When it comes to GaGa's Edge of Glory,less can be more

Last week,another new Lady Gaga video made it's debut and it drew attention not for it's outrageous content but for it's lack of shock value instead.

The Edge of Glory was written as a celebration of life as death approaches and according to Gaga,inspired by the decease of her grandfather. That alone tells me that taking a different tact to visualizing this song was inevitable for her.



Critics have said that the video is very retro 1980s in style,with GaGa dancing around the deserted streets of a NYC locale and at times on a fire escape with legendary sax man Clarence Clemons(rest in peace,good sir)being the only other person present.

Personally, I think the song is strong enough to be showcased in a more stripped down setting and that it's subtly subversive to see GaGa strutting around a brownstone in an outfit that's fit for riding with the Dothraki warriors from Game of Thrones:





Of course,Lady GaGa is not the first flamboyant performer to release a simple music video that doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles attached to it. Her unofficial muse Madonna did that quite a few times,especially in the early days of her video career.

One of the more memorably mild Madonna videos was 1983's Burning Up,which did sprinkle a few little literal gimmicks such as a hard to open door and a group shot of eyes. However,it's best known for watching the future Material Girl emote her heart out in a driveway:





When it came to strange videos,The Eurythmics were certainly no slouches in that department. Even in her solo outings,lead singer Annie Lennox was the queen of bizarre imagery for music videos such as Walking on Broken Glass and Love Song for a Vampire.

Here Comes the Rain Again,a truly haunting tune from 1984,may seem to be elaborate due to it's setting and costumes. Yet when you break it down,all you have is Annie wandering around an island while her band mate David Stewart follows her from a distance with a camera. It kind of looks like a Gothic reality show,if you think about it:





Sinead O'Connor debut single,Nothing Compares to U,was very effective in focusing on the singer's beautiful vocals rather than her shaved skull appearance. In the video for the song,her shaven head takes on an angelic stance as the lack of hair draws attention to the delicate features of her face.

It was awhile before folks realized the fiery spirit that laid beneath the surface of Sinead's seemingly calm composure. She won Best Female Video at the MTV awards in 1990 for this graceful composition of grace notes:






Don't get me wrong,folks-I like a good over the top Lady GaGa video and I'm in no doubt that we'll see plenty of them when all is said and done. What made me a fan of hers,however,was her voice and the emotional resonance that it can bring forth on command and is it so bad to have a video that lets her show her greatest strength there?

I come from a time where imaging the visuals for a song was standard(for me,at least)due to catching it on the radio and I can still do that today. While there are some amazing videos out there,many of us would agree that what's playing in our heads as the song rolls on can be way better that what is actually onscreen.

So, don't lament the low key antics for the official Edge of Glory video. After all, you can check out the live performances(such as the American Idol one)online and debate which one you would've expanded upon for the actual video. Better yet,you can just enjoy the song,period,in all of it's lyrical splendor:

A Triple Threat Weekend with The Whitest Kids U Know

Hi,folks-today,my sister Stephanie will be holding the reins here,as she gives her account of an event she attended last week in NYC,where one of her favorite comedy ensembles,The Whitest Kids U Know,did a live performance,panel discussion and a screening of their film,The Civil War on Drugs. So,lucky me,I get to sit back and relax as she shares some of the fun with us:



Last weekend was the weekend of weekends for me. The weekend I'd been looking forward to ever since it was all announced. Since 2007, my favorite show has been The Whitest Kids U' Know.

If you've been reading T's blog for a while you've probably have seen some of their sketches she's peppered in past posts. She even once blogged about our experience at a live TV taping for the show.

On Friday (that's today!), their TV series on IFC will play its foul mouthed swan song at 10:30 pm est. (check local listings)

So as part of this, there was a screening of their film, "Civil War On Drugs" at the 92y Tribeca ( and the next night at Sketchfest NYC as a surprise secret midnight screening). Along with that were Q&A sessions and a moderated panel on Saturday. I will attempt as best as I can to review and report my Triple Threat Weekend as I dubbed it, so bear with this Jr. baby cub blogger:

(photo credit to 92yTribeca)

92y Tribeca Screening + Q&A - Thursday 6/9/11

I've seen them perform here live before in 2008. Memories abound!

Prior to the actual screening, all 5 members came on stage to do quick sketches at request. The first was Slow Jerk, a perennial favorite amongst the fanbase as well as YouTube itself.

For the next sketch they faked out the crowd into thinking they'd do a total improv sketch by having people shout out words. With much selective hearing, Motorcycle Mamas was performed with a slight twist to the end. A rather twisted twist, but I'll leave it at that.




Onto the movie. For their fifth and final season, the film has been chopped into 10 parts and tacked onto the last half of each new episode. So its half sketches, and half movie which in the context of the season almost plays out like a serial or a miniseries.

Mind you, a miniseries with selective censoring. (since IFC now has sponsors, they've been cutting out f bombs left and right, a new policy that's extremely unfavorable especially in online circles) It was nice to see CWOD without interruption and bad words intact. IFC has their censored version up here.




For the uninitiated, Civil War On Drugs is a historical fiction stoner comedy of sorts. The main characters, Trevor and Sam are played by...Trevor (Moore) and Sam (Brown). The two are lifelong friends from opposite backgrounds who are introduced to marijuana by a slave brought over from Jamaica.

This is all right around when the war/secession begins, and in their hazed state, believe that the war is all about the illegalities of the plant. You don't necessarily have to be 420 friendly in order to appreciate the humor in the film, though. It is rife with layers and grand exaggerations that to a fan (especially) would be spotted out quickly as their signature style.

There were some minor technical snafus as right near the end it cut out. Bummer in the summer. But as it was being fixed, the troupe decided to do the q&a a bit earlier than expected, at least until all systems were go again.

The ending we were shown was a rough cut with a time code, which actually made it seem more special. We were seeing most of the meat slapped onto the skeleton. I guess it's kinda like when you come across unreleased demos of a band you like, only they themselves presented it to you in lieu of a tech glitch.

(photo credit to 92yTribeca)


A majority of the Q&A dealt with how the film was made, how they started out, favorite seasons, etc. Someone asked if they've ever tried peyote (since the characters do in the movie). They all said no, and in return asked if anyone in the crowd did. Sure enough, a lucky volunteer was brought up front to recount his experience, to the best of his knowledge.

What I learned from that: Apparently you will inexplicably wake up in New Jersey, but it is "fucking awesome". (Prior to that answer, Trevor asked him "So what would your Yelp review be on this?")

Another query posed to the guys was "Favorite stoner movie?", which was met with much inappropriate responses (Zach:"Schindler's Motherfuckin' List!" Sam:"Sophie's Choice!!" Darren:"The Pianist!"). Comedy options aside, "Dazed and Confused" and "The Big Lebowski" were name checked.

The film was shot in a matter of 3 weeks in the summer of 2010 in upstate New York. Most of the crew were extras, who were also in the audience. I have to say, not just as a diehard fan, that within the short period of time they really made it look spectacular. The group said that no studio would take this on because they didn't feel that period comedies would be viable. Welp, their loss.




Sketchfest NYC Live Show & Secret Screening - Friday 6/10/11

The next night, we went to the UCB Theater for their live set at Sketchfest. For my friends/travel companions this was their first show. For me, counting last night, it would be the 6th. I go hard in the paint whenever they come to the city. A majority of the sketches were from Season 1, with a little bit of each season thrown in as well. It also marked the first time they've performed the infamous "Grapist" sketch live, which was partially incorporated with the TV version:



"Line Leader", one of Lady T's personal faves, is also a staple in their live performances. It gets pretty messy but the message rings loud and clear. One of many examples:



It just so happened that later on, there was a "Secret Screening" scheduled for midnight, and we found out the day before that it was "Civil War On Drugs" (had a feelin'!). So we got to see it again, this time the way it was meant to be seen. Still as good as every time. With any movie you pick up more and more things you didn't see before, and this was no exception.

Last year the movie was still being made and hinted at what it would be about. Behind the scenes pictures popped up on the members' respective Facebook accounts. I gotta admit though, the moment I heard the title I initially groaned a bit. Alas, book, cover, judge, all that. I've really warmed up to it since then. Characters are hilarious, lots of quotable lines.




Sketchfest NYC Panel - Saturday 6/11/11

The finale of our Triple Threat Weekend was topped off with a moderated Q&A panel hosted by a member of the Onion AV Club. Topics stressed were their beginnings as a college club in the School of Visual Arts. It was initially comprised of more than 5 people and was eventually whittled down to what you see now, as they branched out and became their own thing.

Also the subject of success/fame was brought up. At times it often got extremely awkward for Darren Trumeter, as he is best known for (besides playing a majority of the female roles throughout the series) another infamous YouTube hit, "Slow Jerk". Kids on the subway would spot him and emulate the aforementioned gesture in the sketch seen here:



Zach Cregger, well known for playing Abraham Lincoln throughout the series as well as the movie itself (spoiler whoops), takes pride in the show having cult status, as he himself was always drawn to the more esoteric aspects of pop culture. Paraphrasing, he stated that he'd rather be 10 people's first favorite thing than 100 people's tenth favorite.



Near the end, the floor was open to the audience. Someone who is also trying their hand in sketch comedy asked for advice, which they gave in abundance. Mainly perseverance and trial & error. As a fledgling freelance comic book artist, I can attest to this as transcendent solid advice.

All in all, it was a great experience and well worth every penny I spent throughout. This makes a grand total of 7 shows/appearances I've seen. Growing up I'd always been exposed to sketch comedy and it was kind of like a tradition in our household.

My family would watch Kids In The Hall, The State, SNL, and Mr. Show together. But I was still a kid then and I never really got the chance to actually interact one on one in real life with anyone from those shows.

The Whitest Kids U Know is and was the shot in the arm that sketch comedy needed in the new millennium. And I'm not just blowing smoke up anyone's ass about this. The YouTube view counts don't lie. And despite the crude nature of the series, none of the members are anything like the awful characters they portray.



In fact, it's quite the opposite. Night and day. Really sweet guys, always friendly and accommodating to fans (myself included). With that and the combo of social networking, they're possibly the first sketch troupe to actually interact online with fans as the show airs in real time, aka live chats.

It's been a tradition of theirs even before they had a proper chat room venue. Their dedication to their fan base as well as their craft is exceptional in my eyes.

They will still be performing and writing as the WKUK, as well as venturing into separate projects. As one door shuts, another opens. Either way, the show will be missed greatly but will live on in many forms. Thanks for the ride, dudes. Catch ya on the flip side:



Thank you,Stephanie,for giving me and my readers a special look at this wonderful Whitest Kids event,including your photos and marvelous insight.

My sister happens to be an excellent graphic artist,whose work can be seen on a weekly basis in the online action packed graphic novel,Perfect Agent,written by Greg Carter. Granted, I may be slightly biased but you can see for yourself the quality of her artistry and I hope that such talent will be appreciated in my lifetime(shameless plug and sister love).

A double down for the Next Food Network Star,the TC Masters finale and dealing with the Ned Stark Situation

The third season finale of Top Chef Masters
gave the remaining three chefs the standard last challenge of this series,which is to cook the meal of your life. The first course would be based on a childhood memory and the second on the food moment that made him/her want to make cooking their career.

However,a new twist was introduced for the last course. Each chef have to draw a knife to see which of the critics on the Judges' panel they would have to make that person's most memorable meal. Gael Greene joined James Oselund and Ruth Reichl for this round and I was glad to see her and those crazy hats she loves to wear back again.



Mary Sue has been on a strong winning streak,so she was an odds-on favorite to do well here. She started things off with an steak tartare,since those were a regular feature at the Christmas Eve dinners she had while growing up.

It was made with Asian flavors,including pear that one of the special guests to the big meal(Judge Tom from Top Chef)felt that it needed to be diced up a little more.



While her middle course of shrimp and pasta received mixed reviews,her dish for Ruth Reichl was a major league hit. Ruth's choice was lemon souffle,a treat she first tasted on her first trip to Paris.

Mary Sue not only made a souffle,she added to the plate a lemon hazelnut meringue,rhubarb compote and lemon ice cream that was whipped up with liquid nitrogen. Everyone swooned over that plate of sweetness and Ruth proclaimed it to be "heaven."



Traci's childhood dish was shrimp creole,like her grandfather used to make only with a modern day upgrade. Her version was done in a deconstructed manner,which the diners did delight in.



The roasted quail salad that Traci made for her second course did please Gael Greene somewhat but the favorite meal of Gael's that she was supposed to make wound up with a "thumbs up,thumbs down" reception. Gael requested fried duck with Bearnaise sauce,similar to what she ate on her honeymoon.

Traci made duck two ways,a salad with braised duck leg and the other with the sauce. Gael enjoyed the second style of duck and found the meat in the salad to be dry and tough.



Floyd had a early setback,as rain and traffic cut down on his prep time for the finale but he managed to pull through that challenge rather well. His childhood course was upma polenta,a savory snack that he refined with wild mushrooms and coconut milk. Despite it's seeming simplicity,the dish did get some love from the crowd.



His second course of rice crusted snapper didn't sit well with everyone but his meal for James Oselund was a real heart warmer. James asked for rendang,a meat dish that he discovered on his first trip to Southeast Asia. Floyd was worried about having enough time to braise the oxtail,especially after losing most of his prep time.

One of the main things that James stressed about the dish was being able to taste the soulfulness of it and Floyd may not have added a lot of spice but the heart was there in every mouthful.



With that last course,Floyd became the winner of this season. Congrats to him and to his charity,The Young Scientist Cancer Research Fund,which will get the hundred grand cash prize. Floyd may not have won many of the challenges during this competition but he won the one that mattered the most.



The Next Food Network Star had a double elimination in it's second week,sending home Juba right after the first challenge of the day. Each contender had to make a pizza that represented their point of view and present it on camera.

Juba has had problems with talking on camera from the start and his shaky performance combined with a pizza crust that didn't fully bake sealed the deal for him to be let go. He seems like a nice enough guy,maybe he'll have better luck next time.



The main challenge was a team one,and Penny as the winner of the first round got to choose up the teams and decide which theme dish they had to simplify for the home cook. The themes were expensive ingredients,time management and complex techniques and they had to be cooked and served to a panel of Food Network notables such as Anne Burrell,Scot Conant and the Neelys.

Penny had hoped to knock out early favorite Orchid by placing her with a team of fellas and while she did take a few steps back,Penny's plan did not succeed on that level. She did earn a small victory by putting Katy on her team where her flaws were exposed to the judges there.

Katy's lack of focus is what truly did her in and it's just as well. Next week,Duff Goldman will show up for a dessert challenge that should be sweet for some and sour for others:





Normally at this point,I would just go into my usual Game of Thrones recap but seeing as the reaction to the execution of Lord Stark in the last episode has caused many of the fans to lose faith in the show, we need to deal with this Ned Stark Situation right now.

Since I read the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series before the show began,I knew that this moment was coming and yet,it was still sad to see poor Ned Stark sell his honor short in order to protect his daughters and perhaps prevent a war.

Unfortunately,like many a good man before him,Lord Eddard put his faith and neck in the hands of those who hold those values to be signs of weakness and paid the ultimate price for it:





This sad development was greeted with shock,naturally,by those who haven't read the books and many have expressed feelings of betrayal by killing off someone who they considered to be the main character(particularly due to Sean Bean being cast in the role). Some have even said that they no longer want to watch GOT and before anyone makes such a rash decision,let me point a few things out here:

1) There is no "main character" in Game of Thrones. Do not be lead astray by casting choices. This is a story with multiple points of view,with the only constant being that damn Iron Throne that all and sundry strive to claim.

2) There are major characters,of which Ned Stark was one, and their stories will continue on. Ned's death sparks off a whole host of serious consequences that throw the entire kingdom of Westeros into utter chaos and cause many of his family and allies to make hard and fast choices about where their destines ultimately lie.

3)One of the best signs that you're involved in a good story is that anyone can die at any time. As a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, this came up quite a bit. Yet, Joss Whedon always made such sad departures some of the best moments of the series and didn't let a little thing killing off Buffy to stop the show.

Have faith,my friends. It will take time to avenge Lord Eddard Stark but it shall happen,one way or another. You really don't want to miss the finale this Sunday because if you think that nothing more could surprise you here,you are in for such sights to behold that will keep the buzz going well into next year:



RANDOM NOTES:

THE TONY AWARDS: This season of Broadway earned several awards for South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone,as their first big musical Book of Mormon took home nine wins,including Best Musical and Original Score. Congrats,guys and I believe in your continued future on stage.

Neil Patrick Harris did a great hosting job,as always,and why can't he host everything,seriously? Not just a guest spot on the Oscars,give him the whole show,please!:

Which version has the most True Grit?

With the home video release of the celebrated 2010 remake of True Grit this week,I was finally able to see what all of the fuss was about regarding both films.

Awhile ago, I did watch the original 1969 adaptation of Charles Portis' novel,which is best known for John Wayne's award-winning performance as Rooster Cogburn,the cranky yet capable one-eyed Marshall recruited by young Mattie Ross(Kim Darby)to hunt down her father's killer.

As an initial introduction to this tale of old school vengeance in the Old West,the first take on it is certainly engaging,with a lot of John Wayne's crusty charms on display here. Glen Campbell as the pompous Texas ranger LaBoeuf comes across at times as the straight man for Wayne's antics as well as Darby's prim tough talk.

You do find yourself wrapped up in the search for the killer Tom Chaney which is meant to be Mattie's rite of passage into an adult world that she seems to be more than prepared(which many of the people she encounters find disconcerting). However, this edition of True Grit was clearly intended to be a star vehicle for John Wayne and on that level,it succeeds:





Wayne's performance was so popular with audiences that a sequel of sorts was made in 1975 called Rooster Cogburn with Katherine Hepburn as his co-star. A made for TV sequel was created a few years after that,casting Warren Oates as Rooster,which ended the ride for that character.

As much as I enjoyed the first True Grit,you could tell that this was a traditionally compromised Hollywood adaptation,not only to showcase Wayne's signature cowboy style but to suit the sensibilities of it's target audience back in those times. As beloved as it is,that taste of True Grit would've won more hearts if the filmmakers had dared to be a little more authentic:





When news of a new version from the Coen brothers arrived early on in 2010,people were lined up to see how well Jeff Bridges would measure up to John Wayne as Rooster. Folks were taken aback,however,and pleasantly so at Hailee Steinfeld's turn as Mattie Ross,the true star of this show.

Joel and Ethan Coen,to their credit,chose to stay closer to the source material and in the novel,Mattie is the main driving force of the story. Steinfeld more than holds her own with the likes of Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin,she commands attention from the minute she appears onscreen.

Her combination of steady determination and subtle emotional resonance is what earned her that Oscar nomination and I won't be surprised to see her up again for an Academy Award but this time in the Lead Actress category.

Kim Darby's rendition of Mattie is nicely done but there are touches of cloying sweetness that slip in and one scene where she gets hysterical when caught in a natural trap that borders on annoying. Thankfully, Stanfield's Mattie is allowed to be stronger as well as vulnerable at times without watering down her true nature.



As for Jeff Bridges,he makes Rooster his own with his usual mix of laid back attitude and man on a mission stance. Matt Dillon does have a bit of the goofiness that LaBoeuf is known for but he is far better able to reveal the deep down sincerity of the character than Glen Campbell was in his debut role.

Overall,the tone of the newer True Grit is grimmer and way more down to earth than it's predecessor,which gives it a sharp distinction from the typical remake. This approach seems to work well with Westerns such as the 2007 revival of 1957's 3:10 To Yuma showed us and if you're going to do a remake,finding a different way to spin that story is a smart move,not to mention more artistic:



So,which one has the real true grit? No offense to John Wayne fans but this is one of those rare times in which the remake is superior to the original. The 1969 edition is worth watching,particularly if you've never seen a John Wayne movie but the one that I would want to see again is the Coen brothers' version.

That film has a firmer foundation for what the Western genre strives to be as time goes on and it's definitely the one you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of. Hopefully,this will herald an age of sharply tuned tales that also let the ladies take their place as well as their aim at the center of the spotlight:

Beware the bad light that the Green Lantern movie may put future DC Comics films in

I may be a broken record on this subject but I can't help but feel strongly that this week's new DC Comics film adaptation,Green Lantern,is going to be a colossal failure. Part of my basis for doubt is due to casting Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan,a guy who's far too snarky to pull this role off.

Also,the persistent display of CGI,from GL's costume to the outer space menace heading for Earth that only Hal Jordan can defeat,plus his new buddies from Planet Oa,further strengthens my fear that once again, DC has dropped the ball in introducing another one of their legendary characters to the silver screen.



Now,before anyone gets too riled up,I will acknowledge that Marvel has had it's fair share of flops here. It would hard to deny that,especially with the likes of Elektra,Ghost Rider and Howard the Duck on their cinematic resume.

However,Marvel seems to bounce back better from such screw-ups-take for example the ill conceived Ang Lee version of The Hulk back in 2003.

Marvel managed to reboot the Hulk in 2008 and it was successful enough to ensure Bruce Banner's presence in the upcoming Avengers film,along side Iron Man,Thor and Captain America. Not to mention that Marvel has so far had a nice run at the movies this season with Thor and X-Men: First Class.

DC,on the other hand,has had it's only luck in recent years with Christopher Nolan's revival of the Batman movies. At the moment,they're still trying to shake off the bad vibes from last summer's Jonah Hex,which opened and closed faster than a speeding bullet. A shoddy script and editing more sliced up than the hero's face contributed to making that movie a sure fire clunker(with the jinx of Megan Fox on top of that):





Let's face it,folks-DC has quite a track record when it comes to introducing lesser known characters in bad films and then dropping any interest in remaking their movie image.

One of their most notorious let downs was 2004's Catwoman,that made the crucial error of attempting to turn a major villain into a hero.

Granted,Catwoman can be rightly deemed an anti-hero but by completely changing her origin,right down to giving her a new name-Patience Phillips is not as sinister sounding as Selina Kyle-and forcing a trashy alter ego outfit on Halle Berry(who truly earned her Razzie award for worst actress that year) sealed the deal for failure here:





Digging further back into their cinematic closet of shame,we unearth Swamp Thing from the depths of 1982. You would think that having Wes Craven in the director's chair for this one was a smart idea. Unfortunately,this was one of those times when Craven was having an off moment in film and it turned to dross instead of gold.

With plenty of hammy overacting from Louis Jordan,Adrienne Barbeau getting not much more to do than kick a little butt before becoming the damsel in distress and some really sad special effects,Swamp Thing become an overcooked campy comic book mess. It was the kind of pulp fiction that oozed it's wonky story telling from every pore:





Two years after Swamp Thing slunk away,audiences had the dubious pleasure of meeting Supergirl in the form of Helen Slater, surrounded by the most unlikely cast of stars such as Peter O'Toole,Brenda Vaccaro and Faye Dunaway.

Faye's scenery stomping as the evil sorceress here gives her over the top antics in Mommie Dearest a real run for her money. It's actually one of the fun parts of this incredibly goofy flick,which is a personal bad movie favorite of mine.

What might have helped the movie somewhat would have been the presence of Superman but Christopher Reeve backed out of the cameo that he was scheduled to make in this film. Then again,it may have not made much of a difference,all things considered:



My final word on this matter to DC is this;please do better by your superheroes when they hit Hollywood. Superman and Batman have done well,for the most part,but it would be nice to see the likes of Wonder Woman,Green Arrow or even Aquaman getting a decent shot at becoming a great film.

As to Green Lantern-good luck there,pal because you're really going to need it with Thor and the X-Men on point at the multiplex these days:

Do you prefer your Jane Austen naughty or nice?

The loudest bit of buzz amongst the Jane Austen crowd these days is about the upcoming release of another new version of Pride and Prejudice that promises to be extra spicy.

Erotica author Mitzi Szereto's novel Pride & Prejudice:Hidden Lusts,due out in July,has Elizabeth competing with Mr. Bingley and his sister for the amorous affections of Mr. Darcy while making Lydia a nymphomaniac,Lady Catherine somewhat of a dominatrix and Mr. Bennet sharing a certain Congressman in New York's passion for risque pictures.

This will certainly steam up many a tea cup,particularly for those who hold a preference for the more subtle shades of romantic desire found within the works of Austen. To each his/her own in this regard,I say but I also must say that this is not the first time that Jane Austen's novels have been given the NC-17 treatment:





No doubt that plenty of long time Austen fans recall the days when the most notorious Jane related fiction was Linda Berdoll's The Bar Sinister,a P&P sequel that dared to delve into the bedroom antics of Lizzy and Darcy.

During my time as a bookseller,I had a customer who wanted to order it but it was a hard to get item and so I recommended that she try a Jane Austen specialty website to find the book.

I contacted the lady who ran that site,who informed that she didn't carry that novel due to it's "pornographic" nature. I had no idea that was the case and didn't get a chance to look at The Bar Sinister until it was picked up by Sourcebooks and retitled Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife.



In terms of shock valve, Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife is a little unsettling at first but I personally came close to laughing out loud during the scene where Lydia insists on educating her older sisters about what sex is like.

It's very much like her to be so proud of what vast knowledge she believes that she's acquired over Lizzy and Jane that even Elizabeth has to bite her tongue to keep her amusement at bay.

Berdoll put out a sequel to her P&P sequel a couple of years later called Elizabeth and Darcy:Days and Nights at Pemberley. That book did well enough but I find it intriguing that Mr. Darcy is always the one to be at the center of such fantasies,out of all of the leading men that have graced the pages of Austen's work.

To be sure,he is a fine specimen,even with his faults of temper and reluctance to forgive weakness in others,but despite the legion of other Austen leading men such as Colonel Brandon,Mr. Knightley,Henry Tilney and Captain Wentworth,Fitzwilliam Darcy is still our most popular poster boy:





Even in parodies,Darcy and the rest of the P&P gang is the prime target of red hot raunchy imaginings. Pride and Promiscuity:The Lost Sex Scenes of Jane Austen, which was written by Dennis Ashton and Arielle Eckstut back in 2001 had a good number of sexy little sketches featuring Mr. Darcy and Lizzie,one of which was actually funny.

There were other Austen characters on silly sexed up display,such as Emma,the Dashwood sister and even poor Fanny Price but the P&P based ones were in full force there. I did have the misfortune to read through all of that book when it came out and found it more groan than giggle inducing.

Despite that distasteful tome,the Darcy love is alive and well amongst readers and movie goers at least. One does have to wonder if any man did try to act like Darcy in real life, would he stand any serious chance in claiming the heart of a modern day woman? Maybe but more likely,maybe not depending upon his approach:





So,while this new saucy take on Pride and Prejudice will have it's day in the sun or night on the town(take your pick),the real question should be "Where are all the sexy books about the rest of the Austen men?" I know that there have been follow-ups to nearly every one of Jane Austen's celebrated novels but it does seem that Pride and Prejudice is getting more than their fair share of notoriety in this department.

After all, there are plenty of folks who would be eager to put down some cold hard cash to check out the erotic adventures of fellows such as Edward Ferrars,Frank Churchill and Henry Crawford,for starters.

Why limit your lustful wanderings to the estate of Pemberley,where there are other delights to surely found within Austen country? Of course,you don't have to go down that road if you wish,but for those who do,an expansion of that Regency catwalk would give your favorite Austen gent a nice little turn for your entertainment indeed:

This pair of reading celebrations reveal the family ties that bind such books together in your heart

For readers,books about books are complete and utter catnip but the best ones offer more than just a handy list of reading recommendations. They talk about what drives the author to take up a book,the personal connection that person has to one set of titles over the other and that special someone in their life who encouraged to enjoy the delights of literature in the first place.

There are currently two new books on this subject that blend family memories into the love of reading. First up is The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma,which chronicles a lengthy bonding experience with her father over books. Part of their daily routine was "The Streak",a challenge to see how long Alice's father could read to her every night before bedtime.

Her older sister started this tradition but called it off as the pre-teen years approached. Alice and her father,a public school librarian,kept it going until her first day at college. This constant pattern helped to keep their relationship flourishing through good times and bad,not to mention the particular challenges that faced a single father raising a daughter.



The book is a mix of memoir and literary love,as Alice talks about her childhood and the growing awareness that her father is just as vulnerable and in need of nurturing at times as she is. Whether they were mourning the death of a loved one or trying to find the perfect prom dress,the differences in their methods to deal with each dilemma refused to be permanent dividing points between father and daughter.

Her precocious nature may remind you of many a sassy young heroine such as Anne of Green Gables,Pippi Longstocking or Judy Moody but Alice is a very real and engaging person,who turned out that way in part due to her dad's quirky but encouraging love and guidance.

Alice was even confident enough to chose her two middle names as her true moniker,another tribute to her dad and their shared pleasure in the Oz series and going through the literary looking glass together:



While The Reading Promise is an ideal Father's Day gift,this is a book that can be read and enjoyed at any time. Inspired by her dad's example of keeping the joy of reading aloud alive,Alice is out spreading the good word about doing so in your own life. Even if you don't have kids,The Reading Promise is worth undertaking and worthy reading:





The other title on display here is a bit more somber,as author Nina Sankovitch decides to pursue a goal of reading one book a day for a year in Tolstoy and the Purple Chair.

Her motivation for doing this is as a means of consolation-her beloved older sister Anne-Marie died from a horrible bout of cancer and one of the many joys they shared was reading.

Nina made a small set of rules regarding her book project;no rereads,no reading more than one book of any chosen author and she had to review every one at her website called Read All Day.



Nina worked her goal in and around her daily schedule and family responsibilities,with the help and support of her nearest and dearest as well. She also went over some family history regarding her parents,survivors of war and oppression who came to America to find a better life.

While there are strong moments of sadness in this book,there are plenty of passages that celebrate the joy of living such as the reminiscences of Christmas family traditions,both old and new,and the delight in discovering engaging books by either new authors or older titles from favorites past.

The range of books selected by Sankovitch went from The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain by Charles Dickens to Chris Cleave's Little Bee and a real emotional touchstone,The Elegance of the Hedgehog:



Tolstoy and the Purple Chair does offer some personal insights of the author upon many of her reads while allowing the reader to see if this book or that might hold a different yet identifiable meaning for themselves. Both as a memorial to her dearly loved sister and a renewal of herself,Nina Sankovitch lets her love of reading open the door to healing her heart and invites you warmly in:



If you check out either or both of these wonderful titles,I hope that they help you to appreciate your family ties as well as the pleasures of reading. Of course,you don't have to have a blood bond with someone in order to like the same books but it can feel as if you made a long lost familial connection when you encounter a fellow bibliophile,even if they're a world away:

TC Masters stir up a salute,The Next Food Network Star and a last dance on Game of Thrones

The Final Four contenders assembled on Top Chef Masters to see what their last Quickfire challenge would be and boy,was it a doozy. A dividing wall was set up at each cooking station and the chefs had to wear blindfolds in order not to see their mystery partner,who they had to instruct verbally to make a dish identical to their own.



Their mystery partners turned out to be family members;Floyd had his sister as did Mary Sue,Naomi was teamed with her dad(who she unwittingly yelled at quite a bit but apparently he's used to it)and Traci worked with her brother Mitch.

She and Mitch made halibut with asparagus in a brown butter balsamic vinaigrette that were practically twin dishes of delight,which won the challenge for her charity yet again.



We are family was the big theme this week,as their next to last Elimination challenge offered the chefs a knife pull to see which branch of the military they would be cooking for.

Each chef had to make a buffet style dinner for their service man returning from active duty,along with their family and friends. It was nearly four hundred people in total and with no additional help,this was a lot of work for the chefs. However,they felt it was more than worth to honor the men and women in service to our country.

A member of each family met with one of the Final Four to give them a heads up on what favorite foods would ideal for the menu. The judges joined in with the families to sample each meal and at the end of the dinner,Curtis Stone announced that all of the folks there would be getting passes to Universal Studios Theme Park,very nice!



Floyd had an Army man to cook for,who wasn't a fan of the spices that he loves to add to his food which made the challenge extra tricky for Floyd. However,he did slip in a little kick with a tamarind margarita and pomegranate seeds in the spinach salad. His beef tenderloin pleased most of the diner's palates but his meal seemed to be a tad restrained,according to the judges.

He was really hoping for a win here,since he hasn't had many during this competition. After the meal,the service man whom Floyd cooked for came up to him to give him a personal thanks via a special coin. That gesture made Floyd feel that he had won a bigger victory that day.



Mary Sue was the official winner,with her tomatillo barbecue ribs and avocado corn relish. Her Marine officer emigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala and even took his citizenship vows while stationed in Afghanistan.

Since this was a family who loved spices,she served up with style and a sweet disposition. The apple and cream cheese bread pudding she made for dessert was a big hit as well.



Traci's Navy man was a meatloaf fan,something that she is certainly not into at all. While the folks eating her version of it liked the fact that it wasn't coated in ketchup,James Oselund found it to be rather salty.

Personally,I prefer some sauce on my meatloaf(tomato is my one and only choice)and what Traci served up looked too dry for my taste. The overall plate appeared to be pretty basic in general to the judges,who wanted Traci to season the food with a touch of her style.



Sent off to pack her knives,Naomi did please her Air Force folk with Hawaiian food similar to what they're used to eating at home. However,as much as her ahi tuna poke and barbecued pork was appreciated,the rice salad felt out of place and some of the shrimp was undercooked.

The judges admitted that they had to split hairs at this point in the competition and Naomi's charity has won some money there,so it's all good. Next week is the finale and the heat is on in more ways than one. My best guess for the win here is Mary Sue but don't count Floyd out just yet. You never know when an underdog is ready to make his comeback.



A whole lot of shaking and slaughtering was going on during the latest episode of Game of Thrones,as Ned's plans to put a true king on the Iron Throne went horribly wrong.

His kids had to face the music right along with him,as Sansa was put on the spot to side with the Lannisters,Robb chose to mount an army and Jon Snow was distracted from his distress over the situation by encountering a couple of White Walkers.

At least one Stark was able to flee capture at King's Landing,thanks to the vigilance of her "dancing master",Syrio Forel. Ned did one thing right at least,in choosing such a man to train his tomboy daughter in the art of combat. A man who can take on a dozen armed men with only a wooden sword and still make one hell of a stand is someone to treat with respect and then some. As long as Arya remembers what to say to the god of death,she'll be alright:





The new season of The Next Food Network Star began and it turns out that Nora Dunn from Saturday Night Live is not one of the contestants. You have to admit tho,that Mary Beth certainly resembles her enough to be mistaken for her little sister or doppelganger.

After an initial first challenge where the contenders had to showcase their show concept with a breakfast dish,everyone was sent to an outdoor market to film promos. It was a team challenge,with only four takes allowed to each group and if one person messed up,the filming stopped and had to start all over again.



That did cause a few feathers to ruffle but the real tension came from the second half of that challenge,which was to cook a four course tasting menu. The team that laid on the chopping block consisted of Howie,Vic and Jyll(yes,that is how she spells her name-why,I don't know). Vic had plating issues in both rounds,the second time not really being his fault due to a mishap in the kitchen.

Jyll's cooking time was compromised by Howie,who had bragged about his "novice" status early on to the judges. Howie basically treated Jyll like his sous chef and to be fair,she kept giving in there and put her own plate in jeopardy. She tried to talk to him about it later but his whole attitude was "too bad for you!"

Well, that came back to bite him as the gnocci Howie made was a sticky mess that sent him home. It's a little too soon to pick favorites but Orchid made a nice impression on me and Penny the complete opposite. Let's see how they fare next week against judges such as Anne Burrell and Scot Conant:



RANDOM NOTES:

ROCCO'S DINNER PARTY:Debuting after the Top Chef Masters finale next week is a new cooking competition series,where chefs get to cook for Rocco DiSpirito and friends. The prize is twenty five grand,so let the battle begin!: