WestSideStory-related stories
Posted Aug 29th 2009 11:35AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Video, Music and Variety, Celebrities, Awards, Reality-Free
How do you pump up the viewership for a music award show on a network that used to be all about music but lately has been all about reality TV and nasty scandals? Well, apparently MTV has decided to go retro and keep it funny. To promote the upcoming
2009 Video Awards, MTV has created a West Side Story parody, not too different from the brilliant solo turn by
Neil Patrick Harris at last June's Tony Awards.
The commercial is a mixed bag. Taylor Swift proves that she has the real goods as a singer, doing the toughest part of the "Tonight" quintet. Ne-Yo's dance turn is more of a salute to Michael Jackson than an homage to composers Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. And Katy Perry's rooftop bit reinforces the fact that she's funny and playful.
Continue reading MTV's star-studded West Side Story parody
Posted Nov 7th 2008 12:24AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Life on Mars
(S01E05) "Have you died and gone to moron heaven?" - Gene HuntWhat we had here, my friends, was a real theological episode. There were lots of references to angels, miracles, prayer and the question of whether or not Sam is dead. If so, is he in purgatory or hell or heaven? Does that explain his predicament? And is the old gray beard a vagrant or a heavenly messenger?
Overall, what I really thought made the show percolate was the teaming up of Sam and Clams. "Clams" we learn is Fletcher Bellow, Sam's mentor, and he pops up in the middle of a potentially explosive riot, with African-Americans going after Puerto Ricans when a little girl plummets from a rooftop at the hands -- or so it seems -- of Angel Ramirez.
Continue reading Life on Mars: Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead
Posted May 11th 2007 1:19AM by Julia Ward
Filed under: Ugly Betty, Episode Reviews
(S01E22) Before we get started, I need to get something out of the way.
"A boy like that. He'll kill your brother."
Who wants to live in America?
Rita Moreno does! I'm just one big fag haggis experiencing her inner theater queen. We all know that there's a
Betty musical episode in the works, but I think we might be in for a preview next week. The episode is called "East Side Story," guest stars
Kristin Chenoweth and is timed perfectly for Justin to save the day for middle school-aged thespians everywhere. Until then, let us reflect on tonight's mystical Mexico tour.
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