Randomness from the past week

Hola blog readers,

It's been a week since the Earthquakes... I didn't feel the one that was in the 4.somthing range the other day, so for me it's been a week since my tangible world has been rocked. To be perfectly honest, they scared the bajesus out of me. Being woken up at 5:30 in the morning because my entire apartment was shaking was one of the craziest/most terrifying thing that's happened in awhile. I was the only one in the office to feel the aftershock at 11:15, but at least that one only lasted 3 seconds as opposed to the eternity the 5:30AM one felt like it lasted.

Last Friday night, my sister and I took in an evening screening of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". How awesome/adorable is Jason Segel? He wrote a very funny script and though some critics felt like he couldn't quite carry a movie like Seth Rogen, I think his performance was inspiring. As someone who attempts to write scripts every now and again, I have been taught by a professor whom I respect that you should always "write what you know" and that's exactly what Segel did. That naked breakup scene? He actually experienced that? That friggin' sweet Dracula puppet rock opera? Segel once aspired to produce one. Brilliant... that's what this movie is.

Yes, it's completely predictable and completely follows the recent Apatow formula for the buddy/romantic comedy, but it's still entirely entertaining. After watching "Superbad" for the bajillionth time the day after I saw "Sarah Marshall", I realized that "Sarah Marshall" is consistently funnier throughout the entire film. "Superbad" and even "Knocked Up" are funny, but they both have long pockets of movie where the audience doesn't laugh. "Sarah Marshall", even in its most serious moments, still provides the audience (or at least me) with enough material where I was laughing every few minutes.

This week I didn't have much time to watch any more movies, though I'm seeing a matinee of "Baby Mama" tomorrow. Tina Fey is my idol... she is an amazing writer and actress. So much so that 30 Rock has just barely scouched by The Office as my favorite show on television. This past week's episode was great - how many people actually got all the Amadeus references? Probably not many, but they were PRICELESS. And Will Arnett, back for a 3rd time... too funny. "I called you, but not on a phone, so you probably didn't get it."

Going back to the gloriousness that is Jason Segel for a second... did you see How I Met Your Mother????? The 2nd Robin Sparkles video was great - "Sandcastles in the Sand", a power ballad featuring James Van Der Beek... good times.

And "Lost"??? That was one of the best episodes in a long, long time. Benjamin Linus is a person with feelings... who knew? And poor Alex! And the smoke monster... hello! How come Ben can control it? And, I called it during a commercial break that (Crazy) Jack has appendicitus. Sure enough "Next time on 'Lost'", Jack bites it in the sand... Get up Jack - you make it off the island. I'm so glad this show is back on track. The Michael episode was kind of a drag... we needed the back story, but come on...

And of course, American Idol.

Oh, American Idol. You were such bad and then such good television this week.

Andrew Lloyd Webber week proved to be disastrous for poor Jason Castro. After his subpar performance of "Memory", the judges (especially Simon) wailed on him. Come to find out the next morning he was really sick the past few days, but was man enough not to bring it up on the show for pity votes.

The elimination show was one for the books. First off, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber was kind of nasty talking about Brooke and Jason while both of them were sitting mere feet behind him. So not everyone has the skills to sing his showtunes. I watched Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to become more familiar with his music... those songs aren't really that catchy/memorable. And I can empathize with Jason... though I know "Memory" is sung by a Cat, I had never heard that song all the way through before ... and I LOVE showtunes. (Sweeney Todd is playing on my iTunes right now... the Michael Cerveris/Patti LuPone stage version, so ha)

The actual elimination was intense. Even though I hate Syesha, I thought Brooke deserved to go home. But, after Brooke was safe and Syesha was put in the bottom 2, I thought for sure that Jason was going to do home. But, once Seacrest brought out Carly and Jason and then he started asking Carly about how she thought she did, I had a glimmer of hope that Carly, and not Jason, would be in the bottom 2 (even though, vocally this week, Jason should have been in the bottom 2).

When Seacrest said Jason was safe, my sister and I screamed with happiness. I have never felt more like a loser watching television than that moment, but whatever... :)

I was sad that Carly got kicked off instead of Syesha... Syesha needs to leave. She's pitchy all the time (why Randy never says this is beyond me) and she messed up her opening last week, but no one said anything. No one said anything when little David A. messed up his words, which makes you wonder... why do they think he's the greatest thing to happen to that show since Kelly Clarkson? If he was older, they would pick on him for being boring and predictable. For reals. And Brooke... poor Brooke and her 2nd false start of the season. Yikes

So, next week is Neil Diamond week (woot!). I friggin' LOVE Neil Diamond music. You can go on and laugh about that, but his songs are catchy and I really like his voice. I think David Cook should sing "Coming to America", Brooke should sing "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" and Jason should sing "Cherry Cherry"... I don't know about the others because chances are regardless of what songs they pick, I won't care.

Well, enough randomness for the evening... I need to finish watching "The Flying Scotsman".

I bid you farewell and happy movie/TV/Idol watching :)