Friday, October 31, 2008
Back from the Dead
Happy Halloween, everyone! I thought it'd be appropriate to announce today that as of Sunday, I will be back from the dead. My event is tomorrow, and life can return to normal shortly thereafter. I've got tons to share, so stay tuned!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Must See (Off) Broadway - Altar Boyz
As my loyal readers (all 4 of you!) know, Lindsay and I went to see a friend of hers in NYC who was performing in the Off-Broadway show, Altar Boyz. It was truly an incredible show, and an unforgettable night! We got to meet the cast, and Ravi took us barhopping in Manhattan. (You can check out the details from my post on September 1st.)
Well, Ravi has been permanently cast in the show. CONGRATS, RAVI!!! If you find yourself in NYC and would like to take in a (relatively) inexpensive show, I highly recommend Altar Boyz. And be sure to stick around afterwards and say HI to Ravi for me!
For a preview, check out this video:
http://www.broadway.com/Behind-the-Scenes-Backstage-with-Off-Broadway-s-Altar-Boyz/broadway_video/5011833
Well, Ravi has been permanently cast in the show. CONGRATS, RAVI!!! If you find yourself in NYC and would like to take in a (relatively) inexpensive show, I highly recommend Altar Boyz. And be sure to stick around afterwards and say HI to Ravi for me!
For a preview, check out this video:
http://www.broadway.com/Behind-the-Scenes-Backstage-with-Off-Broadway-s-Altar-Boyz/broadway_video/5011833
Friday, October 3, 2008
GREEK Recap - Episode 2.05, See You Next Time, Sisters
“Playing it safe is what you do when you’re afraid. Let me tell you something else I wish I’d known when I was young. There are very few things worth being afraid of.”
-- Congresswoman Paula Baker, GREEK
Some of my fondest memories of college are tied to my experience pledging the Greek system, and some of my closest friends are my brothers and sisters in Zeta Phi Eta. Nostalgia attracted me to the ABC Family original Series, GREEK, and the quality of the show has keep me coming back for more.
Entertainment Weekly stopped recapping the show, and I haven’t been able to find an adequate replacement. I’ve decided to take a stab at writing one myself. I hope you like it. I’ll start with this week’s episode, and if I have time to backtrack, I’ll queue up the DVR and recap the rest from this season.
---------------
This week, Greek’s new power couple, Casey and Max, expands their horizons apart from each other. But before Casey leaves to attend Zeta Beta Zeta’s national convention and Max overcomes difficulties in planning his annual Honors Engineering “Galileo” theme party, they flirt and boost each other’s morale. While Casey looks to figure out her future, Max tells her, “You can do anything, because you’re amazing.” They kiss, and I die a little inside. Max is the embodiment of my idea of the perfect man, except that he’s straight. Casey, you’re a lucky girl. Don’t let this one go.
Casey’s adventure takes her to a convergence of pink and super-earnest sisterhood in Orlando. Oh, the pageantry, thinly veiled cattiness, white teeth, and high pitched squealing. Ashleigh, suddenly interested in history as a result of her new job as an admissions tour guide at CRU, can’t see the forest through the trees, or in this case, the politics through the posturing. Meanwhile, Frannie takes this opportunity to use the convention’s open forum to legitimize her ZBZ presidential ambitions by introducing a proposal to remove the by-law prohibiting sisters removed from a particular office from ever holding that position in the future.
Naturally, Casey feels threatened by Frannie’s renewed ruthlessness and sets out to prevent the passage of said proposal. She and Frannie divide and conquer the votes on the Grand Council. Shameless campaigning and politicking ensues, though it looks as though Frannie has the edge until an opportunity arises for Casey to tip the scales in her favor. Teagen wants Lizzie gone, and if Casey can get her to quit, Casey gets the deciding vote on the Council. It doesn’t take much manipulation for an already unappreciated and beaten-down Lizzie to be persuaded to leave ZBZ for pinker pastures, where her energy and effervescence will be appropriately valued. After a few drinks and a pep talk, Lizzie goes to tell Teagen off. Casey gets what she wants, but at a cost she’s not comfortable with.
With the sage advice of an anonymous older Zeta Beta sister (“Playing it safe is what you do when you’re afraid.”), Casey has an attack of conscience. She enlists Ashleigh’s help, and after a new pep-talk and a slammin’ makeover, Lizzie announces that she’s not going anywhere. In a confrontation that sets the stage for a contentious election back at CRU, it’s Casey’s turn to tell Frannie off. She throws down the gauntlet, saying she can’t wait to kick her ass. AWESOME! We also learn that the mysterious sister who helped Casey overcome her fear of Frannie is a congresswoman, and suddenly, Casey’s eyes are opened to politics beyond the ZBZ house.
Back on campus, Rusty intervenes to help Kappa Tau solve their code violation problems and Max solve his party planning problems. He offers the Kappa Tau house as the location for the Galileo party, and Cappie runs with the idea of renting out the house to raise the funds needed to fix the sprinkler system and the eight other violations that threaten to shut the house down if not addressed. But by bringing Max and Cappie together, he causes Cappie’s own crisis of confidence, becoming jealous of Max and his ADJ (Aerosol Death Juice, a homemade libation that “maximizes inebriation), his hangover cure, and his relationship with Rusty. Icing on the cake, Cappie’s spirit breaks when he finds out that Max and Casey are dating. On the plus side, Cappie and Dale bond over their dislike of Max.
In a moment of drunken bravado, Cappie confronts Rusty, asking, “Tell me Rusty, the rumor true? In the blind taste test, do the Cartwright kids prefer Maxwell House to Folgers? And by Maxwell House, I mean Max, and by Folgers, I mean Cappie.” Subtle, but heartbreakingly effective. Having just been dumped by Rebecca, he sees his little brother’s affections slipping away to an uncool romantic rival. After the party, as Cappie’s ready to throw in the towel, Max shows up with a crew of engineering students to help clean up, fix the house’s sprinkler system and get the rest of the house into shape. As a peace offering, he offers some of his patented hangover cure and their invention of a DVR that detects and records porn from anywhere in the world (how are these kids NOT millionaires by now?!?!?!). And Rusty seeks romantic advice from Cappie about how to approach a girl in his Lit class… Miley Montana. In the process, Cappie’s ego is saved.
Elsewhere, Evan becomes even more unlikable. He is clearly feeling smothered by Frannie and takes her absence as an opportunity to play the field. In the process, he motivates Calvin to cheat on his boyfriend. Yes, Calvin’s relationship with Michael, the grad assistant, is already doomed, but Evan’s impassioned speech about following impulses and sowing wild oats sends Calvin back into former fling, Heath’s bed. Later, Calvin finds out that Evan wasn’t ready to break up with Frannie and never went through with his own night of debauchery. Way to go, Evan!
And finally, Beaver is still smokin’ hot and adorably dimwitted. Next week, Rusty hooks up with Ashleigh (WHAT?!?!?!) and Evan makes another play for Casey, putting her budding romance with Max in jeopardy. NOOOOOOOO!!!!
-- Congresswoman Paula Baker, GREEK
Some of my fondest memories of college are tied to my experience pledging the Greek system, and some of my closest friends are my brothers and sisters in Zeta Phi Eta. Nostalgia attracted me to the ABC Family original Series, GREEK, and the quality of the show has keep me coming back for more.
Entertainment Weekly stopped recapping the show, and I haven’t been able to find an adequate replacement. I’ve decided to take a stab at writing one myself. I hope you like it. I’ll start with this week’s episode, and if I have time to backtrack, I’ll queue up the DVR and recap the rest from this season.
---------------
This week, Greek’s new power couple, Casey and Max, expands their horizons apart from each other. But before Casey leaves to attend Zeta Beta Zeta’s national convention and Max overcomes difficulties in planning his annual Honors Engineering “Galileo” theme party, they flirt and boost each other’s morale. While Casey looks to figure out her future, Max tells her, “You can do anything, because you’re amazing.” They kiss, and I die a little inside. Max is the embodiment of my idea of the perfect man, except that he’s straight. Casey, you’re a lucky girl. Don’t let this one go.
Casey’s adventure takes her to a convergence of pink and super-earnest sisterhood in Orlando. Oh, the pageantry, thinly veiled cattiness, white teeth, and high pitched squealing. Ashleigh, suddenly interested in history as a result of her new job as an admissions tour guide at CRU, can’t see the forest through the trees, or in this case, the politics through the posturing. Meanwhile, Frannie takes this opportunity to use the convention’s open forum to legitimize her ZBZ presidential ambitions by introducing a proposal to remove the by-law prohibiting sisters removed from a particular office from ever holding that position in the future.
Naturally, Casey feels threatened by Frannie’s renewed ruthlessness and sets out to prevent the passage of said proposal. She and Frannie divide and conquer the votes on the Grand Council. Shameless campaigning and politicking ensues, though it looks as though Frannie has the edge until an opportunity arises for Casey to tip the scales in her favor. Teagen wants Lizzie gone, and if Casey can get her to quit, Casey gets the deciding vote on the Council. It doesn’t take much manipulation for an already unappreciated and beaten-down Lizzie to be persuaded to leave ZBZ for pinker pastures, where her energy and effervescence will be appropriately valued. After a few drinks and a pep talk, Lizzie goes to tell Teagen off. Casey gets what she wants, but at a cost she’s not comfortable with.
With the sage advice of an anonymous older Zeta Beta sister (“Playing it safe is what you do when you’re afraid.”), Casey has an attack of conscience. She enlists Ashleigh’s help, and after a new pep-talk and a slammin’ makeover, Lizzie announces that she’s not going anywhere. In a confrontation that sets the stage for a contentious election back at CRU, it’s Casey’s turn to tell Frannie off. She throws down the gauntlet, saying she can’t wait to kick her ass. AWESOME! We also learn that the mysterious sister who helped Casey overcome her fear of Frannie is a congresswoman, and suddenly, Casey’s eyes are opened to politics beyond the ZBZ house.
Back on campus, Rusty intervenes to help Kappa Tau solve their code violation problems and Max solve his party planning problems. He offers the Kappa Tau house as the location for the Galileo party, and Cappie runs with the idea of renting out the house to raise the funds needed to fix the sprinkler system and the eight other violations that threaten to shut the house down if not addressed. But by bringing Max and Cappie together, he causes Cappie’s own crisis of confidence, becoming jealous of Max and his ADJ (Aerosol Death Juice, a homemade libation that “maximizes inebriation), his hangover cure, and his relationship with Rusty. Icing on the cake, Cappie’s spirit breaks when he finds out that Max and Casey are dating. On the plus side, Cappie and Dale bond over their dislike of Max.
In a moment of drunken bravado, Cappie confronts Rusty, asking, “Tell me Rusty, the rumor true? In the blind taste test, do the Cartwright kids prefer Maxwell House to Folgers? And by Maxwell House, I mean Max, and by Folgers, I mean Cappie.” Subtle, but heartbreakingly effective. Having just been dumped by Rebecca, he sees his little brother’s affections slipping away to an uncool romantic rival. After the party, as Cappie’s ready to throw in the towel, Max shows up with a crew of engineering students to help clean up, fix the house’s sprinkler system and get the rest of the house into shape. As a peace offering, he offers some of his patented hangover cure and their invention of a DVR that detects and records porn from anywhere in the world (how are these kids NOT millionaires by now?!?!?!). And Rusty seeks romantic advice from Cappie about how to approach a girl in his Lit class… Miley Montana. In the process, Cappie’s ego is saved.
Elsewhere, Evan becomes even more unlikable. He is clearly feeling smothered by Frannie and takes her absence as an opportunity to play the field. In the process, he motivates Calvin to cheat on his boyfriend. Yes, Calvin’s relationship with Michael, the grad assistant, is already doomed, but Evan’s impassioned speech about following impulses and sowing wild oats sends Calvin back into former fling, Heath’s bed. Later, Calvin finds out that Evan wasn’t ready to break up with Frannie and never went through with his own night of debauchery. Way to go, Evan!
And finally, Beaver is still smokin’ hot and adorably dimwitted. Next week, Rusty hooks up with Ashleigh (WHAT?!?!?!) and Evan makes another play for Casey, putting her budding romance with Max in jeopardy. NOOOOOOOO!!!!
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