Goodwin Games and TV Cancellation Heartbreak

Dear People on the Internet,

Can you all please watch The Goodwin Games? It's only been on for four episodes, but I love it already. It has a fresh, albeit totally implausible if one's disbelief isn't properly suspended, premise of three estranged siblings brought back together to compete for their recently deceased genius father's fortune which they didn't previously know he'd amassed. It stars Noel from Felicity, Barney's stripper girlfriend from HIMYM, and a dude I found mildly annoying in the first episode but already now find completely endearing. There's wit mixed with childish humor mixed with unexpectedly sweet moments - a combination very similar to Go On, may it rest in peace.

And shows like Go On are why I'm writing to you today, Internet. I've experienced too many cancellation heartaches recently. I won't dwell long, but let me tell you about a few fallen heroes:

Bent. This was a long while ago. I think it was about a type-A girl who hires a hot contractor who is not dependable. Antics and sexual tension ensued. 

Emily Owens, MD. COME ON. How do you cancel Meryl Streep's daughter's show?! Shouldn't there be a law against that? There should be a law against that. This show was like Grey's Anatomy: Lite, and isn't that what we're all really searching for in this world?

Ben and Kate. Sure, the premise wasn't original, but I liked Ben and I liked Kate. Ben was a lovable loser. Kate was mega awkward and an imperfect perfectionist, a hard combination to live out but one with which I related. 
 Go On. I think all the major TV networks are just playing a joke on Matthew Perry at this point. This is his third failed venture since Friends. Go On was at times too wacky for me (I loathe the word wacky and I loathe wackiness), but for the most part it was witty and completely sweet. It did remind me of Community at times - a group of people who should never be friends become a ragtag family - but I wouldn't think that's grounds for show murder. 

Smash. Just kidding. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did. That show took itself way too seriously. Good music though. (Pats Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee on the heads condescendingly.)

Up All Night. The biggest heartbreak. So many times while watching this show, Jeff and I felt like we were watching our relationship. And we find ourselves vastly entertaining, so of course we wanted it to continue. But then LORNE wanted to switch to multi-cam and he ruined everything. Freaking Lorne. (Lorne, if you're reading this, I'm just joking. Please let me be on SNL just once. Please.) Anyway, Up All Night was hilarious, sweet, and honest. Winner. Except, you know...loser. 

I suppose one could draw the conclusion that I have poor taste in television since all of these got canceled, and to that one who is drawing that conclusion I say this: Dancing with the Stars has been one of the top rated TV Shows in the recent past. That's bad ballroom dancing starring, at best, C-list "actors." So maybe good taste has little to do with keeping a show around.

In conclusion, watch The Goodwin Games. Let's keep this one alive!

Thanks,
Emily

Meet the Goodwins!

Dear Emily,

Dear Emily,

Why thank you for your blog-letter! I loved hearing all about your life. There is so much that falls between the cracks, even as much as we try to stay in touch. It is a relief to know some of these delightful tidbits can be salvaged.

Do you ever just wonder what is going through Eiley’s mind as you read to and play with her? What do you sing with her? Does she have a favorite song? Sofia has always been a surprising fan of the ABC’s, and Manny has a magical ability to put her asleep with “Hush Little Baby.” I hear the later so often that I meditate on its meaning and implications way too much.  I’ll probably have to write a blog post about it some day.

Sofia is saying “Mama” a lot lately and it is the highlight of my life.

Instead of plants and flamingos, you should just focus on what you already do so well and build your gnome collection. Did you ever see that Gnomeo and Juliet movie?

I remember random things and use those memories to develop an odd list of life-goals/dreams. One of them is for you to have a white picket fence some day. I’m sure I probably made awkward threats to Jeff while y’all were engaged that involved him promising to make this happen for you. I’m glad you are getting closer, who knows, I could die at any moment, what with the wild meese and falling snow and fire-red clawed creatures roaming all about around here.

I am very sorry that Jennifer Johnson didn’t do it for you. I also judge books by their covers. This often means I purchase pretty ones, but I apparently do not have such luck as you, and so there are a lot of pretty books on my shelves, but a whole different collection of books I have actually enjoyed. What is going to happen to cover design in a world of iTunes and eReaders?!?! Tragic.

I am in a book club for the first time in my life. I hated the first two books we read, but rather enjoyed the most recent one we discussed. It was called The Imperfectionists. It was about a newspaper in Rome or more thematically, about the evolution of journalism over the past several decades. My family never subscribed the paper when I was growing up, so I find journalism and newsprint to be an exotic art form, not in the least bit discouraged by Dave Eggers The Panoramic. Are you familiar with that? I texted you the night I heard him speak about it at Berkeley, fascinating. But I’m getting carried away on this topic so I should move on.

Please do away with your shame because I LOVED Drop Dead Diva. I believe I may have recommended it to you several months ago? Lol. I also recently discovered a male version of the show with the love interest from the movie version of Mansfield park. It is called “Eli Stone” and it is available on Netflix Watch Instant.  It has the dad from Alias doing lots of song and dance numbers. Eat your heart out.

I can only imagine how amazing Jenna is with Eiley. Y’all are so blessed to have each other and get to be close by. Jenna is just an amazing human being! I am so anxious for Thanksgiving because that means my sister is coming to visit. I keep getting so excited at the thought of her seeing Sofia for the first time since July, because I feel like EVERYTHING has changed for Sofia since then. Lauren is not going to recognize her.

I have indeed played Bananagrams and when I did I thought, “Emily would love this!” I, as you know, am a horrendous speller, therefore I am not a huge fan but enjoy playing it for the sake of the people I play with.

Bah! No diaper bag?!? Disasterous! I kind of hate my diaper bag and wouldn’t mind an opportunity to change things up, but would totally freak if I lost all its contents. I hope you didn’t lose anything too valuable.

Um, wow. Christian swingers party?!?! You and your parties, amazing. This should be an ongoing series on our blog because you are part of the most creative parties I ever hear of. Also, you as Olive Oyl iis just so perfect. I love it! And the fact that you can pull that off so soon post-pregnancy deserves a big kudos, way to go!

I haven’t been to any parties that come close to that one lately. But we did participate in this town Halloween parade. It was so awesome. It took me back to my own childhood when we would decorate our bikes for Fourth of July and have a city-wide parade around the entire city. [the “city” I lived in was about eight blocks deep and one block wide] Here, all the kids in town [and several more brave parents] dressed up, gathered in the town green, and followed the high school marching band a few blocks around to the Rec center. We saw most people we know in town and I got to meet the dads of all these mommy/baby pairs I’m getting to know. So much cute stimulation. It wore us all out, but it was great fun!

I was checking out Sandy Kay Salsbury’s blog [http://viewfromtheroadsofar.blogspot.com/] and am playing around with the idea of doing the Nanowrimo [http://www.nanowrimo.org/]. Didn’t you do that a few years back? I should probably be more committed from day one, but we’ll see. Anyways – thanks for giving me lots to write about with your lovely post!

Talk to you soon! Lahve!

Movie Review Monday #18: Instant Gratification

Emily and I have found ourselves plowing through several Netflix Watch Instant features in this season. As I burn through my queue, I'm always needing recommendations for new stuff - so it's been great for us to be able to offer each other suggestions to keep things fresh and entertaining. Perhaps you also enjoy some good movie watching recommendations? Perhaps you have some I should add to my list? Let's compare notes. Here are some of my recent faves:

Series:

I find a good series quite comforting. I have an addictive personality, and this is one of the healthier addictions I indulge in. The familiar characters I can come back to when I feel stressed out seem to help dissipate the anxieties of new challenges. 

Battlestar Galactica

My friend Emily [not of this blog] from grad school bugged me a million times to watch this show. She is this crazy cool goddess-like creature, but I thought this was her secret dorky-side coming out ["Beets. Bears. Battlestar Galactica."], so I smiled and nodded and resisted for a good long while. Maybe it was her dorky side, but oh wow did I get sucked in! I started seeing everything in life according to Battlestar Galactica themes, but I just couldn't stop until I had seen every.single.episode. Thanks Em! 

Thirtysomethings

Something about having my own daughter is making me curious about what my parents were like at this stage in their lives. One thing I vividly remember is sneaking upstairs to the den and peaking around the wall to watch Thirtysomethings over their shoulders until they caught me and sent me back to bed. Watching it now as an adult and parent is really tripping me out because I think they spied into the future into my mind to depict a lot of the things I'm going through lately. Also, the 80's were a funny time!

Parks and Rec 

Just watch it now. 

The Storyteller 

I love good stories. And while a good fairy tale can be great to revisit, it's amazing to hear some old ones for the first time. Super short episodes masterfully wisk you away to far away lands. Good work Jim Henson!

Documentaries:
I may be a little bit addicted to being in school. So when I have no classes to attend and need that intellectual-stimulation-fix, a good documentary can often do the trick. Even if I don't agree with the message of the film, I love having food for thought.

Philosopher Kings
Janitors at universities and colleges tell their stories and impart their wisdom. Surprisingly amazing, touching, inspiring. Really worthwhile one hour and nine minutes!!

God in America (6 episode series)
Holy cow [;)] This was an amazing and thought provoking series that had Manny and I jabbering at each other for days as we unpacked all our reactions and emotions. We attended a christian college and decided this series should have been a required part of the curriculum for all students. While I don't hold the same perspective as the film makers, I really appreciated the way they helped me to be humbled, challenged, and even inspired. Really worth watching!

Soundtrack for a Revolution
I love music and I have a shamefully inadequate knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement - so this won on two counts. It is inspiring, emotional, difficult, uplifting. It really caught me off guard how much I enjoyed this film!!

Movies:

Timer
My mother-in-law tipped me off to this one. Honestly, I started watching it just to be able to tell her I did. But was great. It considers what life would be like if we could know when we would meet "The One."

Arranged
Two women, one othodox Jew, one Muslim, are both entering arranged marriages and teaching in New York a public school. They navigate the challenges of living between their own culture and American culture together. Really endearing and an atypical approach to a familiar theme.

Penelope
Young princess is cursed with a pig nose and seeking a husband to break the spell. Delightfully charming.