LIVEBLOG: 65th Annual Tony Awards

Gather 'round theatre freaks! It's time to laugh, cry (but mostly laugh), and give kudos to those in the world of theatre that have dared to do wonderful things this year.

I was along for the ride with all my snarky quips -- live-blogging every minute. In case you missed it, you can still check out the instant replay below:

Six Degrees of Separation?

Working in the TV biz, I watch a fair amount of the boob tube. Some news (okay, a lot of news) and some not, but one thing stays true in both cases: there are a ton of commercials. For the most part, I put the commercial breaks on mute and sort through emails. But every once and a while, one commercial comes along that actually makes me wait for the commercial breaks.

My latest favorite involves a balding, dweeby Kevin Bacon uber-fan named Ivan Googling TV shows and Internet clips of the movie icon in his basement. Downright creepy, right? Wrong. The twist is that under all that make up, Kevin Bacon's biggest fan is ... Kevin Bacon.



Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon just got a little more complicated.

With most actors, this would have been little more than some self-serving egotistical attempt at reviving a career. But Bacon takes the mildly creepy role and turns it into something that's both charming and hilarious.

"I didn't know how far they wanted to go with the look and the character. If it was just me kind of walking around, people would think it was weird," Bacon said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. "I walked into this house and I was like, 'Oh my god, you gotta be kidding me.' I loved it."

It's not the thousand and one pieces of Bacon memorabilia or how obsessed Ivan is with the "Footloose" actor that's scary. What disturbs me most, I think, is that I actually like this commercial. I don't know what they're selling and quite frankly, I don't even care. What I've learned from that commercial: Kevin Bacon is as cool now as he ever was! Maybe cooler.

Back in Action

This blog has been woefully neglected lately. So much so, I'm not sure my blog and I are even on speaking terms. I assure you, blog, it's not you, it's me. Life has been incredibly hectic lately, but that's no excuse. I think it's time we rekindled our relationship. It might not be an everyday thing, but we should try to catch up at least a few times a week. Deal? Good. Now for the sake of keeping things pithy, let's get right to it, shall we?

Real life is scary as hell. Yup, I've officially graduated college and have been a full-fledged, real-life adult for more than 3 months now. I've successfully accomplished my first post-college goal (get a real job in my chosen career field, journalism), but I'm not entirely sure where to go from here. Don't get me wrong, life is great. I'm working nights as an associate producer from 13WHAM news in Rochester (coincidentally, the station I literally grew up watching) and I'm still freelancing feature pieces for City newspaper. Every day presents me with new challenges and ideas and I'm loving it (hey, just because I don't have to get up for 8 a.m. classes anymore doesn't mean I have to stop learning, right?).

And even though I've picked up tons of new skills -- like how to simultaneously check my email, import new HD graphics into ENPS, write two completely different stories, take three phone calls and listen to the police scanner (yes, I assure you, it can be done) -- what I've learned the most about is myself (stop rolling your eyes -- I know you're rolling your eyes).

Self-awareness has been a strong trait of mine since I was about five years old. But that only takes me up to the present. I know myself NOW. As I am, and how I was in the past. But who I'll become in the future? I'm clueless. Friends around me have specific career goals, places they want to live, even potential life mates. I don't have any of those nailed down.

But maybe there's something wonderful about that. Taking life at face value. Life hasn't dealt me a royal flush (oh yes, kiddies, it's a poker reference), but clutching a four of a kind is a solid hand to win with.

And I need the win -- being a "real" adult means paying bills and student loans!

Geeky Guilty Pleasure

There are many things in life with which we have love/hate relationships. But rarely do two of those things come together in one. So behold closeted Trekkies and Ke$ha fans/haters alike, because this video might just top the list of awesomely bad things in life.



I never watched a whole lot of "Star Trek" (practically none in fact), but I never realized how much drinking there was on that show. Nor did I notice the bromance between Kirk and Spock. But they do help make that song bearable. Brilliant.

Thanks to Jen Wilson for the link!

LIVEBLOG: The 64th Annual Tony Awards

How did these sneak up on me again? That's right, folks, the 64th Annual Tony Awards are tonight and I'll be bringing you the play-by-play (no bad pun intended). I'll be doing the Live Blog thing again as we watch Broadway starlettes and vets duke it out for the coveted Tony Awards.

There are a handful of interesting nominations this year -- particularly "American Idiot," a jukebox rock musical based on the popular Green Day album of the same name, nominated for Best Musical -- as well as the hosting choice: Sean Hayes. Hayes is nominated for his role in the critically-condemned revival of "Promises, Promises," and although the show itself was not praised, many critics said Hayes was one of the production's redeeming qualities.

That said, this year's award ceremony is sure to be an interesting one. So join me at 8 o'clock to follow along with the good, the bad and the ugly for this year's Tonys.

REVIEW: "All in Good Time"

“All in Good Time”
Barenaked Ladies
Raisin’ Records
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 4 stars

The wisecracking Canadians of Barenaked Ladies have had a rough year. They’ve withstood the departure of co-founding member Stephen Page, the death of lead singer Ed Robertson’s mother and even a private plane crash. But the boys are back with a more reflective sound on their 9th studio album, “All in Good Time.”

The album offers a bluesier pop rock sound than fans may be used to, but one listeners will still enjoy. Despite the more mature, introspective sound, “All in Good Time” still balances poignant with fun — something the band has mastered during their 22-year existence.

Robertson takes lead vocals for ten of the album’s 18 tracks, while keyboardist Kevin Hearn and bassist Jim Creeggan step up on the remaining eight songs. Robertson’s voice offers a familiar sound for listeners (he used to split lead vocals equally with Page), but Hearn’s and Creeggan’s voices croon with mixed success. Creeggan’s song “On the Lookout” sounds less Barenaked Ladies and more Maroon 5.

Their track “Four Seconds” is a bouncy pseudo-rap filled with pop-culture references (think “One Week” but slower and goofier) that proves the guys haven’t lost their signature sense of humor. The first single off the album, a dulcet ballad titled “You Run Away,” astutely reflects the band’s split with Page, while other tracks, like “Ordinary” and “Golden Boy” are akin to BNL classics like “Jane” and “Brian Wilson.”
Beyond the group’s pensive new light rock sound is the same comic charm that will keep old fans and help attract a new generation.

Confessions of a Foodie

There's something about potatoes. I don't know what it is, but I swear there's something magical about them. Baked. Deep fried. Mashed. Salted. Drowned in butter. It almost doesn't matter how I cook them, their mysterious power over me and my taste buds still remains.

There's something cathartic about slowly devouring an entire bowl of potatoes. Maybe this train of thought is coming from a hungry place. Maybe it's because potatoes just happened to be what I was craving when I got home today. Maybe it's because I was just watching 'Julie and Julia' in class and now all I can think about is food.

But as I sit here eating a huge bowl of mashed potatoes for dinner, two things occur to me: 1.) that my parents are probably horrified to learn their almost grown-up daughter is eating only mashed potatoes for dinner — and is admitting it freely on the Internet — and 2.) potatoes may be the single greatest food on the face of the Earth.

Not that I am discriminating against other foods — all food is wonderful. But potatoes in all their glory, particularly mashed, are the granddaddy of all foods. The velvety texture as they roll around in my mouth. The warm sensation as they pleasantly crawl down my throat. The satisfactory feeling as they nestle comfortably in my stomach. They're simply wonderful.