Depressing TV 2: Older, Sadder, Messier
So I wrote about my affection for depressing television shows and/or movies awhile back. And, needless to say I’m still drawn to downright dreary programing. I’m not alone in my obsession with the bleak so here is my newest list of the heartbreaking, tear jerking, sap that’s been on my screen lately.
Ah, A&E, you are my fave purveyor of depressing TV. You hooked me on Intervention, now you’ve doubled up with Hoaders. This show gets into the lives of those who “collect things” … they just don’t know when to stop. We’ve met Paul, the sad old man who has been charged with criminal littering around his house. His junkyard of a front lawn includes a rusted out school bus, among other prized possessions. You’ve also introduced us to Kerrylea, who has managed to fill not one, but two houses with piles and piles of crap. The beauty of this show is when the “experts” come in to clean up and haul off the mountains of mess that these folks have managed to hoard. Kerrylea (and just about all of our beloved Hoarders) flip their lids when it comes to this point in the show. “How could you ask me to part with this receipt from McDonalds dated 1993? NO way am I going to toss out this refrigerator full of year-old yogurt!”
Added bonus: I always feel the urge to clean after watching this show.
The often overlooked master of the morose — PBS offered up this little documentary that (and I quote) “an intimate look at senior citizens as they confront the universal losses that come with aging and rediscover their reason for living.”
Not only does this doc include old people (one of the key elements of depressing TV), we also have soldiers, veterans, and cancer! This show follows around a group of greeters at a Maine airport. It’s their jobs to welcome home US troops who have returned from (or are headed off to) war in the MIddle East. Sheesh, I was barely into this gem before the tears started flowing.
Added bonus: It aired on Veteran’s Day
A good child death movie is exactly what I should not have watched on a trans-Atlantic flight home from a nice, long European vacation. But, ya know when you have seven hours on a plane .. your mind gets a little loopy.
Abigail Breslin plays a kid who was genetically engineered by her parents who also have an older daughter (not genetically engineered) with leukemia. Abigail was “made” so she could donate bone marrow for her big sis. But, come to find out, she’s sick of being poked and prodded and tries to earn medical emancipation from her parents.
Cameron Diaz is the mom in the movie by the way. Really? are we getting old enough for There’s Something About Mary to start playing dramatic old women with dying kids? I guess so.
Anywho, this movie is super sad. Leukemia girl meets a boyfriend (also sick) and tries to live life to the fullest before (you know what’s going to happen here) she dies.
I was sobbing like a little baby during this in-flight pity party.
Added Bonus: Alec Baldwin plays an epileptic lawyer with a service dog.
Add comment November 12, 2009
Stop motion Austin
I ran across this lovely stop motion video for Victoria Noll’s Take Me With You. Not only is the song really beautiful, but the video is inventive and pure eye candy for anyone who loves Austin. The video, which includes the LA-based singer/songwriter sitting in colorful metal folding chairs, was shot by Austin photographer Jose Lozano at more than 100 locations around the Capital of Texas. If you know Austin it’s fun to count how many local landmarks you can spot. Not so familiar with our little city, use my list below as a jumping off spot for things to do our places to go while in town for a visit. The video is like a very cool little tour around town. I think I know most of the spots featured in the video, but there also are a lot that I have no clue about.
Here’s a list of a few locations that I can spot. Let me know if you can figure out any more.
Lone Star bus out front of the Broken Spoke
The University of Texas Tower
Zilker Zephyr mini train
Chuy’s mexican food restaurant
South Austin Museum of Pop Culture
Pots and Plants (aka the Pink Flamingo Place)
Dreyfus Antiques (Eiffel Tower replica)
Guitar Town Austin sculpture
Whole Foods Market headquarters
Add comment September 13, 2009
When the skies had style
I’m loving these old photos of stewardesses (yep, not flight attendants). All of the airplane scenes from Mad Men recently really got me to thinking about how interesting, glamorous, and tad tacky and bizarre their outfits used to be. To check out more photos of these stylish stewardesses visit Vacation.com
Add comment September 11, 2009
The Fat-chelor: Fox’s More to Love reveals that romance doesn’t only come in a size 2
It’s summer and summer means there really isn’t much on TV. But one little (ahem) BIG show has been drawing me to the couch every Tuesday night. More to Love – a plus-sized Bachelor-type dating show that pits 20 voluptuous single women against each other as they vie for the affection of Luke, the luscious 3oo+- pound bachelor.
The premise sounds good. Finally, a “reality” show about regular folk looking for love. No teensy-tinsy models or hunky chunks of man meat frolicking in hot tubs. Just frumpy, jiggly, curvy, soft people who deserve love just as much as the next guy or gal. AND finally a “reality” show that isn’t afraid to show fat people without trying to make them loose weight or undergo drastic makeovers to be deemed worthy of attention.
I’m not a size two. Never have been, never will be. I’m tall, curvy, and go to the double digits when shopping for sizes. So I was excited and down right curious to see how this show played out. Episode one (when Luke gets to meet all the women) was pretty interesting. It really was a way to size up the cast. “Helpful” weight and height descriptions were placed by each woman’s name as they were introduced. At first I was a little shocked to see that information displayed (how rude they don’t do this on The Bachelor!) But at second thought, I think it’s good for America to understand what 5′ 8:” 198 pounds or 5′ 2″ 230 pounds really looks like.
Despite the promising plot line, However, there are a few things that kinda fall short for me about the show. There seems to be a big focus on eating. Every outing, date, or excursion involves snacking and all out chowing down.
On this week’s episode Wacko Danielle (the same chunky chica who decided to jump in the pool evening gown and all in the first episode) refused to eat seafood while out on a date with Luke, but then went for it when the dessert tray came out.
“Oooo desert,” Daniel said as she stuffed a frozen chocolate-covered banana in her mouth. Yikes, I’m sure that prop was carefully chosen.
A lot of the girls also are really open about never having a relationship before or even a date and they blame that on their size. Lots of tears are shed about “being too fat” to love. There are lots of people in this world (of all sizes) who have found love. I don’t think size has everything to do with how lucky in love you are. Although I do believe that a lifetime of ridicule can do a number on one’s self-esteem. That is likely the culprit here for many of the contestants. They don’t think they are worthy of love.
More to Love is only three episodes in. So I won’t be too quick to judge. And in the end I think the show really does have a positive message in there. Be yourself and totally go for it, despite your size. And if just one woman walks away from this show feeling prettier, worthy and ready for love (even if its not Luke) then I think they will be OK.
A Run down on the girls:
I’m was a big (excuse the pun) fan of tattooed rockabilly chic, Bonnie. But she got the boot tonight. I think she said it best, “I would’ve scared the hell out of his mom.”
I’m not really sure why, but I think the super curvy Malissa (in the photo above) has a shot. And by the looks of it Luke is pretty much into here too. Although some of the girls seem a little upset that she hasn’t been fat all of her life. She gained all of her weight since high school.
I have a feeling that the sensative curly-headed Kristian likes loves Luke a whole lot more than Luke likes her. She’s already talking about how she’s falling for him and they’ve barely been alone together! I’m afraid she is setting herself up for massive heartbreak later on.
Add comment August 12, 2009
Mad Men Style Mania
Everyone seems to be mad for Mad Men (including me) and the oh-so-cool clothes featured on the show. So in honor of the new season of Mad Men starting (Aug. 16, yippie!) I’ve put together some inspiring images and other fashion tid bits about 60s vintage Mad Men style.
Banana Republic was wise to hop aboard the Mad Men fashion band wagon. The shop has special selections inspired by the series including this pencil skirt and top inspired by everyone’s favorite curvy Mad woMan, Joan!
By the way, if you would like to find out how to make your own pencil necklace like Joan is often wearing (as she is above) check out fellow Austinite, and Naughty Secretary herself, Jennifer Perkin’s blog.
eBay also is a great place to find vintage 60’s dresses. Whether you are a Betty, Peggy, or Joan you can find the right curve-hugging frock (even in yummy plus sizes) to wear to that Mad Men premier party. During a recent search I even found a vintage bullet bra. I also found The Rainbow Has a Mustache’s photostream on Flickr. They have lots of cool ideas on how to rock the vintage in a modern way. OH, and they have an Etsy page. Bonus!
From the rainbow has a mustache
AMC has an awesome video tour of the Mad Men costume shop. The woman behind the vintage threads lets us know that the next season will be filled with even more dramatic shapes, colors and textures. Now, word has it that Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant may launch her own clothing line.
Add comment August 5, 2009
Chose the Wright Photographer
Finding the right photographer to capture that special moment, that special feeling, that special look is difficult. It takes someone who is both technically able and artistically talented. Krist Wright, a self-taught photog from Austin, may be rather new to photography, but her passion, raw talent, and attitude is simply poignant.
“I’ve always found magic in pictures and the stories they reveal,” she writes on her new Web site. “The possibility of capturing the truthful moments is what excites me the most. I believe those are the images that we truly hold dear.”
Years spent in front of the camera as an actress gives Kristi the experience it takes to direct her subjects. But she also is a great observer and is able to take a step back to let the action play out and catch candid moments.
Kristi’s photos often have a dreamy, romantic, sometimes vintage vibe. Soft colors, unique angles, and attention to detail truly create timeless images. She describes her style like a contradiction. “I’m drawn to the light and the dark. The old and the new.
The vintage and the modern.”
Kristi has snapped toddler’s birthday parties, backyard weddings, backstage at fashion shows, and concerts…..a true versatile photographer with oodles of potential.
1 comment August 4, 2009
SXSW Recap and Michelada Memories
So I never really got to posting about my last day of SX. Let’s just say I was tired. It was an awesome time and I got to see some really great shows. On my last day I hit some day shows on South Congress. I had a really wonderful piece of pizza from Homeslice and amichelada to zap me back into life …..yum. Musical highlights that day would have to beThe Bird and the Bee (a poppy all-girl group with super cute matching outfits) andErykah Badu (who showed up late, but rocked it any way).
Michelada recipe:
Can of beer (try Modelo, Lone Star or Dos XX)
Lemon juice from 1 lemon
2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1 dash of soy sauce
1 dash of Tobasco
A pinch of black pepper and salt
Salt the brim of a glass, mix together everything but beer and then pour beer over the top of mixture.
Add comment April 15, 2009
Day 2 … a nice night at church and other peaceful music
I’ll start at the end … at church.
I never imagined that one of the best shows I would see during sxsw would be at church. Thanks to some genius in the booking dept. at sxsw corp. (whoever they may be) some of the most interesting and best sounding concerts this year happened at Central Presbetarian Church. I’ve read lots about St. Vincent and Grizzly Bear, all of which also played in this cool downtown sanctuary during sx this year. I caught Elvis Perkins in Dearland on Thursday night. It took the band a while to set up, but it was worth the wait. They had a horns section, complete with a French horn and baritone. Their drummer also was quite cool. At one point he was on the floor beating a marching drum and jingling some bells. Another song’s intro included whistles and bird chirps (supplied by the drummer again). Elvis lost both of his parents early in life and his soulful, at times sad, songs fit well in the peaceful, somber church at 1 in the morning.
Listen to that bird chrip song here…. it’s called Shampoo
Earlier on Thursday night I caught up with the beautiful Laura Gibson. I really don’t know how I stumbled upon this artist. I just listened to one of her songs and thought she would be cool to hear play. She’s from Oregon (so were the other acts playing that night at the Red Eyed Fly). Laura has a soft, voice and this may have not been the best venue for her to play. The folky, sweet singer at time was over powered by thumping and thudding of neighboring acts. At other points some audience members were a little too loud. She’s the kind of act you really need to sit and be quiet to enjoy fully. One of her songs was used in this cute commercial for the Oregon Humane Society. It’s just as sweet and cute as she is.
Add comment March 22, 2009
