New TV Favorites

Every year, TV networks get the chance to start over, right a wrong and fix what's broken. The fall season's new shows always make me giddy. The endless possibilities...maybe the next Lost is on tomorrow night! While most shows turn out to be duds and are canceled right away (farewell Playboy Club and Charlie's Angels), the ones that survive the ratings gauntlet can hit their stride and show audiences what they're really made of. These are some of the shows that I can't wait to watch each week and will miss over the Christmas hiatus.

Once Upon A Time (ABC)

Guys, it's Lost with fairy tales! There's no swooshing sound between flashbacks and present, but some similarities are evident since Adam Horowitz, Lost guru, created, writes and produces the series. While the characters are not trapped on an uncharted island, the plot does veer into the land of Jack and Kate. All of our most beloved fairy tale characters are banished into a world with no happy endings -- our world. Only the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming can save the inhabitants of Storybrooke, Maine. Now, I know the premise is a bit cheesy, but it's the cast that makes this show my new favorite. Ginnifer Goodwin is earnest and endearing as Snow White/Mary Margaret, the elementary school teacher, and Jennifer Morrison is totally believable as the kick-butt bounty hunter/savior Emma. Jared Gilmore is a scene-stealing as Henry, Emma's son whom she gave up for adoption when he was born. In the first episode Henry finds Emma, explains his plight and brings her to Storybrooke to fix things.

 Once Upon A Time is not your run-of-the-mill princess show. The problems that the characters faced in their old lives follow them to the real world and become much worse. Emma is the only one who can help, and without her, all of our old friends are stuck in unfulfilled lives in purgatory. I can't help but tune in every Sunday to see what the next chapter brings to the characters I grew up with.

Revenge (ABC)

Don't hate me for loving this melodramatic prime time soap; it's my new guilty pleasure. Who doesn't love seeing people get what they deserve? Now bear with me, because this tale's a doozy: our protagonist Emily Thorne is really Amanda Clarke, whose father was set up as the scapegoat for a devastating terrorist attack. Amanda spent her life in juvy and now has taken on a new identity to exact vengeance on those who ruined her life and her father's. She moves to the Hamptons, mixing and mingling with the people who hurt her. Murder, computer hacking and cocktails parties are just a few items on Emily's itinerary, and each storyline has enough twists and turns to be a pretzel.

This show is deliciously campy and salacious. The plot is reaching most of the time, but Revenge owns it and takes things to the next level with each episode. However, for an hour I escape to the Hamptons and watch WASPy women stab each other in the back while sporting $1500 shoes. Who doesn't love the drama of the rich and deadly?

New Girl (Fox)

I wrote an ode to the quirky gal last week, but here's a quick rundown of why Zooey Deschanel's show is so fantastic. It's goofy, good-natured fun with a cast that seems to be enjoying every moment of their work.  New Girl isn't trying to pull any punches; the plots are a sweet love letter to friendship and being around people who make you happy. Accepting a friend's eccentricities, neuroses and, yes, quirks is a part of a relationship, and New Girl turns up the volume and shows us how to let our freak flags fly.

2 Broke Girls (CBS)

Smart and sassy are two adjectives that come to mind when thinking about this new standout. Recession TV is at its finest in the comedy centered on a broke Brooklyn waitress and a recently impoverished Madoff-esque socialite who become friends. The strapped ladies spend each episode trying to make ends meet and start a cupcake business.

Highs and lows are the name of the game on 2 Broke  Girls, but I think that the show's message is a sweet one: stay true to yourself and work your butt off.  In these rough economic times, while it's nice to have escapist TV, seeing the silver lining in the proverbial storm cloud can keep us all on the sunnier side of life.

So, set your DVRs for these great new shows. They provide 30-60 minutes of mindless fun, and, to be honest, who doesn't need a bit of that every now and then.

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A Love Letter to Stationery

As a Southern woman with a good Southern mama, I always write thank you notes. I take great joy in doing it now, sending a physical sign of gratitude to someone who gave me something, but my first experiences with the thank you note were not so sunny. In elementary school, I was the only kid I knew who had to write thank you notes for everything, not just birthdays and Christmas. While I at first saw thank you notes as mandates rather than necessities, I learned that putting pen to paper and saying a simple "thanks!" can mean more than the most beautifully crafted Facebook message. Seriously, even an extended metaphor online can't beat out a kate spade note card.

This love of sending letters soon gave way to another obsession: stationery. I love stationery. My girl crush and I'm sure would-be bestie Mindy Kaling wrote on her blog that her favorite internet time-waster is creating personalized stationery. Me too Mindy! Maybe it's part of why I love being a writer, but is there any thing better than seeing one's name in print? Didn't think so. Thankfully, I have wonderful friends who don't live as close to me as I would like. So, we send each other letters. If 3rd grade me could see me now...I've got pen pals and everything! To be honest, it is quicker to send those I miss a text or email, but checking the mailbox and seeing a fuchsia envelope gives me just as big a thrill as a beep from my phone.

Here are some cards from Etsy to inspire a little snail mail exchange for those still doubting the magic of the post office:

Letterpress makes everything better. Thanks Anemone Letterpress!

Did I mention that I love glitter? Super cute cards from Olivia Lovenmark.

Let the good times roll with letterpress from Spring Olive.

You know this grammar nerd geeked out over this Dude and Chick card.

Wordplay make the world a better place; way to go letterform!

 So, even though this is the week to give thanks, dropping a line works just as well the other 364 days a year. And if that line happens to be on glittery, letterpressed stationery, then my hat is off to you.


Get your cards here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The Art of the Matter Salutes: The Quirky Girl

I'm back with a vengeance! I'm not going to waste any time, so let's get down to business. I want to give a shoutout to a character that is making her presence known in TV this season. To say she's an individual would be an understatement. She is unique, eccentric and a bit strange. She breaks hearts, collects weird stuff and always seems to have perfect hair. I am of course talking about the quirky girl. Maybe she's the girl you love to hate, maybe she's the girl you want to grab a (soy) latte with (let's be honest...she's usually vegan). Or maybe you just want to steal her wardrobe and her man (I'm looking at you Summer from 500 Days of Summer). Whatever your feelings on the quirky girl, she's here to stay, and there's one for every taste. Here are some of my favorite quirky girls from TV, film and real life.

1. Dynamic Duo Quirky: Lorelai and Rory Gilmore of Gilmore Girls

How'd you know I'd write about them? No shocker, the Gilmore gals find their way it into almost every list I make because they're just plain awesome. They eats tons of takeout, have a knowledge of pop culture to rival anyone and favor clothes with animal prints and rhinestones, especially from Anthropologie. They drink gallons of coffee, talk a mile a minute, and are cooler than any mother daughter team out there (except me and my mama, obviously!).

2. Neurotic Quirky: Felicity Porter of Felicity

Maybe she's not the most likeable of quirky girls. Personally, I find her a bit irritating. Who follows a boy to college, especially one you've never spoken to except on graduation day?? Yes, she's got her quirks, but Felicity is lovable in her own way. She corresponds with one of her best friends via recorded cassette tapes, has the most enviable hair around and exudes a sort of grating, honest charm. I think she'd be a great study buddy, but only in small doses and the quiet part of the library.

3. Funky Quirky: Natalie Portman of Garden State
Natalie's character Sam helps get Zac Braff out of his funk with a vespa ride a few silly moves. She's got personality for days, and I dare anyone to watch this movie and not love her.

4. Glamourous Quirky: Zooey Deshchanel of 500 Days of Summer, New Girl, and She & Him

Zooey is the quintessential quirky girl. Charming and cute, it gets difficult to separate Zooey from her characters. Anyone else think that Jess from New Girl is headlining  indie rock duo She & Him? Zooey's talent is undeniable, and, in my humble opinion, she's got the best style in Hollywood. Cardigans and ballet flats never looked so good! While some may quibble with the extent of quirk on New Girl ---she never says the right thing yet her hair is constantly perfect?---, I love Zooey in all of her incarnations. New Girl is my favorite new show this fall; it makes hearing your own drummer aspirational and inspirational!

So, here's the quirky gals with patterned socks and coffee jitters. They may be awkward, but they're always endearing. I think that there's a quirky lady in all of us, and, truth be told, isn't the world more interesting for it?


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The Art of a Celebratory Weekend

Hi Friends,

I hope that everyone has plans a lovely long weekend. I had hoped to write a post about the wonders of fall and celebrating the great month that it September (it is my birthday month after all), but the 100 degree temps that are in the forecast have baked the inspiration right out of me.

In the mean time, I will be spending time in air conditioning visiting dear friends and probably dancing it out



Dance Trailer from Chris Poole on Vimeo.






with this thing:

Doesn't she look like trouble? Also, she loves to dance to James Brown too.


Happiest of weekends to you all!

image and video

The Art of the Matter: A Love Letter to Grammar

Dear Grammar,

We've been friends for a long, long time, and I feel like our relationship is one for the history books. I've studied you, used you and even tutored students in the finer points of all things you. Sure, we've had our rough patches. The editing class I took in college made me cry daily, but I choose to blame your snarky sister Copy Editing for my distress.

You're a stickler for following the rules, and I respect that. I too am a goody-goody and can appreciate the necessity of keeping writing on the straight and narrow. I wanted to celebrate you, Grammar, so here are some of my favorite things about you.

The Interrobang, or genius in punctuation form. Combining exclamation and interrogative points into one snazzy typographic solution. I love it. Who wants to type "!?!?" to ask a question with shock and awe? Not me.

The Oxford Comma, recently fired from the Oxford Style Guide, will always have a place in my heart. Sure, it's not Associated Press style, which is how I have to write in my professional life, but I will always seriously love the serial comma.  In the song "Oxford Comma," the band Vampire Weekend asks "Who gives a flip about the oxford comma?" Well, I do, boys. So there.

Also, dear Grammar, you make everyone who uses you seem infinitely smarter. Seriously, someone who knows the difference between

You're vs. Your

Their vs. There vs. They're

Where vs. Wear

It's vs. Its

will go far in this life. 


So, thank you Grammar, for all that you do. You're doing good, and I hope that you're well. 


P.S. Love this note you sent all of us!

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The Art of One Small Step

Hi Friends, 

In my home, cleaning and sorting through old stuff turns into a discovery of treasures thought long, long gone. For example, I recently discovered my first published piece of writing. It was never in any magazine or newspaper; oh no, this outlet has a very select demographic. I am talking about my family's Christmas letter, which I took over writing in 1999. Yes, just over a decade ago, I was attending Catholic middle school and begrudgingly telling people about it. I think, though, that you can see my journalistic side make an appearance. I will transcribe my magnum opus here for you in its original comic sans. Also, try visualizing it on candy cane paper.

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello!! How are you? Everything here is great. I hope that you all are having a nice holiday season. So far things this year have been pretty busy. I got out of the slammer [ school ] on Friday, and so far nothing much has happened.

I'm in the school choir, and I take piano and voice lessons. I hate practicing, but my parents tell me that I want to play the piano, I just don't know it yet. On Friday my school had the Christmas Mass, and it was about 2 hours long, one of the longest masses we've had this year. Then we had our Christmas party, and the girls were trying to get the boys to dance with them. And, no surprise here, the boys wouldn't dance with the girls but would show their cool dance moves only in their little groups. My mom says some things never change!

My mom is teaching at a really neat school and she likes it a lot. My dad still works too hard but says he likes it. It's been a great year and we'll see you soon.

LOVE, Anna Beth

 Note my cutting wit and reporting skills. Very Woodward and Bernstein, no? Yet, this is where my passion became more of a career path. Family loved my use of the word "slammer" (to be honest, so do I), and, with their encouragement, I began to think of writing as something that didn't just exist in my journal but rather as something you share. Who would think a Christmas letter could make a kid want to be a writer? Obviously not younger me. Who knows what small step can change your life, huh?

Hope you all have had a great weekend! My thoughts and prayers are with those reeling from Irene.

The Art of Dancing It Out

dancing it out- verb: a series of movement, aesthetically pleasing or otherwise, that release any sort of emotion, including joy, anxiety, fear and so on. Can be accomplished to all forms of music. 


For as long as I can remember, I've danced it out. Thanks to my life-long love of musicals, life has always seemed better if it features a song and dance. Am I a talented dancer? I don't know. When I was 14, a boy told me I was a good dancer, and I've allowed that compliment to imbue my hoofing with confidence ever since.  In high school, my friends and I would break it down in parking lots in random areas of town. Yes, the Footloose nature of that is not lost on me. My random need to bust a move occurred all throughout college, usually when a test was the next day or a paper was due. I think this clip from Grey's Anatomy, where I first heard the term coined, is a perfect example of d.i.o. Ignore the babbling from Meredith (just one of the many reasons why I no longer watch this show), and  just take the sage advice of Christina Yang into your heart: "Shut up. Dance it out...Dancing makes you brave."

 Here are some tunes, some old and some older, that I've been dancing it out to of late: 

The Clash- "Police On My Back"

 Modest Mouse- "Dashboard"

Andre "Ice Cold" 3000- "Hey Ya" 

Hope everyone has a great weekend dancing it out!

The Art of the Matter Salutes Etsy

Hello Friends,

If we've hung out for an hour of more, you probably know about my love of Etsy. Actually, it's not love; it's an obsession. Most people have a checklist of things they do every day when they turn on their computers. E-mail, news and Facebook are all usually among the websites visited by most. My list goes as follows: e-mail, blogs and more blogs, Facebook, Pinterest and, for the coup de grace, Etsy. What does one person need to do on Etsy for hours and hours you might ask. To be honest, I'm not sure.

All I do know is that Etsy has revolutionized online shopping. And it makes me look like an uber-considerate gift giver. I mean, who doesn't love a handmade, personalized coffee mug or a print of a cupcake that looks like Andy Warhol?

So cute, right?

Back off, he's mine!

Ever since I got into Etsy about 2 years ago, I haven't been able to stop. That makes it sound like an illegal habit, doesn't it? Well, much like most enjoyable things in life (chocolate, wine, shopping), it's addictive. But tell me, where else will you find a ring made out of a spoon from 1860 or letterpress stationery covered in avocados? When was the last time you could walk into a store and tell someone exactly what you want and have them make it for you? Walmart may be full of good deals, but those savings come at the cost; you can't buy anything handmade and one-of-a-kind from a chain retailer.

If you have enough time and patience, Etsy will change the way to buy anything. Are you saving money? Depends on what you buy. A poster of the cast of Twilight may be cheaper than a gorgeous hand-screened print. However, what you are doing is supporting small businesses. Think of it as sponsoring artists and helping bolster the economy instead of balking at some of the prices. There's something for every budget, whether you want to spend $15 of $1500. And, with the recession making itself at home like an uninvited stranger crashing on the couch, now it's more important that ever to support local businesses. So, when you can find things this great, why not?




Etsy logo via. Personalized mugs can be purchased here. More cupcake art can be found here

Musings on Muses: Jenna Lyons

Greetings and Salutations Friends, 

To start off this experiment of a series, I thought I'd discuss my current girl crush, the woman whose closet I'd like to raid, kitchen table I'd like to drink coffee at and awesomeness I'd want to soak up like a parched sponge.  I am of course talking about the coolest woman on the planet, J. Crew's creative director Jenna Lyons.

I mean, look at her at work in her office. Isn't she just so effortlessly chic? And better at it than you or I could ever hope to be, so I think we should just stop trying. There's an amazing and highly complimentary article about her in New York Magazine, calling her an unlikely and humble tastemaker. I love this quote from the piece:

"This is not a role that Lyons will readily admit to, and when I bring up a word that is often applied to her, she expresses a shuddering distaste. 'My goal is not to be a tastemaker,' she says. 'It has never been that. I don’t consider myself that at all. The idea that you can make taste or influence someone’s taste is a very precarious and overly presumptuous concept.' But isn’t that, in large part, what she is paid to do? Lyons frowns. 'Hubris is not so cute.'”

"Hubris is not so cute." What a wonderful notion! Although to be honest, if anyone should toot her own horn, it should be Ms. Lyons. The ease and glamour that she brings to everyday fashion is an art form unto itself. It's like she's channeling four-year-old me who only wanted to wear comfortable clothes with sparkles. And a marabou boa. Daily. Dressing that way makes a celebration out of going to the grocery store or to work. It brings charm to an outfit and a spring to one's step. Making little things special is what Lyons has brought to fashion, and customers have followed her like the Pied Piper of perfection that she is. 

I've long admired Lyons' style, but it wasn't until the brouhaha that arose after this picture was posted on J. Crew's website that I truly loved her:

What was meant as a sweet image of a mother and son on a Saturday turned into a needless controversy because, if you examine the photo closely, you see that Jenna's son has hot pink toenails. Personally, I love it.  Let's turn those silly gender stereotypes on their heads people! Little girls play with trucks and Legos, so why can't a boy ask his mom to paint his toes? Yet, those naysayers had to say nay, so a strange and pointless debate began. I think Lyons had the best reaction to the sturm und drang in the NY Magazine piece. 

"I was painting my nails and Beckett wanted his nails painted, too. I’m not surprised that he was interested in what I was doing. My God, my toes went from white to hot pink—it was very exciting.”

I've said it once, and I'll say it again - she's cooler than all of us people! And, since a picture speaks a thousand words, I thought I'd leave you with a few so that you can start cultivating your own crush too.

 

 

Feel free to check out the story here (where all these quotes and photos came from!): http://nymag.com/fashion/11/fall/jenna-lyons/

The Art of the Matter Makes a Confession

Hi friends,

It's time to reveal something. Something that I've carried with me for a long, long time. It's something that I've felt guilty about, and I need to unburden my soul. Can you handle it?

All these bookstore closings are my fault.

Yes, the recent sweep of bookstores going out of business is. All. My. Fault.

How can one woman have such an impact on the economy? Let me lay it out for you.

I've had a love affair with books for as long as I can remember. Growing up with two bibliophiles, I learned to treasure and love my books. When we'd move, it wasn't the couch or china cabinet that took the most effort to haul. It was our extensive library. 

Borders bookstores were always my favorites. I'd spend hours perusing historical biographies and choosing which cover of the latest edition of Jane Eyre I liked the best. Have I mentioned that I am really, really cool? Obviously, right? I'd drag my friends to bookstores after going out to dinner or the movies because it's what I considered to be the height of fun. By the time I reached high school and needed a summer job, I considered working at a bookstore because I thought it would be the best job ever. Surrounded by books? Throw me in the briar patch! However, competition was fierce, and I wound up working at a clothing store that I grew to hate. It became a blessing in disguise to not work at a bookstore because then I always loved it. It's like never finding out your significant other's faults; everything is sunshine and Santa Claus.

However, bookstores and I began to break up. Once I went to college, I wound up in a town that did not have a Borders bookstore. There were a few other chains, but I didn't love them the way I loved Borders with its warm lighting, friendly staff, and rewards program. So, I didn't shop at bookstores anymore. Also, to be honest, as an undergrad trying to pinch pennies, I saw the merit in Amazon and Overstock, with their cheap shipping and huge discounts. I bought more and more of my books online and less from the stores. Even on the rare occasions when I'd go to Borders on breaks from school, I was astonished by the price difference. $75 for a stuffed animal and picture book for a baby present? I could get this on Amazon for $30, easily. Obviously, being a prudent student had taken the spontaneity and joy out of book buying. I was no longer carefree and fun when it came to purchases, and I had to cut out frivolous buys like another copy of Jane Eyre.

Then, I decided to get one of these:

Partly so I could accessorize it with this:

I never met a product from Kate Spade I didn't like, and, to be honest, I love my Kindle. I can carry it with me all the time, have any book at my fingertips, and my arms don't fall asleep while reading those historical biographies, which in book-form tend to be heavy.

And yet, I feel ashamed of my betrayal. I told a dear friend about my behavior, and she jokingly said I was being "whorish." Yet, that how's I feel.

A few weeks ago, Borders announced its bankruptcy and immediate closings of all stores. I felt beyond sad. And, I felt guilty. Guilty that I hadn't supported  an old friend in a time of need. So, to the going-out-of-business sale I went, trying to make amends.


Friends, when I tell you it was sad, I mean it was tragic. Like a being a funeral or seeing buzzards pick at roadkill kind of sad. I was reminded of the most heart-breaking scene in one of my favorite movies of all time You've Got Mail, when Kathleen (Meg Ryan) has to close her beloved and charming neighborhood bookstore because mega store Fox Books, run by her arch nemesis/AOL paramour Joe Fox (Tom Hanks),  has stolen her clientele. She talks about her work being just a memory...ugh, are you crying? If you aren't then here's a clip of her going-out-of-business sale:

Now don't you feel sad? Being in Borders reminded me of this, and the guilt washed over me like an ocean. Was this my fault?

I know that I didn't really bankrupt this company alone; I had help from the millions of people who are trying to save money in this recession as well as those who understand that e-readers are where books are going, but I still feel bad. However, I spent $80 on books that I didn't need. It was my way of saying goodbye. And I didn't once think about how much cheaper it would have been on Amazon.


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In Defense of "The Help"

Good Morning Friends,

This weekend I saw the film adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel The Help. Starring Emma Stone and Viola Davis, this is a wonderful example of adapting a book into a movie because it stayed true to the source. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this film or not; when I saw the previews, I was so disappointed. They made the world of 1960s Jackson, Mississippi look shiny, sparkly and squeaky clean, which anyone with a haphazard knowledge of the Civil Rights movement knows it definitely was not. These trailers lacked the gritty darkness that made the book such a success, and I was worried that Hollywood had stripped away all of the best parts of the story in order to make it more appealing. However, the movie proved that first impression wrong. All the grit and gut-wrenching elements that were in the book are present and accounted for in the film, and I couldn't be more pleased.

Skeeter , Minny and Aibileen after their book has been published.

Not everyone loves this story as much as I do though. The Help has been criticized as another addition to the what can be called nouveau-racism, where change and social equality only happen because a member of the majority helps the minority. I do agree that books and films that feature tales such as these are ridiculous and offensive because they assume that the down-trodden can accomplish nothing without help from the powerful. I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X disprove that point. Yet, that's not what I got out of this story. Sure, at first it appears that way. Young, privileged and white Skeeter (played by Emma Stone) decides to make a name for herself by using the stories of African American maids to try to bring something that hasn't been written before to a New York City publisher. However, what began as a job turns into a partnership between Skeeter and two other maids, Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer). The strength and power of those two characters saves this plot. Skeeter is a lovely girl and played charmingly by Stone, but you could take Skeeter out of Jackson and plop her into any chick lit setting. The real weight and power of the story lies with the help, and they give this tale its heart and soul. I hope the Academy takes note of Davis' superb performance because I'm pulling for her for every award out there! 

For me, there's a reason why the novel begins and ends with Aibileen. She is the true protagonist of The Help. She is intelligent, kind and wise, and Davis gave her such a melancholy richness with a depth of feeling that I haven't seen in a movie in a long time. Aibileen, Minny and all of the other women who tell their tales to Skeeter are each heroines. They have the most to lose but decide to do the right thing and try to change the world. Or Jackson, at least. They are more that domestics; they are fighters. And I hope that audiences will see The Help as more than a feel-good story with a can-do spirit, but as a celebration of all of those women who raised babies who weren't their own and cleaned houses where they would never be invited to dinner. It's a reminder that this foreign world where life itself in all areas, from movie theaters to hospitals, was kept separate and very unequal and was the norm less that 50 years ago. I only wish that those women in real life could have had the chance to tell their stories like these characters did.

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The Art of ... Shared Experience

This blog is no longer taxiing on the runway and is ready for takeoff! I got back a few days ago from a trip to Vermont, which has inspired a slew of upcoming posts. But all of the wonderful experiences I had were slightly overshadowed at the end of my odyssey by a stressful travel day. Well, make that 2 travel days thanks to delays and overnight detours in Motown. Everything worked out in the end, and I got home safe and sound a mere 12 hours late, but I couldn't help but notice the people around me while all of this was happening. Have you ever had an experience where everyone's face shows what you're feeling? Standing in the 90 degree heat at midnight waiting for a hotel shuttle and then in line a brief 5 hours later to go through security, I was amazed by how we all looked the same. Eyes rimmed by dark circles, bodies smothered by rumpled clothes, weary expressions and wary attitudes towards airlines plastered on faces like the greasy, sweaty hair on our heads. Perhaps it was the sleep deprivation, but in that moment I felt like I had comrades. I almost suggested we get tattoos or at least matching t-shirts, but it would have taken too much energy to be snarky.

To celebrate my fellow travellers and wish them all safe journeys, I wanted to share my favorite films and TV shows that involve soaring through the friendly (and at times not-so-friendly) skies.

When Harry Met Sally- Starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan

While this isn't a travel movie per se, our title characters do reconnect on an airplane. And there's something so decidedly foreign about how air travel was 20 years ago. You could take people to the gate? You could leave your shoes on the entire time your travelled? They served food on planes? And, while I know that this is a Hollywood plane, looks at the room they have! And those seats look comfortable too. From now on, I want to travel like it's 1990.

Lost


This entire series began with a plane crash. Not exactly what someone like me who is petrified to fly should think about while in the air. Yet, I always think back to what Jack says to Rose just before the moment pictured above happens. "Planes want to be in the air." Well, you know what, Dr. Jack? The irony of that statement will be evident in about 30 seconds. This show is too wonderful to sum up in a teensy paragraph, but I do have to applaud their skills in making turbulence even more terrifying than it is in real life.

Hello Hugh. Could you be more charming?

Love Actually


This goes down as the loveliest film bookended by scenes at an airport in history. This is one of my always and forever favorite films because it's sweet without being saccharine, and the ensemble cast is phenomenal. I suppose we can blame it for the bevy of films that have been and are being made with a large cast centered around a holiday (I can smell the stink from New Year's Eve just from the preview), but none of them will ever be as good as this. When Hugh Grant's character starts talking about seeing people you love at an airport and how "love actually is all around," I start to cry. Every. Time.


Love them or hate them, airports are a microcosm of humanity. There is no place else on the planet where you can find such a buffet of the human experience and emotional spectrum. And, while I don't want to go back to one for a little while, I appreciate their beauty and the service they provide. In the end, we're all just trying to get from point A to point B, and at least most airports have Starbucks now. That's makes things much better.


images via, via and via

The Art of...Wizards, Witches and Wands, Oh My!

Harry Potter mania is sweeping the world right now, and it might be for the last time. Now, I take that with a grain of salt since J.K. Rowling has said that she is maybe, possibly, kind of considering writing another installment in the 7 book saga about an orphaned boy with glasses, a lightning scar and magical abilities. However, this is the end of an era of sorts; the final film is coming out in a few days, and, in a way, it feels like the story is ending all over again. While I personally feel more strongly about the books ending, it is a sad to see the films' finale. They've been a part of popular culture for the last 10 years, and I know many people who have had their midnight tickets for weeks so that they can pay their final respects.

Yet, we can see Harry Potter any time we want. In books and film, he'll always be around. My favorite interpretation and representation of Harry and his friends comes courtesy of the brilliant theatre troupe Team Starkid. Founded in 2009 by students at the University Michigan, Team Starkid combine irreverent humor with poignant, beautifully crafted songs. Their most well-known member is Darren Criss, my favorite cast member of Glee, but all members of the production company work in harmony, creating great songs and stories. And, best of all, all of their shows are taped and posted on Youtube. As of today, the Team Starkid channel has almost 82 million views. They have four original productions with two original stories, but my favorites are A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel. They highlight the best part of the books while still putting their own spin on things. A tap-dancing, Quirrell- loving Voldemort? Malfoy rolls on the floor an talks about a wizarding school on Mars called Pigfarts? I don't want to reveal too much more, but it's all set to original music - part of the AVPM and all of AVPS music was written by Criss (who also plays Harry Potter).

While they do take liberties with the original story, Team Starkid celebrates the books and proves that their motivation is being unabashed fans of Harry, Ron and Hermione. They bring a joy and verve to all of their musicals, and with rumors swirling about A Very Potter Threequel, I can't wait to see where they go next. Their last musical Starship was theatricality at its finest with puppets, complex choreography and a fantastic story. What began as a student company is taking shape as a full-fledged professional troupe, and I can't wait to see where they take Harry next.


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The Art of...Historical Fiction TV

Give me a biopic, a heritage film, a period piece, and I'm hooked. I've long had a fascination with history, coming from a family of history teachers, and I give my parents credit for steering me in the direction of Dickens and Austen instead of cartoons. I remember watching the musical Camelot when I was 6 and being fascinated by the flowing dresses and jousting. Of course, that was all set to song, but the story of King Arthur has long remained one of my favorite legends. I even did a report on whether or not the legend was true in 5th grade, complete with Power Point (yes, I was a super cool child. Thank you for noticing). I was so excited to notice on Netflix this week that the first season of Starz's Camelot was available to watch instantly, and I settled in to watch what I figured would be a grittier version of the myth with a more accurate mise en scene. There is certainly plenty of grit, dirt and misogyny in this version, with the actors looking like they haven't bathed in months, an accurate depiction of life for that time. And I loved the way Camelot itself is shown; an ancient ruin on a cliff with trees and flowers sprouting in every nook and cranny. However, that is the only part of this series that I liked. Camelot was canceled last week, and I think that its mistakes are good lessons for any other historical drama coming to the small screen.

First, I understand story has to be modernized. This is the Starz network after all, not the History Channel, and, if Tudors is any indication of what the audience wants, there is going to be some hanky panky going on. However, there was a lot happening in the first few episodes. And it had nothing to do with the plot or to show a character's motivation or anything. It was a plot killer, and I found myself fast forwarding through those parts to get back to the story.

Second, what is Guinevere doing there? And why are we establishing a love triangle in the second episode? Anyone who knows the Arthurian legend, knows that King Arthur and Guinevere fall in love and get married and live happily ever after at first. Then, the pure and valiant Sir Lancelot come to Camelot, becomes Arthur's BFF, and then he and Guinevere fall in love, which begins the ruin of Arthur's utopian kingdom. So, why oh why do we need a love triangle in the first season? Perhaps the creators were trying to create a symbolic karmic resonance; Arthur steals Guinevere, Guinevere gets stolen from him. But, honestly, it was tiring just watching Arthur and Guinevere whine about not being together.

Another question that kept popping up in my mind was why is Merlin so creepy? Merlin is supposed to be wise, intelligent, and, yes, crazy, but Joseph Fiennes' Merlin made me question the whole show. Why would Arthur go with him? Why would anyone believe that this guy found the king? The filmmakers must have been going for eccentric, but I think that we've seen this same character as a criminal on Law & Order: SVU.

What I think is most unfortunate for this series is that we never get to see Arthur's strength and ideals take center stage. He's presented as an immature womanizer who always gets what he wants. Perhaps this interpretation could have been great, but the script had him thinking more about his feelings for Guinevere than being an awesome king. And the way the series ends, with Arthur being seduced by who he thinks is Guinevere but it's actually his nemesis and half-sister Morgan (ick!) left a bitter taste in my mouth. I do think that the second season would have been better than this one if it had been given a chance. According to the story, Arthur uses his philosophies to better Great Britain and creates the knights of the round table. He and Guinevere respect each other and rule fairly. Of course, all of that would be destroyed once that home wrecker Lancelot and Arthur's evil nephew/son (double ick!) Mordred come to Camelot and ruin everything. What this historical drama mistakenly did was extrapolate on the wrong areas of the story. Instead of the romantic aspects of the legend, the goodness and decency of Arthur juxtaposed with evil warlords and kings around him should have been emphasized in the plot. The legend of King Arthur isn't a story about romantic love but rather a king's love for his people. And that is what would have kept us in Camelot.

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The Art of...Loving Something In Spite of Criticism

As someone who majored in magazine journalism with an emphasis on writing, especially art and criticism, I find myself bewildered when I hear people bemoan a critic's review. They say that they're bitter, judgemental and just plain old mean. And, while this may be the case for some pieces I've read, I'd like to defend critics, especially film critics. They're not all bad. Critics provide a service for a reader. They try to put into words their thoughts and feelings about what they've seen or heard so that you, dear reader, won't have to shell out $10+ on something that won't satisfy. Critics are meant to be peer advisors, albeit peers who have a depth and cultural knowledge that is unfathomable, and they're there to help.

Now, that's not to say that I always agree with a reviewer. More often than not, I don't. Sure, I can appreciate the time that he or she took in composing the article, but I can disagree with their thesis too. When I sit in a movie theater, I'm not looking for a film to be Citizen Kane; most of the movies out today don't have a deeper meaning or a foundation to be a cinematic touchstone 50 years from now. They're entertainment, not art. And, if I enjoy a story, then I'll give it a favorable review. It's not fair to hold a romantic comedy to the level of an Oscar-contender.

For example, I recently saw happythankyoumoreplease, directed by, written by and starring How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor. Is it a vanity project? Sure. Does it reinvent the wheel? No, at times it's cliched, and the plot is predictable. Yet, I really loved this film. It's sweet and simple, the perfect movie for date night or after a long day of work. As a twenty-something trying to figure it all out, plots about other twenty-somethings trying to figure it all out might resonate more strongly with me, but I think that there are parts of this story that everyone can adore. My favorite plot line centers on Sam's (our protagonist played by, you guessed it, Radnor) best friend Annie (Malin Akerman) and her love life. Annie has alopecia, and the colorful scarves she wraps around her head reflect her vibrant personality. However, Annie always seems to pick the wrong guys, going for handsome ne'er-do-wells that eventually break her heart. Annie is pursued by a lawyer also named Sam (Tony Hale) who is not what Annie is looking for. However, (spoiler alert!), Sam #2 is so sweet and genuine that the whole audience and certain characters are totally smitten by the film's end. It's not a new tale, but it's one that you can enjoy again and again. I genuinely liked this movie, but I could only find one favorable review of it. And yet, I remain undeterred.

To me, critics are like the friend you go shopping with. You can listen to her opinion and appreciate it, but if you want that hot pink bag, then, try as your buddy might to dissuade you, you're going to get it. Critics are just attempting to help, but they might not share your tastes. For example, if a particular reviewer doesn't watch copious amount of Bravo television and re-read their favorite Jane Austen three times a year, they might not appreciate a movie that appeals to my dyed-in-the-wool sense of whimsy and need for happy endings. So, let's agree to amicably disagree, shall we?

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Dear TV: We need to talk...

After that brief break, welcome to our regularly scheduled programming. Let's talk about breaking an abusive cycle, ending bad relationships. Sure, they're around when they want to be (once a week), but they'll only spend an hour with you, or less. Once that hour is up, you're left with questions, looking for something more but, in the end, you're left sitting on your couch wondering what should have happened.

I am, of course, talking about TV shows that leave you hanging. They are the entertainment world's equivalent of the boy that won't call, and I've had enough with them. I devote an hour of my time to roughly 40 minutes of reward (thanks commercials), and for what? Being left without answers? Left to stew over what happened? No more!

I'm looking at you, The Killing. I trusted that you would make good on what you promised. After three and a half months, I thought that we meant something to each other. You said you would reveal Rosie Larsen's murderer. Anxious to know the truth, I watched the season finale live (something I never do because I am spoiled by my DVR), only to be abandoned not only with no answers but with suspicions about my favorite character, sassy Stephen Holder. Why would you do that to me?

This isn't the first time I've gotten involved with an unavailable show. The one that really broke my heart was Lost. Oh cruel world, that program left me with so many questions I can't even count them. What is the Island? Who are the Others? Why the Dharma Initiative? What's up with the polar bears? I was glued anxiously to the tube for the final season, ready to get some answers. But, alas, I got none of that.

I think it's time to break the cycle. Time to stop the madness and any other cliche I can think of and break up with these shows for good. Eleanor Roosevelt said (check out this extrapolation via paraphrasing) that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent; I think if she had watched Lost, she would feel the same way. From now on, I'm watching programming strictly on ABC Family. Unless, Pretty Little Liars throws all the characters on a plane crash on a deserted island. Then, I might as well wait and see who killed Rosie Larsen.

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South Riding's Tragic Finish

Lydia from South Riding.

Last night's finale to South Riding left a bitter taste in my mouth, like being doused with salty, stinging sea water at the beach. Probably the most depressing show Masterpiece has shown in the past year, second only to Wallander, South Riding disappointed me from the beginning. I am all for realistic filmmaking, but at times the shots were too dark, the Yorkshire accents too thick, and the plot too barren. I think that I could have enjoyed the miniseries if it had been a bit longer; it takes time to become invested in characters, and I just couldn't fight for them like I wanted to.

The one bright spot in the series is the story of brilliant but broke Lydia. A scholarship student who lives in poverty, Lydia has to give up her education to take care of her brothers and sisters after her mother passes away. Lydia becomes the one character the audience can root for. She is completely innocent; she did not chose the path she is on, and she does her best to either "like it or lump it," as she puts it. Miss Burton becomes her champion, and, with her help, she gets back into school and eventually goes to university.

Lydia is the only character who gets a happy ending, unfortunately. Mr. Carne is killed in a riding accident, and orphaned Midge leaves South Riding to live with her grandfather. In a flash forward, we see Midge having her portrait painted, dressed up like her mother (because this audience isn't full of fools, we can infer that this alludes to Midge's impending mental breakdown. Like mother, like daughter). Miss Burton, heartbroken over Mr. Carne's death and fed up with the idle talk of town gossips, tries to leave, but she is convinced to stay, and we see in another flash forward that her persistence leads to a modern school being built.

South Riding ends on a note of hope that was so sorely lacking from the entire series. While it is nice to find some optimism in this tale of woe, I would have preferred to spend some more time with the town's inhabitants so that the somewhat cheerful conclusion would have meant more.

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Art of the Matter Salutes Mothers

Happy Mother's Day! To celebrate the woman in our lives who gave us life, taught us how to apply mascara, and to please drag a comb through your wadded-up hair, I've compiled a list of my favorite moms in film and TV. These three women exemplify some of my favorite qualities: crazy, colorful and kooky. They are devoted and often delirious, but you can't deny that they love their children.

Let's get crazy out the way first, OK? 1956's thriller The Bad Seed questions the nature of evil when it is seen in a seemingly pure form: a little girl. Nancy Kelly plays Christine Penmark, mother of the murderous Rhoda Penmark, who kills a classmate over a penmanship medal. Creepy? Absolutely. But Christine loves Rhoda and tries to protect her from discovery, realizing that Rhoda is crazy because of Christine's killer mother (takes mommy dearest to another level, huh?). Overcome with guilt, she tries to do whatever she can to save her little girl, and the consequences are diastrous. This cult classic is dark, but it leaves viewers spellbound and thankful for their own families.




My mother guessed that Lorelai Gilmore would make the list, and, of course, she was right. Probably the coolest, funniest mom in TV history, Lorelai (played by Lauren Graham) brought a new face to teen motherhood long before MTV created umpteen reality shows on the subject. The series began when Lorelai was 32 and her daughter Rory was 16, and viewers got to know the Gilmore Girls through ups and downs, many boyfriends and lots and lots of cups of coffee.


Auntie Mame from 1958 is proof that a woman doesn't have to give birth to be a spectacular mother. Oozing fabulousness from every pore in her body, Mame's party lifestyle is put on hold when her nephew Patrick is orphaned and sent to live with her. Mame's joie de vivre gives the sad boy a new lease on life, and they become partners in crime. Rosalind Russell is a delight, and her performance makes me want to don a kimono and do the Charleston.

So, here's to mom's everywhere, onscreen and off, who kiss our scraped knees, sing us our first songs and love us in spite of ourselves.







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South Riding

Masterpiece is back y'all! After what I thought was a rather disappointing showing with Upstairs, Downstairs, viewers have a new three-part series to sink their teeth into. South Riding is like Anne of Green Gables meets Jane Eyre meets the gritty realism of post-WWI and pre-WWII England. Gone is the shiny veneer of the Victorian era; WWI, the war that was supposed to end all wars, took millions of lives, and this loss left all of Europe jaded. The effects of this war's awakening can be seen 15 years later in South Riding, a coastal town in Yorkshire. Being one of a surplus of two million unmarried women (their would-be spouses lost in the war), the protagonist of the series, Sarah Burton, is full of outlandish ideals such a pacifism and women's rights. She comes back to her hometown to be headmistress of a girls' school after teaching all over the world because she wants to make a difference. Her "radical" thinking doesn't immediately win her any fans, but her students adore her, and she slowly wins people over.

The cast is a who's-who of Masterpiece favorites. Anna Maxwell Martin, who was a delight in Bleak House, plays Miss Burton with such aplomb it's hard to imagine another actress taking on the role. Mrs. Beddows, a champion for Miss Burton, is played by Penelope Wilton, who most recently starred in Downton Abbey. Robert Carne, our Edward Rochester, is played by Sense and Sensibility's David Morrissey, who can break your heart with one glance. Everyone has their struggles in South Riding, but I think Mr. Carne might beat them all. He has an estate that is going bankrupt; his prized horse that he was going to sell to make everything better breaks its leg on barbed wire (hello sybolism and WWI allusion), and he has to put it down; his daughter Midge is so shell-shocked and damaged (from what we don't know) that she constantly worries that her father will leave her and never come back; and, finally, Mr. Carne's wife Muriel is insane and residing in an insitution, another obvious reason for the strain on the estate. These awful circumstances leave me full of dread for an unhappy ending. Miss Burton and Mr. Carne have an obvious yet tragic attraction, and this doesn't seem like a story where everyone lives happily ever after. Still, the acting is superb, and the plot is so realistic that I can't help but lose myself in it.

Because I think that there is always room for improvement, I do have one quibble with South Riding. There are three episodes of the series, but they're only 50 minutes each! Just when I felt like I could smell the sea air and feel the craggy cliffs beneath my feet, when I was so abosorbed I felt like I was in South Riding, Laura Linney's voice-over interrupted to tell me that the next episode would be here in a week. I'd rather stay up until 11 p.m. and watch the whole series than have to wait a week to see what happens. It spoils the mood, and the magic that each episode creates doesn't build. It's like getting to a cliffhanger in a book and then having to give it back to the library. It's a small problem, but vexing nonetheless. However, I already love this series, and I will tune in each week. The characters' problems are more complex and more dire than simply who marries who or who's in charge of making the night's menu. In the debate over what is more interesting, life upstairs or downstairs, I'm definitely more of a downstairs girl. And South Riding exemplifies the heart and passion that is seen in people who've struggled. I will definitely be watching next week, even if I don't feel an ocean breeze immediately.

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Glee: Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Oh, Glee. Tonight's episode left audiences wanting. Wanting for more substance, more charm, more charisma. It seems that plot and character development have fallen by the wayside in lieu of soap boxes and A-list guest stars. And, while I am all too happy for the series' success, I think that some changes need to be made.

First, while I understand that Oscar winners and Broadway divas are fantastic and should be showcased, the entire plot doesn't need to stop to accommodate them. Gwenyth Paltrow's character, while fun, zapped all of the energy from her episodes. And theme shows (I'm looking at you, Britney and Bieber), are a great way to attract advertisers, but not necessarily helpful to the story. If it doesn't create a dynamic arena for plot, then it needs to be cut.

Also, I didn't realize that I was watching an after-school special on Tuesday nights. It seems that each episode is devoted to a multitude of issues, be it bullying, identity and/or self-acceptance (and that was just tonight's show). I do think that Glee, as a powerful, popular show, has a right and a duty to take a stand on issues. We live in a world where people commit suicide for being harassed, yet as a nation we mocked a 13-year-old's music video. What does that say about our society? And I think that shows like Glee, with its enormous following, can be a force for good in creating a more loving, accepting world. However, I think that these messages would be more powerful and reach more people if each one was given it's due. Lumping a handful of problems together creates a confusing message. Stark strength of purpose is what's needed to get people to listen, not a smorgasbord of today's dilemmas. Power isn't in quantity; it's quality that creates an impact.

I'm hopeful for these next episodes. Perhaps it's a sophomore slump, or maybe Glee's just out of key. I'll hum a few bars, and maybe we'll harmonize once again.

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New Favorite: AMC'S "The Killing"

Since I have been underwhelmed with by Masterpiece's Upstairs, Downstairs, I found myself looking for something I could really sink my teeth into on Sunday night. Thanks to Fancast, I've recently been hooked on AMC's The Killing. Dark, cold and utterly mesmerizing, it's a cerebral program that isn't as focused on the victim as it is the psychology and motivation of the crime itself. While some might find this detachment chilling, I think that it's a unique way of looking at the rather tired genre of the crime TV show. Based on a Danish show, The Killing is right in the midst of the world's fascination with Swedish/Scandinavian crime novels and TV. Thanks to the success of Stieg Larsson's Girl With a Dragon Tattoo and Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh, crime from the frozen regions of Europe has never been so hot. And The Killing, while set in American, brings that iciness to our backyard.

Set in Seattle, The Killing focuses on the brutal murder of Rosie Larsen, whose secrets are slowly revealed in each episode. Starring Mireille Enos (who was brilliant in Big Love) as lead investigator Sarah Linden and Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman as Stephen Holder, her partner, the plot becomes more and more twisted and tangled with each new clue. Linden, who is supposed to leave her post and move to warm climes in California, keeps trying to ditch the investigation, but her boss asks her to stay again and again. Thus far, the audience can can see that the search for Rosie's killer is taking its toll on Linden's personal life, and her fiance alludes to the fact that she has a tendency to become obsessed with her cases. Holder shows that he resents Linden's staying, and we can see that he has a tendency to go rogue, as evidenced by his bribing Rosie's classmates with drugs (albeit fake ones) to get more information.

The story also takes us to Rosie's home, where we see how her death is causing her family to slowly crumble, weak from grief. Her mother, Mitch, spends hours in Rosie's room or roaming the halls of her high school, and her father, Stanley, tries to keep them all emotionally and financially above water. And, we get to know mayoral candidate Darren Richmond, whose campaign car is where Rosie's body was left. His wheeling and dealing is suspect, but, for now, there appears to be no connection between the two.

As we delve deeper in everyone's psyche, hopefully Rosie's murderer will be revealed. Yet, we're only four episodes in, and I can't tell what's going to happen. And that's the way I like it.

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Review: "Upstairs Downstairs"

Last night, PBS debuted its newest miniseries, Upstairs Downstairs, a continuation of the beloved series that went off the air in the late 1970s. It takes place in 1936, right when Hitler is gaining power but Wallis Simpson is the Brits' biggest enemy. Since viewers only got to see one hour-long episode of the three part series, I can't truly decide how I feel about it. It was entertaining, and I loved the set decor and costumes, but I don't love any of the characters yet. This is not for lack of fantastic actors. With stars from Anne Frank, Little Dorritt, Cranford, and the original Upstairs Downstairs, there is enough twinkling talent to rival the glittering chandeliers at 165 Eaton Place. However, not even great performers can give life to a trite script. For example, Claire Foy, who was magical as Amy Dorritt in Little Dorritt was annoying as the petulant Lady Persie, and Ellie Kendrick's Anne Frank from last spring's Diary of Anne Frank, a powerful performance, seemed a distant memory as Kendrick wailed and bemoaned her lot as the blubbering maid Ivy.

While I did enjoy the episode, I did think the plot was a bit cumbersome. There seemed to be a checklist that the screenwriters had for this first part. Meddling mother-in-law? Check. Free-spirited maid? Check. Sweet footman from the wrong side of the tacks? Check and check. I could go on and on, but every time a new character was introduced, I couldn't help but think "Oh, that's like so-and-so from such-and-such." And moments in the plot felt rather far-fetched. Rose, our connection to the old series who spent forty years as a servant, gives up being the head of a staff employment agency to be a housekeeper? Why?

Last night I found myself longing for Downton Abbey, the tender portrayals of both the aristocrats and the servants. Even the most odious characters could be sympathetic at times (with the exception of that sociopath Thomas the footman. He was just creepy). The love story of the maid Anna and the valet Mr. Bates alone is worth watching all four 90 minute episodes in one sitting, and even the most melodramatic moments (The Titanic, WWI, miscarriages caused by bars of soap on bathroom floors) were full of heart.

However, Downton has a luxury that Upstairs Downstairs does not: time. This series will only be three hour-long episodes, and that itsn't a lot of time to introduce a dozen new characters and encompass life in England before WWII. Once the war began, bombs fell on London, and it didn't matter whether one's life took place upstairs or downstairs; survival was what counted. So, trying to capture that small window of life right at the cusp of change is a difficult task, and I don't evny the filmmakers that. Yet, I think that the story would be better if it weren't bogged down in so many politcal and social details. Instead, all focus should be directed towards the people in this story, and how they come together as an unequal but committed unit. Then perhaps this new chapter at 165 Eaton Place might feel less like a familiar tale a more like a fresh take on an unconventional family.

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