August, 2009


August 4th, 2009, 9:31 p.m. - Wow, I can't believe it's already been ten years

27. Columbine (Dave Cullen)
I've always been intrigued by the Columbine shootings, probably because I was in high school when they occurred, so I felt a kind of camaraderie with the victims. Cullen's book filled in a lot of the information that I didn't know about what really happened. It also cleared up a lot of myths surrounding the events - and there were a lot of them.

Some random thoughts:

Up next: The Children's Hospital (Chris Adrian)


August 5th, 2009, 11:55 p.m. - Yes, I know, lame title. I have to recap four hours this week. I'm allowed to be a little lame

"Everybody Dance Now"


August 6th, 2009, 10:16 p.m. - Oh, and Mia? HA!

Big Brother - Week 5: How happy am I that Ronnie's off the show? So happy. And if the coup d'etat power couldn't go to Kevin or Jordan, who I would have picked, I'm glad it went to Jeff, because obviously he'll keep Jordan around. (I don't know why I like her. I think it's because she's just so darn entertaining.) Maybe Natalie will be the next to go? Man, she gets on my nerves. Rating: 4 lies Michele supposedly told that weren't lies at all

So You Think You Can Dance - Top four perform and the winner is crowned: Yay, Jeanine! Honestly, after Evan was out of the running, I was fine with whatever happened, but yay, Jeanine! I said right before the American Idol finale that I would be happy with whoever won, but that turned out to be wrong. This time I said the same thing and I think I was right. Brandon certainly kicked butt all season, dancing almost flawlessly (though Kayla did, too). But it's almost a better ending to have Jeanine, the dancer who was so anonymous at the beginning of the top 20 that hardly anyone could remember who was Jeanine and who was Janette, win it all. She was this season's Sabra, starting out with zero background, then gaining momentum each week until you forgot what it was like not to know who she was. She absolutely earned the win. Sometimes you just have to love a surprise ending. Rating: 5 repeated routines that didn't include a zombie or burglars, much to my dismay

11:02 p.m. - I believe I requested a zombie?

"Three Cheers for Dance"


August 11th, 2009, 4:07 p.m. - In honor of the upcoming Degrassi movie...

Here are some things I've learned in just eight short seasons of that wonderful Canadian import:

  • If you get pregnant, you can have an abortion, give the baby up for adoption, or keep the baby, and whatever decision you make, things will turn out fine. In fact, if you have an abortion, you will most likely never even mention it again after a few weeks, partly because some networks never aired those episodes and no one will know what you're talking about.
  • If your boyfriend/girlfriend cheats on you, you should always take him/her back.
  • It's possible to be beaten by your father, lose him in a car accident, get your secret girlfriend pregnant (while cheating on your other girlfriend), get diagnosed with bipolar disorder, get a record deal, get addicted to cocaine, and get clean all within five years.
  • Rapists are never caught/brought to justice.
  • Christian girls think about sex. A lot.
  • If your girlfriend cuts you out of her record demo and lies about it, you shouldn't break up with her - just wait until you develop feelings for someone else.
  • In the same vein (and involving the same girl, interestingly enough), make a big deal when your boyfriend cheats on you, then go to another country, meet another guy, and fail to break up with your boyfriend, leaving your mutual friend to do it instead. (Man, I hate Ashley.)
  • If you start out as the more annoying of your two friends, ultimately you'll end up the less annoying one.
  • Vegetarian activists have little character development.
  • Even if you're not 18, you can live anywhere you want, as long as you stay in school. You can also change your name without any problems.
  • You can join the Army without a high school degree, and while you're on probation.
  • It's not just that you can get or be exposed to an STD if you're not sexually promiscuous, it's that you're more likely to get one if you aren't.
  • Bad boys are always more fun.
  • It's okay to blackmail your cheating father, because stem-cell transplants are more important than your mother's feelings.
  • The worst consequences of smoking pot are getting dumped, getting paranoid, or your boyfriend having to move out of your dorm room. Uh, unless you're Becca.
  • Your strict Filipino father would rather you get engaged to a high school dropout with a record than let you become an actress.
  • Once you've recovered from your coma, your friends will expend a lot of energy trying to get revenge on the guy who caused your condition, but they won't mention you ever again.
  • No one finds it inappropriate if your stepfather is your teacher.
  • Talent is not required.
  • Unlike on How I Met Your Mother, Degrassi has no bro code. Your best friend's ex is fair game. Sooner or later, everyone dates everyone. Sometimes more than once.



August 14th, 2009, 10:34 p.m. - My sad, lonely single post of the week (but just for one week)

Big Brother - Week 6: Haaaaaaaaaaaa! I'm so glad Jessie's gone. Who knew Jeff would turn out to be one of the more likable people? And he did exactly what I thought he should do - put up Jessie and Natalie to split up their partnership. I also thought of the two, Jessie should go; he would be more likely to be unbearable in his pursuit for revenge if Natalie had gone, whereas Natalie is dumb and will just whine about Jessie being gone. Basically, she'll continue to be annoying, and if the others are already used to that, as they should be, they can keep putting up with it, knowing there's no way she's going to win. Actually, I think Jeff and Jordan might make it to the final two, in which case he might go all Rob Mariano on us and propose. Stranger things have happened. Rating: 4 shirts with Jessie's picture on them, which he wore for no logical reason. Not that logic is his strong suit


August 15th, 2009, 1:46 p.m. - Yes, I'm going to talk about the Degrassi Goes Hollywood movie

I'm a dork. We know this.

First, the good:

  • Jay. I admit it, I love Jay. I think it's because like Charlotte Arnold (Holly J.) and Lauren Collins (Paige), Mike Lobel brings something different to his scenes than the other actors. No matter what he's doing, he's fun to watch. And yes, I like Jay and Manny together. Sue me. She's probably the only girl he's ever been with who he's been honest with and hasn't gotten together with just for sex. So help me, they're cute together. And can I just mention the hilarious face Jay made when he returned to the table after signing Manny up to sing? Priceless.
  • The actors who played Michael and Haley were great. They fit right in with the rest of the cast, and they had roles that weren't exactly going to endear them to the audience.
  • I loved the call-backs, continuity, and tying up of loose ends: Craig explaining where Ashley is, Ellie telling him about Caitlin hooking up with Jesse, Ellie's dad finally came back from Afghanistan, Emma calling on Peter to help Manny because he owes her for the topless video. (Speaking of which, I hope they've all been destroyed now that Manny's famous.) And yes, I laughed out loud at the reference to Shenae Grimes (Darcy).
  • Usually I'm not a big Mia fan, but I liked her in this. She was so laid-back and fun. Watching her trying to rock out with that biker guy was hilarious. And she fixed the bus when Jay couldn't - that has to count for something.
  • It was a cheap joke, but I liked Kevin Smith mentioning a different part of Canada every time he complained about being there.

The bad:

  • Why is Ellie Craig's "one who got away"? Not that I really expected it to be Manny or Ashley instead, but Ellie and Craig never actually went out. I mean, he specifically chose Manny over her. It just seems weird that they would be so unable to get over each other after never actually being together.
  • The stuff with Ellie's dad seemed unnecessary. I guess they needed a better reason to have her be so upset than just because of Craig.
  • Paige reverted to her old mean girl self. I guess we know that Paige never completely let go of that persona, but after all the progress she's made, it seemed weird for her to go evil again with so little effort.

And the just plain confusing:

  • I wonder if Miriam McDonald is ticked that Emma was only in the movie to serve as the narrator or to move the plot along. And why was Kelly in it at all?
  • Paige working as someone's assistant? To quote her, as if.
  • Why would Jay agree to drive Peter, Sav, and Danny to L.A.? He doesn't even like Peter. Also, how did those guys get permission to go on a two-week road trip without chaperones?
  • Speaking of Danny, did he have even one line in the entire movie? If he hadn't been in the band, I doubt he would've appeared at all, which is too bad, because I generally like him.
  • Sav likes stickers and is obsessed with Ben Affleck. Sorry, Anya, but I think Riley might not be the only gay guy you've made out with.
  • Since when does Jay play drums? Did we know that? What happened to the band's real drummer? Oh, wait - it's Spinner. And he was shot. Continuity! I just wish they'd mentioned that so I didn't have to use my poor brain to figure it out myself.



August 16th, 2009, 10:39 p.m. - Chris Adrian used up all the words ever, so I'll just use eight

28. The Children's Hospital (Chris Adrian)
Good idea, bad execution. And the editing sucked.

Up next: The Magicians (Lev Grossman)


August 20th, 2009, 11:12 p.m. - The Tipsy Chicken would be a great name for a pub

Big Brother - Week 7: What a good week! First the weight of Chima's craziness finally tipped her over the edge of the cliff and she was kicked out. (Oh, but don't get me started about the things she's said since, because they make my blood boil and it's already been boiling enough lately thanks to all these healthcare town halls and the completely inappropriate comparisons between Obama and Hitler. Chima needs professional help, I'm saying.) Then Jordan won HOH, ensuring that she, Jeff, and Michele (the people left in the game - along with Kevin - who I can actually stand for more than a few minutes at a time) would be safe. Then Lydia the almost-but-not-quite-as-unstable-as-Chima was evicted. Let's hope Natalie goes next. Then we'd be left with a generally likable final five. Rating: 4 holes in one

Top Chef - "Sin City Vice": Random thoughts:

  • Scary that so many of the chefs named drinking as a vice.
  • Shut up, Mike I.
  • Ashley's haircut is horrible. It makes her look like Beck.
  • Is there some unwritten rule that there can't be only one Jennifer on a reality show; there always have to be two? At least one is already gone, so now they can drop the initials.
  • My early favorites (as in people I like) are Kevin, Ash, and Jesse. My early favorites (as in people who have a shot at winning) are Kevin and Jennifer.

Rating: 4 purees, which I totally agree with the judges about. I mean, how is that appetizing?

Project Runway - "All-Star Challenge": I'm disappointed. I was bored by most of the episode. Maybe they shouldn't have made it two hours; one-and-a-half would have been enough. Also, Korto really bugged me. I liked her last season, but she's obviously really bitter about being runner-up and hasn't gotten over it, which is sad. If she feels like she needs to win this show to feel like a talented designer, then I feel bad for her. I mean, Chris is happy just coming in fourth twice.

I liked the women's collections the best, especially Uli's. The fact that she did a collection so completely different from what we saw from her during her season and still made every piece look beautiful speaks volumes about her talent. And even though I liked Korto and Sweet P's collections better than Daniel's, I was happy to see him win because I thought he should have won his season. (Nothing against Chloe, I just thought Daniel's work was better.) I also liked that the judges commented on how his confidence has increased, because he was the right amount of confident in himself without being cocky, Santino. And he doesn't look like he's in a Village People/Spinal Tap tribute band, Jeffrey. Rating: 3 tablecloths

Project Runway - "Welcome to Los Angeles!": While I'm making lists...

  • My early favorite contestants (as in people I like) are Christopher and Epperson. My early favorites (as in people who have a shot at winning) are Ra'Mon and possibly Christopher, but so far I don't think I've seen enough to really be able to tell.
  • I guarantee that at least once an episode, I'll be telling Malvin to shut up.
  • Lindsay Lohan actually knew what she was talking about and gave a ton of good feedback.
  • I loved Ra'Mon's dress. Loved all of it. I want it.
  • Shirin and Irina are going to have to wear nametags if I'm going to have any chance at telling them apart.
  • I can't believe Mitchell's model screwed him over like that by lying about her measurements. Why would you lie about something like that when someone is making a dress specifically for you to wear? You're just going to come off looking foolish on the runway. Also, if you get your designer eliminated, your chances of being eliminated, too, shoot up. Stupid girl.
  • The crazy one went first! Good thing, too, because otherwise I'd also be telling her to shut up every week.

Rating: 4 silver hexagons


August 23rd, 2009, 8:50 p.m. - Magic is...bad?

29. The Magicians (Lev Grossman)
I've been describing this to people as "Harry Potter goes to college and discovers that Narnia's real," (an Amazon.com reviewer hilariously sums it up as "everybody wants to get naked at Hogwarts," which is also accurate) but there are other elements in there, too, including some Wizard of Oz-like happenings. The book starts out really strong, but the parts that were supposed to be the most exciting and action-packed actually weren't as exciting to me. Still, it's a great read, and definitely one for Harry Potter fans. Some may call it a rip-off, but I'd call it more of a tribute. (And Grossman even mentions the Harry Potter-verse at a couple different points, so it's not like he's trying to pretend it never existed.) If you've read my book comments before, you know that I tend to mention when a writer has drawn characters well. Grossman is one of the best at this out of any author I've read. Everyone is written vividly. He also leaves the book open for a sequel, which I wouldn't be surprised to see. There's a lot of unfinished business.

Totally unrelated note: since I'm also reading Infinite Jest, I got a little thrill when a character used the phrase "howling fantods." Thanks, Grossman!

Up next: This Is Where I Leave You (Jonathan Tropper)


August 27th, 2009, 11:44 p.m. - Wouldn't hot chocolate make the graham crackers soggy? I've given this too much thought

Big Brother - Week 8: Way to annoy me so much that I wanted you gone even more than I wanted Natalie gone, Russell. Though if it really was all an act, nicely played. Now if we can just get rid of Natalie, I'll be fine with anyone else winning. Rating: 3 s'mores, which are NOT made with hot chocolate, genius challenge designers

Top Chef - "Bachelor/Ette Party": First of all, shut up, Ashley. Yeah, I'm not happy that you can't get married either, but that has nothing to do with the competition. I mean, does she refuse to cook for married people? Because Tom and Gail are married, and she's going to need to cook for them every week, so if she has a problem with that, she needs to work it out quickly. Second of all, can we stop saying "boys" and "girls"? Last time I checked, these people are all over 18, which makes them men and women. Third of all, you can tell Bryan and Michael are brothers because they have the same bland personality and scary eyes. Just sayin'. Rating: 3 bay leaves

Project Runway - "We Expect Fashion": Such cute dresses! Shirin definitely deserved the win this week - the dress and the coat were both gorgeous. And again, the crazy person went home. If this keeps up, everyone in the second half of the season will be sane. Can I nominate Mitchell to go home next? He's getting on my nerves. Rating: 4 chicken feathers



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