new shows

Castle was a rerun, so I watched Harry's Law. Seems like it might be fun. I absolutely love Kathy Bates. She was so much fun in Six Feet Under. I don't often get excited about law shows, but we'll see.

I want to watch The Cape, mostly because I looooooove Summer Glau. I saw the second episode this week, but I missed the 2-hour premiere, so I was pretty much lost.

As of late, I just wait until shows are on Netflix before I watch them. But I might make an exception if one of these continues to be interesting.

desperate housewives

Well, who knew? I'm in the middle of season 2, and it's pretty entertaining. I mean, it's not Buffy, obviously, but the characters are fun, everyone is pretty, and it's like an escape to another very foreign world. Mostly I think I just enjoy watching a show of any decent quality when I can watch lots and lots of episodes in a row. It's like one big loooooong movie.

tv update

Mad Men - finished season 2. Wow, this show is good. It's so different from anything else that's on. I love the colors, the clothes, the decor, all that stuff. I'm starting to feel a small amount of sympathy for a few of the characters, though they are all completely appalling. The character I like the most is Don, which I think just makes me a horrible person, so don't tell anyone.

Lost - finally watching season 6. It's starting to make a bit of sense, but I think I may be making things up between the lines. Still love love love Sawyer, Jack and Sayeed.

Angel - rewatch number, oh, you know, 103 or so. It's official - Connor is the only buffyverse character I still do not like. I even finally starting liking Dawn after watching 407 times.

roswell

OK, I gotta say that I really love Katherine Heigl. I just think she's adorable. I'm not finished watching the 3rd season of Roswell yet, but it does get increasingly weird, as shows that start in high school tend to do as the kids get older. And oh yeah, alien shows have the get-weird-as-they-go tendency as well, I suppose. Anyway, I love some of the characters in this show a lot, and one of them is Isabel. She's the one who wants to live her own life, the one who loves Christmas, the one who doesn't want to be all alien and weird. Odd that I would like the conformist of the group, but she's good-hearted and you gotta respect that.

The other character I love love love is Maria. And I love that they let her sing. What a voice. Don't you just love altos?! This scene of her singing at a friend's funeral is so gorgeous.



And of course I just want Maria and Michael to live happily ever after. What are the chances? Don't tell me, I'm not done watching.

Singoff 2

It's so fluffy!

Questions I have after the second episode are:

• Why does a cappella singing have to have so much choreography? Sure, it can be cool, but can't the singing ever stand on its own?
• Who is doing all this arranging? Are these groups really doing all their own? And if so, wow!
• Who is dressing these people? I love the outfits. The orange jackets were a little over the top...
• Could there be a duller host?

And on to the groups:

On the Rocks - Rap? Why? I think their choreography is too big and out of control. The performance was better than I thought it would be and what singing there was in between the rapping was decent. I give them a 6.

Street Corner Symphony - I still am hoping to hear some southern gospel from them, but of course I realize they had no choice in the matter. They were awesome - great soloists, awesome high notes, great blend. Woot! I give them a 9.

Eleventh Hour - I just find them generic. Their song was lame, not much to work with in the way of arranging. They had some pitch issues. Then again they're high school kids, and considering that fact, they're pretty amazing. I give them a 5. They went home, which was the right choice, in my humble opinion.

BANANA!

Talk of the Town - Holy crap. These guys are astonishingly good. Mercy - what a great song choice! All around class, all around brilliant sound. Awesome. Beautiful. I give them a 9.

Nota - last year's winner. They were the only good group last year, and they are fab. So why on earth would they sing the world's dumbest song? Meh. It's OK, the Blackeyed Peas have plenty of fans. They won't miss me.

The Backbeats - I still don't like the soloist much, though I realize that is a minority opinion. I loved their "breathing" chords - neat idea. I think their overall sound is too loud and too dense. I give them a 6.

Committed - These guys have made my day. They are perfection. The arranging is simple and brilliant, the song Apologize was perfect for them, and I am floored. Just wow. I give them a 10, and I hope they win and start touring.

Groove for Thought - Yay for jazz. They are the only group using jazz harmonies, and it's gorgeous. Their intonation and balance are both great. Their dancing is a little like you might expect from a bunch of schoolteachers, but who cares! They're singing is phenomenal. This is the kind of group I would want to be in. I give them a 9.

The Whiffenpoofs - I'm heartbroken that they went home. I love their choral sound. They remind me of the Kings Singers, especially the Kings Singers doing pop music, which is goofy, but charming. And in tune :) I give them a 9.

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Now, about the commercials during the singoff:

A. I think the "open heart" design from Kay jewelers is just downright ugly.

2. Why did no one veto the phrase "give the gift of asphalt"?? Seriously, that is not going to inspire anyone to get me a car for xmas.

! I want to see the new show The Cape. It has Summer Glau.

tv update

Finished the first season of Northern Exposure.

Started the first season of Mad Men.

Halfway through Roswell. I love the cast of Roswell. More on this later.

Started a rewatch of Pushing Daisies.

Rewatched season oen of Dollhouse.

Am looking forward to the netflix arrival of Charmed season 3.

Cannot believe two people up and quit Survivor!

In between, watching the occasional episode of Bones.

I think that's it...

singoff 1

Holy crap, this year's singoff is already far and away better than the first season, which was pretty much hideous. It's interesting to note that there are mixed and men's groups this time, but no all female groups. Sigh. As I recall, last time around, the really really bad groups were the women's groups. Again I say, sigh. The fact is that a women's group, with the crazy exception of a group like Sweet Honey in the Rock, simply cannot produce the range that SATB or men's can. It's the nature of the beast.

Here's what I wish about this show in general:

• I want a different host. Think of the absolute class of Cat Deeley or the dedication of Jeff Probst.
• I want them to get a guest group who really does the a cappella thing, like Swingle Singers, Rockapella, Sweet Honey in the Rock or Take 6.

Here's my take on the groups (I know, you've been dying to know...)

Eleventh Hour - Yay for having a high school group on the show. I could live very happily forever without hearing another Justin Bieber song, a cappella or not. Good sound, though. I give them an 8.

On the Rocks - I'm pretty much done with them already. I thought all their antics and general noise covered up the melody too much. And again, that wasn't a song I wanted to hear. (Yes, I realize my taste in songs is coloring my scoring here...) I give them a 5.

Groove for Thought - Cool to have a bunch of music teachers singing. Cool to have a dad and daughter in the group. Cool to have jazz!! Great sound. They reminded me a lot of New York Voices. The judges said they didn't have enough bass. I disagree - I get tired of these groups being overwhelmed with boom. I give them a 9.

Pitch Slapped - My least favorite song of the night. Ugh. Decent quality sound, but pretty generic college a cappella. The judges were hard on them. They went home. I more or less agree with that decision. I give them a 6.

Talk of the Town - Gah! Jerry Lawson of the Persuasions is their lead, and they are just absolutely the best. Gorgeous, traditional sound. Old-time a cappella at its best. I nearly cried - beautiful! I give them a 10.

Whiffenpoofs - Brilliant. Though they seem like uppity little twerps when they speak, they have amazing sound. Their choral sound is to die for, and this is actual a cappella, in the "with no accompaniment" sense. I have never heard the song they sang; I still don't know what it was. But I loved it. I give them a 10.

Men of Note - These guys are adorable. For the Longest Time was a poor choice in my opinion - it's overdone and would have needed to be perfect. These kids have pitch and ensemble issues, but they have huge potential. The judges sent them home, which I agree with, but I hope they keep singing, because even at the bottom of the heap they were still pretty wonderful. I give them a 5.

Street Corner Symphony - Oh! So lovely. 6 guys with bright, sweet, sweet voices. I hope we get to hear them sing in their actual style, some bluegrass and gospel, because I bet it's brilliant. Still, their pop piece was great. They have amazing ensemble, and the brave choice to end with a whole phrase of unison paid off - nice! Also, the quote, "not only do we not practice, but we drink beer" - LOL. I really like these guys and hope they don't get cut any time soon. I give them a 9.

The Backbeats - Well, here's where the judges and I part opinions. I did not like the soloist, thought the sound was brash and almost unpleasant. This group had serious big-time passion for what they were doing, which I respect. But I thought they were too frantic and didn't really settle into good ensemble until the end of the song. I give them a 7.

Committed - Of course, being me, my first reaction was, oh great a religious group, ugh. BUT as it turns out, their sound is phenomenal. Besides overall brilliance, the specific things that struck me were one, the seamless transitions back and forth from choral to a cappella pop, and two, the perfect ensemble. They reminded me a lot of Take 6. I hope they get a chance to sing all-out gospel. Amazing. I give them a 10.

If I had to pick winners now, I'd want the Talk of the Town and Committed. And the Whiffenpoofs. Yep.

If I were choosing who to go next on just the one performance, it would be On the Rocks and the Backbeats.

I'm very excited to have good a cappella groups on TV. Yay!

douglas wambaugh, appearing for the defendant

I watched this - season one of Picket Fences. Adorable and fabulous! This was a 90's show about a family in the small town of Rome, Wisconsin. First of all, there should be more shows set in Wisconsin, right? Are there any others besides this one and That 70s Show?

Picket Fences isn't overly realistic, plot-wise. For instance, one of the main characters, the doctor who has her own practice and is a surgeon, seems to treat everyone and everything, from surgery to meds to psychology. Then again, she's a very cool character. And then there's the elementary-school-aged kid who plays the trombone a little too well.

This show explores issues wonderfully and intelligently, though, and the characters have some depth. I find the character of Douglas Wambaugh, played by Fyvush Finkel, absolutely delightful. He marches into the courtroom regularly to defend the downtrodden, misunderstand and disciminated-against. I also love the grouchy judge, played by Ray Walston. And now I'm wondering, though I don't remember it happening, if this show might have helped me become the liberal thinker that I am. I mean, something had to affect me that way, right? Hmmm.

I'm looking forward to watching the next 3 seasons, but at the moment the netflix queue has Northern Exposure, Mad Men and Charmed next. We'll see.

She's not Buffy, but...

I watched this. A lot.

I have now watched all three seasons of Veronica Mars 4 times - and the first time was only about a month ago, I think. I have a Veronica Mars problem! It was the first non-supernatural show I'd watched and liked in a while. I love love love Logan as a character. He's just so damaged and fragile and full of potential. This show has neat lighting, great characters and great story arcs. I wish there were more than 3 seasons.

Other happy things about this show:
Allyson Hannigan shows up as Logan's sister.
Token, er I mean, Wallace, is adorable.
The dad/daughter relationship just makes me happy.

remember kate and allie?

I watched this.

Kate and Allie! Remember them? I so love Netflix.

1984 to 1989. I was in middle and high school. Blast from the past. Look how cute those kids are! Look at their haircuts! This show is just sweet, and I'm looking forward to watching the rest. Currently, I'm in season 2. Seeing Jane Curtin makes me want to watch 3rd Rock from the Sun, too.

what's the point without lex?

I watched this.

The first 8 seasons of Smallville. I loved the first 3 seasons to pieces. But then it just got weirder and weirder. And then season 8 happened. No. More. Lex. What, I ask you, is the point of Superman with no Lex Luthor? I'm very sad.

shows are never how you remember them

Sports Night - about halfway through. Not at all like I remember it - way more serious. I like it.

Lost - killer first season! Looking forward to watching the rest. So far I adore Sawyer, Jack and Sayid.

Avatar - finally saw it. Wow! So incredibly beautiful. Would have preferred 45 minutes shorter and a bit less violence. But still, absolutely brilliant. Wow.

Fame - Wow. Lamest movie I've seen in a long time. Weird, since there were so many fabulous people in it. But... no plot, no good dancing, no exciting singing. All around lame lame lame.

Survivor - Again, I say, wow. Seriously, Russell just comes out on top time after time. How does that little twerp manage it? How? Wow.

Am seriously considering laying off the TV-watching in favor of writing some music. Hmmmm.

it's all about Jim

I've finished Season 5 of The Office. Season 6 is on TV now, but near the end, I think, so I'll probably just wait until it shows up on netflix. Dwight stays hilarious. Jim stays awesome. And I've developed quite the fondness for Toby. He's just so pathetic. I can relate some days.

Smallville - I'm not jumping up and down, but it's fun to watch. Haven't really gotten attached to any of the characters yet, except Lex a bit. I've realized that I don't like the music - the theme song doesn't seem to fit to me, and the music in the episodes in general is not my taste. Which... duh.

The 3rd and 4th seasons of thirtysomething are now available on netflix. I've watched a few more episodes. I still really only care about Elliott and Nancy, and my extreme dislike for Hope just grows. What an irritating character. Ugh.

I found my copy of The Mists of Avalon, whew! I will now embark on what is probably my 12th or 13th reading. Or 20th. I have no idea, actually.

I haven't been to the comic book store in ages! Must go get Buffy and Angel comics. This is my favorite cover so far:

Through concentration, I can raise and lower my cholesterol at will

I'm in season 4 of The Office. I am completely in love with Jim. Jim is the perfect man. I want Jim and Pam to live happily ever after. That's not gonna happen, is it? Don't tell me.

Dwight is made of hilarious. Can't get enough of him. I want to book a night at the beet farm bed and breakfast. Also, I really want to put some office supplies in Jello. I really really do.

Also, it's set in Scranton. Yep.

--------------

Smallville. I'm determined to like it. The first season is setup, gotta get through that part. I adore Lex. A lot.

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I'm very stressed about Castle. Kate's fine, right? Right??

mom adopted you from a shoe box full of baby howler monkeys

Never you fear, I was working on stuff while I watched all this stuff...

Time Traveler's Wife - yawnapalooza

Thirtysomething - Finished the second season. Can't get third and fourth online, so it will probably be a while until we get around to actually having them sent through Netflix. All I want is for Nancy and Elliot to get back together. I don't care about the rest of the characters really at all.

Buffy - I'm always watching Buffy, practically every day, even if only for a few minutes. I'm currently in Season 5, and dang it, I like Riley. I know I'm the only one. I'm not saying this guy is the world's best actor, but let's face it, there's a lot of less than stellar acting on Buffy. That's not the point. I like the character, and I don't think he deserves the beating he gets from Buffy fans. I mean, it's not like he's Kennedy... sheesh.

Smallville - We watched the first disc of four episodes. I'm withholding judgment mostly, but I think I'll like it. I hope so, because there are like 47 or so seasons, right?

Movies - I never go to the movie theater, never I tell you. So how have I been there three times in two weeks? This weekend we saw Alice, which was... artistic. Yep. Not in any way moving, but very very beautiful. And I think I'm starting to hate Johnny Depp less. All of the eyes in this movie were gorgeous. And the costumes, of course. 

And then on a whim, we went to the second-run cheapity-cheap theater and saw The Blindside. I was surprised, but I really enjoyed it. What a sweet story.

Waiting in the wings - Sportsnight, which I'm looking foward to muchly, and The Office, which I think is going to be my next laptop watching show.

I should probably go back to just watching buffy

Still watching Thirtysomething on my laptop. It's mostly sad. Did people really dress like that in the 80s? Really?

Saw Shutter Island with friends. It was awesome to see friends, but what a lame movie! Boring, long, predictable. I should know better. This is why I almost never go to the movie theater, and when I do it's the cheap second-run one!

Weeds - why am I still watching this show? It's gross and very very disturbing. I so so so love Mary Louise Parker, though - she's brilliant. So we watch. We're in the middle of season 5 right now. I miss the theme song. Also, I was hoping Andy would be a temporary character. He's in my top 10 least favorite characters ever.

And speaking of hated characters, Buffyfest is having a tournament. Quality entertainment. I'm personally rooting for Kennedy or Connor. Or Rona. Or Boyd. Ugh!

Glee is going to be on Tuesday nights. Don't they know I'm busy on Tuesday nights? Rude.

weevils wovvle but they don't fall down

Torchwood! Still in the second season. Just watched the episode that shows the stories of how Jack gathered his team members. I'm starting to be very fascinated by Owen's character. Don't want James Marsters to be evil, LOL. But maybe he won't be - can't tell yet. Because I like this show so much, I'm considering renting some Dr. Who. But where to start?

--------------
I read this book:

It's hard to find words for the horror. This isn't a good book to read if you're interested in good writing technique (then again, neither is this blog...). It's the story of a girl raised in the FLDS (fundamentalist mormons). Basically it just made me very very sad and added just a bit more weight to my already overwhelming hatred of religion in general.

I don't mean in any way to minimize this poor girl's horrible experience of being forced to marry at 14 and things just getting worse from there. But I think what people don't understand is that all extreme religious upbringing can be very damaging. No child should have to spend years living in fear that hell awaits them if they don't follow a certain set of arbitrary rules.
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OK, I admit it. Not only did I finally go to see New Moon, but I enjoyed it. In the same way a person might secretly like cheese in a can, you know? At least I saw it in the cheap, second-run movie theater. It's not like I cried and ran out to buy the movie on DVD to rewatch a hundred times or anything. But I did really enjoy the effects, especially the wolves, which were complete awesome. After reading all four books and seeing the first movie, I was completely non-plussed by Jacob. After this one, I can't help liking him. I still think the entire movie (now movies) was cast wrong. I would probably like it all more if the vampires were all different actors than they are. They just don't fit, in my humble opinion... I hated the entire musical score, but I suppose that's because this is a movie for teenagers. I couldn't help finding sweet little Dakota Fanning as a vampire kind of hilarious. But all in all, it was just fun. In a teenager angsty sort of way.



-------------------

I watched Waitress - again! Why? Well, first of all there's never ever enough Nathan Fillion for me. Never ever, I tell you.

Also... the pie is pretty.

Media Consumption Monday

Finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards. It's about a doctor who delivers his own twins, a boy and a girl, and gives away the daughter because he can see that she has Down's Syndrome. He doesn't tell his wife, and their lives are affected adversely forever after. It's an interesting look at family dynamics and morality. Nice storytelling, very believable.

--------------

Still watching Torchwood. Was very excited, to say the least, when James Marsters showed up! We're just a few episodes into season 2.

--------------

Saw Rent, a travelling show. Oh, it was disappointing! Mimi, played by Brie Cassil, was outstanding, as was William Bailey as Angel. The rest ranged from so-so to very scary. There were entrances in the wrong key, big bad ensemble mistakes, and acting that was not believable at all. There were a few really fabulous moments, but here's the thing - if you don't cry at a Rent performance, it wasn't a very good performance.

We did, however, acquire these fabulous glasses. I do love glassware.

----------------

Am I horrible person to be disappointed that there's no Chuck tonight because of the Olympics?

tv tv tv, january 2010

OK, so Chuck is back. Yay! Plus 3 episodes in 2 days - double yay! Chuck is not something I would buy and watch repeatedly, but it's a great Monday night break for sure. Missed it? Don't worry, it's online :)

The 4400. We have about 6 episodes left. Why do so many of these brilliant sci-fi shows turn all religious and strange?

The Wii is officially fun. Got it for Christmas. Have been religiously doing 30 minutes or more of wii fit exercising each day. And yes, I know it's not really exercise for normal people, but for me, well, it's a good start. How is this tv-related, you ask? Well, we made mii's for all the Buffy characters. Oh please, don't act surprised.

I watched the movie Up last night, and I just don't get it. Everyone I know loves it, and I was completely nonplussed. Seriously, an old guy, an annoying little kid and and the whole middle half has a pack of dogs? Whatever. Sorry, I tried, but I just couldn't care.

Anxiously, well actually, no, not anxiously at all. But nonetheless awaiting Castle in 20 minutes. Ah, Nathan Fillion, you are so fabulous.

Just started Torchwood - not much opinion yet.

Have The Plan from Netflix waiting to be watched. Also can't wait for the next seasons of Big Love, Weeds, and True Blood to be available.

And last but not least - Charmed. Oh, yes, I am. Charmed, that is. Will be renting the next 7 seasons of that and probably skipping a lot of sleep to watch.

Wow, I watch a lot of TV. Huh.

goals

Er, how did it get to be Thursday again??



The EART blog ring topic is shop goals for this year. So here they are:



1. Get on a schedule of blogging, listing items, and oh yeah, making stuff :)
2. Improve photography.
3. Start making prints of polymer clay wall art for cards.
4. Fill up thepaperwhisperer shop.
5. Get a couple of new ideas from my head into production.
6. Make enough etsy shop money to make loans to craftspeople at kiva.
7. Get holiday stuff made way ahead of time.





Keep reading at pnkgeeni's blog to see what the rest of the gang has for shop goals this year.