Monster of the Week: So Long, Dollhouse
It seemed like Dollhouse was over before it even began: back in 2008, before the show had aired a single episode, there was already a petition to save the show, as well as a “Save the Dollhouse” Facebook fan page with 1,500 members. Maybe it was self-fulfilling prophecy, but all those naysayers were right–the show’s final episode aired this past Friday. Spoilers ahoy!
Commercial Break: Local & Low-Budget Gems
God bless cheaply produced local commercials. They are gems amidst chic but banal car ads and professional insurance company statements. Shoddy advertisements make us laugh, scratch our heads, and talk about them, so perhaps they’ve succeeded in getting the word out about the products and services they offer. Plus, the fact that they’re local makes it something to bond over with neighbors. I know if I ran into someone from grade school, we could reminisce over where we were during the ‘89 earthquake (I was at Laeya Kaufman’s house playing with Barbies) or when O.J.’s verdict was read (7th grade math class). Or, we could make fun of Paul from the Diamond Center (seen above being hauled by his bevy of jewelry-selling “beauties”).
Remember Paul? I thought his commercials were funny as a kid. Now I find them embarassing. He’s a tad creepy with his beer gut and porn star mustache and the spots were more about him than his business. Check this one out:
Oh boy.
I bet Paul went out for drinks with Pete Magrini, the owner of a local Bay Area Suzuki dealership. Here, he takes drastic measures to sell a Jeep to an unsuspecting grocery store patron. Sorry for the crappy video quality. I’m sure Magrini is sorry for the crappy quality in general:
To be honest, that one isn’t the best but it was the only one I could find. His commercials got more and more ridiculous and he and his wife had to “act” in ALL OF THEM. Oy.
When you’re in a panic because you need to get a loved one out of jail, Bad Boys Bail Bonds knows the first things you need are a wacky rap song and the worst drag queen grandma ever:
Sigh.
This next one I’ll cut a little slack because some small business owners in San Francisco wanted to remind people to support the local economy. I’m down with that. But the way they rattle off all the neighborhood names always makes me laugh, especially the woman’s accompanying flick of the wrist. ENERGY! Hit it, guys:
Go Giants! *awkward thumbs up*
Lastly, we all know that if you need a lawyer, definitely hire one you discovered on TV. Especially one who “kicks major derriere.” WOO! Allow me to introduce you to the bad actors hired by Judith Marsh:
Enjoy. If you have any favorite local commercials, please share in the comments!
I Need More Jonathan Product!
We are embarking upon Season 3 of Shear Genius. Honestly, past seasons have been fun to watch when nothing else is on television, but the show has been pretty unremarkable in my opinion. No memorable moments or extremely talented contestants who really stick out in the hyper-competitive/over-the-top world that is reality television. But this season, Jonathan Antin will be joining the judging panel. Methinks this will boost the show up on the water cooler talk scale. Also, Blow Out was a really great series.
I get so emotional, baby.
In other similar news, Shear Genius has replaced former host Jaclyn Smith with the young, fresh Camila Alves. We’re not really sure if this change will improve or hurt the show, but we’ll all have to tune in to see what happens. Season 3 of Shear Genius will premiere on Bravo tonight at 10pm. Shortly after, I’ll most likely feel the need to get a haircut.
The Only Reason to be Excited about the Super Bowl
No, I’m not going to give the common advice: “Watch for the commercials!”
No, I am not going to promote the half time show. (I don’t even know who will be performing this year, and don’t particularly care… unless it’s JUSTIN BIEBER*!)
The only reason why I’m excited about the Super Bowl this year, is because Adam Richman of Man v. Food will be celebrating it by taking on a 48oz. steak challenge LIVE from Miami and will also showcase 2 hours of local food, and tailgate party. And get this, it’s not even airing the day of the Superbowl. Tune in to see who will triumph in the battle of Adam v. The Steak tonight on the Travel Channel at 9pm PST.
*Just kidding.
What I’m Loving: Food Network Edition
Let me just preface this post by saying that I really hate reality television. It’s the fast food of television. A chance for the most McShameless of this great McNation to see who can be the worst possible human being on the planet. If I wanted to watch people have sex in hot tubs and drunkenly get into fistfights over dirty dishes I would live next door to a sorority house.
It started off innocently (and ironically) enough 18 years ago with the first season of MTV’s revolutionary The Real World. Congratulations reality shows! You can now be defiled legally in all 50 states AND buy cigarettes!
I do have one exception to the reality rule, a confession actually. I love skill based competition shows, specifically ones that take place in the culinary world. I think it all started in high school when I used to watch the original Iron Chef at a friend’s house. I loved the quick pace, the skills, the mystery ingredient, and the voice dubbing. I mean, just look at this guy!
My latest obsession is Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America.
The premise: Twelve of the most hopeless cooks in the country compete against one another under the watchful eye of two chefs, Anne Burrell, and Beau MacMillan. Each week they learn a new skill, as well as a new recipe. There are eliminations each week, the final two will moonlight as the chef who has been teaching them all along and will prepare a meal for a panel of esteemed culinary critics. Whoever is the most convincing wins $25,000.
It’s basically Roxanne with food! I really hope Steve Martin is on the final panel of judges.
Why I love it:
- The people look real. Their ages range from early 20s to late 50s, which is anomaly in the reality TV world of fake boobs and orange complexions. Worst Cook in America is an honest depiction of what people in America look like. I could realistically see myself running into any one of them at the grocery store, sitting next to one at the doctors office, having a cubicle right next to them. My point is, they are normal and I love that.
- They all have a genuine interest in learning how to cook. They are all on a mission to better themselves and the people around them. The reasons range from “I want to be a better mom and cook well for my kids.” To “I’d love to be able to throw a kick ass dinner party.” This is refreshing.
- I have not heard “I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to win.” ONCE. If anything, it seems like they ARE there to make friends.
- Chef Anne’s hair. It’s awesome. She looks like the bad guy from The Incredibles.
- Chef Beau’s accent. It’s so Boston it makes me want to watch Good Will Hunting and eat some chowda.
Worst Chef in America airs on Sunday nights at 9 PM ET/PT only on Food Network.
Monster of the Week: Welcome (Back) to Caprica
Friday night was the premiere of Caprica, the Battlestar Galactica prequel series that takes place half a century before the destruction of mankind at the cold, metallic hands of the Cylons. Spoilers below!
First Impressions: Damages
For whatever reason, my M.O. is not to get into a show until it is in its second or third season. I don’t know if it’s because I want it to get renewed once or twice to prove its quality but I’ve always been that way. I didn’t watch Californication until the first season came out on DVD. I didn’t watch How I Met Your Mother until its second season. 30 Rock I didn’t get around to until well into the third season. This week, I watched the first ever episode of Damages, the legal drama that just began its third season on FX. Damn, it is some crazy shit. I love it.
I’d heard good things about Damages but never gave it a chance. I’ve mostly been a sitcom gal and very few hour-long dramas have held my attention. Last Sunday I was stuck in bed most of the day with a crappy headache and spent a few hours catching up on old NPR Fresh Air interviews. One was with Ted Danson who I’ve crushed on a little since I was a wee one who got excited by the Cheers theme song whenever it came on. I love his cro-magnon brow. Anyway, he talked about his role in Damages’ first season as Arthur Frobisher, a former corporate CEO who is being sued by his former employees. He is SLEAZY. Not fun Sam Malone sleazy but evil, coke-snorting, hooker-banging sleazy. The lawyer hired by Frobisher’s former employees is Patty Hewes, played by Glenn Close.
Patty is a good lawyer, a celebrity lawyer. In the first episode, a law school gradute named Ellen Parsons (played by Rose Byrne) turns down an offer to work for avuncular Hollis Nye (played by Philip Bosco who I’ve always loved), in order to join Hewes & Associates. Ellen is a smart young lady, but no match for Patty Hewes, who we discover did not hire her necessarily for her professional potential. There is way too much going on already, I’m not even going to try to properly summarize everything. Plus, I don’t want to spoil anything.
Certain events are predictable but the timing is so good that by the time something of shock value is exposed, you’ve just barely figured it out. It’s like “ZOMG!” meets “A-ha, knew it!” There have been at least one moment in each of the first two episodes where I’ve “Oh Snap!”‘d out loud.
Also, did I mention that we flash forward six months later to a murder possibly involving Ellen right at the beginning of the series? We get flash-forwards every so often in between crucial scenes of the realtime drama. I want to know what happened so I’ll definitely keep watching. Well played, Damages.
The storytelling is chaotic yet clever, the crazy plot twists make sense and the acting is fantastic (Rose Byrne is meh but she fits in alright and everyone else makes up for any of her shortcomings). I can’t wait to see how the rest of the first season plays out.
New episodes of Damages air Monday nights at 10pm ET/PT on FX.
Fan-Tastic Spotlight: Cathy Loves Desperate Housewives
We decided to start this week by spotlighting our good friend Cathy and asking her to share her favorite TV show with the masses. She quickly responded to my query with “I am honored that I’m going to be featured on your blog. So exciting.” Pish posh, dear Cathy. We are honored to feature YOU on our blog. Let’s see what Miss Nguyen had to say:
Top 10: TV’s Coolest Vehicles
Honorable mention: Gob’s Segway from Arrested Development
Since so many shows take place in New York City and no one drives, we thought it would be fun to take a look at the unique and iconic modes of transportation used by television characters. And it’s not just cars. To the Batmobile! (spoiler alert!)…
What I’m Loving: NYC UCB Edition
Meet the two best things to happen to Thursday night TV since Alec Baldwin and Charlie Day. I’m talking about Aubrey Plaza, the deader than deadpan intern turned assistant in Parks and Recreation and Donald Glover, the disillusioned ex-football star on Community.
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