Pages

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Best of 2014

I'm terrible at Best Of lists because I 1) can't remember what came out and 2) am terrible at reviewing most things. Luckily, both Goodreads and Blogger make it easy to see what came out in a certain year. So...

My Top 5 Books of 2014:

  • I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
  • Of Scars and Stardust by Andrea Hannah
  • The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
  • Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
  • We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

My Top 5 Films of 2014:
  • Interstellar
  • The Fault In Our Stars
  • Snowpiercer
  • Gone Girl
  • Fury


 What's on your list??

Monday, December 29, 2014

Dream Scene 12.28.2014

The first kiss, the one I gave, was to the side and unsure. Just minutes before I was convinced that this would be the last time I would drop you off. It was an awkward moment, but our muscle memories brought us back to an almost embrace and that is when I kissed the side of your mouth. It wasn't chaste, it was sad. It was full of uncertainty and want and confusion, but then, as I pulled away, you turned your head and caught me. Caught me in a moment that felt familiar and warm and your lips on mine erased a few of the questions barreling through my mind. But still, you had to go and our lips parted and I said goodbye. And I still wasn't sure if I would see you again, but you held on to my hand as you got out of the car, not looking at me, but the earth started to revolve around that new sun. Your hand held onto mine until a moment when it should have been humanly impossible and our fingertips stretched and held and we only let go when the essence of our prints were touching and then you were finally out of the car. But it was okay because I drove off smiling.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Friday Night Dinner Gift Guide

For all of the Gilmore Girl fans in your life! 
(Note: Prices May Vary!)







Do some holiday shopping while catching up on Friday Night Dinner, your favorite Gilmore Girls podcast. We've covered all the bases here: for someone who has never seen the show the complete series would be perfect, know a foodie? the Quarterly subscription to Food52 would be awesome! what about your caffeine-obsessed friend? How about a Starbucks gift card? Perfect!

 
Gilmore Girls: the Complete Series CollectionGilmore Girls Complete Series
$124.99 from Barnes & Noble
Pro & Con NotepadPro/Con Pad
$7.99 from Modcloth 

The Godfather Collection
The Godfather BR box set
$45 from BN.com

Babette ate Oatmeal. T-Shirt
Babette ate oatmeal t-shirt
$24.50 from CafePress

Someday, Someday, Maybe
“Someday, Someday Maybe” by Lauren Graham
$15.00 from BN

Snowman
Coffee Coffee Coffee!

 
Acceptable shearling
$165.00 from Zappos

Howl: Original Draft Facsimile, Transcript, and Variant Versions 
Howl by Allen Ginsberg
$15.51 from Amazon

BOP IT!
BOP IT!
$22.99 from Hasbro

Gilmore Girls Luke's Diner Coffee Mug 
 
Luke’s Diner Mug
$14.99 from WB.com




Hello Kitty Gift Card
Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Any denominations at BN.com

Package-hover 
Quarterly subscription to Food52
$50.00 for next box




Parenthood: Season 1
Parenthood, Season One
$14.99 from Barnes & Noble 

 

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!

Of course I'm thankful for the usual (family, friends, health), but I always like to think outside the box a little and list some other things for which I am thankful:

  • the air conditioning in my car
  • Jon Snow
  • that the curtains in my living room are dark enough to shield me from the sun
  • Netflix
  • so many bunnies on Pinterest
  • the beach at Chincoteague (technically Assateague)
  • when my nook remembers what page I am on
  • seasonal beers
  • earmuffs
  • when I have a break at work and no one else is in the breakroom
  • Taylor Swift
  • spinach
  • Tennis Channel
  • this time of year when the sun sets earlier
  • a good bassoon reed
  • Saul
  • Build a Bear Workshop
  • when people wave 'thanks' when I let them merge
  • Prince George
  • Netgalley and Edelweiss and being approved for awesome ARCs
  • my sister's February countdown
  • babies in general
  • X-Men
  • wifi
  • bacon cheese fries at McMahons Irish Pub
  • flurries
  • twitter
  • fashion magazines
  • Essie's Good to Go topcoat

There ya go! So what are YOU thankful for? 

Monday, November 17, 2014

"Creep" Vs "Paperbag Writer"

Radiohead Bracket Time!

You know the drill: I'm working through a list of Radiohead songs to see which one comes out as the winner...which one is my favorite!

Creep



When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry

You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
And I wish I was special
You're so fuckin' special

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul

I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo.
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

She's running out again,
She's running out
She's run run run run

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so fuckin' special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo,
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here


(Pablo Honey. 1993)

Maybe Radiohead's most well-known song? Says something about it that it's over 20 years old and still can feel fresh. Soft-Loud-Soft magical formula and Thom Yorke sings some of those words just so perfectly. It might also be that I've been hearing this song for 20+ years and know what to listen for. 

Paperbag Writer

Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.
Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.

It was nice when it lasted,
But now it's gone.
It was nice when it lasted,
But now it's gone.

Blow into this paperbag.

Take your armor off,
You're not under attack.
Take your armor off,
You're not under attack.

Come on, come on.
Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.
Blow into this paperbag,
Go home, stop grinning at everyone.

And they were honeybees
On a blade of grass.
Take your armor off,
You're not under attack.

Blow into this paperbag.
Blow into this paperbag.


(Com Lag. 2003)

Dang, comparing songs released 10 years apart. "Paperbag Writer" is a weird one, too. It sounds like Thom Yorke took over a microphone as an orchestra was having a strings sectional. There isn't a lot of movement to this one and I find myself just waiting for something to happen. Like, where's the climax?

And the winner is...

Creep!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Andy Murray Is My #1

This breaks my sports heart:






Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Winter Is Coming

Guys, I need some cold air.

Monday, October 27, 2014

"Hunting Bears" vs "Lozenge of Love"

"Hunting Bears"

Instrumental



(2001. Amnesiac) 

This song is like an arrow into my heart and soul. I can't even explain why. There is something about it that I am obsessed with. I think it's the fingers moving on the strings, the added synth (?) halfway through that adds an eerie accompaniment,  the fact that I create a short film in my mind every time I hear it. It just sounds so simple and precise, yet at the same time it comes across with so much depth.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Cruel Summer

I try so hard to not be obsessed with the weather, but when the upcoming forecast for the last week of October has a high of 81 in there, I can't help it. It's depressing me that it's been so warm this October.

But is it really just "this October"? Timehop has been ever so kind to remind me that the past few Octobers have been unseasonably warm. It's not a fact I've forgotten, but each year a part of me has such high hopes that we will again have an October like I remember from my childhood. One that requires at least a light jacket. One during which the fallen leaves are actually crunchy and not soft with humidity. (Yuck!)

A week from now it will be November. NOVEMBER! It feels more like September around here and it upsets me that I am not in the mindset for fun Fall stuff like pumpkins and Thanksgiving and sweaters. I love this time of year and always want the lead up to Christmas to feel long, but so far, it's like we've been robbed of an entire month. Two months from yesterday will be Christmas Eve. Isn't that wild? It seems to close and it's because in my brain, it's still late summer.

And then there's the news. Yesterday the meteorologist said "Perfect 10 out of 10 today!" Oh yeah, really? For October? Are you sure about that? In my opinion, perfect late October weather is in the 50s. I don't understand why the news gives their opinions on the weather. If anything, they should work around the averages of that time of year. Not everyone wants it to be sunny and warm.

I'm a realist about the weather, but I am also so optimistic and I'm not giving up hope that we can still have a good autumn. October had about a week of good days so let's move on to November and really enjoy it! Sub 50s, please!

XO,
SVR


+ Title from Banarama

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Day 11: Glasgow to Home

I don't have many photos from our last moments in Scotland as it was a travel day and those are stressful. I was also pretty bummed to be ending our trip (although very excited to get back to my washing machine!).



We took one of the easiest bus(s)es from just up the street from our hotel to the Glasgow Airport at about 9 or so that morning. It was really nice to not have to wake up at the crack of dawn! We got to the airport super early and just read for awhile while we waited to check in. I actually don't remember too much from the Glasgow Airport except for the time we spent reading.

From Glasgow we flew to Heathrow where we had a short layover and I tried to get more information about my lost camera. Long story short: they never found it and I got reimbursed from travel insurance. (Yay!) It was also here that we ordered iced coffees from the Starbucks and the baristas were super confused.



The flight home was loonnngggggggg and the person in front of me had their seat reclined back the entire time. The Worst. Luckily, our seat mate was a big fan of getting up a lot, which works out super well!

Back in Boston we had a great surprise when my brother-in-law met us at the airport! How sweet is he!? I could barely drive after 10 days of not being behind the wheel and 7+ hours in the plane, but we made it back to Ali's house and crashed.

As you've hopefully read in my daily summaries, our trip was epic and it was such a treat to get to go to the amazing country of Scotland with my sister. It's something I'll always remember.

XO,
SVR

P.S. Can't wait to go back!

"Codex" vs "You"

All right, you remember the drill- it's Radiohead bracket time!

"Codex"

Sunday, October 19, 2014

"Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" vs "Fake Plastic Trees"

"Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors"




There are barn doors
And there are revolving doors

Doors on the rudders of big ships
We are revolving doors

There are doors that open by themselves
There are sliding doors
And there are secret doors

There are doors that lock
And doors that don't

There are doors that let you in
And out
But never open
But they are trapdoors
That you can't come back from

(2001. Amnesiac)

This is a total robot song. No melody, no real singing. It's just kind of there.  

Fake Plastic Trees



Her green plastic watering can for
her fake Chinese rubber plant
In the fake plastic earth

What she bought from a rubber man
In a town full of rubber bands
to get rid of itself

It wears her out, it wears her out
It wears her out, it wears her out

She lives with a broken man
A cracked polystyreneman
Who just crumbles and burns

He used to do surgery
For girls in the eighties
But gravity always wins

And it wears him out, it wears him out
It wears him out, it wears him

She Looks like the real thing
She tastes like the real thing
My fake plastic love

But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run

And it wears me out, it wears me out
It wears me out, it wears me out

If i could be who you wanted
If i could be who you wanted all the time, all the time

(1994. The Bends)

Is this really from 1994? It has held up so well! I've probably said it before, but my favorite songs almost always have a huge crescendo at the end with a softer resolution. With a lot of Radiohead songs, I love that they sound like they're being sung in an empty bathroom. It's an echo or something or maybe it's just that Thom Yorke is that good and it's not over-produced. I also love songs that get me tapping my foot to a beat that I'm not aware of. Whether it be the bass line or drums that I can't pinpoint- I love it! I think it's a sign of a well-constructed song. Anyway....I didn't really need to write so much about this song. It's great!

And the winner is...

Fake Plastic Trees.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

"Reckoner" vs "You Never Wash Up After Yourself"

It's been awhile, but I haven't forgotten about my Radiohead bracket to figure out my favorite song. Check it out: HERE.

"Reckoner"



Reckoner
You can't take it with you
Dancing for your pleasure

You are not to blame for
Bittersweet distractors
Dare not speak its name
Dedicated to all human beings

Because we separate
Like ripples on a blank shore
In rainbows
Because we separate
The ripples on a black shore

Reckoner, take me with you

Dedicated to all human beings

(2007. In Rainbows)

This is a delicate song, but with movement. This song reminds me of being up too late. It's weird because when I listen to it, I think "This is kind of a dull song" but then I never change it and by the time it's over, I realize I've been singing along. That's got to say something, eh?

"You Never Wash Up After Yourself"



I must get out once in a while
Everything is starting to die
The dust settles, the worms dig
Spiders crawl over the bed

I must get out once in a while
I eat all day and now I'm fat
Yesterday's meal is hugging the plate
You never wash up after yourself

(1994. My Iron Lung)


I am a sucker for arpeggios. Does "Reckoner" even have a chance? I'm so torn because I think "Reckoner" is a betteng, but there's something about "You Never Wash Up After Yourself" that I love. I love how the voice rises and sounds like he gets too close to the microphone and it sounds very...raw. BUT I don't like how the song just ends. It feels a bit unfinished to me.

And the winner is...

I have no idea. I'm listening to them again to be sure. OKAY OKAY OKAY....I'm going with....

Reckoner!

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Filmography Project: David Fincher- Update 1

Okay, I blogged about this project awhile ago, and with Gone Girl being released this week (!!!!), it's time to buckle down and get serious.

So, here are his works (working backwards):

  • Gone Girl- 2014
  • House of Cards- 2013
  • Justin Timberlake featuring Jay Z short- 2013
  • The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo- 2011
    • I am obsessed with this film. For awhile I watched it at least once a week. Sick, I know.
  • The Social Network- 2010
  •  Madonna Celebration Video Collection (Express Yourself, Vogue)- 2009
  • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- 2008
    • Fincher + Pitt is so good. 
  • George Michael: Twenty Five- 2006
  • Video Hits- Paula Abdul (Straight Up, Forever Your Girl, Cold Hearted)- 2005
  • Panic Room- 2002
  • Madonna (Bad Girl)- 1999
  • Fight Club- 1999
    • A top five movie of all time.
  • George Michael (Freedom)- 1999
  • The Game- 1997
  • Se7en- 1995
    • "What's in the boxxxxx?"
  • Aerosmith- Big Ones- 1994
  • Best of Sting (Englishman in New York)- 1994
  • Dangerous-Short Films (Who Is It?)- 1993
  • Alien 3- 1992
    • I'm gonna have to watch Aliens since I don't remember it At ALl. 
  • Madonna Immaculate Collection (Express Yourself, Oh Father, Vogue)- 1990
  • The Beat of the Live Drum- 1985
Do you have a favorite Fincher film??

What's interesting is that I've seen all of his movies, except for Alien 3. I've probably seen all of his music videos, too, without realizing who directed them. This is going to be fun, guys!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Day 10: Glasgow

All of our hotels in Scotland had really good breakfasts: Edinburgh was like a little restaurant tucked away in the back of the small hotel, Kirkwall was like eating in your neighbor's kitchen (but without the small talk), and our Glasgow hotel was a buffet, which was perfect for two tired travelers.





For our last full day in Scotland, we took it easy and basically planned our day around our meals. First up was breakfast and some chitchat with a lovely couple on vacation from Canada (?).

Between breakfast and lunch we did some more shopping and walking around Buchanan St.



 And then ended up at The Horseshoe Bar for lunch. It was good, hearty Scottish food served as an economical package. All served with some magic:




Even though it rained at least a little every day we were there, this was probably the most dreary of the days* and you could definitely feel the seasons changing as night was upon us the earliest of our trip.



I like to think that Scotland was sad we were leaving the next day. I know I was.

Ten days into our trip we were finally smart enough to pick a real restaurant for dinner instead of wandering around looking for a pub with food. We went to a lovely Italian place up the street for tapas and a delicious cocktail made with Pimms!



After dinner we went back to the Corner Bar near our hotel to get more of the amazing sticky toffee pudding and spiked coffee drinks, but their service SUCKED and after sitting there for 45 minutes, we gave up and left. It was pretty ridiculous.



But look who we saw!



Since we never got dessert, we went to a convenience store and picked up something there and also stocked up on Orkney oatcakes (yum!).

Saturday night in Glasgow had a special feel to it and I think we were both fine with heading back to the hotel to relax and enjoy our store-bought desserts. You could feel the energy outside as the night went on and as the street noises got louder, it definitely felt best to be snuggled in our hotel beds. Nothing felt scary in Glasgow, but it wasn't like we were looking for a wild night. Being hungover for 7+ hours on a plane is not something I want to experience!

I was pretty sad that it was our last night in Scotland. My only regret was not having more sticky toffee pudding. One more day to blog about!

XO,
SVR


*Note: I love dreary days!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Day 9: Glasgow

We were pretty tired by this time of the trip. I think we were both glad that Glasgow was our last city not because we wanted to leave Scotland, but because we had the least amount planned for that city. We had tossed around the idea of using our rail pass to go to another city, but we ended up not and while seeing more of Scotland would have been awesome, I don't think we would have enjoyed our last few days had we done that. It's important to be rested and well while traveling!

We were also a bit done with public transportation by this point, too. After our epic day of bus/cab/train to get from Kirkwall to Glasgow, we wanted to stick close to our hotel and not have to 1) worry about getting around and 2) pay for cabs. Luckily, our hotel was in a primo spot of the city and we could walk most everywhere. The only place I had wanted to go to, but was too far away, was Ubiquitous Chip, but that's okay. It's good to leave things for next time.

First up, we headed down Buchanon St, which is the main shopping area of the city. It's a pretty impressive street of shopping! It's also a lot of fun because there are street musicians and it has a very energetic feeling. While Edinburgh feels magical and old, Glasgow feels bustling and gritty.

Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Flattery: Landslide

Just my second cover comparison, but what a fun series! Go back and check out my "Wonderwall" discussion if interested.

So, the original:



And the Smashing Pumpkins cover:




I am not a Stevie Nicks fan. I guess full disclosure on that is pretty important. I also happen to be a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan. I can't say for sure that my first introduction to this song wasn't the Smashing Pumpkin's version, but I can definitely say that their version is what I love. The Fleetwood Mac version just sounds a little too without feeling for me. The guitar playing is quite nice, of course, but it's her voice that totally turns me off. And I know a lot of people say the same thing about Billy Corgan's voice, but man, I love it. I feel SO much more feeling in the Smashing Pumpkin's version and I like that it's a little bit more messy- the guitar playing doesn't sound perfect and it's not always balanced, but it works. Oh, how it works.

I love the cover WAY more....what about you???

XO,
SVR

Saturday, September 06, 2014

Why I Don't Like Federer (Anymore)

When Federer first burst onto the scene, I wasn't a fan. Why? Well, to be honest, I didn't like his hair. And, sure, that's trivial, but that's how sports work. I started liking Djokovic after seeing him do serve impressions of other famous players. I started liking Andy Murray because I saw that he was from Scotland. I like Dimitrov because he's hot. The reasons for liking players and teams can be pretty random. That's sports for ya!

For Federer's first Grand Slam title, he beat Mark Philippoussis in the final. I held a grudge against him for several years for that and then again for that epic final against Roddick at Wimbledon. Grudges are also normal in sports. As a Redskins fan, I automatically hate the Cowboys. And those first few years of his career (2004/5 especially) were boring. I hate to see the same player win everything. Even when I was a HUGE Pete Sampras fan, I still wanted some of the other guys to win some of those major tournaments.

It was fun when Nadal started having a great rivalry with Federer! I loved the talk about Federer not being able to beat Nadal on clay and it was even better when Nadal beat Federer at Wimbledon in 2008! He also owns a winning record against Federer. Nadal totally puts Federer in his place and I think he alone is why Federer keeps playing. Nadal has 14 Grand Slam titles and is about five years younger.

As the years went on, though, I definitely started to respect Roger Federer's playing. He's amazing. No one can deny that. And then, around 2010 maybe, I even started to like Federer a little bit. A little little bit. He wasn't winning everything and he was starting to get that over 30 Agassi aura about him. Honestly, it felt like he was going to retire soon and I think everyone had the feeling that we should enjoy his beautiful style while we could. (But not while winning more majors.)

But now it's 2014 and he's still around. And I get it, I do. He's still really good so why not keep playing? That's fine. BUT OH MY GOD SO MANY TENNIS FANS ARE COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH HIM!!! It's weird. I've never been to a sporting event where it seems like people have been brainwashed to like someone. I often say that people have drank the Federer kool aid and that is exactly what it's like to sit in a stadium and hear 90% of the crowd cheer for him no matter who he is against. And it's different than just having a favorite player. I've asked some Federer fans about liking him, and they either never watch the early rounds of tournaments and aren't true fans or they seem to like him because they're seemingly told to by the TV.

Now, the over 30 Agassi aura that he used to have has morphed into this obnoxious GOAT* aura that he and most commentators encourage. Federer is always going to be a factor in a tournament. He's consistent and knows how to win, but after not even reaching a Major final in 2013, I feel like tennis experts should not be talking about him like it's still 2005.

It's time to move on from Federer. A Federer win is a boring win and I don't want my favorite sport to be boring.

XO,
SVR



*Greatest Of All Time

Monday, September 01, 2014

To See List. Tennis.

I declared 2014 to be the Year of Tennis and even though I didn't get lucky with the Wimbledon ticket lottery, I've still had some awesome moments! I've watched A LOT of it on TV (which is what I'm doing right now), and I went to the Western & Southern Open in Cincinatti in August where I saw so many amazing players! On the way home, my friend and I went through the top ten for the WTA and ATP to figure out who we've seen and who we still need to see play.

ATP*:
  1.  Novak Djokovic- saw him play!
  2. Rafael Nadal-not yet:( He has been hurt.
  3. Roger Federer- yeah, blah.
  4. Stan Wawrinka- not yet, actually.
  5. David Ferrer- no
  6. Milos Raonic- We saw him walking around at Cinci, but did we see him play? I don't think so.
  7. Tomas Berdych- no.
  8. Grigor Dimitrov- yes....swoon. 
  9. Andy Murray- YES! And we saw him practice with Dimitrov. Amazing!
  10. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga- Yes.
WTA:
  1. Serena Williams- Yes, zzzz.
  2. Simona Halep- yes!
  3. Na Li- No, which is fine. She has been hurt, too.
  4. Petra Kvitova- no:(
  5. Agnieszka Radwansk- Yep! 
  6. Maria Sharapova- Yes!
  7. Angelique Kerber- No
  8. Eugenie Bouchard- Yay! Yes.
  9. Ana Ivanovic- Yes! Love her.
  10. Jelena Jankovic- saw her practicing.


Not bad, eh? Plus, I've seen plenty more not in the Top 10s:) Who is your favorite player??


XO,
SVR

*Tanking as of 25 August 2014

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Emmys 2014

Let's talk Emmys!

Lead Actress in a Drama Series- Okay, so we have Michelle Dockery, Claire Danes, Robin Wright, Lizzy Caplan, Kerry Washington, and Julianna Margulies. Oh boy, this is a tough one. I love all of these women, but the past seasons of Downton Abbey, Homeland, and Scandal were just meh for me. (Don't get me wrong, I loved them, but they didn't stand out as exceptional.) Lizzy Caplan probably deserves it, but I don't watch Masters of Sex so I'm gonna vote for Michelle Dockery because I thought she played grief very well.

Lead Actor in a Drama Series- Bryan Cranston, Kevin Spacey, Jon Hamm, Jeff Daniels, Matthew McConaughey, and Woody Harrelson. Just give it to Matthew McC already! Although, I soooooooo want Jon Hamm to win one!

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series- Anna Gunn, Maggie Smith, Joanne Froggat, Lena Headey, Christian Hendricks, and Christina Hendricks. Lena Headey would be a great win!!!! She is so good as Cersei in Game of Thrones.

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series- Aaron Paul, Jim Carter, Peter Dinklage, Mandy Patinkon, Jon Voight, Josh Charles. I will only be happy if Peter Dinklage wins. Okay....or Mandy Patinkon!

Outstanding Drama Series- Breaking Bad, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Mad Men, True Detective. GAME OF THRONES GAME OF THRONES OMG GAME OF THRONES!

Lead Actress in a Comedy- Lena Dunham, Melissa McCarthy, Edie Falco, Taylor Schilling, Amy Poehler, Juliea Louis-Dreyfus. Give it to Amy Poehler!

Lead Actor in a Comedy- Ricky Gervais, Matt LeBlanc, Don Cheadle, Louis C.K., William H. Macy, Jim Parsons. Anyone, but Jim Parsons. PLEASE.

Supporting Actress in a Comedy- Julie Bowen, Allison Janney, Kate Mulgrew, Kate McKinnon, Mayim Bialik, Anna Chlumsky. I'd vote for Kate McKinnon! NOT Julie Bowen or Mayim B.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy- Andre Braugher, Adam Driver, Ty Burell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fred Armison, Tony Hale. Come on, Adam Driver!!!!!

Outstanding Comedy Series- Louie, Modern Family, Orange is the New Black, The Big Bang Theory, Veep, Silicon Valley. The world needs better comedy shows. Wowza! I would either want Louie or Veep.


That's all, folks! There are about a MILLION other categories and I just can't with all of the shows being in miniseries. Join me on twitter Monday night for the broadcast! @scarls17

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 6!

Group dance:

"Hide" by N.A.S.A"

Choreographed by Nick Demoura.

DJ theme. I like it. It's interesting when the dancers wear masks. Cool dance...it'll do.


Okay, so a lot of dances tonight, which is awesome. And then next week will be the finale! Craziness. Also-Cat's look tonight is AWESOME! Love it.

Ricky and Valerie dancing broadway:

"I've Got The World On A String" by Frank Sinatra

Choreographed by Spencer Liff

After Tanisha went home, I'm kinda over Valerie. Sorry, girl. Next to Ricky, she looks like she isn't finishing any of her lines. This is nice and I enjoy it, but it's not exceptional, ya know? Nothing wrong with the choreography, which I actually really liked!

Jessica and Casey dancing disco:

"Dim All The Lights" by Donna Summer

Choreographed by Doriana Sanchez

Whoa, sexy beginning and wowza, I love her hair! OMG that spin! Insane! WOW that was one of the best discos I've ever seen!! It was hot and fast and it totally felt like they were ENJOYING it. Like we were watching Saturday Night Fever! SOoooo gooooooood!

Ricky's solo:

"My Tears Are Becoming A Sea" by MIA

Ricky's solos are totally him flailing around and showing off tricks, but with him, it works! He dances with his entire being. It's awesome. 

Jacque and Zach dancing foxtrot:

"Anything Goes" by Tony Bennet and Lady Gaga

Choreographed by Jean Marc Generaux

I don't think this style suits her very well...or, maybe it's that they don't match as a couple. She appears too tall for him in a way. And...she is wearing pants? Why? This dance was fine, but again, not memorable.

Jessica's solo:

"I Was Here" by Beyonce

Love that she has the curly hair for this routine, but otherwise, this was just your typical solo...blah.

Valerie and TWitch dancing hip hop:

"Yeah" by Usher

Choreographed by WillDaBeast

Hi, love Usher. Oooooh I liked this! I think Valerie did a great job and I loved the choreography! So awesome.

Casey's solo:

"Lay Me Down" by Sam Smith

Holy crap, his spins! Not very musical with his solo, but great tricks.

 Valerie's solo:

"What I Like About You" by The Romantics

Great!!!

Jacque and Will dancing contemporary:

"99 Red Balloons" by Sleeping At Last

Choreography by SeanCheesman

Awww that was so sweet. I loved it! I liked the ball in the beginning and was glad it was ONLY in the beginning. The balloons at the end were gorgeous. I totally agree with Christina Applegate that it made my heart warm.

Zach's solo:


Another tap solo....another good tap solo. More people should consider auditioning on tap because it's perfect for the solos. 
"Butterfly" by Jason Mraz

Jessica and Ade dancing jazz:

"Boneless" by Steven Aoiki

Choreographed by Ray Leeper

I LOVED THIS! It was so different and funky and man, those outfits were perfect for this routine. Jessica really does have the It Factor.

Jacque's solo:

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" by The Andrews Sisters

Oooh, a costume! Good! Well, I think she did beat Jessica solo-wise.

Ricky and Anna dancing cha cha:

"Dare" by Shakira

Choreographed by Jean Marc

Ummm, that may have been the best cha cha ever. Ricky is so refined in all of his movements!

Casey and Mackenzie dancing contemporary:

"Over You" by Ingrid Michaelson

Choreographed by Stacy Tookey

Well, I wasn't sure in the beginning and then towards the end I totally teared up! I love Casey! That was wonderful.

Zach and Fikshun dancing hip hop:

"Sail" by Awolnation

Choreographed by Phillip Cheeb

This was pretty cool, for what it was. It's tough to have a hip hop routine with two guys without it coming off cheesy.

Results time:( Top two guys and girls: Jessica, Ricky, (so far, duh), Valerie (OMG WHAT?), Zach.

Okay so....looks like maybe the tappers' solos got them through maybe? I'm a little disappointed because I really love Casey. Bust!

So...who do you want to win????

Sunday, August 17, 2014

SYTYCD: Top 8

Anyone else shocked we're already down to just eight!? I always want this part of the competition to last longer.

Group dance:

"A Place With No Name" by Michael Jackson

Choreographed by...? Did she say??

Dude, they don't don't to MJ enough. SO perfect for dancing. This dance is just meh for me. I think the costumes are actually working against them because it's giving the wrong ambiance for me. They're being weird emotionless robots, but the song comes through with more feeling than that.

Tanisha solo:

"Warrior" by Havana Brown

What is her specialty? I honestly can't remember...or tell from this solo.

Ricky and Jaimie dancing contemporary:

"Smile" by Michael Jackson

Choreographed by Travis Wall

Ummmmm....not my favorite TW piece, to be honest. Really great, but I just didn't connect to it like I usually do. Loved the choreography and maybe the problem is that they did make it look so effortless. Maybe too effortless:) (And Ricky is SAFE.)

Zack solo:

"Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedinfield

Man, tap really does well for the solos. Great job!  

Valerie and Ryan dancing samba:

"Wanna Be Startin' Something" by Michael Jackson

Choreography by Jean Marc

 OMG LOVE THIS SONG! Also love her outfit. And Ryan. Wow, she is flying and it looks great! I'm curious what Mary will say about the rolls because they looked awkward to me. Although, I'm not sure if the first roll things were rolls or not because the second set looked great. I'm confused. Loved this. (And she is safe.)

Casey solo:

"Outro" by M83

He is flying in this solo! I actually like this because he seemed connected to his music.

Rudy solo:

"Warrior" by Drehz

Oh boy, this is wonderful. Great music for a solo and he really worked it well.

Casey and Comfort dancing hip hop:

"Xscape" by MJ

Choreographed by Pharside and Phoenix

I love Casey:) He is so out of his element here, but I think he did a great job. Also, why is Comfort making those ridiculous motions with her mouth? Ugh. (Casey is in the bottom, boo.)

Jacque solo:

"Nocture in C#m"

Beautiful! So delicate and pretty.

Tanisha and Nick dancing contemporary:

"She's Out Of My Life" by MJ

Choreography by Stacy Tookey

Love Nick, by the way. Beautiful lift when he grabbed her foot. This was really great and I loved the moments with the hat on the mic stand. So pretty! (Bottom? Yes. WHAT?)

Jessica solo:

"Taking Chances" by Celine Dion

Good outfit for a solor, but didn't blow me away ...oh wait, lots of spinning. Great moves, but not much connecting with the music.

Rudy and Allison dancing contemporary (?):

"Dirty Diana" by MJ

Choreographed by Ray Leeper

Allison looks like a clone from Orphan Black in this dance. Great song! Awesome routine. Rudy is great, too! I really liked this. It was so STRONG. Just so ON POINT. Man, Rudy is a beast. (Results: Bottom. BARF!)

Valerie solo:

"Dance With My Tonight" by Olly Murs

Tap! Perfect outfit, too. This was great and musical. Awesome job.

Zach and McKenzie dancing broadway:

"The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson

Choreography by Spencer Liff

Yayyyyyy Center Stage music!!!!!! This song is incredible. This was awesome! This one is tough for me because it was really great, but with the broadway feel to it, it's hard to get really excited about it when it's just a few minutes. (And not in the bottom two!)

Ricky solo:

"Haeft, Kemur Ljosio" by Olafur Arnalds

This is the type of solo that really highlights the dancer's strengths, which is Ricky's case is other-wordly body movement.

Jacque and tWitch dancing hip hop:

"Slave to the Rhythm" by MJ

Choreography by Dave Scott

This is a crazy far away style from ballet. Wowza! I think she did  a great job. It was a little weird with the smooth hip hop moments and not because they weren't danced well, but because I worried that without hard-hitting moments it would make people think it wasn't good. Well, I liked it! (And she is in the bottom, which is insane.)

Jessica and Will dancing contemporary:

"Earth Song" by MJ

Choreographed by Mandy Moore

This is a great dance and I love how they have these little moments where their movements match each other in a small little burst and then they're off doing their own thing again. The ending was a little anticlimactic, but I guess that's to be expected in such a short routine. But, overall, I really liked this! (And she is safe!)

RESULTS TIME OMG:

Tanisha and Rudy...going home.

OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS!??!!?!??!!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?! I mean, I kind of think everyone should stay so no one would have made sense to have been voted off, but wow. WOW! I will miss both of them a lot.

Until next week!

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Top 10! And ALL-STARS!

Group Dance

"Bang Bang" by Jessie J

Choreographed by Jamal Sims

Wowza, there are a lot of props going on in this dance, but you know what? They work! I think it's the focus on colors that works for me. Nice start!

Looks like someone helped out the Top 10 with their intro moves...and OH NO the "Here are your girls...here are your guys" is back. Boo.

Bridget and Brandon dancing Bollywood Disco (Whut?)

"Disco Krisco " by Dil Bole

Choreographed by Nakul

That was...a lot of bouncing and jumping and omg their legs must be burning. I liked that, but the problem with dances like this is that they almost seem frantic and like the dancer is just zipping along until the end. Bridget looks gorgeous, though, and the makeup and costume are an A for me. Aw, sad, Bridget is in the bottom two.

Tanisha and Ryan dancing Argentine Tango

"The Gaucho's Pain" by Tango's Jointz

Choreographed by Leonardo and Miriam

What a lovely beginning! Holy crap that was awesome! Both Ryan and Tanisha were oh so good, but I love seeing a strong ballroom male. I..wow...I just adored that. And Tanisha is safe! Duh.

Emilio Jasmine dancing hip hop

"Get Low" by Dillon Francis

Choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon

Are her pants falling off? I really liked this, but she stood out just a little bit more than he did, which is unfortunate, because he did a great job! I liked this! Okay results- bottom two:( So both Emilio and Bridget, who danced jazz last week are in the bottom two. I think it's because they went first last week.

Valerie and Ade dancing jazz

"Hearts a Mess" by Gotye

Choreographed by Tyce Diorio

Love her costume and hair. Holy crap Ade with that press with her on his back! I liked this! And I thought they actually did convey emotions through the movements. And can we just talk about her amazing eye makeup? Awe.some. Results...safe!

Rudy and Jenna dancing cha cha

"Maps" by Maroon 5

Choreographed by Louis Van Amstel

Whoa, bare chest! This is a hot little number! Love the costuming once again with the pop of pink under his vest that matches her dress. I thought this was great! No complaints here. Man, it's so nice when the All Stars are on:) Results are in...Safe-a-roni!

Jacque and Chehon dancing contemporary ballet

"Adagio for TRON" by Daft Punk

Choreographed by Travis Wall

Whoa, super pumped for this routine!!!! Bally! Perfect music. Once again Travis Wall kills with his musical selection! That was beautiful. That actually brought tears to my eyes because it was so exquisite. Now, is she bottom two? YES?! OMG.

Ricky and Lauren dancing jazz

"Bossa Nova Baby" by Elvis Presley

Choreographed by Mandy Moore

That was super cute and entertaining, but honestly, not my favorite of the night. I did LOVE the end part of the floor. Is Ricky safe? Duh, yes.

Casey and Kathryn dancing broadway

"Maybe This Time" by Liza Minelli

Choreographed by Spencer Liff

Looooovvvveddddddd this and what was so great for me is that it felt so different. It had the story of a contemporary piece, but it was danced in the broadway style. So fresh! And Kathryn! YES! And Casey is a top notch dancer-did you see those moves he did!? Please don't have him in the bottom=/ And he isn't! Safe!

Jessica and TWitch dancing hip hop

"U Got Me Up" by Cajmere

Choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon

Ummmm, that was so much fun! Loved the premise, loved the costumes, loved TWitch's gray hair! Amazeballs. And we already know she is safe.

Zacque and Amy dancing contemporary

"Europe, After the Rain" by Max Richter

Choreographed by Sonya T.

Oooooh. OOHHHH. So nice. So many amazing moments in that and they hit such cool positions. Wowza! Gorgeous.

I can't believe this is based on votes=/ Going home: Bridget and Emilio. I think I agree, actually. All right...and on to next week!

Big Little Lies

They're making Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty into a movie. I'm not very surprised since it's practically a screenplay in itself. Meaning, the story lends itself very well to being a movie and, with the right director and screenwriter, could be very good! This article says that Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are attached, which sounds good.

Dream Casting:

Celeste- Nicole Kidman
Madeline- Reese Witherspoon (only because she is too old to be Jane)
Jane- Emma Stone (as a blonde)


Have you read this book? I really liked it!

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

Top 14 Perform

Apologies for being SO late with this!

Group dance:

"Last Moment" by Christophe Filippi

Choreographed by Stacey Tookey:

This is great music to dance to and I do like the routine. A little too much symbolism, though-blech.

Yikes...they're kicking off four people tonight. That's brutal. So, top 10: Bridget, Emilio, Jacque, Ricky, Tanisha, "Scarlett O'Hara" Rudy, Valerie, Zack. OMG WHY IS SERGE NOT IN THE TOP 8!!?!?!??


Bridget and Emilio dancing jazz:

"Long Road To Hell"  by Avici

Choreographed by Ray Leeper

This routine feels like it could totally be in Step Up or Center Stage or something. I like it! I could have done without the tricks he did, though. Just seemed to be too much.

Tanisha and Rudy dancing contemporary:

"Seduces Me" by Celine Dion

Choregraphed by Mandy Moore

OMG Celine Dion songs are perfect for this show! Ooooh I am LOVING this. It's smooth and emotional and yeah, with a million lifts that flow so well. Lovely!

Serge solo:

Sucks he is a ballroom dancer because it's so hard to give a good solo with that. He didn't dance past the music, though, so that's good!

Jacque and Zack dancing pasa doble:

"Dragula" by Rob Zombie

Choreographed by Jean-Marc

Whoa, cool music choice. The costuming is fun as I feel like we are straight out of a Victorian nightmare. The lights are actually a bit distracting and some of the moves feel forced as opposed to flowy. It's probably good they've already made the Top 10.

Carly's solo:

She looks like a little girl...who is also a stripper. But for real, lovely dancing. Lots o' spins.

Emily and Teddy dancing broadway:

"From This Moment On" from Kiss Me Kate

Choreographed by Warren Carlyle

Oooh love her dress! I'm into this routine because I love the '20s feel to it. It's also kind of refreshing to have a number with no lyrics.

Kasey solo:

Good song choice:) Love Ed Sheeran. Whoa, he is really showing off with his spins! (I sound like I'm critiquing figure skating.)

Emily solo:

She looks gorgeous. Love the black outfit with the sleeves. So far, in my opinion, this is the best solo because it actually felt choreographed and like it was done with feeling. 

Jessica and Kasey dancing contemporary:

"Like Real People Do" by Hozier

Choreographed by Travis Wall

Let's make a deal, SYTYCD- always have Travis Wall on every week. Beautiful lines so far with both their limbs and her dress. Awwww, that was so nice! I loved it!!!!! Travis Wall has The Best musicality. I totally agree with Christian Applegate that they dance with amazing intention. It was so believable.

Teddy solo:

Ooh cool solo. Hip hop is one of the best for solos because as long as you show some musicality, you're good to go.

Carly and Serge dancing quickstep:

"A Cool Cat in Town" by Tape Five

Choreographed by Jean-Luc

Yikes, that's a lot of dress yet not a lot of dress all at once. Man, I like these two so much and I wish they had gotten an 'easy' contemporary or something. This was good, but didn't blow me away.

Jessica solo:

Dancing to Beyonce. Done.

Valerie and Ricky dancing hip hop:

"Turn Down For What" by DJ Snake

Choreographed by Christopher and Krystal

Ricky is perfect for this type of theatrical dance. Wow, that leg move thing she did and everything after was so awesome. Really liked this!

Top 7 Girls:

"My Immortal" by Evanescence

Choreographed by Mandy Moore

That was so good. Just like she said, it was very strong. And beautiful! I even liked their prom dresses.

Top 7 Guys:

"Wave" by Beck

Choreographed Travis Wall

Of course Travis Wall picks Beck:) This is a cool piece and it definitely feels like we're either on a wave or in the sky and I like that feeling. I also loved the beginning and end where they all just appeared/disappeared. Haha, Christina looks like she is about to faint.

Okay...time to kick off four:( The guy and girl going through are Jessica and Kasey. Duh. (Bye, Serge! xoxo)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

So You Think You Can Dance: Top 16 Perform

Group dance

"Take Me to the River" by Annie Lenox

Choreographed by Mandy Moore

I think the group dance lose something when on TV. You don't get a full sense of the unison (or lack thereof) and instead of deciding who to focus on, the camera angles do that for you. So, this piece is decent, but really I just want to get to the regular dances.

Okie dokie, who is in the bottom: Bridget, Marquet, Brooklyn, Serge (NOOOO!), Tanisha, Zack

Valerie and Ricky dancing Bollywood:

"Dilliwaali Girlfriend"

Choreographed by Dev

Bollywood routines always remind me of working out. I feel tired just from watching it! They did a great job and kept the energy up the entire time, which is insane.

Bridget and Emilio dancing contemporary:

"The Leaving Song" by Chris Garneau

Choreographed by Travis Wall

BRB. Back. The only way to watch a Travis Wall routine is with 100% attention! Man, that was INCREDIBLE! I loved every single second of that. EVERY SINGLE SECOND! That rivaled the bench routine Travis Wall did  a few years ago. Wow!

Tanisha and Rudy dancing hip hop:

"Good Kisser" by Usher

Choreographed by Dave Scott

Whoa! Those shoes! Wowza, I can't take my eyes off them. Her outfit is INSANE and I think they're both really connecting with the audience and each other. This routine totally reminds me of a Beyonce song with the super fluid moments and then the hot beats. Tanisha really went all out so mad props to her.

Marcquet and Jessica dancing smooth foxtrot:

"I Put a Spell on You" by Nina Simone

Choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin

Great song! Her dress is beautiful. I liked this dance because it had a lot of strong moments. I, to be honest, don't know much about the foxtrot part of it, but I liked the overall effect a lot.

Carly and Serge dancing contemporary:

"Foolish Games" by Jewel

Choreographed by Mandy Moore

 OMG JEWEL- I LOVE THIS SONG! I reallllly liked this. And that ending when she went down like that until he helped with just hit foot? Amazing. Carly is so good and y'all know I love Serge.

Teddy and Emily dancing salsa:

"Bruk it Down" by Mr. Vegas

Choreographed by Oksana and Jonathan

Is she slipping all over the place or am I imagining it? This is okay, but I don't feel like their movements are matching the energy of the music.

Jacque and Zack dancing jazz:

"Back to Black" Beyonce

Choreographed by Sonja T

Loooove this song, too. Loving this! And that moment when he did that roll thing down almost onto her was so cool. I really really liked this! And such a great song!!!! YES.

Casey and Brooklyn dancing hip hop:

"Hustle Has Remix" Ace Hood

Choreographed by Willdabeast

I am so distracted by his shorts. It looks like he refused to wear the costume and put on shorts to cover up the spandex. Otherwise, I enjoyed this routine.

Group Routine dancing a Sonja T number:

"So Broken" by Bjork

No words. That was amazing. YouTube it.

Group Routine dancing a Travis Wall number:

"Love Runs Out" by OneRepublic

Ooooooh also good, but in a completely opposite way, which is awesome! So much fun!
 (I totally agree with Misty that Ricky stood out in that!)

LUCY HALE! She is on Pretty Little Liars, therefore, I love her. Hmm, her voice doesn't sound like how I would expect it! I was expecting it to be higher pitched. OMG, where is A?

So, who is going home???? I'm sad! I like so many of them. Okay, bye bye, Marcquet and Brooklyn.

Until next week!


Monday, July 21, 2014

So You Think You Can Dance! 20 Perform, 2 Eliminated (Part 2)

Remember when I started that Top 20 episode and then had to go to work or something? Well, I'm finally watching!

Emily and Teddy dancing hip hop:

"Don't" by Ed Sheeran

Choreographed by Dave Scott

Love this song! I like this routine, but it comes across a little cheesy and I think it's because of their costumes. They're kind of awful. Also, Teddy really likes to shake his hips. It's a fun routine, but I have to admit that I just rewatched the Serge/Carly routine before watching this hip hop and, well, theirs was breathtaking and this was just fun.

Stanley and Malene dancing broadway:

"I've Got Your Number" by Nancy Wilson

Choreographed by Spencer Liff

They seem perfect for broadway. Wow! I kind of really liked this! The phones worked out really well. It was a bit limiting for them, but the end picked back up and it finished strong. Also, Malene looks incredible! Her hair and makeup is awesome.

Marcquet and Jourdan dancing jazz:

"Work Work" by Britney Spears

Choreographed by Sean Cheesman

Love Brit Brit! Wow! Love that splits move when he flipped her around. This routine seems a bit frantic, but it's also working for me. I'm curious what the judges will say...Misty pointed out that Jourdan is a ballerina and OMG I had totally forgotten!

Brooklyn and Casey dancing Argentine Tango:

"Gallo Ciego" by Luis Bravo

Choreographed by Miriam and Leonardo

ZOMG love the tango. Love the music for the tango! Gorgeous. My guess is that Mary tells him to put his shoulders down;) Loved this. I'm pretty much always going to love the tango. I have to admit that I rewatched this and I am so glad I did. There were so many details in this dance that they just nailed. I highly suggest YouTube-ing it.

Zack and Jacque dancing African Jazz:

"Dibiza" by Danny Tenaglia

Choreographed by Sean Cheesman


OOooh, I really liked this!!!!!! OMG so much fun! I thought this was awesome. It was so great how it went from being so pumped up and then into these super fluid lifts. And they both danced so well.

Okay.....so Nick and Malena had to go:(

Now, back to current stuff:) Thanks for reading!



Wednesday, July 16, 2014

So You Think You Can Dance: 18 Dance

Top 18:

Somehow the past week FLEW by because I never recapped the second half of last week's show even though it feels like it was just a couple of days ago. I still will, I promise!


Top 18 Dance:

"How It's Done" by Distric 78

Choreographed by Academy of Villains

Whoa, LOVE the chess set up! This dance is great, but a little bit is getting lost with there being so many dancers, but I guess that's going to continue to be the case for a couple more weeks.

Results time! It's awkward since I'm not even sure who got kicked off last week. So, in danger: Bridget, Emilio, Emily, Stanley, Jordyn, and Teddy

Zack and Jacque dancing hip hop:

"Stay With me" by Sam Smith

Choreographed by Keone and Mari Madrid

 This should get votes because of the song. It's so popular. I love the floor work so far. I love how intimate this dance is even though it's hip hop. I think they did a great job with combining the super precise moments with the fluid ones. I never felt like they were just counting beats. Great start!


Marcquet and Jordyn dancing contemporary:

"Disappear" by Mikky Ekko

Choreographed by Dee Caspary

Beautiful opening shot! Jordyn is so clearly a ballerina as her feet are never not pointed and she hits some amazing positions (as in, she doesn't just land, she lands in second.) I am not sure I liked the music for this one as it was cut off in a weird spot, but I liked the dancing. I actually agree with Nigel that I didn't connect with them very much.

Pretty Little Liars Intel: Homecoming Hangover

Episode 7!

We pick up right where the last episode left of with Spender, Hanna, and Aria frantically trying to find Emily who is off with scary Toby. They call her, but then find her phone left on the floor in the hallway. But don't they look great?



Their shoes, though, scream 2010. Platforms, ugh. 


Wednesday, July 09, 2014

So You Think You Can Dance! 20 Perform, 2 Eliminated (Part 1)

So, I have to watch tonight's episode in two parts so I figured I'd blog about it in two parts, too. Let's go!



Top 20 Dance:

"New York, New York" from On The Town

Choreographed by Josh Bergasse

I was just meh on this until we got to see some really great solo spots! Also, love the costumes. I can't pick out anyone from the Top 20 just yet. I don't know any of their names!

Intros:

Holy crap, they're not doing "Here are the girls...and here are your guys!" YAY!

So I guess the set up is similar to last year where they announce who is in trouble, they still dance, and then they kick two people off at the end?

I have to admit that while Nigel talks, I stop paying attention sometimes. I have no idea what he was talking about when he referenced the Brazil World Cup game.

Bottom Six:
Brooklyn, Casey, Jordyn, Nick, Marlena, Serg


Rudy and Tanisha dancing jazz:

"You Need" by Bengsons

Choreographed by Sonja Tayeh

OOoh, this has a lot of cool movement in it! It's classic Sonja, but not in the way where I feel like she is just recycling old moves. Also, Tanisha is really showing a different side of her and is also hitting her spots really hard! Nice. Just a reminder that she is a ballroom girl, right? 

Valerie and Ricky dancing contemporary:

"Oh Darling" by Grossling

Choreographed by Travis Wall

Honestly, no one should get kicked off after a Travis Wall routine. They're that good. I think Travis excels at choreographing pieces that have a climax- a moment where the music swells and the audience is totally swept up into the piece. I really liked this dance. I'm impressed that she is a tapper! She was so fluid. This was a very strong piece in the literal sense. I loved all of the movements where they held one another up.

Emilio and Bridget dancing hip hop:

"Work" by Iggy Azalea

Choreographed  Luther Brown

I like this. I don't really have much to say, but it was quite entertaining and both dancers seemed just perfect in the routine. I kind of hate Emilio's outfit, but Bridget's was perfect so I guess that cancels out. Good job!

Jessica and Nick dancing west coast swing:

"Respect" by Aretha Franklin

Choreographed by Benji Schwimmer

So wait, what happened to her shoulder? I have to say that I do NOT like Benji so I go into this dance expecting not to like it. The beginning seemed like they were just walking through the steps instead of dancing them. I kind of hate it. I feel bad for this couple for getting such a crappy routine. (I wonder if the judges will agree with me!) (And...they don't. How disappointing.)

Serge and Carly dancing contemporary:

"Latch" by Sam Smith

Choreographed by Sonja Tayeh

LOVE her dress. I like this a lot, but so far it's not "profoundly moving" like Sonja promised. Oooh, the end is lovely, though. This was good! I like this couple. I have a feeling it was probably way more moving in person. I think maybe the intro messed this up for me because it kind of got my expectations too high.

Okay, Part One is done! What did you think???


Monday, July 07, 2014

The Filmography Project: David Fincher

I really need to stop starting new projects.

But alas....

So, I want to watch the entire filmographies of some of my favorite actors and directors. It's something that with some, I've already done, but I want to refocus and really think about the bodies of work. Besides, these are my favorite actors and directors for a reason so it would be a good idea to make sure I've seen everything!

David Fincher is definitely on this list and with "Gone Girl" coming out this year, it's the perfect time to get excited about his films.

Friday, July 04, 2014

An Analogy

Remember when Death Cab For Cutie released their first big studio album "Plans" and a gazillion people thought it was the best thing they'd ever heard? And yeah, the songs were catchy and not bad, but they kinda felt a bit over-produced and mainstream. The band gained a lot of new followers who couldn't get enough of "Soul Meets Body" and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" while a lot of people, myself included, who had known the band for years were left thinking, "But, but...their older stuff is incredible!" and "You new fans just don't know!"
The newly released songs weren't necessarily bad, but they were easy in a way. Where was the magic of hearing Ben Gibbard sing "Company Calls" at the Black Cat in DC? Or how about in the Millhiser gym at the University of Richmond in 2001. Where were the moments of exploration to truly be moved by something instead of getting the carefully chosen singles that were the most likely to appeal to a large audience?

Music can be easy and that's wonderful. Loving a radio hit is great, but so is putting in the time to find the smaller gems out there. And yeah, sometimes the lesser known songs become huge hits, but that's when it's fun for the original fans to sit back and smile while the rest of the world catches up.

So, stick with me here, but I think the same idea can be seen in tennis. I think that a lot of people are fans of Roger Federer's because he is the "radio friendly" hit they see in the finals.

The casual tennis watcher probably sees a handful of matches a year, right? And for quite awhile, Roger Federer was in most of them. He is an amazing player! No one can deny that. He is graceful on the court, rarely misses (at his prime), and saunters around the court like he owns the place. He is a force and I totally understand enjoying that.

But where was the casual viewer in the Quarterfinals when Federer played an up and comer full of heart who left everything on the court in an effort to win. Or in an earlier round when someone from your country played the match of his life and took Federer to five sets?

There is so much more to tennis than the final. In a Grand Slam it's two intense weeks of A LOT of matches. It's so much fun in the early rounds to see someone play in his first grand slam match or even, sometimes, to play his idol!

So, like in music, there is nothing wrong with liking the easy choice, but it's the depth where things are truly interesting. Pick a player outside of the Top 10 and really get behind him or her. Trust me, it's fun! And then, in a few years, when that player is competing for big titles, you can say you knew them when.

And, I just have to say that if the only tennis you see is on Sportscenter, just stay quiet.

XO,
The Biggest Tennis Fan On The Planet

And P.S., if you'd like some music suggestions, let me know in the comments...I'm kinda obsessed with finding new things.