Friday, July 6, 2012

Why I am Cheating on Matt Lauer with Charlie Rose

At sometimes in our lives we all find ourselves doing things we thought we would never do. For instance I never thought I would be growing tomatoes this summer. I don't even eat the silly  things. They are a vegetable after all. Or are they a fruit? I seem to remember a trick question in 8th grade science about this one. So I never thought that I would find a time when I wanted to stop watching  Matt Lauer in the morning. Some people need caffeine to get going, I need a mini Hershey bar and Matt.

It had nothing to do with that unfortunate Ann Curry fiasco. The fiasco was giving the inappropriately attired Ann the job in the first place. Still I was sorry to see the way they let her go. But the trouble with Today was not just Ann. The content of the show was so predictable. I grew to loathe Fridays when they spent so much time with pop stars on the plaza. (unless it was Adam Levine)

I got to the point that I didn't want NBC deciding what stories I started my day with. Anytime they ran a story on education I started seething at their incompetence. I started to wonder if they knew anything about politics, hurricanes or missing children either. I finally stopped watching morning television altogether. After a few weeks I decided to try CBS This Morning. This took a lot of soul searching knowing Gayle King was involved. I admit it. I was prejudiced against her. I found her guilty by her association with Oprah.

It didn't take me long to really enjoy this low key program. I actually feel smarter after I watch it. Their Eye Opener segment (your world in ninety seconds) is the best thing on morning television. I like the fact that there are two people at the table asking guests about the important issues of the day and the fact that some of the reporters they bring on to cover stories look like they spend more time doing research than applying hair product.

When Charlie Rose asks a question you get the sense he knows what he is talking about. He seems genuinely interested in learning more about the issue his guest is discussing. I wouldn't want to try to pull anything over on Charlie though. He seems to know a lot! Erica Hill is the perfect complement to Charlie during the hard news segments. She is equaly adept at the entertaining content of the second hour and the woman knows how to dress appropriately. I do miss her on Anderson Copper 360 however.

They don't have those irritating best bargains or  cooking segments. I cook just fine thank you thanks to Marie Callender and the Schwann's man.

Now CBS This Morning doesn't have the ratings to draw in the hottest actors and pop stars of the day hawking their latest summer blockbuster or newest album. Thank goodness! Instead they feature artists with real talent. people whose talent is proven by their longevity. When they do talk to artists they talk in depth about their creative process and their next question seems to be based on their guets previous answer. This morning they were talking to Alan Cumming about his One Man Macbeth at Lincoln Center.

Now I must admit there are times when Gayle and Charlie are interviewing someone together that Charlie seems to have to restrain himself from chastising Gayle for asking one of her questions that are embarassingly honest. But I grudgingly have to admit that this is why the woman is growing on me. I have finally figured out her appeal. She's unfiltered! If she wants to ask an insipid question she asks it. I can relate. I realize that this is probably Oprah's appeal as well but I will give the state of IL back my pension before I admit that!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

The Magic is Gone

I admit it. I'm shallow. Just look how long it has taken me to post anything on this blog. I'm not even going to promise to do better. I'm way too self indulgent. Which is probably why I was so bitterly disappointed in the last film Larry and I went to see, Magic Mike.

I can't say I wasn't prepared to be disappointed. I was. First, the movie got very good reviews, 79% favorable on Rotten Tomatoes. Good reviews are almost always a bad sign. Secondly the previews looked really good and featured the dancing and few one liners. I know better. Never never trust a movie with a good preview.

I admit it. The only reason I wanted to see this movie was the strippers. This movie looks like it was directed by a straight man. What kind of self respecting stripper keeps his pants on for 90% of his act? The ones in Magic Mike do. Honestly, even a stripper who doesn't want to take his clothes off has to know that he isn't going to get tipped until he goes down to his thong. There was nothing sexy or sensual about any of the dance routines either.

All the strippers in the film's troupe were straight. I do not buy that at all. There were five guys in the act and even male stripper troupes that perform strictly for women have at least one (more like four)  gay guys in the group.

We saw this movie in a theatre full of women. That in itself is beyond irritating. I have been to male strip clubs that allow men and women inside. The women always, always act like they are still in junior high. It isn't like they didn't know where they were going. It is so annoying. There something embedded deep in our culture that still says women aren't supposed to like sex (yeah like I'm an expert) so even  when they do get away to a strip club they feel like they have to act embarrassed. It's okay, girls. Your mother isn't watching. (She's in the back oiling down the men)

Then there was the fact that this movie had a plot. Why? It didn't get in the way too much. In fact I actually liked Channing Tatum's character and his love interest BUT for some god forsaken reason all the scenes outside the strip club were filmed in some hideous sepia tone that I haven't seen since the original movie version of South Pacific, a movie I have never watched in its entirety simply because I spend the entire movie wondering why Mitzy Gaynor looks so jaundiced.

When will I learn? There are some movies I will go  despite how bad they are. If a movie has Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton or male strippers I'm going to be there! But no more Madea films! That feisty gal is always the only one on the poster and then you end up having to wait till the last ten minutes of the film for her to arrive and deliver her three zingers. Done with you, Medea. I know your scam!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Oscars 2012

I am so tired of people loving everything this woman wears. I had no interest in watching this "skinny b**ch" attempting to play Marilyn. Marilyn was full figured. She was too thin (in the previews I saw). And for heaven's sake grow out your damn hair. I didn't even like it on Tinkerbell in 1957.















I loved her in The Help but didn't recognize her on the red carpet tonight. Not a fan of the hair. Perhaps it will grow on me....but more importantly hoping it will grow ON HER!
















Tina! Tina! Tina! Finally you wear a flattering dress and then you FORGET the jewelry. You need a necklace. A big dramatic necklace. (I realize of course that means you will have to lose the earrings. They would compete but the earrings aren't enough to compensate for all that bare skin above your dress) Keep trying, honey. Some year soon you will get EVERYTHING right.












Giuliana Rancic looked stunning and I was happy for her. Love her on Fashion Police!

















This girl, Jessica Chastain was winning the ABC online poll for best dressed but and I love the dress from the waist up. I didn't like the gold at the bottom. There was too much of it down there. Looked cliche to me.















And she wonders why Jesse James ran off with that tattooed lady?????












No wonder she's a star. She is flawless.














Somewhere in L. A. while watching the Oscar red carpet coverage Jennifer Aniston just kicked her foot through every big screen TV in the house. But hey what's bad news for Jennifer is good news for Best Buy.









And a couple of Guys.......


Who is this person and why is he in the movies (I know his name. He's Jonah HIll but I don't understand why he is in the movies. I do not go to the movies to see average guys. This guy isn't even average. He's below average.....right down there with Phillip Seymour Hoffman.










And finally why why why does Oscar insist on a dress code? It's California. It's warm. Take off your shirt, Mario!

















And all is right with the world!