All Posts Tagged With: "My So-Called Life"

Holly Hunter is a Ferocious Femme in TNT’s Saving Grace

When you’re an avid TV watcher, you won’t make time for something that isn’t good. So first, let me make something clear - I am an avid TV watcher. Next, let me tell you what I just watched: Saving Grace (season two, episode one: Have a Seat, Earl). You can all watch this episode premiere on Monday July 14th, on TNT (10/9 C).

But, unless you are already a fan (and I know there are plenty of you!) maybe you’d like to know why I’d recommend watching. I mean, unless you’re here for advice on changing the oil in your car? Since my knowledge of cars extends only slightly past how to maneuver a bumper car for maximum bumping efficiency, let’s talk about the show. I’ve gotten to preview the first episode, courtesy of TNT. The pictures are also courtesy of them.

Continued

Popularity: 16% [?]

“I want them to be dumb!” That’s a nice soundbite from the latest episode of America’s Next Top Model. It was said by the new judge, Paulina Porizkova. She was being cheeky, but there’s truth in her statement.

How did this quote come about? Since it’s a guilty pleasure show and I was watching, I can tell you. Tyra was talking about how Katarzyna doesn’t let her eyes flirt with the camera. (Tip: Next time you take a picture, flirt with the camera and see how it looks. But don’t do this if the person behind the camera is your creepy Uncle Bob.) The judges pointed out that they can always see Katarzyna thinking and over-analyzing her moves, and it shows in the pictures she takes. Which doesn’t make for a stunning photograph. Hmm…I wonder how the compulsive, analytical thinker, Angela Chase (Claire Danes on My So-Called Life), ever took a good photo.

Their theory is that if a model is thinking, she won’t get any good photos. Ergo, they should be dumb. Of course, the alternative, which they’ve suggested to many girls, is that they should be thinking and have some thought in their eyes so it reads on the film. Just don’t be thinking something that makes you look worried (vent that out in therapy). You have to have inspiration to draw upon. Don’t let anyone see how hard you’re working in your head. With practice, things will come more naturally to you. And please, don’t ask me why I’m rattling off modeling advice. Listen, I’m not going to work with you until you learn to start smiling with your eyes! And can you even walk, or do you think glomping like a robot down a runway is going to be a new trend? *Throws champagne flute, stomps away*

As for the show - Katarzyna was eliminated. Whitney was saved. Anya had better win this thing. Anyone else know that her last name is Kop? Anya Kop! That is such a fun name. She should win just for that.

For more: America’s Next Top Model: Sirlinksalot.net

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Popularity: 16% [?]

On Monday Buzz Sugar started a poll to see what the most popular teenage drama of all time is, according to fans. As of right now Beverly Hills 90210 is winning the race. Then comes Buffy the Vampire Slayer and My-So Called Life. I voted for Buffy, that’s just how I roll.

Dawson’s Creek is a contender, and I’m glad. That was back before Katie Holmes was abducted by Tom Cruise. The show was and is amazing. What I remember hearing a lot back when the show was new was how ‘they talk funny’ - because they used large words. Personally, I loved it - and I learned words from watching! Persnickety, anyone? I can remember watching the pilot, loving the new world. I can also remember watching the season finale - crying, but happy. (The show had run its’ course, Joey ended up with Pacey, and though Jen had a sad ending - we got to see Michelle Williams prove her acting chops in a major way.)

Gossip Girl is also a contender, and this isn’t right. The show hasn’t even had a full season yet - how can people know it’s the best teenage show of all time? What if all of the other seasons suck? Personally I think the ‘new shine’ of the show is blinding people to the fact that it doesn’t hold up next to other teen shows we’ve had on our screens.

Surprisingly, One Tree Hill isn’t in this list.

Watch the results unfold here.

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Popularity: 22% [?]

There were not even twenty episodes of My So-Called Life, yet the show has, if you’ll excuse the sloppy (semi) pun, lived on long past its original air date of August 25th, 1994. The one-hour drama centered around Claire Danes as 15-year-old Angela Chase was nothing short of captivating.

Jordan Catalano was the perfect leading man for Angela Chase. That is to say, he was entirely wrong for her, but he was irresistible. That’s how it goes. Our desires are never hardwired for what is easily attainable. Jordan was inarguably frustrating and equally endearing with his enigmatic quality. Not to mention his effortless vibe of ‘cool’.

Angela was barely a bleep on Jordan’s radar for more than a momentary sighting, but as love (young or old) can go - she was enamored with him so strongly his pull on her was significant and at times all-consuming. When a girl thinks you lean in a great way - the crush is considerably far-reaching.

“I’m in love. His name is Jordan Catalano. He was left back, twice.

Once I almost touched his shoulder in the middle of a pop quiz.

He’s always closing his eyes, like it hurts to look at things.“

Teenage girls these days may never truly recognize the appeal of Jordan. Then again, Jordan may be the James Dean of cool, his flannel shirts as iconic on him as a leather jacket on James.

The dispiriting aspect of icons is that often they remain more powerful when taken away before we’re ready for them to leave. Jordan sauntered in and out of scenes on the show with total disregard for other’s (teachers, friends, Angela), including the offscreen viewers who wanted more. But it was this very replicated routine that echoed real life (how often do you truly get to see your bigtime crush? it’s never enough) and made you feel the ardent sense of longing that Angela felt.

Jordan never let you get a satisfying grasp on him. Once you thought you understood something and finally learned a secret (being dyslexic = no wonder he’s such a slacker) - he changed. Or he would be perfectly human and make a mistake (sleeping with Angela’s best friend). Or you would fail to realize the downfalls of romanticizing him (the song he wrote called ‘Red’ = wasn’t really about you, but his car). His appeal might never have been forever steady, but to make him without flaws would to have made him boring - uninteresting, a character to forget.

And I remember Jordan very well.

I wonder what an aged version Angela, in 2008, would say to Jordan now. Though, I imagine it might go something like this… Continued

Popularity: 18% [?]

Voiceovers pull you into a show by breaking down that fourth wall that keeps you defined as merely an observer. With a voiceover you’re privy to a character or narrator’s inner thoughts. It’s kind of like being able to read minds, and I know there are plenty of people who’d choose that superpower if they could pick one. (I would personally like to be able to turn invisible.)

While ’show, don’t tell’ is a good rule of thumb for any creative device (oh boy, do I ever loathe movie exposition that’s force-fed in a huge five minute chunk) there is a certain undeniable charm to voiceovers when they’re done right.

I would argue that not every show or movie that utilizes a continual voiceover needs one. But there have been shows that have used them and used them well. Especially on TV. For instance, How I Met Your Mother has voiceovers from Ted in small snippets that inform and comment. Carrie had voiceovers on Sex and the City and they were usually enjoyable. Although, the repeated phrasing of, ‘I couldn’t help but wonder…’ started to seem really tired. While I like those shows and characters, those aren’t my favorite when it comes to voiceovers.

When I think about voiceovers on TV shows, I have three favorites. Click to see who they are after the jump… Continued

Popularity: 35% [?]