A Savory Selection of Sweet Summer Entertainment

Yes, I know the summer is going to be over in about a month for many of us. For some, another year of college awaits. For some, grad school (YIKES ME!), and for others the wonderfully fruitful job market beckons. I have spent my summer mainly reading, watching TV and movies, swimming, listening to music, and weakly attempting to prepare for medical school (also enjoying Youtube). But seriously, how do you even prepare for medical school. Excuse my french, but FFFFFFF-EEEEEEERRRRR. I wanted to share some of my especially beloved tv shows/books/music/movies/etc. that were great in getting me through hot, boring days. Perfect summer selection commence!

-British Dramas, specifically MISFITS

I have always been a great fan of everything British, as anyone who knows me can attest. So, of course, I have spent a bit of time watching several British shows this summer and have been delighted by some and underwhelmed by others. I mentioned the wonderfully delightful BBC Sherlock Holmes in another post, so check it out. If you love witty British humor and subtle & psychological character development, a great pick that is quite short. I was actually quite disappointed by the British detective drama Luther. Idris Elba himself is too cool for words and Ruth Wilson actually sparkles as a charming murderer, but this show does not give its great actors enough complexity. It is the kind of show that thinks its central character(Elba’s Luther) is more compelling and shaded then he actually is. However, if you love Idris Elba, it might be worth checking out.

But to get to my real point, the best teenage/sci-fi/dramedy I have seen in a long time has got to be the compelling, gritty, and raunchtastic show Misfits. It has been often described as a mix of Skins and Heroes. As a very very very loose description I can go along with that statement. It is essentially a show about five social “misfits” who are in community service for various petty crimes. One day they are caught in an electrical storm and somehow end up with super powers. The show follows their antics as they try to deal with their powers and the problems these powers bring, as well as navigating their dynamics with each other. The reason this show isn’t a simple mix of Skins and Heroes is; while the show does have the celebration of teenage hedonism, it is grittier and less glamorized then Skins; also, while it does have some of the epic, grand destiny sensibility of Heroes, it does not have the comic-book, almost stylized self-seriousness of Heroes. Above all, this show revels in its own morbid hilarity. There is violence and death galore; its horrible and hilarious and a part of their lives they have to accept. And the script is razor sharp, constantly biting, and obscenely unrelentingly funny. These young adults are real and not always noble. Basically, watch this show if you like young people being crazy, funny, romantic, and gritty, and also if you are a sci-fi fan. Unlike Heroes, which just dragged itself along after Season 1, Misfits is the rare show that gets better every single episode. Note: The most magnetic character, Nathan, is played without abandon by Robert Sheenan. Many fans were upset to learn he was leaving after Series 2. However, I believe this is a show that got even better in Series 2, and several other characters have become equally compelling as Nathan. It is very unfortunate he is leaving the show, but I think that Misfits can still be worth watching.

(ALSO also, endlessly impressive soundtrack)

Is Non-Fiction Historical Reading EVER Fun? Hell Yes.

I stumbled upon one of the best books I have ever read last week. I found that I really wanted to be less stupid and maybe read an intelligent nonfiction book, so I randomly picked “The Mindset Lists of American History” off the self at my local library. This book is essentially an analysis of American History for 1898 to, yes, 2020-30 ish (can’t remember). The catch is, this book started from the idea to make lists of the American people’s mindsets in various decades in history. What was considered normal in 1898, versus 1950? The authors McBride and Nief made lists of the ideas, technologies, and social norms that governed American is different times, explained the mindsets of Americans, and guessed at what we would think is normal in 20 years. The thing that makes this book so interesting is that it is written in the first person. You feel like you are hearing someone talk about their life in that time. The book covers things from the everyday (“In 1983, there have always been the Grateful Dead”, “In 1898, folks have always been intrigued by trained fleas, Siamese Twins, and ‘egresses’ “) to the grand dramas and social issues of the day (“In 1957, subversives could be anywhere”). This book is compulsively readable and exciting. I was actually waiting in anticipation to see how America would change. An entertaining and intelligent read.

Music

I love liking new things. This summer in particular, I have really stepped out of my “comfort” zone with my musical explorations. I think if you have any true love of music, you really have to try and listen to other things, really try, because that can upon shockingly fresh musical experiences to you. Part of this was done through Misfits, funny enough. The show has an excellent selection of “British club music” in many scenes, and Dubstep, something I don’t know much about. I had previously decided dubstep sucked, but I was wrong. This song in particular just freaking kills!

Also, though not really out of my comfort zone, I discovered great band called Bastille, and have so far listened to two top-notch songs by them that are swift and catchy and deep.

Cooking

I just cooked the most epically random food ever. Sweet Potato and Banana Casserole, Grapefruit Chicken (I don;t even eat chicken), and Oatmeal & Apple Crisp). Prepare for epic failing. I may have skipped certain missing ingredients like “eggs” and “brown sugar” and “nutmeg”. I am sure I approximated the intended flavor anyway.

(http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatocasseroles/r/bln411.htm)

(http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grapefruit-chicken/detail.aspx)

(http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/apple-oatmeal-crisp/detail.aspx)

Entertainment Weekly Coverage of Comic-Con

It is good. And look at this awesome picture of some of the Game of Thrones actors in….modern attire! (plus gourgeous individual shots)

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20399642_20512173,00.html#20991769

Plus Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Cast

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20399642_20405688,00.html?stitched#20816084

Paul Cast ( SIMON PEGGGGGGG)

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20399642_20405688,00.html?stitched#20816073

Vampire Diaries Cast

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20399642_20405688,00.html?stitched#20816067

The Girls of Community + Pierce

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20399642_20405688,00.html?stitched#20816054

AND, just look through the whole damn slideshow!

 

WOW! I haven’t seen you in awhile. NO, I have not been avoiding you…This is Awkward

SOOOOO. I added those unnecessary o’s to ease my way back in my blogosphere. I have missed you, like an old lover inexplicably abandoned. So much shit has gone down in my life I feel like I could seriously have a compelling reality show. First and foremost, I am going to med school in NYC. Yes, wtf. This is so awesome that a month and half after learning I would be living in the big apple I still haven’t absorbed the info. What will it be like? Will I become a pretentious, indifferent urbanite hipster? PLEASE YES. Most likely I will meet cool people, study a lot, and sleep less than I do now. I have to say I grew so much in my last semester in college. It was an insane orgy of emotions, new friends, new experiences, partying, studying last minute and getting really stressed, and maturing. Basically, I felt like the last semester of my college experience was the only authentically “college” part of the whole damn four years. I fucked up, I did amazing shit, I took chances.  Sike, I didn’t fuck up ANYTHING. And baby, this shit is only beginning. Ok, part of this new me is maybe toning down the cursing. Maybe. Anyway, lots of struggling with personal acceptance, but once you accept who you are *wink” it all goes from there. Went to Europe with my Mom…yes, damn that awful combination of something wondrous and my mother. Love her, but the woman is Steve-O level crazy. We are different people who should not spend every minute together for three weeks. But despite that, Europe was ridiculous. Hit up London, Paris, Piacenza (northern italy), Florence, Rome. London is my favorite place ever, basically. And when i got back I realized, America has its own unique charm as well…I actually missed it a tad. And the last two weeks-ish since I got back has basically been a reading/Youtube orgy. Stop using orgy, dammit. I read more than I have in years…Nightlife by Isaac Asimov & another guy, some brilliantly funny book by David Sedaris about death, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Age of Innocence by Edith Warton, the first 6th of Pillars of the Earth, and first 3rd of White Horses by Alice Hoffman. Yep, random and interesting reading. I subscribed to about four channels on Youtube, including my new favorite people luanlegacy, someonetoshoutfor, itskinglseybitch, anthonylangford, and I think that is it. Funny awesome guys who love everything gay just like me. My obsession with gay men is so typically sad. Granted, I don’t want to be a gay man like some of you ladies (that requires having a penis). I just appreciate them greatly. But I seriously need to stop being so sexist and check out the probably great selection of gay female cinema, including “Aimee and Jaguar”, and interesting looking movie/book about a love affair between two women in Nazi Germany (I think?). AND it’s a true story. I do love “Imagine You and Me”, that movie is just too romantic! Continuing on with my directionless, convoluted post, what has been new on my movie & music radar??? Let’s see:

A Rare Smile from Sherlock!

Sherlock, new BBC adaptation: A bit cheese-esque at times, this three part series is mostly just funny and clever as hell. And randomly moving. And has two perfect actors playing Sherlock and Dr. Watson with legitimate chemistry and complexity. Somehow, just when you think Sherlock is going overboard with the whole high-functioning-sociapath-thing, he actually has humanity. And just when you think Dr. Watson is too self-serious, he is somehow zany, innocent, and scarred all at once. Sidenote: I watched this right after I came back from Europe, and I recognized like five specific spots they filmed in as places I had visited. The best was the scene in the graffiti skater place in Southbank. Click dashed line for bigger version of my awesome picture from there:

SOME of the many riveting characters

Downton Abbey: Complex, subtle, unique, addictive. I NEED SERIES 2. If you like masterpiece theater-esque programming with social/ class exploration, romance, and well-executed drama this series will be like orgasmic cake. AND unlike Jane Austen, many of the characters actually live outside the exclusive upper class world of 19th century England (I do love Austen, so don’t be mad). But these “lower class” people aren’t all depressed and boring; they are complex and dignified and full of soul. Oh the quiet dignity! Just talking about it makes me want to watch it again! Downton Abbey is a grand achievement.

Fantastic Mr. Fox: Whimsical, emotional, modern, ironic, funny, and too smart for its own good. When I say adults and not so stupid children will LOVE this stop-motion adventure about foxes, I actually mean it.

The face of wistful regret

Handsome Harry: A movie about a Vietnam veteran who visits a dying Navy friend in this hospital and subsequently goes on a journey to find each member of a group of friends who beat the shit out of a fellow officer when they served. As we learn about Harry and each of his old friends lives after 20 years, and see mysterious flashbacks to their jazzy, nostalgic past in Vietnam, we begin to understand more of the story behind the inexplicable, savage event that shaped the rest of their lives. Guilt, music, homophobia, and regret all swirl into this subtle, focused story. I actually stopped watching 15 minutes because I didn’t realize the story would get so interesting and heartbreaking. And the movie has an unnatural amount of star power talent; Jamey Sheridan, Steve Buscemi, Aidan Quinn, John Savage, Campbell Scott, Titus Welliver. (a poetic review, much better than mine, available on npr.org: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126174228)

Not the only character, obviously, but she is SO GOURGEOUS

Game of Thrones: I don’t know how to describe how mindblowing this show is. Imagine a fantasy, historical show that smoked crack and became a beast of politics, action, sex, violence, and rich characters. Yeah, that didn’t even do it justice. WINTER IS COMING! And I never even read the books and I love it this much. Standouts on the show: everyone. The acting is just RIDICahlus. Peter Dinklage is as good as he was in “The Station Agent”, even though the character is a bit different. Nikolay Coster-Waldau and Lena Headey are understated but scary as hell. Sean Bean is a heroic pillar. And a slew of great young stars who act like they have always been these characters.  This show has fucking epic young actors. I have a crush on John Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). If you have ever liked anything on HBO, you WILL like this. It’s only ten intense, exciting episodes, you can do it!

You sexy twats.

Made in Chelsea: Pure guilty pleasure. Basically, the British version of the Hills. I love it ironically. Mostly.

P.S. I am about to live in a state where gay marriage is legal. YEAH NEW YORK!!!!

Favorite 31 Things of 2010

I have to make something clear about the many thoughts I have shared on this blog…none of them are really that original. Surprise! But this post in particular is directly inspired by the recent “50 Favorite Things of 2010″ list featured on NPR. At the end of the day, aren’t all of my thoughts inspired by NPR? So, here are 31 things that gave me unadulterated, unconditional joy in this strange and wonderful year. The only way to live is to love things and people obscenely and without reason, so here is my unfiltered list! (considering my last post was also a list, I admit I like them)

1) “Silver Lining”, Rilo Kiley.

You know when you listen to a song and everything falls away for a few minutes? Like, halfway through, you already want the song to start over again? That would be this amazing Rilo Kiley song I somehow managed never to hear before. Hip and elegant and earthly and heavenly. I can’t stop listening to this song even though I might get sick of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVtSSCzASR0&feature=feedlik

2) Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

I already talked about this movie in another post, but again: it is a pop-art visual fun endearing edgy adventure! And Kieran Culkin is in it (Igby Goes Down!)

3) Giovanni’s Room, by James Baldwin

This book is seriously devastating. Okay, not a great recommendation, but no matter how depressing it is it is still haunting to read. Beautiful and short novel that is a must-read. One of my favorite lines: “this was but one tiny aspect of the dreadful human tangle occurring everywhere, without end, forever.”

4) Amy Kuney’s music

I don’t know who this chick is, but she writes damn good original music. Hopefully the next star to emerge from YouTube? I love it when amateurs are better than the professionals. Below is one of her many good songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy3tyqEA4Cc&feature=feedlik

5) Running Wilde

Sadly this show is going to/ is already canceled. Lots of people did not like it but I thought it was totally charming and irreverent. I like to think this gem of a comedy will be appreciated in ten years.

6) Easy A

The return of the hilarious & kind of subversive teen comedy! What have we had in recent memory is Mean Girls and She’s The Man. And neither of them had the hilarious Emma Stone.

7) The Rotten Tomatoes Show clips on Hulu

Okay, never watched the show all the way through, but watched tons of hilarious clips of the Rotten Tomatoes take on the movie universe. Cue example!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/170516/the-rotten-tomatoes-show-julia-roberts-in-three-minutes-or-less#s-p1-sr-i2

8) Rediscovering Joan of Arcadia

An underachieving slacker with a heart played by the witty Amber Tamblyn and her many conversations with God; great concept? YES. LOVED this show in high school (as in never did anything else but watch it on friday nights), and fell in love with it again. Second time around is sometimes better; never really appreciated the tenderness of the relationship between Joan’s mom and Kevin, Joan’s paraplegic brother (Jason Ritter, in a snarky and soulful performance)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeVrXGOt5ig&feature=related

9) Speaking of, anything Jason Ritter is in!

This guy is amazing. Seriously, there is something about him. Every role he inhabits has this earnest energy that makes him totally magnetic. In everything I have seen him in he has shined through as the most memorable character; the scandalously named but sweet “Good Dick”, a total heartthrob teacher in “Parenthood”, a wildly uncontrollable & manipulative & charismatic criminal in “The Education of Charlie Banks”…he has a lot in his future!

10) The Social Network

All hail Jesse Eisenberg. And everyone else in this movie. And Aaron Sorkin. This movie is on the path the a possible Best Picture, but I think its strength lies in its youthful and fiercely intelligent depiction of our age’s entrepreneurs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PrLjaS9SRY&feature=related

11) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

My favorite Harry Potter movie. Daniel Radcliffe & Emma Watson are finally growing on me.

12) Prep School Blues

Maybe the age of youtube, twitter, and facebook has made putting yourself out there too easy and too much. But it has also allowed creative, brilliant, and unknown people to come together and make art, and share it with the world. Prep School Blues is an online series that surprised, no, shocked me with its level of sophistication and acting. Despite a few melodramatic hiccups, not unexpected, this show is plain cool.

http://www.youtube.com/prepschoolblues

13) Big sweaters

Not much to explain here. My roommate says I am going through a “grandma” phase.

14) The “It Gets Better” campaign.

Out of uncomprehending tragedy, humanity can sometimes surprise you and build something rare; hope. Cheesy, I know, but if clips like this don’t make you cry a little then why are you reading my blog!? Life can be awful and life can be amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IcVyvg2Qlo

15) Glee…mostly

Glee has had an interesting season. When Glee is great it is really great, but when its not it is really disappointing. But Glee has two things really going it. First, Kurt, played with praise worthy dignity, vulnerability, and umph by Chris Colfer, is consistently one of the best characters on the show. Second, the bee-stung lips, surfer boy hair, and rock-hard abs of the charming Chord Overstreet. OFFICIALLY the hottest guy on Glee. Oh yeah, third…Darren Criss!!!!!

16) U.K. Version of The Office

Like the American Office but with more delicious awkwardness and Britishisms. And Tim and Dawn are almost cuter than Jim and Pam.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/130652/the-office-uk-downsize#s-p3-so-i0

17) “Ghost”, Fefe Dobson

Unnaturally catchy. Rock on Fefe! With a new album and a new(ish) sound, Fefe is hotter than ever a vengeful rocker chick in this hilarious/scary video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXrFBsYKrgE

18) Tyler + Caroline on Vampire Diaries

I seriously heart Matt, and am hoping for Matt and Caroline to reunite. But in the meantime, I am loving the surprising chemistry between the new werewolf and whiny vampire.

19) Jase + Mani in the British miniseries “Sinchronicity”

Okay, I am going to admit I only watched the “gay storyline” scenes available on YouTube, but these uploads are enough. Watch two hot British guys with unbelievable chemistry fall in love. And the character who plays Mani has more intense hazel-eyed exotic allure than most people can handle. And Jase is tall, dark, handsome, and totally cuddly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWnTLMD_t1w&feature=&p=364FBC22DDFEA608&index=0&playnext=1

20) Robyn

Not my type of music but actually love some of her songs; “Dancing On My Own”, “Who’s That Girl”, “FemBot”. This is music to dance to.

21) Rediscovery of U.K. Version of Queer as Folk

Brilliant (said in British accent). Watching series over again and its even better the second time! Great acting and a defiant spirit make this allegory of gay men who frequent a special street in England extremely watchable. And has to have the best declaration of self ever made.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uomwSbZRzU

22) Googling Space Nebulas.

It’s cool. Try it.

23) The return of Kirsten Dunst!

I have loved Kirsten since Jumanji, and I am glad she has come back with her unique brand of boho chic, talent, and twinkly-eyed charm. Looking forward to  her upcoming films “All The Good Things” with Ryan Gosling, and “Upside Down” with Jim Sturgess. Great costars!

24) The Station Agent

A folksy charming heartbreaking movie about a dwarf who grudgingly makes friends in his new town. Peter Dinklage is an f-ing great actor, and this is a film with subtle meaning. Patricia Clarkson is simply beautiful.

25) Oscar Wilde

I would so love to talk to this guy. Not often you find writing that is still funny over 100 years after it was written. And what a fascinating life.

26) Adam Goldberg

Hot in a bearded tattoed way. And in two of the most clever, hilarious movies I’ve seen this year; “(Untitled)” and “Two Days in Paris”.

27) Remembering why I love Patrick Fugit after watching Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas

I hope this guy comes back with some good movies. I had to watch this movie after seeing it on Comedy Central/Showtime for the tenth time. He has been in much better, but this odd, kinda silly, funny movie shows Patrick at his boyish best. I want my own Patrick Fugit.

28) Any episode of the second season of Community

This show is brilliance. Just watch the Christmas episode.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/199579/community-abeds-uncontrollable-christmas

29) Edith Piaf

Her song “Je Ne Regrette Rien” was the dramatic warning to escape dreams in Inception. Her life is an interesting one, showcased by the intriguing and kind of long film La Vie En Rose. I somehow never heard of her, though she is one of the most famous singers of the 20th century. Check her out; she is classic.

30) Overturning of Prop 8/ Don’t As Don’t Tell

We are moving in the right direction. Even though we are moving WAY too slowly.

31) ”The purpose of art is not a rarified, intellectual distillate – it is life, intensified, brilliant life.” Alain Arias-Misson

Oh no I stubbed my toe

I have recently discovered the breathe of fresh air that is Mr. Hudson, the hip-hoppy ish-new Kanye-West endorsed-British-blond as Lady Gaga- singer. I first listened to the single off his new album “Straight No Chaser”, “Supernova feat. Kanye West”, and liked it. Didn’t see what the big deal was, though. The song grew on me, and as I listened to the rest of the album, I loved it. Then I developed an unhealthy obsession with the track, “There Will Be Tears”. It’s amazing what you can do with talent, rhythm, a good voice, and splashes of autotune. Lines like this somehow sound brilliant:  ”We were trying to move forward love/ but it’s tricky through a brick wall love”; “Oh no I stubbed my toe” . Why is this song so short? Mr. Hudson should be amazingly famous. He has the formulaic individuality package down, with actual individuality to back it up. Or at least he is really good at faking it. Whatever, I buy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJa6VbWoLKc&feature=related

In unrelated news, I need to read more. I read The Soloist two weeks ago, and I forgot how much fun it is to read a brilliant book. GREAT read, I suggest it for everyone who loves music and thinks homelessness sucks. Seriously, this novel was frustrating and inspiring at the same time, and I finished it in one day. As usual, instead of reading more great books, I watch a lot of TV. I tend to start watching a lot of shows, and get annoyed a season or two in. Some shows can be extremely frustrating like that. Other shows I finish in a week and wait desperately for new episodes. In the annoying category is Six Feet Under. I really liked this show at first, and dug its HBO shock value and unique morbid quality. But then all the doom and gloom and death got annoying. And I accidently read a spoiler for the third season and quit the show all together. Even though I love Peter Krause, only so much death and lying and drama can be tolerated. The show did not allow new characters in, which I think is really important for any show on for many seasons. When Molly Parker arrived as an earthly beautiful rabbi, I thought, Finally! A new love interest! Rejected. A show I did LOVE was True Blood. I watched the first 5 episodes over a year ago and kinda hated it. I picked up with the show, and by the second season it was brilliant! This show is consistently great now. I particularly loved Michelle Forbes as a goddess of sin (or whatever she was), and that young Danish actor as the 2000 year old Godric. And who doesn’t love Eric? Anyway, I need a new show to occupy me in between working on my personal statement for medical school.

Long time no see!

I feel I owe my blog an apology…I have abandoned you for an unprecedented amount of time. My level of happiness is directly correlated to how much I write in this blog. Directly. So, the last few weeks without you have been a meaningless collection of hours. Finals approach, and since drinking large amounts of alcohol is not a productive way to get rid of stress, or a good thing to do in general, I am writing in my blog. Writing that isn’t assigned is the best. I have a 12-15 page paper due, in a class I really need to improve in, but I consider writing in my blog right now as more important. I really didn’t see the importance of a creative outlet until recently. When all you do is study and hang out and study and watch movies and sleep, life get’s pretty pointless. You study to get better grades to feel better about your self-worth, you party to “release” stress, you go through all the motions, but do you still feel unfulfilled? I am not saying what we learn here in college is meaningless. However, I have come to realize  that it really takes effort on our part to bring meaning into our lives. You have to create meaning for your life. That can be through painting, writing bad poetry,  reading good poetry, really listening to an amazing song, or standing in your room as the sun disappears. Or maybe through writing some brilliant math proof, or learning all the constellations. To find meaning, we have to take part in creation or at least revel in it. Maybe take some breaks during your studying in the next two weeks to do these things, and when you get back to your history and theories, it will actually mean something.