*ARCHIVED Blog posts live here now!

My very first blog, created in 2005, lived on a host site that decided to shut down. Alas, I was able to save the content (but not the comments) by transferring it to an existing WordPress site. Thus, it all now lives here! The original site was called JOpinionated: Pop Culture Perspective. It contained my thoughts and opinions about pop culture, as well as my initial LOST theories. I had to save it all for posterity!

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Where Am I? New Site To Bookmark!

It is time to face the music and address the obvious. I’ve been neglecting this site for far too long, despite great intentions to post more frequently here after LOST ended. 
There are two major factors preventing me from posting here.
1. I tend to share quick thoughts about TV, film and music on Twitter every day
2. There are several steps involved to post an entry using this hosting service
Both factors have one thing in common: time. Or lack thereof. 
So I decided to start using Tumblr instead. Not only does it only involve one step, I can do so from my iPhone and iPad with incredible ease. Here is my new URL for you to bookmark if you’d like to continue following my pop culture perspective: http://jogarfein.tumblr.com
I am not sure at this point what I will do with this site, but it will remain up and active (as will my Lost blog). And yes, I will be podcasting again…but I need an editor/producer in order to continue. Let me know if you have any recommendations!
Thank you for your ongoing patience! I hope to hear from you on tumblr, Twitter, Facebook or email. 
-Jo
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Emmy Awards 2010: Who Should Win vs. Who Will Win

Every year I find it challenging to analyze Emmy nominations, because I tend to choose with my heart on my sleeve. If a character or show resonates with me on an emotional level, I place all hope firmly in their corner. 
Of course I am rooting for Lost to win in every category, but if I had to guess – Jack Bender will win for directing, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof will win for writing and Terry O’Quinn will take home the statue for Supporting Actor. However, I have a feeling that even the final season of Lost will be unable to topple the Mad Men juggernaut. 
Below I have designated and differentiated. Enjoy!

BEST DRAMA 

BEST COMEDY  
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA
LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
We’ll find out Sunday night just how wrong I am! Who is your top choice in the major categories?

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Must-See: The Big C (Series Debut Monday, 8/16)


Expect The Unexpected

The very first thing you need to know about The Big C is that it is not a television series about cancer. Yes, The Big C refers to cancer, but the focus of the show is far more about how one woman reacts to her diagnosis than it is about the illness itself. The Big C is a dark comedy that will take you to surprising places with equal humor and poignancy. 


In Which My Praise For Laura Linney Knows No End

Laura Linney is perfectly cast as Cathy Jamison, a suburban school teacher who discovers that she has cancer. I have admired her work over the years, particularly in Tales of the City (1993), Primal Fear (1996), Absolute Power (1997), The Truman Show (1998), The House of Mirth (2000), You Can Count on Me (2000), The Life of David Gale (2003), Mystic River (2003), Love Actually (2003), Kinsey (2004) and Breach (2007). Although Linney received an Academy Award nomination for The Savages, I still feel as though she deserved an Oscar for You Can Count on Me. And if you did not see the HBO miniseries John Adams, add it to your queue immediately; Linney won an Emmy for her role as Abigail Adams and it was one of her finest performances to date. 

By the way, I highly recommend this this recent New York Times profile of and interview with Linney. 

Why The Big C Deserves a Season Pass

Because you will find some of Cathy Jamison’s reactions to be quite reasonable, and others to be rather shocking. Because the supporting cast is quirky without being stereotypical or grating. Because you will find yourself wondering what changes you would make in your life under the same circumstances. Because Laura Linney is a familiar, comforting face that will accompany you into potentially unfamiliar territory; a phenomenal actress who radiates warmth and strength on screen. Because we now have the opportunity to spend a half hour a week with Linney and her unparalleled dimples. And because short house robes are bound to make Entertainment Weekly’s sidebar column The Shaw Report as an “in” trend after an episode or two.  

Roll Credits

The Big C also stars Oliver Platt (Huff) as Jamison’s husband, Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) as one of her students, John Benjamin Hickey (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) as her brother, Reid Scott (My Boys) as her doctor, Phyllis Somerville (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as her neighbor and newcomer Gabriel Basso as her son. Idris Elba (The Wire) also makes a guest appearance, and former Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon joins the cast later on in the first season. 

Series creator/writer Darlene Hunt is also an actress and playwright; she recently appeared on Hung and Parks and Recreation. Executive producer/writer/showrunner Jenny Bicks previously wrote and produced Sex and the City and Men in Trees. Executive producer Neal H. Moritz is primarily known for film but he also produced Tru Calling and Prison Break

The pilot episode of The Big C was directed by Academy Award winning screenwriter Bill Condon (Gods & Monsters), and future episodes are lensed by a few of my favorite cable television directors, Craig Zisk (United States of Tara, Nip/Tuck, Nurse Jackie, Weeds) and Alan Poul (Six Feet Under). 

DVR Details

Linney’s talent, the stellar cast and the subject matter, combined with the creative experience above, is exactly why you should tune in when The Big C debuts on Showtime next week (Monday, August 15 at 10:30pm ET) immediately following the season 6 debut of Weeds at 10pm ET.  You can also become a fan of the show on Facebook and follow series updates on Twitter
 
Of course if you don’t want to wait until Monday, you can watch the entire first episode right now on Showtime!

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Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going & What I’m Watching: The Future of This Site



As many of you have noticed, I have not posted on this site in two months. Because I am a freelance entertainment writer, my work has been appearing elsewhere – primarily TVovermind and AOLtv. Moving forward, I will still be posting here, especially when analyzing a film or a television series that I am not also covering on another site. And of course my archived articles will remain available here, including my very first batch of Lost posts from several years ago. 



Now that Lost has ended its six season run, I have no plans to start another site or focus that much time on one particular series. Although I will be starting Battlestar Galactica from the beginning later this week, I will not be writing about it other than reactionary tweets.

The new slate of Fall 2010 shows looks promising, and I will be posting a list of recommendations and trailers soon. In the meantime, please let me know which current or new shows you’d like me to cover! 

Here is an updated list of shows that I already watch, although I admit to being a season behind on a few:
  1. 30 Rock
  2. Bones
  3. Breaking Bad
  4. Brothers & Sisters
  5. Burn Notice
  6. Chuck
  7. Community
  8. Cougar Town
  9. Desperate Housewives
  10. Dexter
  11. Entourage
  12. Friday Night Lights
  13. Fringe
  14. Glee
  15. The Good Wife
  16. Grey’s Anatomy
  17. House
  18. Hung
  19. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
  20. Justified
  21. Mad Men
  22. Medium
  23. Modern Family
  24. Nurse Jackie
  25. The Office
  26. Parenthood
  27. Parks & Recreation
  28. Private Practice
  29. Rescue Me
  30. Survivor
  31. Top Chef
  32. Treme
  33. True Blood
  34. United States of Tara
  35. V
  36. Weeds
I appreciate your patience and promise to keep you posted about where to find me and my perspective about the television landscape. If you’re not doing so already, I would love for you to follow me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.

- Jo
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