Betty's bad clothes and solid gold staplers

I'm listening to very loud music while I blog and I've got two people cleaning my place, one of whom seems very upset--and not so great either if the bathroom is any evidence. But better than I feel like doing before a party I'm having on Sunday. I never entertain because I hate to clean and my cats make messes and shed everywhere and I don't want to let anyone in without having it really clean--so I'm in a bind.

Anyhow, TV. The Office was more like old school Office last night I think--they were in the office, Jim and Pam were pranking each other, and everyone was taking sides over chairs or a copy machine. I would have gone with chairs myself--a bad back is part of the reason I hate to clean so much. Of course I also hate all the copy machines at my office which, on the rare occasions I try to use one, inevitably jam. I don't think we're going to have a surplus this year--nor is any paper company but hey, that's why fiction is fun. Somehow, when I read the description on TiVo, that the office mates were trying to decide how to spend a surplus, I was thinking of it more like when they had a surplus at Springfield Elementary and people were ordering solid gold staplers and stuff (I just searched for a good ten minutes and could not figure out which episode this was or precisely what they ordered), so I will say I was a wee bit disappointed to find them asking for such pedestrian things, although Michael's $675 man fur from Burlington Coat Factory, that he turned out not to be able to afford because he didn't get the bonus he could have for turning the surplus back in, but couldn't take back because an anti-fur activist threw red paint on it, was much closer to what I had in mind.

30 Rock was OK, but I'm not really sure I got the whole Liz being a bully thing. Yes, obviously her funniness comes from defensiveness, and I'm sure she muttered nasty things under her breath about the popular crowd, but who would have listened or cared? It's an interesting conceit to think they might have cared but what kind of wimpy popular crowd did that school have? Anyhow, the whole thing came off as mean spirited. Not my favorite, but interesting by being, I believe, the first episode this season without a celebrity guest. Just the core, plus Rip Torn who is semi-regular anyhow.

Ugly Betty--oh my fucking god what was she wearing. I honestly don't get it. She goes out with Amanda, and Amanda gets a fabulous $2000 dress for free (well, she pays for it, but keeps the tags in and intends to take it back) and scores Betty a scarf that same way that doesn't even match. I mean nothing on earth would have matched that monstrosity, but it was sort of teal and pink (I think--I was too blinded to really see it) and the tights another non-matchy color, and the scarf was a deep red. And her wig is terrible, and her braces binding (are Invisiline really that much more expensive?) and there was just no way those "Italian" guys would have picked her up if it wasn't some kind of trick--which it was since those guys dined and dashed. It's a good storyline to have her and Amanda teamed up, and Ignacio encouraged her to learn from Amanda, which I hope to god she will if only fashion-wise. It's driving me nuts. The ugly in Ugly Betty is not supposed to be literal, not after this many seasons.

Top Chef tastes pretty good, actually

I wonder if we'll ever really see what happens on Dirty, Sexy Money? It seems like they're building to something, but the chances that the producers didn't plan ahead or NBC won't even run all 13 episodes is pretty damn good, so it seems somewhat pointless to be watching it. Thank goodness I don't care about it. I do care about Pushing Daisies, but since I went to a going away party last night, I didn't get to watch it yet. Without Life on Mars, I have my choice tonight of watching it (and Stylista, ugh), or checking back in with ER, which I don't really want to do. I feel like Michael Scott saying, when Holly and he essentially broke up, "I just know I'll go back to Jan, and I hate Jan!" Anyhow, it seemed like more of the same--someone screws someone over and Nick ends up doing shit work and having a moment with Karen Darling. What. ever.

You know, I was dubious at first about Top Chef, since it bugs me that all we have to go on is personality and the opinion of the judges. We can't taste the food, and even if we could, with all that bacon and all those scallops, I wouldn't be able to anyhow. But it really is a perfect reality show. Just enough time spent on the Quickfire--which is much more interesting somehow than Pop Design, just enough on the elimination challenge, just enough at Judges table, much better music than on Top Design where there happy shiny music when someone wins gives me the creeps. I just wish they didn't start with so many contestants, since I still don't know most of their names, but it wouldn't be the same if no one got eliminated and this allows for a longer season, so I guess that's fine as long as I know the name by the time the show ends.

Damn, I just looked for a picture of the one I was going to root for to win, and got spoiled. I hate that. Almost as much as I hate Jan.

Best jacket ever

One of the most fun things about Gossip Girl is the way Chuck Bass dresses. It's always something different--not fashonable, but locating him in some sort of era gone by, be it the 1930s or the 1950s. Last night at the Snowflake Ball, he looked like what I wish my Ken Doll had looked like and was wearing this jacket I need to own but definitely couldn't afford. I wanted to put a link here, but so far haven't found a picture, but I will when I do. Black and totally glittery, and looked, needless to say, fabulous on him. Anyhow, that was probably the best thing about last night's episode--too much emphasis on Dan, Serena, and Jenny, and not nearly enough on Chuck and Blair, though certainly more than in the last two or three. Just get them together already--it's so artificial that they aren't because "they're not that kind of couple."

I did wonder about Serena wearing a sparkly sweater that looks a lot like the one I just ordered (see above) to high school. It's what I'm planning to wear for New Year's Eve. Hers seemed to have actual pailletes on it, though. Anyhow, it made me feel very poor that something I'd spend birthday money on for special occasion wear would be everyday wear for her, but that's the show, isn't it. The rich are different from you and me.

It's sort of interesting to me that last year there were four Chucks in primary roles on network television. Back to You, featuring Kelsey Grammer as newscaster Chuck only made it through last season. Pushing Daisies (sob) has been canceled, so relatively soon we won't have Charlotte "Chuck" Charles to kick around anymore. I'm very worried that putting House up against the show called Chuck on clusterfuck Monday will doom it, despite the full season order, which leaves Gossip Girl, which I assume isn't going anywhere and Chuck Bass. I wonder what the next shared name will be?

Otherwise, I haven't posted here in while, in part because with Thanksgiving last week was a bit lighter on TV. The Monk and Psych Christmas episodes were not very memorable, except that Monk was unbelievably rude to some homeless men, calling them "bums." I did enjoy a whole BH 90210 marathon of "Kelly's Leftovers" that they were still having commercials for yesterday. It's definitely clear when the show gets darker and the dialogue gets more unbelivable. This happened about 3PM, but before that I was enjoying it, even if I already know what's going to happen well before it does.

Should Michelle wear a turtleneck to the inaugural ball?

Well, who knew if I put Rex Parker's blog on my list of links, that I'd be able to get to mine from his page, even if he doesn't know I'm there. I almost wrote to him because he snottily said that the Venn diagram of CW watchers and NY Times Crossword Puzzle viewers is small. Maybe, but I nestle right in there quite nicely. I may still write.

So as long as I was here, I had a lot of trouble concentrating on Pushing Daisies last night, but I don't think it was its fault. My eyes were stinging from the nasty flourescent lights at the Holiday Inn where our annual All Area of Studies Meeting was. So even though I did my normal Wednesday (for now, since these shows likely won't be here by January) of PD, Stylista, and Dirty, Sexy Money, I don't have a lot to say about the shows. I haven't watched Top Chef yet, and I guess I'll get spoiled for ANTM before I can watch it tomorrow. Bummer. I actually thought I'd be so busy with the AAOS meeting like I was last year that I wouldn't get to most of my TV, but it's been very poorly attended this year, and unlike last year pretty lackluster, and it just didn't make sense to stay when our Cultural Studies meeting broke up two hours early and dinner wasn't for 3, not to mention the food at the Holiday Inn sucks. I'll go to talk about "My life in TV studies" at 1:30.

So, I'm still pissed that PD is likely canceled (at this point it's just not on the schedule) and that evidently it ends on a cliffhanger. In fact I thought last night might have been the last for this year but there was a preview so I guess I should have remembered that ABC isn't the CW and doesn't replace its shows for a full 6/7 weeks. That's a long time for teenagers to get used to not watching 90210, though of course I'll be watching January 6th or whatever that date was. I had hoped they might rerun Privileged, so I could watch it on actual TV, but next week is an 8 year old Mandy Moore movie that looks dull, so I guess not.

Stylista is still awful, and now the "fat girl" is gone and the ones who fight all the time are the only ones left. I think next week is one of those clip shows I hate so much. I really thought I might learn something, and I did learn something about a party page last night--we're supposed to feel like we're there at this party we weren't invited to and wish we were there. I almost always skip those, especially when they're full of people I haven't heard of. And Nigel Barker. I'm not the Elle audience I guess. The fact I don't read it would probably prove that.

Dirty, Sexy Money? It was there. I like it enough while I'm watching it but it has no traction with me. I suspect shows like it and Lipstick Jungle--which was announced as canceled, but Brooke Shields says it ain't so--may fade as the economy worsens, along with $12000 handbags and Jimmy Choos. When even the president-elect is supposed to scale down the Inaugural Ball--while still celebrating for the benefit of America, and even CNN is recommending that Michelle wear a Gap turtleneck, the stories of the wealthy idle just gets more and more unlike how we are living these days. On the other hand, the rich will always be with us, and don't we need escapism? I'd hate to end up with a bunch of ugly shows that look like Sanford and Son, or even My Name is Earl.

I also watched Forgetting Sara Marshall last night since my eyes wouldn't allow anything else. My reaction I'm sure, is colored by the fact that the closed captioning didn't work, and when the heat is on it gets pretty noisy in here and I simply couldn't hear a lot of the jokes. Love Jason Siegel. Love Kristen Bell. Love Mila Kunis. Love Paul Rudd. Love romantic comedies. Did not love this movie. Enough with the guy humor/shlubby guy who hot girls adore for strange reasons.

Hi, I'm Kelly Taylor and I have the perfect anecdote for your problem

Last night's 90210 was somewhat better, if only because of the increased Brenda. I'm surprised I missed the news she was back for two more episodes, but am glad she is. I thought she insisted she and Kelly not fight about men, though?

I have to say though, if I'm Kelly Taylor and I'm trying to get Annie and Naomi, who have just found out they have a long lost brother in common, and who hate each other because Annie is dating Naomi's ex despite the fact Naomi asked Annie not to while they were friends, I really have my choice of stories:

1. My mother married the father of a geek from this very school with a giant crush on me. It was initally icky, but I learned to love him. And of course this relationship ended up with Silver, who you both like.

2. My dad invited me for dinner but didn't show up. In his place was the grown up sister I never knew I had. I learned to love her. Until she disappeared after two episodes and was never spoken of again.

3. I slept with Brenda's boyfriend while she was in France for the summer. When she came back, we told her and she stomped away, informing us we should "never speak to me again." Eventually, we all became friends again until later tonight when she will break up with me and tell me she slept with my potential boyfriend, who has temporarily disappeared for no reason.

But now, she gave some lame story about plants v. flowers. C'mon show, you can do better. Please do.

I really have to start watching Privileged, because that spot is a dead zone now. I hope they show reruns while 90210 is in almost two months of reruns. I'll have to get to the big stack of movies I got from Netflix during those nights, too.

SNL: That's so gay

Friday was Degrassi, Saturday was SNL, Sunday was The Simpsons, Desperate Housewives, and Skins. Degrassi did something interesting, what with having the double standard for Indian girls and boys, but the newbies are still boring and Emma/Manny/Liberty is so far very silly and dull what with them all wanting to go out with their non-cute roommate. I know there's an article in Flow this month about Canadian teen shows, but I haven't read it yet.

I love Paul Rudd, who was the host on SNL but it really bugs me that every sketch had a silly homoerotic slant. I don't know if that's just the show these days, or the Apatowness of current humor, or what Paul Rudd thinks is funny but it really bugs me. Given that only Kristen Wiig had anything to do of the women, and that only in one sketch, and that only one of the new women seemed to have lines, and those were just as a waitress, it may be that Paul Rudd was the impetus for all the sketches. Even the Beyonce sketch was about male dancers with the central conceit being "isn't it funny that these guys are gay?" and included Justin Timberlake who also brings on that kind of behavior in his appearances. Why is this necessary? Why is it funny? The sketch where the family was all kissing each other was funny only for the discomfort it brought on, and the idea that all the actors, who I guess we are supposed to assume are all very straight, would go for it.

I couldn't not watch a Simpsons episode in which Lisa enters a crossword puzzle tournament, given that I do about 8 crossword puzzles a week, and loved the use of "Word Up," and the cool graphics, but overall a lame attempt. I tried to imagine how much cooler the episode might have been 5 or so years ago. Desperate Housewives has gotten into a nice groove, and Steven Weber is always a nice addition to any cast, but can they keep up the Dave mystery all season? It might be smarter to solve that one by the end of November sweeps and then start up something else in January. Anyhow, I don't really care about it. I also checked out the new Summer Heights High on HBO. That isn't going to save them, it has the same "that's so gay" problem, and the mean girl is not interesting. The Polynesian bully is slightly interesting and I'll check it out again, but am not very intrigued and it should be totally up my alley. I do need to find some Australian teen shows to watch.

I'll be very sorry when Skins is done as it only has two more episodes for the season, I think. I feel bad for Sid though. And Cassie. Though I guess they'll ultimately get together. And it does bother me that Jal, the smart girl and the only girl of color, didn't get an episode of her own this season, and her only storyline was being with Chris, my least favorite character, and while I don't care about Anwar, the fact that he's the other character of color and his only storyline is being with the crazy girl with no dedicated episode makes this show no better than the average teen show in terms of multicultural representation. One of them could have the final episode, but I don't think so although from what I've read I guess come to think of it she will be very affected. Since only Effie will be in the next season there's not much time.

I guess I missed a day in there, due to three meetings yesterday and a few minor but annoying health issues. Tomorrow I need to plan for a presentation about my work for our annual All Area of Studies meeting. I'm not sure what I'll say yet, but I guess I'll backtrack all the way to the beginning, and talk about my dissertation, and then what little I've been doing since.

Anyhow, TV Tuesday was 90210--or as I like to call it, the city of Jessicas--I think there are at least four on the show right now--and House. Kelly was back, but 90210 was pretty bad, what with the over-emoting by Annie and Naomi. Naomi only think she's Blair Waldorf, she ain't even close. Nor is she pretty. However, having them as enemies makes for a better storyline than having them as friends, I suppose. Ho hum. I did enjoy Adrianna and Navid--and whoever did the production design on Navid's house did a great job--and it's interesting that more than half the teenage cast (Navid, Silver, Dixon, and Annie but not Naomi, Ethan, or Adrianna) are admitted virgins. I guess that's actually only slightly less than the ratio on the original show when it started (David, Scott, Andrea and Donna, with Brandon having sex the first time in the first few episodes, and Brenda by the winter dance), but surprising for this day and age and the style of show. I can't imagine that will last long as several couples seem on the way, if they don't break up first. Which I imagine Silver and Dixon will soon do, as they've been happy for weeks now. Thank God Brenda's back next week. Boo on demoting grandma Bluth to occasional player, though. Thinking about what her casting indicates the show was supposed to be, given the Freaks and Geeks pedigree of the showrunners makes me sad.

I watched two reruns of House because my students just love it. I could see some of the allure, but to me a good mystery means that I can assemble the clues myself and at least get part of it right. On a show like this, with my (and I assume most viewers') basic lack of medical knowledge, it's not even close. Anyhow, both episodes seemed to follow the same trajectory--in one a Mafia guy going into Witness Protection falls into an unexplained coma, in another Samatha Mathis's husband turns blue and can't breath while having kinky sex with her, in a much more disturbing and gross episode. There's a lot of writing on a flip chart. How retro. No one ever consults a computer, say, (or any books or medical journals even,) they just sit around and toss ideas around, or stare into the air and think. And House is completely right both times, and the others are wrong. I don't know if every episode is like that or not, but I assume so. I have always liked Lisa Edelstein, but that was a fantastic episode, and I didn't even recognize Chi McBride for a while--he's so much better as Emerson Cod. I may watch again, though not only has it been on the same time as my must watch for work 90210, but now they're moving it into the Monday night clusterfuck slot, against Gossip Girl, Chuck, and How I Met Your Mother, so I definitely won't watch in first run. But Tuesdays at 9 are a gaping hole unless I catch up with Privileged, so I may check it out in reruns.

Last night Pushing Daisies, and Dirty, Sexy Money, neither of which are long for this world evidently, (sob for PD, at least), were preempted, so it was once again all reality, all the time. The last interesting one of the Top Models was kicked off last night after drinking a lot of wine, so my money's on McKey but really it's just a buncha boring white girls. Stylista, same train wreck and I hope the fact that two dull people were sent home last night means it will be even shorter than planned. Top Chef seems almost exactly the same, and no one impressed me much--not surprising as I can't keep 17 people straight--although it's nice that none of the brown or black people were sent home in this first round. Just two very young white folks who knew each other from the CIA, and not the fun Chuck one.

Trying to be a good teacher

OK, it makes sense to me that I should be checking out some of the shows that my students watch, so I have my TiVo working overtime to catch what seem to be the most popular shows among them, including Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, House, and Jon and Kate Plus 8. Intervention never seems to be on when something else I watch isn't so I'll have to wait for rerun season for that, probably after November sweeps is over.

This morning I watched most of Celebrity Rehab. Although I had not seen this show before, I had seen The Surreal Life and it seems as if the grouping is very similar--mostly has-been actual celebrities, but others who just barely make it as celebrities. I'm not even sure what band Stephen played for, or what Amber Smith ever did (something pornographic?), and I don't watch American Idol so the runner-up means nothing to me. Rodney King seems to be in a whole different league than the rest--we all have traumas, but his is a lot more understandable as a reason to hide pain, than people who were very famous or semi-famous actors who just couldn't get work. I get that they wanted multi-racial, various ages, men and women but it seems like a strange mix. Same sort of train wreck fascination as The Surreal Life, but adding the addiction makes it seem like it's supposed to be educational somehow, and that's pretty scary.

It's very funny to me that Dr. Drew wears a stethescope. Why? I guess, along with the white coat it's just a symbol that he's a doctor, not anything he will need much. Anyhow, his brand of pop psychology seems a little dangerous to me. I wonder if anyone learns anything from this show. They certainly learn that drug addiction is really bad for your face (especially if you're a man) and body, which isn't a bad thing to learn, I guess. Jeff Conaway (no relation) seems very messed up. It was only about 7 years ago that I heard he was an acting teacher in LA, so that's sad.

Anyhow, at the conference I was just at, one of the television critics referred to "Rome burns TV" and it really does seem like this is nearly as dumb as anything the characters in Idiocracy watched. I can see the fascination, but am not tempted to watch again.

How come Marc or Amanda can't be Jewish?

Thursday makes for a hard flow. I switch from ABC to NBC to ABC again, and it's sometime quite jarring. At least Ugly Betty, The Office, and 30 Rock all take place in offices, but then Life on Mars comes along and the police station doesn't resemble any of the others. Not that ER should have made more sense, but somehow it never seemed quite as abrupt.

Maybe it's because LOM is such a guy show. I still don't see what it has to do with me, but I'm sufficiently intrigued, if only by the music and as I've said, TV at 10 on Thursday is so ingrained, it really keeps me from watching ER.

But where are all the Jewish characters? I don't just mean only on these shows, I mean overall. A medium that brought us George Burns, Rhoda Morgenstern, Joel Fleishman, Michael Steadman, Ross Gellar, Grace Adler, and Ari Gold (who admittedly is still on) and there's no one. No one on Gossip Girl, even though Rufus was in the books, and therefore Dan and Jenny half, I guess Navid and Silver on 90210 are at least part, but it's been hardly mentioned (and in Silver's case, not, but her dad is Mel Silver and her brother David), no one on Heroes, or Lost, or The Office or 30 Rock or Ugly Betty. Maybe we're supposed to be so assimilated now that we're just "there" and no one needs to notice that Judah Freedlander, Christine Rose (I think), Amy Brenneman and others are Jewish (granted I haven't watched Private Practice this year, maybe they've acknowledged it). It just strikes me as odd, though.

Anyhow, Ugly Betty was Lindsay-free and was better, though still not great, The Office was better, with tons more Pam and tons more Kelly, but still not great--I chortled once. Obviously the fact that Jim is buying his folks' house in Scranton, while Pam, who is extremely suggestible, will probably really want to stay in New York now that the guy from Mad Men told her to. Awkward given the mortgage-meltdown. Frankly I think buying a house without consulting your fiancee is dumb, anyhow. I feel the same way about a diamond ring. She's going to have to live with that stuff a long time.

30 Rock was pretty damn good and between that and all the Obama stuff, I have a newfound respect for OPRAH, and also for Tina Fey who just played that perfectly. The look on her face when she said Oprah's name was excellent. Life on Mars was interesting enough, and Whoopi was pretty good. Liked, didn't love, the music. You can never go wrong with Sly and the Family Stone. In fact, if I actually liked cop shows, I probably would have really liked this one, but I don't so I didn't.

Nice guys don't win reality shows

Last night was an extravaganza of Reality shows. The AMTM model wannabes got lost all over Amsterdam, the Stylistas threw a birthday party for a 10 year old, and acted about 6, and the Top Designers decorated for the finale and Nathan won the whole she-bang. He was the only logical winner, even if the judges didn't seem to think so. I'd live in Ondine's rooms/house--I must have those fuschia sofas--but she's simply not the sort of person who wins these shows. And Nathan's room with the kinetic sculpture was a true winner, even if the sarcophogas was entirely too huge and even if a chandelier made from paper plates sounds like a fire hazard of the highest order (and even if not, wouldn't they turn brown or dirty really fast, or get ripped? I hope they were at least Chinet, and where did they shop that he could get paper plates anyhow?)

Either is Marjorie from AMTM. I'm really quite shocked that there wasn't a woman of color left in the final 5, much less the winner. My money was on Sheena pulling it out and getting more ladylike, but I guess that won't happen. But the others who remain are so boring. There's no way Marjorie, who really looks like a model, but is hopeless, can do one of those Cover Girl commercials so she can't win it all but McKey reads old to me, Sam too commercial, and Annaleigh just blah. Then again I never know who is going to win this show or even have the remotest clue. I can't figure out if last season's winner Whitney is just so very blah that TiVo doesn't even pick her commercials up--and I've even rewound the whole show just to see "My Life as a Cover Girl" twice--or if they've just quit doing it in favor of those "Top Model in Action" slots, which are really pretty interesting. Non-winners from this show really do get real work. Who knew?

Stylista is just so trashy. It isn't a class thing, since these kids clearly range from comfortable to rich (the one with the Chanel dress for daytime), but their behavior is just tacky. I'm sure it's too young for me and unlike on AMTM, there's too little adult supervision or something like that. Hate all of them.

On the other hand, now that I'm caught up, Dirty, Sexy Money just got interesting. Sort of. It's been a long time since I've watched a straight soap opera, but this is it. Still don't care about anyone in particular or find anyone especially attractive--Jeremy only thinks he's Chuck Bass--but it's fun enough. And fun TV is just disappearing it feels like.

President Obama!! It's a beautiful day!!

I was struck by a posting the other day and had a few thoughts. I never realized just how class-based my television decisions may be. I thought about all the television I watch on a weekly basis and nearly all of it is about the lives of upper-middle or upper class people, or those who aspire to be in those classes. Gossip Girl, 90210, Dirty, Sexy Money, Entourage, and 30 Rock are mostly about rich people. Everyone on Mad Men does quite well, even with income disparity. Desperate Housewives has a blend, but even when they struggle, they never lose their large homes in a well-manicured neighborhood or seem to be wearing old clothes (uglier, but not old). Project Runway, Top Design, Top Chef, America's Next Top Model, and the new Stylista are all about people who work in creative industries where there are a lot of people struggling, but where the best/luckiest can make tons of money. Pushing Daisies is in a universe of its own, as are Heroes and Lost, but none has its characters worrying about money. We are meant to believe that Chuck is slumming it, working at a big box store, but his sister, with whom he lives, is a doctor, and he works with spies who are certainly paid well. Only The Office and Life on Mars are about people who would seem to be solidly middle class.

There's a whole world of TV about lower middle and working class people too, of course. I loved Roseanne, and Grace Under Fire, but don't find any sitcom on these days really has that sort of powerful message about working people. I got sick of My Name is Earl, which makes fun of its trashy characters. I have a feeling that most of the working class people on TV are on reality shows I do not enjoy watching and actual poor people have never been anything but victims or criminals on any show, I don't think.

Anyhow, as I've mentioned, there's so much TV out there that it's really easy to find niches, whether in fiction, reality, or news, that reinforces our own sense of our selves, and the identity we've constructed, and only watch those shows and those channels.

Can't keep my mind on nothin'

I think my mind is mostly on the election today. I watched Gossip Girl, but can't tell you much about it. Blair was good, Chuck was sexy, Jenny was annoying. I also went to bed at 8:30 last night, so there's that. I really want to do this before I read reviews or go into my class but I guess I'm just too distracted today. I haven't voted yet. Neither The Daily Show nor The Colbert Report was particularly memorable, except that "How to be a Maverick" film was gross.

I know I had some great idea yesterday, but can't remember it. Maybe tomorrow. Or later.

Just resign already.

Last night's TV: Ugly Betty, The Office, the season premiere of 30 Rock, and Life on Mars, plus The Daily Show/Colbert Report.

I am very glad Lindsay Lohan is gone gone gone from Ugly Betty. Still hate that storyline and what Betty has become. I don't know why they can't give her a title, even if she has business cards, or why she has to dress like such a nightmare. Who wears a blue satin cocktail dress to work, even at a fashion magazine? Anyhow, it's old and the only thing I liked was Daniel's behind the scene machinations. And seriously just how bad were Betty's teeth that she still needs braces? I'd fire my orthodontist if I were her, or at least get Invislign (sp?). She has health insurance now, even if she didn't when she got them.

The Office didn't really do it for me. I laughed, but didn't chortle, though I did giggle at Andy biting a raw beet, but not being able to, and Dwight actually doing it. I don't really get why Angela didn't have a single line when Dwight and Andy were fighting, though the facial expressions were good. Michael and Holly are just tragic, and the singing was all pretty funny. But I really just plain didn't get the whole Jim/Pam/Jim's brothers thing. I get that the whole bunch of them like pranks, but the prank was so lame, which I know was the point, but still I'm not sure where they are going with this. It's very sad that a happy Jim and Pam is a dull Jim and Pam, but I'm starting to think that's the case. Though it is pretty funny that Jim just took off without even letting Michael know, and the lunatics were running the asylum. Maybe I was just in a mood, which is why it's still on TiVo because I imagine after I read zap2it and TWOP there may be something I am just forgetting this morning and maybe I'll watch again.

Yay! 30 Rock is back. That was overall pretty good. I don't see how Liz could bring up a baby, but it makes a certain amount of sense she might want to and it's not like that light fell down in her own office. Not terribly memorable, though, as I couldn't quote a line now. I've read that next week with Oprah is much better.

Life on Mars was about the same but the music was actually good stuff and not goofy. Between the Velvet Underground, T-Rex, and the Kinks, I would have been pretty happy to be at that disco, and would defininitely have been dancing, but none of those are songs that are going to be stuck in my head for a week like the last few have had. I also sort of wish that in the part where Sam is watching Nixon on TV talking about energy and George Bush fades in and out that it was Obama because I'd love for future DVD/syndication/online watchers to be able to forget this whole sordid 8 years, but Bush is also a lot more like Nixon so I guess it makes sense. But as I've said before, I don't like police procedurals or "guy shows" and I'm mostly only it it for the music and the hints about "what's going on" so this show runs the risk of losing me if it doesn't keep it up with that stuff. But hey, if it keeps me from watching ER, it's a good thing. Though I have to say if I went back to 1973 my first thought would probably be "everything is so ugly" between clothes, furniture and everything on TV, but then I might think it was kind of restful to have just a few channels, no cell phone, no internet, not so much advertising everywhere. But then I'd look at Nixon and, like Sam, say "Just resign already!" I also don't think people would get my ironic sense of humor too well, either, and god knows what I'd do with myself when work wasn't crazy, so I guess I'll stay here.

For reasons I don't understand, next week there is no Chuck, no Pushing Daisies (for at least two weeks, and the prognosis is really bad for any more being aired) and no Degrassi. My normal watching, between those preemptions, and all the stuff that ended in the last two weeks, will be pretty limited so I really need to get something good from Netflix. Maybe Six Feet Under, but it's just so heavy. Of course, I'll watch what I suspect is the series finale of Top Design (good riddance), and I'll be watching the Indecision 2008 Stewart/Colbert special on Tuesday! Oh, how I can't wait for this all to be over and to have a President Obama. Or not, but at least we'll know. Pu Pu Pu.

Lighten Up, It's Just a Fashion Magazine

Last night I forewent the Obama thing in favor of Pushing Daisies, a show that's just really enjoyable. Although it's about death, and about a relationship that can never be consummated, it's also relentlessly cheery in a way we need today. Or at least I do. I seem to be the only one and the show is on the cancellation block. That will make me sad. Even if it stays on we haven't seen the aunts for three weeks. Are they trying to save money by not having to pay the whole cast? I know that's how the CW seems to work, which is why there is a b or c tier cast member (Vanessa, one of the parents, Erik, who really should be main cast) missing from most episodes, and Greek seems to have this issue too, but I don't think it's common for major network shows. Anyhow, I hope last night's ratings are either really great because people are sick of politics and watched the only other thing available on a major network, or don't really count.

Anyhow, I'm not sure if the whole Chinese restaurant/Chinese mafia thing was racist or not, and it sort of might undo a little the goodwill I had for them not even questioning the fact that white Debra Mooney was very dark Chi McBride's mom, but on the other hand I really want to play Dim Sum poker. And Ned's brothers are cute, even if magic is goofy.

I'm way behind on Dirty, Sexy Money (they don't use that serial comma that I would), but finally watched the one from 3 weeks ago that I fell asleep during (and I fall asleep in front of the TV, like once a year). It's an OK show, but somehow when they made it dirtier, sexier and monier as I asked for, they removed something. Or maybe it's just in really bad taste to be watching rich adults right now. Teenagers, like the ones on Gossip Girl and 90210 are supposed to live in a bubble comprised of their own friends, lovelives, and plans for the mythical future and don't have to understand the economy, but the youngest Darling is at least 20, so they really should be more careful about conspicuous consumption. But with Mad Men, Greek, Project Runway, Top Design, and I assume Entourage soon out of the picture for a while, unless I want to find something else to do, I'll keep watching I guess. I need something fictional to enjoy.

Top Design got it right, I think, but the only one I really liked was Ondine. I liked her home as well and am jealous of her modern design classics. She won't win, though. Nathan or Preston will. I imagine Nathan will do something really clever and pull it out. But between this and Stylista, a real train wreck, and not necessarily in a good way, I'm just sick of watching people be mean about petty shit. So Preston doesn't drink. So what? Speaking of Stylista, Kate may be very dislikable, but anyone who doesn't know that bubble tea is so 5 years ago is lame, and she was right. And I'm sure a panic attack is no fun at all and I'm sorry for that guy I guess, but seriously, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's just TV. It's only the second week, if he can't take that little amount of pressure, he can't work at a magazine, or really any other workplace.

Where's Andrea Zuckerman when you need her?

Only 6 days to the election, and I'm with Wyatt Cenac--let's just get this the fuck over already! Good news or bad, I just wanna know.

As I write this, a fourth season episode of the original 90210 is on. I've been watching the old shows once or twice a week lately, and it's really amazing to me just how much I believe those people are friends and that they are exactly who they say they are. I'm pretty sure I believed it within a few episodes.

The new show, however, oy gevult. As I suspected, without Kelly or Brenda, it's a worse dog than ever. I still enjoy Silver, and Dixon is OK but otherwise really really don't care about Annie or Naomi or Annie's parents or the so-called hot teacher or Annie's so-called love interest. The only person is intriguing, and in part that's because they clearly don't know what to do with him. He says he's been in love with Adrianna since the third grade, and mentions he wants to ask Annie out in an earlier episode but holds himself and dresses like a ballet dancer. I hate to say "he's so gay" but "he's so gay." Whether it is Michael Steger who is gay, and Navid is not, or whether Michael Steger is playing Navid gay, I don't know but the actor doesn't choose his own clothes, I suspect. Skinny jeans and a deep v-neck top on that tall willowy body with the long hair just reads gay to me. Anyhow, it came even more out of nowhere than Jenny and Nate did. I don't know why Gossip Girl can get it so right generally, and this show can get it so wrong generally. Of course, Kelly is still coming back, and I do still study teen TV, so it's staying on my season pass, but I just really don't care, and I truly don't believe these people like each other or know who the hell they are supposed to be.

Greek ended well, I guess. I read that Michael Rady is coming back so it's not a surprise that he and Casey will be together next year, (or at least in the same storyline), but I still liked seeing a girl on TV realize her future work life may be more important than a guy, even if that's a pretty cool one. I guess the idea of rival sorority is OK, but I'd rather have Casey a lot less interested in the house, and more interested in school or causes or something. We really don't know if any of those girls are smart and playing vacuous, or actually not all that bright but it would be nice to see it since I think Spencer Grammer really does come off as pretty smart. The woman who plays Rebecca too. Anyhow, with the next season coming in January, it's not the same sort of cliffhanger as Mad Men, where we have to wait 9 months.

I enjoyed the brawl between the two fraternities more than I would think, in part because I was wondering how they choreographed it. I'm sure Rusty will move into the house and realize he can't study amidst the noise and the dirt and the general busybodyness of Cappie and the gang, and will be back with Dale before long.

I don't much care, but it beats the hell out of Secret Life of the American Teenager.

I should be grading, and sending off something I sort of told a mentee I'd done months ago, but this is important too. It's Gossip Girl for goodness sake!

The whole Jenny/Nate thing came out of nowhere. I thought he was madly in love with Vanessa, which I didn't understand then, and I really don't understand this. And Jenny's dress was totally ugly and her hair was worse and last I read the actress was in the hospital for a potentially lethal throat infection. Is there such a thing or is that TV teen star talk for in rehab? (I reserve the right to edit this if she really does die and will swear I never said it). Anyhow I don't expect realism from this show, and know from America's Next Top Model that there actually is a 15-year-old fashion designer out there, but puh-lease. That storyline is totally pointless. I'm sure most 15 year olds think they are already ready to be a famous actor or singer, and some are, but to run a business is a whole nother thing. And the storyline might make a modicum of sense if Nate were still rich and could bankroll her, but he's poor and he's dull, and not cute to me so I really just am over that storyline. Of course, in the same episode we also had a 17/18 year old artist having his own one man show so, whatever.

Chuck and Blair . . . sigh. I would be perfectly happy to watch them go to the movies, and hold hands, and then break up. But no, they can't even date because they aren't ready yet to do it right. That's way too adult, even for the hyper-sophisticated teens of this show and I don't really get it, especially as it isn't even sweeps month yet. Where do they go from here? Do we have to watch them date other people? We already have! Anyhow, they're enough to keep me watching, but last night certainly stretched credulity. Anyhow, Blair looked great, as always, with that perfect tear running down her cheek and I loved Chuck's two-toned jacket.

As for Heroes--I really don't know where they are going. I mean on Gossip Girl there's are a few organizing questions: Will Chuck and Blair ever get together or Will Serena go to Yale (even if I don't much care about that one). On Lost it's how do they back to the island and who is still alive. I don't even know what the question is on Heroes. Will they keep the World from ending is a. something that's happened in two other seasons and b. when they keep showing us alternate futures, there's no way of knowing. I think it's just crappy storytelling and I'm not sure I watch but I guess I just like to watch TV. I did enjoy Kristen Bell's return, but seriously do all the women have to be blonde? They have at least five blondes with relatively major storylines last night, and two brunettes who got two lines apiece.

Desperate Housewives from Sunday filled in a few blanks, I have to say. I thought it interesting that for some reason or other the main women were wearing primary colors in the past and not in the present, but it was hard to tell if it meant anything, especially with Catherine in red in the present. But it's funny they'd have a party where Bree was dressed up in a metallic satin cockdail dress, and Edie was similarly attired, but Lynette was in a very daytime sweater and jeans, and her husband in his same orange t-shirt from work, Gabrielle looked like crap in turquoise, and poor Mrs. Mcluskey was in head to toe orange loungewear, though she had the excuse of surprise. I guess I really don't care enough to analyze the show, just the clothes. But where are Susan and Catherine's daughters? You'd think they'd at least be mentioned. I realize they aren't still teen girls, but at least they are younger women that you'd think this show would want to have.

I could have had you.

Last night was the season finale of Mad Men. It felt very discombulating to have the commercial breaks there, but only one break. I felt like the Joan story got really short shrift, but the Don/Betty, Peggy/Pete, Peggy/Colin Hanks, and the story of the ad agency and a whole bunch of people who work there got covered, so I think I'm happy. Or at least I'm happy as long as Jon Hamm and Matthew Weiner get re-signed. John Slattery is very good but he would lift right out if need be but Jon Hamm wouldn't.

Anyhow it was a little surprising that Pete told Peggy he loves her, as I'm not sure the storyline bore that out all season. Certainly he's been impressed in the last few episodes, but only since she got her haircut, and before that he seemed to stare a lot so we knew he was intrigued, but I'm not sure selfish, closed-in Pete is even capable of love. And Peggy deserves better so I'm glad she burst his bubble. On the other hand, she got to confess and sleep the sleep of the just. Maybe she'll take the baby back from her sister? I have an interesting feeling, though, that when the show comes back, she'll be at least associate creative director if not creative director while Pete is head of accounts. Although it doesn't seem like Duck made much of a hit and if he isn't president then Pete is staying right at his same level. I don't even think he's 30 and just on that basis seems a poor choice for an executive position but there's that whole youth movement going on. I'm not sure if they'll get together or not but I'm sure that will be an ongoing story. Someone mentioned if he ever found out he might try to get the baby for Trudy and I suppose that's possible in which case I see an awful lot of crying in store for Peggy's sister.

Did they really bring on "the Smiths" just so the gay one could cut Peggy's hair? They weren't even in evidence last night, so it sort of seems like it. Anyhow I'm glad the show is coming back because Salvatore needs a lot more attention, and I suspect there will be something there. That's the problem with these giant-cast shows, there are always characters that we don't hear nearly enough about. Then again, it would be totally weird if only three people ever talked at the ad agency.

Anyhow, a whole lot of people are definitely going to feel stupid when the world doesn't end. I really don't understand the whole Cuban Missile Crisis thing--I tended to zone out in history class when it came up, which was mostly in the last few days of school when we covered everything from WWII on at breakneck pace. But I do know none of those people died or even were injured in it. Betty in particular is going to hate herself for her infidelity, as fair as it was and as good looking as that guy was. And I just realized that was Captain Awesome from Chuck! If I hadn't noticed the name I never would have guessed that, as it's a totally different character. Given that he doesn't have a contract, I guess Don won't feel really dumb for basically quitting, but I'm sure he'll be back. He'd better--otherwise there would be no show.

Speaking of Don, Jon Hamm was OK on SNL, but some of those sketches were clearly written by six year olds, and read "not even first draft." I was really glad they did not one but two Mad Men oriented sketches. They used to always do a sketch about whatever show or movie the guest is in, but in the last few years they rarely do so I hope they go back to it. It was so strange to see him really smiling, as Don almost never does. "Weekend Update" worked much better with only Seth Meyers. I've had about enough of Amy Poehler.

Desperate Housewives is still on TiVo as I was out last night. I'll get to it eventually.

"Fast Car" is my favorite Springsteen song, too.

Last night was Wednesday's episode of Stylista, then the normal Thursday Ugly Betty, The Office, The SNL Thursday Night thing and Life on Mars.

I forgot to do this first and just read that Lindsay Lohan's time on Ugly Betty has been shortened by two episodes. Good. I really hate this storyline. I know Betty is supposed to be a lovable loser, but I thought we were going to see some growth. I'd like to see her get an Assistant Editor spot or something like that. I did like that Justin got a real storyline and a new friend--maybe a boyfriend? We don't know that yet but I like that character and it's nice that both teen boy characters on prime time shows (Erik on Gossip Girl being the other) seem to have found some acceptance.

On the other hand, I really wish we could have more of Holly on The Office. She's just perfect for Michael, and as absurd as that whole storyline is, the idea that every pot has a lid is a really nice one. Looks like whassisname from corporate is going to make trouble for them, though, which is weird as practically everyone in the office (or at least the complex, if you count Phyllis) is sleeping with or has slept with someone else there. It's nice Phyllis is getting a storyline, but I wish it wasn't at the expense of Kelly, who I don't think had a line last night. I can't say I really got the whole Crime Aid thing, but it's nice how they're using some different sets, and I have to say "Fast Car" is my favorite Bruce Springsteen song, too. "Rosalita" can suck it.

Between this show and Chuck, I'm sure I've heard more Huey Lewis in the past two weeks than in the last 10 years, although he did walk past the bookstore I was working at in San Francisco. I was talking to the young skate punk from the Peet's Coffee next door when I looked up and there he was and I said "Hey, It's Huey Lewis!" Of course the skate punk thought it was funny but actually ran into the coffee shop to ask them what HL's big song was to yell after him, instead of asking me, which is weird. Anyhow he yelled "It's hip to be square" down the street. I don't know if Huey turned around.

Anyhow, I'm glad those SNL specials are over, though I guess they're doing something on election eve, but I want Tina Fey in her proper spot, which is 30 Rock, which starts again next week. I miss that show. At the conference I went to a few weeks ago there was a panel about women comedians on TV and Fey was brought up, and I argued she was a Rhoda, not a Mary. I love Rhoda and in a meeting yesterday a co-worker, one of those who claims never to watch TV except for news, was all excited about Rhoda, so I really think there's a paper about the influence of Rhoda Morgenstern on a whole generation of women (no one else better write it either). Would there have been a Daria, or a Janeane Garofalo, or an Elaine on Seinfeld, or Phoebe on Friends (or is it Janice) without her? I don't think so. There definitely wouldn't be a Cathy from the comic strips. As Tracy Jordan would say, to quote Liz Lemmon, "Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate, Ack!" Do Rhodas have to be brunette, or ethnic? What's the fundamental difference between a Mary and a Rhoda? I don't think Ugly Betty is a Rhoda really, nor is Pam on The Office. What does it mean to be a Rhoda? There's an underresearched archtype there I'm sure, but I guess I'll have to see what those panelists are saying--one told me she tried to find Rhoda the show on DVD and it doesn't exist, and at this point neither to seasons 5-7 of MTM, which is a bummer. Hopefully they show up on www.Hulu.com sometime soon, at least.

As for Life on Mars, as I suspected the music is getting more and more obscure, and there's less of it. The music supervisors do have a talent, however, for finding catchy earworms. I haven't had Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Get Down" out of my head for over a week, and now there's some crazy song about King Kamehamehamea and the King Macadamia Nuts that I don't remember ever hearing before but I'm sure is going to pop up for days. I went ahead and set a season pass because the mystery interests me, but man I hate procedurals.

I forgot to write yesterday but I think this week's prize for best episode goes to Wednesday's Pushing Daisies, if only because of the use of Debra Mooney for Emerson Cod's gumshoe mom. I was especially impressed that in the alternate universe of this show that they just simply never even attempted to explain or question how white Mooney was the mother of pretty darn dark Chi McBride. Other than their color, they really did seem an awful lot alike. The setup was an agency that rented out friends to lonely people and my favorite line by far was said by Emerson who wondered why people needed that and couldn't just say, "My name is blah blah. Do you like blooby bloo? Me too! Let's be friends" if only because there's no chance whatsoever that that character would ever say that.

Stylista was a little interesting, but a whiner group of spoiled brats I have never seen. They put the groups of model wannabes to shame. I don't know if I'll actually learn any more about making a fashion magazine than I have from Ugly Betty, but I'll give it another chance.

Does Jason Jones wear lifts?

Last night I watched, as planned, Greek and The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, and also the prior day's How I Met Your Mother and Chuck. Obviously, I did not take the night off.

I was really hoping to let TJDMA go for good, because it had gotten so tawdry and awful with the whole model house concept. But a lot of this episode was devoted to Janice's realization that she really didn't like what LA wants from a modeling agency and her plan to move to NY and really open a high fashion agency. That I could get behind, although if things actually went like that, with models who were extremely disciplined about diet, exercise, drinking, drugs, and sex, and were totally devoted to making it, it would be a really boring show. And anyhow, Janice wasn't exactly a frail little wallflower herself in her heydey.

But the reason I originally started watching this, as well as America's Next Top Model, is that I just don't really get it. I'm not at all photogenic myself and am fascinated by the idea that some people know how to move their faces and bodies in just a certain way and it makes the difference between a gorgeous photo, and, well, my photos. I don't think I've learned a whole lot, though, in a lot of viewing. I need something more like What Not to Wear, only for photos. Only every time I watch WNTW, or the practically identical Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, I hate everything I own, not because I don't get the rules or I don't wear nice clothes because I do, but because I don't have a staff of tailors, steamers, ironers, makeup artists, and hairdressers hiding behind my mirror. No matter what I buy, after one wearing, or in my case, living as I do with a white cat and a multicolored one, after letting it hang in the closet for any length of time, I will never look that polished. In any case, I can't imagine real high fashion clients would use the JDMA-NY, after seeing any part of this show (which aside from showing the models as lazy, stupid, and riddled with eating and personality disorders, shows Janice herself as "batshit crazy" as they say--good for a reality show star, not so great for an agent I suspect) and I can't imagine the same viewers would be up for watching, if there is another season--and she made it seem like there would be.

I still love Chuck. Last night mostly took place at a class reunion and was riddled with allusions to a good many teen movies--everything from Risky Business to Heathers to Fast Times at Ridgemont High to 13 Going on 30. Too bad the title "Russkie Business" was already a Veronica Mars episode, as that would have been the perfect title here (the Russian Mafia was involved). Even Nicole Richie wasn't enough to wreck this.

I also enjoyed How I Met Your Mother--but it's so weird, I think of Jason Jones as tall on The Daily Show, and always think of Josh Radnor, who plays Ted on HIMYM as short-ish, only Radnor towered over Jones. Granted Jones was probably barefoot as he was in a Karate outfit, but he must wear some serious lifts in his normal shoes, then, or Radnor must, or it's just because Jon Stewart is so short and Jason Siegel is so tall, or something like that. I don't know . . . the ending was telegraphed slightly to me, or at least I suspected it and since Sarah Chalke is on Scrubs, and Scrubs is coming back, whether she was the mother never seemed to be at issue for me, only how they would spilt up. I'm ready for them to get on with it.

I was happy to learn that I was wrong, and that Greek was only airing its penultimate episode, which I figured as soon as I realized they kept talking about "two more weeks" in the term, and that Casey's latest love interest--who I'm sure came in second for the role of Chuck because Michael Rady looks a lot like Zachary Levi, down to the sideburns--wasn't even on, and nor was Rebecca, who is usually relatively important. The episode was just OK, as I really don't care who the new sorority president is, or who is pulling the strings and I mostly watch for the love stories, which were almost entirely absent this time, but it was still fun to watch.

Monday night is cluster&6%$ night.

Heroes almost made sense to me last night--there must be something wrong with me. I still watch mostly for Hiro and Ando's scenes, which I think are intriguing because they're funny, but we're reading subtitles. I really don't know where they are going with all this though, or why I care. I'd love it if they'd move Chuck to that time slot, so I could watch it in real time, but since they're both on NBC, that won't happen. I'm only caught up until last week on that show and How I Met Your Mother, so later this week I want to get to last night's episode. I hate Monday night at 8 for being so good.

Gossip Girl is still great, though I didn't love last night's episode. I promised myself I'd write this blog before I read any other commentary and forgot and already read the recap on http://www.zap2it.com/. The reviewer and I both agree Vanessa is pointless. As I said to emily the other day (and I don't know if that's one of the two emilies I know, or one I don't), I love GG, but if I had teenagers, I sure wouldn't want them watching it to learn about love but the Blair/Chuck scenes are definitely the hottest things I'm watching these days--not that there's much competition as most shows are more like Pushing Daisies, where no one actually touches or Chuck, where they can only have a fake relationship. I'm not sure that the portrayal of Lily as a totally neglectful mother holds true to what we know about her, but it does explain some of Serena's wild child rep that we also haven't seen much in evidence and maybe more of why Erik tried to commit suicide. But Vanessa and Nate and Jenny are all pretty boring characters--they need to spice someone up. But they're all more interesting than Annie on 90210--I'm not the least bit sad that's in reruns for the second week in a row.

This week three shows I watch come to an end for the season, Mad Men, Greek, and The Janice Dickinson Modelling Agency (which I don't watch on purpose, yet have managed to catch every sordid episode--and it's been much trashier this season in the model house). I assumed there would be a Project Runway reunion tomorrow, but it doesn't look like it, so I don't know if that's next week or never. I could then replace those shows with Privileged, Fringe, or My Own Worst Enemy, (I have episodes of the latter two on TiVo but haven't watched them) but Stylista is looking like it's going to make the cut instead. I need something that doesn't require constant attention. One of the reasons I like Greek, despite it being about fraternity/sorority people, who never interested me before, is that it's so relentlessly lighthearted. I don't think most TV is like that--nearly all hour-long series tend to get darker as they get older. The ads for Privileged make it look pretty sunny, though, and a friend at the conference I was just at said I'd really like it, so maybe next week I'll try catching up in the middle (something I hate doing) since that space will be empty, and that's right after 90210, which I'd have to keep watching even if I didn't know I'm unable to look away. Anyhow, god forbid I could pick a weeknight and say "that's my reading night." There's really no law that I have to watch things the night of and I could use my TiVo to better effect, particulary if I dropped a slot or two.

If I were a really good teacher, I'd check out shows my students watch--House, Fringe, John and Kate Plus 8, The Biggest Loser, Intervention, and Little People, Big World seem to be the leaders there. But I can't bring myself to do it, especially those last four. Drippy/Sentimental is just not in my vocabulary, and I hope I'm not coming off as too judgmental. Mostly I just ask those students questions. A lot of my students seem to exist entirely on reality shows and seem to think that only older sitcoms are any good, but not so old as to be in black and white (a few were shocked to actually love Lucy). I try to make it clear that I know that there's a lot of crap out there, but that there's good stuff too. But I don't think I'm going to have a lot of luck getting working adults who are going to college on top of it (which is most of my students) to invest the mindwork it takes for Mad Men and Lost, though I'm shocked none seem to love The Office. Too real maybe?

Popsicles as love

Last night I watched the second to last episode of Mad Men for this season. I really like this show and wish more people watched it, but at least it has been renewed for a third season. The most interesting character to me is Peggy, who started in the first episode as a secretary at an advertising agency in 1960, and later got the chance to do some copywriting. She has remained self-effacing, and never seemed very attractive to me, but has had some ideas that clients really seemed to like, particularly this season, which fast forwarded to 1962. All season long people have been telling her that if she wants to get ahead she needs to look the part, yet she hasn't seemed to really catch on--it certainly seemed weird that three different characters have told her than and yet she still kept showing up at work in a pony tail and little girl clothes.

Two weeks ago a character--an out gay man who surprised everyone including Peggy with his announcement--gave her a much-needed haircut. That was a pretty cliche thing to have happen, and I'm not sure how I feel about the gay man acting as godmother, and her bangs still didn't look quite right. But last night she looked terrific, not only because of her hair, but she was wearing a cobalt blue cardigan with rhinestone buttons I would kill for (Cashmere cardigans are my weakness, and I know that was an especially nice one, presumably vintage, though new on the show). She came up with this idea for the Popsicle (TM) account--the clients wanted to sell popsicles in winter as well as summer--based on the idea that her mother broke Popsicles in half, and gave half to her, and half to her sister and that it was sort of like communion and it felt like love, with the tag line ""Take it. Break it. Share it. Love it." I'm not sure that would have worked for everyone, especially only children or families with an odd number of kinds. I don't remember a lot of Popsicles, but as an only child for my first 11 years (and I'm sure my sister wasn't eating them for another few years), if I ever had Popsicles, I guess I got the whole thing to myself and I imagine I liked it that way. I've never been a fan of fruit flavors, and love chocolate, so I'm sure there were more Fudgecicles, which are harder to break, but on the whole I think we are just an ice cream family. But maybe that's only because I never had a half a Popsicle bestowed on me like communion?

In the absence of boss Don Draper (who was off, literally finding himself in California), she really took control of the meeting, and asked for, and got, a much better office people senior to her had been coveting rather than having to share with another employee and the Xerox machine. It made me clap and it's clear that whatever the fate of the agency, Peggy has learned to really value her creativity and knows she has talent and power. It sows the seeds for second-wave feminism which is starting up along with the youth movement in 1962. We don't know if next season will pick right up or will skip a few years again, but it will be interesting to see how Peggy reacts to hippies and the Summer of Love.

Thursday night TV

Last night I watched Ugly Betty, followed by The Office, the SNL Thursday Night edition and Life on Mars.

Ugly Betty seems to me to be spinning its wheels. We've seen Willamina get power and lose it over and over, and Betty doesn't seem to get much of anywhere, despite her spandy-new-much-too-big-and-expensive-for-her apartment. I have noticed though that she doesn't fall down before the credits happen anymore, which seems to be progress. How they dress her doesn't make a lot of sense to me as they are actually often nice and expensive-looking garments--they just don't match at all. It seems as if in real life even if someone was color blind, or as in Betty's case, pattern blind, they'd learn the glories of a predominantly black wardrobe. She doesn't even have a white cat like I do to make that problematic!

I also wonder how they could have a teenage kid on for four episodes, and never let him interact with Justin. Seems like they missed a great opportunity for some character development for Justin there, or at least some humor, but in these shows with giant casts, there always seems to be someone shortchanged. In this case it was Justin and Amanda, though Christina never gets much to do either. Anyhow, the posters at Television Without Pity seemed to love this episode, mostly because of Gio, who doesn't interest me much, especially as we know he isn't staying.

I enjoyed The Office "Baby Shower" even if it wasn't my favorite episode. Somehow when Michael dropped the watermelon I laughed for about 10 minutes. I think these days that's so valuable that I kept up my good mood just based on that. Oddly, that part was the part that TWOP folks seemed to hate. It was very gross and dumb, which on any other show would be a real turnoff but for some reason or other doesn't bother me on The Office. I did notice Phyllis was wearing orange while party planning, the color that former head of the party planning committee Angela said was "whorey," which made me giggle too.

I kind of missed having Pam there, but at the conference I attended last week, there was a panel on female comedians on television, specifically Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Sara Silverman. I really enjoyed that panel but started thinking about Mindy Kaling who plays the very funny Kelly on The Office. She's also a writer/producer and I wonder how much influence she has over storylines and if that's part of the reason I enjoy a show so much that might skew very "guy" otherwise. I've read her blog (which sadly doesn't seem to have been updated since April or I'd link) and she's very girly--the blog is all about things she's bought like cute shoes and candy. Candy doesn't impress me much, so I don't know.

There's really no one to identify with on the show--Pam's too unambitious--though maybe her recent education will change some of that, Kelly's too silly, Meredith too drunk, Jan too certifiably insane and Phyllis is too--Phyllis. Angela's cat obsession and occasional inexplicable bitchiness make her the closest but obviously I can't imagine dating either Dwight or Andy. And Holly won't be there much longer, but I don't recognize her in me either. Maybe that isn't necessary--I like the show for the "surprise" that makes up most of the humor, and the funny and sometimes touching romances, and even for the discomfort that often makes me want to hide my face but there's no one in particular I feel for.

The SNL special was OK--better than the actual shows seems to be. I realized while seeing the movie Hamlet II that I really am not too crazy about Amy Poehler. She just seems very smug to me, and not all that funny. It bugs me that she's taken the Office team that was working on the spinoff for her own show that I'll probably feel compelled to watch but won't like very much. But maybe she'll surprise me. I've been know to change my mind.

Life on Mars was OK, but as I said in my previous post, awfully violent and full of that guy thing where men bond by literally punching each other in the face and then become best friends. This is mystifying to me. My concern with the first episode was that these period pieces often draw you in with wall to wall music and then they can't afford to keep that up. There was somewhat less music this time, but fun enough choices though the Gilbert O'Sullivan song was simply not as evocative as "Little Willie" from last time. Ditto the Kinks song v. the Who song from the first episode, which is weird because I like The Kinks better, but it just wasn't as exciting. (Edited later to say apparently it was Mott the Hoople, not The Kinks, which might explain that). Anyhow, I'm not sure what to make of this one yet, but will probably watch next week too. Thursday night has been a huge TV night for me since the days of Hill Street Blues and at times I've tried to cut down on my watching, that's always a spot where I need a show.

First post

I thought if I started a blog, it would get me writing about televison and television issues. Right now my dissertation is in strong consideration for being published as a book and I've been keeping myself sort of "on deck" for that as when they get back to me I assume I'll really have to hustle, but in the meantime I have all these thoughts about TV and nowhere really to talk about them. So I am.

For anyone reading this who doesn't already know me, my dissertation was called "Girls Who (Don't) Wear Glasses: The Performativity of Smart Girls on Teen Television" and dealt with the brainy type of character starting with Father Knows Best, and moving forward through the TV decades, but concentrating predominantly on Andrea Zuckerman on Beverly Hills, 90210, Angela Chase on My So-Called Life, Willow Rosenberg on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lindsay Weir of Freaks and Geeks, and Rory Gilmore, Paris Geller, and Lane Kim of Gilmore Girls.

I finished that and am now an assistant professor of Media Studies and Communications, and am teaching my own course in Television and Culture online, and am planning to develop a course in Women, Girls, and the Media for next fall.

I'm still watching teen shows, particularly Gossip Girl (thanks to Emily for letting me know I missed the most important one!) CW's new 90210, ABC Family's Greek (technically a college show and hence outside the parameters I set for myself), the BBC's Skins, THEN's Degrassi: The Next Generation and over the summer the appalling Secret Life of the American Teenager. I'm also paying attention to teen girls on shows like Heroes, and . . . I don't think there are any on other shows I watch since they fast forwarded the ones on Desperate Housewives.

I also watch The Office, Mad Men, Lost, Ugly Betty, Chuck, How I Met Your Mother, Entourage, Weeds, Project Runway, and usually watch ER though, since it's so depressing and boring, I'm just as happy when there's something else in that timeslot and, as such, have seen the first two episodes of Life on Mars. I don't really like cop shows, but enjoy period pieces. We'll see if I keep it up. It's pretty violent. I also never miss The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, which I usually watch the next morning since I don't like politics at night, and Jeopardy.

Yes--that's too much TV. I'm supposed to be working very hard. I spend a lot of time reading about TV when I'm not watching it. Which is why I feel like I need to write about the television rather than just consume.