Random Rental Review: 27 Dresses




I admit it, I really like Katherine Heigl.

I tried not to like 27 Dresses. I knew that Heigl couldn’t possibly follow Knocked Up with something as funny or well scripted. And I was right. But the thing is…it wasn’t bad. Formulaic? Sure. But so was Sex & the City.

I’m not quite ready to crown Heigl the next Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts, but she fills the shoes far better than Cameron Diaz (whoever continues to force her upon us in broad romantic comedies is probably the same delusional person who thinks Edward Burns is the next Richard Gere or Tom Hanks; he’s not, he’s grating, it has to stop).

Yes, I’ve heard the rumblings about Heigl trying to get out of her Grey’s Anatomy contract. And I know that she just removed herself from Emmy contention. I’m not one for addressing celebrity gossip or perpetuating rumors, so all I will say about that is…I don’t really care. I’m more interested in her next few film choices, and if she will have more success than Jennifer Aniston did after ditching a very lucrative television career for a chance to shine on the big screen.

As for 27 Dresses, it’s a rainy day rental. Screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna clearly has her pen on the pulse of contemporary women (she also penned The Devil Wears Prada).

But the best part about the movie was actually James Marsden, who continues to prove that he is a very diverse and appealing actor; he has nailed both the charming leading man role (Enchanted, Hairspray) and the action-packed ensemble player (X-Men, Superman Returns). I’m much more likely to see a film with Marsden than I am one starring Patrick Dempsey, to be honest.

Have any of you seen 27 Dresses? Let me know what you thought…

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Callie & Hahn: It’s On (Grey’s Anatomy Season Finale)


[Again, before I begin...a polite request. Just
as I choose to click away rather than respond when I strongly disagree
with someone's written opinion, I hope you do the same. If you leave an
offensive comment or personal attack, I will not approve or post it.
That is my prerogative as the owner of this site. There are plenty of
other online outlets for you to share those sentiments.]


It’s all
about chemistry.


 


You can’t
help who you’re attracted to. It’s chemical, it’s human nature, it’s inevitable
and it’s beautiful. 


 


On Grey’s
Anatomy
, Dr. Callie Torres and Dr. Erica Hahn are two of the finest surgeons at Seattle Grace Hospital. They also happen to be drawn to one another in ways
that seem as surprising to them as they are to some of the fans.


 


Here is
what I love about this storyline:


 


I love
that their friendship and connection was established before May Sweeps; this
relationship was not a ratings stunt. The sexual tension between Callie and
Hahn is palpable; it’s all about chemistry.


 


I love
that after Hahn planted one on her in the elevator last week, Callie hesitated
before following Sloan rather than Hahn.


 


I love
that in last night’s finale, Callie was so flummoxed by her feelings for Hahn
that she just took a deep breath and kissed her because she wasn’t able to
express in simple words how she was feeling at that moment. We’ve all been
there, and it is fantastic to be on the receiving end of that passion. It’s all
about chemistry.


 


I love
that Hahn kissed her back.


 


I love
that the writers have handled their story with respect and grace. We do not
know if Hahn is gay, and up until now, we’ve only seen Callie date men. Both of
them may turn out to be bisexual or lesbian or neither, but it’s not important
to label their relationship at this stage. Not everyone is fortunate enough to
figure out exactly who they are from birth or early on; for some, it only
becomes obvious much later in life. It’s all about chemistry, and it isn’t
always easy to find and/or admit.


 


I also
love that the writers do not back down when faced with negative fan feedback. They
didn’t fold when the George/Izzie outrage was deafening, and they won’t give in
now. With Callie and Hahn, they have provided us with the opportunity to cheer
for yet another equally challenging and entertaining relationship. Their interaction will
look and feel familiar, regardless of whom you happen to share your life with. It’s
all about chemistry.


 


Gay and
lesbian characters are prevalent on most television and cable networks now, and
it is refreshing to watch a slice of my own reality unfold onscreen. That
Shonda Rhimes and the Grey’s writing staff have so accurately presented the
beginning of a relationship and true chemistry between two women on TV is brave
and encouraging. They are changing the lives of countless women and men of all
ages who have not had the courage to admit who they are just yet, teenagers and
adults alike who might be more likely to actually talk about it because a
similar situation presented itself on their favorite show.

I applaud the actors and everyone involved with Grey’s Anatomy for taking us down this path, and look forward to the next season more than ever before.

I originally wrote a lengthy response to the general ire that many have expressed about Callie and Hahn on various message boards since last night’s season finale aired. However, it became too personal and I didn’t want to sound preachy, so I chose not to post it.

For those of you who are also fans of the show, I encourage you to read Grey Matter, the official Grey’s Anatomy writers’ blog.  Creator and show runner Shonda Rhimes wrote the finale, and she blogged about it there. I also recommend Grey’s Anatomy News, a great fan and news site for all things Seattle Grace.

Have a great weekend, and thank you for reading.

- Jo

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Welcome Back: Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Grey’s, House, Lost, Ugly Betty


For the most part, many shows are just returning this week with new episodes of post-Writers Strike television.  And boy am I happy to see them again.

Here is an update, and a few fun related links to pass the time until your favorite shows grace the airwaves [warning: read at your own risk; most of these sites contain spoilers].

BONES
The series debuted again last week, and airs Monday nights at 8pm on FOX. Baby-faced John Francis Daly (Freaks & Geeks) has been a great addition to the cast.

4/21: “Player Under Pressure”
4/28: “The Baby in the Bough”
Fan site: Searching Bones

BROTHERS & SISTERS
Returned last night, airs Sunday nights on ABC at 10pm. I can’t wait to find out if Ken Olin’s character is Rebecca’s real dad, and how that will affect her relationship with Justin. One of the best ensemble casts on television, and Danny Glover has been icing on the cake.

4/27: “Double Negative”
Production blog: Bloggers and Sisters

GREY’S ANATOMY
Begins again this week on ABC, will air regularly on Thursday nights at 9pm.

4/24: “Where the Wild Things Are”
Writers blog: Grey Matter

HOUSE
Returns next week, airs Monday nights at 9pm on FOX. Let’s hope they bring back Cut-Throat Bitch for the remainder of the season.

4/28: “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
Fan site: House is Right

LOST
Fortunately for Lost fans, the hiatus has only been a few weeks long. The new batch of episodes for Season 4 begins this Thursday (now in the 10pm time slot on ABC), and here is the tentative schedule:

4/24: “The Shape of Things to Come”
5/1: “Something Nice Back Home”
5/8, episode 4.11
5/15, episode 4.12: Season Finale, Part 1
5/29, episodes 4.13 & 4.14: Season Finale, Parts 2 & 3
My blog: Get LOST with JOpinionated

UGLY BETTY

Returns this week, airs every Thursday at 8pm on ABC.

4/24: “Twenty Four Candles”
5/1: “Burning Questions”
Fan site: Ugly Betty News

I don’t watch Gossip Girl, but I know that it starts up again tonight as well. What am I missing?

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TV News: Dirt, Grey’s, Lost, Men in Trees, Scrubs, SNL


Here is an update about a few of our favorite shows.

DIRT has returned for a sophomore run on FX. Though I haven’t had a chance to catch last night’s premiere episode, I hear that the series has made vast improvements over last season. It has been a guilty pleasure show for me, and I look forward to the changes.

Perhaps it’s because Private Practice is on hiatus until the fall…Dr. Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) will be making a one-episode appearance on GREY’S ANATOMY at some point when it comes back on the air next month.

Fans of Rescue Me might want to tune into LOST this week, as Andrea Roth (a.k.a. Tommy’s wife Janet) makes an appearance in what is rumored to be a Juliet-centric episode.

Another guilty pleasure show that has recently transitioned into Season Pass-worthy is MEN IN TREES. It debuted again last week, and has moved to Wednesday nights on ABC. To be perfectly honest, it took me some time to be able to separate Anne Heche’s character from her real life persona (in my eyes, that whole Ellen debacle is her scarlet letter…even 10+ years later). But I really enjoy the ensemble of this show, and Heche is actually a pretty good actress. Thus, the addition to my weekly TiVO lineup.

It appears that SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE is making a refreshing resurgence. Tina Fey was the perfect post-Writers Strike host to kick off the second half of this season, and Juno star Ellen Page did an excellent  job last week (including a funny monologue with Andy Samberg as Diablo Cody; see photo above). Although I admit that her last skit was a tad confusing, I think that many viewers misinterpreted it…Page did not come out of the closet; she was making fun of the rampant and unsubstantiated rumors about her sexuality. I just think that the writing of that sketch fell flat and short.

Although NBC is currently denying it, there is story circulating that ABC is going to pick up and revive SCRUBS. The series has been on the bubble of cancellation for some time now, but apparently ABC would like to give it at least 18 more episodes over on their network.

If there are any other shows that you’d like me to cover, by all means please let me know!

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Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice Benefit: The Recap

I flew, I watched, I laughed, I’m back.

Last night my friend and I attended “Good Medicine,” the Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice benefit show in LA. It was her idea to go, and we speak the same rapid pop culture language, so she was the perfect partner in crime for the evening.

I am having trouble staying awake but I promised a recap, so here goes.

PHOTO UPDATE: TVGuide.com has just posted great photos here from the actual event!

VIDEO UPDATE: Although it may not be there for long, someone has posted a few minutes of footage from Good Medicine here on YouTube.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The pipes. Sara Ramirez (Dr. Callie Torres) and Audra McDonald (Dr. Naomi Bennett)…beautiful, amazing singing voices. Sara received two standing ovations alone. And Gina Taylor-Pickens, real life wife of the chief from Grey’s Anatomy, is an absolutely stunning blues singer as well.
  • The sheer talent of both casts. When they weren’t singing or performing dramatic, hysterical interpretations of fan fiction and mail, they were playing the piano, guitars and harmonica.
  • Surprise musical guest Patty Griffin, who performed “Up To The Mountain” solo acoustic!
  • My hair. Seriously. See above. It behaved. By the way, I do not have a black eye. I was wearing mascara, which I usually only don once a year for our office holiday party. I appear vampiric, but it was just the lighting or lack thereof.

FILE UNDER: OH WELL

The show itself was great, but the evening was substantially more mellow than I’d anticipated. The audience seemed to consist of crew, producers, writers and their families, along with a smattering of fans (but of course all enjoyed it and were very receptive to the entertainment presented). There was one lowly paparazzo stationed outside, but he got bored and left [clarification: he was front of house, but there were plenty of autograph hounds and rude photographers near the back entrance where the actors had parked and tried to leave after the show].

Even though everyone else was getting away with it, I was asked to stop taking photos. My flash was not on, but I was reprimanded nonetheless. From our vantage point of the stage, the photos weren’t turning out clearly anyway (like this  photo of Eric Dane and Brooke Smith below).

STAR SIGHTINGS: VERY RANDOM

Look, even if I know someone’s entire IMDB history, I tend to avoid bothering celebrities of any level. I am not interested in getting their autograph in person, and unless I have something meaningful to say, I prefer to observe from a distance. So I noticed but didn’t actually chat with any of the following people last night…

  • Marc Cherry: Creator & Executive Producer of Desperate Housewives
  • Paul Dooley: Very recognizable character actor, played Dad in Breaking Away and 16 Candles
  • Winnie Holzman: Dooley’s wife, and Creator of My-So Called Life and The Wonder Years
  • Steven Bailey: Joe from Joe’s Bar on Grey’s Anatomy
  • Sarah Utterback: Nurse Olivia from Grey’s Anatomy
  • Greg Pitts & Tim Griffin: George’s brothers on Grey’s Anatomy

I know that I’m forgetting important details, but we stayed up far past the witching hour and I need to nap it out.  Then I plan to revisit this week’s episode of Lost again and post more theories. And then watch Short Bus and The Nines.

UPDATE: Several people have asked what the actors were wearing. I am not a celebrity gossip hound and do not tend to cover the glamorous/fabulous aspects of the industry, but here is my attempt at a summary….

I did not witness a single fashion faux paus. Sandra Oh looked very pretty in a short black and white dress. Katherine Heigl looked every bit the Old Hollywood Movie Star that she is in a beautiful red dress with her hair swept up. Chandra Wilson had a sassy long and fitted black gown on; very non-Bailey. Amy Brenneman was adorable in her strapless cream and black dress. Audra McDonald wins for best arms; she must be a pilates or yoga girl. McDonald, Sara Ramirez, Ellen Pompeo and Brooke Smith all opted for variations on the little black dress, all with great success.  And the gentlemen were as handsome and charming as expected in their suits and tuxes: Eric Dane, James Pickens, TR Knight, Tim Daly, Taye Diggs, Paul Adelstein and Chris Lowell.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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I’m Going Back to Callie: A Musical Grey for a Day in LA


I am pretending to play it cool, when in fact I can hardly contain my enthusiasm.

In the morning I am flying down to Los Angeles to attend the Grey’s Anatomy/Private Practice benefit show (to support the crews from both shows who lost their jobs during the Writers Strike), a one-night-only event tomorrow night.

Kate “Addison” Walsh and Patrick “McDreamy” Dempsey won’t be participating because they’re out of town, but that’s just fine with me. I’m there for Callie, Bailey and George, as well as the entire cast of PP.

I will return on Saturday and report back with a complete recap of the experience and star sightings (if any).

In the meantime, a new episode of Lost will keep me very busy and happy.

See you on Saturday!

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