Guest Appearances on Glee I Dream About...

So, like millions of other Americans, I love Glee. The songs, the cute HS teacher (something i never had), the baby daddy drama....it's all there in a bright, innocent, almost technicolor package. It also makes perfect sense for it to be a musical since most adolescent shows on television are the opposite of realistic, so why shouldn't all the kids break into song and choreographed dance sequences?

On that note, here's a list of people I would fangirl over being on the show. They either have to sing or dance or both:

1. Ewan McGregor - that smile, that hair...

2. Rob Pattinson - there are no words.

3. NPH

4. Reese Witherspoon - a lil bit of country would rock

5. Channing Tatum - if he could redo that dirty dancing skit...

6. Taylor Swift - didn't she just finish HS?

7. Angela Lansbury - so she can go on Craig to promote it

8. Johnny Depp - I would cry

9. Bryan Adams - oh wait, this goes on the Degrassi list

10. Zac Efron - as long as he wears blue to bring out his eyes

A Single Man

I didn't know what to expect from this movie other than good acting, sadness and perhaps, some kind of commentary on the human condition or existential theory. Luckily, it included all those Oscar-worthy elements and a whole lot more. Like an episode of Mad Men, the clothing, sets and cars were perfect. Tom Ford's designer eye definitely paid off in the aesthetics and crucial details that puts the viewer right into that era where it was normal to have your shirts pressed, folded and wrapped in paper. Does anyone do that anymore?

Smoking has also become the crucial indicator of all things retro - smoking in a classroom?!? Did people really do that? My teachers didn't even want me chewing gum or eating in class, let alone lighting one up and looking at them like they were ruining my buzz. The one thing I will say is that although American habits were a lot less clean, our lives ran at a pace where you could focus on one thing at a time. Houses were kept. Hairstyles were maintained. Everything was serene...on the surface. An eerie calm washes over the entire fim: (Colin Firth's) George systematically plans his death; (Julianne Moore's) Charley spends what seems like 90 minutes applying makeup on one eye; Kenny (Nicholas Hoult) stalks George with such silent authority that if you put different music to the scenes, you might think you were watching an old-school horror flick.

As movies go - it was a pleasure to watch (massive male eye candy - hello!). Everyone was absolutely amazing in this film and although the direction/representation was sometimes a little obvious, it was still a worthwhile look into the frailty of man (by nature) to be alone; to have to hide our true selves and conform to society; to connect to something so deeply that we couldn't live without it.

I also respect a film that is sad in many ways, but doesn't specifically orchestrate gut-wrenching scenes with musical accompaniment that make you want to bawl out loud for 15 minutes. I'm looking at you Lovely Bones!

Haiti

In the words of one of my favorite writers, Edwidge Danticat:

In fact that is the struggle that most Americans [have] - as rich as this country is, most Americans are very limited in their interaction with the world, unless the world comes to us in a very shocking way.

While most of us are astounded by the destruction, we are probably even more astounded by the regular living conditions of Haitians everyday. What do you expect to happen to people who don't have sturdy homes and good infrastructure to begin with - let alone after a catastrophe? Why is it a surprise that the roads are destroyed and that hundreds of thousands of people are dead? I'm not a disaster specialist, but it seems like the rescue forces should have a contingency plan set up for large scale disasters in hard to reach areas where poverty is prevalent. They seem to be starting at 0 every time one of these natural disasters occur - it should be a given that there are no roads, people need water immediately, and want to locate their loved ones.

Haiti's history is a complicated one that has US fingerprints all over it (we occupied Haiti for almost 20 years). Apparently, we went into Haiti and helped certain aspects, but eventually left it unstable and unable to support itself economically. Does that sound familiar? Bill Clinton sent in troops after a major coup overthrew their president in the 90s...political unrest ensues.

My only hope is that we get the aid to the people quickly and we LEARN something from this for the next inevitable catastrophic event. Maybe we can even help people get out of poverty before the next tsunami/earthquake/flood/hurricane hits them.

Top 5 list of things I'd like to see happen (but probably won't):

1. Royal Carribean sends 5 ships to Port-au-Prince and tells everyone to get on board
2. They set up reasonable camps for everyone and evacuate the city to clean up
3. Disaster relief organizations think about the deeper implications of this disaster
4. Some leadership arises from the Haitian government
5. Unlike 9-11, maybe our humanitarian acts and efforts to help rebuild a struggling country will lead to better relations with other countries (or at least between US and Haiti)

Team Conan!

Ok seriously...who watches Jay Leno?

I would at times, tune in to see the guest he had on, but when it came to the monologue and opening, I'd have to go with letterman and his top ten. Maybe it's because I'm a New Yorker or because Leno is a caricature of a person, but I found his show kind of generic, corny and progressively staler as the nights went by.

Dave also has his issues - sometimes he gets very cantankerous or talks to Paul too much...when Conan moved to the Tonight Show, I was thrilled. I didn't have to choose between him or Craig Ferguson (i would mostly pick Craig).

I'll give it to Jay though, Jaywalking was always hysterical. It instilled a healthy fear of the stupidity that is apparently running rampant on the streets of LA. What could possibly be wrong with those people? Too much sun?

Conan wasn't great in the beginning. He was really awkward, immature and downright offensive at times, but after all those years, he was becoming a real late-night guy. Someone creative, self-deprecating and inquisitive - and we're just talking about his hair...

I also like the fact he graduated from Harvard and became a sketch comedian (my fave eps was when jenn gardner yelled at him for using a word incorrectly and he found a dictionary proving her wrong).

I don't think NBC is giving him a fair shake. 7-months in a time slot, 2-3 months of which was taken up with Jay right before him is not a fair shake. If your own network has no confidence in you, then how are other people who aren't familiar with your show supposed to give you a chance?

Changes...

I don't really want to have resolutions since they begin and end within one year, but here's some stuff i should be working on.

What I'm going to try to do more of:

1) be more accountable

2) follow up with people

3) blog

4) make more $$$

5) be more active

6) read

7) wedding planning

8) spend time w/ family

9) save $$$

10) help others

Do less of:

1) being negative

2) eating crap (less sugar - no fried foods!)

3) giving up

4) watching tv

5) playing mindless games

6) shopping

7) evacuating the dance floor

8) procrastinating

9) disappearing

10) sitting on my arse