Entries from August 2009
By now you have read the news that John Krasinki, who plays Jim on “The Office,” is engaged to wed fellow actor Emily Blunt of “The Devil Wears Prada” fame. Isn’t that wonderful?
Then why do I feel like crying?
John and Emily are both in their late 20’s, so they are definitely old enough to marry. And they have dated for the better part of a year, so it’s not like they are rushing into anything. Heck, they’re both funny and attractive — I’m sure they are a great match.
But marriage — really?
Marriage is hard enough for John and Emily no-name down the street who don’t have to deal with all the pressures that accompany stardom. Most newlyweds don’t have the paparazzi following them everywhere they go; try to make a marriage work with that going on every day. (Right, Jon and Kate + Eight?)
Stay engaged for a long, long time, guys. Wait until you are really sure. Because from what I’ve seen of late…the media is going make you wish you had.
Categories: Home · Humor · Movies · Television
Tagged: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, marriage, Movies, paparazzi, relationships, Television, The Devil Wears Prada movie, The Office television show
The 2009 US Open tennis tournament begins Monday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing. Attending is always a highlight of my year and a true out-of-body experience.
I have watched the US Open on television since I was a very little girl. I loved Jimmy Connors’ spirit, bemoaned MacEnroe’s mouth, admired Lendl’s cool, endured Sampras’ calm, and was bored (most of the time) by Federer’s perfection. (I watched the women’s draw as well, but I do love the men.)
To get the chance to experience it in person always blows my mind.
The venues are smaller and more intimate then they appear on TV, and the personalities even bigger. You can sit in the highest level of Arthur Ashe stadium — and believe me, I have — and still have an incredible view of the action and all the celebrities in the crowd. During my first US Open, I watched Matthew Perry during every break in the action. (His seats were way better than mine. )
When you attend the US Open, you can also watch matches in Louis Armstrong, the Grandstand, and other smaller courts. You might get a chance to see some up-and-comer make their big move.
This year, I feel, is Andy Roddick’s Open. After his near success at Wimbledon, it seems destined to be. And I will be there, a very small part of tennis history.
Categories: Humor · Sports
Tagged: Andy Roddick, Billie Jean King, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, John MacEnroe, National Tennis Center, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, tennis, US Open
Justin Timberlake and the Grammy Awards producers certainly have a high opinion of his prowess on stage. But I just don’t get it.
When I look at Justin Timberlake, I see a thin, geeky guy with bad hair and an unfortunate nose. Looks aren’t everything, I know…but then he opens his mouth and speaks. His voice is a disturbingly high, female tone to my ear, and paired with his overall look, it does not convince me that sexy is back.
Now, I have seen Justin on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and I agree that he is funny. Very funny even. He does great schtick. I wish he was a regular cast member. I love his SNL Shorts with Andy Samberg. (You know, they stole ‘Dick in a Box’ from a card I did for Hallmark, but I chose not to prosecute.)
But Justin Timberlake ‘the mega-watt singer’ just doesn’t compute for me. I do not understand why audiences fill stadiums to see him…and scream. And Jessica Biel dates him. Wow.
So, ‘justin’ case I’m missing something here…the floor is yours.
Categories: Humor · Music · Television
Tagged: Andy Samberg, Dick in a Box, Grammy Awards, Justin Timberlake, Saturday Night Live, SNL Shorts
I just saw the trailer for ‘Inception,’ director Christopher’s Nolan’s latest starring Leonardo DiCaprio due out next July. It has much action and little explanation, and is driving the media ape shit. Why? Because they can’t figure out the entire storyline of the movie from the trailer!
How dare he? How dare Christopher Nolan save something for the premiere? Why not follow the example of Nelson McCormick in his remake of ‘The Stepfather’ due out this October? The trailers for that film leave nothing — and I mean, nothing – to surprise audiences come the release date. I know the setup, I know who the bad guy is, I know how he will be revealed, and I’m pretty sure I know the climatic moment when he will be vanquished by his unfortunate step-family.
I mean — come on. I didn’t even want to see that movie…and I had to endure the entire thing during the previews before ‘Julie and Julia.’ It almost turned my stomach for beef bourguignon.
Trailers are meant to tease the audience. Give us enough so we know it’s our kinda film, with the stars that we love, but leave us wanting more. Don’t show us the whole darn movie. What fun is that?
I personally think Nolan has the right idea. And I’m sure as the premiere date draws closer, his trailers will reveal a bit more to further whet our appetites for ‘Inception.’
Whatever the hell it’s about.
Categories: Humor · Movies
Tagged: Christopher Nolan, film, Inception, Leonardo DiCaprio, movie, premiere, tease, trailer
Dear ‘True Blood’ writers:
I started watching your show because of your clever ad campaign featuring vampires. They’re hot right now, as you are well aware. And Bill Compton? He’s really hot.
The first year of the series, you kept me and no doubt a lot of ‘True Blood’ viewers very happy. It was all Sookie and Bill and the whole vamp storyline. Good times in Bon Temps.
Now, it’s season two. You’ve added yummy vampire Eric to the mix. I never thought I’d meet a vampire on ‘True Blood’ to rival my love for Bill, but there he is. I want more Eric…and more Bill to battle Eric for Sookie’s affections.
But what is this? Some weirdo she-devil vibrating in the woods? Making Tara and every other local in Bon Temps have freakish black eyes and bad behavior? In my house, we call this storyline the elongated commercial break before the real players — the vamps — come back on-screen.
The show’s called ‘True Blood.’ Show us more of it.
Categories: Humor · Television
Tagged: Bil Compton, Bon Temps, Eric Northman, Sookie Stackhouse, True Blood, vampires
So…this is a joke, right?
Sunda Croonquist, a comedienne from New Jersey, is being sued by her mother-in-law for jokes she has told about her in her act. Apparently Croonquist has been doing this sort of thing for years, but of late, information posted on her website has made it easier for folks to figure out exactly who the oft-joked about mother-in-law is. And she’s had enough.
Now…I’ve never heard of Sundra Croonquist (although with that last name, I can see why she went into comedy). And she seems moderately funny in the footage of her act and in the interviews I have now seen due to the publicized lawsuit.
But I have to believe that this is just a publicity stunt. Heck, it’s a good idea. If you are a comedian — or comedienne, in this case — who has been working the circuit for a while with little national exposure, why not fashion a reality show-esque moment that will pull the TV cameras your way? (Her husband is a lawyer…it’s not that far-fetched that they might have brewed up this idea at home.)
So, before we shed any tears that this situation is tearing their poor family apart, let’s consider if the courts, the media, and we, the eager viewing public, are possibly being used to help Sunda Croonquist’s career.
That’s just not funny.
Categories: Humor
Tagged: comedian, comedienne, Sunda Croonquist
I was avoiding the news programs this morning — they were full of Teddy Kennedy’s death, and that made me sad — so I clicked around and stumbled upon “The Truman Show” on TBS. I haven’t seen that movie in years and had forgotten what a wonderful, dimensional performance Jim Carrey gives as the man unwittingly trapped in a TV show.
So, where does “The Truman Show” rank in Carrey’s long list of movie roles? Here’s my take. I’d love to hear yours.
CARREY COMEDY TOP FIVE
1. “Bruce Almighty” — Carrey is the god of comedy.
2. “Fun with Dick and Jane” — A perfect pairing with Tea Leoni
3. “Liar Liar” — The courtroom scenes are classic.
4. “Yes Man” — Carrey’s taped face is worth the whole film.
5. “Dumb and Dumber” — Stupid, but cemented my fanaticism
CARREY DRAMA TOP FIVE
1. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” — Proved Carrey could give a controlled, vulnerable performance.
2. “The Majestic” — The critics be damned! I loved his innocence and patriotism.
3. “The Truman Show” — Carrey was simply heartbreaking.
4. “Doing Time on Maple Drive” — You might have missed this one; catch it on cable.
5. “Man on the Moon” — Carrey was Kaufman.
I’ll probably get some crap about “The Majestic,” but I felt that was one of the most underrated — no, make that critically abused — movies ever. In my opinion, it was this generation’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” If you haven’t had the pleasure, add it to your NetFlix queue.
Categories: Humor · Movies
Tagged: comedy, drama, film, Jim Carrey, Movies
I have been away on business with my dog Rory for almost a week. I thought I would pine for our daily walks in Central Park; my idle conversations with neighbors on their stoops; the energy that is Manhattan.
Instead…I miss my mail.
What excites me most about my return home later this week — besides sleeping on my own pillow – is seeing what treasures await in the stash of collected mail that is being held for me at the post office.
I don’t know if my feelings are unique to freelancers. I mean, I hope to see some checks in the mail, of course. But I will be equally psyched to see all my letters, magazines, catalogs, theater and event postcards, and heck, even my bills.
I realized while working remotely this week that I miss the daily mail delivery, too. That afternoon saunter to the mail box is a break I anticipate and enjoy. Here, in my corporate apartment, there’s only email, and its constant stream — while immediate, necessary, and appreciated — somehow doesn’t have the romance or charm of my daily snail mail delivery.
So, to my mailman back in Manhattan — I miss you. I appreciate you. And I hope you got my hold order. ‘Cause if I come home to an overflowing box of mangled mail, I’ll have to kill you.
Categories: Books & Mags · Humor
Tagged: freelance, mail, snail mail
