I Believe ... It's Gonna Be a Happy New Year

So the other night we were riding in the car home after 9 pm and since we thought Isabel was asleep, my husband put on the soundtrack to 'Spring Awakening.' Let's just say if you are at all familiar with the content - you'll know why we wait until she's snoozing. But then all of a sudden while we are listening to the song 'I Believe,' we hear this little voice coming from the background saying 'believe' over and over again and then clapping. Apparently this powerful song inspired even my sleeping child to sing along. Let's just say I'm glad she didn't start singing along to 'Totally F**ked.'

Anyway, that got me thinking about what I believe in, and so here's my list of my beliefs right at this very minute.

- I believe that I'm actually glad I came into the office today because I got to see the testing of the ball drop in Times Square.
- I believe that even though I accidentally let my kid listen to a profanity filled soundtrack that I am still a better mother than Lynne Spears.
- I believe that I'm going to try and listen more in 2008 and talk less.
- I believe that the writers' strike will end at some point and I'll be able to have more than 2 scheduled recordings in my DVR for a week.
- I believe that I have some of the greatest family and friends that a person could ask for.
- I believe that I'm addicted to a new game show - 'The Unbeatable Banzuke' on G4. Trust me... it's almost as good as Ninja Warrior.
- I believe that even though I am far from a perfect person, I'm happy with my life and who I've become.
- I believe that I have the cutest two year old since Pearl.
- I believe that I am grateful to anyone who actually reads this blog and listens to what I have to say.
- And lastly, I believe that it is going to be a great 2008.

Happy New Year!!!

Michael Cera = Adorable

While it will be a while before I stop calling Michael Cera George Michael, I think he's my new adorkable crush (Sorry, Zachary Levi) . I just want to hug him. I mean, I loved 'Superbad' (though my husband really didn't - what is up with that?) and I just saw 'Juno' (better late than never) and he's just so understated and normal that I can't help but adore him. Seriously. I'm sure he's young enough to be my kid or something disgusting like that, but still he's so sweet. As for 'Juno', I really enjoyed it, though I was worried it was going to be something that had been hyped so much that I'd be like "what the heck?" when I finally got around to it, but it won me over and I might have actually been sniffling at little when it reached its conclusion. Damn, having a kid has made me all soft.

Getting Real

So it is my New Year's Resolution to get myself back in the blogging groove. Some may ask 'why bother' considering the seemingly never-ending writers' strike and the lack of 'quality' television around, but basically I just miss blogging. So if you are actually watching any of the craptabulous stuff that I've been watching ... let's dish. If you haven't... please tell me how you've been filling the empty hours.

After my obsession with 'Clash of the Choirs' - a stupid concept which was executed really well - and my utter bad reaction to 'Duel' - an overly complicated game show which was executed really, really, really poorly - I'm now hooked on the deliciously awful 'Crowned.' I watched three episodes last night. I just couldn't stop myself and I don't even actually like any of these people but I'm fascinated. Though admittedly, I'm kind of fascinated by all things pageant oriented. I love 'Miss Congeniality,' I adored 'Kid Nation's prissy beauty queen Taylor and I watched that HBO documentary a few years ago on that little girl Swan like 10 times. 'Crowned' isn't really good TV. But hey, I watched the Pussycat Dolls show, so my standards are pretty low. And well... there wasn't a new 'Pushing Daisies' to watch.

Still 'Crowned' has everything I love to hate about reality TV: catfights, crying and Carson Kressley. It's just hysterical to watch these mothers and daughters try and make like they are nice people when they are talking about who needs nose jobs and who has a bad figure, when really none of them are all that pretty. So for now... until wicked Wilhelmina comes back with her diva ways, I'm filling my need for bitchy glamor gals with 'Crowned.'

Wayne Newton

Oh my poor neglected blog ... I've missed you so.

Anyway - is there someone out there who can explain the Wayne Newton phenomenon to me? I just seriously don't get it. The 'Dancing with the Stars' judges seemed starstruck by this particular celebrity and gave his performance some rave reviews. I understand that he's a Vegas legend, but I'm still baffled.

Is There Such a Thing as Too Much TV?

Normally I would have been quick to respond with an emphatic "No!" to this question, but no I begin to wonder if I've been too hasty.

What brought this whole subject up was the baby (of course). The other morning she woke up at 4 am and wouldn't go back to bed. I brought her down to my bed hoping that she'd snuggle up with me and my husband and fall asleep. No such luck. Instead she sat upright in between us chanting -- LOUDLY -- "E.V., E.V., E.V." Which is her toddler talk for TV. When I'd say to her "its night time you are supposed to be sleeping she'd do this cute little shrug at me and say, "Watch E.V.?" Yeah, I'm so proud that she's talking now, but I think that my addiction has created a monster.

She doesn't even watch all that much television. Just in the mornings while Steve is getting her ready for school, she gets a little Sesame Street, and then at night (we get a little "Ninja Warrior" action going on) when I am getting her dinner ready or trying to find a time to go to the little girls room. Stuff like that. She only watches maybe a half hour at daycare when they are vaccuuming at the end of the day. But now she's started scouring through the DVD's in order to find the one - and only one - that she wants to watch: 'Elmo in Grouchland." Then she alternates between her "E.V." chant and her "Melmo" chant until we finally give in and put it on.

I keep jokingly calling her Mike TV, when she stares transfixed when we walk past the televisions in Target, but I guess I shouldn't really be surprised after all. My mother did tell me when I was young and misbehaving that some day I would wind up with a daughter just like me. I guess mom really does know what she's talking about with this one. Sigh.

Degrassi Star Heads to Broadway

Ordinarily I'm against any sort of stunt casting, but my heart did a little flutter when I read this morning that 'Degrassi' star Daniel Clark was joining the cast of 'Spring Awakening.' I love both the show and the musical so much, that it is a wonderful collision for me. I've got no idea if Clark can sing or not, though I presume that he can or he wouldn't have been cast. But I'm pretty hopeful, especially after Jason Tam (aka Shoe from 'Beyond the Break') rocked my world in the new Broadway version of 'A Chorus Line.' Jason had me tearing up and I don't like to get emotional. Not sure what part Clark will be playing, but either way I know that I'll be seeing Spring Awakening again when he joins the cast out of shear curiosity... oh and because I love the show so much. Seriously, if you haven't seen that musical, I whole-heartedly recommend it!

What I've Been Up To

Since you've been asking what I've been working on... here are a couple of my recent interviews and articles.

Les Stroud - aka 'Survivorman' - who was totally cool. He talked all about being bitten by a shark and much, much more. Read all about it here.

Mike Dutz - aka the latest Big Brother loser - who was a little quiet, much like he was in the house. But still nice. Read about him here.

I talked to Jason Priestly yesterday (I know... cool, right?) that'll be posted some time next week, and I've been making my way through the fall pilots. My early favorites are Reaper, Dirty Sexy Money, Gossip Girl, Pushing Daisies and the weirdly entertaining Viva Laughlin. I can't explain it, but Hugh Jackman singing works for me.

That's What She Said!

I know that Eric on 'Big Brother' is a total geek, but seriously, I've got to love anyone who proudly wears a "That's What She Said" T-shirt on national TV. Total bonus points for him.

Bonus points for the freak of nature that is Jenerally Annoying as well. She's beyond obnoxious, but she's kind of found a way to grow on me. She's got some seriously bizarre reality-TV skills... I've got a feeling I'll be talking about her for summers to come. As for Jessica, I still twitch every single time she opens her mouth.

I can't believe that we've already come to the part of the summer where someone has started streaking naked around. Doesn't that usually come much later when they are really bored... oh wait... I just looked at my calendar... it is almost August. When the heck did that happen? Ok then, Zach, all is forgiven... for now.

Is it wrong that I got a little teary-eyed when ranting and raving Evil (Evel?) Dick went over and offered to go to counseling with his daughter. It's just so sweet.

Are we saying that Kail is leaving? Or will she stay around to stir up trouble while poor painter boy Mike is evicted?

You Raise Me Up!

I just got home from seeing Josh Groban. I know he's not my typical music, but I just love him. He's got an amazing voice and he's just a freakin' goofball. He made jokes about Journey, Bon Jovi and his own bad dancing ability. Plus, he was just so nice to all his fans. I had talked to him a few months back for the good old TV Guide. I like to call my brief conversation on the phone with him... 10 minutes in heaven.
Now I'm at my new job and working on some fun new projects. Here's the first thing that I worked on, it is a gallery of the Emmy snubs and surprises. Give it a look if you have a chance.

New Adventure

Yesterday was my last day at TVGuide.com. Such a hard decision to leave and try something new, but I think it will be OK. Now we're off to do some fun kid things with our friends, which is a nice distraction. On Monday, I'll be starting work at AOL in their Television channel. I'm nervous about starting a new place, since it has been so long since I've tried something new and despite my upbeat nature, I get a little nervous around new people. The work will at least be familiar, I'll still be writing and babbling about what's on and all that fun stuff. But for now I'm kind of stuck watching the Little Einsteins and since I am at a hotel without access to Showtime Too, wondering what the heck "Jenius" is getting up to in the Big Brother house. I imagine that it is a nightmare. Can't wait for Sunday... well, maybe I can.

You Have to Believe We Are Magic!

My wonderful friend Raven Snook took me last night to see the fun and entertaining Broadway show Xanadu! I mean if you hated the movie then this probably isn't the theater experience for you, but if you don't take it too seriously then it is just a grand old time. The cast is fantastic and filled with amazing Broadway stars like Kerry Butler (who was just brilliant in Bat Boy), Cheyenne Jackson (who is beyond sexy and has a good singing voice) and funny ladies Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman. Fun, campy and just sparkly goodness. I had a blast, I think Raven did too!

Wasting My Time

So I had Saturday night free this weekend (my husband was at a party in the city and the baby went to bed early). I had all the time in the world to do pretty much anything I wanted, and what did I do? Created a myspace page. Probably not the most productive use of my time or really necessary at all, but I felt inspired.

I had set up a myspace account a while back for some reason or another and a nice fan who listens to me on the podcast "found me" and wanted to be my friend. I felt like I couldn't let her down by having a lame page with no photo or anything.

Now my personal little space is pretty in pink and I have a few more friends, which I think is exciting, but i keep thinking about all the time that I had where I could have read, watched bad TV, danced around the house to cheesy music from my youth, and instead, like the nerd I am, I sat with my laptop goofing off on the internet. Real productive.

Welcome!

Hi all,

Not that I don't already blog enough as part of my day job, but I thought it would be fun to have another blog that has more of my random thoughts on pop culture, motherhood and whatever other weird things pop into my head.

Have a brilliant day!
Angel