Summer Reading List

I've been working on this list for a while. The hardest thing for me has been figuring out what mood I'm in for reading. There have been times in my life where I wanted to be really challenged by my reading, and then times where I wanted to read really old traditional literature, and then times when I wanted young adults books, and times when I wanted chick-lit. I'm finding myself currently wanting things that require very little thought to read them. I just want to escape in my reading and just read something quick and funny and simple. So keep that in mind when you read this list. I'm aware these aren't all great works of literature. I'm okay with it right now.

First of all, there are several books coming out this summer that are the next books in a series I've already read.

Shadow of Night

by Deborah E. Harkness

Release date: July 10, 2012

The first book in the series is A Discovery of Witches. It's kind-of like an adult version of Twilight, but in a good way. It's not adult version like True Blood. I can't deal with all that. But it's adult version in that it goes back through history and connects vampires and witches with different important people in history. It's just really interesting how it pieces it all together. So this book is the second in the series and I've been looking forward to it ever since I finished the first one!

Rapture

by Lauren Kate

Release date: June 12, 2012

This is the fourth book in the Fallen series. The first three are Fallen, Torment, and Passion. They're all about fallen angels and they again connect fallen angels throughout history and they begin with the actual original fall, which I think is really interesting.

Then there are several I want to read that aren't involved in a series I've already read.

The Night Circus

by Erin Morgenstern

This one has been recommended to me several times and I got it for Christmas this year, but I never did actually read it. I am going to sit down and read it sometime this summer.

The Selection

by Kiera Cass

This is going to be a show on the CW or something later this year, so I thought I would go ahead and read it just to see what I think!

Delirium

by Lauren Oliver

This book comes up on recommendation lists for me all the time! That's how I found Divergent, so I figured I'd give it a try.

Jennifer Crusie books

I haven't decided which ones I'll read yet. I have never read one of her books, so I want to try one first. Options I'm thinking of are Bet Me, The Cinderella Deal and Trust Me on This. These are all chick-lit books. Books like that tend to be hit or miss for me. Sometimes I love them, sometimes I don't. We'll see how it goes.

I also may read some Sophie Kinsella or Madeleine Wickham books (considering they are the same person). I have read several & liked them, so they're always a pretty safe bet.

HappyThankYouMorePlease

HappyThankYouMorePlease

Lew and I watched this last night for our Friday night in-house date night. I absolutely LOVED it! I didn't know quite what to expect. It's written and directed by Josh Radnor of How I Met Your Mother. He also plays the main character. I love him on HIMYM, so I was interested when I heard about it! I watched the preview and decided I was definitely going to watch it. I've been waiting for it to be on my Blockbuster Online.

It is really so great! The story is interesting and different. I love how it is one of those that include lots of different people and how they relate to each other. The relationships between the characters are just so real. That was my favorite thing. All the relationships. There were several parts where Lew and I both were just like, "oh that was great." The way he has them interact and the way he shows that is just so authentic and sincere.

I really enjoyed it and I think you would too!

So there ya go!

Pilot Scoop

Every year, I follow the new TV show forecasts pretty closely. I get excited to see what new shows I could pick up! This year, I started watching New Girl, Ringer, Hart of Dixie, Suburgatory, 2 Broke Girls and Secret Circle! Let's point out that 3 of those are on the CW - probably my all time favorite channel. It has the most shows that I watch on it.

Well, the TV stations have started picking up pilots, so I'm following along with anticipation! So far here are the shows that look promising to me...

Let's start with my favorite...the CW

CW has ordered another medical dramedy by the producer of Gilmore Girls. I didn't watch Gilmore Girls, but I want to and I know lots of people who like it! The plot sounds similar to Hart of Dixie, mixed with Grey's Anatomy. That could be a downer that there are already shows similar to it, but since I like both of those, I'm willing to give it a shot.

CW has also ordered The Carrie Diaries, based on the novel by Candace Bushnell. It's a prequel to the Sex and the City novels, based on Carrie in high school. I love Sex and the City, so I'm pretty sure if they do this well, I'd love it too!

Finally, CW has ordered a Beauty and the Beast-type show, similar to the 1987 series with Ron Pearlman and Linda Hamilton. I haven't seen that, but according to IMDB it looks kindof like a more modern take on it. Not sure how I feel about this, but I tend to give the CW the benefit of the doubt, so I'm going to try it.

Now, probably my 2nd favorite channel...ABC

First of all, ABC is also ordering a Beauty and the Beast-type show. Weird that there would be 2, but this one sounds more like a Once Upon a Time kind of thing. I have loved that show so far, so this one also sounds fairly promising. But I also find it weird that they would have Once Upon a Time and a Beauty and the Beast show on their network.

ABC has also ordered 666 Park Ave., based on another book. It is created by the producers of Vampire Diaries, Secret Circle and Gossip Girl. They had me at producers of Vampire Diaries. I'll watch.

Shonda Rhimes has created a period drama for ABC called Gilded Lilys. It's based in 1895, with the first luxury hotel in New York. She's done great with everything I've seen of hers so far and I love New York, so that idea sounds interesting.

NBC

NBC has picked up 8 comedies. Once a couple of them sound good to me.

Jimmy Fallon is producing a comedy based on three 30-something guys who are parenting even though they haven't stopped being children themselves. Sounds funny and I love Jimmy.

There is also an untitled Hilary Winston project about a shy, focused woman who dumps her fiance and allows her coworkers to help her come out of her shell and get revenge. Sounds kinda cute.

TBS

TBS ordered Men at Work, with Breckin Meyer and Danny Masterson. It's about a recently dumped nice guy whose friends help him become manly again. It's got some funny guys in it.

Golden Globes Favorite & Least Favorite

Favorite: Charlize Theron

Least Favorite: Sarah Michelle Gellar

Movies I Need to See: Golden Globe Edition

The Descendants

I have to wait for Dollar Theater or DVD.

The Help

I'm waiting until I read the book! I know it's crazy I haven't read the book yet. I'm working on it, people!

The Ides of March

George Clooney AND Ryan Gosling. Yes. I'm waiting for Dollar Theater or DVD.

Moneyball

This looks great & I love Brad, Jonah & Chris!

The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep rocks my socks off.

Midnight in Paris

Rachel McAdams. I love her.

My Week With Marilyn

Can I just say how surprising it is that Jen from Dawson's Creek ended up being the most critically acclaimed actor from the show? Love it.

Young Adult

This just looks funny.

Beginners

Love Christopher Plummer & Ewan McGregor. Waiting for DVD.

I need to get on this before the Oscars!!

Golden Globes Best & Worst...Continued

Best

Freida Pinto - Very simple, but she looks so great!

Kristen Wiig - She looks fantastic! I love her hair.

Charlize Theron - Love her hair & makeup! Kinda love the dress, too!

Angelina Jolie - This was actually on the worst list for me, but when I saw her talking to Ryan Seacrest, she actually looked really great! Pictures don't really make it look good.

Sarah Hyland - She's just adorable & the dress is so simple & beautiful.

Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan - Favorite couple. They're adorable & they look fantastic!

Worst

Salma Hayek - While her hair looks lovely, I think her dress looks like something from Tron.

Nicole Kidman - Oh just no. I just really don't like it.

Dianna Agron - Love her. Just don't love that dress. Laser-cut swans? Really?

Lea Michele - Just don't love this either.

Side note: my Golden Globes snack of choice is the Pretzel Chip. I bought the Snack Factory brand at Target. Original Deli Style. Yummy!

Golden Globes Best & Worst...so far

This is as of the first part of the red carpet.

Best

Ariel Winter - very cute & appropriate

Shailene Woodley - beautiful

Worst

Sarah Michelle Gellar - looks like paint spilled on her

Jesse Tyler Ferguson - he looks like a butler

Golden Globes 2012

It's award season again!!! I love it. It's 8:15pm and I'm just now starting the red carpet coverage on DVR! My first thoughts...what is up with Kelly Osborne's hair? And I'm super pumped to hear what Ricky Gervais has to say!

Stay tuned for some Cameron commentary. Always fun.

Reading Update

I've read several books lately that I felt like I needed to share! I'm in a major Young Adult phase right now. Mainly I think it's because I've been working and I just don't have time to get into something that requires a lot of thought. I used to read books like The Count of Monte Cristo and I loved it! But it required me to really think through everything! Now that's not to say that what I have been reading isn't really great, because some of it really is! But it's just not deep-thinking kind of stuff. That being said, here's what I've been reading lately!!

Matched and Crossed by Ally Condie

Both of these are dystopian novels about a society where at 17, you are matched with someone and you spend the rest of your life with them. Everything is planned out for you, including your mate, your job, your home, your leisure activities, etc. It takes place around this one girl whose match gets mixed up and she ends up questioning everything about her society. It's a trilogy and the first two are out now. I read them both. I liked the first better than the second, but I still liked both of them. They definitely weren't the best books I've ever read, but they were worth the read!

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This book is really strange, but I liked it. I'm not sure if everyone would. It takes place again, in a dystopian society where a generation found the cure for all illnesses, including cancer, HIV, etc. and there was a generation who lived into their hundreds. As a result, though, their children started dying at the age of 20 for girls and 24 for boys. The generation who is living so long has started to create polygamous marriages for their sons where they marry young girls who haven't reached the age to die yet. The purpose of these marriages is for the girls to bear children to be tested and experimented on to try and find a cure for this new virus that is killing the children. It takes place around a girl who is stolen and forced into one of these polygamous marriages. It's really interesting and strange, but in a really good way! The second one comes out in February, so I'll be reading that one too!

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

I kept seeing this book on my Amazon Recommendations, so I finally decided to read it! I really loved it and couldn't put it down! It's about a group of boys who wake up in this place alone and with no memory. They arrive at the rate of one a month and they are in this huge courtyard surrounded by a huge maze. They have been there for a couple of years and are trying to figure out a way out. The courtyard closes every night and there are thing in the maze that come out and will kill you if you are left out there at night. It takes place around a boy who arrives and then a week later, a girl arrives with a message that she will be the last one. Everything changes and it's really fast-paced and interesting! That being said, though, I tried to read the second one and I just couldn't get into it. It's a trilogy and all three of them are available now. Maybe you'd like them all more than I did!

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

I actually read this one a while ago, but I don't think I ever posted on it on either of my blogs. My friend Sara, who recommended Twilight to me the first time, is the one who told me to read it. It's kind-of like Twilight for adults. It's about Vampires and Witches, but rather than being something that is light and fluffy and just a love story, it is actually really well written and intelligent! The author takes vampires & witches and puts them into historical context among lots of other things that have happened in the past. I really loved the way she put it all together! It is also going to be a trilogy and I'm excited about the next one!!

Fallen and Torment by Lauren Kate

These are the most recent ones I've read. I just finished Torment last night. They are the first two in a series of four. They remind me a lot of My Name is Memory that I read this past summer. It's about two people whose love spans lifetimes and centuries where she is a human who keeps coming back after traumatic deaths, but he's a fallen angel. It ties into a lot of biblical things with the fall and angels and demons and things like that. I really liked it more than I thought I would! I want to read the third one, but it's checked out at my library right now. I have placed a hold on it, so hopefully I'll get to read it soon!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I have to say, this is my favorite book I've read so far this year! It is right up there with The Hunger Games for me! It's about a dystopian society where at the age of 17, I think, you choose one of 5 factions to belong to. Once you choose your faction, it affects everything about your life. The story of where the factions came from and why there are five and things like that are all really interesting! This is about a girl who has to choose between the faction her family belongs to and making a choice that goes against everything she's ever known. It's AWESOME. I am so excited about the second one, which is coming out in May! It will also be a trilogy. I recommend this one to anybody.

Books on my "to read" list...

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

Passion by Lauren Kate

Rapture by Lauren Kate

Breaking Dawn (Major Spoilers)

WARNING: I do not hold back in my details. This is pretty much  nothing but spoilers. If you have read the book, you'll be fine to read this. If you have not read the books & have not seen the movie, don't read this.

Overall...I hated it.

But to be fair, I don't think it's the movie's fault that I hated it. I absolutely hated the first half of the Breaking Dawn book. Pretty much right where they cut off the first movie is where I finally got a little bit on board with the book. As soon as Jacob imprinted, everything made more sense to me about all of the other books. I suddenly got why Jacob & Bella had always had that connection. I had read the other books where it described someone imprinting on a baby and the way they had described it made it seem way less creepy and weird. I don't think there's a perfect way to portray that in a movie. 

So I pretty much felt about the movie the way I felt about the book. I loved the wedding stuff, honeymoon stuff. I hated it when Bella got pregnant. I thought it was embarrassing and awkward. I feel like Bella is a horrible role model and a horrible character in general. She was never my favorite in the books or the movies. (Give me Hermione Granger any day!)

When it got into Jacob's view and you see the wolves talking and everything, it seemed like some sort of Disney channel animal movie. Just felt cheesy and again, embarrassing for me. I spent the last half of the movie practically with my head in my hands, or covering my face because I felt so awkward about all of it. 

I will say that I loved the ending when Bella became a vampire. When it goes through that whole thing and then she opens her blood red eyes. Yep, I'm ready for Part 2. I loved Part 2 in the book! I loved the whole thing with the Volturi and with meeting all the different types of vampires from all over the world. I loved it when Bella was learning about being a vampire, so I look forward to seeing all of that in the last movie.

So let's see, I loved the wedding and honeymoon. That was about 25 minutes or so. I loved the part when Bella became a vampire. That's the last 2 minutes or so. I have a combined total of less than 30 minutes of the movie that I liked. That leaves 3/4 of the movie that I hated. Overall, not great.

But bring on Part 2.

Fall TV Update

Fall TV Update

So I've got some winners & losers so far. I posted about the fall shows I was planning on watching, so here's how everything has panned out so far.

Absolute favorite new show of the season: New Girl

Others that are high up on the list: Ringer, 2 Broke Girls, Suburgatory

Here are the ones that aren't my favorites, but they've been added to my regular rotation: Hart of Dixie, The Secret Circle, Up All Night

The shows that just didn't make the cut: The Playboy Club (although this one was canceled anyway), The X Factor, Pan Am

I'm still waiting for: Once Upon a Time


But I just have to say again that New Girl is just the best thing that has happened to tv this year! I love Zooey Deschanel & the guy who plays Schmidt is hilarious! They're all just great characters on the show! Sadly, I loved Damon Wayans Jr on the pilot episode, but I'm ok with the new guy. But I do like Damon Wayans Jr's character on New Girl better than his character on Happy Endings, so that's kinda sad. Oh well.

As far as returning shows go, I'm LOVING Vampire Diaries. Everything else is good, but Vampire Diaries always takes things in a direction I didn't expect & I just think that's good writing. So way to go! I've stopped watching Raising Hope and my anticipation for Bones new season is just out of control! So excited for November 3!

What are your thoughts on Fall TV this year?

TV Shows - The Breakdown

If you want to see my ridiculous DVR spreadsheet, click here to check it out!

I've been sharing my spreadsheet with several of my friends & I always get the same reaction: "How do you have time to watch all of those??" There are 46 shows on the list, so I thought I'd share my process.

The "ASAP" shows

These are the regular shows that start in the Fall & go through the Spring. I love them & I usually watch them the day they come on. They're my favorites.

Gossip Girl

Glee

Big Bang Theory

Vampire Diaries

Grey's Anatomy

SNL (Always watched on Sunday morning)

I've added these two this year. We'll see if they stay on this list.

Ringer

Hart of Dixie

The "Sometime This Week" shows 

These are the regular shows that start in the Fall & go through the Spring, but I usually wait until a convenient time that week to watch them. That could mean I watch them the day they come on or it could mean I wait until Friday, Saturday or Sunday night to catch up for the week. These are also most of the 30 minute shows because I can easily fit them in here & there throughout the week.

How I Met Your Mother

House

90210

Modern Family

Happy Endings

Bones

The Office

Private Practice

I've added several to this list this year. We'll see how they go:

Two Broke Girls

The Playboy Club

New Girl

Suburgatory

Up All Night

The X Factor

The Secret Circle

Once Upon a Time

The "When I Have Time" shows 

These are regular Fall to Spring shows. They're still good enough that I don't want to take them off the DVR, but I may save them & catch up at a time when regular shows are off the air for the week or something. I don't usually watch them the day or week they come on.

Raising Hope

Parenthood (This one could be moved up to a "Sometime This Week" show this year. It was awesome last year!)

Castle

The Summer/Winter Break shows 

These shows come on in the summer & then come on in January again when most regular Fall shows are on hiatus for winter break. It makes it easier to keep up with them because they aren't really on at the same time of year as the Fall shows.

White Collar

Project Runway

Suits

Mid-season shows 

These start later in the year, usually January to May. They make my Spring schedule a little more complicated, but they're still really good!

American Idol

Cougar Town (this year)

One Tree Hill (this year - haven't decided for sure if I'm going to watch this last season or not)

The short-season shows 

These shows start random times throughout the year and usually only last 6-10 episodes or so. They can complicate things for a little while, but they're not long seasons, so it's easier to keep up with them.

NY Ink

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

Holly's World

World of Jenks

The Buried Life

Million Dollar Decorators

Surprise Homecoming

Ridiculousness (Lew & I just started watching this one. Not sure if we'll keep watching it.)

And finally, The daily shows 

These come on every day at times that don't interfere with anything else. I watch Ellen everyday, but the others I only keep & watch the ones that have people on that I'm interested in.

The Ellen Degeneres Show

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Late Show With David Letterman

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

The Amazing Spider Man

On top of the fact that I think Emma Stone is just absolutely adorable & I see all her movies & a lot of my friends apparently think we are somehow similar (possibly the awkwardness that she can pull off in her movies - I am nothing if not awkward in a semi-charming way), I now have even more of a reason to be hyped about the new Amazing Spider Man movie! Andrew Garfield's little speech at Comic-Con is just the cutest thing I've ever seen, I almost cried. So excited about this one!!

Blockbuster Movie List

(Out of all of these, White Collar is my favorite!)

I've been really using my Blockbuster online account this summer! I've watched so many movies!! I thought I'd share a run-down of the best & worst. (In order from the most recently watched.)

The Adjustment Bureau

I was actually surprised by how much I liked this one. I tend to really enjoy Matt Damon movies, though, and I think Emily Blunt is adorable!

Sucker Punch

This was just not great. It would've been better if it was actually about girls with super strength & power fighting things, but the fact that it was all in her mind just came off as silly.

Just Go With It

I loved this!! I had heard it wasn't that good, but I thought it was so funny!!

Beastly

I'm a little embarrassed by how much I liked this, but not that embarrassed. It was good! I really like Alex Pettyfer! Too bad he's apparently crazy in real life.

The Rainmaker

Yep I decided it was time to rewatch this one. Haven't seen it in years! Lewis had never seen the whole thing! It was just as great as the first time I saw it!

City of Angels

Another old one that I decided to watch again. I love that Goo Goo Dolls song in it. I think that's the best part of the movie. Nicholas Cage kinda makes me feel uncomfortable.

White Collar

I watched the first 2 seasons of this & then started watching season 3 on USA this summer! It is absolutely one of my favorite shows now! I love it so much!!! The dynamic between Neal & Peter is just hilarious.

I Am Number Four

Another Alex Pettyfer. Lewis and I both really liked this one! It was WAY better than I expected. I'm actually looking forward to the next one!

Jackass 3

I've seen all the Jackass movies. I don't know why I like them so much, but I do! I watched this about a week before Ryan Dunn died in Pennsylvania. Sad.

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never

Okay, confession: I watched this twice while I had it rented. I was absolutely shocked by how much I liked it! I made Lewis watch it with me the second time and he kinda liked it! He goes, "I hate to admit that this almost makes me like him."

The Next Three Days

Action. Russell Crowe. Not too bad!

The Green Hornet

We didn't even finish this one. We just didn't like it that much.

The Dilemma

I fell asleep halfway through this one. I never do that. Obviously it wasn't that appealing.

No Strings Attached

I thought this was really cute and funny! I actually kinda want to watch it again! I'm excited about seeing Friends With Benefits and comparing the two!

Private Practice

This is another TV show I finally started watching. I don't like it as much as White Collar or Grey's Anatomy, but I did like it & I'll be adding it to my DVR list for the fall.

New Harry Potter Trailer!

My excitement for this movie is just crazy! I get goose bumps on my whole body when I watch this trailer.

My Fall TV List

All the networks have been announcing their Fall TV Schedules & I am overall really happy!! There are a few shows that I'm sad have been canceled (Hellcats, Off the Map, Mr. Sunshine), but there are also a bunch of new shows I can't wait to watch! 

First, let's talk about what I'm excited is returning! (In no particular order)

House

Fox, Mondays at 9pm

I can't believe that Cuddy isn't coming back, but I do feel like House is still giving us crazy storylines that have me completely on the edge of my seat. One main example: House's absolutely insane & disturbing surgery on himself in this week's episode. OMG.

Glee

Fox, Tuesdays at 8pm

Of course, this is just amazing and it makes me really happy and I want it to keep coming back year after year. And I'm ready for Finn & Rachel to be back together. And definitely for Puck to stir up some trouble next season. I feel like he wasn't enough of a troublemaker this season.

Raising Hope

Fox, Tuesdays at 9:30pm

While this isn't one of my absolute favorites, it does make me laugh regularly & I think that's all you can ask for.

Bones

Fox, Thursdays at 9pm

I absolutely cannot wait for the finale tonight to find out if Booth & Bones did it! LOL. I will keep watching this one even though they completely  make me angry regularly with there back & forth kind of junk between the two of them. It's been way too long. Just let them get together already!

Parenthood

NBC, Tuesdays at 10pm

If you are a parent or you have parents or you have siblings (which I should've covered everyone by now), you should be watching this show. It's beautiful and challenging and funny and just a really lovely family show.

The Office

NBC, Thursdays at 9pm

So curious about next season without Steve Carell!

Castle

ABC, Mondays at 10pm

Eh, it'll remain on my DVR, but depending on how the beginning of next season goes, this one could be off after a few episodes.

Modern Family

ABC, Wednesdays at 9pm

Hilarious. Keep 'em coming.

Happy Endings

ABC, Wednesdays at 9:30pm

This was a midseason pickup this year & I have been so surprised by how much I LOVE it! It's just hilarious! The combo of those 6 characters is really great! It's right up there with the Friends or How I Met Your Mother or Big Bang Theory combo of characters for me. I hope it has a great second season!

Grey's Anatomy

ABC, Thursdays at 9pm

I just never get tired of this show.

Private Practice

ABC, Thursdays at 10pm

Okay, this is one I just started watching a couple months ago & I'm within half a season of being caught up. Thank you, Hulu Plus, for having the whole fourth season available to me! I love this!

90210

CW, Tuesdays at 8pm

Loving this one still, too! Is Naomi really pregnant?? Because I feel like she's lying to get the nerd to stick around.

Big Bang Theory

CBS, Thursdays at 8pm

This is just one of the best shows on tv. If it didn't come back, I would freak out.

Cougar Town

ABC, Wednesdays at 9pm (midseason)

Coming back mid-season - really?? This show is awesome!!!!!

Gossip Girl

CW, Mondays at 8pm

Love this! I really wanted Chuck & Blair to get together again, but I kinda get it. Maybe she'll really get to be a princess! And I now need to read The Beautiful and Damned this summer.

How I Met Your Mother

CBS, Mondays at 8pm

Barney is getting married?!? When do we get to meet the mother???

The Vampire Diaries

CW, Thursdays at 8pm

This is my favorite show on TV right now. I am so curious about everything coming up next season! Cannot believe Jenna is dead. Kinda ready for Elena & Damon to get together for a while. Cannot believe Stefan is bad again!!!

Saturday Night Live

NBC, Saturdays at 11:30pm

I mean, really, it's just a TV legend. It must continue.

Project Runway All-Stars

Lifetime

Excited about this - don't know when it comes on, though!

Now, the one I'm not in favor of returning...

One Tree Hill

CW, Tuesdays (midseason)

Yes, I have been a One Tree Hill fan for a really long time now. I have been in support of it returning every year that it's been on. But this season, they ended it perfectly. Everyone is happy. Everyone has a baby or someone who loves them or has somehow made amends or whatever. It's just all wrapped up. What else is there to do? Especially in only 13 episodes of a mid-season pickup? I feel like it will just be creating drama for no reason. I wish they had just left this one alone. The finale this season was a perfect ending to the show & I just don't know if I'll continue watching it next season. I wish they would go out strong & positive. I mean, Jamie running across the bridge with the basketball & the Keith Scott motors sweatshirt?? How much more perfect of an ending do you need??

And the new shows I will be trying out in the fall are...

New Girl

Fox, Tuesdays at 9pm

Zooey Deschanel is coming to TV! Of course I will be watching. I don't even know what the show is about, but I'm there.

Suburgatory

ABC, Wednesdays at 8:30pm

I was not really interested in this one, but then I watched the preview. It looks funny! And it's a dad/daughter show & I'm always up for giving those a shot.

Once Upon a Time

ABC, Sundays at 8pm

Jennifer Morrison & Ginnifer Goodwin star in this show about a city where fairy tales are coming true. Cheesy? Maybe. Interesting to me? Definitely. I'll give it a shot.

Secret Circle

CW, Thursdays at 9pm

This is starring Brit Robertson, who I loved in Life Unexpected. It's based on more books by LJ Smith, who wrote The Vampire Diaries. I'll be reading the books this summer & adding this to my DVR this fall! I'm definitely interested!

Hart of Dixie

CW, Mondays at 9pm

Rachel Bilson is returning to TV. I think she's adorable & I've liked pretty much everything else she's been in. Plus it's on the CW & I tend to like most things on the CW, so I'm in to give it a shot!

Ringer

CW, Tuesdays at 9pm

Sarah Michelle Gellar. On the CW. As a monumental Buffy fan, I feel like I need to offer no other explanation.

What are you looking forward to in Fall TV??

Return to My So-Called Life

I finished Season 1 aka the entire series of  My So-Called Life last night. I've been watching it on DVD for the last couple of weeks. It is so strange how something that so perfectly hit home for me in middle school and high school can somehow be completely off base and completely perfect still at the exact same time when I re-watch it at 26 years old. It was an interesting journey, following along this time.

My initial thoughts were as follows:

Why did I like this so much?

Wow Jordan Catalano is still all that.

How do shows from the 90's get me saying things like "all that" again?

This 90's music is fabulous.I had totally forgotten about Toad the Wet Sprocket!

Why is he always leaning? Oh right, because he's high!

(I just like how he's always leaning. Against stuff. He leans great. - Angela)

Good looks are just not enough to overlook illiteracy.

Claire Danes is a fabulous actress.

This reminds me so much of how I felt in high school!
(Huge events take place on this earth every day. Earthquakes, hurricanes…even glaciers move. So why couldn't he just...look at me? - Angela)

Some of this reminds me so much of how I feel now!
(This life has been a test. If it had been an actual life, you would have received instructions on where to go and what to do. - Angela)

I love Rayanne Graff.

Wow I remember why I liked this so much.
(Sometimes it seems like we're all living in some kind of prison, and the crime is how much we hate ourselves. It's good to get really dressed up once in a while, and admit the truth -- that when you really look closely, people are so strange and so complicated that they're actually...beautiful. Possibly even me. - Angela)

Why in the world did this get canceled???
(People always say how you should be yourself. Like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster or something. Like you know what it is, even. But every so often, I'll have, like, a moment when just being myself, and my life, like, right where I am, is, like, enough. - Angela)

As you can see, many of these thoughts were related to Jordan Catalano - as I'm sure most girl's thoughts are when they watch it. (Remember when Jared Leto looked like that & not like he does now!) The rest of them are just all the reasons why people loved this show! It hits home to people. I remember that feeling of not knowing who I was and not knowing exactly how to find out. I remember the feeling of not wanting to be like your parents, not exactly trying to rebel, but trying to find some way to identify where you become separate from them. I remember feeling awkward & uncomfortable with my looks, my body, the way my life - physically and emotionally was just changing. It's a rough time and some part of that continues throughout your adult life because life continues to change and move on. We have to adapt, discover a new version of ourselves that works for this stage.

There are so many quotes from the show that leave you thinking "um heck yes that is exactly what I'm thinking!" Even now - at 26. I'm no longer a teenager. I'm no longer interested in the "Jordan Catalanos" of the world. (It's always tempting to lose yourself with someone who's maybe lost themselves. But eventually, you want reality. - Patty) But I'm still struggling to discover who I am, where I fit, what parenting strategy fits me and my family - what insecurities can I overcome today - what decisions are best for me, for my husband, for my daughter. The show is about people. It's about life. And call me too introspective or over-identifying with it, but I think it has something to offer anyone who has ever felt that struggle, that need to find your place in the world.

Sure, there are people who never watched the show, never liked the show, even today would probably not identify with it. But I did. A lot. Again. At 26.
(Sometimes someone says something really small and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart. - Angela)

 

You know how sometimes the last sentence you said, like, echoes in your brain, and it just keeps sounding stupider? And you have to say something else just to make it stop? - Angela

The worst feeling is suddenly realizing that you don't measure up, and that, in the past, when you thought you did, you were a fool. - Angela

There are so many different ways to be connected to people. There are the people you feel this unspoken connection to, even though there's not even a word for it. There's the people who you've known forever who know you in this way that other people can't because they've seen you change. - Angela

You think you understand, but you don't! You just analyze everything until it barely exists. - Angela

Hunger Games Casting: Peeta & Gale

It was just announced that Josh Hutcherson has been cast as Peeta in the upcoming Hunger Games movie.

Liam Hemsworth was cast as Gale.

I can get on board with Liam, but I totally don't see Josh in that role. I'm hoping we don't have another Twilight situation on our hands. I still hate some of the casting in Twilight when I watch it.

I guess we'll see. I'm going to rent The Kids are All Right so I can get a better idea of what I think of Josh. You can see Liam in The Last Song.