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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Reality TV: The Zeitgeist of our time.

I always say why write fiction when there is so much history out there that has never been told. No writer could ever compete with the randomness of real humans interacting and events colliding to create previous unimaginable situations. This is why I love history and reality TV. Not all reality TV. That would be ridiculous. Just the stuff that appeals to me, just as some history topics I have no interest and others I can’t get enough. Reality TV when done well is a no script live action soon-to-be history lesson.
e.g. Snooki gets hit. As random as real life a Long Island school teacher with no prior record of violence punches a young woman at a bar over shots of alcohol. WOW! Where did that come from? The douche-bag that punched Snooki had no clue he would punch a girl the morning before he acted so reckless. Nor did Snooki have any idea that before the days end she would be worried that she may have lost a tooth. The reality of it all is that even with a film crew and visible mics the random real life events proceed without a hitch. There lies the “RUB”.
Whenever a non fan of Reality TV barks its always about how fake the shows are and thus they have no interest. Yes, some shows are less real than others. Some revolve around a contest of some kind. Others a prize. But other TV programing besides news shows are completely fake. They are made up by some douche-bag. Then re-worked by another. Think about it: What makes fiction good? Answer; It’s authenticy. Even science fiction has to relate to the same part of your brain that rules your real life experiences and relationships. Isn’t that the point of all fiction anyway? Without such why would you be interested?
As in life we come home and tell or friends and family the interesting real-to-life stories of the day. “You wouldn’t believe what happened to me today” or “I just saw the most amazing thing happen”. Then we proceed to tell the story as accurate as possible painting the story with details so as to get the listener to imagine they witnessed the events themselves.
Jersey Shore appeals to me on the same level. Probably for a number of reasons. Probably a few that are honorable and others that aren’t so much. Either way the participants are interacting sans script just as they would in their real lives. The more real it becomes the more appealing it becomes.
The “Real World”, MTV’s first reality TV show, is almost as predictable as the Chargers in the playoffs. Everyone knows what type of participants will take part and why they were chosen. The black guy, the Gay guy, the loose woman, the Christian. Jersey Shore on the other hand was not only new to the viewer but also included a subculture that few knew anything about. That is the East Coast Italian youth that dominate the areas of Staten Island, New Jersey, and Long Island NY. Learning about this culture through the eyes of youngsters with no hang-ups or shame is masterful. The viewer is served a slice of life uncorrupted by Hollywood. Sure there are edits and re-edits but the action and speech is as real as can be. Unlike the typical Hollywood scripted shows so many of the Reality TV haters complain about all the time. Does “What a fake ending that show had” or “”That would never happen in real life” ring a bell. Those same haters are looking for a suspension of disbelief that doesn’t exist in scripted shows. Yet at the same time they (dis)miss reality TV.
Reality TV has an authentic place in our broader culture that is going nowhere but up. No one knows what will happen next on Reality TV not even the participants. But you will have to tune in to witness.

[Via http://2oldformaxim.wordpress.com]

My Life As Liz

I had no idea what this show was going to be able. From the previews, I just thought it was going to be about her day-to-day life as a high school senior, but no! there’s a plot and everything and characters.

Synopsis: Liz is a senior at her highschool in a conservative town in Texas. She hates it there. She’s very much Juno esque – does what she wants – etc. Liz stands out in her high school, but not in a favoritable way. In fact, she never used to be “alternative,” she used to be a girl with highlights in her hair and non-vintage clothing. She hangs out with these boys that kind of look like AV dorks, but they seem like very nice friends and they let her boss them around. The show reminds me of true life with a normal person, but it is filmed in a way that is almost like a real show…

My take on the show: This brings me back to the high school days for sure. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mean group of girls like this, but I’m sure they exist somewhere… or everywhere. I basically want to be this girl slash have sort of felt like I have been her before except without dying my hair. I love that she is so scene and awesome. Oh high school… how it means so much to be like everyone else when you’re there, it’s too bad no one told you that you start becoming a real person AFTER.

I know, it’s tough to take in.

I hope this show is real. Even if it’s not, I think I would still watch it because the girl makes me laugh.

Mondays – MTV – 10:30 PM

[Via http://itsyowyow.com]

MTV's Teen Mom star choked by her own mother??

Teen Mom star Farrah Abraham, 18 reportedly got into a heated argument with her mom Debra Danielson, 54 which resulted in domestic violence charges.

TMZ reports cops were called to their home on Saturday and Debra was arrested at around 1 PM on Saturday for suspicion of domestic abuse/serious assault.

Here’s what happened:

According to cops, Farrah and Debra started arguing over childcare issues when Debra allegedly threw an MTV shirt at her daughter … which landed “on or near” Farrah’s baby, who started crying.

That’s when Farrah claims she went off on her mother — who then grabbed Farrah by the throat. Farrah told cops she pushed her mother’s hand away from her throat, causing her mother to strike her on the right side of her head and mouth.

In the report, officers say they observed multiple cuts on the right side of Farrah’s lips.

We love Teen Mom but in most of the episodes it’s been pretty apparent that Farrah and her mom Debra have a pretty rocky relationship. Hopefully they can get their issues resolved for baby Sophia’s sake!

Leighton Meester's "Somebody to Love"

“

“Somebody to Love”

Single by Leighton Meester featuring Robin Thicke from the album Love Is a Drug Released October 14, 2009

(see release history)

Format digital download, airplay Recorded 2009 Genre Electropop, dance-pop, R&B, trance Length 3:32 Label Universal Republic Writer(s) Leighton Meester, Robin Thicke, Mike Caren, Ollie Goldstein, Rico Love and Shahine Ezell Producer Mike Caren and Oligee Leighton Meester singles chronology “Good Girls Go Bad“

(2009)

“Somebody to Love”

(2009)

“Make It Rain”

(2010)

Somebody to Love” is a song performed by pop singer Leighton Meester featuring Robin Thicke. It is the lead single from her debut album and was produced by Mike Caren and written by Leighton Meester, Robin Thicke, Mike Caren, Ollie Goldstein, Rico Love and Shahine Ezell. The song was featured in an episode of Gossip Girl, which stars Leighton Meester.

Music and lyrics

“Somebody to Love” is an uptempo electropop and trance song that harks elements of Blue Monday by New Order. It draws influences of pop music, electronica and R&B with Robin Thicke’s vocals. Meester said in an interview that “the song is basically about how I can’t get any — I can’t find anyone to love.” “I really wanted to make something that’s completely different from anything that’s on the radio right now,” said Leighton. “I feel like it’s really dancy and fun, but it’s still laid back and relaxed and moody and sexy.” Of the single, songwriter Love stated to MTV that “I was honored when I found out that my record was chosen to be Leighton’s first single. It’s exciting to be able to show a different side of my work and me.”

Critical reception

Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song four stars commenting on Leighton Meester’s “sexy, slinky vocals, Robin Thicke’s smooth, intimate voice, and the electropop synth driven singalong chorus,” but disregards that there are few lyrical revelations. Overall, he thinks that this song should help build significant anticipation for her debut album saying that “It provides a fitting context for Meester to purr and cavort around the synth chords and electro beats. R&B – pop star Robin Thicke provides his own smooth and seductive male vocals as a counterpoint. A touch of French in the lyrics adds a bit of elegant sexuality to the overall picture. … It is easy to sing along with and will get listeners dancing at a party. This isn’t simply a quick cash-in on TV success. Leighton Meester contributes highly listenable vocals with an edge of drama and sex. The song has become a surprise hit in Australia being a real dance song in the clubs.”

Music video

The music video was directed by Zoe Cassavetes and was released online on 8th November 2009 to Last.FM.

Charts Chart (2009) Peak

position

U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles 11 U.S. Heatseekers Songs 13 Mediabase Top 40 Top 50 49 Release history Region Date Format United States October 14, 2009 Digital download October 27, 2009 Radio airplay Australia November 20, 2009 Digital Download United Kingdom January, 2010 Digital download

[Via http://ro2010.wordpress.com]

Haiti Relief Telethon; Compliments Of George Clooney & Wyclef Jean.

A global telethon to raise money for victims of Haiti’s catastrophic 7.0-magnitude earthquake will air Jan. 22 on MTV and other networks. The two-hour Hope for Haiti will run commercial free and be led by George Clooney in Los Angeles, Wyclef Jean in New York City and CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Haiti. The special will be broadcast from L.A. and New York and air live at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX, BET, The CW and HBO, among other networks. Donations will benefit relief efforts in the Caribbean country by the Red Cross, UNICEF, the Yele Hait Foundation, Oxfam America, and Partners in Health. The proceeds will be split evenly among the groups. The program will feature musical performances and celebrity appearances that will be announced later, before the special, as well as live news reports from CNN. Meanwhile, Not on Our Watch – an international advocacy organization founded by Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, Clooney and producer Jerry Weintraub – announced Friday it would be giving $1 million in emergency funds to provide medical services to the earthquake victims. “The people of Haiti are in desperate need of help,” the group said. “Our organization, Not On Our Watch, will do whatever it can and we know the international community will as well.”

-”The BklynBandette.” Mr. Hollywood’s Co-Defendant.

[Via http://heavenhollywood.wordpress.com]

Back!

Guess what, guys.

I’M BAAA-AAAACK!

Feeling so much better this morning!!! It took support team talks, your lovely comments, and LOTS of The Real World + The Real World after show (I can not believe my affinity for MTV shows lately) to get me pumped up for recovery again. At least I know the recipe for a bad day now, right?

So, I’m thinking since we’re rollin’ two themes deep today, I’m going to feature one this morning with breakfast (Wednesday’s), and one with lunch (today’s). Capiche?

We’ll do a breakfast review first.

Pretty much the same bowl of oats as yesterday, but I was camera-happy this morning.

*******

OK pretend it’s Wednesday real quick…

Today’s theme is

Fitness!

I was reading an article in SELF Magazine the other night, and one of the things it covered was the importance of rest days. I knew immediately this was something I wanted to share on the blog. We all know it, but it’s definitely something I know I need to constantly remind myself of, and perhaps you do, too???

I think one thing a lot of us forget is that we need a mental break from exercise as much as we need to rest physically. Apparently, you can really start to lose motivation if you don’t give your brain a break from gymming it (or wherever it is you work out). Plus, the article states that in a study, those who were worn out mentally stopped exercising 15% earlier than people whose minds were rested.

If you struggle with taking rest days (I know I tend to have a war going on in my head when I take more than one day a week off – stupid!), this tidbit I found in an article on Runner’s World might help:

Years of research disprove the notion that a day off wrecks fitness; in fact, the opposite is true. Little detraining—the loss of fitness and performance that occurs when you stop working out—happens until you take off more than two weeks. When it follows difficult bouts of work, rest lets your body adapt to the work and improve.

Dude, how good is that to know?! I don’t know about you, but that seriously puts my mind at ease.

How do you feel about rest days? Do you feel guilty for missing workouts? Do you have any tips or tricks that help you embrace rest days?

*******

Alright, guys. Today shall be productive! I think I’m going to push my gym date to the evening so that I can focus on knocking some stuff out today.

Theme# 2 coming with lunch! Holler.

[Via http://averybusymind.com]

Sloppy Joes, Slop- Sloppy Joes

OK – please tell me you watch Jersey Shore. Or The Real World. Or Teen Mom. Or something equally embarrassing.

I was debating how I wanted to begin this post…just sitting here staring at my computer screen…when I realized Jersey Shore was on TV. I always have the TV on; I rarely watch it. I do watch a little before bed, though.

Anyway, I realized it was on and looked over at the TV…and five minutes later I realized I was still watching. And it’s one I’ve already seen! OMG why are shows on MTV so good/bad?!

*******

Dinner tonight was another Smart Ground veggie protein crumbles (a.k.a. faux ground beef) experiment…and another success!

But first, my afternoon snackage.

The classic PB + nanner combo on an Earthgrains Thin Bun. I actually stuck this entire thing in the microwave for about 40 seconds because I wanted it warm, but I didn’t want the bread toasted for some reason. I don’t know, guys.

So, tonight’s dinner experiment was sloppy joes! (sloppy joes, slop- sloppy joes)

I started by cooking a 3 pepper and onion blend (frozen veggies make for suuuuuuuch easy meals, no?), then heated a pan and broke up the block of faux meat.

Next I added these three things:

I consulted my father on the sloppy joe sauces. It was one of the meals my dad always made growing up, and his sloppy joes were the bomb. (He uses yellow mustard and sugar, not honey mustard, but I thought the substitution would be fine…I thought right!)

After I mixed in the sauces (I didn’t measure, I just kind of poured. It was probably about equal parts of all three, though.), I added the pepper and onion blend to get this: