Dear Emmy Awards:

Thank you very much for choosing Neil Patrick Harris to host. I will love you forever if you let him sing. If he does anything close to his closing number for the Tony's, the night will start off a success. Also, while he's singing, why not have him sing a song from something he sung in a nominated show like....Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.

I know, I know it's highly unlikely I will see a number from Dr. Horrible at the Emmys. That wonderful web-cast show is nominated in the "technical" awards category of Outstanding Special Class Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program. (Which, honestly, just sounds like some kind of fake, catch-all category that you just made up to please the masses....but, on the other hand, hurray for you adapting to new media!). And I know that Outstanding Special Class and other "technical" awards are categories that are traditionally too unfamiliar and too boring to be worth keeping a flighty network audeince's attention on a Sunday night. But the key word in that last sentence is "traditionally." I have no problem with "technical" Emmys or Oscars being awarded at a separate, non-televised event. I am one of those flighty audience members who changes the channel if forced to sit through a series of acceptance speeches for Outstanding Lighting, Make-up, Sound Mixing, etc. And in years past I probably wouldn't have cared about the catch-all category of Outstanding Special Class Short-Format Live-Action Entertainment Program or even Outstanding Choreography. But, this year, I care. And my humble suggestion to you, Emmy Awards, is that if you are smart, you should take note of the fact that I and other fellow TV watchers care.

Now, I realize I probably will not get my fondest wish of seeing a live performance of a song from Dr. Horrible on the Emmy stage (but I am holding out hope that host Neil Patrick Harris does give the web show a shout-out somehow). On the other hand, when it comes to the "technical" Emmy of Outstanding Choreography, I think a live performance is an outstanding idea.

As I understand it, the "technical" awards are shoved to the side because they are boring and don't make for good TV. But my suggestion is that when the technical awards, as they do this year, happen to include nominations in Choreography from popular TV shows Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, I say go ahead and move that award, temporarily, to the Big Leauges. It'll give the audience something to look at between all those acceptance speeches. It'll bring in the So You Think You Can Dance (younger demographic) and Dancing With the Stars (super HUGE demographic) audiences and even, maybe, get Hugh Jackman to show up (people obsessed with movie stars demographic). You won't have to find a choreogropher, costumes, dancers or camera angles because it's already been done. And, did I mention, IT WILL BE ENTERTAINING.

Thank you for listening, Emmy Awards. To refresh your memory, I'll post clips of the 2009 Prime Time Emmy Outstanding Choreography Emmy Nominees after the jump.


81st Annual Academy Awards: "Musicals are Back"
Rob Ashford, Choreographer
Considering the scope and star power of this number, it would be near impossible to reproduce at the Emmy Awards. Also, for the same reasons, it's likely to win, although it's my least favorite because it's more about the stars performing than the dancing.


Dancing With The Stars: Jive/"Great Balls of Fire"
Derek Hough, Choreographer
Julianne Hough, Choreographer
Derek is one of my favorite choreographers on Dancing With the Stars. This routine is fun and entertaining and makes me want to dance. Also, props to the siblings for working so well together. My brother has the same name as Mr. Hough and all we can choreograph is how to set the dinner table when we are home for Christmas holidays.


So You Think You Can Dance: "Bleeding Love"
Tabitha D'umo, Choreographer
Napoleon D'umo, Choreographer
This choreography duo goes by the name "Nappy-Tabs" on the show. Their specialty is "lyrical hip-hop," which I usually don't like too much. But I really loved this routine when I first saw it. It made the dancers, Mark and Chelsie, stand out to me. I really liked the story and expressions in the piece. (And I would love to see them dance it at the Emmys)


So You Think You Can Dance: "Mercy" a.k.a. The Door Dance
Mia Michaels, Choreographer
I didn't see this dance when it first aired, but I heard about it so I checked it out on youtube. Unfortunately, the first clip I watched told the story behind the dance and my latent feminist came out and ruined the dance for me.

Short clip. Poor quality, but you can view it without the intro that tainted my view of the dance.


Full clip that I originally saw, that explains the story behind the dance: obsessed, "crazy" girlfriend won't leave ex-boyfriend alone and he has to throw her out the door but she still hangs around so he can have sexual benefits whenever he wants but can still exert his power and throw her away whenever he wants and it's all justified because she's "crazy." The girl is a mess. And the guy wears a wife-beater. The dancing is good. But I just hate the message.


So You Think You Can Dance: "Adam and Eve/Silence"
Tyce Diorio, Choreographer
Not a personal favorite of mine, but a very powerful and beautiful performance.



So You Think You Can Dance: "A Los Amigos" Argentine Tango
Dmitry Chaplin, Choreographer
Dmitry was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance, so I feel a little like I've watched him grow. He's on Dancing With The Stars now with Chelsie whom he choreographed in this Tango. (The ballroom dancing world...it's smaller than you think). Also, this is my favorite of the bunch. It brings a real story and theatrics to a ballroom dance. I hope it wins.



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Attention Pop Culture Addicts

Spaced, all two seasons, is available for your viewing pleasure on hulu.com. WATCH IT NOW!

Need Convincing? Well....

• If you watched Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz and your cheeks hurt afterward from laughing so much, you must watch Spaced.
• If you watched the new Star Trek movie and thought the guy playing Scotty was hilarious, you must watch Spaced.
• If you were a slacker in the late 90s who procrastinated from work and study by obsessing over the minutia of pop cultue, you must watch Spaced.
• If you like funny, you must watch Spaced.

Spaced is the story of Tim and Daisy, recent friends who in order to move into an available and affordable "flat," hold themselves out as a romantic couple, which they are not.....but that's not the point of the show at all. Really it's about late 90s slackers and their wacky friends, downstairs neighbor, and upstairs landlady. If you have seen Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, then you will notice where the humor, editing, cast and general ideas came for those films. Episode three has Simon Pegg blasting zombies, and in the second season there is an excellent exhibition of slo-mo action fighting. The show also has fun toying with the audience's expectation that Tim and Daisy will end up together.

After the jump, I've posted my favorite clips. Take a look.


Favorite Spaced Clips:

The Magnificent Seven Moment
I love the theme music to The Magnificent Seven, an excellent movie that the men in my home forced me to watch many times while growing up. (And yes, I know all about Seven Samurai. I like The Magnificent Seven better because of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn and the music. Deal.) And I alternately laugh out loud and cheer when the music comes on as downstairs neighbor Brian saves the day.


Slo-mo Action Fighting
The clips speak for themselves.




Step Into My TARDIS
I love Doctor Who and think it would be the most fantastic thing if my boss needed to ream me out and called me into his TARDIS to do so.


Mike Sees Dead People
My favorite send-up of The Sixth Sense, especially since it uses actress Oliva Williams from the movie.



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Do NOT watch the trailer for The Time Traveler's Wife

Why? Because...

(1) Ron Livingston is not in it

(2) It gives away most of what made the book suspenseful

(3) Never let a good movie ruin a great book. Read first, watch later.

(4) See point #1

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Trying to stay abreast of the technology curve...

I just discovered Google Reader. This may be old news to most, but it's really helping me keep up with blog postings.

GOOGLE READER!!

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The Madness ends....in One Shining Moment

Well, the Duke loss demoralized this blog, but the Carolina Blue(*) faithfully plugged on past LSU to a series of perfect wins. And now we know, Spartan may beat Trojan, but it does not beat Tar Heel.

It's sad when the tournament ends, but the cherry on top for me every year is the "One Shining Moment" montage at the end. No matter who wins, who loses, or how boring or lop-sided the game, I will stick around for One Shining Moment. (I am slave to the Inspirational Sport Montage).



(*) See, it's good to be both a UNC and Duke fan. If one lets you down the other will come through!

Click through for some other random thoughts.


Other random thoughts:
-sort of boring tournament this year, no Cinderella, no stand out player.
-the last minute narrative trumped up by the media that Michigan State was this little can-do working class team that was going through the tournament slaying one-seeded giants sort of ruined the hoop-la surrounding the final. Michigan State is good, always has been good. They are as much big time b-ball as UNC is. Shut up media.
-there was more narration than usual in the One Shining Moment montage, which I liked at first, but then at the end I thought the praise of North Carolina was excessive.
-also, I thought for sure the One Shining Moment montage would have a clip of Scheyer tossing the ball back in-bounds during the Duke-Texas game, instead they went with a clip of Scheyer making one of his now almost trademark funny Scheyer-faces.
-finally, I heart kids who stay to play all four years.

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The Madness forges ahead

Tonight this blog will be rooting for:

Louisville (because they are the more fun team to watch)
Syracuse (because Oklahoma is evil and MUST BE STOPPED)
Michigan State (go Spartan Spirit!)
UNC (I hate to see Gonzaga go, but I love Carolina Blue)
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The Madness renews

Tonght this blog will be rooting for:

Connecticut (because husky dogs are cute and tough)
Xavier (because Duke has a better shot at beating Xavier)
Missouri (go big 12 team)
Duke (I love them blue devils!!)
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The Madness persists

Today this blog will be rooting for:

Syracuse (because I like oranges)
Xavier (because I like it when the A10 wins)
Dayton (because I like it when an underdog from the A10 wins, even if said dog is in Ohio)
Arizona (because Cleveland is in Ohio(*))
Pittsburgh (because I'm from Pennsylvania)
Marquette (because I like their name)
Michigan State (because Spartan always beats Trojan)
Siena (because I'd like a huge upset)

(*)Yes, I realize I am haphazardly applying the anti-Ohio rule.

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The Madness endures

Today this blog will be rooting for:

Villanova (because I like Philly cheese steaks)
Maryland (because I like an upset)
Connecticut (because I must not root for Aggies)
Purdue...or Washington (Big10 + Pac10 BBall makes me sleepy)
North Carolina (because I can't help myself)
Michigan (because, say it together now, Oklahoma is evil)
Western Kentucky (because they were the only low seed that came through for me on Thursday, but my bracket has Gonzaga)
Duke (because my parents did a better, longer brainwash job on me training me to root for Duke basketball; Texas however did a successful brainwash job on me for football)
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Iranian New Year is sooo popular this year.

The President is into it. (Probably because he figured out the phrase "happy new year" in Farsi includes the word "barak")

Even the Israeli President is into it.

But the best, most thorough salute to the Iranian New Year (which is TODAY), came from Steven Colbert last week. His particular attention to the traditional dish of herbed rice and fish (a.k.a Sabsi Polo and Mahi) as well as the table of seven s's (a.k.a the Haft Seen) is what sets his tribute apart:



Happy Noruz!!
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The Madness continues

Today this blog will be rooting for:

Syracuse (because of the six overtimes)
Oklahoma State (because Oklahoma is evil, as in "the enemy of my enemy is my friend")
North Dakota State (because they had the best crowd at the selection show...I think the crowd consisted of half the residents of North Dakota)
Marquette (because of my bracket)
Temple (because they are in the A10)
Pittsburgh (because of where my parents live...and my bracket...and I want Duke to prove everyone wrong and beat them...and yes, that would take a tall miracle in the defensive post position)
West Virginia (because of where I live, also, Dayton is in Ohio)
Mizzou (go Big 12 team that is not OU)
Louisville (because of my bracket)
Arizona (because they deserve the chance to prove they do belong in the tournament)
Boston College (I love ACC basketball)
Xavier (I root for the A10, even when said A10 team is a GWU rival)
Wake Forest (ACC team from North Carolina!!)
Siena (because, when burnt, it makes a nice crayon...and because when they win, Ohio State will cry)
Robert Morris (because of where my parents live, but, yes, of course, my bracket has Michigan State)
Florida State (because I enjoyed watching them play in the ACC championship)
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The Madness

It's basketball time.

Keep up with all the action via this website.

Don't worry, it has a useful boss button.

Today this blog will be rooting for:

BYU (because I must not root for the Aggies)
Northridge (root for the Cinderella even when it goes against my bracket)
Butler (more fun to root for them than LSU)
Purdue...or Northern Iowa (I don't really care)
UNC (because I was raised to love the Tarheels)
Maryland (because of where I work)
Connecticut (because I miss Stephen Curry and wish to punish the rest of his conference)
Washington (because of my bracket)
Texas (hook 'em.....until they get to Duke)
Clemson (Tigers rawrhh!)
American (go little Eagles soar!)
Gonzaga (because Akron is in Ohio)
Duke (because I was raised to love the Blue Devils...you may think this expressly conflicts with a certain statement above, but in my family light and dark blue are completely compatible colors)
Morgan State (because Oklahoma is evil)
VCU (I never root for UCLA because as a kid I got UCLA confused with UNLV and as a kid I was a Duke fan)
Western Kentucky (because they had a fun crowd at the selection show)
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I Want To Go To There

I watch the show 30 Rock. My favorite quote from the show is "I want to go to there," used whenever the character Liz Lemon hears about something she likes. It's hilarious. I've tried adopting it as my own little catch phrase. And it turns out this very funny, much beloved catch phrase was written by a BABY! Watch the hulu clip below, as Tina Fey explains how her baby daughter originated the catch phrase when she saw a Disney World website on the computer.



A freaking Baby wrote my favorite catch-phrase...this might say something about my taste in humor...
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Lent and The Bar Exam

It seems an odd confluence of events.

Lent (to me) is a sober time of thinking about the reward of grace in our lives. Some people do this by abstaining from chocolate. Some people don't even think about grace and abstain from chocolate anyway. Either way, somehow, thoughts of Lent get tied up with thoughts of self deprivation, religious study, internal reflection and general unfunness. Then Easter comes. The sun rises, and Christians release their 40 days of gloomy abstinence and unfunness in a celebration of eternal life by singing songs, chasing after colored eggs, eating chocolate bunnies and wearing Sunday finery.

Just my luck that for the past 40 days and more I have been largely abstaining from fun, drowning in legal study, reflecting on my stressed out state of mind and experiencing general unfunness due to the impending February Bar Exam. Am I looking forward to my day of release? Yes. But there's a catch.

The Bar Exam ends on February 26th, which also happens to be Ash Wednesday, the day Lent starts. The seemingly arbitrary and bewilderingly complex lunisolir calendar and computation system has conspired not only to force me to take a six hour essay exam on Fat Tuesday/Fastnacht Day(*)/Fasching/etc., but to also morally obligate me to be reflective and penitent on an evening on which I will be wanting to feel release. Somewhere, some religious scholar is thinking: "how apt." I am thinking: "I will eat off a chocolate bunny head to spite him."

(*) Fastnacht Day is Amish Donut Day in Lancaster County, PA. If you go to school, your teacher buys the class fat, heavy, delicious donuts and you eat them all day long. It is heaven.

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Oscar Nominations

Every year I know fewer and fewer of the movies nominated for Academy Awards. This year, I thought I might actually have a good chance of having seen at least one of the best picture nominees. Turns out, I’ve seen Two. Although, of the over 40 different films nominated for various awards, I have seen Six. That’s right six.

Click through to see who those lucky six are....

Happy-Go-Lucky
Nominated for: Best Original Screenplay
This is a nice little movie that doesn’t feel like a coherent film until the very end, when you finally understand that it’s about how much work goes into being a happy person, and how special and beautiful happy people are. Sally Hawkins, the actress who plays the happy-go-lucky main character Polly is delightful to watch. (Her portrayal reminds me for some reason of the character Donna Noble in Doctor Who, which is why I’m probably heavily disposed to like this movie). Also, the movie has a memorable catch phrase: “En-Ra-Ha!” (Watch the movie, and you’ll understand.) It’s nominated in the proper category, and I hope it wins.

Slumdog Millionaire
Nominated for: Best Picture, Director, Cinematography, Editing, Original Score, Origianl Songs (“Jai Ho” and “O Saya”), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Adapted Screenplay.
Wow, a “little” critical darling and I’ve actually seen it. I’ve seen it because it’s good and it’s joyful. Really, whether it wins or not, go see this movie. It has humor, romance, culture, tragedy, adorable child actors and a Bollywood-esque dance scene during the end credits. A very great movie. I don’t know if it’s “best picture” material, but I’d be happy to see it win. It should win for Best Original Score. The music, while often fun, also carries the film from highs to lows and between flash backs. Both nominated best songs “Jai Ho” and “O Saya” are good. I’m considering downloading them. (Also, I'm actually look forward to watching the Oscars if it means the cast recreates the dance to “Jai Ho” at the broadcast Ceremony).

Frost/Nixon
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor (Frank Langella), Director, Film Editing, and Adapted Screenplay
This is a nice movie to watch. The only problem with it is its lack of historical accuracy. Frank Langella, nominated for his portrayal of Richard Nixon, does an excellent, riveting job. He makes Nixon quirky, compelling, awkward, arrogant, tall, handsome and sympathetic, qualities, all of which, do not accurately apply to Nixon. Check your facts before or after you go into the film. Aside from historical accuracy, the film is very pleasant. I think it’s too pleasant for an Oscar as best picture though. It’s fluff masquerading as meaningful historical fiction. Actually, for the sake of history, it shouldn’t win anything.

Iron Man
Nominated for: Best Visual Effects and Sound Editing
Seeing as how The Dark Knight got shut out of any fun awards, Iron Man is lucky it got nominated at all. Fun movie. I’ll leave the judgment as to visual effects and sound editing to professionals.

The Dark Knight
Nominated for: Best Supporting Actor (Heath Ledger), Art Direction, Cinematography, Film Editing, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects.
If The Dark Knight had been nominated for best screenplay, best direction or best picture, then I wouldn’t say this, but since it got otherwise ignored in the marquis categories: Heath Ledger only got nominated because he’s dead. That’s not to say Heath Ledger doesn’t deserve it. His Joker was fantastic, but so was the rest of the movie. Even though (or maybe because) it has the same theme as last year’s best picture winner, No Country For Old Men, it somehow didn’t rate a best picture or best director nomination. Very sad, that one of the best superhero movies ever can’t get nominated. (The Watchmen has no chance next year).

Tropic Thunder
Nominated for: Best Supporting Actor by Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. was the funniest part of this movie...but doesn’t the nomination sort of play into what the movie was trying to mock? The character in Tropic Thunder went to extreme lengths to change his appearance (a white actor playing "black face") in order to gain critical renown. He even lectures the Ben Stiller character on the strategy of choosing roles as Oscar bait.

Kirk Lazarus: Everybody knows you never go full retard.
Tugg Speedman: What do you mean?
Kirk Lazarus: Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, 'Rain Man,' look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Counted toothpicks, cheated cards. Autistic, sho'. Not retarded. You know Tom Hanks, 'Forrest Gump.' Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and won a ping-pong competition. That ain't retarded. Peter Sellers, "Being There." Infantile, yes. Retarded, no. You went full retard, man. Never go full retard. You don't buy that? Ask Sean Penn, 2001, "I Am Sam." Remember? Went full retard, went home empty handed...

It's nice of the Academy to recognize a comedic performance, but I are they recognizing a performance or playing into a joke at their own expense?

Regarding the movies I haven't seen...
I guess I should see that darn Benjamin Button movie. And I know, I know, I know, I need to see WALL-E. The Wrestler intrigues me. I suffered through reading the novel "The Reader," so I'm not all that thrilled about seeing the movie. The subject of Milk just doesn't interest me, but I might like it. I wouldn't mind seeing Rachel Getting Married. I'd be interested in seeing Doubt and the nominated documentary Man On A Wire.

Any Oscar opinions you care to share?

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