My Summer TV Picks

Posted on May 29, 2012 | 6 comments

Summer TV used to be rerun city. Now the digital TV world is my oyster and I’m always looking for the next pearl.  It’s the end of May so season finales are over and I can finally catch up on all the TV I missed while watching other TV, plus add some new gems. It’s challenging to find time to watch so many shows, but a girl can try.

(Full disclosure: I’m a bit of a show hoarder. I see a promo for a show I like and immediately set up a recording. Then I can’t erase that program until I’ve watched it.  This drives Wilson crazy but he’s a patient man and accepts my disease.)

Both my DVR’s are at about 90% full with backlogs of favorites. The bevy of modern viewing options is surely feeding my addiction but I’m thrilled to have so many choices and not be limited to the old September to May TV season. I’ll barrel through my DVR stockpile, and then check out what’s available on OnDemand and my iPad.

I also poked around the web in search of promising new shows premiering this summer.  Of the scores of possibilities, very few caught my eye. Here are a few I’ll check out to see if they pass the test to get into my regular watching rotation.

Sam Waterston & Jeff Daniels star in “The Newsroom”

–“The Newsroom”/HBO                                                                                 

Aaron Sorkin, the guy responsible for three of my favorites—“Sports Night,” “West Wing” and “Studio 60”– has created a show for HBO set in a cable newsroom.  I happened to work in a cable newsroom for 11 years so I can’t wait to see what snappy dialogue and political message Sorkin has in store. The cast—led by Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, and Olivia Munn—also has great potential. Premieres 6/24.

—Anger Management/FX                                                                        

This could be a complete disaster—but like a bad car wreck, who can turn away? A presumably humbler Charlie Sheen plays a therapist with anger issues himself in this half-hour comedy.  The premise doesn’t thrill me but I’ll tune in just to see how they handle the irony. Premieres 6/28.

—Beverly Hills Nannies/ABC Family                                                          

This could be my summer guilty pleasure. I hate to admit it, but I’m fascinated by extremely wealthy people so eager to be famous, they’re willing to have their family life filmed for entertainment.  I’ll enjoy ogling the homes while looking down my nose at egomaniacs in designer shoes and handbags, planning six-figure kids’ birthday parties.  Premieres 7/11.

The cast of “Beverly Hills Nannies”

Told you it was slim pickins.  But that’s ok, because I’ll have more time to read. I’m dying to catch up on the “Hunger Games” trilogy this summer too.

Below are shows on my “catch up” list.  I completely missed out or only saw a few episodes but want to start from the beginning. Let me know in the comments if there are any I should skip or add to my summer schedule.

—Smash/NBC

—The Killing/AMC

—Downton Abbey/PBS

—Veep/HBO

Happy summer viewing!

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Idol Finales Past

Posted on May 25, 2012 | 2 comments

So my boy Phillip won Idol, richly deserved. I read that his original song “Home” was number 1 on iTunes yesterday and several other songs of his were in the top 100.  Can’t wait to see what he does after the tour.

The finale was a little wacky: heavy on the cheese factor and low on entertainment. JLo and Aerosmith went on one song too long, not sure how Neil Diamond was relevant, and the gooey group songs are always overdone. My favorite moment of the night was Jennifer Holliday and Jessica belting out “I am Telling You” from “Dreamgirls.”  My kids kept asking who the creepy lady with the big mouth was, but I didn’t care how weird she looked, that song gave me chills. They both had so much soul and power, it was crazy. I watched it at least four times.

“Idol” finales are always special for me because they bring me back to my time as a Fox TV news producer, when I went to LA for a week every May to cover them. We would create a huge tented setup for the contestants and judges to do interviews and for reporters from stations all across the country to do live shots about the show.

The hours were insane but I loved every minute. I dug into my archives to find these photos I took from the “Idol” Season 6 finale. Enjoy!

  

Remember these faces? from Idol Season 5

Paula doing interviews

Simon swarmed

I interviewed Mandisa– remember her?

Runner up Katherine McPhee now stars on NBC’s “Smash”

Season 6 Winner Taylor Hicks with hometown Birmingham, AL reporter showing the love

My moment with Taylor

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Idol Finale Predictions

Posted on May 22, 2012 | 4 comments

Phil Phillips and Jessica Sanchez Faced Off in the Idol Finale

Just finished watching “Idol” and wanted to make my predictions before the big finale tomorrow night. It was tough to hear tonight because of the enormous, rowdy crowd but the judges’ input was almost irrelevant at this point.

Jessica belted it out with her power voice and command of the stage. She was styled well and seemed to enjoy the moment. She killed Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” but I didn’t love her second two forgettable song choices. While I admire her talent, I don’t feel anything when she sings. Still, there’s no denying her amazing pipes and presence.

Phillip’s first song , “Stand By Me” was Phil-ified but understated, which worried me. But he came back with a funky version of Billy Joel’s “Moving Out, ” which I loved, and then won the crowd over with his last song, “Home.” I felt like I was watching VH1’s Storytellers. He has an intensity and vulnerability when he sings– it’s like I’m peeking deep into his soul and feeling how much he loves the music.

courtesy Idolater.com

I’ve rooted for Phillip since his audition and am not surprised he’s in the finale. In fact, I went back to my original Idol post from March 19th and found this nugget:

My Idol predictions:  In the next few weeks we’ll lose Elise, Erika, and hopefully Deandre…soon to be followed by Heejun. Then it will get dicey and anyone could go but I’m going to say Phil, Colton, Jessica, and Joshua will be in the top four.  A great finale would be Phil vs. Jessica but I’ll have to weigh in again on the finale after a few more weeks.  

My money’s still on my boy, Phil. I hope all those teenaged girls who make up the “Idol” voting majority dial his numbers til their little fingers hurt.

Let’s face it, both Jessica and Phillip– and even Joshua– will all get record deals, so they’ve already won.  Win or lose tomorrow night, their lives are forever changed.

Who do you think will win? Tell me in the comments.

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Procrastination and Parenting Don’t Mix

Posted on May 21, 2012 | 5 comments

Don’t you hate it when your kids mirror the traits you least like about yourself? I had a frustrating week with my 9-year-old, Aden, as we struggled to complete a social studies project.

I say” we”  because—who are we kidding here—when your kid waits til the last-minute to get a 2 week project done, who’s doing much of the work?

It’s actually a cool project on immigration. He had to create a fictional person starting a new life in America, and write three postcards telling a family member in his home country about his experiences.  If we had taken our time, it might have been a lovely bonding experience with lessons about American history and our family tree.

Instead, we failed a test in time management as we crammed the project into two afternoons, punctuated by tears and meltdowns (mine and his.)

When he brought the project directions home, I thought it looked manageable but put it off until the weekend because we had games and other activities all week. The first weekend came and went with more baseball, soccer, and parties. Frankly, I forgot about it, and Aden certainly wasn’t reminding me when he was in the basement playing Xbox.

During the second week I asked him to take a look at it several times. He resisted. He may have rifled through the 13-page directions packet and gotten intimidated.  I forgot that what’s feasible for me, is not the same for a 9-year-old boy who would rather be playing than focusing on Irving Dubinsky’s travels from Poland to New York.

On Friday afternoon when he came home from school, he had several hours to start the project. He said he needed a break and a snack. I got distracted doing work so an hour later when I prodded him again, he was already in the backyard playing two-square. It was 72 degrees and sunny and seemed like every kid in the neighborhood was enjoying the Friday vibe. I was doomed.

In hindsight, he needed to start it early so he had direction and wasn’t so daunted by sitting down, reading through all the material, coming up with the character, and starting to write.  I should have made him do 30 minutes each day after school, or over the first weekend.  I should have told him he could not play Friday until he had an outline and part one finished.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

I didn’t have it in me to fight him (he’s my stubborn, sensitive one.) I also didn’t push him because of my own tendencies to procrastinate challenging tasks.  I wait until the last-minute on bills, school forms, thank you notes, doctor appointments– anything that’s even mildly unpleasant.

And now I’m passing on that lovely trait to my son.  There’s nothing worse than finding yourself in a sucky parenting situation that you’ve created yourself.

We muddled through the huddled masses and I yearned to be free of the immigrants. The project actually turned out ok.  Aden created Irving and wrote most of the postcards. I honestly don’t care what grade he gets. Just finishing was enough.

My grade is a “D” for dawdling.

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My Take on Idol: The Year of the Voice

Posted on May 19, 2012 | 4 comments

The talent on this year’s Idol has awed even a longtime, loyal fan like me. Usually the bottom 5 is obvious. But this year, the contestants are so gifted and varied; it was really a crapshoot, which makes it more compelling to watch. Here’s my take on the last few weeks:

Surprises:

—Joshua Missing the Finale.  That was the toughest final 3 I can remember but I’m shocked that after all the praise and reverence (not to mention that “No More Drama” performance)  he was the one to go. The only thing I can point to is maybe his home visit wasn’t as emotional as Jessica’s and Phillip’s. Idol fans are suckers for weepy reunions.

—Colton’s early exit.  He was so unique in his style and talent, and teen girls—the majority of Idol voters– loved him. Did people make assumptions that he didn’t need votes that week?  I hope he’s the Chris Daughtry of this season and makes it big regardless of his exit place.

—Hollie’s longevity. Although she does have an incredible voice and she’s a looker (amazing what eye makeup can do) her lack of passion or stage presence made her an easy target. Yet she stayed and stayed and actually got better each week. It will be interesting to see how she does in the cruel real world of music once the Idol halo lifts.

—Lack of Criticism. I know these kids are singing their faces off, but these last few weeks have been a puff fest. “The best ever on this stage” has been thrown around more than necessary and the standing ovations started to look like squat drills. Makes me miss Simon. Jimmy Iovine can be brutal but someone has to keep these guys hungry and striving to improve.

—Randy’s blazers!! WTF? Yo dawg, one day he’s a circus clown, the next he’s a used car salesman. And the lapel pins! Bizarre. But I’ll give him credit for owning his look.

Joshua Ledet Doesn’t Make Final 2

No surprise:

—Joshua and Jessica were outstanding. I’ve gotten goosebumps so many times I’ve taken to wearing a sweater on performance nights. Joshua’s “This is a Man’s World” and Jessica’s “ I’m Telling You” were full of fire and heart, not to mention range.  I still can’t believe Jessica’s only 16.

—Phil Phillips’ artistry. He might not have the power pipes of his competitors but I love how he Phill-ifies every song and adds that crazy squint and heel sway dance move.

—J Lo Still My Fav Judge. I officially have a girl crush. It’s not fair that she can wear her hair in 10 different ways and pull off gold sequins. I also like her emotion. Am I naïve to think she really cares about these kids and takes pride in their accomplishments? Her comments are thoughtful and intimate.

Overall, it’s been an enjoyable season. However, this 2-hour format does not work for me.  Every Wednesday show dragged for 2 hours. Do we need each contestant singing multiple songs? And please, no more duets! Listen up, Nigel: I have a full plate of shows on my DVR and asking me to commit 3 hours a week is too much.

And yet….can’t wait for the four-hour finale next week!

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Neverending Kids Birthdays

Posted on May 15, 2012 | 1 comment

When did kids birthdays become multiple-day extravaganzas? Is it only my family that tends to celebrate a child getting older with days of celebrations and fanfare reminiscent of an Indian wedding?

Today is my middle son, Aden’s birthday.  Like any new nine-year-old, he was super pumped to have a day that’s all about him. I get that. I’m more than happy to oblige.

Just one of the many celebrations

But his birthday started a few days ago and has somehow extended through half a week.  Aden’s Birthday Day 1 was his birthday party. What started out as a few friends for pizza and a movie ballooned into 13 boys throwing popcorn at the screen and me simultaneously trying to pretend I didn’t know them and apologizing to other theater patrons.

On AB days 2, 3 and 4, Aden got to eat sugary cereals as part of our family tradition. (To encourage healthy eating, I don’t buy sweet cereals for my kids but the two exceptions are vacations and birthdays.)  For the last several mornings,  my usual sleepyhead  has scrambled downstairs to stuff his face with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Krispies. Joy for him and the dentist.

AB Day 3 of this boy’s birthday bonanza also included the grandparents weekend visit:  a showering of gifts  and special dessert at dinner.

On his actual birthday (aka AB Day 4)  he wanted a snack to share with his class in school so I baked brownies for 25. In the afternoon, he opened more cards and presents from relatives and then tonight we went out for sushi (his favorite) and topped it all off with an ice cream cake.

Pondering the all important birthday wish

As it was happening, it seemed reasonable but I realized today it feels like overkill. I’m almost as exhausted as I was nine years ago when I gave birth to him.

Why do we do it?     To make them feel special and loved, of course.

I’m complaining now, but I’m sure I’ll do it all over again next year to see that smile.  I know that as fast as he can blow out a candle, he’ll be too grown up for this stuff and I’ll look back on these years… and wonder: “Did I do enough?”

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Top 7 Highlights of Mom’s Day

Posted on May 13, 2012 | 3 comments

I had a lovely Mother’s Day. As my boys (ages 6, 8, and 12)  get older, their wishes are more heartfelt and genuine and they seem to actually show some appreciation. Wilson bought me beautiful tulips, proving  he’s learned a thing or two about what I like. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new schtick?

Here are some other highlights from my day of the Mom:

–Guilt-free morning run with beloved friend and fellow mommy

–Free pass on cooking and cleaning. Wilson made pancakes and bacon AND  took care of the dishes. (My understanding is, much like on birthdays, calories don’t count on Mother’s Day)

–Homemade cards from boys with messages as simple as “Hape Mothrs Day” and as deep as “Your guidance and support have gotten me to the person I am now so thank you.” You mean all that nagging is paying off?!

–Post-soccer flowers. The thoughtful coaches of both my boys’ teams gave each player a rose to offer mom after the game.  What’s cuter than a parade of grinning, sweaty boys carrying roses towards their beaming mothers?

–No arguments from boys on dressing up for dinner out. They actually wore  pants without an elastic waist, and a collared shirt without the name of a sports team emblazoned on it. And no complaining….that’s true love!

–Mother’s Day wishes from friends. Usually greetings are limited to family but with the beauty of social media and texting, I was feeling the holiday love online today.

— Sharing Mother’s Day with my mom. When one of my kids was whining about the restaurant being too fancy and too far she snapped, “Today is about us, the mommies. You have to do what we want to do today because every other day is about you!”  She’s badass. Thanks Mom!

To all the mothers and people who love them– hope you had a great day. You deserve it.

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50 Shades of Meh

Posted on May 10, 2012 | 7 comments

The cultural phenomenon surrounding E.L. James’ book, 50 Shades of Grey baffles me.  Who knew that all it took to awaken the libido of thousands of women was a handsome billionaire who dabbles in S & M?

 The erotic novel has struck a chord with women of all ages who apparently like the idea of a dude with a helicopter and a garage full of fancy sports cars controlling their every move.

As I’ve said before, I’m a joiner when it comes to pop culture trends so I wanted to see what all the excitement was about. I downloaded 50 Shades to my Kindle for my vacation read. (No one needed to know I was reading porn at the pool.)

Maybe it was all the hype, but I don’t get it.

The characters and plot are implausible at best, ridiculous at worst.  The protagonist—a young, pretty woman with the soap opera name Anastasia Steele—is graduating from college and we are supposed to believe she is a virgin who doesn’t have a laptop computer or smart phone. In comes the hero— 27-year-old entrepreneur Christian Grey– to save her from the rock she’s been hiding under. Really?!

The first book takes place over just a few weeks and despite his presumably busy schedule making million dollar deals and running a giant company, Christian manages to show up wherever Ana is, to make sure she’s not misbehaving. Hmmm.

It often felt like I was peeking at the daisy-covered journal of a high school girl experiencing her first crush.  The hackneyed writing is repetitive and made me cringe more than once. A search on my Kindle determined Ana says holy shit 56 times and crap 93.  If I had to hear about the “electric charge” between them once more, I might have electrocuted myself.

Of course, no one’s reading it for the eloquent prose. The curious want to check out the dirty parts.  James paces the many sex scenes well and does create a sense of suspense and passion between Ana and Christian. I was unfamiliar with the world of domination so the details about the expectations and practices were eye-opening.

But even the leather riding crops and fur gloves weren’t enough to overcome the cheesy story. I was not expecting fine literature but the tawdry writing and silly narrative were distracting to the flow of the story. I kept getting pulled out of the action by another eye roll-inducing line. Here’s one of Ana’s thought streams:

“Jeez, he looks so freaking hot. My subconscious is frantically fanning herself , and my inner goddess is swaying and writhing to some primal carnal rhythm. She’s so ready. I lick my lips instinctively. My blood pounds through my body, thick and heavy with salacious hunger. What is he going to do to me?”

Out of context, it’s almost funny, right?

Nearly everyone I know who has read 50 Shades has enjoyed it and immediately purchased the second and third books in the series. I guess I understand the escapism and the fantasy of that intense attraction– especially when you are either lonely, or have been with the same person for a long time (or sometimes both.)

I’m sure this post will make me wildly unpopular with those who have so willingly converted to Christi-Ana-ty. But there are about 20 other books on my night table that I would rather read. Maybe that makes me cynical or even prudish.  I prefer to think of it as selective.

For those of you who love the books and can’t wait for the movie, you can vote for who you think would be the best actors for the roles of Ana and Christian when the lusty lovers hit the big screen here.

And check out this hilarious “Saturday Night Live” spoof of women enjoying the book perhaps too much here.

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Posted in Book Reviews, Pop Culture Trends

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Give HBO’s Girls a Whirl

Posted on May 8, 2012 | 4 comments

I had two reactions when I watched the pilot for the new HBO show, “Girls,” last night. One was deep and instant love: the writing, the characters, the New York City backdrop, and the edgy approach.

But I also hated myself for not being as talented or as young as creator, director, writer, executive producer, and actress Lena Dunham. Oh to be 24 and have the creativity, confidence, and discipline to write about how confusing it is to be 24.

Dunham wrote an indie movie called “Tiny Furniture” (now on my must-see list) that was well-received and caught the attention of Judd Apatow, who is also an executive producer of “Girls.” When Apatow heard she was talking to HBO about a show on young girls navigating friendship, work, and sex in New York, he got on board.

Executive Producer Judd Apatow with the stars of “Girls” Mamet, Kirke, Dunham, and Williams

Many have compared the half-hour comedy to “Sex and the City,” and I love how “Girls” embraces the comparison and pays homage with a reference in the first episode to which character is a “Charlotte” and which is a “Carrie.” There’s also a scene at the end of the pilot where Dunham’s character, Hannah, walks down a Manhattan street and fades into the crowd, similar to the opening sequence of “SATC.”

The show has received a lot of attention in a few short weeks, some praising its unique voice and some critical of its narrow characters and lack of diversity. There has also been buzz because all the actresses are children of the famous. Dunham’s mother is an artist, while Allison Williams is the daughter of NBC news anchor Brian Williams, Zosia Mamet is the daughter of actress Lindsay Crause and writer David Mamet, and Jemimia Kirke is the daughter of Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke.

I could care less who their parents are as long as they keep up the realistic dialogue that makes me laugh and remember the uncertainty, fear, and self absorbancy that marked my 20’s in New York.

Keep it coming Girls. I’m in.

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I Went Skinnydipping

Posted on May 6, 2012 | 1 comment

Hi kids, hope you all had a nice weekend. We were juggling no less than 8 sporting events, a bat mitzvah and a birthday party, so now all I want to do is watch bad TV for two days and sip seltzer through a straw so I don’t have to move my head.

But I don’t want to let you down so please allow me a shameless plug post today. When I’m not blogging, I write freelance pieces for various websites. Last week, I reviewed Bethenny Frankel’s  novel, “Skinnydipping” for the Associated Press.  Now when you Google “skinnydipping,” my name comes up. Good or bad? Hmmmmm.

Regardless, you can read the review here.

I enjoy Bethenny’s reality show on Bravo and find her brand-building inspiring. She has listened to women and created products they want– from cocktails to cleanses. The haters (and there are many) say she is self-absorbed, vapid, and has not earned her success. I say she is devoted to her fans, always honest, and often very funny about her struggles. Just because someone has made a pile of money for being famous doesn’t mean they haven’t worked for it.  She’s a natural entrepreneur and a marketing genius.

But novelist seemed like a stretch. Yet somehow, she pulls it off. If you like her, you’ll probably like the book. Take a look at the review and let me know in the comments what you think and whether you would consider reading it.

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