Didn't Know Bowie Could Get Any Cooler...

Adrian Scandle's Reviews: Studio 60 & Heroes

Alright, here's the deal CarryOn-ers, I am going to start posting reviews. I will warn you, my biting wit and no-holds-barred honesty may frighten and even offend you, but in the name of truth I must say what needs to be said. This will be a semi-regular posting (to all my loyal fans who complain I don't post enough, let me just say that some of us are billable) that will be updated as new material crosses in front of my unblinking eyes. This can be television, movies, the annoying behaviors of my otherwise loveable officemates and cats, songs on the radio, David's latest buffonts, etc. With that said, let us jump right into the abyss and being with my review of - virtual drumroll please....

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
So while admittedly never a mouth-foaming fan of The West Wing, I did understand the appeal of its running-down-the-hall-with-aides-and-cabinet, national crises, clip-board-in-hand, Allison Janey delivering slapping dialogue. If any place deserves the frenetic energy usually reserved for high school proms or Red Bull sponsored raves, it's certainly the White House (albeit not with the current administrations' Debbi-Downer clause apparently added to the Presidential oath...but that's another review entirely). However, Studio 60, driven by the self aggrandizing Sorkin, tries to deploy the same tactic of overlapping dialogue and kinetic hyperactivity and map it onto a TV studio, giving the same weight to "Mr. Producer, the White Stripes have dropped out!" that they would have given to "Mr. President, the country is under nuclear attack!" And while I'm sure Judith can attest to the fact that studio execs probably do treat such instances as issues of the greatest importance, studio president Amanda Peet could care less. Well, actually, I can't tell if she can care less because she only has 2 acting techniques that she uses by changing her face from amused to amused and bewildered. If there were a paper bag large enough, she would be trying to use those two faces to escape, if you catch my drift. Matthew Perry plays...well, Matthew Perry, which is delightful for me in a kind of sadistic way. I mean, he's not easy on the eyes (but my friends tell me apparently straight girls think he's dreamy, which I'll never understand...he looks like a gargoyle, all saggy-eyed) but seeing him play a nervous wreck is a nice departure from the sacchrine-blooded Chandler Bing.

The rest of the show for me just reads as an exercise in murdering subtelty. NBS, could that be NBC? HILARIOUS. Studio 60, a late night sketch comedy show that's failing? Could that be Saturday Night Live?! Oh Sorkin, you riotous cad! A writer/producer overcoming his coke habit to return a flailing network to its once glorious days? Could that be Mr. Sorkin himself?! Sheer sticky-palmed brilliance!

That said...it's unfortunately still better than 90% of what's on TV. I suggest a drinking game to impair your judgement (and taste). Try taking a shot/swig whenever a character says "Hey" to a fellow Studio 60-er, you'll at least think Matt Perry's more attractive by the end...

Heroes - NBC
So I was thrilled to see this show, especially after the preview where the girl jumps off a 50 ft. high platform and falls on her face (and lives). I'm amused by superpowers, especially ones that facilitate Jack-Ass style stupid human tricks, so I was expecting a lot from this show. What a letdown! I mean, for all you fans of a certain island mystery show on ABC starring Matthew Fox (a much more attractive Matthew), does this sound at all familiar: a group of strangers, some with unexplanable powers, are all somehow connected but they don't yet know it. There's the young sexy eterna-stubbled doctor (the main character, no doubt), an East Asian subtitled youngster sick of the stiffling anonymity apparently associated with his culture (I know, I found that bit racist too - his friend actually says "I want to be normal. We're supposed to be like everyone else, we're Japanese!"), a sexy brunnette with a dark past, a heroine addicted artist, yadda yadda yadda and the list continues. Again, what happened to new stories? I mean, I know since Shakespeare's time there's basically only been like 3 new stories developed, but can't you reach back further than 3 years for them? At least try and pull the wool over our eyes! Are Stan Lee and JJ Abrams getting a check for this show? I mean, we're supposed to wait for the characters to develop their powers and be intrigued by how all their stories intertwine, but you have to make the show watchable in the meantime. This makes me wish my TiVo had a "Quality" button that I could push that would extract the 10 interesting minutes from this uninventive superhuman drama. Maybe it'll grow into itself and get better? Maybe I'll develop the ability to fly and hover outside your offices? I'll give this show another try just in the hopes that someone on the production staff will develop the superpower of *gasp* originality, but in the meantime don't be frightened if you see me flapping along with the hawk and scaring the crap out of the 22nd floor.





"Wow...Adrian can fly! I should have left the public alone after Bring it On, All or Nothing. "

...just a bunch of monkeys

We're all just monkeys

Office guest - 22Sept2006

Purchace Request

we've got the Pyramat chairs...

we've got the flat screen TV...

now all we need is the PS2 so we can play Guitar Hero like these guys...

Us 26, Them 6

If you squint and use your imagination you can see the faintest outline of a score board. That's right, we won 26 to 6. Photo credit goes to Kat.

Martini Thursday. The Night in Pictures....

The Ladies

Party Goers

"Hold Me"
Party Goers 2

Clubhouse Editorial Staff

Group Photos are Fun!

Notice Chevon's crazy hair ornamentation. Also, the plastic animals in her headband.

Easter Bunny

ever wonder what the easter bunny does the rest of the year?



-d

Carlos' Crazy CarryOn Caption Contest!!!!!

It's that time again...
Our intrepid photo editor Carlos has scoured the CarryOn shared drive to bring you another caption contest. I think we've really outdone ourselves this time. How you may ask? Well, it's pretty ground breaking. In fact, I don't know if your feeble minds can handle the divine nectar we're about to pour down your throats. We were really in a zone when we came up with this week's twist on the boring old caption contest. No, this ain't your grandaddy's average caption contest. No, no, no. This is some new, still in diapers, fresh of the streets kind of s***. This is Wu Tang 36 Chambers kind of mind blowing. It makes "Bringing Sexy Back" look about as fresh as dancing the charleston in a speak easy.

Do you still want Prometheus to give you fire, silly mortals? Okay, fine. Wow, you're really persistant. I don't think you're ready but..... Wait for it...... Wait for it..... This weeks caption contest has not one, but TWO pictures!!! Are your minds blown or WHAT?

If you haven't lost your motor skills in a dizzying, surprise-induced stroke we'd like you to give the caption contest a shot. Who will win this time? Will we have another anonymous victor or will someone claim their prize and bask in the praise/jealousy of their fellow employees? Only time will tell. Only time will tell. Damn.

Picture 1

Picture 2

Dave... how do you feel about softball?

K.G. is in town!

Kevin said he probably won't be playing tonight or ever because Paul didn't buy us Prada uniforms, but said he'd be cheering us on from the sideline.

Thanks to Betty for sending us this pic from last week...Kevin cheerleaded while the Kentucky CarryOn-ers moved offices.

Goooo SlumpBusters!!!

Now Everybody Dance...

Just another day at the office...

Am I really at work right now, double-fisting?

Yes, yes I am.