A Note About Social Media

My twitter feed told me today is social media day.

Happy social media day everyone!

A Note About Billy Joel, King of 80's Pop Culture

I grew up trying to suss out half of what Billy Joel says during "We Didn't Start the Fire." I know this song. I love it. I sometimes hear it in my dreams. So imagine my delight when I saw this new video, a stand up comic and his young kids making an updated 2010's version, "We Still Didn't Start the Fire."

Enjoy...

A Note About Eclipses, Promotions, and Adorableness

I love Twilight. Now I know what you're thinking, one of those people chasing the stars through the street and grabbing locks of Robert Pattison's gorgeous hair. Hmm, I do love his hair. Now I'm also the first to point out inaccuracies in the movies and corny dialogue etc... but yes, I am a Twilight saga fan.

The big "Eclipse of the Heart" episode of Jimmy Kimmel was on this evening. P.S. -genius marketing strategy for the episode. And the sets designed to look like Forks were oddly unique, but reminiscent of the recent "LOST" themed episode of Jimmy.

There always seems to be some slighted members of interviews. Where were Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone in this "cast interview??? As Edward's brothers, cast members of every movie, and pretty important members of the story, they were mysteriously absent. I love all of the other cast members, and it was interesting to see the "volturi" members included such as Dakota Fanning and the extremely sweet Xavier Samuel.

Why do the townspeople of forks rarely get their due diligence in promotion? Where were the talented actors that play Jessica, Angela, Eric and the perpetually sad Mike Newton. And where was Billy Burke, who plays Bella's father, Chief Charlie Swan?

Marketing aspects aside, I got to see another side of Peter Facinelli on tonight's show. He is so sweet, and a very likable and engaging conversationalist. And he looks so hot, without that horrible blond dye they make him put in his hair as Dr. Cullen. Did anyone else ever realize he could pass for the brother of Mark Feuerstein from Royal Pains?

And surprisingly, there was a lack of awkward conversation between Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in this interview, which was refreshing. Rob, as always, was adorable (gotta love that accent and his somewhat trimmed mussed up locks). And as much as I don't feel any attraction toward Taylor, he seemed really sweet when talking about the promotional tour for the movie.

And to top it off, they had a great "Jersey Shore" spoof of the Twilight movie, complete with Mike "the situation" flashing his sparkling abs and trying to "get his tan on".

A Note About NKOTBSB

Long before I heard the opening strains of the Backstreet Boys singing "Quit Playing Games With My Heart," I was a NKOTB fan. Their heyday kinda passed me by, with their major hits happening when I was born and in my early toddler years. But on my sixth birthday, a much cooler and older friend, she was nine, gave me a New Kids On The Block doll. Joey McIntyre, who wore a different outfit than the one linked here, to this day lives in my basement and enjoyed many happy years singing for my barbies.

Flash forward to middle school , where I was a die-hard (and am still to this day), of Backstreet Boys. The gold records, the VMA performances, AJ's trip to rehab, I know all about it. And I love and embrace it.

I remember all the countless viewings of "All Access," "A Night Out With the Backstreet Boys,"and "Homecoming Live in Orlando" on VHS. I've only seen them in concert two times before (2001-Black and Blue Tour, and 2005- Never Gone Tour) and now this coming August makes a long-awaited third concert.

Now skip forward another ten years. NKOTB are back, and better than ever. Their summer 2009 tour was one of the best shows I've seen. And BSB are back and going strong minus Kevin, and dancing as well, or better, than they did in 1999.

So imagine my delight and surprise when I came across this video from last night's NKOTB concert at Radio City Music Hall. BSB and NKOTB singing "I Want It That Way" together! Beautiful, and kind of a full-circle boy band love.

A Note About WB Stars Making TV Appearances

     The WB stars of the past and present, mostly the past in this case, have long made TV appearances together on new shows. They're popping up everywhere. Here are 10 great WB reunions in other shows and movies and 3 WB prequel friendships.

Reunited, and it Feels so Good

As part of their packaged deal, I'm convinced, WB stars make TV deals to be in future TV shows with other stars. Here are ten examples:

1. 2010, Life Unexpected 
1. (Shiri Appleby- Roswell and Kerr Smith- Dawson's Creek), as radio cohosts and engaged parents raising her long-lost teenager.
2.  2010, The Vampire Diaries 
1. (Paul Wesley- Everwood, Bianca Lawson- Buffy)
3. 2010, Pretty Little Liars 
1. (Holly Marie Combs- Charmed,  Lucy Hale- Privileged, Bryce Johnson- Popular, Bianca Lawson- Buffy)
4. 2008-2010, Bones 
5. (David Boreanez- Angel, and Brendan Fehr-Roswell)  as his brother.
6. 2008, 90210 
1. (Lori Loughlin- Summerland, Jennie Garth- What I Like About You) and including Shannen Doherty and Greg Vaughn- Charmed, Scott Patterson-Gilmore Girls, and Sarah Danielle Madison- 7th Heaven 
7. 2007, Samantha Who?
1.  (Barry Watson- 7th Heaven, Melissa McCarthy- Gilmore Girls)
8. 2007, Greek 
1. (Appearances by Charisma Carpenter - Buffy/Angel & Jesse McCartney- Summerland)
9. 2006, What About Brian?
1.  (Barry Watson- 7th Heaven, Amanda Foreman- Felicity, and Matthew Davis (The Vampire Diaries)
10. 2006, The Bedford Diaries 
1. (Penn Bagley- future Gossip Girl star, Milo Ventimiglia- Gilmore Girls)
11. 2006, Heroes 
1. (Greg Grunberg- Felicity, Milo Vetmingilia-  Gilmore Girls)
12. 2005, How I Met Your Mother
1.  (Alyson Hannigan- Buffy, and Bob Saget- Raising Dad)                                            with guest appearances by Amy Acker-Angel, Joanna Garcia- Reba, Alexis Denisof-  Buffy/ Angel, Tom Lenk- Buffy, Harry Groener-Buffy)
13. 2004, Fearless (Unaired WB pilot)
1.  (Ian Somerhalder, Bianca Lawson, and Rachel Leigh Cook- honorary WB star).
14. 2004, Jack and Bobby
1.  (starred Bradley Cooper, who links to many proijects with other WB stars, including Greg Grunberg (Alias) , Emma Caufield (I Wanna Marry Ryan Banks), Nick Brendan (Kitchen Confidential)
15. 2003, Veronica Mars
1.  (Guest roles by Alyson Hannigan- Buffy & Charisma Carpenter- Buffy/Angel)
16. 2003, Supernatural 
1. (Jared Paladecki- Gilmore Girls, Jensen Ackles- Smallville)
17. 2002, What I Like About You
1.  (Simon Rex- Jack & Jill, Leslie Grossman- Popular, Jennie Garth - 90210)
18. 2001, Lost 
1. (Emilie de Ravin- Roswell, Daniel Dae Kim-Angel  & GS Greg Grunberg- Felicity)
19. 2001, Alias 
1. (Jennifer Garner- Felicity, Greg Grunberg-Felicity, Amanda Foreman-Felicity, Kevin Wesiman, Felicity)
20. 2000, Gilmore Girls
1.  (Keiko Agnea- Felicity, Danny Strong- Buffy, Chad Michael Murray- One Tree Hill)

     Hold your hats, here we go on some deep dives!

• The appearance of James Van Der Beek on One Tree Hill (2008-2009 season) as a coke-snorting director brought the WB/CW (WC for short) full circle. VDB's director came to Tree Hill to try to direct a movie of Lucas's life story, and the former WB golden boy and resident moody dreamer finally passed on his crown to the WB's reigning golden boy and moody dreamer (CMM), before he left at the end of that season. Now if only VDB had come home  (both shows filmed to Wilmington, N.C.) as his WB character, director Dawson Leary, the earth as we know if would explode. If only....
• Some WB stars were friends before they came to the glorious network, like Lori Loughlin and Bob Saget, who starred as in-laws and co-hosts on Full House. FH stars Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen were in a classic episode of 7th Heaven where Simon and a friend go on a double date with the daring twins. The pair also anchored a season of Two of a Kind on ABC, where their uncle was played by Sabrina cast member, David Lascher.
• The original 90210, the one that started it all, starred Shannen Doherty (Charmed, 90210) and Emma Caulfield (Buffy).
• The 1995 Clueless movie and subsequent 1996 TV show starred Elisa Donovan, who went on to play Morgan on Sabrina, and Donald Faison, who played Tracy on several seasons of Felicity. Rachel Blanchard, who played Cher in the TV series, later went on to play Kevin's police partner on 7th Heaven.
• The WB's less publicized shows such as Jack & Jill and Zoe, Duncan, Jack and Jane (aka Zoe...) launched the careers of other WB stars such as Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville, Lex Luthor), Ivan Sergei (Paige's husband in the last season of Charmed), and Simon Rex (Felicity once slept with him).

A Note About the D-List

I am wholeheartedly enjoying the season premiere of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List. I now know its officially summer and I'll have something to keep me entertained all summer.

Tonight Kathy is filming a guest appearance on Law and Order. Kathy has received diva lessons from Liza Minnelli, awoken at the "ass crack of dawn", met with Ice-T (A nice man and a cool drink)and Mariska Hargitay, and tried to kiss Chris Meloni aggressively.

I was about to burst into tears of laughter when Kathy said, "I started to cry and I had to tell Mariska I was breaking up with my boyfriend." And then she asked if they could get Cynthia Nixon to take over her part. Classic Kathy.

Now Kathy is reading to Mariska from her book about a trust gone bad in an acting class. Mariska has agreed to fall again and let Kathy catch her.

The more I watch this show, the more I wish I could be friends with Kathy. From her big star on the not-Holllywood Walk of fame, to befriending Paris and Paula Deen, I loved Kathy last summer.

I can't wait to see what will happen in the upcoming "An Uncomfortable Lunch with Ryan Seacrest" episode.

A Note About Internet week

O Internet week,

By the time I found out you were going on, it was Thursday. Far too late for me...
As we bid goodbye to Internet week 2010, I'm looking forward to the 2011 celebration. I'll be better prepared next time.

Love,
Me

A Note About The Greatness of 90's Teen Idols

After rehashing the differences of 90's pop culture memories between 90's between 20-somethings and 30-somethings, I felt a deep sense of nostalgia. Someone mentioned Luke Parry and I flashed back to an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 I saw recently. Yes, the original, glorious, sometimes hokey original teen drama.

Something was so innocent, so perfect about those kids, its a quality that isn't there now in today's teen drama where everyone is texting and blackmailing. It was a much simpler time. Yes, those kids drove Ferrari's and probably had large, cumbersome early 90's versions of cell phones, but it wasn't the same.

The episode I saw recently was a classic: All-American Brandon Walsh falls for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. His parents agree to lie for her so she can attend their school, and of course he thinks the worst of her.

But in the end, it turns out she witnessed gang/mafia violence and was put in some kind of witness protection. She wasn't from the wrong side of the tracks, but the lived very far away, and alas it would never work out.

But the thing that really stood out to me in this episode was the look Brandon gave. He drove up to her in his classy station wagon, while she waited for the bus back to east L.A., and looked at her with a look that said: I'm just a harmless boy who has fallen in love with you in a few short hours, and I'll be heartbroken for a day or so (or into the opening of the next episode) after things don't work out, but always carry that secret pain inside.

In other words, he gave the "Careless Whisperer" look. You know the look I'm talking about, it says "I'm never gonna dance again . . . the way I danced with you."

Yes, I am referring to "Careless Whisper" a 1984 song by Wham!, and yes it can sound a bit corny. But the emotion in that song is real, as real as the emotion in those innocent, young Jason Priestly eyes. And boy could those other guys (Luke Perry in particular) pull of that heartbreaking stare. It's that emotion that rests at the pinnacle of the 90's teen drama. And those West Bev kids were great at this look. I miss those days.

Another Note About Breakups

I LOVE, and I do mean love, the new John Mayer video for "Half of My Heart."

It's clean, it's classy, and more importantly it tells a story. I can't wait to see it on the big screen tv.

View it for yourself: it reads like a 1950's noir film.

Beautiful.


And Taylor swift's beautiful "ghost track" adds to the song without complicating the story.

I will definitely dissect this video futher at a later time, and its relationship to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.