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And it is THIS!
What timing! Especially considering that my Bottle Rocket poster came in the mail just yesterday! Fabulous!
It’s back! It’s back with a vengeance! And then some! Oh, man! Ohhhh, man!
There is no way to not gush on spoilers and fill this post with them. So, if you’ve yet to watch the season premiere of The Office, don’t keep reading. But, if you did, please meet me after the jump!!
“What is, ‘We’re Fine.’”
Get yo’ game face on!
Earl! Betty! Grey! Graham-Halpert!
Take notes!
If you’re like me, there’s a good chance that you’re absolutely dying to get your senses on The Darjeeling Limited. How about a little app-e-teaser in the form of a beautiful, vivid and poignant short film/Darjeeling prelude titled Hotel Chevalier.
I think it sounds like an absolutely wonderful idea. Go here.
I’m loving this. It’s everything we love about Wes Anderson and more. Sparse, smart and sharp dialogue, a heaping eyeful from the cameras and set design and a dry and brilliant wit that clenches your heart as well as your funny bone. And in the background, he’s drawing out the most bizarre and unusual form of empathy from the viewer. You’ve never literally been where these characters are, or experienced what they’re experiencing, but you don’t have to, because it’s written so perfectly, that you just get them. And they get you. And it’s beautiful.
It’s all kind of magical and I can’t quite shake it.
Any self-respecting music appreciator should immediately direct their attention here.
If you don’t, I’ll smash you with a hammer.
There’s a little boy in my class named Clayton who is three years old.
Today, after I told Clayton that I had a brother with the same name, he looked me in the eye and informed me that he was going to smash my brother with a hammer.
Congratulations Dr. Gregory House! You have officially been drafted to Chelsea’s Fall TV Lineup.
Wow. I want to kick myself for not getting into this sooner, but House seriously rocks. Funny, suspenseful and totally fascinating. Love it. Can’t wait for more and you should seriously watch it, too. And before a bunch of you jump on me with “Oh, but such-and-such season was so much better,” don’t worry, I’ll get to it. Give it time. Let me just enjoy the bliss of a new-to-me show that I can really enjoy.
And Have Fork Will Travel? Wonderful! You were on the team from the moment I laid eyes on you.
Which brings me to my next point, when are we leaving for Jamaica and/or when are we building a great big fire pit in front of my apartment so we can make delicious jerk chicken?
All-in-all a very eventful TV Tuesday! Gotta save room, though. Nip/Tuck is right around the corner…
Tomorrow we’re trying out Pushing Daisies and Bionic Woman. Private Practice isn’t going to be anywhere near anything to write home about, but I’ve gotta have a peek, just to see how terrible it really is going to be. It’s a sacrifice, but I’ll do it so you don’t have to. You can thank me later. In the form of a trip to Jamaica.
The great Fall Television Premiere Week has begun!!
First up on my agenda was Chuck, NBC’s hip, action/comedy show about a computer tech “nerd” who “accidentally” downloads all of the government’s secrets to his brain making him very confused and very delicate. I had mixed feelings going in and mixed feelings coming out, to be honest.
Let’s start with what I liked:
- Zachary Levi! As my buddy Fran put it this evening as we did our supermarketing “Yeah, I have a feeling I’d fall in love with him.” You said it, Sister. Awkward, goofy and absolutely adorable. Yeah, I’m pretty much in love with you, Mr. Levi. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s also hilarious and delivers his lines masterfully and with the dry wit that easily throws me in stitches.
- The quirky Geek Squad turned “Nerd Herd” humor. It was all really simply and silly, but nonetheless entertaining.
- The concept of a character called “Captain Awesome,” because “everything he does is awesome.” Yeah, that sounds lame, but if you saw it, it was funny and you know it.
But sadly, it stops there. The entire show is based on the fact that you get over the absurd premise in the first place, and I just couldn’t. Granted I like a lot of shows that are based on absurd premises, like Interns and Doctors have nothing better to do than sleep with each other and make up McNicknames for their mates instead of saving lives and learning something 
But, when your absurd premise deals with something as “hot button” (That’s not what I was looking for, but whatever.) it’s just irritating. And Sarah (who was more like Jolie’s Jane Smith in Mr. and Mrs. Smith than a character of her own) is the sexy CIA agent that’s sent to protect Chuck. And let’s be real, this girl has to own clothing other than the ones she wears to go to the electronic store and on her date with Chuck. AKA the footage of her in her underwear in front of her wide open city apartment windows are totally unnecessary and worthy of many eye rolls.
The bottom line is that Chuck’s efforts to be hip, sexy, fast and fun might be enough for some viewers, it’s not quite enough to merit repeat business.
And Joruneyman just totally sucked. I love Kevin McKidd and was really hoping he would have something to work with here to help showcase the talent he is, but not only is he clearly the most talented actor on this show, but his suffering through dialogue and crappy performances from his co-stars makes me want to call up Titus Pullo and get him out of there. I totally lost interest after the first seven minutes and spent the remainder of the show in a daze. Skip it, skip it, skip it.
So… let’s hear it. What did you guys watch? What did you love? What did you hate? I’m all ears.
Happy Monday!
Jason Schwartzman, Natalie Portman and Toothpick
As previously reported, festival audiences are getting an extra special treat when they head out to see The Darjeeling Limited. And that is, as previously reported, Wes Anderson’s short film, Hotel Chevalier. While Darjeeling may be revceiving mixed reviews at the festivals (on par with all other Anderson films when they’re released), one thing that isn’t getting mixed reviews at all is Chevalier. Not only are millions of bloggers and the like falling over themselves for an apparently “steamy” and “revealing” sex scene involving one of the short’s stars, Natalie Portman, but it’s been rumored to be quite a beautiful and extremely well done departure from what we’re used to with Anderson projects. Needless to say, reading this L.A. Times article made my morning in knowing that we’re going to be rewarded a stay in the Hotel much sooner than expected! And for a deep discounted rate!
Look!
“‘Hotel Chevalier’ is being shown in conjunction with ‘Darjeeling’ at film festivals — the Venice Festival earlier this month, the New York Film Festival on Friday and the London Film Festival in November — before being rolled out digitally. The short will make its public premiere Tuesday at Apple stores in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Then on Wednesday, the film will become available for free download on iTunes (and later on the ‘Darjeeling’ DVD).”
I’m also a fan of this part, too (In discussing Portman’s conditions for being in the film):
“‘Smoking. She didn’t want to smoke,’ he remembered. That’s why, in the final scene, ‘we changed it to Jason giving her a toothpick. I think it’s better.’”
Me, too, Wes. I love it!
Let’s meet back here Wednesday to discuss.
Darryl Hannah*, Dr. Venkman** and I are ready to go for this week’s action packed TV premiere week.
Let’s talk about what we’re going to be watching this week and what we can expect to see from The Babble:
Monday:
Chuck (NBC 8:00)- I’ve found the previews for this show to be really hot and cold. Some days I’m really into it and can’t wait to see it, but others it just comes off as kind of silly and stupid. It’s about a computer geek who accidentally acquires a ton of government secrets as well as a price on his head for international terrorists and assassins. So, to keep the secrets safe, he falls under the protection of two CIA agents. I dunno, it looks harmless. We’ll see how it pans out.
Journeyman (NBC, 10:00)- Really, this show looks kind of cool, but mostly dumb. I’m only tuning in to get a Kevin McKidd (Rome) fix. I’m not expecting anything to write home about here.
Tuesday:
House (Fox, 9:00)- My brother Iain loves this show and I can see why. It’s funny, fast-paced and edge-of-your-seat excitement. I’m excited to dive in and find a potential medical drama replacement for the ill-fated Grey’s Anatomy. I think you’ll really like it, too.
Have Fork, Will Travel (Food, 9:30)- This isn’t a new show, but it’s one I’ve been watching each week on Food Network and absolutely LOVING. The host, Zane Lamprey, travels around the world to a new destination each week and explores the whats, hows and whys of each location’s edible culture. It’s fascinating, funny and makes me want to travel and eat. This week he’s going to Jamaica. Jerk seasoning! Jerk seasoning!
Wednesday:
Private Practice (ABC 9:00)- You’re right, I do think that this is one of the worst ideas to ever come out of tragically fallen Seattle Grace Hospital, but I gotta check and make sure that all spark I had for Addison really is gone. While I’m not excited to see the previously composed, graceful and grown-up Addison get reduced to someone unrecognizable and unlikeable, I am going to watch at least the first episode or two so you all don’t have to. This is how much I love you and you can thank me later.
Bionic Woman (NBC 9:00)- Though I really wish that this would be a good reason to watch more Egg on my TV, I am thoroughly excited and enthused for this show. It looks like it might be cheesy, but on the whole, I think it looks undoubtedly cool and interesting. I’m not a fan of Heroes by any means, so I am hoping that this will be NBC’s action/sci-fi show that I can enjoy.
Thursday (The busiest TV day EVER.)
This is definitely the day I’ve been waiting for for a long, long, long time. Let’s start with the rookies and work our way up to the big guns.
Ugly Betty (8:00 ABC)- If you don’t think that America Ferrera is absolutely adorable and lovely, then you’re a liar. And my new buddy Fran has been watching the season 1 DVDs and she’ll probably hurt me if I don’t watch and love this show. I’m looking forward to this one and will definitely report back on how badly I want to be friends with Betty and/or America.
My Name is Earl (NBC 8:00 *One Hour*)- Though Earl isn’t my favorite show on television, I can say that this show has a heart of solid gold. The show, while dealing with some off-beat and simply silly humor at times, always finds a way to be sweet and endearing in the end. Really, as far as I’m concerned, Earl is one of those shows that’s an easy laugh and a quick pick-me-up when needed.
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC 9:00)- This is gonna hurt, kids. Here’s where we left off. And here’s where we’re going. It doesn’t look promising, gang, and this may very well be the last few episodes of Grey’s for me. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, it’s an absolute shame that off-screen drama affected so much of the goodness we were used to on-screen, and now that Isaiah Washington’s gone, there’s hope. Right? Well, one would think that, except we’ve now got Derek, Meredith and Lexie Grey (who is hopefully not as awful as her half-sister), George, Izzie and Callie Continued, Alex and Ava, and newly ditched at the altar Christina. This is going to be an absolute mess and I can only hope that Shondra knows what she’s doing when she told us that she “had to burn it all down.” Oddly enough, the only character I am actually looking forward to checking back in with is Mark Sloane. It hurts bad, but we’ll just have to wait and see how this pans out.
The Office (NBC 9:00 *One Hour*)- The show that knows how to deliver, blow for blow, scene by scene, joke by joke, is finally back in our life with a one hour season premiere titled “Fun Run.” I can’t wait. Not only can I not wait for my funny bone to be tickled to the Nth degree, I can’t wait to see what we’re coming back to. Corporate Ryan (Did you guys also get the e-mail?!), Dwight and Angela, Michael and Jan and of course, Jim and Pam. I know that my heart still has wings from the last scene of season 3. Those teary eyes and smile that lit up the Electric City?! So beautiful! But I’m terrified, because really, nothing is every that easy over at DM Scranton. Karen’s still there, guys, and who knows how this is going to pan out. And let’s be real. Did you really think Kelly was going to give up on Ryan so easily? All-in-all, this is what I’m living for this week. I can’t wait and you can expect Scrantonicity to be back with a bang by Friday morning. It’s gonna rock. (PS- In case you haven’t heard, Mrs. Tracy Kay and I are headed to SCRANTON, PA next month to attend THE OFFICE CONVENTION. I’m not even making that up! I have a plane ticket and everything! Tickets go on sale this Tuesday! Get on it, gang. You know it’s gonna be totally worth it)
And I think that’s it. I’ll be sure to tune in to watch 30 Rock which starts next Thursday, but this week is definitely going to be busy and help me weed out the things worth weeding out. Can’t wait. I’ll be sure to report back here on what’s worth reporting back on and cannot wait to hear what you guys will be watching and what you thought!
So, what are you watching this week?
(*My pretty new HDTV)
(**My DV-R.)
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