Toy Show

One of the traditions I was let in on while abroad was the Toy Show. The Christmas Special of The Late Late Show. I'd never heard of it, but it somehow was the Irish equivalent of the Superbowl. I mean that in the amount of viewers that gather around their tv sets with their friends and watch as a man-child, Tubridy, hosts a show where kids mess around with toys and things get crazy. The show is filled musical acts and Tubridy's wierd antics, needless to say a drinking game was involved in the watching of the show. It was a killer game.

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Some of the highlights include the Little hustlers, a mixture of old school and new school dance, as a group of kids dance to hip hop and step dancing. As well as a 5-year old boy on a tractor speaking "an Gaeilge" before riding off stage.

Watching the Toy Show was quite the experience. I'll have to tune in next year to see what happens because I've already decided to make it a tradition.

Shannon

The Maury Show Bachelorette Party

Katie had one thing on her mind for her Bachelorette Party, to see The Maury Show live. In her words, "There are only a few things I like and Maury is one of them." So Andrea, Caroline, Katie, and I drove all the way up to Connecticut where it is filmed to see the show with her.

Once we made it in line, early the next day, we were so cold waiting outside the show. Katie pulled out her cell phone and began to play some dance beats that we all danced to in order to get our blood pumping. When we walked into the building we were first greeted by the Lie Detector guy. Honestly, I didn't know who he was since I'd never seen the show before and was just some guy in a vest looking to take pictures with ladies.

When they finally let people in the set they pulled us brightly dressed ladies to the side. They first brought us over to an area of 3 reserved seats. Andrea then pointed out that there were four of us, and would you look at it there were five empty spots in the front row. They quickly accommodated us in the front.

The producer came around and began chatting with us and then asked if we wanted our photo taken on the set and told us that we were chosen facebook fans of the day. Being the facebook fan of the day allowed us to sit on the talk show seats, go back stage and see the green room, the hall way, oh and meet Maury Povich. He's really nice by the way.

Then we got around to learning what it meant to be in the audience. The producer told us that we are not meant to watch the show, but to work. Meaning, we had to exaggerate our expressions for each and every emotion. I honestly don't want to see the taping because I certainly look like a goob whenever I thumbs down the cheating spouses or supposed baby daddies.

The show was crazy though especially since the day I saw it from the front row was the first day I actually saw The Maury Show. Seriously the six segments they filmed was on baby mama drama. These ladies popped on the show accusing men of having the same eyes as their baby and that they had to be the baby daddy. There was fighting, tons of conniption fits, as well as the famous lines of Maury "You are not the baby's father."

It was an amazing Bachelorette Party and Katie absolutely loved it. She was about an 11 or 12 on the happiness scale and loved how everyone congratulated her on her upcoming wedding. Seriously though, Bachelorette parties should be this oddly creative instead of the same old same old club and bar. 

Do something you'll remember for your Bachelorette Party. Something where you get to dance on stage with Maury Povich.

Shannon

Downton Abbey

Get ready for the latest show obsession of mine, Downton Abbey. This show is that perfect escape show where you can just turn it on and hurl yourself into the lives of the Crawley family in World War I England and feel warm and cozy. That sound a little odd, but the whole feel of the show and the characters make the time period seem like a perfect fantasy. There's plenty of reasons to love this show including: 

Plot lines meshed with historical and political happenings (Titanic, Feminism, World War One, Easter Rising, etc.)

Stunning 1910s-1920s fashion

The biggest romantic tension I've seen in a long time that I am crazy about --Matthew and Mary.

Matthew (Dan Stevens) has won my heart.

Oh and if none of this is enticing you, then may I say Maggie Smith plays a wonderfully sarcastic Dowegar Countess.

Watch this if you'd like to go in a whole for a few days and be perfectly content with losing your emotions.

Shannon

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones is my all time favorite show and I can't tell you how excited I am for it to return. This HBO series is based off George R. R. Martin's bestselling fantasy series, A Song of Fire and Ice, and is just all too addicting. Basically, a bunch of dynasties fight one another for the throne of the seven kingdoms and the story follows each character along their journey in and out of power. 

Seriously, the first season had me hooked on each character of every house. Of course I have favorites of each house, the primary four being Tyrion Lannister since he is perfectly witty, Arya Stark since she's a warrior girl, Jon Snow since he's got his own thing going on that wall (he's also a Stark) and my personal favorite Daenerys Targaryen since she is the dragon.

It may seem daunting to follow all the characters, but it's not too hard, just check this map of the families...

The second season starts again April 1st and imediately after seeing the trailer I got chills. 

Catch up. Game of Thrones is coming.

Shannon

United States of Tara

I got hooked on a new show when Aileen and I were having a paint your nails, eat pudding, and watch Will & Grace day. She showed me this since ended three series show on Showtime called, United States of Tara. Now she'd been talking about it for quite awhile saying I needed to watch it, but once I did a tv marathon ensued.

The whole show is about the life of Tara (Toni Collette) and her semi-dysfunctional but always loving family as she struggles with her Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Basically at any given moment Tara will change into anyone of her identities like Buck, a gun-slinging vietnamn veteran, Tea, a troubled sixteen year old girl, or Alice, a homemaker who likes to keep everyone in control. After awhile the identies just appear as characters and oscar award-winning Toni Collette acts so well that you can tell the character before she even says a word.

The acting and character development are so strong, this show can't be passed up. Give it a watch.

Shannon

Superbowl Commercials

So let's talk about the glorious ads of last nights game. As I mentioned yesterday, this is the prime time for advertisers to show off their guns and I'd like to share a few fantastic ones out there.

Chevy Stunts

Ah, this. I mentioned fun. a while back. Honestly if you didn't know about this little indie band before they're probably going to be the most downloaded very soon because We Are Young by fun. is played in this commercial.

Chevrolet "New Ride"

This is spot on for all my superbowl commercial needs with excessive freak outs.

Doritos - Bird of Prey

Hilarious and a finalist.

Doritos - Make Your Own

Why this didn't win is beyond me it's absolutely perfect or should I say, golden.

What was your favorite superbowl commercial this year and years past?

Shannon

Once Upon A Time

I know everyone is caught up in this new show, Once Upon A Time, but let me tell you I am not. Yes, having a story about fairytales is a great idea. I love fairytales and by the sheer fact that fairytale characters are trapped in real life I should by all means like this show. But I don't. Instead I have a bone to pick with the creators of this show. 

To the writers I ask, did you put any thought into the storyline? Because the characters are one dimensional. Where the queen is venomous in front of the general public like some mean girl in high school. There isn't even a struggle between Henry and his two mothers because he can easily see that his adoptive mother is evil and his biological mother is good. If you want these fairytales to be considered "modern," I'd paint a whole lot of gray on this black and white world.

I'd also like to address the lighting of Once Upon A Time. Goodness gracious, if you want a good show, lighting should be the high up on your list. Lighting sets the mood for everything and especially the magic that is involved in a fairytale show. What you have is normal lighting, add some color. Don't pretend this is low budget.

To casting I ask, why did you ruin the show by adding Jennifer Morrison (House) and Ginnifer Goodwin (Something Borrowed) to the mix? These ladies are lovely actresses. But in my opinion, characters in fantasy films should be unknown so that there is more imagination to their life. And also, why on Earth are there only two british actors? You either go full british or not at all. 

And lastly, to the producers, we all know that Fairytales originated in Europe. So please give a show like this to the BBC. They've done well with Robin Hood, let's not kid ourselves here.

Though from all I've said about Once Upon A Time, I have yet to give up on it. I still watch hoping for improvement. I still root for this show. It has potential, just a few things need to be tweaked and I can be happy. What I really suggest is that people just skip to Grimm and watch that beautiful show because that show knows how to handle fairytales in the modern world.

Shannon

Misfits

I began to watch a British show, Misfits, the other day and instantly got hooked. The show is about 5 kids stuck doing community service that get hit by lightning. They all wind up with super powers, but wind up using their powers improperly. Such as having an affinity to kill their probation workers. It's not about good vs. evil as most superheroes are. It's honestly just about the characters, especially Nathan.

That guy is hilarious. Watch the show on Hulu and catch up. It's in Season 3 for America.

P.S. He's been replaced now and I am upset.

Shannon

American Horror Story

So I've started to watch this new series, American Horror Story, and boy is it good. It's like a mix of Amityville Horror and The Shining.

Basically, there's this old house from 1922 in which people throughout the years have died in from all the creepy demons and ghosts from within the house. There's so much mystery that keeps me intrigued every second of the show.

American Horror Story also has just the right amount of fear, gore, and psychological thrills that keep me on the edge of my seat. This is the story that has me asking questions and attempting to discuss theories of what is going on in the house. Seriously go ahead and get hooked, it's that amazing.