August, 2008
August 1st, 2008, 5:52 p.m. - "I think we're the dumbest cast"
The Mole - "Nine Down, Two to Go": Oh, Paul. I didn't like him, but I felt bad when he was executed. He really wanted that money. I hope that like on most reality shows, the participants who don't win still get some money. Now I'm thinking Craig is the Mole, and I hope Mark wins and Nicole goes home with nothing but shame and a deflated ego. It would suit her. Rating: 3 teacups
Big Brother - Week 3: I hate it when they show us a bunch of scenes of people wanting to vote out one person, then show them all voting out someone else. Show us why! This is a narrative! We need to know why these people are doing what they're doing! Wait, why do I care? Rating: 2 earthquakes
Project Runway - "Bright Lights, Big City": I still can't keep half of these people straight. I liked the challenge this week, but it's been done, so I felt like it was a little tired. And no one really impressed me all that much. I did like Leanne's dress, though. Good for her for listening to the judges' critiques last week, then working to do better. They'll keep that in mind in the future. Rating: 3 drenched magazines
So You Think You Can Dance - Top six perform and two go home: Yay, Katee and Joshua are in the final four! I don't really care about anything else. Joshua for the win! Rating: 4 grills
8:48 p.m. - Oh, come on, now
38. What Was Lost (Catherine O'Flynn)
Up next: Fractured (Karin Slaughter)
August 3rd, 2008, 9:03 p.m. - Take a lesson, O'Flynn
39. Fractured (Karin Slaughter)
I always like Slaughter's books; they're always plotted well, the characters are both interesting and appealing, and they hold my attention to the point where I want to find out what happens next. It's hard to find something better than that.
Up next: Moose (Stephanie Klein)
10:43 p.m. - This is what the rest of my summer is going to look like
August 7th, 2008, 8:50 a.m. - But...I love them all!
August 8th, 2008, 5:18 p.m. - Seriously, rabbits? That was FREAKY
The Mole - "Ten Down, One to Go": That bomb-defusing task was possibly the coolest one they've ever had. Not just because I love spy stuff, but because it required so many steps and different kinds of thinking. The three remaining players really had to work together to get through it. I know I wouldn't have been able to do it on my own. At this point I think Craig is the Mole; Nicole is too obvious, I feel, and Mark too subtle. But whatever. I'm just glad the show came back at all. Rating: 4 wires
Big Brother - Week 4: Ha! Looks good on you, Jessie. Geez, what an egotistical idiot. He really doesn't know what's going on anywhere. Interesting that Michelle won HOH; she has a huge field of people to choose from for her nominations. Hell hath no fury like a Michelle scorned, I fear. Rating: 3 red unitards
Project Runway - "Rings of Glory": That was so boring. They need to step things up. And what's with all the celebrity judges? It's starting to look like Will and Grace around here. Rating: 4 gold and white skirts
So You Think You Can Dance - Top four perform and the winner is crowned: Eeeee! I'm so happy Joshua won. He really deserved it. Seriously, what a nice, humble, appreciative guy. And the fact that he had to do chores to pay for his dance classes as a kid makes him earning all that money so much sweeter. I loved both shows this week; the new performances were great and I loved seeing the favorite routines again. I just don't want to have to wait nine months to see more! Rating: 5 parasols, which they really shouldn't have used. But at least they didn't have to dress like rabbits. What the heck was up with that?
August 10th, 2008, 5:54 p.m. - No squirrel
40. Moose (Stephanie Klein)
Up next: Lawyer Boy (Rick Lax)
10:23 p.m. - Okay, everyone shut up
"Sportswear!!! Hooray for Sportswear!"
August 14th, 2008, 10:37 p.m. - I really don't think Blayne had any idea who she was
"Day and Night, Night and Day"
August 15th, 2008, 8:44 p.m. - Judas versus...uh...who are you supposed to be, Jerry?
The Mole - finale: Yeah, Craig! He was an awesome Mole. I can't believe it took everyone so long to catch on. And Mark really deserved to win. I liked the season for the most part, and like I said before, I'm glad we got to see the show again. It was nice summer entertainment. And Jon turned out to be a great host after all. Rating: 4 confusing hidden clues
Big Brother - Week 5: Libra's gone. Awesome. I was so sick of her. My two favorite people are officially Dan and Memphis, who somehow turned out to be the two most level-headed people in the house. Memphis won the position of my summer reality TV boyfriend when he rolled his eyes at Jerry calling Dan "Judas." There isn't much to that job; he basically just gets free rein to be snarky. Rating: 4 fake news stories
Project Runway - "Welcome to the Jungle": You know, the show is a lot better when Suede shuts up. I don't think that's a coincidence. Rating: 3 pairs of Bermuda shorts. What were you thinking, Blayne?
August 17th, 2008, 11:13 p.m. - It's so much quieter without Libra around
August 18th, 2008, 6:03 p.m. - No squirrel
41. Lawyer Boy (Rick Lax)
Up next: Chalked Up (Jennifer Sey)
August 19th, 2008, 11:19 p.m. - Go Team Mythbusters!
August 20th, 2008, 11:04 p.m. - Best challenge ever
"To Chris March, Thanks For Everything, Love, the Designers"
August 22nd, 2008, 8:16 p.m. - Two annoying people say goodbye
Big Brother - Week 6: I could probably care less that April was voted out, but it would take too much effort. Here's hoping Jerry's next. Everyone else I can at least tolerate. Rating: 3 crows
Project Runway - "Good Queen Fun": Possibly the best challenge ever. One of the best episodes ever. And Chris March! I love him so much. I wish he'd gotten to be the guest judge, but RuPaul was pretty great. I love the challenges that let the designers have fun. They're so much more enjoyable when they're laughing at themselves (and each other) instead of stressing out. It's kind of hard to make a bad drag-queen outfit, I would think. I mean, just take an idea and blow it up ten times. Of course, Daniel did the opposite, which is why he's gone. And I'm definitely not sad about that. Rating: 5 gloves that Suede was not too lazy to make
August 23rd, 2008, 11:23 a.m. - Perfect timing, no?
42. Chalked Up (Jennifer Sey)
Up next: Devil in the Details (Jennifer Traig) - I've actually read it before, but I wanted to read it again before I read her new one, Well Enough Alone
August 24th, 2008, 11:40 p.m. - Oh, Dan. You were doing so well
August 27th, 2008, 11:06 p.m. - Yeah, this whole episode was just one big car commercial
11:43 a.m. - Possibly the best book cover ever
43. Devil in the Details (Jennifer Traig)
Up next: Well Enough Alone (Jennifer Traig)
August 28th, 2008, 9:59 p.m. - Two for the price of one
Big Brother - Week 7: So let's recap, shall we? First Dan made a really bad deal with Ollie, basically giving Ollie 75 percent of the power of the Head of Household without the title. This included putting his secret alliance-mate on the block. Then said secret alliance-mate/Jenn's summer reality TV boyfriend won the power of veto and got to save himself. So Dan realized he had to go back on his deal and nominate Michelle, despite having promised Ollie that she would be safe. So Ollie FLIPS THE HECK OUT, to the extent that it looked like he might have to be removed from the house. Instead, he got to stay and Michelle was voted out. Then, not ten minutes later, Keesha won the job of the new Head of Household and nominated Jerry and Ollie. Dan won veto, didn't use it, and Ollie was unanimously voted out by Renny, Dan, and Memphis. So this week we saw the eliminations of one annoying person and one quickly-growing-annoying person, a fantastic meltdown, and the near destruction and ultimate triumph of a secret alliance consisting of my two favorite players. Bravo, everyone. Bravo. Rating: 5 pieces of hay
Project Runway - "Fashion That Drives You": Ug. This was really just an hour-long commercial for a car I still refuse to mention by name. Why else would they make the designers use parts of cars to make outfits? That's just dumb. I was pretty neutral on Keith; I liked him sometimes and was meh about him other times, but he definitely deserved the boot this week. Stop crying and move out of Utah if you hate it so much. The only thing I liked this week was Leanne winning. Good for her for really listening to the judges when she was in the bottom two and being so much more careful. Rating: 3 of those cool zebra-printed air filters Kenley used
August 31st, 2008, 5:02 p.m. - Also a great cover, but the book, not so much
44. Well Enough Alone (Jennifer Traig)
Up next: You Want Fries With That? (Prioleau Alexander)
You know what's nice to have in a mystery? CLUES.
See? Clues!
I really liked Moose, but dang, Klein needs to try some therapy if she hasn't already. Her mom really messed her up.
I loved this book so much, I'm about to go all fan girl on it.
I always appreciate memoirs that are especially honest, because I know how hard it is for the writers to tell the complete truth about what's happened to them in the past. They don't always come across looking like saints. Sey is no different, and I admire her for being so forthright. She fully admits that on her road to Olympic gymnastics glory (which never worked out), she was a selfish brat. But she also admits how her experiences have affected the rest of her life, for good or for bad, and how she's learned from them. Sey doesn't sugarcoat anything, and in a book about what really happens in competitive gymnastics, nothing should be sugarcoated.
Yep, just as good the second time around.
This one was nowhere near as good as Devil in the Details. It felt disjointed, and a book that was supposed to be about Traig's hypochondria turned into more of a book about illnesses in general. Not really worth it, unfortunately.