FanGrrl Magnet

The FemmeBot

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:25:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

I have just launched my new culture community - The FemmeBot. Would love it if you can drop by and chat now and then this summer.

To get things rolling we will be having weekly discussions about the new summer seasons of TRUE BLOOD, MAD MEN, and BEING HUMAN here in the USA. The site will also cover new films, Comic Con, and whatever awesome news bits and culture that we notice over the coming months.

Come check us out, if you like us maybe you'll add us to your LJ Friends Page, Twitter Feed or RSS Feed?

The internet is nothing without conversation.

xoxo
Erica

New Projects Afoot...

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:28:00 +0000

Hi everyone.

It has been a while since I've written to the Magnet -- just wanted to let y'all know that I've been working on a new site project slated to launch very soon. Keep an eye on this space or my twitter for an update when it goes live!

Hope you're enjoying all the heat.

The Cannes Film Festival and The TV Upfronts

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:01:00 +0000

My head is just about exploding this week, with all the news and opinion about the rush of new films and TV shows being announced and/or screened this month during France's Cannes Film Festival, and the 2010-2011 TV Upfronts Week during which major TV nets announce their new schedules for the fall and midseason (spring).

Here are a few links if you are interested in keeping up:

For Cannes, I am as always enjoying thorough and opinionated coverage at Thompson On Hollywood, The Playlist, and the crew at IndieWire, with interviews, reviews, and news of note for American filmgoers. The festival's official site also has this page, loaded with clips or trailers from every single film at the festival.

The Shat and BIG BANG THEORY, on CBS Thursdays This Fall! Awww.

For new TV shows at the Upfronts, take a gander at the news coverage by The Live Feed and The Daily Beast. Seat42F has this full cheatsheet on all the new shows, The Live Feed has this video player containing clips and trailers, and Zap2it has the whole fall schedule laid out in a handy grid.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I will have a bit more to say on all this new entertainment soon.

If you follow these events I am curious to hear back from you, my beloved readers, about which of these films and shows you are getting excited about. The wait will be long to actually SEE any of it, but we can till discuss...

Another important doc from Davis Guggenheim

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:22:00 +0000

Davis Guggenheim, maker of the climate disruption documentary AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, has a new film coming out: WAITING FOR SUPERMAN. Check out the trailer:

A lot of friends in my age range, 40something/late30s, are definitely seeing tons of kids out of high school and in their early 20s who are being effected by lack of education, lack of good teachers, lack of the basic skills we were given in our (mainly public) educations of the 1960s through 1980s.

Pledge to see this film when it comes out, at www.WaitingForSuperman.com.

Opening Fall 2010. (Hat tip to Hollywood Elsewhere)

Vampire Summer 2010

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:28:00 +0000

As Mo Ryan has just pointed out on her twitter, this June is going to be incredibly vampire-heavy on our TVs.

Not only does the new season of TRUE BLOOD start on HBO June 13th, but the CW network just bought the rights to re-broadcast CBS series MOONLIGHT. They plan to do so back-to-back with re-runs of their hit show THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, beginning June 3rd.

Add to this fangbanger pile-up the oncoming premiere of TWILIGHT: ECLIPSE in theaters on June 30th, and you have got one seriously vampy summer coming up this year.

For those of us who like our vamps a little older and good bit wiser, let me share a drop of TRUE BLOOD with you... this is one of six "minisodes" that HBO is premiering each week leading up to June 13th. (Minisode 2, with eternal virgin vamp Jessica, is here.)

Minisode: Eric & Pam

PS... this just in: new Buffy comic book cover, hilarious! Eat your heart out, Stephanie M.

NURSE JACKIE at the Paley Center

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 04 May 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Last night I attended a delightful NURSE JACKIE event at the New York Paley Center For Media. Next week's new episode Monkey Bits (#208), featuring guest star Harvey Fierstein, was screened. Afterwards there was almost an hour of discussion with Edie Falco, show creators/writers Liz Brixius and Linda Wallem, and producer Richie Jackson. As always at the Paley events, watching great television in a comfy theater with an enthusiastic audience is a unique and lovely experience.

I've embedded the audio from the entire 45-minute discussion at the bottom of this post, if you'd like to get all the delicious details.

On Stage at the Paley Center (L to R):

Richie Jackson, Liz Brixius, Linda Wallem, Edie Falco,

and panel moderator Pat Mitchell/Paley Center CEO

[photos by Chloe Seldman/Michael Priest Photography]

A friend of Falco's sent her and Jackson a script called Nurse Mona, which was very different from the show they ended up making. It was dark with supernatural elements, and included dead characters (ghosts) and even animated sections. Jackson, Falco, and the Showtime cable network fell in love with the idea of Falco playing a strong, blue collar nurse character, and decided to develop a radically altered version of the original script. At around the same time, Wallem and Brixius had written a pilot together for a different show for Showtime, which was passed on. Showtime introduced these two parties, in the hopes that some showbiz magic would ensue.

"We love addiction, we think it's hilarious," jokes Wallem while explaining why she and Brixius were so drawn to working on the nursing project for Falco. Falco is more than an actor on this show, and both Wallem and Brixius gave her much credit for continuing to collaborate with them on this show throughout the process. During the panel, Falco remained adorably modest in this area, but admits that her years and years of acting experience give her plenty of perspective and she welcomed the input. Another very special perk of this show: it is shot entirely in New York City, which was something Falco requested so that she could stay with her family.

Edie tried to do a bit of research in advance of playing a nurse (at Bellevue, "on an outpatient basis," she jokes). Acting research is not something that Falco comes to naturally, and while at the hospital she felt so in the way of the urgent care being given, it became tough work. There were many nurses in the audience at the Paley this evening; Wallem mentioned that the NURSE JACKIE Facebook page gets plenty of comments from viewers who are nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers.

During the audience Q&A at the panel's end, one fan asked what happened to beloved former All Saints nurse Mohammed “Mo-Mo” De La Cruz. According to Brixius, there were indeed additional Mo-Mo scenes shot which had to be left out of the show due to time constraints. In these scenes you see that Mo-Mo now works for an Upper East Side dermatologist - "pumping botox for three times the money, and working half the hours. He just knew where his life was going, he didn't want to end up 40 and burnt out, he saw it coming." Wallem added that over the development of season one Doctor O'Hara became Jackie's main confidant and friend, which was leading to Mo-Mo's character being redundant.

Most of the panelists brought up the many ways they insure NURSE JACKIE is constantly discussing the problems with American healthcare today. Although the show was created before Obama's current healthcare bill was under debate, and although NURSE JACKIE does not use "ripped-from-the-headlines" cases, such ideas have been embedded in the show at every stage.

Brixius and Wallem are big Paddy Chayefsky fans, bringing up his work on films NETWORK and THE HOSPITAL. They see NURSE JACKIE in part paying homage to Chayefsky, to his unhinged main characters and crumbling institutions. Working on premium cable allows the filmmakers to create darkly funny and affecting stories, in ways a network (ie, free TV) would never sanction.

This was a charming, funny panel if you like the show - listen to the whole thing below. Let me also give a shout out here to Alix, aka The TV Chick, who has posted her own terrific write up of this panel. 'Twas great meeting you, Alix.

NURSE JACKIE has already been renewed for season three.

--> NURSE JACKIE panel discussion (MP3) embedded via Drop.io

Waiting Sucks.

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:36:00 +0000

[source here - 1 of 12, eh?]

"If I was 14? I'd probably be Team Jacob..."

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:59:00 +0000

This is a perfect DVD extra for the TWILIGHT franchise - I love how it cuts right to the bottom line of why these books and movies are so popular universally with so, so many women.

(When this gets yanked down from YouTube, go here to get an FLV.)

Falling hard... for SKINS

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:32:00 +0000

Just watched all of season one, and part of season two of the British TV show SKINS on Netflix Watch Instantly. Pretty incredible. The energy of Doug Liman's GO, the pathos of FREAKS AND GEEKS, the raw cinema verite style that sucker-punches you like the film FISH TANK or, farther back, the US film KIDS. Forever meandering between ecstacy, hilarity, and heartbreak...with possibly the best musical score since THE SOPRANOS.

I'm hooked. Especially on poor, sweet little Sid.

An Historic Moment

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:22:00 +0000

Congrats to Kathryn Bigelow for finally breaking Hollywood's big glass ceiling for women in film, by winning a Best Director Oscar last night. Let us all hope the trend continues...

j/k with James Cameron (I hope...)

CAPRICA fans: are we about to get some good news?

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:17:00 +0000

For those of you watching the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA spinoff show CAPRICA, SFX Magazine apparently has word from sources behind the show's production that season two may be a reality. The back half of season one airs this summer, and season two if it happens would air in 2011.

CAPRICA's fifth episode "There Is Another Sky" brings the series into some wide new territory -- reminiscent of some of the biggest concepts from THE MATRIX. I09's Annalee Newitz has written a terrific analysis that teases out some of the other sci-fi concepts percolating on the show:

What's worse than being a teenage girl trapped in the body of a massive robot? Being a teenage girl trapped in the collective fantasy of a million other teenagers. And that's exactly what's happening to Tamara, as she tries to find her way home. After what is apparently weeks of wandering through dance clubs and orgy rooms, she falls in with a group of game hackers and modders who promise to get her out of V-World. If she promises to do them one little favor. You see, Tamara has a superpower in V-World: Unlike every other gamer, who accesses the place via holoband, she can't be killed when you shoot her. She just heals up and stays in the game. She's basically the perfect mod for cheating, and that's exactly what the gang - led by a very Mondo 2000-looking lady named Vesta - wants her to do... Are Tamara's powers now more awesome than Zoe's? The answer to that question is what makes this episode pure genius.

...Daniel is about to be ousted from his company after announcing that they will be making holoband code free, no longer requiring people to pay a licensing fee for it. But he convinces the board to keep him by giving this speech, which is almost ripped from today's headlines about the music and movie industry's efforts to stay profitable in a world where everybody expects media to be free online.

If you think about it, the message here is both weird and chilling. If we can't sell media online, we'll just sell slaves instead. That's right, kids. All that pirating you're doing of media? It's forcing media companies to change their business models from selling content to selling sentient beings. Why doesn't the RIAA consider that?
...From its humble origins as a spinoff of Battlestar Galactica, Caprica has grown into a terrific show in its own right. A show that nimbly asks big questions about the nature of sentience and justice, while also spinning a terrific yarn about old-fashioned gangsters in a world of high-tech corporate warfare.
This is definitely not Battlestar Galactica anymore. It's something else.

As Slate Magazine says, CAPRICA is such a different show from BSG that comparing the two is probably doing CAPRICA a huge diservice:

The first few episodes of Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica re-imagination reached out and clenched viewers by the throat, but with Caprica, the highly anticipated prequel series, Moore & Co. opted for a more grounded approach.

...Like Battlestar, Caprica takes on a bevy of weighty social issues, picking up the familiar religious and metaphysical threads while taking shots at a few new subjects like sensationalized journalism, corporate crime, and cultural identity.

...It's difficult to imagine people reacting to the show with the same fervor as Battlestar; there are far too few explosions and generally awesome things for that. But Caprica still manages to take on some daring themes with that familiar dedication to character and plot.

Much as it did in support of the miniseries and first season of BSG, the SyFy network remains staunchly behind their new production. Let's hope this Season 2 rumor pans out for us CAPRICA fans... Meanwhile March 17th brings a New York City Paley Center panel for the show featuring cast and crew, and there are rumblings that CAPRICA will almost certainly get a panel at this summer's ComicCon in San Diego.

Herrrrre's Johnny!

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Now that the Olympic Games are done, Sundance Channel will be airing the rest of their new episodes of BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR on Monday nights. A very fun show about a playful, dedicated, magnetic athlete and artist.

There was a lot of talk about Weir during the Vancouver games... not all of it friendly. One needs to keep this stuff in perspective, dontchathink?

Skates + Drama + Olympics = Film Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:18:00 +0000

US Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir
during his long program skate at the 2010 Olympics last week

This past week of the 2010 Winter Olympics has allowed me to relive some of my childhood adoration for the great athletics and artistry of skating. It also allows the unusual pleasure of combining a love for Stephen Colbert - who has been goofing it up in Vancouver while taping tons of material for his upcoming shows - with love for outspoken, sexy and stylish fabulousness: in this case personified by figure skater Johnny Weir. Johnny, by the way, now also has his own TV show as well! I hope you are watching it: Sundance Channel is in the midst of running the 8-episode series, called BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR.

Stephen Colbert salutes the Canadian Mounties for his 2nd visit
to Bob Costas' NBC Olympics studio on Friday night
(click image to see video)

FanGrrl Magnet Fandom Mashup FTW!

With all eyes on Vancouver this week, there's been plenty of hilarity and skating dramas to witness - which gave me inspiration for an adhoc, at-home film festival, courtesy of Netflix...

From the Netflix Watch Instantly selections: the best film about hockey ever made, SLAP SHOT; 70s drama ICE CASTLES; and in honor of the outspoken, inspiring verve of Johnny Weir, FOOTLOOSE.

Other films to rent on DVD: cult classic romance THE CUTTING EDGE; MYSTERY, ALASKA with Russell Crowe and Hank Azaria; wacky BLADES OF GLORY of course; ICE PRINCESS with Hayden Panettiere and Michelle Trachtenberg, THE ICE PRINCESS with Olympic skater Katerina Witt; Olympic hocket drama MIRACLE with Kurt Russell.

Anyone have any other favorites I should be watching? Shout 'em out!

Bill Maher is back. Thank goodness.

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:52:00 +0000

REAL TIME WTH BILL MAHER returns to HBO tonight at 10pm.

It pays to have a little perspective...

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:18:00 +0000

In these tough times. Stay focused.

(click to enlarge)

Transforming The Magazine Experience

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:59:00 +0000

From Adobe TV - Wired Magazine and Adobe are collaborating on "a new digital magazine concept that provides an immersive, interactive content experience for readers and innovative possibilities for advertisers." I hope this is the future of print publications because it looks like a lot of fun for consumers...

New GLEE footage at last!

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:58:00 +0000

A tiny crumb for we starving GLEE fans, patiently waiting for the rest of season one to air in April... from Entertainment Tonight:

ETA: another new promo from later this evening -

Happy Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Here is my Eye Candy Calculus this weekend after a few new photographs hit teh interwebs:

New RPattz Photo Spread

+

New ECLIPSE Set Photos

EQUALS =

Delicious. Enjoy your holiday girls...

This Is Our Moment... Email Your Senators.

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:47:00 +0000

Let's do this!

Incredibly creepy LOST video

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:26:00 +0000

Disturbing.

ETA: Damon Lindelof twittered about this video: "Person who made this? You complete me."

["Lost OCD Thing of the Day" via Vulture]

Lady Gaga 2005

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:39:00 +0000

Back when she was still calling herself Stefani Germanotta...

Jon Hamm on SNL

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:29:00 +0000

MAD MEN's Jon Hamm rocked it on Saturday Night Live this weekend, his second time hosting. Here are my favorite skits -- there are so many!

New Senator

The Curse

The Closet Organizer

Sports Show

Hamm & Buble

The Bar

You didn't need to watch the Grammys, just go to YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:09:00 +0000

The best parts are up - and it looks like a replay of last fall's VMA broadcast with more from Pink, Gaga (with assist this time from fellow hothouse orchid Elton John), and Beyonce...

WORK IT GIRLS.

Prece-don't

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:31:00 +0000

Stephen Colbert ponders the deeper implications of this week's Supreme Court decision about corporations sponsoring political campaigns. In his own very special way.

New trailers for DAMAGES and JUSTIFIED

noreply@blogger.com (ProgGrrl) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:27:00 +0000

Last night just after the first episode of the new season of DAMAGES aired, FX showed these fantastic trailers for upcoming episodes of DAMAGES, and for their new show JUSTIFIED starring Tim Olyphant. JUSTIFIED premieres March 16 - looks like we DEADWOOD fans might get some small satisfaction from this show.

Sorry for the very bad shot-off-my-TV quality, but I hope you appreciate the instant gratification factor. ;-) Also the audio on my DVR was a bit wonky last night, so there are some level dropouts on this video.