"If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around. "

As much as people rag on Love Actually, it's hard to deny that the opening and closing segments (the later is captured above) of the movie are a superb use of home-video footage.

It is true that people greeting family members/friends at airports is largely joyful (I'm sure there are many fist fights as well, but we can ignore that for right now), so for a movie focused on love, integrating in snippets of real people greeting the ones they love only makes the rest of the fictionalized story more impactful. Plus, it's just a wonderful idea for a feature in a movie - something truly unique that still makes me happy every time I see it.

Much like how an airport brings together many people with many different stories, Love Actually tells numerous integrated stories as well - the guy who loves his best friend's wife, the sister whose responsibility for her brother overpowers her need for a super hot dude, the boss who has a crush on a coworker, a widower, a child with a Titanic level crush, the bloke who is obviously deemed adorable once he comes to America, the spurned writer, the almost cheater, and many more!

The movie has become a modern Christmas classic and has now been integrated into everyone's yearly watching traditions.

I still love the movie as a whole, but now that I've seen it at least once a year for the last 10 years, I've picked out certain moments that really make re-watching it truly worthwhile.




Nearly everyone would agree that, hands down, this is the saddest moment in the whole movie, but the scene is elevated by a legendary song and Emma Thompson's ability to convey emotions through every inch of her body. Her simple movements are subtle and heartbreaking. Plus, don't even get me started about her, "you make the life I lead foolish too," speech that happens later on! Good acting people, it goes a long way. Thompson might have been given a sad story line, but she sure makes it a memorable one.

Everyone melts into a puddle over the scene with Rick Grimes holding up all those cue cards - it's a solid scene, but I'd rather watch the two devastating story lines acted out by two bitchin' broads any day of the week.

Thompson and Laura Linney are awesome (duh) and Linney finds herself entangled with Rodrigo Santoro. She's very excited (as are the rest of us):

That reaction shot is still one of the cutest things of all time.

Alas, in the movie it doesn't work out between those two, but, I'm not gonna lie, I've imagined that eventually Santoro's character decides to not be bothered by all the phone calls and gives her another chance. Maybe even goes with her to visit her brother? It could happen! Yes, I've thought about this often.

There's also Hugh Grant dancing through the Prime Minister's mansion, Colin Firth not quite learning Portuguese, and many more memorable moments. But as Mark says after finally getting kissed by Keira Knightley: "Enough. Enough now."

Until next time.

Rudolph The Red Nosed Ralphio

Driven by being obsessed with Master Of None and needing more Aziz in my life, I started re-watching Parks and Recreation again, for the...well, I've lost count of the number of times I've watched the episodes of this grand television program.

Every time I re-watch a show I tend to notice something different. This time around, I realized that all of the characters are mostly consistent throughout the series, except for Ron Swanson. The change in his character from season one to two is very subtle, but it happens basically at the exact moment that he swaps out the artwork in his office from a lady holding a plate of eggs and bacon to just a plate of eggs and bacon.

The one thing I never notice differently is Tom Haverford's better creative half - Jean Ralphio.



Anytime this guy bounce, bounce, bounce, bounces, onto the screen, hilarity is about to ensue. Plus, he has access to the ill-est clubs, is a beautiful rapper, has a cute crush on Leslie Knope, and most people in Pawnee despise him, which only makes you want to love him more.

He never listens to the haters and always turns his frizown upside dizity.

There are many things I miss about Parks and Rec and the madness brought on when Jean Ralphio teams up with Tom or his sister Mona Lisa (ahhh best character name ever), is definitely something that I miss the most.

Thankfully, Jean Ralphio jokes never get old - perfect for endless plays back on Netflix.

Until next time.

Oh Christmas Cookie, Oh Christmas Cookie

Traditions are what makes the holidays go 'round.

There's trimming the tree, singing carols, hanging out in matching PJ's, and of course, baking up a storm.

This past weekend was all about gathering at good ole grandma's for an annual baking day. In between the noise of mixers going, laughing, and Christmas songs playing, there is some stress in making sure to avoid distractions, so that all the hard work doesn't result in burnt cookies. What a shame that would be! And, I have to admit, one small batch of ours did partially end up in the garbage. When you're making 8 dozen cookies, there are allowances for a few to end up too dark,  too crispy, and thrown away.

Sometimes though when grandma is dishing out stories from the past, you've got to stop everything to listen, even if it means having a slightly delayed reaction to the buzzer going off on the oven.

Not to mention that you also have to keep your eye on grandpa - he'll move in and grab a pile even before they are completely cooled or before the decorations are done. Step away from the cookies.

Nearly five hours later, and this photographic evidence only captured a small portion of our bounty:

We made oodles of desserts - thumbprint cookies, Russian tea cakes, linzer trees (filled with homemade raspberry jam), and, a necessity, sugar cookies!

By the way, that one cookie (cut out with these awesome word balloon cookie cutters a co-worker gifted to me) says "Poof!" - the icing got piped on a little too hard and now it looks a little like I wrote something else...

Resolution for 2016: spend one whole day JUST baking sugar cookies. That will make it so there is still plenty of energy left to dedicate only to decorating. It's the most fun part, but being over tired made me semi rush those snowflakes. I just slapped on the icing, but was pleased with the fact that the icing on top actually set (the secret, I've learned, is corn syrup). One day I will make cookies that look just like these beauties.

For now, I'm happy with the result and I'll be sitting down with a cup of joe and a cookie. Tis the season.


Until next time.

"I Don't Think People Want To See That Many Women Talking At Once"

All of you out there have probably heard already, but a certain movie raked in the dough over the last couple days, becoming the highest opening for a movie in a single weekend. It was totally unexpected! Years from now people will still be talking about that one time Tina Fey and Amy Poehler took down the highly anticipated return of Star Wars.

Oh, sorry about that, somehow a dream I had last night was registering as reality in my brain for a quick second.

Sadly Sisters was not the movie EVERYONE on the planet was racing out to see over the weekend, but enough of a crowd still did, making the Fey/Poehler comedy open in the third spot with a respectable $13.4 million.

But it's not all about the money guys! Other than ensuring that these two will continue to make movies together for the rest of their lives. The world needs their faces on screens forever and always.

I wasn't able to make it to see either of these movies this weekend (Christmas is almost here and there's still so much to do!!), but I will as soon as possible. While I am stoked to see Star Wars (because R2D2 is my homeboy), in reality, Fey and Poehler are my Han and Chewie , or Luke and Leia, or any combination of the new characters that make sense as a dynamic duo. If there was ever a movie I would sleep outside on a sidewalk for (which really might be unlikely on all fronts), it would definitely be for one starring Tina and Amy. (Throw Meryl in the mix and make them a trio - I'd pass right the f out.)

It's not just that these women are funny - there are a thousand reasons to love the brains behind Liz Lemon and Lelie Knope: they have, and continue to write sharp, topical jokes (like during their time at SNL and hosting The Globes), women everywhere can rejoice in how they took part in creating smart, clever, and hilarious female characters (see 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation), they are bestselling authors (read Bossypants and Yes Please immediately, if you haven't done so three times already), they are both lovely examples of projecting positive lady images (see projects like "Amy Poehler's Smart Girls") and, most importantly, it's admirable how they support each others successes.

Anyone who has seen them talk about each other (as in any interview they've ever done) knows that these two are the best example of how to be proud of your friends. They always talk like the other one is the best person on the planet and are totally humble, which sets such a great example for ending jealousy and just being happy for other people. Work hard and there is enough room for us all to accomplish the things we want - what a simple concept!

They've also been real life friends forever, which makes it possible for media sources like Vulture to create delightful timelines charting out their rise to fame and world domination.

Let's just say it like it is - these broads are the best and when teamed up they are unstoppable, even in short clips, like the one they just made with the hysterical gals from Broad City (Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer).


This weekend they weren't just at the multiplexes either, they were also featured at their home away from home - the stage of Saturday Night Live. 

Fey and Poehler's main years at SNL hit right when I was a teenager, the prime time for gathering with friends on Saturday nights and laughing late into the early hours of the morning. Those pros are always welcomed back into the world of live comedy.

Last night showcased the women totally killing it from beginning to end. It was the first time in awhile that I enjoyed every sketch and video. This episode had it all - there was a clever song in their monologue, a bunch of crazy "clips" from a 1970s variety show (also featuring comedic powerhouse Maya Rudolph!), The Boss (!), and a perfect spoof of all those malfunctioning "hover boards" (they don't really hover, guys).

Those moments, while great, weren't even the best! There was also one sketch ("Meet Your Second Wife") that is without a doubt the most creative and biting moment the show has had in recent memory. I can't remember the last time a sketch hit a cultural norm in such a real way. In another top highlight, Tina and Amy answered the tired question, "how do they juggle it all?" by forming the "squad" I want to hang out with most, which includes people like Gayle King, Amy Schumer, and a rapping Aidy Bryant. (Watch "Dope Squad" here.)

Tina and Amy also returned to some familiar bits from the past - "Bronx Beat" was back, they both told jokes at The Weekend Update Desk, and it wouldn't be complete without the writers finding a way to get them back into some tasteful business suits so they could take another swing at their iconic spin on Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton. Even after a few years off, their impressions of these women were brilliant.

All in all, fans of Fey and Poehler have been reveling in these two being all over the place recently. Now after this weekend, we'll have to go back to catching them in reruns and re-watching Baby Mama for the zillionth time. Whether it be something old or new, Tina and Amy have always brought the funny, and, in my eyes, exemplify the quality I want to work on most - being fearless. 

Here's to 2016, to Sisters, to Tina and Amy, to finding comedy in every situation, and being fearless.

Until next time.

Please Go Chasing Water Crimes

Sometimes during a long week you catch yourself complaining about all the little things that went wrong in your own life and then the nightly news has a way of putting it all into perspective. It is hard to cry  about spilling raspberry jam all down your new white sweater when you hear about lead tainted water impacting the people of an entire city. 

Tonight it was shocking to see developments surrounding this exact story playing out while tuning in for a segment on a masterful news program - The Rachel Maddow Show. Harsh critics say that the media is biased and uninformed, but anyone who faults the world of news as whole should check out the below video, which is a shining example of dedicated journalists doing the work.

Over the last couple years, and still now, the people of Flint, Mich. have been drinking water that contains high levels of lead. This is especially bad for children, whose developing bodies could now forever be effected by the toxins. It gets worse - it appears that the government of Michigan knew all about it.

Someone other than Erin Brokovich has been on the case:



Fans of her show already admire the way Rachel Maddow and her crew are consistently highlighting events other news agencies have yet to cover. The crisis in Flint has become a huge news story in the last couple days, but her show was on the story far before others caught on.

The people working on Maddow dig deep into stories, do extensive research, and expand on all the details, all while making connections that reveal injustices. They are not focused on being biased - it is all about presenting real information and finding the truth.

This is what makes journalism great and why we need it in order to thrive in society. Hosts of the other various cable news shows are given an hour or more each day, but few use the opportunity to do more than just retell the same "Breaking News" stories that every other agency has already discussed to death. There should be more facts and less opinions.

We live in a time when everything that comes out of a politician's mouth has to be fact-checked. It is frustrating trying to dig through all the information out there in the world, while also trying to keep up with what is real and what is fake. One thing that should make us all feel better - as long as people like Maddow are on the air, journalism has a face of someone that can be trusted.


Until next time.

I'll Make You A Mix

Nothing will make you feel more behind on music from the past year than playing a 31 hour long playlist and only hearing 10 songs you recognize.

Yesterday NPR released their "Songs We Love 2015" playlist. While I may be only a 1/4 of the way through 199 songs, it still is shocking that I hardly know any of the songs and have barely recognized many of the musicians. All that podcast listening over the years has lowered the supreme musical prowess I once had in my youth.

Taking on NPR's epic playlist is a great excuse to listen to a whole bunch of different genres (everything from classical to songs in different languages and all that fall in between), so I'll keep dabbling and discovering even more new songs from the last year.

Here are some fave takeaways from the playlist so far. Most of what I liked are somewhat folksy lady singers, so there is a definite musical pattern here. Oh, plus, the song that made me say, "be still my heart" - a great jam focused around a cartoon character from Hey Arnold. It is amazing simply because who could even imagine such a thing existing?

Kristin Diable - "Time Will Wait"

Caitlin Canty - "Get Up"

Alabama Shakes - "Don't Wanna Fight"

Phony Ppl -"helGa"

Lord Huron - "Fool For Love"

Nils Frahm - "Ode"

The Staves - "No Me, No You, No More"

In between all the new discoveries, NPR also gave a shout out to some of my own favorite songs of the year:

Father John Misty - "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)"

Brandi Carlile - "The Eye"

Leon Bridges - Coming Home

(Read all about what I said about my obsession with this album here.)

Well, I know what I will be up to for the next couple days. I've still got a ton of NPR's playlist to check out. If you would like to do the same, you can get started right now.


Until next time.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

If you ever wanted to know the whole story behind a treasured song, the Song Exploder podcast will be your favorite musical discovery.

For nearly two years, this podcast has been asking musicians - from The Postal Service to Ghostface Killah - to tell the story behind making a single song. The interview sessions turn into a platform for these creators to give in-depth explanations of lyrics and the thought process for using certain instruments. Every time I listen to an episode, I marvel at the genius behind the idea for this podcast.

The most recent episode highlights one of my favorite things of 2015 - the music used in the opening credits for the show, Transparent. 

Composer Dustin O'Halloran, created the theme music for the show. On the podcast he discusses how he wanted the simple plunky piano tune to give off a nostalgic feeling, which is exactly the effect it has on me, especially when the music is paired with the visuals of old home movie footage.

I love the show as a whole, but those initial moments in the credits is by far my favorite thing about Transparent. I know that sounds a little crazy, but it has been awhile since a show had such a compelling opening.


The credits for this show isn't about showing off the faces of the cast in awkward poses (as seen in many other shows), the Transparent credits seem like a mini movie. I want to know more about the people in those clips, especially the 60s beauty queen with the big hair and sequined dress. It's funny how much the pangs of nostalgia hit you during this intro, as if the clips in the credits are moments captured of our own family memories. We insert ourselves into the familiarity of these scenes.

I love to play and listen to music, but I don't think I will ever have a talent for writing songs. Song Exploder, really makes you realize how complex putting a song together actually can be. There is a lot of thought that goes into every single second.

Between this podcast and watching Love & Mercy (the movie about Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys), this week has been all about the magic and madness behind the creative geniuses who work tirelessly to make the stuff that we simply kick back and enjoy.

You can subscribe to the Song Exploder podcast through iTunes or just check out each episode on their website.

Plus, as a good tie in, the new season of Transparent has premiered on Amazon. I've only got the first ep. under my belt and while I loved it as a whole, the ending left me with lots of curious thoughts. It was wildly inventive, so much so, that I'm not sure I even wholly understood it. But that's the best kind of entertainment - anything that makes you think things you may never have thought before and leaves you wanting more. It was intriguing and I can't wait to see how it all ties into the rest of the season.

Hope you all are digging the show and podcast as well.

Until next time.

The Longest Sleigh Ride

Netflix DVD envelopes have been festive for about the last month and it is straight up delightful.

I thought I should share, since most of the world is probably not seeing this grand artwork after ditching the genius of mail-delivery DVDs in exchange for Redbox or streaming services.

Clearly I am holding on to the past, but how else does anyone rent old or obscure movies! My town is down to two locally owned movie stores, so when I just have to rent gems like Zardoz or Sleepaway Camp, Netflix DVDs is the best option.

Plus, the people working for Netflix are consistently on point when it comes to summarizing the plots of movies.

Wait...

...Not!

Netflix is the absolute worst in this category. The white sleeve the DVD comes in always features a plot description and there is a 50/50 chance that the summary is complete rubbish! I've even written about this before.

Case in point, the one I received last night for The Longest Ride:

They gave it a good shot, but this is only part right.These words tell the story of a different movie - one that completely focuses on Alan Alda as he remembers stories from his past while being trapped in a burning car. Oh, and there also happens to be a young couple falling in love nearby.

Not that a movie starring Alan Alda would be terrible - he's the most used celebrity in crossword puzzles after all! A short name like "A-L-A-N" or "A-L-D-A" really fits well into a lot of places.

This movie does turn out to be more of an ensemble, with a lot of integrated story lines, so I can see it being somewhat difficult to wrap it all up in a couple sentences. However, it is comical that this movie description mentions nothing about bull riding, since that is the main focus in all the movie trailers, and was basically the only plot point I knew going into the movie.

The envelope should read, "Scott Eastwood Rides Bulls", since that seems like the reason most people watched this movie.

Mr. Eastwood might have inspired me to rent it, but this movie ended up utterly charming me.

Adapted from a Nicholas Sparks book, the movie follows a big shot bull rider (Eastwood) as he is falling in love with a local college gal (Brittany Robertson). One night they rescue a man (Alda!) who has gotten in a car accident. These three bond over this intense experience, and in the hospital, Alda's character begins telling stories about the early years of his marriage. It's a Sparks book, so of course the man's stories are told through old love letters.

[Side Note: I don't care how many times letters are used as a way to advance a story. Letters are the perfect way to bridge the past and the present, plus there is just something old timey and romantic in the way you can express your detailed feelings about a situation through writing. No other medium can match it.]

It quickly becomes clear that this newly paired off couple could learn a lot from the issues faced by the couple falling in love in the 1940s.

Eastwood and Robertson have good chemistry and their story is nice to watch, but the surprise to me was the utterly engrossing portions of the movie focused on the flashbacks of Alda's character as a young man. I'm a sucker for retro costumes and decades from the past, so sign me up for any movie with tons of lush flashbacks.

This blast from the past story is pretty simple (we don't have to worry about some guy named Lon breaking up these two like in The Notebook)- Alda's character as a young man had to go to war, him and his wife had issues with finding out what they wanted out of life, and they decided that it was important to focus on what they did have rather than desiring what they didn't. Through all of this, the two actors in the flashbacks (Oona Chaplin and Jack Huston) really make you feel like their love is palpable.

It's no surprise that the acting from these two was the highlight, since they both come from lines of Hollywood royalty - Oona Chaplin being the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, and Jack Huston being the grandson of the director John Huston and the nephew of Angelica Huston. Along with Scott Eastwood being the son of Clint, this movie features quite the trifecta of offspring.

Young actors from famous families mirrors the way this movie blends the past with the present, which is my favorite feature of most things written by Sparks. Time goes by, but the struggles of people falling in love rarely vary. It's a solid way of connecting stories together.

As this movie began to wrap up, everything might have been a little too neatly tied together and coincidental, but to be honest, for once, I was completely thrilled with how a somewhat cheesy and predictable ending unfolded in front of my eyes. Plus, guess what guys? The title of the movie isn't just a reference to bull riding - it has a double meaning!

I give in to movies like this more often than I like to admit. Don't even get me started with the severe ugly cry moment I had while watching Safe Haven. At least the Netflix plot description on the envelope didn't ruin that twist ending.


Until next time.

Little Drummer Boy

Two of my favorite beings - one man and one furry puppet - performed together recently in a pairing that was written in the stars.

Dave Grohl and Animal (yeah from the Muppets) had a drum battle and it was all I could ever have dreamed of.




The ratings and critical praise for The Muppets has been somewhat mild. I, however, am from the camp that anything involving Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and the rest, can do no wrong even though I think we can all agree that the "mockumentary" format needs to take a breather. Either way, these characters are national treasures, and the show keeps that same spirit alive.

Plus, the fact that these two drummers were brought together is reason enough for The Muppets to once again be gracing television screens on a weekly basis.


Until next time.

"It's Very Difficult To Keep The Line Between The Past and The Present."

One of the best movies to be released in recent years, didn't actually play in theaters. It is an HBO produced film that was created as an ode to arguably the most famous documentary in history and features two actresses in the performances of their careers.

It all started back in the 70s, a time when two relatives (an aunt and a cousin) of a very famous first lady were found to be living in "squalor". Word of this mother and daughter falling from wealth and sophistication to living with racoons in a broken down home in the Hamptons began circulating around and eventually caught the attention of people around the country.

All of which lead to a documentary film crew stopping by to begin filming, what would eventually be called, "Grey Gardens" (the name of their crumbling estate).

The mother and daughter, both named Edith Bouvier Beale and lovingly referred to as "Big Edie" and "Little Edie", were the relatives of Jackie Kennedy/Onassis. They were quite the boisterous and perfect characters to end up as the subjects of a documentary. Both had dreams of being performers, but never had success in show business until the release of the documentary about their own lives.

It was a triumph and over the years has become a cult classic. Since then there was also a 2006 Broadway musical based on the life of the mother/daughter duo and then a 2009 movie version starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore.

While the documentary was a breakout sensation for the medium and has large moments of genius, I definitely prefer the HBO film version which also reveals more about what the women were like before their lives went seemingly to pieces.

From the gorgeous 1930s/1970s costumes, to the elaborate aging make-up, to the actors perfectly capturing the way these women talked, the 2009 take on Grey Gardens is a very lovely and well made movie all about the choices in life we decide to make. No detail was overlooked, especially in the spot on recreations of several scenes from the documentary.

I had watched and adored the movie when it was released six years ago, but decided this afternoon to watch it again. It was just as fantastic the second time around.

What blew me away the first time and did again today, is the performance by Drew Barrymore.

She has been kicking around for years delivering cheery, funny, and charming acting. She has never however, been given this type of dishy role and she wonderfully succeeds at portraying all of Edie's high and low moments. From the young, vivacious Edie who gets to prance around in elegant silk gowns (and this one summery outfit that I wanted to rip out of my screen), to the older, still bold Edie, who loves to rock scarves and skirts, but has become a much harder woman who lost a little of her light along the way - and you can see that all in the little nuances Barrymore delivers in simple looks on her face.

On the other side is Jessica Lange playing Big Edie, who no surprise, is also great. Both her and Barrymore work together to brilliantly tell the story of these women who stuck by each other through the years, even when life wasn't going their way.

It's a poignant and often times heartbreaking story, but an important one to tell. The Beale's wouldn't want you to feel sorry for them. They enjoyed their life, which was made evident by the quote from Little Edie at the top of the page. They made choices and some of their dreams didn't come true, but that's life and all we can do is keep moving because regret doesn't help anything. That's something I have to tell myself all the time.

Watching this movie made me think a lot about my own aspirations, but also how I constantly mourn the fact that more movies focused on fascinating stories about women's lives aren't being made. All I'm asking for is more well written dramas like this one. Movies where women like Drew Barrymore are given more interesting characters to play - characters that have an unique story to tell. Little and  Big Edie are definitely not the only women who have lead noteworthy lives. The rest of those stories are just out there waiting to be told.

Check out Grey Gardens (2009) On HBO Streaming/On Demand and the documentary Grey Gardens (1976) on Hulu.


Until next time.

"That's Me Calling The Taliban"

Sometimes the best presents aren't wrapped and placed under the tree. While it may not be as festive, simple and straight forward can also have exciting results. 

That's what we learned earlier this week when the second, highly anticipated, and super secretive season of the podcast Serial kicked off without a single warning. Frankly, since I had stopped hearing about it, I assumed the release was slated for sometime next year. 

Well, I was fit to be tied (along with the rest of the world) on Friday when I found episode one of the new season just waiting for me already downloaded on my listening device.

The rumors had been kicking around earlier in the year that this season would be focused on the controversial tale of Bowe Bergdahl - the solider who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan and was held captive for five years before the US negotiated his release. Anyone who followed this story in May of 2014, remembers our nation being happy about his safe return home, but also at the same time feeling iffy about the circumstances, including that the US had to release five Taliban members from Guantanamo Bay as a trade for Bergdahl.

There was another issue - it turned out that Bergdahl had "abandoned" his post, which had resulted in him being away from his camp when he was abducted by the Taliban.

Since his return, the government has been investigating his ordeal, and he was eventually charged with two counts, having to do with his desertion and misbehavior.

His fate is still to be determined, which makes it perfect timing for the Serial podcast to dig more into this story.

The best part about the first season was how the producers and researchers were able to go in depth into one story. Everyday news outlets can only spend time on the headlines and big breaking news, so once a story isn't "hot" or new anymore, they tend to move on. Shows like 60 Minutes have the ability to tell long form investigative pieces, but what's compelling about a podcast like this is that they are taking the time, week after week, in about 8-10 hours of content, to tell the stories that deserve more time.

I have been wanting to hear more about this mysterious Bergdahl situation for months, so I am elated that the people behind Serial settled on this as their topic. I might be in the minority however, according to the host and producer of Serial, Sarah Koenig. In an interview a couple months ago, she admitted that she didn't think people were going to care as much about this season.

"We're really not planning on having the same response that we had in season one, and frankly, we're really totally okay with that," she said.

She could be right, but Koenig might have also just been trying to lower expectations.

While I did appreciate that season one brought attention to a lesser known story and it would have been nice to highlight another mystery that hasn't already gotten national attention, I still think a story like Bergdahl's deserves the attention of the masses instead of being buried as a news story on the ticker that goes by on CNN.

Just after the first episode, I am very intrigued to hear more of Bergdahl's side of the story, as well as anything new Koenig and her group of sleuth's have dug up. What's exciting about this kind of journalism is asking the questions, listening to stories from different points of view, and gaining a new perspective on a situation.

The truth is always there, somewhere in the middle.

Until next time.

Light! Lights! Lights!

Well, the holiday season continues with what it does best - to make life busy, busy, busy.

No complaints, but that's why after 10 days, I broke my perfect record and didn't post anything yesterday...or today.

But when you get invited for an adventure, it's hard to say no. One of my aunts is a master at winning radio contests - as in, has won something at least a couple times a year for as long as I can remember.

This time her prize was free passes (and a tour bus ride with other contest winners. Wahoo!) to a place down I-5 South that has been putting up Christmas lights every season for 19 years. This year the lights have totaled to over 1.2 million. [Insert your own joke about a high electricity bill.]

It's a camp built within masses of evergreen trees, the perfect scenic location for showcasing those lights and creating a totally immersive holiday experience. Even in the freezing cold it is lovely walking around getting hit with bursts of light everywhere you look. Not to mention the best melt in your mouth mini donuts and Christmas songs bellowing from loud speakers.

I had gone before, but it had been some years. Looking at millions of lights never gets old and - both big displays and small - will always be one of my favorite parts of the holidays.

Wandering around last night I couldn't help but appreciate the creativity that can come just by starting with just a single string of lights. A simple holiday tradition can have extraordinary results.

Until next time.

The Greatest Prospector In The North!

[My Yukon might not have a sled pulled by cute doggies, but he does sing songs and dance at the push of a button.]

It's been a week full of Christmas tree decorating, gift buying, baking, holiday movie watching, and generally hustling around - all in all, quite frankly, I'm pooped!

Since my mind is zapped, there's really nothing more to say today other then this: Yukon Cornelius is the rock star of animated Christmas specials.

We turned on Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer last night while trimming that tree and that prospector with the fluffiest beard is always the highlight of the show. Well him, his tiny set of sled dogs (they even hitch a ride at one point), and the polka dotted elephant from the island of misfit toys.

Speaking of that - many people for years felt there was a mystery surrounding the doll on that island with the other toys. Why would a seemingly perfect doll be considered a "misfit"? I uncovered some interesting facts just today. According to the movie's producer, the doll was abandoned by her owner, which caused the poor doll to suffer from depression, feeling she was unlovable.

Whoa. Read more about the back story here.

Toys who have experienced sadness over the loss of their owner sounds a lot like another movie too.

There is a special on ABC right now all about the making of Toy Story. It is all part of the celebration honoring its 20th anniversary. Holy. Crap.

My takeaways:

1) Toy Story is still lovely and funny after all these years. It has almost been around my whole life and even after repeated viewings, there is still a lot of magic there.

2) Apparently Joss Whedon helped with writing the movie!

3) Donning very light hair and a mustache during the interviews about his experience voicing Woody, I was reminded that Tom Hanks will be playing a certain modern American icon. Hanks is definitely in full "Sully" Sullenberger mode.

Yukon, Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head, those green alien guys, Slinky-Dog and all the rest - these characters are part of movies that show the progression from the popularity of claymation to computer animation. The technology may have changed, but more importantly, these two movies have the stories that people keep wanting to watch year after year.

Until next time.


 

Have A Holly Dolly Christmas

After writing about certain famous song covers yesterday, I got into quite the Dolly Parton mood.

There was nothing else I could do other than put on some of the greats - a little of "My Tennessee Mountain Home", "Jolene", "9-5", and "Travelin-Thru", all of which eventually lead me to her more mellow, but just as beautiful version of "I Will Always Love You." Whitney's is a showstopper, but I do prefer the Dolly original.

Too soon I came to the end of my "Dolly Essential Playlist", but it closed with my favorite track - "Coat Of Many Colors". 

When the song ended I had a flash of a memory. It was the recollection of the one great thing NBC had committed to do all year. That plan was the grand idea of making movies inspired by the life and songs of Ms. Parton!

The first of these movies, which debuts on NBC tomorrow night, is in fact the one inspired by "Coat Of Many Colors". What great timing. Dolly of course has been out promoting the movie and even stopped by The Voice last night to perform the titular song.

Just like the story told in the song, the movie will focus on Dolly's life as a child, and, most importantly, how her mother sewed her a coat out of what was available to her - scraps of fabric. That coat became a treasure to Dolly, one which she kept her whole life. Anyone can see the real coat, which is now housed in the hallowed halls of Dollywood. That's the kind of story that is almost too good to be true. 

The song she wrote with such refreshing earnestness about that time in her life is all about being happy with what you have and making the best with what is given to you. I'm sure the movie will really drive that message home. This is all especially good to hear during the holiday season and a nice reminder to us all when we get a tad too materialistic.

Will the movie be a little cheesy or hokey? Of course! It's a made for TV movie - we can't expect Oscar worthy. But if Dolly is involved (which she is), I'm completely on board. Plus, with a heart-wrenching song  as the basis for a plot, there's a good chance tears will be flowing by the end. How has no one made a movie based on her life before?

Even if it does cause emotions to boil to the surface, "Coat Of Many Colors" is one of those songs that I play whenever I'm feeling down in the dumps. It totally lifts my spirits more than any other song, because after all, "one is only poor only if they choose to be."

Life is always how you decide to look at it. Thanks Dolly for the reminder.

Until next time.

Welcome To New York, New York

Unique artists writing and creating original tunes has always been what makes the whole music industry go 'round. However, there is also something to be said about a brilliantly executed cover. Sometimes my favorite part about attending concerts is if the band or musician that is performing integrates a cover into their set (anyone who does an outstanding cover of "Atlantic City" will have my heart forever).

Musicians covering other people's songs is nothing new. Some of the most famous songs were even originally performed by somebody else.

We all know how to spell "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" because of Aretha, but her signature song was actually released two years earlier by the original writer, Otis Redding. And then there's the song that continues to help make The Bodyguard Soundtrack the best selling movie soundtrack of all time - "I Will Always Love You", as performed by Whitney Houston. Any true American knows that song wasn't originally Whitney's - the ever lasting legacy of one of the world's best love songs is all due to Dolly Parton. I'm pretty sure Dollywood was built just with her portion of the royalties from The Bodyguard Soundtrack. 

In both of these occasions, each singer took an established song and adapted it to fit their own voice and musical sensibility, and in doing so, made the song more famous than the original performer could probably have ever imagined.

One singer this year decided to take the idea of covers to a whole other level. Not only was he taking on one of the best selling albums of both 2014 and 2015, but he adapted the entire album, as opposed to a single song.

Ryan Adams - a cool dude that would seem unlikely to ever be connected to Taylor Swift - created an album that will undeniably be linked to her for the rest of musical history.

It all started seemingly as musical experiment. Those that follow Adams on Twitter, noticed that over the summer he started posting short clips of his versions of various songs from Taylor Swift's, 1989. Was this a joke? Was he mocking the incredible success and complete Swift cultural takeover that was happening in 2015?

All of this could have been true, but the recording sessions lead to full songs being released and then a physical album on that was sent out into the world on September 21st.

As a starting off point, Adams had an entire album of well written, catchy songs, with beautiful melodies. What he did was highlight the magic that was already there and gave it a new vision.

Every song is now branded with his always notable folk and rock inspired edge. Adams slowed down certain songs ("Shake It Off") and added much more rock-n-roll to others ("Style"). On my favorite cover from the album, "I Know Places", he removed all the heavy electro-pop influence that all successful songs seem to want to use these days, and broke it down so that his warm voice wonderfully carries the catchy melody accompanied by a simple guitar line and drums.

To be honest, Adams is one of my favorite singers, so this guy's voice has already leveled me to tears many times over the years ("Come Pick Me Up", "Oh My Sweet Carolina", and "Lucky Now" anyone?). From the beginning I knew that this album was going to be something I would adore instantly.

While I was a fan of Swift's 1989, I wasn't obsessed with every song on the album. For me, Adams' biggest accomplishment was transforming several songs I deemed skip-able into tracks I now love. The addition of strings on his version of "How You Get The Girl" is straight up divine and turned a song I felt "meh" about into one that hit me in all the right emotional places.

Adams' version of 1989 is a real listen from beginning to end and enjoy every moment kind of album.
Is it better than Swift's 1989? I don't think that there is an answer to that, since they are both tremendous in their own way. One thing I know for sure is that this was a real fun experiment to watch unfold from random tweets and it paid off for two talented musicians.  A success both creatively and financially, as on the first week of the release both versions of the album were in the Top 10 on the Billboard charts (Adams debuted at number seven and after 42 weeks, Swift was still riding high at number eight).

Enjoy both of the albums now. I can't help but continue listening to both versions of the songs and make comparisons. The success of all these covers have likely set up T. Swift with enough of a bank roll for her own theme park coming in 2020 - it shall be called "Kittyland". 

Until next time.

Hallmark The Herald Angels Sing

It is now a tradition that by the first day of November (maybe earlier) Lifetime, Hallmark, and ABC Family will begin whipping up into the frenzy of showing non-stop holiday movies.

In order to have enough programming, these channels must crank out new festive movies every year. Quite often, each channel will even have a new movie out a couple times a week. Needless to say, the quality has gone down over the years...

Ultimately, the act of taking delight in what kind of crazy plot lines (and "punny" titles) these networks come up with has become a modern day treasured annual pastime.

With so many titles to choose from, it's hard to pick favorites, but I can't deny two standouts: Hats Off To Christmas (starring Haylie Duff) and The Mistle-tones (starring national treasures, Tori Spelling and Tia Mowry - not Tamara).

There really is nothing better than the same formula used every time to craft basically the same movie, but with subtle differences - Boy meets girl + the "will they or won't they" factor + some holiday hijinks = holiday movie magic.

I have already caught some doozies this year, including Once Upon A Holiday, which was basically just a combination of The Princess Diaries and Roman Holiday, but without a coherent story line. This one really left me wondering about the importance of "princess duties", especially for a princess from a tiny country, in a non-specific part of the world, where everyone apparently just speaks English and sounds like they are from the United States. At least when Julie Andrews said she was from "Genovia", her accent connected her to a place outside of America.

There are a ton of these flicks that I'm looking forward to checking out, including Ice Sculpture Christmas (the plot is exactly what you think) and Northpole: Open For Christmas, starring Aunt Becky, aka Lori Loughlin.

Actually, speaking of that lady,  Loughlin also starred in an unforgettable Lifetime movie that I saw earlier this year. The picture above shows just a snip-it of all the drama. For those who are more "humbug" during this time of year, I would highly recommend this high-intensity movie watching experience. It is one of my favorite discoveries of the year.

Twists! Turns! Strange men in big trucks! Orchards! Witty mother and daughter banter! Murder!

I haven't stopped talking about A Mother's Rage since I saw it in November. Is that because it features the best twist in Lifetime movie history? Maybe. Actually, yes the answer is yes! Everyone should watch this, especially since it can currently be found On Demand.

So, there is always quite the range of movies playing on TV, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Check out Lifetime, Hallmark, and ABC Family (soon to be called Freeform? Whaaa?) online to check out the immense schedules of holiday fare.

That's what I will be tuning in for from now until December 25th.

Until next time.

Hawks Win! Whew!

It's Sunday and during this time of year a large part of the population is obsessed with football.

I am included in that bunch of folks.

Our team, the Seattle Seahawks, just pulled off a win against the Minnesota Vikings that was mind blowing. Let's just say the true domination was completely unexpected.

After an uneven season this year, many, including the announcers during today's game, are calling this success a "return" to the high caliber of talent that sent them to the Superbowl the last two years.

I'm shuddering just typing that sentence out, since I am a very superstitious person, and everyone knows that when you talk about something it never comes true. I don't want to be a jinx!

Of course I want them to win, but I also just really enjoy watching this group of dudes play.

Marshawn Lynch, the most enjoyable of them all, has been out getting surgery. He may be back by the end of the season, but what I miss most of all is his utter gentlemanly touch down celebration. Some players thrown down the ball and jump around with various dance moves. Marshawn, however, simply goes around and shakes everyone's hand. No cheesy dance for him, just a straight up a class act. It makes me smile every time.

All this love and that's not even including how sometimes he shows up on Conan and speaks (proving he actually can). He can be so charming and hilarious that you wonder why he doesn't just chat it up more often. It's his choice and we all respect that.


Other than Lynch, we gotta give it up to the rest of the team, including:

• Russel Wilson! "WILSON!!!"

• Luke Willson! (Easily confused with that other Luke Wilson.)

• Doug Baldwin! ("The Most Clutch Player In The NFL!" - my brother.)

• Steven Hauschka!

• Michael Bennett! 

• Richard Sherman!

Not to be forgotten - Thomas Rawls (who is KILLLING it as the replacement for Lynch), Tyler Lockett, Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner, Jermaine Kearse, and lots of other guys who the people here in the PNW are rooting for on a weekly basis.

Today they got a win and for now I will hold on to that excitement as tomorrow is Monday and the wind is gusting up to 50 MPH right now. Please don't let the power go out.

Until next time.

You Take The Good, You Take The Bad, You Take Them Both...

...and there you have...The Facts Of Life!

So far the best part about complaining to my cable provider after they took a week to fix my cable/internet, is that we got a big discount and a bunch of new channels.

On those extended channels, I was shocked to find that a show I hadn't seen in MANY years plays almost all day, every day. There is a continual marathon of Jo, Tootie, Blair, Natalie, and Mrs. Garrett, running through the episodes from their nine season run.

It has been a delight to check in with these gals from time to time over the last month. Without a doubt, my fondness for this show is because it reminds me of summer's at my grandma's house. Mornings at her place was all about Eggo waffles topped with homemade jam, The Price Is Right, and Facts Of Life reruns.

Otherwise the show is a somewhat typical coming of age sitcom. Although, some of the plotlines are VERY intense. Two episodes I watched recently included Tootie almost getting roped into becoming a "lady of the night" and Natalie catching her father having an affair. Oh, the humanity!

The extremely dated references are also a hoot. On an episode I saw last night, the girls couldn't wait to jet to a Gallagher show. Yeah, that guy who smashed watermelons. Because that was comedy in the '80s.

There are a few other things I know for sure:

1. Mrs. Garrett is the closet thing a human being has ever gotten to being a cartoon character. Her over the top reactions are what makes the show great.

2. My first born shall be named Boots St. Claire.

3. Alan Thicke co-wrote the theme song. This catchy jam is better than anything his son has done.

And just like the song says, "It takes a lot to get 'em right, When you're learning the facts of life."

Truer words have never been said - thanks Alan Thicke. 

Until next time. 

Lions, Tigers, and...Echoey Rooms, Oh MY!

Seeing a fun live musical can be a boisterous experience - the costumes are elaborate, the sets are bright and draw you into a new world, plus, there's the music booming up from the orchestra pit that gets you dancing in your seat. Each of these elements combine to make a room feel electric and alive with the exciting performances happening on stage.

It is all of these reasons that make NBC's decision to air live productions of musicals appear to be the best idea of all time.

But for some reason, something got lost in the transition from stage to screen.

For me, it's the fact that even with elaborate sets and costumes, there is still something that makes the performances feel empty.

This vacant feeling came over me two years ago when watching NBC kick off this tradition with their version of The Sound Of Music, and also last year during the half hour I watched Peter Pan make its live TV debut (this one couldn't be helped because it was also just plain boring). Then, while watching NBC's version of The Wiz last night, I got the same feeling that something was missing in the performance and I came to one conclusion - if NBC is going to continue to air these musicals, they need to bring in a studio audience.

The essence of a musical is that it is performed for the entertainment of others.  Queen Latifah, Common, Elijah Kelley, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier, and new comer Shanice Williams, are working their butts off (very well, I might add) to entertain us, viewers at home, but we are separated through screens and thousands of miles. It is impersonal and that connection normally gained from experiencing something live is definitely lost. An audience needs to be there, otherwise it's just a bunch of people performing in a football field sized warehouse, full of echoes and a complete vortex of silence during any break between song or bit of dialogue. Where's the magic in that?

It would be like if Bruce Springsteen performed in a room all alone, broadcasted it live, and then never went on tour ever again. And sure, movies don't feature audience reactions and laugh tracks for sitcoms are unbearable, but live theater is far too connected to the idea of an audience, so to ignore that fact all together doesn't make sense.

Just a crowd of people reacting to certain jokes or clapping after performances would give more life to this grand idea NBC had to bring live theater to the masses.

The talent involved is extraordinary, especially after this mass amount of very talented folks they pulled together for The Wiz (Elijah Kelly from Hairspray - where have you been all these years!?!), so if NBC just tweaked the production process a little, this will eventually work. It has to - it's too good of an idea to fail.

Until next time.