TV Shows »The Day Before

airing on Sundance

When I am away Jim eats bad Chinese take out, when Jim’s not around, I watch documentaries about fashion. Lucky for me, Sundance has been airing (and has available on demand) their behind the scenes series, The Day Before all this week in honor of New York Fashion Week. It’s an interesting if cursory look at the hectic day leading up to major designer’s runway shows. It reveals what anyone who has worked in the industry or knows people who do knows: that it takes a team of many to make a collection, that that team is like a family (truly the most glamorous part of a high stress fashion job – not the celebrities in my opinion), that it’s a lot of hard work and there are always upheavals at the last minute and not enough time to do everything with your sanity in tact. Perfectionist Narciso Rodriguez highlights this hair pulling reality the most. Other designers featured are Diane Von Furstenberg, Donatella Versace, Alexander Wang, Peter Copping for Nina Ricci, and Jeremy Scott.

Click here for the rest of The Day Before

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 12, 2010

TV Shows »Foodography

On the Cooking Channel

There are some guys I just kind of like and am glad to see working. I like that Nathan Fillion got a job in Castle, (even if it’s unbearable), I love that the beeper king, Dean Winters is excellent in the Allstate commercials he took over from America’s real first black president, and I think it’s nice to see Mo Rocca hosting a food information show. He lends a bit of un-obnoxious humor to the often obnoxious genre in the new (pretty sweet) Cooking Channel’s Food(ography).

The show goes along with the channel’s slightly new take on food television. Instead of Al Roker or Marc Summers taking us to the Skittles factory for the thousandth time (though I still do kind of love seeing stuff being made in factories), Foodography has an approach that is slightly more in line with the foodie culture of today. Interesting and hip places are visited and there’s at least some actual research and information about the history of the subjects. While it still sometimes suffers from cheesy pun intended writing, it’s pleasurable lite watching that has even added a few go to places on my list.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 22, 2010

TV Shows »Breaking Bad

on AMC

Many television shows lately are called “hard hitting” and “relentless” but Breaking Bad, which is far from the Weeds-like drug dealing comedy one might expect truly deserves these descriptors. I am shocked then, that no one really talks about how, well, crazy this show is. I’ve heard it’s good, but without a mention of melting human bodies and an extremely depressing subplot about dying from cancer.

That all the severe tension and heavy stuff mixed with totally gruesome events can result in anything called entertainment is impressive, but Breaking Bad does one better and offers high quality entertainment due in no small part to the cast and the writing. It took me a couple episodes to be on board, but it’s strangely compelling once you’re into it.

You know I love Bryan Cranston and even more so now with his demented adventures and bald head. I am also glad to see he is type cast as an extremely horny man with plenty of sex scenes with his wife who is played by the uptight school teaching wife of Bullock on Deadwood (her name). Also stolen from Deadwood? the nearly identical theme song making the short lived foul mouthed show possibly the least watched by viewers and most revered by casting agents and producers.

I’ve only seen the first season and look forward to the rest, which fans say only get better.

Click here for the rest of Breaking Bad

See more: TV Shows


One Comment →
Posted on July 25, 2010

TV Shows »Paula’s Home Cooking

on Food Network and the Cooking Channel

Paula Deen is undeniably charming and her show, Paula’s Home Cooking is one of the best the Food Network and brand new Cooking Channel have to offer. I know because I have the channels on in the background often in these days of freelancing and know all too well the pain of a show sans charming host – read the irritating growl of Rachel Ray or the frosted tip obnoxiousness of Guy Fieri.

This Southern belle doesn’t even always have to make food I’d necessarily eat. Once she made a Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding, y’all and just looking at the two dozen Krispy Kremes mixed with sweetened condensed milk, and butter rum sauce on screen made my teeth hurt and my head ache. Still, with her soft drawl and cheerful charisma, I’d listen to her talk about anything. She even makes me happy by simply saying the word oil.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on June 27, 2010

TV Shows »In the Womb

from National Geographic

This National Geographic documentary, In the Womb, about the world of the fetus from egg and sperm, to weird shrimp creature to tiny human being is, of course, particularly interesting to me now, as I am over halfway to giving birth but even non preggers will find the new technology and science totally fascinating and you’ve never seen it like this before.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on June 20, 2010

TV Shows »Baby Human

Geniuses in Diapers

I’m not sure how interesting Baby Human would be to those not expecting or with a young child, but I am finding this sing songy educational documentary about the stages of development in babies fascinating and cute. Chapters are broken into breakthrough stages: walking, thinking, talking and illustrate with scientific experiments and lots and lots of smiling adorable babies. Which, of course, aside from the research part, are the main reason to watch.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on May 9, 2010

TV Shows »Human Remains

aired in 2000

I’d be excited about anything Rob Brydon and Julia Davis were a part of, so Human Remains, wherein they play six different married couples, was at the top of my list of BBC shows to seek out while at Amoeba in LA (sadly, they didn’t have it, so i broke down and got it from Amazon UK). It’s a treat, but a very strange treat that you may not want to share with everyone – kind of like salted licorice or such.

It’s funny… but not exactly funny. Like so many British comedies, it’s as dark and sad as it is humorous – though no where near as pitch black dark as Davis went on to do in Brix Pick, Nighty Night. From aristocratic twits to swinging goofballs, from paranoid Christians to wacky musicians, all of their character portraits are well developed and intriguing even as they mostly deal with depression, betrayal, and death.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on April 25, 2010

TV Shows »Callan

Originally Aired 1967-1972

Callan is a serious minded and intelligent spy show that came out of Britain in the late 1960s. Edward “The Equalizer” Woodward plays a reluctant, obstinate but gifted (and handsome) killer who works for a shadowy government agency called The Section. Morals, plots and allegiances are ambiguous and you’ve really got to pay attention to appreciate the twists and plotting.

The thrills here are more subdued and psychological and Callan lacks the gadgets, cars and big explosions of typical spy fare. Not surprisingly, the recommendation came from good friend and spy aficionado Matthew (of the blog Double O Section) who also set us up with the similarly intelligent and complex Sandbaggers, which came to BBC a decade later.

Only the third series, the first in color, and subsequent are released on DVD, so if you do Netflix these prepare yourself to be dropped in the middle of major story arch – but don’t worry, you’ll figure out what’s going on in no time.

Click here for the rest of Callan

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on April 18, 2010

TV Shows »Life

on Discovery

Like the producer’s other show, Planet Earth, Life is awe inspiring and fantastic. But, and I’m probably going to get run down by one of her personal drivers for saying this, Oprah does not posses what one would call a melodious voice.

Chosen strictly for her status as confoundedly being one of the famous people on earth, she’s just not the exact person I would have chosen to describe verbally the wonders of animal life. But I’m sure I’ll get the British narrated ones on DVD, so I’ll move past this blunder.

Divided into species, each hour-long episode is transporting and features hunting, mating rituals, escape tactics and more that have never been captured on film before. I can’t recommend it enough.

See more: TV Shows


One Comment →
Posted on April 11, 2010

TV Shows »Jam

created by Chris Morris (2000)

Last week I raved about the dark, depraved, arty and inventively hilarious Blue Jam radio show that sprang from the mind of British genius Chris Morris. This week I want to tell you about Jam, the video adaptation which includes recreations of many of the original radio program’s best skits.

Available at amazon UK for region 2 players, the DVD will be a must-have for anyone that becomes a fan of the show and something that those with weak stomachs and an aversion to off color black humor should definitely avoid.

The DVD features spoofs of the typical “special features” and includes “miniaturized version” of the episodes. Clips are NSFW.

See more: TV Shows


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on March 14, 2010