Top Chef All Stars!

Top Chef All Starts premiered this evening and I couldn't be more excited for the rest of the season!

I became a fan of the show in college, and in all honesty I don't even know what season it was. I've tried to stay up to date on the show, but it has sadly fallen by the wayside in favor of other shows. But already I'm hooked once again.

They really did bring back the best of the best, and to top it off most of the "characters" are also all time favorites! Love them or hate them, this is going to be a great, entertaining, interesting and incredibly competitive group. For me, this is reality show heaven. It's scripted in a way that there is a purpose for each episode, but still real enough that the competition and drama become organic. Plus, its about food. Combine delicious food, fascinating people, high tension, emotion, contests and set it all in New York City... well then you've got my attention!

I'm always in awe of people who can cook the way these chefs do. Obviously a good handful of these contestants do have formal training, and an even larger group have been directly involved in the food preparation business for years. Chefs, restaurant owners, you name it - they've done it. But they're still relatable, normal people who have a passion for food and cooking.

I love cooking shows. I could watch the Food Network all day long. I've recently begun cooking and baking much more than I have ever before, and something about these shows just makes me feel like I can do or try anything... It's not like I'll get eliminated on national television for messing it up!

One major aspect of this show that I respect above all else is the fact that the judges actually know what they're talking about. Sure, music shows have musicians, fashion shows have designers and industry professionals, but this show really does have a good handful of people who know their business and every aspect of food preparation. They have knowledge, experience, and taste.

Okay, more later... too tired to write any more... but... more coming, I promise!

Anyway,

What a SHOW! Was it ROCKY? Or a HORROR?

Click HERE for a really interesting discussion about last night's Rocky Horror themed episode of Glee. Dave Itzkoff and Reecca Milzoff both make coherent and pointed observations about the show, and share some opinions about the season/program overall.

....a post of my own to follow soon....

(picture courtesy of nytimes.com)

More More More!

JUNE 20th, 2009

YEAR ONE

In the same vein as Superbad (as well as containing a majority of the same film’s cast), Year One is able to pull the laughs, scoffs, “ewwws,” and cult fans.

The film boasts a stellar cast of comedic giants like Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt and David Cross. But aside from the many hilarious cameos, the primary cast is perfect in each of their roles. They offer just the right amount of true acting talent, even if it is buried underneath disgusting scenes where characters piss all over their own faces, shit in their beds, and repeat many of the same jokes, over and over again.

Aside from the “toilet humor” throughout, the film is actually pretty good for this genre, and I think this can be attributed to its direction. What makes Harold Ramis such a fantastic director is his ability to understand both sides of filmmaking - what it takes behind the scenes to make a film great, and what the actors in front of the camera must project in order to give the performance demanded of them. Ramis is able to relate to his actors, and can therefore draw out the comedy necessary to get just the right amount of laughs. His hands on approach is what has made Year One an effective film. This is a Harold Ramis film, through and through.

And the multitude of Jewish jokes… oy! Don’t get my started. Hilarious… if not, again, over done…

In all honesty, this is my kind of genre. I’m a Jack Black junkie and I love Michael Cera’s dry delivery. These men are characters in their own right, which makes them relatable and believable. When one imagines meeting them in person, it’s almost expected that hey will behave as their characters always do. Well done casting team, well done.

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WEEDS - SEASON 5

Only 3 episodes in, and Season 5 is already proving to be much more entertaining than the train wreck that was Season 4 of Weeds.

Shane is still incredibly troubled, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from him. At this point it’s no longer annoying. His quirky and disturbing interest in his own family’s sexual exploits is now nothing more than a strange and almost acceptably character trait.

Nancy’s formerly irritating ignorance is FINALLY getting her into trouble. She’s not simply a pair of big brown eyes anymore. She knows what’s going down, and it’s starting to break her. While last season I was simply annoyed with her story, I now look forward to what comes next.

Celia is still a bit excessive… but now that she’s finally admitted she has no friends and nobody to turn to, she is actually becoming somewhat relatable.

The episodes are better written and, as usual, incredibly well directed and shot. Season 5 is looking promising kiddies… Lets see what happens…

Catching Up...

Realized I have some left over posts from my Tumbler that never made the journey here to blogger...

JUNE 5th, 2009

WEEDS

Finally making my way through the fourth season of Weeds (trying to catch up before the new season begins this week), and I’m thoroughly disappointed with the quality of the show these days.

Season Three started to go downhill towards the end, but I never expected it to get this bad. The writing and dialogue are still up to par, and the acting is always fantastic, but it seems the writers are reaching for plot points and story lines. Everything is over the top and exaggerated, and the characters are becoming caricatures of their former selves. Nancy’s wide eyed play at innocence is getting old, but her attempts at dominance are growing more pathetic. And poor, poor Silas, always failing with the women in his life, getting stuck in reckless and uncomfortable situations. Shane’s smart/eccentric little boy phase is also becoming overwhelming. Taking control of security in the house… awesome. The whole talking to his dead father thing… weird. Masturbating to old pictures of Nancy… awwwwwkwarrrrdddd. And don’t even get me started on Celia.

As far as this viewer is concerned, the only ray of light in the show anymore is Guillermo. I’m a huge fan of Diaz’s work (particularly in the masterpiece “Half Baked”), and I’m really glad that they’ve kept him around… I was hoping that he’d become a more regular character after his first appearance.

I’m desperately hoping that Season Five has more to offer.

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STAR TRECK

Monday evening I went to see STAR TRECK with my uncle - a fan since childood - and I actually thoroughly enjoyed the film! I was really shocked, though, to find that my uncle loved it too. I was convinced he would take issue with inaccuracies, or simply with the fact that it was a remake of one of his childhood favorites... But no. He had just as much fun as I did.

The special effects are surprisingly well done. Nothing is over the top, and the film’s visual style is able to stand on its own, while remaining somewhat reminiscent of George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” trilogy. There is no reason to question the blending of environments - Vulcan cities, schools, and topography are equally as realistic as Earths dry Iowa. The futuristic elements do not overshadow the realistic settings, nor do they take away from the very human interactions throughout the film. In terms of effects and style, the only problem I encountered while watching the film was Kirk’s green love interest - she brought up images of Idina Menzel in “Wicked” on Broadway.

One confusing element of the film is the time travel and existence of a present and future Spock. Obviously this is one circumstance where reason and believability is overcome by story (We are talking about a science fiction film, after all!). However, as I left the theater I felt as if there were some significant plot holes. I simply might not have been paying close enough attention to the explanation of this anomaly… But as such a significant portion of the film revolved around time travel, especially changes in the course of history, I was left feeling that the overall issue was unresolved.

Finally, the acting is impeccable. Zachary Quinto’s performance as Spock has been surprisingly praised by old-school Treckies and new fans alike (even by Leonard Nimoy himself!). He is able to master his character’s emotionlessness, providing a dramatic and serious performance, while also adding hints of coy and knowing sarcasm that only Quinto can deliver. Performances aside though, the real beauty of the film lies in the casting choices made by the filmmakers. Unexpected but fitting picks such as John Cho, Simon Pegg and even the young Jimmy Bennett bring the characters to life, turing them into dynamic and relatable individuals - not caricatures of the original cast. One unusual choice, though, is the casting of Winona Ryder as Spock’s human mother. Not believable. Not good. Simply… odd.

Overall, I really enjoyed this film. It was exciting, entertaining, but also well made. All the elements (cinematography, direction, writing, etc) came together cohesively and effectively to produce a great summer blockbuster.

BAM!

I generally don't make a habit of staying in all day and watching TV. But when given the opportunity, I won't turn it down.

Sitting around this morning - and up much earlier than I expected - I found myself watching Emeril Lagasse on the Food Network. Now, for the record, I LOVE the Food Network. Growing up I'd sit with my grandmother while she cooked something fantastic, and FN was almost always on in the background. To this day, whenever I go over to her apartment, she's got Guy Fieri or Ina Garten on TV, and something delicious on the stove.

Anyway, I've never been a big fan of Emeril's. I find him brash and overwhelming. And I can't put my finger on why, but it irks me to no end that the man has a band on his cooking set. Really, Emeril? You need to talk more by exchanging "witty" banter with your drummer? But the audience was going wild. They clap. They laugh. They cheer him on.

Still, all I can think of is how much I am put off by him. I don't know. I guess I don't get it. He's loud and obnoxious, but people seem to love him.

But I do need to give the man credit. For all his drawbacks, the man can cook.

Some of my favorite recipes have come from his little link on the Food Network website. I love caribbean flavors and a little spice goes a long way. Bobby Flay is my go-to for southwestern/latin-inspired food. But Emeril really does have a wide variety of delicious combinations and ideas.

One of the most appealing things about his cooking is the fact that it's all relatively simple. The ingredients are generally affordable and easily accessible. Nothing is very saucy, greasy, or starchy. And though his show is practically unbearable, I do like the fact that he is able to produce an entire meal with multiple courses for the viewer. Most shows stick to one recipe or a collection of desserts, or sometimes a variation of the same dish. Emeril provides a full menu which blends cohesively from course to course. There's an overarching theme - whether it be color, ingredient, spice, etc.

The show I caught today focused particular attention to combining spice with sweetness, focusing on fresh ingredients and bright yellow, pink and green colors.

Here are some of the things I intend on trying out myself.

Fried Plantains with Shrimp Ceviche

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled Spiny Lobster Tails with Baby Spinach-Jicama Salad

Coconut and White Chocolate Souffles with Mango-Rum Sauce

And, no meal would be complete without a little cocktail to go along with it. Of course Emeril knows this, and included this classic Mojito. So I guess the guy's not all bad... He got one of my top 5 drinks really oh so right. Okay Emeril, you win this round. But I still think you're a loudmouth.

The Not-So-Super Bowl Commercials

This year's commercials were sub par, to say the very least.

As I'm not a born sports fan, the Super Bowl really means nothing to me. The commercial breaks are always a breath of fresh air for this particular viewer.

Lets start with a few:

1) The Simpson's Coke Ad - What was the point? Sooooo.... Mr. Burns goes broke, looses everything, and wonders Springfield depressed and alone. Okay. And then suddenly everyone has a Coke. Okayyyyyy... and obviously Coke makes everyone happy, sooooo someone takes pity on Burns and shares and he's suddenly happy too...annnnnd... I still don't get it. What's the point? If Coke wanted to pair up with the Simpson's for an effective commercial (or even a full ad campaign), they should have put a little more time into the concept. This was just a failure.

2) Doritos Gym Ad - Really? Do I need to get in to how terrible this was? I'll give them credit, they started off strong. The two guys were funny at first glance - literally. But the second the semi-attractive one got hit with a Dorito hrowing star I lost interest.

3 Google's "Relationship Development" Ad - I'm sorry. But this was too sappy. Yes, the concept was clever. The idea was well executed. But the subject matter was predictable and ridiculous. Honestly... come on Google. We expect you to be clever and cutting edge... Prove us right!!

4) Denny's Ads - Oh jeez. Screaming chickens? What in the world were they thinking!? Really Denny's? Really? I'd say the only good thing about their commercials was the chicken in space. That was funny.

5) GoDaddy.com Ads - I understand that their campaign is based on selling domain names using hot women. I have nothing against it. But come on kids, this is the Super Bowl. Bring it! They did nothing more than they usually do in their commercials. Everyone's looking for something new and exciting, and more than not, something funny... Annnnd GoDaddy didn't deliver.

6) Taco Bell Ad featuring Charles Barkley/Lamar Odem - I'm not even going to touch this one.

Okay... for the record, I'm not a hateful person and there were some ads I thought were successful and hilarious:

1) Snickers featuring Betty White/Abe Vigoda - Hilarious (but the direct reference to her was a bit disappointing)

2) Bud Light House - All I have to say is "Oh here we go..." Brilliant

3) Kia Sorento featuring a collection of whimsical toys - Adorable, hilarious, memorable

Possible Fall Favorite - FOX's "GLEE"

Starting its run on September 9th, “Glee” looks to be a promising new show in Fox’s fall line up. It’s kitschy and cheeky, and even a bit cartoonish, but there’s something charming about the characters and concept that will keep audiences watching. Creator/Producer Ryan Murphy has hoped to garner some attention by pre-releasing the series pilot (available on itunes) – a move that has proven successful in the past for other projects.

Set in a small Ohio town, “Glee” follows the group of endearing misfits who make up the high school’s glee club. Once an award winning show choir, the club is now a small collection of talented youngsters who are all but invisible to the rest of the student body. These outcasts include a flamboyant and fashion conscious Kurt (Chris Colfer), talented but wheelchair bound Arty (Kevin McHale), a stuttering goth named Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), and powerhouse drama queen Mercedes (Amber Riley). The stars of the group, however, are found in Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) and Finn Hudson (Corey Monteith). Although incredibly talented, Rachel is an annoyingly self-impressed perfectionist who is set on reaching Hollywood no matter who she needs to step on to get there. Finn, the star football player and stereotypical popular guy, finds himself stuck in glee to avoid detention. In a school where status and image is everything, Finn’s reputation is threatened only by his abilities as a singer.

The first episode not only introduces us to these young men and women, but primarily to the teachers who offer them guidance and support. Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) was a member of this glee club during its glory days, and has taken on the task of trying to legitimize the club once again. His enthusiasm is almost like a giddy delusion, however, as it seems clear to even the members of glee that they are a lost cause. He seems saddened not only by the failure of his former creative outlet, but also by the stagnant state of his life and marriage. His wife Terri (Jessalyn Gilsig) shows little encouragement or attention, controlling him with unrealistic expectations and demands. His only support lies in the school’s guidance councilor, Emma Pilsbury (Jayma Mays), who is obviously and deeply enamored with Will. Her bubbly energy is countered by her quirky obsessive-compulsive germ phobia. Their painfully cute determination is countered by the administrators and other teachers, who clearly have no interest in the survival or success of the glee club. First in line to watch their failure is girls cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester – played perfectly by none other than Jane Lynch.

Unfortunately, the pilot is overwritten, cloyingly predictable, and harshly cliché. The story is an old one – outcasts seeking to prove their small-town world wrong. Luckily though, the show is saved by its delightful characters, talented cast and heartwarming message. There is much to look forward to from these incredible young newcomers. Keep an eye out for the exciting and smile-inducing musical numbers, such "Don't Stop Believing" and "Bust Your Windows"...

If nothing else, “Glee” will provide good filler between FOX’s myriad of crime dramas, and will add to their line up overrun by animated series’ and reality shows.

(image care of http://www.homorazzi.com)

MTVU - The Missing Channel

MTVU, one of the many MTV channels, is characterized by "college music, activism, shows and activities on campus" (website heading). It hosts a series of exemplary programs, including Dean's List, where every episode a different student hosts a top ten countdown of their favorite artists and videos.

One of the few stations which still plays music videos, MTVU manages to effectively intertwine rock, alternative, hip hop, pop and eclectic music - giving equal attention to each genre. While clearly aimed at the college-aged crowed, MTVU continues to prove itself as a valuable tool for students and musicians alike.

Unfortunately, MTVU is only accessible on college campuses. For those of us who have recently graduated, the network's original "I want my MTV!" rings painfully true. Left to our own devices, finding new and upcoming artists has become more of a chore than an enjoyable experience. With MTVU in the background while doing home work, preparing for a night out, or simply relaxing in a dorm room, artists like Santigold, B.o.B, Oren Lavie, and others become sudden favorites. Tuning into MTV or MTV2 regularly results in disappointment and resentment. Neither satisfy the desire for good music, let alone anything new or interesting.

As far as I can tell, the viewing public over the age of 18 is sick of the terrible reality shows, the categorized music hours featuring horrible classic rock or unbearable hip hop, and the repetitive video countdowns. MTVU has news updates. It shares information about what's going on at colleges around the country. Exciting artists that aren't (yet) played on the popular radio stations are introduced and given a chance. If only MTVU could get the same opportunities from the programming gods...