I am a new member of the Netflix Stream Team and will be happily sharing monthly tips and stories about how my family uses Netflix on a regular basis. (Okay, that’s an understatement. I should say CONSTANTLY. We use Netflix CONSTANTLY.) As a member of the Stream Team I was provided with a Roku and a voucher to apply towards my Netflix account. We got rid of our satellite over the summer. There was great relief that came from not having those bills anymore, but at the same time it was pretty painful—and still is sometimes, especially when I can’t watch things like my beloved “Today Show”. Or awards shows.…
-
-
My Meeting With Tim Gunn (And Other Stories)
I am a big “Project Runway” fan. Total understatement. It’s one of my favorite shows: I’m totally obsessed. I’ve watched the show, now in its tenth season, since the very beginning. Right after Season Three I took a trip to New York City with my sister and got to lay eyes upon the winning designs from the season, on display in the window at Macy’s. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Bennett (season three finalist) upon the release of her book, “Didn’t I Feed You Yesterday?” I love so many things about the show. I love Heidi Klum, I love the judges’ critiques (especially…
-
Chatting With Katie Cazorla About Nail Files Season 2!
I had so much fun on Wednesday. I know, you’re all like, “You seem to have fun all the time, Melisa! Geez!” Or something like that. But for real, I had so much fun on Wednesday because I got the opportunity to interview Katie Cazorla, owner of The Painted Nail salon in Los Angeles and the star of “Nail Files”, a reality tv show on the TV Guide network. When I received an invitation to interview Katie during her media tour stop in Chicago this week (to promote the second season of “Nail Files”), I couldn’t believe what a great fit this was. They approached me because of my blog,…
-
Best Friends Forever!
As of late I don’t really write too much about what I’m watching on television, but today I’m making an exception because I’m trying to do my little itty bitty part to help save a fantastic show that really wasn’t given a chance: NBC’s “Best Friends Forever”. The show, which was canceled after just four episodes and VERY little promotion by NBC (because they were probably too busy promoting another show that has a one-word title–also the first name of its star–which I will not name but tried to watch once and couldn’t even stick with it for more than half an episode because I couldn’t take it anymore), is…
-
Finally, The Popularity of the Reality TV Genre Is Explained.
I’m turning on a dime today, switching gears and providing the reason why reality television is so popular. You’re welcome. But first, go back in time with me, will you? The road is long and winding. Billy Joel’s “My Life” came on the radio yesterday. Every time I hear that song I think of the early 80s Tom Hanks/Peter Scolari sitcom “Bosom Buddies”, because a version of “My Life” was used as the theme song: I adored that show. The premise is arguably ridiculous: two guys who dress in drag (and take on the names Buffy and Hildegard) in order to live in a women’s-only building, and everyone other than…
-
My Trainer, Bob.
So… The Biggest Loser. I am a Biggest Loser fan. Since day one, actually. My mention of the show probably won’t sit well with everyone: it usually doesn’t. I’ve participated in many debates over the years–in real life and on Facebook–about whether the show and the people behind it are “right” or “wrong”. It seems to me that there are just a few types of people, where viewing the show is concerned: 1. I have seen it and think it’s amazing and inspiring. 2. I have seen it and think it’s not only ridiculous but sends the wrong message. 3. I haven’t seen it. I am, of course, part of…
-
Going To The Abbey And They’re Gonna Get Married…
It’s Royal Wedding Day! Woot! I slept on the couch last night so that I wouldn’t be getting out of bed before 3:00 a.m. and waking up Jim, who wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep from the disturbance. Naturally I woke up early, in anticipation no doubt. My eyes sprung open at 2:37 a.m. This day, much like my hair after sleeping on the couch for the last 4.5 hours, will not be pretty. Let the live blogging begin… 3:01 a.m. I’m watching the coverage on NBC. I’m a Today Show junkie. Just learned that the titles bestowed on the newlyweds by the Queen will be the Duke…
-
Live Blogging The Royal Wedding: It’s A Dirty Job, But Somebody’s Gotta Do It.
That’s right, I’m doing it. When the engagement was announced, I giddily recorded a video exposing my terrible “secret” and excitedly spoke about how I would make “big plans” for the wedding. I had intended to have some friends come and spend the night, or get a hotel suite in the city (seriously). Unfortunately but also very fortunately, my life’s bigger plans got in the way of making those big plans, and now here it is, less than twelve hours before Catherine becomes the newest Royal, and I’ve got nada. I had to plan SOMETHING. So I did. Due to the fact that I have a feeling Twitter is going…
-
Taking Care of (Unfinished) Business
One of my all-time favorite activities is traveling. Back in high school, a friend and I talked about becoming travel agents someday. We subscribed to a couple of travel magazines, occasionally stopped in at the travel agency for brochures, and clipped articles and ads for places we’d like to visit someday. Putting together our little notebooks full of exotic vacations was thrilling, and since actual money wasn’t involved, the sky was the limit. Having the freedom to go wherever we wanted was an exciting thought. Some people would be terrified of experiencing new cultures and new languages; my heart beats faster at just the thought of it. Unfortunately for me,…
-
Phil Keoghan Would Totally Dig Us.
“The Amazing Race” is one of my favorite shows. My entire family loves to stop everything on Sunday evenings to watch. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, it’s a reality game show in which teams race around the world, completing tasks along the way, in hopes that they’ll be the first team to the finish line. On most legs of the race, the last team to arrive at the finish line (where host Phil Keoghan waits for them) gets eliminated. On the very last leg, the first team to arrive at the finish wins a million dollars. Two years ago, we even had a theme dinner…