Thursday, February 28, 2013

Arrow: The Dodger

Arrow just continues with great episodes. I'm glad that Felicity was a major player in this episode. I'm also happy that a new character has been introduced that may help make Thea a little more likable.

Observations:

Felicity said she didn't want to join Oliver's quest, but it looks like she's in even though she said it was only to help find Walter.

What's with Felicity's lipstick color? Is it just the lighting in the IT department, or is it really that purple? It's not very flattering.

Why would Oliver and Dig make their plans in such a public place? It isn't like people can't hear them, just because they're in a booth. *wink*

Felicity is quick to get sucked into the "not very legal" methods of vigilanteism.

I'm so glad that Dig got up the courage (or allowed himself to be forced) to ask Carly out.

Very cute purse snatcher.

That purse snatcher's chain was caught pretty far over from where he actually went over the fence.

It's a good thing that McKenna left her cell phone right there on her desk so Oliver could easily "slip said tech" onto it.

I like how Oliver stammers when he asks McKenna out for dinner. It's cute and quite endearing.

Oliver always tells people that he was on a "deserted island." We know that the island wasn't deserted. Well, at least when he got there it wasn't. So, why does he say it was deserted? Will we find out why Oliver specifically wants people to think he was the only one on the island?

It's really rude of McKenna to grill Oliver about what happened on the island, when it's clear he doesn't want to talk about it. If someone had a traumatic experience (for five years!), it's not a very nice thing to try to force them into telling you all about it. And then she thinks Oliver was rude to her. Annoying!

The Dodger runs funny.

It's nice to see Felicity dressed up, but a dress that short shouldn't have a slit in it. It's funny that she suddenly doesn't need glasses. Or does she always wear contacts when she goes to charity auctions?

It's a good thing Oliver puts the motorcycle helmet on, since it does double duty to hide his identity from the Dodger, and protect his head in case of a crash. *wink*

McKenna is kind of a jerk for telling Oliver he was a jerk for not telling her what happened to him on the island.

Quotes:

Slade: You're not going to last an hour out there.
Oliver: I guess you'd better hope I get back in 45 minutes, then.

Oliver: You know, not all the people I target are on The List. Every once in a while I make an exception. Hostage-taking jewel thieves, for example.

Felicity: Is this really how you guys figure out how to get your target? Over burgers and shakes?

Felicity: Why don't I work up a little tech You distract her with a little flirty-flirt, slip said tech onto her phone. It'll turn into a micro-transmitter, and boop! we'll learn everything she knows.
Oliver: Hmm. It's not typically how I get my information.
Felicity: How do you typically do it?
Oliver: I find the person and then I put the fear of God into them until they talk. But we can try your way.

Oliver: I don't know if you heard that I was on a deserted island for five years, and I'm totally out of practice in this whole...

Oliver: I'm lingering. I gotta go.

Thea: What's up with the fancy fancy?
Oliver: What? Oh, I have a date. Contrary to popular opinion, I do have a life.
Thea: Then why do you seem nervous?
Oliver: Is it obvious?
Thea: Just be your charming and brooding self.

Thea: Hey, Laurel. Does your Dad still, like, arrest people?

McKenna: I haven't had a conversation with a guy in a while without it resulting in me reading him his rights.

McKenna: Saved by the cell.

Dig: She says we have no lives.

Dig: You really have no idea how rich his family is, do you?

Felicity: First time anyone's been grateful for traffic cameras.

Thea: You must not know the value of a vintage purse.

Slade: Tastes like an ashtray. Does the job.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Movie Review: The Abduction Club

I am a sucker for a good period film from Great Britain, and I get excited when I find a new one that is really good. I was looking up Sophia Myles on IMDB, and when I searched through the movies she's done, I found one she did in 2002 that sounded like the type of film I would like, so I took a chance and bought it.

The Abduction Club is set in Ireland in the late 18th century, and based on actual events. It is about a group of young men who are younger sons (i.e., not the heir) of wealthy aristocrats, whose only choice in life is to marry heiresses or get a job (usually in the church). They are members of a secret men's club where each member in his turn woos an heiress, and when he think he's "wooed" her enough, he and his friends "abduct" the lady and he proposes. A clergyman is present who will marry the couple if she agrees.

The main character, Garrett Byrne, meets Catharine Kennedy at the races, and decides that he's met his future bride. Later, when he tries to abduct her from a private musical concert, his friend, James Strang abducts Catharine's younger sister, Anne, as well. All does not go smoothly for the two couples, as Mr. Power, the older gentleman who is Anne's intended, tracks them down to the house where they've brought the girls to propose to them. Anne, who does not want to marry Mr. Power, runs away, with her sister and the two suitors following after her.

The story is very unique from any other period film I've seen, and it has many comedic moments, which I really enjoyed. The comedy was well done and did not seem out of place. The abduction scene was particularly funny, and the actors played the scene well.

The actors are well cast for the most part. Daniel Lapaine and Matthew Rhys are perfect as Byrne and Strang. They have a great chemistry together as men who have been friends for a long time. They perform the comedic bits very well, and I enjoyed their performances very much.

Sophia Myles shines as Anne. She has a sweet innocence to her, but her character is also very headstrong, and she knows what she wants, as well as what she doesn't want. I wasn't as drawn to Alice Evans (who, by the way is married to one my favorite actors, Ioan Gruffudd) as Catharine as I was to the other actors. Some of it had to do with her hair, which I know is a very shallow thing to complain about, but well, there it is. Even though I didn't like Catharine as much as I liked Anne, I still enjoyed the movie very much.

Liam Cunningham plays Mr. Power with the cunning (pun not intended) and dispicability you expect from a good villain.

There is more to the plot than just four people on the run with the possibility of romances blossoming. And there is more than one villain. The ending may have been a bit predictable, but I loved the journey that took us there, and there were some surprises.

Now, let's talk about scenery. As I said, the movie is set in Ireland, and the scenes of the countryside and coast were beautiful. I would so love to visit Ireland someday.

Unfortunately, the film is not available on DVD in the United States (I bought the DVD for region 2 players only).

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 2, ep. 17 Quippy Quotes

Angel has been tormenting Buffy in different ways in the last few episodes. In "Passion" he ups the ante, and does the unspeakable to someone close to entire group. It is after this tragic event that Buffy finally comes to the conclusion that the Angel she loved is truly gone, and she must do what a Slayer does: kill a vampire.

It's interesting to me when Jenny tells Giles that she is descended from the people Angel hurt the most. How can Jenny know that the families of other people Angelus killed were not hurt by what he did. He didn't hurt her people any worse than the others. They were just the ones who were finally able to punish him for it.

Quotes:

Angel: Passion rules us all and we obey. What other choice do we have?

Xander: A visit from the pointed-tooth fairy.

Cordelia: I invited him in my car once. That means he can come into my car whenever he wants.
Xander: Yep. You're doomed to having to give him and his vamp pals a lift whenever they feel like it. And those guys never chip in for gas.

Buffy: Giles, there has to be some sort of spell to reverse the invitation, right? Like a barrier, a "no shoes, no pulse, no service" kind of thing?
Cordelia: That works for a car too?

[Students walk into the library]
Xander: Hello. Excuse me. Have you ever heard of knocking?
Jonathan: We're supposed to get some books on Stalin.
Xander: Does this look like a Barnes & Noble?
Giles: This is a school library, Xander.
Xander: Since when?
(They finally addressed my thought about how students never go into the library.)

Giles: So, Angel has decided to step up his harassment of you.
Cordelia: By sneaking in her room and leaving stuff at night? Why doesn't he just slit her throat, or strangle her while she's sleeping, or cut her heart out? (Xander glares at her) Well, I'm trying to help.

Xander: The "nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah" approach to battle.
Giles: Yes, Xander. Once more you've managed to boil a complex thought down to its simplest form.

Xander: The more people who know your secret, the more it cheapens it for the rest of us.

Buffy: So, what you're basically saying is just ignore him and maybe he'll go away?
Giles: Yes, precisely.
Xander: Hey! How come Buffy doesn't get a snotty ""once again you boil it down to the simplest form" thing? Watcher's pet.

Giles: Since Angel lost his soul, he's regained his sense of whimsy.

Jenny: I know you feel betrayed.
Giles: Yes, well that's one of the unpleasant side effects of betrayal.

Joyce: Okay, what's wrong?
Buffy: It's nothing.
Joyce: Come on, you can tell me anything. I've read all the parenting books. You cannot surprise me.

Buffy: We're sort of dating. Were dating. Um... Going through a serious "off again" phase right now.
Joyce: Don't tell me. He's changed. He's not the same guy you fell for.
Buffy: In a nutshell.

Willow: I swear, men can be such jerks sometimes. Dead or alive.

Buffy: Hey, sorry about your fish.
Willow: It's okay. We hadn't really had time to bond yet. Although, for the first time, I'm glad my parents didn't let me have a puppy.

Angel: Well, maybe next time I'll bring you with me, Spike. It might be handy to have you around if I ever need a really good parking space.

Shop owner: Ugh. I don't like computers. They give me the willies.

Willow: I have to go. I have a class to teach in five minutes and I have to arrive early to glare disapprovingly at the stragglers. (They see Ms. Calendar) Oh, darn. She's here. Five hours of lesson planning yesterday down the drain.

Willow: I'm gonna have a hard time explaining this to my Dad.
Buffy: You really think it'll bother him?
Willow: Ira Rosenberg's only daughter nailing crucifixes to her bedroom wall? I have to go over to Xander's house just to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas every year.
Buffy: I see your point.
Willow: Although, it is worthwhile to see him do the Snoopy dance.

Buffy: You know, Cordelia, we've already done your car. Call it a night if you want.
Cordelia: Right. Thanks. And you know I'd do the same for you if you had a social life.

Buffy: Sorry, Angel. I've changed the locks.

Angel: Deja vu just isn't what it used to be.

Giles: Perhaps I should intervene on Buffy's behalf with her mother. Maybe say something.
Willow: Sure, like, what would you say?
[Giles thinks for a moment]
Giles: You'll tell Buffy I dropped by?
Willow: You bet.

Joyce: I love you more than anything in the world. (pause) That would be your cue to, uh, roll your eyes and tell me I'm grossing you out.
Buffy: You're not.

Cordelia: I thought he kept his weapons at the library.
Xander: No, those are his everyday weapons. These were his good weapons. The ones he breaks out when company comes to visit.

Angel: Whatever happened to wooden stakes?

Spike (to Drusilla): Uh uh. No fair going into the ring unless he tags you first.

Angel (holding Giles up by the neck): All right. You've had your fun. But, you know what it's time for now?
[Buffy comes up behind him and hits him]
Buffy: My fun.
(Side note: Spike was right when he told Angel that it really isn't smart to make the Slayer angry.)

Angel: Without passion, we'd be truly dead.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Smash: The Dramaturg

In this episode Eileen tells Julia and Tom that she has hired a dramaturg to help Julia rework the script. Julia immediately freaks out, and the freaking-out continues through the whole episode. This does nothing to help Julia's likability in this show. It does, however, introduce a new character, whom we know will eventually become a love interest for Julia. It's too bad that by that time we probably won't care about Julia anymore anyway. Also, I've never heard of anyone in the theatre actually being scared of a dramaturg, but that's just me. I've only dealt with dramaturgs who help to clarify things in a script, historically and culturally, not actually rewrite a script.

It's great to see Ivy moving on from Bombshell and finding success. That girl has talent, and she deserves the chance to show it. Karen, on the other hand, is going back and forth between Bombshell and another new musical that she's never read a script for. Because there isn't a script yet. Sound familiar?

Observations:

Karen made a demo of one of Jimmy and Kyle's songs pretty quickly. Where did they get the money to make a professional sounding demo?

Karen tells Derek that he doesn't see a musical in what he's heard of Jimmy and Kyle's show because he's only heard the songs. That's the way it is with us (the audience) and Bombshell. All we've heard are the songs. How do we know there's really a musical in there. Although, the songs are pretty good. I would really like to see scenes with no music.

Derek tells Karen it takes years for a new musicals to develop, yet Bombshell has gone from conception to workshop to out-of-town tryout, and almost to Broadway in one year. Hmm. Are they trying to get some kind of realism here?

Karen has an awful lot of faith in a musical she's never seen the book for. Could it be the because of the composer. Hmm.

Why wouldn't Eileen trust Julia with her own script. Julia has written multiple Broadway shows, and it doesn't sound like she's ever had someone brought in to help her with her scripts before.

I love the song "Home" from The Wiz, and it's nice to  hear a snippet from it by Jennifer Hudson.

IBDB - Internet Broadway Database. It's the IMDB for the theatre.

Can't Julia be happy about anything? I thought that the writers would make her more likable. If they're trying, it isn't working. She's even more unlikable than last season.

Peter needs some bookshelves in his apartment.

Peter mentions that the songs in Bombshell are good, it's just the script that needs help. I agree that the majority of the songs are good, but I find it funny that a character has to keep reminding us that the songs are good, but the script is bad.

I think that the film, Dangerous Liasons, was based on the book as well as the fictional musical they're talking about. So, I think it's funny that they make that distinction. I know that  they are trying to say that the fictional musical isn't based on the movie, but it's funny that Ivy says that.

Julia has become very rude. She walks into Eileen's office and starts yelling at her while Eileen is on the phone. I'm just liking her less and less. Come on - make her likable. Debra Messing can play a likable character, I've seen it.

Why is Julia even angrier when she finds out that Peter saw the musical in Boston? If someone were going to help me with my script, I'd be happier if they had actually seen a production of it. And then Eileen says that she didn't tell her because she wanted it to be Julia's idea to get help with her script. Julia didn't even think of having a script doctor come in to help her. Eileen just hired him without any mention of it from Julia, so how would Eileen think Julia would come up with the idea on her own?

This show was Julia and Tom's show from the beginning. It was their concept, and their work. Can Eileen really push Julia out like that? Well, I guess the producers can. Just look at Julie Taymor with Spider-man, Turn off the Dark. Julie was fired. But she was the director. I don't know if she was also the writer of the book.

Karen's vocals for "They Just Keep Moving the Line" didn't match her facial expressions in the rehearsal. You can tell it's prerecorded. She even keeps lip-syncing when the vocal track stops. Very bad editing. I feel like good singers should be able to do their vocals live. It is a rehearsal, after all. It doesn't have to be perfect.

And now Julia is interrupting Peter's dinner with his friends. She yells at him in the middle of the restaurant. Maybe she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown. If not, she's just rude!

Okay, this is one of the things that bugs me about modern entertainment. The writers think that the way to "fix" a script is to just put more sex in it. A really good writer would concentrate on character, not just slap a bunch of sex in it.

I'm not sure I like the choreography for "They Just Keep Moving the Line." I think that Ivy's performance of it in the last episode just standing still was great, and having Karen moving around all of these dancers changing their positions around her just doesn't fit the song. It works well during Ivy's song, "I Keep Dancing on My Own,"  but just not with the original song.

Boy, that's gutsy of Karen to tell Derek she doesn't think he knows what he wants for the number. And she says it in front of the cast. That kind of mouthing off to the director could get an actor fired from a show. Oh, but this is Karen. She's part of the creative team, and Derek's muse. She can say anything she wants, whenever she wants.

Here's a mystery: Who is the guy who beat Jimmy up?

Really? Derek is going to let Julia hijack his rehearsal to do brand new number no one has seen before, that hasn't been rehearsed when he knows a producer is coming to see his work? I don't think so. Maybe Derek really doesn't want the job to direct The Wiz.

I don't really like the JFK song. It's not one of the best songs I've heard in the show.

I would like to have seen Ivy's audition. If it was great enough for her to get the part over more established actresses, I'm curious to know how it went.

Is Tom going to become a director? That would be a great plot line.

Karen just ran into the street in her costume? What stage manager would let her do that? And her hair is perfect after just taking her wig off. She would have had a wig cap on her head; you don't just squish your hair up under a wig.

Veronica wants to do a "one night only" concert. Small reference to Dreamgirls. The movie musical Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for. How fitting.

Kyle tells Derek that the opening number of their musical has a lot of exposition. I want to hear that song.

The Hit List could be a musical about Taylor Swift.

Derek tells Jimmy and Kyle that he thinks their musical has aspects of Hamlet, A Star is Born and Romeo and Juliet. Okay, maybe I get the Romeo and Juliet part (the rich girl and poor boy), but I didn't hear any Hamlet or A Star is Born in there. Did they say that the lead's stepfather was his uncle, who murdered his father, then married his mother? Or that the boy is successful and then, as the girl's star rises, the boy's starts to descend? I just wonder how well the writers know those two stories. And then Kyle says that there's a bit of Moulin Rouge. Well, Jimmy did say that everyone dies in the end. Oh, there's where we get Hamlet. *wink*

It looks like Derek might lose his muse. I think Karen wants to be someone else's muse now.

Quotes:

Derek: It's a good song, so what. All their songs are good. If they had an album, I'd buy it. Maybe. But I'm a director of musicals. And there's no musical here.

Derek: Producers rarely have vision. That's why they need us to show it to them.

Julia: A man who makes his living feeding off the work of other writers without creating anything of his own is not a shepherd. He's a parasite.
[Peter walks up to Julia and Tom]
Peter: Hi, I'm Peter. The parasite.

Peter: Dramaturgs are like dentists. No one ever wants to see them, but once the pain wears off, you're always glad you went.

Jimmy: Don't worry about us. One shot's all we need.

Julia: Why don't you just give me your thoughts, since you seem to have a lot.

Julia: We had standing ovations every night.
Peter: It was Boston.

Julia: Is there anything you liked?
Peter (pause): I think Marilyn Monroe is an interesting subject for a musical.

Karen: I was starting to think I'd never be Marilyn again.
Derek: I wouldn't let that happen.
(Uh, it's not up to you, Derek, unless you have millions of dollars to invest in the show yourself.)

Tom: We just haven't found [your character] yet. And by "we" I mean you.

Tom: So, who is Cecile at the start? She's innocent.
Ivy: Unbroken.
Tom: Mm hmm. Untouched. Floating through a life that's, uh...
Ivy: Preordained.
Tom: Secretly waiting for something... anything to pull her out of it.
Ivy: Sounds like Karen Cartwright.
Tom: Be nice.
Ivy: Sorry.

Ivy: She's Marilyn.

Tom: I wish you could see my face. I'm grinning like an ape.

Ivy: You understand style and intention. And you know how to get the best out of people without torturing them. That's no small thing.
Tom: Art without torture. I don't think it's possible.

Derek: Hello again, Jimmy. I'm Derek. I like your work. Sorry I was a bit busy earlier. Plus, I'm not a huge fan of uninvited guests in my rehearsal room.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

My Favorite Movies: What's Up Doc

In the 1930s and 1940s, there were wonderful films called "screwball comedies." These films starred great comedic actresses such as Carole Lombard, Katherine Hepburn, Jean Arthur, Barbara Stanwyck, and Irene Dunne, and great leading men such as Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, and Jimmy Stewart. The film most often called the first screwball comedy is It Happened One Night with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable. It is one of the great film comedies, and one of the very few comedies to win the Academy Award for best picture.

Screwball comedies pretty much went out the Hays Code. However, there have been a few films since then that could be called a screwball comedy. My favorite of these is Peter Bogdanovich's, What's Up Doc from 1972. The film stars Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, and introduced the great comedienne, Madeline Kahn. It is one of the best comedies ever written, in my opinion. It has similarities to another great screwball comedy, Bringing Up Baby, with Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, and if you're going to borrow from another movie, then Bringing Up Baby is one of the best. It's just too bad that What's Up Doc doesn't have a leopard.

The film centers around four plaid overnight cases. One contains top secret documents, another contains igneous rocks, another expensive jewels, and the last - what is most commonly found in an overnight case: clothes and toiletries, and a very large text book. When the four cases are hidden, stolen, and mistaken for another in a San Francisco hotel, hilarity ensues in a heightened farcical manner.

If I were to include all of the great lines in the movie, I would pretty much be quoting the entire script, so I've decided to just post my favorites. (There are still a lot.) Some of the quotes may not seem very funny, but I've included them because either the situation in which they were said, or the delivery were hilarious. So, I would suggest you watch the movie to appreciate them, and to simply enjoy a classic screwball comedy.

Quotes:

Eunice: Howard! Howard Bannister! Howard, when I ask you to wait for me somewhere, I expect you to stay there until I come back.
Howard: Yes, Eunice.
Eunice: Now, it is difficult enough for me to have to see to all these arrangements myself.
Howard: Yes, Eunice.
Eunice: It is exactly six fifteen. If we reach the hotel in half an hour, we'll have just enough time for the banquet.
Howard: Yes, Eunice.
Eunice (to the porter): Put these things in a taxi.
Porter: Yes, Eunice.

Judy: They told me they'd be in room 1717 at the Hotel Crystal.
Fritz (the hotel concierge): This is the Bristol, madam, not the Crystal.
Judy: Then one of us must be in the wrong hotel.

Howard: Your bell is flat, half a tone off.

Judy: What's up, Doc?
Howard: I beg your pardon?
Judy: We've gotta stop meeting like this.
Howard: I think you're making a mistake. You see, I just came in here for something for a headache.
Judy: You're gonna need an awfully big glass of water to get that down.

Howard: I guess you're not really interested in igneous rock formations.
Judy: Not as much as I am in the metamorphic or sedimentary rock categories. I mean, I can take your igneous rocks or leave them. I relate primarily to micas, quartz, feldspar. You can keep your pyroxenes, magnetites, and coarse-grained plutonics as far as I'm concerned.
Howard: I forgot why I came in here.
Judy: Headache.
Howard: Oh, yes. Thank you and goodbye.

Judy: So, that's all I am to you? A mistake, a clerical error? Erase me, forget you even know my name.
Howard: I don't know your name.
Judy: Judy Maxwell.
Howard: How do you do?
Judy: How do you do?

Judy: Did you know that three percent of all fatal accidents happen in corner drugstores?

Judy: Eunice? That's a person named Eunice?

Judy: Steve, you didn't tell me you were married.
Howard: We're not married.
Judy: Congratulations!
Eunice: But we will be soon.
Judy: Condolences.

Eunice: Who is this person?
Howard: I haven't the vaguest idea. She was behind a rock in the drugstore.

Eunice: Don't you know the meaning of propriety?
Judy: Propriety. Noun. Conformity to established standards of behavior or manners; suitability, rightness or justness. See "etiquette."

Howard (knocks on door): Eunice. Eunice.
Eunice: Who's there?
Howard: It's me, Howard Bannister. Your fiance.

Judy: I don't know who he is, but I hate him.

Howard: I don't think of you as a woman, Eunice. I think of you as... as Eunice.

Eunice: As the years go by, romance fades and something else takes its place. Do you know what that is?
Howard: Senility.
Eunice: Trust.
Howard: That's what I meant.

Eunice: Tell me exactly what you're going to say to him.
Howard: What? Well, I'll probably say something like, "Hello there, Mr. Larrabee, I'm Howard."
Eunice: You are not.
Howard: I'm not Howard?
Eunice: You are not going to say, "Hi, my name is Howard." Anyone can say that. Anyone.
Howard: Anyone named Howard.

Eunice: Well, do your best. Be dignified.
Howard: I'll be dignified.
Eunice: Be solemn, but not stuffy.
Howard: I'll be solemn.
Eunice: Act friendly, but impersonal.
Howard: I'll be friendly.
Eunice: Pull the door open.
Howard: I'll pull the door open.

Waiter: You're upside down, sir.
Howard: I'm upside down.

Hugh: You're upside down.
Howard: I know.

Howard: You!
Judy? Eunice, Howard. Eunice. (to Mr. Larrabee) We've almost got that stammer cured.

Larrabee: You like Emerson?
Judy: I adore Emerson.
Larrabee: I adore anyone who adores Emerson.
Judy: And I adore anyone who adores anyone who adores Emerson. Your turn.

Howard: Help!

Judy: It so happens, Mr. Simon, that Howard had discussions with Leonard Bernstein about the possibility of conducting an avalanche in E flat.

Fritz: Get out of there, but don't let anyone see you.
Harry (the house detective): Roger.
Fritz: Fritz.

Howard: You have got to get out of here.
Judy: And miss all the good stuff that's coming?
Howard: She will be here any minute.
Judy: That's the good stuff that's coming.

Howard: I'm having a nightmare.

Hugh: I find that story as difficult to swallow as I do this potage au gelee.
Judy: How would you like to swallow one sandwich d'knuckles?

Howard: Don't you understand anything?
Judy: Like what?
Howard: Like Eunice.
Judy: Nope. I don't understand Eunice.

Judy: Steve, you don't want to marry Eunice.
Howard: I'm not Steve. I'm Howard.
Judy: Neither of you wants to marry Eunice.
Howard: Why do you say that?
Judy: You don't want to marry someone who's gonna get wrinkled and lined and flabby.
Howard: Everyone gets wrinkled, lined and flabby.
Judy: By next week?

Waiter: Charles, what kind of wine are you serving at table 1?

Fritz: What kind of house detective are you? You can't commit a simple burglary?
Harry: I'm ashamed.

Fritz: Snakes, as you know, live in mortal fear of... uh... tile.

Howard: You are not Burnsy. Burnsy is Burnsy. I mean, Eunice is Burnsy. I mean, she isn't Burnsy. Nobody is Burnsy.

Howard: You're just different.
Judy: Thank you. I know I'm different, but from now on I'm gonna try to be the same.
Howard: The same as what?
Judy: The same as people who aren't different.

Judy: I think you dropped something.

Howard: What do you think you're doing?
Judy: I think I'm taking a bath. Aren't I?

Howard: You are the last straw that breaks my camel's back. You are the plague. You bring havoc and chaos to everyone. But why to me? Why? Why? Why?
Judy: Because you look cute in your pajamas, Steve.

Howard: I can't seem to breath. Is it possible to break a lung?

Judy: No, no, no. I can't. I'm terrified of heights. I have acrophobia.
Howard: There's a ledge.
Judy: I have ledgeaphobia.

Howard: She has a violent temper.
Judy: I can't!
Howard: She studies karate.
Judy: Maybe I can.

Eunice: Howard, I'm going to count to five.
Howard: Don't count, Eunice. I hate it when you count.

Eunice: Since when have you taken bubble baths?
Howard: It came out of the faucet that way.

Eunice: Why are your rocks in the bathroom?
Howard: I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't.

Eunice: Howard, you are not being open with me.
Howard: I am being open with you, Eunice. I'm always open. [knock on the door] It's open.

Judy: Why, Miss Burns, what are you doing in Mr. Bannister's bedroom? Don't you know the meaning of propriety?

Howard: Come in, it's broken. I mean, it's open.

Hotel Manager: Mr. Bannister, I have a message from the staff of the hotel.
Howard: Really? What is it?
Hotel Manager: Goodbye.
Howard: That's the entire message?
Hotel Manager: We'd appreciate it if you would check out.
Howard: When?
Hotel Manager: Yesterday.
Howard: That soon?

Howard: My fiancee, Miss Sleep is still burning, and... Miss Burns is still sleeping.

Howard: What were you trying to become?
Judy: A graduate.

Judy: Something always seemed to go wrong.
Howard: Yes, I can believe that.
Judy: Well, this last time was not my fault.
Howard: What happened?
Judy: Nothing. Nothing really. It was just a little classroom. It sort of burned down.
Howard: Burned down?
Judy: Well, blew up, actually.
Howard: Political activism?
Judy: Chemistry major.

Howard (re: a letter): Did you open this?
Judy: How else could I read it?

Howard: Let me read you this letter. "Dear Howard," do you hear that? "Howard."
Eunice: That is your name.

Judy: Sure, what could go wrong?
Howard: Please, don't you say that.

Eunice (on the phone): Thank you, Miss...
Judy: Louise.
Eunice: I thought you said your name was Sylvia.
Judy: Yes, Sylvia-Louise. You know, with a hyphen.

Judy: Did anyone ever tell you that you were very sexy?
Hugh: Well, actually no.
Judy: They never will.

Hugh: I don't know who he is, but she is definitely not herself.

Hugh: Don't shoot me. I'm part Italian.

Larrabee: Don't you dare strike that brave, unbalanced woman.

Howard: What are you doing? This is a one-way street.
Judy: We're only going one way.

Judge: A foul and depraved-looking lot, Bailiff.
Bailiff: Those are just the spectators, Your Honor.

Bailiff: Is Your Honor feeling all right?
Judge: No, My Honor is not feeling all right.

Judge: You made me smash my lifesavers.

Judge: Order in the court!
Bailiff: Order in the court!
Judge: Everyone be quiet!
Bailiff: Everyone be quiet!
Judge: Silence!
Bailiff: Silence!
Judge: You too.
Bailiff: Me too.

Howard: The one who isn't my fiancee doesn't call me Howard, and the one who isn't my wife doesn't call me Howard. Because the one who isn't my fiancee also isn't my wife. The other one who isn't my wife, who is my fiancee, she doesn't call me Steve. She calls me Howard. Do you see?

Howard: Is that clear?
Judge: No, but it is consistent.

Howard: First, there was this trouble between me and Hugh.
Judge: You and me?
Howard: No, not you. Hugh.
Hugh: I am Hugh.
Judge: You are me?
Hugh: No, I am Hugh.
Judge: Stop saying that. Make him stop saying that.
[Policeman puts his hand on Hugh's shoulder]
Hugh: Don't touch me, I'm a doctor.
Judge: Of what?
Hugh: Music.
Judge: Can you fix a hi-fi?
Hugh: No, sir.
Judge: Then shut up!

Judy: I guess I owe you $20,000.
Howard: Don't be silly.
Judy: Listen, if I paid you off at $10 a week we'd be even in... um... 38 years and five and a half months.
Howard: You did that fast.
Judy: New math. Mount Holyoke.

Larrabee: C'est la vie.
Hugh: C'est la guerre.
Judy: C'est la dreck.

Larrabee: Simon, you're a plagiarist. And what's worse, you're a bad loser, and you're nasty. I don't like you, and I want you to go away.

Judy: There's a professor there whom I hope to study with. A brilliant man, Dr. Howard Bannister. No, Bannister, as in "sliding down the."

Howard: I'm sorry.
Judy: Let me tell you something. Love means never having to say you're sorry. [bats her eyelashes]
Howard: That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
(Side note: If you know why this is so funny, post a comment.)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Once Upon a Time: Manhattan

Finally. Mr. Gold finds Bae, but it's not quite the reunion he was hoping for. This was really a good episode. I like that we got to see relationships and character more than action. The revelation of who Bae was was definitely more of a surprise to Emma than it was to us. To quote Iago from Disney's Aladdin, "Oh, there's a big surprise! I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die of not surprise!" I think most people who watched "Tallahassee" guessed who Bae was (and thought, "could it really be that easy?") Maybe that's the surprise, that it really was easy to figure it out.

Observations:

Rumpelstiltskin was definitely a happy man prior to going off to fight in the Ogre war. He was even excited to go off to fight. His little jive move when he says, "I report for training in the morning," was pretty funny. This is a Rumpel we've never seen before.

Gold's freak-out that started in the last episode was over pretty quickly. So, the fact that he freaked out in the first place is even more of a mystery to me. Maybe it was just a fear of flying. Or fear of leaving Storybrooke. Or nervousness of finding Bae after all this time. I'm sure we can think of a reason for it, but I still feel like it was simply a plot device for him to discover that he had no magic. I would be interested to hear what the director told Robert Carlyle about his motivation for being so worried before they filmed the scene.

Why would Emma think that Bae is expecting Gold? What does she think Gold did, text him to let him know he was coming? *wink*

Cora has embraced the fashion of our world. Well, why not? Those large gowns can be so cumbersome. At least she's lost the parasol. *wink*

Why does Neal run? Does he recognize Emma's voice? Is he scared of UPS?

Ouch! That fall was brutal.

Speaking of August - where is August? I want to see him!

Why didn't August just tell Neal he knew he was Bae? Why did he have to reveal it by typing the words on his typewriter? We'll see if we discover later that there was a real reason why he couldn't say it out loud, and why he typed in on the typewriter.

There are a lot of Australians in the Enchanted Forest.

It would be awfully easy to poke your eye or to get something in it if your eye were in the palm of your hand. *wink*

Cows? Couldn't they think of a more interesting prediction than the soldiers riding (on saddles called) "cows"?

Finding that map was really too easy. But then, I'm all for moving the plot along.

Why does David bring up the fact that Regina is Henry's step-great-grandmother when they're talking about Rumpel being Henry's grandfather? They already knew she was his step-great-grandmother. It's not a new revelation.

Who is "Her?" Is there someone else who may be connected to Fairy Tale Land who was not part of the curse? That has to be the case, otherwise you would think that Greg would have her actual name in his phone, not just "Her." Unless it's short for Hermione. Or Hermia. Or Hera. Hmm.

Why does Cora call David "Prince Charming"? Only Snow calls him "Charming," (not even "Prince Charming"). He's "Prince James" to everyone else.

Did anyone else think that Regina's hair was shorter at the beginning of this episode than in the middle of the episode? Maybe it's just me.

Poor Emma. What could be worse than having Henry tell her that she's like Regina?

I wonder what Neal would say if he knew that the whole curse was placed basically so that Rumpel could find him. That shows devotion, doesn't it?

Gold says two things that are sure to keep Neal from going back to Storybrooke with him. 1) There's magic there, and 2) "I'll make you 14 again."

The "three minute" exchange between Gold and Neal was so good. I really like Michael Raymond-James, who plays Neal.

I still don't understand why Gold didn't go back to acting like he did when he was "The Dark One" after the curse was broken. Maybe that kind of over-the-top dramatic demeanor only fits in the Enchanted Forest. Hmm.

Now we know the reason why Rumpel didn't place the curse himself. The seer told him that someone else would place the curse. And we know that Rumpel could predict the future - to a certain degree.

Why didn't Gold have eyes pop up on his hands when he received the gift of seeing the future? The poor seer couldn't even get rid of that. *wink*

So, since Henry was the one who convinced Emma who she was and made it possible for her to lift the curse, wouldn't Gold know at that moment that he was the child who would eventually lead him to Bae? Then why have we seen no foreshadowing before that Gold probably wants to kill Henry? Yes, we just found out what the Seer told Rumpel, but he's know it for a very long time.

Quotes:

Emma: Well, who doesn't want a surprise?

Emma: UPS package for 407.
Henry: Maybe you should have said "Fed Ex."

Neal: There's a bar down the street. We can talk there.
Emma: I'm not drinking with you. Whatever you have to tell me, tell me now!
Neal: No, the bar's better. Don't worry, you can keep yelling at me when we get there.

Henry: Don't worry, Emma's really good at catching people.

Emma: You left me and let me go to prison because Pinocchio told you to?

Neal: You know, there's not a ton about my father that I remember that doesn't suck.

Neal: Maybe something good came from us being together.
Emma: No. Not that I can think of. I just went to jail, that's it.

Seer: You will see tomorrow. When you see the army ride cows into battle, you will know I speak the truth.

Hook: To the untrained eye, a child's scribbles. But to a pirate - it's a map.

David: So, Rumpelstiltskin is Henry's grandfather?
Mary Margaret: Apparently.
David: But I'm his grandpa.
Mary Margaret: You can have more than one.

David: It's a good thing we don't have Thanksgiving in our land, 'cause that dinner would suck.
Mary Margaret: Or, maybe this will mellow everyone out.

Neal: How old are you?
Emma: Don't answer him.
Neal: How old are you, kid!?
Henry: Eleven! Now, why is everyone yelling?

Gold: There's no greater pain than regret.
Neal: Try abandonment.

Gold: Give me a chance. You once loved me.
Neal: You were once a good man.

Seer: Knowing would not have made a difference.

Henry: So, you're my dad.
Neal: Yea.
Henry. I'm Henry.
Neal: It's nice to meet you, Henry. Sorry it took so long.
Henry: It's okay. You didn't know.

Friday, February 22, 2013

King of the Nerds, Episode 5, Nerdy Quotes

In episode five, "High IQ's," Bobby tells the nerds that they will be tested in one area where all nerds should have an advantage - pure intelligence. Listening to some of the things the nerds say, I wonder if they're smart at all. They try to sound smart, but sometimes they're really not.

This week's Nerd War was to put together a large Rubik's cube, and then use the numbers on the cube to solve a Sudoku puzzle. The nerd-off tested the two nerds on their working memory, or as the hosts called it, "the human equivalent of RAM."

Observations:

You don't usually see the contestants look right into the camera while they're being filmed (other than in the "confessional"), but there's a moment when Genevieve looks right into the camera when she mentions the word, "alliance." It's as if she feels guilty and she's afraid that the cameraman will reveal the secret to Virgil. It's pretty funny.

Because the teams did not have an equal number of teammates, one nerd on the Servants of the Forbidden Orb team has to sit this challenge out. Joshua quickly volunteers, saying he's the best candidate to sit out. Is he saying he doesn't have "pure intelligence"? That's a funny thing for a nerd to admit, even indirectly. I think he was just scared of the challenge. *wink*

The confrontation between Ivan and Virgil was pretty creepy. It's so funny to me that all of the other nerds who were voted into a nerd-off by the other team thought it was a compliment that the other team thought of them as a "threat" and wanted the out of the competition. Ivan just gets angry. Come on, Ivan, lighten up!

We all know what it's like when we have a confrontation with someone and we can't think of anything clever to say at the moment, but then later think of all of the witty things we could have said. Confessionals on Reality TV shows are perfect for that. We definitely hear lots of funny things in the confessionals, and you know the contestant spent a lot of time thinking those comebacks up.

I noticed that most of these contestants are definitely not grammar nerds. See if you can find the quotes that have incorrect grammar. The answers are at the bottom of the post.

Quotes:

Virgil: Intrateam dynamics has gotten so much simpler. I no longer have to, like, socially navigate complicated social things.

Genevieve: I would have felt really badly going home on a comic book challenge.

Genevieve: I'm gonna change, 'cause I don't need to walk around in a red unitard all day. Fun as it is.

Ivan: Head wanted you to go. Heart wanted you to stay.
Genevieve: I appreciate that.
Ivan: Yep, it's usually how it is.

Genevieve: My biggest threat right now is Ivan. It's just so much fun to watch him squirm.

Joshua: Me and Ivan have definitely bonded through our time here.

Ivan: It's gonna be you and I, won't it?

Joshua: Make sure your seatbelts are on tight, 'cause this is gonna get one bumpy ride.
Ivan: [responds in "Shyriiwook"]
Joshua: You said it, Wookie.

Celeste: Everyone knows me as "The Rubik's Cube Girl," 'cause I can solve it super fast.

Genevieve: Crud, it's that spatial mechanics puzzle where you have to build a square. I hate those!

Moogega: This is my thing! Sudoku puzzles are what I do when I don't want to think and I just want to go to bed and ease my mind. They're easy.

Virgil: Sudoku does not speak to my skills at all. It's important to be meticulous, and being meticulous is not a strength of mine. At least in science, they say there are two kinds of thinkers. There are the careful plotters and there are the intuitive artists. And I'm more in the "intuitive thinks beyond" frameworks.

Danielle: I feel like I'm in some messed up version of Baywatch.

Bobby: It's interesting they chose to run through the fountain instead of around it. Pure intelligence?

Moogega: We don't have to kill ourselves. We're going to do the Sudoku in, like, two seconds.

Ivan: It's time for the fire-breather to come out. I am a dragon!

Joshua: Speed up guys, speed up!
(Note to Joshua: That's not a way to cheer on your teammates. That's just a way to make them more annoyed at you.)

Virgi: I was running as fast as I possibly could. Like I'm a bullet. I go fast.

Ivan: I'm going to lead building the cube. I mean, I've played enough Tetras to know, build it in a spiral all the way up to the top.

Virgil: I'm much more developed on the mental side than the physical side. I mean, I think by genetics.
(Side note: It's funny that Virgil can't just simply say "I'm smarter than I am strong." And he blames his parets for his lack of strength. That is something you can change.

Bobby: You can literally see the brains working now, Curtis.
Curtis: Well, virtually.
Bobby: Indeed.

Bobby: I think we may have found the one area where Ivan doesn't excel.
Curtis: Perhaps he would do better in his Panda Chicken outfit.
Bobby: Possibly.

Ivan (as Chicken Panda): I will do my best, 'cause that's what Chicken Panda does.

Joshua: All I can do is sit on the sidelines and do absolutely nothing, and that's killing me.
(Uh, Joshua, I thnk it was your choice to do "absolutely nothing.")

Bobby: Joshua appears to be channeling his Chi, pushing it toward his team.

Joshua: I just had to calm down and relax and breath. And send them good juju juice.

Curtis: We're going to have to check the rule book on that. I'm not sure if you're allowed to help them through the power of your mind.

Virgil: I'm [curious to see] what the most advanced flight simulator in the world is like. And I hope it has guns.

Ivan: Numbers are hard, guys.

Virgil: So, first we put on the Top Gunesque flight suits. That was kind of neat. It's fun to play dress-up.

Celeste: Got my throttle, got my joy stick, got my missile button, got my trash talk button.

Celeste: I can't understand this. Why is Virgil better than me? It doesn't make any sense.

Genevieve: Ivan, in your own words, sometimes you have to make your decision with your head and not your heart. We love you, Bunny, but this is a "head" decision.

Virgil: I'm not realy authorized on behalf of my team, but for anything that's not, like, confidential, I'm... I'm... I mean... I mean... why not make communication open?

Ivan: From what I'm inferring, I mean, I know you can't really tell me...
Virgil: I can't.
Ivan: ...it sounds like you're picking Moo.

Ivan: You've made that point clear...
Virgil: Okay, good. Good. 'Cause, just... just...
Ivan: ...and I one hundred percent hear you out.

Ivan: You know, if you cut off a Hydra's head, two more grow back.
Virgil: Well, that's very clever.
Joshua: Unlike your retort.

Ivan: I just hope it involves the Pillars of Lava and light sabers like we discussed.

Virgil: We are playing them so hard and it's hilarious.
Genevieve: And we're not even trying. That's the thing.
Virgil: We're trying a little bit. Well, I'm trying.

Virgil: No one has a right to intimidate anyone. It's not a nice thing to do. I mean, it's not written in the consittutuion. I'm not familiar with anything like that.

Genevieve: Ivan, please take your angst from the room, because I'm not prepared to deal with it.

Ivan: The dragon's been hiding out in his cave this entire time, but now I'm here to spit fire, spin it, and reign it down from the heavens.

Genevieve: Ivan, there comes a time we're all gonna have to eat each other. It's your turn, so suck it up and be a an.

Joshua: It's kind of like Obi-Wan turning on Anakin.

Joshua: You and I will go head to head, Sabertooth and Wolverine.

Ivan: There's nothing more epic than a Sumo wrestler.

Curtis: See if he can remember where the other pair are.

Joshua: Feelin' the comeback. Feelin' the power.

Ivan: Really? Two different swords? There's an Arthur sword and a barbarian sword.
(Ivan, the "Arthur" sword is called "Excalibur.")

Joshua: I have chosen wisely.

Curtis: You can cut the tension with a barbarian sword.

Celeste: Danielle seems to be trying to strangle herself with her pink hair.

Joshua: This is actually a lot more difficult than it looks.

Danielle: He played this game like a rogue. I saw right through it. Like cellophane. Like Saran Wrap. Like the stuff you put over food to keep fresh.

Ivan: There is only six people left.

Joshua: I feel like a heaping pile of Sarlac excrement.
(Joshua, you should stay away from metaphors.)

Joshua: I'm gonna go home and throw on, like, a Firefly marathon, just catch up on all my comics, then maybe go back and beat a game I haven't played in a while.

Incorrect Grammar Answers:

Virgil: Intrateam dynamics has gotten so much simpler. I no longer have to, like, socially navigate complicated social things. (Should be have)

Genevieve: I would have felt really badly going home on a comic book challenge. (Should be bad)

Joshua: Me and Ivan have definitely bonded through our time here. (Should be I, well, actually Ivan and I)

Ivan: It's gonna be you and I, won't it? (Should be me)

Celeste: I can't understand this. Why is Virgil better than me? It doesn't make any sense. (Technically, should be I, however, it's become very common to say better than me, so I'll let that one slide)

Curtis: See if he can remember where the other pair are. (Should be is)

Thursday, February 21, 2013

New Series and TV Casting News

 The BBC has a few new series  in the works that I'm excited to see. Atlantis is based on Greek gods and the mythologies surrounding them. I love mythology, and I hope this is a good show. Jamaica Inn is based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier. I've read the book, and I really liked it. I wonder what part of the book they'll concentrate on to make it an entire series not just a movie or mini-series. The third series is Death Comes to Pemberley, based on the novel by P.D. James, which is based on the novel, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which is based on... well, Austen's imagination. *wink* I have not read James's book, but now I'm curious to check it out.

Adelaide Kane has been cast as the young Mary Stuart in the CW's fall season series, ReignI have never heard of her, nor have I seen her in anything, so I don't know what her acting range is. I read that she was on the Power Rangers. I am happy to say that I never watched the Power Rangers. I'll be curious to find out what kind of accent she will have because she's Australian, playing a Scottish princess who was raised in France. Hmm. She definitely has the look for a CW series leading lady. I still have high hopes for this series.


Oliver Jackson-Cohen has been cast as Jonathan Harker in the new series, Dracula. Oliver played Phillip White, Laura's boyfriend in the first season of Lark Rise to Candleford.

And Victoria Smurfit has been cast as Lady Jayne in Dracula. Victoria was in one of my favorite British mini-series, Berkeley Square. She also played Rowena in the BBC's version of Ivanhoe. She was also in the film, About a Boy, which a new series is being based on. Small world, isn't?

I mentioned a new CBS pilot, Super Clyde, in my 2013 Fall Season Preview, Part 2 post. For those of you who are fans of the Harry Potter films, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, will play Clyde. I hope the series is good, and that it's successful, especially for Rupert. I like him.

Arrow: The Odyssey

I would say that this is the best episode of Arrow so far. It furthered the story of how Oliver learned to fight on the island, and made me want to see more flashbacks from the island. We got to see more of Felicity, which is great, and she is given the opportunity to join Oliver and Diggle in their crusade. I'm so glad that we'll see more of Felicity, and for a long time.

Observations:

Felicity doesn't have to figure out that Oliver is The Hood. Oliver reveals it to her himself, pretty much because he doesn't want to die. I would have liked to see how Felicity would have figured it out, and how long it would have taken, but this way worked too.

Diggle says, "He's been a lot worse than this," and then of course there is a segue to the island and we see how much worse he's been through.

Wouldn't Oliver have more facial hair if he's been on the island for six months?

I like seeing Oliver with Wilson. I like Stephen Amell's acting when he's not so sure of himself. He has more personality.

I love how Oliver puts the gun down like he might catch a disease from it.

Oliver read The Odyssey in college, and it sounds like he memorized it. I've read a lot of books, and I never memorized any passages from the books. It's funny that Oliver would remember something so specific from reading it. But maybe it's because he only read one book in college, and it's easier to memorize just one than many. *wink* It is apropos that the passage would be from The Odyssey since it's about a man trying to get home.

Six months on the island has changed Oliver already. He doesn't want to be selfish anymore or take people for granted. Now there's nothing left for him to do but keep learning how to fight and use a bow. *wink*

Oliver asked Wilson to contact his family if he doesn't make it out alive. It's a good thing that the Queens are well known so Wilson won't have a hard time contacting them, since Oliver didn't give him any contact information. *wink*

Felicity asks Diggle one of the questions that I'm curious about. She asks him if it bothers him that Oliver kills so many people. I'm glad they addressed the question, because Oliver has killed people who were just in his way of following out his father's vendetta. Some of those people were probably innocent. How can he sleep nights with that on his conscience?

Wilson mentions that someone hired Fyers. Could that person be someone in Starling City? Someone that Oliver may know? Or someone on The List?

Fyers calls Oliver Yao Fei's "young castaway," and Oliver's new friend is named "Wilson." Very fitting.

What's happening on the island is getting more interesting. Yao Fei has more at stake than we knew - a good reason why it looks like he's on Fyers side. When you throw in the fact that his daughter is being held captive by Fyers, it makes sense. However, if that's the only way to win a person's loyalty, you probably won't have it for long.

It's a nice moment when Oliver holds out his had for Felicity to shake it, just as Wilson did to Oliver.

Oliver has the same tattoo as Yao Fei's daughter. Hmm.

Quotes:

Felicity: Oliver. Oh, wow. Everything about you just became so unbelievably clear.

Felicity: You're bleeding.
Oliver: I don't need to be told that.

Felicity: Can you help me? He's really heavy.

Felicity: I'm guessing "how" and "why" are Oliver Queen's least favorite questions.
Diggle: Yea, there's also "where" and "when" he's not too fond of.

Diggle: Did you ever play operation when you were a kid?
Felicity: Yes, and it never made me want to throw up.

Wilson: How did you survive here for six months? I know Girl Scouts who have more fight in them.
Oliver: Fighting Girl Scouts now, Slade, huh?

Wilson: Obviously you were never a Boy Scout.
Oliver: Yea, what tipped you off?

Wilson: We'd better hurry. The wolves come out at night.
Oliver: There are wolves here? Right. Of course there are, because what would the worst place on earth be without wolves?

Wilson: Everybody is in their life for themselves.
Oliver: You learn that in Australian spy school?

Felicity: I always wondered how I'd react if I found my boss shot and bleeding inside my car. Not that I helped because he's my boss. I'd help anyone who was shot... and bleeding in my car.

Felicity: I may be blonde, but I'm not that blonde.

Diggle: Hard as it probably is for him to admit, even Oliver needs help sometimes.

Felicity: You didn't say "clear."

Felicity: What do we do now?
Diggle: Pray we don't have a heart attack ourselves.

Oliver: They picked the one book I read in college.

Diggle: Ahh! It's less stressful when he's jumping off rooftops.

Oliver: I'm not a hero.

Wilson: A man in pain is unreliable. I was afraid I might kill you.

Oliver (laughs): I dropped on an island, and my only friend is named "Wilson." So.

Wilson: That dumb kid that I trained, he would never have made it, but you... you just might have a chance.

Oliver: I guess I didn't die. Again. Cool.

Felicity: Your system looked like it was from the 80s, and not the good part of the 80s - like Madonna and, well, leg warmers.

Oliver: Does that mean you're in.
Felicity: You mean "in" as in I'm going to join your crusade?
Oliver: Well, you're practically an honorary member of the team already.
Felicity: So Mr. Diggle said. [pause] No.
Oliver: Then why did you upgrade my systems?
Felicity: First, because seeing that we're poorly set up hurts me in my soul. And second, because I want to find Walter.

Oliver: We don't always know why people do what they do.

Bonus:

Click here for an interview with Stephen Amell, as he talks about "The Odyssey," working with Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity), and the villains he let get away (among other things).

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

If Doctor Who Were a Woman

I love this article. It explores an alternate universe where all 11 Doctor Whos were played women.

From all of the British actresses to choose from, I wonder how the author settled on those eleven. I loved many of the author's choices, but the two I really would love to see play the Doctor are Penelope Keith and Suranne Jones.

I loved Penelope Keith as Margo Leadbetter in the BBC's wonderful 70's comedy, The Good Life (a.k.a. Good Neighbors). A Doctor with Margo's personality would be great!

Suranne Jones was wonderful as "The Doctor's Wife." She's already part of the Doctor Who family, so I'm sure she'd feel right at home.

There's still a possibility that one day the Doctor will be played by a woman, so there's a chance Suranne could play the part. I'm not sure that at 72 years old Penelope would want to play the part. But it wouldn't be the first time that the Doctor has been played by someone over 60.

My favorite parts of the article are:

During Honor Blackman's turn as the 3rd Doctor, Vanessa Redgrave appeared as the Mistress.

Penelope Keith played the Doctor at the same time as she played Margo in The Good Life, and "jokes were dropped into [the comedy series], hinting strongly that Margo and the Doctor were one and the same."

"The 8th Doctor was met with massive amounts of hype, with the unprecedented casting of Julia Roberts as the Mistress, overshadowing the entire production."

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 2, ep. 16 Quippy Quotes

[Xander holds up a heart necklace]
Xander: So, what do you think?
Buffy: It's nice.
Xander: But do you think Cordelia will like it?
Buffy: I don't know. Does she know what one of these is?

Xander: When are you guys going to stop making fun of me for dating Cordelia?
Buffy: Sorry. But, never.

Xander: Cordy and I are really getting along. We're not fighting as much, and yesterday we just sat together - not speaking. You know, just enjoying comfortable silence. Man, that was dull.

Buffy: I'm glad that you guys are getting along. Almost really.

Xander: This is new territory for me. I mean, Valentine's gifts are usually met with heart-felt restraining orders.

Buffy: Sorry to say, Xan. Slaying is a tad more powerless than dating.
Xander: Well, you're obviously not dating Cordelia.

Xander: No F for Xander today. No. This [paper] is my ticket to a sweet D minus.

Buffy: Valentine's Day is just a cheap gimmick to sell cards and chocolate.
Amy: Bad breakup, huh?
Buffy: Believe me when I say, uh huh.

Willow: I just hate thinking of you solo on Valentine's Day.
Buffy: I'll be fine. Mom and I are going to have a pigout and film-fest. It's a time-honored tradition among the loveless.

Giles: Buffy. Might I have a word?
Buffy: Have a sentence even.

Willow: Oz has his cool hair today. I think I'm a groupie.

Amy: Intent has to be pure with love spells.
Xander: Right. I intend revenge. Pure as the driven snow.

Xander: Don't flatter yourself. I'm not going to make a big scene. Just want the necklace back.
Cordelia: What? I thought it was a gift.
Xander: No. Last night it was a gift. Today it's scrap metal. I figure I can melt it down. Sell it for fillings or something.

Willow: Friendships change all the time. They grow apart. They grow closer.
Xander: This is good - how close we are now. I feel comfortable with this closeness. In fact, I can back up a few paces and still be happy.

Willow: Is it Oz? Don't worry about him. He's sweet, but he's not you.
Xander: Yes, he is! And you should go to him. 'Cause he's me.

Xander: That's it! This has got to stop! It's time for me to act like a man. And hide!

Giles: I cannot believe that you are fool enough to do something like this.
Xander: Oh, no. I'm twice the fool it takes to do something like this.

[Oz punches Xander. Oz rubs his knuckles.]
Oz: That kinda hurt.
Xander: Kinda? What was that for?
Oz: I was on the phone all night listening to Willow cry about you. Now, I don't know exactly what happened, but I was left with a very strong urge to hit you.

Cordelia: Who died and made you Elvis?

Cordelia: The only way you could get girls to want you would be witchcraft.
Xander: That is such a... Well, yea. Okay. Good point.

Drusilla: Your face is a poem. I can read it.
Xander: Really? It doesn't say, "spare me" by any chance?

Drusilla: How do you feel about eternal life?
Xander: We couldn't just start with coffee? A movie maybe?

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

2013 Fall Season Preview, Part 2

Last week I posted a list of dramatic series that are being considered for the 2013 fall season, and I indicated which series I would be interested in seeing. Entertainment Weekly has posted an article that lists the comedy series being considered for the new fall season. Click here to see the complete list.

There are definitely not as many comedies I'm interested in as dramas. Some sound similar to each other, and a lot of them sound like they've been done before.

The shows I'm interested in seeing are:

NBC

About a Boy - I'm curious to see this pilot because it's based on the Hugh Grant movie.

Untitled Comedy by Owen Ellickson & Craig Robinson - Sounds a bit like The School of Rock. I hope it has some great music.

Brenda Forever - Two of my current favorite shows incorporate frequent flashbacks. Could work well here too.

CBS

Super Clyde - A comedy about a superhero could be fun.

Crazy Ones - If we get a new Joss Whedon series this fall, it would be great to have Sarah Michelle Gellar get a series too. And it would be interesting to see Robin Williams back on the small screen. It's been a while.

Monday, February 18, 2013

The Host: New Trailer

I'm getting more excited about this movie. I just hope that the best scenes aren't in the trailer and the rest of the movie is a disappointment.



Sunday, February 17, 2013

Once Upon a Time: Tiny

This episode was extremely frustrating to me. I just wanted to see Mr. Gold and Emma actually get to their destination. But no. We had to have the backstory of Andre, the giant. Oops, I mean Anton, the giant. And all for what? So he could plant a magic bean starter in Storybrooke that may eventually help the townfolk get back to the Enchanted Forest? Oh, and so we could meet Jack, the Giant Slayer. Big whoop. Come on, move the story along.

We also learned two important things in this episode: 1) Mr. Gold has no magical powers outside of Storybrooke; and 2) David's real name.

Observations:

Mr. Gold gives in to Emma pretty quickly when she says she wants to bring Henry.

Emma, can your scarf be any bigger?

Didn't Mr. Gold always know who he was, even when everyone else was cursed with forgetfulness? So, why did he need a potion to keep him from forgetting  that he was Rumpelstiltskin when he never forgot in the first place?

Emma takes Henry out of school to go on this little trip with her and Mr. Gold. This kid is never getting into college.

I love the word "malfeasance." I want to use it in my everyday speech. There's just a plethora of big words being used by characters in my favorite shows lately. And it's interesting that Hook pronounces "malfeasance," with four syllables instead of three. He says "mal-fe-a-sance" instead of "mal-fea-sance." It must be another of those words that Brits pronounce differently than Americans. Except usually they pronounce words with fewer syllables than we do than more syllables (case in point - "extraordinary").

I am shocked that David didn't hit Hook when Hook tells Mary Margaret he see where Emma got her gumption from. That leer from him was quite suggestive.

I wish Leroy would find Astrid again. Then he could be Dreamy again, instead of Grumpy.

It's so funny when the other giants get so excited about the bean harvest and Anton responds with an very unenthusiastic, "Yay," because that's exactly how I felt about the flashback.

Every time anyone mentions anything about the beans I think of the musical, Into the Woods. By the way, when is that movie coming out? Hmm.

I had the same question as Anton about the beans. Why do they grow them when nobody uses them? Arlo says, "it's what we do." That's no kind of an answer. It really bugs me when the writers need a specific plot point so it will pay out in the future, but they can't get it to make sense, so they just glaze over it and expect us to accept it without questioning. Well, I'm questioning.

David finally went after Hook. But instead of hitting him, he just pushes him against the side of the ship. Come on, David, you're a man of action. Is that all you've got?

If Hook healed Belle, then why is she still in the hospital? She's not crazy. She just forgot who she really is. Can't they just let her try to lead a normal life instead of keeping her in the hospital? Or maybe it's because that's the only kind of life she remembers. Hmm. And does she not even know her Storybrooke name? Does she have a name? Maybe it's... Belle. Hmm.

So, we get a chance to see the real Prince James again. Really, who cares? He's dead. Okay, that sounds a bit unfeeling, but I'd rather see flashbacks of characters I'm invested in. However, it does give Josh Dallas the opportunity to explore another character and show us his range of acting.

James's latest dalliance would love to battle a giant. Could she be...?

James's "girlfriend" must have been in Wonderland. She battled the Jabberwocky, and she was paid with a piece of mushroom that can make someone bigger. How did she get to Wonderland? Or is that just a throwaway reference?

Surprise! Jack's a girl. Shocker! *wink* That deconstruction really isn't as interesting as making Red the wolf. (Side note: I think it's strange that everyone has been referring to Ruby as a werewolf now, instead of just a wolf.)

When the camera lingers on Jack's smirking face after Anton says, "Nice to meet you, Jack," and the music swells, I wanted to laugh.It's as if the writers are elbowing us, saying, "Were you shocked, huh? Were ya? Were ya?"

I found it very amusing that Henry asks Gold if he's ever been outside of Storybrooke. Um, Henry. No one's left the town. First of all, they couldn't for 28 years because the town was cursed. Then, after the curse was broken, no one could leave the town or they'd forget again who they really are. Where have you been?

I'm wondering why Mr. Gold is so freaked out. He's Rumpelstiltskin, a cocky man with magical powers. It seems so out of character to see him freaked out. I know it's a different world for him, but come on! And why fly? It's less expensive to drive, and you don't have to go through security.

How do Regina and Hook know each other? Have they ever met before?

Is it really Regina who is talking to Hook? Or is it Cora? It seems strange that Regina would say that there's a giant in town who wants to "kill the prince." Why would Regina call David "the prince"? Wouldn't she call him David or even Prince James? Why "the prince"? Hmm.

Regina calls Anton "just the distraction we need." I wonder what the plan is. What is she (or Cora) planning to do while everyone else is distracted by a giant on the loose?

Okay, it has to be Cora who gives the mushroom to Anton. Why would Regina carry around a muff? After all, it is Cora who wanted a giant in Storybrooke, not Regina.

How do you hide a beanstalk that big? Humans are sure to come across it sometime.

Mr. Gold freaks out and bangs his hand hard enough to make it bleed. Was that scene just so that he could find out that he doesn't have magic to heal himself? If that's true, did the writer's make Mr. Gold so freaked out before he found out he had no magic just so he could discover he has no magical powers? I would have made him freak out after he found he had no powers, not before. It would have made it more interesting to see him change all of a sudden from that revelation, not just from going through security at an airport.

It's so funny that David and Mary Margaret are raising their voices at Anton. He's tall. I don't think he's deaf.

How do James and Jack jump from the beanstalk to the floor? There seems to be a big gap there.

All the giants have to do is step on James and Jack. I don't get why they're such a threat. Sure they have poison swords. Just give them a little flick with your finger, and don't touch the sword.

Davids' real name is David. Hah! That is funny. Regina thought she was changing James's name to David. Instead she changed David's name to David.

I'm so confused about the town line. Doesn't the town go all the way to the ocean? If the town line were where Mary Margaret indicated, then wouldn't the Storybrooke townspeople have noticed that they couldn't cross that street when they were still cursed?

Anton's awfully quiet while hanging on to that pipe. I would have been screaming my head off.

It's so funny that they have to give Granny that one thing to do - hook the rope onto the back of the truck.

It would have been impossible for David to pull Anton up from that hole the way that he was situation with that rope. I guess that's why we don't see anything between Anton taking his hand and Anton coming out of the hole.

Why are those beans so important to the giants. I just don't get it. Did they use them to go to other lands? What was the purpose of the beans?

How would David know how good the farm land is in Storybrooke? Has he secretly been planting crops since the curse was broken? He was a farmer, after all.

How did Anton know that the dwarfs were miners? Did the pick axes give them away? Or did they have a little "get to know you" conversation while they were walking to the middle of the field?

How cute that Anton got an ax. And it knew his nickname.

Okay, I have a joke... How many dwarfs does it take to plant a magic bean starter? Six - to give moral support to the giant who's digging the one hole where the starter will go. Yes, I'm wondering why it takes six dwarfs and a giant to plant one little starter.

Please, please, please let next week's episode be better than this weeks. And please, please, please let the dialogue be better.

Quotes:

Gold: My name is Rumpelstiltskin. And we're going to find my son.

Mary Margaret: You like the holster, huh?
David: I miss carrying a sword.
Mary Margaret: Well, it looks good on you.

Mary Margaret: That went well.
David: For her it doesn't get much better.

Leroy: No funny business. I'm watching you, pirate.
Hook: Yes, Dwarf. That should deter me from any malfeasance.

Mary Margaret: Oh, don't worry, Leroy. He'll help us.
Hook: What makes you so sure?
Mary Margaret: Because you're a pirate. You know which way the wind blows, and right now - it is gusting toward us.
Hook: Oh, I see where your daughter got her gumption.

Hook: Cora's not the most communicative of lasses.

Leroy: So, Cora used magic to make him travel-sized?

King George: There's giant running amok.

Anton: I'm Anton. I'm a giant.

Anton: At least tell me your name.
Jack: Jacklyn. But most people call me Jack.

David (to Anton, re: James): He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's dead. Here's nothing more you can do to him.

Anton: Emma. Let me talk to her. If she says you're okay, then I'll stop.
Mary Margaret: She's kind of out of town.
(Side note: I just have to say that some of the dialogue in this episode is so bad. "Then I'll stop"? Who says that?)

Anton: But you're my friends.
Jack: No. We're not. If you and your people want to save your lives, take us to the beans.
(Take us to the beans! Hah! So bad.)

[While running away from Anton, the giant]
Leroy: So, let me get this straight. You had a twin brother?
David: Yea.
Leroy: Whose name is James?
David: Right.
Leroy: But your name is James.
David: No, actually it's not.
Leroy: It's Charming, then?
Mary Margaret: No. That's the nickname I gave him.
Leroy: What the hell is your name?
David: David.
Leroy: Your cursed name?
David: My real name.
Leroy: What? You're David James and Charming? Is it like a middle name?
David: No. It's my name name.
Leroy: You know, whatever. I'm going to call you whatever I damn well please. Is that okay?
David: Sure, Leroy.

Anton: You saved my life.
Mary Margaret: That's what we do.

Leroy: No one touches our crop.
Anton: Your crop? I thought you guys were miners.
Leroy: Work is work. It's what we do.
(Hmm, sounds like Arlo and Mary Margaret. "It's what we do." No need to explain any further, right?)

Leroy: An ax never lies.

Emma: You good, kid?
Henry: Are you kidding? A trip with you. First plane ride. And we're going on a quest like in the book. The thing that can make this day better is more frosting.