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Welcome Back, Ugly Betty!

August 31, 2008

I am trying to catch myself up with Ugly Betty in time for the season 3 premiere on Thursday, Sept. 25. Here’s why I like the show:

Its New York City setting riding the subway between Queens and Manhattan mingles cultures and classes, just like real life.

Ugly Betty is set in the mod office of Mode Magazine. It’s filled with heroes and villains dressed in fashion extremes yet whose characters’ personalities deal in shades of grey where the good guys often fail us and the bad guys hint at humanity once in a while to keep us guessing.  Plus, it’s funny.

As a public service I will offer some words of wisdom to a few of the characters from the show, Ugly Betty, starting with…

Betty’s suitor, Henry:

Somehow, miraculously and irresponsibly, you got your Baby Mama Charlie pregnant, so deal and leave Betty alone. 

Now to Wilhelmina’s sneaky assistant, Marc:

I love how you cut to the chase! “Blah blah blah. Tragedy.”

Go easy on those chocolatini’s when you aren’t be sure of who is pouring.

Be careful; you are just too pretty for prison.

And finally, Betty:

Don’t buy Louis Vuitton knockoffs from a blanket on Sixth Avenue. Not only is it unethical, those tacky fakes fool no one.

Leave the suitcase, take the cupcakes.

Not everyone who makes sandwiches is a lunk.

Keep the bling on your smile, not on your cell – got to hear those messages!

Plug the right guy into your fantasy (hint: it might not be either Henry or Gio!).

Open your eyes. Fireworks can come from unexpected places.

Now here are a few things I have learned from Ugly Betty:

Betty isn’t ugly.

Pink mums are beautiful.

You must trust - but be careful whom you trust.

Birthdays are special.

Life experience counts for something.

There will never be a day when I don’t need cupcakes.

You’re never too old for piñatas.

Reality ain’t perfect but it’s pretty good.

Cab close-ups make cool scene transitions.

I can’t wait for the new season of Ugly Betty, especially since the real New York City will now be the backdrop. That’s as real as it gets for this New Yorker.

Written by Pamela Koller · Filed Under America Ferrera, Television | Leave a Comment 

Hotel Hotspot: The W

August 31, 2008

As much as I love Jon Stewart and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, I think it might be tough for Stewart to reconcile his connection to the common man while residing at the hippest hotel in the Twin Cities during the Republican National Convention next week.

Rooms go for $400 and up at the brand new W Minneapolis - The Foshay, where it’s been reported Stewart will be staying. This hotel hotspot touts Manny’s Steakhouse and the Keys Cafe, along with a 30th floor open-air perch to view all 360 degrees of Minneapolis. The Foshay is even more highfalutin than the spot McCain and Co. will cool their heels - The St. Paul Hotel.

Jon, you can’t help that you are a multi-millionaire, living the good life. Our welcome mat is out for you, Jon, here in the Twin Cities. As long as you keep us laughing at your funny fake news we will consider you to be one of us.

Written by Pamela Koller · Filed Under Hotspots, Jon Stewart | Leave a Comment 

Obama’s Presidential Speech Set Rating Records

August 31, 2008

In accepting the nomination for president, TV Decoder reports that Barack Obama not only enticed the attention of the nearly 80,000 supports at the Denver Broncos football stadium, but almost 38 million television viewers too.

The ratings topped last year’s Oscars (32 million), every night of the Beijing Olympic Games (which, at its best had 34.9 million), and last spring’s American Idol finale (31.7 million) according to US Weekly.

Compared to other empowering speeches from Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Obama’s running-mate Joe Biden, Obama’s acceptance speech was easily the most-watched hour of the Democratic convention.

The four days of the convention combined averaged 27.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched convention, Democratic or Republican, on record according to Nielsen Media Research.  (Note Nielsen viewership has only been calculated since 2000).

John Kerry’s speech in 2004 drew 24.4 million viewers and George W. Bush’s was watched by 27.5 million, reports US Weekly.

E! News reports that after Obama, the week’s next-biggest draw was his primaries rival Hillary Clinton.  Tuesday’s prime-time coverage, featuring a speech by Clinton, averaged 26 million. Wednesday night, featuring a speech by former President Bill Clinton, averaged 24 million.

Written by Tiffany Wilbert · Filed Under Barack Obama, Television | Leave a Comment 

With Amy One Never Knows…

August 31, 2008

Amy Winehouse didn’t show up at a performance in Paris on Friday night, reps stating she was too sick to perform.

Here’s the thing: That just might be true, especially if reports are accurate that she does indeed have emphysema, and if it’s taken a turn for the worse.

But here’s the other thing: one of Amy’s reps is reported as saying (I’m paraphrasing here), ‘It ain’t serious enough to go to the hospital. She’s just in bed and can’t sing.’ To which I say: BOGUS! The rest of us report in for duty when we’re “under the weather.”

Get with the program, Amy! People pay a LOT to see you make an arse of yourself onstage – and you have an obligation not to disappoint.” On the other hand, if by chance you really are sick and end up in the hospital, then disregard anything written here.

Written by Judith Brown · Filed Under Amy Winehouse, Entertainment News | Leave a Comment 

Fall Movie Preview: A-List Stars, Secret Agents, A Bad Dog and the Reunion of Leo & Kate

August 31, 2008

Burn After Reading: Fresh off their Best Picture-winning No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers bring us this comedy with an all-star cast. Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand play foolish gym employees who try to extort a CIA agent (John Malkovich) after finding his top secret CD-ROM. Best Supporting Actress Tilda Swinton and George Clooney also star. Sept. 12

Righteous Kill: Robert De Niro and Al Pacino team up for the first time since 1995’s Heat to play NYC detectives searching for a serial killer. De Niro and Pacino are reason alone enough to go. Sept. 12

Eagle Eye: Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are being tracked by a stranger on their cell phones in a story conceived by Steven Spielberg that is pertinent in today’s technological times when everyone’s always within reach of a Blackberry or iPhone. Sept. 26

Rachel Getting Married: Anne Hathaway takes a departure from her chipper roles as a recovering drug addict and black sheep who’s attending her sister’s wedding. Oct. 3

Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist: Michael Cera of Superbad and Juno and Kat Dennings of The 40 Year-Old Virgin play high schoolers who fall in love en route to a secret late-night concert in a realistic teen comedy. Oct. 3

Changeling: Clint Eastwood’s 1920s story of a woman (Angelina Jolie) whose young son disappears is already creating Oscar buzz for Jolie. Oct. 24

Quantum of Solace: The highly-anticipated “Bond” film picks up an hour after Casino Royale left off. Nov. 7

The Soloist: In this potential Oscar fare, Jamie Foxx plays a musical prodigy who ends up homeless and mentally ill on the streets of L.A. and is paired with Robert Downey Jr. as a journalist. Nov. 21

Milk: Sean Penn stars in this biopic of Harvey Milk who was the first gay man elected to political office. Directed by Gus Van Sant and also starring Emile Hirsch and James Franco. Nov. 26

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Brad Pitt ages backwards from age 80 to eight in this fantasy based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story. Also starring Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton. Dec. 25

Marley & Me: Dog lovers rejoice! Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star in the film adaptation of the beloved book about the “world’s worst dog.” Dec. 25

Revolutionary Road: Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite for the first time since Titanic – only this time they’re not a love-struck couple. This is a story about what happens to a suburban-living married couple after they fall out of love. Dec. 26

Written by Hilary Dickinson · Filed Under Al Pacino, Angelina Jolie, Anne Hathaway, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Clint Eastwood, Coen Brothers, Emile Hirsch, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, James Franco, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Aniston, John Malkovich, Kat Dennings, Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Cera, Michelle Monaghan, Movies, Owen Wilson, Robert De Niro, Robert Downey Jr., Sean Penn, Shia LeBeouf, Steven Spielberg, Tilda Swinton | Leave a Comment 

The Cho Show and the Four “F’s”

August 31, 2008

Yes, four F’s: fearless, flawless, fabulous and, not to mention, f-ing funny!  Maybe that makes it 5 “F’s?”  Regardless, I heart this show.

The newest reality TV show to add to the line up of seemingly endless reality TV shows.  The Cho Show follows Margaret, her assistant, her parents and, of course, her main gays.

The beauty of The Cho Show is that, unlike Kathy Griffin’s My Life on the D-List, seeing Margaret’s life enhances her comedy and offers heartfelt insight into her life.  

Case in point-in the first episode, seeing Margaret and her parents interact and the pressures they put on her (particularly to have a baby) makes her comedy that much more hilarious and poignant.

There was some brew-ha-ha that the show seems too scripted, but in our Hills society, what isn’t scripted?  And, more to the point, who really cares when it comes to Margaret Cho?  

Her comedy routines are scripted and they are hysterical.  Similarly, her show is irreverent and side-splittingly funny.  Any chance I can get to hear Cho, I’ll take!

Written by Michael Marino · Filed Under Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, Television | Leave a Comment 

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