Are you watching "Outlander"?

D and I recently caught up on Season 2 of "Orange is the New Black" which was amazing and I completely recommend. But in one scene two of the ladies discuss the book "Outlander", which was the first time I'd heard of it. But I took a mental note they way it was being discussed made it sounds like something I had somehow missed out on. Well, Outlander must be having a moment because within two weeks suddenly I'm hearing all about the new Starz TV series based on the book that just aired. And it sounds pretty good!

The story at the center of Outlander is that of a nurse at the end of World War II. She just reunites with her husband after the war to suddenly time travel back to 18th century Scotland where she deals with the cultural differences, tries to figure out what this means for her life, and of course develops romantic feeling for a handsome Scotsman. So there is the time travel aspects that are always interesting, and then the love-triangle nature of the main character being pulled between the commitment to her husband and the reality of the man she's physically in contact with. And apparently, things get steamy. The good has racy sex scenes, and the tv-series maintains that tradition. That would usually not interest me much (I couldn't get into "50 Shades of Grey") but this show seems to be offering more. It's been getting credit for having a femist edge in the way the show centers on the main character's experience which is that of a strong independent woman navigating a challenging situation but not by giving over to a man. And the fact that the show is written by Ronald D. Moore of Battlestar Galactica fame is a huge draw. I thought Battlestar was a wonderful show that used the sci-fi elements to tell great stories with complex characters and rich themes.

So, anyone watching it? Do you recommend it? I going to try to convince D to give it a try with me one night soon.

Image via.

The Oscars 2014

Did you watch the Oscars last night? I have always loved the Oscars. Probably because I love movies, and probably because I grew up in Los Angeles where it's true that most people are in "the industry" and therefore I feel connected to the show somehow. A lot of people in my life feel invested this way because they are actors or writers or such. So we all gather around and get excited and fill out our ballots and have lots of opinions. We get very quite during the show (because you can't miss anything!) and then all chime in during the commercials. Well, that's how it's been most years. This year, with our little one at not yet a year old, I changed up my Oscar party plans.

Instead of the usual party at someone's fabulous Hollywood home, we had a little family party at our modest loft. Just the three of us having a special evening of watching tv and eating in front of the screen. I didn't get to see everything because the Pepper of course wanted to play and do other things. But I got to pay attention to the things I wanted to and didn't feel the loss of the other. Luckily there are still plenty of ways to get my Oscar fix today with all the post-show coverage. And though watching the Oscars with a baby of course isn't an ideal viewing experience, there were some wonderful moments that involved the Pepper. She was riveted by Pink's performance and at one point even started singing along! It was so sweet.

I think the reason I love the Oscars is that it's a celebration of accessible entertainment: movies! You get introduced to things you maybe didn't know about (I feel I need to see Nebraska now) and get to revel in things you loved (yeah Cate!). But you also get the acknowledge and think about the other people involved. I loved the speech by the writers of Let It Go. And of course there is the sort of combinations that could only happy at the Oscars. I mean, where else will you have Meryl Streep shimming along with Pharrell! A fun night. Though I have to say I wasn't a huge fan of Ellen as host. Her casual charm just didn't seem to translate well. And while the pizza bit has funny it also seemed to last a long time. I feel they haven't' really been able to figure out the hosting thing. Nobody has been right for awhile. We'll see what they come up with next year.

Image via Ellen's twitter account. It goes to show that celebrities are truly genetically gifted as they all look amazing there.

Best. Show. Ever.

I love RuPaul's Drag Race, and am so excited for tonight's Season 6 premiere! It is such a great show. Not only is it fun and super entertaining but there is a very fascinating aspect to it. For one, I've learned a lot about drag. The issues drag queens face, the vocabulary, the process, the standards. It's a whole different world filled with color and comedy and personalities and creativity. The other thing I love about the show is that it shows what a transformation drag is. These men have chosen to spend their lives regularly becoming another person. A person they can mold and configure to what they want her to be. Are their drag personas who they wish they could be? Are they parts of themselves they want to explore and revel in? Or maybe parts they don't like so they need to process them in an external way. I'm sure it's different for everyone. But it's certainly an amazing feat of performance art.

If you don't get the Logo TV channel you can actually watch the episodes online after they air. I highly recommend you tune in tonight for all the fun!

Human error in journalism can be very funny

Journalism must be a very interesting job. I think it must be really challenging. I'm not a writer, and certainly not a journalism but reporting the news is a big responsibility. I assume most journalists are passionate about the truth and telling stories that reveal important things about our world. But, it's also a job. A job with deadlines and pressures and a need to be financially viable. I haven't yet been able to watch the second season of Newsroom but I loved the first because it explored the tension between these opposing elements of journalism.

This article about the best and worst media error and corrections is very intriguing and entertaining. Some are hilarious. Some are disturbing. But all speaks to how prevalent human error is, especially in the areas of our life where we feel pressured to succeed.

Hulu Recommendations

D and I don't have cable so we watch everything through streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, or by buying them a la cart on iTunes. I've never actually done the math to see if this is is more or less affordable than actually paying for cable and a DVR. But, it does mean we don't have to deal with commercials for the most part which is something we both love (the exception is Hulu Plus, damn those commercials!!).

It also means that if we're in the mood to veg a little we can't just channel surf, so I end up discovering some nice little shows. One I love is a show on Hulu called Whites (I think you can watch the first episode on Hulu but need Hulu Plus to watch the rest). It's a British comedy so there are only 6 episodes in the first season. But I love it for the dry humor and sweet sentiments. And I love the cast and the actors. Roland is perfect as someone you both love and hate, there is poor sweet Bibs, and Caroline played by an actress I loved from a Netflix streaming favorite. I so hope they do another season!



For the parents out there I also recommend Mother Up. Since it's an adult cartoon it's very tongue in cheek. Eva Longoria voices the worst mother in the world, an ex-music exec forced to move to the suburbs after a scandal. She of course hates it and clashes with the local mother's and the school and wreaks havoc wherever she goes. I think Longoria strikes the right tone and brings the needed humor to allow you to enjoy all the awful things you watch her do.



And the one I most recently started watching is Misfits. Another British comedy (maybe more of a dramedy?), but there are a few seasons so there are lots of episodes you can binge watch. This one is a bit dark and at times explicit. But I've also found it at times hysterical. The character Nathan played by this actor is a total jerk but oddly endearing and he's come to be my favorite one on the show to watch. And the premise is out there enough that the show can go a lot of places. I'm in the middle of it and i hope it keeps the momentum going.