Welcome to Movie and TV land! When it comes to TV, what's wrong with being a couch potato? There are lots of shows to discuss. Some are hugely popular, and others are shows you feel you've discovered yourself.
As for movies, whether they're rented (and you're back to the couch) or you still prefer the movie theater experience, they come in all shapes and sizes. It's all about choice! Don't you want to feel like an expert at Oscar time?
For some people the big day is the Super Bowl. For others, like me, it's the Oscars. Watching the red carpet for three hours. (I know, I know, one channel actually starts with previous years, because no one has arrived yet.) It means those attending are dressed formally at 3:00 in the afteroon. It means smiling faces toward their competitors. It might mean now or never. (Remember Bill Murray in "Lost in Translation?" Remember Lauren Bacall in "The Mirror Has Two Faces?")
In the last few years the Oscars have been telecast earlier, previously having been shown in late March. The other award shows -- Golden Globes, SAG awards, People's Choice Awards, Critics' Choice Awards -- are also shown earlier, and seem to be lumped together in a few weeks. They're often the harbinger of Academy Award winners, but there are sometimes upsets. Who expected "Crash?"
Here are the lists of the big ones -- Best Picture, Director, Actor and Actress. What my friend always thought The Final Four meant. I couldn't agree more.
Best Picture “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9, “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “Precious,” “A Serious Man,” “Up,” and “Up in the Air” Will it be "Avitar" because it earned gazillions? Will "Blind Side" fever dominate? Will "The Hurt Locker" get votes with respect to our guys in Iraq? "Inglourious Basterds" -- How much does Hollywood love Quentin Tarantino? Will they get cute and have an animated film win with "Up?" Remember the fuss made over "Up in the Air" when it came out? Whoops.
Best Director Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker” James Cameron, “Avatar” Lee Daniels, “Precious” Jason Reitman, “Up in the Air” Quentin Tarantino,“Inglourious Basterds” The big deal is Kathryn Bigelow vs. James Cameron. Formerly married and good friends, it's a fun competition. But this category has been all over the place. In previous award ceremonies, Bigelow, Cameron and Tarentino have all won. Up for grabs.
Best Actor Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart” George Clooney, “Up in the Air” Colin Firth, “A Single Man” Morgan Freeman, “Invictus” Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker” Jeff Bridges has swept previous award shows. Well deserved. The Academy loves down and out, redeemed by the love of a good woman, and a good-looking actor playing a slob. Just because I love George Clooney and Morgan Freeman, I wouldn't mind an upset. Colin Furth did a great acting job in a depressive snore of a movie. Jeremy Renner's a newbie.
Best Actress Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side” Helen Mirren, “The Last Station” Carey Mulligan,“An Education” Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious” Meryl Streep, “Julie and Julia” Sandra Bullock has an armful of this year's awards. She was tough, she was blonde, and she played a real person. (Somehow the Academy loves that.) I'd love a Meryl Streep upset, though. Hey, Julia Child was a real person and Meryl didn't look gorgeous. And, sorry, I liked "The Blind Side," but I don't think Bullock's portrayal was Oscar-worthy.
You've heard of the
success of DirecTV for consumer use.Now
Direct TV Business will add interest
to your business and get everyone's attention.Add Direct TV for Business to your waiting room, salon or retail
store.Customer boredom and impatience
will disappear!Commercial DIRECT TV at
your bar or restaurant will fill up your place on game night.Our subscribers believe Directv increases
their business.Ninety percent of them.
Let's say you're in
the dreaded teller line at the bank.You
can be looking at the latest sports news, up to the minute music info, or the
day's news. It makes the line go
faster!Same thing with the
supermarket.It will give you an
alternative from perusing the tabloids.
There's an outstanding array of
core channels including premium channels, HD, Spanish language, XM Satellite
Radio and business packages.Business
owners and managers will find programming they did not get with cable.
Imagine the crowd for
Sunday brunch with NFL Sunday Ticket™ once you've taken advantage of Direct TV for Business's best offer of the
year!
Think of DIRECT TV
Business for so many environments.Introduce it to the gym, bar or restaurant, waiting area or lounge.Once you check out Direct TV for Business,
you'll find it will help your business.Find us at http://www.directsattv.com/business/.
Well, he warned you. Before January 17's Golden Globe Awards, Ricky Gervais created several promotional commercials reminding us that he would host the awards show, and it would be live. And the network should be ready.
Gervais took aim at many in the Hollywood community, but with a tongue-in-cheek, good-natured manner. There were groans when he remarked about Paul McCartney, "We actually came over on the same flight. I didn't get to speak to him because I was up the front in first class. He was behind me in coach. Saving money. He spent an awful lot last year." One critic said the camera caught a shocked McCartney who didn't seem to appreciate the remark. So much for that opinion. McCartney and his girlfriend went backstage after the awards show. Sir Paul hugged Ricky and said he loved it.
My favorite moment (besides seeing some astoundingly bad dresses -- come on, that's most of the fun) was when Gervais seemed terribly serious. He said there were too many stereotypes and that he didn't believe in them.
"One stereotype I hate is that all Irishmen are just drunk, swearing hell raisers." Ladies and gentlemen, Colin Farrell!
Hollywood, if Ricky Gervais took a shot at you, he mentioned your name. Even if the presenters didn't.
Granted, Cougar Town is not a new series. It debuted in September 2009. I finally checked it out. Frankly, I watched for only 15 minutes before I gave up on it. (That's often all it takes for a decision.) I've liked Courteney Cox in the past and thought she would make it fun. But her newly plumped up lips didn't do too much toward saving a boring show. It's a town to visit, but not for long.
Courteney Cox ("Jules") is recently divorced after raising a son in her 20's. She must feel gypped, because with advice of her fellow divorcees, it's time to relive her 20's in the company of younger men. (Are they bitter? Did I say that out loud?)
Jules' ex-husband, Bobby, is unemployed, having finished an unsuccessful golfing career. He now lives on his boat and mows the lawn of their son's high school.
Actually, the cougar mentality is based on the theory of male menopause. According to the theory, a 40-something (or older) divorced man buys his red convertible, dyes his hair and dates 25-year-olds. All women know that it's not his paunchy charm that gets the hotties into the convertible. It's the convertible. And it's his money. The young want to be baby trophies. And the men want arm candy.
But back to cougars. In the first episode, Jules stands in front of a mirror critiquing her body to look for sags and wrinkles. (Casting problem? Have you seen Courteney Cox? Please.) She listens to her friends and her young assistant and decides it's time for dating. Meanwhile, the son is embarrassed by both his father and his mother.
Why the older woman/younger man scenario? Because the men their age are after the 20-somethings! And because a lot of younger men have good taste.
Stage names can be fun. They can also be memorable when they're one-syllable first names only. Cher, Madonna and Sting come to mind. Now there's Pink.
Pink is a singer/songwriter as well as an actor. Born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, she now has sold over 32 million albums since 2000. She changed her name from Alecia Beth Moore to Pink because of a tendency to blush as a child, and from her supposed resemblance to Mr. Pink from "Reservoir Dogs." (I disagree. Do you think she looks like Steve Buscemi?)
The former Alecia appeared in talent shows at the age of 13. Her first album, "Can't Take Me Home," went platinum and spawned the single "There You Go" for LaFace Records. She worked with Li'l Kim and Mýa on "Moulin Rouge." Pink's second album, "Missundaztood," was released in 2001 and was more of a pop product. It turned out to be her best seller. Her November 2003 album was "Try This," and her fourth was April 2006's "I'm Not Dead." This album produced seven hit singles.
Pink has won two Grammy awards and an MTV Video Music Award. She became a movie actor in "Roller Ball." She has toured with 'N Sync and Janet Jackson, among other artists. Pink also sang backup with Diana Ross and 98 Degrees.
Her fifth and latest album is "Funhouse," which went platinum in October 2008.
