Category: Recommendations

I Worry About People Who Aren't Real.

10/26/2012

I get way too involved in the lives of fictional characters. I'll watch a show and my heart will start pounding, my stomach in knots, legitimately concerned for the welfare of someone that doesn't actually exist in the real world. I'm aware that this is not normal behavior, but when have I ever claimed to be a normal human being?

The show that is currently causing me to yell expletives at the TV (and may be the cause of me dying of an early heart attack) is Homeland. Holy. Crap. Seriously, this show will be the death of me. I don't think a single episode has passed where I haven't muttered "ohgodohgodohgodohgodohgodOHGOD!!!" while clutching my chest. It knows what it's doing.

Based on the Israeli series, Hatufim, it follows the lives of CIA officer Carrie Mathison and Sergeant Nicholas Brody. After being captured by al-Qaeda as a prisoner of war in 2003, Brody is presumed dead. He is found, rescued and brought back to the US and attempts to become re-acclimated to his old life. Before Carrie came to Langley, VA, she was a field operative in Iraq warned by an asset that an American POW had been turned. Carrie becomes obsessed with the idea that this POW is Brody. To quote the Showtime website, "The delicate dance these two complex characters perform, built on lies, suspicion, and desire, is at the heart of this gripping, emotional thriller in which nothing short of the fate of our nation is at stake."

Not enough to sell you? How about these words:
Claire Danes.
Damian Lewis.
Mandy Patinkin.
6 Emmys.

Need I say more?

Watch this show and freak out with me every Sunday night at 9pm on Showtime. I promise the high blood pressure it will give you is worth it.

BONUS!! CLAIRE DANES' CRYFACE SUPERCUT!!!!

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Upfront and Center Part 3: NBC

6/20/2012

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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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Upfront and Center Part 2

6/5/2012

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I'm back with more Fall Television excitement!! Can you stand it? This week's installment will focus on The CW and Fox.

The CW

Oh, CW. I do love you so. I have a special attachment to the CW. First it began as my love for The WB. Remember the WB? I was the perfect age for The WB. I hit it just as they were courting the teenage viewers: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, Felicity- they were made for me and My People (and by My People I mean teens).

Then there was UPN. I didn't know much about UPN except for this little cult gem of a TV show called Veronica Mars. Now, if you've been following my blog (or have ever met me. ever.), you know my feelings on this show. When it was about to begin it's 3rd season (or face cancellation), the two networks merged and formed what is now The CW. Somehow my friends and I were magically able to attend (crash) their upfront party in Bryant Park that year and got to feel all fancy. It was then that my love of television programming/ratings/etc began. This was the moment I started looking at TV beyond nightly entertainment, and more as a genuine career path.

So yes, the CW has a special place in my heart. <3

Arrow

Alan Kistler is a good friend of mine. For those of you who don't know him, he is an author and comic book historian who genuinely LOVES to help people understand/get into comics. Thanks to him, I know the basics of many super heroes, including Green Arrow. Of course I was psyched for the CWs attempt to fill the hole Smallville left behind. Then...I saw this clip.

Not gonna lie, any idea of what this show is about left my brain. Why? Because Stephen Amell does shirtless pull ups.

Let me say that again.

STEPHEN AMELL DOES SHIRTLESS PULL UPS.

And if that isn't enough reason to be excited about this show, I don't know what is.

FOX

Remember how I said I was the right age for the WB? Well, they were not the first geniuses to come up with the idea of wooing teens. Fox was. Oh and watch I did. The ORIGINAL 90210. To this day, I have no idea why my parents allowed me to, but they did and I am grateful. If not, how could I have ever fallen in love with Dylan McKay? My very first Bad Boy with a Heart of Gold.

Times changed and Fox has moved on, but they still have some things that get me as excited as Donna Martin meeting Color Me Badd.

Such as this gem right here:

The Mindy Project. Mindy Kaling! In what will basically be a season-long Rom Com!! In NYC!!! I think of all the shows premiering this fall, this is my favorite so far. It looks adorable and quirky and wish-fulfillmenty and I'm hooked already.

The Mob Doctor is a show that wouldn't normally be on my radar. I'm not a big procedural fan. That being said, oh Zach Gilford I will watch anything you're in. MATT SERACIN!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 Plus, for a procedural, I'm somewhat intrigued!

So, there ya have it folks. Join us next time when we discuss NBC's new shows and more!

Do you find any of these shows appealing?

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Rebecca Recommends!

2/12/2012

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I had a tough time coming up with a blog post this week. I've had so much going on in life lately, but yet nothing that I really wanted to sit down and write about. So instead of telling a tale or two, I figured I'd share with you all some things I'm very much a fan of! Perhaps I'll make this an ongoing thing. Mostly because I love the alliteration of Rebecca Recommends ...and the fact that recommends has 2 m's in it. I just love that for some reason. Anyway, onto the recommendations!

First of all, I seem to have a lot of fellow Aquarius friends as I have been celebrating a lot of birthdays lately. And with birthdays, comes delicious food, particularly dessert. One place in particular I went to for the lovely birthday of miss Katie Bland was ChikaLicious Dessert Bar. For $16, you can get a pre fixe beginning with an amuse, a dessert of your choice, and an assortment of petits fours. For an additional $8, they have a wine pairing. It's described as American Desserts, French Presentation, and Japanese tasting portions. The menu changes daily, but I highly recommend the warm chocolate tart with pink peppercorn ice cream and red wine sauce, not to mention the delicious Churchill Graham Reserve Port that goes with it. I hear the Fromage Blanc Island "Cheese cake" is also quite delicious. In fact, our waiter described it as "spooning into a cloud". Yes, please.

Honorable mention in the dessert world goes to Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar. Great place for a lovely romantic date, or a great girls night out! My personal favorites were the roasted French Brie Crouton and the warm chocolate molten cake. Then again, I've never been one able to resist any kind of warm chocolate cake topped with ice cream.

I've also been listening to a lot of new tunes lately, particularly the latest album by Ingrid Michaelson, Human Again. I've never been a huge Ingrid Michaelson fan. She's fine, pleasant enough to listen to. It's nice background music. But for some reason, this new album has gotten under my skin and I can't seem to stop listening to it! I'm no music critic and I couldn't tell you what exactly it is about this particular album that has grabbed me, but I do highly recommend checking it out, especially if you dig singer/songwriters.

Finally, my favorite recommendation of all. If you've spent any time at all with me in person this week, you've probably heard me raving about the book I was reading, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. I saw Julie Plec, the fantastically talented writer producer of The Vampire Diaries (which I also love and is another recommendation for another day) tweeting about it and so I had to check it out. You guys. This book. Wow. From the moment I started the book, I wanted to do absolutely nothing except read it. But at the same time, I didn't want to read it too quickly because then it would be over. It's been a long time since a book has made me fall in love with it as hard as this book has. The description on Amazon does not do it justice. This book made me laugh out loud with it's dark and twisted humor (my favorite kind!) one moment, then left me sobbing the next. The book goes from being incredibly cerebral, completely up in your head and then BOOM. The author will write one line that's pure heart that just smacks you in the gut because you're not expecting it at all. The language is absolutely breathtaking at times and while it's listed as a Young Adult novel, adults can find just as much (if not more) pleasure in it. I can not recommend this book enough. In fact, I may have to go and reread it now.

So there you have it! A few of my current favorites. What about you? What favorites do you all have at the moment?

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I Worry About People Who Aren't Real.

Upfront and Center Part 3: NBC

Upfront and Center Part 2

Rebecca Recommends!

RebeccaKopec

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