A little tv, a little misadventure, and probably some opinions thrown in for good measure.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
What I've been watching....
90210-
Okay, I don't know what to do with this show. There have been slight improvments in the last few episodes. The meltdown of Silver was a good episode- directed by Jason Priestly. Of course, I love the return of Donna. (watching the old timers still remains my favorite part of this show) It's been all over the gossip sites that Ethan (Dustin Milligan) won't be returning next season. I'm bummed about Ethan, because I think he was just starting to figure out the character's direction. The new character of Liam in interested and I'm enjoying the steam. Annie is definitely the most annoying character on all of television, and I know that I'm not alone with that feeling.
Party Down-on Starz
I had recommended this show a few posts back, before I had ever seen it. It was the new brain child of Rob Thomas, of the fabulous Veronica Mars. This show is funny. Some episodes have been better than others- and the part I love best is every episode has another fabulous Veronica alum in it. (Veronica herself, Kristen Bell, is set to be in the finale.) My one warning is that the show is at times raunchy- which if you know me pretty well, you know really isn't me. Everyone is someone on this show- and even when I looked up the one person I didn't know on imdb.com, it turns out that she played the goth friend Janis in the fabulous "Mean Girls". (I never would have recognized her.)
Head Case- This airs directly before "Party Down".
I've tried to get into this- It is funny, but I'm not sure I'm in it for the long haul. It stars Ali (or Alexandra) Wentworth as a therapist to all of Hollywood. (You know Ali from her brief talk show, or who Friday guest spots on Oprah, or as Jerry's girlfriend in the Soup Nazi episode, or as Mrs. George Stephanopoulos) The show is totally improvised, and it has really hollywood stars as her clients. Worth an episode if you are interested.
30 Rock- if you aren't watching this show...I just don't know what to tell ya. Freaking hysterical! The best part for all Andoverites is that our very own Todd Buonopane (AHS class of 96) is becoming a pretty regular character- He's been on about four episodes.
Amazing Race- I've loved this show for years, and have converted many friends over to it. (Including my dad, who's a very big Survivor fan. I convinced him that the Amazing Race is way more interesting and exciting than watching people whining about being hungry on a beach!)
I've made a little list for myself of all the things I have to do before I was able to go on this race:
1. Get Lasik- I've seen others survive who wear glasses and contacts, but if I'm sleeping on sidewalks in India, I don't want to have to worry about my contacts or carrying only 3 oz. of solution on the planes.
2. Make sure I have a really good bikini wax-one of the detours this year was to run a road race in your underwear in Siberia. You need to be prepared....
3. Maybe get over my fear of heights:)
4. Get in really good shape, because there will be all sorts of climbing and running
I'll let you all know how this works out.
Table for Twelve- Gretchen asked awhile back whether I would be watching this show. I had watched it previously when it was uncleverly called, "Twins, Twins, and Sextuplets". I like this family- they seem very normal- much more normal than the Gosselins (who I think may be on their way out of reality tv). I'm sure I will tune in at some point. I wish great success to the Hayes family- I'l like to see them score some of the dough that the Gosselins have raked in.
Anyone have a favorite show that they can never miss?
The side effects of eating healthy...
Eating healthy has some side effects:
1. Lots of trips to the supermarket- and sometimes multiple supermarkets. Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Market Basket, Stop and Shop....they all have something I need.
2. Lots of recycling/trash- I have no recycling at my condo complex (which annoys me greatly because I've always been really good about recycling). I have to make lots of trips to my parents, and I inevitably always miss their recycling day, and they get mad at me:) I really wish I had a yard so that I could have a compost pile for all of my lemon rinds and egg shells.
3. Sleeping better- I have some issues with sleep, and more specifically insomnia. I've noticed that I'm sleeping a lot better, so maybe less junk in my system is helping.
4. Cranberry juice stains everywhere- A big crux of this plan is drinking unsweetened cranberry juice. (not easy to find, and not cheap) I drink 4 oz. of cranberry juice combined with 28 oz. of water. This stuff is really key. This is the magic that takes of your water weight, and you'll see weight fall off pretty fast, right away. (Like a pound a day at first) I try to drink two of them a day! Yes, I'm always running to the bathroom- which in my profession isn't always easy.
5. Eating of strange(r) foods- I loooooovvvvveeee buffalo. I love all red meat, and this is great because it's so not bad for you! No sugar or artificial sweeteners for me- Have you heard of stevia? It's a natural plant sweetener and it does the job. How about Live grain bread? Yum....
6. Lots of dishwasher running, and tupperware drying- for the first time, remarkable really, I haven't left multiple containers at school. Maybe the flaxseed oil is helping my memory.
7. I'm a hard boiled egg cooking and peeling pro! The key friends is to peel them when they are still warm, not too hot or they burn your fingers.
Being healthy isn't cheap and requires tons of prep work, but it's feeling all worth it!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Sad Goodbye
I remember vividly lying on the floor of my basement in 1994 enthralled by this show. I was a senior in high school, and taking Human Anatomy at the time. I loved all the scientific talk and was excited when I recognized the name of anything. Now, I knew that I wasn't going to be going to med school, but there was something very endearing about this show. You really found yourself rooting for the characters.
For the last several summers, I've been tuning in to TNT's "Primetime in the Daytime" airings of the old ERs. Two episodes a day, and 14 ish seasons made for lots of great repeats. I would always anxiously await certain episodes- like the Valentine's one with Carter and Lucy, of which I accidently spilled the beans to Mommy, Esq.
The episode brought us back so many old friends; Susan Lewis, Kerry Weaver, Reese Benton (so great to see the child actor grown up), and all the great nurses. In some previous episodes we had already seen Dr. Benton, Elizabeth Corday, and of course Carol Hathaway and Doug Ross. (Their return episode, "Old Times" was excellent.) Someone I didn't care to see- Kem. Referred to in this episode as Carter's wife, although I don't believe that we ever knew they had officially married. The episode saw the celebration of the Joshua Carter center, which was named for their baby. (I am determined not to spoil too much more for KJ.) Kem was sour, and I don't know why they ever stayed together these almost six long years if they weren't going to be able to move forward.
I recognized Rachel Greene right away ( I always thought it was funny that there were two Rachel Greens on NBC at the same time.) What a great way to end the series, with the return of Mark Green's former wild child to be a new med student. And I loved Carter at the end, "Coming Dr. Greene"
I will continue to watch and tape my repeats- I will continue to be wowed by the number of great, now well-known actors, who appeared who in those early episodes.
Goodbye E.R., you've been a very good friend.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
California, California.....

The O.C. came out several years ago (at least five) and I've been enjoying watching it occasionally on my beloved SoapNet. I even ended up putting it back in my Netflix queue.
It's not an untypical Romeo and Juliet type story. Bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks (Ryan from Chino) and the rich good girl (Marissa from Newport) meet and become starcrossed lovers. There is also no denying the great chemistry of Summer and Seth (who dated in real life for years)
Like so many other shows of this type, there is a more side character who becomes my favorite In this case, it was the guy I referred to as the Steve Sanders, his name was Luke and he started off as a huge ass. After a pivotal episode, you see a different side of him and he starts to be more comic relief.
The summer of 2005, Natalie and I got season 1 on dvd and we spent watching this we put our own spin on the catchy opening music, "Washington Crossing, Washington Crossing here we come right back where we started from". A favorite memory...
While rewatching it, I realize that "The O.C." started it all. Because of the O.C., we got Laguna Beach-the Real O.C. (which has in turn given us "The Hills" and "The City")
Because of the O.C., we got "The Real Housewives of Orange County" , and then New York, and Atlanta, the gift that keeps on giving.
Unless we had The O.C., we also would never have received Gossip Girl, which you know to be one of my favorites.
So, if you haven't enjoyed this sillyness, by all means, pick it up!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Most SHOCKING Rose Ceremony Ever
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about my anger and frustration watching this show. I really liked single dad Jason Mesnick last year when he was originally on "The Bachelorette". He seemed endearing, and very true. I was sad when he wasn't chosen, and happy to see him get another chance. What's interesting was because wasn't originally "the star", he didn't have all the air time. Now having seen him as "the star" of "The Bachelor", I don't think I really like who he is.
I wrote in my previous post that he seemed to be looking for this perfect ideal of passion and friendship- and wouldn't settle for less. He discarded the adorable Jillian for that very reason.
He is left with Melissa and Molly (ages 25 and 24 respectively, oh and he's 32 p.s.) He's totally torn, seems to have the perfect combo he thought he wanted. Rejects Molly- she's devestated, says, "he made a big mistake" and off she goes. He proposes to Melissa, exposing his young son to all of this mind you. And cue the credits.....
Or so we thought
There's been a lot of speculation on the web, and I love me some spoilers. Reality Steve proved to be correct. Jason and Melissa spent roughly six weeks dating and spending holidays together. And then, according to Jason, their chemistry CHANGED. He couldn't say how, but they weren't going to be compatible, they, cryptically, didn't solve problems the same way?
So, in the MOST shocking after the final rose every, Jason dumps Melissa. Now, she wasn't my choice for him, but I still felt bad and really felt for her. She said to him that he wouldn't tell her what she had done wrong, and just when things got harder/difficult for them as a couple, he gave up. Remember, he needed a lot of passion. Then it was very clear to me- this man (boy) has NO idea what he really wants. They break up- they bring out the other girl, Molly, and he tells her he wants to be with her. He says that he realized that what he and Molly had was a really good, deep friendship developing! HAH! Remember, the thing that wasn't enough for him with Jillian!Now, I believe Molly when she said that she of course had dreamed this would happen, and but never thought it would really happen.
So, I guess Jason didn't turn out as great as anyone thought......someone who seems to be more upset than me is Ellen DeGeneres. I'm taping the show all week because she's having all the players on, and is very irate at Jason herself:)
Now the good news is that Jillian has been announced to be the new bachelorette which apparently they will be filming in no time, and will start airing on May 18th. Yikes! That's fast.
I would say that I'm done with this show, but they suck me right back in.......
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Excellent Breaking New VM Fans


Monday, February 16, 2009
Quick Bachelor Update and Reader Response
The Bachelor
So earlier today, I commented on The Bachelor as being part of my Monday night line-up.
I predicted Jill to be the frontrunner and the Molly would be going home. Very early into the episode, I knew that my predictions were going to be wrong. (Upsetting as Natalie will tell you that I have a special talent for predicting who will go on Reality Shows.)
I felt compelled to blog because of what went down between Jillian and Jason. Nothing bad happened, I don't think there was too much upsetness as there sometimes is. The kiss of death it seems for Jillian was when she described to Jason how her model for a relationship was her grandparents, whom she described as best friends. Jason said he agreed, but he was looking for more. (PS, He's divorced) Basically he needs more passion.
At the end of the episode, when he dutifully walked Jill to the limo, they spoke and she reiterated that she had wanted to open up who she really was to him, and how important the best friend thing was.
I guess I need to sound off a little bit (which is kind of why blogs were invented anyway).
I have been where Jill has, probably twice truly. I don't get guys. They want more, they want to know it will never get comfortable or boring. I think that's crap. When I look at role models of relationships, they are firmly grounded in a great frienship/partnership. (My parents will be married 46 years this summer) Of course I want passion, but I don't for a second think there won't be hard times, and that everything will always be happy and rosey.
Am I wrong? Why can't I find a guy with normal, realistic expectations?