I know I hardly write here any more, which means I'm sure I've totally lost all my readers. And, well, I'm not writing in here today either because I'm super short on time, but I really wanted to post this, my new favorite dance video.
How rad is THAT????
Showing posts with label awesome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label awesome. Show all posts
Friday, April 03, 2009
Friday, January 09, 2009
finding poetry
Hey, check it out, y'all: my mom is a published poet!
Time in its Flight, featured on FoundPoetry.org.
My friend Susan introduced me to this site, and I just love this project. I love the idea of finding poetry in surprising places, and collecting them like this. They're looking for more submissions to get the site off the ground, so be sure and send them your submissions as well!
And, yes, I do know how lucky I am to have a mom who is an artist and poet and also has great taste in music. And who shares all three of those gifts with her kids on a regular basis. Thanks, Mom!
Time in its Flight, featured on FoundPoetry.org.
My friend Susan introduced me to this site, and I just love this project. I love the idea of finding poetry in surprising places, and collecting them like this. They're looking for more submissions to get the site off the ground, so be sure and send them your submissions as well!
And, yes, I do know how lucky I am to have a mom who is an artist and poet and also has great taste in music. And who shares all three of those gifts with her kids on a regular basis. Thanks, Mom!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
killing me, repeatedly
In other movie news, Bolt is fantastic. I kind of hate to say awesome, since it's kind of THE word of the movie and I don't like being all played by movie marketing.... but I'm a sucker, and it WAS awesome.
Most people to whom I say, "I saw Bolt last weekend," respond with, "What's Bolt?" So in case that's you, here's the scoop:
Bolt is an animated Disney movie about a dog TV star who thinks he has super powers. He gets separated from his person, Penny, and has to team up with a sardonic cat named Mittens and a crazy hamster named Rhino to get back to her.
It's simple, sure, and a kids movie. But it's SO GOOD. The animation, for one, is beautiful. The characterization of the animals is spot on in the funniest possible way. Rhino in particular was killing me, repeatedly. He speaks, I laugh--it's that simple. The message about keeping and loving your pets is great, and anyone who's ever had a pet will get teary--you can't help it. All the Hollywood TV production stuff is wonderfully tongue-in-cheek. And, with the exception of John Travolta as Bolt and Miley Cyrus as Penny, the voices aren't this huge, distracting cast of A-list actors. This is fantastic, because you don't spend the whole movie trying to place the voice or name the actor--you just enjoy the story.
So, this Thanksgiving weekend, if you want to escape the Black Friday madness or just need an activity to enjoy with the whole family, I highly recommend checking out Bolt. We went with our staff, and all 7 of us enjoyed it. I can only imagine how much kids would like it.
Let it begin!
Most people to whom I say, "I saw Bolt last weekend," respond with, "What's Bolt?" So in case that's you, here's the scoop:
Bolt is an animated Disney movie about a dog TV star who thinks he has super powers. He gets separated from his person, Penny, and has to team up with a sardonic cat named Mittens and a crazy hamster named Rhino to get back to her.
It's simple, sure, and a kids movie. But it's SO GOOD. The animation, for one, is beautiful. The characterization of the animals is spot on in the funniest possible way. Rhino in particular was killing me, repeatedly. He speaks, I laugh--it's that simple. The message about keeping and loving your pets is great, and anyone who's ever had a pet will get teary--you can't help it. All the Hollywood TV production stuff is wonderfully tongue-in-cheek. And, with the exception of John Travolta as Bolt and Miley Cyrus as Penny, the voices aren't this huge, distracting cast of A-list actors. This is fantastic, because you don't spend the whole movie trying to place the voice or name the actor--you just enjoy the story.
So, this Thanksgiving weekend, if you want to escape the Black Friday madness or just need an activity to enjoy with the whole family, I highly recommend checking out Bolt. We went with our staff, and all 7 of us enjoyed it. I can only imagine how much kids would like it.
Let it begin!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Burned out
Hey friends. Burned out on all the election shenanigans, all the blogs (mine included) that just can't let this stuff go without voicing an opinion, all the news about this crisis and that crisis and this hateful group and that stupid person and all whatever?
Natalie Portman and Rashida Jones have the answer. For all of you that are still visiting my blog despite all the political stuffs & whatnot: this is for you.
Thanks for hangin' tough. I'll get back to blogging about parties & cupcakes shortly, I'm sure.
Natalie Portman and Rashida Jones have the answer. For all of you that are still visiting my blog despite all the political stuffs & whatnot: this is for you.
See more Natalie Portman videos at Funny or Die
Thanks for hangin' tough. I'll get back to blogging about parties & cupcakes shortly, I'm sure.
Friday, October 24, 2008
vote FOR equality
Two things in today's blog. 1) I met Amy Sedaris and 2) I am deeply concerned about a growing movement of hate, ignorance and intolerance in my state of California.
I will address the second first, and then finish off with the cute story.
Many of my dearest, most beloved friends got married this year.
Kristin & Mark
Amanda & Eyad
Anna & Ted
Ryan & Chris
I found out today that support FOR Proposition 8--a measure that would amend the California constitution to ban marriage for same sex couples--has actually grown. It's actually ahead in the polls.
I can't even believe it. I thought it would get a sound smackdown, and I'd just find myself feeling sorry for that percent of my state that is so filled with hate and fear in their hearts that they would misguidedly vote for such a measure.
The thing is, they've launched this huge advertising and grassroots campaign that claims all kinds of nonsense. They actually believe that if we allow couples like Chris and Ryan to get married, it poses some kind of threat to their values and their way of life. They've even suggested that it will somehow affect kids in school, or something? It's ridiculous.
The Huffington Post/RADAR posted a sample of this kind of outreach, along with a point-by-point response to all their ridiculous claims, so I don't really need to get into that here. The California Superintendent of Schools also did a great job of rebuffing the latest attack.
The biggest concern now, 11 days away from from the election, is making sure they have enough funds to reach the voters of California and make sure they understand that voting AGAINST Prop 8 is a vote FOR equality.
For Kristin & Mark, Amanda & Eyad, and Anna & Ted, I got them a wedding present off their registry. Ryan and Chris told us specifically, "We have too much stuff--no presents!" So instead, I'd like to do this for them: all of you who would like to protect civil rights and the right for everyone to marry in California, please donate whatever you can to No on Prop 8. You might not get a thank you card, but you will get a nice warm fuzzy knowing that you've contributed to California couples in love, who deserve the same civil rights as anyone else.
Now for the cute story: I went to a book signing for Amy Sedaris last night where she did a Q & A with the audience (always awkward, I hate them), a woman actually asked her to cut her hair (Amy: "Um. When was the last time you washed it?") and she did, and then signed copies of her fantastic book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. My friend Dre was kind enough to snap a picture of us together, so I walked behind the table, stood next to her, and here's what happened next:
Dre: Wait a minute, I have to take another one, your eyes were closed.
Amy: Mine?
Dre: No, Dinah's.
Amy: Bitch.
ONLY Amy Sedaris gets to call me a bitch and make me love her even more.
I will address the second first, and then finish off with the cute story.
Many of my dearest, most beloved friends got married this year.
Kristin & Mark
Amanda & Eyad
Anna & Ted
Ryan & Chris
I found out today that support FOR Proposition 8--a measure that would amend the California constitution to ban marriage for same sex couples--has actually grown. It's actually ahead in the polls.
I can't even believe it. I thought it would get a sound smackdown, and I'd just find myself feeling sorry for that percent of my state that is so filled with hate and fear in their hearts that they would misguidedly vote for such a measure.
The thing is, they've launched this huge advertising and grassroots campaign that claims all kinds of nonsense. They actually believe that if we allow couples like Chris and Ryan to get married, it poses some kind of threat to their values and their way of life. They've even suggested that it will somehow affect kids in school, or something? It's ridiculous.
The Huffington Post/RADAR posted a sample of this kind of outreach, along with a point-by-point response to all their ridiculous claims, so I don't really need to get into that here. The California Superintendent of Schools also did a great job of rebuffing the latest attack.
The biggest concern now, 11 days away from from the election, is making sure they have enough funds to reach the voters of California and make sure they understand that voting AGAINST Prop 8 is a vote FOR equality.
For Kristin & Mark, Amanda & Eyad, and Anna & Ted, I got them a wedding present off their registry. Ryan and Chris told us specifically, "We have too much stuff--no presents!" So instead, I'd like to do this for them: all of you who would like to protect civil rights and the right for everyone to marry in California, please donate whatever you can to No on Prop 8. You might not get a thank you card, but you will get a nice warm fuzzy knowing that you've contributed to California couples in love, who deserve the same civil rights as anyone else.
Now for the cute story: I went to a book signing for Amy Sedaris last night where she did a Q & A with the audience (always awkward, I hate them), a woman actually asked her to cut her hair (Amy: "Um. When was the last time you washed it?") and she did, and then signed copies of her fantastic book, I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. My friend Dre was kind enough to snap a picture of us together, so I walked behind the table, stood next to her, and here's what happened next:
Dre: Wait a minute, I have to take another one, your eyes were closed.
Amy: Mine?
Dre: No, Dinah's.
Amy: Bitch.
ONLY Amy Sedaris gets to call me a bitch and make me love her even more.
Friday, October 17, 2008
How cool is that?
I was about a foot away from Joe Biden last night. I would have shook (shaken? shook. shaken?) his hand, but I was busy trying to get pictures of Alf
shaking his hand, since he was kind enough to bring me along to the reception in the first place.
What it was, was a cocktail reception (with a cash bar), where Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles and Mayor John Duran of West Hollywood did intros, and then Maroon 5 played.
Duran, mayor of the gayest city in the LA area, told the following joke, with three possible punchlines:
Q. What's the difference between a drag queen, and Sarah Palin?
A 1. Duct tape
A 2. Ask Cindy McCain
A 3. One is an over-dramatic clown who wears a lot of makeup and says funny things. The other is a drag queen.
All of this was just a pre-amble to Awesome. Joe Biden got up to speak (we were mere feet away), and talked about the hard work we still have to do in this election, followed by the hard work we're going to have to do to get this country back on track. And, I mean, of course, when all of our political candidates are out campaigning, they're supposed to inspire the masses. They're all going to say that America is the best country ever, and that we all have a right and a responsibility to help keep her that way. But for real, when you're standing right in front of Joe Biden, looking right into his eyes, and he tells you these things, it's amazing. And empowering, and inspiring. And it's possible that I was thisclose to the next Vice President of the United States. How cool is that???
Speaking of this work we still have to do, listen up Democrats: We need to keep reaching out to registered voters in key states like Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico. You can find a phone bank near you, or you can make calls from home. And, I know, making calls when you know how much you hate getting them is inherently embarrassing. But, I mean, is it as embarrassing as sitting in chocolate pudding at your cousin's wedding? Is it as embarrassing as walking around with a toilet seat cover in your pants all night? And, if you knew for sure that either of those things would help bring about the change our country needs right now, wouldn't you go and sit in that pudding, and wear it proudly on your butt all day?
It's not the best metaphor ever, but, seriously, it's something small, for a potentially huge and important result. They give you a script, and if someone hangs up or cusses you out, just hang up & move on. It won't hurt you, but it could give you the chance to sway a voter, and maybe even an entire state. And how cool is THAT?
shaking his hand, since he was kind enough to bring me along to the reception in the first place.What it was, was a cocktail reception (with a cash bar), where Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles and Mayor John Duran of West Hollywood did intros, and then Maroon 5
played.Duran, mayor of the gayest city in the LA area, told the following joke, with three possible punchlines:
Q. What's the difference between a drag queen, and Sarah Palin?
A 1. Duct tape
A 2. Ask Cindy McCain
A 3. One is an over-dramatic clown who wears a lot of makeup and says funny things. The other is a drag queen.
All of this was just a pre-amble to Awesome. Joe Biden got up to speak (we were mere feet away), and talked about the hard work we still have to do in this election, followed by the hard work we're going to have to do to get this country back on track. And, I mean, of course, when all of our political candidates are out campaigning, they're supposed to inspire the masses. They're all going to say that America is the best country ever, and that we all have a right and a responsibility to help keep her that way. But for real, when you're standing right in front of Joe Biden, looking right into his eyes, and he tells you these things, it's amazing. And empowering, and inspiring. And it's possible that I was thisclose to the next Vice President of the United States. How cool is that???
Speaking of this work we still have to do, listen up Democrats: We need to keep reaching out to registered voters in key states like Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico. You can find a phone bank near you, or you can make calls from home
. And, I know, making calls when you know how much you hate getting them is inherently embarrassing. But, I mean, is it as embarrassing as sitting in chocolate pudding at your cousin's wedding? Is it as embarrassing as walking around with a toilet seat cover in your pants all night? And, if you knew for sure that either of those things would help bring about the change our country needs right now, wouldn't you go and sit in that pudding, and wear it proudly on your butt all day?It's not the best metaphor ever, but, seriously, it's something small, for a potentially huge and important result. They give you a script, and if someone hangs up or cusses you out, just hang up & move on. It won't hurt you, but it could give you the chance to sway a voter, and maybe even an entire state. And how cool is THAT?
Monday, September 08, 2008
f**k
This was posted last week, but it's just one small reason why I frakking love Battlestar Galactica. 
(Other reasons: cute soldier boys, mind-blowing storylines, authentic reactions and relationships, sensational acting, kick-ass battles & action scenes, real emotion, and so much more.)
(Other reasons: cute soldier boys, mind-blowing storylines, authentic reactions and relationships, sensational acting, kick-ass battles & action scenes, real emotion, and so much more.)
Thursday, August 07, 2008
I LOVE THIS SHOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
You should know that I started tearing up, yelling, and squealing with glee pretty much at the start of the So You Think You Can Dance finale, and never quite stopped.
Cat did NOT wear a brown train wreck to the finale this year, and instead decided to go with an old stand-by look for her: A MILLION BUCKS. Damn, girl.
Hi Top 20! Hi hi hi! Oh, I missed (some of) you! It's so much fun to see you all together again! And a Shane Sparks routine to boot. Hurray!! And, I mean, did you SEE the thing with Gev, like, wiggling his way under all 10 girls? Holy buckets of awesome Batman!
Nigel's favorite - Bollywood: Well of course he's going to pick this, with his whole, "Oh my show is SO AWESOME and international, didn't you know?" But, whatever, y'all know I can't get enough of these two, and it's a fun routine.
Mary's favorite - Rhumba: Ah, yes. The butt-grabbing dance, I remember it well. That Courtney & Gev are just as sweet & sexy together as ever.
Plus, I mean, you KNOW there's nothing I love better than a dance-off--it's kind of why I love this show so hard. So you know how much I loved the popping battle, right? SO MUCH. Personally, though, I'm with Mia (shocker)--I thought Phillip was better. And, um, if I could get some kind of audio bite of L'il C saying, "That was Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck" that I can play whenever I, like, finish a proposal or report or something, that would be fantastic, thanks.
Adam's favorite - Hip Hop: I loved this one too! Comfort and Twitch should always dance hip hop together, they're way too much fun to watch. That said, I love how Adam gave a big shout out to Step Up 2's John Chu and Adam Sevani (holla!!), and he's doing A 3-D DANCE MOVE STEP UP 3-D WHO'S GOING WITH ME OPENING WEEKEND. Comment here to sign up. We'll dress in head-to-toe Capezio and bedazzle our 3-D glasses and have ever so much fun. (And, yes, probably have cocktails before hand. I know there won't be a plot.)
And YEAH AC/DC totally kicked M&M's dance bootay all over the YouTubes, y'all.
L'il C's favorite - Hip Hop: "It's so hard to choose," he says. Uh, how about picking the two dancers already on stage in costume, and have them do the number they're prepared to do? I kid, I kid! This was the one that sold me on Chelsie & Mark forever, and she just goes and breaks my heart all over again here. It's still so, so good.
OH MY GOD Y'ALL MARY MURPHY'S DANCING! SHE'S DANCING WITH DMITRY AND SHE'S SO AWESOME AND ADORABLE I CAN'T STAND IT! Eeeee! She's having so much fun and she's so fantastic and adorable and I can't deal. This might be the most delightful thing this show has ever done to me. Mary, all over Dmitry, shaking her fringe, flashing that gigawatt smile (it's so much less scary and more fabulous when she's dancing, isn't it?) I might cry, this is so fabulous. Mary, this is for you: WOOOOOOO!
Like I warned you at the top, this recap will be a bunch of crying and yelling. I have to give you an idea of what's going on in my living room, don't I?
Mia's favorite - Pas de Deux: With Katee & Will. Not at all surprisingly, she picked the two most proficient dancers doing the most beautiful, difficult routine. This was one of my top season favorites as well, though. So beautiful, and such a treat to see it again. AND THEY NAIL IT! THEY NAILED THE LIFT THEY MISSED THE FIRST TIME!! Oh, they can't even contain their smiles, they know they nailed it. And everyone is standing up, and Debbie's there for him, oh, I'm choked up again.
You guys!
Adam's favorite - Jazz: Courtney & Mark's funky Sonja routine. It's so weird to watch after the exquisite pas de deux, but it's still fun. This number has really grown on me as well, in repeat viewings. I can appreciate the technique, I think, a little more than I did the first time around too.
3rd runner up: Courtney. No surprise here. I love her, but I think 4th place in this tough competition is an amazing achievement for her. (Those flowers are bigger than she is, dude!) Bless her sweet little heart. Well done, adorable girl.
Five guys named Moe: With the top 5 guys. I loved it the first time, I like it again. These guys are completely adorable and awesome.
We now pause this program to have some creepy Donnie Darko rabbits do a plug for Cirque du Soleil in Vegas. Then again, Cirque + Criss Angel? I think Wade Robson has found the perfect home for his weird, darkly awesome choreography.
2nd runner up: Katee. Oh, honey. I wanted you to get 2nd place, at least. You have been such a sensational joy to watch all season. And $50,000WHAT! That's awesome! Oh, look, she can't even deal! Yay I'm so happy they've done this, what a phenomenal surprise!!! Yay Katee!!!
Oh, and this means I might be right about the "Want it to be Joshua, but it will probably be Twitch" theory. Oh, dear.
That Debbie Allen is just expressing so much of what I love about this show just exquisitly and perfectly. I love her. Even if she is plugging the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Because lookit! Cute young tappers! Loves it!! They're sensational!! AND NOW NIGEL'S DANCING! NIGEL'S HOOFIN' Y'ALL! Oh, this is so fantastic. and getting all shown up by the young kid, and doing the call-outs. It's so much fun dancing on one stage, I just continue to be awed and delighted.
Debbie: "Everyone on this panel should be required to dance." YYYYYESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
Mary's favorite - Contemporary: Oh, the door dance. With Katee & Twitch. I liked this, but I still think this number is all about drama, props, Katee being a badass, and Twitch doing a whole lotta standing. I don't get what all the rest of the fuss is about. Emmy for Mia? Sure, love her, she deserves 'em. For this? Eh.
The Jonas Brothers: Fast-forward. Wow, they are really awful, aren't they?
Debbie's favorite - waltz: Oh, the "Touched by an Angel" piece Jean Marc choreographed for his daughter, with Twitchington. I had a feeling we'd be seeing this again. And it's just as lovely as ever. Tears pricking my eyes again. SIGH.
MY favorite: Debbie Allen taking the piss out of L'il C. How are you making me love y'all EVEN MORE? I can't take it.
Nigel's favorite - Hip Hop: "No Air." YES. Yes, I loved this routine. This was from the first Top 20 show. I remember, I fell in love with these two as a couple with this first number, and they kept making me love them over and over again with every subsequent number.
Oh, I so very much want to Josh to win, this is going to break my heart isn't it??
Hi past season people! Look how cute y'all are! Allison, so grown up! Donyelle, as sweet and fab as ever. Hi Travis! Hi Benji! Hi everyone! (WHERE'S SABRA?? Hmm.) But hi hi hi!
And they're going to dance for us! To "Please Don't Stop the Music," a song I bought from iTunes when I first saw them do a dance at the Idol Gives Back thingy. I had to watch that on on YouTube, so yay! Fresh routine in high def on my big-ass TV! Look how much better they've gotten, too! And now they're dancing with the Top 20! Fun fun!
Oh, my heart. I love this show so much. I know, I've said it a gazillion times already, I just. I do! I love it so much!!!
And JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! I can't believe it! I'm so stinking happy! Katee got $50k and Joshua won it's the best possible result Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS SHOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
THANK YOU so much to everyone who's been reading my SYTYCD blogs this past season! I can't hardly believe how many of y'all are reading these recaps, and I appreciate all your thoughtful comments and everything. Thank you and goodnight!
Cat did NOT wear a brown train wreck to the finale this year, and instead decided to go with an old stand-by look for her: A MILLION BUCKS. Damn, girl.
Hi Top 20! Hi hi hi! Oh, I missed (some of) you! It's so much fun to see you all together again! And a Shane Sparks routine to boot. Hurray!! And, I mean, did you SEE the thing with Gev, like, wiggling his way under all 10 girls? Holy buckets of awesome Batman!
Nigel's favorite - Bollywood: Well of course he's going to pick this, with his whole, "Oh my show is SO AWESOME and international, didn't you know?" But, whatever, y'all know I can't get enough of these two, and it's a fun routine.
Mary's favorite - Rhumba: Ah, yes. The butt-grabbing dance, I remember it well. That Courtney & Gev are just as sweet & sexy together as ever.
Plus, I mean, you KNOW there's nothing I love better than a dance-off--it's kind of why I love this show so hard. So you know how much I loved the popping battle, right? SO MUCH. Personally, though, I'm with Mia (shocker)--I thought Phillip was better. And, um, if I could get some kind of audio bite of L'il C saying, "That was Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck" that I can play whenever I, like, finish a proposal or report or something, that would be fantastic, thanks.
Adam's favorite - Hip Hop: I loved this one too! Comfort and Twitch should always dance hip hop together, they're way too much fun to watch. That said, I love how Adam gave a big shout out to Step Up 2's John Chu and Adam Sevani (holla!!), and he's doing A 3-D DANCE MOVE STEP UP 3-D WHO'S GOING WITH ME OPENING WEEKEND. Comment here to sign up. We'll dress in head-to-toe Capezio and bedazzle our 3-D glasses and have ever so much fun. (And, yes, probably have cocktails before hand. I know there won't be a plot.)
And YEAH AC/DC totally kicked M&M's dance bootay all over the YouTubes, y'all.
L'il C's favorite - Hip Hop: "It's so hard to choose," he says. Uh, how about picking the two dancers already on stage in costume, and have them do the number they're prepared to do? I kid, I kid! This was the one that sold me on Chelsie & Mark forever, and she just goes and breaks my heart all over again here. It's still so, so good.
OH MY GOD Y'ALL MARY MURPHY'S DANCING! SHE'S DANCING WITH DMITRY AND SHE'S SO AWESOME AND ADORABLE I CAN'T STAND IT! Eeeee! She's having so much fun and she's so fantastic and adorable and I can't deal. This might be the most delightful thing this show has ever done to me. Mary, all over Dmitry, shaking her fringe, flashing that gigawatt smile (it's so much less scary and more fabulous when she's dancing, isn't it?) I might cry, this is so fabulous. Mary, this is for you: WOOOOOOO!
Like I warned you at the top, this recap will be a bunch of crying and yelling. I have to give you an idea of what's going on in my living room, don't I?
Mia's favorite - Pas de Deux: With Katee & Will. Not at all surprisingly, she picked the two most proficient dancers doing the most beautiful, difficult routine. This was one of my top season favorites as well, though. So beautiful, and such a treat to see it again. AND THEY NAIL IT! THEY NAILED THE LIFT THEY MISSED THE FIRST TIME!! Oh, they can't even contain their smiles, they know they nailed it. And everyone is standing up, and Debbie's there for him, oh, I'm choked up again.
You guys!
Adam's favorite - Jazz: Courtney & Mark's funky Sonja routine. It's so weird to watch after the exquisite pas de deux, but it's still fun. This number has really grown on me as well, in repeat viewings. I can appreciate the technique, I think, a little more than I did the first time around too.
3rd runner up: Courtney. No surprise here. I love her, but I think 4th place in this tough competition is an amazing achievement for her. (Those flowers are bigger than she is, dude!) Bless her sweet little heart. Well done, adorable girl.
Five guys named Moe: With the top 5 guys. I loved it the first time, I like it again. These guys are completely adorable and awesome.
We now pause this program to have some creepy Donnie Darko rabbits do a plug for Cirque du Soleil in Vegas. Then again, Cirque + Criss Angel? I think Wade Robson has found the perfect home for his weird, darkly awesome choreography.
2nd runner up: Katee. Oh, honey. I wanted you to get 2nd place, at least. You have been such a sensational joy to watch all season. And $50,000WHAT! That's awesome! Oh, look, she can't even deal! Yay I'm so happy they've done this, what a phenomenal surprise!!! Yay Katee!!!
Oh, and this means I might be right about the "Want it to be Joshua, but it will probably be Twitch" theory. Oh, dear.
That Debbie Allen is just expressing so much of what I love about this show just exquisitly and perfectly. I love her. Even if she is plugging the Debbie Allen Dance Academy. Because lookit! Cute young tappers! Loves it!! They're sensational!! AND NOW NIGEL'S DANCING! NIGEL'S HOOFIN' Y'ALL! Oh, this is so fantastic. and getting all shown up by the young kid, and doing the call-outs. It's so much fun dancing on one stage, I just continue to be awed and delighted.
Debbie: "Everyone on this panel should be required to dance." YYYYYESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
Mary's favorite - Contemporary: Oh, the door dance. With Katee & Twitch. I liked this, but I still think this number is all about drama, props, Katee being a badass, and Twitch doing a whole lotta standing. I don't get what all the rest of the fuss is about. Emmy for Mia? Sure, love her, she deserves 'em. For this? Eh.
The Jonas Brothers: Fast-forward. Wow, they are really awful, aren't they?
Debbie's favorite - waltz: Oh, the "Touched by an Angel" piece Jean Marc choreographed for his daughter, with Twitchington. I had a feeling we'd be seeing this again. And it's just as lovely as ever. Tears pricking my eyes again. SIGH.
MY favorite: Debbie Allen taking the piss out of L'il C. How are you making me love y'all EVEN MORE? I can't take it.
Nigel's favorite - Hip Hop: "No Air." YES. Yes, I loved this routine. This was from the first Top 20 show. I remember, I fell in love with these two as a couple with this first number, and they kept making me love them over and over again with every subsequent number.
Oh, I so very much want to Josh to win, this is going to break my heart isn't it??
Hi past season people! Look how cute y'all are! Allison, so grown up! Donyelle, as sweet and fab as ever. Hi Travis! Hi Benji! Hi everyone! (WHERE'S SABRA?? Hmm.) But hi hi hi!
And they're going to dance for us! To "Please Don't Stop the Music," a song I bought from iTunes when I first saw them do a dance at the Idol Gives Back thingy. I had to watch that on on YouTube, so yay! Fresh routine in high def on my big-ass TV! Look how much better they've gotten, too! And now they're dancing with the Top 20! Fun fun!
Oh, my heart. I love this show so much. I know, I've said it a gazillion times already, I just. I do! I love it so much!!!
And JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! JOSHUA WINS!!! YYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! I can't believe it! I'm so stinking happy! Katee got $50k and Joshua won it's the best possible result Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS SHOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
THANK YOU so much to everyone who's been reading my SYTYCD blogs this past season! I can't hardly believe how many of y'all are reading these recaps, and I appreciate all your thoughtful comments and everything. Thank you and goodnight!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
So there I was
Okay, here's what happened.
On Monday, I worked at a red carpet DVD launch event for Step Up 2. Yes, worked. I was checking in talent, wrangling them in & out of a stretch Escalade (...I know), and getting them interviews on the red carpet. It was chaotic and exhausting and fun.
So there I was, at the end of the carpet, my crew of dancers had finally done their last interview. There was Mia, just hanging out on her own, waiting for her friend Brian to finish an interview or something. So I just introduced myself and said hi. I told her I was a huge fan of the show and her choreography, and that I appreciated her thoughtful critiques. She smiled a genuine smile and thanked me, and was completely gracious and fabulous and awesome.
Later at the party, after watching some AMAZING dance battles, enjoying a couple cocktails and a shaking a little booty (I shared the dance floor with Season 3's Hok & Dominic), I saw her and Brian again, talking to my friend Chris, the magnificent orchestrator of this entire event. I asked Chris if it would be totally lame if I asked for a picture with Mia & Brian, since I forgot earlier, and he said no problem, and. Ta Da!
Now I just have to meet Cat & Tyce, and pink drinks here we come! (Brian can come too, of course. He seems absolutely charming.)
And there you have it. Sometimes my job is made up of scheduling conflicts, huge projects with tight deadlines, yucky accounting & tax stuff, and all kinds of other stress. And sometimes my job is the most fabulous thing ever.
On Monday, I worked at a red carpet DVD launch event for Step Up 2. Yes, worked. I was checking in talent, wrangling them in & out of a stretch Escalade (...I know), and getting them interviews on the red carpet. It was chaotic and exhausting and fun.
So there I was, at the end of the carpet, my crew of dancers had finally done their last interview. There was Mia, just hanging out on her own, waiting for her friend Brian to finish an interview or something. So I just introduced myself and said hi. I told her I was a huge fan of the show and her choreography, and that I appreciated her thoughtful critiques. She smiled a genuine smile and thanked me, and was completely gracious and fabulous and awesome.
Later at the party, after watching some AMAZING dance battles, enjoying a couple cocktails and a shaking a little booty (I shared the dance floor with Season 3's Hok & Dominic), I saw her and Brian again, talking to my friend Chris, the magnificent orchestrator of this entire event. I asked Chris if it would be totally lame if I asked for a picture with Mia & Brian, since I forgot earlier, and he said no problem, and. Ta Da!
Now I just have to meet Cat & Tyce, and pink drinks here we come! (Brian can come too, of course. He seems absolutely charming.)
And there you have it. Sometimes my job is made up of scheduling conflicts, huge projects with tight deadlines, yucky accounting & tax stuff, and all kinds of other stress. And sometimes my job is the most fabulous thing ever.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Awesome, awesome, awesome.
HOLLA at my fellow SYTYCD fans and new Puffpiece readers Nicole, Chrises & Lesley! Now that I've told you my predictions are uncannily accurate, this week's will surely be all wrong. Let's see, shall we?
How is it I never stop being charmed by the "Here are your girls... and these are your guys" cross-over deal at the top of the show?
1. Kherington & Twitch, hip hop: Seriously, Twitch--lose the plastic frames. (Or perhaps Kherington could "accidentally" step on them.) They're dumb. That out of the way, I feel like this is the first proper hip hop routine we've seen so far this season. They got the dance down, they performed it well, they hit it hard, and they had fun with it. I kind of wish the choreographers could have incorporated more of Twitch's own style of popping in this routine, but otherwise I thought this was great.
Holy shit Mary Murphy is wearing GLITTERY SILVER FALSE EYELASHES.
2. Courtney G & Gev, Rhumba: Courtney's kind of killin' me in this package, with the "let's get ready to rhumba" joke and the "hi mom!" aside. Adorable. Their dancing is, for me, unpolished, actually, but fine. They're a very likeable couple, and their chemistry is fun, but given some of the other dancers in the competition, I just keep wishing week after week that they were better. Yeah, it's great that the inexperienced dancers are "pulling it off," but in a competition that's supposed to have America's most awesome dancers in it, it seems a little weak to me.
3. Comfort & Chris, (African) Jazz: To Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People," no less. When the music starts, I want this routine to be genius. I want it to be raw and dirty and sexy and awesome. It's... not. Tyce DiOrio + Marily Manson should equal supremely awesome, right? I mean... right??? There just wasn't enough passion here. And honestly, the music and choreography could have saved them, but the thing is, while these two are good dancers, they're not awesome performers. I like what Adam Shankman said here, that the music should have felt like it was really moving through them, and it didn't happen.
4. Jessica & Will, Disco: Fine, I GET IT, Will is Classy. I do not have to be sold on this guy, I'm already prepared to see him in the final four. That said, this routine was a mixed bag for me. At some parts, I thought it was delightful and fun. Others, clunky. Like, a teeny girl like Jessica shouldn't seem like a box of lead when she's being lifted, should she? I'm no expert, but I thought the lifts here were a bit heavy. I also feel like Jessica is constantly Trying Too Hard, whereas Will is just effortless, and maybe that's why the two of them consistently feel like such a mis-match. Still, it was cute.
5. Kourtni L & Matt, Contemporary: Oh, Matt, with your ninja mask. What?!? No. And who's this Sonya with her giant mohawk and her comic-book style? Hmm. As for the routine, I thought it was kind of weird and over the top, and really well done. I sometimes think good choreography can save weak dancers, and I think in this case good dancing kind of saved some weird-ass choreography. The faces were a bit much, but they were clearly having fun with it, and their technique was flawless, and I liked it.
6. Chelsea & Thayne, Quickstep: These old-fashioned ballroom routines make me want to watch Gene Kelley movies. It makes me wish these young dancers would watch them too, and understand how fun they're supposed to be. The quickstep in particular invariably comes out a little stiff from concentration, and this is no different. Thayne needs a new expression besides "40-watt smile." He's a cutie, but it feels inauthentic and I'm bored. Overall I think they did the steps, but it didn't blow my skirt up at all. (It's weird that the judges said kind of the same things here, by the way. Maybe I've been watching the show too much and I'm starting to read their minds/predict their critiques?)
7. Chelsie H & Mark, Hip Hop: These two are really growing on me every week. I think they're getting better, and they really seem to commit to every style and every character the choreographers throw at them. I didn't love the super-literal routine here, and I didn't care for the song, but I loved the dance and the couple anyway. Totally intense and believable and fantastic.
8. Katee & Joshua, Samba: Y'all know I'm mad in love with these two, but I'm kind of nervous for them with this routine because we haven't seen any formal partnering from them yet. From the first note, and the first drum of Joshua's fingers on the stair rail, I know I shouldn't have bothered. And then Josh starts moving his hips and I literally gasp and yell "DAMN!!" out loud in my living room. Twice. Oh, my. This routine is smokin' hot and perfect and I am even more in love with this couple than I was 3 minutes ago. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
I'm going to rewind my DVR and watch those last two again. So good.
As for predictions, this week is tricky. There were 4 outstanding routines, and 4 that were just okay. Not dancers, per se, but routines. Part of me kind of wishes Jessica & Will would end up in the bottom three so they could send away Jessica & see about maybe a new partner for Will, and maybe that'll happen this week. (If they paired him with Kourtni so our top 8 dancers were Kherington & Twitch, Kourtni & Will, Chelsie & Mark and Katee & Joshua? THEN we'd have a real competition.) But I'm going to assume America can see how brilliant he truly is, and allow the junior underdogs Courtney & Gev into the bottom three instead.
Staying: Kherington & Twitch, Jessica & Will, Kourtni L & Matt, Chelsie H & Mark, Katee & Joshua
Bottom Three: Courtney G & Gev, Comfort & Chris, Chelsea & Thayne
Of those three, Chris & Thayne have the most to worry about. One of 'em is going, and taking a partner with him.
One more prediction: I will be very much surprised if Joshua doesn't win this whole thing.
How is it I never stop being charmed by the "Here are your girls... and these are your guys" cross-over deal at the top of the show?
1. Kherington & Twitch, hip hop: Seriously, Twitch--lose the plastic frames. (Or perhaps Kherington could "accidentally" step on them.) They're dumb. That out of the way, I feel like this is the first proper hip hop routine we've seen so far this season. They got the dance down, they performed it well, they hit it hard, and they had fun with it. I kind of wish the choreographers could have incorporated more of Twitch's own style of popping in this routine, but otherwise I thought this was great.
Holy shit Mary Murphy is wearing GLITTERY SILVER FALSE EYELASHES.
2. Courtney G & Gev, Rhumba: Courtney's kind of killin' me in this package, with the "let's get ready to rhumba" joke and the "hi mom!" aside. Adorable. Their dancing is, for me, unpolished, actually, but fine. They're a very likeable couple, and their chemistry is fun, but given some of the other dancers in the competition, I just keep wishing week after week that they were better. Yeah, it's great that the inexperienced dancers are "pulling it off," but in a competition that's supposed to have America's most awesome dancers in it, it seems a little weak to me.
3. Comfort & Chris, (African) Jazz: To Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People," no less. When the music starts, I want this routine to be genius. I want it to be raw and dirty and sexy and awesome. It's... not. Tyce DiOrio + Marily Manson should equal supremely awesome, right? I mean... right??? There just wasn't enough passion here. And honestly, the music and choreography could have saved them, but the thing is, while these two are good dancers, they're not awesome performers. I like what Adam Shankman said here, that the music should have felt like it was really moving through them, and it didn't happen.
4. Jessica & Will, Disco: Fine, I GET IT, Will is Classy. I do not have to be sold on this guy, I'm already prepared to see him in the final four. That said, this routine was a mixed bag for me. At some parts, I thought it was delightful and fun. Others, clunky. Like, a teeny girl like Jessica shouldn't seem like a box of lead when she's being lifted, should she? I'm no expert, but I thought the lifts here were a bit heavy. I also feel like Jessica is constantly Trying Too Hard, whereas Will is just effortless, and maybe that's why the two of them consistently feel like such a mis-match. Still, it was cute.
5. Kourtni L & Matt, Contemporary: Oh, Matt, with your ninja mask. What?!? No. And who's this Sonya with her giant mohawk and her comic-book style? Hmm. As for the routine, I thought it was kind of weird and over the top, and really well done. I sometimes think good choreography can save weak dancers, and I think in this case good dancing kind of saved some weird-ass choreography. The faces were a bit much, but they were clearly having fun with it, and their technique was flawless, and I liked it.
6. Chelsea & Thayne, Quickstep: These old-fashioned ballroom routines make me want to watch Gene Kelley movies. It makes me wish these young dancers would watch them too, and understand how fun they're supposed to be. The quickstep in particular invariably comes out a little stiff from concentration, and this is no different. Thayne needs a new expression besides "40-watt smile." He's a cutie, but it feels inauthentic and I'm bored. Overall I think they did the steps, but it didn't blow my skirt up at all. (It's weird that the judges said kind of the same things here, by the way. Maybe I've been watching the show too much and I'm starting to read their minds/predict their critiques?)
7. Chelsie H & Mark, Hip Hop: These two are really growing on me every week. I think they're getting better, and they really seem to commit to every style and every character the choreographers throw at them. I didn't love the super-literal routine here, and I didn't care for the song, but I loved the dance and the couple anyway. Totally intense and believable and fantastic.
8. Katee & Joshua, Samba: Y'all know I'm mad in love with these two, but I'm kind of nervous for them with this routine because we haven't seen any formal partnering from them yet. From the first note, and the first drum of Joshua's fingers on the stair rail, I know I shouldn't have bothered. And then Josh starts moving his hips and I literally gasp and yell "DAMN!!" out loud in my living room. Twice. Oh, my. This routine is smokin' hot and perfect and I am even more in love with this couple than I was 3 minutes ago. Awesome, awesome, awesome.
I'm going to rewind my DVR and watch those last two again. So good.
As for predictions, this week is tricky. There were 4 outstanding routines, and 4 that were just okay. Not dancers, per se, but routines. Part of me kind of wishes Jessica & Will would end up in the bottom three so they could send away Jessica & see about maybe a new partner for Will, and maybe that'll happen this week. (If they paired him with Kourtni so our top 8 dancers were Kherington & Twitch, Kourtni & Will, Chelsie & Mark and Katee & Joshua? THEN we'd have a real competition.) But I'm going to assume America can see how brilliant he truly is, and allow the junior underdogs Courtney & Gev into the bottom three instead.
Staying: Kherington & Twitch, Jessica & Will, Kourtni L & Matt, Chelsie H & Mark, Katee & Joshua
Bottom Three: Courtney G & Gev, Comfort & Chris, Chelsea & Thayne
Of those three, Chris & Thayne have the most to worry about. One of 'em is going, and taking a partner with him.
One more prediction: I will be very much surprised if Joshua doesn't win this whole thing.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
all over the map
Today is a very Seattle day here in Los Angeles. The air is cool, the sky is gray, the ground is wet. It makes me want to listen to 90's grunge music and drink coffee. I love it.
Speaking of things that I love, So You Think You Can Dance is back!* Audition shows are never as great as the top 20 shows, where you get the couples and the choreography and the group performances. BUT I still really love them because these are the episodes where you really get to see the breakers and poppers do what they're best at. They'll usually show you the whole performance of the really good ones, and it's such a treat.
In totally unrelated news, I just wanted to congratulate my friends JL and Kyann on the adoption of their baby girl! She looks like an absolute angel, and she's already getting used to having her photog pop take all kinds of pictures and video of her. She even has her own blog. We're definitely at that age where more and more of our friends are having kids, and I think it's super awesome that JL & Ky have taken the adoption route towards starting a family.
This post was all over the map, huh? And with that, I'm off to see Indy!
*If you're wondering, Hey, Dinah, does this mean your blog is going to become "All SYTYCD/Triathlon, All the Time?" Ummmm, yeah. Maybe. Whatever, you love it.
Speaking of things that I love, So You Think You Can Dance is back!* Audition shows are never as great as the top 20 shows, where you get the couples and the choreography and the group performances. BUT I still really love them because these are the episodes where you really get to see the breakers and poppers do what they're best at. They'll usually show you the whole performance of the really good ones, and it's such a treat.
In totally unrelated news, I just wanted to congratulate my friends JL and Kyann on the adoption of their baby girl! She looks like an absolute angel, and she's already getting used to having her photog pop take all kinds of pictures and video of her. She even has her own blog. We're definitely at that age where more and more of our friends are having kids, and I think it's super awesome that JL & Ky have taken the adoption route towards starting a family.
This post was all over the map, huh? And with that, I'm off to see Indy!
*If you're wondering, Hey, Dinah, does this mean your blog is going to become "All SYTYCD/Triathlon, All the Time?" Ummmm, yeah. Maybe. Whatever, you love it.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
nothing better than a dance-off
It's almost back.
I'll do my best not to bore everyone to tears this summer with my obsession. But yeah. I'm super excited.
In the meantime, Stephen Colbert proves my theorem that there is nothing better than a dance-off.
I'll do my best not to bore everyone to tears this summer with my obsession. But yeah. I'm super excited.
In the meantime, Stephen Colbert proves my theorem that there is nothing better than a dance-off.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
OH MY GOD. SO RAD.
Oh my god this just made my whole day. I mean, YAY NEW JOSS WHEDON PROJECT but also, the video. The video of the guys singing the duet from Les Miserables OH MY GOD. SO RAD.
I'd stop watching it and laughing out loud if only I could.
I'd stop watching it and laughing out loud if only I could.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
a little extra artistic greatness
My sister, the super-rad Dr. M, has finally started a blog. Sadly for us, it is not the creative outlet for her wealth of funny, touching and otherwise amazing stories about life as a mom, sister, friend, Buffy fan & philosophy professor in Toledo, OH that I've been hoping for for so long (Get on it, sister!). What it IS, however, is a journal for this really, really cool art show called "Intimate ARTifacts."
Click here & participate, won't you?
I know some of y'all have some poems or collages or knitting projects that would be great to contribute to a event like this. Plus, not to be a snob, but Toledo could really use a little extra artistic greatness.
Click here & participate, won't you?
I know some of y'all have some poems or collages or knitting projects that would be great to contribute to a event like this. Plus, not to be a snob, but Toledo could really use a little extra artistic greatness.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Eeeeeeeeee!
Oh my god. Those geniuses at Pixar aka "The Masters of Cute" have done it again.
Check it out.
I pretty much spent the whole trailer with my hands bunched up in front of my face squealing "Eeeeeeeeee!"
Check it out.
I pretty much spent the whole trailer with my hands bunched up in front of my face squealing "Eeeeeeeeee!"
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Best. Proposal. Ever.
Oh, my god.
When my friend Anna told me she and her boyfriend Ted got engaged, I squealed and freaked out like a girl. When I saw her I grabbed her left hand and gushed over her GORGEOUS engagement ring.
Then she told me how Ted proposed. Suffice to say, Best. Proposal. Ever. THEN she told me it was on YouTube.
Have a tissue handy.
p.s. I get to be a bridesmaid!! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
When my friend Anna told me she and her boyfriend Ted got engaged, I squealed and freaked out like a girl. When I saw her I grabbed her left hand and gushed over her GORGEOUS engagement ring.
Then she told me how Ted proposed. Suffice to say, Best. Proposal. Ever. THEN she told me it was on YouTube.
Have a tissue handy.
p.s. I get to be a bridesmaid!! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
delighted and amazed
My friend Claudia just sent me this. It's just an old dance video set to new music, but I remain delighted and amazed by the result.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)