MSmith's blog

"Sex and the City" The Movie? Oh, All Right

2008-07-06T22:06:34-05:00

A few weeks ago I boasted about how I wasn't going to be strutting my stilettos over to see the new "Sex and the City" movie. Then a few weeks later my summer movie preview post included the following quote under the heading "Movies I Would See To Please A Good Friend:

My good friend Kay talked me into almost seeing it on opening weekend. The only reason we didn't is because all the shows were sold out until 1am. I know I won't escape next time so I might as well slip on my Jimmy Choos and get ready.

Well Kay and I saw the "Sex and the City" movie last weekend, and no, we weren't the final two women in the world who hadn't seen it. There were plenty of women in the audience---and a sprinkling of men---so many in fact, we had to sit in the second row of the theatre in order to sit together.

If you've never watched a movie from the second row, you've missed one of the more memorable movie going experiences. Let's just say Mr. Big wasn't just a nickname anymore. That'll teach Kay and I to go for our Starbucks' fix ten minutes before showtime.

As for the movie itself? I found it moderately entertaining. Too long at two hours and fifteen minutes, but moderately entertaining. At what seemed the movie's three quarter mark, it suddenly occurred to me that Jennifer Hudson was supposed to be in the movie. She showed up ten minutes later, but not before Kay asked me in frustration what time it was and how long the movie was supposed to be.

All the usual elements of a "Sex and the City" episode were there: Carrie's funky fashions, Samantha's explosive libido, Charlotte's sunny disposition and Miranda's holier than thou attitude.

***Warning Will Robinson, spoilers up ahead!***

The several plot threads revolved around all the characters we've come to know: Big and Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and whether or not they'd get married; Miranda and Steve and how they'd handle his infidelity; Samantha and Jerry and how she could maintain a monogamous relationship while still satisfying her sex drive; Charlotte and Harry and how many cute scenes they could have with their adorable daughter Lily.

Thankfully all the women were more grown up than in the the TV show and Carrie benefited the most from that much needed maturity. For example, instead of being the doormat I expected her to be after Big leaves her at the altar, she beats him up with her wedding bouquet and kicks him and his custom made walk in closet to the curb.

Miranda fared the worst in the maturity stakes. She'd turned into a Blackberry addicted, over-scheduled, work-a-holic whose marriage to an easygoing "average guy" was crashing under the weight of her rigid expectations and her surly disposition.

The things I didn't like about the TV show, I didn't like about the movie. Big is not my idea of the ideal man, but Chris Noth at least gave him a bit more depth in the movie than we ever saw in the TV show. I never believed Charlotte and Harry as a couple and watching them have sex was kind of like watching your parents have sex: something you knew took place but that you never, ever wanted to see.

The highlight of the movie was Dante, the object of Samantha's ogling desire and a joy to behold. He had the luscious body of an Adonis and Samantha wasn't the only one wanting a piece of his action.

And though it may sound like I'm totally down on the movie, I'm really not. Any movie that deals with real world, modern day, mature women---and I don't mean mature in age, I mean temperament---I'm okay with it. If they write more roles for minority women, I'll be even more okay with it.

More "Sex and the City Posts:"

Fellow BlogHer Contributing Editor Liz Rizzo liked the movie and says, "It's Not All About The Shoes."

Fellow BlogHer Contributing Editor Trisha Okubo has a roundup of fashion blogs that show you how to get the "Sex and the City" style, and all kinds of style, on a budget.

MelSil's post examines "Sex and the City" and feminism.

Kat at Love Me, Hate Me has been inspired to watch reruns of the TV show after having seen the movie.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube and she hopes to see you at the Women of Color and Entertainment Bloggers Meet-ups at BlogHer '08. Her other blogs are Megan's Minute and Video Runway.

Looking For Fun? Try A Scavenger Hunt

2008-07-01T16:42:49-05:00

Last year my cousin Gaby J. gave me tickets to a murder mystery scavenger hunt as a Christmas present. The hunt, "Murder at the Met" was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and it was run by a company called Watson Adventures.

Well, a few weeks later, Kay, Gaby and I joined up to form the Sherlock Dames and compete with other teams to solve the mystery of a murdered Met curator

This is how it worked. We were given a list of questions including directions to the general vicinity of where the answers were located. A sample question: "Go up the great staircase and into gallery 22. What woman in this gallery looks like she needs a good day care center?" You and your team would then have to scrutinize the paintings in the gallery, often deciphering the tags as well, to get the answer to your question. Once you had it, you'd jot it down on your answer sheet and move on to the next one.

We got to scavenge from one corner of the Met to the other. From the Picasso gallery to the American Wing, from the Medieval gateway to the Temple of Dendur. Though we ultimately failed to deduce the name of the murderer, it didn't matter because we had a blast.

Of course with a two hour time limit, there's not nearly enough time to linger over the museum's wonderful sights, but think of the hunt as a way to whet your appetite for a more leisurely return visit.

A couple of weeks ago, Kay and I did another scavenger hunt called, Naked at the Met. This time there was no murder mystery, but as the Watson Adventures' website described the hunt:

You’ll scrutinize paintings, sculptures, period rooms, sultry sirens, a literally bronzed Adonis, a medieval codpiece, an incontinent Cupid and a randy reveler who’ll make you exclaim, “I never sausage behavior!”

The theme was all things ribald and randy---at least as it relates to the art world. Once again the hunt was well organized by helpful Watson Adventures' employees and the competition took us from one fabulous gallery to another.

Oh, and the result?

We rocked! Kay and I tied for first place.

Our little team of two got all the answers correct, as did our stiffest competition, a team of four. We won "Watson Adventure Winner" t-shirts, and Kay and I were a couple of happy scavengers.

So if you're planning a visit to New York, or if you're a native and looking for something new to do, a Watson Adventure scavenger hunt might be just the thing to awaken your inner sleuth.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube

Cross Posted At Megan's Minute.

Barack Obama and John McCain: Online Videos To Tickle The Funny Bone

2008-06-23T22:20:51-05:00

Back in February on Super Tuesday I posted "Super Online Videos For Super Tuesday." Now that the primaries are over and the official presidential campaign is in full swing, I don't know about you, but I'm ready for a few laughs. What better way to get them then by checking out the latest online videos that take a humorous look at the campaign and the candidates?

First a sentimental look back on the Democratic primary season courtesy of one of my new favorite websites, 23/6.

Barack Obama and John McCain have used the internet more than ever before, to convince donors to open their wallets, to convince citizens to volunteer, and to spread viral videos touting their messages. But as a great blogger---ahem---once said, "live by the internet, laugh by the internet." Especially, the internet video.

Take for example Obama's decision to forego public financing. The following video explains the situation.

It used to be campaign stump speech flubs were chuckled at by a select few on the campaign trail. But in the era of camera cellphones and YouTube, every campaign flub becomes the lyric for a YouTube, garage band remix video. Like when John McCain decided to "veto beer."

Obama has had his share of flubs as well. Like when he decided the country needed eight more states.

And as promised, the remix.

On the music video front, here's a sequel to the McCain Girls' "It's Raining McCain." It's called "McCainiac."

My only question? Why is the black woman doing all the welding and the white woman having all the fun dancing!? Huh?

Obama shouldn't feel left out of the political music video craze. I've sworn off plugging Obama Girl this time around, but the musical group Detroit Octane has their own Obama tribute. Here they sing about something Michelle knew all along: he's "Barack Obama-sistible."

My only question? Where are the dancing mannequin-like models!? Huh?

If you take your politics a bit more seriously, you can enter the Republican American Neighbor Contest on YouTube. You need to submit a video by June 26th profiling "someone in your neighborhood who goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve what Senator McCain calls 'a cause greater than their own self-interest.'" The winner gets an all expense paid trip to the Republican Convention in Minnesota. The loser gets two all expense paid trips to the Republican Convention in Minnesota.

Sorry...I couldn't help myself.

Michelle Obama Enjoys "The View:" A Recap

2008-06-18T12:21:34-05:00

Michelle Obama, wife of Senator Barack Obama and potential First
Lady of the United States had her toughest test of the whole campaign
this morning. No, she didn't go on Fox News Channel.

She co-hosted "The View."

You Can Read This Entire Post At Megan's Minute.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube.

Hollywood's Summer Movies 2008

2008-06-17T01:20:22-05:00

Next Saturday is the first day of summer and you know what that means, don't you? Hollywood's summer movies! Well, er...sort of. Several of the so-called summer movies have already been released because in Hollywood summer starts around Memorial Day. But I refuse to operate on Hollywood's timetable. Megan operates on her own timetable---and er, BlogHer's---so here's your summer movie preview based on my own strict movie going standards.

Movies I Would Pay Ten Bucks For:

"The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2:" Starring America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamlyn, and Blake Lively (August) - Based on Ann Brashares' "Sisterhood" stories, this sequel follows the four young friends from the original movie as they navigate college and personal relationships. One reason the original movie was so good was because the chemistry between the girls was so authentic. With acting talent like this on tap, this movie should be a good bet and I'm looking forward to it.

"The Dark Knight:" Starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger (July) - Christian Bale is Bruce Wayne/Batman and if this movie wasn't a must-see based on the success of "Batman Begins," the untimely death of Heath Ledger, who co-stars here as the young Joker, will surely have people lining up at the box office.

"Mamma Mia:" Starring Meryl Streep (July) - The only reason I might spend ten bucks to see Mamma Mia is because it stars Meryl Streep. I saw the show on Broadway because a girlfriend scored freebie tickets. For free, it was a pleasant romp down the ABBA memory lane while you waited for the cast to sing "Dancing Queen" at the end. If I'd paid $100 bucks, which is what that same orchestra seat would have cost, I'd have been storming the box office for my money back. As it is, ten bucks to see Meryl Streep is not a lot to ask, even though her comic turns have left a lot to be desired.

"Brideshead Revisited:" Starring Emma Thompson, Ben Wishaw, Matthew Goode, and Hayley Atwell (July) - This is right up my romance/period drama alley. Based on the Evelyn Waugh novel, the story is about a love triangle set at Oxford during the years before WWII. The original PBS TV series starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews was a huge hit in 1981 and hopefully this version will be at least as entertaining.

"Hannah Bailey, American Teen:" (July) - This documentary is kind of like a real "Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants" because it follows four Indiana students as they try to navigate the minefield of their teen years. Family problems, school problems, relationship problems: they're all here.

"The Love Guru:" Mike Myers, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake (June) - When it comes to Mike Myers' humor, I either gag or I chuckle. It's often a toss-up. But I've been sucked in by Guru Pitka and his quest to become the most famous relationship expert since Deepak Chopra, so I'm willing to sell my comic soul and plunck down ten bucks for this one in the hopes of a few not so cheap laughs.

Movies I Would See To Please A Good Friend:

"Sex and the City" Starring Sarah Jessica Parker (currently playing) - Even though I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about how I had no intention of seeing this movie, I can not tell a lie. My good friend Kay talked me into almost seeing it on opening weekend. The only reason we didn't is because all the shows were sold out until 1am. I know I won't escape next time so I might as well slip on my Jimmy Choos and get ready

Movies I Would See To Please A Hot Date:

"The Incredible Hulk:" Starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler (currently playing) - This time they hired a good actor for the role, Edward Norton, and they made the Hulk look less cartoony than in the last version which was universally derided as the worst movie of 2003. But if I didn't have a hot date for this one, I'd probably toss it into the "might eventually rent" category. And only then so I could see what Norton does with poor, tortured David Banner.

"Iron Man:" Starring Robert Downey, Jr. (currently playing) - Paying to see Robert Downey, Jr. is not my idea of a good time, but for the right man, I'd do it. Iron Man is another one of those Marvel comic characters that spring up in summer like one too many unwanted dandelions.

"Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull:" Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and Cate Blanchett (currently playing) - Though I'm a huge Harrison Ford fan the Indy movies never did much for me. My favorite was "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and that was primarily because Sean Connery stole the show as Indy's Dad.

Movies I Might Eventually Rent:

"Made Of Honor:" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan (currently playing) - It stars Patrick Dempsey of "Grey's Anatomy." What more do I need to say? Okay, I could say more, so I will. This is kind of a remake of the Julia Roberts movie, "My Best Friend's Wedding," except Patrick is the best friend and Michelle Monaghan is the one getting married.

"The X Files, I Want To Believe:" Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (July) - I want to believe this movie has a reason to exist. It's exhibit A in the case for a moratorium on movies based on TV shows. I enjoyed the "X-Files" on TV at least when it wasn't going totally off the deep end plot-wise, but who out there said we needed another "X-Files" movie? I sure didn't. Did you?

"Get Smart:" Starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway (June) - Are you sensing a theme here? Anything based on a TV show is not something I'm generally willing to fork over the equivalent of a fifth of a tank of gas for. Especially if it stars Steve Carell. Like his TV contemporary, Jon Stewart, this guy just doesn't make me laugh. That dead, dry, delivery does absolutely nothing to tickle my funny bone and I'd only rent this movie to see what kind of mess they make of it. Hell, I may even wait until this is on commercial TV.

"Hancock:" Starring Will Smith and Charlize Theron (July) - It wouldn't be summer without a Will Smith movie and in this one Will plays an alcoholic super-hero who wants to rehab his bad reputation. It's touted as a comedy/drama and the only reason it's in this category instead of the "point of death" category is because of Will Smith.

Movies I Would See To Please My Surrogate Children:

"Kung Fu Panda:" Starring the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie (currently playing) - If I got a chance to spend time with Cara and Milos and the price was listening to Jack Black's voice for 90 minutes, I would suck it up.

"Wall-E:" (June) - Pixar's big budget entry about a lonely robot left behind when earth has to be evacuated.

"Speed Racer:" Starring Emile Hirsh, Christina Ricci and Matthew Fox (currently playing) - Just for old times sake because I loved the animated TV show as a kid. And because it co-stars Matthew Fox.

"Kitt Kittridge, An American Girl:" Starring Abigail Breslin (July) - Based on the American Girl doll of the same name, Breslin plays a plucky Depression era moppet who helps save the family farm...or something like that.

Movies You Couldn't Make Me Watch On Point Of Death:

"You Don't Mess With The Zohan:" Starring Adam Sandler and Emmanuelle Chriqui (currently playing) - Adam Sandler: the two most frightening words in the English movie language. The plot of this movie? Okay, bear with me. Sandler plays a former Israeli secret agent who fakes his own death so he can become a hairstylist. Huh!? Enough said.

"The Happening:" Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel (currently playing) - Evidently it ain't...happening, that is. The reviews have been universally bad for this latest from M. Night Shyamalan. Yo, M? Maybe it's time to switch to romantic comedy.

"Wanted:" Starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman (June) - Could someone explain to me the Angelina Jolie hysteria? I simply don't get it. I don't care about her adoptions, I don't care about her pregnancy, I don't care that she broke up Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, I don't care about her silicone injected lips. I just. Don't. Care. But I seem to be in the minority because here she is again. Someone's buying those movie tickets. This one's based on a graphic novel and has our Angelina playing an assassin training James McAvoy so he can go on a vengeful rampage.

"Step Brothers:" Starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (July) - Will Ferrell falls into that Adam Sandler, Steve Carell school of comedy for me, meaning he doesn't make me laugh. Ferrell and Reilly play the adult, still living at home sons of two single parents who get married. The result? Comic mayhem. Supposedly.

What movies have you seen and which of my categories would you put them in? Don't be shy.

Other Summer Movie Links:

Ubergeeke at Geekspace for Women liked "The Incredible Hulk."

Priscilla at Priscilla's Musings thought this Hulk was only slightly better than the previous version.

Sonya at AOL's Black Voices wrote "Sistas Recreate Sex and the City" about several black women getting together with their friends to see the movie.

On a more serious note, Tami at What Tami Said wrote a thought provoking post about "Sex and The City," sexism and racism."

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering Television and YouTube and she's not sure when she's going to see some of these movies since she's so busy watching TV. Her other blogs are Megans' Minute and Video Runway. And if you're coming to BlogHer '08 next month, she'd love to see you at the Entertainment Bloggers Meet-up and/or the Women Of Color Meet-up.

Asians In Hollywood: From Anna May Wong To "Kung Fu Panda"

2008-06-09T23:34:15-05:00

I've always said the only people worse represented throughout Hollywood history than black people, were Asian people. Just like we had our share of white actors parading around in blackface, Asians had to tolerate white actors in yellowface: that is, white actors made up to look like and play Asian characters. Charlie Chan and Fu Manchu, to name two. Whenever the discussion about minority representation on screen came up in the public consciousness, Asians seemed to barely rate a mention.

Well now you can sample some Asian images throughout Hollywood history, good and bad, by tuning in to Turner Classic Movies every Tuesday and Thursday in June. Their series, "Race and Hollywood: Asian Images In Film," is a film festival showcasing Asian performers from the era of silent films, up until more contemporary movies like "The Joy Luck Club" and "Enter The Dragon."

Last week's program featured a documentary on Hollywood's first Asian film star, Anna May Wong. "Anna May Wong: Frosted Yellow Willows" chronicled the career of the American born Wong who dreamed as a child of being in the movies. Though she found work, first as an extra, and then in larger roles, the choicest roles, even for Asian characters, were reserved for white actresses.

A lovely woman, whose beauty radiated off the screen, Wong longed for the chance to showcase her acting, so she left Hollywood and was rewarded with better stage and film roles in Europe. She became the toast of the continent in the 20's and 30's and internationally acclaimed. But still, as far as Hollywood was concerned she never gained the kind of stardom she would have had she not been Asian. In later years, like Hattie McDaniel and other black actresses of her generation, Wong caught flack from her own people for the roles she took.

After the documentary, TCM showed several of Wong's films including "Shanghai Express" starring Marlene Dietrich.

Keith at hapihour.org applauded TCM for the series:

I gotta hand it to TCM for going through the efforts to air these films wrapped in an educational festival. We can never be too educated about how people of color, LGBT and other disenfranchised members of our community have been — and continue to be — misrepresented and stereotyped in popular culture.

Speaking of popular culture and a film that's otherwise lauded as a classic, one of the many problems I have with the movie "Breakfast At Tiffany's" is Mickey Rooney's terribly offensive portrayal of Holly Golightly's Japanese neighbor.

His portrayal is supposed to be funny, but believe me, it ain't. And I'm not Asian. Today it would be like watching Angelina Jolie, slanted eyes and all, made up to play Sandra Oh's role on Grey's Anatomy.

And that brings me to "Kung Fu Panda"---you thought I forgot, didn't you? Well, I didn't. Angelina Jolie is one of the voices in this animated movie about a panda who's "forced to become a kung fu master to save his jungle from leopard villians." It made $60 million at the box office last weekend and though it's gotten good reviews there's some dissatisfaction about the movie in the blogosphere.

Jennifer at Mixed Raced America is "annoyed" by "Kung Fu Panda:"

Because do we need MORE reinforcement of Asian stereotypes, especially those that perpetuate the connection of Asians with Panda bears and martial arts, and DAMN IT, this one has BOTH. Maybe I wouldn't be so annoyed if there were more Asian Americans on-screen just being, well, Asian American. Pumping gas at your local Shell station. Ringing up your groceries.

The Black Snob also has problems with the movie:

Most times America must seem like a black or white world where if you're not a black person or white person no one really gives a crap about whether your thousands-of-years-old culture is being portrayed by a cartoon panda doing martial arts voiced by Jack Black. Just suck on it Chinese Americans.

When I see Kung Fu Panda I think--Is this the equivalent of Hollywood making a movie about a jive-talking Chicken from the country whose dream is to become a famous rapper, moves to the ghetto but is constantly being pursued by greasy black fry cook from Church's--World's Greasiest Chicken Chain?

The Angry Asian Man isn't so angry about "Kung Fu Panda," but he does have a warning for parents:

Not only will it make truckloads of money this weekend, it will no doubt inspire countless kids across the country to kung fu kick each other. Parents, expect some Kung Fu Panda-inspired injuries this summer.

You won't however get any injuries by watching TCM's film festival. That is unless you decide to kung fu your TV set.

By the way, "The Killing Fields" which I mentioned in my Memorial Day post: "Ten TV Shows And Movies That Taught Me Something About War," will air as part of the festival on June 26th.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube and she hopes to see more of a variety of great Asian roles for great Asians performers . Her other blogs are Megan's Minute and Video Runway.

French Open Tennis: Rafael Nadal Makes It Four In A Row!

2008-06-08T13:19:23-05:00

Image details: French Open - Roland Garros 2008 Day Fifteen served by picapp.com

The final score was 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. No, that last set score is not a typo: 6-0. Against Roger Federer. Rafael Nadal is now a four time French Open champion with no sign that he's going to relinquish that title anytime soon. And how cute is he? To paraphrase Mary Carillo, for all his arrogant style of play on the court he's remarkably humble off the court. And who wouldn't be arrogant on the court if you had the kind of game he does.

Your Can Read This Entire Post At Megan's Minute.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV and YouTube.

French Open Tennis: Ana Ivanovic Wins!

2008-06-08T13:14:29-05:00

Image details: French Open - Roland Garros 2008 Day Fourteen served by picapp.com

Today, Ivanovic just had too much power, too many weapons and too much tenacity to be denied. The final score, 6-4, 6-3. Congratulations to Dinara Safina for a great two weeks, and to the new champion, Ana Ivanovic.

As for Ivanovic, she had this to say:

"Last year we three of us made the big boom here in French Open and this year you know we're coming back, we winning the grand slam titles and I think it's something that came so fast for all of us and we have great support back home and I'm just so happy to have this title for my country and it was very, very emotional day.

You Can Read This Entire Post At Megan's Minute.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV and YouTube.

French Open Tennis: Ana Ivanovic The New No.1

2008-06-05T12:14:14-05:00

Ana Ivanovic, the 20 year old Serbian, defeated Jelena Jankovic in today's French Open semi-final. She'll face the big surprise of the tournament, Dinara Safina in Saturday's final. But this win not only gave Ivanovic a ticket to her third Grand Slam final, it also gave her the title of new No. 1 player in the world.

You Can Read This Entire Post At Megan's Minute
Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube

"Lost" Recap: Something Nice From Home (5/1/08)

2008-06-04T09:02:57-05:00

We start with the standard "Lost" closeup of Jack's eye opening.
Juliet's calling his name 'cause there's mutiny among the Losties.

Bernard and Rose, et al are trying to get the truth out of Daniel
and Charlotte and Charlotte especially is stonewalling. When she gets
snippy with Bernard, Rose tells her, "Just watch your tone, Red." Heh.

Jack makes peace, telling the Losties he knows Charlotte and Daniel
are lying. Jack doesn't look so good as he gives his pep talk about
getting all of them off the island, and before we know it, he collapses.

Flash forward to Jack in a comfy bed somewhere and the phone is
ringing. He picks it up and someone is confirming a consult he has at
eleven o'clock. He gets out of bed and puts some lacy underwear in the
hamper. Jack, who knew?

As he goes in the kitchen he steps on a Millennium Falcon
model on the floor. He puts two wine glasses in the sink and makes
coffee. He checks out the paper, sees the Yankees have beaten the Red
Sox in a series sweep and is disgusted. Finally he goes in the
bathroom where someone is in the shower.

When the shower shuts off he takes a towel and hands it to...Kate,
as she steps out. They're all lovey dovey and it's nice to see them
happy for a change.

Opening credits.

Read This Entire Post At Megan's Minute

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube

Fire Up The DVR, Summer TV Has Arrived

2008-06-03T01:03:39-05:00

Summer is just about here and with it comes the wild and wacky world of summer TV. There are basic cable shows, broadcast network shows and pay cable shows.

It's the season of the Manly Mad Men---stylish, angry men who have lots of inappropriate sex. It's the season of the Drama Queens---quirky, flawed women with tough jobs and crappy personal lives.

It's also the season of the reality show and the game show. From the bizarre to the freakish, they have names like, "So You Think You Want to Be A Millionaire,Who Can Dance Like Elle Woods and Marry the Bachelor Farmer Whose Big Brother Competes For Tila Tequila."

Here's a list of some of the shows, new and returning that have my DVR ready to get to work:

Manly Mad Men

Mad Men - AMC, July 19: This stylish show set in the high flying advertising business of the 1960's returns for it's sophomore season after a slam dunk first run.

Burn Notice - USA Cable, July 10: What happens when an international spy gets dumped by his agency and has to put his life back together? This show, that's what.

Generation Kill - HBO, July 13: Written and Produced by David Simon and Ed Burns, creators of "The Wire," this fact based mini-series depicts young marines during the first forty days of the Iraq war.

Drama Queens

In Plain Sight - USA Cable, June 1: "In Plain Sight" is a descendant of "The Closer" and "Saving Grace." Mary Shannon is a flawed woman who's great at her job---she's a US Marshall with the Witness Protection Program---but has a personal life is...wait for it...crappy. Mary is played by Mary McCormack and her boyfriend is played by none other than "Dancing With The Stars" finalist, Cristian de la Fuente.

Army Wives - Lifetime, June 8: Think "Desperate Housewives" except in uniform. There's just as much sex, lying and gossip, but instead of Wisteria Lane, you get Spit & Polish Road.

The Closer - TNT, July 14: Starring Kyra Sedgwick as LAPD police interrogator Brenda Leigh Johnson, "The Closer" is about to start it's fourth season. Brenda was the first in this latest crop of summer TV Drama Queens. In 2005, "The Closer" premiered to big ratings for a cable show, and ever since, it's actually increased in viewers.

Saving Grace - TNT, July 14: Played by Holly Hunter, Grace is an Oklahoma City police detective. Like the Manly Mad Men, Grace has lots of inappropriate sex, but like the Drama Queens, she also has a crappy personal life. But she is a good at her job---police detective---and will do just about anything to catch the bad guys.

Secret Diary Of A Call Girl - Showtime, June 16: Based on a book by a college student turned high
priced call girl, this series should provide lots of insight into the Eliot Spitzers of the world and the women they pay $2000/hour for sex.

Are They For Real?

Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods - MTV, June 2: It's just what it sounds like. A group of aspiring Broadway stars compete to win the starring role as the platinum haired Harvard Law student with the wicked bend and snap. It's a cross between "America's Next Top Model," "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance," and the first episode was surprisingly entertaining,

30 Days - FX, June 3: Imagine spending 30 days living someone else's life. A life totally opposite to your own. How would it be? How would you react? Well that's the premise of this show which is about to start its third season.

She's Got The Look - TV Land, June 4: It's "America's Next Top Model,"---Tyra should be giving me a commission at this point---except with contestants that are over thirty-five.

Would You Like To Play A Game?

Hurl - G4, July 15: Okay, so I lied. My DVR will not be working this show. That's because this high concept show is a competition to see who can eat the most in a short amount of time and then be the last one to...you guessed it...hurl. Why not just let them hurl and see who can project the farthest?

My DVR will be passing on this one. Yuck.

I Survived A Japanese Game Show - ABC, June 24: Ten Americans are shipped off to Japan to compete in one of those screwy Japanese game shows---the ones where people have to do things like wear chicken suits and make scrambled eggs with their butts---and ABC has kindly arranged for us to follow along and watch.

Competition Is Good For The Soul

The Summer Olympics - NBC, August 8-24: Dun, dun, Da dun dun da dun, Dun da...da, da...Dun, dun, da da da da da dunnnnn...What more do I have to say?

Not Reality, Documentary

Hopkins - ABC June 26: No, documentaries aren't the same as reality shows. This six part series follows six Johns Hopkins Hospital medical residents as they try to balance their personal and professional lives while learning the vital skills needed to treat patients. Sound a little like "Grey's Anatomy?" That's no coincidence. ABC 's hoping "Hopkins" will lure some "Grey's Anatomy" viewers and generate some "Grey's Anatomy"-like ratings.

That's it for now. Hopefully these shows will be enough to keep the ol' DVR busy 'til fall.

Additional Source: Entertainment Weekly (June 6th Issue)

Other Links:

One Girl's Quest: Shawna's thoughts on "In Plain Sight."
Blend Television: A list of new and returning summer shows and their premiere dates.
Reality Blurred: A list of new and returning reality shows through spring 2009.

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV/YouTube and she plans to watch a lot of TV this summer. Her other blogs are Megan's Minute and Video Runway.

The "Lost" Finale: An End To A Fabulous Season

2008-05-30T08:55:25-05:00

Though last night's "Lost" season finale didn't eject me out of my chair like last year's did, it was still a very good ending to what has been a spectacular season for the show. Stop now if you haven't seen the show because there are***spoilers***a plenty coming up.

Read This Entire Post By Megan Smith At Megan's Minute.

Ten TV Shows And Movies That Taught Me Something About War

2008-05-25T23:18:35-05:00

I'm lucky. I've never had to serve in a war or known someone close who's died in one. Even though I learned the facts and figures of war in school, the impact of war I learned from television and the movies. In honor of Memorial Day, this post is about what I've learned about war.

Tenko - (British TV Series: 1981-1984) This landmark series was about a group of British, Australian and Dutch women captured during the Japanese invasion of Singapore at the start of WWII and then spent the next three years in a POW camp. The characters were fascinating, the life and death struggles were harrowing and it was the first time the brutality of POW camp life, especially for women, hit me full on.

Courage Under Fire - (Film: 1996) This underrated movie stars Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan. It's about a Lt. Colonel veteran of the Gulf War (Washington) investigating the death of Karen Walden (Ryan), in order to determine her qualification for a posthumous Medal Of Honor. The questioning of the surviving crew members of her downed helicopter results in different accounts of her death, causing the Lt. Colonel to eventually uncover a terrible secret. This to me was one of Meg Ryan's best roles and it was the first movie I'd seen that showed a woman in such realistic combat. It co-stars Matt Damon and Lou Diamond Phillips.

A Town Like Alice - (British/Australian TV Mini-Series: 1981) Based on the novel by Nevil Shute who also wrote the post nuclear holocaust novel, "On The Beach," this is a love story set in Japanese occupied Malaysia during WWII. He's Joe Harmon an Australian POW (Bryan Brown) and she's Jean Paget a British captive (Helen Morse). It was this series that made me understand some of what it must have been like to try and survive the hell on earth that was a death march.

Legends of the Fall - (Film: 1994) Most people remember this movie as the breakout film for a youthful Brad Pitt. What was more memorable for me however, was a scene set during WWI where one of the characters is trapped and killed in barbed wire on the field of battle. There's a Sting song called, "The Children's Crusade" and part of the lyric includes the line, "They're trapped on the wire, and dying in waves." I never understood that line until this movie, and I've never forgotten it.

Friendly Fire - (TV Movie: 1979) This TV movie starred Carol Burnett, in a rare dramatic role, and Ned Beatty as parents of a son killed in Vietnam. After being given evasive answers about how their son died, it's discovered that he died from friendly fire. Forgive me for being young at the time, but this was the first time the concept of someone in a war being killed by someone from their own side ever occurred to me.

Saving Private Ryan - (Film: 1998) The first twenty minutes of this film, the landing on Normandy Beach during WWII, have to be the most realistic scenes of war ever filmed. If you see it in a movie theatre, it's almost more than a viewer can bear. Intense doesn't even begin to describe it. It's inescapable for us, as it was for those young soldiers. I remember thinking after the movie was over, I didn't know how anyone could survive such an experience and then live out the rest of their lives "normally." How do you ever shop at a grocery store, how do you ever have a picnic, how do you ever sleep through the night again after such a horrifying experience? I still don't know.

Danger UXB - (British TV Series: 1979) The world of "Danger UXB" was a revelation to me. Starring Anthony Andrews, the series followed the progress of bomb disposal units in England during WWII. From the most rudimentary techniques of disarming bombs to trying to disarm bombs that were specially designed with booby traps meant for bomb disposal officers, this excellent series showed an aspect of WWII I knew absolutely nothing about. Sometimes the bombs were in the middle of a London schoolyard, sometimes on the roof of a private house. Wherever they were, the men of the bomb disposal units had to determine how to either detonate or disarm them safely so life for civilians could get back to "normal."

The War - (TV Documentary Series: 2007) Ken Burns' documentary "The War" is a monumental work that brings WWII to life in a comprehensive way. It's an examination of four American towns and the experiences of their soldiers. It's told with authentic war time footage, much of which has never been seen before.

The Killing Fields - (Film: 1984) This film tells the true story of American journalist Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) and local photojournalist Dith Pran (Academy Award winner Dr. Haing S. Ngor) as they try to cover the rise of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia. With the fall of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, Schanberg, a writer with New York Times escapes with the help of Pran, but Pran is forced to stay and fight for his own survival. The second half of the movie follows Pran and his encounters with "the killing fields." My most vivid memories of this movie are the shots of rows and rows of skulls Pran discovers as he tries to evade capture.

The Diary Of Anne Frank - (Film: 1959) I read the book as a kid, saw the movie and the real Anne Frank house in Holland as a teenager and I'll never forget any of them. What more is there to say?

The Newreels Of The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor And The Television Coverage Of 9/11. These images of course were not a TV show or a movie, they were all too real and I felt the need to add them. One happened before I was born and the other did not. They were both declarations of war, the only difference being on 9/11, the soldiers weren't in uniform, they were in business suits and pumps. They didn't carry guns and grenades, but briefcases and handbags. They worked at coffee pushcarts and in restaurant kitchens and on fire trucks and in police cars. But for me, that terrible day, they were all soldiers. And don't let anyone tell you that day wasn't a day of war.

Finally, here's a video that commemorates women who serve in the military, as bravely as the men, but often with many more challenges. We all owe them and the men who serve with them a debt of thanks on this Memorial Day.

"America's Next Top Model" Winner: Whitney Thompson, A Juicy Booty

2008-05-20T00:28:51-05:00

Last week Whitney Thompson became the first plus-sized model to win "America's Next Top Model." Or as one of her makeup artists said before the final runway competition, she was the "first juicy booty to make it on to the runway."

Of course the phrase "plus-sized model" is a relative term. Whitney says she's a size 10 and though in the modeling world, that's considered big enough to call for a forklift, in the real world that's considered, dare I say it...pretty normal.

ANTM is one of my personal guilty pleasures. All that strutting and pouting in high heels and expensive weaves gives me the giggles. The show also taught me a shocking lesson: models really have to know stuff. They aren't just breadstick thin hangers with no brains. They're highly trained professionals, skilled in a all kinds of important techniques. Like actors, they need to know their facial structure. Like dancers, they need to know movement. Like prisoners, they need to know how to live off bread and water.

Two weeks ago Tyra demonstrated the difference between a plain facial expression and the same expression except this time with her eyes smiling. The difference was simply a matter of how she squinted her eyes, but I tried to do it and I nearly dislocated my eye socket.

It's a lot of makeup and hairstyles and pretty pictures. And as long as you don't take the whole enterprise too seriously, it's harmless fun.

But there's a bunch of people, especially girls who do take a lot of this stuff seriously and I wonder if Whitney Thompson's win is good for them. In this LA Times interview Whitney talks about how being larger than a size 2 was often a problem:

I anticipated the worst at every challenge and photo shoot, like when they handed me a size 2 skirt and said "Put this on" and the stylist was cutting it and sewing it on. It's embarrassing. What girl wants to be told "You're too fat so we're going to glue you into the skirt." That is difficult, but I anticipated the worst. I was prepared mentally for that. Thank God, because that could really drag you down.

When asked if she was given "crap" from the other contestants about "being full figured," this is part of what she had to say:

You saw when Stacy Ann was like "Whatever, you're fat." And I was like "Uh, perhaps you meant P-H-A-T," which is totally my personality. There were a few times. I think the girls were a little jealous that they had to diet and they had to do this work to be super skinny, and I was like "Well, I don't, and my pictures still came out better than yours."

Whitney has confidence, that's for sure, and like Marissa Jaret Winokur on this season's "Dancing with the Stars," she refused to let her size define her ability. It was a kick to see a woman on reality TV, larger than the norm, being sassy, sexy, and more than holding her own with the skinny Minnies. In the final strut-off Whitney sashayed those juicy hips down the runway like nobody's business, while her waif-like opponent appeared stiff and uncomfortable.

In an interview with ABC News Whitney had this to say:

"I've stood there in the middle of an agency with everyone pointing at me and saying 'four more inches off the hips would be great,'" Thompson said. "I don't recommend any girl putting herself through that, but I did and I stand here unchanged, physically.

"Right before I left to do the first episode in L.A., I was with one of my best friends and she said, 'You're fat. You are not going to make it in this competition,'" she continued. "So every week that I made it, I was like, 'Ha!' Obviously, we're not friends anymore."

Around the blogosphere, Crazy Jen and her friend Kimmie were thrilled:

We always wanted her to win but it always seemed like the judges had it in for the larger than toothpick models. So...anyways, she won!

Gail Gedan Spencer at The Skinny, a blog for the Sun Sentinel.com wasn't impressed with Whitney's so called full figured status:

Is she more ample than the typical toothpick model? Definitely. But when I get to a size 10 (and I will!) and you call me plus-sized, I will knock your lights out.

Lissie, a commenter at Bitten and Bound had reservations about Whitney being considered plus-sized:

Yikes. This sort of thing makes normal girls feel even worse about themselves. They see this fairly trim woman being praised as “plus-size” and then think, “Well, if that’s plus-size, I must be grossly obese!”

This is terrible.

But Plus Size Clothing Scoop summed up Whitney's win this way:

So although by my standards Whitney is slim, I am still glad that she won the contest, another step ahead in the fashion industry perhaps?

Let’s hope we see even more curves on the catwalks and covers of magazines in the future.

If you take a look at Whitney's portfolio, you'll see she started the ANTM as a brunette and morphed into a blonde, but she always had the fabulous face and figure that made her stand out from the competition. There's a lot wrong with the modeling industry, but I think Whitney's win was well deserved and I, for one got a kick out of it.

Photo copyright and courtesy the CW Network

Megan Smith is a BlogHer Contributing Editor covering TV and YouTube and she's working on making her own booty a little less juicy. Megan's other blogs are Megan's Minute and Video Runway.

Movie Trailer Parodies: Big YouTube Fun

2008-05-13T00:24:53-05:00

Need some humor in your life? Have I got some YouTube videos for you!

Recently during one of my regular YouTube forays, I uncovered a stockpile of entertaining movie trailer parodies, or recuts as they're sometimes called. I happen to hate "Mary Poppins." What's that got to do with movie trailer parodies? Read on.

First up, a work of true genius and my favorite clip. Based on the blockbuster 1997 movie, "Titanic." It's called, "Titanic: Two The Surface," and tells the story of Jack Dawson after the sinking.

My next favorite, "Dirty Dancing," turns that harmless little movie about a family's vacation in the Catskills into something much more sinister.

Another popular parody theme is movies for children. There's nothing more fun than twisting a sweet, innocent children's movie into "Something Wicked This Way Comes." Like the original "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," starring Gene Wilder. Now, Willy never was Mr. Warm and Fuzzy, but this trailer proves just how disturbed the King of the Wonka Bar really was. Keep the children out of the room when you watch this one.

And here's where "Mary Poppins" comes in. Call me heartless---and many people have---but I don't like "Mary Poppins." Never have, never will. I don't like the film, I don't like the story, I don't like the creepy kids, I don't like that hanger on Bert, and I can't stand Mary "Spit Spot" Poppins herself. So this trailer parody just confirmed everything I ever suspected about that supercalifrigilistic nanny from hell.

For some superhero amusement, watch the trailer for Superman II, with an alternate ending.

Or "When Harry Met Sally," The Horror Remix.

Still on the topic of trailers, but the real things this time, you can find out some fun facts about movie trailers at the Alliance of Women Film Journalists website. They recently published the results of a movie trailer poll. Their survey included questions like:

Do most trailers give away too much of the movie and does that make you
(and/or audiences) less inclined to want to see that movie?

Should movie theaters charge studios/distributors for screening trailers?

Do trailers differ from commercials?

In the accompanying article you'll learn a bit about the history of movie trailers as well.

If that's not enough to whet your cinematic appetite, the Anxious Black Woman has screened several trailers of upcoming movies and shares her thoughts; likewise, Tianna at the Concrete Loop; and finally The Glitter and The Gleam reviews the trailer for the new "Sex and the City" movie.

So no time to watch a full length movie? Try a trailer or a trailer parody instead.

Megan Smith is a Blogher Contributing Editor covering TV and YouTube and she'd like you to forgive her for hating Mary Poppins. Megan's other blogs are Megan's Minute and Video Runway.