tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54400199630141825782012-01-26T20:01:57.743-05:00Notes from the AsylumWatercooler observations on pop culture, news & politics fueled by lots of caffeineMeredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.comBlogger960125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-74798948368272624272012-01-26T20:01:00.000-05:002012-01-26T20:01:57.751-05:002012-01-26T20:01:57.751-05:00What Does Nancy Know About Newt?
It was during an interview with CNN’s John King in which former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi dropped the tease that has electrified political junkies. When King -- who verbally tousled with former House Speaker/current GOP presidential contender Newt Gingrich during a recent debate -- asked Pelosi her thoughts about the possibility of Gingrich becoming commander in chief, Pelosi responded, “That Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-11688218776720832722012-01-23T16:25:00.002-05:002012-01-23T16:28:22.839-05:002012-01-23T16:28:22.839-05:00‘Modern Family’ to the Rescue: Delivering Laughs, Irreverence
Take one part political debate, one part farce and one part auto-tuned, viral YouTube video and what do you get? The really funny latest episode of Modern Family, “Little Bo Bleep.” I really needed to laugh out loud and this new episode delivered.
Remember a year ago during the ill-fated Valentine’s Day hook-up Phil and Claire tried to arrange at a nearby hotel? They were going to meet in a Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-12571691455946946512012-01-23T15:36:00.001-05:002012-01-23T15:40:54.548-05:002012-01-23T15:40:54.548-05:00Notes from the Political Middle: Newt's in the Lead? What the Heck is Going On?
I’m the first to admit that I’m no fan of Newt Gingrich for a whole host of reasons, which will likely come as no surprise from someone who refers to herself as a “Massachusetts moderate” when Gingrich appears so fond of maligning moderate folks, especially those who hail from the Bay State.
And while I can understand that Republican primary voters are looking for a candidate who exudes Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-55243261913435450232012-01-18T10:49:00.000-05:002012-01-18T10:49:38.939-05:002012-01-18T10:49:38.939-05:00‘Secrets are Back’ on March 25 for a Two-Hour ‘Mad Men’ ExtravaganzaNine o’clock.March 25.For two hours.Don Draper will return . . . and, apparently, fall into an empty abyss in the new season.What does AMC’s stark, black and white promo image mean for the fifth season of Mad Men? That Don Draper is starting with a clean slate, starting fresh with his child-bride? Will he learn from his mistake with Betty and reveal his "Dick Whitman" secret to his fiance?Or is Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-35668552484380542752012-01-10T16:05:00.000-05:002012-01-10T16:05:22.325-05:002012-01-10T16:05:22.325-05:00Color Me Uncomfortable with Your 'Are You Single' Questions Mr. Blitzer
Jon Huntsman’s three daughters -- who’ve made names for themselves due to their irreverent Tweets and snarky pro-Huntsman YouTube videos -- appeared on CNN to promote their father's GOP presidential campaign when Wolf Blitzer started asking them if they’re single as he read a handful of love-sick Tweets that had been directed toward the women.
As the headline, “They’re Hot Online: Huntsman girlsMeredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-78155346155839971252012-01-09T16:12:00.003-05:002012-01-10T07:41:29.265-05:002012-01-10T07:41:29.265-05:00On New Hampshire Primary Day, Do Negative Campaign Ads Persuade You?Although I can appreciate the cleverness of a well executed, tough political ad as well as the next cynical voter, I really don’t like it when the atmosphere get toxic, when campaigns try to trick voters by obfuscating the facts and intentionally mislead people, or just outright name call. I hate that. It’s beneath them and the office which they seek to hold, especially if they’re vying for the Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-38006458827902390532012-01-05T16:05:00.000-05:002012-01-05T16:05:39.955-05:002012-01-05T16:05:39.955-05:00How to Make 'Margin Call' Even More Awkwardly Tense? Remove the Dialogue.
Found this YouTube video via Slate’s Brow Beat culture blog.
It features a really tense scene from the excellent film Margin Call – it’s on DVD/On Demand and is well worth the time – but it has removed all the dialogue except for a few mutterings of "Uhhh." You do, however, hear the tapping of pens, people drumming their fingers on the large conference table, the sound effect of an e-mail Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-43716174531711258002012-01-05T14:05:00.000-05:002012-01-05T14:05:55.473-05:002012-01-05T14:05:55.473-05:00Notes from the Political Middle: Demonizing ‘Moderates’
Image credit: CNN
Winning the presidential nomination of one’s chosen political party is certainly no easy feat. It takes a whole host of things – money, smarts, charisma, organization and sheer dumb luck – to emerge from the primary process as a Republican or Democratic nominee for president.
One of the toughest feats that successful nominees have to master is being an exceedingly limber Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-80739796939987644232011-12-23T07:00:00.001-05:002011-12-23T07:00:07.962-05:002011-12-23T07:00:07.962-05:00The JibJab Guys Say Goodbye to 2011
It has become a December ritual for several years now, watching the send-off that the guys who created the online digital media company JibJab, which makes funny online videos and e-cards, give to the year in news.
This year's installment has its moments but several of their previous efforts seemed more inspired. Take a look at a handful of other year-end wrap-ups here. I thought the 2007 Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-30007413190044577592011-12-22T14:38:00.000-05:002011-12-22T14:38:00.396-05:002011-12-22T14:38:00.396-05:00A Glimpse of HBO's 'Game Change' ... I'm Not Optimistic
When I finished reading the best selling book Game Change, which chronicled the behind-the-scenes exploits of the 2008 presidential campaign, I was pretty steamed. Now I’m a political junkie and love books about campaigns. I read Richard Ben Cramer’s behemoth What It Takes (1,072 pages) about the 1988 presidential campaign . . . twice. Thought it was brilliant. Some folks have likened Game Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-31270955568131100122011-12-21T14:48:00.000-05:002011-12-21T14:48:23.828-05:002011-12-21T14:48:23.828-05:00Random Good Reads/Views: Women in Media, ‘Homeland’ Finale, What’s Eating the Grinch?
Joanne Bamberger, aka Pundit Mom, clued me in to this provocative and eye-opening speech by Megan Kamerick, a former president of the Journalism & Women Symposium, about how women’s voices are disproportionately absent from news stories and features, despite the fact that women constitute over half of the population.
“Stories by female reporters are more likely to challenge stereotypes than Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-43975530585450184832011-12-19T20:06:00.002-05:002011-12-20T10:48:55.784-05:002011-12-20T10:48:55.784-05:00A Streep Fan? Do Yourself a Favor & Check Out Her '60 Minutes' Interview
In anticipation for Meryl Streep’s depiction of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, the much acclaimed actress sat down with 60 Minutes for a down-to-earth interview that made me admire and respect her even more than I already did.
I haven’t always been a Streep fan. For a while, I felt similarly to the same way Jerry Seinfeld did when, in Seinfeld, he maligned Streep for over-acting when he Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-76724169020137945012011-12-17T11:04:00.002-05:002011-12-17T11:08:17.172-05:002011-12-17T11:08:17.172-05:00About These Golden Globe Nominations . . .Normally, I’m all amped up about the Golden Globe nominations because they combine both movie AND TV awards, which I like because the nominations usually help me determine which movies I’ll make a point to see in the theaters if they're not on my Must See list already. And because, as a TV critic, I watch a lot of TV, I’m genuinely interested in which shows and Hollywood folk get nominations. Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-4024792399630121822011-12-14T17:57:00.000-05:002011-12-14T17:57:30.639-05:002011-12-14T17:57:30.639-05:00Notes from the Political Middle: Cracker Barrel vs Whole Foods; Protesters of the Year & Newt Leading GOP PackCracker Barrel vs Whole Foods
Quick, which one do you prefer: The restaurant/gift shop chain Cracker Barrel or the supermarket chain Whole Foods?
If you selected Cracker Barrel, you must be a Republican. If you picked Whole Foods, you’re obviously a Democrat. It makes sense that if you buy the $7.39 Chicken n’ Dumplins from Cracker Barrel, where they play country music in the background, you Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-8925886248852308942011-12-09T15:41:00.000-05:002011-12-09T15:41:46.525-05:002011-12-09T15:41:46.525-05:00Notes on Pop Culture: Keaton's Memoir, 'The Descendants,' 'Boss' Rules & Meeting 'Morning Joe'Diane Keaton’s Charming Memoir
Perhaps Diane Keaton’s Then Again, should be called a “mom-ior” instead of a memoir as Keaton decided that instead of simply writing about her life and loves (Allen, Beatty, Pacino among them), she’d write an autobiography in which she parallels her story with that of her housewife mother Dorothy Hall, someone whom Keaton called the most influential person in her Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-68513562125600529212011-12-06T18:19:00.001-05:002011-12-22T14:41:44.954-05:002011-12-22T14:41:44.954-05:00Sick of the Same Christmas Tunes? Here are Some Alternatives.
I’m seriously trying to embrace the holiday spirit this year and not be so Grinchy, even though I have zip, zippo, nada shopping done. One of the ways in which I’m trying to simply enjoy the Christmas season is by listening to music, but I’m kind of tired of the same old stuff I’ve been hearing for decades. I want something fresh. I mean, I love “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as much as theMeredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-55960176087908754372011-12-02T13:19:00.000-05:002011-12-02T13:19:16.068-05:002011-12-02T13:19:16.068-05:00Sardonic Laughs for the Literary TypesBefore Thanksgiving, one of my friends with a killer sense of humor sent me a link to a snarky and profane column by Colin Nissan from the web site McSweeney’s Internet Tendency about autumnal decorative gourd season gone awry. Oh my God. It was damn funny, the perfect antidote to over-the-top, Good Housekeeping-type of fall home decorating tips.
As a result of reading that column, I’ve been Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-86188641059136410202011-12-01T17:19:00.000-05:002011-12-01T17:19:32.349-05:002011-12-01T17:19:32.349-05:00Huntsman Daughters At It Again, Bringing Huntsman ‘Back’ with Timberlake Tune
Who knew that GOP hopeful Jon Huntsman’s three daughters – Liddy, Abby and Mary Anne -- had decent voices? In their continuing campaign to promote their dear old dad as a solid potential commander-in-chief, the trio of Huntsman daughters have released an unofficial campaign song on YouTube set to the tune of Justin Timberlake’s SexyBack.
Seriously.
Among their lyrics:
“We’re bringing HuntsmanMeredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-60164592443712481952011-11-22T08:49:00.003-05:002011-11-22T08:56:46.683-05:002011-11-22T08:56:46.683-05:00TV Families' Thanksgivings are Just As Messed Up As Yours
It’s Thanksgiving week and, for some of us, that means stressing out over making the biggest meal of the year and/or trying not to fret about what might happen when you mix an unpredictable group of friends and family members, plus adult beverages, with discussions about the Occupy Wall Street protests or the collapse of the Super Committee, together over a Thanksgiving meal.
Tick . . . Tick . Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-77317368507343392792011-11-21T22:24:00.000-05:002011-11-21T22:24:15.837-05:002011-11-21T22:24:15.837-05:00Notes on Pop Culture: What Films Are You Jonesing to See? Would You Pay Theater Prices to See Them at Home?
I finally got to set foot inside an actual movie theater last weekend. My plan was to, at long last, catch The Ides of March, the film about the loss of innocence of a political operative (Ryan Gosling)who’s working for a flawed presidential candidate (George Clooney). However the universe and the movie theater people conspired against me and I was unable to see the movie, the one that's perfectMeredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-65323211895888430722011-11-14T20:20:00.000-05:002011-11-14T20:20:14.978-05:002011-11-14T20:20:14.978-05:00Hunger Games Trailer: What Do Book Series Fans Think?
Just saw the trailer for The Hunger Games movie, which is slated for release on March 23.
After having read through the book series this past summer at the behest of my twin 13-year-olds, I found the books addicting and oddly compelling, as well as politically intriguing when taken in context with world events over the past few months.
That said, I wasn't sure if the theatrical version would Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-76534595637481024362011-11-14T20:00:00.002-05:002011-11-22T08:51:46.834-05:002011-11-22T08:51:46.834-05:00Notes on Pop Culture: TV Season Thus Far = Some Good, Some So-SoThe fall TV season is about to go on its typical holiday break which means we’re soon going to be seeing an uptick in repeats through the new year. Grey’s Anatomy, for example, has already aired its last episode of 2011. While I’ve already extolled the virtues of the new shows Homeland and Boss here, how have other favorite TV shows being doing thus far this season?
Grey’s Anatomy: It’s had an Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-2394545056886893502011-11-10T12:52:00.002-05:002011-11-10T12:54:07.037-05:002011-11-10T12:54:07.037-05:00'Homeland' & 'Boss:' The Best Shows on TV Right NowIf you get Showtime and/or the Starz Channels, do yourself a favor, start watching Homeland, starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin, and Boss, starring Kelsey Grammer in a role that’ll make you say, “Frasier who?”
Both shows are unpredictable. Both of them have shocked and intrigued me and left me craving more. Intelligent and challenging, they are two of the best dramatic offerings you’re Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-29678165549800016742011-11-07T21:12:00.000-05:002011-11-07T21:12:46.336-05:002011-11-07T21:12:46.336-05:00No Gross Cigarette Labels ... For Now
A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the federal regulations requiring the grisly images on cigarette packages “go beyond conveying the facts about the health risks of smoking or go beyond that into advocacy – a critical distinction in a case over free speech,” the Associated Press reported.
“It is abundantly clear from viewing these images that the emotional response they were crafted toMeredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5440019963014182578.post-22966929049543432972011-11-03T12:47:00.002-04:002011-11-03T12:50:23.327-04:002011-11-03T12:50:23.327-04:00Notes on Politics: Seeing Sexual Harassment Allegations Through a Partisan Lens
Here’s my bottom line when it come to allegations that someone used his office and his power to attempt to intimidate/persuade female underlings/employees to engage in sexual conduct and/or to subject them to sexually harassing language or behavior because they’re women and you’re feeling a bit randy:
If the allegations have merit and the denials don’t hold water (because the stories/Meredith O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13931703511561742340noreply@blogger.com0