i’ll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years
by Stace on January 9th, 2011
filed under let me entertain you
in walked luck and you looked in time… never look back, walk tall, act fine… come get up, my baby… i’ll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years… nothing’s gonna touch you in these golden years… – David Bowie, “Golden Years”
It was early 1987. I’d never seen anything so glorious in all my life. He had long, spiky blond hair, some really beautiful makeup, a codpiece, and…that voice. I didn’t care that they were calling him the goblin king, or that I was supposed to consider him the villain. I always thought Sarah was a fool for not staying with Jareth in his world, baby or no baby. But I digress… From the first time I saw him, I loved him.
Over the past (nearly) 25 years, not much has changed in this area. Like a friend you’ve known for a great many years, at times I drift away from the magic that is David Bowie, only to find him again when I realize it’s been too long and enjoy getting to know him all over again. This past summer, something shifted…I realized I wasn’t giving him nearly enough credit for the influence he’s had over so many moments and memories in my life.
Back in August, my friend Jen & I took a road trip to Portland. Both of us having recently graduated from Cal, we were touring the city looking for a place to rent together. As it turned out, it wasn’t meant to be, but it didn’t matter – we spent the entirety of our brief getaway talking about life, guys, the city, and music. We had a blast. While Jen was showing me around the city (her hometown), she told me of a chain called McMenamins. What they’re known for doing is renovating cool old spaces (hotels, bars, movie theatres, music venues – a school, in one instance) into hip, offbeat hangouts. One such place was in a neighborhood (Hawthorne) that turned out to be my favorite in the city. We discovered (much to our shared delight) that the Bagdad Theatre, a McMenamin’s venue (that serves beer and food!) was playing Labyrinth. Jen being as huge a fan as I, we were stoked. Because I was so young when the movie first came out, I’d never been able to see it before on the big screen – much less beer in hand! All I can say after having had this opportunity is that if you’re a DB fan and you ever have the chance to do this, DO IT. It was such a treat; I’d absolutely jump at the chance to do it again.
Jen had been struggling over a guy (or two) and after that night at the movies, every time she started to stress in conversation in the car, one of us would turn on Bowie and immediately she’d chill out, happy for the distraction. (Hence the post titled “who needs shampoo when you have david bowie?” in my travel blog – he makes it pretty easy to wash something right out of your hair!) Since then, I’ve stopped to really think about how many times over the course of my life I’ve associated a Bowie tune with a turning point or at least a memory. There aren’t many artists like this in my life. Billy Joel is another (hence the “she’s write on time,” a play on a Billy song’s title). More frequent are those I fall for briefly, only to burn out when their sophomore album disappoints or they fade from the scene entirely. Sometimes, though, it’s not them – it’s me. Whatever the case, rare is the artist with whom you can grow over many years, loving every single thing they release for you. When you love music as much as I do, and so easily catalog emotional experiences with the lyrics (or just a melody), it becomes easier to understand why a musician I’ve spent any length of time listening to means so much to me – much less one of whom I’ve been a fan for nearly my whole life.
I recently received a belated graduation gift from a couple of girlfriends who live out of town and weren’t able to make it to celebrate with me. Knowing how much I love to read, they sent me a gift card to Borders – it didn’t take me long to put that to good use. Because I tend to prefer fact to (mediocre) fiction, and also of course because I had yet to discover/read a decent one, I immediately sought a Bowie biography. Just this week I’ve started it, and already I’m learning things I had no idea about. For instance, did you know he’s shy? This always floors me about a celeb, but DB in particular I can’t quite wrap my head around! That said, though, I’ve been trying to piece together who he actually is as a person for a while, and I have to admit I’m a bit surprised at what I found: as I keep telling a friend (and fellow Bowie lover) of mine, he’s just so…normal! And please, don’t ask me, “what’s normal?” The point is, we think of him as such a legend, such a rock star, such an icon…and it seems to me that he still thinks of himself as just Davey Jones. He’s just a regular guy, and quite charming. (A little YouTube evidence, in case you need to see it for yourself.) The more I find out about him, the more I like him. Not to put too fine a point on it, but how often do we find this to be the case? (Not only with musicians/celebrities – with anyone?)
For all these reasons and more, I dedicate a blog post to my favorite musician of all time. Today is winding into tomorrow as I type this, and I really did him proud. Today was DB’s 64th birthday, and the first thing I did this morning was dedicate this to him, with my answer an emphatic yes!:
I must say, the man makes 64 look amazing. But then again…he is a rock star unlike no other.
My next small homage was to wear as much glitter on my face as I could get away with at my job, (and my age!) as well as fabulous and almost over-the-top accessories. At work, I managed to (easily) convince the rest of the crew that we needed to listen to our Bowie playlist, and my day was complete. My last small contribution…well, you’re reading it. I admit it, though, I even considered a bottle of bubbles in his honor, but forgot to grab them on my way out of Target at break-neck speed (I don’t like to linger there on weekends when it’s crowded). To be fair, though, I don’t usually find that I need much reason to pop a cork on bubbles…days that end in ‘y’ usually will do – that’s just how I roll. Anyway, my plan was to add a little ginger liqueur and some clove syrup and call it a Ziggy Stardust – a little strange, a little spicy, and hopefully a lot delicious. I’ll let you know how it turns out (if it’s any good).
In closing, I’d like to thank the late John & Peggy Jones for procreating. Thanks to DRJ and the alter egos (Ziggy Stardust, the Thin White Duke, Thomas Jerome Newton, and especially Jareth) for making such amazing music, movies, pop culture, and everything in between. Oh, and… can you please at least tour once more before you officially retire? I’d love to see you live just once…not to mention a shot at meeting you. Thanks, and happy birthday!
Love,
Stacy
(And a quick shout out to Elvis’s would-be birthday, while I’m at it.) 
don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere, angel… come get up, my baby… run for the shadows, run for the shadows, run for the shadows in these golden years…
‘fools,’ i said, ‘you do not know…’
by Stace on September 6th, 2010
filed under let me entertain you
because a vision softly creeping left its seeds while i was sleeping… and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains… within the sound of silence… – Simon & Garfunkel, “The Sound of Silence”
Last weekend I blogged about the Emmys, if you could call that a blog. (It’s a senseless play-by-play, but is it possible to blog some meaningful post about an awards show?) Anyway, I commented more than once on all the awards Temple Grandin won (five in total, and I’m only aware of Emmys, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it cleans house at the Golden Globes, too). All I knew is that it starred Claire Danes and was about a real woman with autism. My friend Jen urged me to see it, convinced I would love it. This weekend, I rented it (as the second, feel-good half of my based-on-a-true-story double feature along with An American Crime, which is utterly chilling).
First of all, Claire deserves all the accolades she’s getting for this role. I don’t personally know anyone with autism or even Asperger’s, but having recently finished my studies in psychology, I at least know the basics. I think she probably spent a bit of time with the real Dr. Grandin to be able to master the idiosyncrasies of her speech and movements, as well as her passion for cattle. I thought Claire was simply brilliant. It’s too bad she can’t win an Oscar for this role. I have no idea who she’d be up against, but I feel like she should be in the running. (Alas, it was made for TV.)
More importantly, though, is how inspiring I found this film to be. Not so much the movie, really, but Dr. Grandin. If you stop and think about how much she has been able to accomplish in the past 45 years, it’s overwhelming. Much of North America’s current cattle systems are in place thanks to her designs. She’s written books. She is a professor at Colorado State University. She’s been something of a spokesperson (admittedly, I have no idea whether this is officially or not) for people with autism. She has an uncanny ability for explaining it to those who otherwise couldn’t hope to understand such an unusual thought process. I cannot believe how much one woman has impacted multiple areas in just one lifetime. Naturally, I couldn’t wait to tell my (psychotherapist) dad all about it and urge him to rent it (he never watches movies – he doesn’t currently even own a working DVD player). Honestly, I was fairly surprised that he’d never heard of her before, but be that as it may, we both marveled over the life of this amazing woman. I believe he put it best: when I told him she was a visionary (maybe not the right word, but still somehow it feels appropriate to me), he said she was like Helen Keller for autism: exactly.
Rent the movie, support Temple Grandin, respect this amazing woman and all she’s done for autism and the cattle industry. She’s amazing, inspiring, and fascinating! This one’s for you, Dr. Grandin!
hear my words that i might teach you… take my arms that i might reach you… but my words like silent raindrops fell…
caught up in our own derangement
by Stace on August 30th, 2010
filed under let me entertain you
all we are are pretty faces, picture perfect bottled rage… packaged, synthesized versions of you… – Rise Against, “Entertainment”
Hi, my name is Stacy, and I like awards shows. In fact, I also like movies. And TV. I like ‘em when they’re good, love ‘em when they’re brilliant, and love to talk shit when they’re awful (ahem, stepheniemeyer). I know it’s been a while, but behind the Golden Globes, the Primetime Emmys are my fave, so here we go…oh, but if you can’t handle my thoughts in a sort of stream-of-consciousness post, you shouldn’t keep reading. I’m going to blog as I’m watching, so don’t expect deep thoughts or coherent paragraphs. If I jump around it’s because I’m reacting as I’m watching.
Oh, and one more thing: if you know me at all, you know I loathe spoilers. One of my friends found this out for the first time today when I bitched at her for tweeting live. Her point? It was live on both coasts! Mine? I (and likely many others) wasn’t watching yet. My definition of a spoiler is anything that spoils that which we haven’t had a chance to watch/read yet, within reason. That said, this post is gonna be chock-full of spoilers. Who’s wearing what, who won, who’s with who, etc…it’s all over the internet, but if you haven’t seen yet & want to be surprised, consider yourself warned. Look away (and come back after you’ve seen it)!
Opening sequence: the cast of Glee has way too much bronzer on, but I love them and the show. Love that Kate Gosselin got shunned, even if she was obviously up for poking a little fun of herself. (And couldn’t they find a dress that fit her?) The Betty White bit with Jon Hamm actually made me smile – not only is she funny, but it’s so nice to see him as something other than stoic, sleep-around Don Draper! I love Jane Lynch. Don’t the slushies usually go on the kids’ faces? Whose voice is coming out of Jimmy Fallon’s mouth? It can’t be his…it’s great. (No offense, Jimmy! I’m a big fan!) Jon Hamm’s, too – can these boys sing? Is it the same voice? Oh, and nice cameos by Tim Gunn, Randy Jackson and Nina Dobrev – does this mean The Vampire Diaries is more popular than I thought? I hope it does. It’s fun. That was perhaps the best opening sequence of an awards show that I can remember having seen. This is going to be great! (Maybe that was Jimmy’s own voice, just pre-recorded? He sounded similar, but breathless, once he got onstage when it must’ve actually been him…thoughts?)
Edie Falco is beautiful. I hear that Christina Hendricks pointed out that we overuse this word, but what else should I say about a supremely lovely woman? I thought it was a complement when used in sincerity. My friend Audrey said that Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks better/younger now than she did in Seinfeld, and I must agree. Good for Jimmy standing up for Conan O’Brien. I never officially boycotted NBC, but I certainly dislike them a whole hell of a lot more than I already did (which was substantially, as they usually cancel decent shows before they have a chance).
The bit with Amy Poehler and the guitar is dumb. But, it’s over – yay! I should really start watching Cougartown – I love Courteney Cox. This sequence is funny…or at least, the parts from shows I’m familiar with/have seen/watch regularly is! P.S. – I was right. “Rachel” just got slushie’d in the face. Jon Hamm has a gorgeous smile. Who knew? He should use it more. He’s very handsome! I’m so excited for Chris Colfer’s nom…he’s so great, and from tiny Clovis…it couldn’t have been easy living in his shoes prior to Glee. I wish he’d have won, but congrats to whoever this dude is. I’ve heard Modern Family is great, I just haven’t seen it. (How is that possible? I thought I watched more TV than…well, nearly everyone. Guess not.
Who is Sofia Vergara? She is beautiful…and the dude with her looks like a particularly skinny Clay Aiken. I don’t know either of them, obviously. I think the Ian guy who co-created Glee is cute…he says he looks like a Shetland pony who learned how to talk. I say, ‘are you straight? Call me.’ Wow, two in a row for Modern Family…
Does anyone else think Stephen Colbert looks shockingly like Bob Saget? I always have. Sure, he’s older, but…is that why I would’ve voted for him in the presidential election if he’d have gotten very far? I’ll never tell. It’s good to see Tom Hanks…I’ve loved him for most of my life, and he’s still fantastic. Wow, Jane Lynch, Kristen Wiig, and Jane Krakowski all up for the same award? Tough voting, even as a viewer. All three are delightfully funny. Congrats to Ms. Lynch…well deserved. Is it weird that I get so excited to see her happy and laughing and being friendly with Matt Morrison (as though they might actually hate each other “in real life”)? Great acceptance speech. I’m so happy to live in a nation where a woman can thank her wife on national television. I can’t wait until it’s commonplace. The more great public figures that don’t fit the stereotypes that we have, perhaps it’ll mean the sooner the homophobes will discover that people are people, regardless of their sexual orientation. (I can’t promise no more PSAs. I’ll do my best, though.)
Ahhh, Matthew Perry. The first celebrity I ever met, and a Friend. I love him, I love him, I love him. And he looks great – looks like he’s healthy. Mr. Sunshine? Never heard of it…I’ll look into it. Kristin Chenowith, Tina Fey, and Betty White? Damn…there’s some funny, funny talent on tv right now. Can’t wait to see Jon Hamm on 30 Rock, I haven’t seen that yet. Neil Patrick Harris was funny on Glee, but for my money, not necessarily Emmy funny. Congrats to Betty White, she deserved that. I never knew she was that kind of funny! And for comedy direction, was a pie in the face ever funny? Three Stooges, I guess, but that’s not my kind o’ slapstick. Congrats to Glee guy.
“Stewie” guesting on Modern Family is a great idea. 3D, notsomuch. This show is getting a lot of attention…I should rent a season or two. George Clooney would help me do this, though. He’s the perfect balance of pretty and manly. *swoon* Audrey said this afternoon (she was allowed to “spoil” the fashion) that Eva Longoria-Parker had already worn that little black dress – I think she’s right. Alec Baldwin vs. Matt Morrison? Ouch. I wouldn’t choose. I love Matt, but Alec is bloody hilarious on 30 Rock. What the hell do I know? Someone else won. (The Clay Aiken guy, who turns out to be Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory. Never seen it.)
Commercial for the new season of Parenthood – looking forward to it. It’s a great show, and for me, the highlight of an all-star ensemble cast is Dax Shepard. I didn’t know he could act, I just thought he was funny. I’ve been a fan since he was on Punk’d. Less than an hour in and there have been three gay shout-outs…wow. Good for them. Toni Collette, Edie Falco, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lea Michele and Amy Poehler? So glad my vote means nothing, I can’t imagine. I’d rule out Julia, but only because I don’t watch her show. I love all of these women. Thanks to spoiler @peterfacinelli, I already knew (damn spoiler!) that Edie won – congrats! She’s so great, and so is Nurse Jackie. She says she’s not funny, but she’s wrong. She’s really damn talented. (And this coming from a girl who hasn’t yet seen more than one episode of The Sopranos.)
Reality tv should be called something else…reality tv, when it started, was The Real World, which was not about getting drunk every night on MTV’s dime, hooking up with the hottest roommate, and finding fame. These days shouldn’t we be calling this “Pre-Fame TV”? Most of those who go into these shows do so for a chance at stardom – even those on shows that are supposed to be about something else, like The Bachelor/ette (ahem, Wes/Rated R). Big Brother might still be kind of “reality,” since they’re sequestered. Jake & Vienna from The Bachelor, what a joke. Props to Undercover Boss for being a good show about good people. I can’t believe I recognized this girl they call “Snookie” from Jersey Shore – I’m proud to have never seen it. (I blame Jordan Knight for even knowing who she is.)
Keri Russell is a babe. I can’t wait to see her new show – is that the one with Matthew Perry? Nope. Someone else. Congrats to Top Chef on the reality win – at least this is a show about people who are good at something and want a chance to further their careers. I watch it. Wow, what a crowd onstage – is that necessary? You’d think they’ve been partying with the kids from Jersey Shore (or at a frat house), the way they’re acting, especially Padma and Gail.
The accountants of Ernst & Young? I care even less about them than I do about Jimmy with that guitar. Please stop. It’s not funny. And again, Jimmy – I love you. This bit just isn’t working for me. And on to drama. (How fitting!) 24 was epic, and Grey’s Anatomy has gotten good again with the last finale, Dexter is my current obsession, Mad Men is fun, and I probably should’ve gotten in on the ground floor with House (never really seen it) and Criminal Minds. Chris Noth is still very handsome in The Good Wife (and nice to see Julianna Margulies). True Blood is the ultimate campy good-time vamp show. 24 had a great show. I’m proud I never watched Lost (take it with a grain of salt, it cost me my precious Alias). Audrey said Mariska Hargitay looked like Eva Mendes – she’s right. But they’re both gorgeous, so is that okay? All I can think now when I see her is of that silly Mike Myers movie The Love Guru. (Is that what it was called?) And the Emmy goes to…Matthew Weiner for Mad Men – nice. I’m nearly caught up. Better set a TiVo season pass for season 4!
Outstanding actor in drama, better be Terry O’Quinn, he’s awesome. I love John Slattery, but…neither wins. Who are these people? Both of the boys I do know look particularly dashing tonight, however.
Congrats to NBC for trying to convince us they’re connected and hip by using Twitter, but these tweets aren’t funny. Bomb! Outstanding supporting actress in drama, Sharon Gless for Burn Notice, both Mad Men ladies…again, someone I don’t know wins. She’s pretty, though.
Lead actor in drama, Matthew Fox, I’ve been a fan since Party of Five. Jon Hamm, you’re fantastic; Michael C. Hall, we go back since Six Feet Under and my love for you has been renewed (and quadrupled) thanks to Dexter. Hugh Laurie is great, but…damn. Once again, someone from a show I don’t know/watch (Breaking Bad). Great acceptance speech by starting out saying that the others were “robbed” by not winning – that’s classy.
Wow. Shemar Moore is very pretty. Ann-Margret and Lily Tomlin are both amazing for guest actress in drama. Beau Bridges might deserve it just for drag, even though I haven’t seen that episode. Alan Cumming, Gregory Itzin, and Ted Danson are all great, too, though. John Lithgow I’ve heard was absolutely brilliant in Dexter, and the manager at my Blockbuster told me last week that he won. Boo. I hate spoilers – did I mention that? At least I was right about Ann-Margret.
Mad Men vs. Dexter? Sounds like a night off in my house. (Dexter wins, in both cases.) So happy about this one! If you haven’t seen this show, you’re missing out. My bestie just found it for Netflix on demand; I told her to clear her schedule. Once you get past the first half of season one (the first big twist), you won’t break to eat, sleep, or poop – I promise. It’s that good. Watch it! (And don’t tell me anything about season four!)
Nice pink piano, Jimmy! At least it’s not that damn guitar again. This is actually good, and the vocals I know are him but they’re great. His Elton impression is good, and the lyrics are funny. Bye bye, 24. I too have wondered how they go 24 hours without eating or peeing. (No, really. I have.) I think this is what Jimmy’s best at – impressions. The Boyz II Men spot is perfect! Goodbye, Law & Order, it was your time to go. I enjoyed you, though, and thanks for bringing Jeremy Sisto into my house weekly. I appreciate it. I don’t need to say goodbye to Lost because we never got acquainted, but Jimmy’s Green Day impression’s pretty comical. (His Matthew Fox impression needs some work.) Did anyone see Jimmy on America’s Got Talent recently? Awesome. I don’t watch it, but my roommate does and I happened to be in the room when that came on. Oooh, and I just got excited to hear instrumentals of David Bowie’s “Fame.” Yup, I swooned a little.
Halfway through. Still with me? Doubt it. That’s okay, though. Aaaaand we’re back to Twitter rubbish. Nice tux, though, Jimmy. Matt Morrison and Tina Fey are two people I love (sorry, Matt, I can’t forget about the “LMNT” episode with Ikaika, but I really do love you now)! Pulling for January Jones as a bitchy woman or Mariska Hargitay as a badass, but Kyra Sedgwick is a doll. I’ve heard The Closer is great, so congrats to her on her first Emmy. (And her seemingly happy marriage to the still-dreamy Kevin Bacon – they’re so cute!) Tina Fey, don’t you think for a second I didn’t hear you say “I gotta hold one tonight!” when Kyra asked you to hold her Emmy for her acceptance speech. Good for you! Hope you get one! To add to my speculation about Kyra’s relationship with her hubby, they really do seem to be solid and in love. Good – it’s such a nice change from “starter marriages” we see regularly these days.
The damn guitar is back. Le sigh. Variety…nice clip of my girl Pink on the Grammys, and there’s another Conan/NBC shoutout. Seems like NBC’s good a good sport attitude. They should. Sandra Bullock’s Oscar win, so exciting. She really earned that one, The Blind Side was one of my favorites in the past few years. Okay, now if I’ve said it once I’ve said it ten thousand times…Jeff Probst and his dimples look amazing in a tux. He could use a little more makeup tonight (he’s all sun spots/freckles), but I still wouldn’t kick him out of bed for eating crackers.
Hooray for the writing awards! Most people probably don’t think about the writing involved in movies/television, but I do (naturally). The clip of Bill Maher’s show made me laugh out loud (the “it’s complicated” part about the pope’s Facebook page). For the record, though, so did Wanda Sykes’. And the Tony’s win…I can’t pick a winner to save my life tonight, unless it’s someone from Dexter. (Then again, at least they’re winning.) Yay for musicals/theatre, anyway! Congrats to any writer, really.
Ricky Gervais looks good. Bad teeth, yes, but they remind me of Bowie so I ain’t mad at him. (That’s kind of uncanny, actually, now that I’ve said it – check ‘em out. If we cropped their eyes & chins, they could be brothers.) Nice slam on Mel Gibson, Ricky. Love him – that was fair. Mel either deserves it or shouuld be able to take it, at the very least. Always classy to hand out beer, too. Do you think in the British online slang dictionary under “cheeky” it says “see also Ricky Gervais”? I bet it does. I don’t even know what this award is. Directing, I think. Yawn…can we just give Ricky an award for being funny instead? Congrats to dude who won, whoever you are and whatever it is you do. (Directing the Olympics, apparently.)
Variety, Music, or Comedy series…never seen The Colbert Report, but I like Mr. Colbert. Anyone who writes a book called I am America, and so Can You! is okay with me. Jon Stewart’s great, too. Bill Maher needs a haircut. SNL has my vote. After all these years, it’s still just a good time. (Especially when the host can’t stay in character & breaks out laughing.) Conan nominated for The Tonight Show feels like politics – good for them. Wow. I’d love to see him win just to spite NBC. Nope – Jon Stewart. Mazel tov!
Two-thirds in, still here? *taps screen* Wake up! Go to bed if I bore you so. I’ve come this far, I’m gonna see it through. Congrats to Clooney on the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Awesome! Julianna Margulies looks exactly the same as she did on ER, and wasn’t that ten years or more ago? Impressive.
Miniseries/Movie. Temple Grandin looks amazing just because it’s the first sink-your-teeth-into-it role I’ve seen Claire Danes in for a long time. Gotta see that, and the Al Pacino one! Joan Allen looks really fantastic as Georgia O’Keeffe, too. January Jones and John Krasinski look gorgeous together. Well, they’d look gorgeous alone, too. Her dress is a little out there, but god, she’s pretty! Every single nominee for supporting actress in a miniseries or movie is great…congrats to Julia Ormond! Gotta watch that movie. Julia looks stunning in that red dress, except that it doesn’t fit as well as it should (it’s too big)!
Speaking of Claire Danes, there she is, looking all growed-up and beautiful. Oustanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie…don’t know any of these movies/performances, either. Awesome that Temple Grandin really is there. What a cool thing for her.
Did Jewel go back to folk music? Did she make up her mind? Nice tribute, anyway. Farewell to Peter Graves, Corey Haim (whose poster I kissed nightly for years, NKOTB be damned), Andrew Koenig, Gary Coleman, John Forsythe, Rue McClanahan, Brittany Murphy, and Dennis Hopper. You are already missed.
Excited for Maura Tierney’s new show, I loved her on ER. And always excited just to see Blair Underwood on the screen – he’s what I imagine the ideal black Ken doll should look like. (I mean that as a compliment.) There’s a movie about Jack Kevorkian? I’d be interested in watching that, especially since it won. Congrats to the guy.
Joan Allen, Claire Danes, Judi Dench and Maggie Smith? Jeez. Congrats to Claire. How exciting! I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember. When I was young, skinny, and had lighter hair, people used to tell me I looked like her – she’s quite a woman, and just said “like, for serious” so now I like her even more. Gotta see this film!
They keep teasing me with the cast of True Blood. As in, “after the break…” but it’s been about five breaks. I like Anna and Stephen both a lot, but Alexander Skarsgard…sooo pretty. I wanna see what he’s wearing, come on! Finally, they’re here. Stephen speaking in his natural accent = lovely. (And neither of the others has spoken yet!) Anna didn’t really get to talk, but is Alexander American? I have to Google it. It seems he grew up in Sweden – no trace of an accent though. Interesting. Anyway, he’s like a porcelain doll. Great genes! Temple Grandin wins again! Okay, it’ll go on my list when this is over. Are they really not going to let Anna talk? I’ve forgotten what she sounds like without her Southern dialect. (She did speak a bit, but not enough to hear her lovely “real” voice.) Congrats, Mr. Pacino. You, sir, are brilliant. If you’re the one that played Dr. Kevorkian I’ll watch You Don’t Know Jack, too. Wow, and like Temple Grandin, Jack Kevorkian is actually there. Cool.
Almost over, here come the big ones! Outstanding miniseries…what’s different about The Pacific? I mean, I loved Band of Brothers – should I see this too? Congrats to Tom Hanks. He’s like Midas (well, him and Justin Timberlake). Great acceptance speech! Made for tv movie, congrats again to Temple Grandin. The poor woman accepting looks awful – who told her it was okay to let her bra hang out at the Emmys? That’s awful. And the woman speaking could use a little more support. Temple Grandin is onstage and seems to be a really wonderful woman. I can’t wait to see this. Aww, and it’s her birthday.
Two more to go! I think I can, I think I can…Tom Selleck. Still gorgeous, after Magnum, P.I. and Friends. And he and Jimmy match? Cute. Come onnnnnnn, Dexter. Love True Blood and Mad Men, but really pulling for Dex. And Mad Men wins! (At least it’s a show I like!) Congrats to the show. Christina Hendricks is still, in my opinion, the most beautiful woman in show business. Elizabeth Moss, too, is really great – she is still burned into my mind as the haunting “Torch” of Girl, Interrupted.
OMG, I think I’m going to miss the end? *fingers crossed* It’s back on, and Ted Danson is still a fox. Outstanding comedy series, I’d love to see Glee win but I just don’t see it happening. Nurse Jackie, too. Modern Family wins as my DVR recording runs out…
Well, it was fun. I sincerely doubt anyone read all the way through, but so? I don’t know if I would have, had I not been the one typing it. Now I’m off to watch The Sopranos before I pass out. Does anyone know when Dexter season four actually comes out? It was supposed to be 8/17 and it got pushed back…I’m dying! G’night.
spotlights follow every single move, basking here on ten foot stages… pouty lips and oh-so-jaded, as if we all have something to prove…
and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
by Stace on August 13th, 2010
filed under let me entertain you
i hope you dance… i hope you dance… i hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean… whenever one door closes, i hope one more opens… – Lee Ann Womack, “I Hope You Dance”
You know what I love about So You Think You Can Dance? Sure, I love to watch these amazing kids dance as though it is literally effortless and daydream of having a modicum of their talent. But what it really comes down to – what hooks me week after week and season after season – is that, five years ago when it began, many of us “laypeople” didn’t know much at all about dancing. What I did know is that it’s not something I’ll ever be able to do. What I thought, however, was that as such, it was probably also bound to be something I couldn’t be less interested in. I was wrong. Without this show, I would never have known that it was possible to create a piece of art that can be seen with one’s eyes, without any speaking, that successfully tackles emotional topics ranging from abuse, addiction, cancer, illness, homelessness, love, heartbreak… just about anything a choreographer’s brilliant mind can dream up.
It really is hard to explain how much I love this show, or why. When I try to describe it to a friend or family member who doesn’t watch, I usually begin by trying to convince them just to watch it with me, at least once. I think people associate it with American Idol and check out. Rightly so, as the two at least have similar producers/production companies. Once the bad auditions stop airing, though, I don’t feel there’s a lot of similarity between the two shows. Because Idol leaves a lot of its power in the hands of America (which I think is cool, but is also fatally flawed), it’s possible to have a top 10 (or 12, or however many it is that season) with a few singers who are pretty good and a handful who are, as Delores would say, “mediocre at best.” Dance, on the other hand, doesn’t give America that much power. America gets a vote, sure, but the elimination is up to the professionals who know what the hell they’re talking about, at least up until the final winner is crowned (which they have no say in). They do inevitably have to take into account when America continues to put a dancer in the bottom 2-3 week after week, as was the case this season with fantastic Billy Bell. Though he’s a beautiful dancer, he just didn’t seem to connect with the audience. Between that and his injury, he peaked too late in the competition and was eventually sent home.
Tonight’s episode was bittersweet for me, being that it was the finale. Lauren was my favorite girl from the very first episode I saw her in (her audition). That said, however, I was rooting for Kent. There’s something about the kid I just adore, and I really thought he was a shoo-in. I won’t say I’m not disappointed, but then again, I thought Robert was pretty damn fantastic, too! (And had Alex not injured his Achilles’ tendon, I think he was always the one to beat…) As they keep saying, though, Lauren is a “beast”!
Lauren’s win is well-deserved, regardless of who my personal favorite was!
They’re always so good at making the finale a spectacle of dance and a celebration of the season’s talent. I was a little bummed that Nigel promised to tap and then feigned injury, but the little boy and “replacement” duo were all great – and I must admit, I don’t much care for tap. That’s another thing I really love about this show: all the kinds of dance they celebrate. Dancing with the Stars can be fun to watch, but it’s just ballroom. SYTYCD showcases everything from krump to Argentine tango to Bollywood to Broadway and everything in between and along the way. I love that I can learn a new style of dance I’ve never even heard of in the course of one night. And while I’ll admit I’ll never call myself a dancer, I do have a sharp eye – I notice when they make mistakes. The best thing is, though, they rarely do. The talent on this show is unbelievable. I don’t like when people use pop psych terms, saying they’re “addicted to” or “obsessed with” things, but…were I to jump on that bandwagon, it’s likely it’d be with this show.
One thing I want to say & then I need to wrap up (season 3 of Dexter is waiting in my DVD player as I type): Travis Wall is unbelievable. I rooted for Benji Schwimmer (who won) in season 2, but Travis was always a close second, and a breathtaking contemporary dancer. The best part is that now he’s found something even better in himself – while I always thought his routines were perfect when he was onstage, I can’t believe I even prefer him in the choreographer’s seat. This season he brought us two emotional pieces: “Fix You” with Allison and Robert, about Travis’ struggles with his mother’s illness,
and “How it Ends,” Neil and Kent’s contemporary piece about two best friends who turn on each other and the pain that ensues.
Travis has an uncanny ability to showcase vulnerability and humanity; somehow he gets the dancers to bring so much more than steps to the stage. These are the best examples I can give (at least for this season) for why I love this show so much. **I tried to embed the videos here for you guys to watch, but everywhere I find them this option is disabled by Fox’s request, so I will respect that too.**
The last thing I want to leave with is this: at the start of this post I mentioned that I knew little to nothing of real dancing before this show began. Now, there’s been a first ever National Dance Day, dance has been recognized as a sport, Gatorade will add dancers to it’s G2 campaign…perhaps we’ll even see dance categories in the Olympics one day soon. One can only hope. What I love about all this isn’t even that it’s dance – it’s that these are people who are utterly gifted and haven’t settled for the 9 to 5. They’re fearless, because they have to be to pursue dreams such as these. Gifted actors and singers might sort of “have it made,” but dancers? Not so much. Until now, there seemed to have been far fewer avenues to pursue a dance career. I believe So You Think You Can Dance has opened countless doors for dancers the world over, and all I know is that that makes me happy. Again, not so much because it’s dance, but because it means that that many more people will have options “outside the box” of the daily grind. I hope these kids (and the fans, exponentially) remember this idea every day of their lives. Congrats, Lauren! 
Never settle.
Oh, and PS: Ellen Degeneres was awesome! I think she’s a hero for many, many reasons!
never settle for the path of least resistance… living might mean taking chances, but they’re worth taking… lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth making…
when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
by Stace on June 11th, 2010
filed under let me entertain you
what a feeling… being’s believing… i can have it all, now i’m dancing for my life… – Irene Cara, “What a Feeling (Flashdance)”
I know that too many posts in a row about entertainment like TV and music may make some of my readers want to hit the snooze. I just can’t help myself. Every time I watch the kids on So You Think You Can Dance, I’m inspired! And Fox, to be clear: no. I don’t think I can dance. I know I can’t. That’s why I love this show so much.
First of all, it bears mentioning that I grew up in a sect of Christianity that very much frowns upon dancing. I don’t know why (the joke goes that they don’t have sex standing up for fear someone might think they were dancing). I just know that some of the coolest experiences for me in public school were the dances. Not because I particularly like to dance, and especially not because I think I’m a good dancer. (Though, yes, there’s nothing like being a teenager who was denied the pleasure of slow dancing with a cute boy and then suddenly finding yourself at prom.) It was because it was such a part of American culture! We were always constantly aware as kids and in our early teens that the majority of our peers across the country would think that us getting all gussied up to go to a “banquet” and have dinner with our dates was weird. What, you don’t get to dance? No, we did not. And yes, we thought it was weird, too.
Aside from all this, though, I never really thought I was interested in dance. I can appreciate the ballet. There’s something truly beautiful about dancers on toes. And good hip-hop dancers/breakers, even krumpers, I knew I could enjoy watching. And of course, I have a long-term love affair with Broadway, so there’s that…but I never really thought about what the life of a dancer might be. And I definitely never knew how many different styles of dance there are! Enter SYTYCD…
I’ve been watching this show since the first season. Season 2, however, was the one that really hooked me. I enjoyed the first round, but while it’s true that they do “raise the bar” each season, there was an especially significant jump from somewhat “rinky dink” season 1 to unbelievable season 2 (which brought us the likes of Benji and Travis, just to name two). Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever missed an episode. Forget American Idol, this show’s where it’s at for me.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something so beautiful as a dancer putting all of him/herself into a piece. The ways that they contort their bodies and make a piece of music come alive into a moving, breathing work of art…unbelievable. I’ll never forget the piece choreographed by the amazing Mia Michaels that Melissa and Ade did about breast cancer. I’ve had more than one routine over the years actually bring me to tears, and I would have never thought it possible. I can’t believe I ever thought I wasn’t a fan of dancers! I even relish the ballroom routines (and yes, a lot of it is because I can appreciate the beauty of something I’m likely to never master)!
Layla and I were talking about the new season the other day. For some reason, there’s only a top 11 (10 planned, but the last two guys were both so good they squeezed in an extra spot) instead of 20 this season. Maybe because it’s had ratings issues recently? It’s usually a summer show, though – last season aired in the fall. If it had ratings problems, that could have a lot to do with it. Also, Mia was gone, and I’m sure she’s a huge crowd favorite. Apparently American Idol‘s ratings are really low, too, but I suppose that’s probably because Paula Abdul is gone and there’s not much to laugh at anymore…I know I certainly don’t care to watch, but I never really did. (I’ll admit I watch enough to know who the top whatever are, though, and then just find out who goes home each week.)
So the thing with Dance this season is to have a top 11 dance with 11 “All Stars” who won’t be competing for anything. Like Dancing with the Stars, they’ll just be there to partner the contestants. It’s an interesting concept, but I thought it was going to be disappointing. In a way, it still is: I don’t get to watch 20 contestants narrowed down to 4 who duke it out on the dance floor to crown a final champ. But then again…did you see tonight’s episode? It’s so good to see some of those All Stars again: Ade, Lauren, Twitch, Dominic, Courtney…wow. They are so damn good at what they do. You know what it is I love about this show, and maybe about dance in general? When someone’s really good, you can just feel their passion rolling off of them. And I will always love that level of passion for anything. When you know what you’re good at and you just go for it, there’s nothing more beautiful, to me. That’s what I love about this show!!
This season, there are some great people to watch. I think I might run the risk of naming them all if I tried to pick favorites, at least among the boys. It’s safe to say, though, that every time I see Lauren on the screen I’m already ready to pick up my phone to vote for her (and I don’t usually vote at all): she is brilliant. I can’t wait for this season to get started!! Who’s with me?
take your passion and make it happen… pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life…
