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Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Feb 03 2009

RENT THE FINAL PERFORMANCE

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

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Rent was so much more than just a show. For many it was a rite of passage, the songs that spoke to a generation and opened up Broadway to an audience that otherwise might have never been tempted to visit the Great White Way.  

 Therefore it wasn’t enough for the show to be translated into a motion picture. Things had to be changed, and concessions were necessary to attempt commercial success. So in a way the same reason the movie was made is the same reason that it wasn’t a huge hit. The fans of Rent do not simply love Rent, they breathe it and feel it in their souls.   

So when a film was made with the original cast three years ago, fans were not bringing home the very show they loved but rather, they were given enough to sustain. It was a gentle reminder of what they loved the way a picture or a short home video will suffice for memories that have faded.  

 In the Summer the show played it final performance and the producers decided to film the finale so mass audiences could experience it. I do not believe it was meant as a commercial move but rather as a thank you to all those people that kept the unlikely Tony Winner around for all these years and as a final tribute to the late creator Jonathan Larson whose ironic death on the eve of the show’s opening made the message of “No Day But Today,” all the more meaningful.   

So is it enough?  

 The filmed show has the all the grittiness of the stage with nothing edited out for ratings and shows why the characters have touched the hearts of so many people, young and old. The actors are not the original cast this time but rather new faces that, for the most part, do their jobs well enough. It is limited on the way that any stage show being put onto a screen would be but, that being said, it was done well.   Would I recommend it? Absolutely! As I said before, it is not only simply a play. It should stand in history as a reminder of the fragility of life and why we should live.

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Jan 30 2009

AMERICAN IDOL

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

425_cook_archuleta_040208.jpgWednesday night’s American Idol was a bit calmer than Tuesday’s episode. To real in last year’s viewers who might have been getting a bit board with the current hopefuls and boring disasters, the producers of the show added subtle reminders of why America loves this show. Namely the Davids from last year.

 Being that these were Utah auditions being displayed, it should come as no surprise that cuddly David Archuleta (Utah’s golden boy) would be displayed at the beginning of the show and repeatedly mentioned by the auditioners (it’s only fair since that’s how they played it in the winners hometown.)

 However, David Cook was also there making an Appearance as his song A Daily AntheM was used in a montage of success stories and there was a subtle nod to his final performance before becoming the Idol when The World I Know by Collective Soul was played while a woman lamented about her failed marriage and American Idol being the salvation of her tattered dreams.  

All and all the singers were ok, the judges were medicated, and it was an enjoyable show.

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Jan 29 2009

IDOL

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

after-american-idol-its-time-for-vietnam-idol_14.jpgThis week, American idol is airing a special three nights instead of the usual two. This makes it very hard when I’m behind on reviewing the episodes. I’m going to spend today talking about Tuesday’s show but I wanted to put that up top in case anyone was unaware that Fox is airing more Idols tonight.  

 Ok the best moments on Tuesday had to be when the judges lost their minds. There was Paula and Kara making out, Paula play storming out of the room because her opinions don’t matter anymore (oh Paula, sweetie, they never did!), and then there was one audition when Ryan Seacrest was sitting in Kara’s lap while Simon cradled Paula.   

It is just a reminder of why AI is a success, any show can do talent competition but it takes real dedication to pull of this kind of crazy and still be considered relevant judges whose opinions resonate throughout the nation.  

 Well done 

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Jan 28 2009

DANE COOK

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

My Best Friend’s Girl is a Romantic Comedy. What that basically means is that the plot should go as follows: Boy meets girl, someone does something wrong, boy looses girl, and then by the end boy gets girl back. The plot follows form but this movie involves stand-up comedian Dane Cook as the lead actor and is less than entertaining.

 

 

This is his third Romantic Comedy in as many years and while his stand up is very successful, his film career goes like this: hugely talented comedian gets put in films, Comedian falls flat on his face, Comedian tried to get fans back.

 

 

My solution, stick to what you’re good at and I’ll stick with you Dane.

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Jan 26 2009

Long time no blogging…

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

 

 

I realize that it has been a while since I’ve written any reviews or blogged at all for that matter.  However, I just want to let everyone know that I am working on making things better, more interesting and hopefully a bit prettier starting this week.

 

Hope you enjoy!

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Jan 15 2009

AMERICAN IDOL 2

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

I always thought that there was a rule about siblings of top 12 or top 10 contestants’ family members trying out for the hit karaoke show. I guess this is because those contestants get paid and there is a rule against the family members of employees of Fox Network and 19 Entertainment trying out. However, this year, Andrew Cook was going to try out until his big brother, David told him that he wasn’t letting him.

 

So last night Jason Castro showed up to root on his younger brother Mike. And why did Mike tryout you ask? “Because I thought, ‘well if J can do, so can I.”

 

I’m so happy he got through to Hollywood because that family is so fun to watch. Also Simon had one of his greatest lines ever, “I’m never sure with you Castros how serious you re about this.”

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Jan 14 2009

AMERICAN IDOL

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

American Idol made it return last night with all the rejects and freaks that viewers have come to expect from the auditions round. While there was a lot of this, one specific contestant (and her audition) got to me.

 

There was a girl who showed up in her bikini and, surprise, surprise she got yeses from the male judges. Since, when there is a tie, the final say goes to Simon she was on to Hollywood and new judge Kara (who I think I’m going to like) asked why she was good enough to go through. Then she showed how the girl’s audition song is supposed to be sung.

 

The auditioner actually told her she was bad! Now I get the disrespect for judge attitudes but they are music professionals and after the fight between the two woman, that ticket to Hollywood should’ve been taken away.

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Jan 13 2009

THE DUTCHESS

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THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS

 

 

I finally got around to seeing Kira Knightly’s turn in The Dutchess. While the plot has its strong points, I found the movie very sad.  The commercial made it quite clear that the film was about a young woman unhappy in her marriage that looks elsewhere for satisfaction. However, what they failed to capture was the price she ends up paying.

 

Not only is she forced to give up the man she loves for the sake of her children with the Duke (and for the sake of said lover) she must also give away the child that resulted from the affair and spend the rest of her life in a loveless marriage while her husband has a live in girlfriend.

 

Apparently The Duchess is based on a book that was written from an actual Duchess’s letters and writing. This fact makes the entire film all the more depressing.

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Jan 11 2009

MUSIC AND LYRICS

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Remember Wham?

 

They were fabulously flamboyant pop group that covered the walls of every young girl’s bedroom in the mid eighties. It was where the world first was introduced to George Michael, who went on to do amazing, and criminal things that have been equally well documented. But what about the other guy, Andrew Ridgly?

 

Well if he decided to attempt a comeback by writing a song for the latest pop-tart and determined the only way to do it was to follow the plot of Neil Simon Play They’re Playing Our Song, Music and Lyrics would be a documentary of what happened.  That being said, even though the film is a rip off, it is quite enjoyable.

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Jan 10 2009

Going Viral

Published by tvjunkie50 under Uncategorized Edit This

 

 

I don’t know about you but today is a rather boring day in the north east region of America. There really isn’t anything to watch on the television, at least there hasn’t been so far today. On top of that, we are experiencing a snow storm so nobody I know wants to go out which eliminates going to a movie, shopping, bowling, or anything that involves leaving the heated cocoon that is home.

 

Luckily a friend of mine, who is an America Idol fan much like me, has sent me a video that had me in hysterics. It’s a compilation of funny moments provided by reigning Idol winner David Cook.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_Yx04y1Bss

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