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Category Archives: Gushes

Join the Clone Club

01 Thursday May 2014

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

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Tags

Clone Club, Jordan Gavaris, Orphan Black, Tatiana Maslany, Time Magazine

Oh hey, friends! It’s been far too long. Mostly, I’ve missed you all because I’ve had far fewer people to pawn new obsessions off on these past few weeks…Shall we get right back to it, then?

Orphan Black.

There. I said it.

Now, run along and watch it. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars.

Start. Now.

Okay, if you’re still here (BUT WHY WOULD YOU BE?!), I’ll endeavour to convince you further.

Orphan Black follows the street-wise Sarah Manning who is pulled head firstorphanblack_thumbnail_01_web1 into a shady conspiracy after she witnesses a woman identical to herself commit suicide. As the layers of the pilot and following episodes are peeled back, it becomes apparent that Sarah is one of an indeterminate number of clones being monitored by the scientists that created them and hunted by religious radicals determined to end what they see as an abomination.

I love being surprised by television. I love going in without expectations. And most of all, I love being pulled in to worlds so quickly and irrevocably that the result is a full on, no holds barred binge-session.

Orphan Black fulfilled all of these things to such a high degree that I accidentally watched the whole thing in three days. (To be fair, there was only the ten-episode first season available, but still).

Characters make up 95% of the reason why I love stories. Whether the plot be hugely intricate or one that barely moves at all, if there’s a complex, interesting, and true-to-life character—I’m sold. Not only does Orphan Black offer an entire cast of wonderfully flawed and believable characters, but also an astonishingly talented actress who played more than half of them.

orphan-black-tatiana-maslany-clones-sarah-alison-cosima-helena-rachelTatiana Maslany—winner of the 2013 Critic’s Choice Television Award for Best Actress—plays each one of the clones (ten to date), all of which have multifaceted back-stories, unique appearances, mannerisms and personalities, and most of whom speak with distinctive accents.

Even if you’re entirely uninterested in the Orphan Black concept, you simply must tune in at least once to witness Maslany’s gargantuan talent and the masterful editing that easily allows her to frequent a scene with herself two or three times over.

Check out Maslany’s body double and some of the magic behind the filming:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jarettwieselman/meet-the-woman-beisdes-tatiana-maslany-who-plays-every-singl

orphan-black-felixImpossibly, Maslany playing 75% of the characters in no way overshadows the strength of her supporting cast. Most notably, without question, is Jordan Gavaris who plays Sarah’s darkly sassy, flamboyant foster brother, Felix—a performance that consistently manages to be deeply sympathetic and laugh-out-loud funny in equal measure. Maria Doyle Kennedy (recently of Downton Abbey fame) is a force as their foster mother, Mrs. S, and 7-year-old Skyler Wexler plays the somber and eerily wizened Kira to perfection.

But even with stellar actors in the shoes of amazing characters, it’s the unrelenting forward momentum of the show’s plot that sinks its claws into you right in those first two minutes. And as it speeds along—with you clinging for dear life—it’s got a little bit of everything to keep things interesting.

In a recent aptly named article, The Cult of Orphan Black, Time Magazine had this to say on the subject:

In many ways, that attitude toward the fanbase is typical of the show’s status as genre television that has learned from the mistakes (and successes) of others. Like Lost, Orphan Black has an apparently labyrinthine mythology behind it — but unlike Lost, it’s a show that is happy to offer answers to important questions sooner rather than later. Like Heroes, each new discovery appears to point towards a grand conspiracy behind events, but there’s a throughline (and, ultimately, endpoint) to that conspiracy that grounds the series to prevent the kind of messiness and creative tailspin that that series fell into after its first season. More subtly, it’s also a series that learned the lessons of a show like Buffy and keeps its core cast appreciably small. Audiences know very clearly who they can trust and who to care about.

Is Orphan Black the product of genre fans (or at least, viewers aware of genre tropes) who have been smart enough to look at what’s gone before and recognize what worked and what didn’t, then? There’s something neat about that realization, and fitting, as well. After all, what could be better for a show about clones than for its creators to make it from the most successful DNA of all its predecessors?

Well that says it all folks… Orphan Black is all the best parts of three hyper-popular, fandom-crazed, critically acclaimed series—plus a few things that are uniquely its own.

Do yourself a favour: set aside a few days and jump aboard this crazy ride – you definitely won’t regret it.

See you next week!

-A

Follow us @WeArtsy

The Month of Veronica Mars

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Kickstarter, Kristen Bell, Rob Thomas, TV Binging, Veronica Mars, Veronica Mars Movie

Has anyone, perchance, been looking for me somewhere in the last, oh, ten years? Well, I figured it out where I was!

Turns out I’ve been living under a rock. A stupid one.

When the Internet and news sources alike suddenly were ablaze with word of the most successful Kickstarter campaign ever, I knew I had missed something very important in my pop culture education—Veronica Mars.

V1I vaguely remembered a show of the same name that had played on TV back when I was in high school—but even as an avid series watcher, and a self-proclaimed TV connoisseur—I didn’t have a clue what it was about.

Fast forward to February 2014 when I hit play on my very first episode, and I still had no idea what Veronica Mars was about to entail.

Starring the incomparable Kristen Bell, Veronica Mars follows a high school girl who, after the murder of her best friend, becomes an amateur detective and solves a wide-range of crimes for her classmates in the middle-class-less town of Neptune, California. 

Sure, a teenage detective? It sounds silly, I know. I actually may have rolled my eyes at the V2concept in the pilot seeing as it sounds more like a middle grade book series, but even the movie calls itself out on it in its opening moments—because, by that point, it knew just how many people had chosen to keep watching.

This past Christmas break, a near and dear friend succinctly pointed out that I’m a fan of the hype. And by ‘the hype’ she did not mean the ultra-popular trend of the moment—no, she was referring to the stuff of smaller scale, but fiercely loyal followings, and bonus points if there’s an extra cool/awe-inspiring/heartfelt/insert-other-appropriate-adjectives-here cultural backstory to go along with it.

V4i.e. a 285% Kickstarter, fan-funded companion movie to a beloved television series.

So re-imagine with me, if you will, that cold February evening. Just as Wallace tells Veronica she’s as soft as a marshmallow, I became painfully, shamefully aware that this particular gem had been missing from my radar for OVER A DECADE.

Unlike most shows these days, Veronica Mars effortlessly weaves its episodic cases with its series-long storylines, and current TV creators and writers alike should be painstakingly studying its dedication to continuity. Though, in truth, the storylines progressively weaken (in miniscule doses compared to the farce many series become) the opening season of Veronica Mars is without a doubt the tightest, best planned out season of a television show that I’ve had the pleasure of watching.

And as I mentioned, I’m a bit of a connoisseur.

Anyway. I waited an excruciating four days while Keely, who had caught an episode or two in passing, caught the bug and hurriedly caught up to me at the end of the first season. And then—not proud, but obviously incredibly proud—together we ploughed through the second and third ones in a blissful six days of TV binge-mode.

We had a movie to catch while it was still in theatres, after all.

This weekend we sat in a cinema full of fans of the show that giggled at tiny little Easter eggs theV3 show’s creator had left for them to find in return for ten years of loyalty and a funded feature film. Or should I say… Keester eggs??? (See what I did there guys? HA! I’m in on a joke, too!)

I felt slightly nostalgic for a past with the show I didn’t actual have… part of me really wished, as I sat and waited for the movie to begin, that I too had been waiting nearly nine years, desperate to know what happened next. And not, you know, just 36 hours.

As for the movie itself, the budgetary restraints were obvious, but the film itself offered so much of what the fans had been wondering about over the years (since the show was abruptly cancelled after its third season), that its lack of dazzlingly cinematic grandeur registered on the radar of few. Plus, it was movie many of the viewers had actually contributed funds towards making, and that must have been a pretty damn cool feeling.

And finally, due to the genius of writer/creator Rob Thomas, the movie ended in a wonderfully believable way, allowing Veronica to keep fighting the fight, and without tying a nice, neat—and utterly implausible—bow on top of it all. And he managed to do this while also strategically placing each of his beloved characters in convenient-to-the-plot locales should the franchise ever continue.

Well played, Rob Thomas—you whore! (Guys, that’s an inside joke, too – can I be in the club now?)

Okay, artsies. I know I just made our triumphant return from analytical, objective, Oscar nominated reviews and immediately chose to bring it straight back to gush-fest territory—but truly, I do believe it’s an absolute shame that Veronica Mars never got the network loyalty and critical attention it deserved.

If you haven’t given it a go—now’s the time! You have… precisely… three days to watch its three seasons before you’ll miss your opportunity to watch the film in theatres.

Aaaand, if that’s a tad unrealistic for you, you can always download its digital copy on iTunes.

By next Tuesday, perhaps we’ll have ourselves some fellow Marshmallows!

See ya then!

-A

Follow us @WeArtsy

The Cumber-Collective

16 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

12 Years a Slave, August: Osage County, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dr. John Watson, Martin Freeman, Sherlock, Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek into Darkness, The Fifth Estate

Guys. Benedict Cumberbatch. Seriously.

Seriously.

Haven’t heard of him? Well, this time I won’t scold you seeing as I am woefully late myself in jumping on this particular bandwagon—so I’ll give you an extra brief overview.

Besides having one of the most spectacular names a human being is capable of having (seriously, say it a few times aloud)—Benedict Cumberbatch leads the stellar cast of one of the most popular BBC shows ever, appeared in no less than five films this past year, and is so wonderfully talented that I am utterly ashamed he only just registered on my radar less than four weeks ago. (Why yes, I did binge watch Sherlock over Christmas break, thanks for asking).

So, even though my love is still in its infancy and I can hardly claim the title of world’s biggest fan, I just wanted to ensure, loyal artsies, that if he isn’t yet on your radar…that you get him on there stat! Let us call this an introductory, crash course on how cool and talented he is.

To begin:

He stars in Sherlock:

titleNeed I say more? Actually. Yes. I really, really, really, really do need to say more. In fact, I probably could write 100 pages about the breathtaking brilliance that is BBC’s Sherlock, which is perhaps why I chose not to write this post on the mind-blowing, recently aired third season of the show. Simply put, you’d be reading for hours.

It can’t be easy taking on arguably one of the most iconic roles in history, much less in a modern adaptation. I won’t claim to have seen each and every version of Sherlock Holmes, but Cumberbatch’s is definitely my favourite thus far.

His acting is downright superb—and he takes the emotionally challenged Holmes from rigidly pragmatic to awkwardly, believably sentimental through the course of his friendship with Dr. Watson, without losing the famous idiosyncrasies the character has been known by since the late 1800s. (Sidenote, I could also write an entire post about the breathtaking subtleties of Martin Freeman’s Dr. John Watson, but I’ll spare you. Just WATCH Sherlock!)

…and, finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t include these final Sherlock related points:

Sherlock 2

pretty lade

tumblr_myyqnv1QWa1rz1wnio2_500tumblr_myyqnv1QWa1rz1wnio1_500

tumblr_mzefuuLi0K1r6hn0no1_500watson

hatRight. On to the next point:

He proved his versatility this year in six very different roles:

benedict-cumberbatch-main-alh-102213

Sherlock; Star Trek into Darkness; The Fifth Estate

Imagine, in a single year, playing the villain of one of the most popular science fiction tales, a slave owner, a controversial world-famous information leaker, an insecure, cousin-dating member of Meryl Streep’s fictional family, a treasure-hogging dragon, and, if we include Sherlock, a beloved century-old high-functioning sociopath.

Welp. Meet Benedict Cumberbatch, my loves.

(The above characters are from Star Trek into Darkness, 12 Years a Slave, The Fifth Estate, August: Osage County, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and Sherlock respectively).

Oh, and he also the voiced Alan Rickman on The Simpsons. No big.

Just the other night I watched August: Osage County wherein Cumberbatch played the insecure, bumbling Little Charles, and it was quite the transformation.

Keep in mind I’d just binge-watched three seasons of Sherlock…

I was used to him like this:

tumblr_mvp9vxVc0m1rh74tvo1_r2_500
And instead, I found him like this:

Benedict Cumberbatch Slideshow

Okay. Those were the best pics I could find, but essentially, you get the picture. Mindblown.

(Sidenote #2: Cumberbatch aside, go see the brilliance that is August: Osage County. Very impressive film).

And continuing…

He embraces the craziness of his fandom with class:

So, though he’s not exactly at household name, it is no secret that this man has a very intense and loyal following, and I always think it’s pretty cool when actors at the centre of that kind of…er… extreme passion can handle it with ease and good humour.

Firstly, not unlike the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle works, Sherlock does tease at the homosexual undertones of the plot—though in a manner that is more playful than based in actual reality—but its no secret that the Internet has run amuck with the idea. So why not play it up a little?

b4bumpinch

bumpinch

Yes, that was a bum pinch. And yes, I did say class.

Again, being at the centre of such a craze means that, well, strange things can arise. Case in point:

otter

In the interview below, not only is he entirely unsurprised by a set of otter memes pasted alongside look-alike photos of himself he is also completely unperturbed. Not to mention that he humbly insists that the otter top-left has the more correct Holmes hand position than he, which, in my books, makes him pretty much the coolest person ever.

Next, although I wish, at times, that I could be of the uber-intense fan variety who dub themselves with fandom-identifying monikers, alas I am not. However, I did know long ago that his fans named themselves the somewhat troubling “Cumberbitches”. So when I watched the following clip wherein Cumberbatch redubbed his fanbase “The Cumber-Collective” because “he worries how far feminism is set back” with their current title, I was more than a little impressed.

And yeah, just watch this last one because it’s hilarious. (This was a message to fans following the two-year hiatus between seasons two and three).

Okay, so slight fangirling of Benedict Cumberbatch aside, I cannot stress enough how great Sherlock is so if you haven’t watched it yet I encourage you to add it to your to-do list. Seriously.

Thank you for making it all the way to the end of my gush-session, artsies! Have we mentioned that you’re the best?

Have a great rest-of-the-week!

-A

Follow us @WeArtsy

Ode to Amy Part Deux

14 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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Amy Poehler, Broad City, Golden Globes, Smart Girls at the Party

I know the world is abuzz with the Golden Globes that just took place last Sunday but since that was an absolute GONG SHOW (yes I’m talking to you Globes Director whose-name-I-could-not-find-on-Google-much-like-you-could-not-find-decent-camera-angles) I decided I would like to focus on the flawlessness of none other than Amy Poehler.

Don’t get me wrong, both Tina and Amy were great on Sunday. I especially loved the bit where Amy came on stage dressed as Tina’s son looking for “his” dad in the audience. Hilarious! But I think enough praise has been sung for Ms. Fey and I would like to shift gears and talk about the other half of the dynamic comedic duo.

And then I think… where on earth do I begin??

She killed in Baby Mama and is the heart and soul of Parks and Recreation. And let’s just take a moment to bask in the aura of her Golden Globe win from Sunday! I am thrilled that she won, it was so well deserved! AND she got to make out with Bono (much more successfully than Diddy).

It sounds so weird saying that because I don’t know Amy Poehler. But if I did, I like to think we’d be best friends. Do you ever imagine yourself meeting one of your heroes and how you’d act around them? I actually thought I’d be cool around celebrities but then I bumped into Hugh Jackman in New York and that whole façade died quicker than a T-Swift romance. Oops, still a sensitive subject, Taylor? ONE YEAR LATER.

But if I am ever lucky enough to meet Amy, I like to think that I’d tell her how much I admire her work and thank her for the leaps and bounds she’s made for women in comedy. As opposed to the more likely scenario where I turn into Eunice from She’s the Man and yell “I made breakfast darling!” to Amy’s face. Yea… meeting is probably a bad idea…

Moving on!

I have been a fan of Amy Poehler since I started watching SNL at the spritely age of thirteen. Her show Smart Girls at the Party is one of the greatest web series out there. I mean, they’re slogan is “change the world by being yourself”. Each episode Amy interviews an intelligent, gifted girl, asks the tough questions, and always concludes with an epic dance party. Check out one of the cutest episodes I’ve seen:

Adorable right??

Just recently she became the executive producer of Comedy Central’s new scripted comedy called Broad City. There’s nothing this woman can’t do! Broad City is based on a web series by Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer of the same name. I watched the first episode and you know what, it’s pretty funny. And this is what is so awesome about Amy Poehler. Not only has she made a name for herself in the comedy world, but she’s on the look out to do it for others too.  She’s a fearless entertainer, a ferocious comedian, and just an upstanding humanitarian.

Case in point.

It always weirds me out when people idolize celebrities. And I’m not saying I have a shrine to Amy in my apartment or anything like that, but I really do think that she is a phenomenal role model for old and young. And if I could have just 1/10th of the spunk and humour in her little pinky, I’d be a very happy camper. 

Have a great week and make good choices!

– K

Follow us @WeArtsy

[Edit: I completely forgot I wrote An Ode to Amy but I spent an hour looking up stuff and writing this so I’m going to post it anyway. Deal with it Internet!]

Happy 2014 from a Proud Segue Mama

07 Tuesday Jan 2014

Posted by Keely in Gushes

≈ 2 Comments

Hello Arsties! We’re back (again).

As per usual the holiday season was overwhelmingly busy, I ate enough for 4 people, and oh yeah, Toronto decided to imitate Ottawa this year. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?? Everything is frozen!

Hark! Is that a segue I see?

Yes, over the holiday season I went to see Disney’s Frozen. And you know what? I LOVED it. (And yes, I am incredibly proud of my winter weather to movie segue, thank you for asking.)

I saw it twice in theatres and almost went a third time until I looked at my bank statement from Christmas present shopping and realized that would be a bit excessive. But if I was a millionaire, I’d have done it dangnabbit!

Then, yesterday as I was perusing my newsfeed- Facebook obviously, let’s be serious- I saw some negative reviews about Frozen. My initial reaction was, “and I called you people friends!” But then I remembered that everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I pondered aloud, “who crapped all over your heart to make you hate this beautiful movie?” and “the Grinch called, he wants his 3-times-too-small heart back.” That’s right, I had two simultaneous, complex thoughts at the same time.

I guess what I’m trying to say is- no wait, I got one more: hating Frozen is like taking a selfie in public… you look like an IDIOT for doing it.

Okay, now I’m done.

Here are seven reasons why Frozen is amazing:
(Warning: Spoilers)

  1. The Sister Relationship

    Every Disney movie has a love story. And that story usually involves a guy and girl falling in love at first sight. Well, not only does that not work (trust me, I’ve stared at a lot of strangers) but it’s also over done. It was so refreshing to have a story where the main relationship was between two sisters and what they were willing to do to protect one another. And I LOVE when Kristoff calls Anna out for wanting to marry a guy she’s just met. Thank you Disney!
  2. Music

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJ566EnNgMI have been listening to the soundtrack nonstop. Let It Go is Disney’s own Defying Gravity and it just makes you want to sing at the top of your voice. My family really appreciated that this Christmas. The songs are fun, emotional, and really tell us about each character.

  3. Funny
    “Knock.”
    “Go ahead, knock.”
    “Why isn’t she knocking?”
    “Do you think she knows how to knock?”

    – Olaf

    Truly, there are some great laugh out loud moments in this movie. Many thanks to Josh Gad who voices Olaf but the other characters have their moments too.

  4. Self-Saving Heroine
    Initially, I had a hard time wrapping my head around Anna as the main character because Elsa’s story is so much more interesting. But what’s really cool about Anna is that she isn’t the damsel in distress. In fact, when she saves Elsa from Hans, Anna unintentionally saves herself through an act of love towards her sister. I know the Heroic Princess isn’t a new concept, Disney also did this with Brave and Tangled, but it’s nice to see this trend continue.
  5. Unexpected Twists and Turns
    When I watch a movie, I can usually guess where the story’s going and how they’re going to get there. But with Frozen, it caught me off guard twice! I had no idea Hans was evil, that was pure genius!
  6. Olaf
    Yes, he’s there for comic relief. And yes, you could probably buy your own island from this little guy’s merchandize sales. BUT. Olaf represents more than just a good time. He’s all heart in three oddly shaped snowballs. Moreover, Olaf symbolizes the good that can come from Elsa’s powers. Everyone views Elsa as a danger because of the curse, but Olaf is literally the living proof that she is not the villain.
  7. And finally… Idina Menzel
    It’s that voice! No doubt her time as the iconic Elphaba landed Idina her role in Frozen but who cares? Who else could pull of that breathtaking balance of fear and ferocity? It was beautiful.

So in conclusion, therefore, and to sum up, I loved Frozen and so should you.

Have a wonderful week!

-K

Follow us @WeArtsy

Hey, guys… HEADS UP!

26 Thursday Sep 2013

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

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Tags

Ellen Degeneres, Heads Up

Hey, hey guys! HEADS UP!

Just kidding, I’m not throwing anything at you…orrr am I? You decide!

(My apologies. It’s way too early in the morning for this).

Today I am here to tell you all about the GREATEST game you will EVER play.

First, I have to explain something. I’m not even close to what you would call an ‘app person’. The apps that take up residence on my phone are as follows: Twitter, Facebook, The Weather Network… Aaand that’s it.

There is, however, one very vital secret to getting through to me with anything that I don’t like, am indifferent to, and/or am morally against: have Ellen tell me to do it.

Ellen Degeneres is basically my favourite person on the planet. How can you NOT feel like the world is a better place when you watch her show? She dances, she laughs, she makes YOU laugh, she gives gifts to those who deserve it, she shines light on people, places, and situations that need to be seen more clearly, AND she finds unknowns on YouTube and gives them the best chance they could possible have…

Seriously. Ellen is the freaking bomb.

That’s why—when her favourite game to play with guests was developed into an app—I was pretty sure I needed to get on board.

050213-heads-up-game-612x339-1

It’s called Heads Up, and the concept is simple: pick from an exciting plethora of pop-culture-y stacks of cards, place the phone at your forehead, and have some poor soul make an utter fool out of themselves while trying to describe the words to you.

And, oh yeah, record their hilarious attempts for good measure.

Here is a particular gem from the last round Keely and I played. The category is Hey Mr. DJ, and as my bratty, eight-year-old, know-it-all voice will remind you all at the beginning… You CAN’T sing. You have to HUM!

Hey, hey guys! HEADS UP! Here are the reasons this game is spectacular:

  1. It’s HILARIOUS.
  2. It’s CREATIVE.
  3. ELLEN made it.
  4. And…it’s HILARIOUS.

(And yes, an actual board game exists just like this… but this is way better on account of the recording function and endless amounts of cards available!)

So why haven’t you bought it yet?

Seriously, if you’re ever having an off day, guys—this should be your medicine of choice.

Quick! Go download the app here, orrrr you can just come over and play with ME! Seriously, I’m driving Keely bonkers with wanting to play ALL THE TIME, so your presence would be very welcome!

If you DO come over to play, I’d like to warn you that if Keely and I were ever on a team, we’d seriously wipe the floor with (as Ellen would say) all y’all.

Example:

Keely: Oh! Um. It’s a show…it was remade…

Ashley: BEVERLY HILL 90210!

Or:

Ashley: Oh! They’re Jewish!

Keely: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF!

…We see each other BRAINS! Or, more accurately, we spend too much time together. But, hey—it’s helps for Heads Up, right?

Guys. All this Heads Up chat is making me desperate to leave my room, wake Keely up and beg her to play.

I won’t do that though on account of it is 7:03 AM.

BUT I WANT TO!

I’m obsessed! This can’t be healthy…

Whatever. You are all hereby invited over the second you read this to play a thrillingly comical game of Heads Up!

…I’ll be waiting.

(And in case this wasn’t clear before, I really need a job).

Have a lovely, lovely day my friends!

-A

Follow us @WeArtsy

New Girl. Season 3. Get Ready.

17 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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Tags

New Girl, Season premieres, True American, TV

I love Fall. There’s Thanksgiving, Halloween, my birthday, the leaves change colour… I could go on. But before all of that, and let’s be serious more importantly, it’s season premiere time! And guess who’s back first to join in our weekly routine? Why it’s Jess, Nick, Schmidt, and Winston. That’s right, Fox’s New Girl premieres tonight!

The cast and writers try to predict what will happen between Nick and Jess and their budding new relationship.  (Remember last season how they drove off together after that fiasco of a wedding? T-Swift was there, probably wrote a song about it.)

Anyways, I got thinking about it and here is what I would like to see/predict/am excited about for the show’s upcoming season:

  1. Coach comes back!! Yup, Damon Wayan’s Jr., fresh from Happy Ending’s cancelation, makes a return appearance. I’ll never forget in the pilot when Jess is sobbily watching Dirty Dancing and Coach comes up to her and yells “STOP IT.” only to have Jess cry even harder. Wayan’s Jr. has incredible comedic timing (if you haven’t watched Happy Endings yet, get on it! The first two seasons are comedy gold.) so here’s hoping Coach will stick around for a little while!
  2. More flashbacks of young Nick. Ashley and I had a good laugh last night remembering the young Mr. Miller yelling at the neighbourhood kids (all his own age) to get off his lawn. Personally I’d like to see an eight-year-old Nick in a robe and slippers, sipping a cuppa joe and doing the crossword.
  3. More angry outbursts at inanimate objects. “I hate doors!” is now a part of my everyday vocabulary.
  4. The return of Elizabeth. I love this character. I love her confidence, the hilarious flashbacks of she and Schmidt dancing in college, and her bluntness in calling Schmidt out on his douchey behaviour. I believe the funds from the douchebag jar should go to Liz. It’s my number one issue for the 2016 election.
  5. I think it’d be nice for Winston to have an actual story line. You know, he is, supposedly, a main character on the show. Let’s throw him a bone.
  6. I desperately want to meet Schmidt’s parents. What are they like? Do they approve of Schmidt? Do they understand the way he talks? If he bought them driving moccasins, would they wear them?? I just have so many unanswered questions!!!
  7. Emily Deschanel as a guest star. Zooey was on Bones so why can’t Emily make an appearance? As a cousin perhaps? And like how Jess sings all the time, I’d love it if Emily’s character reenacted famous movie scenes whenever she felt awkward. Or! Maybe the cousins used to perform musical numbers for their family when they were kids. In that case I’d like to see the two-woman show of Summer Lovin’ or Hard Knock Life.
  8. More True American. Always.
  9. Schmidt and Cece. I know, I know, I just said I want Elizabeth to come back. BUT. I also want there to be a conclusion to the whole Schmidt and Cece debacle. I think they will eventually end up together but wouldn’t it be great if Cece and Elizabeth bonded first? Think of the torture their brilliant minds could concoct for Schmidt! And that man only gets funnier when backed into a corner. Exhibit A: Being forced to choose between the two women he loves and making a mad dash for the door. Hilarious!
  10. Finally, and bear with me on this one, when Nick and Jess mess up their relationship (which according to cast and crew they eventually will) I’d like Jess to be at fault. Nick messes up a lot of stuff for himself. And we know how he handles these goof ups. I think it would be more interesting, not to mention a greater source of conflict and therefore comedy, if Jess was the one to make the first mistake. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, I just want to expect the unexpected.

What are your predictions for season three of New Girl? I’ll be tuning in tonight to see if any of mine come true!

Have a great week!

-K

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Dan, Dan, and a little more Dan

10 Tuesday Sep 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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Daniel Radcliffe, F Word, Horns, Kill Your Darlings, TIFF

Today I’m just gushing. Did you know Daniel Radcliffe has not one, not two, but THREE movies in this year’s Toronto International Film Festival??

  1. The F Word – a romantic comedy starring Dan and Zoe Kazan. (Speaking of Zoe, if you haven’t seen Ruby Sparks yet… why are you still reading? Go watch it!) The story is as follows: Wallace (Dan) and Chantry (Zoe) meet at a party and the sparks fly instantly. The only problem is, Chantry already has a boyfriend. Twist!Even though the plot seems predictable it’ll
    still be a right good time watching our
    beloved HP afword-kazan-radcliffe-fire-fulls an ordinary bloke with ordinary problems and no dark wizard to kill.
  2. Horns – Ig Perrish’s (Dan) girlfriend is mysteriously murdered and
    one dadaniel-radcliffe-hornsy Ig wakes up to find horns growing out of his head. And said horns give him the ability to make people tell the truth.So pretty much like the last one, predictable plot yadda yadda yadda. There’s no trailer for this one either but check out this clip hypable posted of Dan’s phenomenal American accent. We’ve all heard him do it before but not like this!
    http://www.hypable.com/2013/09/09/dan-radcliffe-horns-clip-american-accent/
  3. Kill Your Darlings – The piece de resistance. Just watch the trailer and you’ll see why.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6i4XR5Z4lU

I mean, is that even the same person?? Basically this kid’s got talent coming out of the wazoo and I’m so excited to see all his latest films!

Which one are you most excited about?

Have a great week!

-K

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Jamie Gabbani

22 Thursday Aug 2013

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

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Jamie Gabbani, Now That I've Met Me, One Shot Life

Morning, artsies!

This week I’d like to introduce you to one of the most amazing, talented ladies I know. Her name? Jamie Gabbani. Mark it down folks. It’s a name you’ll want to be remembering in the future, I promise.

I met Jamie six years ago when she walked into the theatre I was working in and sucker-punched me in the gut. Okay, it was actually her audition for The Wizard of Oz that did that. She sang Colours of the Wind from Pocahontas and actually shocked me speechless (which is hard to do, let’s be real).

The thing is, it was extremely clear how shy she was. She barely said a word at all, and her required monologue was directed more to her shoes than to us.

But then she sang.

At only eleven-years-old, and with little-to-no acting experience, she beat out her older, teenage peers for the role of Dorothy in our community production. That summer she proved her acting chops, too…in eight sold out shows, no less. Jamie’s basically a rock star. Seriously, have you written her name down yet?

I’ve had the privilege of catching glimpses throughout the past few years as she’s grown into the confident, beautiful—even MORE talented—young lady she is today. And despite the immensity of her talent, she is still 1098335_471675342927596_680466679_none of the sweetest, most unassuming people I know.

Less than a month ago, Jamie released her first EP on iTunes called One Shot Life. You NEED to check it out.

And even more recently she has debuted the video for her first single, Now That I’ve Met Me in affiliation with the Tim Horton’s Children’s Foundation.

The first time I watched this video, I immediately thought back to that shy girl singing a Disney song on an empty stage six years ago with absolutely no clue how utterly incredible she was. I think it took her a bit of time to see herself the way we all saw her that day, but it soon happened.

And here I am, watching her music video, thinking how appropriate is it for the confident, budding star that was once the girl who didn’t look up from her shoes to debut with a video called Now That I’ve Met Me.

Words cannot express how proud I am of this lady. I am so excited to watch her continue on this journey of hers, and have absolutely no doubt of the amazing things she’ll be conquering in her very near future.

Love you, Jamie Gabbani!

…Oh wait, one more thing.

I swore to Jamie I would never, ever let her live down the following tidbit, and now I’m here to fulfill that promise…

One time I beat Jamie at the SingStar karaoke version of Big Girls Don’t Cry.

Oh, yeah. It happened, folks.

(We’ll pretend that her loss WASN’T due to the fact that she couldn’t stop laughing at my less than stellar vocals, and just agree that CLEARLY I was the better singer. Sound good?)

…

Okay, fine. She lost because she was laughing.

Anyway, in case this wasn’t clear already – I love this girl.

Be sure to take the time to check out Jamie’s album and her video, as well as her website, and pass them on to your friends, too! I hope she proves as much an inspiration to you, as she is to me!

Thanks a million, and I hope you have a stellar weekend!

-A

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A Downton Binge

25 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

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Downton Abbey, Series Four, TV Binging

I have come to a much overdo discovery. There really is nothing better in this world than a binge session of Downton Abbey.

How many times have I had aforementioned binge sessions? Well…definitely not four times. Since, you know, I only discovered the show a mere 10 months ago. How preposterous!DowntonAbbey1

Okay, fine. I’ve watched the entire thing four times. I have no regrets.

As I rounded out the fourth re-watch yesterday, I decided to make a list of lists on my ideas for next season, and my thoughts of the show in general (Lucky you!)

THINGS DOWNTON REAFFIRMS EVERY TIME

  1. British actors are the bee’s knees. (I’ve never said that before, but I’m so very glad I just did now). You take the general English tendency to internalize the more improper feelings and then throw a bunch of characters back to the aristocracy of the 1910s and 20s… and you’re going to need some pretty stellar actors to make it worth watching. Because, if we’re honest, Downton Abbey is a lot of dinner preparation, dressing, and stilted conversation veiled over subtle nuances of voice, understated tilts of the head and careful flickers of the gaze. Sure, there’s a lot of drama mixed in there, but the real story is told in the defeated sag of Lady Edith’s shoulders at dinner, or an arch of Lady Mary’s brow.
  2. When something of significance is occurring at Downton, much of the story is in the relaying of information from character to character—and this could get boring. However, it is very rare occurrence for us to hear a character relaying said information if we (as an audience) have already heard it. The tendency is for us to join the scene immediately after the information is given so we catch the reaction and aftermath. Simply put: nothing is ever told twice. This means we are spared the dragging on and on of most popular North American series. Smart storytelling, I tell ya… Or, at the very least, brilliant editing work!

MY OWN DOWNTON ABBEY INFLICTED TRANSFORMATIONS

  1. Mrs. Hughes’s voice becomes my own internal monologue for weeks after watching a number of episodes in quick succession. Since this is the fourth time it has occurred with no variation I’m gonna say…yup, there’s a pattern there.
  2. My grammar and speech become far more posh in the aftermath of Downton Abbey. Seriously, my texts are of the utmost perfection. And, though I am most definitely a colloquial writer, my ear certainly appreciates the fine art of the English language at its most precise.
  3. Following every re-watch, I plan my next trip to England, wherein I will dedicate myself solely to finding Matthew Crawley and bringing him home in my suitcase. (I mean, what? Who said that?)

ATTENTION! THEREBE SPOILERS AHEAD! CARRY ON AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Personally, I think Series Four couldn’t come quickly enough.

I know that the fan world is still mourning the death of Matthew Crawley (and Sybil for that matter), but I think that the change will do Downton some good. Also, I like to be positive in every aspect of my life. So here goes nothing…

POSITIVE SPINS ON SERIES FOUR

  1. We have a beautiful friendship/support system to look forward to in Lady Mary and Branson. And who are we to object to more Branson in our lives?
  2. It’s 1922. Change is about to come in the boatloads, folks! And with the introduction of Rose—the reckless and youthful Crawley cousin, Edith’s newspaper column, her editor-turned-love interest and her newfound confidence, and (hopefully) more Shirley MacLaine, we can anxiously await much of what makes the roaring twenties so fun!
  3. It’ll be interesting to see how Branson and Lord Grantham fair as they move forward with Matthew’s estate changes without Matthew himself to spearhead the project and to act as buffer between Lord and Chauffeur. Maybe there will actually be some development there! Like, a friendship, perhaps? (I basically just want Branson around always, so sue me).

And finally…

MY DOWNTON ABBEY WISH LIST

  1. More Thomas. Kay, thanks.
  2. Edith kicking ass at EVERYTHING she does. Because it’s time, guys. It’s time.
  3. Romance for Carson and Mrs. Hughes. Sure, it’s a long shot, but we’ve been waiting for ten fictional years. We deserve it!

And so concludes my list of Downton Abbey lists.

If you are not already watching Downtown Abbey and have still somehow made it to the end of an entire gushing blog post about it, then bravo. But also, what exactly have you been doing with your life? Go. Watch. It.

And for all you Downton fans, here’s a look at some of the first photos of Series Four. Enjoy!

What are you most excited for in the new season?

-A

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This is Art Attack!

28 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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Art Attack, childhood, creative, Neil, nostalgia, transition

Remember a few weeks ago when I said I was going through a transitional time? Well, I found out that part of that transition is rediscovering and clinging on for dear life certain things from my past. Aka why I decided to re-read Eragon (which was just as awesome the second time round). This morning I had the inexplicable urge to watch Neil from Art Attack create a really big, well, art attack. So I did.

Not only did I fall deep into the clutches of nostalgia but I also realized just how awesome Art Attack is. It’s a reminder that you can make something from anything. So grab your footie pyjamas, grab a sippie cup, and please enjoy this throw back to childhood! Oh, wait! One more thing… this is an art attack… this is an art attack… this IS Art Attack!

Have an awesome week!

-K

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The Great Graham

21 Tuesday May 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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accents, British, Ellen, humour, Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, talk shows, The Graham Norton Show, youtube

Before I begin, I just wanted to follow up on my post from last week. Disney has agreed to reconsider their redesign of Brave’s Princess Merida. Hurray women every where!

Okay. Now. Before I say what I want to say, I first need to give a disclaimer: I have a deep rooted love and utmost respect for American talk shows. I will sit for hours on youtube and watch interviews with Ellen and both Jimmys (Fallon and Kimmel). They are comedic wonders. However. Have you seen The Graham Norton Show? Because believe me artsies, it’s bloody brilliant. ‘Scuse my British.

A GREAT episode

A GREAT episode

I’m not saying one show is better than the other but if I were saying that, here’s why it’s true:

1. It’s a Conversation:

First of all, I love the fact that all the guests come out at once and sit together throughout the entire show. They get involved in each other’s stories, they egg each other on, it’s like a party! Plus, Graham chats with his guests for nearly half an hour. Sometimes more! As an audience member you get a proper introduction as to who the guest is and because they’re there for an extended period of time, you are privy to far better stories. And the tangents they take! Those are often the best part of the interview.

2. Brits, Brits, and more Brits:

Speaking from a conversational standpoint, something magical happens when you put two or more Brits and/or Irish people together on their home turf. There’s a short hand we just don’t have in North America. They’ll say some colloquial phrase that you know is funny but have no idea what it means. I just want to be in on the joke! Crazy? You decide.

I also enjoy the fact that (for the most part) British humour is just so witty. It’s entertaining to watch Graham poke fun at his guests and vice versa. They can take it to such extremes but it’s never insulting because every joke or pun is so tongue in cheek.

3. A Gracious Host

This is something Graham has in common with the aforementioned American hosts. He’s just so impish and always has a witty pun at hand. Plus, he has a real skill at directing conversation. He makes sure to involve all his guests (even the less famous ones.)

4. The Accents

What can I say? I’m a sucker for them. And on this show you’re likely to get 3-4 different ones per episode. It’s like a lesson on dialects. So really, when I sit in front of my computer and watch three episodes in a row, it’s not a waste of time. I’m learning.

(I probably could have included this point with number 2 but I love the accents so much I’m making it a point all of its own.)

5. Freedom of Speech

Sounds American right? But not where talk shows are concerned. Guest on The Graham Norton Show tell far wilder stories, don’t have to censor their language, and therefore get away with saying so much more. And Graham, why he just encourages it. And, because their British, even when they make low brow jokes, they still manage to come off classy.

The End.

If you haven’t checked out Graham’s show, I highly recommend it. And since I can’t decide which episode to suggest, I’m just going to link the youtube page and let you all go wild.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WESCOTTmedia

Have a splendid time and wonderful week!

-K

Follow us @WeArtsy

Let’s Gush About TV

16 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

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Captain Hook, Friends, Glee, How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, New Girl Finale, Once Upon a TIme, Once Upon a Time Finale, TV Junkie

Confession: I am a HUGE TV junkie.

Question: Is a confession really a confession if everyone already knows it?

Answer: Probably not, but let’s just go with it anyway.

Disclaimer: This is going to feel like two posts in one because I just couldn’t pick ONE show to talk about!

Point of All This: It’s TV Finale season, artsies, and this happens to be me in my element.

(First, let’s not even talk of the mess that was this year’s Glee finale, and instead focus on its silver linings and the ways it can redeem itself next year—sound good?)

Therebe spoilers ahead, mateys!

First up? Once Upon a Time.once

So yeah, the premise can be a shaky one, and it often suffers from ‘way-too-many-characters-to-develop-properly-syndrome’. However, it’s the kind of show that if you just give yourself over to it and let yourself ride its wave of magically fantastical unrealities and disbelief…there really is no better adventure on television right now. For the overly imaginative and nostalgic at least…

There is no question that this season has been a little rocky, because well, magic is back, guys. That’s a big freaking deal. Especially for a show that’s initial allure came from the dual identities of Fairy Tale’s most beloved characters…the most intriguing element of which being their ignorance to these identities. So yes, magic came back and with it, a huge risk to the show itself.

HookBut hey—Emma revisited her birth land (albeit, against her will), Snow showed her dark side, Regina went through an even bigger identity crisis than usual, we learned the identity of Henry’s father, met some new characters—Sleeping Beauty (annoying), Mulan (stereotypical), and *drumroll please* Captain Hook (20 years younger than expected, and complete with British accent and guyliner…yup, we’ll take it)—and finally…we’re GOING TO NEVERLAND!

All in all? Pretty kickass season. So here we go:

Five speedy off-the-top-of-my-head Finale thoughts:

  1. Goodbye Lacey. Welcome back, Belle. What the heck was that, anyway?
  2. I’ve wanted Henry to end up in the Enchanted Forest all season…but, hey, I’ll take Neverland!
  3. Sure, it’s visually strange for Emma to call Snow and Charming, “Mom and Dad”, but yeah, it sent the warm fuzzies aflutter and brought a tear to my eye…I’m not ashamed.
  4. Still not feeling Tamara and Greg as villains but…meh, whatever, I’ll just go with it.
  5. Lastly, seeing them all aboard the Jolly Roger bound for Neverland…all determined and working together…that definitely got a giddy reaction from me. I just like when everyone can be friends, okay?

Also check out this awesome Character-Wish-List from Hypable. I didn’t even think about Narnia! Guys, they could go to Narnia!

Seriously, if a part of you is still a little kid at heart, who throws on a Disney movie every once in a while, and occasionally feels nostalgic for that whimsical, nonsensical, naive childhood time of blind faith in all things magic … and you require strong characters and engaging plot in your television viewing experience…then really, you need to be watching Once Upon a Time.

new girlNext up? New Girl.

Okay, first. Does anyone on the face of this Earth have a negative comment about this show?

I will admit, it started to annoy me this season that Winston has no character, and that he was consistently pushed to the sidelines with pointless story arcs. However, now that New Girl has actually turned around and started making fun of precisely this shortcoming…I’m back to being entirely cool with everything this show does.

Let’s begin with the old man-like, grumpy, self-deprecating perfection that is Nick Miller…

That’s it. That’s all that needs to be said.

If you agree though, you should probably check this out.

We now pause this finale chat for a very important message…

~

Breaking the Rules and Kicking Ass: A Tangent by Ashley

A long, long time ago a group of TV bosses got together, drew up a contract, signed a paper, and agreed that—until death due them part—they would torture TV watchers until the end of time by keeping all character love-interests apart for five million years. Or they would give eager fans a taste of it…and then keep them apart for five million years.

This maddening rule has been upheld throughout the decades to the pull-your-hair out frustration of TV watchers everywhere. It is television law. It is not to be broken…because whenever it is? Well, it usually means death to the show in question. It’s a sad fact, but true.

New Girl is a great big exception.

Now, I don’t want to degrade it by suggesting this is a show about a will-they-won’t-they romance, because it’s most definitely not. And that is precisely why it works.

It’s why Friends worked, and why How I Met Your Mother kind-of-sort-of died along the way.

How I Met Your Mother is an amazing, hilarious premise that is predicated on the precise moment when a couple will become a couple. Therefore, it will meet its end when said couple unites. Therefore, if they want to keep the show on air they need to keep postponing it…which, makes way for recycled jokes, desperate storylines, and tired dialogue.

Friends worked (among a gazillion other reasons) because it was Friends and not the Ross-and-Rachel-Show. The audience had other things to look forward to, root for, and enjoy besides their eventual reunion.

New Girl falls in line with this idea—though, did any of us really expect it to? (I personally thought the Nick-and-Jess thing was a plot point for the very, very distant future).

Sure, Ted from How I Met Your Mother is that geeky, awkward kind of desperate that is always appealing in television characters, but we associate him with finding ‘their mother’ first and foremost (mostly because he won’t stop talking about it). And frankly, he’s not much else.

Personally, the Nick-and-Jess stuff is a storyline I definitely enjoy, but the reason I watch New Girl is because it’s freaking hilarious, and a unique kind of quirky that is so addicting it almost doesn’t matter what’s actually happening. Now if you recall…in a different decade, with a different kind of quirk and a different kind of humour and a different gaggle of mismatched friends…this was, well, Friends.

So basically, all hail, New Girl!

End Tangent 

~

Welp. I didn’t expect to ramble that long…but there you have it. I could continue, but can we all just agree that New Girl is one of—if not, the most—refreshing sitcom in a while and that we should probably all just worship at its feet? K, good.

Here we go!

Five speedy off-the-top-of-my-head Finale thoughts:

  1. The boys sabotaging Cece’s wedding? Perfection.
  2. Random Taylor Swift sighting? K, cool. I’ll go with it.new girl 2
  3. Congrats New Girl…you actually made me care about a potential love interest in a mere three episodes…aka, Elizabeth rocks, Schmidt. And now Cece wants to rekindle you’re twisted but somehow awesome star-crossed romance? Yes run! That’s a hard decision!
  4. What is with Jess’s dad? Like, seriously.
  5. Thank you, New Girl, for continuing to defy typical sitcom ‘code’ and not waiting until next season to resolve this Nick and Jess ‘calling it’ madness. Nope, you waited about 3 and ½ minutes. And that is why I love you.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed a bit of my early morning obsessing. And I hope if you haven’t given Once Upon a Time or New Girl a try that I haven’t frightened you away with said obsessing. Seriously—check ‘em out. They’re the best!

If you did watch the finales—let’s be friends. Tell me your thoughts!!!

A happy, obsession-filled Thursday to you all, artsies!

See you next week.

-A

Follow us @WeArtsy

 

Kickstarting the Excitement

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Confluence, Dylan Saunders, Eric Kahn Gale, Jim and the Povolos, Judas Redux, Kickstarter, Team Starkid, The Bully Book, Twisted

Everyone knows I’m a theatre buff right? Kay good. And truly, I love it all. From Broadway and Off, to independent, Brechtian, farce, community… it all has a special place in my heart.

As you know, last week was exciting because we got to watch AVPSY and fall in love with Starkid all over again. But as thrilling as that was, I find this week even better. Why you ask? Well, have you been on Kickstarter lately?? If not, I must ask, what rock are you living under? And as a follow up, when real life gets too overwhelming, can I come visit?

Starkid (via the Lang brothers and Bully Book author Eric Kahn Gale) launched a kickstarter campaign to raise $35,000 to produce a new original show, Twisted. They’re basically doing what Wicked did to The Wizard of Oz but to Aladdin. Our response? Aladdin and Starkid… uhm DREAM COME TRUE!

These guys cleverly said they’d raise the rest of the budget ($12,000) themselves if they reached their kickstarter goal. Well, Starkids rose to the occasion and in 2 days the $35,000 had been raised. Last I checked, a week and a half later they are at $128,324. … I am speechless. The support the Starkid community gives to these creative wonders is phenomenal. Just one of the many reasons I am so proud (and giddy) to be a part of this fandom.  Check it out here.

Not only did Twisted get funding but our own Mr. Dylan Saunders launched a kickstarter to produce his own record, Confluence. He’s collaborating with a few familiar names such as Tomek Miernowski and Theo Katzman among others. Watch his kickstarter vid here. With a golden voice like that, who wouldn’t want to support?? He gave us a goofy flamboyant Dumbledore, a loveable Tootsie, and a vicious Pincer, and now it’s our turn to repay him for entertaining us. So yeah, he’s been funded. Go Starkids!

Finally, the project that has provoked the most excitement from this gal is Judas Redux involving the familiar faces of Julia Albain, Joey Richter, Lauren Lopez, and Brian Rosenthal. And let’s not forget the fabulous Corey Lubowich (set design), June Saito (costumes), and Sarah Petty (lighting). They are producing/directing/acting in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, a play they did together back at the University of Michigan. I know I’m overloading you with kickstarter videos today but seriously, check this one out for sheez!

There are about 5 million reasons I am beyond ecstatic about this project but I’ve picked my top four to share with y’all:

  1. Something New: This play is unlike anything this group has performed for their internet audience. Not that we haven’t loved their previous work! I for one have all the soundtracks and love revisiting the world of parody and fun music. But Judas is different. It’s deep, thought provoking, logistically complicated, and theatrically grueling. Oh, and (based on the kickstarter video) hilarious. But that doesn’t stop these guys. They’re pushing the boundaries and challenging their existing audience (aka us— who else is pumped??) The other new element we’ll all be experiencing is the style of acting this kind of show requires. These guys are old pros at switching between characters but I think Judas is really going to showcase the incredible acting abilities of its cast. And I’m so excited to see what they’re bringing to the table. Which brings me to my next point…
  2. Passion: Even from the kickstarter video you can just feel the passion these guys have for this project. They’re willing to risk it all to give life to this play. They’re devoted, committed, and frankly, I think they’re going to blow it outta the water. Julia’s already proven she’s a directing pro (she directed the Space and Apocalyptour whereas I can barely direct my cat while filming Space Cats, The Adventure Starts Meow!) And their enthusiasm is infectious. I knew nothing about the play before this announcement and now I’m on the hunt for a hard copy. I just need to know more!
  3. Along for the Ride: Not only is this group of artists going on an exhilarating journey, but they’ve invited all of us to come along with them. Cool? Yes! They’ve embraced one of my absolute favourite things about theatre: the communal experience. The expression “it takes an army” has never been truer. Sure, they’re asking for some financial support but who wouldn’t want to be a part of this endeavor?If you can’t make it to the show, never fear. Even though they legally can’t put the show up on youtube or sell DVDs, they plan to document the process of getting Judas off the ground. It’s all about the journey and the individuals coming together to make it happen. And finally…
  4. Inspirational: I have so many projects floating around in my head that I eventually want to make happen. And sometimes given where I am in life at the moment (finishing post grad, poor, moving to a new city) these projects feel just a little too out of reach. Nevertheless, these inspirational artists continue to take dreams and turn them into realities. And it’s so friggin’ exciting that we’ve been invited to live vicariously through them. They’re just doing it.So if you’re like me and your dreams seem a little far-fetched right now… take heart. Let’s support our fellow thespians because what goes around comes around and one day, it’ll be our turn. And if Starkid and the Judas crew have taught us anything it’s that we CAN make it happen.

Hope you’re having an awesome week!

-K

Ps. If you guys are looking for an inspirational tune, check out Jim and the Povolos’ song Loved and Alive. It is the bomb diggidy and will just make you feel happy all day e’ry day!

Everything Has An End – AVPSY Part 2

28 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

A Very Potter Senior Year, Apocalyptour, End of An Era, Glee, Harry Potter, Space Tour, Team Starkid

Back in February of 2010, I discovered A Very Potter Musical for the very first time. Harry Potter mixed with mid-sentence bursts of song? Sign me up!

Unfortunately, my love for Team Starkid was not born that day. In fact—though I’m embarrassed to admit this to those who know the level of my obsession now—I believe my exact reaction roughly two minutes in was, “This is ridiculous”. And I promptly turned it off and forgot about it.

As fate would have it, I had a ‘We’ that just couldn’t fathom a world wherein I wasn’t privy to the genius of this group of theatre kids from Michigan. (Aka: Keely bugged the hell out of me until I agreed to watch it with her a few months later).

Now, fast forward from that girl who rolled her eyes at Joe Moses’s ridiculously over-the-top Snape voice (This is absurd!), to the girl who actually cried with joy when the ghost of Snape returned to help Harry one last time.

Like Keely said, A Very Potter Senior Year was a great big love letter from Starkid to us. Voldemort danced again, Dumbledore came back when Harry needed him, Cedric found something beyond the grave, and Quirrell and Voldemort reunited—presumably for that long-postponed roller-skating date.

(At this time, I’d like to give a shout out to Tyler Brunsman for channeling Maggie Smith to perfection, Meredith Stepien for making the role of Hermione her own, and Brian Holden for managing to channel at least 17 different dialects of Scottish accents).

But like any Starkid show, it was as much about the parts that were clearly unrehearsed or improvised as it was about the story itself. Usually it is the tightness of a performance and the flawless execution that invites audiences into the world of the play, but with Starkid, it’s the frayed edges that do that. Perhaps they don’t help to suspend your disbelief, but they certainly bring us further into the world of the actors. And that is precisely why we Starkid fans appear a tad, erm…crazy in our love for these people—because it sort of, kind of…maybe feels like we know them.

The frayed edges of AVPSY mean that I wasn’t just watching the story. I was also watching A.J. jump seamlessly from centre-stage as the exuberant Gilderoy Lockhart, to his piano where he helped run the musical part of the show. It means that I laughed until I cried when Darren proved incapable of putting on a tie (and then acknowledged the fact mid-song with—Fuck the tie! I gotta get back to Hogwarts!). It means that I was watching Brian Holden accidentally pull his fake mustache into his mouth during one of Hagrid’s more boisterous monologues and smiling like a lunatic when Joey and Darren fumbled the new Goin’ Back to Hogwarts lyrics with the old ones. It means that when Harry said goodbye to Draco, and it was plain as day that Lauren’s tears were triggering Darren’s—I cried too. It means I was more impressed than I should have been that Evanna Lynch (yes, the real Luna Lovegood) flawlessly melded into the play, took no portion of the spotlight for herself, and proved that she, too, was just another Starkid.

This is what I like most about Starkid—that they don’t try to be too professional or too separate from their audience.

They are Starkids, and we are Starkids—there is no differentiation. We’re all just fans of the same nerdy stuff, and prone to bursts of silliness, song, and sentimentality.

And like Keely already mentioned, you only get it if you get it. That is why Starkid is so extraordinary. Sure, it’s about a mutual love for Harry Potter, but you can have a conversation about good ol’ HP with just about anyone you pass on the street. But finding another Starkid? That’s a pretty special thing.

So you see, Starkid is a lot of things to us, but at its core—our obsession is far greater than finding mutually silly, like-minded theatre kids to cheer on as they try to find their big breaks.

Most importantly, Starkid is about our friendship with each other.

It’s about our inside jokes, and our spontaneous adventures, our sing-alongs and treasured memories.

It is about Keely freaking out so loudly the night Darren Criss appeared on Glee for the first time (I’m warm! I’m so warm!), that I didn’t even hear him sing his first song.

It is about my knees shaking uncontrollably when, after eight hours of joking about the possibility, we randomly bumped into Joe Walker and Brian Rosenthal (and then Joey Richter!) on the street in Ann Arbor (We were cool right? Wait! Were we not as cool as I thought we were?).

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And finally, it is about sitting side-by-side on the couch, watching each other’s reactions as much as the actual show, as we laughed and full-out sobbed through the end of this era together.

So yes, Team Starkid—it really has been totally awesome.

Thank you for taking us with you on such a wonderful adventure.

-A

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Everything Has An End – AVPSY Part 1

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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A Very Potter Senior Year, Darren Criss, Supermegafoxyawesomehot, Team Starkid

This is one of those posts where I have much to say yet have no idea where to begin. The minute I say what it’s about, those of you who know us will just get it. That’s the power of Starkid. See? You just felt it didn’t you?


AVPSYLast Saturday Ashley and I were finally able to watch A Very Potter Senior Year together. We’ve watched all their past shows together and this one was no exception. To be honest, watching it feels like a blur. I more so remember checking to see Ashley’s reactions and crying from Act 2 Part 5 till the end. Crazy? You decide.

I’m overwhelmed at the creative genius of Nick and Matt Lang and Brian Holden for the writing, and the killer tunes of Clark Baxtresser, Pierce Siebers, and AJ Holmes. Sure they had a rich source material in the HP books but seriously, look at what they did with them! They gave us stakes, a dancing Tom Jr., hilarity, and above all, they brought our hearts. It’s their best show to date. Starkid took all the best parts of Harry Potter and this time, applied it to themselves. And all of us.

AVPSY was like a reunion you got to experience from your computer. It was a bittersweet moment because, although I was over the moon ecstatic to see these memorable characters reprised on my screen, I also knew this was the end of an era. But like the song says, Everything has an End and the Potter parodies are no exception. (Also, can we just take a moment to absorb the elegance of that song? Much like gum, it was perfection.)

Some of my favourite parts of the show were all the shout outs to the previous parody musicals. Like Lucius’ dancing, a Spiderman reference, and my personal favourite, Quirrell and Voldemort back-to-back together again. As it should be. The show allowed us to reminisce while taking us on a brand new adventure through iconic moments like the resurrection stone (who else sobbed?) and sending young Albus Potter off to school. This is the heart I’m talking about. And they brought it in abundance.

AVPSY also gave us new moments like Dumbledore’s goodbye, Snape’s final words to Harry, and Voldemort’s last monologue telling us all that it’ll be okay.  It was all we wanted and then some. And let’s give a round of applause to AJ for his delivery of the mouse monologue because no one could have given it validity like the triple threat wonder-man himself.

But what got me about this musical isn’t even really about the show itself but rather how it reminded me why I love Starkid so much. It’s not because Darren came back (although that’s definitely a contributing factor) or because it was a new musical, or to do with Harry Potter. It’s because it was all of them.

Starkid, at its core, is a group of friends putting on shows together. That’s how they started and that’s what they continue to do. The only difference is they’ve just gotten better. But the radest part is that they work their hardest to include all of us. They make you feel a part of it.  Towards the end, when Darren says goodbye to “Hogwarts”, he breaks for a moment. As he says, “it’s been totally awesome”, it feels like he’s talking to us. The people who have watched all the musicals, bought the merch, waited in line for hours to see the Space/Apocalyptour… AVPSY was a gift. It commemorates a mutual love for a fandom that’s impacted us all in one way or another. Because those Starkids, they’re just like us. They love the same stuff and, they really do, just get it.

So thank you Starkid, those on stage and behind the scenes.  And even though it’s the end of an era, we’ll be okay. And you know what? Okay is wonderful.

Stick around for Ashley’s AVPSY post on Thursday. It’s a double Starkid week y’all. Hurray!

Have a supermegafoxyawesomehot week.

-K

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An Ode to Amy

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

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Amy Poehler, Comedy, Parks and Recreation, SNL, Weekend Update

I’ve always loved Saturday Night Live ever since I was allowed to watch it. I came in right at the end of the Will Ferrell years and was hooked by the Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey reign. I will probably have many posts in the future professing my love of the show and its incredibly talented cast, but for today I’d like to shine the spotlight on the beloved Amy Poehler.

I’ve slowly (in between writing/pitching/editing breaks) been making my way through season 3 of Parks and Recreation starring none other than the Poehlercoaster and its made me re-realize just how phenomenal this woman is. Not only is she a hysterical comedienne, but she’s also is a talented actress. There are actors who can be funny but it’s uncommon to find a comedian who can act. And Amy Poehler is one of them.

For all of you who haven’t watched Parks and Rec, (where have you been, under a rock??) season 3 follows Amy’s character, Leslie, as she begins to realize she has feelings for Adam Scott’s character, Ben Wyatt. Amy perfectly performs Leslie’s delightful awkwardness, not-so-subtle jealousy, and sneaking secret smiles at Ben when he’s not looking. With her enthusiasm and tireless devotion to her dear sweet and often misguided friends, Amy makes you love this character and the show. Because even though Amy’s at the helm, her adoration for her cast and ability to play the straight man, showcases their talents as well as her own. It’s about comedy but it’s also about comradery. It’s a fusion of creative and hilariously talented people coming together to produce a new show every week.

And that’s not all! She’s written and directed several episodes and is a producer of the show too. So, like, no big deal or anything.

Amy as the rambunctious Caitlyn.

Amy as the rambunctious Caitlyn.

But seriously, Amy’s also an amazing performer. Look at her eight-year stint on SNL. Caitlyn is one of my all time favourite characters to date. I can’t say the name “Rick” without ribbiting it like she did. And who can forget the powerful lady duo of Amy and Tina on Weekend Update followed by an equally loveable Amy and Seth once Tina left? Not this guy! Amy’s fearless. How many women (at 8 months pregnant) can pull off a rap about Sarah Palin and make it so freakin’ fierce??

(Go to 1:00 and sorry for the quality but it’s worth it!)

Here’s a better one of Leslie Knope’s impressions:

Comedy gold.

In case you haven’t guessed, I look up to this woman. She’s a fearless performer, hilariously funny, and looks incredible while doing it. Soooo when can we be best friends??

If you haven’t, check out Amy and Tina’s opening monologue at this year’s Golden Globes and get ready for some laughs!

Happy Tuesday!

-K

The Oscars’ Silver Lining

07 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Ashley in Gushes

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Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook, The Oscars

I have always been a huge fan of Award Shows. However, I know nothing—nothing—about the music industry; so generally, watching the Grammy’s is useless for me. (Though, last year I happily tuned in to watch Adele clean out—take that auto-tune!)

No, I am more interested in tuning in for the acting awards, so I religiously watch The Tonys, The Emmys, The Golden Globes, The SAG Awards, and The Oscars. In recent years though, the Oscars in particular has become a bit tedious to sit through. Judged by an aging Academy, it’s rare to find a movie in the Best Picture category that a young person would watch unprompted by the nomination, but that also has a chance at winning.

For me, Silver Linings Playbook broke that mould this year.

Pat, a bipolar man, is discharged, against medical advice, from a mental health institution by his mother. Recently separated from his wife (who has a restraining order against him due to his condition), Pat moves in with his parents, and soon meets a girl—recently widowed—who isn’t all that different from him.

This is a movie about a man determined to maintain his health solely by seeing the silver lining, his father who never bets against him, and the brash and lonely girl who tricks him into dancing with her.

WATCH.

It goes without saying that Jennifer Lawrence was extraordinary. I’m pretty sure she couldn’t be anything less if she tried. She flipped effortlessly from desperately angry, to sarcastic, to soft throughout the movie and, like she does in all her roles, displays an understanding of emotion, vulnerability and even humanity, that far transcends her twenty-two years.

I also love that Jennifer Lawrence is known to the world as ‘Jennifer Lawrence’ and not ‘that-girl-in-the-Hunger-Games-movie’, thereby shattering a second mould that suggests young stars of large book-turned-movie franchises simply can never leave behind their famous character.

Also. Oh, hey! Hey the Bradley Cooper I fell in love with back in Alias days…so glad you’re back with us! Seriously, he was so incredible. I’m so glad he is finally doing something worthy of his talent.

(Move over aging Academy…I’m going to take the reins on the pretentious bandwagon for a sec. The Hangover, Bradley? Really? Really? Yes. I’m judging you. Ahem…*hands reins back to Academy*)

Together, they were even better than they were apart. Lawrence played her boisterous rants (sharpened to perfection with dry wit) off of Cooper’s soft and vulnerable (and, yeah, unhinged) single-mindedness with perfection.

Their chemistry was believable, all their scenes strong and their fifteen-year age difference indiscernible.

And to top it off…it was funny. Yes, the subject matter was a heavy one and it was told with the delicacy it deserved, but certainly not with more than was necessary. Most of the serious moments were softened with a quick quip…but not in a sitcom way. In the, this is life kinda way, and we’re going to make an effort to laugh instead of cry.

Anyway. To sum up: Oscars? I’m proud of you for including this unconventional title in the running, while actually giving it a chance to win. (Come on, we all knew last year that The Help was only included in the nominations because it was critically acclaimed… not because you had any intention of letting it win).

Also. Congrats to Jennifer Lawrence on her Best Actress win. She is probably the only actress in the world who didn’t have a single person actively hoping she’d trip up the stairs. (Even though she did). She’s cool. She’s nice. She’s quirky. And she’s one of the few people that can bounce back from the fall in all of three seconds by being her charming witty self.

Case in point:

I think Bradley Cooper deserved a bit more award show love—maybe not an Oscar, but a different one would have been nice. I guess I’ll settle with the nominations.

So here’s what I want you to do… Drop everything. Right now. And go watch Silver Linings Playbook if you haven’t already. Seriously, go.

…you’re still reading. What are you waiting for?

Did you watch the Oscars this year? What did you think?

Have a great rest-of-the-week!

-A

Follow us at @WeArtsy

Fictional Characters Are My Best Friends

12 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by Keely in Gushes

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

30 Rock, Community, Cult TV, Fictional Characters, Firefly

Lately I am all about TV. Well, I’ve always been about TV but because of school, I’ve had to think about it critically.

Don’t stop reading! I solemnly swear not to bore you.

Let’s take a look at some of the shows I geek out over:

30 Rock: had to fight to stay alive. *Insert Bee Gees song here*
Community: still fighting.
Firefly: didn’t even stand a chance.

I know Firefly doesn’t necessarily fit with the other two but I’m a writer and I had to follow the rule of three so just chill ok?!

Ahem. What I’m getting at is that these shows have all struggled with ratings and yet have some of the most die-hard fans ever. Why is that? I’ve taken a stab at solving this age old mystery:

The Top Three Reasons I’ve Come Up With to Solve an Age Old Mystery and I’m Just Going to Keep Typing Because Long Titles Look Impressive

1. Everyone loves an underdog:
If the network is the bully then these shows are the awkward gangly kid that said bully picks on. And everyone wants Gangles to win in the end. (Yes! Made a comparison without using a sport metaphor or referencing the Karate Kid. I just fist pumped the air.)

In the eyes of the network, these shows are like a three-legged puppy. Everyone thinks it’s so cute and brave as it hobbles around. But all the network wants is a normal four-legged dog. But you know what? Four legs are overrated. (Disclaimer: this is in no way an attack on four-legged dogs. I respect you all. Except for when you lick my face because you lick your junk and that is disgusting.)

No one cries out of their mouth like Liz Lemon after having lasik eye surgery. Or constructs an alternate reality like Abed in his Dreamatorium. Or gets away with being a loveable rogue cowboy in space like Mal Reynolds. I love my little weirdo shows because they dare to be different and encourage me to do the same.

2. Expect the

… See what I did there? You thought I was going to say “unexpected” and then I DIDN’T. Ha ha silly humans. This point mainly applies to the comedies although no one can accuse Joss Whedon of being predictable.

But with shows like 30 Rock or Community, you never know what you’ll be watching each week. Journey back with me to season two of Community where the gang played Dungeons and Dragons with Fat Neil (one of my absolute fav episodes!). They literally sat around the study room table for twenty minutes. But you were entertained the entire time! Now really, I ask you, who could have called that?

3. Extended Family:

The best part of most beloved cult shows, these three included, is that the characters represent the wacky, dysfunctional family we all wish we had. Wouldn’t it be great to have a dry and sarcastic cousin like Wash or a sister like Kaylee to share all your secrets with? We embrace the members of these kooky clans as our own. Plus, if you’re like me, you’ll talk to your friends about these fictional people like they’re real!

*Guy saunters into classroom all swag like.*

Me: Ugh, what a Jeff.

Friend: Who?

Me: You know Jeff? All cocky and full of himself.

Friend: Where’d you meet him?

Me: Uhm… on my TV. You know what, if you don’t watch Community, why are we even friends??

And scene.

What are your favourite cult television shows? How do you fill the ginormous void they leave when the network lowers the guillotine?

Happy Tuesday!

-K

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Ps. Here’s an emotional Liz crying from her mouth in tribute to the end of 30 Rock. Enjoy!

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