Thursday, September 29, 2016
Great quote on Facebook
My new motto!
There are nights when I get into bed, and as I drift off, I think to myself, "I didn't accomplish much today. I was unproductive at home and at home. I procrastinated, I was unfocused, I wasted the day. I'm not happy. I didn't make good use of my time and talents." The quote above - THIS is how I want to experience every day.
librarianintx
librarianintx
Survivor Season 33 Episode 2
Just a thought or two...
Yea, David made fire!! And he found an immunity idol!! Hot damn! AND he wasn't voted off! But unfortunately, he was by far the weakest player in the challenge. He performed worse than Paul, who had collapsed with dehydration the day before. Paul did well; he even swam out to Jeff to collect the immunity statue after Gen X won the challenge. The idea during the episode was that David would go if Gen X lost, so luckily they didn't lose.
The other bit I wanted to mention - I haven't watched every season of Survivor, but I have seen most of them, and I have never seen anyone take so long to write a name down as Hannah did. Has Jeff ever had to walk over to a contestant to check on them? I think he only took a few steps in her direction, but still. That was pretty funny. I felt bad for her struggle, but that still made me giggle.
Oh, and for whoever said that showmances never last on Survivor - I give you Boston Rob and Amber. They met on Survivor, married, and now have four daughters. I don't know if they are the only Survivor couple to marry, but they are the most famous pair.
librarianintx
librarianintx
Yea, David made fire!! And he found an immunity idol!! Hot damn! AND he wasn't voted off! But unfortunately, he was by far the weakest player in the challenge. He performed worse than Paul, who had collapsed with dehydration the day before. Paul did well; he even swam out to Jeff to collect the immunity statue after Gen X won the challenge. The idea during the episode was that David would go if Gen X lost, so luckily they didn't lose.
The other bit I wanted to mention - I haven't watched every season of Survivor, but I have seen most of them, and I have never seen anyone take so long to write a name down as Hannah did. Has Jeff ever had to walk over to a contestant to check on them? I think he only took a few steps in her direction, but still. That was pretty funny. I felt bad for her struggle, but that still made me giggle.
Oh, and for whoever said that showmances never last on Survivor - I give you Boston Rob and Amber. They met on Survivor, married, and now have four daughters. I don't know if they are the only Survivor couple to marry, but they are the most famous pair.
librarianintx
librarianintx
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 "Face Off" Part 3 and Results Show
The last pair was Laurie Hernandez & Val vs Marilu Henner & Derek
My thoughts: Laurie - WOW! Amazing speed, professional level performance, and she looked so mature! She is hands down the favorite to win this competition. Marilu's tango was much slower, but she should still be proud; she danced a proper tango. It was not an even match up, but who can you pair Laurie with this season? No one comes close to her yet, in my opinion, but I think Marilu was the best option at this point.
Scores: Laurie: 7, 8, 8, 8 Carrie Ann graded her down because they did a lift. So frustrating. Doing a lift was obviously Val's decision; he's the professional and the choreographer. But Laurie is given a lower score because of Val. Ugh! Val, you know that lifts aren't allowed in a tango, so why did you put one in? This was not an instance where her feet came off the floor and you could hope that eagle-eyed lift-maniac Carrie Ann wouldn't notice. This was a moment-for-all-to-marvel-at type of lift. When immunity is on the line, you're going to take a chance like that? But I guess you knew that she is good enough and popular enough to be safe. She deserved 8's across the board though. Because Val put in a lift, Laurie was robbed of the high score of the night; that honor went to Calvin Johnson Jr.
Marilu: 7, 7, 7, 7.
No surprise here. Laurie is safe.
I fast forwarded through most of the results show. I'm sorry, I don't have time for filler, and again, this show was mostly a re-hash of Monday night. But I have to say I LOVED Val and Mak's dance! FAN-tastic! And I very happily said "bye bye" to Rick Perry! Sorry you got yet another lemon, Emma!
librarianintx
My thoughts: Laurie - WOW! Amazing speed, professional level performance, and she looked so mature! She is hands down the favorite to win this competition. Marilu's tango was much slower, but she should still be proud; she danced a proper tango. It was not an even match up, but who can you pair Laurie with this season? No one comes close to her yet, in my opinion, but I think Marilu was the best option at this point.
Scores: Laurie: 7, 8, 8, 8 Carrie Ann graded her down because they did a lift. So frustrating. Doing a lift was obviously Val's decision; he's the professional and the choreographer. But Laurie is given a lower score because of Val. Ugh! Val, you know that lifts aren't allowed in a tango, so why did you put one in? This was not an instance where her feet came off the floor and you could hope that eagle-eyed lift-maniac Carrie Ann wouldn't notice. This was a moment-for-all-to-marvel-at type of lift. When immunity is on the line, you're going to take a chance like that? But I guess you knew that she is good enough and popular enough to be safe. She deserved 8's across the board though. Because Val put in a lift, Laurie was robbed of the high score of the night; that honor went to Calvin Johnson Jr.
Marilu: 7, 7, 7, 7.
No surprise here. Laurie is safe.
I fast forwarded through most of the results show. I'm sorry, I don't have time for filler, and again, this show was mostly a re-hash of Monday night. But I have to say I LOVED Val and Mak's dance! FAN-tastic! And I very happily said "bye bye" to Rick Perry! Sorry you got yet another lemon, Emma!
librarianintx
Monday, September 26, 2016
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 "Face Off" Part 2
Terra Jole & Sasha vs Calvin Johnson Jr & Lindsay
My thoughts: I enjoyed both Viennese Waltzes. I thought Terra and Sasha had a beautiful flow of movement across the floor. I love the song too. It all worked for me. Calvin & Lindsay's dance was a little choppy, but kudos to him for attempting reverse turns, and I think the dance had a lot of passion and fire. This is a tough one. In terms of dancing a proper Viennese Waltz, I would give the edge to Terra & Sasha.
Scores: 8, 7, 8, and 7 for Terra & Sasha
8, 8, 8, and 8
Wow! Congrats to Calvin!
Maureen McCormick & Artem vs Amber Rose & Maks
I still expected Amber to be better, but I did see some improvement tonight. I mean, c'mon, she was dancing to "Big Booty." She has all the assets to be a success at this salsa. And she's dancing with Maks, Mr. Fine!! I saw some flashes of shaking it and owning it. But I still wanted more. Maureen & Artem danced a more traditional salsa, most of which was partnering work and in hold. The two dances were so different that it's hard to judge them. Amber's was a like a street salsa, while Maureen's was more of a ballroom salsa. I liked them both for different reasons, but I think I have to say that overall Maureen's was better.
Scores: 7, 6, 6, and 6 for Amber & Maks
7, 7, 7, and 7 for Maureen & Artem
Maureen won! She's safe!
Darn, I got too far behind! I'll have to recap the last pairing later!
librarianintx
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 "Face Off" Part 1
It's an abbreviated episode because of the first presidential debate, and for that reason, the twelve remaining couples are dancing in "face off" format. They are paired up and dancing in the same style, but not to the same music, which is interesting. There will be a winner for each pair, and that contestant has immunity and cannot be eliminated in tomorrow night's results show. Here is a quick recap (so hopefully I can be finished close to 8 pm):
Babyface & Allison vs Jana & Gleb:
My thoughts: Jana and Glen took it easily. Babyface had a few flashes of a decent jive, but overall he was quite stiff and awkward. He had a big smile on his face and the dance wasn't terrible, but Jana and Gleb were flirty, fun, sexy, and performed a proper jive with kicks, flicks, tricks, and good speed and rhythm.
Judges scores: 7, 6, 6 and 6 for Babyface & Allison
6, 7, 6, and 7 for Jana & Gleb
There were no judges comments. I expected Jana & Gleb's scores to be higher. But this means that Jana cannot eliminated.
Rick Perry & Emma vs Vanilla Ice & Whitney
(A "bromance"? *shudder* *giggle*)
My thoughts: Rick's paso was like a "paint by numbers" paso. He looked like he was trying to follow the steps on an instructional video. He made a lot of shapes. He did some walking. He stomped his feet. That was his paso. I loved Emma's skirt. I thought Vanilla Ice had a pretty poor frame, but I liked his intensity. I know it's hard for me to be objective when it comes to Rick Perry. I don't think either one of them were good, but I thought Vanilla Ice did a better job with the paso.
Scores: 6,5, 6, and 6 for Rick & Emma
6, 6, 5, and 6 for Vanilla Ice & Whitney
Since there was a tie, Len was the decider. He gave it to Vanilla Ice & Whitney. So Rick is vulnerable tomorrow night.
Ryan Lochte & Cheryl vs James Henchcliffe & Sharna
My thoughts: I swear, Sharna can make anyone look good! I mean, I'm not totally convinced that James knows how to shake his booty, but Sharna put her hips up against his, and let nature just take control. It was a sexy, fun dance, and I enjoyed it. I feel much the same about Ryan & Cheryl's cha cha. She ripped open his shirt and rubbed up against him, and his body seemed to respond, regardless of actual dance ability. It was very close, but I would declare James and Sharna the winners...by one thrust.
Scores: 7, 7, 8, and 7 for James & Sharna
6, 7, 6, and 6 for Ryan & Cheryl
That makes James safe from elimination.
End of Part 1
Babyface & Allison vs Jana & Gleb:
My thoughts: Jana and Glen took it easily. Babyface had a few flashes of a decent jive, but overall he was quite stiff and awkward. He had a big smile on his face and the dance wasn't terrible, but Jana and Gleb were flirty, fun, sexy, and performed a proper jive with kicks, flicks, tricks, and good speed and rhythm.
Judges scores: 7, 6, 6 and 6 for Babyface & Allison
6, 7, 6, and 7 for Jana & Gleb
There were no judges comments. I expected Jana & Gleb's scores to be higher. But this means that Jana cannot eliminated.
Rick Perry & Emma vs Vanilla Ice & Whitney
(A "bromance"? *shudder* *giggle*)
My thoughts: Rick's paso was like a "paint by numbers" paso. He looked like he was trying to follow the steps on an instructional video. He made a lot of shapes. He did some walking. He stomped his feet. That was his paso. I loved Emma's skirt. I thought Vanilla Ice had a pretty poor frame, but I liked his intensity. I know it's hard for me to be objective when it comes to Rick Perry. I don't think either one of them were good, but I thought Vanilla Ice did a better job with the paso.
Scores: 6,5, 6, and 6 for Rick & Emma
6, 6, 5, and 6 for Vanilla Ice & Whitney
Since there was a tie, Len was the decider. He gave it to Vanilla Ice & Whitney. So Rick is vulnerable tomorrow night.
Ryan Lochte & Cheryl vs James Henchcliffe & Sharna
My thoughts: I swear, Sharna can make anyone look good! I mean, I'm not totally convinced that James knows how to shake his booty, but Sharna put her hips up against his, and let nature just take control. It was a sexy, fun dance, and I enjoyed it. I feel much the same about Ryan & Cheryl's cha cha. She ripped open his shirt and rubbed up against him, and his body seemed to respond, regardless of actual dance ability. It was very close, but I would declare James and Sharna the winners...by one thrust.
Scores: 7, 7, 8, and 7 for James & Sharna
6, 7, 6, and 6 for Ryan & Cheryl
That makes James safe from elimination.
End of Part 1
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Survivor Season 33 Episode 1
Thirty three seasons? Wow! I still enjoy the show. This was a good first episode. I like the theme of Millennials vs Gen X. I am a Gen X'er but I don't dislike Millennials. I like their fun, adventurous spirit. Not that I think you can always generalize. Not all Millennials are free spirits, and not all Gen X'ers are workhorses. But I think it will be an interesting season.
For the first time in Survivor history, the contestants had to be evacuated from their camps due to weather. I wonder what their accommodations were like during the storm. Were they in a hotel? Were they not allowed to strategize? Were the tribes kept separate?
I'm glad that Dave did not go home. Dave reminds me of myself - insecure, afraid of new experiences, nervous, anxious. I hope he has the opportunity to have a journey this season - of growth, of self-discovery - and I want to witness it and maybe learn from him. I want him to have a John Cochran-type metamorphosis. I don't have high hopes that he'll be in the game for long, but maybe...
librarianintx
For the first time in Survivor history, the contestants had to be evacuated from their camps due to weather. I wonder what their accommodations were like during the storm. Were they in a hotel? Were they not allowed to strategize? Were the tribes kept separate?
I'm glad that Dave did not go home. Dave reminds me of myself - insecure, afraid of new experiences, nervous, anxious. I hope he has the opportunity to have a journey this season - of growth, of self-discovery - and I want to witness it and maybe learn from him. I want him to have a John Cochran-type metamorphosis. I don't have high hopes that he'll be in the game for long, but maybe...
librarianintx
Big Brother Season Finale
Well, obviously I don't know what I'm talking about. The person I said was the least likely of the three to win because I felt that she had the most enemies on the jury - she won. I don't dislike Nicole - and I am happy that a girl won - but I would have preferred James or Paul to take it.
Two of the jury votes leave me shaking my head. Natalie voted for Nicole to win? She was so mad at James for convincing her to align with Nicole and Cory instead of Paul and Victor, and then it was the Nicole / Cory showmance that ousted Natalie. And yet she still votes for Nicole to win? That was crazy all by itself. But then Da'Vonne votes for Nicole to win? What?!?! Da'Vonne has been cursing Nicole before she was even eliminated, and the hatred didn't abate when she was sent to jury. She blamed Nicole for so much that went wrong, in her play and the game of others as well. Frank and Nicole became her archenemies. During Paul's speech right before the vote, Da'Vonne was swinging her arms and practically hopping around in her chair. I was sure that Paul had her vote in a lockbox. And then - when the score was tied and Da'Vonne was the deciding vote - it was revealed she voted for Nicole! I just don't get it. But anyway, congrats to Nicole. I didn't love Paul's temper, but I enjoyed his fun side, and he really entertained me this summer. Congrats to him as well. The vote was as close as it could possibly be. #friendship
As far as the fan favorite award goes, I'm okay that it went to Victor. He's a nice guy, and he sure had to work hard to stay for as long as he did in the Big Brother house. I was excited that Natalie and James were in the running as well.
I'm not watching the fall edition of Big Brother on CBS All Access. I have too many shows already, and I'm not going to pay beyond the money I already shell out for cable just to watch one more show. I'll wait until next summer for another season of my guilty pleasure.
librarianintx
Two of the jury votes leave me shaking my head. Natalie voted for Nicole to win? She was so mad at James for convincing her to align with Nicole and Cory instead of Paul and Victor, and then it was the Nicole / Cory showmance that ousted Natalie. And yet she still votes for Nicole to win? That was crazy all by itself. But then Da'Vonne votes for Nicole to win? What?!?! Da'Vonne has been cursing Nicole before she was even eliminated, and the hatred didn't abate when she was sent to jury. She blamed Nicole for so much that went wrong, in her play and the game of others as well. Frank and Nicole became her archenemies. During Paul's speech right before the vote, Da'Vonne was swinging her arms and practically hopping around in her chair. I was sure that Paul had her vote in a lockbox. And then - when the score was tied and Da'Vonne was the deciding vote - it was revealed she voted for Nicole! I just don't get it. But anyway, congrats to Nicole. I didn't love Paul's temper, but I enjoyed his fun side, and he really entertained me this summer. Congrats to him as well. The vote was as close as it could possibly be. #friendship
As far as the fan favorite award goes, I'm okay that it went to Victor. He's a nice guy, and he sure had to work hard to stay for as long as he did in the Big Brother house. I was excited that Natalie and James were in the running as well.
I'm not watching the fall edition of Big Brother on CBS All Access. I have too many shows already, and I'm not going to pay beyond the money I already shell out for cable just to watch one more show. I'll wait until next summer for another season of my guilty pleasure.
librarianintx
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 First Results Show
There is only one word that can adequately describe last night's results show:
FILLER
What was the point of that episode? To waste the fans' time? I'm sorry, but honestly, that show could have been thirty minutes long and then it would have been relevant and worth watching. Why do I want two hours of rehashing the dances with Bruno's sound effects in the background? The two musical performances were good, and I enjoyed the dance with Maks, Cheryl, and Derek, but otherwise, there was nothing new in the episode. I love the show, but I have A LOT of shows to watch this season. I don't have time for two hours of DWTS filler every Tuesday night. If there is going to be a results show, make it one hour at the most, and make it worth watching - meaning performances that we haven't already seen.
As far as who went home - I'm not surprised. The worst dancer rarely goes home in the first week. Rick Perry will likely stick around for another week or two, while dancers with somewhat more potential but smaller fan bases will go home. I'm sure JT Austin has a large fan base; he's a young, male Disney star. But young kids and tweens don't watch "Dancing with the Stars." That fact combined with two weeks of sub-standard dancing resulted in him being the first contestant eliminated from the ballroom.
librarianintx
FILLER
What was the point of that episode? To waste the fans' time? I'm sorry, but honestly, that show could have been thirty minutes long and then it would have been relevant and worth watching. Why do I want two hours of rehashing the dances with Bruno's sound effects in the background? The two musical performances were good, and I enjoyed the dance with Maks, Cheryl, and Derek, but otherwise, there was nothing new in the episode. I love the show, but I have A LOT of shows to watch this season. I don't have time for two hours of DWTS filler every Tuesday night. If there is going to be a results show, make it one hour at the most, and make it worth watching - meaning performances that we haven't already seen.
As far as who went home - I'm not surprised. The worst dancer rarely goes home in the first week. Rick Perry will likely stick around for another week or two, while dancers with somewhat more potential but smaller fan bases will go home. I'm sure JT Austin has a large fan base; he's a young, male Disney star. But young kids and tweens don't watch "Dancing with the Stars." That fact combined with two weeks of sub-standard dancing resulted in him being the first contestant eliminated from the ballroom.
librarianintx
Monday, September 19, 2016
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Episode 2 Part 2
Babyface and Allison
Argentine Tango
A bit of a letdown for me from last week. The Argentine Tango is a very sexy dance, but I felt very little passion from him. He seemed very stiff and uncomfortable. The music was strange for the style of dance as well. It just didn't work for me. But I still see his potential. The lingering "almost kiss" was nice, but that was about it. The judges liked the performance better than I did. They saw more chemistry than I did. I saw chemistry last week. I saw leading man status last week. Not so much this week, but almost. The judges gave him two "8's" and two "7's."
Laurie Hernandez and Val
Jive
She is definitely a contender. She is the frontrunner so far. Val created a very difficult routine, and she more than held her own. Laurie is the whole package: personality, energy, youth, vitality, sparkle, and great technique. Val could very well have another winning partner. The judges were very enthusiastic. Laurie earned all "8's", the highest score of the night so far. Well deserved!
James Henchcliffe and Sharna
Paso Doble
Okay, I understand why there had to be dancers; it was "The Walking Dead" theme. But they distracted from the dance more than they enhanced it in my opinion. The routine was too hectic at times. But for me, James didn't look under prepared. I thought he did very well. And I felt like Sharna held back a little in her performance so James could shine. Overall, I was impressed. The judges were too. They gave James three "7's" and one "8," but with positive comments.
Marilu Henner and Derek
Foxtrot
It took them awhile to start the routine, but I thought Marilu gave a very solid performance. She is a good dancer and Derek is an outstanding partner. I thought she had good form and good flow of movement across the stage. I'm very happy with that performance. I think Derek was able to make that song work for them. The judges were happy too. They loved her lines and her emotion in the routine. Marilu got three "7's" and an "8" from Len!
Ryan Lochte and Cheryl
Quickstep
So we got to see what happened when the innocence of the ballroom was shattered. But now its time to move on. And I am only here to judge his dancing. Which was quite good tonight! Of course I hated the extra dancers. I really disliked them in this performance, because in the beginning it was like Ryan was an extra instead of the contestant. Ugh! But once they exited, Ryan performed a solid quickstep: good speed, good technique, and good personality. Much better than last week. Julianne did not agree with me. She saw a lot of mistakes. Carrie Ann and Bruno did too. Ryan earned all "6's." I guess I didn't watch very closely. Maybe it's because I haven't had dinner yet. My growling stomach may have distracted me.
Dinner time for me dance fans!
librarianintx
Argentine Tango
A bit of a letdown for me from last week. The Argentine Tango is a very sexy dance, but I felt very little passion from him. He seemed very stiff and uncomfortable. The music was strange for the style of dance as well. It just didn't work for me. But I still see his potential. The lingering "almost kiss" was nice, but that was about it. The judges liked the performance better than I did. They saw more chemistry than I did. I saw chemistry last week. I saw leading man status last week. Not so much this week, but almost. The judges gave him two "8's" and two "7's."
Laurie Hernandez and Val
Jive
She is definitely a contender. She is the frontrunner so far. Val created a very difficult routine, and she more than held her own. Laurie is the whole package: personality, energy, youth, vitality, sparkle, and great technique. Val could very well have another winning partner. The judges were very enthusiastic. Laurie earned all "8's", the highest score of the night so far. Well deserved!
James Henchcliffe and Sharna
Paso Doble
Okay, I understand why there had to be dancers; it was "The Walking Dead" theme. But they distracted from the dance more than they enhanced it in my opinion. The routine was too hectic at times. But for me, James didn't look under prepared. I thought he did very well. And I felt like Sharna held back a little in her performance so James could shine. Overall, I was impressed. The judges were too. They gave James three "7's" and one "8," but with positive comments.
Marilu Henner and Derek
Foxtrot
It took them awhile to start the routine, but I thought Marilu gave a very solid performance. She is a good dancer and Derek is an outstanding partner. I thought she had good form and good flow of movement across the stage. I'm very happy with that performance. I think Derek was able to make that song work for them. The judges were happy too. They loved her lines and her emotion in the routine. Marilu got three "7's" and an "8" from Len!
Ryan Lochte and Cheryl
Quickstep
So we got to see what happened when the innocence of the ballroom was shattered. But now its time to move on. And I am only here to judge his dancing. Which was quite good tonight! Of course I hated the extra dancers. I really disliked them in this performance, because in the beginning it was like Ryan was an extra instead of the contestant. Ugh! But once they exited, Ryan performed a solid quickstep: good speed, good technique, and good personality. Much better than last week. Julianne did not agree with me. She saw a lot of mistakes. Carrie Ann and Bruno did too. Ryan earned all "6's." I guess I didn't watch very closely. Maybe it's because I haven't had dinner yet. My growling stomach may have distracted me.
Dinner time for me dance fans!
librarianintx
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Episode 2 Part 1
Here we are again Dancing with the Stars fans! Let's see who has improved from the season premiere last week! I am logged in five minutes early, and ready to recap!
Of course they open the show with the Ryan Lochte controversy, but only for a second. I can imagine how tight the security is in the ballroom tonight.
It's theme song night!
First up, Maureen McCormick and Artem:
Quickstep
Yeah for the Mrs. Brady cameo!
Boo for the extra dancers. Sigh.
My comments: Quickstep is a tough one. And the dance was choppy at times. But I thought Maureen was much improved from last week. She looked much less nervous, and she looked like she was having fun. I give her an A+ for effort and for appearing to conquer her nerves. Good job Marcia! The costumes were all over the place, though. I didn't get the costumes. Anyway, the judges agreed with me on the performance. Maureen got two 6's and two 7's, but the comments were way more positive than the scores.
Jana Kramer and Gleb
Tango
Jana was injured during rehearsals, so it was hard not to think about that as I watched the performance. I thought they did well, but not as good as last week. I still think she can be a contender though. The sexiness was still there, and I thought her form was basically good, but there may have been a stumble or two. The judges noticed her pain, but thought she was a trooper to get through the routine. The scores were a bit of a surprise. Len gave them an 8! They got a 7 from everyone else.
Rick Perry and Emma
Quickstep
Before they dance, can I tell you what I want to do with that pitchfork?
Anyway,,,
One word to describe the dance: Hokey. The song is hokey. His facial expressions were mega hokey. I don't know what Emma's costume was. Ellie Mae Clampett's dressing gown? This was a quickstep, not a dance at a hoedown. But if I'm being completely honest, it wasn't as much of a trainwreck as I expected. It wasn't good. But it wasn't awful. His wife looked like she had suffered an injury when he skipped over to kiss her. Carrie Ann and Len gave him a better critique than I expected. "I'm dancing for the veterans." Oh, please. What did you do for the veterans when you were governor of Texas? What a way to pander for votes. Rick got two "6's" and two "5's."
Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay
Foxtrot
It was a cute routine, and Calvin showed a lot of personality. Overall, I thought he was better than last week, and his form was pretty good, but he seemed to get lazy at the end of the routine. There was a nice flow that seemed to stop about ten seconds before the end of the dance. Strange. The judges were very happy with this performance. Calvin earned "7's" across the board and he got to meet Jaleel White!
Amber Rose and Maks
Viennese Waltz
Once again I had high hopes. I love the Game of Thrones theme, and I want to love Amber and Maks together. Unfortunately, I was disappointed again. She didn't learn from what Bruno told her last week about connecting with her partner. I didn't feel any passion, any fire coming from them. Amber was doing the steps and that was it. It didn't move me at all. And why do they have her in such boring costumes? She's a model, and she's often half naked on the red carpet. I know this is a family show, but she doesn't have to be so covered up. Maks absolutely looked the part, but Amber did not. I'm sorry, but I was bored. Julianne disagreed with me; she saw a connection that I didn't see. Still, the scores looked like what I would given her: all "6's."
JT Austin and Jenna
Cha Cha
Eh. It was okay. There were extra dancers. I feel like Jenna did most of the work. I didn't see a lot of hip action. I think she may have hit him in the face at one point. It was just a'right for me. I don't have a lot to say. Both Carrie Ann and Len mentioned his lack of timing. Julianne too. Young JT got all "6's." I do have one more thing to say. Who is designing these costumes tonight? Poor Jenna had black fringe in her vajayjay area. Very unfortunate. I just had to mention that.
Vanilla Ice and Whitney
Foxtrot
Oh my goodness, they sure did channel the characters of Peg and Al Bundy! I loved that aspect of the routine. I also thought it was cute that he was lip synching with the song. The dance was almost good, just a little too stiff and slow. I wanted more dancing, and I thought it would be fun to incorporate the love / hate relationship between Peg and Al. But I enjoyed it. The judges were basically encouraging, especially Len. He got "7's" from the guys and "6's" from the girls.
Terra Jole and Sasha
Quickstep
I thought it was very good! They had to move slightly slower than a typical quickstep because of her little feet. But it looked like a quickstep. Sasha did not scrimp on the steps or the elements of the dance. I was impressed, and saw a lot of improvement from last week. Good job Terra! I think you conquered a very difficult dance!
"I was a universal Dick." Sasha
You walked right into that one, Tom! Hilarious!!
Great comments from the judges! Julianne said it was her favorite dance of the night. Bruno said it was the most complete quickstep of the night. Wow! So happy for her! She got three "8's" and a "7" from Len.
End of Part 1
Of course they open the show with the Ryan Lochte controversy, but only for a second. I can imagine how tight the security is in the ballroom tonight.
It's theme song night!
First up, Maureen McCormick and Artem:
Quickstep
Yeah for the Mrs. Brady cameo!
Boo for the extra dancers. Sigh.
My comments: Quickstep is a tough one. And the dance was choppy at times. But I thought Maureen was much improved from last week. She looked much less nervous, and she looked like she was having fun. I give her an A+ for effort and for appearing to conquer her nerves. Good job Marcia! The costumes were all over the place, though. I didn't get the costumes. Anyway, the judges agreed with me on the performance. Maureen got two 6's and two 7's, but the comments were way more positive than the scores.
Jana Kramer and Gleb
Tango
Jana was injured during rehearsals, so it was hard not to think about that as I watched the performance. I thought they did well, but not as good as last week. I still think she can be a contender though. The sexiness was still there, and I thought her form was basically good, but there may have been a stumble or two. The judges noticed her pain, but thought she was a trooper to get through the routine. The scores were a bit of a surprise. Len gave them an 8! They got a 7 from everyone else.
Rick Perry and Emma
Quickstep
Before they dance, can I tell you what I want to do with that pitchfork?
Anyway,,,
One word to describe the dance: Hokey. The song is hokey. His facial expressions were mega hokey. I don't know what Emma's costume was. Ellie Mae Clampett's dressing gown? This was a quickstep, not a dance at a hoedown. But if I'm being completely honest, it wasn't as much of a trainwreck as I expected. It wasn't good. But it wasn't awful. His wife looked like she had suffered an injury when he skipped over to kiss her. Carrie Ann and Len gave him a better critique than I expected. "I'm dancing for the veterans." Oh, please. What did you do for the veterans when you were governor of Texas? What a way to pander for votes. Rick got two "6's" and two "5's."
Calvin Johnson Jr. and Lindsay
Foxtrot
It was a cute routine, and Calvin showed a lot of personality. Overall, I thought he was better than last week, and his form was pretty good, but he seemed to get lazy at the end of the routine. There was a nice flow that seemed to stop about ten seconds before the end of the dance. Strange. The judges were very happy with this performance. Calvin earned "7's" across the board and he got to meet Jaleel White!
Amber Rose and Maks
Viennese Waltz
Once again I had high hopes. I love the Game of Thrones theme, and I want to love Amber and Maks together. Unfortunately, I was disappointed again. She didn't learn from what Bruno told her last week about connecting with her partner. I didn't feel any passion, any fire coming from them. Amber was doing the steps and that was it. It didn't move me at all. And why do they have her in such boring costumes? She's a model, and she's often half naked on the red carpet. I know this is a family show, but she doesn't have to be so covered up. Maks absolutely looked the part, but Amber did not. I'm sorry, but I was bored. Julianne disagreed with me; she saw a connection that I didn't see. Still, the scores looked like what I would given her: all "6's."
JT Austin and Jenna
Cha Cha
Eh. It was okay. There were extra dancers. I feel like Jenna did most of the work. I didn't see a lot of hip action. I think she may have hit him in the face at one point. It was just a'right for me. I don't have a lot to say. Both Carrie Ann and Len mentioned his lack of timing. Julianne too. Young JT got all "6's." I do have one more thing to say. Who is designing these costumes tonight? Poor Jenna had black fringe in her vajayjay area. Very unfortunate. I just had to mention that.
Vanilla Ice and Whitney
Foxtrot
Oh my goodness, they sure did channel the characters of Peg and Al Bundy! I loved that aspect of the routine. I also thought it was cute that he was lip synching with the song. The dance was almost good, just a little too stiff and slow. I wanted more dancing, and I thought it would be fun to incorporate the love / hate relationship between Peg and Al. But I enjoyed it. The judges were basically encouraging, especially Len. He got "7's" from the guys and "6's" from the girls.
Terra Jole and Sasha
Quickstep
I thought it was very good! They had to move slightly slower than a typical quickstep because of her little feet. But it looked like a quickstep. Sasha did not scrimp on the steps or the elements of the dance. I was impressed, and saw a lot of improvement from last week. Good job Terra! I think you conquered a very difficult dance!
"I was a universal Dick." Sasha
You walked right into that one, Tom! Hilarious!!
Great comments from the judges! Julianne said it was her favorite dance of the night. Bruno said it was the most complete quickstep of the night. Wow! So happy for her! She got three "8's" and a "7" from Len.
End of Part 1
The Emmy's
I had a few reasons to cheer this year, and as usual, a few reasons to be pissed off. Here are my highs and lows from the Emmy's:
Highs:
Kate McKinnon wins best supporting actress in a comedy for "Saturday Night Live."
I LOVE Kate McKinnon! She is freakin' hilarious! SO happy for her!
"The People vs OJ Simpson Story" cleans up in the miniseries category.
The hard part was that several of the actors were nominated in the same categories, so that made it tough. Sterling K. Brown was masterful in his role as Christopher Darden, and deserved the win for best supporting actor, but David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian and John Travolta as Robert Shapiro were brilliant as well. Courtney B. Vance was amazing as Johnnie Cochran, and I'm so glad he got the lead actor award, but that left out Cuba Gooding Jr. as OJ. I was so excited that Sarah Paulson won lead actress for her role as Marcia Clark. That miniseries was excellent, although I did feel a twinge of regret that it beat the remake of "Roots."
Although I've only seen the first seasons of these shows, three cheers for Jeffrey Tambor winning lead actor in a comedy again for his role as Maura Pfefferman in "Transparent," and Rami Malek as Elliot accepting his first Emmy for lead actor in a drama for "Mr. Robot."
And woo hoo to "Game to Thrones" for winning best writing, directing, and best drama!
Lows
Some of my lows were not complete downsides. While I was very disappointed that all three Game of Thrones actresses lost in the supporting actress category (Maisie Williams as Aria, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys, and Lena Headey as Cersei), I WAS happy that Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess won again for "Downton Abbey."
But there was no joy in the best supporting actor in a drama category for me. Both "Game of Thrones" actors, Kit Harrington as John Snow, and previous winner Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, were shut out.
Finally, the lead actress in a drama category was a huge disappointment for me. Viola Davis as Annalise Keating in "How to Get Away With Murder" and Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon in "Empire" both lost, and the incredible Kerry Washington, who plays Olivia Pope in "Scandal," was once again not nominated, which is a travesty.
I didn't pay that much attention to the fashion this year, but one duo who presented stood out to me. Tina Fey looked so hot in a simple green gown, but her cohort, Amy Poehler, wore a dress in a different shade of green that looked more like a tablecloth. I think she will get skewered on "Fashion Police."
librarianintx
Highs:
Kate McKinnon wins best supporting actress in a comedy for "Saturday Night Live."
I LOVE Kate McKinnon! She is freakin' hilarious! SO happy for her!
"The People vs OJ Simpson Story" cleans up in the miniseries category.
The hard part was that several of the actors were nominated in the same categories, so that made it tough. Sterling K. Brown was masterful in his role as Christopher Darden, and deserved the win for best supporting actor, but David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian and John Travolta as Robert Shapiro were brilliant as well. Courtney B. Vance was amazing as Johnnie Cochran, and I'm so glad he got the lead actor award, but that left out Cuba Gooding Jr. as OJ. I was so excited that Sarah Paulson won lead actress for her role as Marcia Clark. That miniseries was excellent, although I did feel a twinge of regret that it beat the remake of "Roots."
Although I've only seen the first seasons of these shows, three cheers for Jeffrey Tambor winning lead actor in a comedy again for his role as Maura Pfefferman in "Transparent," and Rami Malek as Elliot accepting his first Emmy for lead actor in a drama for "Mr. Robot."
And woo hoo to "Game to Thrones" for winning best writing, directing, and best drama!
Lows
Some of my lows were not complete downsides. While I was very disappointed that all three Game of Thrones actresses lost in the supporting actress category (Maisie Williams as Aria, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys, and Lena Headey as Cersei), I WAS happy that Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess won again for "Downton Abbey."
But there was no joy in the best supporting actor in a drama category for me. Both "Game of Thrones" actors, Kit Harrington as John Snow, and previous winner Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, were shut out.
Finally, the lead actress in a drama category was a huge disappointment for me. Viola Davis as Annalise Keating in "How to Get Away With Murder" and Taraji P. Henson as Cookie Lyon in "Empire" both lost, and the incredible Kerry Washington, who plays Olivia Pope in "Scandal," was once again not nominated, which is a travesty.
I didn't pay that much attention to the fashion this year, but one duo who presented stood out to me. Tina Fey looked so hot in a simple green gown, but her cohort, Amy Poehler, wore a dress in a different shade of green that looked more like a tablecloth. I think she will get skewered on "Fashion Police."
librarianintx
My Biggest Pet Peeve
Luckily, I don't have many. As I get older, I will likely have more.
I have probably mentioned this previously. I witnessed it again yesterday, and it always frustrates me. Because I ride the bus so much, it's a frequent irritation. It happens both on Greyhound and Megabus.
The pet peeve: People put their belongings on the seat next to them, so riders entering the bus have to ask if the seat is taken.
Hands down, these people are being rude. Especially yesterday, it was obvious that the bus would be full. This was the second stop on the way back to Austin, so there were people on the bus that had boarded at the downtown location. The line to get on the bus at Katy Mills Mall stretched from the parking lot almost to the door of the mall. Anyone who thought they were going to get two seats to themselves was delusional. So why do they do it? Why do they continue to leave their stuff on the seat, which makes a person entering the bus have to ask if the seat is available. You did not pay for two seats, rude people. That seat next to you is not your luggage compartment; it is a seat for a paying customer. Why do you think it's okay to let someone have to beg for the opportunity to sit next to you?
I have seen people actually refuse to let someone sit next to them. It happened to me once on the Greyhound. An older lady would not move her bag. She claimed that she didn't speak English. And maybe she didn't. But regardless, she should know the rules. I was mad and almost moved her bag, but I decided not to get into it with her. The driver didn't go to bat for me. So I just sat elsewhere. But it still bothers me when I think about that. One time on Megabus I saw a young girl stand in the aisle for a few minutes while an older woman continued talking on her cell phone, her bag in the seat next to her. I guess the young girl thought if she stood there long enough, the woman would free up the seat. It didn't work. The woman continued to ignore her. I wanted to tell the driver what was happening, but I didn't. Finally the young girl gave up and took another seat. That time, the woman was rewarded for her bad behavior. The bus was not full, and she got the two seats to herself. Even when the Megabus baggage guy walks through the bus and announces loudly, "This will be a full bus! Everyone needs to put their belongings on the floor under their seat," some people still don't do it. That makes me so mad.
Usually in Austin I am the first person on the bus. I always choose my seat, get settled, and leave the seat next to me clear. It is common courtesy. I have no right to that seat. I have been irritated lately that sometimes the floor of the bus is dirty or wet, and I have no idea what got spilled. I don't want to put my stuff there. So I try to choose a seat on the left side of the bus, where there is a small step up. If I have to sit on the right side, then I keep what I can in my lap. It's not a great situation, but I make do.
Riders need to have more respect for their fellow passengers. Don't be so selfish. Put your stuff under your seat, or keep it in your lap. If someone asks if the seat next to you is available, don't look irritated or put out. Everyone on that bus paid for a seat. You don't necessarily have to be friendly and chatty, but you do need to be courteous.
librarianintx
I have probably mentioned this previously. I witnessed it again yesterday, and it always frustrates me. Because I ride the bus so much, it's a frequent irritation. It happens both on Greyhound and Megabus.
The pet peeve: People put their belongings on the seat next to them, so riders entering the bus have to ask if the seat is taken.
Hands down, these people are being rude. Especially yesterday, it was obvious that the bus would be full. This was the second stop on the way back to Austin, so there were people on the bus that had boarded at the downtown location. The line to get on the bus at Katy Mills Mall stretched from the parking lot almost to the door of the mall. Anyone who thought they were going to get two seats to themselves was delusional. So why do they do it? Why do they continue to leave their stuff on the seat, which makes a person entering the bus have to ask if the seat is available. You did not pay for two seats, rude people. That seat next to you is not your luggage compartment; it is a seat for a paying customer. Why do you think it's okay to let someone have to beg for the opportunity to sit next to you?
I have seen people actually refuse to let someone sit next to them. It happened to me once on the Greyhound. An older lady would not move her bag. She claimed that she didn't speak English. And maybe she didn't. But regardless, she should know the rules. I was mad and almost moved her bag, but I decided not to get into it with her. The driver didn't go to bat for me. So I just sat elsewhere. But it still bothers me when I think about that. One time on Megabus I saw a young girl stand in the aisle for a few minutes while an older woman continued talking on her cell phone, her bag in the seat next to her. I guess the young girl thought if she stood there long enough, the woman would free up the seat. It didn't work. The woman continued to ignore her. I wanted to tell the driver what was happening, but I didn't. Finally the young girl gave up and took another seat. That time, the woman was rewarded for her bad behavior. The bus was not full, and she got the two seats to herself. Even when the Megabus baggage guy walks through the bus and announces loudly, "This will be a full bus! Everyone needs to put their belongings on the floor under their seat," some people still don't do it. That makes me so mad.
Usually in Austin I am the first person on the bus. I always choose my seat, get settled, and leave the seat next to me clear. It is common courtesy. I have no right to that seat. I have been irritated lately that sometimes the floor of the bus is dirty or wet, and I have no idea what got spilled. I don't want to put my stuff there. So I try to choose a seat on the left side of the bus, where there is a small step up. If I have to sit on the right side, then I keep what I can in my lap. It's not a great situation, but I make do.
Riders need to have more respect for their fellow passengers. Don't be so selfish. Put your stuff under your seat, or keep it in your lap. If someone asks if the seat next to you is available, don't look irritated or put out. Everyone on that bus paid for a seat. You don't necessarily have to be friendly and chatty, but you do need to be courteous.
librarianintx
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Big Brother Season 18
Another fun summer with a crazy group of houseguests is drawing to a close. In the beginning of this season, I was of the opinion that this bunch of newbies were some of the worst strategists to ever play the game. And for some, I still feel that way *cough Jozea* But it was still an enjoyable show. There were fun pranks, loony comps, several showmances, lots of fights, and A LOT of tears. Several of the new contestants rose to the challenge and played the game well. Two of the returning houseguests went down in flames.
And now we're down to Paul, Nicole, and James. For me, all three of them are worthy of the win, although I don't like them all equally. Unfortunately, they have all disappointed me in some way, so I can't say I'm necessarily rooting for any of them. Of the three, James would be my pick to win. He doesn't do well in comps, but he plays a great social game, and I just like him the best overall. He's a sweet, nice guy, and only has a temper when someone is hurting a person that he cares about. I have adored his showmance with Natalie, and you can tell that he thinks the world of her. The only time that James let me down this season is when he promised that he wouldn't put Bridget up on the block, and then he did. Bridget would have likely bested him in that comp, but she agreed to drop because James guaranteed her safety, then he put her and her "ride or die" Frank on the block. I understand why he did it; the peer pressure in the house was very strong, and he believed that he and Natalie would be in trouble if he didn't do what everyone wanted him to do. I still didn't like him going back on his word.
Paul has definitely been the entertainment of the season. I love his outgoing personality and the phrases that have been made popular this summer because of him: friendship and your boy. I cracked up every time he had to pat down the houseguests and secure the house. But I didn't like Paul's mean streak. He took his times on the block personally, and started his share of fights in the house. I didn't like the way he interrogated James and when he called Michelle the "c" word. Not cool. I think he is very deserving to be in the final three, and I think he has the best chance to win because he has several friends on the jury. I would not be unhappy to see him win. I just wish he was able to get along with others in bad times as well as good.
Nicole is the sole surviving girl, and she has played a solid game. Her showmance with Cory has definitely helped her this season, but she has made big moves and won key comps too. I understand why she and Cory flip flopped, setting up a final four first with Natalie and James, then with Paul and Victor, then backstabbing Victor and joining forces again with James, but that doesn't mean I like it. I l think Nicole has a very slim chance of winning. She has too many enemies on the jury.
If James doesn't win, I hope he wins fan favorite. I would also be happy to see Natalie win fan favorite. Best case scenario: James wins the show, and Natalie wins fan favorite. A very successful showmance that would be! Will James and Natalie be a couple outside of the house? I don't know; they are very different. I think Cory and Nicole have a better shot at being the next Jeff and Jordan. But I think they could make it. They are both sweet people.
Looking forward to Wednesday night!
librarianintx
And now we're down to Paul, Nicole, and James. For me, all three of them are worthy of the win, although I don't like them all equally. Unfortunately, they have all disappointed me in some way, so I can't say I'm necessarily rooting for any of them. Of the three, James would be my pick to win. He doesn't do well in comps, but he plays a great social game, and I just like him the best overall. He's a sweet, nice guy, and only has a temper when someone is hurting a person that he cares about. I have adored his showmance with Natalie, and you can tell that he thinks the world of her. The only time that James let me down this season is when he promised that he wouldn't put Bridget up on the block, and then he did. Bridget would have likely bested him in that comp, but she agreed to drop because James guaranteed her safety, then he put her and her "ride or die" Frank on the block. I understand why he did it; the peer pressure in the house was very strong, and he believed that he and Natalie would be in trouble if he didn't do what everyone wanted him to do. I still didn't like him going back on his word.
Paul has definitely been the entertainment of the season. I love his outgoing personality and the phrases that have been made popular this summer because of him: friendship and your boy. I cracked up every time he had to pat down the houseguests and secure the house. But I didn't like Paul's mean streak. He took his times on the block personally, and started his share of fights in the house. I didn't like the way he interrogated James and when he called Michelle the "c" word. Not cool. I think he is very deserving to be in the final three, and I think he has the best chance to win because he has several friends on the jury. I would not be unhappy to see him win. I just wish he was able to get along with others in bad times as well as good.
Nicole is the sole surviving girl, and she has played a solid game. Her showmance with Cory has definitely helped her this season, but she has made big moves and won key comps too. I understand why she and Cory flip flopped, setting up a final four first with Natalie and James, then with Paul and Victor, then backstabbing Victor and joining forces again with James, but that doesn't mean I like it. I l think Nicole has a very slim chance of winning. She has too many enemies on the jury.
If James doesn't win, I hope he wins fan favorite. I would also be happy to see Natalie win fan favorite. Best case scenario: James wins the show, and Natalie wins fan favorite. A very successful showmance that would be! Will James and Natalie be a couple outside of the house? I don't know; they are very different. I think Cory and Nicole have a better shot at being the next Jeff and Jordan. But I think they could make it. They are both sweet people.
Looking forward to Wednesday night!
librarianintx
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
"Born This Way" wins an Emmy
Congratulations to the A&E reality show "Born This Way" for winning an Emmy in the category of "Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program."
"Born This Way" is currently in it's second season, and viewership continues to climb. The show was given a second season after the enthusiastic response to the first season, six episode run.
The show follows a group of young people with Down Syndrome as they navigate life and all of it's challenges: dating, friendships, employment, independence, health, hobbies, and relating to family members.
This a great show: honest, real, emotional, and fun too. You can't help but root for these young people, cheer their successes with them and tear up when life doesn't go their way. For the most part, though, the show is about celebrating their milestones. I enjoy watching Rachel conquer her numerous fears, seeing John take small steps in his music career, marveling at Megan's homegrown clothing company, and witnessing Sean and Steven endure the ups and downs of their first time living on their own. I also think the interactions with the families are so important. I am amazed at how patient and encouraging these parents are. Rachel's parents do so much to help her conquer her myriad of fears. What a joy it was when she made it through her first concert, and not only survived but thrived on an overnight camping trip. Christina's parents encourage her to follow her dreams and pursue her hobbies; this season she is taking ballroom dance lessons so she can enter a "Dancing with the Stars" type competition. And Elena's parents endeavor to find a solution to her difficult behaviors and delicate emotional state. The show is full of heart and humor, and I look forward to it every week.
librarianintx
"Born This Way" is currently in it's second season, and viewership continues to climb. The show was given a second season after the enthusiastic response to the first season, six episode run.
The show follows a group of young people with Down Syndrome as they navigate life and all of it's challenges: dating, friendships, employment, independence, health, hobbies, and relating to family members.
This a great show: honest, real, emotional, and fun too. You can't help but root for these young people, cheer their successes with them and tear up when life doesn't go their way. For the most part, though, the show is about celebrating their milestones. I enjoy watching Rachel conquer her numerous fears, seeing John take small steps in his music career, marveling at Megan's homegrown clothing company, and witnessing Sean and Steven endure the ups and downs of their first time living on their own. I also think the interactions with the families are so important. I am amazed at how patient and encouraging these parents are. Rachel's parents do so much to help her conquer her myriad of fears. What a joy it was when she made it through her first concert, and not only survived but thrived on an overnight camping trip. Christina's parents encourage her to follow her dreams and pursue her hobbies; this season she is taking ballroom dance lessons so she can enter a "Dancing with the Stars" type competition. And Elena's parents endeavor to find a solution to her difficult behaviors and delicate emotional state. The show is full of heart and humor, and I look forward to it every week.
librarianintx
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
When you feel stressed...
Just look for cute pictures of dogs wearing glasses.
I feel better already. :)
Happy Tuesday!
librarianintx
Happy Tuesday!
librarianintx
Monday, September 12, 2016
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Episode 1 Part 2
Vanilla Ice and Whitney
If you have read my recaps before, you know what's coming...
NO EXTRA DANCERS!
This is not the finale, and this was not his freestyle routine. Its not fair to the other contestants when a dancer is surrounded by professional dancers.
Okay. Rant over.
Obviously the song made this more of a hip hop routine rather than a cha cha. I didn't see many cha cha moves. It was fun, but overall just okay. The crowd loved it. As expected, Len said there wasn't enough cha cha. Actually, Julianne and Bruno said the same thing. The scores were a bit all over the place: a 5, a 6, and two 7's.
Jana Kramer and Gleb
Can you say CHEMISTRY!? Holy smokes! Pass the cigarettes! That was a hot Viennese Waltz. Sexy, steamy...content, steps, who cares? That was what I wanted to see from Amber and Maks. Jana and Gleb have IT!. The phones will light up for that dance. Goodness. Her husband must be kicking himself. I agree with Bruno...bring on the rumba next week! Of course Len was cranky about it, but I don't think anyone else was. This one will be on rewind for me. Except for Bruno, the scores were too low. He gave them an 8. They also got a 7 and two 6's. Party poopers.
JT Austin and Jenna
Wow, Jenna has been doing double duty; she was also on So You Think You Can Dance this summer. She and JT were born in the same year; how precious. Their jive was young and unfortunately low on jive content. I didn't see hardly any kicks or flicks. The judges agreed and said they were off on their timing too. The cute as a button pair got two 5's and two 6's.
Rick Perry and Emma
(Sorry, I can't help myself.Why is he on my favorite show? Jeez.)
OMG, he said it himself: "What a dumbass." Quote of the night!
Poor poor Emma. Has she ever had a decent partner? No, and her streak continues. The Texas-themed cha cha was a disaster. So was the costume. I'll shut up now. No, I won't. Pathetic. He pretty much dropped her at the end. Okay. Now I'm done. He got all 5's. Please go home Rick, so I can fully enjoy my show.
Terra and Sasha
One of the things I love most about Dancing with the Stars is when they give people with differing abilities the opportunity to dance. So I am very happy that Terra is on this show. Unfortunately, she will have to improve greatly to stay on the show. She looked great, and her personality is fantastic. But her jive was nonexistent. I saw no kicks or flicks. The height difference will continue to hamper them. I hoped she would knock my socks off, but sadly, she didn't. She's not necessarily a bad dancer, but I did not think this was a good jive.Wow, the judges saw a much better dance than I did. I'm still rooting for her though. The judges gave her three 6's and a 7.
Ryan Lochte and Cheryl
He did not get booed. That was nice of the audience. Not sure that he deserves people being so nice. But anyway, on to the foxtrot. Oh wow, wait, what the hell?!?! Someone or more than one person staged a protest or something? I don't know what happened. Crazy stuff! Live show, people. Everyone looked shaken. I'm not a Ryan fan, but whatever happened should not have happened. This show is about dancing. Ryan got all 6's. My take on his dancing: eh. It was just a'right.
Laurie Hernandez and Val
Thank goodness the night ended on a high note. Laurie is young, fresh, and she can cha cha! She looked sexy and her moves were on point. Len thought it was a terrific dance, and I concur. For me, this was the second best dance of the night, in terms of technique at least. She got three 8's and one 7 from the judges. I think that was the highest score of the night.
My top three:
Babyface
Laurie
Jana - for the caliente factor
I hope we find out what happened after Ryan danced. Inquiring minds want to know.
librarianintx
If you have read my recaps before, you know what's coming...
NO EXTRA DANCERS!
This is not the finale, and this was not his freestyle routine. Its not fair to the other contestants when a dancer is surrounded by professional dancers.
Okay. Rant over.
Obviously the song made this more of a hip hop routine rather than a cha cha. I didn't see many cha cha moves. It was fun, but overall just okay. The crowd loved it. As expected, Len said there wasn't enough cha cha. Actually, Julianne and Bruno said the same thing. The scores were a bit all over the place: a 5, a 6, and two 7's.
Jana Kramer and Gleb
Can you say CHEMISTRY!? Holy smokes! Pass the cigarettes! That was a hot Viennese Waltz. Sexy, steamy...content, steps, who cares? That was what I wanted to see from Amber and Maks. Jana and Gleb have IT!. The phones will light up for that dance. Goodness. Her husband must be kicking himself. I agree with Bruno...bring on the rumba next week! Of course Len was cranky about it, but I don't think anyone else was. This one will be on rewind for me. Except for Bruno, the scores were too low. He gave them an 8. They also got a 7 and two 6's. Party poopers.
JT Austin and Jenna
Wow, Jenna has been doing double duty; she was also on So You Think You Can Dance this summer. She and JT were born in the same year; how precious. Their jive was young and unfortunately low on jive content. I didn't see hardly any kicks or flicks. The judges agreed and said they were off on their timing too. The cute as a button pair got two 5's and two 6's.
Rick Perry and Emma
(Sorry, I can't help myself.Why is he on my favorite show? Jeez.)
OMG, he said it himself: "What a dumbass." Quote of the night!
Poor poor Emma. Has she ever had a decent partner? No, and her streak continues. The Texas-themed cha cha was a disaster. So was the costume. I'll shut up now. No, I won't. Pathetic. He pretty much dropped her at the end. Okay. Now I'm done. He got all 5's. Please go home Rick, so I can fully enjoy my show.
Terra and Sasha
One of the things I love most about Dancing with the Stars is when they give people with differing abilities the opportunity to dance. So I am very happy that Terra is on this show. Unfortunately, she will have to improve greatly to stay on the show. She looked great, and her personality is fantastic. But her jive was nonexistent. I saw no kicks or flicks. The height difference will continue to hamper them. I hoped she would knock my socks off, but sadly, she didn't. She's not necessarily a bad dancer, but I did not think this was a good jive.Wow, the judges saw a much better dance than I did. I'm still rooting for her though. The judges gave her three 6's and a 7.
Ryan Lochte and Cheryl
He did not get booed. That was nice of the audience. Not sure that he deserves people being so nice. But anyway, on to the foxtrot. Oh wow, wait, what the hell?!?! Someone or more than one person staged a protest or something? I don't know what happened. Crazy stuff! Live show, people. Everyone looked shaken. I'm not a Ryan fan, but whatever happened should not have happened. This show is about dancing. Ryan got all 6's. My take on his dancing: eh. It was just a'right.
Laurie Hernandez and Val
Thank goodness the night ended on a high note. Laurie is young, fresh, and she can cha cha! She looked sexy and her moves were on point. Len thought it was a terrific dance, and I concur. For me, this was the second best dance of the night, in terms of technique at least. She got three 8's and one 7 from the judges. I think that was the highest score of the night.
My top three:
Babyface
Laurie
Jana - for the caliente factor
I hope we find out what happened after Ryan danced. Inquiring minds want to know.
librarianintx
Dancing with the Stars Season 23 Episode 1 Part 1
HERE WE GO!
MY FAVORITE SHOW IS BACK!
CAN YOU TELL HOW EXCITED I AM?
Ok. No more shouting. But I am excited!
And here is my first attempt at recaping during the episode. Please excuse any typos that I don't catch.
First up:
Marilu Henner and Derek
Marilu is in her 60's, but she doesn't look it, and she doesn't dance like it. She did a very good job with the jive. She had good energy and excitement. She didn't totally keep up with Derek, but she was VERY close. Good job!
The judges were impressed too. She got three 7's and a 6 from Julianne.
James Hinchcliffe and Sharna
He said he's not a dancer, but I think he coped well with the foxtrot. Often the foxtrot is a good dance for the male contestants who think they can't dance. The judges were very impressed. Julianne called him "graceful and fluid." He got great scores: three 8's, and once again Julianne was the low paddle with a 7. I thought it was a beautiful dance. I think James has more dancing ability than he thinks he does. And of course it helps that he has the beautiful and supremely talented Sharna as his partner.
Calvin Johnson and Lindsey
Certainly not the best football player they've had on DWTS, but it was an entertaining performance. He had no hip action in this cha cha,, and Lindsey did most of the work, but he looked happy and had a big grin on his face, so it was enjoyable. I think there is a possibility for some improvement. He is by no means the worst dancer to be on this show. Calvin got two 7's and two 6's.
I just have to say again how much I adore Tom and Erin.
Maureen McCormick and Artem
How sweet is Artem? OMG. And oh my gosh, Maureen is 60? Wow. Anyway, I digress. On to the dance. It was obvious Maureen was mega nervous, and trying so hard to keep her posture. She had a few stumbles, and her nervousness detracted from the dance. But it was still lovely, and you can't help but root for her. I hope she can get her anxiety under control. How cute when Mrs. Brady came over to give her a hug!The judges were encouraging, but her scores were low, two 6's and two 5's. Maureen was still glowing, so I hope she wasn't discouraged.
Babyface and Allison
That was a pretty big production number for a first dance. Babyface showed great musicality, rhythm, and leading man appeal in this foxtrot. His partnering skills look very strong. I had a little trouble with the lighting on this performance, or maybe it was my television. But I think he did a GREAT job. Performance of the night so far.I thought Len and Julianne were a little critical, and overall the scores were lower than I expected: two 7's and two 6's. I thought his scores would be higher. Mmmm....
Amber Rose and Maks
I love the song, and I thought the beginning of the foxtrot was super hot. Once they emerged from the shadow, I was less impressed. I thought it was kind of boring. Amber and Maks strike me as the couple that will light the ballroom on fire, and I thought that was going to happen with this dance. But it was just okay. I have hope for future fireworks though. I think the judges see her potential as well. Okay, so if she hates her costume, why did they have her wear it? I'm shaking my head. The judges gave her 6's across the board.
end of part 1
librarianintx
MY FAVORITE SHOW IS BACK!
CAN YOU TELL HOW EXCITED I AM?
Ok. No more shouting. But I am excited!
And here is my first attempt at recaping during the episode. Please excuse any typos that I don't catch.
First up:
Marilu Henner and Derek
Marilu is in her 60's, but she doesn't look it, and she doesn't dance like it. She did a very good job with the jive. She had good energy and excitement. She didn't totally keep up with Derek, but she was VERY close. Good job!
The judges were impressed too. She got three 7's and a 6 from Julianne.
James Hinchcliffe and Sharna
He said he's not a dancer, but I think he coped well with the foxtrot. Often the foxtrot is a good dance for the male contestants who think they can't dance. The judges were very impressed. Julianne called him "graceful and fluid." He got great scores: three 8's, and once again Julianne was the low paddle with a 7. I thought it was a beautiful dance. I think James has more dancing ability than he thinks he does. And of course it helps that he has the beautiful and supremely talented Sharna as his partner.
Calvin Johnson and Lindsey
Certainly not the best football player they've had on DWTS, but it was an entertaining performance. He had no hip action in this cha cha,, and Lindsey did most of the work, but he looked happy and had a big grin on his face, so it was enjoyable. I think there is a possibility for some improvement. He is by no means the worst dancer to be on this show. Calvin got two 7's and two 6's.
I just have to say again how much I adore Tom and Erin.
Maureen McCormick and Artem
How sweet is Artem? OMG. And oh my gosh, Maureen is 60? Wow. Anyway, I digress. On to the dance. It was obvious Maureen was mega nervous, and trying so hard to keep her posture. She had a few stumbles, and her nervousness detracted from the dance. But it was still lovely, and you can't help but root for her. I hope she can get her anxiety under control. How cute when Mrs. Brady came over to give her a hug!The judges were encouraging, but her scores were low, two 6's and two 5's. Maureen was still glowing, so I hope she wasn't discouraged.
Babyface and Allison
That was a pretty big production number for a first dance. Babyface showed great musicality, rhythm, and leading man appeal in this foxtrot. His partnering skills look very strong. I had a little trouble with the lighting on this performance, or maybe it was my television. But I think he did a GREAT job. Performance of the night so far.I thought Len and Julianne were a little critical, and overall the scores were lower than I expected: two 7's and two 6's. I thought his scores would be higher. Mmmm....
Amber Rose and Maks
I love the song, and I thought the beginning of the foxtrot was super hot. Once they emerged from the shadow, I was less impressed. I thought it was kind of boring. Amber and Maks strike me as the couple that will light the ballroom on fire, and I thought that was going to happen with this dance. But it was just okay. I have hope for future fireworks though. I think the judges see her potential as well. Okay, so if she hates her costume, why did they have her wear it? I'm shaking my head. The judges gave her 6's across the board.
end of part 1
librarianintx
Friday, September 09, 2016
Speechless Episode 1
The premiere episode is already available online, so I watched it. While I thought it was pretty heavy-handed and awkward at times, I'm willing to give it a chance. The fact that a major network has a comedy with a disabled character played by a disabled actor is big and important and I want to support this show.
But there was quite a bit of the show that left me shaking my head. Some of it was just so over the top. Maybe it was supposed to be. Maybe it was hyperbole. The school that was trying so hard to be inclusive had the only ramp at the back of the school by the dumpster? The only black guy at the school used the word "crippled"? The school had a planetarium? The girl who was the lone member of the astronomy club is dating a football player? Ok, cool in a way, but I'm sorry, not very realistic. And if she's that smart, why is she dating a jerk? If they're dating. She said "friend."
But I digress.
The technology aspect was a little behind the times. Why does JJ need an aide to speak for him? Why doesn't he get a speaking AAC (communication device)? Because the family can't afford it? That would make sense. They're not cheap. But there is funding available. Maybe this will be addressed in a later episode. Even if he has a talking AAC device, he would likely still need an aide for assistance, so that would still fit with the storyline.
Am I being nitpicky?
I don't think I'm being nitpicky on this point. The family needed a disabled parking placard for their van. I know the scene was supposed to be funny, but that bothered me. They deserved to get a ticket, disabled son and all. The woman in the car was portrayed as both meddling and trying to out-disable the kid in the wheelchair, but she was actually right to call them out. It was a poor lesson that Maya was teaching JJ, that being in a chair allowed him to ignore the law.
Still, a lot of it did work for me. Minnie Driver is great as Maya, the Advocate Mom from Hell. I especially like Mason Cook as the younger son, Ray. I think the portrayal of a boy dealing with a sibling with a disability, adjusting to yet another new school, etc, was spot on. He could be the breakout star of the show. I also enjoyed John Ross Bowie as the dad, Jimmie.
I think there's room for improvement. But I WAS entertained. So in that respect, "Speechless" was a success.
librarianintx
Regret
librarianintx
Saturday, September 03, 2016
#noprocrastination
For day one of a five day vacation, I've been reading, I mailed cards to all my nieces, I unloaded the dishwasher, I put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and I went out for a nice lunch with friends. I had the cards written and the kitchen cleaned up before I took my shower.
#noprocrastination
librarianintx
Friday, September 02, 2016
SYTYCD Next Generation
Monday is the performance finale of So You Think You Can Dance: The Next Generation. I wasn't going to watch at all this season. I though the idea of child dancers performing with the All Stars was a bad idea. But it has been a very entertaining season. These kids are TALENTED! And surprisingly humble. We haven't had to deal with stage parents, or unnecessary drama. The eliminations have not been painless by any means; there have been a lot of tears. But Cat, the judges, the choreographers, and the All Stars have been very sensitive to the fact that they are working with 8 - 13 year old kids. The rehearsals look like a lot of fun. The critiques have been mostly glowing. And the eliminations have been mercifully quick, with a lot of praise for the dancers who fall short of the finale.
I think all of the kids are very good, and every single one of them could have been in the finale, and I would understand why. Having said that, however, the final four are not the ones I would have personally chosen. It all comes down to what style of dance you prefer. Tap is my least favorite style of dance. But that doesn't mean that Emma isn't great, or doesn't deserve to be in the finale. JT is super adorable, and I have loved his performances with Robert. But is he a better dancer than Tahani, or Ruby? But this has always been the premise of SYTYCD, and I absolutely agree with it: "The search is for America's FAVORITE dancer." Not necessarily America's BEST dancer. The winner will be the young person that the majority of the people who vote liked the best.
Who was my favorite this season? Impossible to say. I honestly do like them all, and I'll be pleased with whoever wins. They all have strengths, and they all deserve to have long, successful careers. As I've said before, I was thrilled to have THREE ballroom dancers this season, and I think they were all terrific. I also really enjoyed watching Tahani. There was wonderful interaction with all the pairings of kids and All Stars: laughter, tears, hard work, learning together, sharing their gifts with the audience and with each other. They have all made friends for life for sure.
librarianintx
I think all of the kids are very good, and every single one of them could have been in the finale, and I would understand why. Having said that, however, the final four are not the ones I would have personally chosen. It all comes down to what style of dance you prefer. Tap is my least favorite style of dance. But that doesn't mean that Emma isn't great, or doesn't deserve to be in the finale. JT is super adorable, and I have loved his performances with Robert. But is he a better dancer than Tahani, or Ruby? But this has always been the premise of SYTYCD, and I absolutely agree with it: "The search is for America's FAVORITE dancer." Not necessarily America's BEST dancer. The winner will be the young person that the majority of the people who vote liked the best.
Who was my favorite this season? Impossible to say. I honestly do like them all, and I'll be pleased with whoever wins. They all have strengths, and they all deserve to have long, successful careers. As I've said before, I was thrilled to have THREE ballroom dancers this season, and I think they were all terrific. I also really enjoyed watching Tahani. There was wonderful interaction with all the pairings of kids and All Stars: laughter, tears, hard work, learning together, sharing their gifts with the audience and with each other. They have all made friends for life for sure.
librarianintx
Consistency
It felt so good to walk out the door this morning, heading out of town after work for a five day vacation, to know that I accomplished just about everything I wanted to before I left. Sure, I was putting clean laundry away five minutes before ride arrived, but I got it done. Did I take of everything? No, but darn close. And I'm okay with that.
Still, I struggle so much with consistency, and I don't like that about myself. What's the problem? Do I set unrealistic goals for myself? I don't think so. Why is it so hard for me to do the things that I want to do every day? Why can't I get in two servings of fruit? Why don't I read at least twenty pages of a book? Why is is so hard for me to blog every day? To journal? Some days I accomplish what I want to, the goals that I set for myself, and I'm so happy when I do. But then the next day, I fall short, and then I'm upset with myself. Maybe my goals should just be: "Try to do "X" every day." Try to drink at least one glass of water. Attempt to exercise. Make an effort to do a journal entry. But don't beat myself up if it doesn't happen.
Easier said than done.
My reasons for coming up short are several. Fear of success. Fear of failure. Fatigue. Difficulty concentrating. Not enough hours in the day. Spending too much time worrying. Trying to do too much. One task taking much longer than expected. But usually nothing I'm trying to do takes me as long to accomplish as I think it will. Maybe I just have too many goals to achieve in one day.
But I keep plugging away. I had two servings of fruit yesterday. I doubt I'll have any today. I didn't have any water yesterday, but maybe today. I think I read a few pages yesterday; I'll likely have more time today. I blogged yesterday AND today! Hey! A two day streak!
Maybe consistency just isn't in the cards for me. Maybe I need to be okay with, "Do
'X' as often as I can." Celebrate on the days that I achieve my goals, and on the days I don't, shrug, smile, and say, "I'll try again tomorrow."
librarianintx
Still, I struggle so much with consistency, and I don't like that about myself. What's the problem? Do I set unrealistic goals for myself? I don't think so. Why is it so hard for me to do the things that I want to do every day? Why can't I get in two servings of fruit? Why don't I read at least twenty pages of a book? Why is is so hard for me to blog every day? To journal? Some days I accomplish what I want to, the goals that I set for myself, and I'm so happy when I do. But then the next day, I fall short, and then I'm upset with myself. Maybe my goals should just be: "Try to do "X" every day." Try to drink at least one glass of water. Attempt to exercise. Make an effort to do a journal entry. But don't beat myself up if it doesn't happen.
Easier said than done.
My reasons for coming up short are several. Fear of success. Fear of failure. Fatigue. Difficulty concentrating. Not enough hours in the day. Spending too much time worrying. Trying to do too much. One task taking much longer than expected. But usually nothing I'm trying to do takes me as long to accomplish as I think it will. Maybe I just have too many goals to achieve in one day.
But I keep plugging away. I had two servings of fruit yesterday. I doubt I'll have any today. I didn't have any water yesterday, but maybe today. I think I read a few pages yesterday; I'll likely have more time today. I blogged yesterday AND today! Hey! A two day streak!
Maybe consistency just isn't in the cards for me. Maybe I need to be okay with, "Do
'X' as often as I can." Celebrate on the days that I achieve my goals, and on the days I don't, shrug, smile, and say, "I'll try again tomorrow."
librarianintx
Thursday, September 01, 2016
Quote from Facebook
librarianintx
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