Once Upon a Time: Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

What a great episode! This week we learned the fairy tale back story of Sydney Glass, who we already know is the Magic Mirror. And we see the death of another fairy tale character, although this death was not unexpected.

Sydney is angry at Regina for getting him fired from his job, and he's ready for revenge. Who else to bring into his plans but Emma, who also has many reasons to want to bring Regina down? Sydney tells Emma that he has dirt on Regina, and he needs her help to prove it. Emma is happy to try to get some dirt on Regina, and joins Sydney in his plot to ruin the Mayor. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.

When we first meet Sydney in Fairy Tale Land, he is looking in a mirror, which is not unexpected. But then we see where he is, and what he is, which was unexpected for me. He's a Genie in a bottle, well, in a lamp. More specifically, Genie of Agrabah. So, this character is taken out of One Thousand and One Nights. We’re mixing genres again. Oh, Disney, what are you doing to Once Upon a Time? I have got to learn to accept these "Disney add-ins" I suppose, because I'm sure there will be more as the season progresses.

Snow's father, the King, rescues Genie from his lamp, and the generous King gives Genie his freedom as his first wish. As his second wish he gives Genie the third wish, which Genie says he won’t ever use. However, how long can you go through life without saying, “I wish”? Think about it. The only thing Genie wants is true love, but he can't wish for someone to fall in love with him, or bring the dead back to life. (Okay, that second one is from Aladdin.) If he had been able to wish for someone to fall in love with him, this episode would have turned out a whole lot differently. Genie's sarcastic attitude as he's naming off the caveats of the wishes was funny, but it seemed out of place with the tone of the show. I guess they thought the character needed to be funny, because this is the Genie of Agrabah (hello, Robin Williams).

Genie meets and falls in love with Regina (how come she gets to keep her own name from Fairy Tale Land, and no one else does – generator of the curse makes the rules, I guess), who is unhappy in her life as the Queen. You see, the King told everyone at his birthday banquet that Snow is his greatest gift and that she, like her mother, is the fairest in all the land. You almost feel sorry for her, sitting all by herself at the banquet, until you remember that this is Regina, and things aren't always as they seem with her. After Regina convinces Genie that she’s willing to kill herself because of her unhappiness, Genie decides that the only way to make her happy is to kill the King. Talk about ungratefulness. Someone gives you your freedom AND one of their wishes, and you kill them?

Regina, of course, had the whole thing planned. Get someone else to kill the King for her. And Genie fell right into her trap. Genie should have paid attention to the King’s final words, “You’re right, I never should have made a wish.” But Genie does make that last wish, which is to stay with Regina always and to look upon her face. Everyone says be careful what you wish for, and Genie shouldn’t have been so hasty. The wish makes him “the man in mirror.” (“I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways” – sorry, I just couldn’t help it. It’s so apropos here.) Now, Genie is there every time Regina looks in a mirror, and that’s an awful lot. He’s with her always.

I don’t think Regina had magical powers at that point, so it will be interesting to find out when and how she gets them. I’m sad that Regina’s father is in on Regina’s plot (or so it looked like). He seemed like a nice old man. I wonder if we’ll ever get the back story of what made Regina evil. Something had to make her that way. We learned what happened to Rumplestiltskin – now it Regina’s turn.

In Storybrooke, the Mayor confesses to stealing $50,000 from the town, but she stole it to build a playground for Henry and the other children of Storybrooke ( and boy did it get built fast). So, that makes it okay to steal $50,000? I don’t get that one.

I also don’t get the fact that the children probably haven’t been growing up in 28 years (remember Hansel and Gretel). So, they stay the same age, but Henry is growing up because he’s not from Fairy Tale Land. Is that what made Henry suspicious, not the book?

Back to Sidney. Well, Sydney was working for the Mayor all the time, and now Emma trusts him. He turned on the King in Fairy Tale Land, and he turned on Emma in Storybrooke. Emma just doesn’t know it yet.

In other news: Henry has lost his story book, and who do you suppose has it? That’s right, it’s the Stranger. So, what does the Stranger know about the book, and who is he? If we knew his name, we’d probably be able to figure it out. Maybe that’s why we haven’t learned his name yet.

David and Mary Margaret meet for a little picnic, and a lot of smooching. I’m glad that they're showing how much they love each other, but I still can’t forget that David is supposed to be married (and they both can’t forget it either). I know, I know, Snow and Charming were married in Fairy Tale Land, so David and Mary Margaret are really married, but it looks bad, you know.

So, in the next episode we meet Beauty (or Belle, as I’m sure she’ll be called). This one looks interesting. Making Rumplestiltskin the beast is an interesting twist. Not Disneyfied at all. Except I’m sure she’ll be an avid book reader. The city librarian maybe?

Downton Abbey: New Character Announced for Season 3

Exciting news for Downton Abbey lovers (which I am).

One of the new characters that will be introduced in season 3 is Cora's American mother. She will be played by none other than Shirley MacLaine. Wahoo!

Can you imagine the great scenes there will be between her and Maggie Smith who plays the Dowager Countess? I would love to be on the set just to see those filmed.

How long do we have to wait for season 3?

The Artist

I haven’t seen a movie for a long time, but Thursday I saw The Artist. I was excited that it finally opened in my city. I am a huge old movie fan, and I was looking forward to seeing a “modern silent film,” especially since it has received so many accolades.

The plot of The Artist is simple. We meet silent film star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), at the height of his popularity, just as he meets a young aspiring actress, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). They are attracted to each other; however, George is married.

In 1929, the head of the film studio, Al Zimmer (John Goodman), is anxious to jump on the bandwagon and make “talkies.” George is not as anxious to move to talkies.. He thinks that his fans will still want to see him in silent films and he produces his own, which is a box office flop. Having put all his money in the film, George is now destitute, his wife having left him also. However, Peppy, who started in small talking films and has worked her way up to leading lady, is a box office sensation. She is also still stuck on George.

I won’t give away the rest of the plot. You can find it elsewhere if you want. However, if you haven’t seen it, I would suggest not knowing what happens before you see it. It is so well done, and pays homage to many old films, most obviously Singing in the Rain, and A Star is Born. The “silent movie” bit works very well. It’s great for modern audiences to see how much emotion they can feel when there are no words spoken, and, at more than one moment, no music at all.

The first thing that made me smile was the credits. They were done the way they used to do them in the 20s, 30s, 40s. After listing the actors, the technical crew was listed in one (or two, I can’t remember) list, and then they listed the producers, and director (who also wrote the movie). And, half way through the movie I realized that the movie was not filmed in widescreen, it was square (or we might say full screen) like the shape of most televisions (well, older televisions) as the movies were before cinemascope, vista vision, etc. prior to the 1950s. I just loved that it was filmed with that much detail.

Side Note: I saw Gone with the Wind at a movie theatre once, and was surprised that it was “full screen” and didn’t fill the entire screen, and then I remembered that it was filmed in 1939 before movies were “widescreen.” For some reason I felt that with the scope of that movie it should fill the entire modern screen. Silly me.

I loved the sets. They were so perfectly reminiscent of the era. Some of them took me back to a few of my favorite movies. They reminded me a lot of the classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films. I especially loved the staircase at the movie studio. The way that scene was filmed was wonderful, showing off the staircase, but keeping the intimacy between George and Peppy.

The performances were very good, and it must have been very difficult to act without a typical script. I wonder if the director gave direction as the movie was being filmed. I believe that's how the directors worked in the silent film era, because they could. I especially enjoyed James Cromwell's performance as George's chauffeur. And then there's Jack (played by Uggie), George's dog. Now I understand all the hoopla about him at the Golden Globes. If they gave acting awards to animals, Jack deserved it.

I wouldn’t say that the film is perfect. Having seen many silent films and movies from the 30s, I felt that the sometimes the acting and mannerisms were a bit too modern, but there were times when “real” acting was perfect for the scene.

I do have a few other qualms. In one scene, George and Peppy are filming their first scene in a movie together. I think that because it was a silent film they didn't need music for the actors to dance to when they were actually filming this scene. Everyone was dancing differently. Some were doing a waltz, some were doing the modern “stand in one place and sway,” and others were doing something else. They just seemed to be dancing to their own music, and to a different beat. It bugged me.

I thought that Peppy’s hair was so wrong for the 20s and 30s. It was the right length, but it was messy. Women in that era had very “styled” hair, especially movie stars. However, I did love her hats.

I would recommend this film very highly. I would also recommend renting (or buying) some old silent films or films from the 30s and see what the movie is paying homage to. Even though they are more than 60 years old, some are such classics that they never will grow old. I think The Artist is proof of that.

Quippy Quote:
George: Farewell Norma, I never loved you.

Sad to See You Go, Chuck

Chuck is exactly the type of TV show I like. It has action, humor, twists and turns in the plot, good actors playing great characters, and a little romance. And I never watched one episode for five seasons. Until Friday night.

I decided to watch Chuck on Friday because Grimm wasn't on, and since these were the final episodes, I thought I would give it a chance.

I loved it!

I loved it, and it's over.

Adam Baldwin (Jayne from Firefly) is in it, as well as Linda Hamilton from the 80's TV series Beauty and the Beast.

Where was I for the last five years?

Thank goodness for Netflix. I can enjoy it from the very beginning.

And Grimm will be back next week.

Quippy Quotes:

Casey: General, with all due respect, shut up! We're saving you.

Beauty and the Beast: A New Series?

Okay, I read something this morning that first made me excited, and then made me wary.

The CW is has ordered a pilot for an adaptation of the 1980’s television series “Beauty and the Beast.”

"Beauty and the Beast," is loosely based on the CBS series starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton, will deliver "a modern-day romantic love story with a procedural twist." Jennifer Levin ("Without a Trace," "Felicity") and Sherri Cooper ("Brothers and Sisters") will write and executive produce, with Paul J. Witt, C. Anthony Thomas, Ron Koslow and Bill Haber also executive producing. The pilot will be produced by CBS Television Studios.

I loved that series! It was one of my favorite shows in the 80s. It seemed so romantic to me when I was young.

Catherine is a corporate lawyer who is attacked one night, and saved by Vincent, a beast who lives in tunnels under Manhattan. He doesn’t live alone. There is Father, who saved his life when he was a baby; and there is a community of rejects and misfits living in the tunnels with them.

When Catherine is well enough to go back to her life, she quits her high profile job and starts working for the District Attorney's office. And somehow a psychic bond was created between the two, where Vincent can sense what Catherine is feeling, especially when Catherine is in danger (and because of the nature of her job her life is in danger often), and Vincent comes to her rescue.

I know many women fell in love with Ron Purlman’s Beast. They didn’t just make him ugly, he was definitely a beast. But that beautiful voice and caring nature made women fall for his character.

Very romantic.

I bought the DVD for the first season a while back, and I still enjoy it. And even though it was made in the 80s, it doesn't seem too dated (but that could just be my bias). I hope if they do remake the series they will keep the romantic aspect of it (after all, this is Beauty and the Beast), and the timeliness of the characters. If they make it as well as Once Upon a Time or Grimm, I will watch it.

I have one thing to say to CW: Choose your Vincent well.

Good to See You, Chuck

Last week my good friend, Celeste, and I went to a concert, 100 Years of Broadway. I was looking forward to it, and didn't know what to expect, other than a lot of music from Broadway musicals. That made me happy enough, because I am (and I'm not ashamed to admit it), a musical theatre junkie!

Then I read the program and I was even more excited. One of my favorite Broadway singers was one of the five performers that night.

I was first introduced to Chuck Wagner when I bought the Broadway cast recording of Into the Woods. He originated the role of Repunzel's Prince, and his duet, Agony, with Cinderella's Prince is one of the highlights of the musical. But, although I really love the song, I didn't pay that much attention to Repunzel's Prince. 

It wasn't until I heard him on the concept album of The Scarlet Pimpernel that I was bowled over by Chuck Wagner's beautiful solo baritone voice. When he sang Into the Fire, I was so blown away that I was ready to go to France to fight the Republic (if I were living in the late 18th century).

Soon after I  heard him as Sir Percy on The Scarlet Pimpernel concept album, I saw him in the title role in the touring production of Jekyll and Hyde. He was so good, and when he sang This is the Moment, it brought down the house.

So, waiting for the concert to start I was excited to see that Chuck would be singing classic baritone Broadway hits including This is the Moment. It was so good to hear him singing live again, and to hear him sing that song gave me chills!

He also sang Man of La Mancha, Stars (oh, Russell Crowe, you have a lot to live up to!), and If I Can't Love Her (oh, more chills!). He also showed what a great sense of humor he has by growling like the beast, and also by singing If Ever I Would Leave You. What? you say, that isn't a comic song, it's a love song. Well, he sang it to a woman in the audience, and as he sang it to her in his beautiful baritone voice, he push her husband (or significant other) out of the away. He also mixed up the verses and joked about it. The audience ate it up. 

My only disappointment was that the program listed The Impossible Dream, which I figured he would sing, and he didn't sing it (there were a lot of changes to the program). It would have been so nice to hear him sing that beautiful song.

The other singers that night were also wonderful, and it was such a treat to hear some of my favorite Broadway classics, old and new, but I was so happy to hear Chuck Wagner again and remember why I enjoy listening to him. I was also excited to be able to tell him personally after the show how much I enjoyed the show. And Celeste took our picture. 

Thanks Celeste!

And thanks Chuck!

Side Note: I didn't buy the CD. I already have it (I bought it more than 10 years ago); however, they were selling his CD there and I asked if we could take a picture with us holding the CD. I'm such a nerd.

Rick Steve's Europe: Where I Want to Be

For anyone who loves to travel, PBS's Rick Steve's Europe is like eye candy.

If you can't go to the faraway destinations, Rick's easy-going manner and wealth of information makes his half hour shows the next best thing to being there.

Rick is also the best thing for European tourism. There's no saying how many people visit out-of-the-way, non-touristy places, simply because they saw them on Rick's show.

I saw many episode of Rick Steve's Europe prior to my trip to Europe a year and a half ago, and I was so excited when I found myself in various places I had seen Rick visit.

And I still get excited today when I see Rick showing places I had visited myself: Amsterdam, Rothenberg, Germany, Venice, Paris, and London to name a few.

I look forward to visiting more of Rick Steve's Europe, and eventually I will call it MY Europe.

Pic of the Week: Venice

My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

I found My Girlfriend's Boyfriend on Netflix. I liked the three leads, so I decided to take a chance on it.

I'm so glad I did.

With all of the cookie cutter "romantic comedies," it was nice to find one that was well written and had a good clean story.

It begins with the typical story of boy meets girl, and adds another plot of boy meets girl to the mix.

Ethan is a writer who is trying to get his book published. He meets Jessie, a waitress, and asks for her phone number. Right after Ethan leaves, Troy, a successful advertising executive, walks into the diner and also eventually asks Jessie for her phone number. Jessie dates both men and falls for both men.

The big question is - will she tell them her secret?

This movie has a twist that I never saw coming, and I liked it. It's nice to watch a romantic comedy that isn't predictable. I actually watched it again to catch everything.

If you're in the mood for a little romance, get this movie. You'll like it.

Once Upon a Time: 7:15 A.M.

Oh, there is so much in this episode, so much! 

And it's going to be another long post, and not in the exact same order as the episode. It just bounced around from Storybrooke to Fairy Tale Land too much.

So, here goes (big breath).

A storm is brewing, and it brings more than rain.

Henry is talking to the stranger in front of his house, and there is a suspicious looking box on the back of his motorcycle. He tells Henry that the box has to do with what he came there to do. Ooo, a mystery, as if there aren't enough already.

Mary Margaret is getting a late start to her morning, and rushes out of the house telling Emma that she is working with the kids on a science fair project, but she's really rushing out to make sure she gets to the diner (Granny's) in time to see David, who comes in every morning to get coffee at 7:15. Boy, that longing look she gives him. She is so in love with him. And the look he gives her. Ditto.

In Fairy Tale Land, Red tells Snow that James is marrying Abigail in two days. Snow asks Red for her help in finding a way to forget James, reminding Red that she helped when no one else would. I wonder how Snow helped Red. Have I missed that one, or is it still in a future episode? Red tells her that she's heard whispers of a man who can do things. Of course it's Rumplestilskin.

When Snow meets Rumplestilskin, he gives her a potion that will make her forget all about the one she loves. The only price is a lock of her hair. I hate to think of what he's going to do with that, but I am curious.

In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret literally runs into Kathryn, David's "wife," and notices that she is buying a pregnancy test. Oh, that's a game changer for Mary Margaret.  She won't go after David if he's going to be a father. (I love that Mary Margaret is buying chocolate. That's a magic cure for a lot of things.)

Mary Margaret finds a dove that's been caught in a net, and wants to release it back with its flock before the storm comes in.

In Fairy Tale Land, James wants to give Snow a chance to tell him how she feels before he marries Abigail, so he writes Snow a letter and sends a dove with the letter to find her.

As Snow is looking at the potion, the dove lands on her arm, and she reads James's note. He wants her to come to him before the wedding so he will know how she feels about him. She is ecstatic to know he loves her!

Snow tries to sneak into the castle to talk to James and she is caught and put in the prisons. She meets another prisoner, and his name is Grumpy. Ah, it's our first meeting of one of the dwarves. Another dwarf, Stealthy (what a great name for a dwarf), helps them escape. It doesn't bode well to be the eighth dwarf, something bad is bound to happen, and it does. Snow, Grumpy, and Stealthy are caught escaping, and Stealthy is killed. Snow sacrifices her freedom for Grumpy's and they let him go.

The King gives Snow an ultimatum. Ultimatums are never good for the good guys. Snow must tell James that she doesn't love him or the King will kill James. Snow is shocked that the King would kill his own son, but then the King tells her the truth: James is not his son. Now Snow knows he is serious.

In Storybrooke, Mary Margaret loses her footing while trying to set the dove free, and is hanging over side of a cliff with only a root keeping her from certain death. Right on cue our hero comes to save Mary Margaret. We know he's going to come, but it's so wonderful to see him, just in time!

The dove is set free and it finally starts to rain. The couple find a cabin to get out of the rain, where they almost kiss. Almost! Mary Margaret tells David that she knows about Kathryn's pregnancy. Mary Margaret does the noble thing. David looks shocked. (That Kathryn is pregnant, not that Mary Margaret is doing the noble thing.) James is conflicted by the memories he has of Kathryn, and the real feelings he has for Mary Margaret.

In Fairy Tale Land, Snow goes to see James. He is so happy to see her. It's heartbreaking to know what Snow has to do to save his life. Snow tells James that she doesn't love him. It's so sad to see that tear that running down James's cheek. Snow, how can you break Charming's heart like that? Can't you see you're killing him anyway? She gives James the note back, and walks away; and she finally can't keep her own tears from falling.

In Storybrooke, Emma finally corners the stranger and asks him why he's in Storybrooke and what is in the mysterious box. I love how he furthers the suspense by telling Emma exactly what we think will happen, that he will carry the box around for a long time, hauling it around to strange and mysterious places, inflaming our imagination and frustration, trying to guess what's inside that box! (Cue lightening flashing on the box.) But then, after getting Emma's promise that she'll have a drink with him, he opens the mysterious box. It's a typewriter. An old manual typewriter. He's a writer and he's come to Storybrooke for inspiration. Of course it had to be a manual typewriter, it's more mysterious than a laptop, and all serious writers use a manual typewriter, don't they? I wonder what he's writing about.

It's 7:10am. David and Kathryn are at home, and he asks her if there's something she wants to tell him. She says that she isn't pregnant. David tells Kathryn that he wants to make their marriage work. Darn him. He's not going to Granny's for coffee.

Emma and Mary Margaret sit in their kitchen. They look at the clock and it is 7:15. Emma takes Snow's hand. It's another sweet "mother-daughter" moment.

In Fairy Tale Land, Snow walks away from the castle and runs into Grumpy, and the six other dwarves. Grumpy invites Snow to live with them because they all lost someone too. Snow wants to erase her pain and forget James. Grumpy tells her she shouldn't do it. He says our pain makes us who we are. "It makes me Grumpy." I'm going to like the dwarves!

James rides to Snow's cottage, and runs into Red (when will we finally see her fairy tale story?) who tells him that Snow never came home. James says he will always find her. This is one of those points when I think what a great job the writers are doing, because, although we know that Snow and James find each other again, since the pilot opens with their wedding, the next scene makes us wonder how that will happen. Grumpy tells Snow that James married and Abigail, and Snow says, "Who?" Ahhhh! She took the potion!

Back in Storybrooke, Mary Margaret sees David and she runs away from him. David runs after her. I love Mary Margaret's response. "I'm trying not to see you." David tells her that Kathryn is not pregnant; they can't hold back any longer, and they kiss.

However, the Mayor, a.k.a. Evil Queen, sees them and she is not happy.

I loved this episode. I love the Snow/Charming-centric plots, and we finally got to meet the dwarves! The frustrating thing is that it's a series, so happy ever after is not coming anytime soon for these two. 

But I'll be watching until it does.

The Game's Afoot: A New Play

The Game's Afoot is a new murder mystery by Ken Ludwig. The main character in the play is loosely based on William Gillette, an actor who wrote and starred in the first play about Sherlock Holmes. The murder itself it pure fabrication.

The play opens with the end of a production of the play Sherlock Holmes in a New York theatre. At the end of the production, a man walks up the aisle of the theater and shoots William Gillette, the man playing Holmes, wounding him in the shoulder.

Two weeks later, Gillette has invited his actor friends to his house for Christmas Eve. He has also invited Daria, a gossip columnist and theatre critic, to perform a seance for entertainment. 

Daria has not been kind to these actors in her reviews, but she also knows many of their secrets; and they don't want those secrets known. So, obviously, these actors do not like Daria very well. This all leads to a murder most fowl. And it was all too obvious who the murder victim would be. I like my murder mysteries a little more subtle.

Is the murder and the shooting in the theatre linked somehow? Only a man with the brains of Sherlock Holmes could solve the mystery, and Gillette thinks he is that man.

Personal note: I was going to audition for the show, but callbacks were the Monday I was leaving on a cruise, and not knowing the director, I didn't think he would be willing to cast me on my first audition alone, so I missed out on the chance of playing the female inspector. I was more disappointed I wasn't able to audition when I saw what a fun part it would have been, and the actress did a great job. But I had a great time on my cruise, so I can't really be too disappointed.

Back to the show...

The first act had some funny moments, and the premise really has promise. However, the first act is really more for theatre buffs than for lovers of Sherlock Holmes. There are many quotes from and references to Shakespeare plays. And of course the first act is to set up the murder, which occurs right before the intermission.

The second act is where all of the real fun and laughs are. When the Inspector shows up - that's when the fun begins. There are characters trying to hide the body, flickering lights, lightening (although, it is in the middle of a snow storm, so I don't know where the lightening would come from), telephones out-of -order, secret passages, secret rooms, and secrets revealed.

The reveal of the murderer was truly a surprise, and that doesn't really  happen very often in murder mysteries. You usually think, "I saw that one coming." However, in The Game's Afoot, when we realize we've been duped just like the characters, there's a real "Aha!" moment.

And in the end there are even more quotes from Shakespeare.

You would think that all actors do when they get together is quote Shakespeare. I don't know about all actors, but my fellow-actors and I certainly don't.

My only question is: Who killed the stage doorman?

Once Upon a Time: True North

I'm posting this just in time for another episode of Once Upon a Time tonight. I usually don't go into such detail about the plot of an episode, but I just couldn't stop on this one.

Hansel and Gretel has never been my favorite fairy tale. It always made me angry that the children's father would let his second wife talk him into abandoning Hansel and Gretel in the woods.

However, I enjoyed what the writers of Once Upon a Time did with the story.

Hansel and Gretel's father is a woodcutter who takes them with him while he chops down trees in the woods. He sends them to find kindling by themselves and gives them a compass that, he says, will help them find him again. When Hansel and Gretel return, they find their father gone. They run into the Queen (by the way, love the hat; not quite sure how I feel about the hair), who promises to help them find their father if they first pick up a little package for her from a blind witch.

And she warns them not to eat anything. So, we know what's going to happen there.

Here is where the story becomes familiar again. The siblings find the witch's gingerbread cottage, with all the goodies inside. Hansel takes a bite out of a big, blue frosted cupcake just as Gretel reaches for the satchel, and wakes the witch, the scary, blind witch who wants to eat them for dinner. I just have to say that I would have had a hard time not eating one of those cupcakes too.

One thing I like about this show is that they don't candy-coat (pun intended) the fairy tales. They were, and are, scary stories usually meant to warn children about the dangers in the world; in this case about going into the woods alone.

Eventually the children are able to get away from the witch by pushing her into her own oven (I wonder why the witch can't use her power to open the oven door). The Queen finishes the job Hansel and Gretel started but stoking the fire of the oven through her magic mirror. Now, if she can do that, why can't she just kill Snow White through the mirror? What are the limits to her magic, and does she really need, or want Snow White's heart specifically, or does she just want her dead?

Hansel and Gretel give the satchel to the Queen, and in it is The Apple. Let's see what she does with that (hehe). The Queen asks the siblings if they would like to live with her in the castle. Hansel is tempted, but Gretel says that they want to find their father. And the Queen gives them their wish and drops them back in the forest where they can start looking for their father.

This story, of course, is interspersed with a similar story in Storybrooke.

Eva and Nicholas have lost their mother (she died), and have been living on their own. They don't know their father. They get in trouble with a storekeeper (Sneezy, anyone?) for shoplifting, and because they involved Henry in the shoplifting, the Mayor wants to separate them and send them to group homes in Boston. Emma, remembering her horrible childhood moving in and out of foster homes wants to reunite them with their father, if she can find him.

Emma goes to Mr. Gold for help finding Hansel and Gretel's father. She shows him the compass (which was broken in Fairy Tale Land when the Queen's carriage almost runs the children down, and in Storybrooke it is no longer broken. How did that happen?), and Mr. Gold tells Emma he can find out who bought it from his shop. He looks at the card and gives her the name of the children's father. But we know that the card was blank. So, does Mr. Gold know everyone's connections from Fairy Tale Land? And are all of his index cards blank (hehe).

When Emma goes to talk to the kids' father, he tells her that he remembers their mother (which is funny because no one else remembers her), but he didn't know he had children, and doesn't think he could take care of them. So, now Emma has no choice but to take the siblings to Boston to foster homes.

Emma's car breaks down (right by the sign that says, "Leaving Storybrooke." How ironic) because the kids can't leave, and she has to call a mechanic, who just happens to be - surprise! -their father. As he walks toward them, the compass starts to work, and points to him. It's a bit corny, but I'm a sucker for corn.

As he told the Queen in Fairy Tale Land: Family always finds one another.

Emma is so happy to bring the family together, and she goes home to tell Mary Margaret the happy news.

Their scene together is just like a Mom and daughter. Emma plops down on the bed and Mary Margaret sits there folding laundry. At this point Emma tells Mary Margaret that Henry thinks that Emma is Snow White's (Mary Margaret's) daughter. And Mary Margaret becomes even more "motherly;" when Emma says she's going out to get some air, Mary Margaret says, "I'll leave you leftovers." It was sweet when Mary Margaret picks up Emma's baby blanket and smells it. I wish there had been a hint of recognition. Oh well, it will come slowly.

And then comes the newest mystery. A stranger comes riding into Storybrooke on a motorcycle at the end of the episode. Who is he? And how is it that he's able to come to Storybrooke? Will he be a new love interest for Emma? How can anyone replace Graham? (I'm still bitter about that one.)

Could he be the one that Emma was reading about in a newspaper clipping who, at seven year old, found "a baby" on the side of the road? Or is that too easy? And how long before we find out?

I enjoyed this episode, and I'm glad I didn't boycott after losing Graham, but I was close.

Side Note: It will be interesting to see another take on the Hansel and Gretel story on Grimm next week.

Quippy Quotes
Hansel: We did all of that for an apple?
Evil Queen: Now she's cavorting with dwarves. When did that happen?

My Favorite TV Shows: Firefly

I was one of the few who watched Joss Whedon's Firefly when it originally aired. I watched the first episode, and faithfully watched it every week. And I mourned with other fans when Fox executives canceled the show mid-season.

Many of us who were there from the beginning had the opportunity to later introduce more to the 'Verse when the DVDs were released. More fans were made, and old fans were ecstatic to view never-before-aired episodes.

From the beginning I was immediately drawn in by the richness of the characters, the great acting of the ensemble cast, the idea of cowboys in space, and the handsome ruggedness of the now iconic Captain Mal Reynolds (who was aptly nicknamed 'Captain Tight Pants').

When creating a new TV series, the smartest thing you can do is to write interesting characters your audience has a reason to care about. Firefly had nine (yes, there were times that we even cared about Jayne) such characters. From the question mark that was River, to Wash, the Pilot, whose wife wore the pants in the family. From the beautiful Companion, Inara, to River's naive brother, Simon. And finally, Kaylie, the ship's mechanic and the mysterious preacher, Book.

Each character was rich with back stories, some known and much yet to be discovered. And they all lived in their own little community on a ship called Serenity. They weren't necessarily always considered to be the "good guys" in the eyes of those around them, but they had a moral compass that guided them to do the right thing.

Firefly is a series that can be enjoyed again and again, and I do.

Quippy Quote (there are so many that it's hard to pick just a few):

Mal: We're not going to die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so very pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die.

Jayne: Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with to show you who's in command.

Book: If you take sexual advantage of her, you're going to burn in a very special hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk in the theatre.

Les Miserables: The Movie Musical

Les Miserables the musical is finally going to be Les Miserables the movie.

Many of the main characters have been cast, and there is a bit of controversy with some of the casting, as is expected with a musical that is beloved by so many people.

I don’t, however, want to talk about the casting (although it is listed below) but about something I read that makes me very happy.

“Unlike most film musicals, the cast will record their vocals live on camera rather than go into a studio first then mime on film to a pre-recorded vocal… First they have to learn the complex songs, then they’ll have to get it right on set in from of the other stars and crew.”

Did you get that? The musical numbers (which are basically the whole show) will be filmed live, not prerecorded. When I read that, I almost jumped out of my seat for joy!

One of the great things about live theatre is singing “in the moment.” Singing with the emotions of the moment as you’re actually acting is so different than prerecording the music and then lip-syncing what you sang in the studio and trying to act to that.

This is especially important when the show is a “sung-through” musical, meaning the majority, if not all, of the dialogue is sung, not spoken. Prerecording the musical numbers is like prerecording all of the dialogue in a movie and then lip-syncing the dialogue while you film the scene. It takes all of the spontaneity out of trying new things – to get the best take.

I’m even more excited for this movie to come out!

Cast (according to Internet Movie Database):
Jean Valjean: Hugh Jackman
Inspector Javert: Russell Crowe
Fantine: Anne Hathaway
Cosette: Amanda Seyfried. (rumored)
Marius: Eddie Redmayne
Thenardier: Sacha Baron Cohen (rumored)
Madam Thenardier: Helena Bonham Carter (rumored)
Enjolras: Aaron Tvelt (rumored)

2012 Movie and TV Preview

My Entertainment Weekly magazine came in the mail last week. It was their 2012 Preview issue.

It's been a long time since I've been so excited about so many upcoming movies.

Get a load of some of the movies coming out this year:

The Dark Knight Rises - July 20
The Great Gatsby - December 28
Les Miserables (the movie musical) - December 7
Great Expectations - Fall TBA
Snow White and the Huntsman - June 1
Brave - June 22
The Amazing Spider Man - July 3
The Avengers - May 4
Mirror Mirror - March 16
Rock of Ages - June 1
Dark Shadows - May 11

There are also two television shows coming soon that make me giddy:

Smash
Titanic (miniseries by Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey)

It's nice to have so many things to look forward to.

It's All About a Dog

I didn’t watch much of the Golden Globes on Sunday, because one of my favorite T.V. series was on at the same time, and I was not going to miss Once Upon a Time to watch a bunch of actors revel in their greatness.

I did, however, catch the end of the awards show, and saw that the big hit of the Golden Globes was a dog.

I haven’t seen The Artist yet, but I hope to soon. It’s nice to have a film that celebrates the classic films of the 20s, 30s, and 40s.

I assume there is a dog in the film because when The Artist won for best comedy or musical, a dog (a Jack Russell Terrier to be exact) was there on stage to share the joy.

The dog did a few tricks, and the audience went wild.

So, let this be a lesson to all stars of the big and small screen – if you want to be a big hit with an audience, just roll over and play dead.

(Go to about 1:25).

Side note: I wonder if the breed of dog chosen is an homage to the wonderful film series: The Thin Man, although Asta was a Wire Fox Terrier. Who knows?

Another side note: If you have not seen Midnight in Paris I recommend it very highly. I'm not usually a big fan of Woody Allen's films, but this was a wonderful, sweet film. Look for a possible review in a future post.

Glee: Yes/No

The three best things about tonight's episode of Glee were (in no particular order):

Helen Mirren as the voice of Becky's inner thoughts:

Sue wearing a rip-off of Princess Beatrice's fascinator:

The synchronized swimming marriage proposal:

I've been disappointed in Glee of late, but keep giving us moments like these Ryan Murphy, and I'll keep watching.

Grammar Gaffe of the Week: Myself

Many times people use myself when they should use me or I. They usually use it because they're unsure if they should use I or me, so they end up using myself instead.

Myself is a reflexive pronoun, which means you use it primarily when you are referring to something you do to yourself.

Correct:
I looked at myself in the mirror.
I gave myself a good talking to.

Correct:
The book was written by Jane, and me.

Incorrect:
The book was written by Jane, and myself.

Correct:
Bob, Jane and I went to the movie.

Incorrect:
Bob, Jane and myself went to the movie.

An easy way to remember which pronoun to use is to take out Bob and Jane. You wouldn't say, The book was written by myself, or Myself went to the movies.

The big thing is to not be afraid of me, it's not always the wrong word.

Now, just between you and me, I'm going to give myself a little break.

Grimm: Game Ogre

A gavel down a throat. A hand chopped off. A woman's tongue cut out and laid on a scale. A boiling pot of water in a man's face.

Friday's episode of Grimm proves that the series is certainly living up to its name.

This episode was based on Jack and the Beanstalk.

An escaped convict, Oleg Stark, is out for revenge against the people who put him in prison. And one of the men he's after is Hank, Nick's partner. Oleg also happens to be an Ogre (not a giant) whose genetic makeup has given him a high tolerance for pain. 

Oleg attacks Nick to try to get Hank out into the open, and when Hank decides to plan a trap with himself as bait, Nick has to rely on Monroe to save Hank. 

Next to Rick Castle and Kate Beckett on Castle, Nick and Monroe are my favorite mismatched criminal-solving pair.

The scene when Nick and Hank take the watch to Monroe's house was so good - with Nick and Monroe trying to hide the fact that they know each other from Hank. It shows how well Grimm perfectly balances humor and drama.

When poor Nick was being beat up by Oleg Stark, it reminded me that this show is based in reality. Even though Nick is a descendant of  "Grimms," he has no special abilities to help him fight the "creatures;" he is still just a mortal man.

I'm glad they have finally given Bitsie Tulloch a chance to shine as Juliette. I haven't really given her much thought as a character until now. It was heartbreaking to see her go back into their house after Nick's attack and see her pick up the picture of the two of them amid all that broken glass.

Another great scene is when Monroe goes into Nick's trailer and sees all of the tools of the trade of a Grimm. His line is classic, "Dad, I swear to God I'm doing the right thing."

I love that after all the times that Monroe has helped Nick solve crimes and save people's life, this time Monroe was the only one who could save Hank's life, and he did!

Quippy Quotes:
Monroe: I get it. Be cool. Wear pants.
Monroe: Gift. German word for poison. Which I found kind of weird around Christmas.

Side note: The book that Nick's aunt gave him reminds me of the Book of Shadows on Charmed.

What are your thoughts? Do you like Grimm? What did you think of this episode?

Sir Henry, the Black Knight

I am in love with a sweet ride.

My dream car has always been the Volkswagen Beetle.

There was a time when the Mini Cooper threatened to replace the bug in my affections, but that Beetle stayed steady at the top of my list.

A year and a half ago I felt I was ready to start looking around for a new car after 10 years with my Contour. I wasn't planning on actually buying yet, I was just going to look.

And then I saw him! I was at a large used car show and I was looking at the ever reliable Hondas. Suddenly I saw a couple of Mini Coops. Temptation! But then... I asked the salesman if they had any Bugs. He said they had one and he led me to the corner of the lot. It was love at first sight. A black Volkswagen Beetle, only a year old.

I couldn't say no. I was ready to own my dream car. So, after a little bit of negotiating I took him home.

I named him Sir Henry, the Black Knight.


Isn't he handsome?

Pic of the Week: Maine Lighthouse

Project Runway: Welcome Back All Stars

They're back! And so is Project Runway!

All Stars have returned to Project Runway, and even with a different host and judges, and a new mentor, it feels like the old Bravo days when Project Runway had characters.

The last few seasons of Project Runway have become a bit dull. And Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nia Garcia, and Tim Gunn have become the stars of the show.

I've never had favorite contestants, but I was happy to see a few come back as all stars. Welcome back Kenley, Rami, and especially Mondo! I'm looking forward to seeing what they will do this season, especially after seeing the first episode.

I like the new judges, designers Isaac Mizrahi and Georgina Chapman (co-founder of Marchesa). I also like the new mentor, Joanna Coles. She is the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, so she knows what to look for and what kind of advice to give. She also knows what she would want to wear.

Speaking of the first episode, it's so good to see that most of the looks were good. It was easy to guess who would be in bottom three. Poor Elisa, with her quirky point of view. If you have to explain the meaning of your look you're not doing yourself any favors. However, I thought that Sweet P's dress should have sent her home.

I was wrong with who was out, and I also guessed the winner wrong.

Even though I thought Rami's dress was very original and well constructed I'm sure, I loved Mondo's little black dress. Loved it! I love that he even made a fascinator (and I love that after last year's royal wedding, the public may now even know what a fascinator is). I think Mondo should have won the challenge. However, one challenge win does not an All Stars winner make, so this could still be Mondo's season.

On a side note: it's so strange to see high heeled legs walk across the screen and hear "Coming up on Project Runway," and it's not Heidi Klum's voice. That American accent just doesn't sound right.

Quippy Quotes:

I'll leave here with my sash and oversized tiara.
I've always been a star, so darling, of course I'm here.
Thank you very much. Have happy every days.

Great News for Doctor Who Fans

One of the Doctor's best companions, according to this fan, was Donna Noble. The chemistry between David Tennant and Catherine Tate was electric - though not in a romantic way. Their exchanges were sometimes reminiscent of Benedick and Beatrice from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. So it didn't come as much of a surprise when they were cast opposite each other in a West End production of Much Ado About Nothing as Benedick and Beatrice.

I was hoping that the production would be filmed so that those of us who didn’t get a chance to go to London to see it live could enjoy the pairing of the Doctor and Donna, I mean, David and Catherine again.

I am ecstatic that I won’t be disappointed.

The production will be available on DVD in Britain, and eventually it will be available in the United States.

Here is a sneak peak of the delight in store for us in the unknown future. It will have to be enough to keep us content, if not satisfied, until then.



Thanks to Megan for making me aware of this great sneak peek.

Chopped: Just a Little Lie

Chopped is a cooking competition on the Food Network where the chefs have to cook an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert by using ingredients that usually don't go together.

In a recent episode, four chefs had to create an appetizer using canadian bacon, tomatillo, instant noodle soup, and roasted piquillo peppers. At the end of the allotted 20 minutes, one of the contestants realized that his noodles were still boiling away in a pot. He freaked out a bit until he reassured himself with the fact that at least he had put some of the seasoning from the noodle soup in his dish.

At judging, one of the judges asked the chef if he meant to leave the noodles out, and the chef said, "Yes." "Are you being truthful?" the judge asked, and the chef assured him again that he was.

Cut to the chef in a confessional, and he said, "Ain't nothing wrong with a little B.S."

Now, poor grammar aside, if you're going to lie, don't do it in a confessional that will air on national television for everyone to hear, including the judge who asked you the question.

Is it better to win a competition or to be truthful?

You be the judge.

Trying to "Out-Austen" Jane Austen

Jane Austen is everywhere! And I love Jane Austen. But if I hear “It is a truth universally acknowledged…” at the beginning of another novel (other than Pride and Prejudice), or a variation thereof, I’m going to something drastic.

The literary world and the world of movies have been inundated with everything Jane Austen. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love Jane Austen. I have read all of her books, and I love them. I have enjoyed most of the film adaptations of her books. I have read many of the modern “sequels.” But lately I’ve read some “Jane Austen rip-offs” and seen adaptations of her books that have not been the best quality. No one can really get it right. Only Jane Austen.

I recently read about a reworking of Lady Susan, a novella that I don’t think Jane ever wished to have published (not in the state that she left it anyway). In the description it states, “Jane Austen’s novella Lady Susan was written during the same period in which she produced Elinor and Marianne. Like Elinor and Marianne, Lady Susan focused on the economic and romantic plights of two heroines displaced when the family home passes to an unworthy heir; but while Elinor and Marianne was revised and happily expanded to become Sense and Sensibility, Lady Susan was abandoned. Until now.”


It just gets my goat that the publishers say “until now” referring to its abandonment. The novella was still abandoned, because Jane never rewrote it. Just because another author rewrote it, it doesn’t change the fact that Jane abandoned it. Okay, maybe I just need to lighten up, but there's more. The publishers also state, “In Lady Vernon and her Daughter, Jane Rubino and Caitlen Rubino-Bradway have taken letters from this novella and transformed them into to a vivid, authentic, and more recognizably “Austen” milieu.” Now, what can be more “Austen” than something that Jane Austen actually wrote? I ask you.

End of rant.

However, as much as I complain, I’ll probably still read it. Hypocrisy at its highest.

Once Upon a Time: TV Series

There were only two new shows that I was really looking forward to in the new fall season (other than Smash, which doesn’t start until February), and they were both based on fairy tales. Once Upon a Time and Grimm. And I am hooked on both.

I liked the premise of Once Upon a Time: fairy tale characters that have been cursed to live in our world. And I enjoy how each episode goes back and forth from Fairy Tale land to modern day Storybrooke. However, when I saw the first episode, I wondered how they were going to be able to stretch the premise into a full season, or even more. It seemed more suited to a mini-series.

Luckily, they have more stories in them that I thought. Each episode usually highlights one specific fairy tale character/story in Fairy Tale Land, with a parallel story featuring the same characters in Storybrooke.

Once Upon a Time isn’t a perfect series to me. There are some things that I don’t particular like.

I like deconstruction of fairy tales, however, it would be nice if they deconstructed more from the original fairy tales and not from the Disney-fied version of the stories. For example, as much as I like Raphael Sbarge and his character, Jiminy Cricket is a Disney creation, not part of the original fairy tale. And I don’t believe the bad fairy in Sleepy Beauty has a name, but in Once Upon a Time her name is Maleficent, just as it is in the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty.

Another thing that bothers me is that there are so many fairy tales to use in the series, so why did they use a King Midas, a mythological character? If they continue in that direction, and if they’re basing characters on Disney animated movies, I guess we’ll be seeing Hercules soon.

In spite of these things, I still like Once Upon a Time very much, and I am excited to see where the story goes.

Shakespeare Behind Bars

As you from crimes would pardon’d be,
Let your indulgence set me free.

This weekend I rented Shakespeare Behind Bars. It’s a documentary about a program at a Kentucky prison where the inmates rehearse and perform a Shakespeare play. The documentary was filmed for almost a year when the inmates were getting ready for a production of The Tempest.

The Tempest is a play about many things, including punishment, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, confinement and freedom. It was very heartbreaking and moving to hear the actors/inmates (which included burglars, drug dealers, and murderers) talk about their crimes, to see their honest emotions, and to hear how themes in the play related to them.

One of the inmates, who sexually abused seven girls, said, with a catch in his voice, “The people who need mercy the most deserve it the least.”

The arts can make a difference. It can change lives. One purpose of prison is rehabilitation. The Warden of the prison was very profound when he said, “How they leave when they leave this island is key. They can put us out of business. They just don’t come back.”

Theatre can help people work through issues, for those performing it and for those watching it. Shakespeare’s themes are relevant today because we aren’t that much different from those who lived 400, 500 or even a thousand years ago.

I guess you could say that Shakespeare said it best (which he usually did):
With my nobler reason, 'gainst my fury
Do I take part? The rarer action
is in virtue than in vengeance.”

It Started with a Voice

There has never been an actor whom I liked well enough to make me want to see every one of his or her movies, simply because that actor was in it.

Except one.

It may surprise you who the actor (actress) is, primarily because most people don’t even know who she is, since, even though she’s still alive, her last move was released in 1948.

Her name is Deanna Durbin.

In 1935 Deanna auditioned for Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM at the time, with another young teenager named Judy Garland, when she was 14. It’s said that Louis told his staff to get rid of the “fat one.” He was referring to Judy; his staff thought he meant Deanna. So, Judy went on to fame at MGM. Deanna went to an ailing Universal Studios where her movies became so popular that she saved the film studio from bankruptcy.

She made her first full-length movie in 1936, but even at that young age, Deanna had a voice that was so clear and wonderful, and a personality that could fill the screen, that no one could deny her talent. You could call her the 1930’s version of Jackie Evancho (other than the acting part), but Deanna’s voice was more beautiful and unique. And who could resist that face!

I can’t really say why I enjoy her movies so much. The plots of some of her films are very silly, as many old movies are, but Deanna is just so likable. You cheer for her to achieve her dreams. And boy, can that woman cry. I believe that when the director said, “I’d like you to cry now,” she did it just as soon as he said, “action,” right on cue. And then there's her voice - well, you just have to hear it to believe it.

For your own introduction to the greatness of what is Deanna Durbin, I would suggest you start with It Started with Eve. It’s a comedy about a man whose dying father’s wish is to meet his son’s fiancée. His fiancée isn’t available, and the man thinks that his father only has a few hours left to live, so he asks a hat-check girl (Deanna) to pose as his fiancée. When his father recovers - that’s when the fun starts. It Started with Eve has a great cast with Robert Cummings playing the faux boyfriend, and Charles Laughton at his best as the ailing father.

It is considered to be a musical, but the musical numbers (which include “The Lord’s Prayer, and “When I Sing” from Tchaikovsky’s ballet Sleeping Beauty) fit naturally into the plot, and no one simply breaks into song for no reason (although, I do have to say that I love musicals, and don’t mind people just breaking into song). And remember what I said about crying. When Deanna sings “Goin’ Home” and you see those tears, you just want to break down yourself.


After you’ve seen It Started with Eve and kick yourself when you realize what you’ve been missing for so long, I would suggest you next pick up His Butler’s Sister, and then the one that started it all, Three Smart Girls. Just enjoy the movies for what they are good, plain fun with a charming leading lady and incredible music.

Pic of the Week: Little Red Riding Hood

Book Review: Crossed

This review is going to be quite short because the book frustrated me so much.

Description:

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Review:

Crossed is the second book in the Matched series, and when I read Matched, the first book of the series, I had a hard time putting the book down because I became so interested in the world that Ally Condie created. I cared about the characters, and I wanted to know what happened to them.

I did not have the same experience with Crossed. I put the book down several times, picking up other books to read in between. By the time I was over half way through the book, I was still waiting for something to happen; and I was waiting to care about the characters. Having the book narrated by two separate characters was okay at first, but toward the end I just got confused over whose point of view it was this time.

I will probably read the third book because there's sure to be some action in it, but when you write a trilogy, the second book can't be boring or you may lose readers for the third book.

Grammar Gaffe of the Week: Nauseated/Nauseous

I love grammar. And I love to speak and hear correct grammar. It concerns me that many grammar mistakes are becoming commonplace. (**Note: No, it isn't incorrect to start a sentence with a conjunction.)

I want to help people learn correct grammar usage and use this blog as my platform to teach it. I’m not always going to explain the rules, which can often be confusing and hard to remember, but I’d like to give simple ways to remember the correct usage.

I’m not grammatically correct 100% of the time, but I usually know what “sounds right” more than I remember each rule. It helps me to hear the correct usage over and over.

Each week I hope to have a new grammar gaffe with examples of correct or incorrect usage overheard in real life, in a movie, on the television, or read in a book, etc.

My first grammar gaffe post is neaseated vs. nauseaous. This isn't so much a lesson in grammar as it is in learning to use the right word to describe feeling like you want to throw up and describing the thing that makes you feel like you want to throw up.

At the weigh-in on the first episode of the new season of the Biggest Loser, one of the contestants spoke about his initial workout on the Biggest Loser Ranch. He said he felt "nauseous. "

When you feel like you want to throw up, you are nauseated. Something that makes you feel nauseated is nauseous (e.g., The nauseous meat made me nauseated.).

One of my favorite examples of the correct usage of nauseated and nauseous is from the song, "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch."

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch
With a nauseous super nos

It's nice to know we can learn correct grammar from an animated holiday classic.

Doctor Who: David Tennant Marries the Doctor's Daughter

David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor on the British series, Doctor Who, married Georgia Moffett on Friday, December 30th in London. I'm sure there were great cries of woe from many women. I think it's wonderful for him and Georgia.

I wanted to make the title for this blog, "David Tennant Marries His Daughter," but I though that was just a bit creepy, even if it is true, fictionally. Georgia and David met on the set of a great episode of Doctor Who called "The Doctor's Daughter" where Georgia played - wait for it - the Doctor's daughter, Jenny. But the title I wanted is true in another way. Georgia is the daughter of the fifth Doctor, Peter Davison. How cool is that!

David and Georgia also have a daughter, Olive, who was born in March. So, the Doctor's daughter is the mother of the Doctor's daughter. Okay, that a bit creepy out of context too.