Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Turkoglu – Out sick..or just sick of losing?

Ending his record of having started 236 games he dressed for, Turkoglu was benched for Friday night’s Miami game for supposedly playing hooky from Thursday’s game in Denver. Out sick with the ‘stomach flu’, he was seen out in Yorkville on Friday night after the Denver game he missed. And today, when everyone’s part paparazzi, with our iPhones and Blackberrys, we send info at the touch of a button, which is exactly what happened. Fans spotted him and e-mailed media and team officials right away, outing him.

This brings me to an issue that’s becoming more and more current in today’s social networking environment. Recently, there have been many reports of people being exposed for calling in sick, but still being seen online. But, that’s not the same thing as being out while supposedly being sick. Even if I’m sick, I can still manage to go online and check a few things out, but I definitely wouldn’t go out partying on the town.

So, with that in mind, will Turkoglu become another Vince Carter for Toronto? Torontonian fans are extremely loyal to our teams, look at the Leafs! We haven’t had a successful season since 1967 and yet still, it’s impossible to get Leafs’ tickets. But, as loyal as we are, we’re loyal to the team sport and anyone who deviates from that, ends up on our blacklist. Hopefully, Hedo can redeem himself because otherwise, as demonstrated each time Toronto plays VC and boos him consistently, we don’t forgive easily.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Mad Barbies



Barbie and Ken have literally gone MAD! All a `buzz` across the Internet waves is the news of the `MAD MEN` inspired Barbie dolls, specifically of the anti-hero Don Draper, his depressed soon-to-be ex-wife Betty, silver-haired fox Roger Sterling (Carrie’s peeing politician boyfriend from Sex and the City!), and of course the office’s sexy secretary, Joan.

According to the New York Times, premium priced at $74.95, the dolls will be available for collection starting July, just before the highly anticipated season 4 kicks off.

As a huge fan of the show, this is actually pretty cool. MAD MEN is being solidly placed into pop culture history. I mean, nothing says you’ve made it like having a doll made after you. Unfortunately, they won’t be available with their signature ‘anytime is happy hour’ martinis and cigarettes though, so they’re not quite as authentic as they could be. I mean, come on, that’s the basis of the appeal of MAD MEN-its retro, early 60s feel complete with the cocktails and debauchery.

Also, the Joan doll is so non-proportional it’s kind of sad. Especially today, when Joan is basically one of very few women on TV today who seem to get away with a gorgeous and curvy body, her Barbie-doll is as stick-thin as ever! Would’ve been nice to see Mattel represent the characters a bit more realistically.

If you haven’t started watching, now is the time to get caught up- Especially if you have a love for fashion and advertising. You see a time where most women were still in secretarial positions, being treated mostly as eye candy, but you also get to see the very beginning of women actually mattering in the work place.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

TRUE BLOOD Teaser Campaign! .. "Good to the last drop"


With about 6 weeks left till season 3 premieres, HBO's airing new 15-20 second teaser clips each Sunday night. Also, check out the teaser poster making its rounds online!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

NURSE JACKIE and UNITED STATES OF TARA- Girl Power for today’s female

Two fantastic female-first shows are forcing viewers into serious submission. We’re definitely in the post-Sex and the City revolution where the forty-something leading lady is taking over. It’s hard to believe that leading ladies like the gritty and genuine, un-botoxed Jackie and Tara, exist in the same world as The Hill’s Speidi and the gang from MTV’s Jersey Shore. Maybe people only really watch these no-brain cells necessary shows because we’re secretly laughing at them. Not going to lie but I, myself, do get quite a kick out of the Jersey Shore shenanigans. The only way to explain that phenomenon is: it’s like driving past a car crash – where you can’t help but slow down to take a peek at it while passing. Must be that same sadistic part of us that is secretly fascinated when Britney Spears shaves her head and acts crazy all around LA.

If you haven’t started watching these two shows yet, you should. Just starting off their second seasons, both are dark comic genius, with some of the most entertaining characters on cable.

Basically, what Jackie and Tara do, is offer an alternative to the ‘normalcy’ that floods TV. With the same recycled story lines, how many more family sitcoms and medical dramas can we watch without the much-needed twist offered by Jackie and Tara. They don’t just offer an escape from reality, but a brutal, in-your-face kind of reality that gets you thinking – a lot more than the Gym-Tanning-Laundry routine does, no doubt.

Monday, March 22, 2010

How To Make It In America - Why is this not good?

Again, not quite sure what’s going on with this show. It’s funny at times, but like I said last week, not enough happens in each show to keep the viewer interested in the next episode. It should be good, I mean, individually, the characters are great, and it's depicting the most interesting city in America. But it's selling out - it's too commercial, and it's just not progressing.

The only fresh dose of funny was from Kaplan, the guy from American Pie (Finch) who plays a rich and successful business-man trying too hard to fit in, but it seems to work for him, because although everyone knows he’s a poser, he’s almost so not cool that it makes him cool. To me, Kaplan is the epitome of the show’s theme, as it’s trying really hard to depict the ‘cool’ underground life in New York City, but seems to be falling short.

Then there was the last scene where we see heaping piles of old t-shirts aka ‘vintage t’s’ used by designers alike! That just goes to show that here’s where designer clothes are born – from the dump. Then of course, you have to add a print and a label, price it at $200 and here we have the newest, over-priced, designer threads courtesy of Christian Audigier or Crisp Denim!

All other goings on in the ep were highly forgettable, and I’m losing hope. The whole Rachel/Darren road trip was so boring I felt like doing my dishes while they were on-screen. After last week’s ecstacy incident, I thought she would be done with him but it doesn’t look that way. Most of the time, I feel like Rachel can’t even stand being around Darren. The relationship is wrong on so many levels that its hardly believable, they have no chemistry and both look so uncomfortable together.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Till Death Do Us Part?

This week, we were once again shocked by the dissolution of two seemingly sound Hollywood marriages and recent Oscar Winners. According to reports, Kate Winslet, and her husband of 7 years (Sam Mendes), are calling it quits, just two days before reports of Jesse James’ infidelity leading to Sandra Bullock moving out. What’s going on in the world when two gorgeous and talented women can’t seem to keep a man? What causes a man to cheat? I mean, with the coming out of Tiger Woods as a cheater, we can never really tell what goes on beneath the surface of the ‘Hollywood marriage’. As characters we see every day in movies and TV, we assume that we know these actors, but we really have no idea what’s going on behind the illusion.

And the question is, why are so many men cheating on their wives? Are women just not doing the cheating, or are their infidelities just better at keeping secrets? Is it the lengthy on-location movie shoots away from each other? Or the thrill of the chase? Or are humans simply not monogamous anymore?

And what I don’t get is how people so much in the public eye, think that in this age of the TMZs and Perez Hiltons, that they can get away with the cheating – and that their mistresses would be so willing to keep quiet when they have an opportunity at fifteen minutes of fame.

And do the couples that don’t officially marry have it right? Look at Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn, who’ve been together for over 20 years, and Brad and Angie? Do they have it right by pledging themselves to each other without the official piece of paper? Then again, after over 20 years of non-marriage, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins officially broke it off this year.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Fierce Fashion Stills from Gaga's new TELEPHONE video


Check out Gaga's fabulous rendition of the classic Jail-stripes, with killer shoulder pads.


Loving the lit-cigarette-shades and Gaga all chained up.


According to Gaga, her mom actually did use Coke cans as curlers! Loves it.


And finally, my fourth favourite look from Gaga's Vid, her telephone hair!

Sex, Violence, Vampires, TRUE BLOOD

Not since the mid 90s (Interview with the Vampire, and of course the teeny-bopper classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer) have we seen such a Vampire craze like today. At a time where the Twilight phenomenon has taken over everything, True Blood has come along with a fresh take on the mythical creatures that have fascinated us for centuries. People are already obsessed with the dreamy Edward and Jacob, but what True Blood does, is tell a different story, without the hidden message of preaching abstinence. True Blood offers a welcome alternative, a lust-filled and seductive take on the fabled Vampire.

Taking a very interesting view, Charlaine Harris’ story deals with a supernatural world colliding with the ‘real’ one we live in, in an alternate universe where the Vampires have literally ‘come out of the coffin’ and made an attempt at integration and assimilation into society. True Blood takes a magical idea, and makes it socially relevant. The invention of synthetic blood has allowed the Vampires to be admitted into society. And them fighting for basic ‘human’ rights like voting and marriage, is a lot like when Women and African Americans were given, or more like fought for, equal rights.

I think that’s why people are so fascinated by True Blood. It depicts a type of prejudice and racism that we are familiar with, but the beings receiving the treatment are fictitious. Even looking at the ‘Fellowship of the Sun’, the Vamp and Fang-banger-hating cult or-church, as they call themselves, is very similar to the time when there was major discrimination against anyone different: coloured, homosexual, or otherwise. And so, the show is much more than popular culture fluff. It’s real, gritty, and deals with social acceptance and tolerance.

And, it does so in a stylized way that is still well-acted, well-made and enjoyable to watch, conveying the age-old message that differences among people are not bad, but make the world more interesting, and as True Blood shows us, a more eventful place.

Monday, March 15, 2010

True Blood Season 3 premiering June 13th

Sharpen your fangs and get ready for the highly anticipated return of HBO's True Blood, with season 3 premiering June 13th! So very excited, with the 3rd season promising a whole new set of characters and story lines and of course, more intrigue, new supernaturals, (including, Yes- you Jacob lovers, a werewolf!), and of course, more blood. And, as someone who's read most of the book series, I can tell you, the best is yet to come.

Here's hoping to more from the Sookie/Bill/Eric love triangle. With Eric's intoxicating blood in Sookie, and with him showing a softer, more passionate side in his love for his Maker, this season is sure to test Sookie's devotion to Bill and create some sexy drama for us to see play out.

Also interested in watching the Hoyt/Jessica storyline progress, seeing if they can get through her attack on Hoyt's Mom, and Jessica's growing Vampire urges to feed!

For all you fans out there, there are at least 9 books in the series so far, so if they can keep up the hype and quality of the show, we can look forward to much more True Blood.

Chelsea's boring Interview Special

Extremely disappointed by Chelsea's big interview special. She stayed away from all the button-pushing which was very unlike her. No divorce talk, no cougar talk, nothing really. Hopefully by getting bigger names on her show, Chelsea doesn't sell out and start becoming politically correct and kiss her celeb guests' bums. Cuz that would ruin her brutally honest style.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

How To Make It In America Episode 5

Ok, well after watching that episode, I've still got mixed feelings about it. I don't know if it may be trying too hard to be hip and cool, or if it actually is pulling it off.

First off, Rachel and her annoying yuppie boyfriend need to break up already. Watching them high on Ecstacy and seeing him make out with a guy just makes it easier for the audience to see the obvious - that Rachel is supposed to end up with Ben...duh!

And of course the best part of the episode was definitely when Ben's jeans are rejected by the Japanese designer and the boys finally get their big break where it should have been all along - in Ben's super-cool t-shirt designs.

I hope the show gets better - not sure if enough happens in each episode for me to want to keep watching. I vote for eliminating the Rene storyline. As a huge mob movie and wiseguy fan, Rene is more like joke than someone everyone seems to be scared of. Maybe that's the point, I don't know. I guess we'll see. Bryan Greenberg is super hot though.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

The fabulous Chelsea Handler, my favourite comedienne and host of E!'s Chelsea Lately, has an exciting new special on Wednesday Night, interviewing Bradley Cooper, Robin Wright, and Demi Moore, three extremely buzz-worthy individuals. Excited to hear what Chelsea asks Robin about her recent divorce form Sean Penn, and of course Demi Moore, Hollywood's favourite cougar!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

BIG LOVE season ender leaves me wanting more

I started watching BIG LOVE after Chloe Sevigny won her Golden Globe earlier this year and i was instantly hooked to the drama, intrigue and suspense, yet normalcy of the Henricksons. And Sunday night’s 4th season finale was no exception. As someone who thought the whole show would be too weird and wrong to watch, since it’s about the very provocative subject of polygamy, I now find BIG LOVE one of my guilty pleasure can’t-miss shows of the week.

The element that keeps me watching is the characters. As the audience, you end up having such conflicting feelings for each character. You love them and hate them, all in the same episode. This season, we really see a significant change within the three wives, as they grow and become much less dependent on Bill. Barb, his first wife, actually ends the season off by telling Bill, “I don’t think I need you anymore”, leaving the audience wondering if she’ll even stay within the dysfunctional family. As the audience knows, Barb has always been the most divided on Polygamy, and we always get the sense she’s in the marriage primarily because of her love for Bill, and finally, she admits she wants a different life than the one they’re living. Even the staunchly Polygamist Nicki confesses she may no longer want to share Bill, and Margene, so preoccupied with her conflicting attractions to various other men and her business, seems indifferent.

Bill himself has become so flawed as a character, the audience is left with very little faith in his beliefs. He seems to be acting now, out of selfish power-hunger, and not for the good of his family, that he consistently preaches. And with his extramarital pregnancy (baby conceived before the woman became his fourth wife) , we’re left wondering if this ‘Principle of Plural Marriage’ that they live by, is just an excuse for Bill to sleep with various women. This couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, with the whole Tiger Woods debacle.

Also, hats off to Sissy Spacek for playing the role of conniving political lawyer wonderfully. As someone who is obsessed as they come to Gangster and Crime-related shows and movies, like THE SOPRANOS, I’m used to quite a bit of swearing, but I must admit, BIG LOVE has sensitized me so much so that, I found it refreshingly shocking when Spacek would open her mouth and F-Bombs would drop. So unlike the hilarious Mormon-friendly swearing like “What the H?”

At only 9 episodes, this season was way too short, and they tried to cram as much storyline into the short season as possible, with their trip to Mexico, the opening of the Reservation Casino, and Bill running for office. So gripping and twisted that I can’t imagine what craziness will come next.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Fashion Smashion

The Oscars are always a great excuse for the leading ladies we love to come out and surprise us, awe us, and make us jealous. Check out the link for pics of Oscar night’s best and worst looks!

http://www.refinery29.com/the-best-worst-and-meh-looks-at-the-oscars.php

My personal favourite gown of the night was hands down, Rachel McAdams’ pastel-printed number. The cut and colour complemented her so beautifully, I fell in love and would buy it in a minute if I could afford it.

Sandra Bullock, in her form fitting and dazzling gold, with the bright lip and slick hair was perfect for her. She didn’t over do it, and ended up looking kind of like the Oscar she won. Way to dress for success!

My least favourite look of the night went to Charlize Theron, who’s gown looked like it had two strategically places cinnamon buns on the corset, although the idea of that particular placing going down into the train was fresh.

Best looking guy of the evening. Goodness gracious, I must say Jake Gyllenhaal was looking very yummy, fresh from his breakup with Reese. She better get this boy back quickly because he won’t last much longer on the market!

All in all, the biggest trends of the night were very frilly and flowy, braided up and detailed fabric at the corsets, which I LOVED! And, way too much blue.

Lastly, shout out to the Academy for putting on a fantastic special tribute to the late John Hughes – way to bring back the 80s cast favourites! Do we sense remakes on the horizon? Although, who could replicate the Molly Ringwald we loved?

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Post-Oscars Cool Down!

Wow Wow Wow, what a great Oscar Night! Some fantastic surprises that I was hoping for like when Sandra Bullock won Best Actress! How unexpected, and what a genuine speech and she still sounded like herself, making comments about kissing Meryl Streep and hating Carey Mulligan for being so young and pretty. Way to keep it funny with your quick wit!

And, we made history tonight after 82 years of the Academy Awards - a WOMAN wins Best Director. Amazing, although kind of sad for Directors that work their bums off for years, like the genius (and my personal favourite) that is Scorcese, who put out groundbreaking movies for 40 years before getting Best Director.

And the ONLY actual shock of the night, Best Picture goes to THE HURT LOCKER! So well deserved, since AVATAR was a little over-rated! I love this David vs. Goliath tale of the under-dog and am so happy and proud to not only be a woman today but also that the ego-centric control freak who created his own language – (I mean really?), ahem James Cameron, didn’t win. Sorry about that.

Stay tuned for my own little Fashion Critique tomorrow!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

iPad coming soon...!

Just got word that the iPad will be released in Canada sometime in late April. Now, I'm a huge fan of the iTouch/iPhone design and features, but I really don't get why this is such a huge breakthrough. It's just an oversized, giant iTouch. Maybe it's just me.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Drake drops his first official single "Over"

Drake finally dropped “Over,” his first official release from his highly anticipated album Thank Me Later.

And, he chose to release it first in none other than his hometown of T.O. on Flow 93.5 at Midnight last night. Way to rep Toronto, Drake!

My Verdict: Great background beat and hook. Plus, Drake's got a smooth flow. Hope the video's better than that thing he did for Best I Ever Had.

OSCAR NIGHT .. my picks

The Oscars are on Sunday, so get your party dresses on for my second favourite awards night of the year (I’m partial to the Globes, due to my TV obsession).
Here are my choices for the main categories this weekend:

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges. He won the Globe so he's more likely already. Also, he's one of those, "always a bridesmaid, never a bride", guys. He's been nominated a few times and never won, and critics are saying this year my be his year to win.

Best Actress: Now, I’m going mainstream with my choice this year because I’m following my heart! I want Sandra Bullock to win for her hard-ass Mom role in THE BLINDSIDE, my guilty-pleasure movie of the year.

Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz. Without a doubt, the most memorable male role of the year. With such grace, style and so much passion that you can’t help but love to hate him.

Supporting Actress: Although Anna Kendrick killed her performance in UP IN THE AIR, as a neurotic over-achiever, the statue is definitely going to Mo’Nique hands down. Her performance was so convincing in PRECIOUS that she left me speechless.

Best Original Screenplay: INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS all the way! Tarantino, the talented Writer-Director, has once again written a fantastic story. I loved his choice of words, especially with Brad attempting to speak Italian with his Heavy Southern accent. Tarantino has a way of taking a serious issue, be it revenge or a bank robbery, or even a near-death drug overdose, and making it darkly comedic. And of course, a shout out to B.J. Novak from THE OFFICE (Ryan the Temp!) for his small but memorable role.

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow or James Cameron, Talk about the ultimate battle of the exes. The two, who were married for a couple of years in the 80s are going head-to-head with the two most talked-about films of the year. Vastly different and hard to compare, will the Oscar go to Cameron's technologically inspiring Blockbuster or to the much smaller in terms of budget and the box office. I think, with Direction being what it is, directing the actors and frames to be as effective as possible, it’s a toss up. The Hurt Locker was frame-by-frame intensity, and extremely focused on the characters and their conflicting emotions. Avatar was visually breathtaking, but it WAS in 3D so that added to its beauty. Not sure what an effect 3D would have had on The Hurt Locker. Probably a traumatizing one. I guess I vote Kathryn Bigelow.

Best Pictures: 10 Nominations??? Now, although daunting, most of these are just here to fill out the top 10 for the year, and to keep the public happy. Now, looking at history, an animated feature’s never won Best Picture so its unlikely that UP will take the award home. And THE BLINDSIDE, although extremely good commercially (not gonna lie, I did cry), it probably won’t win this one. I want to say AVATAR, just because it’s almost obvious, but this year’s BAFTA Best Picture winner (THE HURT LOCKER) shows that it may not be as easy as AVATAR. I think though, just to be safe, I’ll put my vote on AVATAR.

We'll just have to wait for Monday to see what the real outcome is and how well I guessed.