July, 2011
July 1st, 2011, 5:56 p.m. - If you people don't like Ashley or Mitchell's dancing, then I don't know what to do with you
July 3rd, 2011, 3:39 p.m. - Yep!
So You Think You Can Dance - Top 16 perform and two go home: Thanks, America! Now, we're going to have to do something about you putting Ashley and Mitchell in the bottom three... Rating: 3 kisses
July 4th, 2011, 11:26 p.m. - The fact that Lena isn't even mentioned still isn't the best part of the book
16. Fallen (Karin Slaughter)
Up next: Come and Find Me (Hallie Ephron)
July 6th, 2011, 10:53 p.m. - Just try to get that Celine Dion song out of your head
July 8th, 2011, 6:13 p.m. - Boooooo! Um, again
July 10th, 2011, 4:19 p.m. - Why do I do this to myself every summer?
So You Think You Can Dance - Top 14 perform and two go home: It's hard to see good dancers like Ashley go home, but it's also hard to complain, because a) it's the nature of the beast, and b) some of the other options were worse. There are very few people left who I would actually be fine with seeing leave. It's nice to know that the all-stars, whoever they turn out to be, can't be voted off. Rating: 4 new choreographers in one week, which was kind of weird
Big Brother - Week 1: The good news is that Dick is already gone, so that's one less annoying person to have to deal with. The bad news is that we still have to put up with Rachel. Sigh. Rating: 3 giant bananas
July 13th, 2011, 10:31 p.m. - So we're all in agreement that Melanie or Marko has to win, right? Right
"Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow"
July 15th, 2011, 8:53 a.m. - Way to give the all-stars a whole ten seconds, show
July 16th, 2011, 7:37 p.m. - Oh, ALEX
So You Think You Can Dance - Top 12 perform and two go home: Jess staying over Alexander is...not great, but I was fine with Ryan being eliminated. To me, she was just like all the other pretty blonde contemporary dancers we see on the show season after season. And now, on to the next phase: all-stars! I really like this season's format, with the dancers getting to bond with partners but also dancing with the all-stars. It's the best of both worlds. If only Alex Wong hadn't screwed things up. Rating: 4 light bulbs
Big Brother - Week 2: Thank you, veterans, for getting rid of Keith. An entire summer of him would have killed me. Now can you start cannibalizing yourselves early so we don't have to deal with Rachel anymore? Thanks. Rating: 3 cow costumes
July 17th, 2011, 10:06 p.m. - Technology is our friend, yay!
17. Come and Find Me (Hallie Ephron)
Up next: Dominance (Will Lavender)
July 20th, 2011, 11:03 p.m. - Okay, next week, Melanie and Robert, yes?
July 21st, 2011, 9:48 p.m. - But Jess is still kicking around here? No comprendo
July 23rd, 2011, 1:54 p.m. - Dear Bianca, shut up
So You Think You Can Dance - Top ten perform and two go home: Mitchell, noooo! Come back! Bring your bare chest with you! Dang judges. When does America get to make the decisions? When will America stop loving Jess and get rid of him? Why in the world is Lady Gaga the guest judge next week? Is there anyone who doesn't love Melanie or Marko? So many questions.... Rating: 4 breakfast tables
Big Brother - Week 3: Rachel got rid of Cassi and became HOH again. Why do I watch this show again? Rating: 3 gumballs
Degrassi - "Spring Fever"/"Love Game"/"What's My Age Again?"/"Idioteque": Yes, I've finally broken down and decided to include Degrassi in my weekly TV posts. I'm a glutton for punishment, obviously. Especially since they're back to the four-times-a-week schedule.
Let's start with the big plot that looks like it's going to run through the season: Bianca killed a dude, and now Drew's a gang target. First of all, what? Second of all, who gives a crap about Drew and Bianca? Third of all, what? This show used to be about your first time having sex or how that guy you liked had a girlfriend or how your mom had a drinking problem. Now there's a gang war? What the heck?
Also what the heck: When did Anya completely lose her freaking mind?
Also also what the heck: Eli's been on anti-anxiety meds for, like, three days. They wouldn't have started working that quickly. And the dude crashed his car to get his girlfriend's attention - maybe he should be in a psychiatric facility for a little while?
There were two parts I really enjoyed, though: 1) Jenna going on a rant about everyone she misses, ending with, "...New guy." 2) Clare screaming at Eli in front of everyone at Above the Dot and Jake breaking in with, "And scene." Rating: 3 stolen pairs of underwear, because Connor is never allowed to be normal, ever
July 25th, 2011, 10:18 p.m. - Good idea, so-so execution
18. Dominance (Will Lavender)
Up next: Never Look Away (Linwood Barclay)
July 27th, 2011, 10:37 p.m. - Does anyone not like Melanie? Anyone sane, I mean
July 28th, 2011, 9:28 p.m. - Muchas gracias, judges!
10:51 p.m. - Aww, Zane, if you were straight or I were a gay guy, I'd date you in a second
So You Think You Can Dance - Top eight perform and two go home: I really, really want Melanie, Marko, Tadd, and Sasha in the final four, even though that means Ricky and Caitlynn have to get cut. And I was sad to see Jordan have to go, too. This is a rough season in terms of eliminations. I know that every season someone says the show has the most talented group ever, but this year...well, if it's not true, it's certainly close. Rating: 4 brooms
Big Brother - Week 4: Thanks for voting off the cute one, you spineless jellyfish! Rating: 3 lifeguard cans
Degrassi - "Cry Me a River"/"Dirt Off Your Shoulder": Shut up, everyone new this season. (Except Charlie, who's just boring.) If Imogen hadn't talked to other characters, I'd be inclined to believe that she doesn't really exist. I wish she didn't. Rating: 3 pills for a problem the writers couldn't bother to portray believably
I didn't like the ending or the 20+ pages of explanation Slaughter felt the need to stick in after the climax, but this was still one of her better thrillers. I like the trio of Sara, Will, and Faith much better than the original trio of Sara, Jeffrey, and Lena. (Yeah, that's right - I like Will better than Jeffrey. DEAL WITH IT, JEFFREY LOVERS.)
While I liked the plot and the pace of the story, too much of it depended on things falling into place perfectly, and on the villains being morons, despite the fact that they're supposed to pretty much be geniuses. But other than that, you know, great.
After reading Dominance, I felt the same way I felt after reading Lavender's first book, Obedience: The beginning and middle parts sucked me in, but toward the end it fell apart. Lavender is good at setting up mysteries in a compelling way, but the payoff is usually disappointing. I think one of the problems was that there were too many characters to keep track of. Plus, the book switches back and forth between two different years, and it's hard to remember what's going on when. Also, the dialogue is just...awful. Really awful. I can't stand unrealistic dialogue.