Emmy Awards 2008: Part I
September 13, 2008 by Romy
The Emmy’s are coming! Are you ready? Have you been making a list of winners and checking it twice in anticipation for this year’s awards? Or is it just me…?
I’ve decided that over the next couple of days I’ll blog about the nominees and BOLD and italicize my predicted winners. Anyone who dareth oppose my choice is welcome to comment, write-in or simply disagree.
Outstanding Drama Series
Boston Legal, House and Lost are all nominated for their forth seasons. I’m not going to give detailed show synopses (I mean, if you don’t know already - where have you been for the last 4 years?!) but suffice it to say Boston Legal “follows the personal and professional lives of attorneys” living in Boston, House is about cranky-genius Dr. House who diagnoses random diseases based on few facts and Lost is about dramatic and bizarre lives of people stranded on a mysterious island in the Pacific. Dexter (played by Michael C. Hall, of Six Feet Under yet another TV series about death) is an orphaned sociopath who loves to kill - don’t worry, he only kills the deserved. Mad Men is the critically acclaimed series about 1960s New York Madison Ave. ad-execs and is the only ‘historical’ television show nominated. Man Men is also the only series nominated this year for its first season.
Outstanding Comedy Series
This category is a little tougher to predict than Outstanding Drama. Like OD, there are three series nominated for their fourth seasons: Entourage, The Office and Two and Half Men. 30 Rock, Tina Fey’s series about comedy writers won last year for its first seasona and it’s unlikely it will receive the same attention this year. Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm is nominated for its 6th season, but it remains to be seen whether this season will actually earn an outstanding comedy award. Two and Half Men, Charlie Sheen’s sitcom loosely following an About a Boy plot (read: bachelor’s life is interrupted when domesticity moves in) is up against too many other strong comedic shows to win an award. Steve Carell and cast in the fourth season of The Office remain as hilarious as ever, but it seems that Entourage was the series most talked about this year. HBO’s Entourage is the series following the life of an actor and his friends making it big in Hollywood. Jeremy Piven has received a Golden Globe and 2 Emmys for his role as the egocentric Ari Gold, but the series itself has yet to be recognized.
Green Revolution or Green Pollution?
September 12, 2008 by Romy
Lately I can’t help but sing the first few lines of Cheers theme song in my head:
“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot. Wouldn’t you like to get away?”
It’s true — in our post-9/11-failing economy-limited resources-environmentally threatened world we live within wouldn’t it be great if we could all just get away? But, of course it’s not possible and with the release of Thomas L. Friedman’s new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution it looks like we’ve actually got a long way to go before we’re “in the green” so to speak.
Friedman is a New York Times columnist and has earned a number of Pulitzer prize awards for his work in journalism. This book will likely be noticed by the Pulitzer jury this year for its strikingly insightful theories on what Americans can do to help ensure our earth doesn’t implode.
Over population, oil, consumption and the usual list of suspects are to blame for the current environmental mess we’re in, but they will be our downfall if we continue to operate as blindly as before. Friedman is calling for a revolution — a Green Revolution. We have to start thinking critically about our actions and the way we want others (countries, citizens, etc.) to see America.
Whether or not Friedman’s book will actually garner the change he calls for (and not just be a book read by the already converted choir) is interesting to consider. Hard, Flat and Crowded works to add further “fuel” (phosphate-free fuel of course) to the fire of the upcoming election. Will the candidates speak directly to the issues he’s raising?
One other criticism is that for a book calling for a radical change in the way we live/have lived, it is not very radical in its execution. Dare we quote pop-culture guru pop-culture guru Marshall McLuhan’s “medium is the message” and ask Friedman how we are expected to change and be radical when the book itself is so stodgy and old-school. Is it printed on recycled paper? Who knows? Will this book end up in the pile of other books on environmental damage in 10 years? Probably.
Now, I’m not suggesting that Thomas Friedman’s book, Hot, Flat and Crowded is not worth reading. In fact - READ IT. You’ll probably end up talking about it somewhere, and if it makes you re-think and be conscience of your actions than Friedman has succeeded in his goal for writing this book.
I’m just saying: plant a tree in honor of the one it took to print the book.
College Days Daze
September 11, 2008 by Romy
Salutations College Chums,
Today I’m reporting live from a college campus. I know that there’s no way of “proving” that I’m actually in a Starbucks in the heart of the action and not writing from a small cubicle somewhere… but just believe me, ok?
I’m here with my glasses and my books thinking back to the days when I was an undergrad and had time to watch tonnes of movies (mom - if you’re reading this they were ALL for school). In honor of this flashback, I’ve decided to make a list of college-film “must-haves.”
College Films 101
1) Old School - Frat pack staple with Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson and Jeremy Piven (not to mention my personal fav Vince Vaughn). Watch as these old-ish dudes try to relive their own college days by starting a new fraternity.
2) Did somebody say fraternity? Check out this awesome Frat Boy Collection (not to be mistaken for the Frat Girl Collection out next year - j/k) that includes my favorite college film PCU about a fictional liberal-arts college.
3) The Graduate - Classic Mike Nichols film about post-traumatic college stress syndrome. Watch it after you finish college: you’ll totally relate. Watch it during college and see what you have to look forward to — tan lines and a job in plastics!
4) Slackers- Arguably the most underrated of college films, but probably the most hilarious. Jason Schwartzman (I “yuv” you) is a crazy dude making hair dolls, while Jason Segel (Freaks and Geeks) and his pals spend more time concocting plans to cheat on tests than actually studying.
5) Speaking of Freaks and Geeks, Judd Apatow’s second short-lived television series Undeclared falls outside of the “films” category, but still deserves a spot on this list. Hilarious cameos and recognizable faces if you’ve been keeping up Apatow’s films since. Why this show got cancelled after one season is as confusing as your Statistics class.
6) Wow! I’m already at #6, but really the Revenge of the Nerds Collection should be a lot higher on this list. There are 4 movies altogether — some are more funny than others, but suffice it to say, nothing puts a smile on your face like watching a nerd make it cool.
7) Saved by the Bell: The College Years - Not exactly an “accurate” portrayal of college (I don’t remember having an old NFL player with a mullet as a resident advisor) but when Zack and Kelly go to college — it’s worth the watch. A.C. Slater pumps more iron, while Screech continues to annoy…
8) Accepted - Revenge of the Nerds meets Old School. One dude wants to go to college but isn’t accepted anywhere, so he does the next logical thing — makes his own university. Funny-ish. Good pointers if you don’t want to study for the SATs and want to start your own college instead.
9) College isn’t ALL fun and games, it is also SCARY fun and games. Take for instance The Skulls - a fictitious ivy league fraternity that does scary things (including accepting Joshua Jackson as a member). There’s also Splatter University which claims you can “Earn a Higher Degree in Terror” and Demolition University where hunky Corey Haim has the most hilarious/terrifying face on the DVD cover:
That’s it for now. Class is over. Watch movies 1-9 and because there might just be a pop quiz next week.
Do You Believe in Gosh?
September 9, 2008 by towerblog
Is there a better comedy album name in the history of this world? Rephrase: Mitch Hedberg’s posthumous comedy CD titled “Do You Believe in Gosh?” is, quite frankly, the best title I’ve ever heard!
Hedberg who tragically died in 2005 of a drug overdose at the young age of 37, is best remembered for his bizarre, yet hilarious stream of consciousness style of comedy. This album is a compilation of recorded shows from his residency at an Ontario, California comedy club.
Mitch Hedberg is often referred to as the Kurt Cobain of Comedy — too talented and too ahead of his time for his own good. He’s a bit of a cult figure for many comedy fans — in fact, Hedberg is an essential staple for college kids.
The liner notes include excerpts from his personal journal, which provides an interesting insight into his world. Isn’t it always the case that the funniest people and are usually the most conflicted? If only there were a way we could provide the same type of comic relief Hedberg provides us — but, of course, it’s too late.
This final album of material which was originally recorded as a trial run, is now all that we have left from this funny, funny man.
Check out his previous comedy albums, Mitch All Together and Strategic Grill Locations to understand the greatness of Mitch Hedberg.
Awards, Festivals and Shows … Oh My!
September 8, 2008 by Danny
So, ok. Despite my sadness that summer is officially over, I must admit that September television rocks! Seriously! All my favorite shows are returning, and it seems that there aren’t enough award shows to keep the world satisfied. Take for example what I’m watching tonight — CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock — hosted by Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler and Julianne Hough. The festival actually takes place during a weekend in June in Nashville, TN and is a mix of performances by Faith Hill, Billy Ray Cyrus and Rascal Flatts to name just a few. There are some funny sketches thrown in like Bucky Covington pretending to be a tour guide (although, I think it would be funnier if they shaved his head while he was sleeping and filmed his reaction in the morning… I guess there’s always next year…)
The CMA Music Fest totally ‘rocked’ in a country way. Although, I must admit that the VMA show was a waaay bigger party. But, in less than two-weeks time (September 21, my birthday!) is the 60th broadcast of the Emmys. Tomorrow I’m gonna make a big ol’ list of Emmy nominees, but for now, I must figure out if I can go to Nashville next year for the CMA Music Festival! Anyone care to join me?
