This blog is a complete waste of your time. Distracting. It's filled with annoying irrelevant facts, meaningless opinions, and stupid news. But you know what? It's entertainment Baybeeee!
They say that "all good things must come to an end."
Fortunately, I don't think that applies here. After our course in Eng 1000c is over, I plan to keep my blog, and perhaps refurbish it too. I think I want to change my topic, maybe I'll just call it a "Potpourri of things." I could write about whatever comes to my mind, how I'm feeling on a particular day, and just post random things. I might very well get rid of the whole TV topic; although it was very broad, I still found it difficult to search for interesting things to post on. Or I can simply turn it into an online journal. I'll post funny stories of my day to day life, and document my college years on here. I don't quite know what I'll do, but I do know that this blog is truly a great thing to have, because 40 years from now when I'm old and ripe, I can look back and read all of the cool things I've written about in my youth.
As far as design goes, I'm definitely going to play around with the background, add a few gadgets, change some, maybe even add a word cloud.
Well I hope I will be able to upkeep this blog. Being a pharmacy major, it's going to be pretty hard balancing school priorities and the maintainence of this blog. It might be months ..or dare I say...years before I add another post. However, I'm going to try my best.
I guess this is goodbye for a little while...it was fun! :)
In contrast to the video I just made about how awesome tv is, I found a video on youtube pretty much degrading my beloved "idiot box." They make criticisms of how the generation that watches TV too much is dumb; how it fuels the class war, and all other sorts of stuff. Listen carefully to the lyrics of the songs in this video, and read the statistics. I guess they have a point, but it seems to me more like a hate TV cult, that is trying to promote books over TV. Well, what if you are a visual learner, like myself, and reading a book is much too mundane for you? TV can be good too! You can learn and see proof of interesting things that they show on the history channel, etc. These people claim that if you watch TV, then you have no life. Well, if you sit around reading a book all day, doesn't that mean you have no life too? To be honest, I don't watch TV that often. I watch it when I have a little down time, a little time to relax. And to me that's it's main purpose; to entertain me, and allow me to drift from my reality a little. I don't think there's no harm in television. One just has to use it in the right ways; in ways that it will cultivate their minds, maybe show/teach them something like how to cook (Foodnetowrk Channel), in ways that it won't subract from their life but add to it.
So here's a video I created about TV. It just basically outlines how I feel about TV. The song is called Sleepyhead by Passion Pitt, and it fits with the whole head-trip vibe of my video. I wanted to show how diverse the TV programs are and how there are so many offerings to choose from, especially if you have dish network like me. Anyhow, enjoy.:)
If you’re reading this, I bet the title got your attention.“Sexy” caught your eyes, and now you’re curious to know what this post is about.
Well it’s about those “sexy,” “sex-selling TV commercials.”I’ve been seeing a lot lately, and I don’t watch freakishly weird TV stations.I’m talking about seeing these commercials around 8:00pm on ABC7, other major networks, and family-oriented channels too.I don’t mean to complain about them, but I’m just saying that it’s a little awkward seeing a “sexy” commercial when your parents/ family are around. It creates one of those moments when everyone is silent because no one wants to talk about the ad they’ve just seen.Here are some of the “sexy commercials” I’m talking about.
1.Dolce&Gabbana Light blue Perfume/Cologne:
I see this commercial a lot on the major networks.It’s basically about two sexy people taking a swim and then making love. Literally they are making out!! But the little symbols are what make the commercial luscious and well… “sexy.”The guy and girl are wearing white; pure sign of virgin innocence.Their bodies are wet; *cough cough* as they just had a swim, and the editing slows down to make it more epic.OMG at one point, the camera angles itself to show the guy’s speedo thing.Not to mention, there’s very romantic Italian music playing in the background, and the scene was actually shot in Capri, Italy…a very romantic place, as you can see the pretty light blue water surrounding them.Obviously they are selling sex.People will buy the product because they fell they will be sexy or feel sexy when they wear the perfume.However, it makes for a pretty awkward turtle family moment.
2. Enzyte Commercial Ok , when this product came out, they played this commercial nonstop…on MTV and Spike Tv (a men’s channel) of course, but still when I’m watching CSI re-runs on Spike with my dad, seeing a commercial like that after a murder scene makes me want to hide in a cave.It’s kinda gross seeing this guy smile so much because he used “a natural male enhancement” and now the ladies love him.What’s even worse is that catchy enzyte tune they play in the background.Sometimes, I’ll start singing it when I’m bored, and then I’ll realize where the song came from…and then I’ll cringe.These ad people really know how to get in your head and keep you thinking about their product!Also, hearing all of those innuendos about how enzyte changed Bob’s life; “a sac full of pride,” “north pole,” “Bob is here to spread a lot of joy”…Ewwww GROSSS!!!!!! This makes for more awkward turtle moments than the previous ad, in which no one makes eye contact or talks until a normal or funny commercial comes on.To be honest, I’ll get up and walk out of the room when I see that commercial start…
3. Trojan Fire and Ice commercial Okay, this one doesn’t have any partial nudity or any implicit innuendos, but still its pretty awk-w-a-r-d. This condom commercial seems to be scientific-y and experimental as you see the female scientist testing the performance, I guess, between the two guinea pigs (the husband and wife/boyfriend &girlfriend) after they’ve used the new Trojan condom.They go on this bed/rollercoaster contraption thing which mimics the experience of a wild ride, and we see them get off with their clothes all awry and their hair out of place.I mean, all of the signs that they’ve done it are there.So it’s kinda awkward, but not as bad as the other two.It’s only 16 seconds.They also have this new one out, I’ve seen a lot on the major networks.However, it looks more like their advertising some medicine.We see/hear the pharmacist explaining about it, and pretty much no nudity is shown, just a couple talking about their experience with it. Still, the thought is kinda awkward when you’re watching this commercial with your ma and pa.It’s embarrassing.
Well that’s how I feel about it.Thank goodness, these commercials aren’t minutes long.What do you think? Did you have any awkward turtle moments watching these commercials?What other commercials create awkward moments for you?
I was watching MTV am wake up videos one morning…surprise surprise!...and was thrilled by watching Pink’s new video, Raise your glass.
She’s come a long way from “get the party started” and her punk glamour vibe of the 2000’s.Still sticking to her rock-hard attitude, Pink has managed to put out powerful songs that have a message, like “Stupid Girls,” and now her latest one is “Raise your glass.”
Raise your glass has an empowering tone and sends the message that it’s okay to be yourself.It’s ok to stand out when everyone else fits in.It’s okay to be different…be unnatural…be yourself.In the video she becomes several different characters, showing and teaching us all to celebrate our diversity.
1. Pink/ Rosie the Riveter.
Flexing a muscle and showing off her tats, Pink honors those women of the 1940’s who took on difficult, machine operating factory jobs while the men went off to war. Usually, the women were responsible for all things relating to the kitchen and raising the family while the husband went off to work.So, back then it was uncommon for a woman to take the place of the man in the job force, but someone had to do it, while WWII waged on.Defying the status quo and culture of the time, those women stepped up to the plate.Still wearing make-up, they simply rolled up their sleeves and got right to work.
2. Pink the bull-fighter
This scene took me a while to understand, but I finally got it.In the real world, bull fighting is when a matador (Spanish for “killer”) teases a bull with a red flag and conquers it in the end by actually killing it. This scene is quite the opposite however, as Pink acts as the bull and conquers the matador, as we see him falling to the ground.It’s rather interesting, to think of things being turn upside down and flipped around…of things being abnormal…or it being a completely different situation.
3. Gay wedding
Again we see the theme of being different and out of the ordinary here.It’s a gay wedding, and pink is the wedding singer.It seems like any regular wedding; fancy room, everyone’s happy; the only difference is that there is no bride and groom…just groom and groom.
4.Pink’s a Gangstaaaa
In the next scene Pink is a tough girl gansta, riding her bike through the hood.It’s not too common to see a female ganster, it’s usually a male dominated arena, specifically predominated by blacks/Hispanics.Amid the male ganstas, we see pink acting just as thug as them.She’s almost like their equal, even though she is a white female.She’s defying the odds, going against the grain…being different and celebrating it by raising her brown paper bag.
5.Cowgirl/Auntie SAMantha [haha get it!!...Uncle Sam's wife :)] Now Pink becomes a country cowgirl getting ready to take on a sumo wrestler.She’s totally out of her element.It’s quite obvious that a cowgirl doesn’t belong on a wrestling ring…she should be on the farm.However, Pink is challenging these generalizations.Adorned in her red, white, and blue cowgirl outfit with her cow girl boots, Pink puts herself on the same level as a robust sumo wrestler and takes him on.Also, I should note that the sumo wrestler is dressed like a robber Barron or the Monopoly guy.Whether she’s making a political statement of rich vs. poor the government vs. the big banks, she’s not afraid to be different, stand out, and fight for what she believes in. In the end, she actually kicks his butt out of the ring and wins, even though no one expected she would.
6. Milk Robber
This one is interesting.Pink is accompanied by two other people who are dressed in black, much like bank robbers- they even have the stocking on their faces.However, they aren’t stealing money, they’re robbing milk.The odd thing is that their taking breast milk from humans and giving it to the cow.It’s reverse of what happens in real life.In our world, we rob the cows of their milk for our drinking pleasure.It’s a totally unnatural scene.But it’s awesome because it’s different.I love the attitude here.It’s showing people that things can be the other way around...however odd it seems.Why does it have to always be the way we are used to?It can be different.
7.Nerdy prom girl
This last one is cute! It’s high school prom, and there’s a nerdy (she’s wearing glasses…so she’s nerdy? ) girl, Pink, sitting lonely in the back of the room, watching everyone around her dance normally with their partners.The status quo always makes the nerdy people seem lame…too lame to dance at their school prom.It makes them feel left out.However, Pink challenges this statement, by sniffing her pits and mustering the courage to just get up and dance.She finally does and joins an awkwardly dancing boy in the center of the room.The two dance awkwardly together and seem to be having the most fun at the prom.
Major message: You don’t have to conform to what society says is right or normal.It’s totally fine to be yourself and enjoy it.It’s a-okay to be different, and pink does this by proposing a toast to all the diversity in humanity.
“So raise your glass if you are wrong,
In all the right ways,
All my underdogs,
We will never be never be anything but loud
And nitty gritty dirty little freaks
Won't you come on and come on and raise your glass,
Just come on and come on and raise your glass”
So, I was on ONTD, and came across a post last week about this up and coming pop artist. She goes by Jessie J. and she hails from England. Her voice is amazing. She kinda sounds like a mix of Joss Stone and Fantasia, but still she's unique. She co-wrote Miley Cyrus's addictive song, "Party in the U.S.A." and tons of celebs are praising her work, like Justin Timberlake. Seriously Check her out. She's today's music release!
This deserves to be on a T-shirt! :) I'd buy it
For all my music freaks out there, I found this cute little picture. It made me laugh, so I thought I'd share it with you. :) Enjoy!
Hey guys! So I created a poll last night, to find out what types of TV shows most interest you.I wanted to know what my viewers are in to.So, I asked my English class and my friends on Facebook to respond.Eleven awesome peers, around the ages of 17-20 took the poll, and here are the results:
54% like Primetime dramas
18% like Reality shows
18% like Sketch comedy shows
9% just don’t like the TV
To the one person who doesn’t watch TV…Boo you! Lol jkJ I can understand why you choose to leave it off….let’s be honest, it is super distracting.
Darn that box!
Seems as though Reality shows and sketch comedies are tied for second! People like to laugh every now and then, and I think shows like SNL, and late night comedies, are great ways to just laugh at society.We can’t always be uptight!
We were SNL crazy during the 2008 election
On an episode of Fear Factor
Reality shows, well, shows with nobodies who want their 15 minutes of fame are entertaining in a weird way.I mean we’re watching a bunch of normal people, like us, do strange or sometimes awesome things, usually for money.Remember Fear Factor! My favorite right now is Amazing Race, though.
Then there’s also the reality shows that document the lives of celebrities.Catch Mel B’s- A Scary World, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, etc.
Oh the Drama! I had a feeling this would be favored by the vast majority.Everyone has their favorite drama they like to get hooked on.A lot of teen girls love Gossip Girl…Chase Crawford perhaps!
For the stay at home moms out there-Desperate Housewives.And everyone likes a little crime and order-CSI: NY, Law and Order, The Closer, etc.The music geeks love Glee (I’m included!)I mean there’s such a variety of primetime shows, that there’s practically one for everyone.
I’ve always been curious of what goes on behind the scenes.How a television set operates.What a television set is like.So, to find the answers, I interviewed a St. John’s alumnus named Sharese Perez.She majored in television communications and even worked at WABC for 2 years, and Lifetime Television for 3 years.She had her mind set on being a director.
Me: Good morning, glad to have you here, how are you?
Sha: Good, glad to be here.
Me: So, why did you major in TV communications?
Sha: Growing up, I’ve always had a fascination with TV, movies, actors/actresses.I always wanted to be a part of that world.
Me: What is it about TV that fascinates you?
Sha: Well, back in my days, TV had more variety than today.Now, I just see a bunch of reality shows! They had a lot of made-for-TV movies, and sitcom shows which were family oriented.SO, it’s like you became part of the family, week after week watching it.Overall, TV’s ability to just take your mind off of things and put you into another realm was what fascinated me.
Me: I know you told me that you were involved with the St. John’s TV club.Can you tell me about one of your experiences with it?
Sha: Sure! Well I had a professor, who used to work at channel 7, with the soap operas.I think he was a producer or director…can’t really remember. Anyway, he took us on a tour of the set of All My Children on W67th and I got to see all the props and secrets of the set, like where actors dash their scripts sometimes.It was very interesting.
Me: Did you visit any other set?
Sha: As a matter of fact, we did.We went to another soap opera set, One Life to Live on W66th.I remember seeing the desk that the Buchannan patriarch had in his office.I remember noting how beat up and chipped it looked, and that’s when the professor told me that TV can hide those things-it’s the magic box.
*a brief chuckle from us both*
TV show set
Me: So you wanted to be a director, what are some things you learned about that field?
Sha: How insanely hard it is.When you think of director, we see a guy sitting behind the camera in that cool chair with the words “director” written on the back, and you picture him yelling “action” and “cut.”Those things are tiny compared to what he really does.He/she has to mark the floor for where the actors stand or read their lines from, he/she has to know the camera angles, which way he wants a scene filmed.The director has to be in touch with everyone on the set.He has to know practically everything from budgeting to remembering the character’s lines.It’s just a lot of work. And it certainly is harder than it seems.
Me: Wow. That sounds crazy!
Me: What was your role at WABC?
Sha: Well, I worked in the operations department as a log coordinator.I prepared logs for the day of air.
Me: What are logs?
Sha: Logs are like the storyboard for a particular show.It lays out, in detail, the script of the show.It’s basically how the program will be chopped you.You know, we may start with an intro, run the theme song for 30 seconds, have a 5 min commercial break, return to the show for 10 minutes.It’s just organizing the show into bits.
Me: Tell me something interesting that you learned there.
Sha: well, while working on the commercials, I discovered the manufacturing companies that market certain products.For example, one commercial I had was for Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing, and I found out that the manufacturer behind it is Clorox.Of course, they never aired that part on TV.Though it may be on the bottle, I was just shocked to learn that the same company that makes cleaning products also makes salad dressing.
Me: O.O my goodness! Ranch was my favorite dressing! I’m sure they don’t make it at the same facility, though.
Sha: yea…but still.It’s just the thought of what these companies are hiding from the general public.
Me: yea I agree.
Me: So, last question.Have you met any actors, while working at your ABC or Lifetime?I never saw a celeb in my life, so I’m always curious.
Sha: eh, not really. Working at ABC, I remember Regis Philbin holding the door for me.Later when I worked at Lifetime, I got to see a taping of the Cosby show, because our office was in the same studio they filmed in.It was cool. My time at these jobs was fun…stressful, but I enjoyed it overall.
Me: Thanks for your time.There’s a wealth of info here!
Sha: Sure thing, any time.
Well that was my interview.I’ve got to say, it was quite fun hearing about someone else’s experiences.Despite me trying to write down every word Sharese said, verbatim, (next time I’ll bring a recorder!) and trying to think of questions that flowed from one to the next, I had a blast.
Back in late September, I saw the HBO premiere of Teenage Paparazzo, Adrian Grenier’s latest project. You may recognize him from the hit show Entourage, which depicts the dramatic life of a working actor and his posse or “entourage” in LA. However, in Teenage Paparrazo, Adrian strips himself of his celebrity-ism and grabs a camera, filming the insatiable American appetite for celebrity gossip.
After getting “sprayed with 10-15 rapid fire shots” by a 13 year old who could barely lift the camera up to his face, Adrian was utterly shocked that this young boy was taking his picture and being paparazzo. By documenting the life of 13 year old Austin Visschedyk-the premature, fast-talking paparazzo- Adrian wanted to discover this obsession with celebrity life and what motivates people to stalk the famous.
That's Austin
It was quite interesting seeing this little kid get calls at all times in the day about where Kim Kardashian is, or where Paris Hilton is, and then having to grab his camera and jet to the site to take some shots. What’s funny is that these celebs are more willing to let Austin take their pictures, because they see him as a little, “cute,” and adorable boy, but the fact that he’s profiting off of their social life, and their every move doesn’t really affect them. This kid makes $500 -$1000 a picture, and it really is showing of how much we are willing to spend just to see a celebrity getting into their car, or leaving a bar.
They seem like hounds
As the documentary points out, people want to get as close to these celebrities as possible because they feel they know them personally from seeing their movies or hearing their songs. We feel a connection. However, we must realize that we only know their characters or their personas…not themselves personally. In addition, within ourselves we feel a little desire to be celebrities too. While Adrian was filming Austin, Austin asked him if the paparazzi will go and take his (Austin’s) picture when the film gets released. This desire to be famous, and be in the spotlight is exciting to many, but to some it only shows vanity. The stereotype about celebrities is that they are self-centered, always want to be in the pictures, and indulge in their glamorous lifestyle. However, the documentary also does a great job of balancing the pros with the cons of celebrity-ism.
Several appearances by well-known celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon, Paris Hilton and others, show that while the glam is all cool for a little while, it stresses their private life, giving them little privacy at all. After hearing their stories, I realized that the little things we “normal people” do everyday are extremely difficult for celebs; going to the grocery store, shopping at the mall, walking the dog, and hanging out with friends. We can do these things with no hassle, but the moment a celebrity steps out of their house, they are swarmed by the paparazzi. This funny video puts it all into perspective.
But in all seriousness, why are we that interested in the lives of celebrities? As the documentary stated, we feel their lives are different from ours, but in all truth they are just as human as we are. They use the bathroom, they brush their teeth, they cook, and they clean too. They are “normal people living abnormal lives.” What’s sad is that these celebrities are ridiculed for the smallest thing. We hold them to such a high standard that when we see an imperfection with them, it becomes a huge deal. For instance, when those recordings of Mel Gibson lashing out at his girlfriend were released, it shocked the public and now his career is down the toilet. I’m not defending Mel because he’s totally crazy, but people get into arguments/fights all the time, and it’s not nearly as shocking as when a celeb throws a fit. Look at when Rihanna was abused by Chris Brown, his career is poop too, but the point is tons of women are domestically abused everyday and we don’t see their stories on the news. Even worse, look at Lindsey Lohan, her bout with alcoholism and going to court has been going on way too long, but yet we are still wrapped up in her story because it’s Lindsey Lohan. If it were any average Joe, would we care?
The documentary serves to point out that these celebrities are public figures. When starting this career, they know that paparazzi and stalking and random people asking for autographs all come with the lifestyle. But I believe we are going too far. For instance, remember when Angelina Jolie and Britney Spears were having their babies, magazines paid millions… (Millions!) to have the first baby pictures. To me, these celebrities are cashing in on their private lives. The more exposure they get, whether they do good or bad, means the more people are using tossing their names around at home, the more movie or recording deals they may get. And ultimately, the more fame they receive. In addition, in a post documentary interview, Adrian points out how important the need for fame is especially in Hollywood, where everyone is vying to keep their name in the lights. In New York for example, we have more than one industry. We have Wall Street, the fashion industry, and big corporations. Entertainment isn’t our only industry as it is in Los Angeles. In addition, there are so many people in New York, so it’s easy to fade out of the limelight here, than it is in California. In a way the paparazzi are helping the Celebs keep their status and their reputation.
Adrian tackles all of these themes of privacy, fame, money, and dignity that seem to be taken advantage of in the lifestyle of a celebrity. His documentary also shows how being a paparazzo at such an early age has changed Austin and has affected his life. For instance, at one point in the film, you can see Austin yelling at his mom and telling her what to do. Obviously he has lost his place as a child by being involved in an adult world. What concerned me was how this kid is missing out on his childhood, by chasing celebs. Austin; there are better things to do in life! Youth doesn’t last forever, so enjoy it while it lasts. At the close of the documentary, I think Austin begins to realize how much of a monster he has become and declines his Reality show deal and returns to being a normal teen.
In short, I think Adrian did a fabulous job. He really covered how the paparazzi affect celebrities and vice versa. We have to remember, that as cruel a job as it is, the paparazzi need to pay their bills too. Furthermore, Adrian didn’t take a biased standpoint. Being a celebrity himself, he realized how important it is to have the freedom to take pictures and make movies. The mere act of him making this documentary was representative of how everyone has the right to buy a camera and go out a film something; nothing should stop you. Check out his interview.
However, we must realize that celebrities need their space too. Even though I mentioned that I won’t talk about celebrity lives on this blog, I couldn’t help but report on this documentary. It really is exemplary of how hard their lives are, and of their unforgiving lifestyle. While some enjoy being starry-eyes wannabes and others like saying cruel things about them, this documentary conveyed how much celebrities sacrifice and how corrupt (idk if I’m using the right word?) the entertainment industry is. Seriously, to me celebrities seem like puppets in a fake world that’s just as easy to enter as it is to leave.
Check out this song, it was originally performed by Courtney Love, but Hole remade it in1998. Called Celebrity Skin, this song depicts the harsh celebrity world; how easy it is to be forgotten, how easy it is to be transformed from the real you to a made up/ crowd pleasing personality. In comparison to the documentary, this song shows other aspects that celebrities undergo in the entertainment world. The lyrics speak of the struggle to remain famous while everyone around you is making you up to be a “walking study” for the world to pick at. It may seem like some sort of grunge anger at how superficial the industry is, but I guess it speaks the truth at the lifestyle, just as Adrian’s documentary did. Here’s a glimpse at the lyrics and check out the song.
“When I wake up in my makeup
It's too early for that dress
Wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood
I'm glad I came here
With your pound of flesh
No second billing cause you're a star now
Oh, Cinderella
They aren't sluts like you
Beautiful garbage beautiful dresses
Can you stand up or will you just fall down
You better watch out
What you wish for
It better be worth it
So much to die for”
I spy something small and loud. It has loads of potential and bares similarity to former legends.
It's the new generation of Hip-Hop.
So, lately on MTV and stuff, I've been seeing videos of young, up and coming hip hop stars. And ever since the Bieber phenonmenon, I can't help but wonder how old I'm getting, as the artists I grew up with have practically disappeared from the scene, and have been replaced by the "Young-ins." Here's a few examples.
1. Upon the release of her first video, Youtube was going crazy advertising it. She's heir to the Smith fortune, and daughter of the one and only...Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It's Willow Smith!
She's got her daddy's signature ears
. One thing's for sure, her song isn't going anywhere. Whip my Hair has received over 7 million views within one week from its video release on Youtube. You know what? I actually like the song. It's quite addictive! And for 9 year old Willow, her voice is very mature. What I also like about it, is the fact that you can see and hear the innocence in the song and video. There's no raunchiness or hidden messages Her meaning is clear;she rocks her style fiercely,and whips her hair back and forth.
2. I like this next kid. He was born in Queens...my hometown. His father is a St. John's University alum, and he even started his own Hip-hop group, called Run D.M.C.back in the 80's. You may have seen him on episodes of Run's House during the mid 2000s. It's Diggy Simmons!
You might've heard his first release off of his new album, Airborne, on that new AT&T commecial. It's called Great Expectations. Unlike the Charles Dickens novel, it's about a young performer who, on his own, is about to prove to a discouraging and non-believing crowd, that he can make it big..... cuz he's got "Great expectations."
Rapping must be in his genes, because Diggy is really good at freestyling. He writes his own raps, and the lyricism in his voice is better than some current rappers out there (cough cough Drake). I'm not naming names...lol. Anyhow, check out these lyrics and listen to his song. The picture he paints is almost like reading a novel; so clear and vivid...it puts you right there with him on the stage.
Here's a part of Diggy's first verse, provided from elyricsworld:
(Diggy Simmons) "All the stares
And all the glares
They waitin' on him
All the weight
From all the hate
It's gainin' on him
The intensity as he rises
Nobody can disguise it,
It's like he got fire in his eyelids
The crowd is roarin'
It's so enormous,his blood is boilin'
His head is spinnin',he's focus
He wishes they'd ignore 'em
Who in their right mind
Want to let his light shine
He ain't even in his prime
Pressure of a lifetime
He standing steady,Head sweaty
He may be nervous,but ready
The skeptiscim lies heavy, he's about to make it..."
3. This next group doesn't impress me much. In fact, I find them a little annoying. I simply chose to write about them because they remind me of another "boy band." They're called Mindless behavior, which makes sense since they look like a bunch of 5 year olds tryna b G. I can't find much info on them, but they seem to be little Tweenagers....out to be the next B2K. Remember them? Well I think I've found their little copycat brothers.
B2K
Mindless Behavior
So, their inspiration ranges from Michael Jackson, Prince, to P-Diddy, but if you ask me, I think they are just destined to make a little cash and fame now, and eventually split up like all the other groups (B2K, Pretty Ricky,112). Nevertheless, their song, My Girl, is adorable! Eventhough these B2K munchkins freak me out a little, I wish them luck in reaching their dreams.
Click the link to check out their video for My Girl
Surfing the net today, I came across some pretty cool site. I've posted some tid-bits about them and you can find the links in the side bar.
The Debonaire
Having a sophisticated charm, The Debonaire is one of the first blogs I linked to.The blogger is a singer/song-writer in NYC, but defines her blog as an outlet to post anything that catches her eye.A majority of her posts are photos or videos, but they all are a unique blend of urban fashion, music, and must have gadgets.Her blog yells “I’m a New Yorker,” and screams cosmopolitan.But that’s exactly what I like about it.The humor, and the awesome photos of unique places, gives the blog a versatile vibe.Even though my blog is about entertainment, I find much of The Debonaire’s posts relatable, as they introduce new songs and cool trends on the pop scene.
Popbytes
This is probably one of my many guilty pleasure blogs because it, like the Tabloids, is obsessed with celebrity gossip.It’s pop mania!This blog has all the latest news on TV, film, music, and people.Their motto is “When culture pops, we wipe it up.”Wipe it up they do!This site is loaded with so much information; it literally looks like Pop culture just vomited all over the page.It seriously is a chore focusing your eye on one thing on this blog. At any rate, started back in 2003, Popbytes has a collection of writers/columnists from all over the world.They pitch in stories from film to fashion, and fitness to television. The posts never cease to entertain me, no matter how irrelevant the subject matter. I chose this link because it’s the first to release groundbreaking news out of Hollywood, so it keeps me current. And since my blog involves entertainment, Popbytes really comes in handy when I’m looking for post ideas.
ODDEE
We used to say “OD-ed” in school when we over-did something or when we saw something just plain crazy.This blog brings back the lingo by having countdown posts with some of the funniest, bizzarest (if that’s even a word), oddest things.Their posts involve superlatives for some of the most strangest and randomest(here we go again with the made up words!) things one could even think of, like; 15 strangest contact lenses, 10 funniest typos ever, 10 most extreme body parts, 15 strangest people at Walmart, and this just goes on and on forever.It‘s pretty much like Ripley’s Believe it or not series.However, as weird as it seems, I like this blog because they put out some of the coolest and freakiest stories that I never knew were true.In a way, this blog enlightens me to the wide variety of well…things that are out there.I can’t even fully describe it.It’s just one of those blogs you have to see to believe.As far as its relation to my blog, I plan to use some of their interesting and mind blowing content that relates to the entertainment world.
The Daily Beast
It’s probably one of the more professional blogs out there.Likened to the Huffington Post, the Daily Beast covers it all from politics, the arts, entertainment, to the plain old news.The home page and site itself are very easy to navigate and very well organized.They have a really interesting set up; a cheat sheet lines the center of the site with “must-read stories,” to the left of the page lies a slideshow with various stories, and they even have an international section with news from “across the pond.”Since the site covers so much info, it’s no wonder why they have 8 different columnists presenting various articles.I love this site because everything is in one.It’s a great asset to my blog, because I’m sure I can find tons of relatable, interesting, and even debatable stories from a trustworthy source.
Oh no They Didn’t!
Much like TMZ, this blog has the latest on celebrity news, upcoming music and movie releases, and just plain ole silly Hollywood drama.I first discovered this site during the World cup 2010, as they have a section devoted to soccer (ONTD_FB), and what I liked about it was the fact that it is an interactive forum site.The people who created accounts to the site are the ones making the posts and spreading the rumors, whether true or false.It may not be the most reliable source, but members are pretty convincing, and also very clever and down –right funny.They make hilarious gifs, which poke fun at the celebs.Although the comments can be mean, there really is no censorship and it’s kind of hard to understand what they are talking about, as they abuse computer lingo.You really have to be up to date with the latest ikr, lol, LMAO, ftw, etc, or just have urban dictionary handy.However, by linking this blog, I’m hopefully exposing others to check out the site and to get involved with the live discussion boards.Even if one doesn’t want to write anything, just reading the posts and comments are entertaining in itself.
Gothamist
New York truly is a Gotham of a city, and it takes a cool blog like this one to handle it all.The Gotham is one of my personal favorites, because it is soo00o New York.It includes posts of all news related to New York and the Tri-state area, hotspots for food in the city and elsewhere, and introductions to cool events in the city.As a New Yorker, I like to be in the know, and this blog is where it’s at.I’m beginning to sound like some subway ad, but seriously this blog brings me up to date info on all things New York.I can certainly use it to bring attention to cool or interesting occurrences in the city that never sleeps.Furthermore, it gives my blog a more worldly appeal, as I can post relevant things which hit close to home.
ROFL Razzi
“I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me…ROFL… ROFL RAZZI.”Ok I’m not that desperate for their attention, but this blog is probably # 1 on every celebrity’s kill bill list.Why? Because they pose pictures in show business with humorous captions that twist what actually happened.Some of the captions are just being sarcastic, some are mean, others just plain funny.Perhaps, one of the cooler things about this blog is that you can actually submit your own funny celeb picture and caption and it could end up being a hit post.This blog is just for goofing –off purposes, nothing serious can be drawn from it.It is all in the love of humor.
Movieset
It’s pretty self-explanatory, but this blog is all about movies.One of its cool features is that it provides a behind-the–scenes look at some of your favorite movies and shows.We tend to admire the magic of a movie and wonder how they did it.Well, this blog shows you.With people in the industry writing the posts, Movieset posts info on upcoming films, marketing of movies, and even provides live streams of certain films.This blog will definitely help educate and inform the public of what it takes to make a film.It will certainly help me find interesting new releases to blog about as well.
Stuff No-one told me…but I learned anyway
This blog is created by a cartoonist from Barcelona, who draws naked…. I’m not kidding; it says so in the About me section.The blog isn’t about his live, but rather about the little things in life that are not explicitly taught by parents, but are learned through experience.Each post has a cartoon that he drew and a little “life lesson” written on it.It has nothing really to do with my blog, but I find it cute and assuring; we don’t all have the answers to life’s little problems, but we learn to deal with them no matter how big or small.Besides, the drawings remind me of the Disney show, Teacher’s Pet, and they’re not too shabby either.
Some blogs that I find interesting and that relate to my topic are not limited to, but include;
Like my blog, this one has an entertainment theme and seeks to arouse discussions on various media topics.Mazer’s latest post has delved into the recent obsession with 3-D movies and how technology influences such media.She also introduces news TV shows that could be promising hits this fall season.Furthermore, the peachy-orange background is a sure-fire way to make viewers feel happy/ light-hearted when reading the posts.
For all the guys and gals out there who are passionate about their favorite teams, this blog is a must.As it says in the header, this blog is “for the most dedicated sports fans out there,” but you don’t have to be a fanatic to enjoy the site.As you know, sports is a branch of entertainment that encompasses defending your team against the enemy haters, staying up late to see final scores, and showing excessive pride through athletic wear.At any rate, watching sports is a great way to distract you from the banalities of life and to provide good ole competitive entertainment.From game highlights to reaction discussions, this blog, created by an avid ESPN watcher (so you know he knows his stats!) keeps all you sports- lovers up to date.
This blog is all about art.By art, I don’t mean mere paintings and abstract photos.The creator intends to get viewers thinking about art, immersing them into the vast world that is art.Art, of course, is a hobby, and like any hobby, its purpose is to entertain, to get someone involved in something they are passionate about, to inspire, to share, to enjoy.So if you entertain your mind with creative ideas, like expressing yourself through art, this blog is for you.
Like many people out there, I am a reality TV junky. Even though people say “it is scripted-it’s not reality”-there’s something about the rawness of it all that makes it exciting to watch. Furthermore, the fact that average Joes agree to go out and make fools of themselves by doing wild and wacky things; like in ABC’s Blowout or CBS’ Survivor, is a break from the fantasy we all wish we could experience in the glitz of Hollywood movies and shows. However, it seems that reality shows are becoming all the more raunchy and possibly a little too real to handle.
Take for instance, MTV’s hit show: Teen Mom, a documentary type program, produced by Morgan Freeman, with the intention of showing the hardships of being a mother and dealing with relationships at such a young age. Now, MTV is no stranger to publicizing the lives of random people living together or struggling through tough things. Remember, they originated documentaries like: True Life, The Real World, The Challenge, Jersey Shore, and Teen Mom. Honestly speaking, in every one of these shows there has been an act of violence committed against a cast member, and MTV stands there continuing to film the aggression. You know why? Because people like a good fight. It’s what raises the ratings. And in these days…MONEY is everything.
The latest incident has possibly gone too far, causing enough attention that the media is all over it. Apparently, the Teen Mom star… well “Person” (Lauer claims calling these cast members "stars" glamorizes thier situaton), Amber Portwood, is allegedly facing an investigation after she repeatedly committed domestic abuse against her on/off again fiancé, Gary Shirley, in front of their child, Leah. In the state of Indiana (where they live), “domestic violence in front of a child under the age of 14 can result in felony charges.” Amber could be facing some time.
After Gary threatened to take Leah away from her, Amber “kicked and punched him seven times before kicking him in the back as he walked down a flight of stairs.” There have been numerous other times when Amber has lashed out on Gary, and he just stands there and takes it. Perhaps if the tables were turned, you know Amber wouldn’t hesitate a minute to call the cops on him. But what’s striking is that the film crew didn’t even intervene. They continued to watch the abuse over and over. Furthermore, they didn’t mind to edit it out, allowing the crimes to project through the screens of TVs and computers in millions of American households.
What’s got everyone talking is the realization that reality TV and magazines, in some way, glamorize this behavior. As Matt Lauer mentioned in an NBC interview, "look at all of the attention these cast members have gotten for having a baby at 16!" They probably get a fat cut out of the revenue for the show as well. I mean, accidents happen, and perhaps MTV’s purpose with the show is to convey how hard it is to be a teen mom, possibly to dissuade teens from ruining their lives at such a tender age.
But others feel differently. One reporter describes “Reality shows [as preying] on featuring people who appear to be undereducated, narcissistic and full of anger...Teen Mom is not the national image Anderson wants. We don't push our loved ones down stairs. We don't take pride that our teenage girls are 16 and pregnant. We don't all drop out of high school."
It’s the image that people are worried about. They see teens entangled in such volatile lives and they fret over its influence on the teens watching it. This makes sense, sometimes we see something cool, and we want to imitate it. That’s why they have those warnings before a dangerous stunt is shown; “please do not try at home.” But I think the real purpose of Teen Mom is to educate. You don’t see the Moms all decked out in fur coats, going to the jewelry store to buy some bling-bling. This isn’t the life of footballer’s wives. This is probably the most unglamorous show out there. Judging by the delivery episodes, childbirth is messy! And the problems that come with it are too. These kids are going through so much! For instance, Farrah’s story is hard to swallow: her boyfriend died before she told him she was pregnant, now she’s a single mom and her relationship with her parents hasn’t been that well. Maci is also a single mother, and Catelynn has to deal with the pain of giving a child up for adoption. These stories happen every day, and these ladies just had the guts to invite cameras in to show the reality of it all.
As for Amber, I don’t condone her behavior. If you know the cameras are filming you, have the courtesy to Not abuse your baby’s daddy. Guess what, Amber? Now the prosecutors have evidence. Perhaps, Amber just needs some anger management.
At any rate, the violence is a part of ever day life. And no matter how much people want to protect their kids or just complain about the censoring on TV, they have to realize that kids will experience this one day for themselves in the REAL WORLD. Parents you can’t hide everything from us kids; you can only shield us for so long. And while people get all heated over this, it should serve to remember that this is TV…there is a thing called the one/off button. If you don’t like what you see, just turn it off.
In terms of the domestic abuse and the media coverage, I want to hear from you guys: Do you think these Teen moms are being glamorized? Does Amber need anger management? Is Gary doing the right thing? What would You do in their situation? Sound off by writing a comment.
Source: 1."'Teen Mom' Under Investigation for Domestic Abuse in Front of Child | PopEater.com." Celebrities | Entertainment News | Celebrity Gossip | Celebrity Photos | PopEater.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.
2. http://starcasm.net/archives/29094
