Jamie talks Series Finales

So my sisters are off or about to be off on crazy exciting adventures, but I don't want to talk about that yet.  I think I have my fave five for August ready, but I'll get to that a little into September, you know, for the sake of consistency.  This summer I watched three TV series come to an end, two in "real time" and one on Netflix. There are so many ways the writers can go when a TV show wraps up (assuming the writers are aware they need to finish up).  They can opt for happily ever after with a little room to imagine new adventures, send everyone to heaven, or to jail, blow up the town, or simply fade to black.  Generally you aren't going to please everyone, but that's okay.  Most likely for those who are upset their frustration is more about their favorite show being off the air than anything else.   I just wanted to share a few thoughts on these three finales I watched this summer (with very limited spoilers as Kacey has not seen them):

Eureka: This delightful SyFy channel show finished up with its fifth season mid-summer.  The writers were given the budget to add one last episode to wrap things up after they were told they were being cancelled.  And they did it brilliantly. While giving us one last crisis in the little town of Eureka, they also managed to give the characters we have come to know and love over 5 seasons their own happy ending. Something I love in a finale or final season is when a show can nod its head at its beginnings, and bring things back around to its first season or, in this case, the very first episode.  It shows us how much our characters have grown and provides a little bit of nostalgia.  I hope that SyFy continues to make original programming of this quality and isn't completely lost to cheap gimmicky reality TV.

The Closer: It was probably time for the Closer to say goodbye. However it is one of the most popular cable TV shows and it is hard for a channel to say goodbye to good ratings and the corresponding ad revenue. So TNT spun this cast of characters into a new show, Major Crimes. But before that could happen they had to say goodbye to their fearless leader, Brenda Leigh Johnson, played by the fantastic Kyra Sedgwick.  Her departure was fitting, she got the bad guy and a gift from her team (ding dongs were involved), who over 7 seasons had gone from distrusting co-workers to a family. While I love this cast of characters, I don't have much interest in watching Major Crimes.  They seem to be grasping to hold onto something that is done.

Battlestar Galactica: Yes, I am aware this ended a few years ago.  But I just watched it, so for me, it ended this summer.  Thank you, Netflix.  The series finale of this show was a perfect fit for the series itself. It was intense, emotional, heart-breaking, but ultimately hopeful.  I was slow to get into this show, leaving it to watch other things after the first season.  But when I returned to it a few months ago, I became completely invested in the fates of these characters and their beloved ship.  Throughout most of season two you were sure to find me in tears on the elliptical. And that one part in late season three? You know the one.  I was holding back sobs.  I opted to watch the three part series finale on my couch, so I could cry in peace.  And cry I did.  But even though things weren’t wrapped up with a pretty bow, there was still an overall feeling of hope at the end.   I like that in a show.  Of course I am that person who actually liked the end of Lost too.

Now I’ve moved on to a show I had been avoiding despite Netflix’ constant badgering, Friday Night Lights.  To say I was skeptical would be a gross understatement; however I was hooked within the first 15 minutes of the pilot.  And now instead of sobbing (although there are certainly some tears) at the gym, I find myself cheering for the Dillon Panthers.  I’m not exaggerating.  When Coach Taylor pulled Voodoo at halftime and put in Sarenson, you would think that I was watching a real football game during that second half.  And when they went for two,  well let’s just say I am mentally ready for football season.  Just watch it.  Hopefully the series finale is as good as the pilot, but as you might have noticed, I’m pretty open to however the writers want to end things.  If they weren’t good at what they had been doing, I wouldn’t be so invested in the show in the first place.

Books read: 34

Coming Soon: Sarah writes a treatise on ladder safety.

Kacey Honors the Olympics...

Okay I had this whole plan of finishing this post like a week ago and post it in honor the ending of the Olympics (which I greatly enjoyed watching with all my free time)…however that time has come and gone…as it so often does… but I still am posting this in honor of the Olympics, because the Olympics made me cry… and they are awesome… and sports movies make me cry…and they are also awesome. So in honor of the 2012 Olympics and all great sporting events that bring people together in an outstanding way I present my favorite sports movies. (WARNING: Do not watch more than 3 of these movies at once as massive amounts of sobbing may ensue.)

Mighty Ducks Trilogy: Classic. We loved Pacey before he was Pacey (or Peter).  I don’t really know much about hockey, but because of this movie anytime I watch hockey I wait for someone to do the “Flying V”. 

Remember the Titans: Football bringing a community together to overcome small mindedness.  As you can see from the glossary this is one Jamie and I quote often and have seen many times.  Also there is a little girl who loves football as much as I do and gets almost as crazy as I do while watching.

The Replacements: This is actually Dad’s favorite, but one I find very entertaining. I have to say the sob factor isn’t so high… but the tears may fall because of the laughing. Very funny.
 

Rudy: Who doesn’t love Rudy? Even if you don’t like football, this is a great film about never giving up on a dream. And as Jamie mentioned in her last post, it is the reason people may silently chant “Rudy, Rudy” at the end of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Hoosiers: Great small town story. Basketball team does the unexpected and coach does not give up his beliefs because of outside pressures. But really I still don’t know a Hoosier is.

The Sandlot: This has to be about the third time we have mentioned The Sandlot on this blog. So watch it already. Rag tag group of kids hanging out playing baseball...awesomeness ensues.

A League of Their Own: This is a family favorite. Baseball is pretty much an Emerson family religion (hence the number of baseball movies chosen) but when you combine baseball with girl power, it pretty becomes the Emerson family motto. And although we say no crying in baseball… there is crying in baseball… just not while on the field.

Field of Dreams: Thought about hard enough, this is really a strange movie. But that’s what makes it great. Voices from the sky, dead people coming out of corn fields and baseball… ending with a simple catch between father and son…what’s not to love?

Bull Durham: Again not so much about the crying as it is about the laughing. But you’ll never look at a meetings at the pitchers’ mound the same way, but you’ll better understand the church of baseball.

Cool Runnings: Only movie to make the list that is actually about the Olympics. This movie is hysterical… Jamaicans learn to bobsled…based on a true story… and even though it’s funny it will get you in the end with a slow clap... tears, lots of tears.

So what have we learned? Sports movies cool. The Olympics are cool. And crying is cool.

Coming Soon: Sarah writes a rap about Greek Gods to the tune of Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Jamie Advises: You are that guy, just embrace it

I read a small little blurb recently in an article where Mark-Paul Gosselaar expressed some minor irritation at still being called/referred to as Zack Morris. The little blurb, and I’m sure it was just an off-handed comment, had a quote from Gosselaar basically saying he didn’t understand the continued fascination with Saved by the Bell because it was kind of a ridiculous show with bad writing. Well, duh. I think I’d take it as a compliment if I were him because he transcended the cliche-ness that was SBTB to give us one of the most memorable characters of our formative years. And let’s face it, you weren’t really sure who I was talking about until I got to the Zack Morris part of that first sentence. Don’t get me wrong, I love his new show Franklin & Bash, but (because?) it’s kind of like Zack Morris grew up and became a lawyer named... Franklin? No, wait, he’s Bash and Breckin Meyer is Franklin. I think. It’s a little irrelevant, because when I watch I pretty much just think of them as Zack Morris & Breckin Meyer (who will never be referred to by a character he plays’ name because “Breckin Meyer” is one of the most fun names to say out loud. Say it right now. See??).
I know that Zack is not a real person (even if he did play along on Jimmy Fallon that one time), but there is a lot of pop culture knowledge rolling around in my brain and it’s just easier to refer to him that way. But I want Zack, er, I mean Mark, to know that he’s not alone. Here are some more people that my brain will refuse to acknowledge as anyone other than their most memorable roles:

Ferris Bueller - Matthew Broderick is an immensely talented actor of both stage and screen. And he’s married to Carrie Bradshaw, I mean, Sarah Jessica Parker. But all of that means nothing because John Hughes wrote a little movie in the 80s called Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Broderick was cast in the title role for the film, and subsequently the rest of his life. Most of this list comes from TV, which makes a little sense, as you watch them week after week playing the same character. That makes Ferris all the more impressive of a role and a performance.

Mr. Spock - Does anyone not? Even Mr. Nimoy has accepted his fate after a rebellion in his younger days.

Dawson Leary - And really, let’s just drop the last name. James Van Der Beek is always referred to by us as Dawson. I think he understands that and mocks it a little while playing an alternative version of himself on Don’t Trust the B* in Apartments 23. At least from what I understand, I’ve only watched parts of a couple episodes. [Creek related side note: we do refer to Joshua Jackson as Pacey, which I think confuses our dad a little when we’re watching Fringe. Next time maybe he should try a character whose name doesn’t start with P.]

Urkel - Not even being pretty hot can keep us from referring to Jaleel White as Urkel. When Charles Barkley got in trouble (DUI) and it involved drinking wine coolers with White, all I could think was Charles Barkley was drinking wine coolers with Steve Urkel. As if Sir Charles drinking wine coolers wasn’t ridiculous enough, it was with Urkel. Oh boys.

Mikey/Rudy/Samwise - Not many people can pull off multiple iconic characters, but Sean Astin not just anyone. He is one football playing goonie of a hobbit. Like my father, I kind of wanted to shout “Rudy, Rudy..” when Sam was running up that hill to get rid of the ring. I once attended a Democratic fundraiser and glanced over to see that he was a couple people over from me. When relaying the story to others later, I had to change the character name depending on who I was talking to as each character has its own audience. Regardless of who it was, they needed a little more information than “Sean Astin” to know who I was talking about.

Josh Lyman - It might be because Bradley Whitford tends to play characters that are either sleazy (see Billy Madison or Adventures in Babysitting) or a variation on Josh Lyman. And we don’t want to dwell on the sleazy. But I think he should embrace the fact that all West Wing fans will forever call him Josh Lyman, because all West Wing fangirls were a little bit in love with Josh Lyman. We are a nerdy bunch.

Buffy - A few things on this. First off, Sarah Michelle Gellar is a fantastic actress. I thought that pre-Buffy when she was on All My Children as Erica Kane’s horrible daughter Kendall Hart. She was so good on that. I’ll give you a minute to judge me for that sentence. Not only that, but she wasn’t the first person to play Buffy. But SMG’s Buffy is iconic. And because of that, she’s always going to be Buffy. Better to be remembered as a badass vampire slayer than the live action version of Daphne from Scooby Doo. Those movies are terrible.

Uncle Jesse - Sorry John Stamos, I’d like to say the cast of Full House, but it’s kind of just you. And maybe a little bit Aunt Becky. I mean, if Bob Saget’s comedy wasn’t so dirty I’m sure we’d call him Danny. And if the Olsen twins weren’t, well, the Olsen twins, maybe we’d call them Michelle. Or maybe if there had just been one of them? I guess we’ll never know. We do know that Dave Coulier can’t be referred to as Joey. Partly because he hasn’t really done enough post-Full House for us to say hey, it’s Joey. But mostly because if you say hey, it’s Joey, we expect to see Matt Le Blanc. Speaking of which...

The cast of Friends - Sorry guys, 10 years is a long time to be one of the most popular shows on television. No matter if you drop off the face of the planet or become A-listers, you will always be Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe & Joey.

Honorable mentions (they need a few more roles so that we can see them and go, hey, it’s [insert character name here]):
Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), Captain Jack (John Barrowman), Abby Scuito (Pauley Perrette)

Coming Soon: Recently we had to pull out the intervention banner for Sarah’s Dawson Creek, um, problem. She didn’t take it well and has left the country.

The Glossary Part 4 (Jamie)

Last night Meryl & I were watching True Blood (we’re only on season 4) and there is a scene where Tara is getting her girlfriend to leave town because vampires are always trying to kill her and Meryl says, I think she just pulled a Harry Potter there (leaving Ginny behind to protect her kind of thing) and I nodded... and then I said, I think she just White Fang’d her. Which reminded me that I needed to get this next glossary entry up. Here are some more things to know if you ever listen to Kacey & I talk:

Maureen – Source: @maureenjohnson. We talk about Maureen a lot. You might think that she’s someone we actually know, one of our friends. And we like to think that she’s our friend, but we don’t actually know her. Maureen Johnson is a hilarious YA author who keeps up one of the best twitter accounts in the brief history of twitter. Seriously, if you’re on twitter and you aren’t following Maureen, you aren’t using twitter properly. How else will you be placed in a jar to learn about the hamsters and the Monday Dragon and the 4 Questions and all the various things she gets on her soapbox to discuss. We will also make references to Wil (Wheaton) and John & Hank (Green). Now you know that we don’t actually know these people.

Pretty much anything from Wayne’s World - My favorite is: “it sucks while its cuts... well it certainly does suck” although “if you’re going to spew, spew into this” probably has more real world applications. But I think it’s important to point out that sometimes we just say these things, even if they don’t seem to apply. All it takes is one word sometimes to set us off into a pop culture spiral and we can pull out almost as many lines from this movie as Clueless. And that is saying something.

We’re Gonna Win! – Source: A League of Their Own. Tom Hanks’ character, Jimmy Dugan, has a moment of clarity while Evelyn’s annoying little kid is taunting the team with “you’re gonna lose, you’re gonna lose.” This is generally noted at a turning point when watching or playing a game, with the same manic energy as Jimmy.

No Crying in Baseball – Source: A League of Their Own - Sometimes there is crying in baseball (we love Joey Cora so we have to say that). And generally whenever we watch this movie, we cry (I mean, come on it’s got baseball and sisters and Tom Hanks, of course we cry). But that doesn’t meant that we don’t often find a way to work this line into conversations. Also, you never know when someone is going to throw out a “there’s Marla Hooch, what a hitter” just because.

C-razy – Source: The Big Bang Theory, specifically Miss Amy Farrah-Fowler. The key here is now Amy says it. Cuh-razy. Whenever we text each other and use the word crazy, it’s assumed that it is being said the way that Amy would say it. It also implies that what we are referring to is really not that crazy, and we’re kind of mocking the lack of craziness.

Woo Girls – Source: How I Met Your Mother. Even if you don’t know this reference, you totally know what a Woo Girl is. You’ve mocked their tight, low-cut outfits at the baseball game (which they spend in the beer garden, not watching the game) or rolled your eyes at them standing in line for a club shrieking with their friends (you were not in line for the club, you were passing by). But what we learned on How I Met Your Mother is that they should be pitied. They don’t have anything else going on in their lives and so they act out in these ridiculous ways and say “woooooo” a lot because they are really sad inside. Generally Kacey & I (who can be quite judgmental) just share a look, shake our heads, and say “Woo Girl” when we see them. But it’s okay Woo Girls, we all have those moments.

We’re Like this (with appropriate hand gesture) – Source: Friends, that crazy hand gesture that helps demonstrate that Chandler & Joey’s brains are in sync. Obvious Kacey & I are often on the same page and so to demonstrate that we usually make a similar hand waving gesture. It also works over a text, all we need to say is “we’re like this” and the gesture is implied. We do this a lot. Frequency wise it’s up there with Dear Tiny Baby Jesus & 90% & NO TIME. Since it’s a Friends reference it is also often used with Sarah.


Books read: 33 (Rocking some more Song of Fire & Ice, I could be on 33 for a while...)

Coming Soon: Sarah writes a proposal for a Dawson’s Creek spinoff - The New Creek, with a slate of fresh young stars, including Suri Cruise as Pacey & Joey’s kid. In the pilot we discover that she might not really be Pacey’s daughter as Joey spent some time doing research for a book on a religious cult and no one knows what all she did to get inside the group.

Glossary Part 3... (by Kacey)

Glossary Part 3! Second post in August! Still no job! Woo!

Here we go..

“Does the term cruel and unusual punishment mean anything to you?” Source: Remember the Titans. The dashing Ryan Gosling, who at the time this film was made was still emerging from his Disney boyish ways, really wants his large, defensive lineman, African-American team member to like the song “Act Naturally” by Buck Owens. This is the response he receives. One uses the statement whenever something is difficult to sit through.

“Bow ties are cool.” Source: The Doctor, and if you have to ask which doctor then you are new. One can also refer to fezzes, as they are also cool. Actually this is best used when someone doesn’t like what you are wearing; just say it is cool, thus making it cool. (Like bows Jamie, bows are cool)

“I totally paused.” Source: Clueless. Jamie and I can actually pretty much quote this whole movie as we have watched it many times. And it made reading Jane Austen’s Emma much more interesting. I often use this when I come to a stop sign and may not come to a full stop. Jamie doesn’t say this as often.

“Exceptionally good finder.” Source: A Very Potter Musical. Okay so confession time. I have actually only watched about ¾ of the first A Very Potter Musical, which in the nerd world is a little sacrilege. However, I know enough to know this is a reference to Hufflepuffs and how they good at finding things (the joke being that is all they are really good for). But since being placed in Hufflepuff on Pottermore I feel my finding skills have greatly increased.

 “Wine and Beer!” Source: RENT, via the song La Vie Boheme. This needs little explanation to when its use is appropriate since people who have never have seen RENT will say “wine and beer,” but said in a chant form is often more appropriate.

“Gobla, Gobla, Humngo!” Source: A Muppet Family Christmas. I’m not even sure if that is spelled correctly…my Swedish Chef isn’t totally fluent. This phrase is said when the Swedish Chef reacts to the size of Big Bird. This phrase usually comes out at Thanksgiving and is used in reference to the size of the turkey… and is not said exclusively by Jamie and myself.

“Challenge accepted!” Source: How I Met Your Mother. Another Barneyism. Often used when no one has actually challenged him to do anything. The phrase is best used when you feel up to a challenge… but it is not necessary for someone say “I challenge you to…”. It’s really more of personal challenge mantra.

 “90%” Source: I can’t remember where this came from, but it is made in reference to cows. Actually usually starts when Jamie and I are driving around and we pass by a field with cows. I start by saying… “Hey Jamie did you know that 90%...” I usually don’t have to finish before Jamie rolls her eyes. It’s from my favorite joke that states “Did you know that 90% percent of all cow are outstanding in their field.” Now all one of us has to say is “90%” whenever cows are discussed.

Coming Soon: After watching Dawson's Creek for two days straight Sarah writes a letter to Joey Potter warning her to stay away from Scientology.

Jamie's Fave Five for July (a couple days late)

Well hello! I have been watching the newly released trailer for Doctor Who series 7, on repeat and then laughing at how it has already taken over my tumblr feed. It's got Amy and Rory and River and Daleks and Weeping Angels and dinosaurs on a spaceship and wizards (when I say wizards, I mean people who were on Harry Potter), and the Doctor, of course, because it is his show. I'm getting off track, this isn't even what I am planning to write about, but did I mention dinosaurs on a spaceship??!? I think we all know what is going at the top of the list of the August fave five. But it's not time for that yet, so back to the topic at hand. Without further dinosaur delay, my fave five for July:

1) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love - Oh, these boys. First they do a song about Dave Neihaus that makes me tear up (that’s a lie, it makes me sob), and now they have this beautiful song in support of equal marriage. And in case that isn't enough, the proceeds from the song are going to support Yes on R-74. We're gonna win this one in November and it's gonna be totally awesome.

2) Written by a Kid - The newest Geek & Sundry (reminder: Geek & Sundry is Felicia Day's YouTube channel where they also have things like the Flog, which is where my inspiration for doing a fave five came from) is absolutely adorable. Each week a cute little kid tells a story and as they are telling it, guest directors create/animate/act out the story. Simple and so much fun.  Also, Joss Whedon was in the first one. 

3)  Comicon coverage – So I didn’t go to Comicon.  Obviously, or there would have been an epic post.  So I had to live vicariously through those on Twitter and Hypable and various other websites who were able to go and attend the Firefly reunion panel (sigh) and the Doctor Who panel (sigh again) and the Nerdist panel with John Barrowman when he showed the audience his superhero underwear (sigh doesn't cover it).  Let’s pause to appreciate that for a moment.  Okay, now that we’re all on the topic of John Barrowman (the one and only Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who & Torchwood), his Twitter feed is my other new favorite thing.  Periodically he will post a link to a live video feed from his phone.  It’s pretty much always adorable whether he’s talking Comicon or the Olympics. 

4)  A Very Potter Senior Year – Okay, so this isn't exactly on the internet yet, but it was announced that the much anticipated (at least by the Harry Potter loving internet nerd community of awesome) third Harry Potter musical from the very talented TeamStarkid would be “performed” at this year’s Leaky Con (a Harry Potter and general fandom convention).  I use quotes because technically they are doing a table reading of the script, but complete with songs and given the comedic talents of these folks, I’m sure some crazy antics.  Whatever it ends up being, I am sure it will not fail to entertain and those of us not attending this convention will just wallow in our envy, hoping that someday it is released onto the internet.  Can you wallow in envy?  Is that a thing? Oh well.

5) The Oatmeal - Specifically on how to suck at your religion.  I mean, the Oatmeal is full of fantastically awesome things, but someone linked to this specific little gem and I found it to be pretty awesome. 

Books read: 33 (Having trouble deciding what to read next, but while I’m waiting for my library books to come in, I think I’ll go with more Game of Thrones before finishing up Libba Bray’s Gemma Doyle trilogy)

Coming Soon: Sarah suggests what superhero underwear might be appropriate for the cast of Dawson’s Creek. 

Glossary Part 2- (by Kacey)

I suck… here I had all these ambitions to write more blogs this summer… but alas I only wrote 1 entry in July making my summer grand total 4. You’d think I’d have some excuse like I’ve been really busy… but… um …no…unless it’s possible to be busy being lazy.

I mean I do stuff… lots of job searching still…helped plan an 80th surprise party of my Grandpa…spent some time at the beach… read a few books (well like 3)… did some berry picking… watched some baseball. But I can do better… I know it. (I’ve got some stuff in the works actually… so stick around for that...and the glossary will continue as well)

So as Jamie’s last entry noted we’ve started a glossary of phrases. If you spend more than an hour with us you’re probably going to hear us say something from the glossary… especially if we’re together. So here is the second part… in no particular order.

Glossary Part 2:

“Go on, get out of here, get” Source: The New Girl, via Schmidt. Also knowing as “White Fanging.” Schmidt wants to break up Cece and decides the best method is to yell at her like what happens in White Fang…. I guess. I’ve actually never read White Fang, but now I know that what to do when I want someone to leave and don’t want them to feel bad about leaving.

“Pivot!” Source: Friends. Ross is trying to move a couch and yells this it hopes of getting the couch up the stairs. This phrase is best used whenever moving something, predominantly when trying to fit furniture through small spaces.

“Moo Point” Source: Friends. Yes another Friends reference. This is a Joey phrase he says instead of say “moot point.” However in his defense he does follow it up with sound logic explaining that it’s like a cow’s opinion; it doesn’t matter. I particularly like to use this around mom as she knows the reference and it always makes her giggle (she loves Joey).

“Pants! Pants! Pants!” Source: How I Met Your Mother. Barney wants so bad for Marshall to tell the pants story and he eventually starts chanting “pants”. Ultimately the story proves to be only half as funny as Barney has built it up to be. The chant is really only invoked when “pants” are somehow part of a conversation and one suddenly feels the need to insert the reference or confuse people.

“You all want a victory!?” Source: Remember the Titans. Classic sports movie. Referenced whenever one wants to win a game, particularly when on a team and the team needs pumping up.

“Totes Cray-Cray.” Source: Kind of Unknown because I think it’s a thing young people say, but we started using it because of Lydia who is featured on the Lizzie Bennett Diaries and she says it regularly. (She also not has her own Vlog- so funny). It’s commonly used it a mocking tone, as we are not teenage girls and sound rather ridiculous saying it.

“Rrrreally Fun” Source: That 70’s Show. Kelso says this. Hyde then reminds him that last time Kelso said this they had to get his stomach pumped…so of course Hyde is game. Kelso then rides a canoe down a hill. The best time to use this is coming up when a really fun idea… obviously.

Coming Soon: Sarah discusses the Olympic opening ceremonies and draws parallels to Danny Boyle's movies. (My favorite part is where she discusses Trainspotting and the Queen parachuting with James Bond)