Willing Lightning to Strike Twice

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Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, ABC Family Original Productions, Disney-ABC Domestic Television

In anticipation of the Gilmore Girls’ return to the screen courtesy of Netflix, I decided to go through the Amy Sherman-Palladino back catalog.  Bunheads is the story of a former American Ballet Academy dancer, now showgirl who, at the end of her Las Vegas rope, accepts the marriage proposal of an admirer. He entices her with his view of the beach from his house in Paradise, California. There, his mom runs a dance academy where our hero, Michelle, befriends the restless, boy crazy bunheads who make up the senior dance troupe. As the show progresses, Michelle continues to grow as an inspiration and confidant to the girls, and in Paradise, she finds a sense of belonging and purpose.

The 2012 Amy Sherman-Palladino vehicle has memorable characters and a great deal of charm. As a Gilmore Girls fan, I was psyched to have another show from the ASP team to devour. However, I was split as to how Bunheads ranked next to it's predecessor. I wanted Bunheads to succeed on it's own and not rely on tropes that came before. But I am split. So here's the best of Bunheads and also the things I continue to reimagine – not least is their denied second and third seasons.

TOP FIVE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT BUNHEADS
1.   The four Bunheads Boo, Mel, Ginny and queen, Sasha.
2.  The great friendships Among the bunheads themselves, Michelle and fellow showgirl, Talia, Truly and Fanny. But the best relationship was between Sasha and Michelle. Left behind by her family, Sasha leaned on Michelle, and Michelle, still reluctant to be an adult, let her.
3. The familiar Gilmore Girls' faces Kelly Bishop, once Mamma Gilmore, now Fanny Flowers, Kirk, now coffee extraordinaire, Sebastian, and Paris, now money-loving Milly, the Taylor Doose of the show.
4.  The set design The Bunheads characters had plenty of charming places in the made up town of Paradise to meet including Fanny's house, the dance studio, the dressing room, Michelle’s cabin, Sparkles Dress Shop, and The Oyster Bar where Boo worked.
5.  The plentiful pop references Ferris Bueller's police station scene with Jeanie and Charlie Sheen was reimagined at Paradise Hospital with Sasha and Roman. In the same episode, Dead Poet's Society, Oh Captain, My Captain, was recreated by the ballet troupe. If that weren't enough, dance performances were set to such acts as Tom Waits' Picture in a Frame, They Might Be Giants' Instabul (Not Constantinople), and Bjork's It's Oh So Quiet.

TOP FIVE THINGS I'D CHANGE ABOUT BUNHEADS
1. The show's name The name Bunheads is a little inside even for a former ballet student (however begrudging) like me. I'd prefer to celebrate the name of the studio, Paradise Dance Academy. Bonus points for a great hashtag, #PDA.
2. The opening credits and typography If the name and opening credits has to stay the same, the font must change. It’s too small, girly and precious. It's tight and insulated when it should be wide and open, like it's dancing across the screen, confident, exploring, and ready for anything. 
3.  The music Bunheads uses the exact twangy musical track and “la la las" used in Gilmore Girls. That soundtrack belongs on the streets of Stars Hallow, not Paradise, California. I find this confusing and borderline infuriating. Bunheads deserved it's own soundtrack, to stand uniquely on its own. Which brings me to...
4. The language As a Gilmore Girls fan, there is only one fast talking brunette I want to hear and that is Lorelai Gilmore. I have no need for an impression of her. Michelle didn't need to be a confusing, rapid-fire, fast talker, that's not authentic to her. Michelle is world-weary, street-smart and snarky, she has her own take, she didn't need to walk in anyone's shoes. My favorite Bunheads moments are the ones that don't rely on Gilmore Girls tropes and music. 
5.  The storyline of Michelle's brother. And her mother too.

TOP FIVE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IN BUNHEADS' SO RUDELY DENIED SEASON 2
1. Millicent Stone Performance Center opening night
2. Quality time in Sasha’s apartment Maybe even Sunday night dinners with Michelle so Sasha can feel like she has family around who are interested in her and her home
3. The evolution of Sasha and Roman
4. The comic relief and sweetness that is Boo and Carl
5. The fallout with Ginny Mel would most def have her friend's back. Maybe Ginny would try to take out her anger and disappointment on the roller derby track.

For the one season wonder that it was, it was a good show not only about the triple threat talent that is Sutton Foster but also about a group of girls leaving the safety and comfort of childhood and girlhood for the more treacherous waters of adolescence. The four Bunheads of different shapes and sizes, talents, interests, and comfort-level with boys, were all exploring, but their love of ballet that was the pink, satin ribbon that kept them tethered together.

Valentine's Day: Are You PRO or ANTI?

Curtis Wiklund

This year, I like to think I’m leaning ever so slightly towards PRO, so says my festive, new Valentine’s Day earrings. They’re little arrows, like cupid’s arrows. Subtle, I know. Problem is, these arrows seem to have a mind of their own. I put them on so they’re placed in diagonals as if they’d just been shot from cupid’s bow but as the day goes on, I find they’ve rotated down. I can’t help but think it’s a sign, like they know something I don’t. The earrings, once ever so slightly PRO, are trying to harsh my attempt at a positive vibe and go full ANTI, using those arrows to burst any red balloon that passes by. So for those out there who also share both sides of the Valentine’s Day coin, I offer you these inspired selections. 

PRO: Heading up the PRO debate is wedding photography duo Curtis and Jordin Wiklund. Curtis is also an illustrator who has taken to, among other things, drawing pictures of married life with his wife, Jordin. The couple met as kids on the same t-ball team, dated throughout high school and since his proposal on crowded bus with all their loved ones, have been happily married. Curtis draws moments throughout their courtship to varied stages of completion but all are beautiful, charming, even cinematic snap shots of everyday life. He’s working on a book of these funny, heart-warming drawings, and I for one can’t wait. I signed up for a notice when it’s released, you should too!

ANTI: Coming in strong with a heart-shaped box grenade is the show that is a hide-under-covers, laugh-out-loud cringe-fest – Mortified. Last night, I attended the annual Doomed Valentines Show. Fine, maybe my ANTI isn’t all the earrings’ fault. Mortified is a series of live performances where regular folks get up onstage and share their teen diaries - a collection all things strange and embarrassing - including drawings, songs, letters and photos. The audience cringes, laughs and cheers on the performers’ awkward 12 to 16 year old selves – validation at last.

Mortified lives up to its subtitle, Share the Shame. I spent most of the night laughing, squirming in my seat and watching every performance through my scarf that I placed over my head to shield myself from the shared embarrassment. Kudos to the performers who got up onstage, in front of a large crowd and speak from their adolescent selves. Kudos also to the Mortified After School Orchestra who use the instruments we all were assigned in band class but now get to play much cooler songs. Each show closes with the band’s rendition of The Faces’ Ooh La La and the Mortified mantra: We are freaks. We are fragile. And we survived. Between all the taffeta, hormones, failed sexual encounters, bad hair, and dramatic declarations, that’s the point, we all survived.

If you want to check it out for or yourself, grab a blankie and find the documentary Mortified Nation on Netflix. As for live performances, they’re held globally so grab a scarf and check one of those out too! If you're the more bookish type, there are two: Mortified: Real Words. Real People. Real Pathetic, and Mortified: Love is a Battlefield

As for the Valentine's Day coin, whether you’re sporting festive earrings or launching heart-shaped box grenades, I wish you much love and laughs this year! 

Selena Gomez, This is Not Your Beautiful House

2015 Interscope Records. Directed by Alek Keshishia. SelenaGomezVEVO.

In 1972, it was Val and Ruth Rosing’s beautiful house at the top of the Hollywood Hills. The year they moved in, they were the youngest couple in the neighborhood, two creatives, Val, a composer, and Ruth, a singer and a poet with the lights of Los Angeles illuminated before them. Their only daughter, DeeDee, was born in that house and they planted a pine tree off the back terrace in her honor.

By the time I moved into Ruth’s garage apartment, Val had passed away, DeeDee was an adult and had moved out, and her tree had grown over the house to shade the terrace. Now in her eighties, Ruth was the oldest person in the neighborhood and lived with her male companion, Jim, who helped to maintain the property. 

Over the years, Ruth’s garage apartment, adjacent to the main house, had been rented out to artists in the industry including set painters and musicians. Fresh from New York, after years of moving from apartment to apartment, I was looking for a different experience. I came across her listing, made the drive up the hill, and never looked back.

Ruth took a liking to me and would tell me these stories over chilled red wine on ice while we sat on her terrace overlooking the city. She’d bring out a plate of cheese slices on crackers for us, and a bowl of peanuts for the squirrels. We’d bask in her 180 degree view of the city. On the fourth of July, I’d join her for a drink and we’d watch the fireworks go off from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica Pier. But on regular evenings, she’d simply share stories, pour wine, and consistently drink me under the table.

Fortunately, on such evenings, after hugging Ruth goodnight, I didn’t have far to stumble. Once I left her front door, I was about seven steps from my own front door. Inside the apartment felt like a collection of past, eccentric tenants. The main room had been painted zebra and brown, the bathroom, two shades of blue and the kitchen/closet/library, green and purple. I eventually made my own mark by adding an orange accent wall to the zebra, and painted the inside of my front door pink. The apartment, lovingly referred to as The Cabin, was 250 square feet including my own outdoor terrace looking west to Santa Monica – perfect for this former New Yorker.

Some mornings, I would find fruit or banana bread at my screen door. In turn, I would leave a thank you note on Ruth and Jim’s front door. On the drive to work, I would stop exactly at the top of the hill, just beyond our garage, to take a photo. I have a collection of photos from that spot. In the early morning, sometimes the fog would cover the city below and it felt like I was on a cloud. Other mornings, it was beautifully clear and I could see all the way to Downtown. Every time, I’d have to stop in awe of the beauty and my good fortune for landing here. The drive home was also an adventure, after my long commute, I’d turn off Sunset Boulevard and accelerate, getting excited for my winding, tree-lined, country road drive. It was a thrill – every, single time. 

Ruth shared her many stories, she shared her books of poetry and she shared that she wanted to live in that house until the day she died. Looking out over the expansive view of Los Angeles, she’d set her wine glass down with a slight tremor and ask, ‘Where else would I go?’ It was clear to us both that there was no place better. On the night that I saw the ambulance lights outside my room, I knew the day had come – Ruth had achieved her final wish, to die in her house on the hill. 

After four years living in the cabin on the hill, moving off was a blur, like being pulled out of a dream. I can’t remember the details. I do remember Ruth talking about realtors always knocking at her door, looking to see if she was ready to sell. With her daughter living outside the city, I knew it would go quickly. 

In the years that have gone by since, I sometimes would torture myself by taking the drive up the hill to check on the house. Soon after it was sold – there was never even a sign – it was torn down, along with the tree Ruth had planted for her daughter. When friends would come to town, I’d drive them up the hill and share stories, each time, the new house climbed higher from the foundation. It was modern and massive, and painful to see. 

I hardly watch music videos anymore, but as a self-proclaimed fangirl, I dip around to see what’s happening, including with pop starlets like Selena Gomez. In her new music video, Hands To Myself, the third scene cuts to nearly the exact spot where I’d take my photos every morning from the hill. The modern and massive house that replaced my home of four years, my private hideaway, was now center screen. In the video, Selena plays a semi-dressed stalker, lurking around the house of a hunky Hollywood actor. I watched all the way through to catch glimpses of my former hilltop views. In the Behind the Scenes look at the making of the video, Selena is seated in front of the expansive view, about the same spot where Ruth's dining table was, where I'd sometimes join her for a meal. Selena talks to camera and describes the house as a crucial character of the video. With all the stories shared and memories made in my cabin above the clouds, I can't help but think – if she only knew.

Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In!

Warner Bros. Television

Rob Thomas, I don’t know what kind of site you think this is, but I can’t cover every episode of your show, iZombie, that is not what I do. I watch a series, say a few clever things, and I move along. This is now my fourth iZombie post. I don’t like excess RT, no one does, it lacks class. So I must implore you, the iZombie cleverness must stop – you know I can't resist the meta!

From the most epically timed cold open–thank you, David Anders–to the verbatim line, 'Just when i thought I was out, they pull me back in,' from the Season 2, Episode 1 cold open of Verionica Mars, I knew we were in for something special. On this week's investigation, Method Head, Liv visits the set of her favorite TV show, Zombie High. Fueled by a TV dinner featuring the brain of a recently deceased teen heartthrob and method actor, Liv is at the ready to not only solve the case, but to run lines and spout the virtues and emotional truths of acting. Meanwhile, the zombie extras hang around craft services discussing the improbability of a show where a zombie is the star. See what he did there? Damn you, Rob Thomas. 

Liv's trusty partner, Ravi tries to resist the power of a TV show like Zombie High that 'worships at the alter of youth,' but despite the 'wooden acting and poorly constructed stories,' he can't. And neither can I. Thank goodness such pedestrian flaws are no match for the whip smart writing and performances on iZombie. You're on fire, Rob Thomas – and I'm loving every mental-pork-rind-filled minute of it!

In Case of Emergency. Or Hangover.

Fox Television Studios

The ordering of a second Manhattan will inevitably produce four things: a demonstration of my sweet dance moves, the loss of my inside voice, a profession of my love of whiskey, and the following day, the inability to do absolutely anything productive. The antidote for such a morning was the USA Network two season series (now available on Netflix), Sirens about three paramedics who drive around town providing medical assistance to their fellow Chicagoans while philosophizing about important matters such as doughnuts, porn, super powers, and butts. Loosely based on the British series of the same name, 2014's Sirens was created by Bob Fischer and Denis Leary – the comedian's name here is less about credibility and more about knowing and accepting what you're in for. Sure, picking Sirens over binge-watch series' du jour Making a Murderer and The Jinx may ding my water cooler credibility, but for Sirens' three dipshits (I say that out of love), I'll take the hit. 

If Dick Wolf's Chicago franchise – comprised of Chicago Fire, PD and Med – had a snot nosed, milk mustached, potty mouthed, shit stained, whiny little cousin, Sirens would be it. But you know what, sometimes, that mess of the cousin is the the coolest person to be with – there's no pretense, they just want to hang. The paramedics that make up Sirens' Ambulance 14 include driver and commitment-phobe Johnny, his best friend and dick magnet, Hank and wide-eyed newbie, Brian. The friendship and trust between these guys rings true, they're good to one another and they have no problem calling each other out. Between random and sometimes ridiculous calls, they run into police team Theresa, Johnny's ex-girlfriend and her new, dim-witted partner Billy, played by Josh Segarra. Coincidentally, Segarra had a few dull episodes on Chicago PD as Hank Voight's son, but here he shines and is much more fun, delivering the dim-witted goods that haven't been seen since Three's Company's Chrissy with a – true to his native – Puerto Rican flair. So good!

It's a three day weekend, people. I'll happily trade in the premium channel offerings depicting the dark side, the ugly side, the betrayals and the people being bad to one another for the sunnier side of Sirens. These are the guys I want to hang out with while my hangover subsides and while reality is put off for another day.

In the Name of All That's Cute and Cuddly!!

January is the hangover of 2015. At the first of the year, everyone wants to start something new, but with the traveling, drinking, and merrymaking of December, I have no energy for the new, I'm saving that for February. Unfortunately, now I must muster the energy to face the end of another era. After ten years, my favorite, trusty blog of furry friends, Cute Overload, has come to an end. 

Cute Overload introduced me to cuddly concepts like interspecies snorggling, toe beans, caturdays, nose-vember, ‘tock-tober and the correct spelling of kitteh - I suspect the -eh represents the gasping in cuteness. The blog made me laugh and invest in new, furry friends including: the owner who cared for his arthritic dog, the kitty who inspired for her autistic little friend, the boy who read to shelter cats, the golden retriever, Keelo, who comforted his recovering feline friend, Koda, the dog and his best pal, an elephant, the giraffe saying goodbye to his dying caretaker, Cole and Marmalade’s instructional videos for living with cats, and Maru, the Scottish fold, and his obsession with boxes. I’ll miss you, Cute Overload, you were there when I needed a friend and when simply needed a smile. Thank you for always delivering the cuteness and the warm fuzzies.

Happy Birthday, Dave!

RIGHT: Dave Grohl performs with the Sound City Players on Thursday during SXSW 2013 in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/Associated Press)

What a way to kick off the new year, with one of my personal heroes, Dave Grohl! May our paths cross this year in a very tiny, very loud venue. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a little inspiration from the man of the day. I continue to be inspired by the passion and joy Dave puts into everything he's done including drumming for Nirvana, picking up and starting Foo Fighters, building his own Studio 606 and Roswell Records, creating the Sound City documentary, traveling across the country to record a love letter to American music, and after breaking his leg onstage, finished the set in a cast. He's living proof of getting up, following your passion and letting nothing stand in your way. These are his actions, and thanks to SXSW, we also have his words. 

In 2013, Dave Grohl was the SXSW Keynote Speaker where he shared his take on authenticity and the power in finding your voice. Reasons to watch: aside from being a rock hero, Dave was raised by a former DC political speechwriter and a former public speaking teacher, so he delivers a damn good speech. Using humor, heartbreak, storytelling, and continuous threads, he shares the definitive moments in his life, told in vividly crisp detail, that led him to find his voice. That discovery placed him on his creative journey, his success since that moment is a reflection of his continued efforts to harness and nurture that voice. The video has been seen 694,685 times. I'm not gonna lie, of good number of those views was yours truly.

Dave Grohl's SXSW Keynote Speech is 50 minutes of quality storytelling, I hope you'll find it as inspiring as I do. May we all get to be as happy as Dave (top right, especially), playing guitar and living his dream.

May Stardust Guide You Home

Inspiring, genuine, mutating, alien, genius, innovator, legend. I’m having a hard time shaking the disbelief that David Bowie is gone, that he was not from another planet, and that he was not, in fact, immortal. Instead of going about the business of work and life, I have The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on heavy rotation while I sit with this sad revelation, absorbing the sense that the world is a lot more ordinary without him in it.

While my heart aches from the loss of a fearless, passionate and creative force, I can take comfort in his life well lived and well loved. Thank you for taking us on an incredible, colorful journey, Starman, it’s one we won’t soon forget.

Something To Whine About

BuzzFeed

Alllllright evvvverybody….Congratulations to Matt Bellassai who won a People's Choice Award this week for Favorite Social Media Star. In his own words, 'I do everything. I type, I write memos, I eat sandwiches, I cry in the bathroom. That’s a full day. That’s my whole day.' While both his Twitter feed and blog, Literally Matt both kill it, it's his weekly video series, Whine About It that sealed the deal. 

Turing hard work into chicken nuggets for two seasons (33 episodes), Whine About It is filmed in the New York BuzzFeed offices. There, Matt regularly serves as a writer, but on Mondays at 1pm, he pounds a bottle of wine (or two with a bottle attached to each hand with One Direction tape) and launches into his latest rant. The show always begins with a perky, intelligent introduction from sober Matt before quickly dissolving into drunken complaints from belligerent Matt, sometimes accompanied by his Beyonce song stylings.

Often obscene, Matt's weekly, curse-fueled, desk-set tirades are filled with one-liners that are so awful and true, they are simply irresistible and absolutely hilarious. He covers everything from reasons mornings are the worst, reasons pants are the worst, reasons kids are the worst, and reasons outside is the worst. He is staying away from the sunny side and I love it. I've tried to make a list of his best lines, but that loaf of wonderbread, that delicate flakey pastry, that hungry waffle jackal, he makes it look so damn easy. So you're going to have to find out for yourself, 'thems the rules.'

Congratulations on your well-deserved win, Matt! No scene-stealing, wild-eyed, white-toothed, flailing thumbed, crumpled vanilla saltine can hold you down! It's just one more glorious thing to Whine About. 

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Sony Pictures Television, Crackle.com

Jerry Seinfeld has been busy with his latest, highly successful effort, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Streaming on Crackle.com, the show mixes Jerry's love of cars with his love of comedy and fellow comedians. The show merges the gear-heading of NPR's Car Talk with the delightful nothingness of Seinfeld. Each episode starts with the turn of a key and subsequent engine firing, Jerry then goes on to describe the car he's driving in the episode. Each car is specially selected with the show's guest in mind.

For the seventh season premiere of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld picked up the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. For the Commander in Chief, Jerry selected a 1963 Corvette Stingray, the American made vehicle once driven by all astronauts in the space program. This one has a bumper sticker that reads, 'My Other Car is a 5 Ton Bulletproof Limousine.' Unfortunately, they weren't able to leave the grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania as the guard rebutted the title of the show, 'You’re a comedian with the president going nowhere.' As for Mr. Obama's qualifications for appearing on the show about comedians, his funny lines each year at the annual White House Correspondents Dinners just qualified him for the part. 

Jerry arrived at the Oval office like you'd arrive at your best friend's house complete with knocking on the window and spot-on silent hand gestures to go around front. They hardly say hello to one another, 'you ready?' Jerry impatiently asks. Barack responds without looking up, 'got some stuff to do.' With that, a bored Jerry slumps into a couch and grabs an apple. They finally set off adventuring the grounds in the Corvette, touring The White House, exploring the presidential vehicle, and chatting over coffee in the basement break room.

It turns out, you can really cover a lot over cars and coffee: the joy of saying barackobama as one word, Stephen Colbert quoting Neutral Milk Hotel, Michael Richards expressing genuine gratitude to Jerry for his support and friendship, Jimmy Fallon on the hilarity and awkwardness of comedy shorts and Seth Meyers on begrudging summer when, 'everything I want to do is inside.' Oh Seth, I knew we were simpatico.

The comedians usually get a kick out of their car selection and are up for whatever journey Jerry has planned. As for the cars, his favorite kind of vehicles are the toy-like vehicles like his Land Rover, Porsche 911 and Boston Whaler. The conversations he leads are loose, letting anything fly or meander. I think the unique spark of the show really comes from Jerry's passion about cars. You can't help but engage as he excitedly shares details about the cars in the intros which, in turn, provides new insights about his guests. I liken his gear-heading to my fangirling.  I'm glad both Jerry and I are kicking off the year right with his gearheading and my fangirling front and center! Here's to more excitable moments in 2016! Cheers, Jerry!

Crap. I Like The Voice.

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

This goes against everything I believe in. Despite the fact that Adam Levine says that The Voice is not reality TV, I still feel sullied. First, truth time: I have never watched a full episode on The Voice, but I have bingwatched YouTube videos for days since returning from the holidays. For days. In order to better understand the depths of such a spiral, may I present: A VERY SPECIAL TIMELINE OF A FANGIRLING BENDER.

TRIGGER: Gwen and Blake have been photographed canoodling over the holidays. 
INTERNAL DIALOG: I like Gwen, she's a cool, rock steady, girl power chick. That sucks about Gavin, damn those broody boys. I'm glad she's happy again. I want to see for myself.

SEARCH: Gwen and Blake, The Voice
RESULTS: Many, many YouTube video compilations of Gwen and Blake on The Voice.
INTERNAL DIALOG: Aw that's sweet, they're like high school level of crushing on one another, big, big smiles. That's cool. Oh, that Adam Levine dude, he's always seemed a little douchy to me. Eh, I'll keep watching. I like that bromance between Adam and Blake.

SEARCH: Adam and Blake, The Voice
RESULTS: Many, many YouTube video compilations of Adam and Blake flipping one another off, shutting one another down, Blake making fun of Adam's hair (sometimes lack thereof), then hugging it out. 
INTERNAL DIALOG: Way too much laughing for an internal dialog. But I should find out more about the other coaches.

SEARCH: The Voice, coaches
RESULTS: Far too many to even distill.
INTERNAL DIALOG: Crap. There's so many seasons to catch up on. There was Christina, then Shakira, then Gwen, then Christina, then Gwen. Damn. I must investigate all. Augh, then there's Cee Lo, Usher, and Pharrell. No contest there, I love Pharrell. Thank goodness Blake and Adam are on all seasons. Looks like most interactions between the coaches is happening during The Blind Auditions. I like watching their reactions during those auditions.

SEARCH: The Voice, blind auditions
RESULTS: So freaking many.
INTERNAL DIALOG: Crap. Is it possible I've reached a giant fangirling mountain even I can't climb? Okay, let's just try the best-of videos. Damn, these kids are talented. And no one's tearing them down. That's cool. I guess the artists/coaches (not judges) know how hard it is to put themselves in that situation and they respond with compassion, I can get on board with that.

WHO IS THIS SAWYER FREDERICKS? Son of bitch, that kid has a voice like John Fogerty. He looks and sounds like he's from another time and place. Agreed, Christina, 'What??!' So impressive.

WHO IS THIS JORDAN SMITH? Damn, he must have had some hard times growing up in a small town. He's got a beautiful voice and powerful, relevant message. Props to Blake for turning first. I love that BFFs, Pharrell and Gwen, turned at the same time, both leaning forward to see faster than the chairs could turn. And I love all of Pharrell's faces during this performance, especially to Gwen. Plus Adam's reaction to each impressive note, no matter how stubborn he was to finally turn around. And yes, Gwen, Jordan is kick your legs up surprising and talented. Damn, this kid needs to sing Queen (he did in the semi finals).

WHO IS THIS DANIEL ROSA? (at the 44:50 mark)? Damn, this kid's story of not backing down. Cool rendition of 'Somebody That I Used to Know'. Crap, no one's chairs are turning. Crap!! Wait!! Go, Cee Lo!! Go, Blake!! The coaches recognize him!! The coaches are screaming and hollering in joy, he's pointing at them in return while singing the chorus of 'Somebody That I Used to Know.' I'm not crying, you're crying!! His internal dialog, 'Oh god! Adam Levine is hugging me.' I love that Daniel has to collect himself on the steps for a moment, he's so damn happy. So cool. And so cool that all 4 coaches from the original audition returned to the show to see this second audition – they ALL immediately recognized him. What a cool message and total inspiration.

WHO IS THIS CASSADEE POPE? Triple chair turn around - nice!! Cee Lo, I'm going to ignore your sexist comments. Damn that stage presence – from the first performance to to the last.

These four artists sparked deep digging and searches including: full blind audition, back story, finals, semi finals, all performances, coach comments and on and on. For this reason, I'm only digging into Cassadee because bitch's well of goods was deep. 

First, if you're not going to watch any of these videos, at least watch this one of Cassadee covering Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert's 'Over You' written in honor of Blake's brother who died in a car accident when Blake was 14 (this link, a little lower res version of the performance but includes intro and coach comments). The track is so good, it will gut you. How did life exist before this track?
Cassadee's performance of the track led me on a detour: Miranda Lambert's original take on the song, her music video, Blake covering the song in concert, Blake and Miranda winning for track of the year and their acceptance speech, details of his brother's death, and other times Cassadee performed the track (on The Tonight Show, etc). After reviewing all, Cassadee's performance on The Voice is the best take on the song. Cassadee brings both a fragile sadness and a new defiance to the track. The defiance was always there in the lyrics but never quite expressed the way Cassadee does here. Amazing.

Somewhere in the mix of all this watching, I also tried to go about productive living (guilt was setting in). This included walking while rewatching videos which resulted in me dropping and yes, smashing my dear iphone. I immediately brought it to a repair shop to absolve my fangirling sins. After an hour, with significantly less cash in my pocket, I was back in action. Following her season on The Voice, Cassadee Pope had a docu-series called Frame By Frame on CMT. And yes, I watched all six episodes. I'm telling you, fangirl is relentless when she's got something to gnaw on. 

The fangirl bingwatching wrapped with investigations into the Twitter and Instagram accounts of Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell, The Voice, Cassadee Pope, and Jordan Smith. The results of this 3-day bender include: a new show to watch in The Voice, a new Twitter account to follow, @blakeshelton, because he is funny as fuck, a new track to play on repeat 'Over You' ('Gonna' is good too) and a new line to use, 'On a scale of 1 to Blake Shelton, how drunk do you plan on getting tonight?' YEEESSS.

For me, The Voice is about these performers' validation for their talents despite whatever they were told in their hometowns. It's about these performers getting the opportunity to live out their dreams. I find that incredibly inspiring. I'm also inspired by the coaches and their generosity. At such a high level of success, they are coming even more into their own, gaining even more confidence by sharing their experiences and what they've learned with others. That's something I could aspire to as well. So there it is people, they got me and they got me good. Season 10 of The Voice begins on Monday, February 29th, I know I'll be there, will you?

MVP: William Sadler

Regency Television, 20th Century Fox Television, Living Dead Guy Production, Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Sons of biscuits! William Sadler's IMDB credits seem to go onto infinity covering film and television, both high brow – The Shawshank Redemption or The Green Mile and low brow –  playing Grim Reaper in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. However, my love truly blossomed for the actor on the small screen, in particular, on three appearances that crossed through my fangirling galaxy. 

In 1999, Sadler played Sheriff Valenti on Jason Katims' Roswell where he morphed from alien hunter to supportive father-figure to Max and friends. In 2008, he again popped on my radar as Dr. Sumner on Fringe. Sadler played a compassionate hardass who grilled Walter Bishop on his monthly mental evaluations. I assure you Dr. Sumner, the only continued care Walter Bishop needs is with JJ Abrams. Praise! And lastly, what set off this Sadler love-fest, he appeared on new fantastical favorite, Wonderfalls. In the 2004 Bryan Fuller creation, Sadler served as Darrin Tyler, loving father to Sharon, Aaron any youngest, Jaye, whom he earnestly tries to understand and support, even inquiring about his daughter's last orgasm. I ask you, what's not to love about William Sadler? Not only has he charmed me, but he's obviously charmed three of my favorite show runners – Jason Katims, JJ Abrams, and Bryan Fuller. With eight - eight!! - projects in post-production, there are sure to be plenty of William Sadler fangirling opportunities in 2016. Tipping my Sheriff hat to you, Mr. Sadler.

Now I'm Miffed

Warner Bros., Silver Pictures

Warning: This film has been modified from its original version. Leave it to the inelegance of television censorship to ruin a perfectly good scene rendering it completely unwatchable. I understand, it's the holidays, lots of people are watching TV, many scenes of the 1987 Richard Donner classic, Lethal Weapon, needed to be cut or altered to suit the home audience. However, I would argue against rerecording the word 'pissed.' First of all, among the list of offenses in a movie full of shootouts, the word 'pissed' is pretty innocuous and second, the rerecorded version is so distracting, now I hear it over the original.

Let's go to scene: Martin Riggs has just flown through a store window after being shot. Fortunately, he's wearing his bullet proof vest, so after a tense moment, he comes to, pops up and exclaims to his partner, 'I'm pissed, Roger, now I'm pissed.' Unfit for TV, the verbal infraction was rerecorded to, 'I'm miffed, Roger, now I'm miffed.' Miffed...now I'm thinking of white gloves, fluffy cats or teddy bear tea parties. The ridiculous replacement successfully drained any impact in the statement and is now burned! burned! in my memory for all time. Thanks FCC, but I think this is a gift even Leo Getz would return.

Christmas MVP: Mariah Carey

Columbia Records

Picture this, second week of December, I'm on my way to work at a very early hour because, of course, every project needs to be completed before we break for the holidays. At 7am, I'm making good time on the freeway when Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas is You comes on the radio. I mean, that track is pure joy. Suddenly, pre-coffee even, I'm driving and singing at the very top of my lungs. Sad-faced commuters, ditch your bags of coal, it's the freakin' holidays! And it's freakin Mariah Carey with best damn feel good track of the holiday season! Yes, yes, and yes. When it comes to holiday music, I've spoken of the melancholy beauty that is A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the snap, crackly, pop of Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas but nothing, nothing beats the infectious, can't control myself, joy of Mariah's 1994 classic. Props to both Mariah and Walter Afanasief for writing this tune. No amount of work stress, holiday preparations or end-of-the-year reflections is a match for this sparkling hit! Gotta go now, gotta dance it out.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Charlie Brown!

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, United Feature Syndicate

On this day, A Charlie Brown Christmas special premiered on CBS in 1965. Despite a wide array of concerns – crude animations made in six months, characters voiced by children, a religious speech by a main character and a borderline melancholy soundtrack – it was an instant success and remains a classic staple today. I still love watching it every year.

In the film, I like that things are imperfect, that they don't always go Charlie Brown's way. And I like that he even gets a little down, because who doesn't get a little down, even for a moment, over the holidays? I actually don't mind it. At any other time of year, people try to turn that frown upside down, but around the holidays, for some reason, there's permission to be down. It's actually a relief, you can even roll around in it a bit before moving on. And there's no better pairing for such moods than the soundtrack created by Vince Guaraldi. Absolute magic. Longing and magic. It's like bracing the cold to walk the streets of a snowy New York before taking shelter in a cozy, near-empty bar that's been decorated for Christmas. Or maybe that's just me. Either way, thank you Mr. Charles M. Shultz and Vince Guaraldi for bringing us a little magic every year.

Bryan Fuller to the Rescue!

20th Century Fox Television, Living Dead Guy Productions

Previously unbeknownst to me, the Fall 2015 TV season seemed to have one overall theme: despair. From The Leftovers, to The Affair, to Homeland, to How to Get Away With Murder, these shows were showing us the dark side and not much else. Even newcomers like Jessica Jones and Code Black wadded in darkness. The season needed to be rescued and Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller was just the man to do it!

Discouraged by all the heaviness and bleakness, I decided to dig into the Bryan Fuller catalog. His Showtime Original, Dead Like Me, had a similar, but darker vibe than Pushing Daisies, not what I was looking for. I was looking for a little levity, irreverence, and maybe with a dash of magical realism. While I was hesitant to go back all the way to 2004 for the one-season wonder, Wonderfalls, it fit the bill.

An angst-fueled, disenfranchised, post-collegiate, souvenir retail clerk in Niagara Falls, Jaye Tyler, is forced to interact and engage with the world around her through the inanimate objects that speak to her. Serving as the brunette sheep of the family, she is supported (and antagonized) by her parents Darrin, Karen, and siblings Sharon and Arron. I mean, why are you killing me, Bryan Fuller? So good. Bryan and company created a quirky, mystical world centered around Niagara Falls with a bustling souvenir shop, local bar, family home and High 'n Dry Trailer Park where Jaye lives in an Airstream. 

Jaye's angst is a nice contrast to the 'Honeymoon Capital of the World.' I knew the pilot had me, when Jaye told a little kid to, 'piss off' Ha! The quirky innocence of this place seems to do nothing but antagonize Jaye's resistance to engage with fellow townspeople, until the objects including a misshapen wax lion, a brass monkey bookend, a pink lawn flamingo, a cow creamer and many, many others all start talking to her. The series plays on the Honeymoon reputation and well as building on the mythology of Niagara Falls, from Indian ceremonies to barreling down the falls, captured in the main title theme song, 'I Wonder Why the Wonder Falls,'  written and performed by Andy Partridge. Props to Michael Andrews who also did the score to Donnie Darko and Music Supervisor Julie Houlihan who helped secure many tracks including the final track, Travis' 'Love Will Come Through.'

Unfortunately, at the time, the FOX network didn't see a future in the show. But I think it's worth the travel back in time for the charming storytelling and visual effects by CORE Digital Pictures. Like Northern Exposure, Wonderfalls is not available by any streaming means, only DVD. You could also check it out like I did through some janky YouTube links, I'm not above that. Jaye struggling to say the words 'Rainbow Boulevard' still lands with just as much heartbreak. While I wish there was a season 2 and 3, I am inspired by what Bryan Fuller and company created here and am grateful they helped rescue the borderline dystopian, Fall 2015 TV season. Bryan Fuller, must-see TV needs more of your magical pixie dust (and I don't mean in a scary, Hannibal kind of way - no matter how beautifully made, acted, and crafted). Till then, I'll be anxiously waiting to meet your next delightful cast of characters and the 'perfectly (not) normal' adventures they will lead. 

Fringe is Real!

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Leave it to China to attempt to make Fringe seem real. Check out this surveillance footage from Xingtai, China of 'levitating cars'. Two vans and a car suddenly rise off the ground with so much force that one overturns. If that isn't reminiscent of Olivia returning from the alternate universe (Season 2, Episode 1: A New Day in the Old Town), I don't know what is. Looks like a case for Walter and Peter Bishop! The cause of the levitation was actually a cable that had been laid across the street and caught in the street sweeper. So much for Fringe science. Don't worry, JJ, I still believe.

Coffee, Peace & Donnie Darko

Pandora Cinema, Fontana/Mercury/Phonogram

I have a love/hate relationship with Groundwork Coffee. It’s an on-again/off-again relationship born out of convenience. There are many other coffee selections I can make but sometimes Groundwork is in closest striking distance. I roll my eyes while standing in line with the bourgeoisie set, cursing my laziness and my need for caffeine before quickly perking up to the beckon of my name.

This morning, was one such morning, where again, against my better judgment, I found myself unwittingly in line at Groundwork. However this time, the coffee shop extended an olive branch over their speakers blaring the sweet, sweet tune that is the Tears for Fears’ 1985 classic, Head Over Heels. I used to not like Tears for Fears, they looked kinda funny and the heavy-rotation of ‘Shout’ nearly incinerated any possibility of ever liking them. But all that changed when a certain track appeared in Richard Kelly’s 2001 bizarro sci-fi flick, Donnie Darko. In the film, Head Over Heels provided a music video interlude, which I normally don’t like, but damn, the intro notes hit so perfectly to Jake Gyllenhaal exiting the school bus, I’ve been hooked ever since. Even in a coffee shop that normally pisses me off. 

I recommend listening to the track very, very loud. Those intro notes are so big, so good, and they continue to climb from there. Maybe it was the blinding light as Donnie Darko stepped out of the school bus but now the track always sounds huge, as if bursting with possibilities. Funny how time flies.

MVP: David Anders

Warner Bros. Television, Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Oh, David Anders, how many ways must you surprise and delight! When we met, you were the smarmy underling, Julian Sark on Alias, then the sometimes evil, general downer, uncle John Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries, and last year, on iZombie we met Blaine DeBeers who set of the whole zombie story into motion. Sure there were many, many roles in between on everything from Once Upon A Time, to Heroes, to  24, but those are all outside my wheelhouse, I'd rather stick with zombies, vampire hunters and criminal masterminds. The man, a true chameleon, can do it all. iZombie's Blaine is often merciless, regularly a smartass, and always a highlight of the show. Despite what he did to Lowel in Season 1 – I don't want to talk about it – David Anders makes me cheer for the bad guy. Thank goodness he gives us plenty of opportunities to do so! Top left, just look at that face! Who wouldn't love that brain eating face??! Thank you, David Anders! May Blain continue to be a nuisance to Seattle's iZombie residents. 

Calvin & Hobbes: Heroes From Another Planet

Bill Watterson

It is actually hard to write about Calvin and Hobbes. I don't want my adult eyes to distort what my kid eyes knew to be true. Calvin and Hobbes were so dear to my heart, they made me laugh with ridiculous scenarios and schemes and they made me cry out of the sheer love and friendship with one another. The Bill Watterson strip first appeared thirty years ago on November 18, 1985 when Calvin, a young, spiky-haired boy, set a tiger trap with a tuna fish sandwich. To the outside world, Hobbes was a stuffed tiger, but to Calvin he was real – and ferocious – especially to girls. Every Sunday, I'd tear through the paper to find the week's strip and devour it immediately, my mom would shortly follow suit. 

When Watterson started releasing Calvin and Hobbes books, the fangirl took over, stalking the local bookstore, requesting holds on the books, requesting the promotional posters so I could hang in my room – I still have my Yukon Ho! poster. I'd take my new book to a friend's house where, laying on the floor, propped up on our elbows, we'd pour over each page, laughing till we cried while our parents partied in the next room – in our opinion – they were seriously missing out. I used oil pastels in art class to draw what I imagined to be Bill Watterson's desk covered in sketches of the strip. My stack of books grew (shown above) and became some of my most treasured items chronicling a cherished time of friendship, mischief, and wild, wondrous imagination.

On December 31, 1995, Watterson published the last Calvin and Hobbes strip and so ended my need to scour through the Sunday papers. I've hardly looked back since. While heartbroken, I had to respect his artistic integrity and his intention to keep exploring, I had to meet the heartbreak with gratitude. 

Thank you, Bill Watterson, for sharing your gifts with the world. Thank you for sharing your stories about an often mischievous, sometimes philosophical boy and his stuffed, sometimes real pet tiger – who, together, adventured through space, snow, school, parents and babysitters to forge one of the best friendships in comic strip history. Thank you for the inspiration, laughter, tears and fuzz therapy. Calvin and Hobbes will forever hold a special, magical place in my heart.

Bill Watterson