Franklin & Bash "She Came Upstairs to Kill Me": AKA Zack & Travis as Lawyers: I'm Still Amused...

So last night was the second ep of Franklin & Bash, entitled "She Came Upstairs to Kill Me". Seriously the marketing of this show is kinda brilliant as both Mark Paul Gosselaar & Breckin Meyers yet again decided to live tweet during both the East & West Coast broadcasts. Cut to me, sitting on the couch, constantly refreshing my phones twitter feed during commercials to see what sort of ridiculous & nonsensical "facts" the two leads were spouting out.

This week's premise was just the sort of silly, outlandish case that the shows ads have been promising from the very beginning. Isabel (played by the gorgeous Natalie Zea of Justified) was on trial for murdering her billionaire husband...with her va-jay-jay. Yep, that's right, she is accused of over sexing her husband to death. Seriously.

Also in this week's episode were Fred Willard (who to me will always be Ron Albertson from Waiting for Guffman) & Thomas F. Wilson (AKA BIFF!! Of Back to the Future).

And this appears to be just the beginning of famous faces, the ever amusing MPG tweeted that we could look forward to seeing James Van Der Beek, who I feel like is currently trying to relaunch his career, even though he never really went away to begin with. I mean, is it just me or is he like EVERYWHERE lately? Then again I may just still be bitter that he is going to be on ABC's mid season Apartment 23, instead of former *NSYNC member, Lance Bass. Oh Lanceton, how you are missed. Beau Bridges, Jason Alexander (George of Seinfeld, but more importantly Albert Peterson of the 1995 Tv movie version of Bye Bye Birdie), & Tricia Helfer (Burn Notice) will all be making appearances.

Awesome guest stars aside, I think the best part of this episode, was the fact that we got to see Malcolm McDowell's Stanton Infeld serve as first chair on a case. It was great to see them utilize his great comedic acting & have his character actually DO something as opposed to just popping in the episodes to mediate between Franklin & Bash v. Damien Karp (Reed Diamond). The bit where he and Bash try to work out what song is stuck in his head is priceless.

I was glad to see that the second episode of this summer fluff just as fun & irrelevant as the pilot. Also glad to see MPG showing his abs again...sorry, that was the little Zack Morris fan girl in me, who is quite happy that just b/c he's a lawyer doesn't mean that he's confined to suits. Huzzah!

Rewatching Firefly: AKA Joss Whedon's Ability to Scare the Hell Out of Me & Still Make Me Love Him

I have strange taste when it comes to television programing. I'm one of those people who love shows that are weird & keep you guessing as to what's next. I get annoyed by sitcom comedies where you know 3 steps ahead of the characters what's going to happen. I'm not saying they are bad or that there is no place for them, clearly the viewers of shows like Two & a Half Men enjoy that sorta shtick, it's just not my cup of tea.  Which is probably why I love the works of JJ Abrams & of course Joss Whedon. I have been a fan of The Whedonverse since back in the day when Buffy still aired on the WB (btws as far as I am concerned it will always be the WB). Let's face it the man is brilliant at creating characters you care about, keeping you guessing, & scaring the CRAP out of the viewer.

Since summer has come & taken most of my beloved shows into reruns I've begun my Rewatch Project. To kick it all off I've begun with Firefly, because with Castle in reruns I need a little Nathan Fillion in my life. Though I love the show, and am still baffled by the stupidity of FOX for canceling it, it had been so long since I had watched it I'd almost forgotten just how insanely strange & wonderful the show truly is, almost.

As I sat down & watched the (tragically only one season) series I was struck by several realizations. First off the cast is fantastical, it is impossible to talk Firefly without making some mention of the dream cast that was assembled. Seriously Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Sean Maher, Morena Baccarin, Summer Glau, Jewel Straite, Ron Glass, & Adam Baldwin, all amazing in their portrayals. To have a cast that large & still manage to make each character interesting & important to the story is a pretty daunting task, however Firefly makes it appear almost  effortless.

Secondly I always forget just how fucking scary Joss's shows can be. Still there I sat, on my big comfy couch clutching Bear-ick Jetter (my NY Yankees pillow pet) in terror, watching "Ariel" as the blue handed men pulled out their little brain explody devise. I felt my stomach drop as River sing-songingly muttered "Two by two hands of blue". And no, this was not the first time I had seen this episode and I still had to stop after it ended for a breather, that is how terrifying I find those men to be.

Still, to me, the scariest moment in, probably, the entire series (& I'm not include Serenity in this) is in "Objects in Space" where Bounty Hunter, Jubel Early, has Kaylee cornered in the engine room and point blank asks "You ever been raped?" Seriously points to Richard Brooks for his deadpan delivery of the line, makes my skin craw. Between that & the look of sheer terror on Jewel Straite' s face, I was done. I've seen the episode before, & clearly knew that Kaylee & her virtue remain intact at the end, but watching it? I felt the same horror, dread & fear for her as I did the first time.

That's what is so truly special about the worlds that Joss Whedon has created. You get lost in them, & despite the fact that they are often have some element of fantasy/sci-fi to them (Buffy slayed Vamps, Firefly happened mostly on a Spaceship) they feel real. Which is probably why the Whedonverse has such die hard fans.

As I rewatched Firefly it reminded me just how much I loved these characters. How much, as much as it is in no way Utopian existence, & I'll admit it, River kinda wigs me out, I almost  wish I could be a part of that world, if for no other reason then to hang out with the inhabitants of Serenity. That to me is the best judge of just how great a show is.

Franklin & Bash: AKA The Return of Zack & Travis into My Life

Last night marked a milestone for me... Last night became the first night that I purposely tuned in to TNT. Don't get me wrong, I have often been channel surfing & stayed on the cable channel after seeing that they were running some sort of Law & Order marathon or rerunning a show I watch, like Bones, but never before have I looked at the clock & demanded TNT be turned on.

What could cause this oddity to occur? The premiere of TNT's new original series Franklin & Bash, starring Mark Paul Gosselaar & Breckin Meyer, or as I had been calling it Zack Morris & Travis  Birkenstock's return to my life.

Because let's face it there is a whole generation of us out there who grew up on Saved By the Bell & can recite most of Clueless off the top of our heads. We all remember the episode "Jessie's Song", where Jessie becomes addicted to caffeine pills (I feel it is important to note that I knew the title of that ep off the top of my head) and can recite the confrontation scene between Zack & Jessie. ("I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm so I'm so scared...").

As for Clueless, seriously that movie WAS the teen movie of our youth. Inspiring a whole new lexicon for a generation, not to mention bringing Paul Rudd to our attention in a whole new way, oh Josh....but I digress...

I was giddy about a Gosselaar/Meyer show from the moment I found out it was in the works. In fact I may or may not have told clients coming in to audition that if they booked it the would HAVE to get me a set visit & introduce me to MPG & Breckin (I was only mostly kidding).

Then came the promos (on weretotallylawyer.com) which only added to my excitement. Whoever was in charge of marketing on this one, major props! Instead of the normal, look at these clips from our show approach the add campaign decided to make mock lawyer adds. Seriously, aside from the info on when & where the show was airing at the end they looked like all those awfully cheesy local lawyer commercials you see all over tv, complete with awful fake hallways/walking graphics.

Combine the promos with all the talk MPG has been doing on his twitter, seriously the boy has been doing some hardcore promoting, I was beyond ready/excited for last night's premiere, even taking over the BIG tv in the living room, as opposed to retreating to the bedroom to watch.

The show did not disappoint. It was, as promised a slightly off the wall quirky comedy with a heart. I admit to the fact at one point laughing so hard I squeaked, much to the amusement of the boy who was watching with me. MPG & Breckin have amazing chemistry.

It was so great to see MPG in a role which showcased his comic ability. Considering my last memory of him was as a Porn Star on Law & Order: SVU, I skipped out on Raising the Bar, I just couldn't take the hair, but hey I watched Hyperion Bay & Commander in Chief, so that has to count for something. His Peter Bash is the perfect combination of smarts & smart ass. Speaking of asses, as shown in last night episode that boy has a toned one. Damn...

Breckin's Jared Franklin is spot on in his quirky sexy charm. I totally forgive him for Garfield. Despite being a little smarmy, you can't help but fall for his adorable antics. Dude, I'd totally sing karaoke in the office with him. Seriously you just wanna put him in your pocket & keep him around all the time to just hang out & be silly with.

I'm interested to see more of the supporting cast. Though another spot on casting move is Malcolm McDowell as Stanton Infeld. The slightly eccentric patriarch of the firm which hires Franklin & Bash on and let's face it the man plays eccentric to a tee.

Is Franklin & Bash ground breaking? Hardly, but all and all a cute & funny show, which I will def gladly be tuning in weekly. Do yourself a favor and make a date to watch Franklin & Bash on Wednesday nights at 9pm on TNT.

Thrills and chills

Ok so I was WAY late in the horror game. I saw one (horrible, almost laughable really now that I look back on it) horror film, aka "Dolly Dearest", in about 3rd grade and was scared for many a years till I was ready to give it another go.

It wasn't till a 6th grade sleepover at my favorite Aunt's house (who worked in a video store at the time) that I ventured back into the horror genre with the movie Scream.

I admit that I am still squeemish when it comes to guts and gore, but a well written horror film makes me giddy. Which is why I am so damn excited to see the fouth edition in the Scream franchise. From the moment I heard that they were casting I admit to an overwhelming sense of giddiness, made even more so by the lack of script availability...which working in the industry getting a script is always a fun perk, but sometimes it just ruines things...especial the suspence/horror films....

So now the big day is almost upon us and I am literally salivating that this new chapter may somehow redeem the franchise. For while Scream 2 and 3 weren't awfull they PAILED in comparision to the greatness of the original. So....let's see if this new one can bring it all back!!!

Pilot season has warped my brain

I've been attempting to write again, and finding it more difficult than usual. Having immersed myself in nothing but pilot/movie scripts for the past 4 months, I am now having trouble thinking in terms of an actual story.

I still get the ideas, the vivid characters, but it all comes in clip form. I can SEE the story like watching a movie or tv show. Details get focused in on like they would in a shot, and joining together all the bits is a bit fuzzy, which I find highly obnoxious. Writing a story no longer flows effortlessly and that not only saddens, but worries me.

I am attempting to correct the problem by reading an actually book. I'm really hoping this will help. Seeing as I have just accepted a novel writing contest with my best friend from college. Though I do think he has the unfair advantages of a) being unemployed, b) having unlimited internet access and c) lack of family distractions. Meh, I still plan on attempting to beat him at this. And the idea of celebratory Maggie Moo's (my idea b/c I'm brill like that) make this challenge all the sweeter....

I already have the characters in my head. I can almost see them...it's just a matter of what to do with them...currently taking suggestions btws....

Sometimes it's just AWESOME that I get to do what I do...

Ok so I admit it I occasionally will bitch & moan about my job. Doesn't everyone? Sure sometimes inconsiderate people just piss me off. The assistants who have no regard for my schedule & think that they/their jobs are more important/harder than me/mine. The actors who show up late (w/out calling)/unprepared/ drag sessions on FOREVER....so yeah I in no way claim my job to be perfect or leave me in a constant state of bliss.
But today? Today was one of those days that just reminds me how awesome my job os & how lucky I am to be in the position I'm in.

I tell the clients the main difference in going on tape with me in the office & going with casting is: Casting wants someone to book this job. I want YOU to book this job. I want them to look their best on tape, b/c if for no other reason when they look good I look good.

Honestly I take pride in the fact that I am good at my job. I have a pretty good list of people who have ended up booking things that started with a session I did.

Years of being/being around actors has served me well. I know how to make them feel comfortable, who's gonna be late, who can bang it out, who needs to work through things. What questions to ask, when they're stressed, tired or hungry. Sometimes it means just listening.

I've even tried being more proactive. This year particularly I've started (and am pretty far into) reading ALL the pilot scripts. Am I being paid more for it? Definitely not. Why then?b/c when the clients end up coming in I KNOW the characters, the story lines. I can answer questions work through scenes better.

Today I had two people come in for pilots that I kept the full 1/2 hour time slots...simply b/c I WANTED them to book so badly that made sure we had several takes I could go back through & make sure there was the perfect clips for editing. Don't get me wrong I it's an audition NOT a workshop...I don't run a coaching session (don't get paid nearly enough for that) but if I have the time to play around a bit then why not? I'm not a director I won't tell you HOW to do things or change your portrayal, but I often ask how they see the character & will make suggestions on how that can better come across, which is always followed by the disclaimer that they can always tell me to fuck off & not take it.

Despite missing my train today was just felt really good. My sessions we're just fun. I'm pretty sure Jon may have found me borderline crazy for my gushing enthusiasm over the pilot he was audition for, but coped to loving the fact that I call him out & his shit & push for him to doing the best he can.
I don't know I just figure I write about being pissed off/annoyed at work all the time, it might be nice to have an entry about how good it is sometimes...so I can go back & read it on the NOT so good days, lol.

82 and counting....

I have been MIA for a bit, I know. been buried deep in the land of Pilot season. I have read, 83 pilot scripts thus far, and to be honest there isn't much that is all that exciting. Most of the stuff that I'll attempt to watch will be because of who's cast and not the actual writing...

Life is pogressing, the boy & I are actually attempting to get into more of a rutine, food shopping on sundays, actually getting laundry & cleaning done in a timely manner. We are even attempting to cook more, which is far easier when there is food to cook in the house. I've even started making & taking my own lunches to work...it's all oddly domestic. Not in a bad way.

I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do in life. It's odd, b/c I love my job, it's pretty kick ass, but I feel like there is got to be something I can do, for me, to give me some sort of fufillment maybe? Ok the word fufillment sounds weird, but something to be passionate about...I feel like there are some many projects started where I think "This is IT" that just never pan out...it's all a little disheartening.

So any suggestions are greatly appreciated.