media blitz

[danschank]

hi. i decided to post something. where to begin?

i've made two paintings since last we spoke, dear cyberfriends...

Comments

i'm fairly sure you'll dig "party down"

[danschank]

it'd be interesting to hear what you think of men of a certain age. i find it really warm and sincere, but it's also got a quasi-cinformist streak that i could see being a deal breaker for some people?

breaking bad is definitely more willfully upsetting than other shows like it (save, say, the money-shot excess violence of the sopranos). it's definitely a show that will leave you feeling awful. i have a high tolerance for that, but i totally understand people that don't. it earns its awfulness, at least.

that's awesome about dr. gilmore... it's a shame that more stories like this don't circulate widely. i mean, the john waters thing isn't super political or anything (hell, waters is *alas* a republican, which astounds me) - but it's difficult to feel that eye-for-an-eye shit when you read about (or experience) someone's transformation like that. i kind of hate debates about "the death penalty" because they seem unusually abrasive. i feel like whenever i tell people i don't believe in it, i'm always answering questions about hypothetical child-rape scenarios and shit like that. stories like van houten's could potentially cool people off.

Re: i'm fairly sure you'll dig "party down"

[olamina]

i watched the party down pilot on saturday as i was de-podding peas. i am concerned and intrigued by the sight of some of the usual Apatow subjects. this could be really bad or really good. will have to see.. also a little annoyed that the mopey sarcastic reasonably attractive white dude seems to be destined to end up with the mopey decent looking white girl as in all recent comedies of this ilk (The Office, Community Better Off Ted, etc.). i'll keep watching though.

will also check out that Romano joint. he was funny for those few seconds in Funny People when Eminem was threatening him. then again I just love that movie.

Re: i'm fairly sure you'll dig "party down"

[danschank]

yeah, it's a bunch of the apatow people... but the show's deepest connections are to veronica mars and all that stuff the cast of the state puts together like red hot american summer and (my favorite movie of the apatow-verse) role models. the cute mopey couple is predictable, but they're both super charming and witty. for my money it works. it gets better 2 or 3 episodes in, as does most worthwhile tv i guess.

that scene in funny people is probably the best part. i felt like that movie was scrambling to right some of the wrongs of knocked up, which made it not work for me. it felt sorta panicky or something.

Re: i'm fairly sure you'll dig "party down"

[olamina]

wow, i guess i'll have to see role models. and yes, the show is very paul rudd-y , which is a very good things to me. the cute couple are playing out interestingly at least. i expected a long tony and angela style adversary/attraction thing. glad it didn't go down that way.

funny people was definitely panicky but kiiiinda slightly redeemed apatow to me. it was a mess of a film plot-wise, but i have watched it many times and still find a lot of it really funny.

"tony and angela" = nice reference

[danschank]

the cute couple thing is kinda cliche but they really ARE a cute couple! i have a total crush on casey and a little boring hetero one on henry too. there's something to be said for on-screen-chemistry, right? by the way, paul rudd is one of the show's writers. apparently, way back in the day they pitched it to some networks with rudd in the henry role and steve carell in the ron donald role - long before they were stars. also, fred savage directs like half of the episodes... wtf? anyway, i like that it's kind of a heavy satire, but everyone is still mostly likeable, save maybe bill haverchuck. some of my favorite parts are the sweet parts, which is weird because i usually hate it when comedies have "heart" or morals or whatever.

Re: "tony and angela" = nice reference

[olamina]

yes Adam Scott is so crush worthy. he's not even particularly attractive (short, HUGE head) but his face is a perfect comedy straight man face. i could see him hosting his own late night show. the way he looked in the Stiltskin party episode when he realized Ron had a contact high? My God, TOO FUNNY. i exploded with laughter. also yes, i have to cave in and say he and casey are cute.

it ended up being more sam and diane than angela and tony

[olamina]

ok, so i've watched all of party down now and i have to say i'm glad it got cancelled. season 1 was so hilarious and season 2 was a marked drop in quality. they just kept recycling the same gags and treading water. the original lineup was perfect. if they were gonna dump anyone it should been martin starr but i guess the consstance character does that glee show and had to leave..oh well, i guess im off to academic earth now to try and retain some brain cells...

i don't think there's really a weak link in the initial line-up

[danschank]

i agree that jane lynch was better than will-and-grace lady, but it's more because they didn't give her enough to work with. i thought the other lady from best in show from the last three episodes of season one was a better fit.

i think season two was more uneven, but it certainly wasn't bad. i'm not sure it's the kind of show i want to see evolution and sophistication with. the formula works for me, and 20 minutes of it a week was fun while it lasted. plus, season two produced my favorite single episode - steve guttenberg's b-day - and ended on a decent note, all things considered.

as for henry/casey, i like them best when they just sneak off and make out with each other. i'm glad they dropped the conflict between them toward the end of the show. plus, witty banter!

Re: i don't think there's really a weak link in the initial line-up

[olamina]

yeah steve guttenbreg's bday was really awesome, but i think by the end of season two the whole thing had run its course. thanks for putting me on to it! it was good watching all in all, and i may have to get the dvds in the future.

Re: i'm fairly sure you'll dig "party down"

[olamina]

also the campus conservatives episode was worth the price of admission to Party Down. i laughed so hard i almost couldn't breath. party on!

my radical prison abolitionist days

[olamina]

as for the prison thing, one day i have to tell you the story about the time my friends and i basically crashed an anti death penalty conference. it ended with me threatening some well-meaning middle-aged middle class white lady from the podium and walking out in a huff. good times.