California, California...here we coooooooome!

So some of you might be wondering where I have been. I have 2 words for you...Annual Meeting. Yes, I am planning an annual meeting and the 'blessed' event is now less than 2 weeks away. Anyway, I'm making up for it today! Every Wednesday, ChickLit and I do a "Hump Day Hotties" column over on her blog. Since today marks the end of an era, My beloved O.C. shuffles off it's mortal coil, I have decided to post the same entry on my blog. (Plus I spent hours finidng th pics and writing comments so I figured I should get some mileage out of it as well!) So without further ado I bring you...
*drum roll please*
Wait, wait...I should warn you that the following is not fo the faint of heart. The images are often sexy and the comments are always a bit racy!
*ok...drum roll please*

Hump Day Hotties Extravaganza!

Some of you might be wondering why there was no Hump Day Hotties on Wednesday. Here's why: today is the end of The OC, a show the Mad Madam M and I watch religiously, much to the chagrin of all who know and love us.

Now, M refers to all characters interchangably between their real names and their character names. I think relaity has warped for her a bit and it's all one in the same now. Anyway, to avoid confusion, here's a run down of the cast with real AND character names (the dude characters anyway).

Peter Gallagher played Sandy Cohen
Adam Brody played Seth Cohen
Ben McKenzie played Ryan Atwood
Chris Carmack played Luke Ward




Mad Madam M: Welcome to the O.C. indeed. I'm telling you, if I ever came across a hitchhiker that looked like that, I might have to change my policy about stopping. I mean we have all seen Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back. There is a "hitcher's code" you know!

Crystal: Or what about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? There are exceptions to the hitcher hiker rule. And really, if something that cute wanted to jump me, I might be willing to lie down and take it like a girl.



Mad Madam M: Nothing like a black and white photo to make a sexy boy even hotter. I don't know what is better... his piercing look that makes me think that he has eyes for no one but me or the awesome gentle-tossled-hair/stubble /tight-black-t-shirt combo. Thank goodness I don't have to decide!

Crystal: I love that his macho-I-slept-with-your-mom character ended up with a gay dad. Priceless!



Mad Madam M: Sure the hair screams "I'm a soap star" but to be quite honest I spend most of my time staring at the naked abs. I mean really...naked abs ON DISPLAY!!

Crystal: All I can say is Thank God I have really good glasses and can enjoy this view. Being blind would be really inconvenient here.



Mad Madam M: Sure he has an interesting facial attribute that has lead to the nickname "Crazy Eyebrow Man", but he wears those eyebrows proudly and you have to give hims some credit for that. Besides it's Peter Gallagher people...Peter Gallagher!!

Crystal: I'd do him. And his crazy eye brows.



Mad Madam M: I know what your are thinking...how can he make this list when he was such a jerk in several 90's flicks? My only answer for you, he has also starred in several Broadway musicals including the revival of Guys & Dolls. I personally find that quite sexy!

Crystal: Oh my God. If you made me listen to that CD of Gays & Drag Queens ONE MORE TIME. *)*%&%^#^T*&Y&()*)* So there!



Mad Madam M: Ah...aren't they a cute family? Clearly Ryan takes after Kirsten, but still...it could happen. Besides Ryan is smiling. I repeat...Ryan is smiling!! Check out a pic of the whole family.

Crystal: Clearly Ryan is the hotter of the twin boys here. Seth is the lovable genetic reject, like Danny DeVito in TWINS.



Mad Madam M: Sure Ryan has always been my favorite of the two (Crystal claimed Seth from the beginning), but this photo has to be the hottest pic I have ever seen. Cute boy holding videos IN A video store. I can't tell you how many of my fantasies start out this way...

Crystal: You know how some video stores just have the empty cases on the shelves and you have to take them to the counter where they stick the videos in so you don't steal them? He's hiding porn in those cases. It's all just a front. Which is why he MAY be the Danny Devito, but he's clearly the man for me.



Mad Madam M: From the backdrop, I would guess that he is in a prison cell of some sort. But hey...haven't we learned anything from Michael and Linc over on Prison Break. Prisons can be sexy too!

Crystal: Again, the man for me. Prison bitches and porn. Oh, yeeeeeeah. Cue bad '80s porno flick music *Bow chica bow bow*



Mad Madam M: I love this pic, although upon further study - 'cuz let's just say I have studied it well - I am a bit disconcerted by it's resemlance to a Buffy the Vampire Slayer poster I once owned. (Who am I kidding with the whole 'once owned' crap? It's somewhere in my storage unit at the moment!) Here's the original poster.

Crystal: He looks like he wants me to frisk him. *Bow chica bow bow*



Mad Madam M: As you may have already realized...I am a sucker for black and white photos. I especially adore the soulful look in this pic. I think he is staring into my soul...

Crystal: Nah. This is his gay shot. You can have this one, M. I prefer them on the straighter side of life. Unless he wants to go shopping with me. Then we can work this out.



Mad Madam M: Doesn't he just remind you of George Clooney is Ocean's 11? Doesn't he? Okay I guess that might just be me, but he does look good. The unbuttoned shirt...the stubble...the look that makes me want to confess to every naughty thought or fantasy I have ever had...

Crystal: Mmmmm. George Clooney. Ocean's 11. Sorry...what were we talking about?



Mad Madam M: The boy knows how to lean. And wear a tight Lynyrd Skynyrd t-shirt. And model well-fitted jeans. And tossle his hair just so...
*Takes a moment to wipe the drool away from my chin*

Crystal: He kinda has the 1980s rocker look going here. It's hawt. He's yours, I understand, but he's still hot!



Mad Madam M: I admit this isn't the greatest pic, but Ben McKenzie is wet. And you can see his muscles. Did I mention he is wet? What more could a girl ask for? Except one night to use his body as a jungle gym? A weekend? An eternity? (I can't believe I just wrote that. Perhaps I need to spend some time at the Supernatural Obsessive Support Group Sanitarium to try get my mind off of Ben McKenzie and perhaps recover from my Jensen Ackles obsession at the same time!)

Crystal: Dude, don't lie. You totally threw that bucket of water on him. I saw you.



Mad Madam M: There is a distressingly large amount of images featuring Ben standing around. Sometimes things just work out wonderful for everyone involved...especially the viewer!

Crystal: Well, it's awesome when you can make money just standing around. I'd do it if I could. Totally.



Mad Madam M: So I admit the jacket is a bit camp, but once again we get Ben leaning...and with good hair! For those of us who have endured 4 years of Ryan's follicle ups-and-downs (far more downs than ups) that is a wonderful sight!!

Crystal: Nope. I'm not digging on the hair. It's a bit too feathered Farrah Faucet for me. And the jacket? Dude, he and Seth are in a gay love square, aren't they?



Mad Madam M: While this might not be the "hottest" of images, there is something sexy about the two foster brothers together that makes me happy inside. What I am going to do with their poolhouse conversations? Or the ever-patient look on Ryan's face while Seth dithers on about some inconsequential matter? What am I going to do? Please tell me. TELL ME!!!! The Winchester brothers better not leave me this year as well. I'm not sure what I will do!!

Crystal: Calm down before I throw a bucket of water on YOU. Sheesh. There's always the DVDs. And I do like this pic, it's funny looking. And I like funny looking shit.



Mad Madam M: This almost makes me want to live in Southern California and deal with all the pretty people on the beach. Well almost...

Crystal: No. Because I am not one of the pretty people. The pretty people would point and laugh at me. And that would be bad.



Mad Madam M: Again this might not be the prettiest pic, but it has charm and charisma! Seth sporting a strung out look with funky hair and Ryan with a crazy look in his eyes. (Not that crazy eye Ryan isn't sexy...) Take a good look (as if you need an excuse!) it looks like at any moment he is going to go crazy on someone and throw a punch!

Crystal: They look stoned. Seriously stoned. I like it. Bad, bad, bad, bad boys...you make me feel so gooooooood!



Mad Madam M: Two hot boys in a pool. Do I really need to add anything more? I mean, I can stare all day at Ryan's abs...can't you?

Crystal: I have no words. Except...take off the swim trunks and go naked. Yeah!



Mad Madam M: I would really like to know what the photographer said to achieve those looks. Ben looks confused while Adam seems to know a secret, a really good one, that he is just dying to share. Or maybe he is just grabbing Ryan's butt. I mean we see the arm, but the hand disappears somewhere behind Ben...

Crystal: Seth farted. Ryan is trying to escape the smell and still look pretty. Oh, the ANGST of Hollywood.



Mad Madam M: Can you ever get enough of these two? I know I can't, even if Ryan is suffering from some blood loss and looks like he could faint at any moment. Seth couldn't leave him behind...I mean, what about the zombies?

Crystal: I love that the one I liked is afraid of zombies. I guess this is The OC edition of Shaun of the Dead. Or something.

Welcome to The OC, bitches!

2 + 2 is on my mind!

I hate math. Hello! I mean why do you think I switched from an engineering major to history!?!?! Or attempting to complete a masters in HISTORY. I mean you can't get more anti-alegebra than that. Anyway, one of the chicks that works in my office sent me an email containing pics taken from real math exams. I kind of wish I had been smart/brave enough to come up with some of these answers. Get ready to laugh and/or be offended!!

PicSpam Special Edition:
"No really, I can't add those numbers together in my head!"

Oh so obvious and yet oh so wrong!

I thought this was quite the accurate answer. Although I might not agree with all the adjectives, overall I think they got it right!

I'm telling you...there is always an elephant in the way!!

Peter, if it makes you feel better, I really do think it was funny in a completely unsarcastic way!

This one is my absolute favorite. This is so me in my calculus class!!

I Wanna Love You Tender!

When I got to work this morning, I was so going to write a blog entry concerning last night's One Tree Hill episode. You see, it was, quite simply, awesome. Not only are high schoolers in Tree Hill allowed to strip, but now they have a sex tape scandal to deal with. While that was completely awesome, I was acutally planning to discuss the exact familial relationship of the two babies about to be born. You see, Karen (Lucas's mom)is pregnant with a kid. The baby's father is Lucas's uncle. So the kid would be both Lucas's half-sibling as well as cousin. As if that wasn't complicated enough, Nathan's, Lucas's half brother, wife Haley is pregnant. Clearly the two babies are related, but how? As you can see, the whole family heirarchy is completely screwy and I kept getting so confused I had to start to create a chart on a piece of scratch paper.
That made me sad, so instead I have decided to bring you one of the most awesome vidspam ever. I was originally going to call this edition of VidSpam Spectacular!™, "Videos That Restore My Faith In Humanity But Also Make Me Wonder About How Much Free Time Some People Have", but in the end, I felt that was a bit too long and convoluted. So, instead I bring you:

VidSpam Spectacular!™: How Do People Have This Much Free Time? (Vol. 1)

First of all, how does anyone come up with that idea? And second, how do you actually make it happen and choregraph an entire video consisting of treadmills. To be honest, I don't really care. I just think it is one of the most brillant things I have ever seen!



Again...who thinks up these things. I mean really...



Thank goodness for the Finnish disco duo: Armi & Danny. The world is a better place because of them!

Love Stinks!

That's all I am going to say about the significance of today my loyal readers!
Tune in tomorrow for a slightly less bitter entry...or at least I hope!

Wish I could be part of that world...

I love reading blogs. Somehow it is reassuring to know that others spend great amounts of time wondering about completely off-the-wall things. It isn't just me...and I have proof.
Anyway, I read a variety of blogs daily that, with the exception of ChickLit, focus mainly on pop culture or television. I'm a pretty big fan of Tim Goodman over at The Bastard Machine, Maureen Ryan over at the Chicago Tribune, Joe R.'s gem Low Resolution and most recently, Entertainment Weekly's Popwatch. I bring this up only because I read the most delightful column, 'O.C.' Deathwatch: Everybody Loves Ryan . Not only does it have a title I wish I had thought of, but it clearly articulates what has been so awesome about this season. More of a focus on Ryan with Seth adding fun filler to the background. Althoguh I find the Prince Eric comparison odd, it is still worth a couple minutes of your time. So go ahead and click on the link. You know you want to. And hey...you really should listen to the song while reading. I don't know why, but it does make it better!!

That's amore...

Well, I am finally feeling better, but I must still be sick since I have not only done one of these stupid quizes, but posted it! All in all, it makes some interesting assumptions, but I doubt I will be following any of the 'tips'. Hope y'all enjoy!!

Libra - Your Love Profile

Your positive traits: You are open minded enough to date outside your typical "type" ... successfully! You are diplomatic - and likely to end a fight instead of dragging things out. You are easily loyal and faithful, but only for the right person. Your negative traits: You're a bit gullible, and partners take advantage of you. You still may not know it. You find it difficult to decide where to go to dinner, what movie to watch, who to date... You have to be in a relationship, or else you just don't feel like yourself. Your ideal partner: A smooth talker who enjoys socializing as much as you to. Someone classy and cultured who knows which wine to order with dinner. Is beautiful to you - although not necessarily attractive in the traditional sense. Your dating style: Romantic. If your date comes bearing flowers, wine, and poetry... well, your heart soars. Your seduction style: Giving. Your lover's pleasure is as important as your own. Soft and sensual - you don't like anything to be rough. Extravagant ... your fantasy involves staying at a five star hotel with your love. Tips for the future: Don't be so quick to compromise in relationships - and you'll get taken advantage of yes. Try being single for a while. Seems impossible, but you'll learn so much about yourself from doing so. Make some decisions about your romantic life, right now. You'll be happy that you did. Best color to attract mate: Green Best day for a date: Wednesday

What's Your Love Profile?

I didn't mean to have it end like this...

I'm sick and currently hopped up on over-the-counter medications. Therefore, today's picspam will actually be a vidspam without any commentry. I hope you enjoy...but if you don't please refrain from sending an email...I'm fragile at the moment!

VidSpam Spectacular!™: Super Bowl XLI Commercial Highlights

It's 5 O'clock somewhere...

Douglas Adams was a genius. Not only did he write very clever books and provide us with the "Answer to The Ultimate Question Of Life, the Universe and Everything" (42), but he articulated an idea that explains so much of my life:

"This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays."

You might be wondering where I am going with this, but bear with me. You know how people use the excuse of "it's 5 o'clock somewhere" when they want to drink in the morning or afternoon? Well, I am going to start to use the excuse of "it's Thursday somewhere; I could never get the hang of Thursdays" when I do really stupid things. Like today, when I accidently poured water into my paper clip container thinking it was my glass. Sure today is actually Thursday so it fits easily, but given my past...by tomorrow I will have done something just as idiotic. It is in my genes!

I don't get around much anymore...

I recently read a most interesting article in The Sacramento Bee about blogs. Apparently, only 8% of Americans read blogs. Although that number seems lower than I would have thought, I'm really not that surprised. Here's an excerpt:

That came from CBS chief research officer David Poltrack and MRI Research, a respected New York firm that sampled 20,000 people.

"One of the things that's probably overstated by the press is how many people are visiting online blogs," Poltrack said in a presentation to TV critics. "I think you all blog each other, but I'm not sure the rest of the world is joining in the process that much."

In a conversation later, Poltrack said he would guess the majority of people who do read blogs are bloggers themselves.

"That does not leave a whole lot of real people who spend their time with blogs," he said.

Ah yes...once again I am not a 'real person'. I read approximately 6 on a daily basis!

Sunrise, sunset...swiftly flow the days!

So, this morning I discovered yet another addition to the "Things That Make Me Die a Little Inside" list. I read a couple of months ago that Daniel Radcliffe - aka Harry Potter - is starring in a new West End production of Equus, a controversial play that centers around a stable-hand who has an erotic fixation with horses. Yes it seems good ol' Mr. Potter (as you may have guessed, I will be refering to Daniel Radcliffe as Harry or Mr. Potter for the remainder of this blog entry) is really trying to change his image and not become the next Mark Hamill. Now, I don't have a problem with Harry branching out and going against stereotype. He was 11 when the Harry Potter films began and he is now 17. I get that he is becoming an adult and all that, but did he really have to go to the extreme of appearing naked in a play? I would have been happy with just his hilarious appearance on Extras...I mean he was looking for sex in that show as well. And he was funny. I could have easily lived with the new knowledge that Harry Potter could do comedy. I didn't need to know that Harry Potter works out...
Anyhoodle, the image for today's blog was taken from a photoshoot for the upcoming production, funnily enough also staring Uncle Vernon. If you are brave, or just really curious, I have added links to the other photos at the bottom of the blog. Word of warning, though, click at your own risk. Some of the images include a pretty naked chick and 2 others feature Harry and a horse. In case you missed that, I repeat, 2 images feature a semi-nude Harry Potter and a horse. Once you look at them, you will never see Harry Potter the same way again. To be honest, I kind of wished I had never found them. For my viewing I used the mantra "Please let him be wearing reeeaaallly low cut jeans." Feel free to use it as well! Either way, it looks like Mr. Potter has really grown up and we will all just have to get used to it...or at least pretend to get used to it!

Studio Shot 1
Studio Shot 2
Studio Shot 3
Studio Shot 4

And away to his castle we'll go to be happy forever I know!

Today, my dear reader(s), you shall witness something momentus...not only will I mention Snakes on a Plane (more than once), but I will also include the first ever Disneyland images to ever appear on my blog. (Sure I have put up the occasional Disney movie that caught my eye for some unknown reason...Like Mary Poppins or some other Julie Andrews sing-song movie. Or High School Musical...did I just actually admit to that one. Too late now...man I wish I understood why I like High School Musical. Okay maybe like is too strong of a word. Although, I do know all of the songs by heart... However, I don't know the dance moves so that is something... Where was I going with this? How did I get on this embarassing stream of consciousness?)
Anyhoodle, before I get onto the Disney ad photos featuring David Beckham as Prince Charming, Scarlett Johansson as Cinderella, and a scene from Alice in Wonderland featuring Lyle Lovett, Oliver Platt and Beyonce(bet you can't wait for that!), I want to share my thoughts on one of the most fabulous movies of 2006 Snakes on a Plane. Now don't get me wrong, I am not recommending anyone actually rent - or Netflix as the case may be - this cinematic triumph...yes TRIUMPH. It isn't really that great of a movie. Hilarious in various ways, but by no means actually 'good'. I don't think I have ever seen so many different cliches played out in a single film or Samuel "The Man" Jackson have that much fun in a film for a while. But what I will cherish most is the shear joy at actually getting a film that lives up to what the title promises: snakes on a plane. How often do titles of movies actually live up to their name? Think about it for a moment. How many movies today have titles that tell you nothing or mislead you to think you will watch a movie about one thing when it is really about something completely different. The Constant Gardner. Some Like it Hot. Trainspotting. Grease. I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is sort of refreshing to read the title "Snakes on a Plane" and that is actually what the movie is about. Sure it is a b horror-esque film, but that is what it was designed to do. And before you start questioning my use of the term horror. I think that anything that involves poisonous and agitated snakes in a highly confined space can be considered horror. I know if scared me...
And now onto the happy Disney moment to counteract the often crude Snakes on a Plane. (Can you tell I like writing Snakes on a Plane...no I didn't thinks so!)

PicSpam Monday™:
The "David Beckham Can Be My Prince Charming Any Day!" Edition


He can come charging on his white horse any day...
I don't care if he can't speak in full sentences and
wooed his wife by coloring pictures from The Lion King.
I don't really want him for conversation!


Is it just me, or does it seem like Scarlett has too big of boobies to be Cinderella.
I mean, given her rack, servant or no, she would have a rich man by now!


There is so much going through my head staring at the image...
First of all, who thought of putting these three together in a photo.
And second, could I please talk to them since they have as warped a mind as I do!!

A little bit of resolve is what I need now...

Do you know what I love? As you may already know, I love watching angsty teen soaps on the CW network, especially the over-the-top cheesy, One Tree Hill. You never know what completly contrived concept they will throw at you next whether it be teen marriage or complete wacko stalkers. Take this week's episode, I'm not sure why (or 'how' for that matter since I think some of them are still "technically"underage), but 3 of the guys on the show entered a amatuer strip competition. I'm not sure why two of the guys did it, but one simply wanted cash to buy is pregnant wife a prom dress. Let me say that again...he wanted to purchase a prom dress for his pregnant wife. This of course is after she gets hit by a car because he was dumb enough to borrow money from a loan shark and failed at fixing a high school state basketball championship. How completely awesome is that. And to make things even better, viewers actually got to witness guys with very little rhythm try to do a strip-dance to old school hip-hop. (Or so the show would like me to believe. I honestly don't listen to enough hip-hop to understand the differences. So I guess I will just have to take their word for it!) I have searched YouTube for a video, but no one has put it up yet as far as I can tell. When they do, expect a VidSpam™.
So don't forget to tune in for next week's rerun, once again featuring some sort of Peyton-drama that only Lucas can fix. This time it involves a crazed stalker pretending to be her long lost half brother. (Yes once again OTH offers the viewer a glimpse at seperated siblings. I mean it is not like the whole show concept is based on that already...oh wait it is!)

Can't you see I'm white and nerdy...

I suck at math. Perhaps not as bad as spelling - thank goodness for spell check - but it is definitely not an area I excel in. Neither is money management it turns out. After putting off creating a budget for, well years, I finally took an honest look at my finances...and man it isn't pretty. I now understand why the highest percetage of suicide in the US is in the 25-34 category. I can also see why some people completely shun material crap and become hermits. It is sounding better and better every time I think about it.
But that isn't the point of today's blog entry. No siree! No, today's blog is all about the reason I finally understand my complete failure at money management...I 'm going to a Sci-Fi convention in April. In Burbank. Jamie Bamber is going to be there. And Katee Stackoff. And Gul Dukat. And Major Kira. And wow, I'm already sounding like an over excited fangirl.
Now, I attend conventions for self-assteem reasons. That might sound backward, but keep in mind, at these events, I am one of the 'cool' geeks. That doesn't happen for me very often. I am not cool. (Just look at my profile pic if you don't belive me. ..I'm standing next to a giant Pride & Prejudice poster while attempting to add my head to a U2 poster. I blame it on being an only child. Not ) Sure I can speak the geek lingo and know the trivia, but at the end of the day, I'm not a pathetic loser sitting at a table of faux Klingons speaking a language created by other nerds. (No offense to anyone who does speak Klingon fluently, but keep in mind, I live in my mother's sewing room, work for a couple of agricultural organizations setting up livestock sales & sending vaccine, and my thesis advisor keeps ignoring me...I need something in my life to feel good about! Don't deny me this! Please...)
So after agreeing to go with a friend down to the event, I hunkered down today to review my finances...or lack there of. All I am at liberty to say, is that, in layman's terms since that is all I know, I am up a creek without a paddle or a canoe really. I'm floating on a door...like that one in Titanic. Fortunately Leo isn't haning on for dear life trying to bring me down, but still I am doing a pretty good job on my own.
Speaking of Titanic, man I hated that movie. I just don't get the appeal. I mean, Victor Garber and Kathy Bates together couldn't save that flick. Perhaps if Djimon Hounsou had a role, I am pretty sure he can save any film, but alas, we will never know. And it did really launch Kate Winslet's career. ..there is a positive.
(Wow, I just realized I wrote an entire log about my finances, Titanic, and sci-fi conventions. Sometimes I really do wonder about my sanity...or lack there of!)

I fought the law...

The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and here is the kicker...I'm not that unhappy. Sure I would have changed some thing here or there, but overall...I can't complain too much.
In completely unrelated news, Prison Break returned last night after what seemed an eternity. But all in all, I have to say it was worth it. If only Mahone would go over to the dark side what fun we all could have. Or perhaps since Linc and Michael are technically the 'good guys' of the show since they are all about family - I mean, come on...one of them broke INTO prison to get save the other - and proving their innocence. However, in a way it is revenge, which would clearly put them back on the darkside...not to mention all the people they have killed. Although, now that I think about it, while quite a few people have died, I don't think Linc or Michael have ever actually pulled a trigger and LJ just clipped Kellerman that one time. Heh...I can't wait for that reunion! However, Kellerman did deserve it. He killed LJ's mom. It is kind of funny though that Linc took Veronica's death harder than the untimely death of the mother of his kid. I liked Veronica better too, but that is because I love Empire Records. But back to my original thought...
So I have no clue where I was going with that, but to sum up the point of this blog, I loved the ep, especially Michael's two line explanation of the entire series:

"So this is the conspiracy, huh? Bunch of little boys in suits running around trying to kill each other. It’s pathetic."

Tune in next week when Linc, Michael, and Kellerman kidnap a reporter, T-Bag holds a family hostage, C-Note provides his daughter with 5 more reasons to seek therapy in the coming years, and Sucre cruises Mexico hopefully not saying the name "Maricruz" more than 5 times!

I Fought the Law...

As you might notice, this blog is quite late, but I felt I needed to commemorate the return of Prison Break. After what seems an eternity, Michael, Linc, Sarah, Kellerman, and perhaps Mahone, return to bring some much needed, suspend-you-reality fun. I mean we all need that. I won't go into it, but what a day...sometimes you need a bit of fun tellie!

PicSpam Monday™: Hiatus No More - The Return of Prison Break

I have always been a sucker for Wanted Posters.
Could be I love the bad boys...or could be that I watched too many Westerns during me formative years...

And tv brothers! I have a soft spot for them too...


You can never stare at Michael and Linc for too long. It is a scientific fact!


Well, here are the ones that escaped. Onle a few of them are still alive at the moment!


The other players for this season...

And here's where we left off...

Well kinda...we were a couple scenes past this, but Ilike this pic better
and since it is my PicSpam I can do what I like!

And here is where we are heading...

Here too! Kellerman, Linc, and Michael in a hotel room together...
I'm sure fanfic writers everywhere are giving a little squee of joy!

There's always room in life for this

So...I had grand plans for todays blog detailing the horrific death of my alarm clock, but instead I spent all of my creative genius on finding Bond images for ChickLit's blog entry last night. (I know it doesn't make sense, but if you think about it...when do my thoughts ever really make sense?!!?!?!) But lucky for you lot, I found 3 images for the new Bourne flick, The Bourne Ultimatum. With such a strong sequel, I am really really looking forward to the third installment!!

God Save the Queen!

I love pretty much everything about England. Perhaps not the teeth or the lack of clothes dryers - why any country that deals with daily rain showers would ever rely on 'hanging the clothes out to dry' as a laundry method instead of a dryer (they have them they just don't get used often it seems) is beyound me - but other than that...I'm a complete Anglophile. (Wow that was a long sentence with quite a few grammatical errors I'm guessing!) Anyway, couple of months ago I Netflixed a BBC show I had come across while researching Mr. Darcy - or the lastest Mr. Darcy, Matthew MacFadyen, if you prefer. Anyway, I decided after little to no hesitation to obtain the program at any cost. But obtaining the DVD and watching said DVD are two completely different issues. So after sitting on my desk for 2 months (arrivied 11/4/2006), I finally popped in the disc and sat mesmerized for the next 4 hours.
Now I should take a moment to confess that I normally go for cheesy spy stuff like Bond, the Pink Panther films, or even seasons of "Alias". (Come on...other than Victor Garber, do you think any of them could really be spies?) But this show actually seems to portray, in a more real sense, the life of a spy. And what a fascinating life it is and a lot more complicated than I even imagined (and I daydream about convoluted situations all the time...really).
So, if you are looking for an interesting hour long - yes this is the BBC and when they have an hour long series get this - the episode lasts of a whole hour - spy drama that not only deals with MI-5, but also the personal lives of its people, I recommend "Spooks" or "MI-5" depending on what country you live in. It is worth the time and each ep has a commentary track. And in case you are interested...Matthew MacFadyen met his wife on this show - that's her in the pic!

And cutting to a commercial for Del Taco...

So this is going to be a hybrid PicSpam that will not only feature images from films nominated in tonight's Golden Globes Award show, but feature my thoughts on who should win...even if they weren't nominated for the award. I thought that the nominations this year were completely crap and so, at times (well most of the time to be honest), I have added people that I deem worthy. Also, it should be noted that I haven't actually seen all of these films or tellie programs and most likely won't watch the GG Award show tonigh. I mean, for the most part, the Golden Globes are simply a nationally televised popularity contest nominally based on acting merit. Why tune in when I can watch the highlights tomorrow on YouTube? (Hey that's a great idea for a VidSpam column!)

PicSpam Monday™: The "If I Ran the Golden Globes & they actually meant something" Winners List

Best Actress in a Motion Picture: Drama
Penelope Cruz - Volver
Judi Dench - Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Sherrybaby
Helen Mirren - The Queen
Kate Winslet - Little Children

For once, I think the GG might get it right and give the award to Helen Mirren. The dame deserves it, even though I do hope that eventually Kate Winselt gets some awards.

Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Drama
Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond
Leonardo DiCaprio - The Departed
Peter O'Toole - Venus
Will Smith - The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland

Honestly, I'm not into any of these nominations and so I think I will go with Will Smith only because that scene with him holding the door shut with his foot while cradling his son in a BART bathroom make me tear up every time.



Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Comedy/Musical
Sacha Baron Cohen - Borat
Johnny Depp - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Aaron Eckhart - Thank Your For Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Kinky Boots
Will Ferrell - Stranger Than Fiction

I'm going to have to go with Aaron Eckhart for his performance as Nick Naylor in Thank You For Smoking. I thought it was a brillant film that not only entertained, but did have some thought provoking points. Sure Eckhart has not chance against Borat or Depp, but I thought someone should give him something!

Best Actress in a Motion Picture: Comedy/Musical
Annette Bening - Running With Scissors
Toni Collette - Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles - Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep - The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zellweger - Miss Potter

I'm going to have to go with Streep on this one. Although I adore Toni Collette and really want Little Miss Sunshine to succeed, Streep was marvelous to watch! Besides, the only other film from the group that interests me, Miss Potter, hasn't even made it to the theatres yet.

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Ben Affleck - Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy - Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson - The Departed
Brad Pitt - Babel
Mark Wahlberg - The Departed

I don't really like any of these choices and so I am going with Michael Caine in Children of Men. For the first time in quite a while, Caine was actually playing a role and not "Michael Caine". For that alone, I think he should get the award.

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Adriana Barraza - Babel
Cate Blanchett - Notes on a Scandal
Emily Blunt - The Devil Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi - Babel

I'm going to have to nominate my own award recipient. This time, Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine.





Best Director - Motion Picture
Clint Eastwood - Flags of Our Fathers
Clint Eastwood - Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears - The Queen
Alejandro González Iñárritu - Babel
Martin Scorsese - The Departed

Wow, this is becoming a trend. I once again know better than the Hollywood Foreign Press. I'm giving my vote to Alfonso Cuarón for the brillant Children of Men. If I did have to choose from the list, I would have gone with Stephen Frears...The Queen was an amazing movie that surprised me quite a bit.


Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Guillermo Arriaga - Babel
William Monahan - The Departed
Todd Field & Tom Perrotta - Little Children
Patrick Marber - Notes on a Scandal
Peter Morgan - The Queen

Ok...so sure I could choose one of the screenplays from the list - either Morgan or the team of Field and Perrotta - but instead I am going to make another plug for Little Miss Sunshine and go for the write in candidate

Best Original Song - Motion Picture
Bobby - "Never Gonna Break My Faith"
Dreamgirls - "Listen"
Happy Feet - "The Song of the Heart"
Home of the Brave - "Try Not to Remember"
The Pursuit of Happyness - "A Father's Way"

Once again I march to my own drummer. I have to go with the latest new Bond song from Casino Royale, "You Know My Name". It totally rocks!!



Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Babel - Gustavo Santaolalla
The Da Vinci Code - Hans Zimmer
The Fountain - Clint Mansell
Nomad - Carlo Siliotto
The Painted Veil - Alexandre Desplat

I love Hans Zimmer, so I think I will go with Da Vinci - even if it wasn't a very good movie. The music wasn't half bad, though, considering.





Best Foreign Language Film
Apocalypto
El Laberinto del Fauno
Das Leben der Anderen
Letters from Iwo Jima
Volver

No clue and so I am not going to vote. I figured Fearless was going to be on the list, but since
I haven't seen it, I don' think I can add it in good conscience.

Best Animated Film
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House

Again...I just can't be bothered to choose!

Best Television Series - Drama
"24"
"Big Love"
"Grey's Anatomy"
"Heroes"
"Lost"

LONG LIVE BATTLESTAR GALACTICA!!!! I can't they believe they overlooked the best show on tellie at the moment. So, I'm writing them in. Take that Hollywood Foreign Press!!

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
Patrick Dempsey - "Grey's Anatomy"
Michael C. Hall - "Dexter"
Hugh Laurie - "House M.D."
Bill Paxton - "Big Love"
Kiefer Sutherland - "24"

In keeping with my BSG write in initive, I'm going with Edward James Olmos for his portrayal as Admiral William Adama. If push came to shove and I had to go with someone from the list, Hugh Laurie would get my vote.


Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
Patricia Arquette - "Medium"
Edie Falco - "The Sopranos"
Evangeline Lilly - "Lost"
Ellen Pompeo - "Grey's Anatomy"
Kyra Sedgwick - "The Closer"

So given the past 2 categories, my vote fo Mary McDonnell for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama should come as no suprise.


Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy
"Desperate Housewives"
"Entourage"
"The Office"
"Ugly Betty"
"Weeds"

To be quite honest, I have no clue how "Desperate Housewives" is even considered a "comedy". Is that so it can stand a shot against "Grey's Anatomy"? I have no clue and since I don't really watch comedy - unless you count the slow downhill slide of Veronica Mars...but come to think of it, that isn't really funny. Anyway, long explanation short, I just don't care and so they can give the award to whoever they want. Perhaps "Weeds", since I like both Mary-Louise Parker and Kevin Nealon.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Alec Baldwin - "30 Rock"
Zach Braff - "Scrubs"
Steve Carell - "The Office"
Jason Lee - "My Name Is Earl"
Tony Shalhoub - "Monk"

I catch "My Name Is Earl" whenever I can and I have to say that I have absolutely fallen for Jason Lee's Earl. Who would have thought I would ever like his redneck character better than the preppy & geeky guys he played in Kevin Smith movies? But then again, stranger things have happened!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy
Marcia Cross - "Desperate Housewives"
America Ferrera - "Ugly Betty"
Felicity Huffman - "Desperate Housewives"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - "The New Adventures of Old Christine"
Mary-Louise Parker - "Weeds"

As I stated earlier, "Desperate Housewives" isn't a comedy, therefore Mary-Louise Parker wins by default.

Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Bleak House
"Broken Trail"
Elizabeth I
Mrs. Harris
Prime Suspect: The Final Act

Okay...I choose one of the Helen Mirren projects. I really don't care which one. Although, it would be nifty if Mirren recieved the award for Best Actress in both the film and tellie categories for playing a "Queen Elizabeth". So perhaps I should save that vote for later. I'm goin with Prime Suspect!


Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Andre Braugher - "Thief"
Robert Duvall - "Broken Trail"
Michael Ealy - "Sleeper Cell"
Chiwetel Ejiofor - Tsunami: The Aftermath
Ben Kingsley - Mrs. Harris
Bill Nighy - Gideon's Daughter
Matthew Perry - The Ron Clark Story

Didn't see any of these, but I like Chiwetel Ejiofor and Bill Nighy. One of them should win!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Gillian Anderson - "Bleak House"
Annette Bening - Mrs. Harris
Helen Mirren - Elizabeth I
Helen Mirren - Prime Suspect: The Final Act
Sophie Okonedo - Tsunami: The Aftermath

Helen Mirren since it would be totally awesome if she won for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I AND Queen Elizabeth II!



Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Thomas Haden Church - "Broken Trail"
Jeremy Irons - Elizabeth I
Justin Kirk - "Weeds"
Masi Oka - "Heroes"
Jeremy Piven - "Entourage"

I have a friend who loved Masi Oka, so hey...why not?

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Emily Blunt - Gideon's Daughter
Toni Collette - Tsunami: The Aftermath
Katherine Heigl - "Grey's Anatomy"
Sarah Paulson - "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"
Elizabeth Perkins - "Weeds"

Alrighty, we're nearing the end. Now I stopped watching "Grey's Anatomy" last year. However, I did catch the death of Denny. Now coupled with the nifty Hallmark movies she has done, I'm going with Katherine Heigl.