Becoming...

While my husband was out playing Hacky Sack with Kat Von D's husband at Warped Tour, I went and saw Becoming Jane. And I seriously think I got the better end of the deal.

I'm an admitted Jane "nerd" and would watch, read or listen, to just about anything remotely related to her life and work. Last summer I got to visit her house in Chawton and spent hours loitering and walking in the garden, sitting on the benches to do a little writing of my own... so this movie... yeah, I've been waiting on it for a while, following the IMDB profile since it was still a teeny-tiny idea in pre-production.

Worth it? To me. Yes. Absolutely. I knew of her history with Tom Lefroy from my studies in college and etc., but I'm gonna spend a little more time researching tonight, see if I can figure out how much of the movie was factual and how much was... "creative embellishment" (I would imagine quite a good deal, as we have not heard more of him) on a fantastic life and story.

Final verdict? Like romance and all those other things women are suckers for? Like Jane? You'll love the movie.

For more on all things Jane, visit Austen Blog.

Joining the Entourage

I'm in the midst of my Entourage catch-up. Season 2, Disc 3 should be arriving on my doorstep tomorrow and I'll continue my faithful review until I'm up on Season 4 (that may take some time, I know) - no matter how wacky their schedule is. My thoughts at the moment are a bit... scrambled... because I get it. I see, I understand, why people love this show - especially the Hollywood crowd.

Don't get me wrong. It's fabulously done, well written, funny, satirical - and it has The Piv. All things that put it on top. But if I have to listen to one more montage about weed and how many girls they've all slept with (described, sometimes, in the most derogatory ways), I might go a little crazy. Just momentarily. I've heard and seen plenty of filthy language and unnecessary sex and violence, but I think the onslaught of 5 episodes at a time is getting to me. Maybe I should start breaking it up...

Still, it is a clever show, not afraid to show the good and bad of this town, and I applaud that for sure. They're great with locations and I find myself amazed at some of the places and people they've gotten access to. So yeah, all around, I like it. I just need a little time to breathe between episodes.

Imagine, without Melissa Joan Hart and Drive Me Crazy, Vinnie Chase might not exist as we know him...

DVD Update.

How I Met Your Mother, Season 2 - October 2
Gilmore Girls, Season 7 - November 13

Random comment: I watched The Starter Wife today while continuing to unpack and organize my apartment. Good stuff. Entertaining, if a little cheesy at times. I liked it. And I get why Debra was nominated for the Emmy.

I think I'm part of the Nerd Herd.

So, I think I love Chuck.

I hadn't really heard much about the show... something from Kristin or Korbi at E! about how funny he was at the TCA's, but before that... not much. Maybe I wasn't paying attention.

Today I saw the Pilot.

And it's funny. Like, actually funny. You have to suspend your disbelief for a little bit (The $11/hour computer geek opens an email and downloads all the US/World Security secrets into his brain via a parade of images - think the creepy room from LOST on speed, with less use of the word Jacob.) but it's worth it. Zachary Levi carries the show well for a newcomer. He's got that effortless, Jim Halpert-esque charm... slightly-dorky-but-irrestible-for-some-reason, quality. (That's a high compliment from me, ok? You're talking to the girl who loved Seth Cohen.) There's Sarah Lancaster (Everwood, What About Brian) as Chuck's sister, and newbies Yvonne Strzechowski and Joshua Gomez as the mysterious CIA agent and quirky best friend.

Chuck is full of... promise. Just like Ryan Howard. I have no idea how the rest of the TV audience will react - who can predict these things? - but I give it a hefty, "Go for it!"

Premieres at 8 p.m., September 24 on NBC

EMMYS!!

2007 EMMY NOMINEES

The Office:
Comedy Series
Lead Actor, Steve Carrell
Supporting Actor, Rainn Wilson
Supporting Actress, Jenna Fischer
Directing for a Comedy Series
Writing for a Comedy Series: Gay Witch Hunt and The Negotiation

LOST:
Supporting Actor, Terry O'Quinn
Supporting Actor, Michael Emerson
Directing for a Drama Series
Writing for a Drama Series: Through the Looking Glass

House:
Drama Series
Lead Actor, Hugh Laurie

Heroes:
Drama Series
Supporting Actor, Masi Oka
Directing for a Drama Series

Brothers and Sisters:
Lead Actress, Sally Field
Supporting Actress, Rachel Griffiths

Grey's Anatomy:
Drama Series
Supporting Actor, T.R. Knight
Supporting Actress, Katherine Heigl
Supporting Actress, Chandra Wilson
Supporting Actress, Sandra Oh

How I Met Your Mother:
Supporting Actor, Neil Patrick Harris

Studio 60:
Directing for a Drama Series

Other future "Proof" shows also nominated in various categories: Entourage, Scrubs and 24.

Congrats to ALL the shows for these, and their other nominations in art direction, casting, editing, sound mixing, sound editing, music direction, cinematography, make-up, stunts, and guest stars!!

Proof's 2007 Fall Schedule

FALL 2007

I know, I know. The 2007-2008 Television Season doesn't officially begin until mid-late September, but most shows go back into production in a week or so - and some are already there. I figure, if they're back at work, it's never too early for me to prepare. So, if you're planning to follow along this year, here's what you can expect from me (so far).

SUNDAY

10 p.m., Brothers and Sisters, ABC


MONDAY

8 p.m., How I Met Your Mother, CBS

9 p.m., Heroes, NBC and 24, FOX (January)

10 p.m., October Road, ABC (Mid-Season)

I'm giving it a second chance to get better!


TUESDAY

9 p.m., House, FOX


WEDNESDAY

8 p.m., Pushing Daisies, ABC

Saw the Pilot and loved it.

9 p.m., Private Practice, ABC and Gossip Girl, CW

The latter is a guilty pleasure, for sure. Screw that, they're both guilty pleasures and the first one has to prove itself.

8 p.m., LOST, ABC (February)


THURSDAY

9 p.m., The Office, NBC

Don't forget, the first four episodes are an hour long!

9 p.m ., Grey's Anatomy, ABC

I'm giving it a second chance to get better!


MIDSEASON/UNSCHEDULED/STILL INVESTIGATING

(But Likely Will Give It A Shot)

Miss Guided, ABC

The Rules for Starting Over, FOX

Reaper, CW


PENDING

(or, Will Catch Up On At Later Date)

Entourage, HBO

Their new season is ongoing, and I'm waaaay behind.

The Return of Jezebel James, FOX

I love ASP, but it comes on Wednesdays at 8:30, which means I probably won't follow it religiously.

Scrubs, NBC

Final season, so I must watch at some point, but I'd probably need to watch last season first.


WOULDN'T TOUCH WITH A 10-FOOT POLE

Cashmere Mafia, ABC

Dirty Sexy Money, ABC

Just trust me. The pilots were a tad scary, especially the former. DSM was tolerable, but I'm not arranging my night around it.

Such a long, long time...

Wow. I truly didn't mean to be out of pocket as long as I have been... but sometimes life gets in the way, just a little bit! Moving to California, starting school, trying to find a place to live - it's been insane! But it's beginning to settle in, thank goodness!!!

Of course, we don't really care what I've been doing. We care about TV. So, let's get to what I know at the moment.

Upcoming TV/DVD release dates:

August 21 - HOUSE, S3
August 28 - HEROES, S1
September 4 - THE OFFICE, S3
September 11 - GREY'S ANATOMY, S3
September 25 - BROTHER'S and SISTERS, S1
October 23 - VERONICA MARS, S3
December 11 - LOST, S3
---
GILMORE GIRLS, S7 - ??
HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, S2 - ??
24, S6 - ?

Hope you're still out there, somewhere.