Well, I had my drink last night. And then I had four more.
And now I'm suffering from a massive hangover.
This week has been one of those "shitfuckdamn" kind of weeks.
On Tuesday, my mom found herself in a car accident. She's fine, but I'm shaking with anger because of what is happening now.
My mom is a meek driver, which satisfies me because it means I don't have to worry about her alone on the road. On Tuesday morning she was appropriately driving 20 miles per hour in a construction zone when another car sideswiped her. They pulled over on the side of the road. The damage was minimal, which was lucky considering my mom's car is brand new. My mom's side door was slightly caved in, and the other woman's car, a 1994 Toyota Corolla, only got a few scratches on the driver's door.
The woman told my mom that my mom tried to pass her and then hit her. My mom was extremely confused because she was driving 20 miles per hour, straight in her lane, surrounded by traffic cones. Not only was it impossible for any car to pass another on the street, my mom knows for a fact she didn't pass anyone. She's not that type of driver. My mom called the police, but the police refused to come out to the scene. Apparently my city is filled with such extreme amounts of crime that the police don't have time to report to fender benders.
So, my mom exchanged insurance information with the woman, and then went to the nearby police station to fill out a report.
A couple hours later, this woman called my mom and said the right side of her body hurt. She said she was going to need medical attention because of the accident. Another hour later, she called my mom again to tell her that for the next few months, she was going to keep an eye on any other aches and pains that might be from the accident. She called my mom two more times after that, but I didn't let my mom answer her calls anymore. She didn't leave messages.
My mom spent all day Tuesday and all day yesterday worried sick about the accident. My mom knows this woman is lying and it's really bothering her. My mom is very sweet and she thinks everyone is a good person and she believes nobody would ever want to hurt anyone else, so she's very overwhelmed.
The icing on the cake came this morning, when my mom called upset. The other woman's insurance company had called her to say that the other woman had told them the police had been on the scene Tuesday morning and they had told my mom the accident was her fault.
Ummm. What?
My mom quickly told them that was a lie. She explained that the police did not show up to the accident. The police, of course, called the insurance company and verified my mom's story. The insurance company was stunned. They were perturbed their client would lie to them. But they still need to determine fault, since their client is also adamantly claiming my mom passed her on the street, causing the accident.
So now, hangover and all, I have to drive my mother out to the scene and take photos of all the construction, just to prove there was no way my mom, or any other car, could pass another car in that mess.
It's going to be a FUN DAY!
Oh, and there's MORE!
Yesterday, my dad was driving in the parking lot of a grocery store when a woman in an SUV plummeted into him because she was texting. He's fine, and the woman was mortified. She immediately called her insurance company to admit fault and she's very concerned about my father's well-being. So complete opposite of the other incident.
And now I'm really worried to drive because...well shit, am I next?
And finally, I'm without a computer. My laptop broke yesterday and my parent's computer broke down Tuesday. And my dad's friend who fixes them for free is on a two-week cruise right now. Which means that any time I want to use a computer, I have to use my boyfriend's. So my internet access is extremely limited right now.
Anyway. That's my week so far.
If you read this entire post, you just earned the Awesome Award. Congratulations, kid. You deserve it.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Life Lessons from my Dad
I'm kind of a basketcase.
I get freaked out easily when it comes to really minor things.
If you know me in real life, it's not hard to figure out why I'm crazy. One of the reasons is because of my dad's stories.
My dad believes kids should learn life lessons through other people's mistakes.
So, growing up, I was subjected to hearing stories about why I shouldn't do certain things, based on the lives of his former friends and coworkers.
For example, I recently told my dad that I want a cat. (I'm allergic, this will never happen, but I still want one).
Here is my dad's reason for why I should never get a cat:
"You remember my friend Heidi from Detroit?" he asked. "Well, in 2001 she got a cat. A few years ago, she called me at 6:30 in the morning from a mental institution. She had gotten so depressed that she checked herself into an asylum."
...and that's it. That's the story for why I should never get a cat. He never elaborates on these stories. He just tells them and lets them hover in the air, for me to absorb.
Here are a few more stories from my childhood:
When I was in high school this is why I wasn't allowed to get a dog:
"In 1978 I was living in Chicago and I had a friend named Nick who really wanted a dog," he said. "Well, Nick got a dog and kept it in his apartment. One day, Nick came home from work and found out that his dog had destroyed the entire apartment. He chewed the sofa, he shredded his boots, and ate all his food. To this day, Nick never did get married."
Why girls shouldn't be allowed to date in high school:
"In 1995 I worked with a doctor in Tampa who let his teenage daughter date," he said. "She started dating this boy and became obsessed with him. She called him all the time, even when their family was on vacation. She would talk to him for hours a day. Two years later she got arrested for shoplifting and put in jail."
Why I shouldn't get lasik eye surgery:
"I had a friend in Springfield who got lasik eye surgery done," he said. "Ten years later, her car skidded off the road during a blizzard and she died."
Why I shouldn't travel outside the United States:
"You remember my friend Reema?" he asked. "In 1985, Reema went to Canada for vacation. When she got to Toronto, everyone threw tomatoes at her because Canadians don't like Indian women."
Why I shouldn't become Hindu:
"You remember my friend Harmony from Portland State?" he asked. "Well in 1972, she was into Indian stuff, you know Hinduism. Her husband let her go on a spiritual retreat to India. At the ashram, she met a German man and she had an affair with him. It destroyed her entire family and she got divorced."
Growing up, not only did I "learn my lesson" about these things, but I was also extremely concerned that the lives of so many of my dad's friends resulted in such a tragic demise.
So, I never got a dog. I never got a cat. I never travelled out of the country. I still wear contact lenses.
And even though I'm an adult now and know these "lessons" are absurd, I still can't help but think, in the back of my mind, that maybe this stuff will happen to me if I'm not careful.
What if I do decide to get a cat and then a few years later find myself being committed to a mental institution? What if?! And then I spend the rest of my life in a tiny padded cell thinking, "man, I should have listened to my father."
Shit. I can't handle this right now.
I need a drink.
I get freaked out easily when it comes to really minor things.
If you know me in real life, it's not hard to figure out why I'm crazy. One of the reasons is because of my dad's stories.
My dad believes kids should learn life lessons through other people's mistakes.
So, growing up, I was subjected to hearing stories about why I shouldn't do certain things, based on the lives of his former friends and coworkers.
For example, I recently told my dad that I want a cat. (I'm allergic, this will never happen, but I still want one).
Here is my dad's reason for why I should never get a cat:
"You remember my friend Heidi from Detroit?" he asked. "Well, in 2001 she got a cat. A few years ago, she called me at 6:30 in the morning from a mental institution. She had gotten so depressed that she checked herself into an asylum."
...and that's it. That's the story for why I should never get a cat. He never elaborates on these stories. He just tells them and lets them hover in the air, for me to absorb.
Here are a few more stories from my childhood:
When I was in high school this is why I wasn't allowed to get a dog:
"In 1978 I was living in Chicago and I had a friend named Nick who really wanted a dog," he said. "Well, Nick got a dog and kept it in his apartment. One day, Nick came home from work and found out that his dog had destroyed the entire apartment. He chewed the sofa, he shredded his boots, and ate all his food. To this day, Nick never did get married."
Why girls shouldn't be allowed to date in high school:
"In 1995 I worked with a doctor in Tampa who let his teenage daughter date," he said. "She started dating this boy and became obsessed with him. She called him all the time, even when their family was on vacation. She would talk to him for hours a day. Two years later she got arrested for shoplifting and put in jail."
Why I shouldn't get lasik eye surgery:
"I had a friend in Springfield who got lasik eye surgery done," he said. "Ten years later, her car skidded off the road during a blizzard and she died."
Why I shouldn't travel outside the United States:
"You remember my friend Reema?" he asked. "In 1985, Reema went to Canada for vacation. When she got to Toronto, everyone threw tomatoes at her because Canadians don't like Indian women."
Why I shouldn't become Hindu:
"You remember my friend Harmony from Portland State?" he asked. "Well in 1972, she was into Indian stuff, you know Hinduism. Her husband let her go on a spiritual retreat to India. At the ashram, she met a German man and she had an affair with him. It destroyed her entire family and she got divorced."
Growing up, not only did I "learn my lesson" about these things, but I was also extremely concerned that the lives of so many of my dad's friends resulted in such a tragic demise.
So, I never got a dog. I never got a cat. I never travelled out of the country. I still wear contact lenses.
And even though I'm an adult now and know these "lessons" are absurd, I still can't help but think, in the back of my mind, that maybe this stuff will happen to me if I'm not careful.
What if I do decide to get a cat and then a few years later find myself being committed to a mental institution? What if?! And then I spend the rest of my life in a tiny padded cell thinking, "man, I should have listened to my father."
Shit. I can't handle this right now.
I need a drink.
Friday, October 7, 2011
My new boots!
I don't often get to brag on this blog about my fabulous purchases, because I've been dirt poor for two years.
But...
I am now the proud owner of these vintage cowboy boots!
My favorite vintage store had them on sale and I was floored to see they were in my size. They are from the early 1970s and in quite good condition.
I had been looking for a pair of cowboy boots for a very long time. But they are always so expensive ($500 or more) and they require a lot of hard work to break them in. Since these are already broken in, they fit into my lazy lifestyle! I don't have to do anything but wear them! Yay!
Oh, and I also wanted to give you an update on The Playboy Club. One of the fans of my facebook page created an online petition to bring the show back. Click here to sign it. Thanks!
I hope you all have a great weekend! See you on Monday! xoxo
But...
I am now the proud owner of these vintage cowboy boots!
My favorite vintage store had them on sale and I was floored to see they were in my size. They are from the early 1970s and in quite good condition.
I had been looking for a pair of cowboy boots for a very long time. But they are always so expensive ($500 or more) and they require a lot of hard work to break them in. Since these are already broken in, they fit into my lazy lifestyle! I don't have to do anything but wear them! Yay!
Oh, and I also wanted to give you an update on The Playboy Club. One of the fans of my facebook page created an online petition to bring the show back. Click here to sign it. Thanks!
I hope you all have a great weekend! See you on Monday! xoxo
Thursday, October 6, 2011
The Indian Bestie
Growing up, I've stumbled upon many phenomenons in my lifetime.
One is a trend I somehow manage to create in anyone who becomes close friends with me:
The Indian Bestie
Almost every time I become close friends with a girl (black, white, Mexican, etc.) and I either move away, or the friendship dissipates, that girl immediately, with no time to spare, finds another Indian girl to take my place.
This may not seem strange to some of you.
But when I was a kid, this was weird. Because, um, there weren't that many Indian people around in Midwest USA at the time.
Which meant a couple of my former friends had to actually seek out the only other Indian girl living in town and cultivate a close friendship with her in a short period of time. That's a lot of work just to find my replacement!
But the more I think about it, the more I realize I probably did these old friends of mine a favor. I've introduced them to a secret.
Indian girls make the perfect best friend.
Here is why:
Indian girls are hot. It is very important to have a best friend who is just as attractive as you, if not more so. Hot girls attract boys. Hot girls get stuff for free. Hot girls make people smile. The emphasis on the plural is very important. A hot girl by herself is just a bitch.
Indian girls are smart. Nobody wants to tell people their best friend is a 20-something-year-old Wal-Mart greeter. When you are besties with an Indian girl you can proudly inform people, "My best friend is finishing up medical school this May!" or "My best friend is a forensic anthropologist!" or "My best friend is a freelance journalist who also has a successful fashion blog!"
Indian girls are not going to sleep with your boyfriend. Most Indian girls are not interested in whoring around because they have better things to do. Plus, many of them intend to one day marry a handsome, successful Indian man, who has their parents' approval. Chances are, your boyfriend isn't that guy.
Indian girls are loyal. For the most part, Indian girls are devoted and tight-knit. They are very family-oriented and treat close friends like family. If you're one of their lucky close friends, you will be invited to a lot of Indian social functions, involving delicious homemade food, gorgeous bright-colored sarees, and my favorite part, hot Indian guys.
Now who wouldn't want an Indian best friend?! Hell, I event want an Indian best friend now!
Disclaimer: Now some of you may have objections to this list of characterizations. "But Jennifer, my ex-best friend Priya Patel is an ugly dumb ass two-timing penniless bitch who slept with my dad!" Well, kids, obviously not all Indian women have these fantastic qualities. This is just a generalization based on my own observations.
Disclaimer to the disclaimer: In the quote above, Priya Patel is a fictional character made up for the sole purpose of entertainment and educational value. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
If you want to see more of my friendly stereotyping, check out my 10,000 word post, Why Swedish Girls Make the Best Lovers.
One is a trend I somehow manage to create in anyone who becomes close friends with me:
The Indian Bestie
Almost every time I become close friends with a girl (black, white, Mexican, etc.) and I either move away, or the friendship dissipates, that girl immediately, with no time to spare, finds another Indian girl to take my place.
This may not seem strange to some of you.
But when I was a kid, this was weird. Because, um, there weren't that many Indian people around in Midwest USA at the time.
Which meant a couple of my former friends had to actually seek out the only other Indian girl living in town and cultivate a close friendship with her in a short period of time. That's a lot of work just to find my replacement!
But the more I think about it, the more I realize I probably did these old friends of mine a favor. I've introduced them to a secret.
Indian girls make the perfect best friend.
Here is why:
Indian girls are hot. It is very important to have a best friend who is just as attractive as you, if not more so. Hot girls attract boys. Hot girls get stuff for free. Hot girls make people smile. The emphasis on the plural is very important. A hot girl by herself is just a bitch.
Indian girls are smart. Nobody wants to tell people their best friend is a 20-something-year-old Wal-Mart greeter. When you are besties with an Indian girl you can proudly inform people, "My best friend is finishing up medical school this May!" or "My best friend is a forensic anthropologist!" or "My best friend is a freelance journalist who also has a successful fashion blog!"
Indian girls are not going to sleep with your boyfriend. Most Indian girls are not interested in whoring around because they have better things to do. Plus, many of them intend to one day marry a handsome, successful Indian man, who has their parents' approval. Chances are, your boyfriend isn't that guy.
Indian girls are loyal. For the most part, Indian girls are devoted and tight-knit. They are very family-oriented and treat close friends like family. If you're one of their lucky close friends, you will be invited to a lot of Indian social functions, involving delicious homemade food, gorgeous bright-colored sarees, and my favorite part, hot Indian guys.
Now who wouldn't want an Indian best friend?! Hell, I event want an Indian best friend now!
Disclaimer: Now some of you may have objections to this list of characterizations. "But Jennifer, my ex-best friend Priya Patel is an ugly dumb ass two-timing penniless bitch who slept with my dad!" Well, kids, obviously not all Indian women have these fantastic qualities. This is just a generalization based on my own observations.
Disclaimer to the disclaimer: In the quote above, Priya Patel is a fictional character made up for the sole purpose of entertainment and educational value. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
If you want to see more of my friendly stereotyping, check out my 10,000 word post, Why Swedish Girls Make the Best Lovers.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Goodbye, Playboy Club...
Well, it happened.
NBC announced today that it cancelled the new series, The Playboy Club. They claim it was due to poor ratings (only 3.4 million people watched it Monday night) and it may have also been due to pressure from conservative groups, such as the Parents Television Council.
I am so angry about this announcement, I can't even think of words to describe what I want to say. And that's saying a lot.
Only three episodes of the show had aired, so obviously, I'm not a die-hard fan or anything. But after three episodes, I really enjoyed the show. I could already tell it was going to be a show I was going to watch every week.
The acting was decent. The stars were sexy. The costumes were fabulous. The plot was thick with adventure, mystery, suspense, and jaw-dropping twists. It wasn't perfect, but it was a show which clearly had a lot of potential.
As for the ratings, all great television shows need time to develop a faithful audience. You can't just expect 20 million people to watch and fall in love with a show on the first night. It just doesn't work that way.
So, for NBC to cancel the show based on "poor viewership" after only three episodes is ridiculous.
As for the conservative groups which protested the show, I'm even more distressed. They denounced the show for being "pornographic" and for trying to sexualize women.
The Playboy Club was not pornographic by any means. It was based on the Playboy Bunnies (not the playmates) who were the waitresses at the illustrious Playboy Club in Chicago during the 1960s. These women were not strippers. They were not prostitutes. They were young, beautiful, and educated. Many were wives, mothers, and future businesswomen.
And as for the sexploitation of women, give me a break. Perhaps we should get rid of supermodels. Perhaps we should get rid of pop stars. Perhaps we should get rid of reality television show stars (which I wouldn't oppose, haha). There is nothing wrong with women wanting to be sexy and acting sexy. The fact that people call women being sexy sexploitation is what makes it sexist.
The show had an element of class to it, which you don't see very often on television these days. It highlighted the glamour of its era, plus focused on historical elements facing Chicago during this time period. It showcased gay rights, civil rights, and women's rights. Sure, it had romance and sex. But it wasn't graphic. It wasn't sleazy. There have been shows with much worse content.
I'm just really frustrated that a good show, with such great potential, got cancelled before it was even given a chance.
I'm tired of turning on the television and seeing stupid, meaningless shows that were created for the real-life Homer Simpson.
Because those are the shows which last in this country.
Many of the shows I've fallen in love with over the years have failed with the average American.
Freaks & Geeks. Sports Night. Arrested Development.
It makes me really sad.
There is a Facebook page to support the show. Perhaps with our collective fabulousness, we can save it. (Well, perhaps not, but humor me).
So please like the page, if you liked the show! Thank you.
NBC announced today that it cancelled the new series, The Playboy Club. They claim it was due to poor ratings (only 3.4 million people watched it Monday night) and it may have also been due to pressure from conservative groups, such as the Parents Television Council.
I am so angry about this announcement, I can't even think of words to describe what I want to say. And that's saying a lot.
Only three episodes of the show had aired, so obviously, I'm not a die-hard fan or anything. But after three episodes, I really enjoyed the show. I could already tell it was going to be a show I was going to watch every week.
The acting was decent. The stars were sexy. The costumes were fabulous. The plot was thick with adventure, mystery, suspense, and jaw-dropping twists. It wasn't perfect, but it was a show which clearly had a lot of potential.
As for the ratings, all great television shows need time to develop a faithful audience. You can't just expect 20 million people to watch and fall in love with a show on the first night. It just doesn't work that way.
So, for NBC to cancel the show based on "poor viewership" after only three episodes is ridiculous.
As for the conservative groups which protested the show, I'm even more distressed. They denounced the show for being "pornographic" and for trying to sexualize women.
The Playboy Club was not pornographic by any means. It was based on the Playboy Bunnies (not the playmates) who were the waitresses at the illustrious Playboy Club in Chicago during the 1960s. These women were not strippers. They were not prostitutes. They were young, beautiful, and educated. Many were wives, mothers, and future businesswomen.
And as for the sexploitation of women, give me a break. Perhaps we should get rid of supermodels. Perhaps we should get rid of pop stars. Perhaps we should get rid of reality television show stars (which I wouldn't oppose, haha). There is nothing wrong with women wanting to be sexy and acting sexy. The fact that people call women being sexy sexploitation is what makes it sexist.
The show had an element of class to it, which you don't see very often on television these days. It highlighted the glamour of its era, plus focused on historical elements facing Chicago during this time period. It showcased gay rights, civil rights, and women's rights. Sure, it had romance and sex. But it wasn't graphic. It wasn't sleazy. There have been shows with much worse content.
I'm just really frustrated that a good show, with such great potential, got cancelled before it was even given a chance.
I'm tired of turning on the television and seeing stupid, meaningless shows that were created for the real-life Homer Simpson.
Because those are the shows which last in this country.
Many of the shows I've fallen in love with over the years have failed with the average American.
Freaks & Geeks. Sports Night. Arrested Development.
It makes me really sad.
There is a Facebook page to support the show. Perhaps with our collective fabulousness, we can save it. (Well, perhaps not, but humor me).
So please like the page, if you liked the show! Thank you.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Fashion Guest Post!
Love Golden Girls? I show you how to get their style here: http://ambersmouthwash.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-golden-girls-by-jennifer.html
Guest Post: Jonny's Fall TV lineup!
Please enjoy this guest post from my bestie!
What can I say about the new Fall lineup on TV? One word: fabulous. Okay, I know that word is a little overused here… eh, who cares?!? I know Jenny has told you about our favorite new show, The Playboy Club, but I have a few new shows I want to feature!
Let's start with Monday night.
2 Broke Girls is great in addition to The Playboy Club. For a live-action comedy, the writing is pretty good. I don't feel stupid when I watch it. It's produced by Whitney Cummings (who has her own show on Thursday nights on NBC-- more on that below) and directed by veteran TV director James Burrows (Will & Grace, Mike & Molly, Fraiser, Friends, Caroline in the City, Cheers, Taxi, Rhoda, Laverne & Shirley, The Bob Newhart Show, Phyllis, The Mary Tyler Moore Show-- the list goes on and on-- in other words, a lot of great classic shows!). Kat Dennings is my favorite for her very direct, and often dirty, humor…
Tuesday night for me is the new season of NCIS. It's not a new series, of course, but it's one of my favorites that I look forward to each week. The cast and the writing always keep me coming back for more. (And a side note, Muse Watson, the guy who played Mike Franks, came to see the show I perform at in Branson this week--pretty exciting!)
As for Wednesday nights, Harry's Law returns for a second season. I stopped watching during the first season because Kathy Bates (who I've loved ever since Fried Green Tomatoes) always seemed so depressed in her acting. There was no fire in her. It worked for the first episode because her character gets fired from her law practice, gets hit by a bus and is subsequently depressed, but it stayed lackluster and never developed. Since they added Jean Smart to the cast, I'm giving it a second shot. Her character, Hosanna Roseanna, is so dark and juicy! Definitely not the Charlene Frazier Stillfield we remember from way back when… and she looks great for having just turned 60! (And speaking of Designing Women alum, Annie Potts is returning to TV in a new series on ABC called Good Christian Belles that's supposed to premiere later this season.)
Thursday nights has a lot of great new shows. Person of Interest is an intense ride! Jim Caviezel plays an ex-CIA agent who is recruited to stop crimes before they happen. Think Early Edition post-9/11 with a lot of guns and action. I hope the rest of the season keeps up with the action as much as the pilot episode.
Prime Suspect is remake of the British series of the same name which starred the fabulous Helen Mirren (which ran off and on from 1991-2006). Mario Bello does a great job kicking ass and taking names. She plays a detective who has to overcome the "good 'ol boys club" while fighting horrible crimes.
Whitney is Whitney Cumming's new series, and it's actually cute. I'm anxious to see how this one develops over the season. Very promising! Great writing! It's not Jenny's favorite, but I'm sure she'll tell you why later...
There's a new show on CBS on Friday night's that surprised me. A Gifted Man is about a New York City neurosurgeon who treats only the rich and famous. After his dead ex-wife visits him from beyond (the first visit he doesn't know she died two weeks earlier), he has a change of heart and decides to treat the less fortunate. Think Providence meets Touched By An Angel-- two of my favorite classic television series.
Sunday nights round off the week with Pan Am. I know the networks are getting a little overboard with the historical fiction series, but this one has a lot of promise. Good characters and lots of mystery. Much like The Playboy Club, Pan Am is about a group of stewardesses who fly around the world, dress fabulously, have romantic rendezvous, and maybe spy for the U.S. Government. Christina Ricci is always a treat to watch. Definitely set your DVR for this one!
However, there are a few shows you shouldn't waste your time on. Let's start with Charlie's Angels. When I first saw the marketing for this show, I was excited. I was in New York at the time and their giant billboard was all over Times Square. I was instantly hooked. The three women looked great, and I loved this series the first time around so how could they go wrong? Well, it was so corny. In the first scene they rescue a kidnapped girl and the fight scene they had with the bad guys was so cheesy. Total fake. I deleted it 7 minutes into it.
I had higher hopes for two new shows on NBC. Up All Night is Christina Applegate's new series, and I absolutely love her. I hated it when they canceled her show, Samantha, Who?, two years ago. However, I was bored with this show. I don't care for humor like The Office. I know, start writing the hateful comments, but it just doesn't make me laugh. This show plays off this type of humor. I loved the pilot episode but not the subsequent ones. Next please.
The other show that follows right behind that is Free Agents. Natasha Leggero, guest panelist on Chelsea Lately with Whitney Cummings, et al, is hysterical. I love her and hope she gets her own series one day. However, the other characters are boring and I found myself loving the pilot and hating every episode after that. Delete. Delete. Delete.
Out of all the new shows, there were only three that I didn't like. I'd say that is impressive! Of course, the only reason why I'm watching these shows is to fill the void until my other shows come back from hiatus-- The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Memphis Beat, White Collar, Necessary Roughness, Suits -- basically until USA and TNT's entire lineup comes back.
What do you think of the new shows? Are there any that I didn't mention that I should have checked out? What are your favorites?
What can I say about the new Fall lineup on TV? One word: fabulous. Okay, I know that word is a little overused here… eh, who cares?!? I know Jenny has told you about our favorite new show, The Playboy Club, but I have a few new shows I want to feature!
Let's start with Monday night.
2 Broke Girls is great in addition to The Playboy Club. For a live-action comedy, the writing is pretty good. I don't feel stupid when I watch it. It's produced by Whitney Cummings (who has her own show on Thursday nights on NBC-- more on that below) and directed by veteran TV director James Burrows (Will & Grace, Mike & Molly, Fraiser, Friends, Caroline in the City, Cheers, Taxi, Rhoda, Laverne & Shirley, The Bob Newhart Show, Phyllis, The Mary Tyler Moore Show-- the list goes on and on-- in other words, a lot of great classic shows!). Kat Dennings is my favorite for her very direct, and often dirty, humor…
Tuesday night for me is the new season of NCIS. It's not a new series, of course, but it's one of my favorites that I look forward to each week. The cast and the writing always keep me coming back for more. (And a side note, Muse Watson, the guy who played Mike Franks, came to see the show I perform at in Branson this week--pretty exciting!)
As for Wednesday nights, Harry's Law returns for a second season. I stopped watching during the first season because Kathy Bates (who I've loved ever since Fried Green Tomatoes) always seemed so depressed in her acting. There was no fire in her. It worked for the first episode because her character gets fired from her law practice, gets hit by a bus and is subsequently depressed, but it stayed lackluster and never developed. Since they added Jean Smart to the cast, I'm giving it a second shot. Her character, Hosanna Roseanna, is so dark and juicy! Definitely not the Charlene Frazier Stillfield we remember from way back when… and she looks great for having just turned 60! (And speaking of Designing Women alum, Annie Potts is returning to TV in a new series on ABC called Good Christian Belles that's supposed to premiere later this season.)
Thursday nights has a lot of great new shows. Person of Interest is an intense ride! Jim Caviezel plays an ex-CIA agent who is recruited to stop crimes before they happen. Think Early Edition post-9/11 with a lot of guns and action. I hope the rest of the season keeps up with the action as much as the pilot episode.
Prime Suspect is remake of the British series of the same name which starred the fabulous Helen Mirren (which ran off and on from 1991-2006). Mario Bello does a great job kicking ass and taking names. She plays a detective who has to overcome the "good 'ol boys club" while fighting horrible crimes.
Whitney is Whitney Cumming's new series, and it's actually cute. I'm anxious to see how this one develops over the season. Very promising! Great writing! It's not Jenny's favorite, but I'm sure she'll tell you why later...
There's a new show on CBS on Friday night's that surprised me. A Gifted Man is about a New York City neurosurgeon who treats only the rich and famous. After his dead ex-wife visits him from beyond (the first visit he doesn't know she died two weeks earlier), he has a change of heart and decides to treat the less fortunate. Think Providence meets Touched By An Angel-- two of my favorite classic television series.
Sunday nights round off the week with Pan Am. I know the networks are getting a little overboard with the historical fiction series, but this one has a lot of promise. Good characters and lots of mystery. Much like The Playboy Club, Pan Am is about a group of stewardesses who fly around the world, dress fabulously, have romantic rendezvous, and maybe spy for the U.S. Government. Christina Ricci is always a treat to watch. Definitely set your DVR for this one!
However, there are a few shows you shouldn't waste your time on. Let's start with Charlie's Angels. When I first saw the marketing for this show, I was excited. I was in New York at the time and their giant billboard was all over Times Square. I was instantly hooked. The three women looked great, and I loved this series the first time around so how could they go wrong? Well, it was so corny. In the first scene they rescue a kidnapped girl and the fight scene they had with the bad guys was so cheesy. Total fake. I deleted it 7 minutes into it.
I had higher hopes for two new shows on NBC. Up All Night is Christina Applegate's new series, and I absolutely love her. I hated it when they canceled her show, Samantha, Who?, two years ago. However, I was bored with this show. I don't care for humor like The Office. I know, start writing the hateful comments, but it just doesn't make me laugh. This show plays off this type of humor. I loved the pilot episode but not the subsequent ones. Next please.
The other show that follows right behind that is Free Agents. Natasha Leggero, guest panelist on Chelsea Lately with Whitney Cummings, et al, is hysterical. I love her and hope she gets her own series one day. However, the other characters are boring and I found myself loving the pilot and hating every episode after that. Delete. Delete. Delete.
Out of all the new shows, there were only three that I didn't like. I'd say that is impressive! Of course, the only reason why I'm watching these shows is to fill the void until my other shows come back from hiatus-- The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Memphis Beat, White Collar, Necessary Roughness, Suits -- basically until USA and TNT's entire lineup comes back.
What do you think of the new shows? Are there any that I didn't mention that I should have checked out? What are your favorites?
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