Apple TV

So my whole life is different thanks to Apple TV. Okay that's clearly an exaggeration, but it has definitely revamped my whole television-watching experience. 

Lewis and I have decided that 2013 is the year that we need to really crack down on finances. We have plenty and it's not really an issue with that, it's more an issue with having lots of student debt & wanting to pay that off ASAP. So we looked for big ways to cut costs. We have been paying $100 a month for Directv. We had the plan with all the regular cable channels and the Encore movie channels. We did not have HBO or Showtime or anything like that. We had 2 HD-DVR boxes. We also paid $20 a month for a Blockbuster online account where we could have 3 DVDs at a time.

We heard about Apple TV from my friend Emily. Basically you buy the Apple TV box and pay for Hulu Plus and Netflix streaming, which is a total of $16 a month. At first I wasn't crazy about this idea, but when you take into consideration the difference of $80 a month, it'd have to be pretty awful for me to not want to do it. I looked into it and with Hulu Plus, I will be able to watch all my favorite shows with the exception of the shows I watch on Bravo, like Million Dollar Decorators or Million Dollar Listing. I also won't be able to watch White Collar when it comes on, but the DVDs are on Netflix once the season is over. I can deal with that.

I did notice that Netflix streaming doesn't have the new movies that comes out on DVD. For that, we decided to keep our $20 a month for Blockbuster. The reason why I prefer Blockbuster online over just paying extra for Netflix through the mail is because we have unlimited in-store exchanges at a Blockbuster store and we live close to one of the best Blockbuster stores - that is actually still operating & doing well!

Overall, we are saving $80 a month. We bought 2 Apple TV boxes with Christmas money, one for each TV, and are now paying monthly for our Hulu Plus, Netflix and Blockbuster online subscriptions. I'm working on a list of Netflix movies and Hulu Plus tv shows that I want to watch! I'm excited about this!

One Tree Hill: This is Your Life

I just finished watching the series finale of One Tree Hill. Yes, it ended several months ago and I'm just now watching it, but it took me some time to be ready to watch it. Honestly, I was mad that there was a 9th season. I thought they ended it so great with season 8 when Jamie was running across the bridge bouncing the basketball like Lucas did at the beginning of the show. I thought that was a perfect way to end it. I was wrong. I'm not sure why I didn't trust them after 9 years of providing moments that just fit perfectly with my life.

I think One Tree Hill represents everything I love about television. For one thing, television grows with you. That show was on for 9 years. I started watching it at Season 2 and stuck with it for every season after that, except obviously season 9. I remember how I felt the first time I saw Brooke & Lucas kiss. I remember how excited, but mad I was about Lucas & Peyton. I went back & forth with them for years. I always loved Haley & Nathan & I remember hoping I could be as loving, understanding & wise as Haley always seemed to be in her relationships. I hated Nanny Carrie along with everyone else. I rooted for Lucas & Peyton. I laughed with Brooke & always loved it when she got mad! I adored Jamie when he came along in season 5. I was very early in my pregnancy with Isis when Peyton was pregnant in Season 6 - talk about something that'll scare you to death!

I have so many memories of watching this show with friends. I watched the first season on DVD with my friend Courtney. We introduced the show to our friends and I have lots of memories of watching it each week in our apartment with a big group of people. Lewis and I were newly married, living with our friend Ian, and our apartment was the gathering place for most of our friend group. What great memories, looking back on those times.

It's interesting how a show can speak so directly to so many different people. That's what's beautiful about media in general, be it television, movies, books or music, and I think what I like the most about One Tree Hill is that it incorporated all of that. You can't really think of One Tree Hill without thinking about the music. Every episode's title is a song title. The name of the show itself came from a song lyric. They had musicians playing regularly on the show, introducing me to new music and musicians I still love. One Tree Hill is how I discovered Ray LaMontagne, who is my absolute favorite!

It also has lots of quotes from books that I love. I watched the commentary with the creator, Mark Schwahn, that was on the hour before the finale premiered on the CW. He talked about how the first episode has this quote from Shakespeare and he found it so appealing because the quote was relevant both at Shakespeare's time, and also in the modern day world of these high schoolers in Tree Hill. How perfect. How true. I hope to teach my daughters that classic literature and intelligent creation of any kind is relevant beyond generational lines. A good movie is still a good movie 20, 30 or 50 years later. A good song can still to speak to someone's granddaughter as much as it spoke to them.

For that reason, when my girls are teenagers, I think they'll love watching this show. Sure the clothes will probably look outdated at that point, but I think there are things about this show that will appeal to teenagers many years from now. We all are looking for that group of friends who is more like family - that group of people who sticks together no matter what. There can be drama, fights, pain, brokenness and still there can be that same bond that pulls you back in when it feels like you're done.

Same thing for me with this show, it pulled me back in even after I thought I was done. I have now watched the last 20 minutes of the finale episode 3 times. Gavin DeGraw singing the theme song while you see all the characters sing at the top of their lungs while it also cuts to video of them just hanging out together, grown up, with children, just living their lives and moving on together. Then gathering at the end to see the next generation basketball star (Jamie Scott) enter the court for his last game. This makes me appreciate things about my life as I look back. Nothing about high school can define me so much that I can't be a bigger and better person as I grow. Bad decisions or mistakes or pain can't change the future of my relationships. My children will grow and change and so will I. Life. Moves. On. And that's a good thing.

Thank you, One Tree Hill, for sharing 9 years of life with me. I like to believe that you're all still living on in Tree Hill. I'll think of you from time to time.


This is the last quote from show and I love it. It's all the fabulousness of One Tree Hill - a little sweet, a little cheesy, a little perfect.
"It's the oldest story in the world: one day you're 17 and praying for someday - and then quietly, without ever really noticing, someday is today and then someday is yesterday and this is your life.
We spent so much time wanting, pursuing, wishing, but ambition is good. Chasing things with integrity is good. Dreaming.
If you had a friend you knew you'd never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it. Do it. Don't wait. Nothing lasts forever.
Make a wish and place it in your heart. Anything you want. Everything you want. 
Do you have it? Good. Now believe it can come true.
You never know where the next miracle is going to come from.
The next memory. The next smile. The next wish come true.
But if you believe that it's right around the corner, if you open your heart and your mind to the possibility of it. The certainty of it.
You just might get the thing you wish for.
The world is full of magic. You just have to believe in it.
So make your wish. Do you have it? Good. Now believe in it. With all your heart."

Fall TV 2012

Ah, it's that time of year again...Fall TV time! I love preparing for my new shows!! This post will be jam-packed with info related to my TV watching. There are many great shows I've heard of that I don't watch, so they aren't included. But for a full list of Fall TV premieres and new shows, check out TV Guide!

First of all, let's discuss the run-down of favorites, regulars & those I'm just trying out.

Favorites

These are the shows I will watch every week and I don't miss!

Gossip Girl

New Girl

Modern Family

Big Bang Theory

The Vampire Diaries

Glee

American Idol (mid-season)

Regulars

These are the shows that I will be DVRing, most likely all year. They all get watched, but sometimes I'll be backed up a week or two and have to catch up one Saturday!

Bones

How I Met Your Mother

Parenthood

Suburgatory

The Office

Saturday Night Live

Once Upon a Time

Giving it a Shot

These shows are either new shows that I'm trying out this year (new shows are italicized) or they are shows I've been watching for the last few years, but I may stop watching them this year, depending on how the season goes.

90210

Two Broke Girls

Hart of Dixie

Ben and Kate

Go On

Emily Owens, MD

Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23

The Mindy Project

Arrow

Guys With Kids

Beauty and the Beast

Grey's Anatomy

Revenge (I'm catching up on Season 1 before I start Season 2 this year)

Next Caller (mid-season)

Cougar Town (mid-season)

The Carrie Diaries (mid-season)

Summer/Shortened Series Shows

These shows are either on now and I watch them in the summer or they come on at random times throughout the year. Either way, I thought if I was including shows I watch on the list, they deserve to be recognized.

White Collar

Suits

NY Ink

Project Runway

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

The Buried Life

Million Dollar Listing (LA & NYC)

Million Dollar Decorators

Now, next thing you need to know are the Fall Premiere Dates! Set your DVR's!! I'm going to list these in order of premiere date. But all the ones that are in the list above and are starting in September or October are on the list.

September

Go On - 9/11 9pm

Parenthood - 9/11 10pm

Guys With Kids - 9/12 10pm (regular time slot is at 8:30pm)

Glee - 9/13 9pm

Bones - 9/17 8pm

The Office - 9/20 9pm

How I Met Your Mother - 9/24 8pm

Two Broke Girls - 9/24 9pm

New Girl - 9/25 8pm

Ben and Kate - 9/25 8:30pm

The Mindy Project - 9/25 9:30pm

Modern Family - 9/26 9pm

Big Bang Theory - 9/27 8pm

Grey's Anatomy - 9/27 9pm

Once Upon a Time - 9/30 8pm

Revenge - 9/30 9pm

October

Hart of Dixie - 10/2 8pm

90210 - 10/8 8pm

Gossip Girl - 10/8 9pm

Arrow - 10/10 8pm

The Vampire Diaries - 10/11 8pm

Beauty and the Beast - 10/11 9pm

Emily Owens, MD - 10/16 9pm

Suburgatory - 10/17 10pm

Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23 - 10/23 9:30pm (sneak peek on Wednesday 9/12 at 10pm)

Fall Shows!

Every year, I start to plan out my Fall DVR schedule with old shows and new shows. This year there are several I'll be giving a shot. Keep in mind, often times "giving it a shot" means it gets one episode and if it hasn't captured my attention with that first episode, I'm done. So let's just say this is the "1 episode" list. We'll go from there.

The Mindy Project

I do think Mindy Kalig is so funny and I always loved her on The Office! So I'm interested in seeing if this is any good. I don't totally get on board with her as a female lead, though. She's more the funny best friend in my book, but I feel like it's worth giving it one episode to see if she can change my mind.

Ben & Kate

I wasn't totally on board with this one until I saw the preview. The premise of it didn't really catch my attention, but seeing how it played out in the preview did. Then it has that little girl in it from We Bought a Zoo and the new Footloose. She is absolutely adorable and I may just be giving it a shot because of her. 

Guys With Kids

The premise behind this one is just great and I love seeing dads with kids! I love how they got the different kinds of dads and different ages of kids and all of that. I just think it looks really funny and definitely worth giving it a shot!

Go On

Really there's not much more to say than that it has Matthew Perry in it and that is exclusively why I am watching it. The preview does look good, too, so I feel like people will be drawn to it for more reasons than just him, but for me, it's him.

Next Caller
Dane Cook is starring in this one. There seem to be several shows this year that I'm drawn to because of 1 specific actor who has been cast in them. This is one of those. Dane Cook, I'm giving you a shot.

Arrow
There's a few things going for this one. First of all, it's on the CW and I tend to like a lot of their shows. It also looks pretty good in the preview and I'm interested in the superhero kind of plotline. I may not stick with it, but we'll see.

Beauty and the Beast
Again, the CW always gets a shot. I also love Beauty and the Beast and any version of it. I even liked that movie Beastly with Vanessa Hudgens. So I'll at least see how this one goes.

Emily Owens, MD
CW again. And it has Mamie Gummer in it, and her mom is Meryl Streep, and I think that's pretty fabulous. I also liked her in that other medical show she was in last year that got canceled. LOL.

The Carrie Diaries
CW. Basically a prequel to Sex and the City. Producers of Hart of Dixie and Gossip Girl. Definitely worth trying. There is still no videos or previews yet, so we'll see if I still feel the same once I see those.


What have I missed? What are you watching in the Fall?

One thing I do want to catch up on this summer is Revenge. I regret not starting that one in the Fall last year.

Pilot Scoop

Every year, I follow the new TV show forecasts pretty closely. I get excited to see what new shows I could pick up! This year, I started watching New Girl, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, Suburgatory, 2 Broke Girls and Secret Circle! Let's point out that 3 of those are on the CW - probably my all time favorite channel. It has the most shows that I watch on it.

Well, the TV stations have started picking up pilots, so I'm following along with anticipation! So far here are the shows that look promising to me...

Let's start with my favorite...the CW

CW has ordered another medical dramedy by the producer of Gilmore Girls. I didn't watch Gilmore Girls, but I want to and I know lots of people who like it! The plot sounds similar to Hart of Dixie, mixed with Grey's Anatomy. That could be a downer that there are already shows similar to it, but since I like both of those, I'm willing to give it a shot.

CW has also ordered The Carrie Diaries, based on the novel by Candace Bushnell. It's a prequel to the Sex and the City novels, based on Carrie in high school. I love Sex and the City, so I'm pretty sure if they do this well, I'd love it too!

Finally, CW has ordered a Beauty and the Beast-type show, similar to the 1987 series with Ron Pearlman and Linda Hamilton. I haven't seen that, but according to IMDB it looks kindof like a more modern take on it. Not sure how I feel about this, but I tend to give the CW the benefit of the doubt, so I'm going to try it.

Now, probably my 2nd favorite channel...ABC

First of all, ABC is also ordering a Beauty and the Beast-type show. Weird that there would be 2, but this one sounds more like a Once Upon a Time kind of thing. I have loved that show so far, so this one also sounds fairly promising. But I also find it weird that they would have Once Upon a Time and a Beauty and the Beast show on their network.

ABC has also ordered 666 Park Ave., based on another book. It is created by the producers of Vampire Diaries, Secret Circle and Gossip Girl. They had me at producers of Vampire Diaries. I'll watch.

Shonda Rhimes has created a period drama for ABC called Gilded Lilys. It's based in 1895, with the first luxury hotel in New York. She's done great with everything I've seen of hers so far and I love New York, so that idea sounds interesting.

NBC

NBC has picked up 8 comedies. Once a couple of them sound good to me.

Jimmy Fallon is producing a comedy based on three 30-something guys who are parenting even though they haven't stopped being children themselves. Sounds funny and I love Jimmy.

There is also an untitled Hilary Winston project about a shy, focused woman who dumps her fiance and allows her coworkers to help her come out of her shell and get revenge. Sounds kinda cute.

TBS

TBS ordered Men at Work, with Breckin Meyer and Danny Masterson. It's about a recently dumped nice guy whose friends help him become manly again. It's got some funny guys in it.

Golden Globes 2012

It's award season again!!! I love it. It's 8:15pm and I'm just now starting the red carpet coverage on DVR! My first thoughts...what is up with Kelly Osborne's hair? And I'm super pumped to hear what Ricky Gervais has to say!

Stay tuned for some Cameron commentary. Always fun.

Fall TV Update

Fall TV Update

So I've got some winners & losers so far. I posted about the fall shows I was planning on watching, so here's how everything has panned out so far.

Absolute favorite new show of the season: New Girl

Others that are high up on the list: Ringer, 2 Broke Girls, Suburgatory

Here are the ones that aren't my favorites, but they've been added to my regular rotation: Hart of Dixie, The Secret Circle, Up All Night

The shows that just didn't make the cut: The Playboy Club (although this one was canceled anyway), The X Factor, Pan Am

I'm still waiting for: Once Upon a Time


But I just have to say again that New Girl is just the best thing that has happened to tv this year! I love Zooey Deschanel & the guy who plays Schmidt is hilarious! They're all just great characters on the show! Sadly, I loved Damon Wayans Jr on the pilot episode, but I'm ok with the new guy. But I do like Damon Wayans Jr's character on New Girl better than his character on Happy Endings, so that's kinda sad. Oh well.

As far as returning shows go, I'm LOVING Vampire Diaries. Everything else is good, but Vampire Diaries always takes things in a direction I didn't expect & I just think that's good writing. So way to go! I've stopped watching Raising Hope and my anticipation for Bones new season is just out of control! So excited for November 3!

What are your thoughts on Fall TV this year?

TV Shows - The Breakdown

If you want to see my ridiculous DVR spreadsheet, click here to check it out!

I've been sharing my spreadsheet with several of my friends & I always get the same reaction: "How do you have time to watch all of those??" There are 46 shows on the list, so I thought I'd share my process.

The "ASAP" shows

These are the regular shows that start in the Fall & go through the Spring. I love them & I usually watch them the day they come on. They're my favorites.

Gossip Girl

Glee

Big Bang Theory

Vampire Diaries

Grey's Anatomy

SNL (Always watched on Sunday morning)

I've added these two this year. We'll see if they stay on this list.

Ringer

Hart of Dixie

The "Sometime This Week" shows 

These are the regular shows that start in the Fall & go through the Spring, but I usually wait until a convenient time that week to watch them. That could mean I watch them the day they come on or it could mean I wait until Friday, Saturday or Sunday night to catch up for the week. These are also most of the 30 minute shows because I can easily fit them in here & there throughout the week.

How I Met Your Mother

House

90210

Modern Family

Happy Endings

Bones

The Office

Private Practice

I've added several to this list this year. We'll see how they go:

Two Broke Girls

The Playboy Club

New Girl

Suburgatory

Up All Night

The X Factor

The Secret Circle

Once Upon a Time

The "When I Have Time" shows 

These are regular Fall to Spring shows. They're still good enough that I don't want to take them off the DVR, but I may save them & catch up at a time when regular shows are off the air for the week or something. I don't usually watch them the day or week they come on.

Raising Hope

Parenthood (This one could be moved up to a "Sometime This Week" show this year. It was awesome last year!)

Castle

The Summer/Winter Break shows 

These shows come on in the summer & then come on in January again when most regular Fall shows are on hiatus for winter break. It makes it easier to keep up with them because they aren't really on at the same time of year as the Fall shows.

White Collar

Project Runway

Suits

Mid-season shows 

These start later in the year, usually January to May. They make my Spring schedule a little more complicated, but they're still really good!

American Idol

Cougar Town (this year)

One Tree Hill (this year - haven't decided for sure if I'm going to watch this last season or not)

The short-season shows 

These shows start random times throughout the year and usually only last 6-10 episodes or so. They can complicate things for a little while, but they're not long seasons, so it's easier to keep up with them.

NY Ink

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Holly's World

World of Jenks

The Buried Life

Million Dollar Decorators

Surprise Homecoming

Ridiculousness (Lew & I just started watching this one. Not sure if we'll keep watching it.)

And finally, The daily shows 

These come on every day at times that don't interfere with anything else. I watch Ellen everyday, but the others I only keep & watch the ones that have people on that I'm interested in.

The Ellen Degeneres Show

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Late Show With David Letterman

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Blockbuster Movie List

(Out of all of these, White Collar is my favorite!)

I've been really using my Blockbuster online account this summer! I've watched so many movies!! I thought I'd share a run-down of the best & worst. (In order from the most recently watched.)

The Adjustment Bureau

I was actually surprised by how much I liked this one. I tend to really enjoy Matt Damon movies, though, and I think Emily Blunt is adorable!

Sucker Punch

This was just not great. It would've been better if it was actually about girls with super strength & power fighting things, but the fact that it was all in her mind just came off as silly.

Just Go With It

I loved this!! I had heard it wasn't that good, but I thought it was so funny!!

Beastly

I'm a little embarrassed by how much I liked this, but not that embarrassed. It was good! I really like Alex Pettyfer! Too bad he's apparently crazy in real life.

The Rainmaker

Yep I decided it was time to rewatch this one. Haven't seen it in years! Lewis had never seen the whole thing! It was just as great as the first time I saw it!

City of Angels

Another old one that I decided to watch again. I love that Goo Goo Dolls song in it. I think that's the best part of the movie. Nicholas Cage kinda makes me feel uncomfortable.

White Collar

I watched the first 2 seasons of this & then started watching season 3 on USA this summer! It is absolutely one of my favorite shows now! I love it so much!!! The dynamic between Neal & Peter is just hilarious.

I Am Number Four

Another Alex Pettyfer. Lewis and I both really liked this one! It was WAY better than I expected. I'm actually looking forward to the next one!

Jackass 3

I've seen all the Jackass movies. I don't know why I like them so much, but I do! I watched this about a week before Ryan Dunn died in Pennsylvania. Sad.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Okay, confession: I watched this twice while I had it rented. I was absolutely shocked by how much I liked it! I made Lewis watch it with me the second time and he kinda liked it! He goes, "I hate to admit that this almost makes me like him."

The Next Three Days

Action. Russell Crowe. Not too bad!

The Green Hornet

We didn't even finish this one. We just didn't like it that much.

The Dilemma

I fell asleep halfway through this one. I never do that. Obviously it wasn't that appealing.

No Strings Attached

I thought this was really cute and funny! I actually kinda want to watch it again! I'm excited about seeing Friends With Benefits and comparing the two!

Private Practice

This is another TV show I finally started watching. I don't like it as much as White Collar or Grey's Anatomy, but I did like it & I'll be adding it to my DVR list for the fall.

My Fall TV List

All the networks have been announcing their Fall TV Schedules & I am overall really happy!! There are a few shows that I'm sad have been canceled (Hellcats, Off the Map, Mr. Sunshine), but there are also a bunch of new shows I can't wait to watch! 

First, let's talk about what I'm excited is returning! (In no particular order)

House

Fox, Mondays at 9pm

I can't believe that Cuddy isn't coming back, but I do feel like House is still giving us crazy storylines that have me completely on the edge of my seat. One main example: House's absolutely insane & disturbing surgery on himself in this week's episode. OMG.

Glee

Fox, Tuesdays at 8pm

Of course, this is just amazing and it makes me really happy and I want it to keep coming back year after year. And I'm ready for Finn & Rachel to be back together. And definitely for Puck to stir up some trouble next season. I feel like he wasn't enough of a troublemaker this season.

Raising Hope

Fox, Tuesdays at 9:30pm

While this isn't one of my absolute favorites, it does make me laugh regularly & I think that's all you can ask for.

Bones

Fox, Thursdays at 9pm

I absolutely cannot wait for the finale tonight to find out if Booth & Bones did it! LOL. I will keep watching this one even though they completely  make me angry regularly with there back & forth kind of junk between the two of them. It's been way too long. Just let them get together already!

Parenthood

NBC, Tuesdays at 10pm

If you are a parent or you have parents or you have siblings (which I should've covered everyone by now), you should be watching this show. It's beautiful and challenging and funny and just a really lovely family show.

The Office

NBC, Thursdays at 9pm

So curious about next season without Steve Carell!

Castle

ABC, Mondays at 10pm

Eh, it'll remain on my DVR, but depending on how the beginning of next season goes, this one could be off after a few episodes.

Modern Family

ABC, Wednesdays at 9pm

Hilarious. Keep 'em coming.

Happy Endings

ABC, Wednesdays at 9:30pm

This was a midseason pickup this year & I have been so surprised by how much I LOVE it! It's just hilarious! The combo of those 6 characters is really great! It's right up there with the Friends or How I Met Your Mother or Big Bang Theory combo of characters for me. I hope it has a great second season!

Grey's Anatomy

ABC, Thursdays at 9pm

I just never get tired of this show.

Private Practice

ABC, Thursdays at 10pm

Okay, this is one I just started watching a couple months ago & I'm within half a season of being caught up. Thank you, Hulu Plus, for having the whole fourth season available to me! I love this!

90210

CW, Tuesdays at 8pm

Loving this one still, too! Is Naomi really pregnant?? Because I feel like she's lying to get the nerd to stick around.

Big Bang Theory

CBS, Thursdays at 8pm

This is just one of the best shows on tv. If it didn't come back, I would freak out.

Cougar Town

ABC, Wednesdays at 9pm (midseason)

Coming back mid-season - really?? This show is awesome!!!!!

Gossip Girl

CW, Mondays at 8pm

Love this! I really wanted Chuck & Blair to get together again, but I kinda get it. Maybe she'll really get to be a princess! And I now need to read The Beautiful and Damned this summer.

How I Met Your Mother

CBS, Mondays at 8pm

Barney is getting married?!? When do we get to meet the mother???

The Vampire Diaries

CW, Thursdays at 8pm

This is my favorite show on TV right now. I am so curious about everything coming up next season! Cannot believe Jenna is dead. Kinda ready for Elena & Damon to get together for a while. Cannot believe Stefan is bad again!!!

Saturday Night Live

NBC, Saturdays at 11:30pm

I mean, really, it's just a TV legend. It must continue.

Project Runway All-Stars

Lifetime

Excited about this - don't know when it comes on, though!

Now, the one I'm not in favor of returning...

One Tree Hill

CW, Tuesdays (midseason)

Yes, I have been a One Tree Hill fan for a really long time now. I have been in support of it returning every year that it's been on. But this season, they ended it perfectly. Everyone is happy. Everyone has a baby or someone who loves them or has somehow made amends or whatever. It's just all wrapped up. What else is there to do? Especially in only 13 episodes of a mid-season pickup? I feel like it will just be creating drama for no reason. I wish they had just left this one alone. The finale this season was a perfect ending to the show & I just don't know if I'll continue watching it next season. I wish they would go out strong & positive. I mean, Jamie running across the bridge with the basketball & the Keith Scott motors sweatshirt?? How much more perfect of an ending do you need??

And the new shows I will be trying out in the fall are...

New Girl

Fox, Tuesdays at 9pm

Zooey Deschanel is coming to TV! Of course I will be watching. I don't even know what the show is about, but I'm there.

Suburgatory

ABC, Wednesdays at 8:30pm

I was not really interested in this one, but then I watched the preview. It looks funny! And it's a dad/daughter show & I'm always up for giving those a shot.

Once Upon a Time

ABC, Sundays at 8pm

Jennifer Morrison & Ginnifer Goodwin star in this show about a city where fairy tales are coming true. Cheesy? Maybe. Interesting to me? Definitely. I'll give it a shot.

Secret Circle

CW, Thursdays at 9pm

This is starring Brit Robertson, who I loved in Life Unexpected. It's based on more books by LJ Smith, who wrote The Vampire Diaries. I'll be reading the books this summer & adding this to my DVR this fall! I'm definitely interested!

Hart of Dixie

CW, Mondays at 9pm

Rachel Bilson is returning to TV. I think she's adorable & I've liked pretty much everything else she's been in. Plus it's on the CW & I tend to like most things on the CW, so I'm in to give it a shot!

Ringer

CW, Tuesdays at 9pm

Sarah Michelle Gellar. On the CW. As a monumental Buffy fan, I feel like I need to offer no other explanation.

What are you looking forward to in Fall TV??

Return to My So-Called Life

I finished Season 1 aka the entire series of  My So-Called Life last night. I've been watching it on DVD for the last couple of weeks. It is so strange how something that so perfectly hit home for me in middle school and high school can somehow be completely off base and completely perfect still at the exact same time when I re-watch it at 26 years old. It was an interesting journey, following along this time.

My initial thoughts were as follows:

Why did I like this so much?

Wow Jordan Catalano is still all that.

How do shows from the 90's get me saying things like "all that" again?

This 90's music is fabulous.I had totally forgotten about Toad the Wet Sprocket!

Why is he always leaning? Oh right, because he's high!

(I just like how he's always leaning. Against stuff. He leans great. - Angela)

Good looks are just not enough to overlook illiteracy.

Claire Danes is a fabulous actress.

This reminds me so much of how I felt in high school!
(Huge events take place on this earth every day. Earthquakes, hurricanes…even glaciers move. So why couldn't he just...look at me? - Angela)

Some of this reminds me so much of how I feel now!
(This life has been a test. If it had been an actual life, you would have received instructions on where to go and what to do. - Angela)

I love Rayanne Graff.

Wow I remember why I liked this so much.
(Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while, and admit the truth -- that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually...beautiful. Possibly even me. - Angela)

Why in the world did this get canceled???
(People always say how you should be yourself. Like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster or something. Like you know what it is, even. But every so often, I'll have, like, a moment when just being myself, and my life, like, right where I am, is, like, enough. - Angela)

As you can see, many of these thoughts were related to Jordan Catalano - as I'm sure most girl's thoughts are when they watch it. (Remember when Jared Leto looked like that & not like he does now!) The rest of them are just all the reasons why people loved this show! It hits home to people. I remember that feeling of not knowing who I was and not knowing exactly how to find out. I remember the feeling of not wanting to be like your parents, not exactly trying to rebel, but trying to find some way to identify where you become separate from them. I remember feeling awkward & uncomfortable with my looks, my body, the way my life - physically and emotionally was just changing. It's a rough time and some part of that continues throughout your adult life because life continues to change and move on. We have to adapt, discover a new version of ourselves that works for this stage.

There are so many quotes from the show that leave you thinking "um heck yes that is exactly what I'm thinking!" Even now - at 26. I'm no longer a teenager. I'm no longer interested in the "Jordan Catalanos" of the world. (It's always tempting to lose yourself with someone who's maybe lost themselves. But eventually, you want reality. - Patty) But I'm still struggling to discover who I am, where I fit, what parenting strategy fits me and my family - what insecurities can I overcome today - what decisions are best for me, for my husband, for my daughter. The show is about people. It's about life. And call me too introspective or over-identifying with it, but I think it has something to offer anyone who has ever felt that struggle, that need to find your place in the world.

Sure, there are people who never watched the show, never liked the show, even today would probably not identify with it. But I did. A lot. Again. At 26.
(Sometimes someone says something really small and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart. - Angela)

 

You know how sometimes the last sentence you said, like, echoes in your brain, and it just keeps sounding stupider? And you have to say something else just to make it stop? - Angela

The worst feeling is suddenly realizing that you don't measure up, and that, in the past, when you thought you did, you were a fool. - Angela

There are so many different ways to be connected to people. There are the people you feel this unspoken connection to, even though there's not even a word for it. There's the people who you've known forever who know you in this way that other people can't because they've seen you change. - Angela

You think you understand, but you don't! You just analyze everything until it barely exists. - Angela

American Idol Season 10 Picks #3

These are my favorites from last night!

Casey Abrams

He's still towards the top of my list. Smells Like Teen Spirit is not the greatest vocal performance, but he's got some guts to perform that & he totally pulled it off!! I loved when they used the word fearless to describe him!

Lauren Alaina

She had a much better song choice & did a much better job last night! I just think she's adorable!

Stefano Langone

He hasn't been my favorite really, but I thought he did really well last night & I love that song!

Pia Toscano

She can just sing. Dang. Every time I'm like "this girl is crazy amazing."

American Idol Season 10 Picks #2

Here's my Top 3 from last night:

Casey Abrams

James Durbin

Pia Toscano

Not necessarily in that order.

American Idol Season 10 Picks: Girls

 I thought the girls just really weren't as great as the guys last night. Oh well, here are the five I'd pick to go through, even though I wasn't totally obsessed with all five of them.

Lauren Alaina

Kendra Chantelle

Naima Adedapo

Pia Toscano

Thia Megia

Click here to see the full list of contestants.

American Idol Season 10 Picks

I'm actually loving this new season of American Idol!! While I adore Steven Tyler & I think Jennifer Lopez is beautiful, the judges aren't really what's doing it for me. What's really working for me is the fact that they finally have TALENT back on the show!!! Here are my top 5 guy picks from last night's episode:

Casey Abrams

Jacob Lusk

James Durbin

Paul McDonald

Scotty McCreery

The one I'm hoping gets picked on a wild card: Brett Loewenstern

Click here for the full list of contestants! I'm excited to see the girls tonight!!

BIG LOVE!!!

Although I will be watching the Golden Globes tonight, I'm also DVRing the Big Love Season 5 premiere!!!! I'll be watching that with Lewis tomorrow night! We are big fans of Big Love! I'm excited and nervous about this last season!! I've heard they've got some major things in store for us loyal viewers!

At the end of Season 4, Bill won a position as a Utah state senator and then came out publicly with his wives as a polygamist!! Adaleen set fire to JJ's fertility clinic with JJ & his wife inside! We also know that she's pregnant with JJ's inbred eugenics-produced baby. 

Drama, drama, drama!

Will you be watching this season of Big Love??

Golden Globes 2011!

My DVR is set to record all the fabulous pre-show, red carpet & awards festivities! I am SUPER excited that Ricky Gervais is hosting again this year! I loved him last year! I think he's hilarious!

The strange thing about this year is that it's the first year in a long time that I've seen a very small number of the nominated films over all the categories. 

Click here for the full list of nominees.

Here are the movies I've seen: 

Inception

Love and Other Drugs

Easy A

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

The Town

How to Train Your Dragon

That's not many considering there are a lot nominated for different things.

The shows I watch that are nominated are:

House

The Big Bang Theory

Glee

Modern Family

United States of Tara

The Office

That's it!! So obviously those are the movies and tv shows as well as actors involved that I am rooting for!

Who are you rooting for?

I heart Amazon

Anybody wanna buy me an early Christmas gift??

Most of the shows I want on DVD are on sale right now on Amazon!!!

Grey's Anatomy Season 6 is only $22.49!

Big Bang Theory Season 1 is only $15.99!

Big Bang Theory Season 2 is only $17.49!

Big Bang Theory Season 3 is only $28.99!

You could buy gifts for less than $30 & I'd think you spent $50! LOL

I'm only kidding, but those are still great deals on Amazon right now! Check them out!!

TV Update!!!!

Here's where I'm at right now in my shows:

I am definitely not on board with keeping couples apart in the TV shows. I'm really annoyed with it right now.

Grey's Anatomy - Seriously - Lexie & Sloan need to be together. Like yesterday.

Bones - There was a point where you should've finally gotten Bones & Booth together & that point was at the very latest sometime last season. Now you haven't done it & my husband will no longer watch your show with me. Jerks. I am holding on, but it's not really worth it.

90210 - Liam & Annie need to stop all this annoying back & forth "we like each other & then we don't" kind of junk.

Some things I'm happy with right now:

House & Cuddy are doing good. Relatively.

Elena & Stefan are staying strong in Vampire Diaries.

Meredith & Derek as well as Owen & Cristina are staying together.

Also, I love Mondo on Project Runway. He needs to win. Bad.

One thing I'm not okay with: political commercials. I have the weeks leading up to an election. Makes me want to throw things at the TV.