The Bitch is Back!!!

The new spin-off of Beverly Hills 90210, "90210" should have all of the things I love in a TV show. Fashion, melodrama and a decent soundtrack but, after seeing the leaked pitch reel online, I think I may not be able to stomach it.



First off, the clothes are approaching California cliche - they look like the cast-offs from the OC season 2 wrap party and the actors have absolutely nothing interesting to say about their characters. All in all, I would say that the show warrants a pass - and yet today... something changed my mind.

According to the AP, Shannen Doherty is going to be reprising her role as Brenda Walsh over multiple episodes when 90210 premieres September 2nd on the CW. Apparently, Brenda is now a very famous director who is going to be overseeing a high school play at her old alma mater and... I can WAIT! I love me some Shannen D. I loved her in the original - "Never talk to me again!" - , I loved her on Charmed, I even watched her show (on Lifetime? Oxygen?) where she helped people break up with their loser partners. Full disclosure - I think she's Divine.

The new cast has already stirred the pot (with CW producers rubbing their hands together with conspiratorial glee) speculating that Shannen and Jennie Garth (also reprising her role) will have some sort of on-set smack down like they did back in the old days. I seriously doubt that it could happen, because I believe deeply that Shannen has grown as a person and would never behave that way, and also because - let's face it - Ms. Doherty could use the gig.

If you're planning on giving the new show a pass - I don't blame you - but rest assured, I will take a bullet for the team, watch the premiere and report back. I am the first to admit that a little Shannen goes a long way, but I totally up for the ride.

Irony is All The Rage

By now I'm sure you've all heard about the flap regarding the cover of this week's New Yorker magazine. It features a satirical (take note of the word, satirical) image of Senator Obama, and his charming wife, Michelle, in the oval office dressed in Muslim gear and as a para-military assassin, respectively. To their right, in the fireplace, burns an American flag. They are smiling at each other while doing the infamous fist bump.

To my eyes, this satirical cover is no more, or less, offensive them the one, a few months ago, of Obama and Clinton (in bed together) both reaching for the phone as it rings at 3am. The New Yorker has always had a penchant for poking fun at the hypocrisy of politics and the media and, in this case, did a remarkably good job of it.

Since Obama became the presumptive Democratic party nominee the right wing of the Republican party and their media partners (FOX News, The New York Post, talk radio, et al) have moved very quickly to create a sense of unease amongst the working class about Senator Obama and his wife. Everything from relentlessly parsing Mrs. Obama's comment that for the first time in her adult life she is really proud of her country to using the Senator's full name - Barrack Hussein Obama - whenever possible, to FOX News commentators discussing whether or not the fist bump is a terrorist signal - I am not making this up.

The fact that anyone takes the rantings of the uber conservative talking heads seriously is absurd to me, but such is the state of American politics that there is a small, but rabid, faction of the population that takes it very, very seriously. It is the very absurdity of the right wing that prompted this cover.

What I find truly insane is that the Obama camp have reacted with pompous political outrage. First off, if they hadn't led such credence to the "offensive" cover it would have simply disappeared - instead they chose to fan the flames. This "controversy" offered Senator Obama the perfect opportunity to address the cover, and the ridiculous rumors which prompted it. Why his campaign manager chose to go on the offensive while Senator Obama himself, refused to comment at all seems rather odd to me.

Following a week in which Obama allowed his children to be interviewed by Access Hollywood, and then made the rounds of the morning talk shows to lament the decision and assure the media that they would have no further access to his children - as though the original interview hadn't been orchestrated by his campaign, with his blessing, makes me wonder who is actually steering this ship.

As this campaign advances there is a greater sense that the Illinois Senator is remarkable thin-skinned, especially as he takes every opportunity lately to respond to any slight - large or small - real or imagined - levied against him. There is a real danger, if he does not pick and choose his battles, that he will continue to be pulled into these media inventions masquerading as "controversies" and the right wing will have gotten exactly what they want - the opportunity to set the tone of the campaign and the very real possibility of painting Barrack Obama as an angry black man.

My advice to Senator Obama and his campaign generals would be to pick their battles carefully, and consider every possible outcome. Fighting a war on too many fronts is a losing proposition - just ask Geroge W. Bush.

My Brain Hurts

Friday night we (being Joey B, Vix and myself) decided to stay home and force the world to come to us. How did we accomplish this? We set a trap with Cranium as the bait. We managed to rope in Jason Fab and a couple of Vix's friends - Ryan & Caroline.

Due to my tendency to be very (though charmingly) competitive Joey B has a long standing rule where he will not be on my team. As a result, I played the first game partnered with Vix and the second with Jason Fab. I won the first and lost the second (in a dismal third place finish). Regardless of the outcomes, we had an amazing time.

On one particular turn, Joey B created the fabulous sculpture below. If you think you know what the answer is, enter your guess in the comment section below. The correct answer will win two $30 gift certificate to Blue Jean bar in Chicago. (click photo to enlarge)

After our guest made their way home, there was the craziest storm yet here in the Midwest. There was psychotic thunder and lightening and, following a particularly bright strike and a window shaking roll of thunder, Vix and I looked at each other and just knew that lightening had struck in the neighborhood. Once the worst of the storm had passed, we headed out into the street to determine what damage had been done. This is what we found:

This tree was struck by lightening, split into three pieces and fell across Wilson ave. It was really
cool, though I did feel really, really bad for the owner of the grey sedan. Afterwards, Vix and I walked to the bridge over the Chicago river and watched the fireflies and the moon reflected in the water. Then we made our way home and listened to music on Vix's laptop by candlelight until the power came back on.
It's amazing how candlelight totally changes the way your home looks and feels. I totally recommend trying it for yourself - the storm and power failure are, of course, optional.

Ben Lerman says, "Leave Imus Alone"

Internationally renowned comedian and ukulele player, Ben Lerman, (who just happens to be a friend of mine) just posted a video defending Captain "I don't know what to do without my foot in my mouth" Imus. Truly brilliant - see for yourselves:

House Proud

Our House is currently on the market which means that I have to keep it in tip top shape. On a regular basis I have to vacuum and Joey B and I stay on top of the dishes at all times. It really doesn't take too much time but, like everything I do, I have taken it to an extreme. I have become obsessed (Joey B would say to an annoying degree) with keeping the house spotless. I realized it had gome too far this morning when I suffered a bout of what I will call "Paul Gravelle" syndrome - I was on my hands and knees polishing the floor in my bedroom. Yes, this is not a typo. I hand-polished my floor with orange oil at eight o'clock in the morning. Medical intervention may be necessary.

Moving on. I figured since many of you have not yet had the opportunity to visit my fair pied-de-terre I would do a quick tour so you can feel like you have. As I was editing I realized that I included some pretty crazy pans (it's not the Blair Witch project, but nausea may be experienced!) I left out the basement as well, which isn't much to look at but IS clean, clean, clean.

Enjoy!

Brunchy Munchy

Today I attended a "Design District" event hosted by Domino Magazine in Lincoln Park, featuring free ice cream, huge discounts and gift bags from Bloomindale's. My idea of heaven. Following that I met up with Joe O and crew for brunch at Joe's Brick House. The amazing thing about this brunch is that it's an all you can eat ,emu (which changes - allegedly - every weekend) and drinks are only a dollar! Dangerous.

After brunch we headed to Boystown, for more drunken (though rather tame) debauchery. At Roscoe's we met this really funny couple, Deb (there celebrating her birthday) and Val. They were hilarious, and of course they fell in love with Joe O hardcore. He has the magic touch.

Joe O, channeling Tyra Banks apparently.

Deb (the birthday Girl), Joe O & Val at Roscoe's.Jeremy & friend

It was a great day, and it was so nice to hang with Joe - we don't get to see each other that much anymore but every time we do, it's like old times.

SLIMMING UPDATE: I have lost 6 pounds so far, even despite brunch. Yeah!!!

Someday, My Prince Will Come II

Not only is Ben Barnes incredibly cute, he's also funny. Here's a clip I dug up of him having a sit down with Jimmy Kimmel.


In the grand tradition of Jimmy Kimmel videos, I am planning on starting production any day on "I'm F**king Ben Barnes." Industry people and extras need not apply. ;-)