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The Jim and I DVR Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and then usually watch it when we’re eating dinner, or there’s nothing better on and we happen to be upstairs (we have 2 TVs with 2 DVRs…yeah, stupid, I know). Growing up, I was a huge fan of the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. I ABSOLUTELY loved that show, and he was the reason why. I actually have some of my best childhood memories of watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson with my Grandmother whom I loved more than I could ever tell you. He was funny, and hysterical at times. Just good comedy without a lot of blue humor since it’s TV mind you. So, I’ve never really got into the Tonight Show since Jay Leno took it over. In fact, if I did watch a late-night show, it was probably David Letterman (which I never watched religiously). I will say that the 60 minutes that Jimmy Fallon fills, however, is often pretty funny, highly entertaining and silly…things I enjoy wholeheartedly.
If you haven’t watched Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, let me give you a few reasons why we like it so much.
1) Jimmy isn’t pretentious at all. He likes to have fun with his guests, and often gets them to do silly things with him (like drive go-carts through the studio, or the clips that I’m putting right here…it’s a hysterical skit to me because it’s so “out there” and bizarre that it strikes me funny and the Jim and I can’t get the damn song out of our head for days!)
2) Jimmy really interacts with his audience, which I love. He has games like hot dog in the hole (it sounds worse than it is), cell phone shoot-out, and he’s pretty generous. I especially love when a joke is off, or doesn’t hit the right note he’ll hand out the cue cards to audience members. It’s just a funny touch that I like.
3) The BEST BAND in the business is his house band. HE somehow managed to get the legendary ROOTS crew as his house band. I LOVE THE ROOTS! Plus he has Questlove (Ahmir) and Black Thought (Tariq) acting in their ongoing series “7th Floor West”, as well as I love when they have Tariq sing back up when they “Slow Jam the News”. It’s amazing. I mean, I love getting to see The Roots every night and they so deserve this spotlight.
4) Jimmy has some memorable recurring items like “Head Swap” and “7th Floor West” (which is their take off on “The Hills” which blessedly, I have never watched).
It’s just good wholesome and very silly stuff, and adds a nice little point to our day. If you get a chance, check him out or better yet, add him to your DVR and watch him when you get a chance.
The Jim and I also watched the beginning of Nurse Jackie this weekend, the new vehicle for Edie Falco. It was good in general, not as comedic as I had hoped for, but as the Jim remarks, it’s like ER but more gritty and probably real. Nurse Jackie is a nurse with a lot of brains and a lot of problems. While she seems to excel at knowing how to treat her patients and diagnose them correctly, she’s sadly addicted to pain-killers herself and apparently willing to sleep around just to keep her supply coming. How sad. Why can’t a woman be bad-ass (the ear scene for example), and be free from such soul sucking tendencies like addition and adultery. Oh well, I suppose that’s how life is. I will say though, the amount of sex going on in hospitals is AMAZING. I mean, from Grey’s Anatomy to Nurse Jackie, there is more play in the dark corners of your neighborhood hospital than at the Moonlight Bunny Ranch. Okay, maybe not, but I am always impressed at how many medical dramas and shows focus on the sex lives of their physicians, nurses and assistants. Ah to be that young and nimble. Anyway, if you like the pay-channel dramas, I’d recommend this show as we intend to see it through this season. Let me know what you think!?!
Read my thoughts HERE!
Read what junk I think about this week’s performances and add to the thoughts…HERE!
Check out my blog for DWTS tonight www.anna101.com. Enjoy.
Hello everyone…
It’s that time that Anna loves…Dancing with the Stars. The Jim, puts up with it. In fact, I’d say he’s more into Tom Bergeon’s witty retorts. So, I’m going to blog week-by-week, my thoughts and opinions. Feel free to comment and discuss. I love this show. I will say, without seeing anyone perform I’m already cheering for Steve-O (clean and sober and deserving of a new direction in his life), Lil’ Kim (she’s the hip hop version of royalty), David Allen Grier (cause he’s one of the funniest people around, and he has big um, um…breasteses – kidding), and lastly, Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple), because he’s part of what I’m typing on at this very moment.
Lil’ Kim and Derik Hough> Suprising and good first effort on a cha cha from Lil’ Kim. Always enjoyed her music, just wish she had kept an earlier verison of her face. Here’s hoping she has a good comeback from her time in prision, very suprised with her performance. JUDGES SCORE: 21 (about right).
Belinda Carlisle and Johnathan Roberts> Waltz. Former lead singer of the Go-Gos (80s super group), schlocky solo-hits “Heaven is a Place on Earth”, and my first husband’s first dream girl. Struggles with her turns, and is a bit stiff. Please point those toes too. She looks nice, but I’m worried she’s using the same plastic surgeon that Priscilla Presley is using. They look eerily similar. Eh, not so hot. JUDGES SCORE: 17 (a tad bit generous in my opinion).
Lawrence Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska > Cha-Cha. Former pro-football player and the fabu that is Edyta with her ever changing range of “minimalist-flag dresses/outfits”. So, the big man fears looking like a fool…well, not looking foolish but looking a bit stiff. Loosen up the joints a bit. Not horrid footwork wise, but awkward looking. Smooth it out and it’ll be much better later. Um, he also looks like he’s going to burst into tears. JUDGES SCORE: 16 (I felt it was about the same level as Belinda’s).
Steve-O and Lacey Schwimmer> Waltz. Stupid risk taker of Jackass, checked into rehab for drug/alcohol addiction a year ago and is working to get his life back together – so already I admire his effort. Practices look pretty scary, but I’m a big fan of Lacey because she’s a graduate of my other favorite dance show, So You Think You Can Dance. Very silly chene turn arms, but overall much better than he looked in practice but awkward. Just work on some technique please and you’ll do fine. I don’t think the judges will be as kind or favorable. He looks so much better clean and sober though! Johnny Knoxville was in the audience and in support, which was very nice. I’m hoping that the family friendly folks can deal with the word Jackass being bantered around…chill out folks. JUDGES SCORE: 17 (nicer than I expected).
Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke> Cha Cha. The man famous for being the over-sexed and naked neighbor of Samantha in the Sex and the City movie, and the sweet and curvy Cheryl, whom I hope is not dating Gilles since I feel like she dates her co-stars somewhat. Not bad, not bad at all and not exceedingly awkward. Cheryl has also loost weight since last season, which I don’t think she needed to but hopefully people will shut up about it this season. Very good first performance if you ask me, and a bit of “chemistry” going on between them so let the rumours fly! I think he’ll go far this season, with women voters he’s very easy on the eyes. JUDGES’ SCORE: 24 (very nice and well deserved).
Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough> Waltz. Country-music person (yawn – not a country fan, sorry), and the real-life boyfriend of her partner, the spunky Julianne Hough (aka, my father’s fantasy woman). I like that she gets to share her first world with her significant other, but they could get so annoying if they focus on the mush factor – actually this dance lesson stuff is FABULOUS pre-marital counseling so good for them. A bit stumbly with his footwork and not light on his feet much, but Julianne knows how to play up his finer points and hide some of the flaws. Not bad, but the footwork needs help oh and no more weird strangle-turns. JUDGES’ SCORE: 20 (a bit too flattering on the Judges side).
Two casualties interviewed in this season: Jewel and Nancy O’Dell – out before the first dance, so no onscreen drama. So, who’s replacing them? Like you didn’t know – because there’s been leaks all over the place?!
Holly Madison and Dimitry Chaplain> Cha Cha. The “star?” of The Girls Next Door and former head-girlfriend of Hugh Hefner and recent ex of Criss Angel. We’ll have to cut her some slack on this performance since she’s only trained for 5 days. She’s the replacement for Jewel. Dimitry is one of my favorites from So You Think You Can Dance history and was the man that the Jim’s Mom was like ” woo”. She was stiff but alas, they’re going to judge her on what they see. Not horrible for short notice training, we shall see where this goes. The Judges are being very kind. My only request, please Holly stop nervous giggling…it’s annoying. JUDGES’ SCORE: 18 (woah, a tad generous me thinks).
Ty Murray and Chelsea Hightower> Cha Cha. King of the Rodeo and husband of Jewel, I’m glad he’s not wearing a cowboy hat (I spoke too soon). Chelsea is a fantastic dancer with some of the best legs in the ballroom business and another alumni of So You Think You Can Dance. Wow, is he all over the place and nowhere good which sucks booty because I love Chelsea and she deserves a better chance this season. I didn’t know his middle name was Awkward…or is it not? The Jim actually left the room cause he couldn’t watch it. Sadly, I think he’ll be an early casualty. JUDGES’ SCORE: 14
Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas> Waltz. The olympic gold medalist gymnast and youngest contestant on the show, ever. Paired with the sweet Austrailian nice guy. Unfortunately, she reminds me of a past partner of Mark’s and (former flame – don’t rob the cradle Mark); that Cheetah Girl…can’t remember her name. Suprisingly sweet waltz, need to work on her emotion (emoting), and comfort with chemistry. Nice though…no complaints except for some obvious difficulty breaking herself from gymnast arms. JUDGES’ SCORE: 23 (I think, I can’t remember – decent).
Steve Wozniack and Karina Smirnoff> Cha Cha. The co-founder of Apple Computers and sweet, geeky, nerd guy. Karina Smirnoff, the fiancee of Maxim! Loved the fact that she doesn’t get his sense of humour, and I’m very hopeful that he’ll get a lot of votes from the mac-addicts like me. He was pretty rough, but really played up his fun factor. I think the judges are going to rip him, but I hope that he stays in to see where he can go/grow. JUDGES’ SCORE: 13 (yeesh…hard).
David Allen Grier and Kym Johnson> Waltz. Funny man, former In Living Color fabu-man. Kym Johnson one of the sweetest and petite-est of the professional dancers. Very smooth performance from the funny man and taking this very seriously, which I love seeing. Only complaint is that think he needs to watch his facial expressions. I loved this performance from him and am very hopeful about his progression in the series. YEA!!! Oh and was just reminded that David and Carrie Ann worked together on In Living Color (she was a fly-girl dontcha know!). JUDGE’ SCORE: 19 (way lower than it should have been, that’s annoying).
Denise Richards and Maxim Chemerkovsky> Denise…not the biggest fan of the actress/model, but I don’t hate her. Maxim is one of my favorite of the male professional dancers – love his cockiness! Okay, she doesn’t need to be crying this early on can someone please give her a drink or an ativan? She’s a little awkward and stiff. Nice effort but frankly, not that good. JUDGES’ SCORE: 18 (about right).
Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani> Ugh…recent dumped diva of the last Bachelor series, and one of my favorite of the male professional dancers the sweetheart, Tony! She’s Nancy O’Dell’s replacement. Now, they only had 48 hours of practice so I don’t put a lot of weight behind this performance but we shall see. Wow. Color me surprised. Um, is she a ringer? I can tell she’s had some dance training since she’s struggling with heal leads (always leading with her toes – one of my weaknesses when I transition into ballroom too). Um…nice extensions, lift (will get yelled at by Carrie Ann), but what a great first performance given she’s had so few hours of practice. JUDGES’ SCORE: 23 (really good for 48 hours of preparation time).
Who I’m voting for tonight:
- Steve-O
- The Woz
- David Allen Grier
Who I think will go:
For pure dance skills: The Woz or Ty Murray
I Hope: Denise Richards (she should get back to the reality show).
Best Quotes of the Night:
Tom Bergeron to Steve Wozniak: “If my Safari browser freezes…do I..?”
Bruno Tonioli to Steve Wozniak: “You looked like a Teletubby.”
Tom Bergeron to Bruno Tonioli: “Try getting a good spot at a genius bar after that comment.”
ALL QUOTES ARE approximations, I can’t exactly remember the wording…sorry. What do you think?
The Jim and I are pretty solid fans of a TV show that’s a bit controversial. We’re DEXTER watchers. It’s a well, crafted show that really puts each viewer in a odd place of moral controversy. If you’re not a Dexter watcher…it’s a show that follows the life of a serial killer that kills based on a code. Apparently, he only kills people who “probably should be dead”. Wow. So why is that complicated for me? Well…first of all, I’m not into the whole death penalty conversation or plan. I don’t believe it’s my place to decide or judge who lives and who dies in this world – it’s a job that I like to hand over to a larger force (and that is not our government). In addition, I think killing people is just wrong. Go figure. So, why do I like this show? It makes me think. It makes me wrestle with these issues and doesn’t allow me to just sit in front of a screen and laugh. It’s well acted and well written…but it is bloody and sometimes hard to swallow. However, I think in my personal selection of TV viewing (i.e. Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, etc.); I feel that this psychological crime drama gives me a bit more substance and meat in my mindless TV viewing hours. It’s NOT for everyone…but I am addicted to it.
Okay, so it sounds more elaborate than it really is right? This is our little slice of internet nonsense, which basically is our on-going effort to keep our friends and family up-to-date on our lives, our love and our continuing pursuit of pomegranates. In this modern age of movement, we’ve realized that distance is not an excuse to not keep everyone posted, so please - stop by anytime - in person or internet-ly and know that you are all never far from our thoughts.
