"I Hate L.A."

3 May

You already know I’m a big fan of Kate Walsh’s Addison Montgomery character on Grey’s Anatomy. So I was looking forward to the big two-hour episode Thursday night that would serve as a pilot for an Addison-centric show. But if it’s going to be anything like this, I hope she’ll decide to stay in Seattle. The episode played out sort of like how the second season of Ally McBeal did: all of Grey’s quirks became more pronounced and were the feature attraction of the L.A. part of the show, not the characters themselves. Actually, there were so many big names in the cast that it almost seemed like an all-star medical show, which was a real distraction for me. And it was all too, I dunno, perfect at times and it almost became a total cliche (the three women oogling the surfer dude receptionist? Puh-leeze). The contrast with the action back at Seattle Grace made it so clear which would be the better show of the two. Frankly, the best part of the episode for me was seeing Merrin Dungey and David Anders (both former stars of Alias) back on TV again. So while I’d continue to watch Addison transition to L.A. where she’d (hopefully) be much happier (I like Addison and Merrin Dungey that much and I like that guy Paul Adelstein, who was in one of my favorite movies, Intolerable Cruelty), I hope she’ll stay in Seattle come the fall TV season.

This Is What $103 Million Looks Like?

3 May

I hate to sound like a broken record, but … I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Dice-K sucks.

In the game tonight, he gave up seven runs, five hits, and five walks in just five innings.

To date, he has a 5.45 ERA and has walked 15 in 38 innings.

That’s no ace, ladies and gentlemen.

That’s not even average. Continue reading →

No Disaster

30 Apr

Chances are good that you haven’t heard much (if anything) about Jon McLaughlin, or his album, Indiana, which drops today. I first learned about Jon back in February when Ali’s Blog linked to two songs off the album. I especially liked “Industry,” so I’ve been waiting to hear more. And now today is the day. Jon’s one of those piano-playing singer-songwriters who sing catchy melodies. I suppose he’s not unlike Gavin DeGraw, though I’ll admit Jon’s got a somewhat generic and not terribly unique sound. Still, I like what I’ve heard enough to recommend it. So if you like this sort of thing, check out the two tracks at that blog. And if you like them, give Jon’s entire CD a chance, as I’ll be doing (via iTunes for $7.99). And as extra incentive, here’s the video for his other single, “Beautiful Disaster.”

Totally Legal

30 Apr

Thought I’d put up a link to my story in the new issue of Continental magazine. As you can see, it’s the cover story and it’s about Laura Bell Bundy, who plays Elle Woods in the new Broadway adaptation of Legally Blonde.

Reviews of the show (which opened Sunday night) have been mixed, but some critics (like the ones at Variety and The New York Times) say it’s a lot of fun and that Bundy gives a very good performance. Continue reading →

Just Not Worth It

29 Apr

I saw after the Sox–Yankees game today that a company called Big Time Bats is selling a commemorative framed photo set of Dice-K’s first start at Fenway. Considering he lost that game, I’m not sure why anyone would want to spend $120 to remember it. Sure, Dice-K pitched his best Fenway start to date that night (remember, today is only April 29), and had Felix Hernandez not been so good, we might have actually won that game, but still … I’ll spend $120 when Dice-K does something worth remembering. (Alright, fine. Maybe I won’t spend the $120. But I’ll remember the accomplishment just the same. After all, I haven’t been so kind to him so far.)

For the Kids

29 Apr

As Robbie Williams would say, we were “doin’ it for the kids” today. Despite cooler, wetter weather than last year, WalkAmerica was still a good time, and it was all for a good cause. I walked with eight of my coworkers (to support our client, Continental Airlines, which is an official sponsor of WalkAmerica) and we all did it within two hours. That’s not bad, considering it was a loop from the Hatch Shell, down Storrow Drive to Western Ave, and then back down Memorial Drive to the Museum of Science, and back to the Hatch Shell (a total of about 6.5 miles). And yes, there was Montilio’s cake waiting for us when we got to the finish line, so that made it doubly worth it. I’m pleased to say I raised $468, which is $118 more than last year (why 18? click here for that answer), so let me take this opportunity to publicly thank all who contributed. (If you still want to donate, you can. Just click here.) Now I can take a load off and relax before it’s back to work tomorrow.

Shut Up

28 Apr

It’s embarrassing to think that when I was in college, I used to really like a cappella music.

I liked it so much that freshman year I actually went to other campuses to see various groups in concert — Tufts’ Beelzebubs, for example.

Thankfully, by junior year I came to my senses and realized that a cappella was not all that. I suppose the same can’t be said for those who were actually in those groups.

Well, those people (not me) are the likely target audience of Sing Now or Forever Hold Your Peace, a movie about a group of friends who were all in an a cappella group in college and who reunite 15 years later to sing at one of the guys’ weddings. Continue reading →

That’s So Exciting!

28 Apr

For your weekend viewing pleasure, check out this clip (from FunnyorDie.com) of Alec Baldwin giving Dora the Explorer a call.

I’m Walking. Yesiree I’m Walking

24 Apr

If you haven’t heard yet, Wednesday is the first annual Start! Walking at Work Day, sponsored by the American Heart Association.

The purpose of the day is to promote a culture of physical activity in the workplace, which will help people live longer, healthier lives. (No word if that longer, healthier life includes more time at work.)

Apparently, we’re working 164 more hours a year than in previous years, which leads to more sedentary lives. Blah blah blah.

So on Wednesday, at exactly 2:41 pm, you’re supposed to get up from your desk and walk.

Walk anywhere, I suppose. Take a lap around the office. Or walk outside. Just walk somewhere.

And why, you may be asking, is this happening at 2:41? Well, according to the AHA, adults may gain as many as two hours of life for every one hour of regular exercise. (That’s their joke, not mine.)

And there’s your PSA for the day. Continue reading →

Dice-K Not O-K

23 Apr

I’ve been accused by a couple people of being a little too hard on Dice-K. Well, Sunday night the guy allowed six runs and eight hits. That’s six runs. And eight hits. Is that really what we (again with the “we”) paid $103 million for? That’s the kind of performance I expect from Julian Tavarez — not the guy who is supposed to rewrite the rules of how major league pitchers pitch. I stand by my opinion that the guy shouldn’t need this much run support. If he’s really all that, he should be lights out from the start. Strikeouts, schmikeouts. That’s not the stat that really matters in the end. It’s wins and losses. And even though he got the win on Sunday, as Jon Miller and Joe Morgan both said on ESPN after the game, he needed “considerable help.” It’s the morning after Dice-K’s first start against the Yankees, where he recorded the win, and we’re not even talking about how well he pitched. What does that tell you? Perhaps more discouraging is that with each start, Dice-K is getting worse and worse. Soon it’ll be tough to make excuses about “the line” and how his performance was still impressive despite the loss.

I’m not saying Dice-K has to be Superman, or that he has to pitch a perfect game every time. But he should be more of a sure thing (like Jonathan Papelbon is in the bullpen), and shouldn’t be the losingest pitcher on the staff. It’s only April, I know, and if Dice-K gets better I’ll change my tune. But right now, I’m just not impressed.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →