Working Hard To Please - 9 to 5: The Musical - Musical Review

9 to 5: The Musical - Ahmanson Theatre - Los Angeles, CA - ***1/2 (out of 5)
Previews begin at the Marriott Marquis Theatre on Broadway on April 7th, 2009.
Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton, Book by Patricia Resnick, Directed by Joe Mantello, Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler

Note: I saw the pre-Broadway tryout back in the fall, but I've been sort of sitting on this review since then, but I thought I'd post my thoughts anyways as the show opens on Broadway tomorrow. However, this review is based on the LA production and changes might have been made since.

Dolly Parton's new musical, based on the old 80's movie she starred in, is, like the movie, a rolicking good time and a girlpower feelgood show that doesn't exactly always make sense, nor does it flow particularly well, but between the stick-it-to-the-man antics and Dolly's music, it sort of doesn't matter because it's so much fun.

Now, I hadn't seen the movie since I was probably a kid, and only rewatched it after I saw the new stage show, but at the time, I couldn't remember the exact plot. So when it unfolds on stage, I was like... THIS IS THE PLOT? Seriously? Because while the general frame of the movie is fun (if not predictable), some of the episodic bits to get us from mean boss and used and abused women in the workplace to the empowerment of 3 particular ladies seems a bit like filler sometimes.

But oh, as long as they keep pumping that "9 to 5" beat, it really doesn't matter. Dolly Parton's infamous tune is seriously infectious and gets the heart beating along with its cadenced rhythm and smartly, Dolly repeats it over the course of the show as the shows main melodic thread, and if you asked me, she probably could have used it a few more times. I couldn't get enough!

While all the other songs are catchy enough, none are quite as irresistible as the title song. There's a few other standouts, like Act 1 finale "Shine Like the Sun", "5 to 9" and "Get Out and Stay Out". Still, some of the middle portions, with it's filler storyline, dragged the show a bit.


Luckily, the show has Andy Blankenbuehler choreographing, and as with In the Heights, his moves somehow put a modern twist into typical Broadway choreography and it's simply AMAZING and the best part of the show. To the point where there's not enough. A lot of it simply happens in the background with the chorus moving about the office space, but Andy's style is simply eye popping and hip in a show that purposely throws back to the 80's era.

What also buoys the creaky original plot for the show are the three outstanding women in the leads. Allison Janney (The West Wing, Juno) as Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin in the movie), Stephanie J. Block (Wicked, The Boy From Oz) as Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda in the movie) and Megan Hilty (Wicked) as Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton in the movie). Each give it their all in three feisty and powerful performances, each continually stealing the show from each other, and their camaraderie bonds the show and the story together.

While Allison Janney doesn't have the most perfect singing voice, she's superb as Violet, the woman who knows how to run the office, even if she doesn't get the credit. Janney is totally great in the role and it's fun to watch her in such a fun role.

Stephanie J. Block continues her ascent on Broadway, with her phenomenal singing voice that can still come from a cautious and timid character, and her growth as Judy, the newbie in the office, has the emotional depth needed to give the show some much needed importance beneath the forthy lightness of the whole piece.

And while Megan Hilty is essentially giving a spot-on rendition of Dolly Parton as Doralee, considering this is Dolly's show, it's pretty much a requirement for the role. And Megan runs with it and takes it beyond mere mimicry.

Marc Kudisch (Assassins, Thoroughly Modern Millie) is a terrifically slimy Franklin Hart Jr., although if there's any fault in his performance, it's that between his superb singing voice and hilarious nasty reactions to the women's antics, there's sort of a sexiness and attraction to Kudisch's Franklin.

Ann Harada (Avenue Q) and Kathy Fitzgerald (above as Roz, Franklin's suck up and office watchdog) aren't given as much to do, but the actresses make what they can with their caricature roles, and still manage to be fun and funny. Particularly Fitzgerald's "5 to 9".

The two main men surrounding Violet's life aren't given that much to do either, but since they are played by Broadway cuties Van Hughes (Saved) as Violet's son, and Andy Karl (above right with Kudisch, Legally Blonde, Altar Boyz) as Joe, Violet's much younger potential love interest, I was happy enough with the results!

In the end, the exuberance of the ensemble dancing to Blankenbuehler's innovative choreography, added with a leading cast of supremely fantastic women, and the genius of Dolly Parton's title song, overcomes the creakiness of the book. It's not a deep show by any means but the strong elements are enough to make it a very pleasing and fun show.

Now the main battle will be to see which of the three women will compete in the leading or featured actress categories and if they will cancel each other out (My bets are on Janney and Block who have more hefty characters, but with Hilty's belt, don't count her out either). The show itself won't beat Billy Elliot for the Best Musical prize, but the show is just fun enough that I think it will run for quite a while.

All photos are from the LA production. Oh, and for So You Think You Can Dance fans, word is that hottie Neil Haskell (Altar Boyz) is joining the cast on Broadway!!!

The main cast of 9 to 5:

Megan Hilty:

Stephanie J. Block:

Allison Janney:

Megan Hilty and Marc Kudisch:

Allison Janney, Megan Hilty, Stephanie J. Block and Kathy Fitzgerald:

Marc Kudisch:
Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Friday Night Lights - Are On!

Friday Night Lights - Game of the Week, The Giving Tree, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall, Underdogs - Eps. 309-312

With only one more episode for this brilliant season to finish airing on NBC and hints at huge expected (and some unexpected) changes to come, it's nice to know that at least we will GET those changes and that the third season finale won't be the series finale! Wahoo!!! I'm still elated that Friday Night Lights has been renewed for 2 more seasons with 26 more episodes total to come. After next week's finale, you'll know why, and why even with Saracen, Riggins, Lyla and Tyra essentially graduating and possibly moving on, there is SOOO many stories still to tell in Dillon, Texas. And Tami and Coach Eric Taylor's adventures have only just begun.

And now with a definite nemesis in Joe McCoy (D.W. Moffett), who now has not only started bossing Eric around on the field, he's slapping around his kid J.D. off the field, causing the huge moral rift in the adults. I'm glad that Eric wasn't comfortable with the district splitting the town up and the Boosters attempts to reap the best players from the town division. And when did town council planning become a HUGE plot twist? Give it to this show to actually make it riveting.

And Tyra. Oh Tyra. From the hunky but abusive cowboy (who admittedly was HOT, but BAD BAD BAD), to reuniting with Landry, Adrianne Palicki has seriously given her character Tyra, once written off as merely a pretty plot device, an amazing emotional depth and the writers have propelled her ups and downs into a tearful and joyous rollercoaster ride of drama.

Will Riggins actually go to San Antonio State? It helps that Lyla is coming along now, especially after Buddy lost all of her college fund on a bad investment (why does that not surprise me?). While Taylor Kitsch may move onto movie stardom, I'm secretly hoping he stays on in Dillon. His character, like Tyra's has also grown by leaps and bounds.

And Matt's journey this year, being pushed aside for the younger prodigy J.D., then reuniting with the mom that left him, and continuing to deal with Grandma, whose health and mental state continues to deteriorate, is all heartbreakingly real and raw. It's what this show does best, but for the uninitiated (who I doubt will have read down this far though), this show still manages to make it all extremely dramatic, compelling and in the end, emotionally entertaining.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Don't Stop Believin' Every Little Step to Fame

The trailer for Fame is out, but I have to say, I think I'm more excited about Glee instead right now, especially with their second trailer that's now out. It's probably because I prefer "Don't Stop Believin' (used in the Glee promo) over this new remixed "Fame" they're using (still, Kherington Payne from SYTYCD and Paul McGill from Broadway's A Chorus Line are in it so I'm excited, and, well... it's FAME!!! Although why does the poster look like a Coke can?). And if I must add, the documentary Every Little Step, that follows the real auditions for the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line is pretty fascinating, plus, it's hard to beat "One". (Too bad the documentary mostly focuses on the battles to get some of the main female roles and Paul McGill is barely seen in it, though Tyce DiOrio, one of the judges/choreographers from SYTYCD is!). It's all kinda rolls into one doesn't it?

Fame (in theatres September 25th, 2009) - Trailer:


Glee's new promo (here's the 1st, the show premieres at 9pm on Tuesday, May 19th 2009) - "Don't Stop Believin'":


Every Little Step (In theatres in NY and LA on April 17 2009, opens wide after that) - Trailer:


I caught the premiere back in the fall at the Toronto International Film Festival and loved it. Here was my original review.

Here was an earlier trailer for Every Little Step:


Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

ER - The End

ER - Life is Good, And in the End... - Eps. 1521-1522 - Series Finale

So as I've said before, I've stopped watching ER a long time ago, but I would pop in occasionally. The series is a far cry from being the ratings powerhouse it once was, but even in the final years, it may have all been a retread, but it was still a solid drama until the end.

It's great to see the huge roster of actors all come back in the final episodes. Self-indulgent? Maybe, but who cares. This show has every right to it in its final episodes. It's lasted 15 years. I was still in grade school when it started!

Okay, so by the end, even though I actually do love the replacement casts, things got repetitive, but then again, isn't life? The show had William H. Macy far before he was cool and a name. It gave chronic character actors Paul McCrane and Laura Innes actual lead roles on a hit TV show!

I enjoyed seeing Thandie Newton and Alex Kingston's Corday come back. I loved the full circle with Dr. Mark Green's daughter Rachel as a new candidate for an internship at County General Hospital. There's another full circle with naive newbie Rory Gilmore/ Alexis Bledel (okay, her character was Dr. Julia Wise, but really, it was Rory Gilmore) join the hospital on the last episode as what would have been the new John Carter for the next generation. And it was nice to see Eriq LaSalle, Laura Innes, Sherry Stringfield and of course Noah Wylie back as Benton, Weaver, Lewis and Carter.

It was nice to have a bit of a nostalgic reunion and some closure. All while attempting to play out a regular episode at the same time with the current cast. Say what you will but I've gotta give respect to Scott Grimes and Linda Cardellini. Loved the second-to-last episode when Morris and Samantha were running that kids camp in the gym.

And there have been a LOT of good actors that moved on to bigger things, and I'm not just talking George Clooney or anybody from the original cast.

I'm talking Maria Bello, Jorja Fox (before CSI), Khandi Alexander (before Newsradio), CCH Pounder (before The Shield), Goran Visnjic, Mekhi Phifer, Elizabeth Mitchell (before Lost), Mariska Hargitay (before SVU). (And the list goes on and on and on. My gawd, who HASN'T worked on this show?)

... and Maura Tierney (after Newsradio), John Stamos (after Uncle Jesse), Parminder Nagra (after Bend It Like Beckham), Shane West (after Once and Again).

The movie stars "slumming it" to join the ER crew like Angela Bassett, Stanley Tucci and John Leguizamo.

And remember Erik Palladino? Kellie Martin? Busy Phillips? Michael Michelle? Sharrif Atkins? Ming Na?

Then of course there's always the constance of the nursing staff and ER aids! Lydia (Ellen Crawford)! Jerry (Abraham Benrubi)! Haleh (Yvette Freeman)! Chuny (Laura Cerón)! Malik (Deezer D)!

And I must say, it was a perfect way to end the series with that last scene when the new batch of doctors, including Rory Gilmore, along with Morris, Angela Bassett and the current cast waiting upon a new batch of patients. It was a nice touch to have Carter call upon Mark Greene's daughter Rachel to join them in the ER. And then the final play of the ER theme song as we finally get to see what County General looks in the Chicago landscape!

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Play 'Til It Hurts - Madame de Sade - Play Review

Madame de Sade - Donmar in the West End - Wyndham's Theatre - London, UK - *** (out of 5)
Written by Yukio Mishima, Translated by Donald Keene, Directed by Michael Grandage
Until May 23rd 2009

To be honest, I didn't know much about the Marquis de Sade except that he was into whips, and I didn't know much about this show except that Dame Judi Dench was going to be in it, which is why I bought tickets over a year ago. Alas, then the reviews started pouring out and more than half were probably pretty bad or pointed that the show was really boring. Oh no I thought. Self-torture theatre. Oh great. Why do I keep insisting on seeing plays? At least a bad musical is still kinda fun.

Alas, the Japanese play (which in a good review I read somewhere compared it to a zen Japanese poem) wasn't as bad I had anticipated. It wasn't great, but it definitely had it's moments, and the amazing cast of 6 amazing British actresses was a sight to behold on a silvery dark set. (Though I will say, the writer's own life, and his failed ritual suicide 5 years after he wrote this, is probably even more fascinating).

The play isn't as shocking as it thinks it is (interestingly enough, Gratuitous Violins brings up an interesting debate the Boston Globe brought up about the loss of shock value in theatre, which I partly agree, since I wasn't really shocked by Dog Sees God, August:Osage County or any other "shocking" play). It does quickly explain the Marquis de Sade to the uninitiated and then goes into three acts of debate between the women surrounding the Marquis' life about his sexual provocations, marriage and devotion and the abhorrencies of it all.

Sometimes it's fascinating and funny, sometimes it's a bore. Some of the long passages are amusing and fascinating while other times, it seems to drone on forever.

Luckily, the Madame de Sade is played by the utterly gorgeous and stunning Rosamund Pike (Pride and Prejudice, Die Another Day), and her acting is a beautiful as her face (which really, is no fair if you think about it!). She commands the stage anytime she's on, managing to portray frail and delicate and female strength all at the same time, AND she manages to hold her own against the always commanding Dame Judi Dench.

And yes, the reason I bought tickets in the first place, Dame Judi Dench was exactly that, Dame Judi Dench, and it was wonderful if not surprising. She sneers and bosses around as Madame de Montreuil, Madame de Sade's shocked mother, whose attention over her daughters, and their place in society (of course, this IS Europe afterall) is of her upmost concern.

Luckily, while Pike and Dench argue over what's good for the Madame de Sade, Frances Barber (The I.T. Crowd, Beautiful People, Goal) has a hell of a time whipping up her lines with a dry wit zest as Comtesse de Saint-Fond, a rival to Madame de Montreuil who is asked to help her daughter. Barber's character adds the little fun and naughtiness in the play that only talks about it, but never shows it.

The play is far less poetic than I thought it might be (or it thinks it is), although the production with it's rusted silver set and projections adds more dimension than some of the speeches. The cast automatically adds an air of authenticity and respect but the play itself is kind of a trashy play trying to be all arty and high class.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

De Mooiste Muziek!!! van Antwerpen!

I always believe people should dance and sing spontaneously in real life just like in musicals. So I never tire of these things:



It was apparently produced for VTM who is producing a Flemish version of The Sound of Music with another reality TV show to cast a stage musical Maria much like the British (and subsequent Canadian version) show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

Remind's me of the T-Mobile ad or ImprovEverywhere.

Like the T-Mobile one, the choreography and organization of the huge number of dancers is truly impressive. Between this and the Beijing Olympics opening, the Opening Ceremonies for the Vancouver Olympics had better be good. Especially if they can pull this off in the middle of the day at the Antwerp central train station (a beautiful building by the way! Oh, I kinda miss living in Belgium... sometimes...okay, I miss the chocolate, fries and waffles and the Vols-au-vent! Oh and Stoemp! Plus I miss seeing handsome tall men wearing shirts, a sweater and a scarf. All the time.)

Thanks to towleroad for the tip.

Here's another angle of the same thing:


Here's the T-Mobile one again:


ImprovEverywhere made Mall Musical and Frozen Grand Central. A sort of earlier version of the above flashmobs.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

The Real World: Brooklyn - Brooklyn Heights

It's the end of one of the most compelling drama's. No, not tongiht's ER finale, which while I admit I stopped watching regularly a while ago, I'm looking forward to saying goodbye and getting nostalgic just thinking about it.

No, I'm talking about last night's season finale for the latest The Real World. Seriously, when did this show get compelling again? I love this show but usually to make fun of people and ogle at the naked hot guys (have you noticed? I do that with every show though) but I don't think I've seen a full season since Hawaii (and even that was only for Colin). Usually I get all excited about a new season and then trail off by the 4th or 5th episode and forget about the show until the new season when the cycle continues.

The Real World: Brooklyn - Atlantic City, Baby!, Saying Goodbye, Reunion - Eps. 2112-2113 + Reunion

But this season, not only did I last the whole season, I want MORE. Though when did they shorten the season to only 13 episodes? Didn't these used to go on forever? I guess without the drinking and partying and slutty adventures, the Brooklynites actually lead more regular boring lives, there was only so much "TV-worthy" stuff they could show.

And yet, I thought they could have shown so much more. Like Baya for one (as they surprisingly mention straight up in the reunion episode)!

The fact that all 8 roommates seemed real, even with stupidities and petty fights, and a LOT of growing up to do, but with actual cores of wanting to succeed and wanting to search themselves out, I thought this was probably the best Real World in over 10 years. Maybe 15. Or at least since this show was actually relevant (yah, apparently that time existed once) in the pop cultural world.

I mean, the last two episodes continues with the news of Ryan's recall to the Army which was already heartbreaking and just continued. To lighten the mood, a Atlantic City trip was had, and the girls fought back one final time with a prank that backfired into a huge fight right at the end, but overall, it was extremely compelling to watch.

The reunion was interesting to watch though because obviously things still have no been resolved and emotions are still high. Between Sarah and the boys and Katelynn and JD not getting along, it still felt like tempers were flaring but probably because they still sort of cared about each other.

It wasn't all happy-go-lucky but at least it wasn't due to drunkenfest or lots of sleeping around. Plus it was nice to hear that Devyn, Baya and Scott were going to continue to room together.

And where did the whole Ryan and Baya thing come from? Did we even get a hint of that since the start of the show? That totally threw me off but it was kinda sweet. Of course, what's scary is that even though we think of them as characters and this was still all filmed back in the fall, Ryan's deployment still doesn't happen until next week. Which means the story still continues. I'd be fascinated to see the next chapter with this group.

And how sweet is Scott? Okay, so he's Republican, but ignoring that, how much do you want to hug the guy (or you know, completely just jump him and tie him down and... oh, did I just say that out loud?). Between lending Katelynn money, and THEN keeping quiet when she spent some of it gambling in Atlantic City, and trying to do something for Ryan and coming up with the journal idea, and being a sweetheart at the reunion, it seems like he's the only person both the girls and the guys all still love after this whole ordeal. And you thought he was just a pretty underwear model.


and you have to admit, that Ryan and Chet weren't as big douchebags as we first would have thought when the show first started. In fact, I kinda like the two. Even Chet. If anything, Sarah's a bit more bothersome but I'll be a grownup and let it go. Because again, when has The Real World actually cast people you didn't want to constantly smack? Who at least attempted to act like adults once in a while and who seemed to actually have real feelings and emotions? And not just PR programmable plastic shells? (Funny since everyone in Brooklyn seems to want a job in the media/arts sector, yet seemed the least fake of many seasons past). Of course, the show will probably return to its drunken state next season in Cancun but now at least we will always have Brooklyn.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Hair and Now

I was reading the reviews yesterday early morning and I'm reading them again now. I was going to try to see this later this summer when I'll try to visit New York again, but now I'm seriously considering pushing a few things out of the way so that I can get to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on Broadway to see the newly transferred revival of Hair.

The reviews are ECSTATIC. Just like they were from the summer in the park. I loved it back then so much I went twice in my short visit (and yes, that meant lining up a LONG TIME!). And apparently it has gotten even BETTER with the transfer. Just LOOK at the video! (Or check out the videoblogs! So adorable)

And if you don't trust me (uh, but why WOULDN'T YOU? Have I ever been wrong? Uh, hello. NO!) here's more proof:
New York Times
Variety
USAToday
Theatermania
The Hollywood Reporter
Bloomberg
NY Daily News
NYPost
Backstage
AMNY
American Theatre Web
Edge NY
Bergen Record
Associated Press
and compiled nicely at Critic-O-Meter

At this point, the discount code is still up (HABBX22 valid until May 10th 2009) for 50% off but I have a feeling that won't be around much longer after yesterday's pretty decent sales.

There is lottery (just don't try it on the day I'm going to try, though I may actually just have to buy real regular tickets for this) rush:

"Be-In Box" Ticket Lottery: $25 - a limited number of box seat tickets sold via lottery system. Entries accepted at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre box office beginning two and half hours prior to each performance. Names will be drawn at random two hours prior to curtain time. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Limit one entry per person, and two tickets per winner. Cash only. Seats may be partial view.

Also, now that Gavin Creel is in the show (instead of Jonathan Groff who I loved in the show) and apparently amazing (and out), I so need to go see my future husband as Claude.

Especially after hearing this:



Damnit, I so wish I cancelled my plans so that I could go see him in the cabaret he did in Toronto earlier this year. Damn me and my etiquette.





Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Reboots and Second Chances - Cupid, 90210, Dollhouse and More

There seems to be a lot of reboots and second chances on TV these days. Cupid is back in a whole new reincarnation. Dollhouse and 90210 seem completely revamped already, a Top Chef-like twist ACTUALLY HAPPENED on Project Runway Canada, Scrubs continues its new life on ABC, and In The Motherhood regurgitates a former (and funnier) ABC show Notes From The Underbelly.

Cupid - Pilot - Ep. 101

Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars) brings his Cupid back to TV and a re-do, this time with Bobby Cannavale in the role as Trevor, the possible crazy delusional man or cupid himself. Sarah Paulson is Claire, the psychiatrist in charge of keeping tabs on him. Trevor claims he's been banished from Mount Olympus and must pair up 100 true loves together before he gets sent back. Basically, it's an excuse to have a romantic comedy every week with different guest stars while Trevor and Claire play their own romantic dance game.

While the original with frenetic Jeremy Piven (who has since become a thermometer according to David Mamet) and Paula Marshall had a zip and chaotic edge to counterbalance the ooeygooeyness of all the matchups, this version feels a bit softer and glossier, and without the edge. But I think I've been determined to like this Thomas reboot so much that despite the faults and the fact that it's pretty cliched, I still enjoyed it. Then again, I also liked Valentine so you have to take me with a grain of salt. Apparently I love me thee love coupling shows.

Plus Sarah Paulson is so luminous, I sometimes wish I were a lesbian. And LOVE Bobby Cannavale. But I will admit, these two really don't have that much chemistry together and seem more like best friends at best. Which won't work over the long run for this show if it's to go where it's supposed to.


90210 - The Bad and the Trusted - Ep. 117

Whoa, the new showrunners formerly from Gilmore Girls seem to be purging all the dirty thoughts they had that they couldn't use on that wholesome show and are using it on this reboot of a reboot. The new filming quality with the dark and edginess makes the new 90210 look like one of those teen horror flicks. It even has a lot more sex like those horror flicks. Now Dixon and Silver are all hot and heavy. At least until Silver goes from my favorite and nice character into a CRAZY. Whoa? Where are they taking this?

And then Naomi imagines getting hot and heavy with Matt Lanter's Liam. THAT? I'm TOTALLY okay with! In fact, word that Matt Lanter will be upgraded to full-time cast is TOTALLY okay with me. Seriously, I'm LOVING this new bad boy Liam/Matt Lanter and will definitely hook me to the show because I'm enjoying the visual porn. (Oh wait, the porn with Matt is just in my head... nevermind...).

Liam is bad and Naomi tries to tutor him. Ahem. Yah, right. Then it becomes and episode of Fast and Furious. More darkness, more darkness. Silver is all romantic and poetic until she shows her porn film she made with Dixon (unbeknownst to him) and shows it to her film class and then blames Ryan Matthews. Then goes CRAAAAAZEEEEEE. More darkness.

Oh, and Annie's still on the show. Annie? Meet Rhonda (Aimee Teegarden). The girl that Dustin Milligan kissed before he's getting tossed off the show for being too sexy and boring (always okay to me though, so I'm sad to see him go). Also, the girl who acts circles around you here and on Friday Night Lights.

Anyways, the reboot seems very lowbrow and a cheap ploy to attract more viewers by foregoing any sense of real human reactions or moral senses but as long as they keep Matt Lanter and that adorable haircut, and maybe dropping trou or losing his shirt once in a while, I'll keep tuned in. Though have him be slutty and not just hooking up with looks-old-for-her-age-Naomi which makes the whole thing a little Cougar-like. Maybe have him make out with Dustin Milligan before Milligan leaves.

More on Dollhouse, Project Runway Canada, Lost, Scrubs, In The Motherhood, The Amazing Race:

Dollhouse - Man on the Street - Ep. 106

I couldn't remember when Joss Whedon was retuning to write for the show but as soon as this episode came on, it felt like a whole new show, and lo and behold, Whedon was in charge again! And boy, it was SOOOO MUCH BETTER. At this point, they should just drop the first 5 episodes and assume this is the pilot, because it made the show have purpose and make sense.

And Whedon did it by brilliantly re-adjusting the show to the core strengths and giving the show an actual direction. And this meant bumping up Tahmoh Penikett's Agent Ballard front and centre and pushing Eliza Dushku's Echo a little back. And OOOOOH Tahmoh Penikett! Bonus points for having him shirtless and giving him Mellie, his neighbour and confident.

Seriously, Whedon's episode seemed to streamline the whole direction of the show as well as all the moral and philosophical issues behind it. Loved it. I was dreading watching this show but now I'm invigorated again. And extra bonus points for having Patton Oswalt (Remy in Ratatouille, United States of Tara) guest star in the episode.

I'm still not sure about Dichen Lachman as Sierra, but I do like Enver Gjokaj as Victor for obvious reasons. I still haven't watched the following episode so I hope it wasn't a one time fluke, but at least now I feel like I know what the whole idea of this show is, which was never made clear at the start.


Project Runway Canada - Return of the Supermodel, Gimmie Shelter, Boardroom to Bedroom - Eps. 208-210

Okay, they FINALLY got rid of Genevieve and just needed to get rid of Kim to have a perfect final three of Jessica, Sunny and Adejoke and then they pull a Top Chef and let ousted contestants back in? It makes for a dramatic twist and stretches the show back out (especially after all the drop outs in the 1st episode), but it's SOOO NOT FAIR.

So Genevieve and Jason (who I did admit probably got cut too early) were allowed to compete again with the final 4, but as a team. And they WON. Well, they TIED Jessica and Sunny. Because there cannot be a week where Jessica or Sunny doesn't win. And I'm not even saying that facetiously. Seriously, Sunny's stuff is so brilliant, I'm kinda laughing now when he wins because they should just assume he won and award 2nd prize. At least that would give us some drama. Because no way can Sunny lose at this point.

So Gen and Jason WIN. Which automatically kicks Adejoke and Kim out. Kim fine, good riddance. But because of Kim's bad taste and poor construction skills, Adejoke is out too since it's a TEAM challenge. WTF???

ADEJOKE. You were ROBBED of a spot at Toronto Fashion Week.

Now Jason will take your place instead. At least it wasn't Gen, who made another boring outfit this week and got cut AGAIN. HA. Hope that stung AGAIN.


Lost - He's Our You - Ep. 510

Boy, what happened to Sawyer? Talk about second life! He's now earned respect on the Dharma compound and Hurley, Jack and Kate must follow. And the slow soap opera drama unfolding as they realize Sawyer is now with Juliet? Priceless.

Okay, but I did NOT buy that Sawyer would have not stopped Sayid from being drugged and interrogated. He would have done SOMETHING to stop it. I know it moves the story along having Sayid reveal the whole story but I didn't buy that Sawyer could do nothing to stop it.

Still, loving what's going on, even though I really don't know what's going on. Especially now that young Ben's been shot? WTH?


Scrubs - My Nah Nah Nah, Their Story II - Eps. 809, 810

While it's nowhere near the quality when this was at its peak, it's still enjoyable and I'm getting to like a lot of the new batch of interns. I doubt they will renew this show for them to continue, but if they did, it wouldn't be so bad. Especially Sunny and Jimmy (the guy who likes to touch and hug a lot, and played by Taran Killam, Cobie Smulders babydaddy).


In The Motherhood - It Takes A Village Idiot - Ep. 101

This show was funnier when it was called Notes From the Underbelly. And to think Cheryl Hines AND Megan Mullaly are in it. AND Rachael Harris FROM Notes from the Underbelly is in this. AND Ken Marino (Veronica Mars, Reaper, Party Down). There were some mildly amusing things and I LOVE Cheryl Hines and I love that office she works in, but Megan Mullaly felt like she was coasting here. Like she was just doing something to busy herself instead of counting all her WIll & Grace residuals. I think I preferred her on Broadway.



The Amazing Race - Gorilla? Gorilla?? Gorilla??? - Ep. 1407

Okay, if anybody should get a second chance, it's Mike and Mel. I was SOOOO sure it was a non-elimination round so I was didn't worry all episode when they made a fatal mistake and didn't follow everyone else to the zoo. So I was shocked when it was actually an elimination round. Crap.

Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...

Fantasticks News

How did I miss this news on musical casting? (Oh wait, did it just get announced?)

Lucas Grabeel in The Fantasticks with Eric McCormack at the Reprise Theatre Company's production in LA's Freud Theatre (at UCLA)! I literally gasped when Linz sent me the link. Oh man, I SOOO WANT TO GO (though I don't think I can. ARGH)

Always devoted to Eric McCormack (who will play El Gallo) but I LOVE ME SOME Lucas Grabeel (who will play Matt).

In fact, I was just rewatching High School Musical 3: Senior Year last weekend and it was just as good as I remembered it (maybe even better, though I'm still not digging the new kids).

And Lucas Grabeel rocked it again! As did Ashley Tisdale. Considering Lucas was actually in an Oscar nominated film (Milk), why didn't Lucas and Ashley get to do a song and dance at the Oscars? Why only Zac and Vanessa?

Don't get me wrong. Zac Efron definitely has star presence and he really does command the big screen version of High School Musical, and I seriously can't wait for 17 Again.

But I'm pulling for Lucas and hope that he has a long career ahead of him! Seriously, his "Go The Distance" is STILL on constant repeat on my iPod:



Vance at http://tapeworthy.blogspot.com

More After the Jump...