Ravish McKee vs. Sir Francis Blackheart
What is it about November that turns a young writer's fancy to naughtiness? Is it the encroaching frost, a latent desire to hibernate, and to get some good luurvin' while you're, um, at it? Whatever the impetus is, I'm not going to argue with it, so long as Sir Charles Grandiose continues to crank out hilarious entries like the above link. Sir Charles is not the only one to be felled by the heaving bosom bug! Jen, the diatrix (is that a word? well, it is now) of om mani padme hum is just as susceptible to the charms of the trashy romance novel. Read on, and be amused. Very amused.
Wednesday, November 22, 2000 08:24 a.m.

That's Holiday
You know Christmas is coming when the Gap trots out their fabulous holiday ads. I saw two tonight, featuring the usual parade of super-bland models. I don't mind that the models are bland; it detracts less from the choreography and flawless musical selections, which are the true stars of the commercials, anyway. One ad featured a deliciously feedback-filled version of "The Little Drummer Boy". Now that's some frosty goodness. Unfortunately, they're too new for AdCritic to have added them tot their database. In the meantime, entertain yourself with a few old favourites from the archive, like this classic, which features William H. Macy on harmonica. Or this one, which proves that groove really is in the khakis.
Wednesday, November 22, 2000 08:23 a.m.

The New Look, According to Gidge
Gidge has redesigned. Or chosen a new template. Or something. Whatever. She's got a new look. It reminds her of ketchup & mustard. It reminds me of elementary school birthday parties at the roller rink.
Wednesday, November 22, 2000 08:21 a.m.

Billy Elliott's Oscar Chances
Traditionally, films like this - well-acted feel-good dramedies from England -- are nominated many times over, only to lose in every major category come awards night. Then again, Billy Elliot is "more than simply a picture about dance. Indeed, the story of spunky English proles struggling against the odds matches one of the Academy's favorite Best Picture archetypes throughout the 1990s. The Full Monty, Secrets & Lies and Four Weddings and a Funeral made it good to be British again." Four Weddings and a Funeral, a movie about "spunky English proles"? Does that strike anyone else out there as, oh, completely wrong? Not one character in that film could be considered even remotely proletarian. Two of them were supposed to be among the richest people in Britain. And Secrets and Lies is hardly a feel-good movie. Mike Leigh isn't exactly known for hiding the shitty things people do to other people in the name of love, duty, selfishness, or some combination of the three. Someone at Inside.com needs to watch movies before writing about them.
Tuesday, November 21, 2000 09:19 a.m.

Clare Kramer on Being Baaaad
Hey, who the dickens is Clare Kramer? You mean you didn't see The Best Movie Ever, Bring it On? She's a perky, snotty cheerleader in that one. And now she's The (perky, snotty, glamourous, destructive, and yet totally not frightening) Abomination on Buffy. While we're all waiting on baited breath for Beth to arrange all of this week's spoilers in her usual coherent & addictive way, this article provides some very, very mild spoilers. Like The Abomination's name.
Tuesday, November 21, 2000 09:17 a.m.

Action!
I was one of maybe 25 people who watched, loved, and mourned Action last year. And now the lovely Andrew provides me with a link to the fictitious Peter Dragon's website, so I can relive happier, more Jay Mohr-filled times. Sigh. The quotable Dragon: "The imagination is a mercurial beast and luckily, I've been blessed with a verdant one. Great ideas just come to me." Bwahahahahaha!
Monday, November 20, 2000 09:48 a.m.

NSYNC Concert Report
I don't know why it's taken me so long to get hip to the greatness of April and Millie, but now I'm a full-on fan. Their current entries are excellent, of course, but there's a special place in my heart for April's description of her & Millie's adventure at an NSYNC concert. I'm also glad to know that I'm not the only one who loves Dr. Dre as much as she does the Smiths. (UPDATE: Thanks to April for sending me the permalink! No scrolling necessary for that NSYNC report you've been dying to read. You know you wanna.)
Monday, November 20, 2000 09:47 a.m.

Common Law Relationships
Talk amongst yourselves. Audra Williams gives you a topic: some common-law relationships are neither common, nor lawful. Discuss.
Monday, November 20, 2000 09:45 a.m.