01.12.10
Glee – episode 101: the verdict?
Judging by the online buzz from traditional outlets and social media sources like, this is a show that is here to stay. While savvy marketers in the US announced FOX’s confirmation of a second season coincidentally on the very same day Season 1 was due to air in the UK, the Brits lapped up the first helping of Glee with unabashed, well, glee.
It even struck a chord with the dry wit of Times critic Caitlin Moran, who shared with her Twitter followers earlier today,
It’s VERY silly and VERY funny and VERY bitchy, and ends with an inspiring version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Even Peaches Geldof told the world she was “Loving Glee” during the airing of the double’s bill’s second episode.
Truth be known, I’ve been rooting for this show since the summer due to the widely available and questionably legal internet sources for the show. What makes me feel better about that is my dedication to watching the same episodes again on E4 regardless, as it seems legions of fans who came across the show under the same guise echo this dedicated (obsessive?) sentiment.
Ironically, this show about geeks – or rather, Gleeks – breeds popularity like an exponential snowball.
Already with SAG nomination, three Teen Choice nominations, a People’s Choice Award, and no fewer than four Golden Globe nominations (including Best Actress for Lea Michele and Best Actor for Matthew Morrison) under its belt, Glee is a cult show of the very highest order. And, having been on UK screens for less than 180 minutes total, that is quite some feat.
This is a show that somehow cynically mocks its own genre, whilst showing some real heart. It soaks up our modern susceptibility to self-absorbtion and squeezes the life out of it.At times this makes it a little too heavy on the soul-searching and the discovery of a true identity (among both the kids and the adults) – but what American High School-based show doesn’t? Glee stands apart in its remarkable self-awareness. Glee knows it pushes these boundaries, admits it and does so with humour, warmth and unashamed cheesy musical numbers. It never pretends to be anything else.
(c) FOX Broadcasting
But at the same time, it stops just short of being trite and clichéd at every opportunity where it could become just that. When we first meet doe-eyed Rachel, we think that the tried and tested She’s All That / Rachel Leigh-Cook / Geek-turned-popular-kid formula will play out to the end. But Rachel Berry falls short of being 100% likeable because she’s so darn highly strung. She’s a manicly dedicated perfectionist, who is both the stunning young ingenue that everyone roots for and intensely annoying at the same time. Sometimes you just want to slap her. No one ever really wanted to slap Laney Boggs.
The bunch of Gleeks are predictable mis-fits: Kurt is ridiculously gay; Artie is restricted from the full musical numbers by his wheelchair; Mercedes’ sassy spirit is the only thing bigger than her immense voice and frame. Yet often we see the strongest stereotypes either pushed beyond the reasonable boundary or given a dry comedic twist. The Cheer Coach is not just a slave-driver, she’s a masochist (“You think this is hard? Try living with Hepatitis, that’s hard”). Head Cheerleader, Quinn, is Captain of the Abstinence Club (thereby blowing out of the water all cheerleader stereotypes known to man). Finn, the typical Jock-turned-soul-searching-friend-of-the-geeks turns out to be the displaced son of an Iraq war fatality (well, they had to get the war critique in somewhere) while his friend Puck turns out to be even more of the clichéd jock-gone-soft than he is.
But frankly, what makes Glee is the music. Yes the young cast is immensely talented, the scripts are sharp, the dialogue cutting and the editing varied enough in style to make it a mixture of the American Office and Bring It On. But it is undoubtedly those powerful musical numbers that keep the critics and fans coming back for more. And that ultimately is what Glee club is all about.
*Join Glee’s UK Facebook group
*Follow Glee on Twitter (and cast members @frankenteen & @msleamichele)
*Watch episodes 1 & 2 on E4 catch up
*Buy the soundtrack (highly recommended)
*Audition as part of the producers’ open casting call for the next season!
01.11.10
Glee – totally quotable
(c) FOX Broadcasting
It’s finally arrived. Glee. In the UK. On E4. Right now.
But before I start writing reams about how super-amazing it is (and I will), a few choice quotes from tonight’s first episode (of a double bill) to whet your appetites for the dry, dark humour of Ryan Murphy’s newest treasure. Just a quick slice of the dialogue, a cynical, starkly insightful comment on popular youth culture:
“All these kids feel invisible. That’s why they all have a MySpace page.”
~ Mr. Schuester“I have a phoner in a few moments. That’s an interview. On the phone. With a major media outlet.”
~ Sue Sylvester“My MySpace page keeps me busy every minute of every single day. Fame is the most important thing in our culture. Being a part of something special makes you special, right?”
~ Rachel Berry“You’re very talented. I should know. I’m very talented too.”
~ Rachel Berry
01.06.10
Emma Watson IS Burberry Spring 2010
(c) Testino for Burberry - Emma Watson poses with brother, Alex
Oh to be a Watson. What genes. And come to that, jeans too.
Sharing the sibling love this season is Harry Potter star and muse to fashionistas around the globe Emma Watson, with baby brother Alex (pictured above).
Not content with the Watson name taking centre stage in the AW09 campaign for the label, Emma was joined by younger sibling Alex on the Mario Testino/Christopher Bailey shoot for SS10. With gorgeous results.
Joining them this season are musicians George Craig (of Brit band One Night Only) and Matt Gilmour (son of Pink Floyd’s David) along with upcoming model/IT-boy Max Hurd.
Loving how she gets her brother to carry her stash
Em with Matt Gilmour, and model Max Hurd
And with One Night Only's frontman George Craig
Though according to Grazia, this is not 17-year old Alex’s first foray into modelling, nor is he a stranger to the Burberry brand. Currently the face of Burberry’s Beat for Men fragrance, Alex was apparently also rated in GQ’s best dressed men of 2009. And at 17, thus technically not yet a man, that is no small feat.
Also worth checking out the behind-the-scenes vid from the shoot (also courtesy of Grazia) with George Craig’s very own vocal talents providing the backing music. Darn WordPress won’t let me embed as usual, but the thumbnail below will take you right there.
Click on the image to watch the video
11.13.09
Jack Wills does Haute Couture
Pyrie Dress - Jack Wills Christmas Collection
The brand new Christmas collection launched last week and this season’s handbook is the best ever (the creative alone deserves another post at a later date).
The very first item to launch itself off the page is the Pyrie dress (above), available solely in the Check (with a very similar Kassian design also on offer in black). Strictly Limited Edition – there are only 20 of these fine pieces up for purchase – each 100% silk dress is individually hand crafted at a not inconsiderable cost of £798 a pop. In the words of older sibling brand Aubin & Wills: exclusively for the discerning.
Highly desirable and only available to those able to fit neatly into a size 10 (so not quite haute couture made-to-measure but close enough), the Pyrie is quite the statement must-have piece of the season. And if you’re balking slightly at the price, comfort yourself with the assurance that only 19 other girls in the world will own the very same.
A far cry from the Balmain sequins of my earlier post which, as the ever-growing trend expands past tipping point, are likely to have a presence at every Christmas party across the country.
JW, always looking to expand without losing desirable exclusivity, has stepped up a gear and held aloft a seasonal design that even a regular JW consumer might struggle to afford. But look at the impeccable timing: launched in the Christmas catalogue just when every little girl and boy across the land is putting together their Christmas whishlist. It might break our banks, but possibly not Santa’s/Mummy & Daddy’s.
Fear not: for those who can’t quite stretch even to the regular line, who gleefully poor over the rails at the Bicester Village outlet, take a look at what’s launching online:
Though of course, exclusively by invitation only. And there’s a HUGE waiting list. Natch.
The NFL rumour mill: The Who do Super Bowl XLIV
The unofficial word on the street today (or rather the New York Daily Post) is whispering that Brit rockers The Who will perform during halftime at this season’s Super Bowl in Miami on 7th February 2010.
The band, led by surviving members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, are all set for the big NFL season finale, according to Sports Illustrated - accompanied by a typical SI Swimsuit Tori Praver rocking The Who’s band t-shirt.
The NFL hasn’t confirmed the booking, saying only that, “When we have something to announce, we’ll announce it.”
But the choice of the renowned British rockers makes sense, since CBS uses Who songs as intros for all three of its “CSI” shows: “Who Are You” (“CSI”), “Baba O’Riley” (“CSI: NY”) and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (“CSI: Miami”).
The NFL Super Bowl, which draws TV’s biggest annual audience, is traditionally a huge showcase for A-list acts during the halftime show.
In past years, the roster of performers has included Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson (and her infamous “wardrobe malfunction“), Paul McCartney, U2, The Rolling Stones, Prince and Bruce Springsteen.
CBS officials had no comment yesterday either. Sadly, despite having the inside track on Elton John at the Wembley game earlier this year, this one as it remains an unconfirmed unofficial rumour. Chances are that the official line will be announced during the Thanksgiving broadcasts in a couple of weeks’ time, so watch this space.
Perhaps though, this is a premonition that the Who Dats (otherwise known as the New Orleans Saints) might just make it all the way to the Super Bowl. Based on their form so far, it’s more than likely (plus we love them since they came to the UK last year, and won).
Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints? Well, err, maybe The Who.
11.11.09
GANT – how pastels lit up the autumn news
I pulled this out of The Times last Friday as it literally jumped off the page at me. Granted it was largely due to the gorgeous pink bag prominently placed (and the obvious focus of the composition), but on closer inspection the ad really appealed to me. And Gant is not a label I either love or know at all well.
On further research, Gant sells itself as ‘American-style clothing with a European flair’. Sounds a lot like the sort of label that I would love. Some persistence was required with their website – the main site took an age to load and the UK version that Google points you to appears to be completely defunct – but I was dead keen to find that bag.
Being Miss Americana that I am, I’m surprised this brand is no new to me. The main site is currently re-directing to a special 60-year anniversary version, which tells a very American Dream story about the formulation of the brand and its traditional heritage. That said, it has next to nothing of the product to display, so I took the call to action in the advert and visited www.GantUK.com.
But still that elusive bag escapes me. Unfortunately the only versions of the Leather Chelsea Handbag available online (for £219.00 by the way) are black and red. No pink in sight.
The reason the ad stood out so significantly to me was because it seemed so unseasonal. Look at the weather, the pastel shades, the picture perfect couple out on a summertime drive. But unseasonal though it may have been, it provided the prefect escapism from the rainy doom and gloom of the British autumnal climate (and news surrounding the ad).
Clear call to action with the site, that got me logged on… and yet no product to purchase at the end of it. They wouldn’t have made their £219 instantly, but it sure would have been added to my Boxed Up Christmas list. Shame.
11.07.09
Legally Blonde hits London – 5th December
Omigod you guys – from Broadway to the West End, it’s finally here:
The Times’ Playlist magazine had a very pink looking cover wrap this weekend, shouting loud and proud that Elle is coming to town.
I’m a huge fan of the movie – that low-budget, enormously profitable surprise smash hit of 2001, that grossed $141m worldwide and catapulted a young Reese Witherspoon firmly into the A-list (she went on to command $15m for the sequel). My girlfriends share the love of the Blonde, but arguably I am the most ardent fan amongst us.
Hence why, on our New Year break in New York the year before last, when we were searching Broadway for a show that we all wanted to see, I somehow ended up winning the battle and dragging all four of us along.
Safe to say, they may hate to admit it, but we all had a total blast.
The biggest success for me – I guess as every musical should boast – was the music (rightly so, the Original Score earned the show one of its seven Tony nominations). The soundtrack, in lyric and arrangement, perfectly captures the exuberant, confident fun and frolics of Elle as she careers through the Harvard Law application process to win back her man. From the explosive opening Omigod You Guys to the empowering So Much Better (Elle’s first victory over Warner at Harvard). The bridge of the piece (the titular Legally Blonde) comes when Elle admits defeat and decides to pack her bags back to LA - one of the only slow numbers of the show, it culminates in a powerful duet with Emmet.
The Broadway cast in action, led by Laura Bell Bundy
A fairly eclectic mix of a cast are bringing us the West End version. The naturally comedic Sheridan Smith (TV’s Gavin and Stacey, Two Pints of Lager…) takes the lead, and from the video preview on the show’s website, we’re assured she kicks ass with some very strong vocals. Boy band Blue’s Duncan James (having already proved his worth in the West End from a stint in Chicago) plays the smooth, gorgeous, arrogant object of Elle’s affections, Warner – while her emerging love interest Emmet is played by Canadian-born Alex Gaumond (fresh from We Will Rock You as Galileo). Two other very promising castings can be found in Jill Halfpenny as Paulette and the wonderful Peter Davison as Professor Callaghan.
Fairly obviously, it’s decidedly a show for fans of the movie, girls and those who are willing to suspend and notion of serious theatre for one night of unabashed silliness. It’s very pink, very blonde and never claims to be anything else – but if you are not enthusiastically tapping your foot and wholeheartedly rooting for Elle by the key change of the final reprise, I’d be surprised.
Tickets are on sale now, with previews starting towards the end of the month. Naturally I’ll be taking a front seat to see if the West End measures up to Broadway – and no doubt I’ll be dragging the girls along again. Only this time, they know they’ve got a guaranteed fun night ahead of them.
And if you’re not convinced, at least get your hands on the soundtrack. I personally promise it will get you dancing round your bedroom with a hairbrush.
11.04.09
True love IS bag-shaped
Just a quick post this morning. Continuing the trend of heart shaped creations, the below page of Stylist magazine caught my eye this morning. For no other reason than it was a cool arrangement of imagery that promoted their next issue well – and, well, it’s true: true love is bag-shaped.
(Husbands / boyfriends – Christmas is coming. Take note.)
(c) Stylist magazine
10.19.09
THAT Balmain dress
So sequins and texture are dominating the high street right now. Why? Because they also stole the show at London Fashion Week last month. But there was one key statement piece that every fashion weekly and Hollywood superstar – from the established rock veteran to the teenage ingenue – seem to be adopting as the look of the season.
THAT Balmain dress.
The frightenly low waist-skimming neckline and statement shoulder pads define it from the multitude of sequinned numbers currently pouring forth from fashion houses and retail stores alike.
Where might you have seen it? For starters, the superb giant LFW special issue of my own personal weekly fashion bible – Sunday Times Style magazine – showcased it in all its glory in a runway shot:
© Sunday Times Style
On the same weekend, Sunday Telegraph’s big monthly fashion bible – ST – also flagged the Balmain sequins in a muted colour shoot:
© Sunday Telegraph ST
And then, the following week’s Style magazine (launch issue for their new look) featured a big splash interview with rock chick Courtney Love – and guess what they put her in for one of the looks?
© Sunday Times Style
(Perhaps thankfully discarding the slashed-to-the-waist version for the more modest front cut – both can be viewed in the Automne-Hiver 0910 collection on Balmain.com)
And then, a top starlet and fashion inspiration in my world, Blake Lively, rocked up at an Emmy after party in the very same. She even changed out of her classic red Versace awards gown before the party. A clear stamp of approval if it were still needed.
But sadly, not all of us can fork out the required £6,930 for the real thing. Fear not – Warehouse have a copycat number that is guaranteed to fly off the shelves this season. For a mere £90 as well. The danger is that you are likely to rock up at various Christmas parties this winter and experience the embarrassing she’s-wearing-the-same-dress-as-me horror, but given how widely the Balmain original is being touted around, celebs will probably be experiencing the very same. So you’ll be in good company.
