Bridesmaids Revisited: It's a Fritz Bernaise Ladies!

On my way down to Manhattan I put one DVD in my computer and that was Bridesmaids.  While writing about wedding movies I do not know how I could have forgotten about one of my favorite funny movies.  I asked my friends who have been maid of honor or bridesmaids or even brides if they had similar moments like in the film.My one friend Emily I work with said she had a similar situation at a wedding a la her being the Annie character (Wiig) and this bridesmaid being the Helen character, the girl who tried to use her connections and step in to wow the bride.The interesting thing about weddings is how stressful they can become, and that is mostly because of money or family influence.  Obviously in the film it had to do more with...

Read more »

Movies that Center on Weddings

Tomorrow I am heading to Manhattan  to spend time with friends then I am off to Port Washington to stay with my friend Lauren, then off to a wedding in Riverhead to watch my friends Tara Daverna and Brian.  I met Tara her first semester of college at CW Post and we have been friends ever since.  I am so excited to watch these people get married, and it of course made me think about some of the great films that involved weddings.My personal favorite movie that involves a wedding is My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) which starred Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Ruper Evertt.  Julia Roberts plays a food critic who realizes she loves her best friend (Mulroney) and decides she wants to break up his wedding.  This...

Read more »

Fall Premiere Week Reviews: What Shows Shined and What Fell Flat

I love the Fall for several reasons: pumpkin and apple flavored everything is one of the best reasons.  I went to Brunch this past Sunday and had pumpkin flavored pancakes, and then had apple cider.  The fall is also the time when television shows launch their fall television line ups.  During this time period I test out my returning shows, and try out some new shows also.  This is where I determine what shows to give up on and what shows to add.  At the moment it looks like I will continue with all of my returning shows and add a new show or two, which is not ideal to my night time agenda, but here we go!Tuesday September 13th The Ringer (CW) Apart from the terrible green screen shot, this show's camp elements and wonderfully casted Sarah Michelle Gellar had...

Read more »

The End of an Era: All My Children Closes Shop on ABC Today

Today I took my lunch late at work.  I usually go at noon because by the time I eat breakfast I am chomping at the bit the get some food in my stomach.  Today was a special day.  After 41 years on the air All My Children (AMC) said goddby with a special tribute episode on The View and then in their normal 1 pm time slot.In his closing toast legendary AMC and daytime character Tad Martin (Michael E. Knight) stated thre words that the show and Pine Valley were "friends, neighbors, and family."  With his touching words I shed a few tears because I was saying goodbye to characters and a part of television history.  This genre of television represents an interesting marker in the time capsule of popular culture. ...

Read more »

The Lion King is King Once Again!

On June 24, 1994 Disney brought to the big screen another animated film.  For the the first time in a while Disney took the risk to go beyond the typical princess driven film that brought them success and focused on a film that delved into the nature of animals in the jungles of Africa.  The film was called The Lion King.  The Lion King centered around centered around a lion family and their role as royalty in the jungle. The father, Mufasa,  the mother Sarabi, and the birth of their young lion cub Simba.As a young child I do not remember this Disney film as much as the others, but I know that begged and pleaded to go this film.  I loved everything Disney when I was a kid, and remember the golden age of Disney during my youth, which started with The Little Mermaid,...

Read more »

Drive Races into a World of its own and Creates a World so Subtlely with a Hard Gritty Edge

Drive (4 out of 5 Stars)Directed by: Nicolas Winding RefnWritten by: Hossein AminiStarring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Ron Perelman, and Albert BrooksThis film takes the audience on a journey centered around a character (nameless) who is referred to as Driver (Ryan Gosling) is both a a stunt driver in movies, and a hired driver for illegal activity.  Gosling meets and starts to get his next door neighbor Irene (Mulligan) who has a child from a husband in jail.  Gosling also works for Shannon an automechanic who connects Driver with the darker side of his life, and some mob connections namely two men named Bernie and Nino (Brooks and Perelman).Without giving the entire plot away this film's pacing had me...

Read more »

Emmys Awards Go with the Shock and Snooze, While Jane Lynch brings the laughs

The 63rd Emmy Awards were a mixed bag.  Jane Lynch is honestly one funny lady, her opening segment (which was taped); she was not meant to sing and dance, which they joked about, but she still should not have done it.  My favorite joke of the night was "The reason I knew I was a lesbian, the cast of Entourage."  Lynch proves that simple works, and it worked best when she was telling jokes (take not award show producers). The production value of the show along with the sound etc was just plain awful. The rag tag band of glee club members singing to introduce the songs was terrible, and just pointless.  The highlight of the Michael Bolton number was funny, but pointless.  Mark Burnett is clearly a reality television show...

Read more »

My Emmy Winner Predictions

Tomorrow at 8 pm in the Nokia Theatre Jane Lynch will take the stage as the host of the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, and here is my list of predictions for tomorrow:Outstanding Comedy SeriesModern FamilyThe years most nominated comedy series will repeat as this years winner.  No other shows mounts much of challenge.  Glee or Parks and Recreation have the closest shot, but are off in the distance.  The Big Bang Theory is the highest rated show and got more nominations than ever, but still lacks writing and directing nomination.  NBCs The Office and 30 Rock had their time and are done.Outstanding Drama SeriesBoardwalk EmpireI know many people have stated that Mad Men will repeat for a fourth year (it has the most nominations)...

Read more »

The Emmys Lack Diversity

While looking at the list Emmy nominees the number people nominated of a different race or ethnic background are incredibly slim.  There is a slim margin of actors who play LGBTQ characters, or have a disability, but this is one place where old white men and women do well.Looking at this years breakdown of nominees in the major categories there are only three who actors who would be considered non-white, and they are all nominated in the supporting categories.  They are:Sofia Vergara-nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in Comedy Series (the actress was born in Colombia)Archie Panjabi nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category (she was born in England and is Indian)Andre Braugher nominated...

Read more »

Who Should Win at the Emmys (Emmy Week)

To win an Emmy Award, shows and actors submit episodes to be viewed by a panel.  Television shows must submit six episodes while actors submit one.  This system has been different throughout the history of the Emmy Awards, but I think the awards have a good balance with this.  Based on the nominees (and not taking into consideration their episodes submitted) here is who should the at this years Emmy Awards.Best Comedy SeriesParks and RecreationOther NomineesThe Big Bang TheoryGleeModern FamilyThe Office 30 Rock The best comedy of the year!  This shows third season did not have a bad episode, the humor and storytelling were consistent.  The other nominee that could be seen as deserving is Modern Family, but its second season was not as good as its first. Best...

Read more »

Television Writing: The Best Emmy Category (Emmy Week)

In the previous days blog I talked about shows that Emmy forgot, but also cited two shows that werehonored in the writing categories: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Wire.  After a meeting with my boss today we started briefly talking about our excitement for the Emmy Awards, and she asked me my favorite part of a show, and my clear answer was the writing.  The writing is the glue to the show, some shows have decent actors, or good directors and good production value, but if the writing is not there they often suffer in quality.When the writers strike happened a few years ago I had two emotions, anger, and empathy.  I understood why the writers wanted more.  Quality writing is hard to find, and without good writing there...

Read more »

Biggest Emmy Snubs of All Time (Emmy Week)

This upcoming Sunday the 64th annual Emmy Awards will be held on FOX and hosted by Glee star Jane Lynch.  Throughout the shows history they have awarded some of the best shows history, they have also forgot some of the best shows in television history.  I am going to start my Emmy week blogothan by talking about the shows and actors the Emmy's have forgotten as both nominees and winners.The Nominees who Never WonSteve Carell's Michael Scott belongs on this list.  As a six time nominee Carell has never won for his portrayal of The Office's boss, and this is a crime!  Love or hate him Carell is hilarious in this role and he has helped create one of the most memorable characters in television history.  Carell has one last...

Read more »

NBC does Comedy Right with Parks and Recreation and Community

This past week two of NBC's best comedies were released on DVD, Parks and Recreation and Community.  These are some of the best comedies NBC has ever produced, and their commitment to these shows displays a commitment to quality programming.  In my down time this week I was able to watch both season three of Parks and Recreation (two times), and season two of Community.Parks and Recreation had one of the best seasons in television history.  The show started out as a copy of The Office.  Greg Daniels the creator of The Office started another show in 2009 which would star Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope the bumbling boss of a parks department in Pawnee Indiana.  Daniel's surrounded Knope with a group of bumbling office...

Read more »

Susan Lucci and Daytime Television

When I was a young kid I used to watch soap operas with my mom; she worked late nights and my dad worked days.  My parents set up this schedule so they always could be with me and I would not need a babysitter.  I watched The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and As the World Turns with my mom.  After a while my mom started working days and my time was split between both sets of my grandparents.  My one grandmother was not into the soap operas as much as my other.I did not start watching All My Children till later, but I remember everyone talking about Susan Lucci's, Erica Kane.  I watched around the time Erica dealt with the story of her daughter Bianca's anorexia.  Now I have to admit, Ms. Lucci is not one of the best actors, but she created...

Read more »

Rise of the Planet of the Apes Rises to the Occasion

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (3 1/2 out of 5 stars)Directed by: Rupert Wyatt (The Escapist)Written by: Rick Jaffa and Amanda SilverStarring: James Franco, Frieda Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis  Ten years ago Time Burton re imagined the concept of the original concept of the original Planet of the Apes which was released in 1968.  The 1968 film was made most famous by its twist ending.  The original version of these films starring Charlton Heston as an astronaut who crashed landed on "on a strange plant" to find man enslaved by apes was done effectively.  Then in 2001 Burton's remake looked appealing but was left an awful taste in my mouth.Now in 2011 Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver constructed...

Read more »

Andy Serkis: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

While sitting in the theatre and watching one of the two worthwhile films released in August, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the performance that I noticed most was Andy Serkis.  Serkis played Caesar the chimpanzee that James Franco's character adopts in order to help cure his father's Alzheimer's disease.  In the film Serkis takes Caesar from sheltered chimp to an enraged almost human creature.  Serkis has been in other films where we get to him like 13 Going on 30,  and The Prestige, but most people would know him from his work where we never get to see him.Serkis is most famous for his work as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  This role should have potentially landed him an Academy Award nomination...

Read more »