Friday Favorites: TV addictions

I have a lot of book-related obligations looming, so how do I cope? Well, I do crack. Actually, I watch TV, but it's just as addictive. Want a hit of some of this?

1. So You Think You Can Dance
Travis and Amy. Holy moly. It's a dance about "an irresistible player" and the girl he's trying to play. I've lost count of how many times I've watched this. The song is perfect, Amy's muscles are mesmerizing, and the choreography from Travis is crazy good. Do me a favor and watch this full screen. I promise you won't regret it!


Go ahead, watch it again! (If you prefer to watch the full segment with intro, dance, and judges swooning, go here.)

2. Scandal
I think my interest in this started with Entertainment Weekly. A feature, perhaps, but it might also have appeared in some sort of "shows to marathon" article. I was intrigued but decided to leave it on the back burner. Then friend/crackdealer Kim Harrington tweeted about being hooked, and I leapt straight into that downward spiral of addiction. Oh, this show. It can be so damn contrived sometimes. BUT . . . it's like a master class on sustaining tension. And the cliffhanger endings? Half the time I feel like I'm going into cardiac arrest. At the center of it all is a pair of star-crossed lovers. They really can't be together and, speaking of addictions, I think they're rather hooked on the drama of their situation. (Olivia Pope says about has much to the man who is actually free to marry her.) Anyhoo, there's something very compelling about Fitz and Olivia, and I like this scene of them sublimating their passion into a mutual awe over the U.S. Constitution:



3. Supernatural
Speaking of friends who deal TV crack, my pal Glenda has managed to get nearly all my childhood friends hooked on this show. The beginning of Season 6 has been weird for me, but "Weekend at Bobby's" made it all worthwhile. Who'd have thought that the best episode of the season (so far) would feature the father-figure secondary character? This scene of him telling Dean and Sam to "sack up" is one of my favorite Supernatural moments ever. (Warning for mild language.)


And how lovely is it that Jensen Ackles directed? *happy sigh*

So . . . what's your TV crack these days? Go ahead, deal it to me. Clearly, I have no self control.

[Cross-posted at Livejournal]

Friday Favorites

I know this is so last week, but I finally caught up with So You Think You Can Dance a few days ago. I was very pleased with the outcome -- the winning dancer was my favorite all along, for I could never quite connect to the runner up, despite his/her amazing talent and drive. (Trying not to spoil, just in case!)

Overall, a great season. The top eight show was the best set of performances I can remember.

It was fun to watch the judge's favorite dances during the final episode. My own favorite was not included in that number, so of course I'm going to post it here. This dance may not have been the most technically brilliant or heart-tugging of the season, but it sure hit all my story buttons. (Desire, manipulation, unrequited love, etc.) Melanie is such a great actress as well as dancer, and I found Tadd convincing as the choreographer. (But did he miss the beat at the end?) I can't help giggling over the fact that Skippy-faced sweetie Spencer Liff came up with something so darkly passionate and Black Swan-esque (as Cat noted).



[Shirley Bassey's vocals are amazing, too. Nice mix.]

What was YOUR favorite routine of the season?

Home

First off: I'll be signing at the Barnes & Noble in Oklahoma City (6100 N. May) this Thursday evening, August 18, at 7 pm. I'd love to meet you and sign your book!

Second newsflash: I'm HOME!

Some nice things about this:

-- My kitty remembered me. He was very sleek and happy from getting such excellent care from my adorable housesitter.

-- The heat isn't TOO terrible. (Highs in the upper 90s, but getting warmer soon enough)

-- I have remained unspoiled as to the final results of So You Think You Can Dance and am now caught up to the top six. WOW! The top eight show was absolutely phenomenal. (I don't know if this is my favorite dance, but watching the Viennese Waltz with Melanie and Pasha is a nice way to start a Monday. Pasha would brighten any morning, wouldn't he?)

-- It's just great to be in my house and back to our old routines. I really am a creature of habit.

I'll leave you with this photo -- a rare shot of the Brasenose College entrance on High Street. Why is this rare? Well, for one thing, it's SUNNY. And the second is that there are no people crowding the sidewalk. Miraculous, really.


See you next summer, Brasenose!

*happy sigh*

Melanie and Marko did it again last night:



That kiss.

I mean, GUH.

I'm so in love with this pair.

Any predictions on who's leaving tonight? Or, if you see this later, did your prediction come true?

TV Tuesday -- So You Think You Can Dance

It returns on Thursday! Check out the latest news.

I mostly dislike reality competition shows, especially the ones in which "creative editing" ratchets up the tension in an obviously artificial way. But in this show, the tension is pretty legitimate -- and golly can these kids dance!

Here's one of my favorites from season 5 -- Jeanine and Brandon's Paso Doble.



(And yes, we did drive to Kansas City that year to see the tour.)

One of the best things about season 8 is that Mary Murphy returns. You know, I always liked her screaming!

Who's watching with me? This is the sort of show I love to discuss with friends.

[Cross-posted from Livejournal]