Thursday Talk: Looking forward

J: It's the last Thursday Talk of 2010! What entertainment things are you looking forward to in the new year?

Jennifer: I'm looking forward to the last Harry Potter movie, of course. On TV, the final seasons of Greek and Friday Night Lights, and the new Masterpiece series Downton Abbey. I'm also very curious and somewhat concerned about the American remakes of the British series Skins (MTV) and Being Human (SyFy). I'm hoping they're decent but am prepared to pretend that they don't exist!

Mira: I'm looking forward to the last installment of HP, too! On TV, I'm excited about Glee's post-Super Bowl episode. I also am interested in how they'll end Greek. One other thing I'm curious about is Spiderman, the musical. There's been all this press about injuries and crazy stunts; hopefully this show will actually get on ground and maybe one day (probably not 2011), I'll get to watch it. Songs written by Bono and The Edge. That's all I can think of for now. :)

Happy 2011! Stay tuned for a slight change in our Thursday Talks...

Thursday Talk: Movies and TV of 2010

J: Continuing to wrap up 2010...what were your top movies and TV of this year?

Jennifer: As usual I didn't watch a whole lot of movies in theaters this year, but my favorites were Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World and Inception. Scott Pilgrim had perfect perfect casting, great music, great video-game-esque action, and was just FUN, while Inception was cerebral and mind-twisting and pretty visually stunning.

On TV, I'm not sure , I think the show I found most entertaining was certainly The Vampire Diaries. Runners up: Community and Parks and Recreation (can't wait for it to come back in January). Continuing excellence: Friday Night Lights and Mad Men. I also really enjoyed Sherlock, Justified, and Parenthood.

Mira: I saw very few movies this year, too. In fact, I get the vague feeling that I only saw two movies in the theater this entire year: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I and Step Up 3D. Haha. I get the feeling that most of my movie watching is on airplanes these days. I did get to watch Despicable Me, Sex and the City 2, Knight and Day, and Going the Distance on the way to and from Europe recently. And on the way to and from Rome in July, I saw... I don't remember. :) Okay my favorite of those movies... Harry Potter. The movie series has only gotten better with each subsequent movie.

My favorite on TV for the year would be Glee (because there is no TV I look forward to more than this show). In particular, my favorite episode was "Duets."

Thursday Talk: Books and Music of 2010

J: 2010 is almost over, so of course that means coming up with end-of-the-year lists. Let's tackle books and music this week. What was the best book you read this year and what was your favorite song/album/artist of 2010?

Jennifer: I finally read Steig Larsson's Millenium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest) this year and while some parts were a little slow going (a lot of pretty detailed stuff about the government and the police and business), overall they definitely lived up to the hype. Once they got going I couldn't put them down! I also read all the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels and LOVED them. Funniest thing I've read in a long time.

In music, my favorite song of the year, hands down, is Robyn's Dancing On My Own. Robyn's been around for years but I never thought I liked dance music -- I don't dance or go to clubs. But this song is infectious. The lyrics are so simple and emotionally bare and I also kinda love Robyn's crazy dance moves in the video. For albums, my picks are The National - High Violet (listen to "Bloodbuzz Ohio") and of course Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (check out "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)").

Mira: (Will answer when she returns from vacation!) Finally answering! My favorite song of the year is Neon Trees' "Animal." It's one of those songs that for some unexplainable reason it makes me really happy to listen to. "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers is another such song. A close second is "The Only Exception" by Paramore. Favorite album, I pick Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody. It's actually from 2009 but I've listened to that album a whole lot the past year. (I first was introduced to her music at a concert in late 2009 and saw her again in 2010 because I like her that much.)

For books, I pick The Hunger Games trilogy. This actually is relevant to 2010 because the final book of the series, Mockingjay, was released in August. I had heard a lot of positive reviews for the series but had held off on reading them until the series was complete so I could read all three together. I also had a lot of school and very little time for fun reading. In any case, it was totally worth the wait and the books were fantastic. They were so good I read 2.5 of the 3 books on my loooong flight from Rome to Atlanta; didn't even nap!

Thursday Talk: Guest Question!

Burkie: Congratulations! You've become a big celebrity for some reason and you're appearing on Letterman & Leno and presenting at the big awards shows! That means you need a theme song that has to be played every time you're introduced and walk out onto the stage. What would your theme song be?

Jennifer: Um, I don't really know what criteria should be used in choosing a walk-in song...I figure it should be kind of upbeat and at least represent my taste in music? So my pick is Stillness is the Move by the Dirty Projectors. It's got kind of a quirky sound, and I mean, obviously I'm not going to pick something mainstream. The video is weird even for me though...

Mira: I'm going with a song that makes me happy and makes me want to walk with a happy beat. Okay, no, not walk with a happy beat, it darn makes me want to dance to it. And I'm not a dancer. :) "Photograph" by Weezer!

Thursday Talk: Time Travel

J: Time travel as a plot device can be really fun or it can be really bad. What are your favorite movies, books or TV shows involving time travel? And which ones were just stupid?

Jennifer: As a sci-fi/fantasy fan, there are just so many good options! In movies, I have to go with the classic Back to the Future. It's so hilarious when Marty's mom starts hitting on him! My book pick is A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle. It's incredibly imaginative with a fascinating made-up history and just lots of great characters. Oh and of course Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, both the book and the movie (because we apparently HP is an appropriate answer for almost every Thursday Talk question). For TV series, I'll plug Being Erica again and of course Doctor Who. I'm generally more a fan of the episodes where they go into the past (like the classic "The Girl in the Fireplace") but the future/alien worlds can be really great too. As for the bad, I really cannot let go of the terrible, terrible last half season of Felicity...

Mira: Well... Favorite blog entries on time travel was definitely this: pooryoricksadventure. ;-) Favorite book for me was Time Traveler's Wife, though I haven't reread it in a while and apparently barely remember the tragedy that hits Henry. Nor have I watched the movie yet (though I love Rachel McAdams!). Jasper Fford's Eyre series does a very interesting thing with time traveling/space traveling. Favorite movie was: 13 Going on 30. It sorta counts as time traveling, right? Least favorite of all time traveling things: I agree, Felicity SUCKED.

Thursday Talk: 'tis the Season!

M: Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season for me. What are your favorite holiday season indulgences (movie/book/tv/music)?

Mira: Little Women is one of my favorite holiday movies of all time. And I've always thought it was weird that I associate it as being a holiday season movie because the core of the movie is not about the holidays at all but a group of sisters and Jo's quest to be a grand writer. But I love it. And I love it most during the holiday season. Two other more obvious favorites are Love Actually, which takes place entirely in the holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's and a new add to my list: The Holiday, which I just find really cute and enjoyable for whatever reason.

Jennifer: I really enjoyed all the The OC's Chrismukkah episodes, especially the one from season 2 with since-forgotten Lindsay and her "yamaclaus." In movies, I actually watched White Christmas for the first time last year and I was surprised how much I loved it. All I had known about was the song and cheesy poster with the people in those Santa outfits, but that's a very small part of the movie...the rest of it is really funny and smart and the singing and dancing is superb. Vera-Ellen (with the shockingly small waist) is so fantastic in all the dance numbers. I think I'm going to start making it my own holiday tradition! Mira, I also associate Little Women with the holidays even though it's not really a Christmas movie. I sometimes do the same thing with Harry Potter because there are so many memorable Christmas scenes...Hogwarts certainly knows how to decorate!

Thursday Talk: Sports, Part 2

J: Earlier this year, Mira asked about favorite sporting events. This time around, what are your favorite sports-themed movies, TV shows, books, etc?

Jennifer: I'm definitely not a sports person but I enjoy my fair share of sports-themed fictional entertainment. Of course there's The Cutting Edge...I've watched that movie countless times and can probably quote most of it. I also like various other girly sports movies like Bend it like Beckham, Stick it, A League of their Own, Bring it On, etc. On TV, obviously Friday Night Lights (I actually finally learned the rules of football because of this show) and Make it or Break it (although it got really bad at the end of last season). I can't think of any books...unless you count Quidditch through the Ages?

Mira: Ooh, I like this question and it's funny because Burkie and I were just talking about this the other day. I love most football movies -- Remember the Titans, Little Giants, Varsity Blue, Jerry Maguire, The Blind Side, and I remember enjoying Friday Night Lights (movie version; but tv show is great, too!)... Um, I also loved other sports movies in general: Rookie of the Year, Angels in the Outfield, The Sandlot, Cool Runnings, Cutting Edge, MIGHTY DUCKS!!! Um, okay, so I like movies about sports. But yes, I pick Mighty Ducks (1, 2, 3) as my pick for this week's Thursday Talk. And ahem, Jenn, I think that I'd like to take credit for teaching you the rules of football!!! The TV show just reinforced what I told you. :P

Thursday Talk: Fairy Tales

M: What's your favorite fairy tale? (Original or reloaded.)

Mira: I think I'd have to go with Enchanted and Beauty and the Beast. I think the latter counts as a fairytale, right? I like the first because it takes a typical fairytale story of a princess, prince, evil stepmom/future mother-in-law, talking animals... Well it was kinda Snow White with Cinderella's animals or something... Anyway it takes all that and throws the story into modern day New York. Fun! Perfect! And now I want to rewatch. Haha. And Beauty and the Beast us simply my favorite Disney movie, period. :)

Jennifer: Hm, interesting question. I remember I had a book of fairy tales when I was younger that I read over and over but I don't know if I had a favorite back then. So I'll just pick one now: The Ugly Duckling. In general I think I prefer Hans Christian Andersen to the Brothers Grimm. I do also really like Ever After...

Thursday Talk: Spies!

J: Hollywood (and American culture in general it seems) has a pretty big fascination with spies. Who are some of your favorite fictional spies?

Jennifer: I think I have to go with Sydney Bristow from Alias. Probably everyone knows how disappointed I was with the later seasons but she was such a great and instantly memorable character. Obviously kick-ass but also just a really good person who cared deeply for her family and friends. I also really like Chuck, but more the character than the actual show, which has become more of a catch-up-when-I'm-bored show than required weekly viewing. They do use the word "spy" on that show probably more than in anything else I've ever seen...

Mira: Sydney was one of the best, I have to agree. Actually, I still wanna grow up to be her: she was so good! Haha, actually the skill I'd really like to learn is running down the stairs silently with HEELS on. :) Two more I'll name are James Bond, because well he's James Bond, and Jack Bauer from 24 because he's pretty badass.

Thursday Talk: Living Vicariously...

M: What TV show/book/movie do you love because you enjoy living vicariously through the lives of the characters? What TV show/book/movie do you love because it reminds you so much of who you are/your life?

Jennifer: Tough question! Madeleine L'Engle's characters Vicky Austin and Polly O'Keefe are the ones I loved living vicariously through. I'm not very much like either of them, but both got to do such interesting things. Vicky took a cross country road trip with her big family, lived in a farm town and then in Manhattan, swam and communicated with dolphins, and went to Antarctica. And even though she was kind of a "plain Jane" type, she was always having guys fall for her! As for Polly, she lived on remote islands and went to Venezuela and Greece and Cyprus. I guess I mostly have travel envy! As for the second question, Office Space? I remember watching it for the first time during college with two fellow engineer friends and while we laughed through the whole thing, at the end we were all kind of quiet, thinking "Um, this is going to be our lives!?"

Mira: Living vicariously through... the ABC Family shows: Make It or Break It (Like most other little girls I grew up adoring gymnastics and imagining how I wanted to grow up to be an Olympian. Too late now, darn!) and Greek (It almost makes me feel like I really missed out of a very unique undergraduate experience.)... Real life reminiscent, I'd pick Gilmore Girls just because similar to Rory and Loralie, a lot of my childhood was just my mom and me. And though she wasn't super young like Loralie when she had me, I'm definitely more the reserved and studious type like Rory and she's the crazy and carefree but dependable when needed like Loralie.

Thursday Talk: Halloween!

J: Halloween is coming up soon. What is your favorite Halloween-themed episode of a TV show?

Jennifer: My favorite is still the Halloween episode from season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer where everyone becomes their costumes: Buffy a damsel in distress, Xander a solider, and Willow a slutty ghost. Although last year's Community episode was kind of an instant classic, with Britta's super cute squirrel costume, Abed's Christian-Bale-Batman, Pierce's psychedelic hallucination of Annie dancing...so hilarious!

Mira: My favorite Buffy Halloween moment was season 4, "Fear, Itself" when Anya dressed up as a bunny. (I just did a bunch of searching to pinpoint that episode and verify that it was a Halloween episode. LOL.) Okay, apparently today I cannot remember individual episodes of any show, let alone the Halloween episodes... So I'll mention my favorite series of Scooby Doo episodes from when I was in... uh, second grade?: The Thirteen Ghosts of Scooby Doo! That's Halloween-y enough, right? I dunno why but each of these episodes had me scared and I remember really enjoying the series. On a non-tv show Halloween, I particularly love the Halloween scenes in the movie Mean Girls where Lindsay Lohan's character learns that American Halloween's aren't about being as scary as you can be, but for girls to be as slutty as possible and get away with it. :)

Thursday Talk: Canceled Already?

M: With a few shows already hitting the chopping blocks, what's a show that you're sad to see going (or on its way out) this season? (Realize that we had a similar question earlier this year about shows that ended too early...) What show are you surprised to see going so strong?

Jennifer: I haven't picked up too many new shows this season, but I was really disappointed (but not surprised) to see Lone Star get cancelled after only two episodes. It's really a shame because the critics really loved it and I definitely wanted to see where it was going. As for shows that I'm surprised are doing well...I guess Hawaii Five-O? But then again I don't watch procedurals or cop shows...

Mira: I'm a bit disappointed to see that Outlaw got canceled already. I kinda liked the premise of a mavericky former Supreme Court Justice, played by Jimmy Smits, taking cases that seem random but actually all hold meaning for him. Jesse Bradford was interesting as the recent Ivy League grad who thought he was getting a job with the Supreme Court Justice but ended up getting something far below his standards; the blond chick who is a lawyer afraid of public speaking and in love with her boss; the chick from Popular, Carly Pope?, as a pretend badass private eye (not quite Kalinda from The Good Wife but good in her own way)... I liked it! I am surprised by how much I like Hawaii Five-O, personally, so given that, I'm not surprised it's doing well. I'm more surprised that The Whole Truth hasn't been canceled yet but perhaps that's just a matter of days. The premise of No Ordinary Family is great but it definitely has its really annoying moments so I'm wondering if it will last, too...

Thursday Talk: Fake bands!

J: TV and movie characters (especially teens) seem to like to form bands. What are some of your favorite fictional musical groups?

Jennifer: My first TV obsession was Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I loved Dingoes Ate My Baby, which was Oz's band (music provided by the real band Four Star Mary...I actually have some of their CDs). Recently I got really into Scott Pilgrim (both the graphics novels and the movie) and Sex Bob-omb (music provided by Beck for the movie soundtrack). Oh, and I love the "band" formed in Once for the recording session and also Where's Fluffy? from Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist, even though we never actually see or hear them...

Mira: Aww, Oz! I never knew that was the name of the band. I really like That Thing You Do! and The Wonders. It's just one of those movies that for whatever reason I've watched over and over again and enjoy each time. And they're "one hit wonder" band had a fantastically catchy one hit wonder. :) Another favorite fictional music group.... well I loved TeenNBC so... California Dreams. :)

By the way... HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN!!!!

Thursday Talk: Best Buds

M: Inspired by a comment on House and Wilson's "bromance" on House, M.D.: favorite fictional best friends?

Jennifer: For some reason or another, most of my favorite books and TV shows and movies have to do more with family or romance and don't have many great well-developed two-person friendships. Too often the best friend of the lead character is just there to be supportive or the comic relief/scene stealer. Or there's a group of friends where the individual friendships don't always make sense (like on Sex and the City) or they're just better altogether (like Harry and Ron and Hermione.) So the only pairs that come to mind right now are Seth and Ryan on The OC and Blair and Serena on Gossip Girl (hm, both Josh Schwartz shows). With these pairs, I feel like they took the time to explain why they were best friends and gave them conflict and didn't just take it for granted. Both shows are probably more known for their merry-go-round of relationships but Seth/Ryan and Blair/Serena, rather than any romance, are actually more the heart of each show. (Honorable mention to Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro...just because.)

Mira: Yeah, for me, too, I think Blair & Serena instantly. Only problem is Gossip Girl just wouldn't stop with the Blair/Serena fighting, best friends, fighting crap and now I don't care about them anymore. But for the first two years they were the true heart and relationship to root for on the show. Favorite fictional best friends -- I love Meridith and Cristina on Grey's Anatomy. It's funny how they're referred to by their significant others (now husbands!) as the "twisted sisters." But I love how they're so perfectly twisty and negative and competitive together. Honorable mention to Kurt & Mercedes on Glee, just because.

Thursday Talk: Reality show winners

J: Two reality shows I watch ended their seasons recently (Top Chef and the Great Food Truck Race) and I wasn't very excited about the winner of either. Which reality show wins have you found most deserving/satisfying? Which were the most disappointing/lame?

Jennifer: In terms of deserving, Christian Siriano of Project Runway season 4 comes to mind. I also loved Harold and Stephanie of Top Chef seasons 1 and 4, Aarti on this season of Next Food Network Star and Jeanine of So You Think You Can Dance season 5. For most disappointing, I'd say Ilan and Hosea of Top Chef seasons 2 and 6, most of the recent Amazing Race winners (love the show but somehow I'm never enthusiastic about the winners) and Poreotix of the most recent season of America's Best Dance Crew. I could think of many other examples because clearly I watch too much reality TV...

Mira: I don't watch too much in terms of reality competition. Just the talent oriented ones sometimes. I'll go with most of the winners of SYTYCD and Kristy Yamaguchi on DWTS. That may have been the only season of DWTS that I may have watched.

Thursday Talk: Sidekicks!

M: We focus so much on main or title characters in books, movies, tv shows; but really, it's the sidekick(s) that really make a good book/movie/show a great book/movie/show. So who's your favorite? (And yes, please imagine the voice of Boomer, the teacher in Sky High: "SIDEKICK!")

Mira: I prefer the non-people companions, such as Dug the dog in Up! or Inspector Gadgets's dog. I also like Pinky from Pinky and the Brain. :) For people sidekicks, well, I love Sky High and I thought the whole sidekick vs. heroes aspect of the story was brilliant. I loved all of the sidekicks and their quirky superpowers such as glowing, turning into a guinea pig, melting into a puddle... I also want to give an honorable mention to the Scoobies because they really were the support team Buffy needed to defeat all sorts of weird evils. :)

Jennifer: I LOVE this question! There are so many great sidekicks to choose from, but I'm going to pick two that are actually played by the same actor, Adam Baldwin: Jayne Cobb from Firefly and John Casey from Chuck. Adam Baldwin is a big, intimidating guy so he naturally fits in the roles as the "muscle" but he's also incredibly funny. The "Jaynestown" episode of Firefly, where Jayne finds out that he's somehow become a folk legend in this small town, is HILARIOUS. And while I usually dislike Jeffster on Chuck, put them together with Casey and it's comic gold. You want Adam Baldwin on your side!

Thursday Talk: Viral video

J: With the advent of youtube, a whole new form of media is now out there: viral videos. What are some of your recent favorites?

Jennifer: The reason I thought of this question is because of "Bed Intruder Song" which is one of the most hilarious things I've seen in awhile. Most viral videos get overplayed and annoying really quickly but I do remember enjoying David after Dentist and yes, the wedding dance one when I first saw them. And for you Lost fans, this Hurley tribute is pretty great. I always hear about these things too late or never though, so what have I missed?

Mira: My favorites include the Numa Numa guy... The Evolution of Dance guy... The Pachelbel's Canon Rant guy... Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnd the cutest thing ever: little kid on ukelele. (I also enjoyed the wedding dance one when I first saw it. And I enjoyed The Office spoof of it.)

Thursday Talk: Happy 90210 Day!

M: In the spirit of today's date (9.02.10), what was your favorite and least favorite memory of Beverly Hills, 90210?

Jennifer: I watched the original 90210 on and off, mostly in reruns, and mostly just the high school and early college years. So my knowledge of the show is somewhat scattered but a few random moments stick out. There was that episode where Brandon and Clare are competing against each other to get onto College Jeopardy! but then Andrea demolishes both of them, which I thought was hilarious. I was always kind of unhappy with what they did with Andrea's character...she should have gone to Yale and left the show but instead we were subject to all of her somewhat depressing marriage problems. Least favorite memory? I remember all this bizarre drama with Dylan's half-sister being kidnapped to Mexico or something? Oh, and every scene with David dancing was really cringeworthy...

Mira: I feel like I remember the high school years much more fondly than the college years; though, that's true for most shows that attempt to move a high school show into college. But I did kind of love and hate the Dylan-Kelly-Brenda triangle. Oh, I also really liked Brenda's character, which was another reason to like the college years less. And I hated Valerie's character, who came in to sort of make up for the hole left by Brenda's departure. More reason to hate the later years. But one thing that I did love in the later years was the Brendon-Kelly relationship. And I hated, hated, hated when he almost proposed to her and didn't and she had the miscarriage, too. Agh! Hated that! I felt and still feel gypped of a perfect 'ship. Oh, and btw, the new 90210 on The CW blows.

Thursday Talk: New Fall TV!

J: The new fall TV season is just around the corner. Which new shows interest you? Check out this list.

Jennifer: I'm intrigued by Fox's Lone Star, a prime-time soap set in the world of Texas big oil, another world I know nothing about. It seems ambitious, almost more of a movie premise than a series one but I'll bite. I'm also interested in No Ordinary Family, which sounds like a mash up of The Incredibles and Heroes. I'm thinking it'll either be fantastic or dreadful. And I guess I'll watch Undercovers, even though I still have residual hate for J.J. Abrams because of Alias, and I mean, this is another spy show. It'll probably start out really great at least. Actually I usually try to watch all the new fall shows, excepting procedurals and really dumb sitcoms (I'll be skipping Outsourced, for example). We'll see if my DVR can handle it!

Mira: (Still on vacation!) ...and back! Shows I'm looking forward to: Hellcats (Because there is no denying my teenybopperness), Lone Star (Looks interesting, and I'm a sucker for soap opera-ish dramas. I still remember fondly the attempt by the WB back in the day with Savannah, a prime0time soap set in -duh!- Savannah.), No Ordinary Family (Super hero family! Love The Incredibles and Sky High!), Running Wilde (The pairing of Will Arnett and Keri Russell looks interesting), The Whole Truth (Yeah, I watch procedurals)... Let's see if I have *time* for all these tv shows this fall. I have a lot of school and work. :(

T^2: Fictional Friends

M: If you could join or be part of any group of fictional friends, what group would you pick?

Jennifer: This is a pretty random answer but I kind of like the guys from Reaper: Sam, Ben, and Sock. Yeah, they're all slackers but they just seem fun and normal and laid back (even when hunting demons). I also like the gang from My Boys, but they probably wouldn't have me since I'm not that into baseball or beer. I'd play poker though. Interesting how I picked groups of mainly guys...maybe this is because I'm happy with my real-life girlfriends!

Mira: Hi from Florence. I actually posted this question weeks ago when it first came to me but it kept getting pushed back as a published Thursday Talk question. And then of course I took off without remembering to post an answer. Haha! Well my pick is Glee. I love their mishmash of different semi-social outcast characters who for all of their differences can band together when it counts. Some characters do have some annoying quirks but then again, even of all your closest friends, who doesn't have annoying quirks? So I pick them cuz through it all the cast and characters look like they're having a blast. And I wish I could sing.