Saturday, November 22, 2008

Pink Slips All Around!

Tis the season...to close up shop.

In the Broadway realm, 2005 Tony Award winner Spamalot has announced it will close up shop a week earlier than previously expected. The Eric Idle musical will now play its final performance on Jan. 11 rather than Jan. 18. The musical is "lovingly ripped off" of "Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail" and originally starred Tim Curry, Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons"), David Hyde Pierce ("Frasier") and Sara Ramirez ("Grey's Anatomy"). It plays at the Shubert Theater.

Likewise, new musical 13 will also close. The Jason Robert Brown ("Parade") offering will close on Jan. 4. The show tells the story of Evan Goldman as he turns that world-shaking age of 13, dealing with love, friendship and a new school. The principle cast is also comprised of teenage performers, many who were praised by critics in their reviews of the show. 13 plays the Bernard B. Jacobs theater.

Spamalot Original Broadway Cast recording is alreay out in stores; 13's will come out this Tuesday.

Theater isn't the only hard hit area. TV has been taking a bit of a beating as well. Last week, NBC cancelled Christian Slater vehicle "My Own Worst Enemy" and there were rumors that "Lipstick Jungle" was on the chopping block as well. However, Brooke Shields has said that nothing is confirmed about the fate of her show. In its daytime department, though, "Days of our Lives" has seen two surprise cuts: Marlena and John will be leaving Salem. Over at ABC, three shows have reportedly been told they will be shuttering: Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. Looks like my plea at the end of my Top Model recap fell on deaf ears.

In regards to Pushing Daisies, I think one of its main problems was the Writers' Strike that gripped the industry this time last year. It finished up its remaining episodes by December and then ABC unwisely (in my opinion) did not rerun any episodes. If anything has been proved, expecting an audience to wait from December to September is quite stupid. Also, the reruns could've garned more of an audience for the premiere this year if done over the summer. I had been hoping for them while waiting for Top Model to start again because I knew my family liked the show. Plus, I love Kristin Chenoweth. Eli Stone had trouble finding an audience, ABC never let Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money keep theirs.

Also, ABC--holding Life on Mars till near February? Not smart. You're suddenly losing your Wednesday line up (Private Practice is moving to Thursdays in the new year) and already admitted to moving the series to fill it somewhat. Don't hold it. It's confusing when watching from week to week, imagine what a near two month gap is going to do to the audience? It didn't work for Heroes and it didn't work for Lost. Learn from past mistakes! These are shows with season-long arcs, not episodic like CSI or ER--which can withstand such a break. Don't let the audience lose interest!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Who Makes Mama Tyra Proud?

The last cycle: We had 14 contestants and fights, fights, fights. Tonight, we crown America’s Next Top Model. Will it be McKey/Cage Girl? Or what about Analeigh? Or will it be Samantha? Oh, are they bringing back Jeremy Scott, that whiner?

Bring on the winner, baby!

Amsterdam! And TYRA MAIL! “Makkelijk, Fris, Mooi” (Thank you to my new DVR). For us who don’t speak Dutch, Sam translates: Easy, breezy, beautiful. Time for Cover Girl commercials! In Dutch!

Mr. Jay stares as the girls face the opposite way from him. He finally yells “Behind you!” and they turn around. And we know what this: commercial and then the final photo shoot. The winner’s picture will be displayed in both Times Square and Wal-Mart. Mr. Jay brings out Whitney, who talks about the product and then tells them they will be kissing someone. They hit makeup and hair, where Analeigh admits she freezes.

The three girls tell us that the commercial is three girls, on a boat who spot a cute guy and kiss him. Sam goes first and doesn’t have her usual energy. Sam wishes the boy doesn’t have herpes. Lovely. She kisses him as Jay dismisses her. McKey goes in for hers and is frozen in fear from her last (horrible) commercial. Is she in front of a green screen? She sounded good, but kept moving. It’s like when I was in public presentation class and the teacher talked about NOT rocking when speaking. Then Analeigh gets in front of the camera and blanks.

Commercial. Anyone else want to see “Four Christmases”?

Canals! Analeigh just breezes through the takes and not in a good way. Jay has to feed her the lines. He praises the way she takes direction, but she needs to find it. And then she gets the kiss. Mr. Jay calls it a wrap on the boat. Now, Jim de Yonker comes back to shoot the photo shoot without Mr. Jay. Sam tries to channel recently departed Marjorie’s Hunchback of Notre Dame pose. Cage Girl scares me when she smiles. Jim calls it a wrap.


TYRA MAIL! “Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only two of you will continue on in hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model.” Analeigh mourns the short tenure of her photo. Sam rubs it in but then it reveals that it’s because she knows she could go home. She and Analeigh fret while McKey sleeps like a baby.

JUDGING! Where’s the rest of Tyra’s outfit? She introduces the guest judge as Addy van den Krommenacker (once again, thank you DVR!), the fashion designer the final two will walk the runway for. They view the commercial. McKey is hardly in it. Sam’s individual is up first. Nigel says she was distracted by herself. Ms. J didn’t understand her. They see her picture and don’t like her smile. Analeigh is next. You can tell she’s pausing to get the next line. Paulina calls her a good actress but wonders what happens. Tyra notes she’s good with the teleprompter. And for the picture, Tyra shows Analeigh how to close her lips and not be too sexy. McKey is last. She turned it out from the last shot though the designer thinks she went too fast. Her picture is praised. She is warned not to look crazy.

I love McKey’s outfit though. And it’s Whitney’s last “My Life as a Cover Girl.” And it’s just all her old ones set to “I’ll Melt With You.” Anyone else notice that they tend to take the girl with the most personality and suck it right out of them for these spots? Man.

Deliberation. Sam screams “catalogue” but can’t pull it off. Analeigh has a great body but Paulina worries about her face. They praise McKey but worry about her work, comparing her to Lurch. ELIMINATION! The first girl safe is: McKey. I really want to know where she got that dress! I’ve been looking for a cute sun dress for summers now! BRING BACK THE CUTE SUN DRESS! Anyway, Analeigh and Sam are in the final two. Analeigh has strong poses but a weak face. Samantha looks commercial but couldn’t pull off a commercial shot. So, who’s stomping against McKey? WAIT, THE HELL? It’s SAMANTHA? Damn you, Tyra. Good news, that idiot who posted on Wikipedia was wrong. But now, I want him/her to be right about the winner—GO CAGE GIRL! Analeigh should be in the bottom two, damn you.

You know, this is like when Saleisha won. They are pitting McKey, who they fear the walk, with someone with a so-so book. It’s Saleisha-Chantal all over again. Anyway, Sam and McKey met Ann Shoket to shoot their Seventeen cover shot. Ann says it’ll be a tough call.

AMSTERDAM! Mr. Jay shows Sam and McKey the runway. Which is very pink. He calls it “Willy Wonka-Dr. Suessian.” He has hills, warning them that it won’t be the hills but the length that gets him. Whitney comes to lead off the show, per usual. The final two hit hair and makeup. Sutan gives Sam a pep talk as the audience fills in. Well, at least they have an audience unlike Saleisha-Chantal’s walk. Tyra goes to speak to the girls and glad to hear them say they are nervous—to release the tension. She tells them to make Mama proud. Sam promises us the best runway show ever.

McKey is nervous something will go wrong as Mr. Jay goes over the runway. The judges enter while Ms. J has some giant balloon. And thus, the fashion starts. I like Addy’s designs so far. Looks like stuff I’d actually wear. And McKey further proves she’s easily distracted as she talks about the audience having fun. She talks about running up the hill in her tin foil dress. Sam quickly changes, as does McKey. Sam struggles to put her shoes on as McKey does her next turn. I like Sam’s final dress over McKey’s. Now, the finale. I don’t think these two are the strongest walkers in the bunch—Analeigh was the last great walker. Tyra praises the girls walking though—saying they stood out. I’m not sure—we know they stood out because the cameras only focused on them. With that…

I WANT THOSE DRESSES! I mean, JUDGING! So, which villainess’ closet did Tyra raid for that? Anyway, we have judges, Ms. J’s bling and the prizes: a contract with Elite Management, a spread and cover in Seventeen Magazine and a contract with Cover Girl cosmetics.

McKey: Tyra liked her faces. I thought she was glaring at them the entire time.

Sam: Tyra compares her to a butterfly. Ms. J loved her walk with the chiffon. Tyra worried about her nerves going to her mouth.

Now it’s time to review the work. Modeling 101 to two of their best pictures—their swimsuits. Sam does look better with short hair. Tyra likes McKey’s muscles. They focus on McKey’s legs. Sam is praised for her face. Tyra’s shoot—Nigel loved Sam’s natural shot but McKey’s glam shot. Tyra and Ms. J like Sam’s glam. Paulina likes how she uses her limb. Now the judges will deliberate and the winner will be declared.

Top Models in Action! ANYA! How, she was beautiful. That was a tough call between her and Whitney. Of course, fortunately, she doesn’t have to talk. She does look better as a brunette though, but still looks absolutely stunning.

So judges final thoughts:

Samantha
Nigel: Samantha looks commercial but is great at high-fashion. Photographs well.
Paulina: She looks like a healthy, California beauty. Needs to practice her walk.
Tyra and Ms. J: Love how she moves her body.

McKey
Nigel: Didn’t see a star until the walk. Thinks she did better at the walk, but not as elegance.
Ms. J: Loves her body.

And I really want those dresses, especially Samantha’s. So, only one can become America’s Next Top Model.

And she is: McKey! Looks like that idiot got at least ONE thing right. Well, okay, s/he knew Marjorie wouldn’t make it to the final three. McKey hugs a crying Samantha then goes to celebrate as Tyra hugs Samantha. I hope she gets to keep that dress. Anyone know where a cheap knock-off can be found? McKey celebrates. Tyra makes her work her neck so hard, I’m surprised she didn’t get whiplash. She was a cute kid.

Nigel shoots McKey’s winner’s shoot as Mr. Jay celebrates with them.

And so, McKey joins the ranks and one can hope she demands better My Life as a Cover Girl. Are you happy? Mad? Sad? Thinking the final two shouldn’t have been the final two, like me? Let me know!

Meanwhile, I’m switching to Pushing Daisies until Cycle 12! Don’t cancel it on me, ABC!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Christmas Classics New and Old

So, I know Thanksgiving is next week but, let's face it--there aren't any really good Thanksgiving movies out there (with the exception of Squanto perhaps). Maybe I'll write one, maybe there is one I don't know about. Either way, the season is upon us: HOLIDAY MOVIES! And I don't mean the ones coming out now so they'll be in the minds of the Academy when voting time comes. I mean the ones that come out throughout November and December that feature everyone's favorite gift-giving holiday.

I absolutely love Christmas movies. Every December means there's a new batch for me to fall in love with--even if I don't view half of them until they air on TV sometime during the summer. However, if you will, I wish to share some of my favorites with you while working on my reviewing skills (don't want to lose those for the day I finally break into journalism. Some day soon, I pray).

I believe I shall start someday this week. If you have an absolutely favorite Christmas movie you think I should see/review, drop me a comment. I'd love to do it!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The True Crime: That a House Built a Century Ago Didn't Go to Richmondtown

Mac walks at night, spotting a possum by flashlight. Flack shows him Kevin McBride, the mutilated victim. A skateboarding kid found him. Hawkes is going over the body while Mac puts TOD at 36 hours ago. Mac goes upstairs and tries to figure out where the victim was dragged from. Stella finds the crime scene separated by the East River. The house is on a barge.

We’re back on the East River as Danny takes a NYPD boat out to the barge. The house looks old and like its seen better days. He exchanges some banter with Lindsay and notes the house came from Staten Island (HOME BOROUGH!) It was going to a stockbroker and not Richmondtown? That’s a crime, considering how old the house appears. Danny figures Kevin was left behind by an unsuspecting moving crew but Stella wants to know why he was in the house.

Sid gets poor Kevin’s body, pulling trace off it. Kevin’s family comes in to identify the body. Mac asks if there are any tattoos or scars on the body. Daughter tells of a scar on Kevin’s finger. It confirms it is him and Daughter is smart enough to realize it’s because they don’t want to reveal the face. Wife breaks down.

Stella, Danny and Lindsay comb through the house. Stella finds a shell casing, making the others wonder if there’s another victim. Det. Angell interviews Kevin’s assistant, who is upset and had a manicure. Angell then tells Flack she met his sister when her beer bottle collided with the police car’s windshield. Turns out she’s hanging with the wrong crowd and wasn’t hauled in due to being Don’s sister. Flack isn’t pleased.

Sid continues going over Kevin’s body while Lindsay examines some trace, including piece of a picture with words on it. Danny tells Lindsay the moving crew all came back clean. She tells him the picture is of Kevin, spots something and then goes off.

Stella receives a phone call saying the fisherman’s death is an unsolved case and not to be a hero. Meanwhile, Lindsay ruffles through the coffee mugs and notes one has the same code as on the picture. It’s a bar code that brings her to a website. She goes off to explore it as Stella talks about our Rat Fisherman from the Indiana Jones and the Amulet of Rudy Giuliani episode. She remembers our evil friend at the Greek embassy and Danny wants to get to him.

Hawkes discovers Kevin was munched on by a Virginian possum. Sid can’t tell what killed him, just that it was blunt force trauma. Sid has more questions than answers but Hawkes finds marks not from the possum but possibly a murder weapon.

Adam is coughing and reveals the carrot found at the crime scene was turned into a pipe. Talk about organic. The shell was used to make the pipe and not kill another victim. And Adam got DNA off the carrot. Flack goes to meet his sister—who has the worst New York accent ever. He tries to bring up her meeting with Det. Angell but she starts to reminisce about trips to the shore. It doesn’t work. He warns her not to use his name as a “get-out-of-jail-free” card. She makes a joke and tells him to lighten up.

Stella walks into a drug paraphernalia store. He panics but she’s more concerned about his DNA, not his bongs. He toked up in a house on Staten Island that was being moved. Though that shot is more of a Manhattan street than a Staten Island street—trust me on that. Daughter, Ella, cries to Mac about taking her father’s things. He tells her they’ll give it back once they catch the guy.

Flack gives Danny a bloody hammer. And Staten Island cops confirm our druggie’s story about jumping out of a house. Lindsay is frustrated about the code. Flack recognizes it and takes her to Sam’s bar. He reveals that Sam has been fired and it looks like someone has a drinking problem!

FISH! The type used for manicures, like the one the secretary had. And Tanner, our druggie, used to live in the house until his mother sold it. Nice. He says he went back to reminisce and maybe take a hammer to it for a bit. He swore he never saw the dead guy. Lindsay finds a SecretU, where people can send their darkest secrets. Mac is confused as to why. Lindsay just offers: “Confession is good for the soul?” Hawkes is still running DNA while Adam notes that the card stock was dragged across a floor.

Mac takes a blow dryer to the floor boards to shrink the wood and get the card. It reads “I’ll tell her if you don’t.” Ominous. Lindsay reads an IM conversation between KMAN and Lola57. He’s been having an online affair. He sends her a picture and she cuts off communication. He tries to reach her and Mac thinks Lola found out Keviin was married. And she sent the e-card. Question is: Did Wife (Annie) know?

Flack pleads with his sister to let him in. She looks worse for wear and refuses. He plays a song for her—the one she was thinking of in the bar. Sam looks really bad. Flack walks away. Mac and Hawkes watch the walk-through video as Lindsay runs in with the information about Lola57. He looks serious and walks into a room wallpapered with the secret from SecretU. And it’s Ella! She’s Lola. How Electra.

Mac believes Ella was trying to prove her father was having an affair, so she became the other woman. She confronted him and killed him. However, Ella says she had met someone online, someone she clicked with. She was shocked to realize it was her dad. The card was the only thing she did to get him to stop—not murder. Stella reveals that the hammer’s mitochondrial DNA comes back to Ella, but both she and Mom have alibis.

Stella re-watches Mom’s walk-through video alibi. She notices something and pulls Annie in. Stella and Hawkes re-enacted a scene from the video and proved Annie changed the time codes. She really shot it at 2:30 PM, not 10:30 AM. Annie had discovered the SecretU card and confronted him. Ella watches through the window and doesn’t want her mom to know who Lola57 is. Mac tells her it isn’t her fault. She just wants to feel important to someone again.

Sam leaves her apartment and big brother Don follows her. She’s in an apartment, talking to someone. She says she’s the screw-up of her family. She says her last drink was 20 minutes ago. She’s at AA! She admits she’s an alcoholic. Flack looks guilty and upset. He meets Det. Angell and kisses her. Stella receives a package—a dead rat. Eww. She wants to join Danny in breaking some rules.

Next week: CSI:NY reaches a century! And they are killing off everybody named Mac Taylor! Also, Chris Daughtry is on.

And who is liking the chemistry between Flack and Angell? And who wishes they’d put Lindsay and Danny back together or did I miss an episode?


Also, anyone else confused about Richmondtown?

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

MEN!

Last week: Marjorie got lost in Amsterdam and nearly had a nervous breakdown! Tyra took the photos! Elina was sent home! Four girls remain—HOLY CRAP NEXT WEEK’S THE FINAL!

Sorry…So who will come so close yet fall so far? Find out!

Samantha celebrates her picture and plots her way to being America’s Next Top Model (not in MY book, Sammy). Analeigh and Marjorie talk about being in the bottom two and we see what Tyra told my favorite Frenchwoman to lose the nerves. Marjorie confesses she has to.

TYRA POST! “A model who knows how to sell makes the most cents.”

Marjorie and Analeigh talk as sad music plays. Marjorie confesses that her nerves give her the edge and this sad music is making me start to prepare myself for Marjorie’s departure. The models meet Paulina who teaches them how to sell junk. They practice on fish—at least it isn’t me. I get sick when I smell fish. Marjorie works the fish but falls on “romantic” on the phone. McKey gets praise for being focused on poses, Marjorie is good at emotions, Analeigh is a good actress and Sam is good at being funny.

TYRA POST! “Your delivery better be on the Mark.” They think commercial—that’s NEXT week, girls. I’m thinking Mark is the male model promised last week. McKey and Sam talk about making it to the top three. But this is a pretty strong top four—no matter how much I hate Sam.

Amsterdam! Marjorie talks about being positive. She’s absolutely funny in confessional. They go to Amsterdam Worldwide where Paulina meets them. Richard Gorodecky is the creative director of this top ad agency. Looks like they are doing a commercial—with that male model! The girls will not be talking, just smooching Mark Vanderloo—a major male supermodel. Sam is rendered speechless and gibbers in her confessional. It’s a challenge and the girls will be given a shopping spree at a major denim place. A challenge win you can USE in daily life. (Seriously, who is going to go around in $20,000 worth of jewels?)

Sam is first up on the treadmill. She flirts with Mark from the treadmill—I like the “Oh my god!” I can see Sam as an actress. Mark gives her thumbs up. Analeigh acts all coy before running off to kiss Mark. “He’s a good kisser,” Analeigh tells the others and Sam agrees. McKey gives him a little wave from the treadmill before kissing him. “Nice to meet you,” McKey says before running out of the room, adding some humor. Marjorie looks like she’s debating whether to kiss him or not and then goes in for the kiss. Marjorie thanks the bottom two for a kick. Everyone notices the change in Marjorie.

Sam: Adorable, but little over the edge. Calculating and hammy. Analeigh: Cute and sweet, good performance. McKey: Flirtation, good. Kissing, not good. Marjorie: Awkward and scary, but original and believable. The winner is: Marjorie! YAY! She gets a friend and chooses Analeigh—SHOCKER! I saw a cute photo collage of the two. They are still friends. The girls go and Marjorie split the prize evenly. They have fun on their shopping spree.

Windmills! TYRA POST! “Tomorrow you will be going Dutch but you will still have to give 100%” They wonder about the phrase “going Dutch”—you know, where you all split the bill?

Anyway, Marjorie invites the boat drivers over. Thank God they noticed how HOT those guys were. I’d love to just ogle Analeigh’s driver over and over. They bring wine which only the guys and Marjorie drink. Marjorie is apparently a happy drunk. They play charades before Analeigh, Marjorie and a boy play drunken dress-up. McKey and someone else wrestle while Sam entertains another with cards and magic tricks (learned from the Misfit of Magic himself?). Then they play truth and dare. Marjorie makes out with a driver.

Whitney’s a Cover Girl! And treats a surprisingly empty New York as her own personal catwalk! Do your little turn on the catwalk!

The other girls are concerned for a drunk Marjorie, now in a hot tub with a much drunker guy. Even the other guys agree with the girls who try to kick him out. After McKey threatens him, he leaves. Analeigh puts Marjorie to bed, who was grateful everyone else was sober.

The girls go to meet Jay in front of a windmill, which will be their backdrop. He introduces their photographer Barrie who greets the girls—what are they doing with Analeigh’s hair? Mr. Jay is impressed with Analeigh even before she starts jumping. Marjorie freezes up and I wonder how hung over she is. Even Mr. Jay notices it and then gives her a pep talk for panel. Samantha goofs off and says she hates being serious. She goes out in her clogs. Mr. Jay tells her to mind her legs, Barrie tells her to watch her face. They realize the clogs are hurting her, which is showing in her face. Mr. Jay is worried. He gives her a pep talk. “Dude, I sucked, really bad,” Samantha confesses. She goes and cries while Sutan tries to cheer her up. I wish I had Sutan to cheer me up. He looks like he’s really good at it. McKey goes out and knows she has to work it. And she does. She does some climbing. Mr. Jay loves her as much as Analeigh. That’s a wrap!

Amsterdam! Sam is still feeling down—and they all used to jump on Marjorie for this? Well, Marjorie usually rocked and Sam fell flat, but still. And Marjorie goes for the wine. She says she has to look relaxed—going drunk isn’t going to help you, honey!

Did I miss the “Tomorrow you will meet with the judges…”? Cause we’re in PANEL! There are prizes, there are judges, Ms. J’s bling, and the guest judge is Ann Shoket (Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine). Tyra blathers on about avant-garde and windmills. McKey is called first. She looks more “unfrozen cavewoman” than “avant-garde.” She does have long legs. Marjorie is next and applauded for winning the challenge. The picture is just standing down or as someone said: an UFO beamed her down. Tyra says she feels Marjorie is pulling inside to fight the nerves. Sam still can’t dress for panel, but now all she has to do is take off a sweater. She gets praised for her lips but Tyra notes her film was bad. Then quotes Mr. Jay. Sam tries not to cry. Analeigh finishes it up. And it’s the jumping one. The judges love it. Ann loves Analeigh.

Top Models in Action! Nigel tells us about Kim from Cycle 5. She’s with Elite magazines and works for MTV news. And is blonde.

The judges deliberate. With the top three in question, it’s time to take off the gloves. Analeigh seems to be loved. Tyra is worried about Sam—this week’s photo, her appearance at panel. Marjorie is editorial. The judges realize that the nerves=Marjorie charms. The judges love McKey’s legs and eyes. What is Tyra doing? Even Ann is wondering that, you can tell.

ELIMINATION! The first name and the person safe: Analeigh (YAY!). Followed by: McKey. Marjorie and Sam end up in the bottom two. This is hard. Both take great pictures, but Sam has the personality. Marjorie has the editorial ability, Sam is the more commercial. Marjorie looks like a model, Sam doesn’t. Who goes? Did Ann and Paulina coordinate before going into judging? Oh, sorry. So, who goes? Marjorie. Aww man.

Tyra tells Marjorie to find a way to calm the nerves without losing what makes Marjorie Marjorie. She and Analeigh cry as they hug. And Marjorie has a gorgeous portfolio—we’re going to see her on Top Models in Action in Cycle 13 or 14.

I’m not just mad that Marjorie is going home but…last week while checking some names on Wikipedia, some idiot posted the final eliminations and winner. Marjorie was posted as eliminated tonight. And now that I was accidentally spoiled. And I HATE spoilers. So now, I don’t want the girl the idiot said wins just because I don’t want the idiot to be correct.

Next week: TOP THREE! Cover Girl commercials, runways and a winner!


Who do you want to win? Samantha? McKey? Analeigh? Who did you call the winner back in the early episodes that are no longer there? Or did you figure on of these three would win? Do you hate spoilers as much as me?

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Top Model Alert!

I am not sure how many fans of America's Next Top Model are fans of The Big Bang Theory (or vice versa) but last night, these two worlds combined in the latter.

In the episode, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) interrupts the gang's Klingon boggle game. It turns out that since she and the cable company have different views on paying her bill, they've cut her power. In the middle of Top Model! (Horrors!) So she borrows their TV to watch the rest of the episode. Everyone but Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is immediately entranced by the models. Howard (Simon Helberg) is particularly intrigued to learn that they live in a house in LA, near where they are. He and Rajesh (Kunal Nayyar) work out where the house was using screen caps, landmarks, flyovers by a NORAD pilot on his way to scan Siberia for nukes, and Google street finder. Meanwhile, Leonard (Johnny Galecki) tries to mediate when Penny and Sheldon lock horns after she garners three strikes in the incredibly OCD Sheldon's book and is thus banished. As Sheldon's mom forces him to apologize, Howard and Rajesh got to the Top Model house posing as cablemen. Two contestants let them in and they are Analeigh and Samantha! My favorite model with my least favorite one. I freaked out and then had to explain to my parents why. I then commented that it would've been better had the two run into Isis. And Top Model fans know why.

Was I thrilled with this episode? Pretty much, though the show is funny enough on its own to hold my attention. BUT: I know, as a Top Model fan, that the shows are taped a few months before the premiere. From hints dropped by the girls, I know the fall cycles are taped in May/June, including July (Cycle 5 had to evacuate London after the bombings in 2005. Nicole was crowned America's Next Top Model in America). So for Howard and Rajesh to run into the current models would be impossible. Also, from interviews with the girls, it is known that they don't have TV, musics or books--mostly likely for ultimate chance of confrontation--the cableman rouse wouldn't have worked. If they hadn't been taken away by Tyra's goons before reaching the door.

But Analeigh and Samantha took the cake--though I wonder why them? Now I wonder if there was an acting teach/challenge we weren't shown.

If you want to see the episode of "The Big Bang Theory," go to www.cbs.com. If you want to see an episode of "America's Next Top Model," go to www.youtube.com (also works if Big Bang isn't on CBS' player). Analeigh and Samantha are from the current cycle--11. And I'll be back Wednesday with the episode of America's Next Top Model. I realized that next week's it--someone (Marjorie, Samantha, Cage Girl, or Analeigh) will be crowned America's Next Top Model.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Forget the Whales--Save Adam!

We get shots of New York’s drug scene. A pothead counts Monopoly money. A coke addict snorts it off some prostitute that looks like Amanda Bynes. Another guy snorts coke before going to a club where he takes some pills, one he gives to a woman via a kiss. The pothead opens the door and gets shot. The coke addict is about to score and gets shot. Our clubbing pill-popper drinks with some girls and gets shot. Danny gets the class filled scene. Lindsay and Stella get our coke addict. And Mac and Hawkes get the pothead—along with Flack.

Mac and Hawkes continue to investigate the pothead, whose Monopoly money was what he rolled his stuff in. He had an inhaler and was only known as Scooby but the apartment belongs to Michael Jones. Danny and Emmanuelle Vaugier deal with our clubbing druggie. The girls he was drinking with don’t recall the shooter but one does know where the gun went. Stella and Lindsay continue with our boxer-clad coke addict. They realize he was dumped and that car was the crime scene. Stella realizes the shooter was on the outside.

Everyone gets to see Sid! If only they weren’t dead. Adam rambles to Mac who has no clue what the tech is going on about. Adam gives him his pink slip, saying he’s leaving at the end of the month. They can’t let Adam go! I can use a dedicated yet devastatingly handsome lab tech! Call me! Mac however, can also use him and promises to deal with the pink slip.

Sid reveals that tox must’ve had a field day with these two—they were their own pharm party. Mac reveals he knows all three people. We cut to a court scene. The judge does some counting: 12 jurors, 1 ADA, 3 defense attorneys. No defendants. One attorney is about to speak up when Mac interrupts to let the court know the defendants are chilling out in the morgue.

Mac reveals he collected the evidence that was going to convict these three victims. The ADA reveals the victims were going to give her a name in a plea. She refused to release druggies back on the street but Mac says attorney-client privilege is over. She gives him the most likely to give up the name. Meanwhile, Danny unloads the glass on Adam, who rebuilds the bottles and glasses. Mac goes to talk to Michael Jones’ lawyer, Donovan. After a lawyer joke and bantering, he gives up some guy named Patrick. He asks Mac not to reveal he has a heart. Because you know they take it away once you pass the bar.

Danny works on the gun while some nice music plays in the background. Hawkes works on some of the Monopoly money. The gun comes back to the murder the three guys did. And the Monopoly was very special money—it was covered in drugs to enhance the marijuana. Apparently, this is what Patrick sells, according to Flack. He and Danny take a field trip to a playground. Patrick calls Flack and Danny the “murder police and the cleaning crew.” I like him. Flack flashes a Monopoly $100. Patrick smart-mouths and gets pushed off a swing. They tell him it was found on a dead guy. They figure it was jacked and he was getting revenge, but he says they were going to merge. He walks away with his CFO and COO.

Emmanuelle finds the crime scene and the prostitute, who doesn’t look like Amanda Bynes anymore. She pisses off Emmanuelle, who threatens to rat her out to her pimp. The prostitute can only describe someone in blue hoodie. She thought about calling 911 then went, “Mercedes-Benz. SWEET!” Especially since he was going to pay her in Monopoly money—she dumped it. Meanwhile, Mac’s yelling at the Chief for letting Adam go. Stella comes in during this and learns Adam is on the chopping block. Mac thinks holding off on some sweet technology for the lab. Stella’s like, “Umm…no.” She argues it could put a rapist away sooner. Mac argues the same. Meanwhile, Adam is eavesdropping.

Lindsay reveals the gun was also used to kill the guy the year before and had traces of Limonene on the handle—it’s in make-up, cleaning products and bio-fuel. Well, that narrows it down. Meanwhile, Stella finds the stun gun used on the three druggies. One traces back to a witness. Mac goes to find her and she’s all sliced up. The three druggies attacked her. That’s when she used the stun gun. Maggie’s brother is ready to beat Mac up since he promised she wouldn’t have to testify. Maggie’s more clear-headed than her brothers who can’t see that Mac’s just as confused about the subpoena. Wait…three brothers, one sliced up sister, three dead guys who did the slicing and dicing. I think I smell the murderers!

Mac asks the ADA why Maggie was called. Apparently, the evidence was suppressed because someone checked it out without signing the log. Mac’s upset and this is just proving that budget cuts are evil.

Petrix (Patrick) is the best suspect but some suit reveals he’s been trailing Petrix. Lindsay connects the gun found with the prostitute to Kevin, Maggie’s brother. Can I call it? They haul them in while Flack says if he had done it, the bodies wouldn’t be found. Danny reveals that the jury will be sympathetic and acquit. The brothers aren’t talking so they try to get more evidence. Mac sees Adam, leaves just as they get a hit. Turns out the brothers are innocent. It was the lawyers! Turns out Donovan worked Legal Aid and so had to give his finger prints, which left while gathering some liquid courage. He was impressed with Maggie and her decision to do the right thing. But he’s sure he’ll get off.

Meanwhile, everyone gives up one of their paid vacations to save Adam. I love Hawkes. “Turns out San Francisco is closed in January. Who knew?” San Fran, I can understand. But Costa Rica? Italy? Buenos Aires? C’mon.

No new episode next week? What? It’s November Sweeps!

Go-Sees: Now Filled With More Angst Than the Make Overs

Last week: Amsterdam! Red-light district! No one fell overboard! Sheena was eliminated!

We’re down to the final five! Who will be sent packing and who will be in the final four? I hope its Marjorie, Elina, McKey and Analeigh.

I wanna be on TOP!

It’s Amsterdam! The top five party and Analeigh celebrates that she’s improving. She thinks the other girls don’t think she’s competition. Hey, girls, SHE’S COMPETITION! Meanwhile, Elina wonders why the judges she is stiff while Marjorie confesses that Elina is stuck. Sam celebrates she’s still here. I mourn it. Marjorie is still Debbie Downer and can’t understand why everyone is so happy. She’s apparently the house pessimist.

TYRA MAIL! You have to be more than good looking if you want the first booking. The girls realize it is time for GO-SEES! This is always so much fun. Go-sees rank just below makeovers on my favorite episodes. The girls go to Touché Models and are given boats to get around Amsterdam. They have till 5 PM—Be there or be square. And we don’t want a repeat of Brittany from Cycle 8.

Let’s watch models ride boats…Hello, Analeigh’s driver is HOT. Marjorie is nervous. Surprise, surprise. I love her dearly, but the girl needs to take a Prozac. Sam arrives and kisses the designer thrice ‘cause that’s the Dutch way. Sam looks good but doesn’t impress the designer. Next: McKey, who makes a good impression on the designer. She tells McKey to want to make everyone want the dress but is impressed. Marjorie is lost. And so is Sam, who makes fun of Amsterdam’s street names. Apparently, getting lost is the theme of this go-see. This is the reason I love go-sees. Marjorie tries to ask for help and no one can help her.

Analeigh finally gets somewhere and meets a designer who sounds like Nigel. Seriously. The Dutch Nigel likes Analeigh. Elina gets to a designer who is not happy she is sweating. He doesn’t like her. Marjorie is still having troubles and is close to a nervous breakdown.

Back to Amsterdam! Marjorie is still near her nervous breakdown. She knows she can be eliminated for failing at the go-sees. She finally gets to the designer Sam first saw. She’s so relieved she forgets everything. Elina is waiting outside as Marjorie admits she’s having a horrible time. Elina’s tattoos are a deal-breaker for the designer which Elina says she took personally because they are her form of self-expression. McKey continues to get praised. SHOW ANALEIGH! Thank you, show. She watches Elina model a poofy purple dress and actually gets praise. However Analeigh gets praise as well. Marjorie goes to the Nigel Sound-a-like, who doesn’t sound thrilled. She’s out on the street laughing and crying. She pounds her driver’s fist as she’s the first to return.

Analeigh gets back, Elina looks drunk getting out of her boat. Sam’s fourth but McKey is still out there. It looks like it might be another Natasha and Brittany. She runs in just a few minutes after five. And the girls celebrate. She is disqualified and was well-liked. In confession, she talks out the left side of her mouth. Sam is too commercial. Elina is good in runway, too many tattoos. Marjorie was nervous and gets tips. Analeigh maybe trying to hard but is liked. All the designers donated items for the winner—ANALEIGH! Her prizes will be at home. I hope they didn’t dump in on the lawn like in the past.

Oh no, it’s on the table. Her prize totals $18,000. Elina and McKey are upset.

Tyra Mail. “You’ve never been exposed like this before, but you’ll be amazed after.” Nude shot? Would Tyra do a nude shot? Everyone is concerned about Marjorie. Analeigh tells her she is top competition. Marjorie doesn’t understand this, worries it’s a hoax. Analeigh makes her promise not to bring the disappointment to the shoot.

Amsterdam. The girls load the bus. Sam hopes that if it’s nude, it’s couture. Jay does Christian’s make-up. It looks like he’s joining the circus. Tyra tells the girl they will do a natural shot and then a glam shot. Marjorie is nervous to be shot by Tyra. She still does black and white. The natural shot includes the clothes they wore to the studio. Sam’s first. Tyra looks for the shots an agency would take. She also gets “Oliver Twist.” Tyra thinks Sam works better with clothing and makeup than natural. Mr. Jay and Tyra make fun of Ms. J. Tyra and Mr. Jay talk about the nerves. Christian gives Marjorie a trim and gets glamed out.

Analeigh goes out, gets hair fixed. However, Tyra thinks Analeigh needs make up. I love Analeigh’s hair do. Tyra tells Elina she can’t have the nails she does. Also, Elina would be natural and relaxed until Tyra picked up the camera, going back to posey. Tyra tries to show what she wants from Elina, but Mr. Jay is worried about what she’s doing to his way-too-silver hair. McKey is next and Tyra makes them go Clockwork Orange on her make-up. Tyra calls a wrap.

TYRA MAIL! “Tomorrow you will meet with the judges. Only four will continue on in the hopes of becoming America’s Next Top Model.” Marjorie is excited—but she hopes she doesn’t get eliminated. Well, it’s a step in the right direction.

PANEL! There are prizes, judges, Ms. J’s bling, and the guest judge: Mr. Jay! I love it when he’s on the panel because he knows all the girls and their history. Sam is up first. Sam booked two jobs. Apparently, Tyra did a shoot similar to this for the New York Times Magazine. Nigel likes Sam’s natural shot, Ms. J loves Sam’s glam shot. Analeigh is next. She’s applauded for winning the challenge. She booked all her designers. Her glam shot is much better than her natural shot. Marjorie didn’t book either designers. Marjorie’s test shot is the chosen natural shot. It looks like someone’s Facebook picture. Her glam picture is world’s better and Tyra wants the woman in the shot to be in front of her. Ms. J has to fix the outfit and Tyra says she booked two jobs.

The judges are surprised to learn Elina is eighteen. They make her scream. It’s a horror-film scream. I sense a new career! McKey booked all her jobs but was late. Wa-wa. I like her red dress. Paulina praises McKey for how far she’s come. The girls are sent out for deliberation with some bad Tyra puns.

Top Models in Action. Mollie Sue! Oh wow, I forgot about rocker girl Mollie Sue. She is based in Paris (lucky bitch) and works the international scene. Wait, did I miss Whitney’s My Life as a Cover Girl?

Amster—Is Paulina wearing a disco ball? ELIMINATION! The first name called and the face everyone gets to stare at: Samantha. DAMMIT! Followed by: McKey and Analeigh. The bottom two: Marjorie and Elina. This is tough. Marjorie’s never been in the bottom two but the judges have been trying to get her to calm down all cycle. Meanwhile, Elina’s been there for a few weeks in a row while the judges feel she can’t let go. Marjorie looks resigned. Don’t give up hope! Because you’re staying! Just get some confidence. Good-bye, Elina. Go be crazy. She hugs everyone and leaves.

Elina is gorgeous. She’ll make it.

Next week: Male models! Alcohol! A repeat of Shandi from Cycle 2?

So, still pulling for Analeigh? Marjorie? McKey? Anyone else as surprised Sam’s still in the running?

One for the History Books...

By now, the news has spread across the globe:

Sen. Barack Obama is the President-elect of the United States of America. Come January, he will be the 44th President but more importantly, he'll be the first African-American Commander-in-Chief. Listening to his acceptance speech, it was hard not to feel a swelling of pride and hope. Here's hoping the next four years are brighter than the previous ones have been. After all, it can only get better, right?