TV Review: Terriers

Terriers is truly one of my favorite new shows of the TV season! "Why?" you ask? Ah, there are so many reasons!



Terriers from Creator/Executive Producer Ted Griffin (Ocean’s Eleven, Matchstick Men) and Executive Producer Shawn Ryan (The Shield), is a comedic drama starring Donal Logue (The Tao of Steve) and Michael Raymond-James (True Blood). It centers on “Hank Dolworth” (Logue), an ex-cop, who partners with his best friend “Britt Pollack” (Raymond-James) in an unlicensed private investigation business.

Comedic, edgy, original, a show about high stakes in the face of low expectations, Terriers explores what it’s like in today's America to be “too small to fail.” Co-stars include Laura Allen (Dirt) as “Katie,” Britt’s girlfriend; Rockmond Dunbar (Prison Break) as “Detective Mark Gustafson,” former colleague of Hank; and Jamie Denbo (Weeds) as “Maggie Lefferts,” Hank’s attorney.



Terriers has the perfect balance of comedy, romance, reality, and corruption. Unlicensed private investigators, Hank and Britt get themselves into some messy cases, one of which finds itself being the main plot point for season one...the Linus conspiracy. Even though episode 4 which aired last night was titled, "Fustercluck" the guys get themselves into a fustercluck in each and every episode and things get more and more complex as the season goes on. It might seem like nothing more than a fun ride in the beginning, but there is a major conspiracy to uncover along with the guys' personal conflicts. I love the friendship between Hank and Britt. While the two are buddy buddies, there are lines that need not be crossed and that dynamic is very interesting to see. Also, Hank is still in love with his ex-wife who is engaged and Britt and his girlfriend have secrets. Not only that, but just as Hank and Britt uncover a major revelation, his troubled sister comes to stay with him. If Donal Logue's real life sister, Karina Logue is any indication as to the incredibly talented and intriguing guest stars this season, I am over the moon about who else to expect! And of course, the supporting characters are just as charming and troubled as Hank and Britt.

Not only is the casting well done and the characters well crafted, but the look of the show is unlike anything that is on television right now. It's not bright and sunny and yet it's not very dark or blue. There's a fine middle. It's beautiful. It's a rugged and yet gorgeous look at present day San Diego, more specifically Ocean Beach.

All in all, Terriers is quality entertainment and I can't explain the level of anticipation I have for the rest of the season, the series. Even though the cast spoiled the ending for me, having spelled the resolution out on the set visit (cast & crew were shooting the season finale during the set visit), I am looking forward to all that leads up to the season finale. As far as spoilers go, I'll be broad in saying that Hank's back story as a recovering alcoholic and his ex partner, Detective Mark Gustafson play a big part in the end resolution. There are plenty of twists coming this season and from what I have seen so far in the first 5 episodes...this is going to be quite a fulfilling journey. Not only does the show have heart thanks to its wildly engaging main characters but there are so many directions that this show can go. It clearly has the potential to go far. Terriers is a must watch and I hope to see the show on FX for many seasons to come.

On the set visit, I interviewed Donal Logue among many others. Stay tuned for my interview coverage on My Take on TV.

Also, be sure to check out what the cast & crew had to say when I interviews them on the Terriers Series Premiere Red Carpet Event. You can even watch part of my interview with Michael Raymond James here.

Terriers airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX.

DVD Review: Scrubs The Complete and Final Ninth Season

Scrubs The Complete and Final Ninth Season recently released on DVD and after watching the entire season, I realized that I really need to invest my time into watching the first 8 seasons!



Release Date: September 28, 2010
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: Approx. 390 minutes

See how the story ends for J.D., Elliot, Turk and the rest of your favorite characters in ABC’s Scrubs: The Complete Ninth And Final Season. The heroes of Sacred Heart may have finished their rounds, but the laughs never stop as they mentor a brand new class of med students!

J.D. returns to teach at Sacred Heart’s medical school with the old gang and is surprised to find an impressionable young student has picked up where he left off. Meet Lucy and her classmates, Drew and Cole, as they try to fit in while they do their best to stand out.

Relive every clever and quirky moment of Scrubs’ outrageous final season, complete with never-before-seen bloopers, deleted scenes and interviews with the show’s cast. Complete your Scrubs collection with the Ninth And Final Season on DVD. It’s the best house call you’ll ever get!

This is such a fun and quirky comedy full of such bubbly and disturbed characters. It's exciting to watch the new residents learn from the best, or rather be loosely guided by the alleged best. Even with the most of the main characters from previous seasons gone and Zach Braff not in every single episode of this season, I could not press stop after watching the first episode. I watched all 13 episodes in one sitting and it was well worth my time.

What I really like about this show is that even though there are concrete story lines, Scrubs is a loose parody of today's medical dramas. If you are distracted for a moment, you could miss a really funny joke. Seriously, the laughing never ends, be it the story line or even just a gesture a character makes.

As far as the characters go...I loved watching new friendships and relationships blossom as well as a bromance continue to go strong. I loved watching how all of the residents handled their career choice, whether it be buckling under pressure or not taking themselves seriously until they found clarity. I connected with these characters from the first episode and had I not, I would not have invested into the show. These crazy characters make Scrubs what it is. Scrubs could take place anywhere so long as these wacky characters are who I am watching.

Scrubs is very well crafted, very entertaining, and if you let it...it can be inspiring. Yeah, I said it. I think moreso in this season, bringing in new residents who are just now getting the chance to really explore. So it's a fun journey to be taken on and whether or not you have seen Scrubs before, season 9 is worth the buy!

Bonus Features:

Deleted Scenes - There are 19 deleted scenes from 11 episodes that include video commentary from Show Creator, Bill Lawrence. It's a split screen of Bill on the left, detailing why the scene was cut with the scene on the right hand side of the screen. Bill's voice overpowers the dialogue of the scene, so viewers do not get to hear all of the dialogue from the scene, just what is able to be heard after Bill's explanation.

Bloopers - This is definitely one of the funniest reels to watch this year. That's all I'll say, just watch it!

Scrubbing In – In this feature, viewers meet the newcomers to Season Nine and hear from Show Creator Bill Lawrence, and veteran actors Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke. It's a fun behind the scenes feature that you should definitely take the time to watch, as you'll come to love this season all the more! You'll see how the cast and crew has taken the newcomers under their wing and really made the transition smooth, so it's definitely worth the watch.

Live From The Golf Cart - Captain Melvis Duncook and his partner Lt. Frank Underhill host their own talk show with Todd as their first (and presumably only) guest. It's a funny bit but it's not a must see feature.

Own Scrubs The Complete and Final Ninth Season or Scrubs: The Complete Collection on DVD today.

TV Review: Glee "Britney/Brittany"

Last night, Glee aired its episode, "Britney/Brittany" and musically speaking, it is officially my favorite episode of the series.

As a humongous Britney Spears fan (understatement) since 1998 and a follower and fan of Glee from the very beginning...this episode could not have made me more excited for my Tuesday prime time TV line up.



Heather Morris aka Brittany S. Pierce made this episode epic. Round of applause for Brittany finally remembering her middle name! Funny enough, aside from this revelation, nothing else about Brittany seemed to be revealed in this episode. For an episode titled, "Britney/Brittany," it seems quite odd that there is not a lot of character development from Brittany. But an entire episode full of Brittany one liners may make up for this factor. That amongst other things.

These renditions of Britney Spears' music were amongst the most entertaining and unforgettable renditions that I have ever heard/seen. Heather Morris killed "I'm A Slave 4 U" and "Me Against the Music" with Naya Rivera...making Lea Michele's "...Baby One More Time" look like a warm up performance. Morris is clearly the best female dancer of the entire Glee cast. Although I already knew that, having known that she toured with Beyonce before making it big on Glee. While those Britney numbers were fascinating fantasies...Artie singing "Stronger" was the perfect tie into his story line.

Depending on individual preference, this episode may appear to be fabulous because of the music or disappointing because of the lack of story development. There is not a lot of clarity, but as for what we do learn...viewers find out where Artie stands in his relationship with Tina now that Tina is with Mike. Viewers are introduced to Emma's new love interest, Carl. Even though Artie tried and did not conquer to physical progress in season one, he is now a member of the football team. I'm all about physical progress but I'm not about being unrealistic. I'm also not a fan of Rachel trying to give Finn an ultimatum of her or football. But I did enjoy the scene where Quinn helped Rachel see if Finn was truly faithful to her. Kurt yelling at Mr. Schue also made me smile. He is so passionate.

Back to the music...aside from Slave, perhaps the best performance was, "Toxic" which the Glee club and Mr. Schue performed in front of the school. I'm not quite sure if schools have to approve the songs for home coming and if so, "Toxic" would be okay...but I am so glad that the Glee club performed it. In this episode, "Toxic" was both the only number performed by the Glee club and not almost identical to the Britney Spears arrangement and music video. While I was anticipating the Glee club singing more than one Britney song together, "Toxic" was a great single choice. In fact, it is the best rendition of "Toxic" that I have ever heard and I personally like to think of it now as the official "Toxic" remix. And contrary to popular opinion, I loved Mr. Schue performing with the kids.

My only fault with this episode is Jacob. I could have done without Jacob looking like he was having let's just say "private time" while he was in the stands watching the Glee club perform "Toxic" and Jacob naked in Sue's office. Both were quite unnecessary and just plain disturbing. Also, where was Charice? EDIT: Oh, never mind about Charice. A reader reminded me that she joined Vocal Adrenaline!

Lastly, while I was disappointed that the Britney Spears tribute episode did not end with a Britney Spears song...I enjoyed Rachel's rendition of Paramore's "The Only Exception." Though for the record, Lea can't touch Haley's songs. Haley's version will always be the best version no matter who tries to cover it.

As for fresh faces, I loved how Britney Spears' cameo was incorporated into the dream sequences. I didn't quite know what to expect and wanted more but was pleased with the end result. Mark from So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 made a cameo in the "Me Against the Music" number. It is great how Glee has taken those dancers under their wing and also how various Glee club members appeared in the background of this specific number. Also, John Stamos has a recurring role on the show this season and this was his first episode. He looked great and his character was very well written into not only Emma's story line but the Glee world. Did anyone catch the Uncle Jesse reference about him not getting his hair messed up?

I also loved the Britney references ("Leave Brittany Alone!" and "It's Brittany Bitch.") and the 90's references, one of which was Blossom. Brittany also mentioned Kesha and for the record, I'd love to see Brittany perform a song by her. It just seems so fitting.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode more than I can explain. The music was phenomenal, Heather Morris is the Britney Spears mini me that I could never be, and this episode continued to bring the comedy in every scene. And these songs will no doubt be my most played Glee songs for umm ever.

Glee airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on Fox.

Margaret Colin Talks About Gossip Girl!

Gossip Girl returned for its fourth season earlier this month and I recently had the pleasure of talking to everyone's favorite mean girl - excuse me - mean Momma of Manhattan's elite, Eleanor Waldorf herself, Margaret Colin.



So what would you say is your favorite characteristic about Eleanor?
My favorite quality about her is that she sees the world from her own unique perspective. She's self centered so I can't wait to fully grasp the opportunities that are left for her. She is the star of her own world and that's my favorite quality about her.

Are Blair and Eleanor going to have a heart soon, since Blair is having conflicts with Chuck?
I don't think that they do much of a service to the relationship between Eleanor and Blair. Whenever Blair acts out, even if it might be for her best interest, Eleanor just doesn't pay attention. It would be a wonderful opportunity because Eleanor is so self absorbed. It cracked me up how Eleanor was completely wrapped up with Dorota's baby, so they didn't have me in Paris at the same time that Blair was there. So basically I am just as surprised as everybody else is by the Blair-Chuck situation. I think that she is going to weigh in with her. She's going to have the opportunity to give her some really good counsel around Blair's birthday.

So who would you like to interact with more on the show?
You know, I just love working with Leighton (Meester). She is a brilliant singer and her acting is fantastic. I completely adore working with her. If I could just keep working with her, that would be fine. Wally (Shawn) is hysterical and anything he does, I get a great kick out of. The dance sequences were hysterical. He kept walking around saying, "I can't dance" so I taught him. He is such an artist and is such great fun. All of the kids are really good, they have their characters down and bring a lot to every scene. It's an awful lot of fun interacting with all of them.

Since the kids are in college, what were you like in college?
(laughs hysterically) That's such a loaded question. Hmm...I went to Hofstra University and I did not graduate because I started working. I got an agent while I was in college after I was seen in the play, A Clearing in the Woods. I was still a teenager and I commuted from home. I grew up on Long Island in a town called Baldwin. I was absolutely not ready to live on my own in New York but it was the only place that I wanted to be. But I had a great time in college because I was doing theatre. You could legally drink at 18 in those day so I could drink and dance, work on plays, take 17 credits..and I really started to find myself. It was wonderful. I was one of those crazy drama majors. I had a great time and I made life long friends that I still see on a regular basis. We had drive. We had drive. I wish that for all young people. Have drive, a passion, an interest. Go for it. Try.

Definitely. So speaking of theatre, when can we see you on Broadway again?
Aw thanks! I don't know, it's a little slow for me stage wise. I did Six Degrees of Separation over the summer with the wonder Tim Daly at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. That was heaven. Maybe something will open up this fall. I would love to do a big commercial role on Broadway. That's exactly what I'm looking for.


"The Serena Also Rises" GOSSIP GIRL Pictured: (l-r) Margaret Colin as Eleanor Waldorf and Leighton Meester as Blair PHOTO CREDIT: GIOVANNI RUFINO/THE CW NETWORK, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

So back to Gossip Girl, what has been your favorite wardrobe piece so far?
My favorite piece has to be the piece that they made for Eleanor's wedding. It was just gorgeous. We had multiple fittings on it and I was just so thrilled with it. It was beautiful.

How does the fandom change if at all from summer into fall and winter and on location to in studio?
Well they are smart and selective. They don't go after the mothers, they go after Leighton Meester, Blake Lively, and the guys. When we are in the studio, there are not so many people. On location in the city, it's pretty fierce. And from what I understand, the fans were very enthusiastic when they shot in Paris as well. I think it's also part of the marketing for our show as it's in Warner Brothers' best interest to keep everybody alert as to where we are shooting. The kids are also really good at avoiding it when they are not shooting and just living their lives. They are very appreciative of the young people, absolutely.

What are some of your favorite places the show has shot at?
I had never been to the place where Dorota had her wedding and that was a fun place to be. I also like the places where Eleanor gets to do her fashion shows. The house that is Eleanor & Blair's kitchen is actually filmed at a beautiful private home on the Upper East Side. That is always a fun place to go because the people are very gracious to let us shoot there and their art collection is fabulous so that is a pleasure.

What was your experience like shooting "The Empire Strikes Jack" with your former As the World Turns brother, Scott Bryce?
It was really strange because there was almost no filter between us. We talked about everything that we used to do. I rented a beach house and he was a guest there a couple of nights and it was youthful and fun. He's a dad and married and I'm very much in love and married with children so the conversations are different...it's a little bit of a time warp. So it was great to catch up with him and we were pleased as punch with ourselves that we are still here and doing this.

Lastly, I loved you on Medium! So what are your upcoming projects?
The independent film that I shot awhile back, The Missing Person is on DVD and Netflix. It stars Amy Ryan, it's very noir, and I'm kind of a scammer in the film. It's a beautiful black and white film.

Gossip Girl airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.

DVD Review: Glee The Complete First Season

It's pay day, so now you can go out and buy Glee The Complete First Season on DVD!



Release Date: September 14, 2010
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 974 minutes

Join the club and bring home the fun with Glee Karaoke and Glee Jukebox— available only on DVD! A talented group of high school misfits transforms into a performing sensation with the help of a dedicated teacher. Through laughter, tears, irreverent humor and unforgettable music, they learn to follow their hearts and chase their dreams.

There is definitely something for everyone to enjoy in Glee The Complete First Season. Glee is not just about show tunes and 80s pop. There are some really fascinating characters to follow and even a few spectacular guest stars (Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, and Neil Patrick Harris to name a few) to follow. I know Lea Michele has been the main focus from a general stand point but Amber Riley and Chris Colfer are the true stand out stars of the season. Joss Whedon directing an episode of the show was the icing on the cake. Or maybe it was the Lady Gaga tribute episode. It's hard to pick. The Madonna tribute episode was also quite spectacular.

Though while I have been a loyal fan of Glee since the very beginning, I won't be biased and will share the great with the could be better. The show has definitely grown since the Pilot episode and it is kind of poetic in a sense. The show seems to find a new tune almost as often as a high schooler does over the course of a school year. Because of that, every episode is fascinating and complex in its own way. But because of that, there sometimes tends to be a lack of consistency in some of the sub plots.

But Ryan Murphy is the mind behind Nip/Tuck and if you watched that, you know that there are no limits for this man. So that makes Glee even more unique, because there are no limits. Characters will say things that you would not expect to hear on television. There are story lines that will really keep you up at night pondering...and those are the moments that outweigh the many conflicts that are conveniently resolved within an episode or a tid bit about a character that never gets referenced again. The characters are so well crafted and layered that I hate getting to find out little facts about the characters only to see that part of them that one time the fact is revealed. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with how much of a transformation Quinn made and how well her back story was intertwined with the present. Quinn is such a fascinating character and I cannot wait to see what else the writers have to share about her back story.

I also remember the quirky close ups and camera angles in the first few episodes that haven't been carried throughout the season as much as I would have liked. I even remember Ryan Murphy saying that the characters would not randomly break out into song. I wish he had stood his ground on this. One thing that hasn't changed though is the comedic writing, the comedic timing amongst the actors, the dramatic moments that make you cry, the characters that make you think, and the music that will take you throughout your day. The music is an exciting jumbled mix. There were maybe 3-4 episodes that I was not completely over the moon for musically speaking. I would have to say that the first few episodes and the last few episodes of the season were my favorite episodes when it comes to the music. Both the music and the story telling were fantastic in the season finale. "Bohemian Rhapsody" will have you in a trance. Really, the season as a whole has brought both more laughs and more tears than any other Fox comedy I have ever watched and I am so happy that I can say that.

Glee is one of the most creative shows on television today and I am looking forward to season 2 when the kids make their way to New York City, tribute Rocky Horror and Britney Spears, have a slew of guest stars including John Stamos and Charice, and more incredible and solid writing!

Bonus Features:

Featured on Glee Season 1 Volume 1 DVD:
* Welcome to McKinley!
* Glee Music Video
* Full Length Audition Pieces
* Fox Movie Channel presents Casting Session
* Deconstructing Glee with Ryan Murphy
* Dance Boot Camp
* Jane Lynch: A to Glee
* Meet Jane Lynch
* Things You Don't Know About Jayma, Cory, Amber, & Chris
* Video Diaries

Glee Music Jukebox - Fans can watch all of the Glee musical numbers from the latter half of the season without having to fast forward through the episodes to do so. There is an option to play all of simply select with musical number you would like to watch/listen to. This is a fabulous feature...to bad it's not on every single disc.

Glee Sing Along Karaoke - Fans can sing along or choose to switch to karaoke the Glee musical numbers, "Alone," "Somebody to Love," "Keep Holding On," and "Don't Stop Believin'." I am surprised that no songs from the season finale made it onto this special feature. Surely the selection choice won't be everybody's favorite but I am guilty of already singing along to "Somebody to Love."

Staying in Step with Glee (6:13 minutes) -
Choreographer, Zach Woodlee, Assistant Choreographer, Brooke Lipton, and 4 Vocal Adrenaline dancers come to you from the Tin Shed Dance Studio in Hollywood, CA to teach fans the dance routine to "Rehab." Not only are Zach and Brooke great dance teachers, this was a very well edited feature. Both use the number count but Zach takes it to the next level, singing the song along with the steps. After viewers learn the dance step by step, a split screen is brought up, showing close ups of the footwork and the upper body movements. Lastly, the 4 Vocal Adrenaline dancers perform the dance at full speed. If you want to learn this dance, you'll be able to in no time with this very well detailed dance lesson. Though you are on your own for the "Rehab" wardrobe.

Bite Their Style: Dress Like Your Favorite Gleek (8:52 minutes) - Costume designer, Lou Eyrich and Assistant Costume Designer, Jennifer Eve take you out shopping and into the wardrobe department on set to help viewers get a better understanding as to how the wardrobe is selected for the show. Then, the ladies tell you how to bite Rachel, Kurt, Mercedes, and Quinn's styles. Seeing firsthand how Lou and Jennifer shop and what looks they have particularly set out for these characters in the first season was so much fun and very informative! I have more clarity on everyone's style now than I thought that I would after watching this feature. In case you missed anything in each of the "Bite Their Style" segments, a split screen of each character along with their style tips is shown to end out the feature. This is another very well edited feature and I cannot wait to watch it again before I go shopping for my Glee look.

The Power of Madonna (10:36 minutes) - The entire cast has nothing but good things to say about working on this episode, as you'll see in this "Making Of/Behind the Scenes" feature. This was Ryan Murphy's ode to Madonna but he wasn't the only one responsible for the amazing hit this episode turned out to be. In fact, he didn't do all of the song arrangements. Music Supervisor, PJ Bloom and Music Producer, Adam Anders have more to say on that amongst other things. Costume Designer, Lou Eyrich talks about styling the "Vogue" music video as snap shots of Jane Lynch, Chris Colfer, and Amber Riley are shown in costume. She's not the only one who has something to say about "Vogue." Jane Lynch brings the comedy, as she talks about needing direction for singing the hit song. That might have been difficult for her but "Like A Virgin" seemed to be the most difficult for others. As for the fun stuff...behind the scenes of "Express Yourself" and "Like A Prayer" being filmed is shown and the latter is extra special to Amber Riley since her mother was an extra in the performance. There is so much to learn and appreciate in this feature...Gleeks and Madonna fans, don't skip it!

Making of a Showstopper (17:21 minutes) - This feature is really the making of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and has different segments, including "Finding the Song," "Creating the Choreography," "Costumes," and "Production." Behind the scenes footage is shown from not only the day of the shoot but dance rehearsal as well. The crew had never worked on anything this elaborate on the show at this point, so it's quite a fascinating peak into what it take to put this master piece together. At the end of the feature, the entire performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" is shown and what a phenomenal performance it is...definitely worth a standing ovation in your living room.

Appearing in this special feature:
Guest Star, Jonathan Groff
Music Supervisor, PJ Bloom
Music Producer, Adam Anders
Costume Designer, Lou Eyrich
Creator/Executive Producer, Ryan Murphy
Executive Producer/Writer, Brad Falchuck

Own Glee The Complete First Season on DVD today.

Stargate Universe & Caprica Return

Syfy fans...Season 2 of Stargate Universe premieres in its new slot this Tuesday, September 28th 9/8c on Syfy! I am so excited! Season 1 was incredible and I cannot wait to see what the cast and crew has been working on all this time.



Caprica Season 1.5 returns the following week (October 5th) right after SGU at 10/9c! Check out this recap video to refresh your memory and get you pumped for the show's return. I am in love with this show and cannot wait until it returns. I am so happy that we didn't have to wait until January 2011!



Ahh! I am so excited!!! What Syfy show are you most excited to watch?

It’s Kind of a Funny Story Soundtrack

It’s Kind of a Funny Story, in select theaters October 8th, has quite an incredible score by Broken Social Scene and an even more engaging soundtrack. Check out three different tracks as each week passes, leading up to the film's release. This week, you can listen to “Smash it Up” by The Damned, “The Ills” by Mayer Hawthorne, and “Happy Today” by The WoWz.



Check out the trailer here.

What’s a 16-year-old boy doing playing music and table tennis with adult psychiatric patients – on a school day? It’s kind of a funny story…“It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” adapted from Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name, is the new comedy-drama from acclaimed writer/directors Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden. It’s @5:00 AM on a Sunday in Brooklyn. Craig Gilner (played by Keir Gilchrist of “United States of Tara”) is bicycling up to the entrance of a mental health clinic; this bright 16-year-old is stressed out from the demands of being a teenager. Before his parents (Lauren Graham [of “Parenthood”] and Jim Gaffigan [of “Away We Go”]) and younger sister are even awake, Craig checks himself into Argenon Hospital and is admitted by a psychiatrist. But the youth ward is temporarily closed – so he finds himself stuck in the adult ward. One of the patients, Bobby (Zach Galifianakis of “The Hangover”), soon becomes both Craig’s mentor and protégé. Craig is also quickly drawn to another 16-year-old displaced to the adult ward, the sensitive Noelle (Emma Roberts of the upcoming “Scream 4’), who just might make him forget his longtime unrequited crush Nia (Zoë Kravitz of the upcoming “X-Men: First Class”). With a minimum five days’ stay imposed on him by the adult ward’s staff psychiatrist Dr. Eden Minerva (Academy Award nominee Viola Davis), Craig is sustained by friendships on both the inside and the outside as he learns more about life, love, and the pressures of growing up.

Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Emma Roberts, Viola Davis, Lauren Graham, Jim Gaffigan, Zoë Kravitz, Zach Galifianakis

Writer/Directors: Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (“Half Nelson,” Sugar”); Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini

Rating: PG-13

It’s Kind of a Funny Story hits theaters October 8, 2010.

My Night at Blogger Prom

Last night, I made my way to Yamashiro Hollywood for the 2nd Annual Blogger Prom!

Not only was I excited to have a good time but I was excited to have been invited to have a good time! Blogger Prom is invite only and has a limited guest list for established bloggers and as I have only had my blog since February 2008, I'd say that this was quite a compliment!



So once invited, I picked out my outfit for the Hollywood Confidential themed party. I wore a little black dress with pearls and other accessories as well as bright red lipstick and red nail polish.





Food I Ate from Chef Brock Kleweno
* 2 Tacos: Cabernet & Soy Braided Short Rib Taco and Kleweno Farm's Smoked Sausage with Maple Black Pepper Aioli
* Asian Baby Back Ribs with House-Made BBQ Sauce
* Wedge-Lette: Mini iceberg wedge topped with goat cheese, a cherry tomato and Yama-goddess dressing

Note: If you are in LA, you can get Chef Brock Kleweno's tacos at Yamashiro's Thursday farmers' market.



Snacks I Ate
* 2 types each of cheeses, breads, & chocolate balls from The Cheese Impresario
* A Truffle from ChocolateBox Café
* Coolhaus Ice Cream Sandwich - I chose Oatmeal Cookies with Green Tea Ice Cream
* Mini Key Lime Cupcake from Crumbs Bake Shop




In Photo: Myself and Michelle Matus, Brand Ambassador for Pinky Vodka

Drinks I Eyed
* Red Wine, 2007
* Pinky Vodka
* Margarita
* Equinox Young Sour Ale
* The Dalmore Single-Malt Scotch Whiskys





The Gift Bag
The gift bag was a wonderful parting gift! A list of the gift bag goodies/sponsors can be read here the photos are above! As I am not a fan of dark chocolate, mom, that's for you!



The Giveaway
Just as I received my gift bag and was on my way out, I received a tweet that I won a giveaway! So I turned around and headed to pick up my gift...

From La Descarga, I won a rum & cigar aficionado package which includes 1 bottle of Zaya 12-year-old aged rum, 2 sipping glasses, 2 hand rolled Payne Mason Haban Unos Corojo #5 cigars with cutters, and a $50 gift certificate for the bar itself. Aside from the cigars, I am thrilled with my prize! I'll save it for a special occasion!


Photo Credit: Heather Kincaid

I had a fabulous time at Blogger Prom and it seems LA was just as excited about our event...The LA Times wrote a piece!

Big thanks to the When Tara Met Blog, the Blogger Prom Committee, and all of the sponsors for last night's event. It was fabulous!



Tickets for the event were $10 each and 100% of the proceeds from the event went to the Center for Community and Family Services in support of Operation Frontline Los Angeles.

Songs for Hope Free Concert with Michael Bolton & Brian McKnight

This past Monday night, the Be Aware Foundation hosted a free Michael Bolton concert at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA with opening act Brian McKnight and a special performance by contemporary jazz artist, Mindi Abair.



Not often do I listen to jazz, but when I do, I love every moment. Even better, I always find a woman playing a saxophone to be so empowering. I can't explain it really, but I love it. So I was thrilled to see Mindi Abair perform a short set and will check out her latest album, In Hi-Fi Stereo on iTunes.





Brian McKnight performed a slightly longer set and the crowd sang along to his songs...but the majority sang along to his excellent Michael Jackson cover of "Rock With You."





Michael Bolton is not only a multi-Grammy Award winning artist, but also a contestant on this season's "Dancing With the Stars." Monday night was the season premiere of the show. So after performing his heart out in dance over at CBS Studios, he came around the block to The Grove to perform his heart out once more. The crowd went wild and were dancing and singing along. Afterwords, Michael's DWTS partner, Chelsea Hightower came out to say hello and after that, Michael performed 2-3 more songs before the concert came to a close.




After the concert, there was a silent auction and private after party which I attended. I spotted Derek Hough and Ron Jeremy at the after party. There wasn't a huge turn out from the rest of the DWTS cast as most of them were partying in the heart of Hollywood. But this event wasn't about the stars, it was about raising awareness and finances for breast cancer research.

NBC’s Fritz Coleman served as the master of ceremony for the night and if my memory is correct, Michael Bolton gave $15,000 towards the cause. I am unaware of how much was raised that night aside from Michael's donation, but I am sure that it was a generous amount. Still not enough though, so make sure to do what you can when you can and check yourselves out (both ladies and gents as men can get breast cancer too) before it is too late.


About the Be Aware Foundation
Founded in 2004 by Tanja Cebula, a cancer survivor and Dr. John West, the Be Aware Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving women's lives by ensuring that breast cancer is diagnosed at its earliest stage. The Foundation’s goal is to motivate and inspire women to consistently follow our early detection guidelines. This year the Foundation will be dedicating resources and funds to conduct clinical research with the greatest potential to impact the fight against breast cancer. To learn more, visit www.beawarefoundation.org.

Tiffany Hines Dishes about Nikita

The CW's latest hit drama, Nikita is one of my favorite new shows of the season. One character in particular stood out to me in the Pilot, so I went right to the source to get all of the lowdown on Jaden. Actress, Tiffany Hines had a lot to say about her character, a love interest, and much more. Keep reading for all of the scoop!


Photo Credit: Annette Navarro

Can you elaborate on Jaden's conflict with Alex?
Alex is kind of stepping on Jaden's turf. Jaden's been there two months already and she's really taken with Thom. She sees the connection that Alex is having with Thom and she she's getting a little territorial.

How do you hope to see this relationship evolve?
There's a lot of twists and turns on our show so I don't know. It can go a lot of different ways. I think it will be interesting to see where that relationship will go...whether they become allies of some sort or they bud heads even more.

You mentioned Thom and although I didn't catch a romantic vibe or love triangle amongst you recruits, what can you tell me?
From the beginning, there's not a lot that is touched on but as the season progresses, we'll see a little bit there. Jaden does have some feelings for Thom and there's definitely a triangle that will develop. Thom is one of the first people that Jaden met when she came to Division. She's had a really rough upbringing and nobody's really shown her that compassion before Thom. He can be the kind of person that is your savior, especially at the Division where at any moment you can be canceled and if you're not successful at what you do, they can kill you. Jaden is very hard on the outside but underneath, she's just like everyone else. She really wants love. So when Thom shows her that side, she has that tendency to kind of fall for him. So as the season progresses, it becomes interesting, the dynamic between these three characters.

So then is Jaden so dead set on being an assassin because she is so vulnerable?
I think so. The hard exterior is really her hiding what's underneath. She wants to be the best at everything at Division, she wants to be liked, she wants to be loved... Even though she comes across hard, it stems from the fact that she wants to be accepted. When she talks about Nikita she talks down about her because she wants to be Nikita. When Alex comes in and is more of a natural at things, she becomes threatened and territorial about it. She feels like Alex is stealing her thunder. As the show progresses, we'll get to see a lot of different sides to her which is why I am so excited to play her. At first she seems like just the mean girl, but anybody that you meet is a lot more complicated than that. Jaden is more complicated than that.

What is your training schedule like and what do you find most challenging?
It depends on what we are scheduled to shoot that week. If it's a physical, action heavy week, we do a lot of training. Episodes 2 and 3 were heavy episodes in regards to Jaden vs. Alex. So besides our regular work out routines, we had rehearsals with our stunt coordinators and fight coordinators. There's a lot that goes into it. I have a dance background and learning a fight sequence is almost like learning a dance. Everything is choreographed and it's really, really intricately thought out. It's dangerous to do, so they make sure you know all of the moves inside and out. We also work with our stunt doubles who know the moves as well. It's pretty intense. There are times when I'd wake up and every muscle in my body would ache the morning after rehearsal. We do take after take after take when shooting, so it can be physically demanding but it's also a lot of fun. When you see the final product, you realize that it was worth it.

It sure is! In last week's episode, the recruits were training in taking apart and re assembling guns! How long did that take to learn?
Oh my goodness! We have really great people behind the scene working with us. The day before we shot that scene, we had just finished a scene when they took us into a room to do gun training. The trainer really broke it down step by step. It was a repetition thing, so we had to do it over and over again. I think we worked on taking guns apart for an hour, hour and a half. The next day we did it but what was really challenging about the scene is that we were blindfolded. When I was taking the gun apart, I was fine. But once the blindfolds were put on, that was such a challenge. I didn't want to peak because I wanted it to be authentic, but there were a couple of times where I would sneak a peek when it was too hard. That was a fun scene to shoot.

How familiar were you with the Nikita franchise before you were brought into the show?
Well actually when I was in high school, I started the Critics Club. During lunch time, we watched a film. Our second film that we critiqued was La Femme Nikita. I remember when I first saw the film how blown away I was by this woman who gets in trouble with the law and she seems so fragile but she's so hard. I loved the dynamic of the character. It's crazy since fast forward years later and now I'm doing a series based upon the film. Once I had gotten the role, as part of my research, I did go back and look at other versions. Even though our version is very unique, we pulled bits and pieces from the other versions. So I wanted to be familiar with it. They were all brilliant in their own way, so I am thrilled to be part of a franchise that has been so successful over time.

The show has been compared to the Bourne films and Alias. Do you think those are fair comparisons?
I think in the beginning, you haven't made your own mark yet and everyone's going to compare you. So I'm not surprised. Alias was an amazing show. The Bourne movies are some of my favorite movies. I am flattered that we are being compared to shows and films that have really proven themselves and are successful. As we continue, I think we'll make our own mark and won't be compared as much. But if we're going to be compared to anything, those are awesome shows and films, so that is great.

Lastly...the creative team behind the show is fantastic, sharing credits such as Bones, Chuck, and Supernatural. From all of their shows, which actor would you like to see guest star on Nikita?
Wow. Of all of their shows...hmm. Well just because I'm biased, as I recurred on Bones, I would love for David Boreanaz to guest star. I think that would be really cool. He's a great actor and really fun to work with and I don't think I'd be wrong to say that the Angel fans would probably love to see him come guest star. So yeah, he would be my favorite guest star.

Nikita airs Thursday at 9/8c on The CW.

Exclusive: Young Insight From Guest Writer, Julia Ling

Writing is the one thing in my life I cannot live without. My favorite element happens to be writing characters. People are such fascinating characters. Yet there seems to be more time spent watching actors embody such fleshed out characters than connecting with our peers in the same way. So in an effort to begin restoring that connection amongst my fellow peers, in an effort to get below the surface and really get to know those around us, in an effort for young insight that can inspire us all...

Actress, Julia Ling has taken over Hollywood the Write Way to connect with the world as herself and not as the many characters she has played over the years on Chuck, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and more. Julia Ling has written a beautiful piece that analyzes and reflects on her passions in life. She has also incorporated never before seen photographs into her piece.

Ladies and gentlemen, Julia Ling has officially taken Hollywood the Write Way to the next level.



Written by Julia Ling

Dancing is the one thing in my life I cannot live without. Well, that and sushi. Moving to the music is one thing; anybody can be taught the technical moves of a dance with enough practice. But really putting the heart and soul into a dance, that’s when everything comes to life and the greatest joys can be experienced.

A true dancer at heart is an artist constantly seeking to create a live visual art in motion form from using every part of the body. The stage is the canvas. The human body is the medium, and the dancer is the painter at heart.



I remember performing my very first solo. I was eight years old, a tiny and frail little girl. I was very shy and had the worst stage fright that evening. There were hundreds of people in the audience, waiting to watching something beautiful. I was so sure I’d mess up or not be good enough.

I ran out to the stage and sat into my starting swan pose. And suddenly the stage was breathtakingly silent. It was almost scary. I was so nervous my arms were trembling.

But then the music came on and I drifted with it off to another world. And I suddenly felt like a swan princess by the enchanted lake underneath the soft moonlight. In my active imagination, the music took me to a beautiful and serene lake where I splashed around, looked for flowers, then followed the voices of my little fairy friends because I was curious what they were giggling about. It wasn’t until the very end of the song when everybody applauded and cheered that I snapped out of that dream I was dancing.

I am still a very shy girl in many ways. But as soon as I think about the dance, I forget about reality. It’s almost like flying in pure bliss to beautiful music.

I performed a lot of Chinese dances when I was growing up. You know, the stuff you see in Shen Yun and other Chinese show extravaganzas (For an example, see here). There’s the ribbon dance, the fans, the umbrellas, the long sleeves. I release all my emotions in my dance just as I do when I paint. The joy, the serenity, the melancholy, the frustrations. And there is always a story to tell in the dance. The props are continually evolving as Art changes with time and society, so there are always new artistic expressions to discover through dancing.



I started martial arts in my early 20s because I wanted to get stronger and learn self defense. I learned to use weapons, both contemporary and traditional. I learned to fire guns and rifles. I love challenge in both martial arts and dance, and I will give nothing less than 100% focus and discipline.

I often train 5-6 hours a day. There are mornings I’m so sore I cannot get out of bed, but I did anyway. Sometimes my coaches and I went to the beach or the mountains we would train under the midnight moon or on the sand. And of course, part of the journey of discipline and training is having my fair share of injuries. I’ve broken my left elbow and injured myself many times, but I kept going.

I really pushed myself to my limit physically and mentally. Sometimes I hurt so much I cried. Sometimes I was just so frustrated I cried. But I am very glad I pushed myself. I am a stronger person because of all the training. I used to be very weak and sick when I was younger. But I also grew as a person. I learned to love my body. I learned to understand the kind of love and nourishment that our bodies need. I started to realize the amazing things we humans are capable of. Through intense training, I’ve learned to find peace, love and joy in ways I never thought possible.





When I was a little girl, my family and I watched many Chinese kung fu movies together. My friends made fun of the movies and called them "wire fu", because the characters were always flying from tree to tree and doing all sorts of funny flips onto the roofs and walls. Well, Wire-Fu didn't really impress me because it's impossible, right? Or so I thought, until a series of events changed my mind forever.

I met a few people who trained in Kung Fu, Tai Chi and other martial arts. I witnessed them survive crazy things they're not supposed to survive. One of my them fell off a building from the third story, and he did not have so much as a crack in his bone. Because of all his training, he knew how to fall and roll, and his strength and flexibility prevented injuries from the impact.

In the 2007 Jackie Chan Disciples show, I met Xin Wuku, better known as "The Urban Ninja", and his team, the EMC Monkeys, These boys train really hard, and they really do jump off roofs and do cool flips. We spent a lot of time together and I was introduced to an all new world in the martial arts realm. During the filming of that show, my friend Philip Sahagun (Kungfu Heroes, recently did stunts for Tina Turner and was featured on America's Got Talent) introduced the concept of the whip as a weapon to me through his performance. His control of his weapons was brilliant to perfection.

At the time, I was exploring other weapons in my own training, including the mace (like from Kill Bill), the spear, tri-sectional and nun-chucks. And while working on the NBC show "Chuck", I learned to fight with tripods. I was excited at the thought of having a fight scene, but also nervous that I would not be able to pull it off. Those tripods must have been 5 pounds each, and they kept opening up too, which made it even harder to swing, so I had to hold it at the center, which was too big for my tiny hands. Because I am a tiny woman, it felt like swinging two long, heavy hammers.

Stunts expert David Morizot choreographed the fight for me and encouraged me to train. He became a mentor of mine shortly thereafter. "You can pretty much fight with anything. Chairs, Broomsticks, Sausage Links. He said he fought with sausage links before. *laughs*

David is sometimes a man of depth and wisdom but few words. He is always funny, and despite his impressive Hollywood resume, he continues to stay humble and kind. His discipline in martial arts, his great work ethics and his grander-than-life, down-to-earth personality inspired me to take that leap of faith. And after one night of swinging those tripods around and doing countless push ups and upper body training, I was ready to film it.

It was a good feeling to realize I had overcome my fear of fighting with two large, heavy mallet-like tripods. And David, like Xin and Phlilp and my other martial arts friends, proved to me that the sky is the limit. We can do anything through perspiration and perseverance if we put our heart and discipline into it. Even though training continues to be physically demanding and often painful, I always look forward to it, and the thrill makes me feel happy and more alive than ever.

Of course, just like dancing or anything else, the most important first step is taking care of our bodies. I learned to nurture it with healthy foods and love. My martial arts coach had said to me, "Love your body, and it will give you everything you need."



For more information on Julia Ling, visit her official website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Special Thanks...
Body Art Shots
Special Effects Wolfe FX Artists, Josh Counsel and Hanna DeWall
Photographer, Adrian Carr

Magazine Print Shots
Hair Stylist, Ahou Mofid
Makeup Artist, Cindy Miguens
Lashes by Blinkies Eyelashes
Skin Complexion by Spray di Sole
Costume Stylist, Kait Marie
Photographer, Jim Crilly

DVD Review: The Big Bang Theory The Complete Third Season

It's kind of a funny story how I got into The Big Bang Theory. When the show first premiered, I told myself that I would follow Kaley Cuoco from 8 Simple Rules and Charmed to The Big Bang Theory. But the show never made it to my incredibly large list of Monday night television. Then, at San Diego Comic Con, I sat through The Big Bang Theory panel in order to be front row and center for a number of panels taking place afterwords in that same room. Their panel took place after Season 1 had aired and Season 2 was on its way. I immediately fell in love with the cast and the show and knew that I had to stop putting this show off. So I caught up in time for Season 2 and made sure to attend the next Big Bang panel at Comic Con as a fan. This took place after season 2 had aired and Season 3 was on its way. Now, The Complete Third Season is on DVD, so I have 23 more hilarious episodes to keep me company until the Season 4 premiere this Thursday night!



Release Date: September 14, 2010
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 472 minutes

Worlds collide in Season 3! A love affair with Penny has opened a big, wide, wonderful world of romance for Leonard. But Sheldon likes the world just the way it was, thank you. All of which makes for a zany comic triangle with brainy, clueless Sheldon and practical, grounded Penny hilariously vying for the role of hypotenuse. This complete 2-Disc, 23-Episode Season 3 Set also features Raj, Howard, tattoos, football, awkward dates, jail time, Stan Lee, a The Lord of the Rings ring and all the fun of a series that only gets better. The Big Bang Theory “has transformed from a cute comedy about eggheads and their hottie neighbor into an addictive ensemble piece that could be this decade’s answer to Friends” (Lynette Rice, Entertainment Weekly).

The third season of The Big Bang Theory was some of the best comedy of the 2009 - 2010 television season. There is never a dull moment on this show and I am so happy to say that I have really come to love every single character. When I first began watching the show, I thought that Big Bang was the smartest and most clever comedy writing on television in quite some time...but I was turned off by the laugh track. Once I got past this element (it took awhile), I was able to laugh along more easily and fall so hard and so fast for the show. I absolutely loved that there was more interaction between Penny and Sheldon alone this season. Those scenes are by far my favorite scenes of the season. It is amazing how far this friendship has grown since season one. I wasn't too crazy about Leonard and Penny finally being together only to break up and attempt to move on towards the end of the season. It would have been nice to have the two as a couple for an entire season before breaking them up. Though what's done is done and if the two hadn't broken up at the time that they did, episodes 21 and 23 wouldn't be what they are...and I love those episodes! There actually seemed to be more stand out episodes like "The Precious Fragmentation" as opposed to an entire season of 23 unforgettable episodes. Another favorite episode includes, the fun flashback, "The Staircase Implementation" which shows when Leonard met Sheldon! Aside from some pretty spectacular stand out episodes, there were also a number of talented guest stars this season. Sara Gilbert is always a delight to see on the show. All of the guest stars this season were very, very smart choices. Some of those guest stars include Stan Lee, Wil Wheaton, Christine Baranski, Laurie Metcalf, Mayim Bialik, Katee Sackhoff, Danica McKellar, and Judy Greer. Overall, this was a highly entertaining season and you'll find something new to laugh at after each viewing. The special features are also quite fun, however there is no commentary which was quite disappointing. Maybe next time.

Special Features:

Takeout with the Cast of The Big Bang Theory (10:23 minutes) - The cast sits in the living room of Sheldon and Leonard's apartment to discuss their favorite season 3 moments. The chinese food on the table sits there more as a prop than anything else. The questions that the cast answer are on fortune cookie pieces of paper. With or without the chinese food in the picture, the cast is relaxed and have a fun time looking back on Season 3. There is talk of working with Katee Sackhoff and Wil Wheaton. The guys talk about the funny story behind their beards in the season premiere, as well as the dynamic between both Sheldon and Leonard's mothers. Kunal picks out his favorite costume and seeing a quick montage of his costumes will give you quite a chuckle. Kaley talks about her toughest line, horses, and her favorite Penny moment (which is actually in Season 2). Overall, this was a very interesting feature that will leave you wanting to gather around your fellow Big Bang friends to discuss your favorite Season 3 moments.

Set Tour with Simon and Kunal (7:39 minutes) - Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg lead viewers around the set of Big Bang, even bumping into Johnny Galecki and director, Mark Cendrowski along the way. The two first visit Sheldon & Leonard's apartment and then make their way to Penny's apartment. I did not expect to laugh, but found myself doing just that when I saw the connection that Kunal had with Penny's teddy bear. The guys also visit the Cheesecake Factory and University Cafeteria before heading to the wardrobe closets. Co-producer/costume designer, Mary T. Quigley makes an appearance but she remains tight lipped about the meaning behind Howard's alien pins. Overall, this was a fun feature to watch though I am still not 100% sure how the sets are lined up from left to right and if any of the sets are partial view to none for the audience members. It is still were the watch. Kunal and Simon throw out some technical jargon, so you'll definitely learn a thing or two about what goes on in between takes (hot set) and while filming (the person with no lines makes the refrigerator their home). This feature is worth a watch.

Gag Reel (7:49 minutes) - What a fun gag reel this is to watch! The reel mainly consists of the cast members forgetting their lines but the major laughs come when Kaley misses her cue and on a different occasion curses in her line at the most inappropriate time. There's a lot to laugh at in this feature...no Big Bang fan will be disappointed.

The Big Bang Theory Season 4 premieres Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 8/7c on CBS.

Own The Big Bang Theory The Complete Third Season on DVD today.

Advanced TV Review: Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods is a new original drama on CBS that premieres this Friday and you should definitely check it out. The show is about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement...but that is just the beginning of the scope of the show.



Frank Reagan is the New York City Police Commissioner and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as Chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son Danny, a seasoned detective, family man, and Iraqi War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases. The sole Reagan woman in the family, Erin, is a N.Y. Assistant D.A. and newly single parent, who also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father. Jamie is the youngest Reagan, fresh out of Harvard Law and the family's "golden boy;" however, unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and is now a newly minted cop. Jamie's life takes an abrupt turn when he's asked to become part of a clandestine police investigation even his father knows nothing about, and one that could impact the family's legacy.­

Starring: Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, and Len Cariou

Blue Bloods is a solid fit for CBS and has a lot of potential...so hopefully it won't get canceled as the majority of the CBS shows I watch do. The first few minutes of the episode introduce viewers to the family, one of which is being inducted as a cop not too long after his brother was killed in the line of duty. But the story quickly moves along and begins to follow the cops at work, solving a missing child's case. Halfway through the episode, the child safely reunites with her family and from there, a longer story arch is introduced. Apparently, there are some dirty cops on the force and two of the good cops need help on the inside to take them down. I cannot wait to see how this plays out over the season. More is revealed about this in the Pilot, but I do not want to spoil too much. Now even though we were introduced to the family...and even had quite a tense dinner table scene already, it seemed this episode focused more on the life of a cop than family business. I'm sure that the two will grow to have an even balance and the story arcs will intertwine more thoroughly as the season goes on. Blue Bloods has a solid cast, a strong writing staff, the beautiful backdrop of New York City, and it seems to have all of the right components for a compelling drama. It's not just a cop show. In fact, it's more of a family drama with their careers as cops being an incredibly interesting component. There's so much to explore, so I hope that Blue Bloods has the chance to do so.

Blue Bloods premieres on a Friday, September 24, 2010 at 10/9c on CBS.

DVD Review: Modern Family The Complete First Season

From the moment that I saw the first promo for Modern Family, I knew that it would easily become my new favorite half hour comedy. So it is no surprise that I have been watching my set of The Complete First Season on DVD everyday since it was sent to me earlier this month.



Release Date: September 21, 2010
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 518 minutes

Come join the family for the hilarious and critically acclaimed breakout hit of the year! Featuring an all-star cast led by Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vargara, Julie Bowen, and Ty Burrell, Modern Family takes a refreshing and funny view of what it means to raise a family in this hectic day and age. Multi-cultural relationships, adoption, and same-sex marriage are just a few of the timely issues faced by the show’s three wildly-diverse broods. No matter the size or shape, family always comes first in this hilariously “modern” look at life, love, and laughter.

Although similar to the "documentary style" of The Office, Modern Family has proven to be in its own league. Each episode is as clever and laugh out loud funny as the next. The writing is solid. It's dry humor doesn't miss a beat. It's funny because the pace is just right for each and every moment to realistically represent the situation at hand. If it's in the morning when the kids are off to school, things are quite fast paced. If there's a hint of fear, defeat, or betrayal...there may be a few long silences. No matter what the situation, Ty Burrell provides the best slapstick comedy of the year. It seems that I am more interested in seeing how he will hurt himself next than anything else. But following the lives of these 3 families who are actually one diverse family, is the best half hour I could ever spend. There are moments when I cannot catch my breath because I have been laughing too much or am in plain shock of what just took place.

Nolan Gould and Rico Rodriguez are outstanding. Gould brings the comedy and Rodriguez the complexity beyond his years. Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter both have siblings and it reflects perfectly on the small screen. The adults are phenomenal in their own unique ways as well. No matter what the conflict, comedy in the family dynamic comes from the attitude, the emotion everyone brings to the table...and every actor brings their best of those emotions to the table.

There is no laugh track (Hallelujah!) and there is music few and far between...but when there is music, the music chosen mixes in with the joke in that scene so well! Everything is so well thought out but really this is about everyday family conflicts...so I can see this show on for years and years to come. This show will no doubt continue to be one of ABC's best comedies ever, win well deserved awards, and continue to be the very successful hit that it is.

Bonus Features:

Deleted, Extended, & Alternate Scenes - Travels with Scout (6:35 minutes) - Surprisingly, I wasn't very entertained by any of these scenes. I say surprisingly because I am usually able to find one gem that was thrown out. Although it seems that a scene is either really funny or just cut out/altered. One scene involves the dentist, two scenes involve Phil and his father, another includes the family watching Cameron rocking out with Dylan, and the last involves Manny in Jay & Gloria's bed. The last scene was actually quite funny but I can definitely understand why all of these scenes were cut.

Gag Reel (5:40 minutes) - You'll be sure to watch this dozens of times in your first sitting. Not only will you see the usual outtakes of the cast forgetting their lines or saying the wrong thing, but you'll also see Ty Burrell trying out different variations of a punch line and Julie Bowen trying not to laugh. Really taken out of the moment, Jesse Tyler Ferguson's iPhone distracts him on more than one occasion...which gives Eric Stonestreet a moment to loo at his lines. There are laugh out loud moments involving stunts gone bad, props gone array, injuries, and jokes - a good one coming from youngin' Nolan Gould. Whether you are a fan of the show or not, these moments are too entertaining to just watch once. You'll catch something new to laugh at each time.

Real Modern Family Moments (10: 24 minutes) - What makes modern family so entertaining is that it is so relatable and written in such a detailed and yet incredibly simple way. The reason it is so relatable is because the writers behind the show have had these moments in the episodes happen in their lives. All of the writers use their families for inspiration...starting with co-creator/executive producer, Steven Levitan. Steven, his wife, Krista, and son, Griffin appear first in the feature, as Steven and Griffin discuss the bb gun moment. Not to let us take their word for it, home video footage is shown from the backyard of the Levitan household. But wait, there's so much more! There are a number of writers who share not only their stories but proof of their family memories that made it to the show. Consulting Producer, Ilana Wernick is terrified of pigeons, which sparked Mitchell's fear for pigeons. Writer/co-executive producer, Brad Walsh was part of a figure skating team with his sister, which led to Claire and Mitchell being a brother-sister skating team in their childhood. Writer/co-executive producer, Danny Zuker and wife, Annette are responsible for the Phil & Claire story line in "Up All Night." It's really funny watching these two converse and share how they interpreted what was happening at the time. Writers/co-executive producers, Dan O'Shannon and Bill Wrubel also share their inspirations. The feature closes out with Writer/co-executive producer, Paul Corrigan having Dan O'Shannon go into his crawl space. The only thing missing in this feature...having the crew share how long they have each been married for.

Before Modern Family (12:53 minutes) - As the cast members discuss what they were doing before being cast on Modern Family, screen tests and behind the scene footage of shooting is shown and boy are those screen tests are quite fun to watch! Screen test footage from Eric, Jesse, Rico, Ty, Sarah, Ariel, Nolan, and Julie's auditions are shown. Based on the screen tests, it seems that the roles of Phil and Luke were made for Ty and Nolan. Nolan Gould's story is phenomenal, I did not know how bright he is. I also did not know that Ariel Winter is a singer and songwriter or that Sofia Vergara almost became a dentist! I won't say anymore. Watch this special feature!

Fizbo the Clown (4:13 minutes) - If you didn't know that Eric Stonestreet was a real life clown before, you will after watching this feature. It's one thing to hear Eric explain his past as a clown, but it is another thing to see it. I was taken aback after seeing both footage of various home videos and photos from as far back as 1988 of Eric Stonestreet as Fizbo the Clown. What an achievement for Eric to have been a clown for so many years and then have this character that he created become the main focus of an episode on a hit television series. Writer, Brad Walsh says "Fizbo" is one of his favorite episodes and I do not disagree. You'll be educated and entertained in every bonus feature on this DVD, but this one by far is the most inspiring.

Modern Family: Making of "Family Portrait" (9:15 minutes) - This is probably my favorite special feature on the DVD. Viewers will get a glimpse into the episode 122 table read, you'll be taken on the scout to the Staples Center, you'll see Eric Stonestreet in music rehearsal, get to see how Julie Bowen spent her birthday on set, and so much more! "Family Portrait" is definitely one of my favorite episodes of the season, so it was great to hear what co-executive producer/director, Jason Winer had to say about this episode and see writer, Ilans Wernick's family portrait that inspired it all. On an even more humorous note, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and co-executive producer/co-creator, Christopher Lloyd talk about working with the infamous pigeon. Not a moment went by in this feature that I wasn't transfixed and grinning ear to ear. What a fabulous feature with such a fitting ending. This feature will not only lead you to appreciating the Delgado-Pritchett/Dunphy/Tucker clan even more, but appreciate the wonderful writers on this show who really know how to paint the most compelling and yet comedic portraits of family.

Modern Family "Hawaii" (5:19 minutes) - This feature has the wonderful back drop of Hawaii in March, just as the cast and crew discuss working on the island for this episode. What I found most humorous though was the cast and crew talking about working with director, Steven Levitan. Apparently, everyone knows when Steve doesn't like something because he makes faces in his director's chair. I enjoyed this feature more than I expected to because I had expected the actors to mainly retell what was going on in the episode and what it meant for their characters in great detail...as most special feature interviews do. But this was different. There was some summary but for the most part, this feature really focused on the matter of shooting in beautiful Hawaii. Aside from the cast and Director, Director of Photography, James Bagdonas, and Producer, Jeff Morton also appear in this feature.

Own Modern Family The Complete First Season on DVD September 21, 2010.

Modern Family Season 2 Premieres Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 9/8c on ABC.