Star Wars 7: Redemption of the Jedi?

The biggest news in sci-fi movie fandom these days is that J.J. Abrams has been tapped to make the next Star Wars film,which will be a sequel to the original trilogy. The reaction to this news consists of a mixture of elated cheers from happy Jedi masters with some grumblings from the sullen Sith squadron in the far corners of the internet universe.

So far,the celebration has gotten louder than the boos from the pop culture peanut gallery. With Abrams' track record as a genre genius due to his hit TV shows(Lost,Alias)and feature films(Mission Impossible III,Super 8),plus his successful revival of the Star Trek film franchise,many are confident that he is the one rightly chosen to bring order to the Star Wars galaxy:

Of course,some are worried that we might get a Star Wars film worse than the prequels,which is not a fear to be taken lightly. It was bad enough that George Lucas gave into his doubts about the first three movies and tweaked them with mostly needless fixes(in my opinion,Han shot first) but the triple tripe that was The Phantom Menace,Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith did a lot to damage the lore of the first set of SW flicks.

However,Abrams has proven to be a quality writer,director and producer who respects genre material and fans of that material as well. He also seems to be able to balance gracefully between pleasing his audience and adding his own original touch to the story lines,no small feat there. Perhaps his hand on the Star Wars tiller will help to steer a path for old school and new geeks to come together at long last:

Abrams' fans shouldn't get too comfortable just yet,though. Granted,the man is a big fan of Star Wars and making this movie is a lifelong dream fulfilled for him but the same was said when Bryan Singer left the X-Men series to helm Superman Returns and we all know how well that turned out.

J.J. Abrams may very well exceed the high bar that's been set for the Star Wars series by audiences and critics alike, and odds are that he will,but it would be foolish to ignore the possibilities for an epic failure that could make Battlefield Earth look like a Masterpiece Theater production:

It will be some time before Star Wars 7 is out in theaters(at the moment,the tentative release time is set for 2015),so any anxieties both for and against this new installment should perhaps be tabled for now. At least fans can breathe a sigh of relief that their beloved saga is in capable hands and hopefully rise to the challenge of entertainingly expanding their horizons.

This may also heal the breach between Star Trek and Star Wars folk,who truly should be allies against the forces of nay sayers of the pop culture realm. If J.J. Abrams can bring these two divisive groups together to form a perfect geek union, there may be hope for us all:

Going Psycho over Hitchcock

To order to get into the mood for Oscar season,I decided to dive in and read Stephen Rebello's Alfred Hitchcock and the making of Psycho,which was the basis for the potential Academy Award contending film Hitchcock. While that movie didn't get as many nominations as hoped for(more on that as we go along),the book has plenty to offer anyone interested in not only the legendary filmmaker but the art of putting together a ground breaking genre piece.

The creation of Psycho is incredibly though,starting with the terrible crimes of Ed Gein that inspired Robert Bloch's chilling novel that was picked up by Hitchcock and adapted for the screen with Joseph Stefano. Hitchcock wound up financing the film's production costs(with a distribution deal made with the studios upon completion)and he used a good number of crew members from his TV anthology series,Alfred Hitchcock Presents,due to their being used to working at a faster pace than regular film folk.

Rebello really makes the whole process engaging to follow,even the technical details such as how to position the cameras during crucial shots and the painstaking hours of editing,to which Mrs. Hitchcock lent her very capable eye to:

The success of Psycho took everyone by surprise,even Hitchcock himself. Critics,for the most part,were dismissive in their reviews due to being peeved about not having advance screenings held for them. Hitchcock's promos for the film took a page or two out of the B movie playbook by having movie theaters not admit ticket holders after the start of the movie,a strategy that worked big time.

Despite those negative write-ups,the film took on a life of it's own with audiences and eventually the critics followed suit. Keeping the viewing public as much in the dark as possible about the special shocks and twists in the story line was no easy task but Hitchcock managed to pull that off nicely:

Over the years,Psycho has been declared Hitchcock's definitive film and it's one that left quite an indelible mark on pop culture. It's the type of film that even those who haven't seen it can quickly understand any references to it,such as the iconic shower scene or lines like "A boy's best friend is his mother."

Rebello's book does talk about the impact of Psycho on film makers and viewers,along with mention of the sequels made later on(thankfully,no coverage of the misguided Gus Van Sant remake comes up). Some about this story still resonates with horror fans,which is perhaps why another attempt to create a TV show out of the Psycho legend is due to arrive on cable TV this season.

Unlike the earlier 1987 version,this rendition of Bates Motel places a young Norman Bates and his mother at the start of their strange connection to hotel management and maternal love. How well that's going to turn out is debatable but I suspect enough people will check in for a few episodes,due to the revived interest in the original film:

As for the making of the movie film,Hitchcock was expected to earn a few Oscar nominations,particularly for Anthony Hopkins as the man himself and Helen Mirren as Alma,the wife and film making partner in crime. It only received one in the Best Make-up category. One of the reasons for that could be the comparisons made to HBO's The Girl,which showcased the troubled relationship between the director and Tippi Hedren,his leading lady for his post Psycho film,The Birds and Marnie.

Also,both films depict the less than appealing side of the director's nature,a factor that caused a bit of an uproar amongst critics and Hitchcock fans. Regardless,if Hitchcock the movie pays as much of the proper tribute owned to Psycho as Rebello's book does,it is well worth seeing(and I plan to,once it's out on DVD).In the meantime,I'll be watching Psycho this weekend with a newer appreciation and understanding of what makes this taut chiller thriller tick.

No matter how many remakes and reboots can be churned out,there's no getting away from the deliriously dark charms of the first modern day cinematic boogey man of the twentieth century,Norman Bates. Without him,there wouldn't be the likes of Freddy,Jason,Hannibal or Jigsaw. You could say he's the type of fella that any motherly movie maniac would be proud of:

Savoring the good,the bad and the strange of this year's Super Bowl ads

The Super Bowl has come and gone,leaving behind not only a number of happy sports fans(unless of course,you were rooting for the 49ers)but a crop of new TV commercials to consider. Like most ads for this event,we were given a mixed bunch of humorous,heart warming and at times hideous images all designed to make us eager to purchase goods and services.

Since I didn't see any of these ads on the night in question(too busy with Downton Abbey that evening!),my efforts to catch up have bore pop culture fruit,although how sweet it is you can judge for yourselves:

ANIMAL ANTICS

BUDWEISER CLYDESDALE DEVOTION: One of the most talked about commercials from that night was this little featurette showcasing a horse trainer reunited with the Clydesdale that he raised for the traditional Budweiser caravan. It's a charming piece that uses the Stevie Nicks rendition of "Landslide" particularly well. Oh,and the colt seen in the commercial was named Hope,thanks to viewer votes:



DORITOS GOT YOUR GOAT: The folks behind this nacho chip seem to have a weird sense of humor,as this latest ad shows a guy regretting his decision to buy a goat who can't stop chewing on the cheesy treat. It's okay,I guess,but why this would make me want to eat Doritos(especially around farm animals)is beyond me:



SUPERNATURAL SALES PITCH

SATANIC STYLE: A couple of car ads went with mythological figures as their spokespeople,starting with a Mercedes commercial that offered up Willem Dafoe as The Prince of Darkness himself. This slick enticement that allowed it's everyman hero into avoiding eternal damnation in order to own a fancy car was well played with a few not too over the top cameos from celebs and sinister sweet use of "Sympathy for the Devil". Plus,extra kudos must be awarded for the excellent casting of Dafoe,who needs to be in a good movie these days,it's been a while!:



WISHFUL THINKING: Kaley Cuolo's commercial gigs are growing,what with her Pricefinder spot and now this Toyota ad,where she plays a genie with a whimsical way of granting wishes. She has the perfect spirit of fun for this bit and it's good to know that this Big Bang Theory star may have a strong career outside of her hit show:

MOVIE MAGIC

IRON MAN 3: A slew of movie teasers and trailers were shown during the Super Bowl,most of which were action genre flicks like the upcoming Snitch(starring The Rock aka Dwayne Johnson)and sci-fi thrillers such as World War Z and Star Trek: Into Darkness.

The spring into summer sequel,Iron Man 3,highlighted both of the selling points of this Marvel franchise,sly wit from Downey's "extensive" look and pulse racing action sequences. Shane Black is in the director's chair this time(taking over for Jon Favreau,who takes a producer's credit here instead)and his cinematic skills promise to be a good fit for this third feature:

THE LONE RANGER: The old school western legend is being hauled out again for another retread and frankly,folks there's a stench of Jonah Hex film flop wafting off of this go-round. As much as I like Johnny Depp and his offbeat approach to movie roles great and small,he doesn't seem to really fit in here.

My guess is,that since the people behind The Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy are putting this movie out,they expect that Depp's odd ways will engage audiences for the Lone Ranger in the same way. Sorry,guys,but some special ingredients don't work with every dish:



CREEPY CANDY TIME

A lot of people have stirred up a fuss over the GoDaddy ad where a model and a tech guy noisily kiss(to me,the sound effects are what are disturbing there) and some are griping about others,like the Taco Bell spot where elderly folks are partying as hard as the young folk,a concept that is as fresh and new as stale bread.

What I find a tad squeamish is the M&M clip where the hapless Red warbles the Meatloaf classic "I Would Do Anything For Love(But I Won't Do That)" as he has a romance with a gal who attempts to literally eat him alive. Yes,I know it's a joke and it's just a piece of candy but that whole shoving him into the oven on top of a cookie has a really dark Hansel and Gretel tone to it that might put a few kids off of the sweet treat and into nightmare land for awhile there:



Oh,well,things could be worse on this front. Eventually,these ads will fade away but for now,they do provide a nice distraction from most of our real world worries which is part and parcel of pop culture's appeal. A good number of them will become quickly outdated and give future generations an amusing excuse to wonder about our tastes,plus try to figure why "Gangem Style" was such a big deal once upon a time:

The Chronicles of Copper Boom embraces A Chilling Warmth

As some of you may know, I've writing e-books for some time now and last year started a series called The Chronicles of Copper Boom. Part One was entitled "Party Overkill",where a super villain on the run named Kingston Cobre ducked into a children's birthday party and was mistaken as the hired entertainment. During that brief visit,he ran into Penny Slater,the stepsister who was being treated worse than Cinderella and who had a couple of super powered secrets of her own.

Last week,Part Two of TCOCB was published at Smashwords with the title "A Chilling Warmth". The story starts off with Penny under hospital care but being far from safe and sound. Here's a little description of the plot:

While recovering from her encounter with super villain Kingston Cobre,rest is the last thing that Penny Slater is getting.

Between angry phone calls from her stepmother and an unexpected interrogation,our would be heroine is ready to check out of the hospital in more ways than one. A new friend,however,appears to be the cure for what ails her but what are the sinister side effects of this alliance?

The new friend in question is a hit woman for hire named Gillian Glacier,who also happens to know a few other bad guys and so called good ones as well. Her contact with Penny is done at first as a favor to a mutual acquaintance but over time,she has more than casual feelings about this injured young girl.

I chose an ice wielding villainess because that power lends itself to very interesting possibilities,not to mention a nifty metaphor for emotional coldness. What's also intriguing about this ability is that who ever uses it for what ever purpose,good or ill,that person is never truly as cold as their frosty skills imply. In fact,they can be extremely hot under the collar during the heat of battle:

Another new character brought into this narrative is Agent Daniel Cleaves,a member of the Mutant Security Counsel. He's on the trail of Kingston Cobre and has a few probing questions for our heroine,along with some so not subtle hints about knowing more about Penny and her special skills that she cares for him to.

Cleaves is a troublesome guy,to be sure and his straight laced,by the book manner was inspired by a former Watcher of Vampire Slayers from England. Yes,Wesley Wyndam-Pryce would find a lot in common with Agent Cleaves,both of whom also fancy themselves to be a bit like the James Bond of the superhero world:

A Chilling Warmth is currently available only at Smashwords but will be shipping out to other online retailers such as Kobo,Sony and B&N. com very soon. Each installment of The Chronicles of Copper Boom is priced at $0.99 and to encourage readers to try the latest one,a free coupon for the first book "Party Overkill" will be made available during the week of Valentine's Day(please check this blog or the official Copper Boom FB page for more news).

A special thanks to my sister Stephanie,for creating the cover art for this and all my other e-books. I do hope that those of you who enjoy my previous titles,The Hench Woman's Handbook and The Austen Avenger,will like this ongoing story of a young woman whose path to greatness can easily flip from good to evil via the folks she meets along the way to her destiny. Penny's fate is not settled yet,but so far,she's run into plenty of people willing to do some bad things with her and her powers:

When it comes to Darcy,are you rocking the Rintoul or feeling the Firth?

As part of my Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge this year,I decided to check out the pre-Colin Firth miniseries version of P&P that aired on the BBC in 1980.

David Rintoul plays our man Darcy to Elizabeth Garvie's Lizzie Bennet,following a script written by novelist Fay Weldon. In terms of the screenplay alone, Weldon keeps pretty well to the book but has a few interesting twists of her own slipped in. For some reason at one point,Mr. Collins is shown planting reeds(with poor Charlotte in tow)at a nearby pond at the behest of Lady Catherine and even wearing a strange hat,presumably to keep him safe from drowning if he happened to fall in the water.

Granted,it was meant to seen as a means of keeping both the Collines out of the way for Darcy to make his movie(more on that later)but it seemed rather unnecessary to me. A simple "We must pay a call to Rosings" would do just as well for the purpose,in my opinion.

Also,Fay Weldon's favorite Bennet sister seems to be Mary, portrayed by Tessa Peake-Jones,who is the first character to be seen in the opening scene of Part One(Elizabeth appears in an upper window). Mary is given a bit more dialogue than she usually is in most adaptations and while she's still a seriously silly girl with her attempts at intellectual superiority,this Miss Bennet stands out much more than she has done before or even since this version.

Mr. Bennet(Moray Watson),on the other hand,comes across as cold and gruff with little of the good humored tone that softens many of his sarcastic comments. Perhaps,I am a bit prejudiced when it comes to Mr. Bennet,who is not the best parent in regards to offering any strong guidance to his children,yet he is a tad too harsh for my taste here:

I can,however,see the charms of Rintoul as Darcy. His cultivated manner and speaking voice are suited to this Austen icon and he does ignite a few sparks with Garvie's Elizabeth. The two of them do make an engaging couple,Rintoul with his quiet smolder and Garvie's lively expressions.

Their strongest scene together is the first proposal of marriage from Mr. Darcy. While their heated exchange is not as passionately fiery as the one between Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle in the later 1995 version,it is higher in temperature than the same scene acted out in the 1940 Hollywood adaptation between Greer Garson and Laurence Oliver:

Another key element to any Pride and Prejudice re-telling is Lady Catherine,played here by renowned actress Judy Parfitt. In some ways,she was a much younger looking version of Lady C yet she's hardily lacking in the haughty bearing department. She's incredibly chatty in the Rosings scenes,verging at times on Miss Bates from Emma territory.

When it comes to Lady Catherine's big confrontation scene,however,Parfitt pulls it off quite nicely. While I do wish they had gone outside in that "pretty wilderness" at Longbourn to square off,Garvie and Parfitt have a good little showdown in the sitting room. There is something to be said for showing such an obnoxious visitor the door at just the right moment:

In discussing the differences between the P&P adaptations and preferences for one over the other by Austen fans,it was pointed out to me that most people tend to like the version he or she saw first,a "first imprinting",if you will. I do agree with that notion and while the 1995 BBC miniseries is my all-time favorite rendition,I can appreciate the merits of other P&P productions including this one.

Rintoul and Garvie may never replace Firth and Ehle for some but they are a respectable and very romantic Austen couple who do justice to these quintessential roles. While I remain a faithful Firth fan girl,it's not hard to see why Rintoul fans still swoon to this day:

Top Chef Seattle goes cruising,scary sibling rivalry on The Vampire Diaries and a sad loss at Downton Abbey

The final five contestants on Top Chef Seattle set sail for Alaska,as their next set of challenges took place on a cruise ship taking them up there to finish the rest of this season.

Curtis Stone from Top Chef Masters was on board as guest judge for both the Quickfire and the Elim,the first one being to prepare a one bite dish using iceberg lettuce as the focal point.

A lot of the chefs seem to disdain iceberg lettuce and granted,it may not be the sexiest one in that leafy bunch but it certainly has a great crunch factor worth enjoying. Sheldon won this round with a Vietnamese pork wrap that included pickled pieces of the lettuce heart(nice going there,dude!). He received an advantage in the Elimination round,which turned out not to be so beneficial to his cause(more on that later).

The challenge was to "re imagine" surf and turf,to be served at a restaurant on board the ship that specializes in offbeat food and unique forms of presentation. Joshua chose scallops and pork,using both belly and bacon.

He intended to make a pasta with the scallops but that didn't pan out,so he turned them into a scrambled egg concoction that worked really well. The flavor profile pleased just about everyone and Josh's willingness to go out of his comfort zone earned him a top spot at Judges' Table.

The winner,however,was Brooke who had some doubts about the proteins she chose. Frog legs and mussels may seem to be a double dose of surf but she managed to bring an earthy zest to the legs.

It was served with a celery root and fennel puree that complimented the entree nicely. The only quibble was with the papadum chips,which were a little greasy. Other than that,it was a clear cut win and Brooke was awarded a trip to the Bahamas that no doubt her husband will really appreciate once this show is over with.

Lizzie went with suckling pig and scallops,using the pork as stuffing for cabbage leaves. The scallops were served with a mustard sour cream and the over all result was middle of the road.

The chefs had to work with electric stoves,which threw Lizzie off and caused her cabbage to be undercooked. The meat filling was tasty enough to let her go through,a real lucky break there,indeed.

Sheldon had first choice of proteins,thanks to his QF win,and no one else was allowed to use them for their dish. He seemed rather overwhelmed and uninspired,which could explain why he picked two of the standard go-tos for surf and turf,lobster and beef.

He made a lobster tempura that was cold and limp by the time it went to the tables. That landed him in the Bottom Two but the kimchi that went with his Korean BBQ beef saved him from packing his knives. I'm glad that Sheldon's still around and hope that he can keep his head in the game as they all head closer to the finish line.

Stefan was the one sent off to Last Chance Kitchen,for his braised pork belly with a rock hard crust. You could actually hear Judge Tom and a couple of others at the table trying to chew that crunchy top without breaking off a tooth,I swear!

Stefan insisted that pork with a crust like that was common in Europe and Curtis Stone did back him on that,but it was unpleasant to eat. I like a crispy crust on my roast meat,too but it can turn splintery on you. He also made an eel ravioli that buried the fishy flavor and not in a good way.

So he packed up and squared off against Kristen in LCK and despite their friendly flirty vibes,she beat him in the cook-off challenge. Stefan did take that extra loss well,being genuinely happy for her getting another shot at the competition. I hope to see her back with the TC pack before the finale very soon.

The race for the vampire cure is on in Mystic Falls tonight as The Vampire Diaries bring together a few of the remaining Originals to form teams for the hunt. Klaus is using Damon and Jeremy(whose Hunter's Mark needs more vamp kills to grow and form the map that leads to it)while Rebekah has a reluctant alliance with Stefan.

Since Stefan is still sore over Elena now insisting that her love for Damon is real and not a side effect of sire bonding,you can't blame him too much for switching sides there. Then again,both teams have to worry about Cole,who is the wild card in this deadly deck. Cole's determination not to release Silas might actually make him the most sensible sibling here,which is pretty scary if you think it about:

We've seen some tragic scenes on Downton Abbey before but the untimely death of Sybil after her difficult delivery of her baby daughter was a real heart breaker,folks. Why no one had the good sense to listen to Dr. Clarkson(their regular family physician)over that pompous idiot that Lord Grantham insisted on bringing in is beyond me.

The poor girl suffered needlessly and her passing touched everyone in the household. Even Thomas broke down and cried,which made it all the more sorrowful to witness. Sybil was a real sweetheart and her departure changes a great deal,including the future of her parent's marriage:



The resonance from this passing will be keenly felt for the rest of the season,particularly when it comes to the decisions about how the new baby will be raised. Personally,I think Lord Grantham should just shut the hell up and let Thomas do what he thinks is right,especially regarding the baby's baptism. Meanwhile,Mrs. Patmore is exactly right about the mismatched romances going on in the kitchen,she's better than Dear Abby on that point!:



RANDOM NOTES:

RACHAEL VS. GUY: Johnny Weir's time on this show is done and while I'm sorry to see him go,I will still stay tuned to the end. Johnny was fun to watch here and hopefully,he'll do another series like this in the near future:




















n

Pride and Prejudice,sitcom style

Today is the 200th publishing anniversary of Jane Austen's most beloved novel,Pride and Prejudice,which I and my fellow Austen fans will be celebrating not only on this day but throughout the rest of 2013.

My P&P post for this occasion is fittingly meant to cover two sets of Austen fanfare,the first being Alyssa Goodnight's P&P Anniversary Party Blog Hop and the other being the Pride and Prejudice Bicentenary Challenge hosted by Laurel Ann of Austenprose.

Both of these events naturally lead me to reread P&P again,a book that was not the first Jane Austen novel I ever read(that honor goes to Persuasion)but it has steadily become one of my favorites. It's hard to resist the pleasures of Elizabeth Bennet's company as well as Mr. Darcy's or even Lady Catherine De Burgh's(to which Mr. Collins would humbly agree).

However,in this latest reading,I found a few elements of the story that lead me to believe that P&P not only paved the way for lively heroines and stern yet solid heroes but her engaging writing for this novel bears a few telling traits that many of our best situation comedies for TV carry on to this day. Let me list some of these examples that show just how Jane Austen has helped the sitcom thrive:

ONE SIDED ROMANCE: The main love story of P&P begins when Darcy finds himself intrigued by Elizabeth's "fine eyes" and slowly starts to feel romantic interest in her,something that she at first doesn't share likewise with him.

Others are quick to pick up on Darcy's growing desire,such as the jealously snarky Caroline Bingley and Lizzie's all too practical friend Charlotte Lucas. Particularly during the Netherfield Ball,when the two of them share a dance and conversation that holds more than one meaning in between the lines,the romantic misunderstandings are perfectly underscored.

This trope has been featured in many sitcom romances,with Niles and Daphne from Fraiser being one of the best:

LOVERS' QUARREL: When Darcy does reveal his true feelings of love to Elizabeth(in one of the worst marriage proposals ever),sparks do fly but not the ones he was expecting.

By that time,Lizzie had several resentments against him,one involving her sister Jane and Darcy's good friend Bingley for which she was very justified in. The other dealt with Wickam's claims of infamy against Darcy that turned out to be a case of misrepresentation.

This classic clash between Elizabeth and Darcy set the standard for relatively compatible couples to have a bit of a break-up due to severe differences of opinion such as the intensely logical Sheldon and Amy on The Big Bang Theory,although I doubt that either of them have read P&P:



EMBARRASSING RELATIVES: In the follow-up letter than Darcy gives to Lizzie after that awful proposal,a major reason that he cites for both breaking up Jane and Bingley and his own reluctance to admitting his feelings towards Elizabeth are the public antics of the Bennet family.

Lizzie is angered by such accusations against her clan yet does realize that there is some merit to that charge. Mrs. Bennet's less than subtle attempts at matchmaking,the flirty behavior of younger sisters Lydia and Kitty,sister Mary and her tone deaf singing(plus the sarcastic comments of her father)do leave a rather unflattering impression of the entire family.

Most sitcoms have plenty of family members that the main characters wish were miles away at times,such as the Barones from Everybody Loves Raymond(although I do think that Marie would get along great with Mrs. Bennet):

FAMILY CRISIS: What ultimately brings Elizabeth and Darcy back together is an event that puts the follies of the Bennet family into a serious tailspin that none of them can survive socially.

Lydia's elopement with Wickam quickly becomes a near tragedy as their hiding out in London rather than getting hitched at Greta Green puts their ill timed engagement on a level that usually leads downward for anyone in that day and age.

How the Bennets react to this news shows their true character for each member of the family,a circumstance that numerous sitcoms have had for their families. The atmosphere at Longbourn after Lydia's terrible situation is known is as about as tense as any Thanksgiving dinner held on Roseanne was:

Since Jane Austen did enjoy theatricals in her day,it does make sense that P&P possesses some of those key ingredients that make our modern day TV shows the skillful successes they are.

So,happy anniversary Pride and Prejudice and as Mr. Bennet would say,what more could an entertainment offer but to make sport for their competition and laugh at them in return? Besides,if Jane Austen were alive and well in Hollywood today,many of her works would come with a laugh track indeed:

Top Chef Seattle chickens out,Bunheads' dance of the distraught and meanwhile at Downton Abbey...

The mood was subdued at Top Chef Seattle last night,as the aftermath of Kristen's dismissal(she did well in Last Chance Kitchen,btw)lingered in the air.

Nevertheless,it was time to embrace the new Quickfire Challenge. Special guest judge Katsuya Uechi was there to taste their sushi creations and see if they met his high standards.

A couple of chefs were already into sushi,so they thought they might have an edge. However,the winner here was Stefan,his first ever. He had trouble deciding what to make in the beginning and wound up doing two dishes,one yellow tail and the other lobster.

Unfortunately,immunity was not up for grabs but Stefan did win five grand. He could've really used the immunity since his Elimination Challenge offering was less than appetizing but we'll get to that soon enough.

Judge Tom and special guest judge David Chang entered the TC kitchen to announce the Elim,which was to make fried chicken dinner for the two of them and a few other notable foodie folk.

The guest list included Wolfgang Puck,Emeril and Michelle Bernstein. One thing that seemed to be a strong point of contention was that some of the chefs didn't cook the whole chicken and went for the white meat instead.

Personally,I love white meat chicken and would take that over a plate of wings any day of the week but that's just me and my taste buds there.

One of the chefs up for the win was Lizzie,who basically made chicken cutlets with coriander and black pepper,plus a peach cabbage slaw. The judges enjoyed the flavors but griped about her not using more of the chicken.

Chicken cutlets are a favorite meal in my house and while I'm not into any kind of slaw,Lizzie's plate would be emptied quickly at my family's dinner table.

Sheldon did serve most of his chicken but was short of a couple of wings,due to one of his batches burning up and not having enough time to make up for that.

Regardless,everyone loved his umami drumsticks and thighs,along with the wings seasoned with grapeseed oil. He might have gotten the win if those missing pieces had been replaced promptly.

Victory instead went to Josh,for his smoked chicken. The judges appreciated the hot sauce and blue cheese served it with for that buffalo wing kind of taste. His prize was a large set of wine(365,who came up with that number?)but I bet he would have preferred cash.

Then it was time for the Bottom Three and things got rather interesting. A couple of the losing contenders went with cop-out excuses but nobody was buying that line of
baloney today.

Brooke,to her credit,immediately owned up to the flaws in her dish. The dukkah crusted chicken breasts she gave them had been double fried,which dried out the meat.

It was also her bad luck that two of the guests(who have a place called Animal) had interviewed for line cook jobs at her restaurant years ago but didn't get hired. They promised good naturedly not to hold that against her but after eating her chicken,one of them remarked "Perhaps it was good we didn't get that job!"

Stefan made a traditional chicken cordon bleu,that didn't taste so great,and his reason for doing so to the judges was "I'm from Europe and we don't have fried chicken over there."

Padma then turned to Wolfgang and asked him about that. He totally pooh-poohed that notion and Judge Tom flat out said that Stefan was just trying to play it safe. At least, do something a little original with the recipe,dude,come on!

Lucky for him,it was Josie's time to go. She made a big deal about making "real Southern fried chicken" but despite the cayenne and garlic that went on,the food was a greasy mess.

She attempted her usual routine of talking her way out but Judge Tom was not having that anymore. He pointed out Josie's constant trouble with time management and didn't want to hear her excuses about equipment failure(she used one of Lizzie's friers when one of hers wasn't working. Lizzie was very generous to Josie all through prep,actually).

So,Josie at last went off to Last Chance Kitchen and faced off with Kristen,a nice grudge match indeed. Normally,I don't watch LCK(would like some surprises with this show)but I tuned in today and yes,folks,Kristen beat her fair and square. Hopefully,she'll be able to return to the competition very soon.

While there is a considerable amount of quirk on Bunheads,what with the charismatic brother-sister duo of Frankie and Cozette taking over the town and Melanie feeling the need to avenge her brother's break-up in very Hulk like fashion,but you can't overlook the dramatic developments there.

The biggest drama is in Sasha's situation,as her neglectful parents have decided to get a divorce and move away to different cities. Sasha's mother gave her an ultimatum: choose who you want to live with and do it now because I am so out of here. Nice,huh? Guess she memorized that section of the Mommie Dearest handbook on How to Mess Up Your Daughter Big Time.

Sasha refused to leave,to which her mother simply tossed her the keys to the house(which is already sold)and took off. Sasha then went to Michelle for comfort and it looks like she may be staying with her for awhile.

Granted,Michelle is rather ditzy at times(not surprised that she forgot to go to summer school to finish up her high school credits due to an extended Dollywood visit)but at least she actually cares about what happens to the girl. Sasha's emotional turmoil was displayed in a touching dance sequence that played over the end credits and so far,it's one of the most memorable TV moments of the year:

Even with Sybil's sudden departure from Ireland(Tom really needs to reassess his priorities there),things at Downton Abbey were calm for the most part.

Anna and Mr. Bates had their communication cut off for awhile,Daisy considered the possibility of hooking up with new footman Alfred(who seems to have an eye for the new kitchen maid)and another footman has been hired,a handsome fella named Jimmy who pleases the eyes of not just the ladies. Also,Edith received a much needed boost of confidence by having her letter to the editor of a London newspaper about the rights of women prominently published(good for her!):



That letter may lead to a regular writing gig for Edith,which would be great. Other promising new plot developments include a possible break in the case against Mr. Bates(fingers crossed!)and Thomas leaving himself vulnerable to payback from O'Brien,who he's been feuding with ever since her nephew Alfred was hired on. Even when it's quiet,there's never really a dull moment at Downton:



RANDOM NOTES:

RACHAEL VS. GUY: Glad to see that Johnny Weir is still on board but dude,you need to cook something other than chicken! Turkey is not that much different,my friend-you have to change it up and soon there:

Say hello to Ellen Meister and Farewell, Dorothy Parker

Movie critic Violet Epps is known for her sharp wit and scathing remarks in print but in person,she's more of a meek and mild type. That lack of forthrightness tends to hamper her the most when she needs to fight for what she truly wants,such as custody of her orphaned niece Delaney or to break up with Carl,a mooching lush of an artist.

Hoping to get some inspiration from her literary mentor Dorothy Parker,Violet pays a visit to the famous Algonquin Hotel where Mrs. Parker and her Vicious Circle often hung out,sharing drinks and snide comments with each other. After a look at the hotel's guest book filled with legendary names,Violet gets more than just a taste of the lady's spirit-the ghost of Dorothy Parker establishes actual contact with her:

At first,Violet is thrilled to be chatting up her favorite writer but Mrs. Parker has more to offer her new friend than uncalled for candor and her special brand of snark.

As Violet struggles with family and work problems,Mrs. Parker has no qualms about taking charge(and at times,taking over Violet's body)to push Violet into what she considers to be the right direction.

One of those directions leads into the arms of Michael,Violet's martial arts teacher whose love of the Marx Brothers and old school puns makes him a rather viable candidate for romance. That last push,however,makes Violet want to shove Mrs. Parker back to the beyond:

Despite their disagreements,Violet does manage to take some of Mrs. Parker's advice and find her own inner strength and spunk. In return,she also is able to give the great lady a little perspective about the regrets of her mortal life and the literary legacy that Dorothy Parker left behind.

This is my first time reading Ellen Meister(thanks to Library Thing)and I won't make it my last. Farewell,Dorothy Parker is a lively novel not only pays proper tribute to the spirit of Dorothy Parker,it introduces us to an engaging set of characters that stand up well on their own.

Meister also captures the real essence of Dorothy Parker and doesn't fall into the trap of turning her into a live action cartoon. The Mrs. Parker portrayed here is full of funny lines and foibles yet is real enough to display a myriad of emotional
pain regarding her childhood years along with doubts about her impact upon the world at large,not to mention some wry observations about modern day life:

While the book does have some serious moments,it's far from being downbeat. The story is as fast paced as a Gilmore Girls dialogue and packed with the right amount of sweetness and spark. It's as reviving to your spirits as a shot of gin would be to the fabulous Mrs. Parker herself.

Farewell,Dorothy Parker is due to arrive on February 21 and do make plans to entertain yourself with this charming tale of an unlikely friendship that feels oh so right. To miss this golden opportunity for Dorothy Parker delights will haunt your reading days and night,to be sure:

A little extra reading to do at the movies this year

With a brand new year of movies comes a brand new set of books made into movies,some of which you may or may not have read yet.

Granted,plenty of fans are already lining to see how Catching Fire and the second installment of The Hobbit stand up to their sources but there are a few other book based films arriving this year that you might want to check out,either at the library or the multiplex,before those two show up.

First up is the potential summer blockbuster World War Z,based on Max Brooks' novel of a worldwide zombie invasion. Since the story is told through a series of oral interviews from dozens of characters,the screenplay adaptation has distilled most of that down in order to have a leading man to focus on(played by Brad Pitt).

No doubt,many of the readers will be less than thrilled by that change but it might work out for the best here. Plus,having Brad Pitt on board does ensure a wider audience both in the US and overseas,so this genre breaking zombie epic could make waves beyond the horror movie pond:

Coming much sooner to a theater near you,Parker is adapted from a Donald Westlake thriller entitled Flashfire. Jason Statham plays the title role,a thief with Robin Hood type morals,who is double crossed by a gang of thugs(with Michael Chiklis as their leader).

After being left for dead,Parker takes up the mantle of revenge and teams up with Leslie Rogers(Jennifer Lopez),a real estate agent also taken in by the gang. This isn't the first Westlake novel featuring Parker to be turned into a film(earlier efforts include 1967's Point Blank and Payback in 1998)but this one may succeed where the others faded into film history. Statham's pretty popular with the action movie crowd and this film seems to be much smarter than his usual fare:

A bit more on the female friendly side,Admission stars Tina Fey as Portia,an admissions officer for Princeton who gets more than one surprise when invited to meet some potential applicants at an off beat high school run by former school mate John(Paul Rudd).

John believes that one of his students is the child that Portia gave up for adoption a long time ago and hopes to reunite them(not to mention get the kid a better chance at entering the Ivy League). The Jean Hanff Korelitz novel that this romantic comedy is based on did receive some solid positive reviews and the material does seem right up Fey's alley there:

Since Twilight has had it's last film chapter,there is more room for another teen fantasy series to come alive at the cinema. Hopes are high for the first installment of Cassandra Claire's Mortal Instruments series,City of Bones ,due to arrive in late summer.

Lily Collins stars as Clary,a NYC girl who discovers a hidden world of danger and magic hidden from the "mundanes" and that she and her mother play a vital role in. Clary's mother is a demon fighting Shadowhunter,who has hidden a powerful object from the clutches of Valentine,in whose power she is now in.

In order to save her mom,Clary must tap into her undeveloped powers and work with a team of experienced Shadowhunters lead by Jace(Campbell Bower)in order to protect more than one world. This YA series does have a strong following and could be a smash hit,provided the film lives up to the high standards set by the fans as well as be enthralling to a fresh new audience:

There will be other literary fare at the movies,no doubt,but these four are good enough to start with in book form,I think. How well they will reflect on their original print versions is debatable yet at least they will be a welcome break from the nearly endless chain of remakes and reboots that Hollywood seems bound and determined to offer us at every turn.

True,some remakes are decent and particularly,remakes of renowned literature can shine a new light on old themes there. However,I do have my doubts about putting the likes of The Great Gatsby in a 3D format.

Don't get me wrong,I'm not a big Fitzgerald fan to begin with and I like Baz Luhrmann's zippy takes on the classics. It just feels to me like a extreme version of gilding the lily here(plus,making those halfhearted high school book reports even more confusing than ever before):