10:03-Jimmy Fallon funny business.
10:04-I did not realize that there was an Original Lyrics category. Really? Really? Did they create this category just so that Flight of the Conchords could win something? Justin Timberlake is on 2 of the nominated skits but, alas, the Academy Awards telecast won.
10:08-Any time Ricky Gervais is on any program, ever, for any reason, is a very good thing. He is still funny as shit. 'The Daily Show'(which I love) won for something. Exactly what, I wasn't paying attention to. I was too busy listening to Ricky's funny spiel.
10:17-The final category is up: Drama.
10:21-As you have probably noticed, I am not blogging about any of the categories or winners that I do not care about. How is it, you ask, that I do not care about any of the Supporting Actor/Actress Nominees or their shows. Well, you see, I do not watch any of the shows that any of these performers are on. So, the results mean nothing to me. So sorry. The only other thing I can say is that, for some reason, the acceptance speech that the guy from 'Lost' made really annoyed me.
10:24-Proving what we have always known, Sarah MacLachlan is a sad sack. Yes, she is singing as they show the In Memoriam scroll. So many wonderfully talented people have passed in the past year. Henry Gibson, Karl Malden, Eartha Kitt, Dom DeLuise, Robert Prosky, Ron Silver, Natasha Richardson, David Carradine, Beatrice Arthur, Ricardo Montalban, Ed McMahon, Larry Gelbart, PAUL NEWMAN, Michael Jackson, Patrick Swayze, Don Hewitt, Farrah Fawcett, Walter Cronkite...to name just some of them.
10:34-David Boreanaz. Excuse me while I gape. Oh, yeah, guest actor/actress in a Drama. Ahem. Ellen Burstyn and Michael J. Fox. She always looks so regal in her drapey dresses.
10:40-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama is kind of dominated by Oscar winning,movie star refugees. I mean, Glenn Close, Sally Field, Holly Hunter....proving that film and television really are not separate realms.
10:42-Insert overly earnest speech by Glenn Close. I really loathe acceptance speeches.
10:49-I am growing weary. They need to pick up the pace so that this baby ends on time.
10:53-Now we are getting somewhere. 2 to go. Bob Newhart is on. It is always a good sign when they bring out the big guns. He is presenting the Outstanding Comedy Series. 6 minutes and counting. Come on people. Funny joke about 'Weeds'. There are excellent nominees this year but, of course, '30 Rock' strikes again. I'm sorry but I just don't think that it is that funny. Funny, yes. THAT FUNNY, no. But that is just me.
11:01-FINAL AWARD-Outstanding Drama Series. The only nominated show that I watch is 'House' so this is a pretty unexciting category for me this year. 'Mad Men' has won for the 2nd year. Meh.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
EMMY AWARDS-Liveblog-Hour 2
9:07-Tracy Morgan presenting the Best Reality Competition award. 'The Amazing Race'. Has any reality show beaten 'The Amazing Race'? They seem to win every time. When an acceptance speech begins with "I don't know what to say anymore" you know you have won enough. Of course, quality reality programming is difficult to come by so, from that stand-point, it is well-deserved.
9:10-It did not take long to exhaust the Reality category. It is on to Movies and Mini-Series.
9:12-Aw, happily marrieds Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are presenting Outstanding Supporting Actress in a MoM. And the Emmy goes to...Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo for 'House of Saddam'. Other than everyone's favourite stand-by, black, blue is definitely the colour of the evening. She is wearing a beautiful classic Hollywood dress in gorgeous dark blue. She had a lovely moment when, upon taking the stage, she paused and gazed out at the audience. Genuine, unscripted moments are so rare on these shows.
9:15-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a MOM is Ken Howard for 'Grey Gardens'. Surprisingly, this was his first nomination.
9:23-Outstanding Lead Actor in a MOM goes to-Brendan Gleeson for 'Into the Storm'. He's basically an unheard of Irishman. Maybe this award will change that.
9:26-Oh, those Arquettes and their wacky fashion choices. Patricia has jumped on the whole poufy, one-shouldered dress trend. However, her pouf is just too damn large. The shiny, scaly black fabric is just unfortunate. It really does not matter what award you are handing out when you are dressed like that. This sucks for the recipient.
9:34-Outstanding Lead Actress in a MOM (presented by Alec Baldwin)-Jessica Lange for 'Grey Gardens'. I'm happy with this but I was really hoping that Drew would win for playing her daughter. She looks fantastic--she really brought the bombshell with her tonight. She is one of the few actresses rocking green--rather surprising as it is one of the hottest colours for autumn.
9:43-Outstanding Made for Television Movie-Co-presenter Anna Torv's dress is stunning--pinkish-red, sparkly, with short-sleeves and a classic plunging neck-line. It is entirely different than any other dress of the evening. 'Grey Gardens' won. This makes me immensely happy.
9:45-Outstanding Mini-Series-'Little Dorrit'. Anything adapted from Dickens is okay with me. My big question is, however, why have 2 presenters when only the female is allowed to speak? Kiefer Southerland co-presented the last 2 awards with Anna Torv and she got all of the juicy bits...basically everything. Is this akin to opening the door for a woman. It has always somewhat confused me in this context.
9:48-Up now: Variety.
9:50-The cast of the Big Bang Theory. Love them, love their show. Don't care about the category they are presenting...it simply is not worth the time it would take for me to type it out.
9:55-I have always adored the little skits the shows in question come up with for the variety show writing category. It is usually one of the funniest parts of the telecast. No exception this year. ('The Daily Show' won, by the way.)
9:10-It did not take long to exhaust the Reality category. It is on to Movies and Mini-Series.
9:12-Aw, happily marrieds Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are presenting Outstanding Supporting Actress in a MoM. And the Emmy goes to...Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo for 'House of Saddam'. Other than everyone's favourite stand-by, black, blue is definitely the colour of the evening. She is wearing a beautiful classic Hollywood dress in gorgeous dark blue. She had a lovely moment when, upon taking the stage, she paused and gazed out at the audience. Genuine, unscripted moments are so rare on these shows.
9:15-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a MOM is Ken Howard for 'Grey Gardens'. Surprisingly, this was his first nomination.
9:23-Outstanding Lead Actor in a MOM goes to-Brendan Gleeson for 'Into the Storm'. He's basically an unheard of Irishman. Maybe this award will change that.
9:26-Oh, those Arquettes and their wacky fashion choices. Patricia has jumped on the whole poufy, one-shouldered dress trend. However, her pouf is just too damn large. The shiny, scaly black fabric is just unfortunate. It really does not matter what award you are handing out when you are dressed like that. This sucks for the recipient.
9:34-Outstanding Lead Actress in a MOM (presented by Alec Baldwin)-Jessica Lange for 'Grey Gardens'. I'm happy with this but I was really hoping that Drew would win for playing her daughter. She looks fantastic--she really brought the bombshell with her tonight. She is one of the few actresses rocking green--rather surprising as it is one of the hottest colours for autumn.
9:43-Outstanding Made for Television Movie-Co-presenter Anna Torv's dress is stunning--pinkish-red, sparkly, with short-sleeves and a classic plunging neck-line. It is entirely different than any other dress of the evening. 'Grey Gardens' won. This makes me immensely happy.
9:45-Outstanding Mini-Series-'Little Dorrit'. Anything adapted from Dickens is okay with me. My big question is, however, why have 2 presenters when only the female is allowed to speak? Kiefer Southerland co-presented the last 2 awards with Anna Torv and she got all of the juicy bits...basically everything. Is this akin to opening the door for a woman. It has always somewhat confused me in this context.
9:48-Up now: Variety.
9:50-The cast of the Big Bang Theory. Love them, love their show. Don't care about the category they are presenting...it simply is not worth the time it would take for me to type it out.
9:55-I have always adored the little skits the shows in question come up with for the variety show writing category. It is usually one of the funniest parts of the telecast. No exception this year. ('The Daily Show' won, by the way.)
EMMY AWARDS-Liveblog-Hour 1
Neil Patrick Harris is a couple of weeks older than me so, yes, I grew up with everyone's favourite kid doctor, Doogie Howser. I did not have a crush on him because, when we were 16, he looked 12 (although so did I). However, he has grown up to be one of my favourite contemporary actors. I am looking forward to his hosting gig tonight. Do me proud, Doogie, do me proud.
8:02-White tuxedo jacket. Singing. Very cool old-school opener.
8:07-First Kanye West joke of the evening.
8:08-The show is being presented in 5 different genre segments. First up? Comedy.
8:11-11 minutes in and they are presenting an award. Whoo-hoo! Tina Fey and Jon Hamm. Tina is in black. Arg! Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Some unfunny business with Jon Hamm, nicknames, the nominees, and glasses. Whatever. Kristin Chenoweth for the defunct 'Pushing Daisies'wins. She is clad in a sparkly metallic mini-dress.She is perhaps the only actress on TV shorter than me. Yes, petite girls rule. Two seconds into her speech and she is a crying mess. Aww!
8:16-Cut to break. This is why these shows almost always run late.
8:23-30 Rock=Best Writing in a Comedy. Shocking, as they had nearly all of the nominations in the category.
8:26-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series-Jon Cryer 'Two and a Half Men'. Someone not from 'Entourage' or '30 Rock' is fine by me.
8:28-Wow, a commercial!
8:34-Justin Timberlake presents the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. I am totally indifferent to the results of this one. Sorry, ladies, but this one is all the same to me. Toni Colette wins for 'The United States of Tara'. At least the voters went down a different path with this one. Kudos to that.
8:40-Recap of the previously awarded Guest actor/actress in a comedy (Justin Timberlake and Tina Fey).They are allowed to speak. What is the point of awarding it in the previous, un-televised ceremony if they give them air time on the main show, anyway?
8:42-Directing for a Comedy Series-Jeffrey Blitz for 'The Office'.
8:50-Rob Lowe presenting Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. I am thrilled that Jim Parsons of Big Bang Theory is nominated. That is surely as far as he will get this year but I love that he made the list! Alec Baldwin wins. Again. Have I yet stated how sick I am of '3o Rock'? I haven't? I guess I will save that for the Outstanding Comedy Series part.
8:55-Time to genre-switch. The next theme is Reality.
8:57-Dance number courtesy of Maxsim and Karina of 'Dancing with the Stars'. Time to put the kettle on.
8:59-Outstanding Reality Host-Jeff Probst of 'Survivor'.
8:02-White tuxedo jacket. Singing. Very cool old-school opener.
8:07-First Kanye West joke of the evening.
8:08-The show is being presented in 5 different genre segments. First up? Comedy.
8:11-11 minutes in and they are presenting an award. Whoo-hoo! Tina Fey and Jon Hamm. Tina is in black. Arg! Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Some unfunny business with Jon Hamm, nicknames, the nominees, and glasses. Whatever. Kristin Chenoweth for the defunct 'Pushing Daisies'wins. She is clad in a sparkly metallic mini-dress.She is perhaps the only actress on TV shorter than me. Yes, petite girls rule. Two seconds into her speech and she is a crying mess. Aww!
8:16-Cut to break. This is why these shows almost always run late.
8:23-30 Rock=Best Writing in a Comedy. Shocking, as they had nearly all of the nominations in the category.
8:26-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series-Jon Cryer 'Two and a Half Men'. Someone not from 'Entourage' or '30 Rock' is fine by me.
8:28-Wow, a commercial!
8:34-Justin Timberlake presents the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. I am totally indifferent to the results of this one. Sorry, ladies, but this one is all the same to me. Toni Colette wins for 'The United States of Tara'. At least the voters went down a different path with this one. Kudos to that.
8:40-Recap of the previously awarded Guest actor/actress in a comedy (Justin Timberlake and Tina Fey).They are allowed to speak. What is the point of awarding it in the previous, un-televised ceremony if they give them air time on the main show, anyway?
8:42-Directing for a Comedy Series-Jeffrey Blitz for 'The Office'.
8:50-Rob Lowe presenting Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. I am thrilled that Jim Parsons of Big Bang Theory is nominated. That is surely as far as he will get this year but I love that he made the list! Alec Baldwin wins. Again. Have I yet stated how sick I am of '3o Rock'? I haven't? I guess I will save that for the Outstanding Comedy Series part.
8:55-Time to genre-switch. The next theme is Reality.
8:57-Dance number courtesy of Maxsim and Karina of 'Dancing with the Stars'. Time to put the kettle on.
8:59-Outstanding Reality Host-Jeff Probst of 'Survivor'.
EMMY AWARDS-RED CARPET-LIVEBOG -Hour 2
7:00-Amy Poehler. Black. Strapless. At least her gown has an interesting silver detail around the bust.
7:01-Kaley Cuoco. I finally got a better look at her red-gold metallic number. It is like liquid and is quite lovely and sexy without being over the top. Perhaps I am prejudice since I love her show. Nah, the dress really is all that.
7:03-Wow! Not black! Thank you Vanessa Williams in a turquoise, old-Hollywood number.
7:04-Dove grey is a very hard colour to pull off but Kate Walsh does it very well.
7:05-Sandra Oh's strapless, pale gold dress is perfect. I really love her crazy, fashionista footwear choice: red shoes. She is one of those women who take risks with their clothes. They don't always pay off, but they did tonight. Bravo!
7:09-Apparently, only white chicks dig vampires. Thanks for that clarification, Nene.
7:10-I want to get a closer look of nominee Rose Byrne's beige-y, lacey, princess number. I just think I might like it. Hopefully, she will oblige by winning so that I can get a better view.
7:14-The Lonely Island guys! I love them--especially Andy Samberg ( one of my not-so-secret crushes).
7:16-E! is scrolling all kinds of trivia and quotes at the bottom of the screen. Only upon reading the words "Blake Lively on the difficulties of being an actor" was I reminded that she does, indeed, act. I have a tendency to confuse her with reality "stars" such as Lauren Conrad or Heidi Montag. So sorry, Blake. Really.
7:19-Kudos to Kyra Sedgwick fo wearing pale pink (alhtough I personally do not like the colour).L'Wren Scott is not one of my favourite designers but Kyra looks lovely.
7:20-'American Idol' judge Kara DioGuardi is wearing a white, flowy, caftan-esque gown that bears closer inspection. They are not making much use of the Glamcam 360 on tv and, when they do, it is kind of odd.It reminds me of the 3D program that Angela on 'Bones' uses to recreate human remains into a life-sized image of the dead person.
7:26-I am entirely impervious to Sarah Silverman's appeal but her dress is not bad. Strapless, dark blue, slightly New Lookish. The worst thing I can say is that it is slightly ill-fitting in the bust.
7:28-Christina Applegate's midnight blue dress is ridiculously gorgeous. It drapes perfectly and has a lovely metallic detail at the waist. This dress can come live in my closet. Please.
7:38-Blake Lively. Low-cut red Versace, great back. Silly pony-tail.
7:39-I love the back of Leighton Meester's dress, even the largish knots at the shoulders. This is definitely a love it or hate it detail. It will be interesting to see how this goes over with all of the critics; either way, I am firmly on the side of it being fabulous. She is also wearing way too much make-up, even for television. Having said that, there is only one Leighton in my life, and that is The Chef. It was very weird to type the name Leighton followed by a last name other than his.
7:41-Hayden Panetierre. Red. Interesting one-shoulder cap-sleeve.
7:42-Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Strapless teal dress and matching Jimmy Choo heels. She looks ten times better today at nearly 50 than she did when on 'Seinfeld'. Her favourite body part? Her "big nose". Least? Her pinkie toes.
7:48-Boy bands? bad. Justin Timberlake? Very, very good. His turns on SNL are always hilarious; his guest actor Emmy was well-deserved.
7:01-Kaley Cuoco. I finally got a better look at her red-gold metallic number. It is like liquid and is quite lovely and sexy without being over the top. Perhaps I am prejudice since I love her show. Nah, the dress really is all that.
7:03-Wow! Not black! Thank you Vanessa Williams in a turquoise, old-Hollywood number.
7:04-Dove grey is a very hard colour to pull off but Kate Walsh does it very well.
7:05-Sandra Oh's strapless, pale gold dress is perfect. I really love her crazy, fashionista footwear choice: red shoes. She is one of those women who take risks with their clothes. They don't always pay off, but they did tonight. Bravo!
7:09-Apparently, only white chicks dig vampires. Thanks for that clarification, Nene.
7:10-I want to get a closer look of nominee Rose Byrne's beige-y, lacey, princess number. I just think I might like it. Hopefully, she will oblige by winning so that I can get a better view.
7:14-The Lonely Island guys! I love them--especially Andy Samberg ( one of my not-so-secret crushes).
7:16-E! is scrolling all kinds of trivia and quotes at the bottom of the screen. Only upon reading the words "Blake Lively on the difficulties of being an actor" was I reminded that she does, indeed, act. I have a tendency to confuse her with reality "stars" such as Lauren Conrad or Heidi Montag. So sorry, Blake. Really.
7:19-Kudos to Kyra Sedgwick fo wearing pale pink (alhtough I personally do not like the colour).L'Wren Scott is not one of my favourite designers but Kyra looks lovely.
7:20-'American Idol' judge Kara DioGuardi is wearing a white, flowy, caftan-esque gown that bears closer inspection. They are not making much use of the Glamcam 360 on tv and, when they do, it is kind of odd.It reminds me of the 3D program that Angela on 'Bones' uses to recreate human remains into a life-sized image of the dead person.
7:26-I am entirely impervious to Sarah Silverman's appeal but her dress is not bad. Strapless, dark blue, slightly New Lookish. The worst thing I can say is that it is slightly ill-fitting in the bust.
7:28-Christina Applegate's midnight blue dress is ridiculously gorgeous. It drapes perfectly and has a lovely metallic detail at the waist. This dress can come live in my closet. Please.
7:38-Blake Lively. Low-cut red Versace, great back. Silly pony-tail.
7:39-I love the back of Leighton Meester's dress, even the largish knots at the shoulders. This is definitely a love it or hate it detail. It will be interesting to see how this goes over with all of the critics; either way, I am firmly on the side of it being fabulous. She is also wearing way too much make-up, even for television. Having said that, there is only one Leighton in my life, and that is The Chef. It was very weird to type the name Leighton followed by a last name other than his.
7:41-Hayden Panetierre. Red. Interesting one-shoulder cap-sleeve.
7:42-Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. Strapless teal dress and matching Jimmy Choo heels. She looks ten times better today at nearly 50 than she did when on 'Seinfeld'. Her favourite body part? Her "big nose". Least? Her pinkie toes.
7:48-Boy bands? bad. Justin Timberlake? Very, very good. His turns on SNL are always hilarious; his guest actor Emmy was well-deserved.
EMMY AWARDS RED CARPET-LIVEBLOG-Hour 1
E!Entertainment's Red Carpet with Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana Rancic
6:00-6:02-I can really do without Ryan Seacrest's poetic Red Carpet foreplay. Get to the good stuff. Please.
6:02-20 Cameras! Glamcam 360! Autograph cam! Celebrity tweets!Okay, the Glamcam 360 has awesome potential. It allows you to see all aspects of an ensemble, which can be really useful to people like me.
6:03-Why, oh why, is Nene from RHOA attached to Jay Manuel's hip? Granted, she is probably the least annoying Real Housewife of anywhere, but still. First up? Kourtney "the pregnant one" Kardashian. In full-on pregnancy black.
6:06-Heidi Klum. Also pregnant. Also in black--skin-tight, beaded, strapless Marchesa (one of my favourite, exquisite over-priced labels). Her husband, Seal, had no idea who he was wearing. He just threw on a suit. The personal-space defying, handsy Ryan got to the bottom of it....Costume National.
6:20-I love Jason Segal, even though he is the king of the bromance (confession: I have seen 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' at least 8 times).
6:22-I care not one whit for LL Cool J's NCIS spinoff but, 20 years after he captured my teenage heart, he remains man candy...even while wearing a goofy and entirely inappropriate hat with his otherwise classic tuxedo.
6:23-Seth MacFarlane. Man. Tux. Please move on to the women. This is the only reason that we watch the Red Carpet.
6:24-MacFarlane just dropped the F-bomb on live television. I take it all back.
6:25-Forget Megan Fox. Please. Olivia Wilde is the sexiest woman in Hollywood. They just glam-cammed her dress but I really want to see it up close.
6:26-I will never get acclimated to seeing Jamie Kennedy with Jennifer Love Hewitt. This is only slightly better than Mila Kunis with Macauley Culkin.
6:28-Allyson Hannigan. Vera Wang. Strapless. Black. Chopard jewels. I am seeing a theme and methinks I don't like it (although I like the tiered, sweepy effect of the skirt).
6:31-Can I please be Mariska Hargitay when I grow up? Pretty please.
6:32-Jenna Fischer. Beaded. Strapless. Black. Very much a skinny-girl version of Heidi Klum's Marchesa gown.
6:38-Jami-Lynn Siglar. I love the classic, clingy drapiness of her dress but I am not digging the beige-gold non-colour. Ryan is being creepy about her love life. This is never good, Ryan. No one is that interested.
6:41-Why, oh why, is there always someone trying to be nonchalant and ironic at every awards show? It never translates the way that they hope it will. Tonight, that idiot is Judah Friedlander of 30 Rock. Please leave the douchiness at home, along with the ball cap and sloppy outfit.
6: 46-Tracy Pollan. She is wearing a Carolina Herrera that critics will love or hate for its neon lime-green colour. I personally love the unusual, ballsy shade as well as the ruffly details around the bosom. Gorgeous!
6:50-A word to Jay Manuel about glass houses: with that appalling excuse for a tux you are sporting on the red carpet, I had better not see you snarking on badly-dressed Emmy Awards attendees tomorrow. His suit defies explanation. My advice to you is to Google it so that you can see it in all of its oddness.
6:00-6:02-I can really do without Ryan Seacrest's poetic Red Carpet foreplay. Get to the good stuff. Please.
6:02-20 Cameras! Glamcam 360! Autograph cam! Celebrity tweets!Okay, the Glamcam 360 has awesome potential. It allows you to see all aspects of an ensemble, which can be really useful to people like me.
6:03-Why, oh why, is Nene from RHOA attached to Jay Manuel's hip? Granted, she is probably the least annoying Real Housewife of anywhere, but still. First up? Kourtney "the pregnant one" Kardashian. In full-on pregnancy black.
6:06-Heidi Klum. Also pregnant. Also in black--skin-tight, beaded, strapless Marchesa (one of my favourite, exquisite over-priced labels). Her husband, Seal, had no idea who he was wearing. He just threw on a suit. The personal-space defying, handsy Ryan got to the bottom of it....Costume National.
6:20-I love Jason Segal, even though he is the king of the bromance (confession: I have seen 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' at least 8 times).
6:22-I care not one whit for LL Cool J's NCIS spinoff but, 20 years after he captured my teenage heart, he remains man candy...even while wearing a goofy and entirely inappropriate hat with his otherwise classic tuxedo.
6:23-Seth MacFarlane. Man. Tux. Please move on to the women. This is the only reason that we watch the Red Carpet.
6:24-MacFarlane just dropped the F-bomb on live television. I take it all back.
6:25-Forget Megan Fox. Please. Olivia Wilde is the sexiest woman in Hollywood. They just glam-cammed her dress but I really want to see it up close.
6:26-I will never get acclimated to seeing Jamie Kennedy with Jennifer Love Hewitt. This is only slightly better than Mila Kunis with Macauley Culkin.
6:28-Allyson Hannigan. Vera Wang. Strapless. Black. Chopard jewels. I am seeing a theme and methinks I don't like it (although I like the tiered, sweepy effect of the skirt).
6:31-Can I please be Mariska Hargitay when I grow up? Pretty please.
6:32-Jenna Fischer. Beaded. Strapless. Black. Very much a skinny-girl version of Heidi Klum's Marchesa gown.
6:38-Jami-Lynn Siglar. I love the classic, clingy drapiness of her dress but I am not digging the beige-gold non-colour. Ryan is being creepy about her love life. This is never good, Ryan. No one is that interested.
6:41-Why, oh why, is there always someone trying to be nonchalant and ironic at every awards show? It never translates the way that they hope it will. Tonight, that idiot is Judah Friedlander of 30 Rock. Please leave the douchiness at home, along with the ball cap and sloppy outfit.
6: 46-Tracy Pollan. She is wearing a Carolina Herrera that critics will love or hate for its neon lime-green colour. I personally love the unusual, ballsy shade as well as the ruffly details around the bosom. Gorgeous!
6:50-A word to Jay Manuel about glass houses: with that appalling excuse for a tux you are sporting on the red carpet, I had better not see you snarking on badly-dressed Emmy Awards attendees tomorrow. His suit defies explanation. My advice to you is to Google it so that you can see it in all of its oddness.
Crowded
It will probably come as no great surprise that my newest 'zine is responsible for my shameful lack of posts. I am devoting most of my non-sleeping/working time to writing, compiling, and editing everything. I am thrilled to have wonderful contributors to the enterprise. Unfortunately, having wonderful contributors means more leg-work for me. Ah, well, it is a very small and easy price to pay for having a well-rounded publication. It is shaping up to be at least 100 pages. That's right: no kitchen-table affair, this. It involves major work and I love every second of the whole thing. I expect it to be out the first week of October. This means that the next two weeks will be full of hair-pulling, foot-stomping insanity as I race to the finish.
I will try to post as much as I can here, although it will be tough. As soon as the lovely, magical, amazing 'zine is out, the long-touted, much-deferred new look of 1000 Follies will debut. Honestly.
Until then, I hope that you enjoy whatever creative crumbs I manage to throw your way, starting with a Liveblog of the Emmy Awards Ceremony tonight.
I will try to post as much as I can here, although it will be tough. As soon as the lovely, magical, amazing 'zine is out, the long-touted, much-deferred new look of 1000 Follies will debut. Honestly.
Until then, I hope that you enjoy whatever creative crumbs I manage to throw your way, starting with a Liveblog of the Emmy Awards Ceremony tonight.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A One Paragraph Tribute to Henry Gibson-1935-2009
I love Henry Gibson. I have loved Henry Gibson since I first caught an episode of 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In' on Nick at Nite or TV Land back when I was a teenager. In the twenty years since, I have loved him in everything in which he ever appeared, from the classic flick 'Nashville' to television's 'Boston Legal'. I found him, perhaps inexplicably, utterly mesmerising as a performer: start to finish, if he was on camera, my eyes were on him. His was a quirky yet versatile talent, the kind that the entertainment industry no longer produces. He will be missed.
Monday, September 14, 2009
14 September 2009-Reading List
I just don't seem to have much time for reading these days. Creatively, it is a great thing because that means I have been writing up a storm. Recreationally speaking, I will not mince words: it sucks. It really does. Yet, I understand that it is part of the ebb and flow of the artistic process. This does not mean that I have stopped dreaming of books. Oh, no! In fact, it means that I think about them all of the time. Each new catalogue is greeted like a long lost friend. I have a growing mound of enticing catalogues, from Daedalus to Bas Bleu, almost always at hand. I'm going to share with you a few of the books that are currently intriguing me.
- Fallen Angels by Harold Bloom, Mark Podwall, illus. (YALE)Written by the reigning Titan of literary criticism, it explores the concept of fallen angels in books, art, and modern society.
- Affairs and Scandals in Ancient Egypt by Pascal Vernus (CORNELL)Bad behaviour among the ruling classes is definitely not a modern phenomenon. This book is proof that the elite have always engaged in tabloid-worthy shenanigans.
- Ermengard of Narbonne and the World of the Troubadors by Frederic L. Cheyette (CORNELL) A life of the female ruler and troubadors' darling.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Restless Genius by Leo Damrosch (MARINER)I appear to be in a biographical mood but this definitely appears to be a tasty read, at least if you are into JJR.
- Medieval Schools From Roaman Britain to Renaissance England by Nicholas Ormer (YALE) For the Anglophile-History geek residing in me...yes, these are two of my very favourite things.
- Darwin: The Indelible Stamp The Evolution of an Idea James D. Watson, Ed. (RUNNING PRESS) A collection of the great man's still fascinating and relevant works.
- Infinite Ascent A Short History of Mathematics by David Berlinski (WEIDENFELD & NICHOLSON) I am a lit-geek. Math has never particularly been my cup of tea. Yet, there is something indescribably alluring about this relatively short volume (a scant 197 pages). Is it high enough on my list to purchase? Probably not. I do see myself checking this out from the library, though.
- Thoreau and the Art of Life Precepts and Principles Roderick MacIver, Ed. and Illus. (HERON DANCE) Thoreau was a strange man, an individualist of the variety that only 19th-Century America could produce. His words still care the weight and heave of truth.
- Colette by Julie Kristeva. Jane Marie Todd, Trans. (COLUMBIA UNIV. PRESS) Colette remains one of the most engaging and maddening of all literary females. She was resolutely unconventional in most respects--which is quite appealing--and gratingly offensive to modern sensibilities in others. And, always, there is the singular writing.
- Voices from the World of Jane Austen by Malcolm Day (DAVID & CHARLES) This volume looks into the lives of some of Austen's famous contemporaries, especially those with different experiences and world-views than that of England's most enduring and famous female author.
- Consequences of Sin by Claire Langley-Hawthorne (VIKING) A period (Edwardian) murder mystery with an appealing-sounding heiress at its heart.
- My Life in France by Julia Child & Alex Prud'homme (ANCHOR) I am already mildly sick of the 'Julie and Julia' craze. I admit that Julie Powell's writing and flat personality do very little for me. This posthumously published autobiography is more my style: part France, part food, part love-story.
- Victorian and Edwardian Architecture by Derek Avery (CHAUCER PRESS)I have a slight obsession with decadent, lush coffee table books such as this.
- Hemingway and Bailey's Bartending Guide to Great American Writers by Mark Bailey, Edward Hemingway, illus. (ALGONQUIN) One of my biggest passions is dead writers. I am also a trained bartender (oops, sorry, mixologist) so this book is quite the thing for me. And, yes, Edward is a real Hemingway (Papa's grandson).
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
'zining Madness
The secret behind the lack of posts recently? I've been 'zining. I am in the closing stages of putting my newest 'zine together. Yes, this is where I bring out the cliched phrases such as "eyes on the prize" and "light at the end of the tunnel". The pace is picking up and I am becoming quite the excited little creator.
1000 Follies' makeover will be up this coming Monday. For real. I promise. As for the 'zine? It will be available in approximately 3 weeks. I will be dropping hints between now and then.
I will also post 2 or 3 regular pieces here, prior to the official Monday unveiling. Deep breath, people. The wait is almost over.
1000 Follies' makeover will be up this coming Monday. For real. I promise. As for the 'zine? It will be available in approximately 3 weeks. I will be dropping hints between now and then.
I will also post 2 or 3 regular pieces here, prior to the official Monday unveiling. Deep breath, people. The wait is almost over.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Cameron Mitchell-Hollywood Journeyman
Cameron Mitchell (1918-1994) was a fine and enduring triple-medium actor. His stardom never rose to the upper echelons of the Hollywood firmament, thus denying him status as a true legend. His carelessness in accepting too many film role after the breakdown in the Studio System, most of them in mediocre disaster or action flicks, was a further deterrent. The Seventies alone saw him in such painful fare as 'The Swarm' (1978) and 'Flood!' (1976). Although his roles were limited, from middle-age on, to parts in quickly-forgotten films, his talent and charisma remained strong.
From the boards of Broadway, where he originated the part of 'Happy' in Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman', to the siren's call of studio-era Hollywood, he re-emerged in the 1960's on the vastest medium of all, television, to become a bona-fide star on 'The High Chaparral'.
During his Hollywood heyday, he starred opposite such diverse talent as Marlon Brando and Doris Day, Marilyn Monroe and James Cagney. For some 5 decades he brought grit, sincerity, and well-modulated ability to a surprising array of roles. Armed with a particularly agreeable macho charm, he was a natural in Westerns and all manner of outdoorsy adventures. Never a one-note actor, he also shone in flimsy comedies (opposite that trio of gold-digging lovelies Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, and Betty Grable in 'How to Marry a Millionaire'-1953) and musicals (starring in the classic 'Carousel' opposite Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae-1956). He was even at home in costume dramas ('Desiree' with Brando and Jean Simmons-1954).
From 1967-1971 he starred with Leif Erickson on the immensely popular television series 'The High Chaparral'. A few years later he was back on TV as a castaway on the short-lived 'Swiss Family Robinson' with Martin Milner and future Oscar-winner Helen Hunt.
Like many character actors, he chiseled out a long career in a wide spectrum of films. In later years, production quality was often an issue, as was distribution. (Who today has heard of, much less seen, 'Slavers' or 'Rage to Kill'). He also managed dozens of guest appearances on TV. His talent and obvious dedication to his chosen craft remained strong as he worked, one way or another, until the end. In a sense, as a true journeyman, he went where the work took him.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Progress Report
I realize, my fine readers, that I have been doing more updating than writing recently. Shame on me! I have already pushed back unveiling the new blog once and, alas, I am about to do it a second time. It will now be up on Sunday as, on closer reflection, I realized that I really need to start it at the beginning of a week and not on the first of the month. Sit tight--I promise you it will be worth the wait!
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