Author Archives: Ellen Lloyd

Run-On Sentence Reviews: Much Ado About Nothing

Posted in Movies, Run-On Sentence Reviews by

2013-01-31-much_ado_sxswI was crazy excited to see this movie because it is my favorite Shakespeare play adapted by Joss Whedon who is one of my favorite humans on planet Earth and that just seemed like the perfect movie and all of my excitement turned out to be completely warranted because I loved it and thought that it was a really great adaptation that was perfectly topped off with all of those funny little moments that make a Joss Whedon project a Joss Whedon project and I thought that everyone just did a fab job and I was more attracted to Fran Kranz than I have ever been before and Nathan Fillion joined the pantheon of great Dogberrys.

Verdict: GO! RUN! HURRY!

The Reviews Are In: Another Take on Arrested Development Season 4

Posted in Sweet Streams, TV by

arrested-developement1Yesterday, Whitney gave her review on Arrested Development‘s 4th season. While I will always respect her opinions, no matter how wrong they may sometimes be, I felt like I needed to step in and give my opinions, as well.  Not in contradiction to her thoughts, but in addition.

I feel that it is impossible to not be somewhat disappointed by things you are excited about, especially when it comes to TV and movies.  AD was facing a huge obstacle with this girl considering that I have been waiting with bated breath for this moment for 7 years.  At first, it was just a dream, a silly fangirl’s whimsy, but when it was announced that a fourth season was actually going to happen I was more excited than Lindsay with diamond cream.  Every production photo made scream like Tobias at a fire… sale and the trailer made me weep like Gob (“Taste the happy, Michael”).

When I watched the first few episodes, I will admit to being slightly disappointed.  I missed having all of my Bluths together eating Skip’s Scrambles, doing chicken dances, or asking Michael for money.  The jumping timelines were also confusing and I was having difficulty figuring when everything was supposed to be taking place.

However, around episode 5, when Tobias was getting ANUSTART, I realized Hurwitz and Co. were using this fourth season to build on what always made me love AD so much: this show makes you work for the best laughs.  I have always loved that I could go back and watch the past seasons over and over and still find new jokes or small nuggets of information that I had previously missed.  It seems that with this new season, they are really catering to that quality of the show.  They are trusting that we, the stalwart fans who were smart enough to realize the brilliance of this show, are smart enough to connect the story line dots.  After a few episodes I was doing just that and being reminded anew of that brilliance, born again to much more daunting levels with this fourth season.   I was loving the reveals of everyone’s part in each other’s stories, I was noticing the recurring bits (tipping African-Americans, sexual predators, etc.), and I was getting more and more excited to re-watch all of it to catch all the things I am sure to have missed.  The only question now is:  How soon is too soon to do just that?

What did you think, “bluepies”?  Have you been disappointed?  How far have you gotten through the fourth season?  Who has your favorite plotline?  (I loved Gob, Buster, and Tobias).

– Ellen

Fangirly Crush of the Week: Chris O’Dowd

Posted in Crush of the Week, Movies, TV by

bridesmaids-rhodesBlame it on my recent viewing of Bridesmaids, where he plays the perfect male (that is not hyperbole).  Blame it on his meteoric rise to hotness on The IT Crowd.  Blame it on the recent feature on him in Entertainment Weekly, where he was utterly charming.    Blame it on the billboards all over LA for Family Tree with his adorable face.   Blame it on whatever you want, but it will not be denied that I am feeling Chris O’Dowd in a major way right now.  I mean, look at how adorable he is?!  And seriously, watch Bridesmaids and try to not fall in love with him.  It can’t be done unless your heart is made of cold, hard, unfeeling, black granite.

Or, better yet, you can just watch the video below and try to avoid his wonderful blend of humor and charm.   It can’t be done!  (Also, try to not hear Whitney and I squealing at Ewan McGregor, Chris O’Dowd and Graham Norton being in a room together).

– Ellen

Grade A, Choice Picks: Top 10 Tumblr Blogs

Posted in Choice Picks, Web by

tumblrWith my current job, I have a lot of free time to browse the internets and I have to say that my browsing has not been the same since I discovered Tumblr.  The memes, the gifs, the videos, the internetiness of it all.  The hours one (I) can waste on this site are astounding.

Tumblr can be a little daunting to any newcomers, so I thought I would list my top 5 favorite Tumblr blogs, in no particular order, as a good jumping off point. Continue reading →

Run-On Sentence Reviews: Star Trek Into Darkness

Posted in Movies, Run-On Sentence Reviews by

star-trek-2-into-darkness-pictures-28With this review keep in mind that I really liked the first (new) Star Trek which I know a lot of people didn’t but I really liked it and it just so happens that I really liked this one too because it was funny and of course Benedict Cumberbatch was amazingly awesome as the surprise villain and it was just overall a fun sci-fi adventure.

Verdict: Go see it.  Especially good on the big screen.

– Ellen

Mixin’ It Up: May’s Playlist

Posted in Mixin' it Up, Music by

rilo-kiley-rkives-cover-art“I Remember You” Rilo Kiley – I really should just list the whole RKives album here, but that’s not how this list works. That being said, you should also check out “Emotional“, “Patiently“, “Let Me Back In” and “I’ll Get You There” My only complaint against the album is that it is not a reunion album and just a compilation of unreleased tracks.  Come back to us, Rilo Kiley!  This song just happens to be the track I have been rocking the hardest.  What can I say?  I’m a sucker for bouncy, happy songs.

“S.O.S. in Bel Air” Phoenix – I have been rocking this album pretty hard lately, as well.  There is something about Phoenix’s music that just make me want to dance!  You know?  Really let loose and dance like no one is watching.  This happens to be the track that I enjoy doing that to the most.

“Diane Young” Vampire Weekend – It must be the oncoming summer season that is really drawing me to all these peppy songs.  If you saw Vampire Weekend on SNL last week, you probably already downloaded this song, but in case you didn’t, I suggest you get this one and begin blasting it in your with the windows rolled down.  I know I have been.

“That Girl” Justin Timberlake – I know there are some haters out there for my boy JT’s latest album, and while it is not as good as FutureSex/LoveSounds, I enjoy the throwback quality of 20/20, perfectly exhibited with “That Girl” and my other fav from the album “Pusher Love Girl“.  Don’t hate.  Just get down and dirty.  It’s what JT would want.

Do-Nick-Jess-Get-Together-New-Girl-Finale-Video“I Always Knew” The Vaccines – If you saw the New Girl finale, you should not have to ask why this song is on the list.  Nothing like a good Nick Miller snog to endear a song to me.  How perfect is the line “Let’s go to bed, before you say something real” for Nick and Jess?  Also, the song is just plain catchy and cute.

“Blurred Lines” Robin Thicke feat. T.I and Pharrell – This month’s playlist was missing a good solid pop/dance track.  Then this song came out.  Have you heard this song?  I am incapable of not dancing to this song.  Please tell me that I’m not the only one.

“Romeo and Juliet” The Killers – This song is obviously old news because the original is 30 years old and this cover has been around for a few years, but it doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves of how perfect this song is.  Really listen to this song and tell me that it isn’t one of those perfect songs where every aspect just comes together to create music magic.  That is your homework for this post.

“Sunday Girl” She & Him – Admittedly, I have been a little disappointed with Volume 3.  I don’t think anything will ever live up to Volume 1, but this cover of Blondie’s “Sunday Girl” is pretty darn infectious and a definite highlight on this latest album.  “London” and “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” are my other highlights if you were interested.

Random-Access-Memories“Doin’ it Right” Daft Punk – I feel pretty cliche listing a Daft Punk song from their new album, Random Access Memories because the internet seems to be pretty obsessed with it right now, but this song is LEGIT.  Check it out.  Definitely my favorite from the album so far.

“Back to Black” Beyonce and Andre 3000 – I have yet to see The Great Gatsby and I know there are mixed reviews on how the music works within the context of the movie, but regardless of that, the soundtrack for this movie is a pretty dang awesome compilation of music.  This is just one of many highlights on the album.  (Did not mean to have so many covers on the list).

– Ellen

TV Obituaries: RIP (?) Happy Endings

Posted in TV, TV Obituaries by

ZACHARY KNIGHTON, ELISHA CUTHBERT, ELIZA COUPE, DAMON WAYANS JR., CASEY WILSONI write this with an extremely heavy heart.  This wrongful cancellation is right up there with Arrested Development, Veronica Mars, and Pushing Daisies in my book.  I have already attempted to put my love for this show in a post, so I won’t try and persuade you into seeing how a-mah-zing this show is again.  It would fruitless now, anyway.  (Goes in a corner to quitely sob)

Okay, now that that is done, I will just bemoan how upsetting this is and why.  I believe I can say that Happy Endings was one of a few shows on TV that had me literally (and yes, I am using “literally” correctly) rolling on the floor with laughter during each episode.  Some say it had gotten a little too zany this season, but that has just endeared it to me more.  Characters that once were my least favorite (Alex and Dave) were finally delivering just as many, if not more, LPEs (that’s laughs per episode).

AGH!  I cannot curse ABC enough!  And I have yet to find a gypsy woman who can tell me how to make a voodoo doll for a corporation.

Making this slightly less painful is the conviction of the cast, crew, and production company to keep it alive and USA Network’s supposed interest in helping with that endeavor.  I hope with all my heart that my little band of weirdos will find a home that will show them the respect they deserve.  Until then, sleep well, Happy Endings.  Say hi to Ben and Kate for me.

– Ellen

Web Bytes: Clip from New Arrested Development

Posted in Sweet Streams, TV, Web Bytes by

o-ARRESTED-DEVELOPMENT-PREMIERE-DATE-570I think I just blue myself.  You can look forward to a forthcoming ode to Arrested Development on this blog, but I am trying to rein in my excitement and not write a million posts (instead I just post a million Facebook statuses about it).  Nothing has ever been more difficult.

To whet your appetite until my more lengthy soliloquy, check out the exclusive clip that Entertainment Weekly posted today and try and get as excited as me.  I dare you.  Unless you’re a chicken.  Coo-coo-ka-cha.

Nothing made me more happy than the “all new episodes” at the end.

– Ellen

Fangirly Exposed: Teen Wolf

Posted in Fangirly Exposed!, Sweet Streams, TV by

teen-wolf-mtvIn preparation for the forthcoming Arrested Development season (!!), I set the necessary goal of re-watching the first three seasons.  Upon finishing all of the episodes in an embarrassingly short span of time, I browsed Netflix looking for something else to put on. I am going to blame boredom for making me start watching Teen Wolf, but I have only myself to blame for watching the first two seasons in the span of two days.   Yep, that happened.  Not that me watching a lot of TV should come as shock anymore.

The “embarrassing” factor comes into play when I tell you that Teen Wolf isn’t that good.  But like most entertainment that isn’t very good, it’s a pretty fun ride and it isn’t all bad.    I would find myself guffawing at a  poorly delivered line and then a second later I would get wrapped up in a genuinely sweet moment or hit play on the next episode because I had to know what happened next.

Dylan-OBrien-teen-wolfAlso, let’s not beat around the bush, the boys on this show are adorable.  I use the words “boys” and “adorable” because they are all younger than me and I feel the need to tread lightly.  WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!  I suppose when I left that key 18-24 demographic.  But really, Stiles (played ever so endearingly by Dylan O’Brien) is the best part of the show and “awwed” every time he and his little puppy face came on screen.

If teen supernatural shows are in your wheelhouse (I’m looking at you, TVD fans), then I think that you would get hooked, too.  Check it out!  Seriously. It’s a good time.

–Ellen

Fangirly Crush of the Week: Ben Wyatt

Posted in Crush of the Week, TV by

tumblr_lijcztUtdR1qhpa58o1_500_thumbIf you caught the full hour of Parks and Recreation last night, there can be no doubt in your mind as to why Ben Wyatt is our crush of the week (or decade).  I didn’t think it was possible that I could love one fictional man more, but he just continues to become even more my soul mate.

How are we to resist when that adorable man drops knowledge on Game of Thrones (“The Lannisters while very wealthy, do not posses the magical abilities…”) and Fringe (“I went back to season one of Fringe to check for plot holes. As I suspected…air tight.”), and makes macaroni and cheese pizza (I don’t know what it is, but I want to go to there.

Be still, our nerdy hearts.

Observe the fangirly-crush-worthiness of Ben Wyatt in the clip below.

– Ellen

Web Bytes: The Ricky Gervais Show

Posted in Web, Web Bytes by

Ricky+Gervais+Steven+Merchant+and+Karl+Pilkington+KarlPilkingtonStephenM0011Allow me give you, dear reader, a piece of life advice: If you are ever feeling down, plug in the headphones and give The Ricky Gervais Show a listen.  Now, I a know that this podcast originally aired back in 2005 or so and that this is hardly current or cutting edge advice, but  no matter.  I have now listened to all of the episodes several times and it still never fails to slay me with laughter every time.

The basic format is Ricky Gervais and his collaborator Stephen Merchant sitting in a room and picking the brain of their odd little idiot savant, Karl Pilkington.  He has the strangest life perspective and Merchant and Gervais spend the entire show making fun of him.  It sounds mean, and sometimes it is, but I still laugh.  The podcast has now expanded into TV Shows (the animated Ricky Gervais Show and Idiot Abroad), but I still like to go back to roots and give the old podcasts a listen.

This week, for example, has been completely wretched at work.  Yesterday one of the episodes came on during my a shuffle on my iPhone.  Within a few minutes, I was stifling laughter, albeit not very well because my co-worker finally had to ask what I found so funny.

If this flew under your radar, I highly suggest you get your hands on some episodes and give it a listen when you are having a bad day.  In the meantime, check out a clip of the animated show below.

– Ellen

Anglophiles Anonymous: Ripper Street

Posted in Anglophiles Anonymous, TV by

RipperMain_1644262aAs per tradition in my family, my Easter basket this year was filled with candy and a DVD.  Because my mom gets me, she got me a BBC series, which have been sadly lacking from my life now that I no longer have BBC America, called Ripper Street.

I publish this post knowing that I am way behind the times seeing as how this aired a while ago, but in the likelihood that it flew under some radars, I have to recommend this one.  It takes place right at the height of Jack the Ripper Mania in London.

Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, played by Matthew Macfadyen with his adorable face and lovely, deep voice, heads up the Whitechapel H Division but struggles with never having caught the infamous Jack the Ripper. The series follows Reid and his crew as they solve cases in a time that was seeing strides in explosives, forensic science, and new forms of debauchery.

It is all kinds of creepy, good fun!  It’s Sherlock Holmes meets CSI, in the best way possible.   If this sounds like something that is up your alley, I am going to have to insist that you check it out.

– Ellen

Fangirly Investigates: When to Give Up on a Show

Posted in Fangirly Investigates, TV by

GABRIEL MANN, ASHLEY MADEKWE, NICK WECHSLER, EMILY VANCAMP, JOSH BOWMAN, CONNOR PAOLO, CHRISTA B. ALLEN, MADELEINE STOWE, HENRY CZERNYLately, I have been beset with a most alarming problem in that getting myself to catch up on all of my shows has become somewhat of… a chore.  Believe me, no one is more surprised than myself, but as my DVR and Hulu queue become more full, I become less inclined to catch up with a large percentage of my shows.

The question I now pose is: Does this mean I need to give up those shows? There are still a select few that I watch that night or at least the next day (New Girl, Parks and Rec, Happy Endings).  Coincidentally, the shows that have begun to feel like homework are all shows that are generally regarded to be waning in their quality as of late (Revenge, Vampire Diaries, etc.) and I know that I am not the only person out there who is losing interest.  But I also know, that shows can come back with an exhilarating vengeance and that it could be just some weird mood on my part that is causing my ennui.

What is a TV lover to do?  When do you give up on shows that you once loved?

–Ellen

Fangirly Crush of the Week: Cary Grant

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58_style-icon-cary-grantAs previously discussed on this blog, Whitney and I are cousins.  On a recent visit with our Grandpa, he complained that we talk about people he has never heard of and he can never tell “what the hell [we] are talking about”.  So, to appease our grandpa, I chose Cary Grant as our crush of the week.

He sure is a smart-looking beau.  In a perfect world, we would go steady, he would pin me, and I’d be his dame.  He really is the cat’s meow.  Golly gee, he really gets my motor revvin’. And best of all, he ain’t no chump and he ain’t no skirt chaser.  Cary Grant is the kind of guy who would treat you like a lady.  He really is the bee’s knees.

Am I talking your language, Grandpa?

– Ellen

In with the Old: The Sandlot

Posted in In with the Old, Movies by

The-Sandlot-SquintsBaseball season.  The smell of freshly cut grass, the taste of peanuts and Cracker Jack, the sound of the crowd roaring in the stadiums.  But for this girl, the best part of baseball season is the yearning I get to watch The Sandlot.   Granted, this is coming from the girl who spent a good portion of a Dodgers game analyzing the Padres right fielder’s butt, but everything I know about baseball, I learned from The Sandlot.  How else is a 7-year old to learn who the “Great Bambino” is?

If you’re reading this post, you probably don’t need me to tell you what a great movie it is, but it’s a great movie.  It’s one of those rare family movies that the whole family can actually enjoy.  We must have watched it at least 100 times (no joke) in my family.  It’s the only way to explain why I can still quote the entire movie.  And why I still think that Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez is the perfect man.

More than anything, I love Sandlot for it’s heart.  There are few movies that capture childhood as well as this movie.  It only makes me sad that kids don’t seem to have summers like that anymore, running around the neighborhood getting up to antics kids get up to.  Blame it on To Catch a Predator, kids with iPads, or whatever it is we are blaming these sorts of things on these days.

So here’s to summers of big dogs, throwing up on Scramblers, Wendy Peffercorn, playing ball “like a girl”, S’mores, and shaving your dog’s butt and teaching it to walk backwards.

Don’t lie.  You want to watch Sandlot now, right?  Don’t be ashamed, it doesn’t take much for me either.

– Ellen

Run-On Sentence Reviews: Admission

Posted in Movies, Run-On Sentence Reviews by

admissionI went into this thinking “Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, my girlfriend and boyfriend in one movie, what could possibly go wrong?” and while nothing necessarily went wrong, per se, there wasn’t anything that went crazy right either and that left me a little sad inside because while Paul Rudd was adorable as ever this was pretty much my dream team cast and it didn’t live up to expectations but I would recommend that if you go see it to know that it is NOT a comedy but more of a drama with somewhat humorous moments because everyone I went with was expecting it to be a laugh a minute and that will only lead to extreme disappointment.

Verdict: Meh.  You can wait for Redbox.

– Ellen

Five Things Bodice-Rippers Have Taught Me About Love

Posted in Books, Choice Picks, Fangirly Exposed! by

I’m ashamed to admit (obviously not enough to not publish it on the internet), but I have been reading a lot of bodice-ripper romance novels lately.  I have always spurned romance novels for the somewhat more respected chick lit genre.  There is a difference.  Sort of.  Chick lit is typically more substantial in length, plot, and price (popular titles include the Shopaholic series, Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones, etc.), where romance novels are like candy: cheap, quick, and easy to gobble in one bite.  They’re ridiculous and I am the first to admit it but, like everything that is bad for you, they are so addictive!  Especially if you get wrapped up in a series, as I now am.

To their credit, they have taught me a lot of (mostly erroneous) things about love and I thought I would share my findings with you, our dear readers:

9 rules1) The best mates are reformed rakes – Romance novels have taught me that bad boys/rakes/scoundrels/rogues make the best matches.  They are passionate, dashingly handsome, and only you will be able to make them finally ready to settle down.  Now, they are probably going to have some sort of inner turmoil that you are going to have to help them overcome (family drama, financial trouble, issues with commitment, etc.), but just power through!  You and you alone were brought to Earth to make him believe in love!  Now get to it!

2) You don’t have to be the most beautiful girl in the room, but you need the sharpest tongue – Once you meet your rake, he is going to acknowledge that you are not the most beautiful woman that he has ever met, but if you prove to be a worthy opponent in a verbal sparring, he will become putty in your hands.  Every arched brow and “infuriating woman” just means that he is falling in love with you.

3) If you get brought out onto a balcony, you are going to get kissed.  Well, probably more than kissed. – Balconies may as well be brothels.  Seriously.  The things that happen there!  It’s enough to make this girl blush.  So depending on what you want out of your evening, stay away from balconies/run out to a balcony.

Julia-Quinn-When-He-Was-Wicked-julia-quinn-6686007-603-4714) Eyes really ARE the window to the soul – These people can not shut up about eyes.  If you don’t have good eyes, you may as well just give up on anyone ever loving you.  Questions to determine if you have good eyes: Would your eyes be considered icy blue?  Could anyone ever see something more in your eyes than just eyes?  Do you eyes ever appear to be different colors than they actually are?  If you answered no to all of these questions, you are going to die alone.

5) If one of you could get sick/injured, that would really help move things move along – There is nothing like a medical trauma to bring two people together, apparently.  If you have to nurse him on the sickbed or visa versa, you may as well set the wedding date because a lot more is going to happen on that sickbed once he/you has recovered, if you catch my drift.

There you have it!  You are now fully prepped to go out and catch your rake!

– Ellen