British Television

I've been watching a lot of British television lately. A. LOT. Here are three shows you need to watch:

Doctor Who
Doctor Who is to England what Star Wars is to America. Everybody knows it. Everybody loves it, even if you say you don't. The original series began in 1963 and aired for several decades. The new series started in 2005, and it is wonderful. Time. Space. Aliens. A sonic screwdriver. It has everything. It's no wonder why this show has become such a big part of British entertainment.


Secret Diary of a Call Girl is based on the book The Intimate Life of a London Call Girl. Starring the lovely Billie Piper (who, by the way, plays Rose Tyler- my favorite companion- on Doctor Who), it follows the life of a "high-class escort" as she lives a very sneaky double-life in London. I would say it's like a British Sex and the City, except that it is also not that in any way. It's super funny, and boy is there drama. Drama, drama, drama.
I should warn you, it's not for everyone, as can be expected by the title. But, it's a good show that shines a light on what it's like to have an unconventional lifestyle. It only has four 8-episode seasons, so you could watch it in a weekend if you wanted to. (Which I did.)


Misfits
What happens when a group of kids doing community service get struck by lightning? They get superpowers, of course. Despite the seriousness of the plot, this show continually makes me laugh. Although my favorite character did not return for season 3, the others are still witty and the storyline is good.

 

So, there you go. Three more television shows for you to enjoy. I have to say, when it comes to comedy, England really knows what it's doing.

Fan Sites

There are a lot of fan sites on the interwebs at the moment. There are also a lot of anti-fan sites. The one thing they all have in common is the amount of dedication that goes into hating and/or loving something. My two personal favorites are this one for Kate Middleton, and this one for Twilight.
You can't hate the Kate. I mean look at her.

But why not add captions to her pictures?

Twilight, on the other hand, was made to be hated. There is just too much wrong with it. Besides the storyline, there is also the writing itself. For example...

Check out these blogs. Whether you love the Royal Family, or you are soooo Team Edward, these blogs will make you laugh. If you don't like them, you take things too seriously. 

The Run Down

It has come to my attention that I have not posted here in some time. My apologies. I told my sister, Shanna (who also hasn't updated her blog), that I would do a stream-of-consciousness post, but sitting in an empty house does not make for great entertainment. Instead, I'll give you some facts about myself. Things you wouldn't automatically know about me unless I told you. Here we go:

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat made me want to be an actor. I think I was eight, maybe nine, when my family went to see this show (starring Donny Osmond) at the Chicago Theatre. I was so enthralled that I knew I wanted to sing and dance and run around a stage when I grew up. While I have never had vocal training, and only took one dance class in college, I did graduate with a degree in Theatre. I even moved to California last winter to see what I could get into. I moved back shortly after, coming to the realization that it was much more of childhood dream than a reality for me.

I make up stories in my head all the time. I have journals full of half-written stories and short scenes that I made up while watching people in public. My mind is permanently set in storytelling mode.

Along with stories, I sing to myself constantly. I like to make up songs about what's going on around me. I know I'll never win a Grammy, but I did make up a pretty fantastic song yesterday about my aunt's cocker spaniel to the tune of "Near the Cross."

My academic goal is to get a PhD in English. Having put my dreams of Broadway fame and fortune behind me, I have set my focus on my love for literature and my need to know everything. I've thought about being a teacher for a long time, and I think the idea of being a professor is fascinating. If you haven't guessed yet, I'm a nerd!


Other things about me:
I still watch teenager shows like Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl. (Also, Wizards of Waverly Place)
I am really good at Scattergories.
My favorite color is yellow, but I wear a lot of blue.
Not to sound too hipster, but I had Zooey Deschanel's bangs in elementary school.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

I work at Barnes and Noble. Which means I pretty much get paid to read books. Last week I was supervising the children's department, so my selection was limited to an elementary reading level. My book of choice was "a novel in words and pictures" called The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick.

It was fantastic.

The book is 530 pages, but half of them are of illustrations. Instead of describing the action with words, he uses pictures to speed up the process. And the illustrations are amazing. I spent more time gawking over them than I did reading. I finished the entire book in one 7-hour shift.

What's it about? I'm glad you asked. It's set in Paris in 1930 and tells the story of a boy named-- you guessed it-- Hugo who lives in a train station. He spends his days stealing small pieces from toys to fix up an automaton his father found. With the help of the toyshop owner's goddaughter, he discovers a hidden message in the toy and a whole new world is open to him. The story focuses on the filmmaker Georges Melies and his silent film A Trip to the Moon. (If you've never seen it you should. It's only about 12 minutes long and is pretty hilarious.)

If you have the time (and you should) go read it. If you really can't motivate yourself, they are making it into a movie with Jude Law and Sacha Baron Cohen.

Other children's book recommendations:
I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll; a picture book about a boy who can't go to sleep without a monster under his bed.
Llama Lama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney; the title should be enough for you.

Superman

In the next few weeks production will commence for the new Superman movie in and around the Chicagoland area. That has nothing to do with this post; just a happy coincidence. This summer I've been catching up on the ten seasons of Smallville. I know, the show never looked very interesting, but with the series concluded I thought I might go ahead and watch it at my own pace. So what's the verdict? You should really watch this show! 
It's mysterious. It's adventurous. It's Superman before he was Superman. Ever wonder how Clark Kent and Lex Luther became such mortal enemies? Who was the girl in Clark's life before Lois Lane? What does Lex Luther's father have to do with any of it?

Being a show about a superhero, Smallville follows the cycle of Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey to a tee. There are several subtle references to The Man of Steel we're all familiar with. And special appearances are made by previous Supermen. So, if you're looking for a show that makes you think and answers questions you never thought you had, then watch this show. You won't be disappointed. And if you are disappointed, let me remind you that it is a CW show based on a comic book, so don't set your standards too high.

Nostalgia: A Food Review

This is Hacienda Mexican Restaurant. By Mexican I mean technically a taco is meat, cheese, and lettuce in a tortilla. But, it's about as Mexican as your neighbor's weekly Taco Night. It is THE place to be for Cinco de Mayo. It has the most teenagers of any place per-square-foot before any high school football game. Also, I worked here when I was seventeen. (First jobs, woohoo!) 

This weekend I was in good ol' South Bend, and went to lunch here with a good friend from high school, Karen. It had been at least a year since I'd eaten here, so I convinced her to go. While to dining room has been remodeled to allow easier traffic flow, it looks exactly the same. The textured walls are painted an odd, avocado green and burn gold. The lobby was decorated in paintings of women in sombreros and other "authentic" Mexican things. The music was entirely in Spanish, buuut if you listened closely, it was actually covers of popular English songs. At the table sat a bottle of the restaurant's own brand of hot sauce.

That's right. Ouch-y-wa-wa Jalapeno Sauce. I took one of these when I was working here, and it stayed in the glove compartment of my car for a good two years.

Of course, we were immediately supplied with endless chips and salsa, but what makes Hacienda unique is their ranch sauce. I should clarify that it is not actually sauce, but simply ranch dressing, but for some reason people always call it sauce. I've seen the cooks make it and I still enjoy eating it, if that's any indication to it's actual quality. 

The food was delicious. My burrito and cheese soup and Karen's chimichanga were brought out on bright, Fiestaware plates and we were "careful because they're hot." I would like to apologize at this moment for not taking a picture of the actual food. I forgot. Once we finished our food, the waitress, being to excellent saleswoman she was, convinced us to get dessert: a chocolate mudslide.

Not to be confused with the mudslide drink, which is also good, but for different reasons.

As we enjoyed our lunch, I tried to take in the whole experience. It was such a frequented location for me as a teenager that I wanted to know just what it was we all liked about it. Maybe it was the lively wait staff. Maybe it was the Spanish music playing on the satellite radio. Maybe we liked it because our only other choice was Steak 'n Shake (which was also frequented). 

I'll tell you this, the food is good, but you have to keep an open mind about what constitutes real Mexican food. The recipes haven't changed since I remember first eating there when I was seven or eight. If you want real Mexican, eat where the Mexicans eat. And that's not racist; it's race related. Those are words straight from the mouth of a man actually born in Mexico. Also, it's true; you will not see any true Latino people eating there. I guess I enjoy it not simply for the food, but for the whole experience. For the memories of adolescence. For the mixing of ranch and salsa to create the perfect chip dip. For the frisbee you get as a plate if you order off the kid's menu. 

So, if ever you are in the South Bend area (or Evansville, IN) stop by Hacienda Mexican Restaurant; there are fourteen of them from which to choose. You'll get a glimpse into my high school years, and enjoy some pretty good food. Just keep in mind that I did tell you it wasn't authentic.

Stealing Books

This weekend I went to a book recycle in Joliet. What is a book recycle, you ask? It's an amazing experience that everyone should take part in. Basically, you bring your books that you forgot you had and donate them, then you go through everyone else's books and take them for yourself.  Even if you don't have any books to donate, you can still take books. The best part about it is, it was completely free. I felt like I was stealing books (which, if you think about it, I was).

There was every kind of book at this place. I mean every kind. They had fiction, nonfiction, text books. I think I counted four copies of The Great Gatsby. There was everything from classic literature to modern mysteries to Nicole Richie's book (that's right, she wrote a book). There was also an abnormally large selection of romance novels. I don't mean large because more than one is enough. I mean, you could make a substantial library out of this genre alone.

Now, the closest I've ever come to a romance novel was Twilight, and I'd say that's close enough. Still, I couldn't help but look at the selection and laugh at the thought of housewives alone at home during the day, reading with rapt attention. One side of a long table was piled with Harlequins. There was even a book called I Love Bad Boys, and one titled Delilah's Desire.

I spent about 2 hours at this book recycle on Saturday, and walked away with about 20 new books. New to me, anyway; a lot of them are in pretty bad condition. To note, there were people who left with a box or two of books. 

Two Bands You Should Know

Here's the deal: I love music. Any kind (almost). One of my favorite genres is the indie folk genre. While some may call it country, I do not. Because it's not, really. It's folk. Here are two bands of said genre that you should check out right now.

The Civil Wars

I've had this band's album on a continuous loop for about a week; there is no bad song on it. The Civil Wars is a duo from Nashville, comprised of Joy Williams and John Paul White. They formed the duo after being thrown together for a songwriting session, and history was made. Their album, Barton Hollow, includes an amazing cover of Jackson 5's "I Want You Back." You can check them out on NPR's music blog.

This is my favorite song on the album, "C'est la Mort." It's about death, but it's beautiful.

Pearl and the Beard

This band consists of Jocelyn Mackenzie, Emily Hope Price, and Jeremy Styles. While the band formed in New York City, they have a much more Southern vibe. I first heard this band singing a medley of Will Smith songs. No joke.

Here's a sample of their killer harmonies from the album God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson.

The Book List

For someone who studied English, I have a pretty long list of books I've never read. Although, I also have a long list of books I have read that you've probably never heard of, and I would not recommend them for light reading. Last year I made a list of books that I needed to read that year, and never got around to it. Some of them you would probably see and say, "But, Melissa, didn't you have to read that in high school?" There were a lot of books I was suppose to read. Suppose to. But, thanks to Cliff Hillegass and his trusty notes, I graduated high school and rarely read a whole novel. So here I am, six years later, with a degree in English and plans to get a Master's in the subject, yet there is a whole pile of books that have been left unopened.

So, using my list from last year, I have created the Canon of 2011 Reading Material. This list currently contains 40 books. That's basically one book every .975 weeks or 6.8 days. It sounds reasonable, but I am a horribly slow reader; I just never got the hang of speed reading. Here are a few books on my list. (Once again, a lot of them are books I should have read years ago, but never did.) Needless to say, I have a lot of work ahead of me.

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I had a really bad experience with Steinbeck in high school and never wanted to read him again. I am, however, taking my sister's word that he is America's greatest novelist and giving him another try.

My Regards to Broadway

Ah, Broadway. The light of my life. A few months ago I spent a few days in New York while traveling with a play, and saw three shows in four days. In that one weekend I saw the 2010 Tony winner for Best Musical, and met one of my favorite musical people, Kristin Chenoweth. While in recent weeks I have given up my dream of being a part of that magnificent spectacle, I am still completely enthralled by it, and am more than a little upset by the league's investment decisions.

At the time I was visiting, several shows were about to begin previews before officially opening to the public. Two of these shows were The Scottsboro Boys and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. The first is a true story about a group of black teenaged boys who were accused of raping to white girls on a train car in 1930's Alabama. The second is about, well, Spiderman. One of my castmates on my trip to NYC was able to see a preview of The Scottsboro Boys, and had nothing but good things to say about it. He downloaded the soundtrack and we spent the next week listening to little else. After amazing reviews On- and Off-Broadway, the show (written by the same men who wrote Chicago and Cabaret) closed after 29 previews and 49 regular performances.

Now let me tell you about the Spiderman Musical. It's been in the making for seven years, and costs $65- million to produce. If you've seen any of the Spiderman movies, you know the plot of this musical. There have been nearly a dozen actors injured; the original director, Julie Taymor, has been replaced; and the opening has been pushed back 6 times to finally open in July, making it ineligible for the 2011 Tony Awards.

What's my point? It seems some of the big-named people on Broadway have their heads in the clouds. A play about a comic book hero is more valuable than a play about real people? I'm sure the musical is pretty good- it was written by U2. I have no problem seeing a musical written by a rock star. I saw Green Day's American Idiot and was almost brought to tears. But, someone needs to take a step back and look at what is happening. While more intimate shows like The Scottsboro Boys are closing after two months of rave reviews, unrealistic spectacles that have brought more skepticism than anticipation are casting a dark shadow over the wonderment of Broadway.

Sidenote: There have been talks of a revival of the Scottsboro Boys. It would open sometime in the next year, just in time to be eligible for the 2012 Tony Awards. Seriously, go listen to the soundtrack. It is wonderful.

Actors Are People, Too

As an actor, I tend to look at movies a little differently than most people. Instead of judging a movie solely on its entertainment value, I take a look at the other elements. The script, the cinematography, the believability. But the main thing I notice above all others is the actors. Not the characters. The actors who play those characters. Because, in case you forgot, the characters are played by real people.

 Sometimes while I'm watching a movie I'm seized with a feeling of awkwardness for those actors on the screen. Why, you ask? Because I think about what it must have been like for them on the set, saying those lines, doing those crazy actions. Most of the things you see in movies would be really odd if they were to happen in real life. So, I've compile a list of just a few movies that have led me to wonder what was going through the actors' minds while filming.

Twilight
I can only imagine writhing on the floor in fake pain while someone pretends to suck on your wrist could get a little awkward. Add that to the campy dialogue, low budget, and entirely unrealistic storyline, and I'm sure at some point the actors wondered what they were getting themselves into.

Phantom of the Opera
While this soundtrack is my go-to sing-in-the-shower music, let me direct your attention to the age of the actors. When this was being filmed,  Emmy Rossum (Christine) was 17, and her love interests were 13 and 17 years older. How would you like to sing a seduction song to someone while being watched by hundreds of extras and a dozen cameras?

X-Men
Umm, she's naked. Like.... naked, and covered in prosthetics. And she's running around fighting people.

Saving Private Ryan
I can just imagine the director's words before shooting the opening scene. "Ok, when I say 'action' we're going to blow piles of dirt into the air, and we need you to run up this hill while we shoot blanks at you out of machine guns. Try to remember your lines."
I think I would call in sick that day.

So, the next time you sit down to watch your favorite movie, think of those actors who bring to life the characters. Think of the words they're saying. Then take it a step further and put yourself in their shoes. Imagine if those characters were real people. Gives you a new perspective of the magic if cinema, doesn't it?

And the Oscar Goes To...

Ah, the Academy Awards. One of my two favorite awards shows (the second being the Tonys). What is this academy, you ask? That would be the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. There are over 6,000 members of this prestigious movie club who are picked by invitation only, but their identities have never been publicly disclosed. (Although, I did go to church with a member, and a friend and I may or may not have borrowed the copy of Slumdog Millionaire he was given for voting purposes.)

While I did not go so far as to print my own ballot, I did make my own educated guesses. I'm not sure how many I got right, but I was 3 for 3 on the big ones- Best Actor, Actress, and Picture. What some people don't seem to understand is that having the most critical acclaim can be a good thing. These awards are not about different tastes in genres, or being the most well-known in a category. It's about pure, raw talent. Yes, Natalie Portman and Colin Firth were predicted to win by pretty much everyone. Can you honestly say they didn't deserve it? And do you know why? Because they were obviously good. I don't know one person who saw either of their movies and didn't walk away with positive things to say about them. That's what it's about. Does the movie speak to you? Do you sit and watch and say, "whoa, that was good." That is how an Oscar is won.

    

                                                                                      

Movies are meant to take you to another place; to transport you out of your own life for an hour or two; to make you forget about your own joys and fears and let you experience someone else's. If a movie can do that, then it deserves acclaim. So, when you stand around the water cooler at work and critique everything you didn't like about last night's award show, remember this: the winner won because the most people liked them. They didn't win because they spent the most money or had the biggest name. The academy saw their talent, and was taken away by their performance, the way a motion picture should.

Reasons to be British

If I got a job in England, I would move in a heartbeat. I have always wanted to be British. They just seem so perfect with their accents and their polo playing. They can wear a hat without anyone assuming they are going to the derby, and Football is actually played with their feet. 

The invitations for William and Kate's wedding have been sent, and the dress code for the affair calls for Uniforms, Morning Coats, or Lounge Suits. While it sounds pretentious, it is actually fabulous. Also, it adds to my list of reasons why I want to be British. I would like my wedding to have this dress code. If you're wondering what this wonderful fashion terminology means, here are some pictures.

Morning dress is simple enough. It's a formal coat or dress worn in the morning, or before 5pm. Get it: morning coat? To Americanize it, think New England WASP. Also check out the hat. I can't get enough of them.

For the men, it's tails or a formal business suit. And look more hats!

I'm pretty sure uniforms are self explanatory, but in case you were wondering, here's what one would look like. 

So, will I be awake in the early hours of April 29 to watch my husband marry another woman the Royal Wedding? You better believe it.