Greetings,
I can already tell that there may be some confusion with this post. Why am I including The Twilight Zone in my One Seasoner's Club? It did, after all, run for several glorious years. Well, we are not discussing that today, nor the revival from 1985, which I don't believe I ever saw and, therefore, cannot comment on. Rather, we will be talking about the revamped version of the show from 2002. It does, indeed, exist.
When this show started, I was fair and curious enough to give it a chance. I do, after all, like to work off of the assumption that "You never know" Well, I quickly knew that this was not even in the same, shall we say, zone as the original. Yeah, it was not that great. Thinking back, though, I'm not certain if this show was a fail because of the expected and obvious comparisons or just because it was simply not good. I suppose it could have worked had it been a stand alone series with no connections to its famous predecessor, but I don't know. And I guess we never will know.
Okay, let's get to the actual show. Now there were a few changes from the original. First of all, it was in color, of course, and it was an hour long. That meant that for every episode we got two stories. Also, we obviously got a different host. This time it was Forest Whitaker, and if I had to mention one good thing about this show, it would be him. Not only because he is a fantastic actor and an all-around enjoyable person, but because they didn't just get some convincing clone of Rod Serling for the part. Maybe a pre-Mad Men Jon Hamm or something. Seriously, he does kind of remind me of Serling a bit. Honestly, I do think that Forest Whitaker did a good job really capturing the mood of what the show was supposed to be.
One thing that did not change was the constant barrage of celebrity guest stars. In the 50's and 60's version, we were treated to the likes of such luminaries as Burgess Meredith, Telly Savalas, Julie Newmar, and, the man, William Shatner, and even Robert Redford and Robert Duvall. The list of actors who were guests is unbelievable. But then, we get to 2002 where we have to suffer through such acting train wrecks as Katherine Heigl, Shannon Elizabeth and, I kid you not, Jessica Simpson. Sorry, not a fan. However, if I am being completely honest, they did have some great guests as well, like Jeremy Sisto, Amber Tamblyn, Robin Tunney and Jeremy Piven. Having them, in turn, ended up giving us a few good moments for the series. But even they couldn't save this thing from cancellation.
So did this show deserve a second season? Not really. I'm not even sure it deserved a first. I mean, I appreciate the effort, and I'll assume that some of the reasoning behind making this was to get a younger generation to recognize the original. That is a very good thing. But even if the remake had been absolutely excellent, I still don't think it could have survived all the comparisons. The original was near flawless, and I don't know how they thought they could improve on that. I've said this before. Don't take something good and make it bad; take something bad and make it good.
The bottom line is that some things should be left to stand alone with their own legendary status. The Twilight Zone of 1959 is one of those things. It shouldn't be placed in danger of being forever attached to an inferior remake. Still, since this 2002 version was pretty forgettable, I think we need not worry about that happening.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, January 11, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Top Ten Leverage Episodes
Greetings,
I hate this list. I really do. Well, I hate the fact that it exists. For those of you who don't know, I generally don't make top ten episode lists for a show until it is off the air. I have bent that rule a bit, but, for the most part, I've kept it. Hence, I hate this list of top ten episodes of Leverage, because, and I can't stress this enough, LEVERAGE SHOULD NOT BE OFF THE AIR! I'm sorry to shout, but it's just how I feel.
If you haven't seen the show, first of all, I feel bad for you, and I will give you a very brief summary of what it was about. Five former bad guys become the best good guys and help out people who have been afflicted with injustice. I can also sum up the cast and characters very easily as well. We have Beth Riesgraf as Parker, "The Thief", Aldis Hodge as Alec Hardison, "The Hacker", Christian Kane as Elliot Spencer, "The Hitter", Gina Bellman as Sophie Devereaux, "The Grifter", and, of course, Timothy Hutton as Nathan Ford, "The Mastermind". Now I may have mentioned this before, but I love every character on this show, as well as those who portray them. This is easily one of the best assembled casts on one of the best shows of all time. And this is probably the reason for its cancellation.
I think I mentioned this before also, but, judging from much of what I see on TV these days, shows with original concepts, excellent writing, well-developed and complex characters, and superb casts are not generally what become successful. Still, I and all of the fans of Leverage are quite grateful for the five seasons and 77 episodes that we did get. Oh, and speaking of those 77 episodes, there was not one that I didn't enjoy - NOT ONE! As I was making this list, I realized that Leverage never put me at a loss for entertainment, and I was reaffirmed in the fact that this was quite possibly the best comedy show on TV that wasn't actually a comedy. I couldn't find a single episode I disliked. I don't think I can say that about any other program I've ever watched. Maybe if they would have thrown some crap in there they would have had a longer run. But, no, they had far too much respect and appreciation for their audience. Granted, I did like some more than others, evident by the fact that I picked favorites, but the brilliance of this show did make that a daunting task. Oh, well. Here you have it - my top ten episodes of the late, great Leverage.
#10. "The Boost Job" (Season 3) - You know all those jokes about crooked car dealers? Well, looks like they were right. And what makes this episode so great besides the obvious? You've got Bill Engvall playing that crooked car dealer! Sweet! It would seem that Leverage is now up there with the likes of Law and Order when it comes to taking people we've loved for years and turning them into complete lowlifes. Good show.
#9. "The 12-Step Job" (Season 1) - When the team finds out a man has been stealing from a charity, they follow him right into rehab, where Nate poses as an addict and Sophie as a therapist. That little charade certainly brings out a lot of things about their relationship. And speaking of relationships, pay close attention to the scenes with Elliot and Hardison, since this episode contains some of the best exchanges between the two. Forget YOU and YOUR slushy scenes, Glee!
#8. "The Van Gogh" (Season 4) - During a big chunk of the series, there was this constant "will they or won't they" thing going on between Parker and Hardison. In this episode, the team looks for a Van Gogh that was lost decades earlier, and the only people who know where it is are a pair of star-crossed lovers, as they are called. It is Parker and Hardison who we see standing in for them as their story is reenacted. This is actually a very heartfelt episode, something that Leverage has never shied away from doing, but this one I found to be, I guess, the sweetest.
#7. "The Studio Job" (Season 3) - We get to hear Christian Kane sing, see John Schneider be a bad guy and watch as Beth Riesgraf does a hilarious job of imitating someone who is (I probably have to say this due to copyright or something) NOT Lady Gaga at all. Wink, wink. Yeah, do I really have to say anything else about this?
#6. "The Tap-Out Job" (Season 2) - After a man is hospitalized during a fight, the team tracks down a shady promoter. Now since we're talking about fighting, obviously, Elliot plays a major role here. I normally enjoy his fight scenes, but the one near the end is a bit, let's say, much. However, the reason I like this episode is because, as twisty as the show can be, there is actually an exceptionally good twist in this one. It involves a saxophone . . . a little.
#5. "The Fairy Godparents Job" (Season 2) - So the team has to get money from a guy who is hiding it away in his house. Problem is that he is under house arrest, and one of the only ways someone can get out of that, temporarily, is for a family event. So they infiltrate the school of the guy's stepson, Widmark (yes, there is discussion of that name) in order to see if he has any talent that would warrant him performing in . . . something. Hands down, though, the best thing about this episode is Timothy Hutton's performance as a German doctor of education. It's pretty much genius.
#4. "The Miracle Job" (Season 1) - Here, we have a Catholic priest who gets attacked before he can ask the city to save his church. Turns out, the priest is an old friend of Nate's. So, in order to help him, they fake a miracle. Tsk, indeed. Unfortunately, the miracle ends up being far too believable, enough to attract the attention of the Vatican. This episode has plenty of laughs, including Parker continually calling a statue of St. Nicholas Santa Claus and a cold-hearted businessman wanting to buy the church and turn it into something called Bibletopia. Sigh. Did this guy never read that story in the Bible where Jesus got a little upset about people selling things in the temple? This might be a tad worse. But, again, Timothy Hutton steals the show, albeit, not in a humorous way. He has a few quiet but very emotional scenes as his character dwells on the past and memories of his son who died years before. He is amazing here.
#3. "The Wedding Job" (Season 1) - A desperate wife and mother comes to the team in hopes to get money she was promised by a Mafia boss named Nick Moscone after her husband took the fall for a murder that he didn't commit and to hopefully get him out of jail. As it happens, Moscone's daughter is about to be married, so they use this as an opportunity to get the job done. Everyone plays a great part here. We get Sophie as a wedding planner, Nate as a priest, Parker and Hardison as FBI agents, and Elliot as a chef. And if you think the last thing on that list was a one time deal, it's not. Stay tuned. Now one of the best things about this episode is the guest performance of Nicole Sullivan as Moscone's wife, Heather. She is hilarious, as usual, and I wish she would have been on the show more.
#2. "The French Connection Job" (Season 5) - Remember a second ago where I mentioned Elliot was acting as the chef? Well, in this episode, we dive head first into that little talent of his. Wait, not just talent, but his passion for it. He poses as a cooking teacher in order to help a man named Toby who has a culinary school for underprivileged kids, which is being taken over by a corrupt man played by the wonderful Steve Valentine of Crossing Jordan fame. That guy wants to turn the school into one for people who will pay big money for classes. Now Toby is also the person who taught Elliot how to cook, how to use his knife to create instead of destroy, as Elliot puts it. They think there might be some shady drug smuggling in the new school, but it turns out they are smuggling something that is just as, if not more, valuable - French truffles. Ooh, tasty. Again, this is another one that particularly lets everyone stand out with their performances, and yet again, we get some fantastically funny Elliot/Hardison time. Oh, and the way Elliot makes his students always answer him by saying, "Yes, Chef!" Yeah, I really, really liked that. Just watch it.
#1. "The Rashomon Job" (Season 3) - Okay, I don't know what it is about me, but this is the third list I've made where an episode based on the Rashomon Effect is featured. I guess I just like the idea. Anyway, no new case for the team this time, but rather they reminisce on a heist from the past. It is the heist of a valuable dagger that they all think they stole on the same night. Of course, this happened before they all were working together, five years earlier to be exact. So which one of our skilled and stealthy team members did the deed? Well, I certainly won't tell and ruin the enormous amount of fun you'll have watching this episode. This one is absolutely phenomenal. Each time one of the group tells their version of the night's events, it peels back another layer and gets even more entertaining. I particularly love the way they portray each other, especially Sophie, in their individual flashbacks. It's priceless, just priceless. Without a doubt, at least in my own head, this is the best of the best.
This is just awful. As much of a joy that it was to remember all the wonderful times I've had with this show, I can't help but to be sad about its departure. It has been not even two weeks since the final episode aired, so I guess the wound is still fresh. But I'm glad we got these great episodes, and I'm glad for DVDs, which means I can watch them again and again. And don't think I won't.
Godspeed, my sweet Leverage team. May we, by some miracle, one day meet again.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I hate this list. I really do. Well, I hate the fact that it exists. For those of you who don't know, I generally don't make top ten episode lists for a show until it is off the air. I have bent that rule a bit, but, for the most part, I've kept it. Hence, I hate this list of top ten episodes of Leverage, because, and I can't stress this enough, LEVERAGE SHOULD NOT BE OFF THE AIR! I'm sorry to shout, but it's just how I feel.
If you haven't seen the show, first of all, I feel bad for you, and I will give you a very brief summary of what it was about. Five former bad guys become the best good guys and help out people who have been afflicted with injustice. I can also sum up the cast and characters very easily as well. We have Beth Riesgraf as Parker, "The Thief", Aldis Hodge as Alec Hardison, "The Hacker", Christian Kane as Elliot Spencer, "The Hitter", Gina Bellman as Sophie Devereaux, "The Grifter", and, of course, Timothy Hutton as Nathan Ford, "The Mastermind". Now I may have mentioned this before, but I love every character on this show, as well as those who portray them. This is easily one of the best assembled casts on one of the best shows of all time. And this is probably the reason for its cancellation.
I think I mentioned this before also, but, judging from much of what I see on TV these days, shows with original concepts, excellent writing, well-developed and complex characters, and superb casts are not generally what become successful. Still, I and all of the fans of Leverage are quite grateful for the five seasons and 77 episodes that we did get. Oh, and speaking of those 77 episodes, there was not one that I didn't enjoy - NOT ONE! As I was making this list, I realized that Leverage never put me at a loss for entertainment, and I was reaffirmed in the fact that this was quite possibly the best comedy show on TV that wasn't actually a comedy. I couldn't find a single episode I disliked. I don't think I can say that about any other program I've ever watched. Maybe if they would have thrown some crap in there they would have had a longer run. But, no, they had far too much respect and appreciation for their audience. Granted, I did like some more than others, evident by the fact that I picked favorites, but the brilliance of this show did make that a daunting task. Oh, well. Here you have it - my top ten episodes of the late, great Leverage.
#10. "The Boost Job" (Season 3) - You know all those jokes about crooked car dealers? Well, looks like they were right. And what makes this episode so great besides the obvious? You've got Bill Engvall playing that crooked car dealer! Sweet! It would seem that Leverage is now up there with the likes of Law and Order when it comes to taking people we've loved for years and turning them into complete lowlifes. Good show.
#9. "The 12-Step Job" (Season 1) - When the team finds out a man has been stealing from a charity, they follow him right into rehab, where Nate poses as an addict and Sophie as a therapist. That little charade certainly brings out a lot of things about their relationship. And speaking of relationships, pay close attention to the scenes with Elliot and Hardison, since this episode contains some of the best exchanges between the two. Forget YOU and YOUR slushy scenes, Glee!
#8. "The Van Gogh" (Season 4) - During a big chunk of the series, there was this constant "will they or won't they" thing going on between Parker and Hardison. In this episode, the team looks for a Van Gogh that was lost decades earlier, and the only people who know where it is are a pair of star-crossed lovers, as they are called. It is Parker and Hardison who we see standing in for them as their story is reenacted. This is actually a very heartfelt episode, something that Leverage has never shied away from doing, but this one I found to be, I guess, the sweetest.
#7. "The Studio Job" (Season 3) - We get to hear Christian Kane sing, see John Schneider be a bad guy and watch as Beth Riesgraf does a hilarious job of imitating someone who is (I probably have to say this due to copyright or something) NOT Lady Gaga at all. Wink, wink. Yeah, do I really have to say anything else about this?
#6. "The Tap-Out Job" (Season 2) - After a man is hospitalized during a fight, the team tracks down a shady promoter. Now since we're talking about fighting, obviously, Elliot plays a major role here. I normally enjoy his fight scenes, but the one near the end is a bit, let's say, much. However, the reason I like this episode is because, as twisty as the show can be, there is actually an exceptionally good twist in this one. It involves a saxophone . . . a little.
#5. "The Fairy Godparents Job" (Season 2) - So the team has to get money from a guy who is hiding it away in his house. Problem is that he is under house arrest, and one of the only ways someone can get out of that, temporarily, is for a family event. So they infiltrate the school of the guy's stepson, Widmark (yes, there is discussion of that name) in order to see if he has any talent that would warrant him performing in . . . something. Hands down, though, the best thing about this episode is Timothy Hutton's performance as a German doctor of education. It's pretty much genius.
#4. "The Miracle Job" (Season 1) - Here, we have a Catholic priest who gets attacked before he can ask the city to save his church. Turns out, the priest is an old friend of Nate's. So, in order to help him, they fake a miracle. Tsk, indeed. Unfortunately, the miracle ends up being far too believable, enough to attract the attention of the Vatican. This episode has plenty of laughs, including Parker continually calling a statue of St. Nicholas Santa Claus and a cold-hearted businessman wanting to buy the church and turn it into something called Bibletopia. Sigh. Did this guy never read that story in the Bible where Jesus got a little upset about people selling things in the temple? This might be a tad worse. But, again, Timothy Hutton steals the show, albeit, not in a humorous way. He has a few quiet but very emotional scenes as his character dwells on the past and memories of his son who died years before. He is amazing here.
#3. "The Wedding Job" (Season 1) - A desperate wife and mother comes to the team in hopes to get money she was promised by a Mafia boss named Nick Moscone after her husband took the fall for a murder that he didn't commit and to hopefully get him out of jail. As it happens, Moscone's daughter is about to be married, so they use this as an opportunity to get the job done. Everyone plays a great part here. We get Sophie as a wedding planner, Nate as a priest, Parker and Hardison as FBI agents, and Elliot as a chef. And if you think the last thing on that list was a one time deal, it's not. Stay tuned. Now one of the best things about this episode is the guest performance of Nicole Sullivan as Moscone's wife, Heather. She is hilarious, as usual, and I wish she would have been on the show more.
#2. "The French Connection Job" (Season 5) - Remember a second ago where I mentioned Elliot was acting as the chef? Well, in this episode, we dive head first into that little talent of his. Wait, not just talent, but his passion for it. He poses as a cooking teacher in order to help a man named Toby who has a culinary school for underprivileged kids, which is being taken over by a corrupt man played by the wonderful Steve Valentine of Crossing Jordan fame. That guy wants to turn the school into one for people who will pay big money for classes. Now Toby is also the person who taught Elliot how to cook, how to use his knife to create instead of destroy, as Elliot puts it. They think there might be some shady drug smuggling in the new school, but it turns out they are smuggling something that is just as, if not more, valuable - French truffles. Ooh, tasty. Again, this is another one that particularly lets everyone stand out with their performances, and yet again, we get some fantastically funny Elliot/Hardison time. Oh, and the way Elliot makes his students always answer him by saying, "Yes, Chef!" Yeah, I really, really liked that. Just watch it.
#1. "The Rashomon Job" (Season 3) - Okay, I don't know what it is about me, but this is the third list I've made where an episode based on the Rashomon Effect is featured. I guess I just like the idea. Anyway, no new case for the team this time, but rather they reminisce on a heist from the past. It is the heist of a valuable dagger that they all think they stole on the same night. Of course, this happened before they all were working together, five years earlier to be exact. So which one of our skilled and stealthy team members did the deed? Well, I certainly won't tell and ruin the enormous amount of fun you'll have watching this episode. This one is absolutely phenomenal. Each time one of the group tells their version of the night's events, it peels back another layer and gets even more entertaining. I particularly love the way they portray each other, especially Sophie, in their individual flashbacks. It's priceless, just priceless. Without a doubt, at least in my own head, this is the best of the best.
This is just awful. As much of a joy that it was to remember all the wonderful times I've had with this show, I can't help but to be sad about its departure. It has been not even two weeks since the final episode aired, so I guess the wound is still fresh. But I'm glad we got these great episodes, and I'm glad for DVDs, which means I can watch them again and again. And don't think I won't.
Godspeed, my sweet Leverage team. May we, by some miracle, one day meet again.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Dear Frankie - Movie Review
Greetings,
Do you remember that span of time from 2004 and 2007? The three years that sat between Gerard Butler making The Phantom of the Opera and 300? Do you ever wonder what he may have been doing whilst going from one of his most famous, or infamous, roles to the next? Well, today, I will tell you about one thing he did. It was a little movie called Dear Frankie.
Dear Frankie came out in 2005 and was most likely unknown until Gerard Butler got uber-famous by making 300. Yeah, at this point, people began to hit IMDB to find out about what movies he had done in the past before subsequently deciding that they had magically turned good. But, unlike films such as the very confusing Timeline and that ridiculous Lara Croft sequel, Dear Frankie is actually very good. Hopefully, I can explain why.
This is a very heartfelt drama set in Scotland. So if you can't handle that accent, may I suggest you wait for the dubbed version to be released. Anyway, the story is about a little deaf boy named Frankie Morrison, who is played by a wonderful young actor named Jack McElhone, and his mother, Lizzie, played by the always adorable Emily Mortimer. They have just moved to a small town along with Lizzie's mother, Nell, where Lizzie gets herself a job at a fish and chip shop. The shop is owned by a woman named Marie who quickly befriends the whole family.
Now the reason that they moved is because Lizzie left her husband and Frankie's father, Davey, years earlier and she's trying to keep one or more steps ahead of him. But all the while Frankie is corresponding through letters with someone who he thinks is his father. The truth is that Lizzie has been writing the letters, posing as a father who is a merchant seamen, because she wants to keep the truth about Davey from her son.
When Frankie learns that the ship his father has allegedly been on is about to arrive, Lizzie desperately searches for a man to impersonate Davey. Marie to the rescue. She sets up Lizzie with a man she knows who can fill the role. Who is that man, you may ask? Seriously? It's Gerard Butler. What did you think? And in the credits, he is merely referred to as The Stranger. I suppose that was necessary. Anyway, he agrees to do the job, and eventually meets Frankie.
As you may have guessed, the majority of the film follows Frankie spending time with his "dad" and the two bonding. And, yes, The Stranger also bonds with Lizzie. She even reveals to him some very personal details as to why she left Frankie's father, and I must say, the performances of both Emily and Gerard in this scene are extremely powerful. After they all spend a few days together, the three of them clearly begin to enjoy playing family, as it were, and you begin to hope that they will indeed be able to become a real family. And here is where you will begin to say to yourself, "Okay, I know what's going to happen", but don't think that. Though a few things about this movie may be slightly predictable, the ending really is not.
Now I refuse to give it away, because, whilst this may not have the twist ending of some psychological thriller film, we do actually find out some surprising things, including the true identity of The Stranger and Frankie's feelings about him. I like the ending because it does give some closure to the story, and, at the same time, it leaves a window to the future of this little family open to possibilities.
So if you like a good family movie with a smidgen of an edge, I would certainly recommend Dear Frankie to you. This is a very good film that relies on a great story and superb acting, something that most don't do these days, and it is quite refreshing. Here's to more simple, low budget but well made films from Gerard Butler. It's where he seems to shine.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Do you remember that span of time from 2004 and 2007? The three years that sat between Gerard Butler making The Phantom of the Opera and 300? Do you ever wonder what he may have been doing whilst going from one of his most famous, or infamous, roles to the next? Well, today, I will tell you about one thing he did. It was a little movie called Dear Frankie.
Dear Frankie came out in 2005 and was most likely unknown until Gerard Butler got uber-famous by making 300. Yeah, at this point, people began to hit IMDB to find out about what movies he had done in the past before subsequently deciding that they had magically turned good. But, unlike films such as the very confusing Timeline and that ridiculous Lara Croft sequel, Dear Frankie is actually very good. Hopefully, I can explain why.
This is a very heartfelt drama set in Scotland. So if you can't handle that accent, may I suggest you wait for the dubbed version to be released. Anyway, the story is about a little deaf boy named Frankie Morrison, who is played by a wonderful young actor named Jack McElhone, and his mother, Lizzie, played by the always adorable Emily Mortimer. They have just moved to a small town along with Lizzie's mother, Nell, where Lizzie gets herself a job at a fish and chip shop. The shop is owned by a woman named Marie who quickly befriends the whole family.
Now the reason that they moved is because Lizzie left her husband and Frankie's father, Davey, years earlier and she's trying to keep one or more steps ahead of him. But all the while Frankie is corresponding through letters with someone who he thinks is his father. The truth is that Lizzie has been writing the letters, posing as a father who is a merchant seamen, because she wants to keep the truth about Davey from her son.
When Frankie learns that the ship his father has allegedly been on is about to arrive, Lizzie desperately searches for a man to impersonate Davey. Marie to the rescue. She sets up Lizzie with a man she knows who can fill the role. Who is that man, you may ask? Seriously? It's Gerard Butler. What did you think? And in the credits, he is merely referred to as The Stranger. I suppose that was necessary. Anyway, he agrees to do the job, and eventually meets Frankie.
As you may have guessed, the majority of the film follows Frankie spending time with his "dad" and the two bonding. And, yes, The Stranger also bonds with Lizzie. She even reveals to him some very personal details as to why she left Frankie's father, and I must say, the performances of both Emily and Gerard in this scene are extremely powerful. After they all spend a few days together, the three of them clearly begin to enjoy playing family, as it were, and you begin to hope that they will indeed be able to become a real family. And here is where you will begin to say to yourself, "Okay, I know what's going to happen", but don't think that. Though a few things about this movie may be slightly predictable, the ending really is not.
Now I refuse to give it away, because, whilst this may not have the twist ending of some psychological thriller film, we do actually find out some surprising things, including the true identity of The Stranger and Frankie's feelings about him. I like the ending because it does give some closure to the story, and, at the same time, it leaves a window to the future of this little family open to possibilities.
So if you like a good family movie with a smidgen of an edge, I would certainly recommend Dear Frankie to you. This is a very good film that relies on a great story and superb acting, something that most don't do these days, and it is quite refreshing. Here's to more simple, low budget but well made films from Gerard Butler. It's where he seems to shine.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Top Ten Beach Boys Songs
Greetings,
Last week was one filled with heavy laden memories for any true admirer of The Beach Boys. First, December 21 was what would have been Carl Wilson's 66th birthday, and just yesterday was the 29th anniversary of Dennis Wilson's death. Yes, it has been a bittersweet seven days indeed.
I could go on and on about the awesomeness of The Beach Boys, but that would probably end up being a five part series. And, currently, I just don't have the time for that. So I guess we'll all have to suffice with a list of my top ten songs by this beloved band. Trust, this one took a lot of thought. Narrowing down all the great Beach Boys songs to a mere ten was not an easy task, but I did my best. Forgive me if some of them are predictable. Here we go.
#10. "The Warmth of the Sun" - Now this one was not always a favorite, I must admit. I think mainly because I never gave it a fair shot. But then, about ten years ago, I heard Vince Gill cover it, and I thought it was amazing. Of course, since Vince Gill's voice can make any song amazing, I wasn't sure if it was his vocal chords or the composition. So I gave the original version a chance and ended up absolutely loving it. It is a gentle and beautiful song that grips every listener with an overwhelming sense of emotion. When you know that they apparently wrote it on the night of the Kennedy assassination, it makes it all the more poignant.
#9. "Surfer Girl" - Well, I had to put at least one song on this list with the word "surf" in the title, or a variation of it, since it was in their first seven or so singles. I, of course, have chosen what I see as the best. But aside from the greatness of the actual song, I also enjoy the story behind its creation. According to what I've heard, Brian's melody for it was inspired by a version of "When You Wish Upon a Star", and if you listen closely, you can really hear it. Hey, does that mean this is the first incident of sampling?
#8. "Sloop John B" - This song is one that wasn't actually written by Brian Wilson or any of the Boys. It is, in fact, a traditional folk song that was brought to the band by Al Jardine. They did, however, tweak it a lot, and they gave it this phenomenal arrangement. I can't even imagine how stunning it must have felt hearing it for the first time the way they did, fresh after its creation. I heard it decades after its birth, and it was able to get to me. Still does, too.
#7. "Good Vibrations" - Of course, this song is on the list. If for no other reason than it took about a year to be recorded. Yeah, this song was made during Brian's, let's say, misunderstood period. He was obsessed with making this song absolutely perfect. I'd say he came pretty close. I do love a song that you have to really listen to in order to hear everything. And once you do, it is certainly worth it.
#6. "'Til I Die" - This is probably one of the least known songs on this list, sadly. It's from the Surf's Up album and was subsequently released as a B-side. I think the foundation of this song is fairly simple, but once you put in that intricate Beach Boys essence, it's kind of a masterpiece. I suppose making something simple and complicated all at once is a sign of true brilliance.
#5. "I Can Hear Music" - Okay, here's another one not written by any of The Beach Boys themselves. Actually, it was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and . . . Phil Spector. That's right, kids. At one time, Phil Spector was considered a musical genius as opposed to, you know, what you may know him as today. But I don't want to dwell on that. I'd rather discuss the fantastic way that The Beach Boys covered this song. At this point in time, Brian had lost interest in being the band's producer, so the reins were handed over to Carl. And, boy, did he prove himself on this one. The harmonies are beautiful, and the a cappella section is extremely well done. But did you really expect anything else?
#4. "Don't Worry, Baby" - I really don't have much to say about this song other than I just love it. There's no rhyme or reason as to why I think it's so good. It just . . . is. It's your basic feel good song. Well, it's feel good until you try to sing those super high notes. Then, it could get a little painful in the throat area. So my advice to most people, certainly those with limited octave range like myself, is to listen only and enjoy.
#3. "In My Room" - I'm a bit of a loner to be honest. I think this song certainly speaks to people like me. It's for those of us who find comfort and peace, sometimes, just being with ourselves. And there is nothing wrong with that.
#2. "God Only Knows" - You have to get a kick out of a love song that start with the phrase "I may not always love you" Oh, you tricksters, making me think this is an anticipation of a break-up song. Actually, it is a beautiful love song. Interesting side note. They hesitated putting the word "God" in the title for fear of no airplay. Too much concern over the religion aspect and whatnot. I suppose things haven't changed as much as we thought. Eventually, though, good sense won out, and the title stayed. And again, we get a great vocal from Carl, who once said he was honored to be the one to sing it. And we are all honored to have heard it.
#1. "Forever" - I can't believe I have to say this, but most of you may know this song from the episode of Full House where Uncle Jesse married Rebecca and sang it at their wedding. Yeah, somehow I'm not sure that this is the legacy Dennis Wilson wanted for this brilliant work of art. The song did pop up on the show again about a year later featuring a recording by Jesse's band and a few of the Beach Boys themselves. You know, because they're friends with Stamos. To be fair, this version is actually really good. But, of course, not as good as the original, so let's talk about that. Now we all know that people were calling Brian Wilson a genius all the time, which had a major and often negative effect on him. I feel for him. It must have been hard having everyone call you a genius and trying to live up to it. You know what's just as hard? Being a genius and having no one recognize it. That was the case with the writer of this song, Dennis Wilson. He was easily the most underrated of all The Beach Boys, and yet, he eventually managed to release an album like Pacific Ocean Blue. I'll get that gem someday. But, as for now, let me just say that this song is magnificent. It proved once and for all to me and many others that Dennis was an extremely gifted artist. He may not have been appreciated in his own time, but one listen to this song and no way anyone could doubt that.
And so, there you have it, my own personal list of favorites. No doubt everyone has their own, and each one is uniquely different. That's what's so great about a band like The Beach Boys with their vast body of work. Everyone can be a fan and be one in their own way. I think we should be grateful for that, for the great music and their great legacy.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Last week was one filled with heavy laden memories for any true admirer of The Beach Boys. First, December 21 was what would have been Carl Wilson's 66th birthday, and just yesterday was the 29th anniversary of Dennis Wilson's death. Yes, it has been a bittersweet seven days indeed.
I could go on and on about the awesomeness of The Beach Boys, but that would probably end up being a five part series. And, currently, I just don't have the time for that. So I guess we'll all have to suffice with a list of my top ten songs by this beloved band. Trust, this one took a lot of thought. Narrowing down all the great Beach Boys songs to a mere ten was not an easy task, but I did my best. Forgive me if some of them are predictable. Here we go.
#10. "The Warmth of the Sun" - Now this one was not always a favorite, I must admit. I think mainly because I never gave it a fair shot. But then, about ten years ago, I heard Vince Gill cover it, and I thought it was amazing. Of course, since Vince Gill's voice can make any song amazing, I wasn't sure if it was his vocal chords or the composition. So I gave the original version a chance and ended up absolutely loving it. It is a gentle and beautiful song that grips every listener with an overwhelming sense of emotion. When you know that they apparently wrote it on the night of the Kennedy assassination, it makes it all the more poignant.
#9. "Surfer Girl" - Well, I had to put at least one song on this list with the word "surf" in the title, or a variation of it, since it was in their first seven or so singles. I, of course, have chosen what I see as the best. But aside from the greatness of the actual song, I also enjoy the story behind its creation. According to what I've heard, Brian's melody for it was inspired by a version of "When You Wish Upon a Star", and if you listen closely, you can really hear it. Hey, does that mean this is the first incident of sampling?
#8. "Sloop John B" - This song is one that wasn't actually written by Brian Wilson or any of the Boys. It is, in fact, a traditional folk song that was brought to the band by Al Jardine. They did, however, tweak it a lot, and they gave it this phenomenal arrangement. I can't even imagine how stunning it must have felt hearing it for the first time the way they did, fresh after its creation. I heard it decades after its birth, and it was able to get to me. Still does, too.
#7. "Good Vibrations" - Of course, this song is on the list. If for no other reason than it took about a year to be recorded. Yeah, this song was made during Brian's, let's say, misunderstood period. He was obsessed with making this song absolutely perfect. I'd say he came pretty close. I do love a song that you have to really listen to in order to hear everything. And once you do, it is certainly worth it.
#6. "'Til I Die" - This is probably one of the least known songs on this list, sadly. It's from the Surf's Up album and was subsequently released as a B-side. I think the foundation of this song is fairly simple, but once you put in that intricate Beach Boys essence, it's kind of a masterpiece. I suppose making something simple and complicated all at once is a sign of true brilliance.
#5. "I Can Hear Music" - Okay, here's another one not written by any of The Beach Boys themselves. Actually, it was written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and . . . Phil Spector. That's right, kids. At one time, Phil Spector was considered a musical genius as opposed to, you know, what you may know him as today. But I don't want to dwell on that. I'd rather discuss the fantastic way that The Beach Boys covered this song. At this point in time, Brian had lost interest in being the band's producer, so the reins were handed over to Carl. And, boy, did he prove himself on this one. The harmonies are beautiful, and the a cappella section is extremely well done. But did you really expect anything else?
#4. "Don't Worry, Baby" - I really don't have much to say about this song other than I just love it. There's no rhyme or reason as to why I think it's so good. It just . . . is. It's your basic feel good song. Well, it's feel good until you try to sing those super high notes. Then, it could get a little painful in the throat area. So my advice to most people, certainly those with limited octave range like myself, is to listen only and enjoy.
#3. "In My Room" - I'm a bit of a loner to be honest. I think this song certainly speaks to people like me. It's for those of us who find comfort and peace, sometimes, just being with ourselves. And there is nothing wrong with that.
#2. "God Only Knows" - You have to get a kick out of a love song that start with the phrase "I may not always love you" Oh, you tricksters, making me think this is an anticipation of a break-up song. Actually, it is a beautiful love song. Interesting side note. They hesitated putting the word "God" in the title for fear of no airplay. Too much concern over the religion aspect and whatnot. I suppose things haven't changed as much as we thought. Eventually, though, good sense won out, and the title stayed. And again, we get a great vocal from Carl, who once said he was honored to be the one to sing it. And we are all honored to have heard it.
#1. "Forever" - I can't believe I have to say this, but most of you may know this song from the episode of Full House where Uncle Jesse married Rebecca and sang it at their wedding. Yeah, somehow I'm not sure that this is the legacy Dennis Wilson wanted for this brilliant work of art. The song did pop up on the show again about a year later featuring a recording by Jesse's band and a few of the Beach Boys themselves. You know, because they're friends with Stamos. To be fair, this version is actually really good. But, of course, not as good as the original, so let's talk about that. Now we all know that people were calling Brian Wilson a genius all the time, which had a major and often negative effect on him. I feel for him. It must have been hard having everyone call you a genius and trying to live up to it. You know what's just as hard? Being a genius and having no one recognize it. That was the case with the writer of this song, Dennis Wilson. He was easily the most underrated of all The Beach Boys, and yet, he eventually managed to release an album like Pacific Ocean Blue. I'll get that gem someday. But, as for now, let me just say that this song is magnificent. It proved once and for all to me and many others that Dennis was an extremely gifted artist. He may not have been appreciated in his own time, but one listen to this song and no way anyone could doubt that.
And so, there you have it, my own personal list of favorites. No doubt everyone has their own, and each one is uniquely different. That's what's so great about a band like The Beach Boys with their vast body of work. Everyone can be a fan and be one in their own way. I think we should be grateful for that, for the great music and their great legacy.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Straight From the Theater Review - Les Miserables
Greetings,
Well, this may be a first. I don't think I've ever done a full on review of a movie still in the theater. But here goes - Les Miserables, the movie musical. Oh, where to begin.
Okay, so there has been a boatload of buzz on this film from the moment someone decided to make it. A lot of people have been waiting decades for this to be brought to the big screen. I speak of the musical version, mind you, since the actual story has been told cinematically more than a few times. According to my research, there have been about a dozen movies made from the book, to say nothing of a miniseries and a Japanese anime version. That's a bit much. But, as I said, this is the first time we are seeing the Broadway musical in such a way. And, if I am being completely honest, I was kind of excited . . . initially.
Yes, I have always enjoyed Les Miserables, some parts more than others. I like some of the music and the epicness of the story. I've seen quite a few stage performances, albeit not live, but they were always done pretty well. And I know expectations were high for this. Mine certainly were. So, were my expectations met? Well, you know what, let's just start discussing this thing.
So when it comes to the inanimate things about the film, the set, the costumes, the general look of it, I'd have to say it was a job well done. It really did look as I thought it would, and whilst there were few surprises in that department, I can't fault anyone for what they did with it. So, should those responsible for these aspects win any prestigious awards, I'd say, "Well deserved!" Having said that, however, let's get to the cast.
I suppose we should start at the top with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. I actually liked him in this movie, for a few reasons. First, he is a good singer, and he's done the Broadway thing, so he knows how to do a part like this. And with the way he was presented visually, I didn't really see Hugh Jackman. They had him done up so well to look the way we would picture Valjean that we could easily get drawn into him as the character and not just as Hugh Jackman. As for his nemesis, Javert, played by Russell Crowe, this wasn't exactly the case. I've never been a huge fan of Russell Crowe, but I can't deny his talent as an actor. And when it came to the acting he did in this movie, it was very good. He's good at playing the vindictive, angry jerk of the story. Who would've thought? But throw in the singing part and we move down several rungs on the ladder. Yeah, I know that Russell Crowe had his little band, and that's fine. I actually think he can carry a tune a little. This was just too big for him and his voice. But he needn't feel alone where this problem is concerned.
Next, we have Anne Hathaway as Fantine. Let's just cut the chase and get to the one thing people were waiting for when it came to the performance. Remember how I said I'd seen this musical done a few times on stage? Well, even more than that have I seen performances of the famous song "I Dreamed a Dream" According to Miss Hathaway, she did not want to do a "beautified" performance, as we are used to hearing. I believe she succeeded on that count. She basically sobbed her way through it, supposedly trying to bring out the tragedy of the moment. If that's her excuse, fine, let her have it. I, however, found it very overdone. It was as though she was trying way too hard to be dramatic when a hint of subtlety, not to mention sincerity, would have gone even further. Frankly, I think her doing this pushed performance, as as opposed to signing it straight, was her way of hiding the fact that she could not be as good as the legendary Broadway women who have sung it in the past. I personally have heard this song sung by the likes of Judy Kuhn, Ruthie Henshall, Lea Salonga and, quite possibly the greatest Broadway diva of all time, Patti LuPone. Yeah, I can see why Anne would not want to draw any comparisons. But she uglied herself up, which means she will win awards. Moving on.
Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter played the Thenardiers, who are these innkeepers/scavengers/criminals. In this very tragic story, they are supposed to be a bit of comic relief. To be honest, they weren't too bad at it. Now I have heard people say that they also did their fair share of over acting, but with these characters, that's kind of the point. They are supposed to be larger than life, so I give them credit for it. And considering my history with these two actors, the fact that I can say anything positive is a lot. A whole lot.
Now what about the "kids"? I can't say much about Isabelle Allen as the tiny Cossette, mostly because she was in it for scarcely ten minutes. But, you know, cute little girl, cute little voice. Just cute. The older Cossette was played by Amanda Seyfried and Marius was played by Eddie Redmayne. They play the traditional love at first sight couple, and, frankly, this part of the story was always the least interesting to me. It's a fairly basic teenage love story, especially compared to what else is going on. And as far as the singing goes? They weren't necessarily bad at it, but the qualities of their voices were not what I like to hear. Eddie Redmayne kind of has that Kermit-y thing to his voice. You know, where it all gathers in the back of his throat. And Miss Amanda. I have, of course, heard her sing before, but more in a pop music sense. Here, when she went for those very high notes, this extreme vibrato kicked in which turned her a little into a Chipette. Interesting. Kermit and a Chipette? This should have been marketed as a kids movie. Okay, to be fair, these particular criticisms have less to do with their abilities and more to do with my personal tastes. So I'm sure a lot of people will like what they did.
Interestingly enough, what gives this film some of its best moments, especially in the young cast, are the relative unknowns. Of those, we first have Samantha Barks as the Thenardiers daughter and the "third wheel" of the Marius/Cossette relationship, Eponine. Now this girl was in London productions of Les Miserables, as well as the 2010 25th anniversary show. She was great in that show, and she is great here. Samantha Barks is a very beautiful and extremely talented young woman with a voice that is nothing short of heartbreaking, in a good way. She truly has a handle on how these emotions should be portrayed, especially through song, pulling back into those subtle places when necessary, therefore, making the performance more personal and powerful. Then we have Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, the leader of the young revolutionaries. I don't recall seeing this actor in anything else, but he was fantastic in this. And his singing was just right for this part, sounding young, but, in a way, also mature beyond its years. Hard to do, but succeeded here. And finally, we have a little boy named Daniel Huttlestone playing a little boy named Gavroche, and he was amazing. Seriously, he stole the show quite a bit, and I think he may go far after this. I hope so anyway. I love this kid.
The bottom line is that, whilst I did enjoy certain aspects of this film, I was kind of unimpressed. Maybe my hopes were set too high, and they just couldn't live up to it. I suppose I feel as though this is, more than anything, a vanity project. They got a bunch of famous actors who, for the most part, couldn't pull off the hugeness of the music, but were hired because they could probably get butts in seats. If they really wanted to honor the spirit of this work of art, they would have gotten some people who, while maybe not very well known, could do the songs justice. But I guess it was their decision.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, though. Bringing Broadway musicals to the big screen doesn't seem to be working these days. There are exceptions, of course, but we no longer live in the days of fifty, sixty, even seventy years ago, when these kinds of movies were some of the best ever made. You'd think with all the more resources we have now things could be done even better. But maybe not. Or maybe tastes have changed overall since then.
Anyway, would I recommend this movie? Not really. I doubt I will ever bother to see it again, but had I not seen it, I always would have been curious. Not that any of this matters, because the hardcore fans are going to see it no matter what. Good for them.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Well, this may be a first. I don't think I've ever done a full on review of a movie still in the theater. But here goes - Les Miserables, the movie musical. Oh, where to begin.
Okay, so there has been a boatload of buzz on this film from the moment someone decided to make it. A lot of people have been waiting decades for this to be brought to the big screen. I speak of the musical version, mind you, since the actual story has been told cinematically more than a few times. According to my research, there have been about a dozen movies made from the book, to say nothing of a miniseries and a Japanese anime version. That's a bit much. But, as I said, this is the first time we are seeing the Broadway musical in such a way. And, if I am being completely honest, I was kind of excited . . . initially.
Yes, I have always enjoyed Les Miserables, some parts more than others. I like some of the music and the epicness of the story. I've seen quite a few stage performances, albeit not live, but they were always done pretty well. And I know expectations were high for this. Mine certainly were. So, were my expectations met? Well, you know what, let's just start discussing this thing.
So when it comes to the inanimate things about the film, the set, the costumes, the general look of it, I'd have to say it was a job well done. It really did look as I thought it would, and whilst there were few surprises in that department, I can't fault anyone for what they did with it. So, should those responsible for these aspects win any prestigious awards, I'd say, "Well deserved!" Having said that, however, let's get to the cast.
I suppose we should start at the top with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. I actually liked him in this movie, for a few reasons. First, he is a good singer, and he's done the Broadway thing, so he knows how to do a part like this. And with the way he was presented visually, I didn't really see Hugh Jackman. They had him done up so well to look the way we would picture Valjean that we could easily get drawn into him as the character and not just as Hugh Jackman. As for his nemesis, Javert, played by Russell Crowe, this wasn't exactly the case. I've never been a huge fan of Russell Crowe, but I can't deny his talent as an actor. And when it came to the acting he did in this movie, it was very good. He's good at playing the vindictive, angry jerk of the story. Who would've thought? But throw in the singing part and we move down several rungs on the ladder. Yeah, I know that Russell Crowe had his little band, and that's fine. I actually think he can carry a tune a little. This was just too big for him and his voice. But he needn't feel alone where this problem is concerned.
Next, we have Anne Hathaway as Fantine. Let's just cut the chase and get to the one thing people were waiting for when it came to the performance. Remember how I said I'd seen this musical done a few times on stage? Well, even more than that have I seen performances of the famous song "I Dreamed a Dream" According to Miss Hathaway, she did not want to do a "beautified" performance, as we are used to hearing. I believe she succeeded on that count. She basically sobbed her way through it, supposedly trying to bring out the tragedy of the moment. If that's her excuse, fine, let her have it. I, however, found it very overdone. It was as though she was trying way too hard to be dramatic when a hint of subtlety, not to mention sincerity, would have gone even further. Frankly, I think her doing this pushed performance, as as opposed to signing it straight, was her way of hiding the fact that she could not be as good as the legendary Broadway women who have sung it in the past. I personally have heard this song sung by the likes of Judy Kuhn, Ruthie Henshall, Lea Salonga and, quite possibly the greatest Broadway diva of all time, Patti LuPone. Yeah, I can see why Anne would not want to draw any comparisons. But she uglied herself up, which means she will win awards. Moving on.
Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter played the Thenardiers, who are these innkeepers/scavengers/criminals. In this very tragic story, they are supposed to be a bit of comic relief. To be honest, they weren't too bad at it. Now I have heard people say that they also did their fair share of over acting, but with these characters, that's kind of the point. They are supposed to be larger than life, so I give them credit for it. And considering my history with these two actors, the fact that I can say anything positive is a lot. A whole lot.
Now what about the "kids"? I can't say much about Isabelle Allen as the tiny Cossette, mostly because she was in it for scarcely ten minutes. But, you know, cute little girl, cute little voice. Just cute. The older Cossette was played by Amanda Seyfried and Marius was played by Eddie Redmayne. They play the traditional love at first sight couple, and, frankly, this part of the story was always the least interesting to me. It's a fairly basic teenage love story, especially compared to what else is going on. And as far as the singing goes? They weren't necessarily bad at it, but the qualities of their voices were not what I like to hear. Eddie Redmayne kind of has that Kermit-y thing to his voice. You know, where it all gathers in the back of his throat. And Miss Amanda. I have, of course, heard her sing before, but more in a pop music sense. Here, when she went for those very high notes, this extreme vibrato kicked in which turned her a little into a Chipette. Interesting. Kermit and a Chipette? This should have been marketed as a kids movie. Okay, to be fair, these particular criticisms have less to do with their abilities and more to do with my personal tastes. So I'm sure a lot of people will like what they did.
Interestingly enough, what gives this film some of its best moments, especially in the young cast, are the relative unknowns. Of those, we first have Samantha Barks as the Thenardiers daughter and the "third wheel" of the Marius/Cossette relationship, Eponine. Now this girl was in London productions of Les Miserables, as well as the 2010 25th anniversary show. She was great in that show, and she is great here. Samantha Barks is a very beautiful and extremely talented young woman with a voice that is nothing short of heartbreaking, in a good way. She truly has a handle on how these emotions should be portrayed, especially through song, pulling back into those subtle places when necessary, therefore, making the performance more personal and powerful. Then we have Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, the leader of the young revolutionaries. I don't recall seeing this actor in anything else, but he was fantastic in this. And his singing was just right for this part, sounding young, but, in a way, also mature beyond its years. Hard to do, but succeeded here. And finally, we have a little boy named Daniel Huttlestone playing a little boy named Gavroche, and he was amazing. Seriously, he stole the show quite a bit, and I think he may go far after this. I hope so anyway. I love this kid.
The bottom line is that, whilst I did enjoy certain aspects of this film, I was kind of unimpressed. Maybe my hopes were set too high, and they just couldn't live up to it. I suppose I feel as though this is, more than anything, a vanity project. They got a bunch of famous actors who, for the most part, couldn't pull off the hugeness of the music, but were hired because they could probably get butts in seats. If they really wanted to honor the spirit of this work of art, they would have gotten some people who, while maybe not very well known, could do the songs justice. But I guess it was their decision.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, though. Bringing Broadway musicals to the big screen doesn't seem to be working these days. There are exceptions, of course, but we no longer live in the days of fifty, sixty, even seventy years ago, when these kinds of movies were some of the best ever made. You'd think with all the more resources we have now things could be done even better. But maybe not. Or maybe tastes have changed overall since then.
Anyway, would I recommend this movie? Not really. I doubt I will ever bother to see it again, but had I not seen it, I always would have been curious. Not that any of this matters, because the hardcore fans are going to see it no matter what. Good for them.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, December 23, 2012
The Providence of Leverage
Greetings,
"The rich and powerful take what they want. We steal it back for you. Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys. We provide leverage."
That quote comes directly from one of the best shows ever to air on television, Leverage. How can I prove that it is one of the best? Well, after a mere five years on the air, SOMEONE decided to cancel it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since, these days, it seems television is legally obligated to have a 100 to 1 ratio of bad shows to good shows. Now I don't know exactly who decided to make this terrible decision, but my theory is that, yes, the rich and powerful have again taken what they wanted . . . from us, the fans. I can't tell you how many times I wished the Leverage team was based on a real life group of people, but never more than in this moment. We obviously need someone in the real world to swoop in and steal our show back for us. But, alas, I fear this may not be what will happen.
Look, I am going to choose to be quite brief today in this post as I share this news with you all. No doubt, someday, I will go more in depth as to why I loved this show so much. It will probably even get one of my top ten episode lists. But I really can't get into this right now. Frankly, if I start thinking about how wonderful this series has been for me, I will begin to cry, and I don't want to do that while working on an electrical device. Besides, I will be saving my tears for that final episode.
Let me end with this. I decided to become a viewer of this show based on my love of Christian Kane and Timothy Hutton, but I quickly came to also love Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge and Beth Riesgraf, the rest of the wonderful cast. Now when I watch any TV show, I can usually get a vibe that lets me know whether or not the actors are happy with what they are doing, and if they're happy with whom they are working. Well, I must say, from the beginning, I always felt as though this cast of actors truly enjoyed working with each other. And you could easily tell that everyone involved in making this series really put all they had into it to make it the best it could be for the fans. I certainly appreciated that, and I know a lot of other people did, too.
So, wherever the cast and crew of Leverage go in the future, I pray for the best to be bestowed upon them all. This was and is a very talented group of people, and they all deserve much success. I have no doubt that they will get it. And they will most definitely be missed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
"The rich and powerful take what they want. We steal it back for you. Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys. We provide leverage."
That quote comes directly from one of the best shows ever to air on television, Leverage. How can I prove that it is one of the best? Well, after a mere five years on the air, SOMEONE decided to cancel it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since, these days, it seems television is legally obligated to have a 100 to 1 ratio of bad shows to good shows. Now I don't know exactly who decided to make this terrible decision, but my theory is that, yes, the rich and powerful have again taken what they wanted . . . from us, the fans. I can't tell you how many times I wished the Leverage team was based on a real life group of people, but never more than in this moment. We obviously need someone in the real world to swoop in and steal our show back for us. But, alas, I fear this may not be what will happen.
Look, I am going to choose to be quite brief today in this post as I share this news with you all. No doubt, someday, I will go more in depth as to why I loved this show so much. It will probably even get one of my top ten episode lists. But I really can't get into this right now. Frankly, if I start thinking about how wonderful this series has been for me, I will begin to cry, and I don't want to do that while working on an electrical device. Besides, I will be saving my tears for that final episode.
Let me end with this. I decided to become a viewer of this show based on my love of Christian Kane and Timothy Hutton, but I quickly came to also love Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge and Beth Riesgraf, the rest of the wonderful cast. Now when I watch any TV show, I can usually get a vibe that lets me know whether or not the actors are happy with what they are doing, and if they're happy with whom they are working. Well, I must say, from the beginning, I always felt as though this cast of actors truly enjoyed working with each other. And you could easily tell that everyone involved in making this series really put all they had into it to make it the best it could be for the fans. I certainly appreciated that, and I know a lot of other people did, too.
So, wherever the cast and crew of Leverage go in the future, I pray for the best to be bestowed upon them all. This was and is a very talented group of people, and they all deserve much success. I have no doubt that they will get it. And they will most definitely be missed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Top Ten Mama's Family 2.0 Episodes
Greetings,
And now it is time to discuss the second and slightly longer wave of Mama's Family. Believe it or not, though I had about twice as many episodes from which to choose, making this list was much easier. I think because, on an individual basis, I found those first seasons a little stronger. It was probably the Carol Burnett inclusion factor. While we're on the subject, I guess I should address the changes that were made for this revamp.
I could talk about the superficial things like the fact that the set changed a bit. The house looked a little smaller but brighter, and we got a lot more outdoor scenes, which was nice. But the biggest differences had to do with the cast. We gained some, we lost some, we kept some.
Obviously, we still have Mama. We also kept Vint and Naomi, but, boy, were they different. Vint was never the smartest kid in class, but they pretty much turned him into a big man child. And Naomi, who was once really feisty and able to go head to head with her mother-in-law, became a bit whiny. I still liked them, but it was very . . . different. We lost Vint's two kids and Aunt Fran, with the reason why for her being revealed later in this post. Also, we had no more appearances from Carol Burnett or Harvey Korman, and save one episode, we had no more Betty White either. Bummer. But we did get two new characters. One was Iola Boylan played by Beverly Archer, a nosy, sometimes irritating neighbor, who lived with her shut-in parents and had a serious crush on Vint. The running gag with her was that she was very crafty. Not crafty like shady, but crafty like she did crafts. We're talking felt, glue guns, googly eyes and a cozy for everything but . . . no, no "buts". She made a cozy for EVERYTHING. Then, we got Bubba played by Alan Keyser, who was Mama's grandson by way of Ed and Eunice. Okay, here's the thing about Bubba. At first, he was this annoying, bratty kind of teenage guy, which I guess was the point. But sometime during his second year on the show, he started to, let's say, mature. By that, I mean he just got hotter and hotter, and he stayed that way right up to the finale. He was so good looking that I eventually let go the fact that his name was Bubba.
Anyway, now that you know with whom we are dealing, let's get to my top ten episodes from Mama's Family 2.0.
#10. "I Do, I Don't" - I love a good fantasy sequence and, here, we get three. After attending a family wedding, Mama, Iola and Bubba think about how life would be as a married person. Bubba thinks about how things would be with his girlfriend, Amy, who, by the way, I thought was the most adorable little thing I've ever seen. Iola daydreams about being married to Vint, which means she and Naomi have traded places . . . literally. And they both do a fantastic job at that. And Mama, who was currently dating her night school teacher, wonders if she will have to live in the shadow of his deceased wife, who was named, what else, Rebecca. If you read the book Rebecca or saw the movie, you'll probably know exactly where that one is going.
#9. "Dependence Day" - Like I said, Iola lives with her parents and spends most of her time taking care of them, especially her mother. Well, after they have a fight, Iola is thrown out of her house, and, of course, she has to stay with the Harpers. Yeah, because they never, ever made it clear that they really don't like her being around that much at all. Now you'd think having someone around who likes to cook and clean would be a good thing, but it just goes too far. I mean, floral slipcovers, Iola? Really?
#8. "Now Hear This" - The last season of Mama's Family had several episodes that were related to the fact that Naomi was pregnant. In this one, we deal with the Harpers coming into the world of high tech by getting an intercom, or a baby monitor as we call it today. Mama resists at first, but eventually gives in and gets the house wired. Hey, wait a minute. A house full of people who often can't stand each other are now enabled with the ability to eavesdrop? Well, well. I wonder.
#7. "An Ill Wind" - I love Thanksgiving, and this is the one Thanksgiving episode we got from this show. I think. So, naturally, it gets a spot. Our story is that Raytown is hit with a tornado on Thanksgving, which forces the family into the basement a.k.a. Vint and Naomi's bedroom. All they have is a pack of cards, rum balls, a broken gravy boat (plot point) and each other. Oh, the magic, the pure magic of my favorite holiday.
#6. "Pomp and Circumstance" - As I mentioned, Mama was attending night school in order to get the high school diploma she never received. Now she's getting to graduate alongside Bubba, and she is the valedictorian. This makes no sense because she only had to take one class to get her diploma. Whatever. This episode centers around Bubba's wanting his parents to come to his graduation and to go to Florida to live with them again. Things don't exactly go as planned. I could talk about the funny here, but this one is actually kind of emotional and touching. You really get to see how much love their actually is in this often quarreling family. It's rare, for this show, but always appreciated.
#5. "Farewell Fran" - This was the first episode for the revamped show. Here, we are dealing with the death of Aunt Fran, and that would be the reason she did not return. Mama is upset because it seems that a lot of people are not going to come to the funeral, including Vint's children, Buzz and Sonya. Enjoy hearing their names here, because, after this, they are NEVER mentioned again. Of course, we are introduced to Iola and Bubba, who ends up having to stay with the Harpers after being released from juvenile hall. He can't go to be with his parents because they have moved to Florida, and he can't leave the state. Ah, this could possibly be why I like the first version of the show better. Looks like all the fun we once had with Ed and Eunice was wiped out with the fact that they are horrible parents who abandoned their child. Way to ruin it. One of the best things about this one is when we find out how Fran died. Yeah, it is funny. Just trust me. Oh, and for all you Star Trek: TNG fans, you get to see Brent Spiner as a kind of creepy guy named Mr. Conroy with a thick Southern accent and a dog named Jingles. Or Jangles. I can't tell. Accent.
#4. "Educating Mama" - So I made two references to Mama's time in night school, and now, finally, I get to discuss the episode where she began. Okay, the story here is that Bubba has to go to night school to get credit for an English class he flunked in order to graduate. As it happens, Mama also did not graduate because she did not complete the same class. So they decide to go to night school together. Now the reason Mama didn't pass the class was because she had a traumatic experience with a mean teacher and The Scarlet Letter. Hey, one guess as to what the first assignment at night school is. Okay, I like this because of the funny, but I also like the way they showed how much you can miss by not reading the actual book, and opting for only the Cliff's Notes version. Or Ray Notes as they call it here, because it's Raytown, you understand. Didn't expect that, did you?
#3. "Child's Play" - If the title of this episode is making you think of a certain movie, that is with good reason. Somehow, Mama and the Harpers end up having to babysit the grandson of Reverend Meachum and his wife, Alberta, whose name is Eugene.
Now this kid is basically evil and everyone knows it. Everyone but Alberta, that is. She thinks he's perfect. Well, what happens is what you'd expect, but I put this on the list and so high, because of the ending. Not to spoil, but let's just say the reverend, with some encouragement from Mama, stands up to his wife and decides that maybe disciplining a child is a good way to get them to behave. Just maybe.
#2. "Best Medicine" - Okay, I think I made it clear that I love Betty White, so I had to include her one and only episode in the second version of the show. Here, she, as Ellen, shows up at the Harper house, hoping to mend fences with her mama. See, Ellen was one of those people who did not show up for Aunt Fran's funeral. Long story short, the family finds out that Ellen is about to have surgery. They rush to her side, thinking she is in some kind of danger. Turns out, she's having an elective surgery. Again, not to spoil, but . . . yeah, there's no way around this. She's having a fanny tuck, as she calls it. Need I say more.
#1. "Cat's Meow" - I am a dog person. I am not a fan of the cats. Not that I haven't meant a few nice ones, but we all know the majority of them are not. And in this episode, we have to deal with one of those types. Specifically, we have to deal with Iola's cat, Midnight. Apparently, this cat your typical mean cat, and the Harpers hate it. Well, good news, it dies. Not wanting to let go of her beloved cat, Iola finds a way to keep him around. Does she stuff him? No, of course not. That is so seventies. She has him freeze dried, complete with, I kid you not, an activated meow. Now she only tells Mama about this, which means the rest of the family doesn't know, so . . . Okay, you know that urban legend about a dog coming home with the neighbor's rabbit in it's mouth and the owners clean up the rabbit and put it back in the cage, then the people who owned the rabbit are like, "Holy crap! Our rabbit died, and we buried him. but now he's back in his cage!" Yeah, something kind of like that happens here. Look, despite the slight morbidity of this episode, it does have a nice ending and the laughs are continual through the whole thing. So it gets to be number one.
Easily, I would call Mama's Family one of my favorite shows. It's fun and something you can enjoy when you just want to have a good time and get some good laughs. And that's more than fine sometimes. There are so many shows these days that I really like, but they are also kind of dark and heavy. That can be entertaining, too. Still, sometimes we just want a break from all that and get ourselves a few smiles. Mama's Family, whatever version, is a good place to go for that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
And now it is time to discuss the second and slightly longer wave of Mama's Family. Believe it or not, though I had about twice as many episodes from which to choose, making this list was much easier. I think because, on an individual basis, I found those first seasons a little stronger. It was probably the Carol Burnett inclusion factor. While we're on the subject, I guess I should address the changes that were made for this revamp.
I could talk about the superficial things like the fact that the set changed a bit. The house looked a little smaller but brighter, and we got a lot more outdoor scenes, which was nice. But the biggest differences had to do with the cast. We gained some, we lost some, we kept some.
Obviously, we still have Mama. We also kept Vint and Naomi, but, boy, were they different. Vint was never the smartest kid in class, but they pretty much turned him into a big man child. And Naomi, who was once really feisty and able to go head to head with her mother-in-law, became a bit whiny. I still liked them, but it was very . . . different. We lost Vint's two kids and Aunt Fran, with the reason why for her being revealed later in this post. Also, we had no more appearances from Carol Burnett or Harvey Korman, and save one episode, we had no more Betty White either. Bummer. But we did get two new characters. One was Iola Boylan played by Beverly Archer, a nosy, sometimes irritating neighbor, who lived with her shut-in parents and had a serious crush on Vint. The running gag with her was that she was very crafty. Not crafty like shady, but crafty like she did crafts. We're talking felt, glue guns, googly eyes and a cozy for everything but . . . no, no "buts". She made a cozy for EVERYTHING. Then, we got Bubba played by Alan Keyser, who was Mama's grandson by way of Ed and Eunice. Okay, here's the thing about Bubba. At first, he was this annoying, bratty kind of teenage guy, which I guess was the point. But sometime during his second year on the show, he started to, let's say, mature. By that, I mean he just got hotter and hotter, and he stayed that way right up to the finale. He was so good looking that I eventually let go the fact that his name was Bubba.
Anyway, now that you know with whom we are dealing, let's get to my top ten episodes from Mama's Family 2.0.
#10. "I Do, I Don't" - I love a good fantasy sequence and, here, we get three. After attending a family wedding, Mama, Iola and Bubba think about how life would be as a married person. Bubba thinks about how things would be with his girlfriend, Amy, who, by the way, I thought was the most adorable little thing I've ever seen. Iola daydreams about being married to Vint, which means she and Naomi have traded places . . . literally. And they both do a fantastic job at that. And Mama, who was currently dating her night school teacher, wonders if she will have to live in the shadow of his deceased wife, who was named, what else, Rebecca. If you read the book Rebecca or saw the movie, you'll probably know exactly where that one is going.
#9. "Dependence Day" - Like I said, Iola lives with her parents and spends most of her time taking care of them, especially her mother. Well, after they have a fight, Iola is thrown out of her house, and, of course, she has to stay with the Harpers. Yeah, because they never, ever made it clear that they really don't like her being around that much at all. Now you'd think having someone around who likes to cook and clean would be a good thing, but it just goes too far. I mean, floral slipcovers, Iola? Really?
#8. "Now Hear This" - The last season of Mama's Family had several episodes that were related to the fact that Naomi was pregnant. In this one, we deal with the Harpers coming into the world of high tech by getting an intercom, or a baby monitor as we call it today. Mama resists at first, but eventually gives in and gets the house wired. Hey, wait a minute. A house full of people who often can't stand each other are now enabled with the ability to eavesdrop? Well, well. I wonder.
#7. "An Ill Wind" - I love Thanksgiving, and this is the one Thanksgiving episode we got from this show. I think. So, naturally, it gets a spot. Our story is that Raytown is hit with a tornado on Thanksgving, which forces the family into the basement a.k.a. Vint and Naomi's bedroom. All they have is a pack of cards, rum balls, a broken gravy boat (plot point) and each other. Oh, the magic, the pure magic of my favorite holiday.
#6. "Pomp and Circumstance" - As I mentioned, Mama was attending night school in order to get the high school diploma she never received. Now she's getting to graduate alongside Bubba, and she is the valedictorian. This makes no sense because she only had to take one class to get her diploma. Whatever. This episode centers around Bubba's wanting his parents to come to his graduation and to go to Florida to live with them again. Things don't exactly go as planned. I could talk about the funny here, but this one is actually kind of emotional and touching. You really get to see how much love their actually is in this often quarreling family. It's rare, for this show, but always appreciated.
#5. "Farewell Fran" - This was the first episode for the revamped show. Here, we are dealing with the death of Aunt Fran, and that would be the reason she did not return. Mama is upset because it seems that a lot of people are not going to come to the funeral, including Vint's children, Buzz and Sonya. Enjoy hearing their names here, because, after this, they are NEVER mentioned again. Of course, we are introduced to Iola and Bubba, who ends up having to stay with the Harpers after being released from juvenile hall. He can't go to be with his parents because they have moved to Florida, and he can't leave the state. Ah, this could possibly be why I like the first version of the show better. Looks like all the fun we once had with Ed and Eunice was wiped out with the fact that they are horrible parents who abandoned their child. Way to ruin it. One of the best things about this one is when we find out how Fran died. Yeah, it is funny. Just trust me. Oh, and for all you Star Trek: TNG fans, you get to see Brent Spiner as a kind of creepy guy named Mr. Conroy with a thick Southern accent and a dog named Jingles. Or Jangles. I can't tell. Accent.
#4. "Educating Mama" - So I made two references to Mama's time in night school, and now, finally, I get to discuss the episode where she began. Okay, the story here is that Bubba has to go to night school to get credit for an English class he flunked in order to graduate. As it happens, Mama also did not graduate because she did not complete the same class. So they decide to go to night school together. Now the reason Mama didn't pass the class was because she had a traumatic experience with a mean teacher and The Scarlet Letter. Hey, one guess as to what the first assignment at night school is. Okay, I like this because of the funny, but I also like the way they showed how much you can miss by not reading the actual book, and opting for only the Cliff's Notes version. Or Ray Notes as they call it here, because it's Raytown, you understand. Didn't expect that, did you?
#3. "Child's Play" - If the title of this episode is making you think of a certain movie, that is with good reason. Somehow, Mama and the Harpers end up having to babysit the grandson of Reverend Meachum and his wife, Alberta, whose name is Eugene.
Now this kid is basically evil and everyone knows it. Everyone but Alberta, that is. She thinks he's perfect. Well, what happens is what you'd expect, but I put this on the list and so high, because of the ending. Not to spoil, but let's just say the reverend, with some encouragement from Mama, stands up to his wife and decides that maybe disciplining a child is a good way to get them to behave. Just maybe.
#2. "Best Medicine" - Okay, I think I made it clear that I love Betty White, so I had to include her one and only episode in the second version of the show. Here, she, as Ellen, shows up at the Harper house, hoping to mend fences with her mama. See, Ellen was one of those people who did not show up for Aunt Fran's funeral. Long story short, the family finds out that Ellen is about to have surgery. They rush to her side, thinking she is in some kind of danger. Turns out, she's having an elective surgery. Again, not to spoil, but . . . yeah, there's no way around this. She's having a fanny tuck, as she calls it. Need I say more.
#1. "Cat's Meow" - I am a dog person. I am not a fan of the cats. Not that I haven't meant a few nice ones, but we all know the majority of them are not. And in this episode, we have to deal with one of those types. Specifically, we have to deal with Iola's cat, Midnight. Apparently, this cat your typical mean cat, and the Harpers hate it. Well, good news, it dies. Not wanting to let go of her beloved cat, Iola finds a way to keep him around. Does she stuff him? No, of course not. That is so seventies. She has him freeze dried, complete with, I kid you not, an activated meow. Now she only tells Mama about this, which means the rest of the family doesn't know, so . . . Okay, you know that urban legend about a dog coming home with the neighbor's rabbit in it's mouth and the owners clean up the rabbit and put it back in the cage, then the people who owned the rabbit are like, "Holy crap! Our rabbit died, and we buried him. but now he's back in his cage!" Yeah, something kind of like that happens here. Look, despite the slight morbidity of this episode, it does have a nice ending and the laughs are continual through the whole thing. So it gets to be number one.
Easily, I would call Mama's Family one of my favorite shows. It's fun and something you can enjoy when you just want to have a good time and get some good laughs. And that's more than fine sometimes. There are so many shows these days that I really like, but they are also kind of dark and heavy. That can be entertaining, too. Still, sometimes we just want a break from all that and get ourselves a few smiles. Mama's Family, whatever version, is a good place to go for that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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