Author Archive for Jessica Rae

Your Advance Look at The Closer episode: Sudden Death

I was granted an advance viewing of the upcoming episode of The Closer, entitled Sudden Death. You guys know that I don’t like to give away too many spoilers because then you won’t enjoy the show as much. But what fun would it be if I didn’t share anything? To view the episode tune in to TNT next Monday, August 25th, at 9 p.m. (You bring the popcorn, I’ll bring the gummi bears.) I recommend turning in earlier because starting at 9 a.m. there will be a 13 episode marathon of The Closer.

Sudden Death focuses on Detective Julio Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) and what occurs in the wake of the unexpected and sadly fatal shooting of his brother. This is the kind of TV episode that occurs in niche shows (crime, hospital, or uh…beet farming) where everything you know is knocked to the wayside because personal attacks hit a group of people differently. I know that sounds vague, because how could a personal attack not affect someone differently. Honestly? I’m not sure how to anymore specifically phrase this. What do I mean by ‘differently’? Well, more intensely for sure. But other than that it varies by as many individuals as there are involved. The only common thread that I’m (fairly) certain is there is that it’s different than how you feel about other cases for your job.

Raymond Cruz and Kyra Sedgwick

I guess that’s what they mean when they say something hits you close to home. Only, it’s not just close to your home - it’s in your home on your favorite chair, and what are you gonna do about it now? Well, objectivity is a difficult skill, and it is one that you will see struggled with in this episode. Without the ability to detach from the case, things get messy. A leak in the department and the methods used by Sanchez to find the killer both become problems. Plus, an unfriendly face with their own motives becomes salt in the wound.

Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) is once again smooth with her interrogation techniques, and every time I watch this show I feel pretty wowed. Put it this way: I would not want to be in a room with her if I had a major secret. But it is the grief-ridden performance by Raymond Cruz as Julio Sanchez that particularly wowed me this time. I have one other name to drop, and that is: Kevin Bacon. Bacon, Sedgwick’s real life husband, directed this episode. And very well, I’ll add. But would you expect any less?

The entire episode is chock full of talent. My one real complaint? Much as I love the costume design work in general (especially for Brenda), Brenda does wear a dress in this episode that screams ‘I’m a pilgrim’. Pilgrim fashion never caught on for a reason.

G.W. Bailey as Det. Lt. Provenza

My favorite quotes for this episode:

“I finally get to be the witness who didn’t see anything.” - Julio Sanchez

“People maybe be created equal, but they don’t die that way. Murder isn’t fair.” - Brenda Leigh Johnson

“I know I didn’t do it by the book. But the book doesn’t cover this.” - Not telling you who says this, it’ll tell you too much.

Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon on the set of The Closer

Pictures are courtesy of TNT, they are by Karen Neal

Popularity: 18% [?]

The Jonas Brothers: 70’s Porn Hair Has Never Been So Insulted

“Okay, am I the only one who doesn’t get the whole Jonas Brothers thing? Why are people falling all over themselves about them? One looks very much like a mole and the other has 70’s porn hair!!! The other is fairly attractive, yes, but what’s with those damn skinny jeans that they wear ALL THE TIME?!” - Brittany, my personal adviser and all-around amazing friend.

I am really glad that someone finally said it. It’s like Hanson for 2008, except without the good MMMbop song! I see these guys everywhere, but have never heard them. I think that I heard that they tour with Miley Cyrus, which already is deducting points to their credibility. I think it’s grand for tweens to have stuff they love, but, uh, just keep it away from me. I looked up their picture so I can better identify them. Voila:

The Jonas Brothers

And here is another picture:

The Jonas Brothers

Do you notice a theme? Fog? Kind of a lot of it? Yea. What is up with that? Why is there so much fog in all of the Jonas Brothers pictures? Does this lend them mystique? I think not. FAIL.

Edit: And then I found this link that says (and shows) that they’ve already got their own Madam Tussad’s wax figures. ALREADY? They’re still embryos! How can they be worthy? Society, WTF?

Popularity: 35% [?]

Get Yourself into a Great Groove

Sofa Chip gets hits from over 160 different countries in the world. I want to show some U.K. love, especially since I have some wonderful friends (and loyal readers, might I add!) in Ireland and Italy. TV and music are so interconnected, that you may have noticed a new special tag for music on the blog. Entertainment as a whole is what I unabashedly love, and what I know you guys love, too. With all of this in mind, I want to share with you a site I was recently introduced to: viagogo.

In a way, the site reminds me of eBay - and you know how popular and great that site is. viagogo is the place to go to buy tickets in Europe. Not just that (see ya’ to all of you one trick ponies), it’s also the place to sell tickets in Europe.

Gone are the days of spending a ton of money on concert tickets only to learn that you have to go to some lame family reunion. Well, that might still happen (familial obligations never end), but now you won’t be out of all your money. A live, online auction to buy, sell, or trade tickets? Yup. That’s what this is. We’re talking all sorts of tickets, by the way. The site has sections for: concert tickets, sports tickets, art and theatre tickets, hospitality tickets, and exclusive tickets.

You’ll never need to skulk in a dark alley trying to sell your tickets ever again because viagogo makes everything safe, secure, and timely. This June we learned that the site actually won the coveted Best New Business Award for the 2008 New Media Age Effectiveness Awards. What does this mean? Get on board now, because soon everyone will be talking about it, using it, and loving it. It’s the equivalent of the really cool tech friend you had in college who always knew the best new technology breakthroughs online, and was talking about MySpace and Facebook way before you knew what those sites were. (Don’t worry, we all had friends like that. They rule the world now.)

The coolest stuff in the concert section for the site include: Oasis Tickets, Nickelback Tickets, and Coldplay Tickets. The sections they have to search for different genres of music is organized very well. Fans of Madonna should be super-excited because viagogo is an official partner for her Sticky & Sweet tour. Check out this page for info on that. I’m going to pull out one of my Madonna CD’s right now. Beware, I may start singing!

Note: The original concert photo is from the flickr user anirudah koul.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Goodbye, Men in Trees.

The Ben Arthur song Tattoo was featured on ABC’s (now canceled) Men in Trees in the episode Wander/Lust. Have a listen to jog your memory. He’s brilliant. Although, it’s another song of his that I am absolutley in LOVE with, you see. With the cancellation/loss of this show, and others (like Angel, Veronica Mars, Firefly), this song seems kinda perfect. I just have one loose end, excuse me….

Dear Men in Trees,

I didn’t give you much of a chance. You see, our schedules never quite added up right. As flimsy excuses go, I know that’s a weak one. Honestly, when I saw you - I was interested. I thought you looked like someone I knew in high school but never had classes with so I never bothered to talk to. Now that you’re gone, maybe we can reconcile over Netflix. I know this letter might seem like the yearbook message that Ben Covington left to Felicity Porter (Felicity) but I will not be following you to college across the country. That’s just now how I roll. But I’ll look for your DVDs, I really do promise. I know the Gossip Girl season one DVD comes out like, tomorrow, but you come first for me.

XO,

Jessica Rae

Ben Arthur - Keep Me Around:

Keep me around
My whole life long
And when I’m gone
Don’t you bury my bones
Keep me around

Knit a sweater from my hair
String a necklace of teeth
Or just lean me there
On the backporch where
I can feel the breeze

Chorus

It’s not that I’m jealous
I’d jut make a lovely stand for umbrellas
And you can toss your keys
Into the caps of my knees
When you come back from town

Chorus

Pickle my fingers in liquor
Leave them roll in a drawer
And you can hang your clothes
From hooks made of my toes
On the back of the door

Cool Stuff on the Internet, ‘Cause Boy Am I Obsessed:

1. This website: DownForEveryoneOrJustMe. It lets you find out, well, if a certain website is down for everyone or just you and your computer/connection! Huzzah. Technology is great.

2. PassiveAgressiveNotes.com

3. ThePioneerWomanCooks.com I’ve never made Risotto but with this recipe I might have to try making it for myself.

4. The AChairFantastic blog is very cool. (No, I’m not only partial to sofa’s!) I especially love the post here about Aiveen Daly chairs.

5. Alright, this isn’t just online, but the book Colour: Travels Through the Paintbox by Victoria Finlay looks amazing.

Color: A Natural History of the Palette (Same book?) / Colour: Travels Through the Paintbox

Jewels: A Secret History

Also I wanted to mention that Sofachip has a brand new layout (blue!) and a new header (I made it, praise me!) and all that, so go check it out…now? Tada! We are the same site, we just got some Botox! You’ll want to note that you can now search through every tag we have. So if you are on a page about Gilmore Girls but you’d like to go look at posts about Bones you can easily find them all.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Accessorize Like Dr. Temperance Brennan of Bones: Part Two!

My first post about Accessorizing like Dr. Temperance Brennan of Bones seems to be a post of great interest, even though it has been months since it was posted. So I decided it was time to update the post and make a second installment. So here is part two!

You want jewelry like Dr. Brennan? Well, I’m here with some picks! I focused first on wooden and turquoise pieces.

You can find any of these very affordable items in stores right now:

Women’s Enamel Double-Disk Pendant Necklaces @ Old Navy

Oversized Wood Bangle @ Charlotte Ruse

BKE Wood Earrings @ Buckle

Turquoise and Wood Earring @ American Eagle

3 Piece Bandle Bracelet Set @ Wet Seal

A mixture of pieces and prices:

Gemstone Earrings @ JC Penny - $$

Antic Leaf Earring @ Forever 21 -$

Tribal Bangle Bracelet from HSN -$

Kenneth Jay Lane Tribal Wooden Bangle Set # Net-A-Porter.com -$$$

From the picture collage above: Lucia Beaded Earrings, Bead Necklace with Wood, Chic Beads Bracelet. Please be aware that these are all in the more expensive range and would serve as a great investment if you have the money, and the initiative to build a collection with this taste in mind.

For more Sirlinksalot.net : Bones

Popularity: 39% [?]