Monday, September 14, 2009
Fall TV Season - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Ah, yes! The fall television season. There is always so much promise - and my two Tivos (yes, you read that right, my two Tivos) are all aflutter with anticipation. So far, it has not disappointed.
Now, to be fair, not that much has gotten started yet. But, the incredibly stylish and addictive Mad Men has been superb, and my guilty pleasures are back with a vengeance.
Now, I know Elle already talked a bit about 90210, Melrose, and ANTM, but I have a few things to add to her "Part 1" posting.
First, I must disagree with her assessment of the new 9-0. Now, don't get me wrong, the first season went off the rails hard core. It was trying to lure in viewers of the original with Kelly, Donna and Brenda nostalgia, but that really only served to make the adults more interesting than the so-called main characters. Plus, AnnaLynn McCord appeared to be unable to act her way out of a box. Don't ask what that actually means. I am trying to creatively say she was wooden and horrible. But, much like the shiteous addictive quality of the final seasons of the original, I could not stop watching the remake. It was like a hideous trainwreck - like Tori Spellings botched boob job - it was confusing, horrifying, and I simply could not look away.
This season though - this season has a different quality. First of all, I swear ALMcC appears to have taken acting lessons. Plus, the writing has improved. It also has that wonderfully soapy quality of ridiculous plot lines peppered with bitchy dialogue. I think the show actually has promise. Plus, the actresses are so ridiculously skinny that I don't feel bad about myself. I just want to strap them to a chair and force feed them McDonalds because they look about 3 seconds away from passing out.
Next, ANTM. I fully agree with Elle here. I also find it hilarious that Tyra cast short girls. You know she only did that because she felt the regular wannabe models (who, incidentally are lucky to get a gig with Wal-Mart after the show ends) weren't nearly appreciative enough of the opportunity. Literally every girl this season has expressed undying gratitude to the Tyra(nt), because "no one else would give us this shot. What she's doing is amazing." You get the idea.
Finally, the Melrose reboot. I am really proud that this time around they realized that not everyone in LA is white. There is actually some diversity in the cast. And yes, the plotlines are still totally over-the-top and delicious. Girl decides to prostitute herself to pay for med school? PRICELESS. Not even Passions could have come up with that shit.
I am also looking forward to the new season of Gossip Girl, the premier of The Beautiful Life: TBL (BTW - how stupid is that acronym in the title?), How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, and a myriad of new shows that look promising as well old favorites I simply cannot quit.
Now, to be fair, not that much has gotten started yet. But, the incredibly stylish and addictive Mad Men has been superb, and my guilty pleasures are back with a vengeance.
Now, I know Elle already talked a bit about 90210, Melrose, and ANTM, but I have a few things to add to her "Part 1" posting.
First, I must disagree with her assessment of the new 9-0. Now, don't get me wrong, the first season went off the rails hard core. It was trying to lure in viewers of the original with Kelly, Donna and Brenda nostalgia, but that really only served to make the adults more interesting than the so-called main characters. Plus, AnnaLynn McCord appeared to be unable to act her way out of a box. Don't ask what that actually means. I am trying to creatively say she was wooden and horrible. But, much like the shiteous addictive quality of the final seasons of the original, I could not stop watching the remake. It was like a hideous trainwreck - like Tori Spellings botched boob job - it was confusing, horrifying, and I simply could not look away.
This season though - this season has a different quality. First of all, I swear ALMcC appears to have taken acting lessons. Plus, the writing has improved. It also has that wonderfully soapy quality of ridiculous plot lines peppered with bitchy dialogue. I think the show actually has promise. Plus, the actresses are so ridiculously skinny that I don't feel bad about myself. I just want to strap them to a chair and force feed them McDonalds because they look about 3 seconds away from passing out.
Next, ANTM. I fully agree with Elle here. I also find it hilarious that Tyra cast short girls. You know she only did that because she felt the regular wannabe models (who, incidentally are lucky to get a gig with Wal-Mart after the show ends) weren't nearly appreciative enough of the opportunity. Literally every girl this season has expressed undying gratitude to the Tyra(nt), because "no one else would give us this shot. What she's doing is amazing." You get the idea.
Finally, the Melrose reboot. I am really proud that this time around they realized that not everyone in LA is white. There is actually some diversity in the cast. And yes, the plotlines are still totally over-the-top and delicious. Girl decides to prostitute herself to pay for med school? PRICELESS. Not even Passions could have come up with that shit.
I am also looking forward to the new season of Gossip Girl, the premier of The Beautiful Life: TBL (BTW - how stupid is that acronym in the title?), How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, and a myriad of new shows that look promising as well old favorites I simply cannot quit.
The VMAs: What Can We Really Say?
A lot of people have asked us what we think of the VMAs and if we're going to post on it. I'm not really sure what there is to say that hasn't been said already. Kanye West is a huge tool who does douchey stuff...that's not really news.
It's unfortunate that he humiliated Taylor Swift, who had no control over winning the award and was a really improper target for a point well taken, but they weren't going to give Best Female Video to the winner of Video of the Year. It's like Kanye's never seen an MTV award show before. Oh, but wait, he has, he disrupted one in 2004. And seriously, the VMA's are just not that important as far as awards are concerned.
In fact, they're so unimportant that the ratings had slipped pretty badly in recent years (only 6 million viewers in 2006 where it used to draw 12). It needed some sensationalist press and 2 simulcasts to reach a cumulative audience of about 11 million. I'm not so sure they didn't do it all for the YouTube hits.
Also, Kanye, what the hell is going on with your hair?
It's unfortunate that he humiliated Taylor Swift, who had no control over winning the award and was a really improper target for a point well taken, but they weren't going to give Best Female Video to the winner of Video of the Year. It's like Kanye's never seen an MTV award show before. Oh, but wait, he has, he disrupted one in 2004. And seriously, the VMA's are just not that important as far as awards are concerned.
In fact, they're so unimportant that the ratings had slipped pretty badly in recent years (only 6 million viewers in 2006 where it used to draw 12). It needed some sensationalist press and 2 simulcasts to reach a cumulative audience of about 11 million. I'm not so sure they didn't do it all for the YouTube hits.
Also, Kanye, what the hell is going on with your hair?
Can Sports Bras Rightly Be Called Lingerie?
I don't have a big feministy problem with this, but I don't really get why it's a big deal. Guys play football "shirts and skins" all the time. I used to practice soccer in attire that wasn't much different. The chicks in the pictures with bellybutton rings worry me a little...that doesn't seem safe.
Overall, I'm for it. I'm for women having the choice to play whatever sport they want wearing whatever they want. But seriously, take out your bellybutton ring.
Overall, I'm for it. I'm for women having the choice to play whatever sport they want wearing whatever they want. But seriously, take out your bellybutton ring.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wrong. Bad. Bad. Wrong. No. No. No.
The leggings topic is stalking me.
Fellow PR chick KA sent me a media request from HARO for VIVmag.com. (Sidenote: Ideeli, this is where you advertise?! Our readers are much more your target audience and our rates are incredibly reasonable.) The request read:
Well, Shelley Levitt, reporter for VIVmag.com that gets advertisers that it totally doesn't deserve, I don't know that I can be considered an expert, but allow me to take a stab at answering your questions.
First, there is definitely too old to wear leggings--you don't want to look too trying-hard-trendy. Age appropriately. This is why Vogue does the age issue.
There is also definitely too short. Short girls have to be very careful not to cut off their height with leggings.
As for good legs, well, here I have a question: when we say "leggings trend" are we talking leggings as pants or are we talking leggings under skirts? Leggings under skirts can actually hide bad legs pretty decently, but you have to be able to pull off the look, and there's an age limit on it. If we're talking leggings as pants, well, if you have fatty legs, don't fucking wear leggings as pants. In fact, even if you just have normal legs, most times you shouldn't wear leggings as pants. (And yes, acknowledged, many would say never to wear leggings as pants.)
Brands? Well, they're f'ing leggings. Basic black from Old Navy for $6 will work. Just wash them in cold water. Don't wear patterns. Or I'll find you. Just to be safe, as AO advised, just wearing tights...not as pants.
I kind of want to check for this article when it comes out...but I don't want to drive up VIVmag.com's viewer numbers and subsequent advetising rates. Hmmm...
Fellow PR chick KA sent me a media request from HARO for VIVmag.com. (Sidenote: Ideeli, this is where you advertise?! Our readers are much more your target audience and our rates are incredibly reasonable.) The request read:
I'm looking for fashion experts who can offer advice to women 35+ on how to make the leggings trend work for them. For women who think they're too old or too short, who think they're legs aren't good enough, or their style is too traditional, what are some tips to adding leggings to their wardrobe, including the best brands, styles, patterns, colors to wear.
Well, Shelley Levitt, reporter for VIVmag.com that gets advertisers that it totally doesn't deserve, I don't know that I can be considered an expert, but allow me to take a stab at answering your questions.
First, there is definitely too old to wear leggings--you don't want to look too trying-hard-trendy. Age appropriately. This is why Vogue does the age issue.
There is also definitely too short. Short girls have to be very careful not to cut off their height with leggings.
As for good legs, well, here I have a question: when we say "leggings trend" are we talking leggings as pants or are we talking leggings under skirts? Leggings under skirts can actually hide bad legs pretty decently, but you have to be able to pull off the look, and there's an age limit on it. If we're talking leggings as pants, well, if you have fatty legs, don't fucking wear leggings as pants. In fact, even if you just have normal legs, most times you shouldn't wear leggings as pants. (And yes, acknowledged, many would say never to wear leggings as pants.)
Brands? Well, they're f'ing leggings. Basic black from Old Navy for $6 will work. Just wash them in cold water. Don't wear patterns. Or I'll find you. Just to be safe, as AO advised, just wearing tights...not as pants.
I kind of want to check for this article when it comes out...but I don't want to drive up VIVmag.com's viewer numbers and subsequent advetising rates. Hmmm...
Because at 2B1B, We Always Strive for Class and Appropriateness
Never forget?
Hey tattoo artist, I hope that dude paid you enough...for your soul. Then again, had it been an ad campaign, he could have won an award.
It Must Be Fall...
I ordered a Sam Adams seasonal at the bar last night--it was no longer Summer Ale, we're in Oktoberfest season.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Oh Television, How I Missed You
Like an addict in detox all summer, I love the week after Labor Day. In fact, I was so desperate for my fix that I happily watched Modern 90210 last night which, as an obsessive fan of the original, I happen to think pretty much blows.
Actually, taking this addiction metaphor one step farther (largely because I've just started watching The Wire on DVD), it's not like I gave up TV during the summer shit season, the quality of my TV stash was just, well, stepped on. God help me, I actually watched the TV series version of 10 Things I Hate About You. Oh September, you bringer of high quality, mind rotting product, you.
No doubt this will be a multi-part homage to the return of television season (from both myself and Tami), but I'll kick us off...
Modern 90210
You still suck and bother me. Also I have no idea what's going on. But, whenever Silver decided to cut her hair and Adriana decided to grow it long, well, good choice.
Modern Melrose Place
Given the theme of this blog, you may have thought I was counting down to the premier of Modern Melrose Place. I was not. Modern 90210 was such a disappointment--so poorly acted, so obnoxiously squeaky clean (at least they were true to the original there)--that I had just given up hope that new MP would be any good.I was wrong. Where the original MP started out with the good kid, life lesson format fitting a 90210 spin off and then quickly devolved into drastic character changes and drama, the new MP starts off naughty...and I like it. I was skeptical when they killed Sydney in the first scene--afterall, everyone's tried to kill Sydney from pimps to her husband-at-the-time. (I'd have said "spoiler alert," but seriously, it's the first scene.)
It could still go wrong--and I'd had a cocktail or two upon watching (don't judge)--but so far I think New MP is all right.
America's Next Top Model
Oh. God. Tyra. Why?First and foremost, I wonder every season if professing Tyra worship is a prerequisite to getting on the show. Like if Naomi Campbell assumed a pseudonym and went to casting but said at every opportunity what a moronic, desperate narcissist Tyra is, would they cut her ass? Pretty sure. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's why Elyse way back in "cycle" 1.
And you know what makes me more over it? When every comment about the photos is whether or not the girl looks long enough. It's not changing the standard of beauty when what you're trying to do is take short girls and photograph them so that they look tall. It's like saying you don't discriminate against black models and then asking them to wear make-up/hair/clothes that make them look white (which, of course, is a controversy in the industry as well.)
Last and never least, god do I love the crazy Christian archetype on cycle after cycle of ANTM. This particular season's may well have been the f'ing craziest. She was weirdly loud and screamed "Thank you, Jesus! We're going to save the world!" when she was selected as a finalist. You can't beat that kind of crazy, and I'm terminally depressed that she decided not to continue on "for personal reasons." I wanted to see that crazy bitch do a nude shoot.
Top Chef
Padma, did you get hotter?!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Comments: Now Easier
One of the things that has confused me since we started this blog is why friends have been so much more willing to gchat me about blog topics, rather than comment on posts. For example, on the skinny jeans debate, gems like this should be shared:
I totally disagree about the high shoes, totally agree about the boots, but this is certainly an issue that should be debated among the entire community, important world issue that it is!
So why don't more people comment?
Reader LD informed me today that it's because you have to sign in to Google with your own account, you can't simply fill in a name. I guess Tami and I never noticed because we always have to be signed in. No matter, the issue is now fixed and you can be as anonymous as you want, so comment away!
I think they can be buffered with high shoes in general (hence maybe an extra 5-10% of the population can pull them off) and also have a whole diff look when worn with a boot. otherwise, people that are circa 100 lbs can wear them with flats.
I totally disagree about the high shoes, totally agree about the boots, but this is certainly an issue that should be debated among the entire community, important world issue that it is!
So why don't more people comment?
Reader LD informed me today that it's because you have to sign in to Google with your own account, you can't simply fill in a name. I guess Tami and I never noticed because we always have to be signed in. No matter, the issue is now fixed and you can be as anonymous as you want, so comment away!
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