It's British Friday! It's British Friday!

Helen Mirren trumps Harry Potter.  Helen Mirren trumps all.  Helen Mirren, sexiest woman alive.

Photographed by Perou for Esquire Magazine

#Musicmonday: "Don't Think Twice", twice

It's British Friday! It's British Friday!

#Musicmonday: Concrete Blonde "Someday?"

Not that she's going to see this, because she simply refuses to read the blog, but - Hey Jen!  Remember that time we almost died at that show at the Boathouse?  Yeah, that was awesome.

And behold, another year begins ...

Bubble works out the whole "new year" thing.



Tip o'the hat to Rich!

Monday morning moment of nerditry

"Kara Remembers / All Along the Watchtower" performed on an Eigenharp by my new boyfriend.



via Topless Robot - BSG's Cylon Theme on an Autoharp

#Musicmonday: Adele "Rolling in the Deep"

#Musicmonday: Duffy "Well Well Well"

I review it: Burlesque

I kind of loved this movie.   It's like a giant pink cupcake iced with glitter and served on a plate of camp - and I mean that in the best possible way.

The 'small town girl with big dreams makes good' story line is pretty paint-by-numbers, but that's not why you're there.  You're there for the musical set pieces and gorgeous production design, and those are worth the price of admission.  Christina Aguilera does a capable job with the material, and she's given ample opportunity to do what she does best - blow the roof of the mother.



Cher spends the movie being Cher, because she's already proven that she can act and made one of the greatest movies of all time *cough* Moonstruck *cough* and my god people she's a goddamn national treasure!  What more do you want from her?

Oh, you say you want a patented Cher power ballad?  Alrighty then.  Seriously y'all, this is the show stopper number.  Believe.



Stanley Tucci steals the movie and is amazing and needs to be in everything.  That guy who plays the campaign manager on The Good Wife (tm my Mom) has the Joel Gray role.  Julianne Hough is in it so people can say, "Hey isn't that the girl from Dancing with the Stars?" and then spend the movie waiting for her to show up because FAKEOUT! she's a brunette.   The great Etta James also gets several shout outs because Christina worships her, as one does.

The one casting misstep is Kristen Bell.  I didn't really buy her as the fading star who is eclipsed by newcomer Xtina.  I just kind of sat there wondering, "Veronica Mars?  Really?"  She came off as more petulant than life weary, which is what I think the role really called for.  Although she did get the best line of the entire film:

"I won't be upstaged by some chick with mutant lungs!"

3 tasseled pasties out of 5.  Check it out.

In upcoming movie news, this was one of our trailers. I have no idea what this movie is about, but you pretty much had me at chicks with swords blowing shiz up in slow motion while the levee breaks. With robots! It's like director Zack Snyder made this movie just for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARRIE FISHER!!

My 7-year-old self and my now self both wish you many happy returns. May the cake be with you.

I review it: RED

I want to be Helen Mirren when I grow up.

Explosions, quips, geography that makes no sense, Ernest Borgnine, and a bone crushing fight scene wrapped around a surprisingly sweet heart. This movie is just fun.

Probably one you can save for NetFlix.

3 Seagrams Golden Wine Coolers out of 5

@TubularTV Guide to 2010 Fall TV

It's that time of year again, critters. Old favorites and war horses return, and new offerings are flung howler monkey-like onto the nearest wall in hopes that something might stick.

The fall season kicks off in earnest this week, and with so many options, a little planning is in order. Therese at Tubular has once again prepared a comprehensive guide to help chart the way.

Last year I was most excited for V and Flash Forward.  Sadly, Flash Forward turned out to be a flash in the pan (see what I did there)?  V let me down when it came to the lizard baby, but I'll be back for Juliet and the inspired casting choice for Anna's mother.  Nostalgia bait - you're doing it right.  I lost track of Fringe early in Season 1, but T tells me it's the best sci-fi show on TV, so I'm going to give it a go and see if I can keep up.  I might revisit Life Unexpected if I think about it.  I enjoyed the pilot, but I quickly grew weary of Baze and Cate.  I am looking forward to the big CW cross over event though.

It looks like Monday is going to be my night for new shows.  I've heard good things about Lone Star, and it features my tee-vee girlfriend, the delightful Adrianne Palicki.  It's going head-to-head with The Event, which will either be this year's Lost ... or Flash Forward.  I'm thinking the former in real time, and the latter I'll watch online.  Naturally the trifecta of Oahu, Boomer, and the Mayor of Waikiki, Daniel Dae Kim, will have me watching the Hawaii 5-0 reboot.

Of course I am already delighted with The Vampire Diaries' second season, and am giddy with anticipation for Supernatural's return.

And as Boone as my witness, I will get TVD Season 1 recapped and caught up.

#Musicmonday: Broken Bells "The Ghost Inside"

Yosaffbridge, our Mrs. Reynolds



via io9

I want Maura Tierney to play me ...

in the Lifetime Movie of my life.

All of these things have happened to me.  The script would write itself.



via Jezebel

Season Two: Dollhouse Returns!

Dollhouse returns tomorrow night, YAY! For a show that was touch and go before it ever even premiered, Season 2 comes as a welcome, happy surprise.

And to kick things off, a BSG reunion!

"Vows"

Picking up a few months after the Season 1 finale, Echo is the new bride of a charismatic businessman (guest star Jamie Bamber), who is tied to an old FBI case that Paul was unable to close. Meanwhile, Dr. Saunders struggles with her discovery that she is a Doll and targets Topher. Written and directed by Joss Whedon.

Mo Ryan at the Chicago Tribune has the scoop, including episode summaries and video interviews with Joss, Helo, and Eliza.

What do we have to look forward to?

The relationships inside the Dollhouse are what Whedon and his writers will be taking advantage of in Season 2 ... Though he didn't rule out doing self-contained episodes, the show would move away from an "engagement of the week" for Echo and move more toward the conspiracy-flavored character drama we saw in the last few episodes of Season 1.

"This year we're going to see the results of everything she [Echo] went through last year -- particularly the event [in the finale] with Alpha, where she was downloaded with all the personalities -- we're going to see the effect that's had on her and we're going to find her to be a great deal less passive and a great deal more directed in what she wants, and that of course is going to make her life a lot harder," Whedon noted

The Watcher: Joss Whedon, Eliza Dushku talk 'Dollhouse' Season 2

The Watcher: Getting 'Dollhouse' in order: What's coming in Season 2

If that's not enough spoilery goodness for you, io9 has the inside intel on the roles Summer "River Tam / Cameron" Glau and Ray "Nobody plays the devil with as much glee as me" Wise will play.

Summer Glau and Ray Wise Live In Joss Whedon's Bizarro Dollhouse - Dollhouse - io9

For another take on where the show might be headed, check out my recap of Epitaph One over at Tubular.

All good things must come to an end: Guiding Light

Today is the day ... Guiding Light airs its final episode after a 72 year run. le sigh. Slide on over to Tubular, and my write up on the Paley Center's panel, We'll Always Have Springfield.

credit: The Paley Center

The Paley Center also has two clips up at their site from the evening. Two words: Reginald and Stevie. That's all I'm saying. Check 'em out.

I just can't say this enough:

I cannot say enough good things about the actors. They stayed for nearly two hours, and were to a one, unflagging in their energy and unfailing in their kindness. They gave each fan their full attention, allowed as much time as needed, signed autographs, and smiled for a million photos. And you have to understand what the scene was like - it was a full on rugby scrum. Grant Aleksander was literally backed into a corner, people 3 and 4 deep around him, but he had a smile and hug for everybody (two for my Mom, much to her delight). My mom, who is a wee little thing, had moments of being overwhelmed by the crowd, and we could at least escape when we needed to. Get some air, grab a drink at the bar or one of the delightful tuna h'orderves that were circling around. They couldn't. Nonetheless, every single actor who was there was incredibly gracious and generous with their time. So for my mom - who got autographs from, and a moment with, everybody - thank you. Thank you to the Paley Center, Ellen Wheeler, Jill, Grant, Bradley, Elizabeth, Michael, Kim, Ellen Dolan, Tina, Maeve, Kurt, Gina, Orlagh, and Frank. As James Lipton would say - it was a delight.

Philip Spaulding is my new dad

Every fan for herself!

Previously on wax|wendy: First thoughts.

#musicmonday: Susan Tedeschi

You can never have too many hats, bags, or shoes

Add this to my list of museums I absolutely MUST visit!

Amsterdam's Museum of Handbags and Purses is a rare place. It offers an historical survey of Western bags and related accessories from pill boxes to luggage. On view are some 400 objects from a collection almost ten times that size. Most of the material was acquired by Hendrijke and Heinz Ivo, a married couple who began collecting in earnest 25 years ago, after he retired at 51 (he was president of the food division at Mars).

Sigrid Ivo, an art historian and daughter of the museum's founders, directs the foundation that now owns the collection and runs the museum. But this is no mere mom and pop affair. Here, in a very glamorous setting, the matter of handbags is taken seriously, stylishly and with a light touch. The museum occupies a double-fronted 17th-century house on the city’s grandest canal, the Herengracht. Exhibits are displayed in chic, modern glass cases and lit as if each handbag or lipstick case was a jewel. A great many are.

Tassen Museum Hendrikje Museum of Bags and Purses

IN THE BAG | More Intelligent Life

Your Monday morning moment of Zen

via Jezebel

Guiding Light at the Paley Center: First thoughts

ZOMG IT WAS AWESOME REVA SQUEE!!!!