Team Will

So, thanks to my friends' hulu+ subscription, I am rewatching all of The Good Wife as I edit papers and wash dishes and do my neck exercises (that is to say when I am not doing other work).

I have decided again, that I am Team Will ... regardless of how hot Chris Noth might be... Alicia should be with Will, no question about it... obviously, this is not a consequential revelation.

Just how I am dealing with all of the pressure and stress: *watching* shows where I already know what will happen as background noise.  I have to keep the mind from having the time or inclination to think about anything other than work.  Those other thoughts inevitably are rabbit holes from which I do not emerge unscathed.

In any case, love this show, and well worth the re-watching exercise.

Not so Guilty Pleasure

I love soap operas ... all kinds. I am not in any way ashamed to admit it. LOVE SOAP OPERAS -- in the daytime, at night, in other languages, etc.

On the one hand, they say "family," to me.  At my house, we called them The Stories, and we were all intimately involved in the lives of those on the shows. 

On the other hand, they can be super entertaining and help you get your mind off your own troubles.

In my grief, first from my brother's loss, and now from my sister's loss,  I have sought refuge in the familiar of these stories.  You can go there and be outraged at the ridiculousness, the same old tired story that the people on the stories fall for ... and you can be comforted with what you know will be true in the twists and turns of their lives. 

Their suffering and their heartaches are predictable but no less consequential.  Sometimes these pretend and reliable emotions are the only ones I can handle right now.

How did I get to this story ... well, Jeanne Cooper died on May 8th.  That was my brother's birthday, and my nephew's birthday, and I had my parents here... and somehow I missed it.  I read at least the headlines of about five newspapers daily, and I missed it.  Y & R is not my favorite, but it is almost all we have left of CBS daytime, and Jeanne Cooper and her character were not my favorites; yet, I have kept up with her health quite well for the past few years... somehow knowing when she was too ill to be in the storyline even though I wasn't even watching the show.

About a week after she died, I caught something on the internet about her death, and I actually felt guilty for having missed the immediate notices of her passing.  I know it's silly ... but I did.  Then I read that Y & R and CBS were going to do a show for her.

This is the proper way to say goodbye to a person who has been with viewers for over 40 years.  I am so pleased that the producers saw fit to honor Jeanne Cooper in this way.  She deserves it, but so do the fans that have supported the show for years.  As one of the remaining daytime soaps, I am sure it is hard to gauge how audiences and advertisers will react to a break in the story line.  But this was a winner.

Even if you don't like soap operas, have never watched Y & R or any other soap opera, don't know Ms. Cooper's story, her character's storyline (etc.), you should take a look at the tribute they did for her.

I know a little too much about the desire to honor someone's life and the difficulty of putting something together quickly while in the tumult of the emotions.  They really did a beautiful job.

May she rest in peace and have a tequila party with my sister and brother.

Favorite Characters, Part 3

I have been catching up on Once Upon a Time in order to get ready for the season premiere... and because, once again, I had some mindless work to do that required background noise.
I realized that Henry, the character, is the main reason I come back to this show.  I can enumerate the flaws of the show and what makes me crazy about it.

However, Henry's earnest belief in his birth mother's ability to save a world that he doesn't know or belong to hooked me.

Check it out... there is time to catch up before the season 2 premiere on the 30th...

Umm...at least it's not UGH

Everything in the draft folder would take more emotional energy than I have to finish ...

I spent all weekend trying to motivate to finish a project. I would like to report that I finished something, anything ... but, alas, I did work on three different pieces of the project, but I did not complete any of them.

Several are only a few keystrokes away... so I will get right back to it.

I am streaming all of Grimm's first season in order to catch up before it starts up again ... soon, maybe even today.

You don't have to watch them all to catch up, here is a video that purports to recap season 1:


I will be right back at it this morning ... I have only today to watch a ton of episodes that "expire." 

Maybe it will help me to be motivated enough to finish THREE of the projects.

Favorite Characters, Part 2

I admit that watching The Mentalist is a guilty pleasure ... and one that I have to plan for as I cannot watch it online (though I recently discovered there are a few full episodes on TNT online).  And there is no denying that it was Simon Baker that brought me to the show.  His character, Patrick Jane, is entertaining enough -- and moderately sympathetic, particularly when they show him sleeping on the mattress beneath the Red John signature where presumably Jane found his dead wife and child.

But, I find the story lines tedious and rather unbelievable ... and that's not to say that most of the police shows are believable -- they are all patently unbelievable, given that for the most part they can sew up any investigation in about 40 minutes -- with time for glib remarks, love lives, families, and other drama.  This show, however, verges on the low budget side when it comes to believability.

As I have watched more episodes, I realize that it is not Baker (Jane) that I come back for but Kimball Cho, played by Tim Kang.  He is a truly delightful character, particularly because you get so little about and from him in any given episode.  He is so reserved, you could hardly name what he wears except for that you can actually see it.

But in the rare moments of spontaneity, you see glimpses of Cho's soul, and it can bring you back each time, hoping for more.

His character is certainly what brings me back -- and takes me online looking for episodes.

Here's a clip ... not necessarily the most representative, but you might get the idea (both of his character and the not so awesome features of the show - detailed above):

Favorite Characters, Part 1

I have enjoyed several new series this season, but there was one that I had imagined starting to watch ... and then I just didn't have time. But I made some time this summer (when I should have been reading, that is true) ... in any case, the show is Grimm.

And, it's a weird and interesting show, but there is one character that I love. He is not necessarily the central character, but I find myself waiting impatiently for him to show up.  I am sure I am not the only one with a soft spot for Munroe.

I wait anxiously for the moment when Munroe is needed ... that is, when his expertise or personality becomes an essential part of any solution to the problem.  I love when he starts to talk about any topic even though the Nick character is getting irritated that Munroe can't just stick to the facts.  When he gets going on some arcane topic that makes his eyes light up, I am right there with him.

If my description of the character doesn't sell you, check out this article.

Let's be clear, though, I am sure the Grimm appeals to people on several different levels.  When the action scenes start, I look away ... not like I am afraid, just non-plussed, so it's the perfect time to check the recipe or email or whatever (yes, I only watch online).

So, if you haven't seen Grimm -- and you are sure it's not for you -- then, think again, and give it a try ... Munroe is a really cool character you might just learn to love.

Here is the actor talking about his character and the show:
In case the video is not showing up below, click here.