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Upfront and Center Part 3: NBC

6/20/2012

You guys! It's time for the final installment! Are you so excited? I'll bet you're excited. Time to talk about NBC.

Oh NBC. I want to love you. For the most part, you have awesome Awesome AWESOME taste in comedies. That means a lot coming from me. I'm REALLY picky about comedies. When it comes to drama, I'll kind of watch a range of quality. I'm aware some of the things I love are actually horrible, but I can enjoy them. When it comes to comedy, however, you better bring it. Usually, NBC, you do. You're home to Community! 30 Rock! And my most recent I-should-have-watched-this-forever-ago-but-I'm-just-now-getting-into-it show, Parks and Rec. With that, I was really excited to see what you had to offer. And, well, I'm not gonna lie...I was a little disappointed. I expected more from you, NBC. I really did.

Ok, fine. I can't complain TOO much. You were the one network to deliver the ONLY pilot trailer that actually made me laugh out loud. Are you ready for the only comedy that I'm remotely excited about this fall? WELL HERE YOU GO!

The New Normal

Now, I know, I know. Ryan Murphy. But! You guys! His first seasons are FANTASTIC. Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story: all had terrific beginnings. This show looks quirky, funny, charming, and heartwarming with a touch of the irreverent humor I love. At the very least we'll get 13 great episodes, and isn't 13 better than nothing?

Plus! Ellen Barkin!!! And a reference to Alicia Florrick! Come on, check it out with me!

Revolution

Why should you watch it? Three reasons: Eric Kripke (Supernatural), Jon Favreau (Ironman, SWINGERS!!), J.J. Abrams (seriously? I have to link you? you don't know who he is? Fine.). Here's the deal, though. I really want it to do well because you know I'm a big nerd and I love the whole genre, but I don't think it will last. So check it out while it's on! It looks like it'll be a fun ride! Post-apocalyptic world! Archery! Intrigue! Mystery! It'll be fun while it lasts. And hey, maybe if enough of us watch it'll get to stay on air!

Chicago Fire

Ok, i'll be honest. I....probably won't watch this one. Well, no, that's not true. I'll probably watch the pilot because I try to watch all of the fall pilots if I'm able. However, I can't promise I'll stick with it. I'm sure it will be fine, just not my cup of tea. I just had to post the trailer on here because I'm pervy and like looking at Taylor Kinney with his shirt off. Jesse Spencer is fairly attractive as well (even if he's cuter with his real accent).

Well, my little chickadees, that's all for now! Now we just gotta wait till fall to see what actually works and what doesn't. Till then, I'll be watching mindlessly fun summer shows (Bunheads and Pretty Little Liars), and catching up on old shows that I should have been watching from the beginning but some how missed out (Nurse Jackie, I'm looking at you).

Till next time! <3

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Tina Fey! Mindy Kaling! Me?

2/28/2012

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Once upon a time (and by that I mean last year), I started working with this super awesome amazing wonderful fantastic <insert superlative here> theatre/sketch comedy group called Our Bar because ya know what? I’m damn funny. Not to toot my own horn, but, Oh eff that. I’m tooting away. In fact, I’ll say it again. I’m damn funny. Not only can and do I appreciate comedy, but I understand it. I get what is funny, and more than that, I get WHY it’s funny. I’ve got great timing too! When it comes to being funny in real life, I’m alright. I’ll never be that hilarious center-of-attention class-clown type funny, but I’ve got some wit to me. Mostly, though, I’m pretty damn weird and don’t mind sharing my weirdness, which is usually pretty good for a laugh or two.

The way Our Bar works is there is a theme every month and anyone can contribute a scene. After the first month I participated, I thought, dude. I can TOTALLY write a 3 minute scene. C’mon! I’m damn funny! Let’s do this! So I sat down in front of my computer…..and stared at Microsoft Word. Not a single word was typed. Then I watched a ton of Community. Because, hey, if I couldn’t be funny, I could at least watch people that were (P.S. How awesome is it that the show is coming back March 15??? EEEEE! Happiness!!).

So that was the beginning and end of my NYC writing career. UNTIL! A friend I worked with asked me to join in a different sketch comedy show that he and his friends were putting on through his production company. I had a freaking blast and I ended up making friends with a few of the guys involved. I thought they were hilarious. They thought I was...not horrible. They asked me to join in writing a web series with them. And since I’d had quite a few adult beverages that evening, I said yes.

I read Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? I read Tina Fey’s Bossypants. Yes, I said, YES! I am just like them! I am a funny chick making my own work! I just took a class with Jessica Daniels, the assistant casting director on 30 Rock! I’m gonna rule the comedy world! I AM WOMAN HEAR ME (MAKE OTHERS) ROAR (WITH LAUGHTER)!!!!!

So back I came to the computer. And I opened up Microsoft Word. And I said, that’s it! Today is the day I write a webisode! And it will be funny! And both Tina Fey and Mindy Kaling will see it and fight over whether they’ll put me in 30 Rock or The Office (and Tina would win since 30 Rock films in NY, but don’t worry Mindy, I’d totally fly out to LA to be on The Office. Plus, I think Mindy and I would be awesome friends. Call me!)! And then….I totally watched Revenge on Hulu because it’s the best guilty pleasure ever. And then some Downton Abbey because Matthew Crawley is the dreamiest dreamboat whoever dared exist. And now I have to mop the drool off my keyboard. Awkward. (Remember that part in the beginning of the post when I said I was weird and wasn’t afraid of my weirdness showing?)

Ok, so. That attempt at writing didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. But you know what? I showed up to the writers meetings. And while mostly I sat there and laughed hysterically at the other incredibly hilarious writers, I contributed a thing or two. Surprisingly, they all still respect me and my opinion (man, have I got them fooled!). Later this week, I’m meeting with one of the guys to write a webisode together and I think I’ll fare better. I’ve got some great ideas (and by “great ideas” I simply mean “ideas”) and at the very least, with someone else there I won’t fall into a Sherlock/Benedict Cumberbatch-induced Netflix K-hole.

Hopefully it’ll be funny, but hey, if not? We’ll just take it to the writers meeting where the others can punch it up with some really good jokes of their own. I’m not above taking the credit for other people’s hilarity. Who knows? With that behind me, perhaps I’ll then grow the balls the write a scene for Our Bar. Or…maybe I’ll just watch some more episodes of The Vampire Diaries. The last one ended with such a cliffhanger!

SHAMELESS PLUG: Come see me in Our Bar the first Wednesday of every month (MARCH 7th!!!) at Failte Irish Whiskey Bar on 2nd Ave between 20th and 30th! Two shows- 7pm and 9pm.

$10 at the door AND you get a free bud light!! Who doesn’t like bud light (besides people who have actual good taste in beer. AKA- not me! Bring on the budlight!!)???? Also, don’t worry. I spent entirely too much time watching TV online this month to attempt to write a scene so I promise it will be hilarious.

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Upfront and Center Part 3: NBC

Tina Fey! Mindy Kaling! Me?

RebeccaKopec

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