The show wrapped season 1 a few weeks ago and was unabashedly cancelled by FOX along with The Grinder. We were left with Gerald's proposal scavenger hunt for Vanessa gone horribly wrong but accepted. Jimmy's father passed away. Sarah broke up with her boyfriend the day before they were moving in together. Jimmy told Sarah he broke up with Catherine, then went to really break up with her in a dramatic airport run. Sarah discovered this from her granddaughter, and "pulled a Jimmy", leaving Mr. Martino flying solo at a Cure concert, like he stood her up 25 years ago. While I have wrested with my definition of "pulling a Jimmy" (muffin baskets after a one-night stand, keeping a secret vault of moisturizer and tanner, namedropping "B' list celebrities), I think I came come to the true definition. Pulling a show off the air while it was developing an emotional heart is "pulling a Jimmy". It is so hard to find a delicate balance of funny, hokey and emotionally moving these days, and FOX pulled a show that is doing all of this. Seriously, does anyone think they are writing this week on Brooklyn 99? Bad move, FOX.
Showing posts with label john stamos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label john stamos. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2016
So Long, Jimmy
Has anyone ever held on to the fantasy of their estranged grandparents getting back together? Well little Edie (played by twins Emelia and Layla Golfieri) is oping for two generations to patch things up. Edie is a toddler being raised by a curious group of family in a fairly "Full House". Her app-developer dad and resident sensetive guy Gerald E. Kingsley (Josh Peck) and entrepreneur-without-a-cause mom Vanessa (No-last-name like her icon Rhianna) played by singer Christina Milian. Gerald is also the product of two unlikely parents, hippie social worker Sarah ( Paget Brewster, a.k.a. Kathy from FRIENDS), and an unknown father, until the first episode of this show. Gerald shows up at a an L.A. barely-hotspot, Jimmy's, and announces to Jimmy Martino (John Stamos) that he is his long-lost 25-year old son. Jimmy doesn't know how to fit into a family that plays an elaborate game to choose a movie night, let alone how to grandparent or parent a child. He makes an elaborate show of ditching Thanksgiving to take a model girlfriend to the beach. As soon as Jimmy meets a more recent ex of Sarah, he jumps in, trying to show Gerald he can be more of a dad than a guy that raised him for several years. In the end, Jimmy realized he only wanted to be the his family on the holiday.
Over time, the family wears Jimmy down with their kindness. He makes up for lost time with Gerald and little Edie. As expected, jokes about about popular culture, trying to be cool, taking care of children, and Jimmy's obsession with his hair abound. Yes, it's a bit hokey. It is also loaded with "back together" cameos Bob Saget (as an old pal of Jimmy that wants to keep partying), Drake Bell (Drake & Josh) as a crude potential investor for Gerald's app. The storylines are a bit cliche at times, but Stamos' charm is never wavering. My favorite episodes included one where Gerald and his dad pretend to be a gay couple to get Edie into a fancy preschool (Edie's Two Dads). In another, SNL alum Nasim Pedrad (Budget Spa) takes Jimmy on a wild date that makes him realize he craves too much validation from women. Every character's life generally improves from time spent in this unlikely group. Weekly family dinners happen at Jimmy's restaurant, whether cranky Annalise (Kelly Jenrette) has gotten them a table or not. Yes, Jimmy's sous-chef Ravi and personal assistant Annalise are reluctant at first, but enjoy hanging around with the Kingsley clan. Ravi tries to hard to be liked and be a part of Jimmy's family, while outwardly Annalise could care less. Shy Gerald breaks out of his shell, winning over Vanessa, who goes after tough guys with motorcycles and tattoos. Sarah remembers how wild she was hen she knew Jimmy, and learns to forgive him for not being there for her, and forgives herself for not telling Jimmy they had a son.
Jimmy needs this new family, plain and simple. We learn toward the end of the season in a heartbreaking origin episode (Jimmy's 50th, Again) that his dad was never proud of him and he filled the last 20+ years with meaningless flings so he didn't have to connect with anyone. When Jimmy meets tough businesswoman and Queen of the "Thanks for last night" muffin basket, Catherine Sanders (Regina Hall), he has his first honest relationship in years. Jimmy also learns how terrible he has treated women in the past. This is also the same point when Sarah admits she has rekindled feelings for Jimmy. Is one big, happy Kingsley clan in the horizon? The answer is NO!
The show wrapped season 1 a few weeks ago and was unabashedly cancelled by FOX along with The Grinder. We were left with Gerald's proposal scavenger hunt for Vanessa gone horribly wrong but accepted. Jimmy's father passed away. Sarah broke up with her boyfriend the day before they were moving in together. Jimmy told Sarah he broke up with Catherine, then went to really break up with her in a dramatic airport run. Sarah discovered this from her granddaughter, and "pulled a Jimmy", leaving Mr. Martino flying solo at a Cure concert, like he stood her up 25 years ago. While I have wrested with my definition of "pulling a Jimmy" (muffin baskets after a one-night stand, keeping a secret vault of moisturizer and tanner, namedropping "B' list celebrities), I think I came come to the true definition. Pulling a show off the air while it was developing an emotional heart is "pulling a Jimmy". It is so hard to find a delicate balance of funny, hokey and emotionally moving these days, and FOX pulled a show that is doing all of this. Seriously, does anyone think they are writing this week on Brooklyn 99? Bad move, FOX.
The show wrapped season 1 a few weeks ago and was unabashedly cancelled by FOX along with The Grinder. We were left with Gerald's proposal scavenger hunt for Vanessa gone horribly wrong but accepted. Jimmy's father passed away. Sarah broke up with her boyfriend the day before they were moving in together. Jimmy told Sarah he broke up with Catherine, then went to really break up with her in a dramatic airport run. Sarah discovered this from her granddaughter, and "pulled a Jimmy", leaving Mr. Martino flying solo at a Cure concert, like he stood her up 25 years ago. While I have wrested with my definition of "pulling a Jimmy" (muffin baskets after a one-night stand, keeping a secret vault of moisturizer and tanner, namedropping "B' list celebrities), I think I came come to the true definition. Pulling a show off the air while it was developing an emotional heart is "pulling a Jimmy". It is so hard to find a delicate balance of funny, hokey and emotionally moving these days, and FOX pulled a show that is doing all of this. Seriously, does anyone think they are writing this week on Brooklyn 99? Bad move, FOX.
Monday, April 11, 2016
I'm Going to Graceland.... Memphis Tennessee
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| (c) 2016 SeeHearReadPop |
"I followed him up to the gates of Graceland, and I watched him walk right through." -- Marc Cohn (Walking in Memphis)
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. This place has been long-revered in the public consciousness through pop songs (mentioned above) and legendary photos. When my friend and I pulled up at the Graceland tourism center, we were completely confused as to what we were seeing. A series of Elvis-themed shops and the Heartbreak Hotel greeted us on one side of the road. We didn't see the house, but there is a hotel for "lonely people to dwell" right across the street. We came to the ticket center, and I thought this must be it. Wrong again! We bought tickets and were given headphones and iPads for the guided tour. Then we queued in line for a bus. We did a double take when we saw there were buses involved. Just how big was this property? I had already heard there was room for horses to run around, but this seemed extreme.
The bus took us across the street to what a modern day person would recognize as an average -sized colonial in the suburbs. But in the 1950's this house would be on a grand scale to other houses in the area, and it was majestic. Who runs the place now? Despite their divorce many years ago, Elvis's ex-wife Priscilla actively is involved in the property and keeping her former husband's legacy available to the public. The building opened to the common folks back in 1992.
The tour included the first floor and basement of the house, excluding the 2nd floor due to privacy of the Presley family. Per the tour, "The King" died in a second floor bathroom. We were told by our wonderful iPad tour guide John Stamos (Haaave Merrrcy!) that daughter Lisa Marie and her family visit from time to time. During these occasions, the property is closed so the family can enjoy dinner in the house. The first floor held Mr. (Vernon) and Mrs. Presley's bedroom, the grand living room and music room, dining room, kitchen, and the infamous jungle room. A tour of the basement included a media room (with three T.V'.s on one wall) and a pool room covered from ceiling to floor in upholstered fabric.
"Priscilla, Priscilla, how'd you keep him to yourself?"
-- Miranda Lambert (Priscilla)
The garage, former home to the pink Cadillac, also held Vernon's office. Hold on Kris Jenner, but Vernon Presley could give you a run for your money as the original dad-ager. We caught news footage there of a just-returned from service (circa 1957) Elvis shaking off the notion that he found love while her was serving overseas. He casually mentioned an American girl he met there and it was "nothing serious." Her name was Priscilla Beaulieu, and she would become Presley's wife in 1967.
The pool house was turned into a hall of records. Literally there was a wall of gold and platinum records, Grammys, and other awards. There was a ton of memorabilia (Elvis lipstick) and displays and clips from Elvis's movie days. The former fitness center housed a tribute in Elvis's later years, mostly the Las Vegas time. In the same racquetball court where Elvis stood hours before his death, I took in videos of his T.V, special from Hawaii, Las Vegas shows, and about a dozen different jumpsuits. There was also a tribute and display to the Elvis commemorative postage stamp, first introduced in 1993 and reintroduced in 2015.
It was unreal to walk in the same space where legends of music had also walked. While some reports have called the design of the house ostentatious and gaudy, I found it very true to the style of Elvis. It was regal, like a king, but still pretty homey. The kitchen (sorry photos didn't come out) was nearly untouched since Elvis passed away in August of 1977. A simple television sit on the counter and stools sat next to a refrigerator, with a shopping list that noted peanut butter and bananas, an Elvis special sandwich.
The final stop on the tour before heading back to the visitor's center was the memorial garden. There were graves for the King, his parent,s his grandmother Minnie Presley, who outlived almost the entire family, and Elvis' twin brother Jesse (like Uncle Jesse from Full House), who was stillborn. It's a very beautiful place on the property. On August 16th, there is a candlelight vigil held in honor of Elvis's death. My birthday falls on the anniversary of Elvis' death, and I enjoy a movie marathon each year. My favorite movie is Clambake, but I still have many to see.
 |
| (c) 2016 SeeHearReadPop |
 |
| (c) 2016 SeeHearReadPop |
The tour included the first floor and basement of the house, excluding the 2nd floor due to privacy of the Presley family. Per the tour, "The King" died in a second floor bathroom. We were told by our wonderful iPad tour guide John Stamos (Haaave Merrrcy!) that daughter Lisa Marie and her family visit from time to time. During these occasions, the property is closed so the family can enjoy dinner in the house. The first floor held Mr. (Vernon) and Mrs. Presley's bedroom, the grand living room and music room, dining room, kitchen, and the infamous jungle room. A tour of the basement included a media room (with three T.V'.s on one wall) and a pool room covered from ceiling to floor in upholstered fabric.
 |
| (c) 2016 SeeHearReadPop |
"Priscilla, Priscilla, how'd you keep him to yourself?"
-- Miranda Lambert (Priscilla)
The garage, former home to the pink Cadillac, also held Vernon's office. Hold on Kris Jenner, but Vernon Presley could give you a run for your money as the original dad-ager. We caught news footage there of a just-returned from service (circa 1957) Elvis shaking off the notion that he found love while her was serving overseas. He casually mentioned an American girl he met there and it was "nothing serious." Her name was Priscilla Beaulieu, and she would become Presley's wife in 1967.
The pool house was turned into a hall of records. Literally there was a wall of gold and platinum records, Grammys, and other awards. There was a ton of memorabilia (Elvis lipstick) and displays and clips from Elvis's movie days. The former fitness center housed a tribute in Elvis's later years, mostly the Las Vegas time. In the same racquetball court where Elvis stood hours before his death, I took in videos of his T.V, special from Hawaii, Las Vegas shows, and about a dozen different jumpsuits. There was also a tribute and display to the Elvis commemorative postage stamp, first introduced in 1993 and reintroduced in 2015.
 |
| (c) 2016 SeeHearReadPop |
It was unreal to walk in the same space where legends of music had also walked. While some reports have called the design of the house ostentatious and gaudy, I found it very true to the style of Elvis. It was regal, like a king, but still pretty homey. The kitchen (sorry photos didn't come out) was nearly untouched since Elvis passed away in August of 1977. A simple television sit on the counter and stools sat next to a refrigerator, with a shopping list that noted peanut butter and bananas, an Elvis special sandwich.
 |
| (c) 2016 SeeHearReadPop |
The final stop on the tour before heading back to the visitor's center was the memorial garden. There were graves for the King, his parent,s his grandmother Minnie Presley, who outlived almost the entire family, and Elvis' twin brother Jesse (like Uncle Jesse from Full House), who was stillborn. It's a very beautiful place on the property. On August 16th, there is a candlelight vigil held in honor of Elvis's death. My birthday falls on the anniversary of Elvis' death, and I enjoy a movie marathon each year. My favorite movie is Clambake, but I still have many to see.
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