Monthly Archive for September, 2008

Baby Mama Stank, but I Still Love Tina.

Published
by
Alfina the Vague
on September 29, 2008
in TV and TV Comedy
. Closed

I feel obligated to share my general love for Tina Fey after having called 30 Rock overrated recently.  I did actually watch the rest of the first season, and it did get better (although they eventually did away with the Liz-says-something-hilarious bit in the last ten seconds of the show, which was something I loved about the first few episodes).  Anyway, I guess I will reluctantly admit that 30 Rock is a quality comedy.  (I still don’t think it’s better than The Office or How I Met Your Mother, though, and I stand by that.)

But!  Moving on!  I do love Tina Fey and have ever since her days on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update.”  That was some quality fake news right there!  You know what I love even better?  Tina’s Sarah Palin impression!  It’s fucking uncanny, y’all.  Check it out:

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton:

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Katie Couric:

Recently, CNN aired both Tina’s parody of the Couric - Palin interview along with a clip from the real interview, showing that SNL had actually used Palin’s own responses word for word:

While I’m no longer sure that what SNL is doing counts as parody (they’re arguably not exaggerating anything, are they?), I am for DAMN sure certain that Sarah Palin is a blood-curdlingly terrifying idiot.

The Emmys: Mad Men and 30 Rock

Published
by
Alfina the Vague
on September 22, 2008
in Mad Men, TV, TV Comedy and TV Drama
. 3 Comments

Although I am a shameless TV junkie, I have to say I’m not always a fan of the Emmys. They usually wind up awarding the same actors and the same shows over and over again — if you saw last year’s seemingly endless fellation of The Sopranos, you know what I am talking about.  Nonetheless, I watched this year’s show because, hey, I was home and on the couch, and making a midterm study guide for my literature classes was only taking up 20% of my brainpower, so I needed something else to do.

It was another unremarkable show, made interesting only by the occasional glimpses of my favorite nominees: Hugh Laurie, Neil Patrick Harris, and the whole Mad Men posse.

Mad Men win Best Drama

Mad Men win Best Drama

I was predictably psyched to see Mad Men win for best drama, especially after they failed to pick up any acting awards.  Congratulations, you clever, attractive people!

30 Rock, of course, picked up the award for best comedy (after Tina Fey was awarded for her acting and writing and Alec Baldwin for his acting):

30 Rock wins Best Comedy

30 Rock wins Best Comedy

I have to say, 30 Rock is not a show I have been watching.  Out of a mix of boredom and curiosity spwaned by hearing so much about the show in the week leading up to the Emmys, I had decided to download the first season so I could check it out.  Fortuitously enough, it finished downloading just minutes after the Emmy broadcast, and I was able to watch a few episodes.  And, um, I guess I am really not sure what the big deal is.  While it’s certainly better than comedies like Two and a Half Men or Everybody Loves Raymond — which have both, utterly inexplicably, also been nominated and awarded consistently over the years — it’s just nowhere near as good as The Office or (the totally underappreciated but AWESOME) How I Met Your Mother.  I’ll probably try to watch a few more episodes just in case something magically sinks in, but for now, my verdict is: OVERRATED.

Mad Corners

Published
by
Alfina the Vague
on September 15, 2008
in Mad Men, TV and TV Drama
. 4 Comments

This week on Mad Men there was plenty of drama, but, more importantly, we got to spend a little time in never seen (or rarely seen) homes and offices.  You had better believe I am always excited to see new corners of the Mad Men world!  Here are a few of my favorites from the episode “A Night to Remember”:

While Peggy’s sister Anita is a royal pain in the ass, I kind of love her.

"Peggy, you just don't understand the importance of using protection...on your upholstery!"

"Peggy, you just don't understand the importance of using protection...on your upholstery!"

In the scene captured above, she just got done calling her husband a “malingerer.”  The fact that this show uses words like “malingerer” makes me deliriously happy — almost as happy as that clear plastic upholstery protector on Anita’s couch.

Harry Crane’s office has one important addition now that he’s head of television:

"Listen, watching TV is part of my JOB. It's called being HEAD OF TELEVISION."

"Listen, watching TV is part of my JOB. It's called being HEAD OF TELEVISION."

A wicked awesome TV set! Yeah, old Harry can just kick back and watch his stories now, just like an important businessman. Unrelatedly, does anyone have a clue about that red pod-shaped thing on his desk? Pencil holder? Ashtray? Art?

We spent a hilarious scene in Peggy’s office, where she awesomely pretended to be her own secretary (a trick I may have been known to employ myself, though if pressed I will admit nothing):

"Fucking Church Ladies."

"Fucking church ladies."

One thing we can learn from observing this phone call is that it is not advised to fuck with Peggy.  She WILL hang up that phone in a less-than-gentle manner.  Also, one is not obliged to smile on the phone (though, on the other hand, we do hear later on that some men believe in combing their hair before a phone call, so who can say). Peggy may not have Don’s beautiful furniture or Mr. Cooper’s Rothko, but check out the Spam poster behind her, eh?

And OMFG, we get to hang out in Joan’s living room!  I know!  Let’s call it the Pink Palace:

"Screw bon bons. I'm reading my scripts and drinking my whiskey."

"Screw bon bons. I'm reading my scripts and drinking my whiskey."

Joan RULES that place.  She’s not bothering with any domesticity, and is in fact waiting for her fiancé to bring home some Chinese take out (some of which will inevitably wind up as leftovers in that glorious deco refrigerator).  Dude, Joan is not even setting the table, you feel me? She’s got whiskey to drink and scripts to read.  I am in the process of making Joan my TV mentor.

We also get a glimpse inside the spartan quarters of Father McStrange, who is apparently a passionate, if secret, musician:

"I am earnest, but soulful. This will help me meet ladies right? Oh, wait."

"I am earnest, but soulful. This will help me meet ladies right? Oh, wait."

He comes home at the end of a long day of spreading godslove and promoting the church dance and just has to relieve stress via vigorous strumming.  Because, you know, the thing for which that is a metaphor would be A SIN.  Oh yeah, I said it.

And although we’ve seen the Draper’s dining room on plenty of occasions (and it almost never ends well), I had to throw in this shot for a couple of reasons.  First, I love Betty’s polka-dot dress, don’t you?

"I still do not see what is so fucking funny about Heineken, DON."

"I still do not see what is so fucking funny about Heineken, DON."

Second, I absolutely CANNOT RESIST quoting Betty’s “Around the World” dinner menu.  Here’s what she served: from Spain, gazpacho; from Japan, Rumaki; from Duchess County, a leg of lamb with mint jelly; egg noodles after the style of her German grandmother; and, to drink, a choice of Burgundy from France or a frosty glass of beer from Holland.  Yeesh!  No wonder she felt lousy the next day!

Important Grammar Reminder

Published
by
Alfina the Vague
on September 14, 2008
in Meta-Blogular
. Closed

If you want more than just TV, film, and music blather, you have to go to the main site, here, or just add both feeds to the RSS reader of your choice.  This has been today’s Important Grammar Reminder.

Fringe

Published
by
Alfina the Vague
on September 11, 2008
in Fringe, TV and TV Drama
. 4 Comments

Let me just tell you right away that I am already loving this show.  You all know I am a huge fan of Alias and Lost, so the fact that I am ALL OVER J.J. Abrams’ new show, Fringe, should come as no surprise.  I finally got to see the premiere tonight and it was far, far better than I expected it to be.  I remember feeling super-excited about Six Degrees before it premiered, and it turned out to be rather ho-hum, so I was prepared for possible disappointment this time.  Luckily, there was nothing disappointing about this great new show!

I’ll just tell you a little bit about it here, but don’t worry, there will be NO SPOILERS. Rest easy.  I went into the show knowing basically nothing about it, which is the way I like to do things.  So, if you are the same way, you may not want to read this post, because I am going to mention a few things about the premise of the show that you might not already know.

Okay then!  If you’re still here, let’s proceed!

This is the main character, Agent Olivia:

Anna Torv as Agent Olivia Dunham

Anna Torv as Agent Olivia Dunham

She’s no Sydney Bristow, for sure (a serious dearth of cute wigs so far!), but she does have the earnest expression and the ponytail.  The premiere also established her as an extremely resourceful badass, so I am expecting good things to come from her.  The fake American accent is a tad noticeable (she’s Australian, as I discovered via IMDb), but I am feeling generous and will therefore ignore it!  (BTW, if you went to grad school with me, you might notice that she looks EXACTLY like one of my program colleagues.  It is uncanny, dude!)

And here we have Peter Bishop, ably played by Pacey Witter (the only person from Dawson’s Creek whom I don’t mind seeing back on the small screen):

Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop

Joshua Jackson as Peter Bishop

He’s also quite the badass, reportedly, and — like any good character on a J.J. Abrams show — has daddy issues. I hope he’s sticking around for the duration, because I’d like to see some of his badassedness in action.

We’ve also got That Dude from The Wire (like I’ve said before, I cannot be bothered to learn all the characters’ or actors’ names on that show):

That Dude from The Wire as Bossman Broyles

That Dude from The Wire as Bossman Broyles

As on The Wire, he’s got a simmering intensity and we’re not quite sure what his deal is (quite like all the best characters on Alias and Lost, of course!) Could he be the Sloane of this show, or the Dixon?  Or maybe the Ben?  We’ll have to watch and see!

Of course I have to mention some of the design elements of the show, starting with these strange titles:

Nice Snow, Strange Title Design

Nice Snow, Strange Title Design

The main title sequence features the word “FRINGE” in these sort of silvery 3D letters on the screen, and each time a location title is shown, the same letters are integrated into the image.  It’s…bold.  But I don’t think I am a fan.  If they’re going to keep it they’ve got to budget more for the graphics guy and get him to smooth out the edges a little bit.  The CGI is way too apparent.

One element I really like is the typically creepy institutional interiors:

Creepy Institutional Interiors

Creepy Institutional Interiors

These kinds of sets are easy to find in any J.J. show, and they never fail to add to the ick factor.  This one reminds me of the set they had when Sydney had to go undercover in that mental hospital in Romania (or wherever).  Creepy, I tell you!

Another typical element is the bright white business interior:

Beautiful-But-Sterile White Interiors

Beautiful-But-Sterile White Interiors

This looks just a bit evocative of the inside of APO headquarters on Alias — the place that TWOP recappers and forum posters referred to as “The Apple Store.”  Frankly, I think it looks awesome!

And finally, I absolutely must mention the weird science:

Science

Science

Even casual viewers of Alias and Lost will know that weird science is a hallmark of the J.J. canon, and it’s being quite well represented here!  The premise of the show involves a special unit in the FBI dedicated to investigating the fringes (aha!) — things normally thought of as paranormal, but that can be achieved through science and technology.  It’s the equivalent of Rambaldi or the Dharma Initiative, and it looks to be equally AWESOME.  I mean, come on!  Any time a lady is immersed in a tub of liquid wearing only her bra and a bunch of science wires, you know something spooky, mysterious, and excellent is about to go down, and do not try to tell me any different!

If you loved and miss Alias, or if you’re waiting on tenterhooks for the new season of Lost to begin this winter, you absolutely MUST check out Fringe.  Fox is airing a “special encore” of the premiere episode on Sunday at 8 Eastern/7 Central, or you can watch it online here.  The new episode airs Tuesday at 9 Eastern/8 Central.

Highly recommended!