Sorry, still fascinated by the implications of that story. Back to topic.

I'm the cynical sort, but I imagine she'll make her return if her film career tanks the way Katherine Heigl's did. I like Sara Ramirez and watch her sing "The Story" on youtube regularly, but Heigl even had those conventional Hollywood Blonde looks giving her a leg up. Who knows, though, maybe we've evolved past stupid stereotypes by now--I look forward to following her new path. Meanwhile, why is everyone mad that Callie didn't have more screentime in the finale? They had several pretty good stories going and Callie's had a meaty storyline all season, plus the emotional concluding snippet for the finale. I would have frowned if this eppie had been about Callie, too.

Oh my goodness, yes, I'm incapable of accepting sweet generous Meredith being romantic in the presence of another maaaaan! Good thing they sang me the lullaby where a self-centered bitter shrew screws someone four times in the backseat of her car instead. Does Ellen Pompeo ever watch this show?

I think if they could have shown Michele making her way to a well-deserved win, they would have. After six months of effort, TPTB want viewers to cheer and be satisfied and say "YES!" It's not good for them when people say, "Seriously?" I don't think the cutting room floor is littered with THs where Michele is laying out her strategy and explaining why she wants to align with this person and not that one. No miles of unused footage where, for example, Michele can be seen telling x one thing and y something else. The main deception I heard her claim at FTC was artificially "dumbing herself down" to do something or other with regards to Scott. Okay, excellent, valid maneuver. But if you were doing that, wouldn't you want to mention it in a confessional--if for no other reason than the natural desire to clarify to the folks back home that you're only playing a part? And wouldn't the show love to show us that? Here's Michele, our million dollar winner--unbeknownst to you, of course--making her moves! ********** In my head, this is all coming out in a reasonable tone and not as a rant. I thought both Aubry and Tai were more deserving, but I don't feel any rage about Michele taking it--that's how it frequently goes on Survivor. I just don't believe the editors screwed up and dropped the ball (because essentially there was no ball there to drop.)

My very least favorite thing about L&O:SVU, since the beginning of time, is when one of the team solemnly intones "We can protect you."

So apparently I'm the only one who backed that Elton John song up and played it again? I don't care if it was Nashville shark chum, it was beautiful. I laughed at Scarlett squinching her eyes together to make a photogenic tear roll down her cheek. No luck, but she did get a little glisten on her lashes. Snap, so close. I felt foolish sitting here all by myself muttering, "I'm proud of you, Dad . . .SAY IT, Cole, just say it!" And then he did!!! Yay! Ha! Take that, Sarge, you inflamed asshole. I thought "Sarge" was supposed to be some uptight rando from the Cole's training camp--but he's Luke's father? Woof, tough break, Luke. [Luuuke, I am your homophobic faaaather.] Started a new solitaire game when Deacon decided it would really be best for everyone if he just left. And when the answer to what Rayna wanted from their relationship was "Maddie." Looks like we're going out with a whimper, folks.

Were there live chats every week???

Good. It would be totally inappropriate to be jonesing for a drumstick.

Geez, "Old Joe" has 14 years and about half a neck wrinkle on me. He looks really good.

Are you kidding? Jeff thinks Michelle is freakin' Parvati II. (Lady Chatts quote, I think, not Simply Me.)

Or, as JEFF says it, "playin' like a stud."

Well, fine. I have ten minutes to spare from this reunion celebrating the wrong winner to swerve over and donate fifty grand to an animal organization.

Oh, fuck you, Probst. With your 500 Billion Dollar investment into the Cambodian economy and that fleet of planes transporting everything back to the US, you couldn't save one little chicken?

What???? NO!!!

Okay, folks, we're eating into valuable Reunion time now. We don't need to see them all file over and scribble down a name. SNAP IT UP.