Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Hear What Happened

I'm still so excited about calling in and getting through to talk to Andy Cohen and Sarah Jessica Parker on the Watch What Happens Live After Show last night. It was surprisingly simple. Here's how it went.

I live on the west coast, and the show tapes live at 11 pm Eastern time. So I knew I had to call right at 8 pm my time. Now, I tried to call in on Sunday night, but I didn't get through because I waited until after 8 pm. This time I called exactly at 8, and it worked.

When you call the first thing you hear is a disclaimer, so you have to press 1 to accept all the rules and regulations. Then the line rings until someone from Watch What Happens Live picks up. A very nice lady asked me what my question was going to be, and I told her. I was going to ask SJP what her favorite Housewives catchphrase of all time was (ex: Who's gonna check me, boo?, Plonk!, Bra-er, Turtle time, Kellamity, etc). The very nice lady said they already had a question lined up that was similar, and then asked if I would mind asking how the trip to Morocco on the Housewives of New York compared to the trip on Sex and The City 2. I, of course, said yes, since I really just wanted to ask her anything. I'm a huge fan. And I also wanted to tell Andy how much I love him.

So the very nice lady put me on hold. I was on hold for about 20 minutes - sidenote: they make you listen to some college gameshow which is kind of annoying but not terrible - and I started to worry that I wouldn't make it on the live broadcast. Sure enough, the very nice lady gets back on the line and asks if it's ok if I'm the first caller on the after show. Of course! I just want to talk to these two lovely people! And I love the after show, so I really didn't mind. I'm put on hold again.

Finally, the very nice lady comes back on and says that she will put me on with Andy and Sarah and tells me what to say again and says to be very animated and excited. She asks me to count to ten out loud and then says to listen for Andy to ask my name and location. I can hear the after show music, I can hear Andy and Sarah, and my heart is pounding. I try to keep calm and remember what I'm supposed to say. I also try to come up with something witty to throw out there to see if Andy's in a playful mood or not.

Andy finally says those famous words, "What's your name and where are you calling from?" And I say ... well, just watch for yourself here!

Now, here's what I was thinking as it was happening. I really wanted to make Andy laugh but I tripped over the question at first and worried I lost him. I did get a second question in as well as a Luann comment about "Yahabibi". It really happened so fast, I really can't remember it all. It really is a blur. I know that sounds corny, but it's true. And Sarah was so amazingly sweet. Oh and Andy said he loved me! LOL

So that was the experience, let me know if you have any questions about it. I'll definitely be calling in again. Maybe Andy will remember me? What do you think? Tweet me!

Friday, October 7, 2011

After the Aftermath

Jersey Shore was a little on the boring side this week, so this will be brief. Let's start with the most exciting bit first.

Snooki threw every glass, bottle, bowl, and household item she could at Mike when she found out he called his friend "The Unit" (as Sam calls him) and told him to call Jionni about their hookup. Problem is, Mike didn't tell The Unit to do anything, they just talked about the hookup itself. Creepy. So, being the genius that Mike is, he decides to make a rumor up about himself and spread it in the house himself, and then act like he proved some great point when Snooks finds out about it. Dumb. No joke these people gossip about their roommates, great discovery there, Sherlock! Snooki is livid and can't stand the sight of Mike anymore. Me too, Nicole, me too.

The rest of the episode was pretty tame. Snooki revealed her night with Vinny to Jionni over the phone and he takes her back. But Nicole can't remember what exactly went on, so she asks Vin to clarify things - after talking to Jionni, which makes no sense. She should have talked to Vinny first. Anyway, Vinny lets her know that they did in fact have intercourse, so she has to call Jionni again and tell him the bad news. His response is this week's cliffhanger. We already know they're together now, so even if he breaks up with her over this, they get back together at some point. See what I mean? Tame.

I did think the dynamic between Jenni and Snooki was interesting in this episode. They've been running hot and cold with each other this whole season, and Jenni is taking her nurturing to the level of nagging in this particular instance. Don't get me wrong, I love JWOWW, but I can see how Nicole would tire of her beating her over the head with the constant reminders of what she did wrong to ruin her relationship with Jionni. But we've all been there, someone tries to be real with us and we just don't want to hear it. They remain friends in the end, and all is right in the Jersey Shore family. Even Sam and Ron are getting along!

Vinny visits his family with the guys in Sicily, and it's absolutely beautiful there. His family seems so great. He's really lucky to have 4 living generations in his family - and to actually get to meet them in person in his mother's homeland. Awesome part of the show.

Watch the hookup for some inside scoop on this episode.

Let me know what you thought of this episode! Tweet me!

Scripted Perfection

I'm so glad there are GOOD scripted shows out there. Now, you know I love my reality shows, but sometimes a good scripted comedy is just what the doctor ordered.

Here are a few of my favorites from this week:

New Girl: This show continues to delight me. Zooey Deschanel is still as cute and funny as ever, and the supporting cast is getting some dimension with some solid plot lines. This week's episode took place at a wedding where Jess has to pretend to be one of the roommates' girlfriend to keep a mean-girl ex from breaking his heart again. Jess takes her duty as fake girlfriend very seriously, and comedy ensues. Look out for the awesome chicken dance - Jess-style. Peck, peck, peck!

Parks and Recreation: Leslie has written a book about Pawnee, the town she loves so much, and can't wait for it to be chosen as official book club selection by a local tv host. Unfortunately, there's a slight problem with one of Leslie's claims in the book, which means she has to defend herself and the book, all while running for office. I loved this episode. Especially Rashida Jones' character Ann trying to socialize with Ron and April, perhaps the two least social people in the office. And there's plenty of Aziz Ansari's craziness as Tom Haverford including a hilarious dinner scene with the local tv host and Ben.

The Office: Crisis descends upon the Scranton branch when the warehouse workers win the lottery. Darryl used to be in that lottery pool until he got promoted. Feeling sorry for himself, he begs to be fired, but Andy just can't do it. Meanwhile, Erin, Jim, and Kevin volunteer to take over warehouse duties for the day. This episode was a lot better than last week's for sure.

Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Dee is being audited since she's still claiming that baby she had last season as a dependent. If you don't recall, she was actually a surrogate for someone else. So when the IRS comes calling, she has to get her hands on a baby quick or else she'll owe the government all of her newly spent surrogate money. The guys are in a pickle as well. Well, at least Charlie and Mac are - they've formed the Pickle Party in order to make their wishes known to Frank and Dennis. Unfortunately, neither side has enough votes to win, so Mac and Charlie convince Dee to be on their side if they help her with her baby dilemma. I can't say any more about this episode since I think it pretty much tops any episode of this show ever. It's dark, twisted, wrong, but funny. Don't watch if you're easily offended.

What are your favorite scripted comedies? Did you like any of the episodes listed above? Tweet me!

Race to the Top

West Side Story is one of my most favorite movies ever. I've mentioned before that I used to watch it almost every day as a child. Why I haven't made my Broadway debut yet is beyond me. The latest episode of "Glee" centers around West Side Story - more specifically, the casting choices for the lead roles.

Mike Chang, who impressed me a great deal in this episode, is struggling with his father's extremely high expectations of him. Mike got an A- (which is referred to as an "Asian F" apparently), and has to hide the fact that he's practicing for his audition for the role of Riff, Tony's best friend. I think this is a great role for him, since he has the dancing chops and acting ability. His audition is stellar, and his voice is awesome. His mother understands that his dream is to be a performer, and unlike his father, won't steer him into a career he doesn't want. She confesses that she wanted to be a dancer when she was young, but put her aspirations aside to have a family. The moment when Mike teaches his mother to dance was especially touching.

Brittany is bringing out the big guns in the race for class president. And when I say guns, I mean Beyonce dance moves. She killed "Who Run The World (Girls)" and all but eliminated Kurt from having any kind of chance to win. She's evidently running on a platform of girl power, and it seems to be working.

Meanwhile, Mercedes is in a personal crisis. She's in pain in booty camp and not getting any sympathy from Mr. Shuster or anyone else for that matter. She turns in a wonderful audition for the role of Maria, but the wait to find out who got the role is weighing heavily on her. When Mercedes can't (or won't) do a particularly difficult dance move in booty camp, the glee club turns on her and she knocks "It's All Over" from "Dreamgirls" out of the park. But that's not all. Rachel and Mercedes are then told they have to audition again for the role of Maria, singing the same song - "Out Here On My Own". Both of them do amazingly well - which is why they're both cast in the role, one will perform one week and the other the next. Rachel seems to be ok with this arrangement, but Mercedes isn't having it. If she can't have the role all to herself, she doesn't want it at all. To what do we owe this bold, brazen, and almost bully-ish Mercedes? I think it has something to do with this new boyfriend of hers. Mercedes then approaches Shelby to be a part of the new glee club ... interesting!

Rachel is shocked by Mercedes' reaction to the casting news, but that's the least of her worries. She was so desperate to have her senior year be great that she decided to run for class president as well, thereby hurting Kurt's feelings even more. Kurt just can't get a break, am I right? Rachel's spinning since she basically got the role by default, which in her mind is unacceptable.

Mr. Shuster and Emma are still going strong despite Emma's ginger-supremacist parents who like to ridicule her OCD. Damn, these two love each other.

Next week is going to be a good one! What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

A Funny Lady and A Damn Good Nic Cage Impression

I'm so glad Andy Cohen is back twice a week (Sundays and Mondays) with "Watch What Happens Live" on Bravo. This is my Oprah, this is what Rosie O'Donnell's show was for me, this is pretty much my best thing (thanks, Deena).

Although I am sad it's not on Thursdays - that will forever be Housewives/WWHL day for me in my head. Maybe that's why this blog is going up today? Yeah, let's go with that.

Sunday's show featured Caroline Manzo of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Simon Helberg from The Big Bang Theory. Caroline was sweet and cute as usual, and I was impressed with Simon! He knows a lot about the housewives and has a wicked sense of humor. And I absolutely died when he did his Nicolas Cage impression. I'm so bummed that it's not on bravotv.com, where is it, Andy?! Caroline addressed the fact that they are indeed filming season 4 while season 3 airs, which has never been done before. She also mentioned that Jacqueline is fine, and teased that we'll see all the craziness between Teresa and Jacqueline unfold next season.

Monday's show's guests were Kyle Richards of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the hilarious Wendi Mclendon-Covey from the equally hilarious movie "Bridesmaids" and one of my favorite tv shows of all time "Reno 911". If you don't know, now you know. She's amazing. Her entrance alone was worth the cost of admission. Watch it NOW! Kyle was awesome on the show and you could tell she was having a blast with Wendi. You can't not have a good time with her, though, so that's a given.

This show is awesome, and if you're not watching the aftershows, you need to. Go here now. You're welcome.

Do you love Watch What Happens Live? Tweet me!

On Display

What else could I possibly choose for the title of this blog post?! LOL! I tell you what, that song is catchy as a mutha.

On this past episode of Real Housewives of New Jersey, we pick up on the beach after the Teresa/Kathy face off where Teresa basically went batshit for no reason. Oh, you need me to be more specific? Because that's happened in almost every single episode this season? No worries, I feel your pain. The season is almost over, and I have to say I feel a little bit of relief and a little bit of sadness. I'm guilty of loving this show and hating it at the same time. I need help.

Back to the episode. After the fight, Teresa finds it necessary to pretend it didn't happen and parade around like she's in the Miss Universe pageant. Mamita, I'm sorry, but you wouldn't win, and you definitely would not get Miss Congeniality. Speaking of pageants, at dinner, the Manzo boys (plus Greg) decide to pick "Punta Princesses". Now, is it just me, or does that not sound like a very appealing title? Maybe because the way they say it, it sounds like "Puta" Princesses, and if you speak Spanish, that's definitely not something a lady wants to be called. Another thing, if you're going to put on a fake pageant, at least take the time to make some fake crowns. You know Greg has some rhinestones and a glue gun somewhere in his carry-on.

So, Teresa gets the style award, Kathy gets the creativity award, and Melissa gets the intellect award. Totally wrong categories by the way. They should have been: Best Use of a Bandana in a Supporting Role, Most Likely to be Spotted by a Cruise Ship from the Beach due to Shiny Material, and Gaudiest Combination of Animal Prints by a Solo Artist. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do an awards ceremony. Teresa consistently acts like a child, and it's never more evident than in this very scene. The minute the spotlight turns to someone else, her face falls and she can't take it. Need proof? Watch this.

Now, I gotta talk about the shopping trip. Or I should say, the field trip to the outside meat market. Um, gross. I'm with Lauren. I may never eat meat again. I gotta say Teresa is not easily phased and she handles those pig feet and headless chickens like a champ. My hat's off to you on that one, Tre. You're a braver guidette than I could ever be.

Back in the glorious state of Jersey, Melissa prepares for her performance at the blk launch party. I admit, I wanna try this stuff. If anyone can hook up a free sample, I'm just saying. Now, as for the performance itself, it was definitely entertaining. Melissa brought her diva-ness and really played the part. However, I was disappointed to hear the track playing instead of her actual voice. I'm thinking the sound levels were off or something. Not like that's ever stopped Bravo before. Remember Kim Zolciak's painful "whoa whoa whoa whoa - the reeeng didn't meeen a theeeng" moment? As Nene would say, BAM!

I did get a little emotional when Melissa talked about wishing her dad could have been there to see her perform. I can't imagine not having my dad around for such a big moment.

At the party, Teresa approaches Kathy and takes her outside to talk. I don't blame Kathy for being nervous. You never know which Tre you're gonna get. And can I just say that "Tre" is probably my favorite nickname ever? Anyway, Tre actually apologizes for being too aggressive with Kathy on the beach and kind of sort of sounds sincere. I can't really tell anymore. But hey, an apology is an apology, and Kathy, being the class act that she is, accepts it. I LOVE Kathy's sister Rosie, staring out at Tre and Kathy the whole time, keeping the watch and just waiting for an excuse to pop Teresa in the face. Thankfully, she didn't need to.

Next week is Fabulicious-gate, and no, they're not fighting about how stupid the title is. I can't wait to see Caroline put Teresa in her place - oh and the Jacqueline/Teresa battle begins to brew. Can't wait!!

What did you think of this episode? Are you excited for the finale? Tweet me!

All That Glitters

Forgive me for being late with this - but this last episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills was not my favorite of the season so far. There were some highlights, though. Let's discuss ...

First, the alleged $25,000 sunglasses. Really, Dana? Here's a hint, sweetie. If you have to tell people how much something costs, that's never a good sign. Even I know that, and I'm poor. Dana seems to be trying really hard to fit in with the crowd and she figures the best way to do it is to lead with the money. I'm guessing it usually works, but in front of a camera on a reality show, it just comes off as tacky. And your "wedding" dress. Oy. Honestly it wasn't that terrible of a dress. I just wish you had a bra-er on (still funny, thanks, Jill Zarin!). And the baby head shots by the door. This lady just reeks of desperation. Finally, someone who's even more attention-whore-ish than Taylor! That was mean, I'm sorry.

Speaking of Taylor, I still can't get on her side. She is so full of it, it's not even funny. I love that she actually thinks Lisa gave the story about her marriage to the press. How absolutely laughable. Lisa has much better things to do than worry about Taylor's life. And I don't see why Kyle is so adamant about defending Taylor. She's a big girl, let her be! Kyle confronts Lisa about telling Taylor she's not her best friend, but she's there for her if she needs anything, as if that's so terrible. Now, I like when people are up front with me. I would respect someone saying "Hey, I know we're not the best of friends, but I'm here for you anyway." If someone told me that, I'd be like, "Wow, thanks - that's really mature of you." Maybe that's the problem. We're talking about Taylor - not exactly the best example of maturity.

So, what's gotten into Kyle this season? Seriously, I'm wondering about her mean-girl tendencies in every episode so far. Don't get me wrong, I love Kyle still. But I think Taylor is having a not-so-great influence on Kyle. To the point where Kyle is automatically taking Taylor's side no matter what. Now, we all know Taylor is going through her issues and definitely needs a friend. But she also needs reality checks - a lot of them - and Kyle seems to be "yes"-ing her too much, not necessarily the best thing for their friendship.

I thought Lisa's CNN piece about the Royal Wedding was fun. She got a great opportunity and went for it. I have no problem with that. I think some of the other ladies (cough, Taylor, cough) were just jealous. Believe me, Taylor, if anyone thought you had expertise in anything other than eating cotton candy, your phone would be ringing off the hook. Plonk!

Brandi is a mess. Her kid's peeing in the yard, she's throwing the "c" word around, someone please help this girl. Now, I love a bawdy, sassy, lady just as much as anyone else. But there's something about Brandi that I don't like. Maybe it's her Pinocchio nose. I swear that thing grows a little with each episode. I think it's terrible what Eddie Cibrian did to her, but this Brandi is no angel. And she's a lotta crazy. So obviously, she's perfect for this show. I'd keep her on the Housewives just to see her make the other ones gasp and clutch their pearls for another season or two.

The season better start heating up soon, and I mean big confrontations. Next week may fit the bill.

What did you think of this episode? Tweet me!