"You run away from everything that you fear
So afraid don't wanna be a part of it
You see the fake in every thing that is real
You hate the paradox
You put us in a box "
~Adam Lambert, 'Master Plan'
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...I don't know I feel like I should blog. So much for my last one eh? Oh well, I figured seeing as I'm on vacation maybe I should try and slap something together...though I don't know why. Let me think what have you guys missed....
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As always I'm as addicted to Adam as ever. ordered a few new magazine and posters. Been watching all his performances. For those of you who are interested here a couple of his performances over the last month. The now infamous American Music Awards performance (series guy on guy action!) and his fun So You Think You Can Dance appearance. I'm determined to recruit everyone to the cult of Adam so you may as well just watch them...click the pics.
This is another cute Adam video, it's about fifteen seconds and it's Adam playing a rock and roll diva. It was just a promo for an interview/hosting segement he did but I thought it was so funny.
And of course if you haven't seen it, the For Your Entertainment video!
And in other Adam news, I got my first tattoo. And I know what you're thinking how is that about Adam? It's his tattoo. Same place, same tattoo. I didn't make it a carbon copy but it's pretty darn close. And you thought you got obsessive! Wasn't to expensive, didn't hurt nearly half as bad as I thought either. Stung, still does a tad (I got it 3 days ago) but I was ready for a real scream fest but more then anything it just stung. It's still swollen but it looks good.
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Spoilers: There aren't really a ton of spoilers out seeing as everything is on break, that's super fun by the way. Super psyched for Heroes, they just released a new promo for the return of season 4. It's pretty much the same as the first puzzle piece promo except Sylar narrates it. At the end though he says something interesting, 'So what's my role. I'm gonna save the world'. WHAT!?!?!?! I'm dying here man, I miss my Sylar! Jumped ship on House but I'm looking forward to the returns of Bones a lot and Chuck to a lesser degree, and eventually Glee. Will probably buy Vol. 1 of Glee when it comes out.
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Semester is over, got straight A's except one spoon which I failed. I ended up dropping 2 at the beginning of the semester otherwise I would have dropped that one long ago but whatever it happens. The semester was pretty fun though. The month off will be nice. What else....
See this is why I don't blog that often, I can never think of anything...
Ashley
Just want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a fun filled New Year!
I'm currently feeling quite festive thanks to Christmas tunes on the radio and a little bit of snow outside! I'm off home tomorrow, weather permitting, back to the decidely unsnowy Bristol area!! In the time honnour tradition of the end of term, I haven't packed! You'd thought i've had learnt by now, but no!! I can't wait be home with my parents and sister in a warm house! I'm looking forward to putting up the Christmas tree and watching the series final of Merlin! 
I hope the festive period is fun yet relaxing, and that it's just nice all round, for you and your family/loved ones 
Take care everyone and enjoy the final episodes of Doctor Who!!
Merry Christmas!!
lots of love
If xxxxxxxxx
So, because I am bored, I want to start a social experiment. Lets just say, to bring a little excitement over to my corner of the interwebs - so feel free to advertise this blog to your friends if this is something they may be interested in.
Setting the scene:
Unless you've been living under a rock, in a cave, on the moon with your ears covered while screaming "la la la la la la la" at the top of your lungs for no apparent reason, you've heard of Twilight. The book series which spawned a series of movies which launched Robert Pattinson from an unknown actor to a name so household I will bet any money that the #1 boys name next year will be Robert (or possibly Edward).
Twilight has spawned a new generation of feral fangirls - the dreaded Twihards. Fangirs so feral they make the Supernatural fangirls (yep, even the ones who are into Wincest) seem like Princess Di. And it hasn't stopped there. Self respecting guys have fallen for the franchise. I refuse to believe any who says they "saw it with my girlfriend" because they "made me".
Case study: A male mate of mine suffered a pretty nasty injury after standing on rocks on a beach to which waves were crashing over. I can't remember what parts of his body weren't scraped on the sand and rocks when he was knocked over, but it was somewhere up to 90% of his body had suffered some sort of injury. This happened on the day of the New Moon premiere. Even with injuries sustained (which I should point out weren't hospital worthy - he's a big guy and he's completely fine now) he went to see New Moon that night, because he is "an awesome boyfriend". I proceeded to ask, "which was more painful: your injuries or New Moon?". He answered "The injuries, but not by much". I concluded with "you must have been hurt pretty bad then!". He claims he wasn't.
As you can see from the above case study, not even injuries sustained could stop him from being dragged to the premiere. Which makes me believe that secretly he enjoyed it. Because Twilight should always be more painful than any injury sustained. Cause you're a guy and Twilight is one of the biggest chick flicks around.
So, going back to the Twihards. Not only are they in the 12 - 16 age bracket, there are the more and more common Twimums. Mothers, yes mothers, who are so into Twilight it is somewhat wrong to be drooling over a 17 year old boy! A boy who is young enough to be your son. Or the ones who start comparing the fictional character Edward Cullen to their real husband. You know who you are *points wildly*.
The Question:
So, this brings me to the point of this blog. If you've stuck around this long and you consider yourself a Twihard, I applaude you *hands out cookies*.
There are 2 types of people in this world: Ones who love Twilight in any form, and the ones who can't stand it and wish it would just disappear forever.
So, if you like Twilight the book, Twilight the movie, think Rob Pattinson is hot, consider yourself to be a Twihard or a Twimum, I want to know what it is that makes this series so appealing to you.
And if you are just so over Twilight, Team Edward and Jacob, want to shake all the tween Twihards so hard their memory of Twilight is erased, and slap some sense into the Twimums, I want to know what it is that makes you hate this series.
Feel free to comment below, whether it be a straight-to-the-point sentence or a passionate 3 page essay (seriously, if you feel the urge to write a 3 page essay, please just send me the summary ).
My stance:
As you have probably already gathered, I sit in the Twilight hater camp. I often refer to Twihards as Twitards (but only the extreme ones, and the self-confessed male fans). It has just expanded and spiraled out of control. I didn't even feel this bad about Harry Potter, and I would actually prefer to watch Harry Potter - And I can't stand Harry Potter. I feel that I should break this down:
1. Edward Cullen is not a vampire. Vampires burn in sunlight, they don't "sparkle" (or sweat so profusely the sun glints off and we have to see Pattinson's freaky body 10 times in the one scene). I don't know how he reacts to garlic/holy water/wooden steaks (though, from my sister's oh-so-sarcastic reaction to watching a scene from True Blood "oh, so these Vampires die by a wooden steak? How original!") I would say he doesn't react in the same way as a traditional Vampire. So, Twihards, tell me, in what ways do the Twilight vampires act like more traditional vampires, and how do they differ?
2. Have I mentioned the crazy Twihards? They make me somewhat ashamed to be a fan of True Blood. They make me hate vampires that much more, however the somewhat normal vampires in True Blood bring me back to Earth. Give me an anti-Twilight t-shirt, and I will wear it proudly. And most likely attack any twihards who have a problem with it.
I also blame Twihards for this little etiquette guide a convention group posted. I have been to several conventions, and I have never, ever seen a set of rules so strict. Way to ruin it for the rest of us, Twihards! And to rub it in, yes, I have seen an actor at a convention with his shirt off. The audience egged him on and he complied. No more of that *glares*.
Finally, and not really a valid point, so I wont include it in my reasons, but I'll just put it out there: Rob Pattinson is troll like and totally not hot. He has a weird freaky body with weird freaky nipples. I will give him credit however, for having chest hair in New Moon (only observed from the trailer that was advertised every ad break of every show!) even if it was CGI'd (with his CGI'd abs). Nay to hairless!
And if you've got this far without wanting to throw something out of a window, then you're not a Twihard, and I congratulate you . If you feel the need to destroy something though, feel free to vent below - all comments welcome (all within TV.com's rules and regulations though - play nice )
A couple of months ago BBC2 showed a special night of the Proms dedicated to MGM musicals.I missed it the first time around, so recorded it when BBC4 repeated it about 2 weeks ago.
Today I finally got around to watching it and I nearly fell off my seat when Seth MacFarlane walked on stage! I had no idea he could sing.To me he's always been the man who created, and does most of the voices on, Family Guy! (never seen/heard him in anything else) But there he was singing so beautifully that I sat with my mouth open. 
I loved how he played the comedy in the songs he sang from High Society, this one with Curtis Stigers: "Well, did you evah?" and this one with Kim Cresswell: "Who Wants To Be A Millionnaire?" He even broke out his Stewie voice in the finale of "That's Entertainment!" Bwahaha, he was brilliant. Am I the only one who didn't know he sang?
Hugs ~Sarah xx
Well I just had to didn't I? After the comments over the last hour or so. Having read his profile, quite a few of his posts and comments, I have been entertained, enlightened, educated and of course embiggened, so I felt he was right in asking just where his lifetime achievement award was, so here it is;
Unless you prefer this sort?
Please raise your glasses to Vendbien (and give him one) and toast an award a long time in the making, and I'm sure just as long in the celebrating . it's a good thing he's just joined the household, at least he won't have to drive home.
Oh, and as to the other thing, the imagination is always fertile ground, but I'll leave a little something in your room.
Television in the noughties sucks!
Seriously. I don't mean the individual episodes, or the acting. Those are still quality work. But the tv shows in general just dissapoint me. In this post I am going to show you the different shows that make my favourites list for this decade, as well as my all time favourite show which (THANKFULLY) started back in the nineties.
The problem is simple. The Powers That Be want ratings. and if a show drops by one point they will axe it witohut a glance back. So many good shows have to FORCE changes in order to keep the show 'fresh' and 'new' or else fear being killed. This is what kills series. It's all the execs fault.
Stargate SG:1
To me this show has always been great. The first few seasons are a little rocky in comparison to continuity and general plot, but since the end of the second season it really came into it's own, and this is why:
Characters:
The characters in SG:1 were always well done, from the main lead to the smallest extra I was never dissapointed. But here is a breakdown of the main characters.
Colonel/Brigadier General/Major General O'Niell: This character, and it's actor, Was all rounded. He was clearly the leader, and yet was also the comic relief. A risky combination, but one that worked out perfectly.
Captain/Major/Lieutenant Colonel Carter: She was the Jack of all Trades (Or in this case the Jill of all Trades). She filled the cracks that might show up. A genious as well as an expert shooter she broke the mold of the stereotypical damsel in distress. Being able to defend herself as easily as any air force officer while the very next second being able to figure out how to use a device to manipulate time itself.
Doctor Daniel Jackson: Origionally he filled the stereotypical geek role. A master of over 27 Earth based languages and countless alien ones. He used his diplomatic abilities to solve conflict with words, as opposed to bullets.
But the main thing about Dr Jackson was he evolved (No not literally, well, he did ascend, but I mean something else). He was a geek and then after his time away he grew as a person. He took a more active role in saving the planet, even resorting to rely on a weapon if he needed to. He became one of the macho fighters, while still holding onto his geek inside.
First Prime of Apophis, Teal'C: Simple, and yet beautiful. All of his actions come from one point inside himself. His need to free his people. An honourable warrior who would die to save one person. At first glance he's the muscle. And he was. To quote Jack "Take point and look scary". But beneath all the muscle beat the heart of a sentimental person. This, too, was a mold-breaker.
Now the reason I point this all out is because in the 8 years (I am not counting the last 2 years, because as a true fan I belive that TPTB ruined SG:1 by trying to boost the rating by forcing the spinoff, SGC, to be SG:1. If they had ended SG:1 at 8 and created SG:C then it would of been a great movie, but this happened in the noughties. My first bit of proof that TV sucks).
Anyway. In the 8 years that the real SG:1 ran for they changed, but it felt natural. Officers got promoted, characters in the show died. These things happen. But the soul of the team never changed. There was one year without Jackson, but even then the soul was the same.
Storyline:
Another great thing was the storyline evolved, while staying true to itself. Defeat the Goa'uld. in 8 years that never changed.
Now I'm going to show you my favourite shows in the noughties and show you why, even though I still love them, they are not as good as the ninties.
In keeping with Stargate I present:
Stargate Atlantis
This show is good, but not great anymore. Too many changes are being forced into it from higher up, for example:
Characters
Ford: They took this guy out of the show because he didn't fit right, not enough people loved him, so they killed him off in the first season.
Beckett: A much loved character, so much infact that they made him a main character. Then they thought "Hey, let's FORCE some drama in here". Boom. A much loved character is killed because they wanted drama.
Dr Weir: I didn't like her too much. She was OK, but nothing flash. But instead of doing things to evolve thier characters they try to FORCE them. They killed Weir off in order to make room for a new leader. Trying to FORCE fans from one show to follow her over. and what happened to her?
Colonel Carter: Not dead (shockingly), but not enough people loved her. So it's off with her and in with a new guy. Bet is new guy bites it before the end of season 5.
Now that's good TV! Not enough people like this guy? KILL HIM!
Ford is a good comparison to Jackson. They all agreed the character wasn't what they wanted. Back in the good TV days they'd change him. Over time they'd make him a little different, more likeable.
Now? KILL HIM!
Storyline
The sGA storyline is ok, thankfully it's not as bad as some shows out there. But the general plot seems to be jumping between two different bad guys, it's a dangerous move, but it might pay off.
Next up, and a change of pase, is:
How I Met Your Mother.
I love this show. it's great. But there is still one drawback that bothered me. THE HOOK.
See, now days another concept is to hook people in right away and then once they're fans it doesn't matter what you do. This show's hook was the title.
It's a story of how this guy met his wife. Good enough. Well written and funny... up until season 2.
See, origionally Ted would be dating a new girl every week but in season 2 he was with Robin all year. In just an average sitcom that'd be cool. But this one had THE HOOK. So everyone sat there and thought "Get it over with. just break up" Because we all knew she wasn't the mother, so they were just dragging it out.
But now Ted is single again, and dating. So who knows, THE HOOK might still be relevent.
In the order of THE HOOK next is
My Name Is Earl.
Again, one of my favourites. I even bought the DVD sets. But it had a hook, too. Which worked for the first seasons. The List.
Earl used the list to fix his life. It was great. THEN TPTB decided to 'shake things up' by changing everything. First they put Earl into Prison so he couldn't work on the List, and then in a damn coma.
And now they got him married. So I'm not sure what's on the horizons. more "shocking" plot twists more likely.
House
Good show. But for the latest season. Trying to 'shake things up' they fired House's entire support staff. So instead of having a medical show with faces you know and love a good portion of the show was directed to FORCING three new people into our lives.
I agree that change is a good thing, but it feels forced in today's TV too much. His entire staff being fired/quitting in the same episode? But of a reach there.
NCIS
My main example of forced character addition/removal. I know what season of NCIS i'm watching just by the starting credits.
Season 1 had Kate
Season 2 had Kate and McGee
Season 3 had David
Season 4 had the Director
Season 5 is the only season with no major changes in the start up. But I do notice that there is a new director at the moment.
and ther eis one more show, which surely needs no introduction
Lost
Well, I don't think i can even list these ones. The changes happen nearly every episode. But even worse then the characters was that the overall plot chaged every season, like clock work.
Season 1 had the hatch
Season 2 had the button and the tailies
Season 3 had the others, etc etc
you know, for a deserted island that no one can really get to they had a HELL of a lot of new people they added to it over the season.
and what was the deal with the freaking Smoke Monster?!
i'll still watch it because, sadly, I'm hooked. But it seems that tv shows in general are FORCED to change to suit the most viewers, instead of stepping back and saying "Hey, I have a nice little cult following here, screw you TPTB, I'm sticking to good characters and strong plot.
And on that note a quick Salute, to some much loved, but not loved enough, heroes.
FireFly
For a show that didn't even finish a full season it has a hell of alot of fans.
Drive
Axed after only 4 episodes. 4!!
The Dresden Files
As a fan of the book series I am straight up PISSED about this one. They had 10 full sized novels full fo epic adventure to work with, but it didn't get enough fans in the first episode to make it worth keeping around. Hey, TPTB, here's a hint. Stop sabourtaging your own work and advertise the bugger! I mean hell, the 'fallen' shows had little to no Advertisement.
It's like TPTB create a show and even before they air it they axe it "Not enough pre-premire viewing. Kill it"
So I end this with a shout out to the future.
Sanctuary
finally. The real Powers That Be decided to cut away from the executives and their trigger-happy axes.
This is TelKesh saying, "I can't belive you actually read all this"
-That is all.
