James Durbin

I haven’t watched in awhile, but I have to agree with America about dumping Pia! She is just ordinary, another Celine Dion, and there are a lot of Celine Dion fans out there, but I am not one of them. I YAWN when I hear her music. It just doesn’t move me in the least. It makes me BORED. So with that being said, tonight’s show was good, and James Durbin made it GREAT! Not only did he come out with metal power, but he had Zak Wylde in tow! HELLO! WHAT? I know… It made me get up off the couch and want to “do things”!

So.. Yes America, THANK YOU for voting off Pia, pretty, boring Pia. Give me terrets, learning disabled rocker James Durbin any day of the week. I love an under dog and James is the one I want to win, HANDS DOWN! Give me some crazy, some energy, and some THING other than ballads, and country. American Idol has a lightening bolt and his name is James. GO JAMES!!

The only thing which might have sent me into a swing of GLORY would have been Steven Tyler singing BACK IN THE SADDLE! Now that is what I NEED… I needed it in elementary school, middle school, high school and now in my womanhood!

I am sad it is ending! This is one of the BEST SHOWS on television! The characters are rich, fully developed, loveable and the viewer can always attach some merit to their behavior. Set your DVRS for 8 pm April 15th, as this is the last season. Not to mention THE HOTTEST GUY ON TELEVISION- TIM RIGGINS! Played by Taylor Kitsch… Damn….

I’ve had to put a television in my sewing room so that I don’t feel so disconnected from the world when I sew and I am 20 times more productive because I sew for a much longer period of time. I have had the channel on Bravo perpetually. I have now seen Real Housewives of NY, Orange County and Betheny Ever After and a couple episodes of each. By the time I turn off the television to exit my sewing room, I am not only exhausted from crafting, but mentally exhausted from listening to the REUNION SHOWS and the episodes!

First who is Andy Cohen, the host of these reunion shows besides a massive FIRESTARTER!? They hired him because he is attractive and a total instigator! I am going to google him now for his “history” in show business. Cohen has been the network’s senior vice-president of original programming and development for four years. Ok, so he went from a behind the scenes man to a front line entertainer. Hey Andy are you really proud of adding to the dumbing down of America?! Does that make you feel great? Knowing that you are contributing the lack of creativity and industry in this country making us fall further down into the abyss of loserdom compared to the rest of the world in ingenuity, economy and skill set to fill the existent jobs here? No wonder why we have to outsource all our tech jobs, everyone is too busy glued to their television sets trying to emulate everything that is wrong with society! Not to mention focusing on everything else but themselves. Why don’t you use your handsome brain to come up with programming to enhance society? Thank you…

My observations include:

I cannot believe how “women” are portrayed in these shows. Portrayed with editing, I would HOPE, but also feel that there is an issue with each of them and their lack of real spirituality or personal growth in terms of how they interact with  and treat each other. It’s sad, all the bickering and jealousy is just downright depressing. It depicts what is wrong with humanity in general. They would rather be divisive rather than unite. There is inherent weakness in this strategy and it is continually reflected by how unpeacefully they co-exist.

I believe Kelly Killoren Bensimon has a very bad case of ADD. Seriously, when they all pick on her, how she responds, and how she lives her life without any sense of continuity. How hypocritical she is and how she defends it so poorly are classic ADD! She needs to look into that asap, it could make a huge difference for her. She seems suspiciously absent mentally. Like ADD absent.

The botox party on Orange County version was clearly sponsored by Botox Cosmetic. One woman isn’t going to buy botox for all her friends at a 2 hour party! Great signage BOTOX! They figure if main stream America sees them doing it, the phones will be ringing off the hook to go get their Botox too, PR Trick #1.

The reunion shows are a catastrophe of fighting, yelling, judging, rehashing the past and a downright CRYING festival of discomfort! It is clear that these women are remorseful when they are “caught” or called out for their behavior but they click right back into defense mode once the heat is off of them and they are attacking someone else. These reunion shows just enforce the stereotype that “women are crazy and over emotional”.  Would there ever be a show where men who all hung out would cry about how one another treated them? I am not sure, but I would love to see a show on Real Husbands of all these cities and see what happens, or perhaps that would not make great television because we wouldn’t continually see human beings berate one another and suffer so much discontentment from the false friendships. The casting department purposely picks women that they know will harm one another emotionally in front of the whole world! It is sort of crazy to me. It’s like taking these lower conscious operating women and putting them together in a cage to see who survives. I don’t think these women are bad people, but their priorities in life are a little absurd given their age and acquired wisdom, or here, perhaps lack thereof. I find a lot of women in general to be insensitive to others feelings, and I am not immune to that comment because at the same time we can over analyze things that just don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.  The only thing in life that truly matters is LOVE, plain and simple. How you assert yourself in the world is a direct reflection of how you feel about your self “inside”…

Lastly, Betheny, oh lord. I know lots of people who “like” her because she is self effacing etc. Her show is nothing more than two people, she and her husband, over talking, over communicating, over complicating things that really don’t matter. I guess this is entitled ENTERTAINMENT. I get so exhausted listening to them go back and forth and watching her very intimate and personal emotional melt downs.  Why is it necessary to televise this? I am not sure. If someone wants to chime and and comment, I welcome it.

I am quite certain that this form of entertainment and television isn’t good for the soul or the mind. It’s not that I am boring, and not appreciative of others hashing out their complications but I am def only learning one thing, WHAT NOT TO DO! Perhaps that is what I should focus on here, turn it around and realize that these shows have shown me HOW NOT TO FUNCTION, HOW NOT TO BEHAVE, HOW NOT TO TREAT MY FRIENDS, HOW NOT TO DRESS, LOOK, and PRIORITIZE.

I believe next season they should all focus on growing emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. How about we bring in people like Dr. Henry Grayson, Michael Beckwith, Byron Katie, and other great spiritual thinkers and teach them more consciously effective ways with which to view themselves and others?

I found these pictures on the net with the words, I am sorry to perpetuate some ill will, but I really want to make a strong point here. I don’t condone it and feel a bit bad about it, but it is impactful.  I don’t ever believe that any one is truly “bad”. I don’t think anyone really wants to be an asshole. I just wish people who are being televised would try to set a better example of how to behave.

Peace!

I just got done with Californication, and Shameless. I used to love Californication, but now it isn’t capturing my enthusiasm the way Shameless is! The key to a great show is the emotional connection one makes with the characters. The “likability” of the characters, per-say. Characters, Setting, Problem, Solution, or protagonists, antagonists, flat characters, static, round, dynamic… all these elements play into a great fictional story.

Californication’s Hank Moody just isn’t harnessing my heart this season. He used to be the loveable screw up, but now, he is bordering on pathetic. I hope the writers get more creative with his role. I realize without Hank Moody being so messed up there isn’t a show, but it is now teetering on ridiculous and the redemption factor just isn’t present at the moment.

In Shameless, there are tons of great characters! William H. Macy is genius as Frank Gallagher, the family patriarch, useless, good for nothing alcoholic who has no redeeming qualities. Correction, he has flashes of human-ness. Emily Rossum is unbelievable as “Fee” (Fiona), the eldest sister and daughter of Frank, who takes on the role of matriarch because Frank is too busy gallivanting to the local bar and to the neighbors house to get gourmet meals from the agoraphobic, kinky Sheila Jackson, played skillfully by Joan Cusak! This is a big Irish Catholic family of 6 kids who must fend for themselves and find creative ways to make money to pay the bills and survive. Every character is rich with its michegas and they are all lovable. The neighbors are rich with controversy as they are a racially mixed couple who foster a Mormon child of 13 who has her own child! Hilarious! This is by far the best show on television! 

Now I am on United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie.  I favor United States of Tara over Nurse Jackie because the characters are more original. Tara, played by Toni Collette is totally outrageous, her children are interesting, her one son is gay and feeling his way around it in high-school and her daughter is provocative, smart, hilarious and snarky. Tara’s sister is a mess and a constant character. Lots of action in this series!

I love Nurse Jackie, played be Edie Falco, she is flawless in it as far as performance, but the characters surrounding her aren’t as interesting. Nurse Jackie is a master manipulator and liar, but has this highly principled side which is ironic given her dishonesty directed toward the people closest to her. She is tough, unyielding and lovable despite her addiction to pain killers, which she will do anything to obtain and take, including infidelity.

This is a more “realistic” scenario type show with safer characters contained in a hospital environment. I feel as if the writers are careful to portray medical professionals as conservative as they can so they don’t get any flack! THIS IS FICTION and I wish they would go a bit wilder! Jackie is the only character with interesting flaws. I watch it because Edie is AMAZING, not because I get a kick out of anyone else on the show. They need to wack it up a bit!

Showtime Line Up

• Dexter (2006–present)
• Shameless (2011–present)
• The Borgias (2011–present)

[edit] Comedy/dramedy series

• Weeds (2005–present)
• Californication (2007–present)
• Nurse Jackie (2009-Present)
• United States of Tara (2009–present)
• The Big C (2010–present)
• Episodes (2011–present)

 

 

Ok, now here is a great “reality” show idea! James Hetfield’s life NOW versus NOT SOBER. The big differences, the memories, the pain, the happiness. This is a show which will teach people a better way of life! MY GOD! It isn’t hard! I could think of a million better TV shows then what are out there! This man is an unbelievable talent and a personality! Why not feature people with REAL TALENT on reality shows and illustrate how life can be better and is better when you care about yourself and want to be better?

(Much better than Jersey Shore, Kardashians, and Real Housewives…) at least there is a lesson here, and we get to see some talent and purpose. Christ almighty! 

James Hetfield Quotes:

     “I like a women who’s got some balls, some strength. As long as I can beat her at arm wrestling, that’s fine.”

“Regret? That’s a screwed up word.”

Fame and Fortune doesn’t fill the hole a father leaves: (James Hetfield interview about a documentary he assisted with:  http://www.rockvillemusicmagazine.com/2011/03/james-hetfield-fame-and-fortune-doesnt.html

James Hetfield on being ”straight edge”:  http://doublecrosswebzine.blogspot.com/2010/05/james-hetfield-of-metallica-on-straight.html

I don’t know about you, but these shows disturb me beyond. Not only are these women completely ridiculous, but they behave like high school students. Is that why it is so interesting to America? What is so interesting about their everyday lives that it should be televised and given extreme media attention? What is wrong with our society that we make ingrates like this famous?

Since when is it ok to revere lower conscious behavior? These women need to be awakened big time to what really matters in life. I understand that they convey a reality to their geographical location based upon totally superficial values and material possessions, but to televise it and make it popular is a whole nother animal called the MEDIA, and there is a lot wrong with it!

I was talking to an esteemed psychologist yesterday about the degradation of our American ideals, and our society and how disturbing I felt the path is. People with very little experience in life or wisdom are holding key positions in media, television, and publishing. Therefore the quality of the work being produced, shown to America and creating trends in American is DUMBED DOWN, insulting and irritating at best! Is this really to be valued? This SHIT? Are you kidding me?

Between this, The Kardashians, The Real Housewives shows (which REAL must be ironic because there is nothing real about them), and Jersey Shore — REALLY AMERICA? Is this where we are heading? What a total and complete nightmare of a society! Why are we placing value on inexperience, youth (people who haven’t even found themselves yet), and creating celebrities out of them? Why is American buying into this and purchasing the magazines and watching the shows featuring these people?

They are all clones of one another! Why doesn’t America value individuality, genius, invention, and forward thinking? Are we going backwards instead of forward? TV needs a huge overhaul and America needs detoxification from STUPID! No wonder we are falling miserably behind in test scores in schools, and in invention and ingenuity! How EMBARRASSING!

I caught a glimpse of one episode of Beverly Hills Housewives and they were saying it’s all about the home, how big it is determines your worth. Wow… really? How terribly fucking sad for these people. For anyone. I mean how “hard” is life going to be when you don’t have to worry about having an ounce of responsibility because you depend totally upon your husband and his money? Or.. you depend on your ex husband’s alimony? Are you serious? How can I respect any of these women or better yet, how can America even take them seriously?

Macy, as Frank Gallagher

On to another subject: Shamless, the new series on Showtime. This show is pretty crazy and I am now seeing the value a bit now. It’s dirty, gritty, and realistic and William H. Macy is absolutely genius in it! The feel of this show reminds me of that movie about crystal meth with John Leguizamo, Spun. I remember leaving the cinema after seeing Spun and feeling like I needed a shower! Shameless is the similar, it’s uncomfortable, and shocking and the cast of characters are people that someone could definitely know dependant on what circles you come into contact with. The season opener had me indecisive about whether or not I would endorse the show, but the second episode hooked me. It’s tragic, grim, gritty and a little out of control. If you want to delve into the underworld of addiction and how it affects a family, check it out. It’s not for the conservative, that is for sure.

Here is a background write up from: The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/john-wells-shameless-network-shuffle-72068)

Showtime’s newest hit Shameless was a long time coming — eight years with stops at two other networks — for executive producer John Wells.
 
For Wells, the adaptation of the BBC series about a working-class family whose kids wind up parenting their drunk father, the bulk of getting Shameless to the small screen on Showtime started with a two-year process securing rights from the BBC series’ Channel Four and Company Pictures that creator Paul Abbott — an exec producer on the remake — didn’t own.

The series, which scored Showtime’s biggest series debut for a drama in seven years with 982,000 viewers for its premiere Sunday, then returned to Showtime under former entertainment president Robert Greenblatt.
 
Wells and company had done some work on the script and after securing William H. Macy to play the family’s drunk father — a name that was on Greenblatt’s short list of talent — the series picked up full steam a year and a half ago.
 
“That was easy in a really, really hard way,” Wells said of the ordeal. “I always thought it was terrific material. There are archetypes in here about how a lot of families live and the people and things that we deal with. We’re trying to make a point — and to make you laugh.
 
“It really is a world in which a lot of people live and have to survive and I was always very, very attracted to that,” Wells said.

Thank god I got a text a half hour before Californication’sseason opener was about to start, thanks Nicole! I ordered Showtime and hunkered down to be part of an elite rock and roll writer’s club, a joke, and watched. I love how Californication takes an Entourage route and plays rock instead of rap. Watching Californication makes you feel like you are in the know, and definitely cool. This show opened with a little number by Alice in Chains, I believe, and this show is all about gratuitous sex, the world of writing and entertainment, and ridiculous banter, but we all know that already.

We all hate to love Hank Moody, and how I have missed him making his colossal mess ups and this episode was no different. It is a great escape to watch this show. I was never a big David Duchovny fan but this show really brings out the best in him, so long X Files, although, I know many people enjoyed him in that show. I never got into it. I love Evan Handler in Californication too. He is the perfect foil. Hank’s Wife and daughter are cast perfectly as well. I can’t help but wonder how Tea Leoni, David’s wife in real life, feels about this show and this character. I imagine the role of Hank Moody is super fun to play as a married man because he gets to live out all these things at “work” and with carte blanche, because he is an “actor”. 

OH- and great screen shot of  Pink is the New Blog on Becca’s Lap Top in Hank’s dream scene!!! Congrats Trent, I have been reading you since you lived in Detroit! That is killer!

http://www.livetv4me.com/index.php?rrt=1&clickid=709665085&id=88&sub_id=400092,cd714&ltv=9