Nashville '16-'17: Where Are We Going?

From Change.org E-mail

     As much as I hate to see T.V. shows end, I hate it even more when they end without a valid wrap-up of their story lines, like The Mindy Project. This also was the case with ABC's Nashville. It came down to the last two cancellation-doomed episodes for fans to put out a public outcry to give the show a 5th season. In the last week, I joined almost 175,000 fans in signing a change.org petition to bring the show back. That's got to be at least a good chunk of their average viewership. Rest easy, Tennessee Titans, the show will be coming back for a season 5! The show's Lionsgate production company has cemented a deal with Country Music Television (CMT) for a new season. If you don't have CMT (like me), you can catch episodes the next day on Hulu, which is the new home of The Mindy Project (since FOX gave it the boot last season). The best news of all is that the show has been ordered for 22 full episodes for the season. Keep in mind, that's 22 episodes for a show that does not film in L.A. and it's gone from a network budget to a cable budget. I see big changes ahead!

 

Downtown Nashville (c)PipPepPop

   The 22 episodes will give us enough berth to get things in Nashville back to normal. But the new questions becomes, what is normal? With so many plots, actors, and guest stars, something may have to give. We left off season 4 with some major resolutions. Finally, Rayna and Deacon reunited with their angsty, emancipated teen daughter, Maddie. Then, the on-again, off-again band "The Exes", Gunnar and Scarlett shared a kiss while performing, and Will became a crusader for gay rights while patching things up with his ex, Kevin. Even Luke Wheeler, who has had a rough time these few years (his teen son joining the army, his daughter running off to boarding school, Rayna leaving him at the altar, and almost going bankrupt), managed to make a positive change in the country community and reach out to his ex-wife. Justly deserved, the wicked ingenue Layala was left all alone as her record exploded on the charts. Her desperate attempts to ruin Juliet's life blew up as Juliet opened up to the press about her struggles with suicide, depression, marriage troubles and her manege'rs resulting accidental death. Win for Juliet as she reconciled with her manager Glenn and rushed home to meet estranged husband Avery and their baby, Cadence. Where are we headed now? It's definitely a shocker!

     It's time to find out if Juliet's plane has crashed! The last scene showed Avery at the airstrip, receiving news that Juliet's jet lost contact with air traffic control. This plays heavily into the plans for season 5. Hayden Panettiere (Juliet) missed about 1/4 of the last season as she recovered from postpartum depression. The good news is that both Panettiere and Connie Britton (Rayna) have confirmed they will be back for the next season. With new showrunners moving into place, I'm hoping for a season that drags less. I felt that Luke didn't have much to go on this season, and at the same time Will was stuck in the same story lines over and over again. With tighter budgets looming, I hope to see some fresh stories. If there's one thign for sure, I can guarantee that all this hype will bring a 2017 Stars of Nashville tour. With Rayna and Juliet now longtime friends instead of  the warring divas they began the show as, I hope we can focus on the music again.

A Reflection on Chelsea Handler

     On Saturday, Chelsea Handler's new Netflix documentary launches, and I thought this would be a great time to reminisce about going to see Chelsea's last show, Chelsea Lately. I was visiting a friend in L.A. in the spring of 2014, just weeks after Chelsea announced her final episode would be in august. It was a bittersweet thought, because I love to see comedians bash celebrities (R.I.P The Soup), but it looks like she is on to bigger and better things.

     The show was right after Memorial weekend, and the broadcast that normally airs at 11 P.M. on the east coast, was filmed in the afternoon in a studio at NBC/Universal. When we finally were greeted by our host, we got a glimpse of the real Chelsea we've all read about in her books. She doesn't strive to fake any feelings and speaks freely and honestly. She is not super friendly and thanking everyone for coming to the show, which was strangely refreshing, and the complete opposite of the "show business" air I've felt at other shows. Fully in show mode, Chelsea was a professional (not pulling a Naomi Campbell and throwing phones in people's faces as some might fear). She appeared to take the show's teaser clip in a simple sweat and skirt, and walked right over to the first area of the set to begin the show. The staff entertained us pre-show and in between sections with a D.J. (with her own booth on the 2nd floor of the studio) playing party jams and the production assistants threw free stress balls into the audience. Even Chuy, Chelsea's dutiful munchkin and assistant took part in the action. He asked us, "Do you really want this ball this bad?" The clear answer is yes,w we want the free stress ball. I brought Chelsea's most recent book Uganda Be Kidding Me to the show, and in between scenes, she signed all copies of the books. It was awesome!

     Chuy's segment was about hot Latinas and their tabloid gossip, and the round table of comedians delved into important issues such as the sale of Beats headphones, allegations that testing turns student gay, and a study that short men liver longer than taller men. Chelsea's round table group was John Caparulo (always in a baseball cap), Fortune Feimester (now bringing her charm to The Mindy Project) and Matt Braunger (just an average guy). The show's main guest was Sarah Silverman, who was truly delightful in person.

     Sometimes, I can't tell with comedians if they're really happy to be on talk shows and making appearances, but Sarah was open and friendly to Chelsea and to the people in the audience and staff. Sarah does have quite a potty mouth at times (not that I'm judging) and she promoted new movie, 100 Ways to Die in the West and role as an old timey prostitute, but she has such a young and high-pitched voice that you don't feel dirty about the conversation. Sarah and Chelsea also gossiped and ended the conversation about the problems they faced with  with dating famous men (Jimmy Kimmel for Silverman, former E! President Ted Harbert for Handler).

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Book Club: Can I Get A What What For Jane Austen

     My book club recently finished ready Mindy Kaling's Why Not Me?, an engaging set of essays that detail life in Hollywood, struggles with weight and working out, camp, filming a TV show, dating a White House bigwig, having life-draining friends, and finding a person who is truly your "Soup Snake." We give it a wholehearted thumbs up. It was impossible to read the 200+ page boon in segments over 4 weeks because we just wanted more. Special shout out the the chapter where Mindy imagines her Rom-Com life as a Latin teacher at a hip NYC prep school. Two thumbs up from the whole group!

      Our next target is Laurie Viera Rigler's Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, because we've already read Pride and Prejudice enough times. A 21st century woman ended up trapped in Regency England after some troubling times. You know there is not enough wine in those times to drown your misery of having to put on a corset every day.

Cheers til next time, book friends!
 

Book Club: Let's Get Chatty With Mindy K

     I'm starting a book club with some dear friends and I can't wait! We're reading Mindy Kaling's second book Why Not Me? I can't wait to dive in! This book is a follow-up to Kaling's first book, 2012's Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me (And Other Concerns).

The creator of Hulu's successful The Mindy Project finds a way to bring her everyday Hollywood problems and childhood traumas to the audience with humility and grace.

It's Time to Get Hulu: Where Else Can I See Mindy???

     Fox has sold The Mindy Project down the river, cancelling it bet keeping Brooklyn 99 and all of the guy-dominated animated show. Go figure about that choice. But have no fear, Hulu is now premiering the new season of  Mindy Kaling's show this week!

When we left, Mindy was pregnant and alone at friend Peter's wedding in Texas and her boyfriend Danny  jumped on a plane. Would they finally work out their problems once and for all? Not likely, as it looks like Danny has flown to India to see Mindy's parents. Other unanswered questions include:

• What will Mindy name her baby? 
• Who will replace Peter at Schumann and associates?
• Will the practice finally settle their grudge with the doula brothers?
• And will morgan ever do anythign right, like get back together with "cooler than thou" nurse Tamera?

Stay tuned!

Paging Dr. Mindy: Let's Get A Doctor's Note For This News

I have to thank BuzzFeed for this meme. 

   
Hello everyone! I'm taking a break from my Month of Bridal Showers to expound on some terrible news. Fox has cancelled The Mindy Project! Words cannot really explain how upset I am by this...

   





     We are rocking a major cliffhanger of an episode! Danny Castellano is finally coming to become the romantic male lead we always knew he could be! I'm hoping the show might be picked up by cable or something... a la Cougartown, just two years ago. I could see this type of move working for the quirky comedy Mindy brings to TV. While still reeling from the death of McDreamy, this is more than my TV-finale bound heart can take.