I realize that Jean Louisa Kelly has had a very successful television career on the show, Yes, Dear, but I’ve chosen her as this week’s underrated actress because of her voice. Perhaps I should have called it “underrated singer?” Jean Louisa Kelly played Rowina Morgan in Mr. Holland’s Opus, and her voice blew me away. Since then, she has not had any prominent singing roles, which surprises me. You might also remember her as the bitch-with-a-heart in John Candy’s Uncle Buck. She can now be seen in the ABC family series, Pretty Little Liars. If only David E. Kelly was still making Ally McBeal, and Jean Louisa could sing at the bar downstairs. Why is Glee the only television show that’s currently incorporating music? Well, perhaps this post will give Ryan Murphy an idea for a new role. To hear her sing, Someone to Watch Over Me, from Mr. Holland’s Opus, listen below.
Lady Gaga Gets Through Airport Security — What if She Handcuffed the Pilot?
I have to admit that I’m no longer a Lady Gaga fan. Her wacky behavior has crossed the very fine line between artistic and insane, and she’s taken her loose screws to a whole new level, by traveling through the airport with handcuffs and chains. Explain to me how I’m not allowed to bring my moisturizer on the plane, but Lady Gaga is allowed to bring handcuffs? Here’s my message to airport security — I hope you’re on your toes, because Gaga’s accessories can be used for many things — including handcuffing the pilot.
Tim Gunn Calls Taylor Momsen a Thankless Brat — FINALLY!
I often take some time out of my very busy blogging life to attack Taylor Momsen. But this time around, Tim Gunn did my dirty work. Gunn filmed a cameo for The CW’s Gossip Girl, and finally exposed what many Gossip Girl fans have been speculating all along — Taylor Momsen sucks. According to Gunn, Momsen could not remember her minimal lines, which held the cast and crew “hostage.” He also revealed that the director confided in him how terrible it is to work with Momsen, saying with disdain, “this is day in, day out, of my life.” When The CW chucked Momsen last season, I assumed her option was not renewed, and she was gone for good. For some incomprehensible reason, the network has decided to resurrect her from the dead, so that she can return to television to mumble her lines in an excessively tweaked out fashion. I can’t wait.
Today’s Question: Where Did All the Tweenie Idols Go?
Since Hilary Duff stopped making her cutesy movies, there has a been a giant void in tweenie land. Miley Cyrus made a feeble attempt to fill the void, by parlaying the successful Hannah Montana television show into films. But Hannah Montana was the beginning and end of her tweenie films. She never came close to duplicating Duff’s resume, with Raise Your Voice; A Perfect Man; and A Cinderella Story as just a few examples of Duff’s work. Plus, she started wearing leotards and dancing around like a slut — which is another thing Duff never did. Zac Efron also entered tweenie territory with the very enjoyable, underrated film, 17 Again, but he quickly changed pace with Charlie St. Cloud, to avoid being type cast in one particular role. Only time will tell if that was a smart decision. Hilary Duff never quite transitioned into more grown-up roles, after she outgrew her young fan base. So perhaps Efron took that as an example. But I still want a new tweenie-bopper to make the films I love to see. And in case you are wondering, I am an adult — which might make this post slightly creepy.
Gossip Girl Ratings Tank — What Happened?
There is something seriously wrong with the people running The CW, if they cannot get viewers for their highest quality show. The ratings for last night’s season premiere were down 29% from last fall’s season premiere. Why? Because no one knew it was on. A male friend of mine (whose name I won’t mention, for fear that he’s embarrassed to admit his avid devotion to Gossip Girl), was shocked when I asked if he was excited for the new season. “How did I not know it was back?,” he asked. Unlike Gossip Girl, Nikita generated huge ratings (well, huge in CW land), because it was excessively promoted. So get with the program guys.
Conan O’Brien’s Image Errors — It’s Time to Look Rich
Ever since Conan O’Brien began promoting his new TBS show, he’s acting like a wounded bird that traded the big-guys (the network) for the underdogs (cable). He has yet to shave that depression-laced beard, and he’s answering fan questions on his facebook page via youtube, from an “office” that looks like my college dorm room. I presume he’s trying to connect with his young viewers by looking “one with the people,” but he’s instead coming off as sad leftovers. When Conan originally chose TBS, it was portrayed in the media that he turned down FOX (the big bad network world), because he wanted more creative freedom, and plus, “cable is the future.” So here’s my question: does the “future” have an office with a view?
Chelsea Handler Panned by Same Critics who Panned Russell Brand
Is there some sort of journalism school that critics go to, where they teach them how to be incessantly negative, regardless of quality? Chelsea Handler hosted the Video Music Awards, and to be expected, the critics bashed her. Almost every single host for the Video Music Awards has been bashed by critics, including the great Russell Brand, who was initially slaughtered in the press, and then invited back the following year, once Mtv saw its ratings jump. Similar to Brand, Chelsea Handler’s hosting stint brought huge ratings, despite the criticism. To prove my point, I’ve compiled a list of the arbitrarily harsh critics that insulted Handler, and pulled their very same critiques of Russell Brand. Enjoy!
New York Times
Chelsea Handler: “And then there was the awkward plight of the night’s host, Chelsea Handler. She was among the worst in the show’s history — purposefully out-of-touch, with brief, alarming flashes of off-color racial humor.”
Russell Brand: “He was the host of last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, where he was mischievous but seemed slightly pale and lost, a potty-mouth Ziggy Stardust brought down to earth. That’s about all, though.”
Headline Planet — Brian Cantor
Chelsea Handler: “Humor was also much appreciated, given how intently host Chelsea Handler tried to murder comedy over the course of the broadcast.”
Russell Brand: “Though host Russell Brand’s opening monologue was sexually charged, it did not feature the edgy content necessary to rival last year’s controversy.”
Alan Sepinwall — Hitfix
Chelsea Handler: “It pains me to say it, but Chelsea Handler was in over her head with hosting duties. The stage was just too big for her and the audience too distant. She boringly oscillated between jokes about sleeping with rappers and jokes about partying hard, sometimes with a dash of absurdist bad behavior (like trying to steal Justin Bieber’s ‘wig’).”
Russell Brand: “Perhaps it was the fervor and speed at which every joke needed to be delivered, but Russell Brand’s humor seemed to fall flat left and right.”
Nekesa Mumbi Moody– Associated Press
Chelsea Handler: “Host Chelsea Handler gave the show its traditional bawdiness, though her jokes often fell flat.”
Russell Brand: “There were a few more laughs during comedian Russell Brand’s opening monologue, but the celeb audience seemed more nervous than amused, as the frenetic Brit took aim at Madonna, the virginity of teen sensations the Jonas Brothers and President Bush, whom he called “a retarded cowboy fellow.”
Tim Gunn is Correct — The Project Runway Judges are “Smoking Crack”
In the eight seasons of Project Runway, the judges critiques have never been this horrible. They are unequivocally wrong every episode, and if you don’t take my word for it, take Tim Gunn’s, who has consistently mentioned their insanity on his video blogs. Last week’s “resort wear” episode was no exception, with Andy South’s beautiful design losing to April Johnston’s risque nightie. Did I mention that Michael Drummond made the top three, with what looked like a black evening gown? Explain to me what resort island would warrant a a dress that would attract enough sun to give you skin cancer. When I envision a resort, I see a very rich woman sipping tea overlooking the ocean — which is exactly what Casanova designed — and he was eliminated. It might be time to get some new judges.
Buffalo Springfield Reunites — HOORAY!
Buffalo Springfield is reuniting for the first time in 42 years, for a series of Bridge School concerts. Though it originally surprised me that Neil Young even agreed to this, the explanation became clear when I discovered that Young himself actually started the Bridge School concerts with his wife, to raise money for physical handicaps. Young had previously rejected a reunion tour, and he didn’t show up for Buffalo Springfield’s 1977 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Neil Young, Stephen Stills, and Richie Foray will perform, as two of the original members (Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin) have passed away. I’ve seen Neil Young perform both solo and with his Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young band-mates. Seeing him perform with Buffalo Springfield might make my life complete. If you don’t know who Buffalo Springfield is, before you start to feel ashamed of yourself, I’ve attached their most famous hit below. You will likely recognize it from the Forrest Gump soundtrack. If you don’t, I can’t help you.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAkjdwsVazQ&feature=related