aradia22

I think it's difficult to see a few minutes of each person's routine and then come up with a wildly original critique on the spot. Especially since we were seeing critiques from all during the night, I'm willing to cut the judges some slack. I'm not sure if Roseanne's loud laughing was genuine or if that's her way of encouraging people. I try to smile encouragingly if I think that someone might be nervous on stage. Anyway, I think the angle of the TV development deal is interesting. I think I've watched a season or two before but my recollection is hazy. This is new, right? It puts a new spin on things because you're not just looking for a good standup but someone who writes the kind of jokes and has the personality and the life experience that could conceivably make a good show. I was much happier with the first round results. The only one I was disappointed to see go was Guy Branum because I used to watch the factuary on youtube. In the second round I was disappointed to see Gloria Bigelow and Patrick Susmilch not get through over Mike Vecchione who was just average and Jimmy Shubert who was better but not very fresh. Vecchione and Shubert seem like the kinds of safe comics that this show likes and I can see them starring in the same boring sitcoms we've been getting for years. Also, I like the guys with guitars so I wanted Pat Regan to make it through. I agree that there is too much editing and we don't get to see enough of the sets.

Ideally she would just be like Kiffany on Dead Like Me, popping in and out in a very minor role, but obviously this thing with her son signals a bigger role. I can see the "magical autism" being eye-roll worthy.

Oh, gosh, I love Nat King Cole. I always cite him as one of the few male singers (not counting Broadway singers) who I can really stand to listen to. That is, I can listen to a whole album, not just one radio hit. I like singers who can really sing and maybe it's gender normative but except for the occasional Chris Colfer, I prefer guys who sound like guys... which are two reasons why I can't stand Justin Timberlake. But back to Sinatra. It's interesting that you describe the people who appreciate his music that way because I've always felt the opposite. To me, it's the people who value style over substance. With a few exceptions (generally songwriters like Ellie Goulding and Lykke Li) I like singers who really have their technique down. I feel like it's cool to say you like Sinatra, especially with the Rat Pack thing. With say, Fred Astaire, I would never put him on a list of my favorite vocalists but I can enjoy his interpretations of songs. There are only a handful of Sinatra songs I can stand listening to. But to each his own. I know this isn't a popular opinion.

I'm still on that Puckleberry bandwagon. I know it's not going to happen because Quinn and Puck have basically been sanctified as an official show couple but I think the groundwork is there. I think they did their best to torpedo Jesse and in the end it worked too well. Still, I'd love to see Jonathan Groff come back. Hey, maybe Jesse went to try his luck in L.A.! However if our choices are Sam or new guy (and not in a relationship is not an option) then yes, let's go with a new guy. Someone not too flashy because after the return of April and Holly and the Kristen Schaal writer character, I have no faith in this show's ability to write someone with a quirky personality. If they start by assuming he's boring, I think we'll be sort of safe.

Hayden can make me tear up so fast. She got to me when she was talking about her dad. I'm not sure how this gels with the story we were getting earlier. Thanks for the reminder, Lillybee. I knew they'd mentioned it but I couldn't remember when it happened. YUP. Nothing more to say. She's not a very good actress. I still love her songs though so yeah, she can stay if she sings. I think Will Chase just comes across as sketchy for one. I think it's partly because of Smash and partly his general demeanor. However, I genuinely feel that if Luke doesn't get revealed as running some long con involving Edgehill, it's because the writers changed their minds somewhere along the line. He's been sketchy from the beginning and there have been too many hints about him maybe sabotaging Highway 65 for Edgehill's interests. I hope we can stop punishing Juliette almost every time she has sex with someone. I'm not sure where we're going with this. It didn't seem to be the typical self-destructive behavior we've seen from Juliette in the past. With the dead eyes while she and Jeff were "intimate" and the "I'll never be clean!" shower and Juliette telling Jeff that she was very drunk, I feel like the show was implying that he made have taken advantage of her to some extent. I did like the way "Don't Put Dirt On My Grave Just Yet" was almost re-purposed and kind of sort of fit the setting. I think the writers definitely did what they could to make the Deacon/Maddy/Rayna thing work this episode without too much of the overbearing Saint Rayna stuff. The problem is I think they adapted after the response they were getting. If they wrote it this way from the beginning, it might have made more sense. While I felt like it's kind of retconning a bit, I'll go with it. (But the snarky part of me thinks, how convenient that he was sober when Scarlett was born but not when Maddie was born.) Ugh. Kellie Pickler. She was terrible on American Idol and I've given one or two of her albums a chance and at best they're tolerable. And yes, Chip Esten did great work this episode. Oh, Lord was Connie struggling to sing A Life That's Good. Maybe they need to write her losing her voice into the script more often so it's believable when she can barely get out the notes and doesn't bother to hold any of them.

I forgot that New Amsterdam existed. I may have seen part of an episode or I may be confusing it with the snippets of Midnight I saw because my parents watched it. Honestly, you'd think they'd give up on this formula already. It's not like it's been wildly successful.

So I heard about this ages ago as "Kat McPhee got a new pilot where she plays a waitress." I think my longing for a new Leverage makes me like this one a little more than I should. This does not seem like it's going to be the next Leverage. It's more... somewhere between Burn Notice and Mind Games. I'm willing to see how it goes though would it kill them to have more diversity?

Oh Lord. Why is upfronts always full of actors I like in shows I don't think I'll be able to stand? I want to watch the things you're in John Cho. I thought Go On was pretty charming and Sleepy Hollow was alright up to a point even if you weren't very good in it. But I don't think I can watch this one. By coincidence I just checked out Pygmalion from the library so maybe that'll give me the boost I need. Probably not. This looks awful.

I genuinely laughed at all the standup parts. The rest of the trailer? Not so much. This has me worried.

"Looking forward to" is a little strong. I think Debra Messing has all of the life that was sucked out of her for Smash. Maybe Outside Mullingar gave her a boost of energy. The show doesn't look great but she is selling the less than stellar writing so I'm cautiously in?

Wikipedia suggests something that sounds like "Ee-wan Griff-udd." The last thing I saw him in was Glee as a not very good Nicky Arnstein for a hot second where he had no chemistry with Lea Michele. Still, he seemed pretty charming in the trailer. I'm not really sold on hanging out with Connie Rubirosa for another police procedural. And the "immortal" aspect is also throwing me. I can't remember the last thing I enjoyed with vampires and if this becomes that awful Midnight show (or whatever it was called) I'm out. Still, it Ioan (probably pronouncing that wrong in my head as I type it) is enough to make me tune in for the pilot as long as it doesn't conflict with anything better.

So are we agreed that there doesn't seem to be a reason to watch this show except for Viola Davis' involvement? Seriously, it looks terrible and sounds ridiculous. I have never seen Scandal or Grey's Anatomy so this might take off and last forever but from the trailer it just looks awful. Law students covering up a murder? What? Even if I could believe that enough of them would sign on to going that far to defend a client, where is this show going to go from there?

Oh, gosh. Well, this doesn't look very good. I perked up when Taraji P. Henson showed up (I thought she was wasted on Person of Interest) but otherwise I'm going to have to pass on this show unless it gets amazing reviews.

I think my favorite moment with all the craziness was the Countess pointing out that "provoking" isn't an adjective, at least the way they were using it. It seemed like Sonja was saying "you were provoking her" and not "your provoking behavior caused her to retaliate". Anyway, I do think Kristin has been intentionally provoking Aviva and Ramona in an attempt to get into the mix. And it worked. Do I think that Ramona was right to throw a glass at her? Of course not. Should Kristin have expected that response? No. But she has been attempting to get a response. OK, Carole. Let's not forget how quick you were to hang all over those younger guys. Things are starting to get spun. Kristen is just hanging in the background and you would notice her except for the fact that she's "tall and pretty" is getting spun into "she's just another pretty face." I like the energy of the genuine fights. When we start getting into everyone's words getting twisted around we get another Bookgate where we don't even know what we're arguing about. I dislike the ease with which "crazy" and "bitch" are thrown around in this group. I think that says more than any charitable endeavors or any claims of being a "girl's girl". The ease with which they jump to that is disturbing. Still, I like this new development of everyone vs. Ramona. When it was Carole and Heather (and sort of Kristen) vs. Aviva and Ramona (and sort of Sonja) it felt like Carole was making a play for Queen Bee. I'm much more comfortable with everyone airing their grievances and trying to take Ramona down, especially if Heather or Luanne ends up as Queen Bee. I'm on the fence about Josh. Sometimes (like this episode) he doesn't seem that bad.

Even though it's unlikely, a little part of me is now going to be rooting for any team with a player over the age of 58. They could make it happen with a crop of weak opponents and maybe a former army or Marine guy. Also, by bending the rules so he doesn't have to do as many athletic challenges unless he wants to.

Yeah I'm not going to hate on them for that. It's smart to wait to have a child until you can afford it and devote your time to taking care of your child. I caught that too. Can someone please make a snarky joke about how young Dave is? I'm too tired to do it. It's been so long that I forgot Joey and Meghan were on this season. Can we please have a fun season of TAR soon?

I liked the lightbulb challenge because it was a "real" thing. I'm too tired to be eloquent but essentially, it wasn't some cockamamie thing they'd invented for the racers to do and you could easily see their progress. However, now that I look back at the episode (putting my hatred of Dave and Connor aside) I realize that part of the reason it felt so uneventful is that we didn't have the typical challenge reviewing some aspect of the whole race (e.g. what countries they visited, hello/goodbye, etc.). I want to sympathize with Brendon and Rachel but it's the own damn fault for running around the Mirage and being ridiculous.

I think we got a small taste of "nice Josh" in the first sequence with Sonja and then when Kristen returned. I'm now willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that the earlier scenes may have just been heightened situations when they were both stressed. We'll see how it goes. And yeah, I might have laughed too at her ridiculous responses, embarrassment for her, or perhaps frustration that she just wasn't listening. Oh my God, are Ramona and Mario throwing out all these "Mario is cheating" hints on purpose? Super uncomfortable. I love how the editors added that little "ding" sound when one of her eyes twitched at the end of her confessional. What the heck is Widow's Guide about? I feel like Carole talks about how old she's getting and keeps putting herself down and yet expects to keep attracting all these guys in a conventional way (e.g. meet in person, he asks her out, etc.). I find myself losing interest in her isolated segments. I know Kristen was there for the matchmaker but she could have easily been absent. I get that maybe she can't do normal online dating because of her "fame" but the matchmaker seemed weird. Go Heather for being able to put everything together by herself and carrying the bags. She's no Martha Stewart but she's capable of chilling champagne in ice and putting out a cold tray on her own which is essentially what most of these women have been serving at their get togethers anyway. But as someone who cannot deal with really high heat, no A/C is not acceptable. You can't always rely on a cool country breeze. I've been in enough stifling hot hotel rooms to sympathize. That said, not everyone is outdoorsy and athletic. While I admire Heather and Luanne for being up for trying new things whether it's some combination of aerial silks and yoga or just swinging about on a makeshift swing that might kill someone, not everyone is up for all the outdoor activities. With all of that, I have to say, I really enjoyed this episode. It was full of the fun kind of drama. And while I would have been terrified to go out on that lake myself (even with the camera guys around I don't feel like it's safe for a bunch of inexperienced people to row out that far) I enjoyed the change of scenery. And it was fun to see Heather and Kristen spying on them in the water. There's something freeing about not seeing them bicker in the same sorts of settings all the time.

I think there was a lot of good material in Little Shop but it didn't all hold together and was greatly improved in the adaptation to the musical. The weakest part was the overall motivation and it really seemed like they were running out of ideas at the end from the hypnotism/prostitute sequence to the end where it just seemed like they were killing time. Still, I'm glad they made the movie because Little Shop is one of my favorite musicals.

I like Night and Day. Yeah it's not going to be on anyone's list of the best musicals but most of the performances are good and oh, yeah, Cary Grant is in it. :)

I watched The Little Shop of Horrors today. I love the musical. I don't think I would have sat through the movie if I didn't love the musical so much but it wasn't the trainwreck I expected it to be given the Roger Corman attachment and the fact that this is often described as a B-movie. It wasn't great but the opening was interesting and the writing and characters are kind of good if a little broad. It really only gets campy and ridiculous when . Before that point it was just a quirky, broad comedy. I was expecting Audrey to have more of an accent. I think the musical definitely made some smart changes. The character motivation (wanting to save Audrey from her abusive boyfriend) and symbolism is stronger. Here I just wondered why he didn't feed the plant a steak. The dentist was the worst actor in the bunch. It was interesting to see a young Jack Nicholson as the patient who got off on pain. It wasn't a revelation of a performance but he definitely had energy and was willing to play into the silliness of the movie but take it seriously. Seymour's mom was the second worst character. You can see why they got rid of her in the musical. The hypnotism/prostitute sequence was terrible and pointless. The movie is barely over an hour long and this seemed like a weird way to fill time. Overall, I don't think this is really worth watching except as a fan of the musical. It's something fun for completionists and it really makes you appreciate all the smart changes they made in adapting the movie into a musical.

Is Grimm about to become Charmed season 8 (the season with Billie and her sister)? Because... no. No. I don't even like this show. My parents watch it so I catch bits and pieces of it and I mainly make fun of how bad it is but no good can come of this.

I mean, they did establish it as his ambition in the episode where we really focused on his modeling ambition when he came to NY. However, I think we assumed that A) he wouldn't achieve his goal that quickly and B) once he had booked that one job, he wouldn't be content to just go back to Lima. I thought he wanted to be a model, not just get on the side of one bus and be done with it.

I watched Till The Clouds Roll By today. Well, actually, I knew I'd never be able to sit through the movie so I just watched the musical numbers and even then I had to fast forward a little. I knew I'd probably enjoy the Judy Garland and Lena Horne numbers and those were definitely the highlight of the movie. The Lucille Bremer and Virginia O'Brien numbers were also quite good. Other than that, I'd skip this one. I personally have no desire to sit through the dialogue. I caught a little bit of the Sally plotline and that was enough for me. It's the middle of allergy season and my eyes are all dried out. I can't risk rolling them too excessively. Edited to add that I still don't get the appeal of Sinatra. Anyone have some recommendations? I don't like him as a singer. I might like him fine as an actor.

I enjoyed All of Me though it wasn't the best version of that song I've ever heard. American Boy was fun. I actually laughed out loud when it started. Shakin' My Head was a good performance but it's a really stupid song and not even stupid in the fun way like Trouty Mouth. Lea did her best with Glitter in the Air but that song is idiotic and it felt like the wrong choice for a "this is who I am" kind of song. Pompeii was fun though I think the problem with the big productions with anonymous extras is that they all look like commercials to me. As for the actual content of the episode. What is with the Kurt/Blaine stuff? I feel like they're constantly teasing that they're going to break up and then they don't. It's just getting weird now. I knew the writers were itching to break up Mercedes and Sam as soon as they got together. Has any other couple had this many "we should break up talks" or this many interventions from people outside of the relationship telling them to break up? I wish they'd used Kristen Schaal to greater effect. And yeah, we're officially heading into Smash season 3. The thing is, I can see it in my head, I can see how at least some of these storylines could have worked but the writing was not there to make me feel the emotional connection, the song choices were off, and the staging and direction was off. I could have bought Rachel staying with Funny Girl for a year and then just not feeling fulfilled anymore only to get the opportunity to star in her own show and bring the joy of Glee to a wider audience (like the audience that actually watched Glee) but they mishandled it. I don't believe they had this planned from the start and they mismanaged the way they communicated it to us once they had it figured out. Still, it was better than the last season finale which left me depressed.