Watch More TV

On an actual television set, that is.

It's been awhile since I'd last snuggled up in my blue-striped pajamas, glasses and retainers in and curled up on the couch in my living room watching our big screen TV. When I did exactly that the other night, nostalgia kicked in.

As a child and grandchild of immigrants, growing up, our household TV was constantly on, as my grandparents and parents watched to learn English, to pass the time, and to satiate that fascination by the stories that can come out of the little square box. Our show of choice was I Love Lucy (probably because it was always on) and I think I have watched every episode of that six-seasons series. My grandparents and I would talk about Lucy's hilarious hijinks and bond over something our otherwise 60-years age gap might not have allowed for.

So for me, watching TV wasn't only something to pass the time. It was an experience, a ritual, a code of conduct.

In college, I lost the habit and the laptop became my main source for fulfilling my TV shows-viewing quota. OMg, to actually set aside a particular time and drag my way to the living room couch and turn on the TV? That's caveman behavior. And what do I do during the commercial breaks? Go get chips? Give me a break.

Nope, more and more, I would just stay hidden under my bedsheets, store up an insane amount of TV shows for the week and Hulu or DVD it. I don't watch TV shows with anyone else anymore. Don't share in the same viewing experience and talk about the shows at the time we're watching it, only afterwards. Partaking in television watching the other night made me realize how much I miss that experience. I do believe I want to experience it more. Won't you join me?

Oh, and if I still haven't convinced you to shut off that laptop and reach for the remote, maybe Mr. Horrible can...


Can that man suit up or what?

Horribly Good

Today was a full-on LCC day as I helped the fabulous Anthony with costumes for our winter show, The Great Pretenders.  We sewed, we hammered, we glued, we whistled while we worked. Pretty soon, the pretty day went by and it was time for mock show where we seriously killed it.  If you guys don't watch the show, I must say, you are MISSING OUT.

Spending a lot of time with LCC always gets me thinking about our little organization and how much attention we receive when compared with bigger shows like the culture nights in Royce Hall.  

I don't know why but I've always liked working for the underdog, the start-up.  It's here that people aren't too jaded about their passions and work hard for their craft because they love it and not because they're getting the most fame, glory or money.  I loved Hooligans when we were just starting out and couldn't even book a legit venue and had to act in a classroom.  I loved DBTV back when it was UCLAtv and we held court at that little corner cubicle at the back end of the office of Kerckhoff.  And I love LCC where we have to scramble to find places to rehearse each week.  

Would I love to perform at Royce? You betcha! But at the same time, keeping our shows in small, intimate settings such as the Northwest (this Friday) or De Neve (next Wednesday) Auditoriums is also like keeping our little shows a gem.  It's where only the few who really appreciates us gets to watch it.  It's like... cult theatre.  

A prime example of people doing something purely out of passion and for the hell of it, here are some of my favorite things; Neil Patrick Harris, musicals, and Joss Whedon, combined to make a most awesome web series called, "Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog."  I know it came out like a million months ago but how can you not watch it 50000X?  It's pretty much a monthly ritual for me.  

For those of you who didn't buy the series and the songs off iTunes like me, you can check it out on Youtube.  If you're too lazy to do that, I shall showcase two of my favorite songs: 1) a dorky love medley called, "Freeze Ray" and a zesty climactic ballad named, "Brand New Day."  Watch, listen and I dare you not to fall in love.  If you do as I say and still didn't feel the magic, then you are dead to me. (Just kidding, no, but pretty close. I'll pretty much "freeze ray" you out of my life.)

Oh, educational fact of the day:

 "Dr. Horrible's" was pretty much the first major Youtube success orchestrated by a semi-industry-pro.  Sure there are plenty of home videos and television clips that garner high views on the site but networks and production companies have been trying for ages to actually come up with scripted stuff that people will watch specifically on Youtube.  They'd been failing. They didn't know what the formula was.  I guess all it took was a villian protagonist, really ugly ski goggles, some penis jokes, a lot of Pinkberry, and, oh yea, some talent and wit to solve the equation.  Better start buying some frozen yogurt, FOX, NBC, HBO and co. And as for you, watch LCC's winter show!