art is the new religion

Tim Gunn drinking game

About two episodes back, my Project Runway Watching Club (Ben, Mena and I) started to realize that Tim Gunn is one of the most entertaining parts of the show. 

It probably had a lot to do with Santino's spot-on mocking of Gunn, but it also has a lot to do with Gunn's predictability.  Santino's got the voice and the phrases down, but what about when Gunn swans into the design room with his everpresent frown?  His repetition of the phrase "make it work"? (We're doing our best to adopt "make it work" into our daily lexicon.)

Someone needs to create the Tim Gunn drinking game.  Who's it going to be?  Ben? 

Fierce!

 

The official sportsdrink of America's Next Top Model.

Why I Am So Very Uncool

Here are two more reasons why I'm extremely uncool and you should be embarrassed to know me:

(1)  The Tyra Banks talk show is AWESOME.  I'm not talking about "America's Next Top Model" (which, don't get me wrong, is one of my favorite shows).  I'm talking about Tyra Banks' daily talk show.  Not only does she have makeovers, guest appearances by ANTM's bootees, and a runway on the set -- she also has heartwarming moments where she talks to young girls about their self-esteem.  But why do I really love the Tyra Banks show?  Last week she had both Criss Angel and Jonathan Antin on the show!  Jonathan pimped his product line and gave someone his Legendary Signature Long Layered Haircut™.  That's entertainment.

(2)  I love MTV's "Made."  Every show pretty much follows the same formula:

• the young "Made" candidate has a completely unrealistic goal to accomplish in about 6 weeks (i.e. make the dance team, win a figure skating contest, etc.)
• their coach begins gruelling practices wherein they start out completely pathetic and you think they'll never get any better, but they slowly improve
• their friends/parents/classmates tell them they'll never succeed
• usually 3/4 of the way toward their goal, they have a tearful breakdown and then get a heartfelt pep talk from their coach
• in the 11th hour, they rally with a renewed resolve to kick ass at their event
• despite nerves and limited skills, they participate in some sort of competition and usually have an impressive showing

After the competition, their friends/parents/classmates declare newfound respect for them, their coaches swell with pride, and -- the best part -- they end up with some true self-worth.  It's so inspiring.

My favorite episode was when Joan learned how to wakeboard. 

Thus concludes just two of the many reasons why I'm extremely uncool. 

The Apprentice

My favorite new reality TV villain that I love to hate:

Jim from "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart."

What is wrong with this guy??  He is so over the top, melodramatic and out of touch with the real world.  I LOVE IT!  Is it an act, or does he really lack the ability to pick up social cues?  Is it really Jim's world, and we're all just squatters?  Is our only real choice in life Jim's way or the highway?

When he was in the board room in the last episode, I was actually scared he might get voted out, thus depriving me from getting to witness his infantile antics.  I get so annoyed watching him that my stomach starts gurgling, but in the tradition of Scott from "Blowout," Wendy from "Project Runway," and JD in the first few episodes from "Rock Star: INXS" -- this guy gives good TV.

Mindfreak

Nyla scooped me on blogging about Criss Angel's "Mindfreak" TV show. After seeing the promos, I was a little disappointed at the actual show because I wanted him to be even cheesier than he actually is (the show's theme song and freak-show outro's notwithstanding). Unfortunately, the it's-so-bad-it's-good factor is lacking.

+ = Criss Angel.

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My copy of Imogen Heap's latest CD speak for yourself just came in the mail! I actually bought it from her website/UK label and paid $22US for it. Some U.S. record company needs to wise up and release it. Hello -- the woman has been on the soundtracks to Garden State and "The O.C." What more do you need?

Wrong-Eyed Jesus

Odds and sods: Oh blogging, I've missed you.

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On Thursday night I saw a press screening of "Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus," a film by Andrew Douglas. I'm writing a review of it for SFist, but I'll tell you now that seeing it is like watching a documentary, attending a concert, sitting through a feature film and reading a short story all at the same time. It's playing at the Balboa Theatre for one week starting on July 28th. If you like writing and music that's inspired by the south, or if you came from the south, GO SEE IT!

If it's not coming to your town, the soundtrack, Music from Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus, is out now on Luaka Bop. It includes tracks from Jim White, Cat Power, The Handsome Family and more.

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Read the latest "When The Lights Go Down In The City" on SFist.com. Everyone talks about how talented Sufjan Stevens is, and I wholeheartedly concur, but can I also mention that he's a dreamboat?

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The hijinks continue on the weekly hour-long Jonathan Hair Product ™ Infomercial, a.k.a. "Blow Out." Whoever wrote the scripts for the second season is a marketing genius, because each episode is about 20% run-of-the-mill reality show, and 80% thinly-veiled advertisement for the Jonathan product line. ("Guess what guys, we're in Sephora!" cha-ching! "I've got to go tell my girlfriend I'm going to be on QVC!" cha-ching!)

The first season had its obvious sponsors, including AmEx and Lens Crafters, and this season there's a cell phone company they mention periodically. But can you be a regular viewer of the show this season and NOT have a growing hankering to head to Sephora to buy some of the wares he's been hawking? Their not-so-subliminal advertising is working on me -- I'm totally going to buy some Dirt texturizing paste. And I wonder if The Pussycat Dolls is in on the deal too? I mean, Robin is his sister, but they're getting tons of lucrative advertising during the show as well.

Yes, the show has degenerated into an infomercial. No, I cannot stop watching!

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I have a LiveJournal now too.