TV Critics (or Supporter) Corner

[Nancy]

Hi Folks,

I am enjoying the novelty and unusual "honesty" of Patricia Arquette's portrayal of a psychic mom in the new TV show on Monday nights, "Medium".

Especially refreshing is Arquette's deadpan, exhausted, working mom, blunt come backs and "female as equal" assertiveness, --to her house husband's constant and annoying knit-picking!

I love her straight-on delivery, easy straight hair, little make-up, actual down-turned lines in her face (shows a real 30-year-old) versus the nubile mannequin-with-botox-if-that's-possible look of every actor in "North Shore", not to mention North Shore's depiction of every older adult as evil ............Get Real!!!

Arquette sits in a chair answering her boss in the D.A.'s office, with the same dead-on,
I-don't-have-time-for-crap honesty. Her boss has no choice but to respect her.

I LOVE it!!!

The scenes and story lines are also filled with the more real life depiction of self-questioning, and "the world of rampant insecurity and paralyzing self-doubt" (line stolen from "The O.C.") that us, "non-celeb, peons" in the real world face everyday.

Good scripts!!!

For some visual instruction in how to be taken seriously, and a good example of female empowerment, don't miss Patricia Arquette in the new TV show, "Medium".


Nancy -- (Natural Beauty: No Botox)

[Bruce Paine]

Nancy,

Here's the links missing from your post:

Paricia Arquette
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0412175/

Medium on NBC
http://www.nbc.com/Medium/

Yes, she is a natural beauty, but who specifically are you refering to at North Shore http://www.fox.com/northshore/ as being botoxed http://www.botox.com/site/ ?

Do you think the two macrobiotic food eating celebs: Gwyneth Paltrow http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000569/ and Madonna http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000187/ mentioned in Jessica Porter's The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for Achieving a Radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body http://store.cybermacro.com/hipchicks.php are using botox or facial acupuncture http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/ma...3/ixhmain.html ?

The funny thing is that years ago the macrobiotic leaders and teachers were telling us to avoid watching tv, using computers, and cellphones, and now so many of us use most of these things.

I don't watch much TV, though I did get into watching things like The Sopranos http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/, Six Feet Under http://www.hbo.com/sixfeetunder/?ntr...ategory0_show7, Oz http://www.hbo.com/oz/?ntrack_para1=...tegory0_show13, when I was watching premium cable, and 24 http://www.fox.com/24/ until last year.

Like Gary, I'm usually working during the prime time TV shows and since I don't record them, I'm often missing out on the action.

Any other "good shows" besides Medium, that I've been missing?

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[Bruce Paine]

I watched the American Idol http://idolonfox.com/ auditions last night I and found them exceptionally fascinating.

Some of the singers were talented and others were not.

A few were so terrible and didn't have a clue.

One contestant actually kept saying things that would scare most people, like..."I really don't like people".

To really be an entertainer, one must have experienced entertaining other people and I feel, should probably care what other people think and feel about them.

After these auditions, the contestants are going to be forced to compete with one another.

Will any of them rise above the rest, untainted by politics and rivalry?

What would a longtime macro or someone born into macrobiotics do in these circumstances?

Do you think that they could avoid the mean- and the ugli-ness?

Will anyone stay to watch round 2?

Or is it time to change the channel, or better yet, turn off the TV?

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[Nancy]

Bruce,

I've watched "American Idol" since the beginning, this is now the 4th contest. The first one was the best, just like the first "Apprentice" was the best. After one "Survivor" and one "The Bachelor" I didn't watch anymore, because they just weren't interesting enough...been there, done that.

On "American Idol" second time, Clay Aiken was very interesting, as his first appearance was very nerdy with glasses, dark brown hair, and ears sticking way out. Randy, Paula, and Simon, didn't know what to make of him as he had a beautiful, strong singing voice yet with very nerdy Peter Pan physical presence. Actually, I was so disappointed when Clay was not picked as one of the two out of each group of ten, after they go to Los Angeles. But, the judges and producers devised something called "The Wild Card" where each judge can pick from the candidates who didn't make it, and Clay was picked as a Wild Card Pick. Well, Clay rose to the very top, with a lot of wonderful performances along the way. He got to the finale, with Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard as the top two contestants. And, Ruben came in first. But, Clay has been widely popular in the music world and his first CD sold like hot cakes. Clay is always performing at popular events, I saw him performing during a Christmas Special from Rockefeller Plaza with Jessica Simpson and hubby.

On "American Idol" they slowly changed Clay's appearance. They lightened his hair to blondish brown and he received a new "spiky do" that hid his ears. Glasses went bye-bye. Then they dressed him in some great outfits. When it gets into the nitty-gritty of the contest, a lot is said about appearance. Everyone's appearance improves. Clay looked superb the night he sat on a stool in black boots, tight black pants, and a black leather jacket and sang a fabulous rendition of Bobby Darin's song, "Mack the Knife".

The early auditions where the judges go from city to city and sit through innumerable sessions with nutty people who can't sing are always the most hilarious shows. So many people think they really can sing, when they can't. They're incredibly awful singers, and they haven't got a clue. Last time one guy threw a coke in Simon's face, when Simon insulted him. Security came on the set very fast.

Johnny Carson just passed away and during the comments that people made the question came up, when do you know your run is over? Like say, on a talk show, or any show, or Broadway...etc. When the audience doesn't show up. Then you know. On American Idol last time, they made some people who didn't believe they were bad singers go out on the street, sing before people, and see if anyone stayed. Of course, some people were caught in a situation where everyone walked away one by one. They had to admit the judges were right about their voices. Don't these people have tape recorders and ever record themselves?

On "American Idol" contrary to what you assume, none of the contestants become vicious rivals. In fact, they form into groups and have to depend on each other. Eventually, the final 12 contestants live together in a Los Angeles mansion, they go to events like the Emmy's together, they make funny commericals with each other for the sponsors. They become very, very close friends and it is very sad when one gets eliminated.

No one is mean and ugly, especially as it narrows down.

On "American Idol" after the judges have narrowed it down to the top 12, the viewing public gets to vote by calling in their favorite each week. Viewers vote by phone or by text message. During all this, Ryan Seacrest, the MC (Master of Ceremonies) is very entertaining, especially since he mercilessly teases Simon, and gets some pretty good digs in at the judge people love to hate.

As the viewers vote, the votes come in up in the multi-millions of votes. So, yes, people do stay tuned in. This is the forth "American Idol"...Randy, Paula, and Simon have become multi-millionaires as the judges. Sponsors have raked in the dough. The winners have prospered in the music business, winning million dollar music contracts. And, there are now "Idol" contests in countries all over the world. The first one started in England, then Simon brought his act to the states.

So, that's "American Idol". You are kind of out-of-the-mainstream, if this is your first time ever watching.

Stay tuned, and enjoy, it's the best reality-type show on TV,

Nancy