lifebybinky

Man Of The Month

2009-01-26T09:18:00.001-08:00

I'm kinda late for this, but better late than never. As always, every Month I would crown a TV star as our "Man Of The Month" and for January, I could think of no better man than Zach Gilford, the star of Friday Night Lights. Now that the third season has started on NBC and we all could see this awesome show again, I can't help but fall in love with Gilford, who plays Matt Saracen - the Quarterback with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

So who is Zach Gilford?

He was born on January 14, 1982 and graduated from Northwestern University and Evanston Township High School. An outdoor adventure enthusiast and a role model for teens, Zach serves as a trip leader Adventures Cross-Country during summertime. He has led wilderness and adventure trips for teenagers to California, Hawaii, Alaska, the South Pacific and British Columbia. During summer in 1990s, he worked for YMCA Camp Echo, located in Freemont, MI and based out of Evanston, IL YMCA. At Echo, Zach was considered a "pretty boy" due to his preoccupation with maintaining what he described as a "wicked tan".

And as for his acting in Friday Night Lights, come on Emmy voters, give him an award already! The bathtub scene from Season 2 was so heartbreaking and real, I was surprised when they didn't even give him a nomination. I like how he could portray a shy, stuttering, socially-retarded boy while still managing to steal all our hearts with his sweetness towards Julie. And he's the reason why the fans of FNL are rooting for Matt and Julie to get back together and make it work, because we all secretly wish that we have a boyfriend like Matt Saracen.

When it comes to his real life girlfriend, not a lot of buzz about it - which means, he is either still single (and we all can breathe a sigh of relief) or he's dating someone non-famous. Don't we love him more? The thought of him dating the average girl gives us hope that we could one day, be the girlfriend of this TV quarterback.

So for this whole month, I am showing a lot of love for Zach Gilford and his alter ego Matt Saracen in Friday Night Lights. I also want to encourage you to watch Friday Night Lights in NBC, please keep this show on the air for as long as it could because this is definitely one show that has got it all: solid writing, strong acting, hot football players and great values. What else do you want?

Well... maybe seeing Zach without his shirt on once in a while would be great ;p

The Mighty Mighty Ronsons

2009-01-13T06:21:00.000-08:00

A tribute to the talented and enigmatic Ronson siblings.

Charlotte Ronson by binkybink

Women On Top

2009-01-13T05:44:00.000-08:00

I love Topshop. Before it opened in Jakarta, I would buy a lot of Topshop items in Singapore whenever I go there, but since 2006, it has opened here and technically, I can shop there whenever I want to.

I say technically because I very rarely shop there. You see, with the conversion rate being so high and our own product being so cheap, it's not the "affordable" alternative here, unless they're having a major sale. And the items are nowhere near as fab as the ones we can find in the UK site of Shopstyle. For some reason, the buyers always manage to stock the ugliest items Topshop makes. Go figure.

But for all you girls who don't live in Indonesia, you should try shopping in Topshop - because it is the affordable alternative to looking chic. And who doesn't like that?

Here are two looks I've assembled from Topshop. Now who says we have to spend a fortune to look good?

Golden Moments From The Golden Globes

2009-01-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

Last night was the 66th Annual Golden Globes Award, and after not having the party last year thanks to the writers strike, this year all the celebrities flock to the Beverly Hilton to eat, drink and be merry together. And of course, we could see it all live from the moment the arrived in the red carpet, to the actual ceremony.

With the award show, comes the great moments that we will talk about for years to come; from the fashion, the speeches, to the big wins. And also, comes the not so great moments as well; the blunders, the fashion fiasco and the sore losers. So, with that in mind, let's highlight some of the golden moments of last night's Golden Globes.

Best Dressed: Olivia Wilde from House. I think she looked absolutely phenomenal last night, she chose the right gown: it's dramatic but at the same time not over the top thanks to the fabulous soft color, her hair was perfect, the jewelry was just right - she was my favorite, even though her show didn't win for Best Television Series Drama. (Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Worst Dressed: Marisa Tomei. I do not get her outfit at all. It's like, why? She wore this poofy shirt with a long skirt and she looked like a drab. I mean, sure it's not that bad if she wore it to some dinner party or something but this is the Golden Globes, for God's sake. We want you to put some effort into what you're wearing. She looks like she took a page from Pirates of The Carribean or she simply didn't have time to buy a dress. If I were her, I'd fire my stylist.

Best Acceptance Speech: Tracey Morgan for 30 Rock. It was so hilarious, and something tells me that Tracey Morgan is Tracey Jordan - or at least, he remains in character the whole time. Kate Winslet's speech was pretty memorable too, I love when she went, "Oh who's the other one?" and the camera panned to Angelina Jolie, who surprisingly enough was smiling and didn't give her the stink eye like she did to Anne Hathaway in the Critics Choice Awards. Guess Angie didn't mind losing to Kate Winslet as much. I also really love how Mickey Rourke thanked his dogs, citing that he had been so down and out the last few years, his dogs were his only best friends, that was touching. And what a great win for him! He truly is the comeback kid. And of course, it was a sobering moment when Chris Nolan took the stage after Heath Ledger's win but we kind of expected that since we knew Ledger was going to win.

Worst Acceptance Speech: I don't think there is any, surprisingly everyone was sober enough to remember to thank their spouses and they all managed to be funny and witty while they fumble through their thank yous.

Funniest Moment: I thought Ricky Gervais was hilarious when he took the stage to present Happy Go Lucky. Don Cheadle was quite funny as well, but you gotta hand it to Gervais, he always knows how to entertain without going too far.

Most Awkward Moment: When Borat a.k.a Sacha Baron Cohen joked about Madonna dropping Guy Ritchie - you could tell that the audience didn't really appreciate that jab so much. Guess Cohen wouldn't be starring in any of Ritchie's movies any time soon.

Best Win: Slumdog Millionaire for movie and 30 Rock for TV. I'm so happy that the Globes recognized how amazing Slumdog Millionaire is and you could tell everyone was rooting for the film to win, while 30 Rock winning Best Comedy, Best Actor and Actress was well deserved. Tina Fey is a genius, and what a great year she had had! I love her funny acceptance speech too, where she told her haters to "suck it". Love it.

Worst Win: With all due respect to Gabriel Byrne, who didn't even bother to show up to the ceremony, I thought the best actor in Television Drama should have gone to Michael C. Hall in Dexter. He was robbed, in my opinion, since Dexter was a great show and Michael C. Hall was always phenomenal in it.

Surprising Appearance: Seth Rogen when he and Elizabeth Banks presented The Best Screenplay. I say surprising not because I wasn't expecting him there, but because oh my god, Seth Rogen is HOT now. He's lost a lot of weight and has buffed up (to play The Green Hornet) and he looked so yummy. I never thought I'd put Seth Rogen and yummy in the same sentence, but there you go. Don't you love that about Hollywood?

Unexpected Win: Colin Farrell for In Bruges. Now I've seen In Bruges and I loved the movie, Colin Farrell was so funny and awesome in it so I think he deserves to win, but I don't think anyone, including Farrell himself, expected him to nab the trophy. But he has grown so much over the last few years, maybe it's because his son was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and all, that I'm really rooting for him. It's truly a great moment and I hope he won't revert back to his wild child ways now that he's an award winning actor and all.

Best Slip-Up: When Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture and the producer (forgot his name) took his time thanking everyone in the known universe. The music started to play to remind him to wrap up, and he, panicking, said "fuck" on live TV. Priceless.

And lastly,

The "WTF?" Moment: When Renee Zellweger took the stage to present... damn, I forgot what she was presenting because I was distracted by her AWFUL hair! She looked like she just rolled out of bed, put on a dress and showed up at the Globes. What the fuck happened there??

All in all, it was a good show, better than the previous ones. Maybe the one year break did them some good after all. Well, that's it from me, and for those who missed last night's festivities, you can see the highlights in this video:

Blood Is Thicker Than Water?

2009-01-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

You know all about my obsession with Mark Ronson, so it was only natural (and a little creepy, I do acknowledge) that I would search Google news for recent articles or rumblings about the man who has captivated my heart oh so deeply with his amazing abilities to cover some of my most favorite songs – because after all, that’s what a good, intelligent, Ronson fan would do.

So it surprises me when I suddenly see the breaking Ronson news of the day: he’s one of the famous Brits named in a Muslim extremists list in light of recent Gaza debacle. Ronson is joined by his pal Amy Winehouse, Sir Alan Sugar, and many other famous Jews. When I read this, I was baffled and a little bothered. A terrorist hit list is definitely NOT where I want to find Mark Ronson in.

It begs the question, what does Mark Ronson has to do with what’s going on in Gaza? Nothing. He’s a producer/DJ, for fuck’s sake. And even though he’s Jewish, he’s not an Israeli Jew. Further more, WHY would you want to go after Amy Winehouse for recent Israel – Palestine battle? I doubt that girl even realizes what’s going on over there, assuming that she’s still heavily into crack and all that.

Mark Ronson hasn’t made any statement regarding the whole thing, but if I were him, I probably would be a little pissed off. He was just doing his own thing: making music, producing the new Kaiser Chief, Rumble Strips, Wiley and Daniel Merriweather’s records, picking up his guitar and performing with his Version players sometimes, spinning the table on occasions, and entertaining the bevy of giggly fans with his East Village Radio show, Authentic Shit, every Friday night – all that has nothing to do with killing thousands and thousands of people over a piece of land. And even though he’s Jewish, he’s not at all religious (he admitted in an article that he only goes to the synagogue on high holidays and fulfills his religious commitment simply by not eating pork and seafood), he’s not into politics and all that shit, and most importantly, he’s someone who, like most artists, prefers peace on earth and not a bloody massacre that has been going on since before he was even born.

Now that Mark Ronson has landed on this hit list, who’s next? Are they going to start hunting Steven Spielberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan, Woody Allen and The OC/Gossip Girl creator Josh Schwartz because they’re Jewish? They didn’t exactly choose to be Jewish, they were born Jewish – and some of them probably have never even been to Israel, or even care about what’s going on over there. And Mark’s recent trip to Israel was to perform with his band – not to engage in some conspiracy to kill off Palestinian. So tell me, why is he on the list? And furthermore, why is Amy Winehouse on the list, when that girl loves her crack pipe a lot more than her religion?

What’s next, are Israeli extremists going to put out a hit list of Influential Muslims or Palestinians? Does this mean Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Muhammad Ali should go into protective custody? When is this going to end?

Putting people like Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson on a hit list just because they’re Jewish is really, really stupid in my opinion, and I think the extremists are just doing it to attract attention. Their only connection to what’s going on is their heritage – being Jewish, they have a connection to Israel, no doubt – but then again there are millions of Jews everywhere in the world and they all have a connection to Israel, does being Jewish automatically make you responsible for the killings? That’s like blaming all Muslims for 9/11 – how is that fair? Just because someone’s a Muslim doesn’t make them a terrorist and just because someone’s Jewish doesn’t make them responsible for the senseless killings that are happening lately. The whole world shouldn’t be blamed for what a handful of people have done.

I’m pretty sure Mark Ronson condemns what’s going on in Gaza just as much as we all do and so is everyone on the list, for that matter. So compiling a hit list of famous Jewish really doesn’t solve the problem but piss them off and probably scare them shitless. Those famous people can’t do jack to stop Israel from attacking Palestine, so really, why make them a target? Just because they’re Jewish? Is that all there is?

Now that I’ve gotten my rants out of the way, I’m going to pray that Mark will be kept from harm’s way – and for peace in the Middle East.

Best and Worst of 2008

2008-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

It's almost the new year, so let's do a year in review, shall we? I think we owe it to ourselves to do a BEST and WORST of 2008 in various pop culture related categories: Movies, Music, Celebrity News, Television, Actor/Actress, Socialite, and Fashion. Since we have a lot to do, let's just hop to it.

The Best Movie of 2008: Okay, a lot of great movies came out this year, so it's a hard category to choose. I think it's best to just break it down to: Best Indie, Best Comedy, Best Drama, Best Musical and Best Fantasy just so I'll be fair to everyone.

Best Indie: Rachel Getting Married. Solid script, solid acting, basically just solid everything.

Best Drama: Milk. Sean Penn was amazing, the story was so relevant and it was exactly what Hollywood needed after Prop 8.

Best Comedy: Pineapple Express. I may be biased since I thought stoner comedy is always the best and let's face it Seth Rogan and James Franco were hilarious in it. On second thought, it's kind of a toss up between Pineapple Express and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, just because Russell Brandt was hilarious in it!

Best Musical: Mamma Mia! Come on, Merryl Streep channeling ABBA? How can you not love that?

Best Fantasy: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I predict an Oscar.

Overall best movie: Milk. Just because it's a true story.

The Best Music of 2008: A lot of great bands came out out the woodwork this year; MGMT, The Virgins, Vampire Weekend, The Ting Tings, to name a few. But after taking account popularity, musical arrangement and beats, I'll have to go with MGMT. Their album Oracular Spectacular was truly, for lack of a better word, spectacular.

The Best Celebrity News of 2008: Lindsay Lohan FINALLY admitted that she's dating Samantha Ronson. It's not like we haven't figured it out, but it's just nice to finally hear her say the words.

The Best Television of 2008: Out of all the fall newbies, I have to say that Fringe takes the cake. Life On Mars was amazing too, but since it's an adaptation of a British show and not an original series, Fringe still wins out in the end.

The Best Actor/Actress of 2008: In the TV category, I would have to say John Noble in Fringe (awesome solid acting) and Tina Fey in 30 Rock (2008 is definitely her year). In the movie category, it's the unstoppable, undeniable couple Brangelina - they're both nominated for Golden Globes and SAG, and definitely a shoe-in for the Oscars.

The Best Socialite of 2008: I may be biased since I am in love with Mark Ronson, but I'm going to give this category to the awesome Ronson siblings. They've accomplished a lot for NY socialites: Mark won 3 Grammys, 2 Brit Awards, 1 Live Award, GQ Man of The Year, Glamour Man Of The Year, and a handful of others. Charlotte has a very successful clothing line, and she debuted her Spring/Summer 2009 collection in New York Fashion Week to rave reviews. And Samantha is dating Lindsay Lohan. Okay so that's not really an accomplishment, but she's a pretty in demand DJ. At the very least, for three socialites, they all have a job.

The Best Fashion of 2008: Marni. Simple, clean lines, but very chic and sophisticated. The clothes, bags, shoes, accessories are all impeccable.

Now for the worst:

The Worst Movie of 2008: Quantum Of Solace. Maybe it's just me, but it's shit. Seriously, I expected more from Paul Haggis (imagine my disappointment when I found out he wrote the script!). Daniel Craig's acting was disappointing. He tried hard to appear dark and tortured but it came across as forgettable. Olga Kurylenko was even worse. I really don't want to hate her since we kinda look alike but she was horrible in the movie. Even Dame Judy Dench was not doing her best.

The Worst Music of 2008: Sean Kingston. I don't know if it's 2007 or 2008, but I swear, if I hear the song Beautiful Girl ONE more time, I'm going to kill someone. It's the most annoying song ever written.

The Worst Celebrity News of 2008: Anything with Speidi in it. Seriously, who the fuck are Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and why should we care about anything they do?

The Worst Television of 2008: Kath and Kim, the US Version. Maybe it's because I've seen and loved the Australian version, maybe it's because I've lived in Australia and know that their humor just doesn't translate well to American, but I found the show unwatchable. I feel sorry for Molly Shannon, she's such a great comedian, she just needs a better gig.

The Worst Actor/Actress of 2008: In television, it has to be Shenae Grimes from 90210 (she overacts, which is so annoying) and Balthazar Getty of Brothers & Sisters. Maybe it's because he hasn't had a lot of screen time or maybe it's the whole Sienna Miller thing, but Tommy Walker was completely flat this year. In movies, I'm going to go with Olga Kurylenko and Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace. Disappointing.

The Worst Socialite of 2008: Sorry Balthazar Getty, but you're it. He can be considered a socialite even though he has a day job as an actor, since he's got a famous last name and a hefty trust fund. Despite his steady career as an actor, his personal life is kind of rocky. His affair with Sienna Miller, him leaving his wife and four children, those are definitely not great moments for him. But I like him, so I hope he'll redeem himself next year.

The Worst Fashion of 2008: Heidiwood. I'm sorry but someone who does nothing but be her annoying self on a pseudo reality show should never create a clothing line. There are so many great designers waiting for their big break, and she just waltzed in and created total shit. I feel sorry for those talented people in Project Runway.

Now, the cherry on top of the cake, the best and worst moments of 2008:

Best Moment: Barack Obama being elected the 44th President of USA. Yes we can!

Worst Moment: When Prop 8 got passed. It's a sad day for the world.

Oh, I nearly forgot. I have to mention a special moment of 2008 that must not be taken lightly. It is definitely a historical moment and it'll be the tale I tell my grandchildren (not that I would ever have one, but just in case) until the day I die. And here it is, the GRAND MOMENT of 2008, courtesy of YouTube:

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

Ho ho ho!

Sorry I have not been blogging for a while, I've just been busy with life, and all that shit. You know how it is. I don't really have time to blog right now because I'm writing my second novel right now (or is it third? I have no idea) but I thought I should wish you a Happy Holidays!

And as a Christmas/Hanukkah (depending on your chosen faith) present, I have this his and her Santa-inspired bedroom style for you, so your holiday will truly be a "happy" one. Enjoy the blustering cold for those who are experiencing winter, the blistering hot for those who are experiencing summer and the somewhere in between for those in the tropics.

Much love,

Binky Bee

Man Of The Month

2008-11-28T13:15:00.000-08:00

It's almost the end of the month, so it's time for me to choose another Man Of The Month. And I think this month the choice is obvious. Especially since you know how heartbroken I was (and still am) over ABC's decision to cancel Pushing Daisies. Yes, ladies, our man of the month for November is no other than the lovely pie maker, Lee Pace.

Lee Pace (born March 25, 1979 - just a few weeks before me, FYI), has been portraying Ned the pie maker in Pushing Daisies since 2007, but I have actually fallen in love with him way before that. You might remember a short-lived yet critically acclaimed show Wonderfalls in 2004? Yes, that was when I first saw him and I have to say, it was love at first sight. He's tall and lanky, awkward and cute - all the ingredients for a heartthrob in my book. Then he landed the role that made him a household name in the beloved (yet short-lived, thanks to the morons in ABC) show Pushing Daisies, which marked his second time working with Bryan Fuller (who was a co-creator of Wonderfalls).

But Lee Pace was not only a TV star, he's well on his way on becoming a movie star too. He first gained recognition in the 2003 film Soldier Girl, playing a transsexual who falls in love with an Army soldier. Now if that wasn't a testament to how good of an actor he is, I don't know what is. Playing a transgender when you're 6'3 and 190 pounds, can't be easy. And to further prove that he's a rising star, he was nominated for a Golden Globe and won a Gotham Award. He also stole the scene in Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day where he starred opposite Frances McDonald and Amy Adams, and mesmerized me for a good two hours in The Fall.

Aside from all the reasons above, I chose him as November's Man Of The Month because he's an actor's actor. In everything he's in, he's successfully disappeared inside his character. In Pushing Daisies, you really believe he's this awkward, shy pie maker with a huge secret and a troubled past. In The Fall, all you see of him is this suicidal stuntman with a broken heart. Whatever he's in, he always became the character - and that is the sign of a good actor.

There's not much about Pace's personal life, other than the fact that he seems to be single. There are speculations that he might be dating his Pushing Daisies co-star Anna Friel, but so far no reports to confirm the rumors. And you know what that means, we all can dream to have a chance to win the pie maker's heart one day. Now that's one great reason to choose him as our Man Of The Month.

Through The Eyes Of A Child

2008-11-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I've been kind of swamped lately so I haven't had time to blog... and I'm still in my mourning period, after hearing that three of my favorite shows: Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone got the axe. Oh pie maker, we hardly knew ya. The news hit me hard, I love those shows, especially Pushing Daisies. What's not to love about Pushing Daisies? the writing is always solid, it's funny, it's charming, it's beautiful... I'm truly pissed that ABC pulled the plug without giving this show a chance. Obviously the show suffered from last year's writer's strike, so why can't they just give it at least the chance to finish a complete 22-episode season?

Anyway, as you can see, I am truly heartbroken by this decision, so I shall not talk about it further. It will only bring more heartache and pain (I do take my TV too seriously, don't I?). I'm just going to focus on a movie now, a movie I think everyone should watch, especially those of you who love Pushing Daisies.

The movie I'm talking about is The Fall. It's directed by Indian director Tarsem Singh and based on the 1981 Bulgarian film Yo Ho Ho by Valeri Petrov. The Fall tells the story about a young immigrant girl Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) who was hospitalized after a fall. She struck an unlikely friendship with another patient, Roy Walker (Lee Pace), a Hollywood stuntman bedridden after performing a stunt to impress his girlfriend, who cheated on him with a famous actor. Roy enchants Alexandria with a vivid, fantastical tale of six heroes who were united with a common hatred for one man, the evil Governor Odious. Only when the line between reality and fantasy begins to dissolve does Alexandria realize how much is truly at stake.

This movie is presented for its wide theatrical release by two great directors, David Fincher (Fight Club) and Spike Jonze (Adaptation). This alone is a testament of how good the film is. But that's not the only reason to watch the movie. This movie is a cinematic tour-de-force, it achieves an intense feeling of epic grandeur with its fantasy scenes, which are visually mesmerizing. Shot in 18 locations around the world, you are guaranteed with a feast of beauty, colors and cultures; from magnificent palaces in India to the beautiful beaches of Fiji, to the captivating Kecak dance of Bali.

And as for the story, I guarantee you that this movie will make you laugh and cry at the same time. What I love about the story is Alexandria's sincere and pure love for Roy. Even though he was using his epic tale to get her to do things for him, she refused to believe anything but the best of him. It was almost she saw something in him that he failed to see himself. And after seeing himself through the eyes of the innocent child, he found salvation and purpose to continue his life, even though he thought he had lost everything that was dear to him.

I have to give props to both Catinca Untaro, the six-year-old girl who plays Alexandria, and Lee Pace for their incredibly natural performance. You instantly believe the chemistry between them, it was almost like they had known each other their whole lives, and that she saw him as a father figure after the death of her own father. And the last scene in the hospital recovery room, my god, it was one of the most powerful scenes I've seen in years.

So as a consolation for losing our beloved show Pushing Daisies, and our dear pie maker, I recommend you to go out and buy this movie on DVD. For about two hours, you get to escape in Alexandria's fantasy world while learning something about love and life in a very real way. And even though he's not exactly portraying the pie maker in this movie, Lee Pace's performance can still bring some warmth into your heart.

This weekend, how about popping this movie into your DVD player and learn something about seeing life through the eyes of a child?

Thanksgiving In The Upper East Side

2008-11-15T11:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's that time of the year again... it's November and you know what it means, a Thanksgiving episode of our favorite Upper East Siders. And this year, Kristin Dos Santos from E's Watch With Kristin promises lots of pie and tears... which of course we love!

Another thing that Kristin promises which we all love: lots of Blair and Chuck action. After last week where they don't even share a single scene together, we are dying for them to do their usual banter that's heavily peppered with sexual tension. Unfortunately the clips you are about to see below do not show any of the "Bluck" action we've been waiting for, but I'm hoping we'll get more when Monday comes.

However, the clips do give us something fun to watch; namely the tragically terrible and awkward conversation about Serena that goes down in a supermarket between Dan and Serena's new boy toy Aaron Rose. Seriously, it's so awkward that I can't wait for Monday. And I have to quote a comment from Watch With Kristin's column, "It's an amazing feat, but Aaron actually out-douches Dan." - that comment by Tallywhacker pretty much just sums it up. I guess I'm not the only one who wants Aaron to be over and done with. Although, I have a feeling he's sticking around. Josh Schwartz has a thing for douches. Remember The OC? Season 1: Oliver, Season 2: Trey, Season 3: Johnny and Volchok. The only season where there wasn't a douche was when they killed off Marissa. So until they kill of Serena, there will be douches. Even in Chuck, Bryce Larkin is still alive and well, and he's sure to pop up any time soon - and since the central character in Chuck is a guy, they even brought in a female douche in the form of Chuck's ex-girlfriend Jill. Same formula, same strategy, different shows. Josh Schwartz is predictable as the back of my hands.

Anyway, here are the sneak peeks for next Monday's Gossip Girl. You know you love me.

Terminator: The John and Cameron Chronicles

2008-11-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

I was a little late watching last Monday's episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles because my internet was unbelievably slow these last few days, so I only got to watch it last night and boy, do I have a few questions that need answering. But first, don't you think last Monday's episode was the best so far? The writers did something different this episode by breaking it down to five stories: Sarah's, Cameron's, John's, Ellison's and Cro-Marty's. And after being a little bit bored by the slowness of this show lately, I was ecstatic to see the change. Especially since this episode revealed a lot about the characters - and show some humanity to all of them, including the two machines: Cameron and Cro-Marty.

But first, let's start with Sarah Connor. After all, this show is called "The Sarah Connor Chronicles". After weeks of Sarah being the ultra-paranoid, exasperated hero mom just trying to save her son's life, we finally got to see her showing some real human emotions, and not just her being a bad-ass mom. The final scene when Sarah got so frustrated and started destroying Cro-Marty's chip with her gun, was poignant, heartbreaking and sincere. It was the scene we've all been waiting for since season one, Sarah Connor showing us that she hated her situation as much as everyone would. My heart moved when John grabbed her in his arms and she just completely lost it and cried her eyes out. Kudos to Lena Headley, we all thought she could only act tough, but as it turns out, she can play vulnerable and lost as well. What will happen to Sarah Connor after this? Will she and John finally patch things up and move on, or has their relationship been so damaged that it will take a while before things could be okay again? I'm hoping for the latter and if the writers keep up their good work, I think we'll get our wish.

As for Cameron and John - I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who noticed a little tension between them. And it's not the "she tried to kill me when her chip was damaged" tension. When Cameron took off her jacket and came into John's room to lie down on the bed next to him, wearing that white tank top that showed off her red bra underneath - we almost expected them to kinda go at it. And even though she's a machine, somehow they make it almost okay for those two to hook up. Just the way John looked at her, and sometimes glanced down to her boobs - and the way Cameron looked at him and told him she understands... against our better judgment, we all wanted them to just rip each other's clothes and do the deed already. Sure, it'll be complicated. He's a human pre-destined to be the leader of the resistance army against the machines. She's a machine that was originally sent to kill him but got reprogrammed and sent back to the past to protect him. But, they've got the post-apocalypse, sci-fi Romeo and Juliet written all over them that we can't help but to root for them to get together. And the way Cro-Marty told Sarah that Cameron's chip must have been damaged when Sarah saw that picture of Cameron in the halfway house, kind of further enhanced my suspicion that the human Cameron (in the future) must have been future John Connor's lover. And my theory is, when Cameron's chip got damaged after the car bomb, her human doppelganger's memories leaked into the machine and caused her to... well, feel, for John. Far-fetched? Maybe not. I almost detected a human emotion in Cameron when she was in the Mexican jail and she told Derek, "I must protect John." She's said the line many times before but that was the only time she actually said it with a hint of emotion. Of course, I could be wrong... but who knows, maybe the writers are going with the 'if loving you is wrong, then I don't want to be right' approach with this whole John and Cameron thing? Let's hope so!

Moving on to Ellison. This is the first episode since he was hired by Shirley Manson femme-bot that he was actually involved in the Connors life. And Shirley Manson femme-bot had nothing to do with it, which confuses me even further. She never seemed to care about John Connor. So why is she here? Just to build Skynet? And what's going to happen to Ellison now that Cro-Marty is destroyed and Sarah Connor can't give him any closure? Will he continue working with the femme-bot? What does she want with him? And will he ever find out about her true identity?

As for Cro-Marty... he FINALLY died. Or got destroyed, since machines can't die. Will he resurrect himself again? (Doubtful, since Sarah had gone ballistic on the chip) And now that he's dead, will there be another Terminator being sent back to the present to kill John or can he breathe a sigh of relief for now? Does that mean he can still pursue this thing with Riley? Because I really don't like her and I just wish she would go away. Let's just hope that now that Cro-Marty is history, Shirley Manson femme-bot will finally go after John. It's not that I don't want the boy to live normally, well, I don't, because if he does, we wouldn't have a show, would we?

What say you about last Monday's episode? Are you loving the whole John - Cameron possibility or completely grossed out by it?

Post in comments below or watch with me next week for (hopefully) answers and developments. See you then!

If I Were A Boy

2008-11-13T06:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves to wear my man's clothes. Let's face it, ladies, we look better in our man's clothes than they do.

So if you're stuck with nothing to wear, try raiding his closet and steal his white shirt or black blazer... you may find that you'll look amazing in them ;p

Here are two looks to dress up his clothes - I use that dress as a substitute for a male white shirt. And to still look feminine, a crazy pair of heels is a must!

Hope you like!

Grey's De-Gayed, Lipstick Jungle Axed: Scoop From Kristin

2008-11-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

I've just checked my favorite TV blog Watch With Kristin on Eonline.com and got this exclusive: Lipstick Jungle is canceled. Sources says that NBC has stopped ordering for new episodes after a disappointing second season. I can't say I'm surprised, since I've never been a big fan of the show from the beginning, but it's kind of disappointing I won't get to see Robert Buckley's chiseled abs on TV anymore. However, NBC hasn't confirmed or denied the rumors, so it may just be speculation. Michael Ausiello in EW reported that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was going to be canceled a few months ago but as it turns out, Fox picked the show up for a full season, so you never know. However, NBC did switch Lipstick Jungle to Friday and put Life in its Wednesday time-slot, so it does sound plausible that the network is planning to axe the show. Good riddance or sad news? I can't decide. On one hand, Lipstick Jungle has successfully given me a feast of the eyes when it comes to gorgeous men and high fashion but on the other, the story does nothing for me. I can't even be invested in the characters - as much as I love Kim Raver, I think she should just re-join 24 and live happily ever after with Jack Bauer. And if this rumor is true, then Ms Raver will be free for Jack Bauer after all...

Over on ABC, after a controversial decision to de-gay Grey's by abruptly axing Dr. Hahn (played by Brooke Smith), Grey's Anatomy is said to change the storyline for its newest addition Melissa George who's going to play Meredith's college best friend. Originally, she's said to be Meredith college lesbian lover - but now, they're making her straight. Which is kinda sad in my opinion. Grey's Anatomy has never really had a gay storyline until the Callie and Hahn hookup, and I was sorta hoping for more this season - but no dice. Guess Prop 8 affects Hollywood in more ways than one. What is wrong with America? Am I the only straight woman who wants all kinds of relationships to be portrayed on screen? Apart from Kevin and Scotty in Brothers & Sisters, there hasn't really been a network show that embraces gay romance just as much as they embrace straight romance. And to me, that is just ridiculous. What makes a show interesting is the diversity and complexity of relationships in it - and by only focusing on straight relationships, shows are getting more and more monotonous and boring. Shame on ABC and Shonda Rhames for being so afraid of the anti-gay bigots out there. In my opinion, I think those homophobics don't really watch Grey's Anatomy anyway. Aren't TV supposed to be "of the devil" in their world?

Anyway, the show must go on... so (assuming this HTML copy paste works) here's a sneak peek of tonight's episode of Grey's Anatomy with the debut of Melissa George:

Barack-The-Vote!!

2008-11-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

Remember, remember the fourth of November!

It's Election Day today and if I were American, I'd be excited to go vote this year because this is a historical time, not just for the country but for the world. However, since I'm not American, all I can do today is just keep checking CNN and crossing my fingers as well as saying my prayers for Barack Obama.

I'm in awe of this man, and it's not because of his so-called "Celebrity status" but more because he is an amazing man. And after the shit that Bush has brought on to America and the world, it takes a man that is above reproach to clean up the mess, and I know Obama is up to the challenge. More importantly, I have a few friends whose lives have been turned upside down by the mess of the Bush administration - and I really want things to turn around for them. With Obama, I feel like I can have "the audacity for hope".

So all you Americans out there, please go out and VOTE today. Every vote counts. Vote for change, vote for hope, vote for the candidate who can bring about a great thing for the nation and the world.

And if you're getting ready to go out and vote, here are some outfits you can wear - so go out there and Barack-the-vote!

Man Of The Month

2008-10-27T12:04:00.000-07:00

It's nearing the end of October, so it's time to choose the Man Of The Month for November, and I couldn't think of anyone better than Damian Lewis. Who is he? Let's get to know this sexy man, shall we?

Damian Watcyn Lewis, born February 11, 1971 is a Golden Globe-nominated English actor and Producer who we now adore every Friday as Charlie Crews in the NBC crime drama, Life. His rise to fame began when he portrayed Major Richard Winters in the Emmy-award winning HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers. However, he's not just another TV actor. He's got a pretty amazing career so far.

But the reason why he's chosen as November's Man Of The Month is not just because of his steady career. It's because he played such an interestingly complex and at the same time, adorable character Charlie Crews in Life. I doubt any other actor would be able to make Charlie Crews such an interesting and lovable character that he is. Damian Lewis can make Crews comical without being stupid, complicated without being annoying and lovable without losing his charisma. And I think it takes a great actor to make such a complex character relatable to us all.

Another reason why he's the Man Of The Month is because he's one of the best British imports in American TV today, aside from Hugh Laurie. I'm disappointed because he hasn't gotten nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe yet, when he's clearly just as talented as Hugh Laurie, if not more. And of course, the most important reason why he's chosen is because he's so yummy! The red hair, that cheeky smile - and not to mention, the accent, can melt any girl's heart in a second.

Unfortunately for us, he's married to actress Helen McCrory and has two children with her; daughter Manon and son Gulliver. But the good thing is, his alter ego in Life is single and so available, so we can still dream! And besides, there are pictures of him with his children and they look so adorable, so that's another reason why he's our Man Of The Month, we love devoted fathers here!

To see more of Damian Lewis, don't forget to check out Life on NBC every Friday. The show needs all the support we can give! Keep great shows with hot guys around!

Rainy Day Women

2008-10-27T11:53:00.001-07:00

Fall has started, and with the season comes the chilly weather and the occasional rain. And you know what that means: it's time to bring out the trenchcoats and boots from your closet - and take them to the streets.

To get a classic "rainy days" look, you need to invest in a fabulous trenchcoat. And when talking about trenchcoat, no one makes it better than Burberry. After all, Burberry practically invented it. I get that a Burberry coat can be costly, so it's time to save up your money. It's an investment, after all. The trick to buying the perfect trenchcoat is to get it in neutral colors; black, grey or tan. You want them to last for a few years, a trenchcoat is a staple in your closet, not a trend item. That's why it's wise to choose for the right brand with a slightly higher cost.

Also good to wear for this season: rain hats. Burberry makes great ones too, but you can pretty much get good rain hats anywhere... and it doesn't have to be expensive. Of course, you want them to be of neutral colors as well... anything too bright makes you look like a kindergarten student.

Here are a couple of looks you can wear in these rainy days - they're classic, chic and timeless, and most importantly, even when it's gray, cold and wet outside, you'll still look like a million dollars wearing them.

So wait no more and go get yourself a fabulous coat this fall!

Love Is Difficult

2008-10-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

I don't call myself an expert on love. After all, I went from a series of meaningless hook ups to star-crossed lovers in just one night. I've never had a "normal" relationship, heartbreak, or the kind of yearning that most people experience when they first become acquainted with love. I went from the girl who carelessly picks up and throws away men and relationships like garbage to the woman devoted to the love of her life, the only one for her. But if there's anything I learn from love is that love is difficult, complicated and messy. It is never what great love stories depicted on screen claim it will be. It is not kisses in the rain and sensational declarations with a beautiful love song playing in the background. The curtain doesn't close in the happiest moment, and that happily ever after is only the stuff of fairy tales, because even if you stay in love till death do your part - there's still the death part in the end that kind of sucks.

That's why I was pleasantly surprised when I saw The Edge Of Love, a new film about the legendary poet Dylan Thomas and the two women he passionately loved, and saw love being portrayed the way I have always expected it to be. It is difficult, complicated and messy - but in the end, it's a choice and it's not a choice of self-gratifying but self-sacrifice. In The Edge Of Love, Keira Knightley plays Vera Phillips, a bar singer who reconnects with her first love, Dylan Thomas (Matthew Rhys - of Brothers & Sisters fame) only to be disappointed when he turns out to have a wife, Caitlin (Sienna Miller). Despite their history; the three of them became best friends and even live together in perfect harmony. Vera then marries her devoted admirer, Captain William Killick (Cillian Murphy), and slowly the perfect friendship she has with her ex-lover Dylan Thomas starts to strain, even though her friendship with Caitlin remains strong. When Killick is sent off to war, Vera and the Thomases move back to Wales and live next door to each other. With Killick being away at war, the feelings that Vera has for Dylan Thomas resurfaces, and the friendship she has built with Caitlin starts to unravel. When Killick returns as a decorated war hero, he becomes weary and jaded and his suppressed jealousy of his wife's relationship with her childhood lover starts to boil over - to the point of no return.

Even though the beginning of the film was a bit bland, it is overall a great movie to watch, especially when you want to examine your relationship with the man in your life. Love sometimes doesn't happen like a magical moment, it has to be built, nurtured and it has to go through a lot of misery and pain. The film also suggests that love has to come with maturity, with letting go, with knowing who you are and what you want out of life. And that is something we all could benefit from learning.

Another great thing about the movie is also the chemistry between Sienna Miller and Keira Knightley as the two women in Dylan Thomas' life. I think their acting was spectacular, and convincing. I also love the fact that even though the movie is based on Dylan Thomas, the real heart of the story lies within those two women. And even though there's no lesbian undertone, it is essentially a love story of those two women, a story of friendship, forgiveness and acceptance.

I recommend you to watch this movie with your girl best friends, especially when you feel like your friendship has slowly deteriorated for whatever reason. This movie will force you to examine your relationships, not just with your man, but with the women in your life - and hopefully it will give the strength you need to make your relationships stronger.

And of course, the fact that hottie Matthew Rhys and Cillian Murphy are both in the movie, can't hurt either. Also, if you're a Keira Knightley fan, you'd be amazed to see that she can actually sing. So take the time to see this movie and learn something important about love.

"Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Nor for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art."

(In My Craft or Sullen Art by Dylan Thomas)

In The Mood For Protest

2008-10-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

I often have dreams of changing the world, making a difference, fighting for what is right... but just like most people, I am not the activist kind. And I'm a bit of a capitalist, so fighting for the right of the people has never been high up in my agenda. In Indonesia, where I live, there was a big student protest that became a precursor of a huge riot in May 98 but I wasn't a part of it. I wasn't even in Indonesia when it happened, I was just watching the whole thing unraveled in the comfort of my living room in Singapore. Of course I was angered by what happened, but I was pretty sure that even if I weren't studying overseas back then, I would be one of the students not showing up to protest on campus and instead stayed comfortably in my room. I was never one to fight for a losing battle, and plus, I didn't like crowds and heat - and protesting is all about crowds and heat.

I'm not a pacifist, but I'm not an activist either. I know right and wrong, I know that there is a lot of injustice in the world and I would like to change that - but taking to the streets and protesting is never my cup of tea. Neither is politics. I would rather do what I can when I can to help people the best way I know how, than try to demand change from others, especially the government or corporations or organizations. Maybe my method won't really make a big impact, but I don't think you can change anyone who refuses to listen to you. And protesting is demanding those who won't listen to listen and change. It's futile, in my opinion. Of course, I can be wrong.

However, I am going to recommend you to watch Battle In Seattle, Stuart Townsend's directorial debut about the 1999 WTO ministerial conference protest activities. Even though the film is inspired by true events, the characters are fictional, so there's a good balance between truth and fiction in the film. Why do I want you to watch the movie? Because it's good. It's well-written, well-acted and it boasts the acting genius of not only Oscar-winner Charlize Theron (who is Stuart Townsend's longtime girlfriend in real life), but also Woody Harrelson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) and Andre Benjamin (yes, the guy in Outkast).

Charlize Theron was amazing as a store clerk/cop's wife who lost her baby during the protest due to police assault, but she wasn't really in the film much. The story centered mostly on the four protesters; Jay (played by Martin Henderson), Lou (Michelle Rodriguez), Sam (Jennifer Carpenter) and Django (Andre Benjamin) who have their own unique backgrounds but were united in the common desire to be heard. Their goal to have a non-violent protest was smashed to smithereens when the protests went out of hand and escalated into a full-scale riot - and how they dealt with the situation became the very message of the film.

You should see the movie because it was unbiased in the sense that it showed the conflict from every angle: the protesters, the collateral damage, the policemen, the mayor, and the WTO members. The film doesn't really form its own opinion, but more presenting a story and asks you to draw your own conclusions of the matter. It is also a good eye-opener on what's going on in the world, the reason of a lot of things that happened in our times - and it is up to you to decide what you're going to do about it after you see it.

And on a lighter note, for a few seconds, you get to see Channing Tatum, who plays a minor role of a police officer, without his shirt on - and I promise you, he's drool worthy indeed.

So this weekend, go and see Battle In Seattle. If it's not on cinema, look for the DVD. It's worth one and a half hours of your time. Whether you're in the mood for peace or protest, this film will get you to think - and I think anything that gets us to stop being ignorant and start paying attention, is always a good thing.

Something To Believe

2008-10-17T06:15:00.000-07:00

Eli Stone, the feel-good drama about a high power attorney turned messenger of God returns to ABC last Tuesday night, and this time, Eli is anneurysm and vision free. But it isn't Eli Stone if we didn't get a treat of song and dance - and it only took a few seconds into the show before Loretta Devine, or Eli's assistant, starts singing "Dancing In The Streets" - and Market Street of San Fransisco turned into a musical number. We were disappointed a few second later, however, when they cut to Eli sitting in a psychiatrist office - the psychiatrist played by Sigourney Weaver, and realized that Eli was just making the whole song and dance number up.

So Eli got rid of his anneurysm and his visions, but it made him empty. And after a few sessions, Sigourney Weaver concluded that Eli was missing the presence of a higher power in his life. As it turns out, it wasn't just Eli who was missing the presence of a higher power; Jordan was getting weary of his law practice and thought that with Eli coming back they could finally make a difference, Chen the feel-good acupuncturist/prophet consultant was disappointed that Eli chose to dodge his calling, Eli's assistant was annoyed that Eli couldn't predict the Super Lotto numbers for her, Maggie was overwhelmed by the many pro-bono cases that she got stuck with ever since Eli's surgery and subsequent prohibition to practice law, and Nate got the scare of his life when he started experiencing the visions that Eli used to have.

At the end, it was revealed that Eli's psychiatrist was not a real psychiatrist, but God talking to him (talk about a divine intervention!), and Eli started embracing his calling as messenger of God and as a result, his anneurysm returned but this time, Eli was not complaining. He adamantly said, "I know what to do now". And we are glad about that!

There is something that I do have a problem with in this episode, like when Eli got a phone call from his real psychiatrist saying that he wasn't cleared to enter a courtroom yet but somehow he was permitted to present his case to the judge without anyone contesting his presence there, but all in all, I love the show and I love the message of this first episode.

We live in a thoroughly cynical world, and it's so much easier to be jaded and to not believe, but Eli Stone seems to give us a reason to believe, not just in the presence of a higher power but also in our fellow man. This show not only provides a great entertainment (what with the song and dance and fabulous guest stars) but also a soothing knowledge that no matter what happens, God is in control and He loves us dearly and wants the best outcome to happen to us. It is also a warm and fuzzy feeling to know that we all have a purpose in life, and if God can choose a seemingly heartless and ambitious lawyer to do His good works, that means there's hope for us all.

Yes, I do love a gritty storyline that is as close to reality as possible, but every once in a while, I need to have my faith in God and humanity restored - and Eli Stone provides that much needed relief from my stressful life every Tuesday. Reality is harsh and that's why we all need hope. And that's what the show provides its audiences every Tuesday. The audacity of hope. Yeah okay so I stole that from Barrack Obama, but you get my point.

So I hope you're all watching Eli Stone every Tuesday so this show will not be canned anytime soon. Whether you're an atheist or a Jesus freak, you all need to find some semblance of hope in this crazy world - and who better than Johnny Lee Miller as the reluctant prophet to provide such relief? Because when reality bites, and there's nothing you can do, that's when you gotta have faith, like what George Michael said.

I have faith for this show's survival. I hope you do too.

Reunited: Time To Kiss and Make Up

2008-10-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

This week, it's all about burying the hatchet and starting fresh on two of TV's hottest shows - and of course I have something to say about it. As we all know, this season in Gossip Girl and House, it's all about "frenemies"; Gossip Girl BFFs Blair and Serena became bitter rivals in the last few episodes, thanks to Serena moving over to the dark side after Dan dumped her. While over on House, our favorite "bromance" couple, House and Wilson, ended their slightly abusive friendship as a result of Amber's death. And like any certified couch potato in the universe, I was emotionally involved in these break ups and fall outs and rooted for the friendships to rekindle again. And that they did this week. However, it didn't mean that I absolutely love both storylines - so here's my thoughts on them.

Catfight, Yale and a whole lotta nonsense:

Last Monday, the Gossip Girl gang ditched NYC and took a trip down to New Haven to check out their coveted prospective college, Yale University. As we all know, Yale had always been a dream of Blair Waldorf since she was first created by Cecily Von Ziegesar in the first Gossip Girl book. And of course, Serena being on the war path, decided that she wanted Yale too - and a catfight ensued. Now while I love a good throw down between those two, I have a few problems with this episode. One, Yale is the number two University in the world. You think the Dean of Admissions of such a respected school would put more thought into accepting a student than based on her recent appearance in Page Six. Somehow I think "academia" and "Gossip Columns" just don't mix and the way they implied that Serena was the dean's favorite because she was infamous in New York society circle just doesn't make sense to me. This is Yale, for goodness sake! And second, how come all of a sudden everyone is hellbent on making it to Yale, including Dartmouth bound Dan Humphrey and Nate Archibald? How very Lorelai Gilmore of them - and even then, Lorelai Gilmore took a few episodes to embrace Yale instead of Harvard. Third, the Blair and Serena catfight even looked very, very silly - with Serena grabbing Blair's headband screaming, "I hate that headband!" and all of this went down in the Dean of Admission's porch, without anyone coming out of the house and throwing their privileged asses out of New Haven forever. What is that? Come on Josh Schwartz, I know Gossip Girl is all about a non-sensical world but do you have to lower it down to The Hills level? Lastly, I have a problem with Nate suddenly being mad at Chuck for what he did to Dan. I mean, come on, Chuck has done a whole lot worse and Nate stuck by his side and suddenly getting Dan taped to a pole by a bunch of Skulls and Boners was the dealbreaker? Sometimes I think that they just invented these fights to be able to pair unlikely people together. Like Nate and Dan. All in all, even though I thoroughly enjoyed last Monday's episode, I need the GG writers to step up their game next episode... otherwise, I'm going to have to conclude that I'm getting a little too old for this show.

Let bygones be bygones:

After weeks of Wilson not speaking to House and House having to hire a PI just so he'd have someone to play with, House woke up in a car next to Wilson after being sedated by Cuddy, and discovered that they were taking a road trip for his father's funeral. The medical mystery was just so-so this week, so I'm going to focus on the awesome reunion of House and Wilson. First, we love how even after their infamous "break up", Wilson still loves House enough to kidnap him so he'd resolve his issues with his recently deceased father. Second, we love how even after everything that's happened between them, House still tries to torture and abuse Wilson to no end, proving that that has always been the nature of their friendship and even though he no doubt misses Wilson, he stays true to who he is and gets them arrested anyway. Third, we love finding out how House and Wilson became best friends - it was interesting to know that House handpicked Wilson to be his friend and bail him out of jail all because House knew that he wasn't boring. And lastly, we love how they became friends again. There was no big revelation, just Wilson realizing that their road trip was the best fun he's had since he lost Amber, there was no emotional reunion with tears and hugs, just House telling Wilson his father died and Wilson replying, "My deepest sympathies" in the end. It was a sweet, tender moment without being too mushy. It was perfect and we love them for reuniting. House just isn't House without Wilson to torture on a daily basis. Now, we can all expect the usual banter, psychoanalysis and frustration as they both work side by side and annoy each other. The world, is a better place already.

What say you about the two big reunions this week? How long do you think Blair and Serena will stay friends this time before something big blows up on their faces again? How long until Wilson gets fed up with House again? And on a different note, how long until Nate ditches morose Dan and comes crawling back to dear old Chuck? Any thoughts?

Who's In and Who's Out?

2008-10-15T09:35:00.001-07:00

Project Runway's much anticipated finale is airing tonight on Bravo and I for one can't wait to see who's going to emerge as the winning designer. This season has been filled with ups, downs, dramas, catastrophes - but in the end it's all about fashion, and the three finalists: Korto, Kenley and Leanne all have what it takes to win it (and maybe end up guest-starring in Ugly Betty next season).

So who do I think should win it? Honestly, I have no idea. Before last week's episode, I was certain that Jarrell, Leanne and Korto would be the final three. But as we all know, it didn't exactly go down that way. Jarrell's wedding and bridesmaid dresses were not all that great while Kenley managed to wow the judges (and yours truly) with her creations. No matter how much I detest Kenley's bratty attitude, I do admit she deserves to make it to Bryant Park.

I did a little digging in E Online's Watch With Kristin, and discovered that Leanne is clearly the fan favorite. Even Vegas oddsmakers think she's a shoe-in. Kristin Dos Santos said that Leanne's designs were mindblowingly beautiful, so for now, I have to say that her prospects are looking pretty good. However, Korto has the ability to wow the judges with her ethnic-inspired colorful designs, not to mention she is no doubt a very talented and hardworking designer, so don't count her out just yet.

While Miss Kenley, the designer that singlehandedly created a "fanimosity" with her stinky attitude, is clearly fighting an uphill battle to the top. But if last week is any indication, she does have a tendency to surprise us and present a beautiful collection that make us go "wow" despite the fact that we clearly hate her attitude. However, she is also a one-note wonder and I don't know if the judges are going to be too impressed to see a row of 50s inspired dresses in the finale.

So when it comes down to it, we have to watch the finale tonight to see who's in and who's out. Here's a breakdown of the designers:

Leanne

Pros: Her design aesthetics are always so consistent and beautiful, her collection is very well thought out and meticulously made and she has such a sweet, adorable attitude that the judges love.

Cons: The wave designs do get a little repetitive at times, and not to mention she seems to be fixated on really muted colors while we all know the judges always give more points for drama.

Korto

Pros: She is the quintessential ethnic princess, and she knows how to bring drama to her looks. She also mixes really interesting colors together and her collection is going to be a feast for the eyes.

Cons: I'm not so sure if the judges will totally dig her African-inspired collection, they might not think it's high fashion enough. Also, we know that too many bright colors can cheapen the look, and she is always all about bright colors.

Kenley

Pros: She is talented, no doubt about it. Her vintage-inspired collection is beautifully made and she knows how to make prints interesting and chic at the same time. Also, most of her looks are timeless and beautiful.

Cons: Like I said before, she's a one-note wonder and seeing a row of 50s inspired dresses in one sitting does get a bit tired. Not to mention, her attitude seems to be sabotaging her chances to win the love of the judges.

Who will be Season 5 winner? And will this be the finale of all finales - considering that after Bravo won the lawsuit over The Weinstein company, they might actually cancel this show? Don't miss the finale tonight and post your thoughts below!

The Heart of A Hero

2008-10-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

I just saw "The Children of Huang Shi", a film starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Radha Mitchell, Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh about the true story of George Hogg, a British journalist in the time of the Japanese occupation of China, who changed the lives of war-orphan boys forever.

The film began with George Hogg in Shanghai. As any war journalist at the time, he wanted to go to Nanjing and captured the brutality of war. He got his chance when he persuaded a Red Cross aid worker to give his passes to him, and let him drive the aid truck over to Nanjing. In Nanjing, he was captured by the Japanese while he was taking photographs of the Japanese atrocities. He was about to be executed when he was rescued by Chen Han Sheng, a Communist resistance fighter. While in the company of the resistance fighters, he witnessed the execution of two of his colleagues and out of shock, exposed himself. A gunfight ensued and he was wounded. The nurse who treated him, Lee Pearson, asked Chen to send him to an orphanage of 60 boys in Huang Shi, to help her out with the boys. His arrival in Huang Shi was off to a bumpy start, with the boys attacking him with sticks until Pearson arrived and threatened to leave if they kept torturing him. But when Pearson had to leave for two months, Hogg decided to stay because the boys had no one else but him. He slowly won the boys over by fixing the electricity, teaching them English and farming to provide food for them all. As the war hit closer, he was faced with the possibility of the boys being found by Nationalist who were going to turn them into soldiers, and he made a decision to move the boys to Shendan in the edge of the Mongolian desert. He then led the boys on a three-month journey across the snow covered Liu Pan Shan mountains, a journey that changed their lives forever.

I got the DVD of this film a while ago but did not watch it until just now because I wanted to wait until I was in a stable emotional state of mind. Movies like this one tend to depress me. But I'm glad I saw it, because it inspired me. George Hogg was a hero. And watching the movie made me realize what makes one a hero. When in China, he witnessed unspeakable things. And we as human beings, are faced with two choices when something bad, tragic, or painful happened to us or to the people we love. We could choose to be bitter people, or better people. George Hogg chose to be a better person. And if it weren't for that decision, he would never have changed the lives of those orphaned boys.

I always say that I am "jaded and cynical" because shitty things have happened to me in the past, and some of them were not caused by my actions - they just happened, and they were tragic and I did find myself at one point crying out, "What have I done to deserve this?". Watching George Hogg, I realized that I too had those choices, to be bitter or to be better. Unfortunately, I chose to be bitter. Which then led me to years of self-destructive behavior and a lot of pent up anger. Had I chose to be a better person - I might lead a different life. I could have made a change in this world. I'm not talking a major change, but a small change is enough. Sadly because of my choice to be bitter for years, I have wasted precious times without making a difference in anyone's life.

Another thing that made George Hogg a hero was his decision to make the best out of every situation. Being in an orphanage with a shortage of food, no electricity and sixty boys who on his first night tried to beat the shit out of him with bamboo sticks, was not a great situation to find himself in. But instead of whining, moaning, feeling sorry for himself, feeling resentful and at the end, fleeing; he decided to stick around and make a change. He knew he couldn't change the boys by fighting them - so instead, he decided to do what Gandhi taught us to do: "be the change you want to see in the world". And the change he did become. He used his knowledge, education, people skill, everything he got into making the situation in the orphanage a little better, and after a while, he gained the boys' trust and won their love and loyalty. And that's what made him a hero.

I live in a country where the government is corrupted, the streets are dirty and polluted, the people are uneducated and apathetic. And after a while, I became apathetic myself. In fact, my hatred towards my own city and country got to a stage where I would rather become a recluse and cut myself off from society just so I don't have to deal with all the shit that's happening on a daily basis. But seeing the movie, I realized that locking myself in and shutting myself away from the world around me doesn't change anything. Maybe, it's better if I become the change that I want to see from the people in my city, in my country, in the world. And to become the change, I have to make the best out of my situation and not fleeing from it. So I'm still stuck in this god-forsaken city until at least a year from now, but wasting the time I have left being a recluse is not going to help anyone, not even me.

Lastly, George Hogg was a hero because he stayed true to himself, his values and who he were. He came from a family of pacifist, and just because he was in war-torn China, didn't mean he had to pick up a rifle and join the fight. He fought in a different way. He fought by saving those children. By loving them, by giving them a life and a future. He didn't kill Japanese soldiers, he shed no blood because ultimately it wasn't who he was. He knew he couldn't just sit and do nothing in a time of turmoil, but doing something didn't mean he had to forget who he was. He stayed true to himself and his values, he did what he believed in, and he made a difference because of it.

I think sometimes in our quest to change the world, we feel that we need to be someone other than ourselves. We try to be someone who we think matter more than who we really are. But I believe that we are here in this world with a specific purpose, and it's not about being someone else, it's about fulfilling our purpose and our destiny. We may not be able to save a thousand but we may be able to make a difference in one person's life. And sometimes we don't take that opportunity because we're always waiting for something bigger and more sensational. George Hogg stayed true to who he was and he changed the world. I think we all can do the same.

One final thought, we may not all be heroes whose lives will be turned into a book or a movie one day but we all can have the heart of a hero. What makes a person a hero is their heart. It's not about joining an NGO and going into a war-torn country. Some are called to do so, and some are just meant to be heroes in their everyday life. The heart of a hero is a willingness to love. Jesus said in the Bible: 'love your neighbor as yourself'. And it's not just Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, and all great historical icons have taught us the same. Love is what makes a person a hero. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love the people around you as yourself. And to do so, you have to learn to love yourself first. And it may sound like an easy task but trust me, we have a self-loathing nature that makes this a very, very difficult task.

Epitectus once said, "Know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly". I think the best way to adorn ourselves is not by putting on Gucci, Prada or Dior, even though I do hope I get to do so myself one day. Gucci, Prada and Dior are great to look at but they're not going to change the world. I think we should adorn ourselves with the heart of a hero. And once we've done that - it doesn't matter whether we adorn ourselves with Prada on the outside, or just some unknown brand. We'll always be beautiful. Because ultimately, what makes you beautiful is not designer duds - but the heart of a hero that lies within us.

Seduction, Sacrifice, Sanity and Surprises

2008-10-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

It's Friday early morning where I am and despite the delay, I finally finished watching the shows I have to review and even had time to squeeze in one more. We have a lot to discuss, so I'm going right to it.

The art of seduction:

Last Monday night in Chuck, our title character has to learn a thing or two about seduction from the James Bond-like (with a midlife crisis and a drinking problem) former spy in order for the government to rebuild the intersect. I keep forgetting the name of the thing that Chuck has to help recover... but anyway, it's another good, solid and absolutely funny episode filled with everything we love. We love the "Wheel of Misfortune" in Buy More, we love the former spy - he was hilarious, and we absolutely love the kiss between Chuck and Sara, even though it's not actually "the kiss" that we've been waiting for. The episode ends with the reluctant spy saving the day once again (by the way, I couldn't stop laughing when Chuck was doing the "We'll always have Paris" bit and then ran off screaming like a little girl when the bad guy found him) only even after he puts on a white dinner jacket, and channeling his inner Bogey by bringing a bottle of champagne and a single red rose over to Sara's apartment - he still doesn't get the girl because his former best friend and rogue spy Bryce again shows up to ruin the day! He always does that, it's so annoying! What will happen now? Does this mean Chuck will lose Sara to Bryce once again? Why is Bryce even there anyway? Why won't Josh Schwartz give us a happy ending for once? Well, as the old saying goes, all in good time, my friends... and we'll just have to keep waiting patiently...

The meaning of sacrifice:

I just checked with Kristin Dos Santos over at E! and the rumor is true, the future of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is not looking too good. The ratings were disappointing, and the network was not happy. Which is a bummer, since the show has shown some consistently great writing and acting so far, despite the storyline being a little too slow for TV watchers who demand fast-pace action non-stop. Last Monday, John Connor goes back to school, but no, not a regular high school, he goes "undercover" in a military school along with his uncle Derek to protect a guy, Martin Baddell, who is destined to be Connor's number two guy in the future, from being assassinated by a T-888. Meanwhile, Sarah decides to protect the other Martin Baddell (collateral damage) and hides him in her house while the T-888 goes on a rampage - an experience that makes her re-evaluate her relationship with her own son. And as for Cameron, well, her motives are still a little suspect. She is right there watching when John and Derek are fighting off the T-888, and she does not lift a cyborg finger to help them. Now, doesn't that sound suspicious to you? And of course, somewhere else in LA, Agent Ellison, who is now working for Shirley Manson femme-bot, is investigating into the explosion in the nuclear plant and discovers that Sarah Connor was somehow involved. What I love about this episode was the part when Sarah was reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to Martin overlapping with John and Derek fighting of the T-888. It's haunting and gives a certain chill to the show. Also what I love, the scene in the car when Derek explained to John what happens to Martin in the future. He dies saving him. They all die saving him. Now that's a sobering experience for a rebellious 16-year-old. What I don't love is the questions that they're still not answering: what does Shirley Manson femme-bot want? And really, is Cameron secretly evil? Or is she just, for lack of a better word, damaged? Let's hope they will give us answers before the network pulls the plug...

The cost of sanity:

Last Tuesday in Life, Charlie and Dani have to solve the murder of a medical researcher who was frozen to death, literally, while the Jack Reese story-arc still plays out, with Dani suspecting her father even more (that gets her kicked out of family dinner) and Charlie finding out that Jack Reese may not be the top guy in the conspiracy. There are others, and we still don't know who they are. Dun dun dun, the plot thickens. On a lighter note, Charlie keeps accidentally sabotaging Ted's chance of being a teacher in business school and Dani gets her hair stuck in the door of her car while she is trying to avoid the new captain. I have to say, I like the new captain. The new captain is interesting and funny. However, from the looks of things, he either is interested in Dani OR if you're a paranoid conspiracy buff, he's one of "the others" and he's trying to find out how much Dani knows. A little too far-fetched? Maybe, but it's still in the fringe of possibilities... anyway, now I'm getting delusional. I like the ending of the show, with Charlie and Dani helping the janitor - it's a very tender moment. I also really love crazy Charlie. But it does beg the question, is he really cuckoo or is he just pretending to be? Maybe he really means to sabotage Ted's chances of moving out from under his wings? I know, I know, conspiracy theory once again. But it's a good theory, no?

The reality of surprise:

Last Wednesday on Project Runway marked the first part of the two-part finale, with the four designers going head-to-head to secure their spot as the final three. And we were all surprised by the result. First up, I thought Jarrell would be safe. His designs were unique and interesting and he seemed to be the judges' favorite thus far. Second, I thought Kenley would FINALLY be gone now, giving her snotty bratty attitude that made everyone (I suspect including the judges and Tim Gunn) hate her. But since it's a reality show, it doesn't turn out that way. Their final challenge was to create a wedding dress - and a bridesmaid dress to compliment it. And what do you know? Kenley's creations were GOOD. I actually love her wedding dress. And I rarely like wedding dresses seeing that I'm allergic to the actual concept, so it means she did a really great job with it. And her bridesmaid dress is so cute, I want to wear it to a party! Of course, design wise, Leanne's was by far the most amazing but I have to say Korto and Jarrell were disappointing. I thought Jarrell was a shoe-in, but at the end, he had to go home and Kenley made it to Bryant Park. Life's a bitch, isn't it? To be fair, I have to applaud the judges for not letting their dislike of Kenley hinder their judgment - she did create incredible dresses. But I'm sad to see Jarrell go. He is pretty talented. Now, we just have to wait for next week to see who will be crowned the winner. At this point, my money's on Leanne. Kenley's attitude will bite her in the ass one of these days, won't it? Is there no justice in this world? Ah well, we'll have to see next week then...

That's it from me today, I will be back soon with Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Lipstick Jungle, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, and more. Until then!

Family, Loyalty And A Whole Lotta Chaos

2008-10-08T04:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend on TV, there were so many things happening but there seemed to be one underlying theme: loyalty. Whether it's to friends, family, boss, lovers, what-have-you. And when it comes to the subject of loyalty, of course we're going to have something to say about it. So let's not waste another minute!

Ugly Ambition:

Last Thursday on Ugly Betty, Wilhelmina made Betty an offer she couldn't refuse, and as any wide-eyed impressionable twenty-somethings trying to make it in New York, Wilhelmina's offer left Betty on a crossroad between ambition and loyalty, between doing the right thing for yourself and doing the right thing for everyone. And what did Betty choose? Well, since it's a TV show - the right thing in the end, although Betty did try to take a dip in the dark side. But she's Betty, and she can't pull a Darth Vader and join the evil force that is Wilhelmina. What's good about this episode? Wilhelmina, or rather, Vanessa Williams doing a fantastic job portraying the evil genius of her on-screen alter ego. What's bad about this episode? Everything else. It was rather predictable and boring. Wilhelmina being dethroned again with the whole Meade family ganging up against her with the help of Betty Dearest. Boring. It has been done before, and Claire Meade pushing over Wilhelmina's ice sculpture was nothing like tripping her to the grave last season. However, the show did end on an interesting note, someone pushing Christina down the stairs. Why would they do that? Was it Claire Meade trying to make sure Bradley's evil spawn would not get born? Or was it Marc, in his attempt to secure Wilhelmina to himself? Hmm... interesting. Let's wait for this Thursday for that answer.

Everything... all the time:

Last Friday in Life, Crews and Reese have to take on the LA untouchables: the spoiled, heavily connected, privileged kids of the city. And it was interesting, to say the least. I love the "Alpha Dog" scenario, and the sociopath, cold-blooded, hateful spoiled brat that Crews and Reese finally were able to put behind bars. And I'm really loving the new Captain, he was hilarious. The best line of the show: "What, you guys don't plant evidence here?" was the best! I also love seeing Crews taking on Jack Reese - that's definitely one story arc that will get us addicted to the show. It's a classic superhero - villain showdown, and I for one can't wait for Crews to finally nail this guy to the wall. Another part that I love is the banter between Charlie Crews and Dani Reese - when are those two finally becoming more than just work partners? We all want them to jump each other's bones! Questions for this episode: will Rachel Seebolt finally break her silence and talk about what happened? Will Charlie's ex-wife return for another jiggy session with him in the name of helping the damsel in distress? And will Charlie's investigation on Jack Reese finally put a strain in his relationship with Dani? Well, we will need to keep tuning in, won't we?

All in the family:

Brothers & Sisters this Sunday served us another healthy portion of Walker family drama. First, there's Kitty and Robert trying to win the heart of their social worker. Then, there's Kitty's book that causes the whole family to react in the only way they can: with a lot of bickering, and lastly, there's Holly trying to meddle in the family business and find the mysterious illegitimate offspring of William Walker. And I have to say, I think that Holly will join Wilhelmina Slater in the top 10 list of best villains on television. She is just evil. I know the Walkers are ganging up on her, but please, can't she just leave the poor Ryan alone? Isn't it enough that her own daughter got caught up in the middle of the drama and become the collateral damage of the Walker saga? Must she bring another poor soul into this? However, I am interested to find out who will end up playing the other Walker sibling. Rumors say that it may be Jason Ritter, the late John Ritter's son. I myself would rather see them bring another Everwood alum, Gregory Smith to play the role, but I can't wait to see what's in store for the now infamous Ryan Lafferty. Will he be another Rebecca, or will he stir trouble into the mix? I smell juicy episodes coming up...

Love thy neighbor:

Last Sunday on Desperate Housewives; Mike finally meets Susan's new lover, Jackson and become fast friends much to Susan's chagrin, Edie is still finding a hard time returning to Wisteria Lane and her mysterious, psycho husband steps in, Bree can't quite balance her work life and her personal life, Lynette poses as a 16-year-old online to form a bond with her son and causes an oedipal mess, Gabrielle can't quite let go of her fabulous and wealthy past even though she no longer is welcome in that world and Mrs. McKlusky learns that there's something fishy about her new neighbor. It's pretty obvious that the mystery this season lies with Mr. Williams aka Neil McDonough. He does play a mean son of a bitch, and he seems to be cold-blooded enough to be able to do unspeakable things and I can't wait for the mystery to unfold. And I love Gale Harold more than anyone, but something tells me that Susan belongs with Mike. The reason for their divorce is a little bit ridiculous - and we yearn for the ex-couple to get back together again. I think they should keep Gale around though. He can move on to the other women in the neighborhood, can't he? Katherine Mayfair is single now, just a suggestion. What will happen in the next episodes? Will Bree and Orson stay together? Will Gabrielle stay with her simplified life? I don't want to speculate just yet. Marc Cherry does have a way in surprising us all. So let's just keep watching.

Band of trippy brothers:

Last Sunday on Entourage, it's all about brotherhood and hallucinogen. Vince has a choice to make: to grovel and beg for a second lead in Smoke Jumpers or to take the easy road out by accepting a role in Benji. And in typical Hollywood style, the boys plus Ari and guest-star Eric Roberts decided to to Joshua Tree and trip on some mushroom to help their decision making. The result: a really funny and hilarious episode. Ari's lost in the desert and turns to his gay Confucious aka Lloyd to guide him, Eric loses his ability to speak and Drama has to pull out all the stops to get him talking again, Drama loses Turtle's dog Arnold which sends the boys wandering around in the desert for the dog, and Vince gets an epiphany while watching a fireman at work on the road. Despite the hilarity, the show ends in a very high note: Vince decides to do whatever he and Ari can for that second lead in Smoke Jumpers, which means, Vince may have to learn what it means to humble himself for once in his life. Will he finally get the part and make a brilliant comeback? That's definitely something we need to keep watching for.

I heart New Jersey:

Last Monday on How I Met Your Mother; the gang travels to their most hated place, New Jersey, to hang out with Stella and give the garden state a chance. The result: a big fight between Ted and Stella that was resolved after Ted read Stella's daughter Lucy a story, a big revelation from Marshall about how he actually hates living in Manhattan and he loves New Jersey a lot more, and a sweet moment between Barney and Robin, where he told her not to grovel and ask for her crappy job back after she thought she made a mistake in leaving. The show ends with a disturbing thought, that Robin might leave to Japan. And I'm sure I'm not the only one crying out, "NO! Aunt Robin has to stay!" If Robin leaves, our hope in Stinbotsky (Barney and Robin's celebrity couple name) may vanish forever. But seeing the look on Barney's face, I think he may finally step up and do whatever he can to keep her from leaving. And that may include a big declaration of love. Are we excited? Of course we are! So let's just keep crossing our fingers that he will finally win Robin's heart and gets her to stay... and be our favorite Aunt Robin.

That's all from me today. I'll return tomorrow with more on Life, Chuck and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Until then, and don't forget to keep tuning in!

Mere Morality

2008-10-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to internet problem, I had to catch up with five shows in the space of a day, and to tell you the truth I'm a little confused now, which is which. But I'll try my best to recap. And yes, let's get to it before I get even more confused, shall we?

Dirty Sexy Mommy:

Dirty Sexy Money returned to ABC for its second season last Wednesday night after a long hiatus due to the writer's strike, and that long hiatus must have done the body good because it was a HOT show. And I'm not even talking about all the hook ups that was happening. There were multiple plotlines in this premiere episode that took place six months after the first season finale; first there's Jeremy Darling's obsession with Lisa George and the mysterious appearance of Lucy Liu, then there's the unfortunate incident that took place in Patrick Darling's bathroom that required... quite a bit of a clean up, there's Bryan and his futile attempts in stopping his baby mama from taking Bryan Jr away from him, there's Karen's little romance with Simon Adler that involves a lot of conspiracy on both parts, and of course there's that jaw-dropping last few minutes with the NYPD whisking Leticia Darling away in handcuffs. All in all, it was a darn good entertaining return for this show. And the addition as Lucy Liu as the mystery bar seductress was kind of awesome. Although I have to say that as much as I love Lisa and Nick together, I find Jeremy's obsession with her kind of endearing. But I guess the writers want the Georges to stay together for now, so I guess Lucy Liu will do. Now the question is, did Leticia really kill Dutch? I have to say, that woman amazes me. She seems so frail and yet... she could be the most cunning out of all the Darlings. Another question: did Karen really fall for Simon Adler or was she playing him just the way he's playing her? Intrigue. And finally, now that Patrick's wife has crashed and burned quite literally, will our favorite transgender lover make a comeback? Let's just see what they have in store for us next week...

A For Arrogance:

Project Runway is nearing the finale now, and they were down to four designers on last Wednesday's episode. And as predicted, it was not short on drama. The challenge was not that hard in my opinion, they had to create an evening gowns using nature for inspiration. The result was not all that pretty. All four designers pretty much disappointed us with their measly attempt at evening gowns. The talent is really nothing to compare to last season's. The best out of the worst was the winner, Jarrell but even his gown wasn't all that fantastic. But of course what was so entertaining with the show was little miss Kenlee who despite her huge talent, has an even bigger attitude. She was rude, defensive and cocky. She snapped at Heidi, she started a catfight with Korto, she interrupted Jarrell - I think the only reason why the judges kept her on is to use her flair for the dramatic to boost the ratings. Who doesn't love a catfight in a reality show? So far, Project Runway has never had an Omarosa-like contestant but Kenlee does take the whole bitch factor to a new level. It was pretty awesome, really. So what will happen in the finale? Will she make it as the final three? You never know...

The thin grey line:

Another show making a return to primetime television last Wednesday was Private Practice. And boy, did Shonda Rhimes step it up a notch this season. I thought the first season was not up to par and a little too much Grey's, but last Wednesday episode was actually pretty good. The drama is moving away from being another Grey's Anatomy clone and it's the kind of drama that will make me tune in for more. Naomi driving the practice to the ground was fantastic. Dell quitting was unexpected and the perfect spice to kick this show into high gear. And of course, we love David Sutcliffe, former Lorelai's baby daddy guest-starring as Addison's hot new guy. As much as I love Pete, I think Addison should be with the hot SWAT guy. Complicated guys are never my cup of tea. One other thing I love about the new season is Sam taking charge for once. Now that's the Taye Diggs we all know and love. Of course that means Naomi may just be another cougar to Dell and the hope of her patching things with Sam will vanish - but all's not lost. Addison's friendship with Naomi is pretty much fractured now, and we'll see if they can patch things up in the future. All in all, great job Shonda Rhimes!

Do a good deed, get a hot guy:

This week on Lipstick Jungle is all about doing a good deed - and getting rewarded for it. Plotline aside, I have to give two thumbs up to the casting people of LJ for bringing in the hot contractor in the mix. That man is divine! He looks and sounds a bit like Jack Bauer aka Kiefer Sutherland, so maybe he's the other Sutherland? In any case, he is dreamy and I like him with Victory. Joe just brings out the pathetic in her. Although I wouldn't rule out Joe playing the billionaire card to win Victory back. I'm all for it, as long as the hot contractor stays. I also like that Kirby is being a permanent fixture in Nico's life - and he still parades his six-pack for us to drool over. Any guy with abs I want to eat lunch off, gets my vote. Charles' student mistress was a bitch though, and even though it was big of Nico to take pity on her and support her, I still wish she would just slap her silly. But it's good that Nico is moving on. We like her moving on, especially to a hot 26 year old with a body to die for. And as for Wendy's good deed, we know she'll get in hot water for what she did for Noah Mason. No good deed goes unpunished, right? Shame. I like this side of Wendy. But I know she'll weather through this. She's Brooke Shields after all!

No no, 90210:

I am still not convinced 90210 will ever be as good as the original, and last Tuesday episode did nothing to shed a positive light on it. First, it seems as though Luke Perry will not be returning to the old zipcode, and Shannen Doherty has stated publicly that she would not extend her stay. All that's left from the old gang is just Jennie Garth and I'm not sure she'll stay on for long either. Without the old posse, I'm not really loving the new 90210. I thought the new characters were all ridiculous; Silver and Adrianna included this time. The drama was more fitting for a reality show instead of a primetime show. I wish they would just bring the old gang back and scraped the new characters altogether. But the CW has given them a full season pick up, so I think that's out of the question. Will I continue watching once there's no trace of the old gang? No. But for now, I'm just going to keep hoping...

That's all from me but I'll be back tomorrow with Ugly Betty and Life. I was expecting Friday Night Lights to return this week, but I guess I was wrong because I still haven't found it in EZTV. I miss those boys from Dillon High. I guess we'll have to wait some more for them. Until tomorrow!

Love And Other Catastrophes

2008-10-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

I had a fight with my internet provider today. My internet was down for 13 hours due to some network problem, and I was pissed. I have so many shows to watch and yet I can't download them. But finally, it was fixed - the only downside is, I haven't caught up with my shows yet, so I hope you're patient. But I do have a few to discuss tonight, so let's get to it.

Love is no big truth:

This week on House, Breckin Meyers guest-starred as a struggling artist with a very weird life-threatening disease that confused the hell out of House and his team. But House being House, he wasn't too worried about his patient, instead, he sent his private detective/new best friend/Wilson's replacement to dig the dirt on his team, and Cuddy. The result: House used to be a male cheerleader and Taub's wife had a secret bank account she didn't want him to know. The moral of the story: that sometimes the truth is unnecessary and painful - even though it can save your life. After a solid return with the first and second episode, I have to say that this week, House is not really living up to its standard. The medical mystery was good, but other than that, it feels like the drama is not really a drama. It feels a little like these characters are searching for a story. Disappointing, but just like the truth, it was probably necessary. I have a feeling this episode is just laying the grounds for a bigger, more intricate and emotional drama in the future. And I have a feeling it will involve Wilson. Who here misses him apart from House and me? I do hope they will kiss and make up soon. The PI is interesting, but he's no Wilson to me. Have no fear, I am sure he will return soon - and the drama will continue.

For the love of the father:

I know I said that I'm starting to be tired of the many unanswered questions in Fringe. But it really doesn't make me love the show any less - even though this week, instead of answering my previous questions, they gave me more. Why do I continue on loving this show? Because the relationship between Peter and Walter is just so amazing. It's strained, complicated and dysfunctional - but not without a lot of love. Joshua Jackson did a great job portraying a son who feels burdened by his father, but at the same time loves him very much as well, even though he doesn't want people to know. John Noble is an amazing actor and his portrayal of Walter Bishop the mad scientist was so human and real. We know Walter is genius and nuts - but we also can feel the love he has for his son, without him having to say it out loud. The only one I had a problem with was Olivia, she was a little too unemotional - somehow Anna Torv's acting was not quite so convincing. Now as for the mystery, I have the same questions as anyone: who is that bald browless man aka The Observer? Is he an alien? Clone? One of the people in the pod that we saw at the end of the second episode? And what is that "vibrating suppositoria" - as Peter Bishop so cleverly puts it - that popped up and down the earth's surface every now and then? Lastly, of course THE question: what the fuck? John Scott is back from the dead? WHAT? Now we can only hope they answer at least one of those questions next week. But good news, I read that Fox is giving the show a full season which means it's just going to get better and better. I for one, cannot wait for next week.

Bees, bees, your love:

Pushing Daisies returned to ABC for the second season last Wednesday and fans of the show (yours truly included) rejoiced when we were once again transported to the magical world of Ned the pie maker and his not-dead girlfriend, Chuck. The premiere episode did not disappoint us. It was filled with everything we love about the show: the magical story, the adorable murder mystery, the Olive-Ned-Chuck love triangle, and the mystery. We found out in the first season finale that Chuck is actually Aunt Lily's daughter. The continuation of that mystery is even better: Chuck's dad was Aunt Vivienne's fiance, and Lily had an affair with him that resulted in Chuck being born. Talk about a dysfunctional family. Lily managed to send Olive off to a monastery so she would keep her secrets, but something tells me, they're not going to stay buried long. And speaking of buried, rumor is Chuck's dad will be making an appearance this season. Ooh the intrigue. We also found out that Ned's dad was in the Pie Hole, we don't know yet why he was there but we can only guess that there's going to be something juicy in the works for the coming weeks - squee!! But of course, the cherry on top of the sweet, juicy pie that is Pushing Daisies, is the fantastic comedy. How funny was Olive's Sound of Music moment? Kristin Chenoweth should've gotten an Emmy because she was amazing! And how funny was Emerson Cod? And that pop up book that he wrote - does that mean he has a daughter somewhere in the universe? Let's hope so. All in all, the bee episode of Pushing Daisies was beyond awesome - and of course we have to love Missy Pyle and Autumn Reeser's guest-starring stint. They made the episode so much funnier. Let's hope that the coming episodes will be just as fantastic as this one. I have a feeling it's not too much of a stretch.

That's all from me today, be back tomorrow to catch you up on the rest of the shows: Dirty Sexy Money, Project Runway, Private Practice, Lipstick Jungle, 90210, Life and Friday Night Lights. See you soon!

Past, Present and Future

2008-10-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

I got the flu, and my internet connection's been really weird lately, so this is a little late than I had expected. But nonetheless, here I am, ready to discuss another great day of television called "Monday". So let's get to it.

The world is not enough:

Chuck, our favorite geek-turned-reluctant-spy returned to our screen last Monday and it gave us a good solid hour of entertainment. There were so many good moments in the first episode of the sophomore season, first: the stunt-casting. Oh how we love Michael Clark Duncan guest-starring and dangling Chuck from a window. It was so awesome. Second: speaking of which, how AWESOME was Captain Awesome? That shower scene was so hilarious, and even though there weren't much of him and Ellie, we love them anyway. Third: Chuck and Sara, of course. What must we do to get them to FINALLY hook up? Come on! This whole spy thing always gets in the way. But I guess that's why we love the show. Will they, won't they, the sexual tension is the reason why we keep tuning in every week. And don't you just love Casey? He's starting to warm up to Chuck, so much so that he was so torn when he got the order to kill him. Good thing that was postponed! Finally, I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one falling off my chair laughing during the Buymore cage-fighting scene. We just love the Nerd Herd. Even though Chuck's future may be sabotaged by the intersect in his head, he doesn't need to worry. We're pretty sure he's just going to continue being... awesome.

Good Girl Gone Wild:

Serena, Serena. Wherefore art thou, Serena? What the hell happened? One nasty comment from Dan and she turned into an uber bitch? Really? Oh stop, don't tell me you don't love it. We love that Serena is slowly taking over the Queen Bee position from Blair. We love that Blair isn't taking it lying down. We love that those two frenemies are fighting again. And we love that every time Serena turns bad, Blair turns good. The way she suddenly embraced and helped Little Jenny Humphrey, was a sweet moment, deserving of our sincere "aww". But you know what last Monday episode means right? There will be a fan-freakin-tastic Serena vs Blair throwdown. Can you spell catfight? Meow. There will be scheming, conniving Chuck trying to ruin Dan Humphrey's life and win Blair's love in the process. There will be blood. Okay, the latter's kind of far-fetched, but you never know! Questions: what will happen to Little J? Will she ever go back to school? Or will she be Eleanor Waldorf's newest protege? And whatever happened to Nate and Vanessa? Now that the cougar is gone, will they get back together? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. You know you love me. xoxo.

Not just Jack in the box:

Another returning favorite, Life, begins its sophomore season on NBC last Monday. And it started with a box. Zen-filled Charlie Crews and his partner Dani Reese had four homicides to solve, all four bodies were found in a box. Meanwhile, Crews continued on his own investigation into Jack Reese and determined to find where Rachel Seebolt was taken captive, with the help of his financial advisor/roommate Ted. Charlie and Dani managed to catch the killer, but that wasn't the point of this episode. The underlying message was happiness, the search for happiness - and at the end, the future of it. It was a heavy message for a detective show, but that's why we love it. I also love how Charlie and Dani are very in-sync now, and the addition of the new captain was refreshing - he plays off really well with both Charlie and Dani. And one thing that was so great about last Monday's episode, was Charlie and Ted finding and rescuing Rachel Seebolt. The heroic scene at the end, with Priscilla Ahn's song "Dream" was just amazing. So where is Jack Reese and will Charlie be able to uncover the conspiracy and finally put Jack Reese behind bars? What will that do to his relationship with Dani? And on a lighter note, will Charlie and Dani ever hook up? I hate to say it but I think we're just going to have to wait and see...

The human stain:

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles last Monday took us to Cameron's past, or rather, future. It's a bit confusing, at first, really. I think they wanted to make it seem like Cameron's human - when we know full well she's a machine, so the first half hour was filled with "What?" "Huh?" until it was finally explained that the memory flashes she was experiencing was not her own, but rather her human doppelganger, Allison Young, a resistance fighter and one of future John Connor's soldiers. This episode is really just giving a background of how Cameron came about - she was made to infiltrate the resistance and kill John, but instead John reprogrammed her and sent her back to the past to protect younger him and his mother. We also know that this Allison Young must be important to John, because she was the one the machines chose to make an "evil twin". So who is this Allison Young from Palmdale? Was she just one of John's soldier or more? Could it be possible that John and Allison were a couple, which explained the love John has for her machine twin? And from that session with the therapist, it seems that Cameron still has a mission to kill John, which begs the question, was she just faking it when she said she's fixed? Also, what about Shirley Manson femme-bot? Was she always a femme-bot, or was she another case of the Allison/Cameron? And what about her daughter? Robot daughter or human daughter? We know her husband's human so the question is: who is she and what does she want? And why doesn't she care about finding and killing John like the other machines? Confusion, confusion. And our questions may not be answered since I read that Fox is canceling TSCC and production will be shut down as early as this week. Now that sucks.

That's it from me today, I'll be back tomorrow and the whole weekend with Lipstick Jungle, Project Runway, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty as well as the returning shows: Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies and Friday Night Lights. See you then!

No More Shiny Happy People

2008-09-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

Remember that famous line in The OC that Seth Cohen uttered to Lindsay, when they all found out that she was Caleb Nichol's illegitimate daughter? "Welcome to a lifetime of insecurity and paralyzing self-doubt." Well, The OC was canceled a year and a half ago, but somehow I feel that this week's television is all about welcoming 'a lifetime of insecurity and paralyzing self-doubt'. How so, you may ask. Well, let's just get to it, shall we?

Trouble In Paradise:

Last Sunday's episode of Entourage was pretty heavy. It was very unexpected for Entourage, but I have to praise the writers for daring to take the characters to a darker place. First, there's the whole Eric-Amanda-Vince-Ari-Ed Norton-Eric's clients conflict. I wouldn't want to be Eric. He had to choose between his clients and his best friend, and that's not a good position to be. No wonder he looked so stressed at the end of the episode. If he wanted to be a good manager, he would be screwing his best friend, and if he wanted to be a good friend, he would be screwing his clients. Oy vey. I think Adrian Grenier was telling the truth when he said in the Emmy after party red carpet that Vince was going to have a tough time this season, that he can't just bounce back by relying on his charm as always. And I don't know about you, but I love it. Yes, it's much darker than the usual Entourage storylines, but this is the fifth season. They had to step it up a notch. And this episode is the reason why I want to keep watching the show. The conflicts ahead are bound to be interesting, and I for one can't wait to see it. Even the Johnny Drama The View meltdown was not as light as it used to be. So what will happen to the four BFFs? I guess only time can tell...

Older, but None The Wiser:

Desperate Housewives started the fifth season with a five year time jump, and the risk paid off. Marc Cherry said that the time jump was like a restart button, and I couldn't agree more. Five years ahead bring new possibilities and new interesting storylines for the characters and I was happy to see how much they have changed. Susan is divorced from Mike and became this commitment and relationship-phobic woman who has hot sex with her painter (played by Queer As Folk's resident hunk Gale Harold). Gaby is now a mother of two overweight daughters, and is looking more like a frumpy housewife than a sexy Latina. Lynette is now a mother of teenage delinquents. Bree has turned into Martha Stewart after her daughter Danielle took Benjamin away from her. Edie returned to Wisteria Lane with a new husband (played by Neil McDonough) who has, what else, a dark and crazy past. And Catherine Mayfair, the latest edition of the housewives, finds herself playing second fiddle in Bree's Martha Stewart empire, and she's not very happy about it. All in all, this fifth season feels like the first season again, with so many possibilities and a chance for a bigger, better mystery. And I know we'll be watching happily every Sunday because of it. And also, because there is a possibility we'd get to see Gale Harold's chiseled abs again. Ah, don't you just love television?

The Family That Preys:

Brothers and Sisters returned for the third season filled with conflicts and drama. And that's just the first episode. There's Nora, the matriarch, going head-to-head with Holly, the wicked with of the west. There's Kitty fighting with Sarah. Tommy vs Kevin. And Justin... getting in on with his ex-sister Rebecca. Can you say drama? And not to mention, there's that other Walker, Ryan, somewhere in Bakersfield that they have to deal with. Will the lovably dysfunctional Walker be able to resolve everything and be a family again? Or will this be the thing that finally breaks them apart? And what say you about Justin's relationship with Rebecca? Yeay or ew? I for one think they make a cute couple. Okay, sure, they used to think they were related, and that's a bit fucked up. But, it's not like they grew up together. And judging from the fractured relationships between the Walker siblings, they seem to be the only ones who are in great terms with each other. Of course, we can't draw any conclusion from the first episode yet, and something tells me the Walkers will stick together when they share a common enemy. The only question is, who will the enemy be? Holly? Or the newest Walker? We'll see...

Life Is Not A Burger:

After all that drama, it's nice to take a breather and enjoy good ol' comedy with How I Met Your Mother. After a pretty dramatic first episode, the second episode of HIMYM is a little light and funny, and we love them for it. There were so many hilarious moments in last Monday's episode: Marshall's quest for the best burger in New York, Robin's hunger, Barney and Goliath National Bank and of course, Regis Philbin ass-kickin guest appearance. All in all, it was a good fun episode. It takes our mind off the "mother" mystery and whether or not Barney and Robin will FINALLY get together. So is Stella the mother, and will Barney and Robin finally get together? Those are questions for another day, friends. Now, just enjoy your burger and hope for the best.

That's it from me today. I'll be back Thursday with Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Gossip Girl, Life and Chuck. See you then!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

2008-09-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry I'm a bit late for this. As it turns out I got a lot to do in the weekend, so I only managed to watch all the remaining returning shows: The Office, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty yesterday and today. But, I've got a lot to say about them... so fret not. The returning shows were all interesting and it's one of those moments when I really thank God for television. Let's get to it!

Happily ever after is just a rainy day away:

The Office returned to our screen on Thursday, and I know that I'm not the only one who gasped, shrieked and nearly shed a little tear of happiness when the moment we die-hard PB&J (Pam Beesly and Jim) or JAM (Jim and Pam) fans have been waiting for finally arrived. It was the moment we had been waiting for in excruciating frustration for five years and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. I am of course talking about Jim finally popping the question to Pam after we were once again left hanging on the Season 4 finale. I for one am relieved that the writers decided not to drag out the anticipation for much longer by finally giving us what we have wanted all along. PB&J forever! Yeay! Okay, I'm a little too excited, I know, but I can't help it. Not since Ross and Rachel has an on-screen couple gotten us so invested in their relationship, and I am glad that they (possibly) are getting their happy ending. Office writers, if you mess this one up, you'll have millions of angry fans in your hands, so don't even think about it! How much did we love the proposal? It was perfect. A rainy day, a rest-stop between Scranton and New York, and it's just the two of them savoring every moment, just the way we had expected it. But now that we're still glowing with happiness, let's ask a few questions: Pam had said she didn't want a long engagement, so will we see the most anticipated wedding in the history of television ever this season? (Yes, please!) and speaking of weddings, will Angela go ahead and marry Andy despite her dalliances with Dwight? I have to say, I'm not really looking forward to see the creepy threesome relationship turn into a creepy threesome marriage. Kristin Dos Santos in E's Watch With Kristin said that yes, there will be a wedding this season - but now that Jim and Pam are engaged, could it be that it's not the wedding we thought it would be when Season 4 wrapped? We can only hope and pray. And speaking of hoping and praying, don't you think that Michael and Holly could be the new Jim and Pam? Even Jim noticed that they are perfect for each other. Holly gets Michael's dorkiness and vice versa. But insane Jan is still hanging around, so will the writers drag this out for 3 seasons before they finally get together like Jim and Pam? Something tells me Amy Ryan might not want to stick around that long. I guess we have to pray and hope for that one too. But enough hoping and praying, The Office is still a comedy show and how hilarious was last Thursday's episode? After 5 seasons, they still haven't disappoint us. But I feel so sorry for Toby though. Does this mean he'll be back in Scranton? Uh oh. And another uh oh, Pam's new art school friend, played by Rich Sommer of Mad Men. Why is he around? Will he drive a wedge between Jim and Pam? (Boo!! Go back to Madison Ave, Sommer!) Let's hope not. Let's hope he's gay and he can be Pam's new gay best friend who will help her plan her wedding. I know, longshot, but hey, anything to keep our favorite couple together, right?

Take a chance on me:

After a rather disappointing Season 4, so disappointing that Katherine Heigl took herself out of the Emmy nomination, Grey's Anatomy returned on Thursday and returned to the reason why we loved the show in the first place. I have to say, Season 5 sounds more promising than Season 4, and the addition of Kevin McKidd, aka Major Hottie, as Cristina's love interest is something I'm so on board with. I was so over the Seattle Grace surgeons sleeping with each other on rotation. I get that they all work long hours, but they don't have to be a big orgy group, do they? I am not sure I like the George - Lexie storyline, not because the whole unrequited love thing is not cute, but more because George has slept with almost all the female characters in Grey's: Meredith, Callie, Izzie and even the minor character like Olivia. I don't think what George needs is a new girl to sleep with. I think he needs to... I don't know, find God? Become celibate? Be gay like his real life alter ego? On the other hand, I like that Meredith and Derek are together and in a good place. After four seasons of on-again, off-again relationship drama, I kinda want to see them in a good, comfortable relationship for once. And as for Alex-Izzie and possibly (if you want to believe the rumors) her brain tumor with a side effect of Denny-related hallucinations, I'm not sold on it yet - but I'm open to see where Shonda is taking these people. Hopefully she's not going to kill off Izzie out of spite. I know Katie Heigl feels she is way too fabulous for TV now, but I like her. I want her around. And now, to the important questions: are Calleigh and Erica a real couple now? Hawt. Very Li-Lo and Sam-Ro, and we like those girls. Who is McSteamy going to hook up with this season? Will Cristina and Major Hottie become a major item? And of course, can Mer and Der make it work this time? Hmm, I guess we'll have to see...

Growing Up Betty:

So I guess it's official that Christopher Gorham aka the adorable (and surprisingly hunky) geeky boyfriend of Betty will not be returning this season due to the show's moving to New York. Betty is single now, and she's growing up. She moves out of her dad's house and into a shitty apartment in Manhattan (as any twenty-something New Yorkers would do), she's taking on more responsibilities in a new magazine that is so not Betty, and she has a food fight with Lindsay Lohan. Okay, the latter is kind of childish, but don't you just love Li-Lo's guest appearance? I think I'm ready to forgive her now for the garbage that is I Know Who Killed Me. Wilhelmina is still the wicked witch of the Upper East Side, but then again, we don't expect anything less of her, but I'm quite disappointed about the new Mode storyline. It feels redundant, somehow, and very predictable. Let's just hope what they have in store for the next few episodes are a lot more interesting than just pushing Claire aside and turning (the obviously pregnant) Rebecca Romijn's transgender character, Alexis, into an ineffectual boss. I mean, come on, they can do better than that, can't they? What can we expect from what we've seen so far? Well, I bet there's going to be something going on between Betty and her musician neighbor. Gotta hand it to her, she seems to be getting all the cute boys. And I bet Hilda's relationship with the coach might not be as smooth sailing as she hopes to be, although I'm hoping to see more of Eddie Cibrian's six pack in the next few episodes, and Wilhelmina will somehow gain control of the whole Meade publication and begins her reign of terror. Predictable and kind of boring, but as long as Marc and Amanda are still there with their antics, I think the third season will still be fun to watch. Again, we'll see...

That's it from me today, will return on Wednesday with Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. See you then!

Man Of The Month

2008-09-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

His alter ego in Weeds may have some flaws, but Justin Kirk seems to be quite a catch. He is my pick for October's Man Of The Month. And it may or may not have something to do with the fact that I've been watching the whole four seasons of Weeds in the last two weeks.

Justin Kirk was born on May 28th, 1968 in Salem, Oregon. He grew up in Union, Washington but moved to Minneapolis at the age of 12, and then New York City after he graduated from High School. In New York City, he completed a two-year conservatory acting program at Circle In The Square.

He earned high praise for his role as Prior Walter in Mike Nichols' award-winning miniseries, Angels In America. Starring alongside Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and his Weeds co-star Mary-Louise Parker, he was nominated for both an Emmy and a SAG award for his performance in the miniseries. In 2006, he earned a Golden Globe nominations for his role as Andy Botwin in Weeds.

I pick him to be Man Of The Month, not just because of his awesome and hilariously funny portrayal of Andy Botwin, but more because he seems to be a genuine actor, a real artist that lets his work speaks for itself. I rarely see him in gossip blogs or celebrity news, or on the tabloid. So far, he hasn't entered the "Hollywood Mug Shot Hall Of Fame". Google him and you will mostly find his work, like Puccini For Beginners, or Angels in America. For someone who's on screen alter ego is a perennial fuck up, he's managed to somehow live pretty quietly in Hollywood, which I totally give him props for.

And of course, he's so sexy. Those cheekbones, and those piercing brown eyes, they melt my heart right through the TV screen.

It's hard to find dating info on Justin Kirk, which again, kudos to him for being able to keep his private life private, but I think it's safe to assume he's still single. So if you somehow manage to make yourself famous and become a Hollywood celebrity, look no further than Justin Kirk. One look into those deep dark eyes, and I guarantee, you'll fall in love.

Holy Catastrophe, Batman!

2008-09-26T08:20:00.000-07:00

These past few days, I've gone through break up, the loss of a significant other and a friend, all the while acquiring psychic abilities and an over-the-top ego. Oh yeah, and the beauty of having to have an orgasm while sitting in the back of a cab. No, I'm not going insane. I'm just summing up the past few days of television that I've seen. And trust me, I'm not even making this up. Let's just get right to it, shall we?

Those Who Can't, Buy:

This week on House, five people died from a mysterious illness all stemming from one single organ donor, while the team had to race with time to save the remaining survivor. But the medical mystery wasn't something that House couldn't figure out. He saved his patient and gave her a better outlook on life, surprisingly enough. What House couldn't figure out was Wilson, who refused to talk to him, or about him. I have to say, the break up of House and Wilson is more heartbreaking to watch than the end of any other TV characters' relationships. I still think those two should just kiss and make up. Yes, I get that House is an ass. But really, even the devil needs friends, right? Which is probably why House hired a private detective to befriend him. Since House has the inability to make new friends, might as well pay someone to be his friend. It's like those guys who sleep with hookers after their painful break up. Anything to lessen the pain. I do hope that Wilson will eventually forgive House and all is well again in Princeton Plainsboro, but I like seeing House vulnerable and sad for once. It makes him all too human and less of a pathetic miserable bastard. What's going to happen to House and Wilson still remains a mystery, and something tells me that we're more interested in this mystery than any other medical mysteries that are to come.

Enough With The Questions:

There is a reason why sometimes I get tired watching shows like The X-Files. There are just too many mysteries overlapping that my brain just stops processing after a while. TV is supposed to be a mindless escapism, not to get me even more confused. And sadly, I'm starting to feel the same way about Fringe. Don't get me wrong, I still love the show, but let's just say I don't care so much about the mysteries now. Because I know my questions won't be answered until, oh I don't know, another five years? Last week they gave us the whole pod people and the cow, and this week, instead of answering the question, they give us more. What is Massive Dynamics role in all this? Are they the good people or the bad people? What is that little device that was so important, some Latin-speaking people were willing to kill a busload full of people to get it? And why did it end up in the hands of Massive Dynamic once again? Why is John Scott's body still in Massive Dynamic, even though he's already been buried? Arrgh, too many questions! And of course, who is that man in the diner taking pictures of Peter? Does it have anything to do with the conspiracy? And why won't they tell us anything? I do hope they will at least answer most of the questions this season, and not make us wait four seasons to give us what we want, like Lost. Okay, so that's genius marketing - but seriously, we don't want to think so much when watching TV. Why do you think The Hills became a pop-culture phenomenon? Come on JJ Abrams, give us something!

Is It Beverly Hills or The Hills?:

This week on 90210, things just went from bad to worse. I think the problem with this show is that they don't seem to know what to do with the characters. And when you have a show where the writers don't know what to do with the characters, well, that's just a catastrophe waiting to happen. First, Naomi. In the first two episodes, she was the sum of all evil. But then the next two episodes, they tried to make her a lot more lovable by giving her a pathetic cheating father storyline. And now, they just make her weird. Is she good now? Is she no longer the villain? And then, there's Adriana. The first two episodes, she was doing drugs, stealing her best friend's money, and becoming a candidate for an after school special. The third episode, she didn't really do anything but be Naomi's faithful sidekick. The fourth, she wasn't even really in it and now she's suddenly this screwed up kid with a stage mom that is worse than Dina Lohan and Lynn Spears combined who takes pleasure in hurting other people. Okay. And then, Silver. She started out as an angry bitch, and then she turned into just another victim of a dysfunctional family and now she's suddenly this good girl who makes a guy wait to have sex with her. Right. So I guess living with her sister is all it takes to take all that teen angst away, huh? I can go on and on, including why Jessica Walters is even in the show, but I don't want to waste my emotions. I just have a tip for the network, sometimes it's better to take a chance on a new show than trying to revamp something that was a hit 15 years ago. Time's a-changin'.

Death and Self-Made Orgasm:

Lipstick Jungle returned to television last Wednesday and it started with a funeral. As predicted, Nico's husband died. What was not predicted was what happened before the death. Even though I didn't exactly warm up to this show in the last season, I have to say I'm actually starting to enjoy it now. Victory Ford is still complicated and weird, but she's not as pathetic as last season. Wendy Heeley is starting to show why she's a lovable character and the "Carrie" in this show. She's relatable and human, which is nice for a change. And Nico, well, I guess we've always wanted her to get rid of her good-for-nothing husband and live happily ever after with her boytoy Kirby, mostly because the sight of his naked body is 50% the reason why we keep tuning in to this show. But the most interesting part of this episode is not the three characters and their storylines but the G-Spot Botox injection that can make a woman have an orgasm just by sitting in a cab. Does the injection really exist? And will this make Nico not need Kirby anymore? And where can I get that injection? No, seriously. It's a lot easier than getting a man, isn't it? After all that happening in the first episode, I don't know where the writers are taking the characters now, but you know, as long as I can see one more episode with Kirby lying half-naked on the bed, or the desk, what-have-you... I think I'll keep tuning in.

Ergo, Ego:

Project Runway was down to five, and this time their challenge was to design an outfit for each other using a musical genre as inspiration. The good: Korto with her awesome punk outfit for Suede. The bad: Suede with his half-assed attempt at creating a rockin' outfit for Jarrell. The ugly: Kenlee and her increasingly inflating ego trying to do hip hop. It's not so much that her design was that hideous, it's more that I can't stand her attitude. She snapped at Tim Gunn in a "Oh no, you didn't!" moment, she snapped back at the judges, including LL Cool J, who is a multi-platinum selling hip hop artist mind you, when she was being criticized, and she just refused to listen to anyone else but herself. I think the judges were still nice enough not to kick her out and sent Suede home instead. Sure, Kenlee is talented. But even Karl Lagerfeld looks humble when compared to her. If I were one of the judges, I would send Kenlee home instead of Suede because even though Suede is not as talented, he at least has a better attitude and he can still improve. While Kenlee will not be any better than she is because she refuses to learn and instead of taking the criticism as a way to improve herself, she gets defensive and snappy. She's like a spoiled 5-year-old instead of a 25-year-old professional. I hope she doesn't make it to the top three. But you never know, she could create something so awesome the judges have no choice but to keep her. We shall see.

That's it from me today, I'll be back on Sunday with The Office, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty. It's about time to catch up with our friends in Dunder-Mifflin, Seattle Grace and Mode. Till then!

Not Just For Grandpa

2008-09-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

Since it's the beginning of Fall and all, cardigan is suddenly in again, and not just cardigan but the long grandpa cardigan that somehow all the celebrities are spotted wearing. And for someone who was never a cardigan fan, I actually love this trend. The grandpa cardigan looks so comfy and it's kind of fun to wear, and it can be the perfect piece to transition from summer to fall.

There are many ways to wear the grandpa cardigan, but I myself like the casual take on it, wearing it over cropped jeans or leggings. Or you can wear it over shirt and some plaid or tartan skirt and go a little preppy.

I've come up with three ways to wear the grandpa cardigan without looking outdated, and I think it's a good idea to run to the store and get some grandpa cardigans for the fall. This one pictured is from Trovata, but Anthropologie and Missoni have a great collection of grandpa cardigan in so many colors to choose from, so you don't have to stick with basic grey.

Who knew dressing like grandpa can make you look chic?

Papa Don't Preach

2008-09-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

You know, I usually don't like to comment on the stupidity of some people, like I've said nothing about the McCain Paris Hilton campaign ad, I haven't made fun of Sarah Palin even though everyone in the universe has, I have not once commented on the phenomenon that is Speidi (for those not in the know, Speidi is short for Spencer and Heidi, the dim-witted Barbie and Ken in The Hills) but I have to, have to rant about this guy because seriously, reading about him hurts my brain and I have to get it out.

What I'm talking about is of course Michael Lohan, estranged father of Lindsay Lohan, an ex-convict turned Jesus freak who has of late became a media whore. First of all, I have to turn my rant to the media, why are they still paying attention to this guy? I mean, seriously, if nobody pays attention, maybe he'll finally disappear into oblivion and not make stupid comments in public ever again. So dear media, please do us all a favor and pay no attention to this man. If you don't ever take him seriously, he may finally leave us in peace.

Second, I have a few things to say to Michael Lohan. Michael, if you really want to prolong your 15-seconds of fame, audition for America's Got Talent or something because using your daughter to gain attention for yourself is just sickening. I don't have the best father in the world, but I know that if I ever got famous, my dad wouldn't even try to use me to make himself known. And for the love of God, and all that is holy, will you please shut the fuck up? Lindsay is pretty much harmless by now, she's not crashing her car, going to jail or rehab, do you really have to voice your opinion about who she may or may not be dating?

And of course the Obama rant... do me a favor, Michael Lohan, if you have not a single intelligent thing to say, please don't say it at all. You say that you're a "born-again Christian" but you sure don't act like it. You trash Samantha Ronson in public and continually humiliate your own family, that's not a very Christ-like behavior is it? And trashing Obama for not wanting to enlist your daughter as his celebrity endorser? Obama has the right to choose whoever he wants to be associated with, and I think we all know that what Obama said didn't affect Lindsay one bit, so why should it affect you?

Finally, I think Michael Lohan should live by this wisdom: "silence is golden". The world is a much better place if he would just... shut the fuck up.

Okay, that's enough ranting for now.

Some Things Are Made To Be Broken

2008-09-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday, three days after the Emmy Awards, where some deserved to win and some were snubbed pretty bad - but as they say in television, the show must go on, so instead of lamenting over the fact that the Emmy voters once again robbed Hugh Laurie of his much deserved trophy, I am going to focus my emotions on the four shows I've been watching in the last few days. And let me tell you, it's not lacking in drama. Let's get to it, shall we?

Down In The Rut:

My poor Vincent Chase. Even his good looks can't seem to save him now from his career slump. Last Sunday's episode was surprisingly filled with drama, and I'm not just talking about the older Chase brother. I really like the new storyline for Vince this season. For four seasons, the writers have led us to believe that Vince is indestructible, but I'm glad to see that this season, they make him human at last. His career is going downhill after the Medellin fiasco, and it's going to take him more than just a wink and a smile to get it going again. And it doesn't look like Ari cares too much about it, he's busy bitch-slapping his rival Adam Davies (and we love him for it, the bitch-slap scene was, in my humble opinion, one awesome moment of television) and getting it on with his wife. While his loyal manager, Eric or E, doesn't seem to be able to get him out of his slump either. Even though he managed to get Ed Norton to take an interest on a script that his new clients wrote, he didn't seem to manage to resurrect Vince's career the same way. And with Johnny Drama creating drama wherever he went, I think the road to a successful comeback might not be as easy as Vince expect it. Maybe Vince needs to take a page out of Britney's book and create a sensational meltdown to get on top again? In any case, I can't wait to see what his next move is going to be. And something tells me he's not going to be so easygoing about his life from now on. Now that's something to look forward to.

Womanizer In Love:

How I Met Your Mother returned this Monday, and as promised, it also brings plenty of drama and heartache, albeit in a lighter dosage. First, the engagement of Ted to Stella. Now, I know that I'm not the only one wondering whether she's the "mother". All signs seem to point to mother, especially with creator Craig Thomas stating in an interview that the "mother" doesn't necessarily have to be revealed in the end. But, on the other hand, Stella already has a daughter so it would have to mean that his kids would have to know already if Stella were the mother. And then, there's that obvious fact that Ted's kids only sat down to listen to their dad telling the story of how he met their mother, and if Stella were the mother, they would already leave by now, wouldn't they? So is she or isn't she? Who knows? (Well, Craig Thomas does). Maybe she will lead Ted to the mother. I think we'll have to keep guessing. But one thing we don't have to keep guessing is Barney's feelings for Robin. We know he's in love with her, we know she is probably the only woman in New York who can change his womanizing ways, and for the love of all that is holy, they belong together! Okay, so maybe I'm a little too excited about this possible coupling, but seriously. Barney and Robin seem to be made for each other. They even have the same "no commitment" policy. And I'm sure I'm not the only one praying that they will get together in the next few episodes, preferably sooner rather than later. Let's all pray that the TV gods have the same idea as us humble viewers. And until then, we'll keep watching to see the sexual tension get thicker and thicker on screen. BTW, Neil Patrick Harris was clearly robbed at the Emmys. Yes, Jeremy Piven was great but he's got an Emmy already. Come on! Give it to someone who clearly deserves it! Okay, that's enough Emmy rant, let's move on...

Meet The Young Jack Bauer:

You know how in 24, Jack Bauer never dies but the people around him, the people he cares and loves always end up dying? Well, in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, John Connor is the young Jack Bauer. As in, he never dies (or hasn't yet, anyway) but the people around him keep dying. This week's victim is Charlie's wife, which is yet another collateral damage in Cro-Marty's quest to find and kill John. No wonder the kid's pretty fucked up by now. However, no matter how much he hates his fate, he shouldn't take it out on the robot protector aka Cameron, should he? If he had stuck by Cameron, Cro-Marty wouldn't get to him so easily. Good thing that no matter how sophisticated and powerful robots are, they can't swim thus giving John an easy way out of being assassinated. Now for the all important questions; why did Shirley Manson femme-bot try to recruit agent Ellison? What is the purpose of all this? Her whole existence is still shrouded in mystery, even though we know that she apparently have a brother and a late husband. Were they robots too? Or did she take the identity of a previously existed person? And what is going to happen to Charlie now that his wife's dead? Is he going to join the gang? Will he and Sarah Connor get it on again? And lastly, does Cro-Marty know of the existence of Shirley Manson femme-bot? What is Shirley Manson femme-bot assignment anyway? I guess there's no way of knowing except wait for the next episode...

The Chuck Conspiracy:

Gossip Girl this week has turned from just another teen drama to a just another teen drama conspiracy theory, and boy, am I loving it! First, there's the whole Blair-Lord-Duchess Cougar-Nate-Vanessa drama, that is shrouded in illicit affairs and conspiracy. I think Vanessa should learn now that you should always trust the ultimate bitch queen when it comes to destroying a person. Only Blair could take on the Duchess Cougar, and only Blair could come up with a genius plan of revenge. Blair's evil genius is only matched by her ex and hopefully soon to be boyfriend again Chuck Bass. I gotta hand it to Chuck, his elaborate plan to make Serena the Queen Bee and dethrone Blair so he could scoop in and save the day, making him once again Blair's knight in shining Valentino, is GENIUS. And I for one, am looking forward to another great Serena and Blair throwdown. Bring out the claws, ladies, you know you want to.

I guess that's it from me for now. I'll be back on Sunday with House, Fringe, Lipstick Jungle, Project Runway, The Office, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty. It should be a week of good TV. Catch you on the weekend.

Grunge Is Back

2008-09-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

You can blame Katie Holmes for bringing the 90s back, including the torn jeans with roll ups, but in my opinion, I kind of like it. Still don't like Katie Holmes but I've seen Rachel Bilson rockin the "boyfriend jeans" with rollups and she looked great. Of course when talking about the 90s, I can't help but think of the grunge look that Kurt Cobain brought into fashion and Marc Jacobs popularized.

However, bringing the "grunge" look back can make you look dated, so there are ways to go about it. You can go super casual, no make up, with a "I don't give a shit" attitude like Rachel did, or you can go with this updated Kurt Cobain look. But make sure you only wear this look to go shopping or hanging out with your friends. Never, ever, try this look at a fabulous event. You'll just look out of place.

So whenever you don't really feel like dressing up, dress down in style with this updated Kurt Cobain-inspired look. Anti-fashion has never looked so good.

Punk-Turned-Chic

2008-09-24T04:52:00.000-07:00

From punk to glam, Vivienne Westwood has done it all. In 1971, she lived with Malcolm McLaren, who later became the manager for the Sex Pistols, and they opened a shop called "Let It Rock" (also known as Sex, Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die, Seditionaries) at 430 Kings Road, London where she began selling her outrageous designs.

Vivienne Westwood started out as the modern punk designer and she continued to evolve - from punk to chic, she has done it all.

This is an homage to the amazing British designer who helped changed the face of British fashion forever and gave us amazing creations to wear with pride.

British Invasion

2008-09-24T04:46:00.000-07:00

In the 60s, there was The Beatles. In the 70s, there was the Sex Pistols. In the 80s, there was the Smiths. In the 90s, there was Radiohead and now in the new millennium, there's Alexander McQueen.

So he's not a musician, but he's successfully invaded the world with his creations, and I for one am an avid fan.

Today I am paying tribute to Brit fashion by creating looks with a "British Invasion" theme, and who better to start things out with than Alexander McQueen?

Drama, Drama, Drama

2008-09-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

For the past few months, my life has been completely drama-free, thank God, and as any other human being in the planet, the lack of drama in real life means I need to watch fictional dramas affecting fictional characters in a fictional world as a compensation. And the good thing is, there's no shortage of that in this week's TV. The past few days, it's "drama, drama, drama" in TV land, from the return of House to the egomaniacal designers in Project Runway. And as predicted, I am loving the drama. So let's discuss it, shall we?

The End Of The Bromance:
After a shocking season finale, House returned with a very intense and dramatic episode this Tuesday. The first drama is of course the medical mystery affecting a 37-year-old career woman who hallucinated that she was being infested by ants. But that's normal in the world of House. What's not normal was the rift between Wilson and House, and Thirteen's sudden determination to "matter" now that she's found out that she has Huntington's. Of course, House was being his usual miserable jerk self that we all know and love, but I have to say the ending was heartbreaking, something that I rarely feel when I watch the show. House for once was being vulnerable and putting himself out there... for Wilson. And Wilson broke his heart. Aww. And we thought the bromance between House and Wilson would be the one bond that House would not be able to screw up. Guess not. I nearly shed a little tear when Wilson told House, "We're not friends, House." and left. Is it really over between them? And will this throw House and Cuddy closer together, as highly doubtful as it seems? Another vulnerability that I loved seeing in the episode is Thirteen's way of dealing with her Huntington's. I gotta hand it to Olivia Wilde, she could do her character justice, making her vulnerable without looking pathetic. And I think House respects her more because of it as well. All in all, it was a really good episode to start the fifth season, now let's just hope that the writers can keep up their good work for the whole season.

What's With The Cow, Man?:
JJ Abrams is the master of mystery, in my opinion. Now that he and I have made up and I am enjoying his latest masterpiece, I only have good things to say about the man. The second season of Fringe was AWESOME, and the ratings proved it. This show could last as long as Lost and Alias did, and I am so glad. There are so many things to digest in one episode. The super soldiers cloning experiment. The mystery surrounding Peter's "medical history", "the pattern", and of course, the pod people in the ending that left my mouth hanging and screaming, 'What the fu--?" Who are those pod people? Are they being "bred" by the government or "the pattern" to be super soldiers? Is Peter one of those successful clones? Because the way Walter said it when he accidentally got Olivia (and all of us viewers) curious about Peter's past, it seems like his former colleague wasn't the only one who got a 'son' from their little cloning experiment. But why didn't Peter need to kill hookers to get his pituitary gland so he could age normally? Is it because Walter had figured out how to "breed" him normally? And what's up with the cow? It's not being experimented on but it stays... and knowing JJ Abrams, the cow must have a specific function one day. And then, in the tradition of Lost, what's with the numbers that Walter was muttering when he couldn't sleep? Do they have a significance? I hate to say it, but I think we have to keep watching for the next few seasons before we get the answers. Don't you just love that?

Who's Yo' Daddy:
90210 is still not really improving this week, but I have to say that the continuation of the old 90210 drama with the presence of Kelly Taylor and Brenda Walsh was fun to watch. Especially after the bombshell that was dropped in last Tuesday's episode: Dylan is Kelly's baby daddy. OMFG. I kinda suspected it, because it was either Brandon or Dylan and Brandon is not the kind of guy that would bail out on his son, while Dylan, well, you kinda see it coming. So does this mean Luke Perry will guest-star in the next few episodes? His reps said "no" but you never know, who knows they're trying to keep it a secret to surprise everyone. I hope so. In fact, just get the old cast back and scrap the new 90210 storylines. The new kids on the zip code don't hold a candle to their predecessor anyway. Naomi still annoys me because she looks so much older than the supposed adults in the show, Annie is still way too ordinary, and even SIlver is not so much fun anymore. I do enjoy ogling Ethan, but he's a little too young even for me ;p Let's just all pray that Luke Perry will return as Kelly's baby daddy. Now that's the 90210 we all know and love.

The Not-So Talented Miss Kenlee:
Project Runway did not disappoint this week, giving us a drama and tension-filled episode with the six remaining designers. The challenge: creating a head-to-toe makeover for college graduates. The winner: Jarrell, again. But his design was the best in my opinion, so he deserved it. The loser: Joe, for giving us that boring 80s-style pinstripe suit. The drama queen: Kenlee with her huge ego. It seems that with every episode, her ego keeps inflating. She is loud, she is way too outspoken, and she is again, way too confident in her abilities. No doubt she is a good designer, but I think in her head, she is Coco Chanel. I mean, I get creative people have ego, but dude, her ego is way too big - she's almost like the Sanjaya of Project Runway. With that kind of attitude, she's either going to emerge as the winner or she's going to be kicked out in the next episode. So we'll see. I think the top three designers will be Jarrell, Korto and Leanne, because they've consistently produced great designs so far. But who knows, maybe the judges will end up giving Suede and Kenlee a chance. Again, we'll have to see...

That's it for this week, I'll return next week with more on Entourage, Gossip Girl, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, House, Fringe, 90210, Project Runway and the five returning shows: How I Met Your Mother, Lipstick Jungle, The Office, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty. It's going to be a great week. See you all then!

And The Plot Thickens

2008-09-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or did every TV show I watched in the last few days leave me with the "dun dun dun, and the plot thickens.." moment? Maybe it's because it's no longer the season premiere and the writers are really trying to get the viewers hooked, but all three of the shows I saw: Entourage, Gossip Girl and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles seem to leave me pretty curious and looking forward to the next episode to see what's next. Now that is a good sign. After all, that's what we want from our shows, right, the anticipation of what's coming up next? Okay, so let's begin the recap.

The Resurrection of Vincent Chase:
After being slightly disappointed with the fifth season premiere, I am so glad to see that in the second episode, the writers really did step it up a notch and gave more interesting story lines for our Entourage boys. And the plethora of cameos didn't hurt either. But my favorite is of course our very own Gossip Girl Leighton Meester reprising her role as the (not so) virginal pop star Justine Chapin. And after four years and going brunette, the oh-so-innocent Justine (well, relatively - after all she did say to Vince in the first season that it was too bad her virginity bothered him because "he could've gotten the best blow job in his life") is now all grown up and mature (not to mention no longer a virgin), from doing a duet with Tony Bennett to pawning Vince off to her friend Michela. I have to say, I am really proud of my girl Leighton. And I'm liking the new Vince too, the one who would jump into a cab, confront Ari Gold and FINALLY taking control of his life and career, and no longer dicking around with Turtle like some hormonal teenager. Something tells me that Justine Chapine helps make this change possible and for that, I hope Leighton Meester hangs around in Entourage for a while. I know, she's got that other hugely popular show to work on, but hey, she can always pull double duty. More power to her. I am also loving Mark Wahlberg's cameo, but the best part would be Lucas Haas and Giovanni Ribisi playing the two struggling writers ala Matt and Ben. That is the icing on a very, very sweet cake. Now, the question remains: how will Ari react with E's decision to "reunite" with Vince's hot ex-agent? Will Justine Chapin be Vince's next big love or is she just his latest conquest? I can't wait for the next episode for the answer...

Teenage Love and Conspiracy Theories:
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles does not really answer any of our questions from last episode, instead, it brings us more questions, which is sort of annoying in a good, fun way. The first question is of course: what does Shirley Manson's robot character want from the power plant? How does it figure out into Skynet and the turk? And then, the second question that is equally important: why did the "fighter from the future" leave those (literally) bloody messages on the wall? Will these messages finally bring John face-to-face with the fabulous Shirley Manson terminator? And if it does, will she want to kill John too? Because so far, she doesn't seem all that interested in him, unlike the other terminators before her. Maybe it's because she's too damn fabulous, but that's just my opinion (note to self: must find out more about the killer robot's style). And finally, who is this Riley girl? I am guessing she's not a robot because Cameron didn't identify her, but why does she suddenly appear in his life? And does this girl have parents? Because she spent the night in John's room and it didn't seem like her parents cared. I'm pretty sure in a show so thick with conspiracy theories like this one, there are no coincidences. So let's just see how Riley plays into all of this. And oh I nearly forgot, was Cameron jealous of Riley? I know she's a machine and she's incapable of jealousy, but she doesn't seem too happy with Riley being around. Is it because she's John's protector, or is it because of the "I love you, John and you love me" moment they shared in the last episode? Now I realize that since she's a machine and all she can't be John's love interest, but I kinda like them together. Who knows? If Sigourney Weaver can do the nasty with an alien in the Alien saga, who's to say John and Cameron can't beat the odds and be together? Now that's one futuristic spin on Romeo and Juliet...

Oh No They Didn't:
It's a busy week in the Upper East Side. There's Blair's party (is it just me or is she throwing a lot of those lately?), the blackout, and the end of an affair... oh, my head hurts from all the drama! First things first, Blair and Chuck (I wonder what a good Hollywood couple name for them is. Bluck? Chair?). I love seeing the vulnerable side of Chuck, what with him pining over Blair and becoming impotent in the process. How sweet. Not the impotent part of course. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who squeals in delight when Chuck dons a fake British accent and sneaks in the room to make sweet, sweet love with Blair. I'm quite disappointed when the Lord shows up before they actually do it, but I'm pretty sure they're going to make us BEG for Blair and Chuck to get back together before they actually do, the Ross-Rachel, Jim-Pam tactic never gets old. However, the Duchess seems to imply that both the Lord and his father seem to have a problem in the bedroom department, so maybe we won't have to wait THAT long for our favorite couple to reunite. And now, our other couple that doesn't seem to be able to stay together, Serena and Dan. Suffice to say, we've all predicted the elevator break up scene to happen, but I thought they'd at least wait until the summer is over to pull the plug on that relationship. Something tells me that they're not going to be able to stay apart for long though. Serena will move on to a few boys, Dan will move on to a few girls but at the end, they'll get back together until one of them dies. Yes, I know it's The OC formula, but hey, Gossip Girl is not all that different from The OC, after all they're both from the same man, Josh Schwartz (my future, future, future husband). Even the cougar formula is the almost the same. And speaking of, poor Vanessa. But who was she kidding? You can't go up against the cougar. There's a reason why she's called "the cougar". Will Nate last as the next great American gigolo, or will he pull a 'Paul and Holly' and reunite with Vanessa secretly? I guess we have to keep watching to find out...

That's all from me today... I'll be back this weekend for more on Fringe, House (yes, it's returned), 90210 and Project Runway. See you soon!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

2008-09-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

It's the weekend and you know what it means, the three days in a week where bad television comes to die. But, it is also a good time to catch up on the shows I've missed during the week, so I just spent my Friday night sitting in front of the computer (that's what happens when you get your shows by downloads) and devour around four hours worth of shows. And now the verdict is in. So brace yourself.

The Good: JJ Abrams and I haven't had a good relationship since Felicity. I found both Alias and Lost disappointing, even though millions of people would disagree with me considering both are hugely popular shows. And no one is more heartbroken about this than me, because I loved Felicity, it was such a brilliant show. And to be disappointed not once, but twice, first with Alias (stopped watching after the first season) and then again with Lost (stopped watching after Boone was killed off - ah, Ian Somerhalder, the only reason why I didn't give up on Lost after the pilot episode), is just a little too much. So you can imagine how skeptical I was when I read that JJ Abrams has a new pilot and rumor has it, it's phenomenal. I thought, yeah, that's what they said about Alias and Lost too. I remained unconvinced. That is, until I finally gave in and saw the pilot episode for Fringe, JJ Abrams' newest project. And miracles do happen, kids, because after the first 10 minutes, Fringe has managed to cure my broken heart and my relationship with JJ Abrams is finally repaired after a good 10 years of heartache and disappointment. (Man, I do take my TV too seriously ;p).

What's good about Fringe? What's not good about Fringe? It's got man candy Joshua Jackson returning to television again, looking older, wiser and much, much hotter. And if you're worried that he will turn the character he's playing in Fringe, Peter Bishop, into an older version of Pacey, rest assured that he is a much better actor than his former co-star Katie Holmes because he was awesome as the almost genius, fast-talking and super cool Peter Bishop. And he's not the only awesome thing about Fringe. John Noble, who plays mad scientist and Peter's father Walter Bishop is PHENOMENAL. I am blown away at the level of acting he brought to the show, this is the kind of acting that gets nominated for Emmy Awards.

Story wise, it's kind of a mix between The X-Files, The Twilight Zone with a little Jason Bourne-ish car chasing and globe-trotting elements (not to mention, the whole international conspiracy thing). The first few minutes of the show began on a plane, which wasn't very original (hello, Lost?) but THEN, everyone on the plan slowly turned into skeletons and that's where the similarities with Lost ended. And that's when it got good. It literally left me on the edge of my seat, and I am left wanting more. And Fringe isn't all about the actors and the story, the direction, camera work, editing and cinematography are also mind-blowing. The only thing that worries me is that I read that Fringe debuted to a disappointing 8.9 million viewers, about 10 million less than when Lost debuted in ABC. Which means, this show may not thrive the way Lost did. But not all hope is lost. The lower rating could be caused by the fact that the pilot episode leaked months before the debut last Tuesday night (damn you Comic-Con geeks with your hidden camera!), so let's just hope they get a ratings boost in the next few episodes so it'll stay on the air at least as long as Alias and Lost, or even better, The X-Files. Let's just cross our fingers from now on.

And now, The Bad: the second episode of 90210 did nothing to improve the pilot. Story wise, it's still predictable and looks like a "cut and paste" version of other teenage drama shows like Gossip Girl, The OC and the original 90210. Naomi discovering her father's affair when she was about to drop off his dinner at his office is too much like when Luke discovered his father's affair in The OC (and you gotta give Josh Schwartz props for coming up with a better affair). The whole Silver drama is a little like Ryan drama in The OC. And as for the parents of the new 90210, they just can't quite compare to Sandy and Kirsten or even Rufus and Lily in Gossip Girl. Bottom line, CW needs to come up with something new instead of trying unsuccessfully to spruce up the old formula if they ever want to succeed. They should've just kept Veronica Mars. Now that's an original series.

Lastly, The Ugly: Project Runway is down to 8 people now and this time they had to create something avant-garde based on their astrological signs. And man, so many of them missed the mark. Last season, the contestants managed to come up with so many spectacular looks when given the avant garde challenge, but the same can't be said for this season's contestants. The creations were poorly made, poorly designed, and just plain ugly. Only two people really nailed the challenge in my opinion, Jarrell (the winner) and Joe. Leanne and Kato were okay, but the other four were just hideous. Blaine's outfit was by far the worst, and I wasn't surprised when he was eliminated. Terry's wasn't much better as well so I think they sent home the right people, but really, the remaining 6 contestants are not in the same league as past season's Christian, Jillian, Rami and Chris. It's kind of disappointing, really, but it is after all the 5th season. Not that many designers left in America, I guess. They should start finding talents in Shopstyle because some of the girls there are much more talented than this season's contestants (shout out Hilde, Elena and Megan! ;p). Let's hope they step it up a notch in the next few weeks.

Returning next week: House, and I heard it's going to be good. Oh and also, Leighton Meester's stint in Entourage. Can't wait for that one. So I'll see you next week with more TV! Adios!

Is That All That Is?

2008-09-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's a hot hump day today and since it's way too hot to do any actual humping, I thought I'd give my two-cents on the returning TV shows that I've seen so far. Entourage kicked off its fifth season last Sunday night, while Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles began its sophomore season on Monday. And of course there's the scandalous Gossip Girl and the over-hyped 90210 (so over-hyped that I actually forgot to watch it and must give my thoughts on it this weekend instead of now). So since there are three, not just two shows that I want to weigh in right now, we best get going, shall we?

First, Entourage. The season began with Vince shacking up in Mexico with two girls in his bed and Turtle (though Turtle did not share that bed, it's not completely an orgy show YET), Eric expanding his client base in The Murphy Group by adding the-not-so-Lil Bow Wow (playing some struggling actor instead of himself), Ari screaming and yelling to all his employees and threatening to fire Lloyd once again, and Johnny Drama taking over Vince's spotlight and adopting a new divo attitude. The result? Well, as much as I love this show and Mr Piven aka Ari Gold's antics, by its fifth season, I don't see anything new. At first when I heard that Vince was going to be holed up in Mexico when they started up the season, I thought that finally we could see another layer of Vince, you know other than the usual charming womanizing ways, but sadly, Vince is still the same ol' Vince, only he was banging Mexican chicks in a hut instead of Hollywood actresses in a hot tub. I realize that their main audience are boys and they want to keep the show light and entertaining, but come on, it's HBO. If Sex and The City could produce meaty story lines and character developments amidst all that sex, why can't Entourage do the same? We fell in love with Vince because we thought that underneath all that shallow, womanizing ways he still has some depths but the first episode of the fifth season proved us wrong. The only time we ever saw Vince a little vulnerable was when he was brokenhearted after Mandy Moore dumped him in the second season. Seriously. Even as a girl, I didn't find that attractive at all. And what's up with Eric and his new oh-so-Zen attitude towards his failure? Whatever happened to his neurotic, glass-half-full attitude? And as much as I love Ari Gold, he really didn't deliver anything new this season. I must admit, Johnny Drama taking center stage was entertaining and Kevin Dillon did a great job making that character even more hilarious. But other than that, I feel that it's the same ol' formula, reheated and served to an already bloated audience. But it's only the first episode, so let's hope it gets better next week. Especially since our favorite Upper East Sider Leighton Meester aka Blair "Queen B" Waldorf is guest-starring. We'll have to wait and see...

And now on to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. They really need to start coming up with a shorter title because that's a mouthful. Anyway, even though I'm not a big science-fiction fan, I have to say, I'm starting to warm up to this show. The first episode of the second season took place seconds after the first season finale and it was, quite literally, explosive and bloody. Cameron went bad after her chip got messed up from the car explosion and as predicted, she went after John. But John, in a Messiah-like moment, decided to not burn her into metal ashes (yeah, I'm not sure about the whole sci-fi lingo here) and resurrected her instead. The result, Cameron became good again, only not because John reprogrammed her, but because somehow John's love for her gave her a free will and she chose to override her malfunctioned program to terminate him. Now, in any other show on TV, I would just turn off but somehow because the premise of the show is already pretty bizarre to begin with, it actually made sense. It was great to see Summer Glau acting a little human for once (kudos to her because I thought the only reason why she was cast as a robot was because she couldn't act human), what with the crying and the 'I love you, John and you love me' confession. It was also great to see how the whole incident kept John and Sarah further and further apart - and how John became a darker, more jaded character. Probably the best part of the show was Shirley Manson, Garbage's lead singer, guest-starring as some cold, shape-shifting, Scottish (guessing from the accent, anyway) terminator (possibly also sent from the future) who could kill a man by literally only lifting a finger. I predicted there would be a major story line for her and I can't wait. Not only was she great in the part, but also because her character had the best wardrobe in the show. It's very edgy futuristic, and I am so in love! I'm getting quite bored with both Sarah and Cameron's tough biker chick torn and bloodstained outfits (although I am loving Cameron's boots) all last season. And how does the FBI guy figure into all of this? I'm guessing that since Cro-Marty spared his life, maybe in the end he would turn to the dark side and join the robots? That would be fun. Oh and one more thing, I am so relieved to see John shaved off his disillusioned teenager's bangs. About damn time. In any case, I think the first episode is a good way to start the second season, and I can't wait to see what's in store next week.

Lastly we have Gossip Girl. Our one and only source to the scandalous lives of the Upper East Side. This show is everyone's favorite guilty pleasure for a reason. This week episode has almost everything we love: Chuck's outrageous plot to break up Blair's relationship with the Lord (Marcus, not God), Nate's family drama that caused him to bail on his only chance of rekindling his romance with Vanessa because he's now the Duchess Cougar's bitch boy, the odd four-degrees separation between Blair-Nate-the Duchess Cougar-Lord Marcus, Serena and Dan's tendency to jump each other's bones whenever they're together despite the fact that they're still not sure about getting back together, and of course dear ol Rufus who gave up his dream of touring the world as a rock musician to stay home with the family. See, who says this show is corrupting the moral values of American teenagers? (Isn't it convenient for the parents association to blame television for their own inability to instill good, moral values onto their teenagers? Anyway...) However this episode does leave us wondering. Will Dan and Serena be able to depend on horniness to keep them together? Because somehow I think love will keep them apart. Will Chuck finally get his act together and win Blair's love from the British royalty? (Yes, please!) Will Nate be getting a phone call from Richard Gere because he wants his American Gigolo title back? And will Lily and Bart ever return from their honeymoon? Questions are there to be answered and it is up to Josh Schwartz and his writing team to keep us guessing and coming back for more...

Still coming: my reviews of 90210, Project Runway and the new highly-anticipated JJ Abrams new sci-fi drama Fringe. Since JJ Abrams and I were never on the same page after Felicity (I didn't like both Alias and Lost, despite both series being hugely successful, hey there's no accounting for taste), I am skeptical about his new show but Joshua Jackson is the main star and I've been waiting for him to return to television since Dawson's Creek wrapped oh so many years ago. And something tells me now that he won't be sharing the screen with Katie Holmes, I might actually give this a chance. Again, we shall see.

See you this weekend.

Fall 2008 TV Round Up

2008-09-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

It's September and you know what it means. Another year of the good, the bad and the ugly - when it comes to TV shows that is. And as a TV addict and a certified couch potato, you know I'm ecstatic. So far; the series that have returned to the tube are Gossip Girl, Bones, Prison Break and Greek - but I am so behind on Bones because I never bothered to buy the DVDs so I'm still catching up on the second season in Star World (I know, unforgivable, but it's just another forensic detective show, really, so I'm not THAT excited about it). I haven't seen season 1 of Greek yet, even though I'm interested in checking it out, so let's see if I can download the whole season in one go to save time - maybe sometime next week. As for Prison Break, I've stopped watching in Season 3. I just got tired of it. I mean, come on, can't the dudes catch any break?? Seriously. I know Wentworth Miller is a great reason to watch, but I'd rather freeze scenes of him in The Human Stain than have to go through another season of in-and-out-of-prison drama. Yes, I get that it's "Prison Break" so what do you expect, right? But still...

I am however, pretty stoked about Gossip Girl's second season premiere. I mean, OMFG! The whole tension between Blair and Chuck, the Dan-Serena-Nate-Cougar drama, that's enough to make me squeal in delight over the return of my favorite Upper East Siders. I do admit Jenny Humphrey (or as we like to call her, Little J)'s story line is kind of lame and a bit predictable, but give it time. I'm sure she'll bounce back and embrace her bitchy roots that we all know suit her better than this goody-two-shoes albeit a little conniving wanna-be designer. I think the writers know how much we love a Blair vs Jenny showdown, so hopefully that is in the works for the next few episodes. I mean, after all, she's interning in Blair's mom's design house. As if Queen B is going to let her internship go smoothly... I'm not sure I'm liking the whole Nate and Cougar hookup either, but you know, who else is he going to play tonsil hockey with? Either they go back to the book and pair him up with Jenny (yawn) or... turn him gay. Actually the latter sounds like fun, maybe after the cougar? Anybody know Josh Schwartz's Facebook? I have to pitch this idea to him ;p

Another "scandalous" privilege teen drama that makes its debut this week is the new and improved (well, that's debatable, really) 90210. As someone who was a teenager in the 90s, of course I was a fan of the old 90210 (only back then, it was called "Beverly Hills 90210"). I was such a fan that I even bought the soundtrack album (in cassette, I was not CD fabulous back then ;p) and copied the whole 90210 opening music moves. Yes, lame, but it was the 90s. As a fan, I wasn't quite sure about the whole idea of revamping Beverly Hills 90210 into 90210 - but I decided to give it the benefit of a doubt and gave the 2-hour season premiere a watch. And I didn't find it too disappointing, although it really didn't deserve the hype either. The new 90210 kids are kind of... lame. Maybe it's because we were so enthralled by the Gossip Girl kids, but these 90210-ers are nothing to compare with those fab New Yorkers. First, the supposed "Queen Bee" in 90210, Naomi, looks like she's 35 and I just don't buy that she's a high school student. I mean, come on, CW, you can do better casting than that! Blair Waldorf would've crushed her with her sharp Louboutin heels in a second. And she does not have that endearing quality that her predecessor Kelly Taylor (who by the way, returned to the old zip code playing a guidance counsellor) had back in the day when she was Queen Bee. As for the "New Brenda", Annie (seriously, they should've given the character a better name than plain ol' Annie), yes sure she's got the whole "fish out of water" naivete down, but unlike Brenda (who also returned to the old zip code and shacked up with her former frenemy, Kelly) who could give the role a little edge, Annie is just plain ol' Annie. Boring. And as for the "token black guy", Annie's adopted brother Dixon Wilson, well he's just not believable AT ALL. I mean, a black guy who grew up in Whicita, Kansas in a white family and plays lacrosse? I mean, dude, who in Wichita, Kansas plays lacrosse? The saving grace of the show is of course Jessica Walters or Mama Bluth from Arrested Development who plays Annie's wealthy former actress grandmother. Granted, she did kind of turn the role of Tabitha Wilson into another incarnation of Mama Bluth, but hell, I love her. And also, Erin Silver (Kelly's half-sister, all you Beverly Hills 90210 fans must've remembered how Kelly's mom had a baby with David's dad? Well, guess what, the baby is all grown up now! And she's a MAJOR hottie) who plays the video-blogging Perez Hilton-like bitter uber bitch (with a heart of gold, mind you, after all she is Kelly and David's half-sister) who has a unique edgy style that I love. Oh I nearly forgot, another minor character that I think could make the show better - Adrianna, the drug-addicted aspiring actress who had to make ends meet (apparently she's notTHAT rich) and pay her drug dealer by stealing her supposed BFF Naomi's purse. But other than those three, the rest of the cast were pretty blah. Don't even get me started on the camera-toting Indian guy, I mean talk about stereotype! All in all, I will continue to watch this 21st century recreation of my beloved show, but I shall remain skeptical... and judging from the comments I read in both Kristin Dos Santos and Michael Ausiello's TV blogs - I think everyone else pretty much has the same attitude as me towards the show. We shall see...

Now for the Summer TV gem that you should get the DVD and devour before all the great Fall shows returned: check out My Boys, a sitcom about a female sports writer and her five guy best friends. It's funny, it's real and it's got my next future-future husband, Reid Scott who plays Brandon. Seriously, you'll fall in love with these group of friends immediately.

Also, even though this season's Project Runway is not nearly as good as the last (the designers are just not as"fierce" as last season's winner Christian Syriano), it's still a very good show to watch because the challenges are always insane and fun. And besides, who doesn't love watching a bunch of gay guys, girls and one token straight guy being put into tremendous pressure every week?

Entourage returns this Sunday so watch out for that. Leighton Meester (aka Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl) guest starred this season, reprising her role as the Britney-esque pop star who's wildly infatuated with Vincent Chase. Maybe she's no longer a virgin now. Now THAT is one hook up we definitely want to see on-screen ;p

Until next week, tubers.

Ombre Hotness

2008-04-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today is a really hot day, isn't it? Good god, I guess I pretty much drank a galon of water just because it was so freaking hot and I feel so dehydrated all the time. Good thing my plans were canceled today, I was hoping for it to be canceled because let's face it, when it's hot and humid outside, no sane person would want to leave the comfort of the air conditioner in the house.

Speaking of HOT.... it's Spring in some parts of the world now and the trends for Spring have been popping up everywhere. One of those trends is OMBRE. Now, it's not tie die, because I seriously think tie die should just... die. Ombre is different though, it's actually appealing on the eyes. And yes, anyone can wear ombre, you don't have to be Gisele Bundchen to be able to pull the look off.

I thought today I'd mix two things: the heat and ombre.

Now as you can see, ombre is not at all like tie die, right? It's chic and refreshing and because of the smooth transition of colors, it will look good on anyone. For those of you who are not used to bold colors and complicated patterns, these two dresses (the one on the left from Alice + Olivia, the one on the right from Diane Von Furstenberg) will not wash out your complexion. Make sure you accessorize with solid colors, you want to put the emphasis on the dress. And since it's too hot to even wear heels... simple sandals will be great to top off the look.

Let's welcome the heat and turn it up with some chic ombre looks whenever we go out, shall we?