Posts Tagged ‘stories’

nothing’s gonna stop them now

During my Amazing Mom’s much-too-short life she managed to find the funny during the darkest of times, so unsurprisingly I raced out to see THE SKELETON TWINS opening weekend after learning that it’s about family members (Maggie and Milo) who use humor to cope.

It certainly didn’t hurt that it was a Sundance Best Screenplay winner — and then when I read that that Writer/Director Craig Johnson and stars Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader would be doing Q&As after some of the weekend screenings, the deal was sealed. Win/Win for me as I managed to score a ticket (to what would be a sold-out performance) at the Landmark in West L.A. where Johnson and Hader were planning to appear.  Big YAY!

SMART COMEDY

To me Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader are the “best of” modern-day SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. I’m devastated that now they only guest on the show.  But it’s awesome seeing them on the big screen where they shine even brighter. In THE SKELETON TWINS they take talent to a whole new level tackling layered, complex roles and dramatic situations (like suicide, career failures and adultery) with creativity and expertise.

People say that comedy actors are really smart (Lisa Kudrow/Vassar, Jenny Slate/Columbia, Sasha Baron Cohen/Cambridge) because their brains are so creatively quick. Watch any Robin Williams interview to see how his train-of-thought is light-years ahead of the rest of us. It’s not a skill one can acquire, COMEDY is part of the DNA for the lucky ones.  Lemme tell you after seeing Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig seamlessly dance back-and-forth from drama to dramedy — hitting every mark in every frame — I’m guessing that both of them are off-the-charts smart! Read the rest of this entry »

rom with real com!

Perhaps it’s due to the afterglow from my summer fling with Jorgen, or maybe it’s the best comedy of the summer, but either way I find myself totally into Greg Poehler’s fresh fish-out-of-water half-hour, WELCOME TO SWEDEN.  Sweet, charming and understated so it actually feels real, it’s a welcome relief from those loud, actor-y, in-your-face comedies that hit you over the head trying too hard to be funny. (It’s exactly the kind of project I relate to — would love to be called in for a guest spot, hint-hint!)

A Sweet Set-up —

In this sweet summer treat, single-camera comedy, successful Accountant, Bruce (Greg Poehler) leaves his self-absorbed celebrity clients (like Will Ferrell) and his narcissistic boss (sister and co-producer, Amy Poehler) in the dust as he impulsively moves to Sweden to live with his hot girlfriend Emma (Josephine Bornebusch) without exactly working out the details. The relationship is tested as he navigates his way through foreign everything, while trying to prove his worthiness to doubting potential in-laws, Emma’s parents: Therapist/Mother-without-filters, Viveka (the wonderful Lena Olin who steals every scene),  and stoic, hard-working Dad, Birger (Claes Mansson.)

Pushing Boundaries —

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sweet memories

Still feeling jet-lagged and a little devastated after my tearful adiós (well actually adjö) to my summer fling,  Jorgen. Yep, my gorgeous Swedish Architect was just what I needed to temporarily block out unrealistic thoughts of closed-off Dr. Crush, memories of ER screamy-meamies with yucky bodily fluids, and the drought of summer auditions, ugh.

Jorgen taught me about art at Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum, 70’s architecture and hippie style in Ibiza, and toured me through the Gaudi Cathedral and Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.

Sipping Spanish wines in between sweet kisses, we dined by candlelight under a gazillion stars in Ibiza, and ran barefoot through the sand under the moonlight (ahhhh…)  And though my stomach had a few issues (I’ll spare you the details) the Spanish food was ultra-fresh in that European way, beautifully assembled and muy delicioso.

First stop, MADRID —

Bar Tomate – Open from 8:30 am till midnight (2 am Thursday, Friday and Saturday) is casual hip and hopping, serving maybe the yummiest tapas I had the entire trip. Maybe my senses were intoxicated because Bar Tomate was where Jorgen and I met (on my first night in Spain.) Then… every night that followed was absolutely dreamy… yes, DREAMY! Read the rest of this entry »

taking the leap

FATE: Are we in the hands of fate or is fate in our hands?

Are we meant-to-be or are we meant-to-make-it-happen? Some people and moments-in-time feel unexplainably meant-to-be. But what about the thousands that don’t?

Sticking Your Neck Out —

One of my author faves, Allison Winn Scotch explores choice vs. fate in THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES, a modern day love story about losing a safety net and learning how to jump anyway. Yikes! It’s about going in the opposite direction of your comfort zone (not my favorite direction) — creating a “Life Map”, then owning it/living it fearlessly and intensely, regardless of how vulnerable, inadequate, and totally freaked-out you might be. (I’m freaked out just thinking about it!)

Last month real life “Air-Traveler” Erica Domesek (@psimadethis) decided to edit her own Fairy Tale via Twitter after she sat next to her “future husband” but didn’t get his full name on a flight. (Don’t you just hate when that happens?) Erica tweet-begged the airlines to help her track him down and when that failed, she rallied the universal Twitter Nation. Erica took destiny into her own hands after her possible true love had been seated in “2B.” Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Jason Katims:

Though we’ve never met, I feel like I kinda know you – at least your inner warm and fuzzy, touchy-feely parts.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and PARENTHOOD, are amongst my faves-forever and your newest, ABOUT A BOY is worming its way into my heart.

I don’t know how you do it, but with every episode you manage to make me laugh-cry or cry-laugh as I empathize with your lovingly-flawed, fully fleshed-out characters. They’re all so heart-achingly honest and really, really, real — especially the tough-but-tender. So no matter how many times they fall, I’m there waiting with a net.

And don’t get me started on the Bravermans. I mean, I feel like they’re Family I love them all so much! Julia, Sarah and Kristina are my soul-sisters. Adam’s the big brother I wish I’d had. Camille’s my mom (if she’d lived longer). Though some of the situations may feel too-close-for-comfort (like family members with cancer or letting go of someone you love) you show me that we do get through it, no matter how hard it feels.

And ABOUT A BOY just keeps getting better and better. I now know that at the end of every episode there’s gonna be a lump-in-my-throat moment, whether the scene takes place on a diving board or toilet. Marcus and Will are 2014’s “Odd Couple.” They’re delicious! When it comes to characters, you know all the best flavors.

Marcus and Will

Your taste in casting is impeccable. I fell-in-love-at-first-sight with Tim Riggins, Vince Howard, Crosby B. and Will Freeman — I mean, you had me before they said “hello”. Read the rest of this entry »

(but moving forward…)

Uh-oh! We’re five days into 2014 and I’m still thinking about my list of New Year’s Resolutions. So in a never-ending effort to stop procrastinating (which should be my #1) — I’m addressing it now. Not tomorrow, not next week – NOW!

DO UNTO OTHERS…

As I contemplate my list, my wandering mind heads over to what bugs me in others and what I’d write on their list:

• My “Dr. McCrush” (master of mixed-messages) over-analyzes pros and cons of anything remotely personal. He’s so freaked-out about moving in the wrong direction, he makes no moves at all! Not only is it frustrating from my P.O.V., I realize it can’t be healthy for him to be in constant stress-mode. What’s weird is that he has no problem making decisions professionally – he’s always focused and forthright and has an awesome bedside manner. But personally he’s a total basket case. Obviously there’s a whole lotta baggage in his history. (C’mon, Dr. A – pack it up already and let’s get going.)
• My Agent Josh is big on conversation these days, but not great at delivering. I realize his hands are tied by some of my inconvenient spur-of-the-moment decisions — and now that I’m on the lower steps of a ladder, it’s harder to get back up — but I’d rather he didn’t say something and get my hopes up than not say it at all. (But I don’t want to lose all hope…)
• My frenemy, Briana weirds me out on a regular basis, with her passive-aggressive behavior, the fleeting moments when things seem like they always used to and her bitchy flare-ups when I least expect them. Why does she hold onto the past, when there’s the possibility of a positive future? (Enough with the Dr. Jekyll and Hyde-ness!)
• My Volunteer Supervisior, Charlayne would get a lot more outta me if she’d show a little appreciation, ugh. It’s not a sign of weakness, Charlayne to act human occasionally. (“Honeychild,” didn’t they teach you in Southern school that you get a lot more flies with honey — not that I’m a fly – I hate flies, almost as much as moths who eat away at the vintage designer sweaters my mom left me.) Read the rest of this entry »

“What Does The Spleen Do”?

Laughter may be the best medicine, but aren’t you s’posed to get through Med School first? Has sleep-deprivation pushed these hip-hopping Harvard Med Students over the edge or is this some kinda Ivy League Extra Credit to FIND THE FUNNY?

If only my ER would take a hint and produce a Medical Musical… At least I’d book a gig on the Spleen-Screen!

Hatee-Hatee-Hatee-Eeet
Hit-The-Books-Then-Hit-The-Beat!