G is for Great! : Greensburg, Gossip Girl, oh, and True Blood!

"Greensburg," the Leonardo DiCaprio-produced reality show (which airs on Planet Green) has technically been on for about 4 months now, but since this past week's episode chronicled the one-year anniversary commemoration of the destruction (and consequent rebuilding) of their town, I thought I would write about a show which, as far as I know, has not gotten the attention it deserves. "Greensburg" is really about community, and what communities can do when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. Such as, say, your entire town being wiped out.

After a tornado hit last year, the town decided that they would rebuild Greensburg as an entirely sustainable community, down to LEEDS-approved businesses and commercial centers, and energy-efficient homes. What makes this show particularly interesting is how people in a small town such as Greensburg deal with this huge change to their lifestyle. How they slowly come together and argue their way toward this change is both refreshing and inspiring--even their high school students get involved, as can especially be seen with the amazing Taylor Schmidt (see cute blonde guy above!). I know that he is still only in high school (down Lily!) but the kid is just amazing. His intelligence and wisdom are well beyond his years and serve the town and its people very well.

In other inappropriate high school boy musings, Season 2 of "Gossip Girl" began last week and what a start it's been. Although Serena and Dan (yawn!) are the Zach and Kelly of this prom, I tune in every week for the Blair and Chuck show. This past week's episode especially brought out the erotic in both of these fabulously campy characters and it was, as always, a guilty pleasure to behold. If I had my way I would scrap most of the characters on this show and make it all about them, but that's what I have my dirty fan fiction for.

"True Blood" is the newest show on HBO and the latest by Alan Ball of "Six Feet Under" fame. I have to admit that after my obsession with the "Twilight" series, this show had me at "vampire." Thus far it has been bloody and creepy and surprisingly engaging, with Anna Paquin offering a great performance as the underestimated, clairvoyant Sookie Stackhouse. My only complaint about the show thus far lies with the casting of Bill--Stephen Moyer isn't exactly what I think of when I think "hot vampire" but then again, they can't all be Robert Pattinson.

The fall season is off to a good, smutty start.

The Soup: Making Life Better One Hilarious Reality Show Clip At A Time

I know that we have a whole slew of new TV shows coming up next month but I thought I would pay tribute to a little show on E! called "The Soup." I read a great article in last month's Details on host Joel McHale and it made me realize just how much he plays a part in the show's hilarity and success. McHale is intelligent and sincere and somehow taps into what most of us feel when we watch reality TV, namely, a little nauseous. My weekends would be empty without an episode of "The Soup" to look forward laughing to.

Above are just a few of my favorite recent clips.

When I was 15, I got my ears pierced and my nana called me a whore

So there were two television series I was really looking forward to last Fall that didn't show up until this past month. One, THE RETURN OF JEZEBEL JAMES was the new sitcom by GILMORE GIRLS genius Amy Sherman Palladino. The other starred my favorite contemporary comedienne, Judy Greer (known to some as Kitty "Say goodbye to these!" Sanchez, MISS GUIDED.
I had high hopes for JEZEBEL, what with Sherman Palladino and Parker Posey teaming up. Throw in the invulnerable Miss Lauren Ambrose and you have yourself a contender for best show ever. And then it aired. What seems like it ought to be a perfect combination- Sherman Palladino's quickfire banter with Parker Posey's manic hyperactivity- somehow manages not to work at all. Like, not even a little. The only thing worth watching in the two episodes that aired was Ambrose as Posey's slacker sister. The story was interesting (Posey played a book editor who was unable to concieve and asked her sister to carry her baby) and the dialogue definitely had it's moments, but none of it worked in the end. Normally I'd be grumbling about FOX once again letting a show air two times before pulling the plug like impatient bastards. And, yeah, it does seem a little unfair. But I'm sorry to say this (and it truly hurts me to say it as a fan of all of the women involved), it is one show that I think deserved the axe.
When it comes to MISS GUIDED, I was excited about seeing Judy Greer, knowing that she is gold in anything she does. (She made the whole ELIZABETHTOWN experience hurt a little less, even!) I didn't really know what to expect from the show, which is about a former high school geek who grows up to be the adorable high school guidance counselor, who has a crush on the oh-so-hot-former-auto-shop-teacher-who-now-teaches-Spanish. Of course the hot bitch she went to school with also returns as a teacher/cheerleading coach. Greer absolutely conquers again, proving herself to be in the same league as Mary Tyler Moore, which is like the pinnacle of sitcom goddesses as far as I'm concerned. What surprised me is that there is more about MISS GUIDED than just the lovely Miss G. The show is actually REALLY funny. Like, funnier than any other sitcom (barring of course THE OFFICE) currently on the screen. (Yes, editor lily, even funnier than SAMANTHA WHO?).
The question is: Will it last? With only a handful of episodes to air (most of which already have- the remainder will air on April 3rd), has MISS GUIDED made enough of an impression to make a return in next Fall? I hope so. It's worthy of a comeback. Please, please, PLEASE tune in next Thursday to catch it!

Damn you Ashton Kutcher!

My favorite show (sad to admit but nonetheless true) of last season was the Ashton Kutcher-produced "Beauty and the Geek." I looked forward to that show, and loved Dave the Larper, much in the same way that "Lost" and "Heroes" fans pine for their fuzzy unanswered questions and melodrama.

And now the Kutch has gone and fucked all that up! Now, rather than have the Beauties and the Geeks paired up together as partners, we have them competing against one another, making it pretty much like EVERY OTHER REALITY TV SHOW currently on the air.

I don't know how long I'll stand to watch the show this season but for now I am rooting for the guy with no discernible eyes.

(RIP: Dave and Jasmine! May larping live on forever!)

I *heart* Gabriel Byrne

No, this is not going to be yet ANOTHER post where I rant and rave about my love for older men (although considering how HOT Viggo Mortensen looked at the Oscars on Sunday, would anyone really blame me?) but rather this is a fantastically late review of the HBO drama "In Treatment."

I am so addicted to this show. Although I have read several reviews stating that it is too "talky" (which is completely ridiculous considering it is a show that revolves around therapy sessions) I find myself, episode after episode (Literally! The show features a new episode every night) completely immersed in the words that each character speaks and the nuanced performances of all of the actors, especially Byrne and Dianne Wiest (who plays Byrne's Paul's therapist).

It is also great to see underrated actors such as Blair Underwood, Michelle Forbes (a.k.a Julianna Cox on "Homicide") and my beloved Josh Charles (who will always be Dan Rydell to me) on TV again. Each actor really plays against typecasting--playing often unlikeable characters thus far--and they all shine in their difficult roles as a result.

This show is about therapy, and about the things that we discuss when we are at our most intimate, vulnerable and trusting. Every episode I feel as if I am being analyzed as well, as if Dr. Paul is my therapist... the show is that believable and engrossing. There isn't much to watch on TV right now, especially not until the after-effects of the strike wear off, and this show definitely deserves all of your undivided attention.

Now, Tears of Joy

Amy Winehouse-inspired.

Lucy, Daughter of the Devil

If you are not watching this I have one question to ask you...what the fuck is wrong with you!? This show is the awesomest fifteen minutes of every day of my life. At least every Tuesday through Friday at 12:15am on Adult Swim. Tivo this shit, NOW! It was created by Loren Bouchard, the creator of Home Movies and much of the Home Movies voices are in this one as well. As if the dynamic between Lucy, the devil and Lucy's boyfriend, DJ Jesus, isn't hilarious enough there's also two priests and a nun (the special sister who was teased as a child for being "hairy mary" and grew up to be an assassin for the Vatican) who are on the hunt to find and destroy the antichrist. What I'm trying to say is that it's awesome. So awesome that if you don't start to watch it today I might just come to your house, bake you cookies, and duct tape you to a chair in front of the tv while I force feed them to you. I don't know what the cookies really have to do with anything other than I really like to bake. My favorite episode is probably "Satan's School for Girls" with the rocking theme song, "Pound My Tom Tom." Any show that fills fifteen minutes with a song saying "you can pound my tom tom" and that shows the devil in a banana hammock is okay by me.

Adventure in Avant-Garde

Creatives Christian and Chris of "Team Fierce" stun with gorgeous, romantic circles of organza; Jillian and Victorya feel out their mohawk-ed model in crisp rebellion; draper extraordinaire, Rami, makes Sweet P cry; and Team Kit-Ricky try to spring prairie patchwork pastels on the runway. Next week, the Port Authority takes center stage.

Clash of the Divas

Wunderkid Christian meets his match in opinionated high school student, Maddie, four years his senior. Bedazzling makes a comeback, along with Sweet P and her best design yet. Chris wows (once again, watch out!), Ricky gets away with too much rusch, Rami is in the bottom (!) and a red halter dress proves too flimsy. The prom pics and stories shared are fabulous!

Next week looks to be a group challenge, and most likely Ricky's last efforts.

Sweetest Spit

Elisa, enchanted spirit and conduit of soul, you will be missed!

Episode highlights: Rami rocks (and wins) with Peppermint Patty, Chris stuns everyone with clean inspiration from Warhol, Jillian goes edible, Zac Posen guest judges and Sweet P is saved only by the good luck of Hershey's kisses.