I am proud to say that my friend Adam Roberts–whom I’ve known since college–asked me to be a guest writer on his fantastic food blog The Amateur Gourmet.
You can go here to read my thoughts on the artistic possibilities of butter. And if you haven’t read it before, I highly recommend the rest of the site. It’s awesome.
Listen up ya’ll it’s Media
Wondering who those ladies are? They’re Ruth and Esther, stars of Ruth and Esther’s Lemonade Revue! For those who don’t know, that’s the show I co-wrote and performed earlier this week. I’m thrilled to say it was very well-received, but really, who couldn’t love such gorgeous gals? (I’m Esther, by the way, and my friend Alex is Ruth.)
Funnily enough, in one of the show’s improv segments, Esther was asked to review Hamlet 2, which was a delicious bit of art imitating life. She liked the movie more than I did, especially because Elisabeth Shue’s character raised awareness of the nation’s nursing shortage.
Along those Shakespearean lines, I was also contacted by the producer of the film Never Say Macbeth, who told me her movie could cure my H2 blues. The film–about a teacher who says “Macbeth” in a theater and unleashes supernatural havoc–seems like a reasonably funny blend of Waiting for Guffman and Slings and Arrows. If you want to see it, you can rent it from Netflix and the like. Here’s the trailer:
I’ll probably never see an episode of Gossip Girl, just like I never watched a frame of The O.C. or Dawson’s Creek. Soapy teen drama has never been my thing. However, I can respect those shows, and I can respect the advertisers who know what makes them popular.
That’s why I’m impressed by the latest ads for Gossip Girl, which show the cast in steamy positions, branded with quotes from major media outlets about how degenerate they are. To wit:
These ads are brilliant because they tell kids that if they watch Gossip Girl, they will be rebelling against their parents. Could there be a better incentive to do something?
And really, all those hand-wringing quotes have done the show’s job for it. Now, the rebellious teen on the go doesn’t have to waste time watching barely objectionable material. She knows that if she wants to piss off her mom, she can go straight for Gossip Girl. Thanks, Boston Herald!
I can’t find the original review from The Boston Herald–you have to pay to read older stories–so it’s possible the critic made his comment in a cheeky context. But The Parent’s Television Council was genuinely appalled when it called the show “mind-blowingly inappropriate,” and their outrage is charmingly naive. Have they not yet realized that anything they attack will instantly become more desirable to the young people they’re trying to protect?
Here’s more evidence of how out of touch they are: A PTC spokesperson said these new ads reek of desperation. Which… come on. Every time the PTC (or any other lame, sweatshirt-wearing group of fogeys) tries to discredit the ads, they make them more valid.
I’ll bet at least one person who lambasts Gossip Girl used to secretly listen to heavy metal records or sneak into to R-rated movies, and I’ll bet that person doesn’t see the connection.
Listen up ya’ll it’s AdTastic · Media · Television
Okay, y’all. Since Hamlet 2 first showed up on The Critical Condition as a Trailer Scaler, I’m doing a Trailer Scaler Redux.
In other words: I saw this movie on Saturday, and by God, I’ve got some things to say about it.
And I’ll say them. Oh yes, I’ll say them… after the jump.
MANY, MANY SPOILERS AHEAD!
[Read more →]
Listen up ya’ll it’s Movies
Have you been watching Project Runway? Have you noticed that Terri never wins the challenges, even though she obviously deserves to?
This week, for instance, her drag queen outfit was a mind-boggling explosion:
I can’t get over how this design mashes up a thousand ideas–including two types of boots–yet manages to look cohesive. Joe’s winning outfit was nice, but a pink sailor suit just isn’t as exciting as this piece of innovation.
Also, Terri’s personality rules. She’s funny, grounded, and healthily skeptical of the many wack-ass people in this season’s cast. If she doesn’t make Bryant Park, I will lose it, people. Lose it!
Listen up ya’ll it’s Television
This weekend, I’ll spend most of my time rehearsing Ruth and Esther’s Lemonade Revue, but I’m also going to squeeze in a trip to see Hamlet 2. Could I be more excited to see this movie? Hardly.
I will report back on the degree to which my world was rocked.
Listen up ya’ll it’s Movies
To this day, I can’t believe that The Truman Show didn’t get a 1998 Best Picture nomination. I mean, really. Elizabeth is good, but it is not a better movie. It certainly doesn’t feature one of the most powerful scenes in recent movie history. And The Truman Show does.
But if you haven’t seen the movie–or haven’t seen it in several years–you may want to check it out before you mosey past the jump.
Listen up ya’ll it’s Flashback! · Movies
AdTastic is on hiatus this week because Pink has just released as a new single. If Barack Obama is elected president, I hope he arranges a national holiday for this sort of thing.
For those who don’t know, I love me some Pink. Like, crazy love. And yet as I write this, I have not heard her new single, “So What.”
Therefore, I will write the following review as I listen to the song for the first time. And unless I’m correcting a typo, I won’t change a single word after I write it.
After the jump, join me in my crazy experiment!
Listen up ya’ll it’s Music
Over the weekend, I went to my first traditional Jewish wedding. Oh, I’d seen a huppa and danced the hora before, but this was my first time hearing all the prayers and blessings, hearing the marriage contract read aloud, and watching the bride and groom go off for a moment of seclusion.
The ceremony was really moving. From my perspective, the wedding welcomed the couple into a global and historical family. The bride and groom performed the same rituals that millions of others had performed before, and so they became part of a massive community that spans both distance and time. Through their marriage, they were welcomed into a new world.
Experiencing that tradition for the first time has made think about the value of doing new things. If you’re ready to walk on the wild side–or at least a different side–then I suggest you Crank That Hit!
(Do something new… after the jump)
Listen up ya’ll it’s Crank That Hit! · Music
Oh snap! The Veronicas released a kick-ass album months ago, and I’m just now hearing it! What have I been doing?
And also? Imani Coppola, of the late-nineties hit “Legend of a Cowgirl,” is now part of a kick-ass pop-soul duo called Little Jackie. Their debut album only came out last month, so the fact I didn’t know about it isn’t that surprising. But still… I could have been rocking for weeks instead of days!
But let’s not bemoan the past. Let’s be grateful for the present. After the jump, I’ll get busy with a song from each artist that is currently rocking my world.
Listen up ya’ll it’s Music
