Hmm, so this is a tricky question today:
Day 05 - A show you hate
Despite watching a crazy amount of TV there is still a lot that I don't watch, most of it because they're just not shows I'm interested. I'm not really someone who likes things about law and order, or medical scenarios. So, that eliminates a lot of shows! The other issue is that if something bores me or I think it's stupid (eg. Smallville, Supernatural, One Tree Hill), I don't have an issue with other people enjoying it - we all have different tastes and that's cool! So I tried to think of what I will flick off quickly if it's on (and will eliminate shows with lots of gore cause that just grosses me out) and that gives me....
TMZ.com
I have never seen a whole episode of this sorry excuse for a show but what I have seen absolutely appalls me. Okay, so I should note that I really don't like the whole paparazzi culture (and totally think that we - as consumers - are just as responsible for it as the paparazzi are) but this show takes it to a whole new awful level. So it starts with a bunch of the "journalists" (ha!) at TMZ.com discussing story ideas and writing them on the board, and what appalls me is that they'll laugh at the people they're talking about, ie. "Some D-level 'celebrity' you've never heard of was walking his dog and when one of our camera guys got in his face, he told him to 'Fuck off' - haha, what a loser!" I'm like "Yeah, he's the loser, not you guys who stalk poor people who are just out living their lives trying to mind their own business." I've watched that part of the show through in absolute horror. The candid things they catch tend to always seem really stalkery and creepy and not actually interesting celebrity journalism. Man, I really hate that show!
Tomorrow's topic is more upbeat: Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
I'm Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and you are?
Okay, this is definitely an easy TV question for me today!
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Without question, the answer is Buffy the Vampire Slayer!! Forever and always my favourite show.
I think what best describes why I love Buffy is the love letter I wrote to the show over 4 years ago:
Dear Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
I didn’t fall in love with you immediately. Sure, I’d seen you around, and adored your cuteness (especially Willow & Oz). My friends had told me that you’re cool, with a kick ass heroine and queer-positive. I’d seen your sensitive side when you made me cry in the season 5 finale and season 6 premiere. But it wasn’t love ... yet.
I remember exactly when I fell in love, and the circumstances surrounding it. My family had been dealing with my beloved grandma’s rapidly deteriorating Alzheimer's. My mother and I had just done the heart-breaking task of admitting my grandma into a long-term care facility. I was on the train returning to Toronto after visiting my grandma, reading an Entertainment Weekly when I first really noticed you.
Entertainment Weekly raved about this musical episode you were doing. I was intrigued and eager for distraction. So that Tuesday at 8pm, I settled in front of the television. Mid-way through the first song, I realized this could be more than a fun distracting one-night stand. This is brilliant!! I thought. During the next song I debated finding a tape to record the episode, but didn’t. I wasn’t missing a second of the episode!
At the next commercial break, the phone rang. Dare I risk interruption? I wondered. My curiosity got the better of me, so I answered. ARE YOU WATCHING THIS? My friend Miguel - who’d been trying to hook us up for years - excitedly asked me. OMG THIS IS AWESOME!!!! I replied. (Trust me: we really were speaking in caps.) We then quickly hung up to watch the rest of one of the best BtVS episodes ever.
The next episode of yours that I watched was “Smashed” (6:9) and that confirmed for me you were the one for me. I’ve later discovered that this was a divisive time for your fans, but I was impressed by your daring, especially your provocative sexuality. As with any new love, I only saw your good side. I started taping whatever episodes that aired and ended up seeing “The Body” (5:16), “Hush” (4:10), “Surprise” (2:13), “Innocence” (2:14), and “Fool for Love” (5:7) – I definitely tasted the best of you first!!
The next couple of months were our honeymoon period. We spent all our time together. I recall devouring every one of your episodes in about a month’s time thanks to tapes from Space (Canada’s SciFi channel) supplied by a friend. Ah, the nostalgia of a time before tv on dvd!! Sure watching you was a distraction from my grandma, and from my grandpa’s sudden illness, but you were more than that. I was drawn into this complexly drawn world with characters that I genuinely cared about. You aren’t just a television show; you are storytelling at its finest!
I sobbed along with Buffy when Angel lost his soul, and again when she had to kill the re-souled Angel. I was impressed by Willow’s growing strength and Xander’s gradual maturity. I loved evil Spike, drunken heart-broken Spike, chipped Spike and in-love-with-Buffy Spike. Cordelia and Anya’s very different frankness entertained me. Giles’ fatherly affection for Buffy made my heart melt. … I was hooked.
After my discovery of you, I found out that most of my friends were also admirers. In fact, two others were won over by you at the same time as me. Since they approved of our relationship, we’d all watch you together. One of my favourite memories is my living room erupting in applause and cheers at Giles’ return at the end of “Two to Go” (6:21).
That was the neatest thing about watching you when the episodes were new, the Buffy parties. After new episodes we’d dissect, debate, swoon, cry (okay, that would mostly be me) and/or just bask in the fabulousness of the show. A few of us would also watch Angel together, which we were converted to when Wes talked to a giant hamburger (“Loyalty” 3:15), but that’s another love letter!!
Watching you has always been about more than just the show, there’s always been that community of fans who love you too. My friends and I still get together for parties to watch our favourite episodes. Even now, we can dissect and debate about episodes or points of canon. Just the other day, I came across a Buffy/Angel vs Buffy/Spike debate on livejournal, almost three years after you ended, that’s awesome!
Just today, I awoke to a message from my friend Amy, who's a professional singer, who told me that she’d just listened to this beautiful recording which had made her burst into tears. She said “It’s like how I feel after a really good Buffy episode. You know what I mean.” Oh yes, I think every fan of you knows exactly how she feels!
I think the reason I love you the most, is that you’ll never really be over or finished. I can watch any of your episodes (yes, even the worst ones) and be captivated by how awesome you are. And I’m not the only one, there’s so many other fans who are also still in love with you!! I know that I’ll never get bored of you, or look at my BtVS dvd collection with embarrassment years from now.
You see, you may have started off as a distraction and something to help me through a really rough year, but you’ve stayed with me. To paraphrase Xander, you’re not the rebound guy, you’re the one that comes along once in a lifetime. (5:11)
Since this is a love letter, I must quote Spike to conclude my emotional ramblings: “You’re the one, Buffy.” (7:20)
Love always,
Rebecca
Tomorrow I will talk about: A show I hate
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Without question, the answer is Buffy the Vampire Slayer!! Forever and always my favourite show.
I think what best describes why I love Buffy is the love letter I wrote to the show over 4 years ago:
Dear Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
I didn’t fall in love with you immediately. Sure, I’d seen you around, and adored your cuteness (especially Willow & Oz). My friends had told me that you’re cool, with a kick ass heroine and queer-positive. I’d seen your sensitive side when you made me cry in the season 5 finale and season 6 premiere. But it wasn’t love ... yet.
I remember exactly when I fell in love, and the circumstances surrounding it. My family had been dealing with my beloved grandma’s rapidly deteriorating Alzheimer's. My mother and I had just done the heart-breaking task of admitting my grandma into a long-term care facility. I was on the train returning to Toronto after visiting my grandma, reading an Entertainment Weekly when I first really noticed you.
Entertainment Weekly raved about this musical episode you were doing. I was intrigued and eager for distraction. So that Tuesday at 8pm, I settled in front of the television. Mid-way through the first song, I realized this could be more than a fun distracting one-night stand. This is brilliant!! I thought. During the next song I debated finding a tape to record the episode, but didn’t. I wasn’t missing a second of the episode!
At the next commercial break, the phone rang. Dare I risk interruption? I wondered. My curiosity got the better of me, so I answered. ARE YOU WATCHING THIS? My friend Miguel - who’d been trying to hook us up for years - excitedly asked me. OMG THIS IS AWESOME!!!! I replied. (Trust me: we really were speaking in caps.) We then quickly hung up to watch the rest of one of the best BtVS episodes ever.
The next episode of yours that I watched was “Smashed” (6:9) and that confirmed for me you were the one for me. I’ve later discovered that this was a divisive time for your fans, but I was impressed by your daring, especially your provocative sexuality. As with any new love, I only saw your good side. I started taping whatever episodes that aired and ended up seeing “The Body” (5:16), “Hush” (4:10), “Surprise” (2:13), “Innocence” (2:14), and “Fool for Love” (5:7) – I definitely tasted the best of you first!!
The next couple of months were our honeymoon period. We spent all our time together. I recall devouring every one of your episodes in about a month’s time thanks to tapes from Space (Canada’s SciFi channel) supplied by a friend. Ah, the nostalgia of a time before tv on dvd!! Sure watching you was a distraction from my grandma, and from my grandpa’s sudden illness, but you were more than that. I was drawn into this complexly drawn world with characters that I genuinely cared about. You aren’t just a television show; you are storytelling at its finest!
I sobbed along with Buffy when Angel lost his soul, and again when she had to kill the re-souled Angel. I was impressed by Willow’s growing strength and Xander’s gradual maturity. I loved evil Spike, drunken heart-broken Spike, chipped Spike and in-love-with-Buffy Spike. Cordelia and Anya’s very different frankness entertained me. Giles’ fatherly affection for Buffy made my heart melt. … I was hooked.
After my discovery of you, I found out that most of my friends were also admirers. In fact, two others were won over by you at the same time as me. Since they approved of our relationship, we’d all watch you together. One of my favourite memories is my living room erupting in applause and cheers at Giles’ return at the end of “Two to Go” (6:21).
That was the neatest thing about watching you when the episodes were new, the Buffy parties. After new episodes we’d dissect, debate, swoon, cry (okay, that would mostly be me) and/or just bask in the fabulousness of the show. A few of us would also watch Angel together, which we were converted to when Wes talked to a giant hamburger (“Loyalty” 3:15), but that’s another love letter!!
Watching you has always been about more than just the show, there’s always been that community of fans who love you too. My friends and I still get together for parties to watch our favourite episodes. Even now, we can dissect and debate about episodes or points of canon. Just the other day, I came across a Buffy/Angel vs Buffy/Spike debate on livejournal, almost three years after you ended, that’s awesome!
Just today, I awoke to a message from my friend Amy, who's a professional singer, who told me that she’d just listened to this beautiful recording which had made her burst into tears. She said “It’s like how I feel after a really good Buffy episode. You know what I mean.” Oh yes, I think every fan of you knows exactly how she feels!
I think the reason I love you the most, is that you’ll never really be over or finished. I can watch any of your episodes (yes, even the worst ones) and be captivated by how awesome you are. And I’m not the only one, there’s so many other fans who are also still in love with you!! I know that I’ll never get bored of you, or look at my BtVS dvd collection with embarrassment years from now.
You see, you may have started off as a distraction and something to help me through a really rough year, but you’ve stayed with me. To paraphrase Xander, you’re not the rebound guy, you’re the one that comes along once in a lifetime. (5:11)
Since this is a love letter, I must quote Spike to conclude my emotional ramblings: “You’re the one, Buffy.” (7:20)
Love always,
Rebecca
Tomorrow I will talk about: A show I hate
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Corroborate? Did you really just use that in a normal conversation?
This is a great topic because I feel there's been a lot of good new TV this season (2009-2010).
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Since I listed Community yesterday, I want to go with a different choice. I'm torn between Parenthood, Vampire Diaries, Glee and the Good Wife and have ultimately decided to go with...
Parenthood!!
This is a show that reminds me what I loved about shows like Joan of Arcadia, Everwood and Gilmore Girls: an engaging family dynamic, stellar writing and excellent acting from a strong ensemble cast. What's neat is how ultimately functional the family of Parenthood is. Sure they have their issues but I never feel so bogged down by seriousness on the show that I leave it depressed, instead I normally finish with a smile on my face. Of course, this doesn't mean that there isn't touching scenes, I've cried more than once watching this show. In particular, the storyline of Max having Asperger's is handled with seriousness and there's been some incredibly moving scenes related to it, but we also get moments of humour and happiness. I'm impressed at how well the show balances the feeling of realism with entertaining TV. I'm so happy this show was renewed for a second season!
Coming up tomorrow: Your favorite show ever
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Since I listed Community yesterday, I want to go with a different choice. I'm torn between Parenthood, Vampire Diaries, Glee and the Good Wife and have ultimately decided to go with...
Parenthood!!
This is a show that reminds me what I loved about shows like Joan of Arcadia, Everwood and Gilmore Girls: an engaging family dynamic, stellar writing and excellent acting from a strong ensemble cast. What's neat is how ultimately functional the family of Parenthood is. Sure they have their issues but I never feel so bogged down by seriousness on the show that I leave it depressed, instead I normally finish with a smile on my face. Of course, this doesn't mean that there isn't touching scenes, I've cried more than once watching this show. In particular, the storyline of Max having Asperger's is handled with seriousness and there's been some incredibly moving scenes related to it, but we also get moments of humour and happiness. I'm impressed at how well the show balances the feeling of realism with entertaining TV. I'm so happy this show was renewed for a second season!
Coming up tomorrow: Your favorite show ever
Friday, May 28, 2010
Come with me if you don't want paint on your clothes
Today's topic was an easy decision for me. :)
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
COMMUNITY!
Community is absolutely hysterical and is filled with pop culture references. It's a movie/tv fan's dream come true! So many homages each week it can be hard to keep track, which makes it a great show to rewatch. It's a show that has me laughing out loud multiple times at the witty lines, the ridiculous scenarios and the references. It has quickly risen to become one of my favourite shows.
A random few awesome lines:
“Did the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants poison each other’s food so they were too sick to leave? No. I’ve never seen it, but I’m pretty sure they mailed each other pants!” — Jeff
Troy: I think I’m failing psychopharmacology.
Britta: Why are you taking that?
Troy: I thought it was a class about crazy farm animals.
“You’re more of a fun vampire because you don’t suck blood. You just suck.” Troy
Tomorrow will be: Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
COMMUNITY!
Community is absolutely hysterical and is filled with pop culture references. It's a movie/tv fan's dream come true! So many homages each week it can be hard to keep track, which makes it a great show to rewatch. It's a show that has me laughing out loud multiple times at the witty lines, the ridiculous scenarios and the references. It has quickly risen to become one of my favourite shows.
A random few awesome lines:
“Did the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants poison each other’s food so they were too sick to leave? No. I’ve never seen it, but I’m pretty sure they mailed each other pants!” — Jeff
Troy: I think I’m failing psychopharmacology.
Britta: Why are you taking that?
Troy: I thought it was a class about crazy farm animals.
“You’re more of a fun vampire because you don’t suck blood. You just suck.” Troy
Tomorrow will be: Your favorite new show (aired this TV season)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
In which I return to talking about TV and make a 30 day commitment!
While hanging out on the internet I discovered a TV meme that is tailor made for me: 30 days of TV! It has inspired me to return to this blog and commit to posting for 30 days in a row!
Day 01 - A show that should never have been cancelled
I wavered in this category because there's so many ones I could choose from. I was most torn between My So-Called Life, Firefly, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles and Joan of Arcadia and ultimately went with...Joan of Arcadia
This is a show that I continue to miss and wish hadn't ended after just 2 seasons and a great cliffhanger. Sure, that could describe Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles too but I love Joan, all the characters and the show so much that it has a special place in my heart that few shows have. The teenagers felt so real on this show, and they reminded me of me and my friends in high school. The examination of spirituality was done with such deft skill that it rarely felt heavy-handed or that one viewpoint was being forced on the viewers. If anything, I think the show encouraged viewers to think. It could be incredibly moving yet also funny and quirky. I own the dvds and there's a few episodes I haven't seen because I can't bear for there not to be new Joan awaiting me.
Tomorrow will be: Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching. Stay Tuned!
Day 01 - A show that should never have been cancelled
I wavered in this category because there's so many ones I could choose from. I was most torn between My So-Called Life, Firefly, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles and Joan of Arcadia and ultimately went with...Joan of Arcadia
This is a show that I continue to miss and wish hadn't ended after just 2 seasons and a great cliffhanger. Sure, that could describe Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles too but I love Joan, all the characters and the show so much that it has a special place in my heart that few shows have. The teenagers felt so real on this show, and they reminded me of me and my friends in high school. The examination of spirituality was done with such deft skill that it rarely felt heavy-handed or that one viewpoint was being forced on the viewers. If anything, I think the show encouraged viewers to think. It could be incredibly moving yet also funny and quirky. I own the dvds and there's a few episodes I haven't seen because I can't bear for there not to be new Joan awaiting me.
Tomorrow will be: Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching. Stay Tuned!
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