Music To Read To: Hate List

I started reading this last night and couldn't stop reading until I reached the end. It wasn't suspenseful or scary but I couldn't stop reading until I wad finished. It's a wonderful story of living with the past and finding redemption. A story of moving on and accepting what cannot be changed. I related to the story in a way I didn't think I would with the plot points involving the parents especially the father. I'm not sure I can really say I loved the book considering the subject matter but you can appreciate anything that can make you think about making life better. There is one quote in the book that really stayed with me:

"The word won being the past tense of win, and we can all say at the end of the day that we've won once again, can't we? Some days making it to the end of the day is quite the victory."

In a world where things are often out of our control making it to my bed is my daily victory. I get to life another day.

I am constantly creating soundtracks for things in my life. It's a geeky thing to do but I can't help it. I'm always thinking of a song that would fit a specific situation. It always happens when I read as well. My mind will immediately think of a song based on the current plot point.

 Here are a few songs that were played while reading Hate List:

Alanis Morrissette - That I Would Be Good

 that I would be loved even when I numb myself
that I would be good even when I am overwhelmed
that I would be loved even when I was fuming
that I would be good even if I was clingy

Deb Talan - Comfort

If you can't remember a better time
you can have mine, little one.
In days to come when your heart feels undone
may you always find an open hand
and take comfort wherever you can.

Evanescense - My Immortal

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone

Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

So Sally can wait
She knows it's too late as she's walking on by
My soul slides away
"But don't look back in anger, don't look back in anger"
I heard you say, "at least not today" 

Emma Lee - I Could Die Tonight

Truth be told I’m still just scared as hell
that I’ll fool the world and never fool myself
Cause I know living right it isn’t in the lyin’
But I could live with tryin’
I could live with cryin’
I could live with dyin’ tonight

The Smashing Pumpkin - Disarm 

Disarm you with a smile
And leave you like they left me here
To wither in denial
The bitterness of one who's left alone

The Weepies - World Spins Madly On

Woke up and wished that I was dead
With an aching in my head
I lay motionless in bed
I thought of you and where you'd gone
and let the world spin madly on 

Take Two: The New Girl and Teen Wolf

Since it is Summer and I am a TV junkie I usually use my time catching up on TV shows I missed during the TV season, or watching old shows I loved on DVD. I also use the time retrying shows I didn't get hooked to the first time around and dismissed. 

I recently got into using Get Glue a lot because I'm a geek who likes to let people know what I am watching and argue about TV show plots and which characters should be with each other. Based on recommendations from there I retried both The New Girl and Teen Wolf. 

Teen Wolf

I originally liked the pilot but after the next few weeks felt no desire to watch the show and the episodes just collected dust on the DVR until I eventually just removed them to watch room for other stuff. I had no intention of watching the show again but I saw the season two trailer on MUCH and it interested me so I took a chance and re-watched the pilot and kept watching.

I wouldn't say I got hooked to the show. It had elements I really liked but there are times where the acting and dialogue fall flat. Also the special effects aren't always great but they are more then passable for a TV show with w budget. 

The show got really good near the end of season one. The last two episodes were dramatic and left you wanting to know what was next. The show is definitely best during Summer. There's less pressure to compete and I think they have more freedom to explore the storyline in the summer similar to other current summer shows like Rookie Blue and Suits.

The New Girl

Originally I thought the pilot was good but not memorable. There were other pilots I liked better and decided not to watch this one because I thought the characters would become annoying. 

While there are times that the characters do get annoying it is more because you get attached to them and within the show they are doing the opposite of what you feel they should do. It's like having a friend who always dates the wrong people. You still love that friend but they annoy the hell out of you. That is what The New Girl became.

The jokes still fell flat a lot of times but you quickly get attached to the characters. There was one scene that hooked me to the show because it reminded me of my childhood friends and I.

After that episode I was hooked to the characters. I flew through the rest of season 1. Slowly the characters did things that reminded me of old friends. Especially Jess who reminds me of one of my best friends Jen. I kept watching because it reminded me a good times growing up.

I got annoyed quite often because the plot wasn't going the way I wanted it to go but I stuck with it because I hoped eventually I'd get my way. The characters are just really well written and acted and the show is worth giving a fair chance to.

Music Monday: Songs that always make me think of TV shows #1

This week I'm gonna post a few songs that when I hear then I instantly think of the scene they were used in on a TV show. TV has allowed me to discover many artists and songs that I would not have heard of other wise. It is an incredible medium to discover indie artists and bands that would not otherwise be known. This will be the first in a few segments I'll do.

I'm not going to include what show the songs were included in. You can guess if you would like.

Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats

One night to be confused
One night to speed up truth
We had a promise made
Four hands and then away

Beth Nielson Chapman - Say Goodnight Not Goodbye

Don't you fear when you dream
Waking up is never what it seems
Like a jewel buried deep
Like a promise meant to keep

You are everything you want to be
So just let your heart reach out to me
I'll be right by your side
Say goodnight not good-bye

Jump Little Children - Cathedrals

In the shadows of tall buildings
Of fallen angels on the ceilings
Oily feathers in bronze and concrete
Faded colors, pieces left incomplete
The line moves slowly past the electric fence
Across the borders between continents

In the cathedrals of New York and Rome

 There is a feeling that you should just go home
And spend a lifetime finding out just where that is 

Mindy Smith - One Moment More

Hold me
Even though I know you're leaving
And show me
All the reasons you would stay
It's just enough to feel your breath on mine
To warm my soul and ease my mind
You've got to hold me and show me now

Give me
Just one part of you to cling to
And keep me
Everywhere you are
It's just enough to steal my heart and run
And fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don't go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You've got to hold me and keep me

Joe Purdy - Wash Away

I got troubles oh, but not today
Cause they're gonna wash away
They're gonna wash away

And I have sins Lord, but not today
Cause they're gonna wash away
They're gonna wash away

And I had friends oh, but not today
Cause they're done washed away
They're done washed away

2012 Popcorn Awards

Another TV Season done. Most of the new shows seemed to be underwhelming and the ones that interested me either didn't keep my interest because there wasn't enough character development (Person of Interest), they got too soapy (Revenge), or the story just was not interesting (Ringer). Other shows I wanted to try but put them off (The Secret Circle which was lucky since it was cancelled). I even let Fox fool me again by watching a show that seemed doomed from the start (Alcatraz). Apparently for every Fringe there is ten Firefly's.

And since the Summer TV season is upon us it's time to hand out my awards for the last season of TV.

Best Reality Show Performance

Melanie and Marco "You Got Me" on So You Think You Can Dance

I really only included this category so I could watch this clip again. With the over abundance of reality competitions no contestants really wowed me this year enough to go crazy for a single performance. Hopefully this year's edition of So You Think You Can Dance will have a Melanie and Marko who I cheered for from the start of the season and worked so well together.

Best Villain

    Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold on Once Upon A Time

Robert Carlyle was brilliant as  Rumpelstiltskin and Mr. Gold on this show. He reminds me of Ben Linus on Lost. Who want to hate him but you can't help but like the character. You can't tell what he knows and what he doesn't know. Both characters where so good at getting what they wanted and playing others for fools.

Best Guest Star

     Sebastian Stan as Mad Hatter and  Emilie de Ravin as Belle on Once Upon A Time

 

I really couldn't decide between the two roles so I just chose both. Both actors played so well along the more established characters of Rumpelstiltskin and the Evil Queen. Both were also able to make you want to see more of the character which is what makes a great guest star.

Worst Storyline

     Owen cheating on Christina/Christina's abortion on Grey’s Anatomy

I'll start by saying that these two are the worst couple ever on a TV show. The writers seem like they want the two to be meant for each other but the characters just don't mesh at all. Also Christina has had the pregnancy storyline before on the show with Burke so this time it just felt wrong as I feel that she should have been more conscience for someone who has vowed to never have children. These two need to just throw in the towel and move on with their lives even though we all know that won't happen.

Best Storyline 

    Nathan being Kidnapped on One Tree Hill

One Tree Hill is known for the cheese factor and over the top story lines so when I heard they were doing a Kidnapping storyline I rolled my eyes especially since it was the last season of the show. But after watching the final season from start to finish the storyline made sense. Firstly James Lafferty was back part time so having him be kidnapped and out of the picture most of the time worked well. The storyline also bought out the best scenes of the season for Haley, Jamie, Dan, and others. It also died in nicely with Dan's death at the end. Also One Tree Hill has been one of my favorite shows for the last nine years so it was nice to see it go out swinging for the fence.

Worst Cliffhanger

    Who Killed Rosie on The Killing

Above you will see the promotion poster for the premiere of The Killing. Before and during the season the writers, producers, and stars talked about how the finale would tie the murder up nicely and we would have our answer. The finale came and the case was not solved. Instead the show had a key character framing another character and left the audience wondering who the hell killed Rosie Larsen even through we were promised answers in the finale. The interviews after the finale were filled with back peddling by the writers and producers. It was just a messy storyline that felt like it was dragged on for no reason at all.

Best Cliffhanger 

         Magic returns to the world on Once Upon A Time

They could have ended it with the curse being broken. The last ten minutes were so well done with the Charming/Snow reunion and the Queen running as everyone remembered everything. They could have ended it there and there would have been enough questions to lead into season 2 but they went a step farther. Watching the purple smoke cover the town as the Queen smiled and the clock started moving again was amazing. It left me needing to see what came next for everyone now that magic was back.

Biggest Fall from last season 

         The Walking Dead

The farm was a horrible mistake. While the end of the season picked up there was still way to much sitting around and talking. If I wanted to watch people sit around and talk I'd watch The View.

Biggest Gain from Last season 

         How I Met Your Mother

I wasn't a huge fan of the previous season. It wasn't that it was bad but the writers made choices that I didn't care for like the Zoe character. Season 7 seemed to return to what the show was in earlier seasons and had some great moments for the characters like Marshall and Lily having a child.

Best Song Used in a TV show 

        I Don`t Want To Be by Gavin Degraw on One Tree Hill

It's kind of a cheat since it's been the theme song of the show for nine seasons but the scene was just so much fun to watch with the cast singing along.

Best New Comedy 

         Don`t Trust the B in Apt 23

It was a weak year for comedies so even though I loved the show it kinda wins by default. The show made a great choice by having James Van Der Beek play himself in the show and June and Chloe work off each other really well. Sure the show is often far fetched and unrealistic but it is still really enjoyable.

Best New Drama

Once Upon A Time 

There was really only two dramas that I enjoyed and plan to continue watching, Once Upon A Time and Hart of Dixie (I do plan on trying Person of Interest again since it got a Season 2 and not many pilot pickups really interest me). Once Upon A Time wins because the acting is amazing for the most part (minus Emma and Henry) and the cliffhanger was one of the best ones I've seen in a few years.

Worst New Show 

         Whitney

How this show got a season two I will never know. Even on NBC the show is just bad and I would hope that they could have found anything that could have been better.

Worst Season Finale 

         Grey’s Anatomy

I had such high hopes for the finale and it fell flat. While the first part of the episode was exciting the major death happened so early in the episode and nothing seemed to happen afterwards. Also the scenes in Seattle were anticlimactic and seemed simply thrown together to fill time.

Best Season Finale 

Heartland

This beats out Once Upon A Time because it was good from start to finish while the other show was slow for the first 40 minutes before a strong finish. While cliffhanger wasn't as exciting as a Purple Cloud of magic having Amy find the wedding ring before Ty could propose and then ending was heart wrenching since they have been a couple I've cheered for all five seasons.

Best Series Finale 

         Being Erica

This was the best episode from start to finish. While other finales felt like they were simply stories to say goodbye this one resolved story lines while also giving everyone a fitting farewell. Also the last few scenes where great and while it felt like an ending it left you with the feeling that you really wanted to see the next chapter.

Worst Series Finale 

         Alcatraz

 

For a show with low ratings on Fox couldn't the writers offered more answers and ended in a way that didn't include the main character flat lining. I mean really!