Review of Current TV Shows

Recently, throughout the course of this summer, I’ve been trying to ease my American Idol withdrawal by trying to look for another TV show to watch. Honestly, there’s not a whole lot to choose from. These are just some of the shows that I’ve been watching:

Glenn Beck – Showtime: Weekdays 7 & 9 PM and 12 AM (CNN)
If you’re getting tired of watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, then this is the show for you. This is a man who can give you the news with a humorous twist. His interactions with his guests are sidesplitting and most viewers might be appalled by his abrasive approach on the current issues. Along with his sarcastic side, he can also show a serious side to himself as well. I love the fact that he makes time out each week to read his hate mail on the air. Glenn’s fresh and quirky approach towards the news keeps me loyally tuned the show.

House – Showtime: Tuesdays 8 & 9 PM (FOX)
I was kind of annoyed by the first season of this show, but my viewpoint completely changed after watching the second. Hugh Laurie as House is absolutely amazing. I was shocked to find out he was snubbed by the Emmys. One thing that most people might not know about him is that he’s actually British – he does a great job in dropping his native dialect.

America’s Got Talent
I will only watch the episodes that will feature the Miller Brothers. Sorry, I’ve already made my pick and I’m sticking to it! Anyone else on that show is not really worth watching, nor are they worthy enough to win the million dollars. LD Miller - Wow! This must be a great year for all Harmonica players. I'm sure sales for Harmonicas have gone up even more thanks in part to Taylor Hicks and LD Miller.

Come on judges! Why did you pick the Rapping Granny! GEEZ! You guys only like her because of the whole age factor. Who cares about age – it’s about talent!

Are we in the finals yet? The picking of these contestants is absolutely absurd. If they’re rejected one week, they’ll have a chance to redeem themselves again next week or even the week after – WHAT THE HELL!!! What’s the point?

Hustle – Showtime: Wednesday (AMC)
Okay, so I have a weakness for British crime capers. I love this show! Each episode has a good plot and it’s great to see these con artists go to work. Just the way the show is put together is what makes Hustle so enjoyable to watch. Hustle is very underrated and more people should take the time to watch this awesome series.

In The News: Idol Finalists Meet President

Oooo! In the midst of turbulent and hectic times in the Mideast, President George W. Bush has a lot on his plate today. After doing a press conference with British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, George met up with the top 10 idol finalists for a meet and greet at the White House. The only real major problem I have is the misinformation that is being reported on some new stations. They reported:

…..Taylor Hicks (winner of American Idol), who received more votes than President Bush in this year’s presidential election (63 million over his 59 million)…..

This reporting is completely misconstrued and absolutely incorrect!!
The real answer is that BOTH Taylor and idol runner up Katharine McPhee received the 63 million votes. GEEZ!!

This must have been bad timing considering the current events that are going on in Israel right now. A lot of people have their underwear tied in a knot due to the fact that this seems inappropriate at times like this. This get-together was scheduled and talked about since last week. The meeting between the President and Idols was subdued, and only photographers were allowed to take evidence of this meet and greet. Video cameras were not permitted.

Plus, what’s up with some of the idol finalists wearing jeans? Don’t get me wrong; I’m not attacking any of those idols personally. If you had the opportunity to go to the White House and meet the President of the United States, would you wear jeans? I think it categorizes under one of those special occasions.

This reminds me of an incident a couple of months ago when two girls from a successful girls team (for some sport) wore flip-flops. I remember it was a huge uproar. I don’t want to sound like some fashion police snob, but in my opinion, flip-flops pale in comparison to jeans.

Taylor Hicks’ dad mentioned in a recent interview that he bought a suit just for this special occasion. Taylor Hicks looks very sharp in that suit. Can he be anymore of a gentleman?

Oh Wait! I only see NINE of the finalists…

Elliot Yamin was missing from the pictures, but he did make it to the White House. Word around the Internet says he wore a suit as well. Good for Elliot. You probably took notes from Taylor!

Underrated Actors: Rhys Ifans

This Welch native has been in the acting business for many years starting with stage theatre and progressively snuck his way through onto the big screen. With many movies credited under his belt, this lanky and unique chap has acted alongside many accomplished actors such as Julia Roberts, Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Tim Robbins, Jude Law, and even Samuel L Jackson!

His acting roles are generally small, but he usually becomes the most memorable character in most of his movies. You may have caught him in a few movies as the random guy who would prance around in a pair of whitey-tighties. He is more than just that - this is a man who has the acting chops to display an array of emotions. He is one of many actors who go unnoticed for their incredible talent.

Most recently, Rhys has been cast in some leading roles that show another side to his acting talent. In 2003, he played a dreamer looking for bigger and better things outside his boring life called Danny Deckchair. In 2004, he took on the role as the visionary British comedian, Peter Cook in the biographic film, Not Only But Always. His performance of Peter Cook was so believable, that he won a BAFTA award as a result. He has acted in tons of films that I could write on about. There would be no use for me to explain how well of an actor he is unless you go out and watch his movies.

Movie Recommendations:
Danny Deckchair
Janice Beard: 45 WPM
Enduring Love
Not Only But Always
Love, Honor, and Obey
Notting Hill
Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

Movie Reviews: Pulp Fiction

As I popped in my newly bought VHS (from the Internet) into the VCR, I began to wonder to myself what will this movie be like? The title of the movie, Pulp Fiction, was boldly written in a stylish, canary yellow font and featured a brunette Uma Thurman posing on the front. I tentatively looked at the cardboard cover of this movie to discover some more clues about this enigmatic film.

I read and heard many positive reviews about this movie, and I had to watch it for myself to see what the big hype was all about. The director of Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino, was instantly praised for his creative and ingenious artistic interpretation of this movie. I impatiently fast-forwarded through the previews at the beginning in anticipation of the special feature to finally play. The moment finally arrived, my adrenaline was in high gear and my pulse began to race. The screen went black and the picture abruptly popped in showing a British couple in a sit down diner. The dialogue being exchanged between this lovey-dovey couple was about the risks and dangers of robbing a bank. In an act of impulsive behavior, the husband and wife (each holding up a gun) leaped out of their seats and held up the diner. The scene froze still on my TV screen for about three seconds, but it felt like forever. It was at that exact moment I, the viewer, was left to reflect about this scene. I began to realize that predictability went out the window and the rug had been pulled from beneath me. I was sucked into a world in which I was prepared to watch a masterpiece that would change the way I would see movies forever.

The screen went black and the music kicked in. The song that was playing in the background was “Miserlou” by Dick Dale while the title of the movie slowly began to fill up the screen. I had heard this song every now and then in numerous movies and TV commercials, but this was the first time that “Miserlou” actually complemented a movie. The anthem got my excitement going and my mind began to race. The energetic beats and sounds of the guitar, trumpets, drums, and the distant echo of man’s voice in the background had a “surfer” feeling to it. This was the song that “Wipe Out” wished it could have been.

During the credits, the music abruptly switched (by the use of a radio tuner) to another song called “Jungle Boogie”, by Kool and the Gang. The scene showed two hit men in a car driving to a certain location to collect an unsettled debt from one of their boss’s clients. John Travolta (most known for his role in Grease) played Vincent Vega, a hit man who just returned from Amsterdam to work for his boss, Marcellus Wallace. Travolta’s partner in crime, Jules (Samuel L. Jackson), plays the role of a hit man who sees the evil in his ways after a miraculous near-death experience. After the hit men’s unnerving confrontation with the clients was over, Jules begins to contemplate his purpose for living and questions his current and corrupt profession.

The dialogue that is said among these characters is very down-to-earth and realistic. There is one particular scene in this movie in which Vincent Vega explains to Jules that in France, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese at MacDonald’s is called a “Royale with Cheese”. In most movies, it is often a major cliché for the characters to just talk about the major details of the plot. Pulp Fiction gave me a glimpse of what human beings actually talk about in real life and it gave a sense of practicality as I was watching it.

Quentin Tarantino’s use of dark humor in this movie had me laughing at situations in which I would not normally find to be funny. He shows a warped, twisted, and humorous side to violence in which most viewers would not laugh about in real life. Pulp Fiction contains several graphic moments which includes a scene in which Uma Thurman’s character is revived with an adrenaline shot in the heart as a result from a near fatal drug overdose. The suspense that lead up to this unsettling moment (through the ingenious use of editing) put me at the edge of my seat and created tension right up to the second as they were counting down to this foreseeable action.
There is more to this movie than what is actually being presented to us. The movie is creatively set up in which the story unfolds out of sequence, but it is often more appreciated after multiple viewings. All the characters in this movie are closely linked together and eventually as the movie progressed, I understood the connections. The overall premise of Pulp Fiction is redemption and there were many scenes in which the movie expressed this theme. This particular attribute conveyed that the characters in Pulp Fiction were real people with conscious thoughts and feelings.

This film was so simple, yet complex; it was realistic, but fictional. There was more to this movie than just vulgar language and gratuitous violence. Underneath the harsh and gritty facade contained a cleverly written script and a powerful cast of stars. Quentin Tarantino had full control my feelings as he put me on a roller coaster ride of anticipation.

Underrated Actors: John Cusack

This actor has been in the film business for years. He has been acting since he was a teenager, and he made it through the adolescent years to become a successful actor in his adulthood as well.

I never realized it until they mentioned it on Conan O’Brien (when he was guest), but a lot of his movies feature him in the rain. Examples would include: America’s Sweethearts, Identity, High Fidelity, Say Anything, The Sure Thing, and Being John Malcovich. I just found that to be a bit funny.

It’s hard to categorize his type of acting, but it appears as though he is in control of his own work, and he knows what his strengths are as well. He starred in some really great movies, and I honestly think he is not fully appreciated for his work.

There is something real about him; he comes off as a person with a down-to-earth attitude. I generally admire famous people who keep a modest attitude about themselves, but I don’t like those celebrities who put themselves on a higher mantle above everyone else. Maybe I’m just jealous (most likely), but I don’t think that type of attitude can help a celebrity connect with their audience.

Recommended movies to watch:
Grosse Point Blank
Say Anything
Better off Dead
Runaway Jury
Max
High Fidelity

Music Spotlight: Robbie Williams

I’ve been a huge fan of this man for seven years. The first time I saw him was in the 1999 MTV Movie Awards when he did a live performance of ‘Millennium’. His presence was so different from anything else I have ever seen at that time, and I’ve been hooked ever since. He’s a man that does not take himself that seriously, and his funny and entertaining personality is often reflected in his music. For example this was taken from his song ‘Strong’:

“Early morning when I wake up, I look like Kiss but without the makeup.”

He’s an entertainer in every essence of the word.

Robbie Williams has been a very big success in the music industry since he was sixteen. He has battled through drug abuse, heartbreak, and loss and yet he still manages to bounce up and remain stronger than ever.

Robert Peter Maximillion Williams was born on February 13, 1974 in Stoke-on-Trent, England. His parents, Peter and Jan, divorced when Robbie was three, and as a child he felt torn between them and often felt alone. During this time, he was comforted by his sister, Jan. When Robbie was eight, he went to the audition of the Broadway play, ‘Oliver’ and won the part as the Artful Dodger. Often in many interviews, Robbie said it was his true sign to be a singer. This was the start of a successful career in the making.

A man named Nigel Martin Smith held an ad in the paper looking for a five-member boy group. At the advice of others and his spark of curiosity, he decided to try out and got a part in the band. The band was named Take That. The band had a huge following all over Europe selling millions of albums. Their debut success was often compared to the explosive debut of the Beatles. Five years late, Robbie decided to quit the band and go solo.

This was a turbulent time for Mr. Williams as he was going off on his own as a solo artist. His drug and alcohol problems soon began to take over his life. He felt very depressed, and was gaining a substantial amount of weight. Family and friends of Robbie’s were very concerned for his growing problem and influenced him to enter Rehab. A few months later, Robbie was clean, sober, and ready to begin as a solo artist. In 1996, Robbie debuted with the song, ‘Freedom’ which was originally written by George Michael. The lyrics of the song pretty much explains itself. A few months later, Robbie released the album ‘Life thru a Lense.’ The album’s success took off at a rocky start, but then the single, ‘Angels’ changed everything. Robbie’s success from then on has had a huge affect all over the world.

Going through the hard times made Robbie Williams a stronger person. Without these obstacles throughout this life, he would not have been the person he is today. Robbie Williams is a talented musical artist that many will not forget for a long time.

Song Reccomendations
"Lazy Days"
"One Fine Day"
"Making Plans for Nigel"
"Talk to Me"
"Heaven fro Here"
"Ego a Go Go"
"Heaven from Here"
"Something Beautiiful"
"Angels"
"I Will Talk and Hollywood will Listen"

Actor Spotlight: Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor is taking the cinema industry by storm with his memorable, unique, and powerful performances. All of Ewan’s acting roles drastically differ from his previous ones because he can instantly transform himself physically into the character’s appearance. He is often called the chameleon of acting by the entertainment industry because of this.

Ewan McGregor was born in Perthshire, Scotland on March 30, 1972. His uncle, Dennis, played a character called, Wedge, in the old Star Wars trilogies. What a coincidence that Ewan would later play Obi Wan Kenobi in the new Star Wars trilogies. At the age of sixteen, Ewan dropped out of school and moved to London. At London, he got a job working behind the scenes in a stage theater. He used this time to absorb everything he could about the production of a stage play. He lived in an apartment downtown in London and had two roommates: Jude Law and Johnny Lee Miller. They both went on to achieve successful careers in acting as well.

Ewan’s first starring role was in the 1995 movie, Shallow Grave. It was the first movie for Danny Boyle to direct, the first for John Hodge to write, and the first for Andrew McDonald to produce. The movie was an instant hit and its theme of ‘backstabbing’ betrayal was quite controversial for its time. Danny Boyle, John Hodge, Andrew McDonald, and Ewan both made a few more movies together including A Life Less Ordinary and Trainspotting.

Ewan always puts a hundred percent in every movie role he embarks on. In his 2003 movie, Big Fish, he insisted on doing his own stunts. One stunt in particular included running into a burning house to save a trapped dog. In Trainspotting, Ewan had to embody – literally - the look of a heroin addict. For this movie role, he had to lose thirty pounds to achieve this look. His appearance was so convincing, that many people began to speculate that he actually was on heroin.

Ewan has a wide range of talents. Several of his movies featured small musical, singing scenes. Some of these roles included: A Life Less Ordinary, Emma, Brassed Off, and Velvet Goldmine. In 2001, he stared in the musical Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman. The movie was a smash hit and was one of the few movie musicals that did successfully well in the last thirty years All the actors in Moulin Rouge did their own singing as well. Ewan’s vocal abilities were so amazing in Moulin Rouge that a few record labels even considered to offer him a music contract for an album deal. He loves to sing and dance so much, he was recently cast as Sky Masterson in the hit musical Guys and Dolls in London.

Ewan McGregor’s acting is so great and powerful that he will be around for a long time. He has always remained down to Earth and he never forgot his town of Perthshire, Scotland. His movies are unforgettable and he will be watched by many in the years to come.

Movie Recommendations:
Trainspotting
Big Fish
Brassed Off
Shallow Grave
Moulin Rouge
Down with Love
Star Wars Episode I (only the last 45 minutes of the movie)
Black Hawk Down

HERO SPOTLIGHT: TAYLOR HICKS

What is a Hero? According to The American Century Dictionary, ‘hero’ is defined as:

(n.) person noted for nobility, courage, outstanding achievements, etc.

Today, I will highlight one of my personal heroes. Many of you will know him as the season 5 winner of American Idol – TAYLOR HICKS!

I never watched American Idol before season 5. Usually I would only watch the first few episodes of the season from the auditions that showcased the rejected and atrocious singers. I honestly thought the show was a bit hyped up and overrated. My opinion changed soon after as I was watching the Las Vegas auditions. I distinctly remember it was one of those sketches in which we, the viewer, were left to guess whether or not the singer had the vocal chops judging only by their physical appearance. They really milked out the suspense for Taylor and showed his audition toward the end of the episode. Sure he had gray hair and did not fit into the physical mold. I did not want to judge him until I heard him sing. He came into the audition room and Simon asked him,

“Why do you want to be the next American Idol?”

Taylor’s response was,
"I want my voice heard.”

Just this clever response, alone, caught my attention, because all the singers who auditioned before him gave the judges the same and boring answer to this question. He was a stand out from the get co. Finally, the moment I waited for – the acappella performance. WHOA, did I just hear what I heard? I honestly believe the judges were just as blown away as I was at that moment. Paula asked Taylor for an additional thirty seconds of a different song. The second song expressively showed Taylor’s personality as he was rhythmically stomping and clapping along to “Swanee River”. I thought this enigmatic singer was cool. I was hoping that he would make it through the audition. Fortunately, he did make it to Hollywood thanks to Randy and Paula but despite Simon’s apprehension.

It was from that point on that Taylor’s soulful and resilient spirit came into my world and completely changed my outlook on life. Throughout my adolescence and high school years, I was an awkward, apprehensive, and insecure girl. I always had a self-doubting attitude towards everything, and at that point in time, I was also gloomy about my dreams and goals for the future. He gave me a reason to take charge of my life, and now I’ve turned into a more confident and fearless person as a result.

A lot of people knew I was a huge fan of Taylor’s right from the beginning. Every Tuesday I would wear my homemade Taylor Hicks t-shirt under my school uniform. I would yell throughout my school “It’s Taylor Tuesday!!!!” “Vote for Taylor.” Some of my fellow classmates at school did not know me personally, but they knew me as the person who “likes the gray-haired guy on American Idol.” My friends at school thought I was crazy and a lot them (starting from the top 24 competition) told me Taylor would not make it through the competition because of his looks. I didn’t care about their cynical comments; I would vote for two hours straight every Tuesday believing not only in his incredible and passionate talent, but in his dream as well.

Taylor completely amazed me each week as he revealed another facet of his amazing vocal talent. His infectious dancing and passionate attitude towards each of his performances kept me obsessively following the show each week. I can honestly say his performance of “Livin for the City” (during Stevie Wonder week) made me realize that he was going to win the competition.

It was THE NIGHT we’ve all been waiting for! It was the season finale and it was down to Taylor and Katharine McPhee. I voted until one in the morning the night before the finale. My goal was to get in 1000 votes because I usually got in at least 300 votes in the Tuesdays prior to the finale. I was content to get in 643 votes considering the phone lines were at their busiest out of the whole season. I remember I rushed home to watch the season finale.The world basically stopped in those two long and grueling hours, and nothing else mattered except for Taylor. My adrenaline was in first gear and my heart was beating fast. I just thought to myself “This is HIS night! He’s going to win.” Here it was, the moment we’ve all been waiting for:

“Here we go. The winner of American Idol Season Five is….
… (Dramatic Pause)...
TAYLOR HICKS!!!”

This had to be one of the most beautiful moments I have ever witnessed. I remember jumping, applauding, and screaming at the top of my lungs while tears were streaming down my face. I did not go to sleep until 3:30 in the morning and I had a Psych final the next day. Thursday was a dress down day for our school and I made a new Taylor Hicks shirt to proudly commemorate this special event. The front read “Taylor Hicks”, and on the back it said, “It’s a soul thing.” I went to school that morning with the biggest smile on my face while I failed my Psych test.

What good hasn’t already been said about this amazing man? I could write several pages describing and highlighting his positive attributes, but words can do him little justice. Taylor’s inspirational life-story is a good example for all those who want to go for their dreams. He gives me the belief that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. His journey to the top is a testament to all that dreams CAN come true. Thank you, Taylor for changing my life for the better!

*This picture was taken from www.taylormadesoul.com

Day 1!

Hello! Welcome to my blog. There are thousands of blogs out there, so I highly doubt that people will take the time to read mine. It's just a nice side project for me to do in the mean time. I'm currently in limbo between high school and college. So at this time, I find myself just being in a pure state of complete laziness.

What will I talk about? I don't know..... I'll probably post movie reviews....I'll probably comment on what makes me go crazy.....I might even dicuss my probable dreams for the near future....well see...