TV personality

The Screen Actors Guild awards were broadcast live on TNT Sunday night -- and because I actually had a Sunday off for once, I got to watch them live at home.

We started off with the TV Guide Channel pre-show. I was less than impressed: They kept interviewing people on the red carpet and then cutting away to random shaky footage of other celebrity arrivals. Sometimes they would keep the interviewees in a little picture-in-a-picture box in the lower left corner of the screen, but mostly they just cut away, so all we had to listen to were disembodied voices.

And I'll ask it again: How on Earth did Greg Proops land the fashion-critic job? He's funny, yes, but I'm just not sure how that flows naturally into a pre-show host gig.

Every two seconds, too, he and Melissa Rivers -- Joan Rivers must have been recharging in her pod back on the mother ship -- would call out, "We'll be right back!" and the coverage would cut to a Febreze commercial. Really. I think there was more advertising than pre-show going on. I should have watched the coverage on E! instead.

But somehow time passed more quickly than I thought, because the red carpet cleared out, and Melissa and Greg had nobody left to accost, and I had to hightail it over to TNT for the main event.

I'd forgotten how much I love the SAG awards. More than any of the other awards shows, the SAG awards are a celebration. Actors celebrating the crazy luck and the hard work that enable them to live everybody else's dreams. What a great time.

It didn't hurt that my picks all won, or mostly. Hugh Laurie? Check. Helen Mirren? Check and double-check. Cast of "The Office"? Check, baby! Cast of "Little Miss Sunshine"? Check -- well, okay, so as they announced the winner I was saying, "I don't think they'll pick 'Little Miss --' Oh my GOD!" It was still my personal pick, even if I didn't expect the Guild to agree with me.

Alec Baldwin was my second choice for Actor in a Comedy Series -- seriously, if the obscenely talented Steve Carell does not win at the Emmys, there is something terribly wrong with the world -- but I'm so glad about the recognition "30 Rock" is getting that I don't mind being wrong about that one. Much.

I even predicted the wins for "Grey's Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty" -- without having ever seen an episode of either. People just love those shows. And Forest Whitaker, too, even though I've only seen trailers for "The Last King of Scotland." Those little snippets alone are enough to know what a great job he did with that role.

We love Julie Andrews at my house, so the Lifetime Achievement Award tribute was one that actually held my interest for once. It was a nice change, especially since I was watching live and couldn't fast-forward through it.

There were lots of fashion dos and don'ts Sunday evening, though without The Associated Press wire in front of me I can't quite remember what they were. I do, however, have to say that the Chanel dress Rinko Kikuchi wore this time was infintely better than the bubble-gum-pink shower-scrubby number. Black, elegant and chic, and I was glad to see it.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 02:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The first year of "American Idol," I wanted nothing to do with the show. "Oh, it's so great," friends and family would rave, but I wouldn't listen. Kelly who? I wasn't interested. Reality TV -- who needs it?

The second year, I found myself saying, "God, is that show coming back? Why?" And people went crazy for Clay and Ruben. My parents-in-law were crazy about the show, but I always rolled my eyes when we visited. I just didn't get the appeal.

But the third season sucked me in. I said to myself, "Okay, I'll watch the early auditions and snicker at the wannabes. Once it gets into the uberdrama of the later rounds, I'll tune out."

How wrong I was.

As soon as Fantasia Burrino walked in and belted out her audition, I said, "That girl's going to win this." And if you've read my Golden Globes blog entries, you know how much I like to be right about that kind of thing. So I stuck it out, even rushing home from dinners out to make sure I didn't miss a minute of "Idol" all season. I was hooked.

And so it has been since then.

But last season, I was disappointed with the show, especially in the early stages. It had become more about making fun of the hopefuls than anything else. They followed around these poor candidates and told us their heartbreaking stories ... and then mocked them mercilessly.

Whenever I have to watch some clueless, talentless, tone-deaf nonsinger pour his or her heart out to the camera, gushing about how "Idol" is "everything to me, my whole life -- if I don't get this, I have nothing" ... I hold my hand over my heart and sigh.

I feel so bad for these people. It's almost too much. I'd rather just see their pitiful attempts at singing without all the melodramatic backstory -- that way I can laugh at more contestants (and marvel at their lack of self-awareness), since there won't be so much time wasted on specific unsuccessfuls. And I won't have to feel so bad for laughing at them.

Yeah, it's great to hear them talk back to Simon -- espcially the ones with huge (unwarranted) chips on their shoulders. It's funny as all get-out to listen to the indignant, incoherent rants after they've been told they're no good at singing.

But listen, Fox: I don't want to see any more people mocked for their appearances. I'm sick of Simon harping on girls for their weight. I was appalled at this week's extended scene pointing out a single girl's braces as if she were some kind of freak.

And it's interfering with my enjoyment of the show. So please, "American Idol," before you lose a viewer, be just a little nicer to the fools who're making you all that money. Show us more of them, but let their voices and behavior speak for themselves.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm going to New York City this weekend, and I can't wait.

We usually go around Christmastime -- there's something about the city all dressed up in its winter finest, with the miniature snowdrifts next to the subway stops and the bite in the air and the tree at Rockefeller Center. It feels like walking through a holiday movie.

But we didn't make it this year. There just wasn't time and, anyway, the newspaper doesn't have a recreation association that plans cheapo bus trips to NYC and Boston (like my last employer). And I missed that annual tradition.

This weekend, though, we're going to see a Broadway show. The bus is supposed to drop us off in front of the theater with just enough time to sprint to my favorite shop -- the NBC Experience store. I can pick up "Office" supplies!

Now I just have to decide what I want: a dorky Dunder-Mifflin polo shirt, like the ones Dwight and Michael wore in the conference episode? A mouse pad? A coffee mug? I've already been to the store Web site, so I know what's available. Here's hoping I can decide by the time we get there ...

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have a bone to pick with Entertainment Weekly.

Seems they disagree with my assessment of Rinko Kikuchi's fashion choice at the Golden Globes last week.

If you'll recall, I said it looked like her dress was made of those scrubby things you use in the shower. But Entertainment Weekly gave it the title of "Most Original" in their Globes fashion section. They called it "fashion-forward Chanel."

Original it may be. Chanel it may be. It's also ugly. The only way it could be "fashion forward" would be if she's planning ahead to her next bubble bath.

Take that, EW!

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Seriously, "The Office" just continues to impress. If you don't watch it ... uh, WATCH IT ALREADY.

When the Andy character (Ed Helms) came into play this season, I thought at first that he was a little too over-the-top. Too much like Steve Carell's Michael Scott: Tries too hard; thinks he's hilarious, but not in the way he really is; wants everybody to be his best friend; overreacts to every little thing. And so on. "What's the deal here?" I wondered. They already had Michael; did they need another one? Sure, Andy's motivation is different; he wants to get ahead, and he'll do whatever it takes, while Michael really just wants to be loved.

And then the Scranton and Stamford offices merged, and Andy started intentionally mimicking Michael -- the sincerest form of sucking up -- and it started to make sense.

But even so, it's been weird in the last couple episodes to see Michael as the serious one, the one who's annoyed by the antics going on around him. He's always been the one who annoys everybody else.

In last night's episode, though, it all came to a head. Michael gave voice to the creepy vibe he gets from Andy. "I don't understand how someone can have so little self-awareness," he deadpanned. And later he admitted, "I don't want somebody sucking up to me because they think I can help their career. I want them sucking up to me because they genuinely love me."

I love it. And will any of this result in greater self-awareness for Michael himself? Of course not.

Oh yeah, and the snippet where Jim (John Krasinski) admitted to his sort-of girlfriend, Karen (Rashida Jones), that he still has feelings for Pam (Jenna Fischer)? Augh! Perfect!

Seriously. If you don't watch the show, just watch it.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And now is the time when I sign off, head home and re-watch the awards show, since it's really hard to hear the speeches when the television is hanging up over a noisy newsroom.

But there's an upside -- I get to fast-forward through Warren Beatty's tribute and the categories I care less about.

I hope you've all enjoyed my whirlwind tour of one of television's glitteriest nights, and I hope you'll tune in for further madcap adventures in TV-land.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I was so happy just now when The AP ran a photo of Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski from NBC's "The Office."

"Great," I thought. "The show didn't win, so I didn't get to see how cute they look tonight."

And then I saw the photo. I wish I could share it with you, but I'm having trouble uploading the file. Maybe the Web server agrees with me.

At any rate -- Jenna, honey, please learn from Courtney Cox Arquette: I promise you, the "flesh-colored underlayer with black lace on top" is never a good idea.

You and John are still adorable, though, and you have that over Courtney.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is the complete list of tonight's Golden Globes winners, courtesy of The Associated Press:

MOTION PICTURES
* Picture, Drama: “Babel�
* Actress, Drama: Helen Mirren, “The Queen�
* Actor, Drama: Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland�
* Picture, Musical or Comedy: “Dreamgirls�
* Actress, Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada�
* Actor, Musical or Comedy: Sacha Baron Cohen, “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan�
* Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls�
* Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy, “Dreamgirls�
* Director: Martin Scorsese, “The Departed�
* Movie Screenplay: Peter Morgan, “The Queen�
* Foreign Language: “Letters From Iwo Jima,� USA/Japan
* Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, “The Painted Veil�
* Original Song: “The Song of the Heart� from “Happy Feet�
* Animated Film: “Cars�

TELEVISION
* Series, Drama: “Grey’s Anatomy,� ABC
* Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer�
* Actor, Drama: Hugh Laurie, “House�
* Series, Musical or Comedy: “Ugly Betty,� ABC
* Actress, Musical or Comedy: America Ferrera, “Ugly Betty�
* Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock�
* Miniseries or movie: “Elizabeth I,� HBO
* Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Helen Mirren, “Elizabeth I�
* Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Bill Nighy, “Gideon’s Daughter�
* Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Emily Blunt, “Gideon’s Daughter�
* Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jeremy Irons, “Elizabeth I�
* Cecil B. DeMille Award: Warren Beatty

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Whose idea was it to let Ah-nold have the last word on stage? "We'll be back" -- he rushed through it, and it wasn't funny or relevant enough to wrap up an evening celebrating film and TV's best.

But then, has he really ever been known for his acting abilities?

I'm glad "Babel" won Best Picture, even though I didn't get to see it when it was in theaters. I meant to -- it looks like the kind of thing I love. Stories that interconnect all around the globe involving people from all walks of life? I love that stuff!

But I was put off by the presence of Brad Pitt, and by the time I decided to see it in spite of him, it wasn't playing anywhere near the Berkshires anymore.

Hopefully its new award-winner status will bring it out on DVD sooner rather than later.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At least we have Kate Winslet to stand up for good taste. Simple and understated and classically beautiful. Thank you, Kate Winslet. Even if you didn't win.

Photo courtesy The Associated Press

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Sharon Stone. What were you thinking? What are you wearing?

Photo courtesy The Associated Press

Posted by Laura Marshall at 11:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Helen Mirren's picked up the Best Actress award for her incredible performance in "The Queen."

This was one of the few films I got to see in theaters before the awards season got under way -- and, really, I only saw it because I could tell it was going to be the one to beat.

Oh hey, and Forest Whitaker just won Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama! I foresaw that one too!

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At last, The Associated Press has updated its partial list of winners:

MOTION PICTURES
* Actress, Musical or Comedy: Meryl Streep, “The Devil Wears Prada�
* Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls�
* Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy, “Dreamgirls�
* Director: Martin Scorsese, “The Departed�
* Movie Screenplay: Peter Morgan, “The Queen�
* Foreign Language: “Letters From Iwo Jima,� USA/Japan
* Original Score: Alexandre Desplat, “The Painted Veil�
* Original Song: “The Song of the Heart� from “Happy Feet�
* Animated Film: “Cars�

TELEVISION
* Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer�
* Actor, Drama: Hugh Laurie, “House�
* Series, Musical or Comedy: “Ugly Betty,� ABC
* Actress, Musical or Comedy: America Ferrera, “Ugly Betty�
* Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock�
* Miniseries or movie: “Elizabeth I,� HBO
* Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Helen Mirren, “Elizabeth I�
* Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Bill Nighy, “Gideon’s Daughter�
* Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Emily Blunt, “Gideon’s Daughter�
* Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jeremy Irons, “Elizabeth I�
* Cecil B. DeMille Award: Warren Beatty

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since "House" wasn't in the running, I can give full congratulations to "Grey's Anatomy" for its win as Best TV Drama.

One of these days I'll have to get around to watching the show. Nearly everybody I know is obsessed with it.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And Courtney Cox Arquette reminds us why we should never wear those dresses with flesh-colored underlayers and dark netting overlayers. They're never classy, people. Not on figure skaters, and not on you.

Photo courtesy The Associated Press

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sacha Baron Cohen's acceptance speech was grody to the max.

"A side of America that rarely sees the light of day," indeed. "Rancid bubble," indeed.

But funny as heck, if you like that sort of humor.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I tend to hate when they take time out at awards shows to honor people for lifetime achievement.

They go on and on about people I usually don't care much about, and then the honorees themselves get up there and drone on forever, and I start wondering when I'll get to die.

I wish they could have just given Warren Beatty his Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement and played a couple short clips -- you know, like all the other awards. But at least it's over now.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Okay, so apparently actress Rinko Kikuchi showed up in a dress made out of ... uh ... those scrubby puffs you use in the shower. Scary fashion choice.

Photo courtesy The Associated Press

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I know I promised to update the partial list of winners as it came through on The Associated Press wire.

The trouble is, The AP hasn't sent another partial list since I posted the last one. I might have to come up with one of my own.

MOTION PICTURE
* Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy: Eddie Murphy of "Dreamgirls"
* Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Hudson of "Dreamgirls"
* Best Animated Film (new category!): "Cars"
* Best Motion Picture Screenplay: Peter Morgan, "The Queen"

TELEVISION
* Best Actor in a Drama: Hugh Laurie of Fox's "House"
* Best Actress in a Drama: Kyra Sedgwick of TNT’s “The Closer�
* Best Actor in a Comedy: Alec Baldwin of NBC’s “30 Rock�
* Best Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Helen Mirren of HBO’s “Elizabeth I�
* Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Jeremy Irons of HBO’s “Elizabeth I�
* Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie: Emily Blunt of BBC America's “Gideon’s Daughter�

Did I leave anybody out? Hope not. I'll update the list again later later.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Ugly Betty" has done better than I expected -- now America Ferrera has just earned a personal win for her leading role.

I'll point out here that I had no favorites for this category, because I don't think I've even seen any of the shows with nominees. So I couldn't be wrong. Actually, I cynically figured "Betty" would do well at the awards shows, just because people seem to love it so. For some reason. If, somehow, I accidentally end up seeing it.

Still, Ferrera was so honestly thrilled, I feel happy for her. Uh oh. Now I'm even more likely to get hooked.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I think I'm not allowed to swear on this blog, so instead I'll just say "darn."

DARN!

DARN DARN DARN!

Maybe if I'd seen and become hooked on "Ugly Betty," I wouldn't be so chagrined right now. But I'm a staunch supporter of "The Office," which I firmly believe to be one of the best shows -- comedy, drama or otherwise -- on TV, and to see it lose out to "Ugly Betty" ... well, it stings.

I have a beef with "Betty," to be honest. I know it's based on a hugely popular telenovela and all, but every time I see a preview or hear about the premise, I think, "Dude, that's a total ripoff of 'The Devil Wears Prada.' Except, you know, without Meryl Streep."

And "The Devil Wears Prada" without Meryl Streep is kind of pointless.

I could be wrong. But fashion world? Eager underling? Evil boss? You do the math.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm glad Alec Baldwin won for his hilarious brilliance on "30 Rock." For a few reasons.

1. He's great, and he really deserved it. He steals nearly every scene he's in with that dry, soft, deadpan delivery of his.

2. It elevates one of my favorite new shows to "Golden Globe-winner" status. This is good, as networks tend to keep around series that win things. And while I love "30 Rock," I think I keep expecting it to get ripped away from me. I worry others won't get it, or something.

3. Finally ... I'M RIGHT AGAIN! I predicted the winner would be either Baldwin or Steve Carell. Yeah, so I didn't narrow it down further, but I still claim the victory. YES!

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another fashion quip: What is going on with Cameron Diaz? The dark hair took some in The Eagle newsroom by surprise, but others of us pointed out that her hair's been dyed too dark for months.

"She said guys treat her differently now," said Kerry Sullivan, one of my fellow copy editors. "They take her more seriously."

I don't know about that. She talks like she's seven years old. How can anyone take that seriously? And the tutu on her shoulder this evening doesn't help one bit.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Helen Mirren, of course, won Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie. How could she not, given that she had two of the five potential spots?

I missed her acting in "Prime Suspect: The Final Act" and "Elizabeth I," but after seeing her in "The Queen," I'm convinced she can do no wrong. She's one of those who make acting look like ... nothing. Meaning, she makes it look so easy. Which, we all know, takes an inestimable amount of work.

Okay, so seriously -- I've gotten way too many of these right so far. This is pretty cool.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Somehow I just had a feeling Eddie Murphy would win for his leading-man role in "Dreamgirls." He seemed so charismatic and, um, transformed in the trailers I saw that I said, "I bet he wins."

I should trust my feelings more -- I favored Hugh Laurie to win; I subconsciously favored Meryl Streep to win; and I favored Eddie Murphy without even having seen the movie.

Anybody have an Oscar pool going I can get in on?

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Associated Press has released a partial list of tonight's winners (I'll update when they do):

MOTION PICTURES
* Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson, “Dreamgirls.�
* Original Song: “The Song of the Heart� from “Happy Feet.�

TELEVISION
* Actress, Drama: Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer.�
* Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Jeremy Irons, “Elizabeth I.�
* Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Emily Blunt, “Gideon’s Daughter.�

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I didn't expect Meryl Streep to win for her performance in "The Devil Wears Prada," not really.

I mean, she was outstanding in that film. Every single subtle flicker across her face was perfectly timed and executed, every tone of her voice perfectly modulated. It's a joy to watch that performance -- I find myself hooting (yeah, really) every time her Miranda Preistly says anything.

But the movie itself feels so fluffy that, despite my enduring affection for it and all things Meryl, I figured she didn't have a chance. Sure, I wanted her to win, but.

Well, I guess she showed me!

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"YES!" I think I shouted.

"He can walk?" a coworker joked. We all turned to watch Hugh Laurie skip up to the podium and accept his well-deserved Globe for Actor in a Drama Series.

"I am speechless," Laurie said, but he wasn't. He might have been a bit thrown by the fact that there was no "free acceptance speech" available to match his tux but, given his comedy and improv background, he did just fine.

And only someone with a lightning-fast wit -- and a delicious British accent -- could work "colonic irrigations" into an awards-show thank-you speech.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Man, how I would hate to have been Jeremy Piven or Jeremy Irons, two of the contenders for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or TV Movie tonight.

The lovely presenters call out, "And the Golden Globe goes to ... " and everybody sits forward a little bit. Then they say the first name of the winner. "Jeremy ... "

And two people sit even more forward. Oh, the suspense!

"Irons." Whew!

And for the rest of the night, if I were Jeremy Piven, I'd wonder if maybe, just maybe, I heard them wrong.

Which is why it's just as well I'm not in the running for a Supporting Actor Golden Globe.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wow. They really just jumped straight into the award-winners, didn't they?

George Clooney walked out and announced Jennifer Hudson as Best Supporting Actress, and BAM! The Golden Globes were under way.

It's cool that she won -- I haven't yet seen "Dreamgirls," but she was really good back during her days on "American Idol." Not good enough to win, though she definitely deserved to stay on the show longer than she did. I even voted for her! Wow, she should have thanked me in her acceptance speech just now.

Ooh, and now they're on to the next award.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 08:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Who, exactly, crowned Joan and Melissa Rivers "the First Ladies of Fashion"? Besides TV Guide Channel, that is.

Joan's incessant, rambling monologues veer dangerously into incoherence, and Melissa always sounds like she's a) whining, or b) showing off: "Mom! Mom!" Watch me! Love me!

They're obnoxious. Unfortunately, I can't really imagine an awards pre-show without them. Curses!

But ... is that Greg Proops with them? How did he get that gig? I mean, I love Greg and all. It's just weird.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 07:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

We're watching the pre-show on TV Guide Channel, and I have one question so far: What is up with Will Ferrell's hair this evening? It's orbiting his head at a distance of about two feet. Which stylist advised him to go with that look?

"He's become a caricature of himself," said Tom Tripicco, The Eagle's deputy managing editor.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 07:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The IRS strikes again.

Each year, as I sit on my couch watching the Golden Globes and the Oscars, I say to myself, "Man, I really have to get that screenplay written, produced and acclaimed. Or at least become an international movie star." Is it the fame that draws me? The fortune? The prestige?

No way, man. It's the swag. The fabled "gift bags" given to presenters, chock full of dazzling jewelry, iPods, gym memberships, cameras and vacation vouchers. Last year's swag was worth around $20,000. Yes, please!

But the IRS has ruined that for me forever. According to a story on The Associated Press wire tonight, the gifts are considered taxable income by the IRS if they're worth more than $600 ... and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (which runs the Golden Globes) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (which runs ... duh ... the Academy Awards) had to pay back taxes on all gifts given to celebrity presenters up through 2005.

Now, the Academy is planning not to offer any more swag to presenters, forcing all those poor celebrities to walk away from the shows with only the satisfaction of being the center of attention and envy for their evening in the spotlight. The HFPA is reportedly offering tote bags worth up to $600, which is the IRS cutoff -- any more valuable, and they'd have to be taxed. If presenters leave the Globes with more than $600 worth of stuff, they'll have to fill out the appropriate IRS forms and pay income tax on it.

The bright side of all this, I guess, is that now I don't have to aspire to stardom anymore.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's Golden Globes night!

I think I prefer the Globes even to the Academy Awards. I mean, the Oscars definitely have the big guns in terms of star power, because they're all movies, all the time -- but the Globes combine the movie stars of the Oscars with the best in the television world. What's not to love?

At my house, we always tape the awards and watch them when I get out of work -- we prepare veggie-and-dip platters and popcorn and fresh-baked all-natural cookies. We toast our favorite winners with sparkling juice or cane-sweetened sodas. The cat rolls her eyes and leaves the room when we cheer.

But this year will be a little different. This year I've commandeered the newsroom television -- usually tuned to CNN or some sporting event -- and I'll be watching the Golden Globes from my desk. And my coworkers can roll their eyes and leave the room when I cheer.

So stay tuned throughout the evening: I'm going to be updating with award news, event photos and lots of highly opinionated fashion commentary.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wow. Okay, so the Time Warner installation guys haven't even been gone an hour, and already I'm in love.

We just had our cable upgraded -- Showtime's "The L Word" started its fourth season this week, so there was really no other choice. We were not about to wait until it was released on DVD, not this time.

I was worried, though, when the representative said they couldn't come out to install anything until today.

"Oh," I said. "Then there's no point. I wanted to add Showtime, but my show premieres on the 9th. If I can't see the season premiere, there's no point." I mean, really. Who wants to start on the second episode of the season?

"Don't worry," she said. Those reps are so helpful when you call and say you want to upgrade your cable, get high-speed Internet and digital phone (i.e., when you say you want to triple the money you're paying them). "You'll have Showtime On Demand, so you can watch back episodes anytime."

She had me at "On Demand."

So I signed on the dotted line, and the guys came out today to get everything in place and show me how to use it. I'm so excited about the new channels we've picked up: Showtime, of course, but also IFC, BBC America, Logo and hundreds more, plus a bunch of free on-demand channels. My favorite so far is Exercise On Demand, with various workout options like yoga and pilates, cardio, even motivational shows. Whee! And there are even music channels with radio-broadcast-type shows in several flavors -- '80s, classical and big band/swing being my personal choices. Lots of sports channels, too, but it's not like those'll get watched in my house.

And the high-speed Internet ... I'm going to faint. I've already exhausted the deleted scenes and interviews and "webisodes" on the NBC site for "The Office," but I'm hungry for more.

So look out, YouTube, here I come.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night's "House" episode was brilliant as ever. The whole "is House really going to change?" thing was played very subtly, I thought, and that shows great depth for the writers and actors. And Dr. Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard) gave his best kicked-puppy expression ever.

But I have a question for the Fox network: WHY do you do this to us?

I understand taking the show off for a few weeks around the holidays. But then you bring it back for one episode, only to have it disappear for another three weeks? That's cruel. Sadistic, even. If I didn't know better, I'd say your network was run by one Dr. Gregory House -- except he'd promise us another episode in three weeks and then not deliver for five. (And Fox: Don't even think about it.)

I know "American Idol" is your flagship, and everything else must follow in its wake when it sets sail next week. But "House" is pretty popular, too -- why not just move it to Mondays while "Idol" is on? Or put it on an hour later, at 10 p.m.? I seem to recall it got its start in the after-"Idol" time slot; why not go with what's worked in the past?

Posted by Laura Marshall at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Pepto-Bismol commercial with the Godzilla-type creatures singing and dancing about "nausea, heartburn, indigestion" makes me want to kill somebody.

Maybe even myself, if it means I never have to see that ad again.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Okay, so I watched "Scrubs" last night. It was my first exposure to the show, and I can't say I'm slavering for more. On the contrary.

Since I was a kid, I've hated laugh tracks (and when I was a kid, all sitcoms had 'em). Even with sitcoms I liked, I always thought, "Man, I wish there were no 'live studio audience.' " Even when I wanted to be in the live studio audience, I didn't want to hear it in the final product. I know what I think is funny, and I know when to laugh; I don't need canned laughter as a trigger. It just grates, and it actually causes me to laugh less.

"Scrubs" is a half-hour situation comedy that doesn't use a laugh track, and I was glad to find this out last night. At least, until the first scene change, when I discovered it uses something worse: the musical cue.

All the big jokes -- which were mostly cheap gags -- were followed by a few notes of "funny" music for two purposes. One: The music served to separate one scene from the next. Two: It was the melodic equivalent of canned laughter. Ew.

Of course, the show needed something to encourage people to laugh. It just wasn't funny. Not even the "House" gags -- I think I might have laughed once or twice the entire half-hour, and at the end, I kind of wanted my time back.

Granted, I'm not familiar with the show, so maybe it would have been funnier if I knew more about the characters. I mean, there has to be a reason "Scrubs" is so crazy popular. But having seen it once, it seems like an odd choice to slot between "The Office" and "30 Rock," two well-done, indie-feeling programs that rely on personal interaction for the majority of the comedy.

Speaking of "The Office," that show just gets better and better. I know I go on about it a lot, but last night's eppie was simply brilliant. And it's so well edited; there's no need for musical cues when you've got powerful performances (Jenna Fischer as Pam in the hallway, crying -- a beautiful contrast to the hilarity of the previous scene) and great writing. A good comedy isn't all about the gags.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My regular Thursday-night must-see lineup consists of "The Office" and "30 Rock," and I'm nothing if not a creature of habit. But tonight I'm going to have to add "Scrubs" into the mix as well. It seems the NBC medical comedy is devoting an episode to sending up the Fox drama "House," with a cranky doctor trying to solve medical mysteries.

I've never seen more than the station promos for "Scrubs," and I'm not a big Zach Braff fan, but I've been looking forward to this. I love spoofs, from the good old "Cops" crossover episode of "The X-Files" to the more recent "Sound of Music" singalong episode of "Will & Grace." How can you go wrong with inside jokes? I almost wish I were a "Scrubs" devotee so it would be that much more meaningful.

Anyway, if you care to check it out, "Scrubs" will be airing tonight at 9:00 on NBC. While you're at it, don't miss "The Office" at 8:30 and "30 Rock" at 9:30.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I haven't been watching much TV lately. Not broadcast TV, anyway. See, I actually had the New Year's weekend off -- three whole days -- and we spent most of that time watching "Queer as Folk" on DVD. Most of our shows are (still) on holiday hiatus, so we'd rented the final season from Hollywood Video, and that became our New Year's film fest. We're homebodies, so we usually just rent a truckload of videos and curl up on the couch for this particular holiday; it's become a tradition.

Now that we're done with all the QAF episodes, I'm going to miss our boys. At least I was happy with the series finale; it tied things up without feeling too pat, and left room for storylines to continue. After all, just because certain chapters of our lives come to an end, it doesn't mean our lives are over.

We did, of course, turn off the DVD player for about ten minutes on the 31st to watch Dick Clark do the countdown on the New Year's Rockin' Eve special. It's just not New Year's without Dick Clark, and I hope he'll be welcoming us to many more new years.

Posted by Laura Marshall at 03:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)