Tag: Television

TV Tune Tuesday: Meet Musician Aron Wright

As we learned from yesterday’s post about Freya Ridings and an earlier interview I did with the very talented Aurora, television is often the perfect venue to highlight new artists. I’ll try to do this feature every week, and this week’s pick is Aron Wright, whom I discovered on Grey’s Anatomy. His soul-melting voice can also be heard on many other shows, including The Blacklist, The Vampire Diaries, and more. According to Wright, he records his music in a 100-year-old church he converted into a studio. His credits include co-writing the song “Hallelujah” by Panic! at the Disco and penning “Walk Out On Me,” which was performed by Courtney Love on the FOX television show, Empire. The multi-instrumentalist (trumpet, bass trombone, tuba and guitar) was born in Little Rock, AR, and raised in St. Louis, MO before eventually moving to South Africa. He now lives in Nashville. Listen below.

The ‘Girls’ Series Finale — A Full Review

I remember my twenties as a narcissistic blur that badly represented the dreams of my teens. It entailed bad sex, bad relationships, and even worse jobs that kept me on the constant fringe of being fired. ‘Girls’ quietly captured those common themes with its appropriately underwhelming last season. Gone is the girl who is rescued, the tearful group dinner, and the sudden self-awareness. Instead, things got real. Friendships were fractured, Hannah Horvath had a parental meltdown, and Marnie traded her personal happiness for once.

The penultimate episode of ‘Girls’ was more of an ending than the last, which was more of a beginning for Hannah’s new journey as a mother. Clues suggest that she’ll struggle, as most new mothers do, and though her tight circle of friends is nowhere to be found, that’s okay, since most of us lose contact with the besties of which we vow die-hard loyalty.

When ‘Girls’ first began, I didn’t get it. I wanted the pretty filters, Manolo Blahniks the characters curiously can’t afford, and the aspirational New York life that never really exists for anyone. When Lena Dunham aired her gratuitous nudity for the world to see, I attacked her, an action of which I’m now ashamed. She had a master plan, and I was too one dimensional to spot her depth. She’s a body warrior, and she changed the game. We’re used to the sexualized nudity of rock-hard bodies, and she instead offered the reality of prancing around one’s apartment naked for no good reason. When others, like myself, questioned her, she turned up the dial, so as to say, “It’s my party and I’ll prance around naked if I want to.” She also wasn’t going to sensationalize the reality of her youth, give the girl a standard love story, or portray life as easy. Because life isn’t easy . . . for anyone — money or not.

Goodbye, ‘Girls’. It was certainly fun while it lasted.

HBO’s Big Little Lies Finale — Full Review (No Spoilers)

big-little-lies

While laying beside her husband and William Morris big-wig agent Jim Toth, Reese Witherspoon complained about the lack of substantial roles for women in Hollywood, and her husband pushed her to make a change. He reminded her that she loves to read, and she has a production company, and she’s perfectly capable of carving her own path. And that she did. What began with Wild, soon became Gone Girl and now . . . Big Little Lies — her best yet.

Big Little Lies proves something very powerful. Women are perfectly capable of leading the pack, and they can do it sans testosterone. In fact, though the men in the story have a minor contribution, they are mere pawns for their female players. Those players include, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Zoe Saldana. Nicole plays Celeste, a victim of abuse at the hands of her husband, with whom she can’t seem to leave. Of all the performances, hers is by far the most nuanced, proving once again why Kidman deserves endless praise and also why movie actors should flee to television. Cinema isn’t the same, and this is the role of a lifetime. Reese Witherspoon plays Madeline, an all-too-perfect type A divorcee whose new husband found happiness with her zen-like opposite, and even a sweet new spouse and child of her own can’t contain the scorn. Laura Dern is at her best as Renata. Though Dern has less scenes, she steals them. Her mamma-bear insanity is deliciously alarming. Shailene plays Jane, and I can only imagine that it’s a play on her plain Jane performance. While her dull demeanor was likely intentional, I couldn’t help but think she was punching above her weight beside these powerhouses. Zoe Saldana was also understated as Bonnie, but unlike Shailene, she played well inside her lane.

With a beautiful backdrop of Monterey, captivating characters, and a murder mystery, we’ve got a deeply addictive masterpiece. This could have easily veered into Bad Moms territory and made us say #WhitePeopleProblems, but instead–we identify with these deeply flawed women whose quest for perfection is so penetrable. With each episode, we learn more about their hidden lives, and since I’d like you to watch it, I’ll withhold more details, except to say — that was one hell of a finale.

Kim Kardashian Blasts Katie Couric

20130816-133311.jpgKim Kardashian’s claws came out, and I like it! In response to a recent Katie Couric interview with In Touch Magazine inquiring as to why the Kardashian’s are famous, Kim posted a baby gift sent by Couric on Twitter with a hashtag saying, “May I humbly suggest you not send baby gifts and then talk shit.”

Well, you have to applaud Kim for calling out Couric’s hypocrisy. Here’s hoping Kim’s feisty side continues.

Sandra Oh Leaves Grey’s Anatomy — Goodbye, Dr. Yang

This news is devastating. Sandra Oh has officially declared her decision to leave Grey’s Anatomy when her contract expires at the end the upcoming season. Oh is an original cast member, and in my humble opinion — is the heart of the show. Her acting skills caught my attention in ‘Sideways,’ and she’s since solidified her chops with a character that is both strong and vulnerable, a delicate balance that only the best can achieve. Click HERE to read what series creator Shonda Rimes had to say about her departure, and watch the clip below to see Sandra Oh at her best.

Lea Michele‘s Tribute to Cory Montieth — Teen Choice Awards

This one made me cry. While accepting her Teen Choice Award for ‘Glee,’ Lea Michele spoke publicly for the first time since her late love’s passing, dedicating her award to Cory Montieth, and thanking her fans for their support. Watch her tearful tribute below.

Oprah Interviews Lindsay Lohan: WATCH a Clip

Call me heartless, but isn’t orange the worst hue for Lindsay’s Lohan’s comeback conversation? Since she’s had some trouble with the law, the closeup causes a not so friendly reminder. As for the interview itself, here’s hoping this isn’t another empty proclamation of recovery. I’m always rooting for a good turn-around. Watch a preview of Oprah’s interview, which will air August 18th.