Hamm & Buble

TV Shows That Bring the Funny

What's this? Two posts in as many days. I'm getting better at this. Woohoo!

I figure I should post my New Year's resolutions, but for some reason I'm not feeling that just yet. Maybe I'll save that for tomorrow or later in the week. I'll probably have broken them all by then, so I may not even bother. We'll see.

Instead, I've decided to share with you a few of my favorite funny TV shows. I usually do a year end movie list, but I just wasn't feeling the movies this year. Pretty much a lackluster film year in my opinion. Now TV on the other hand, that's picked up some steam. My theory? We've finally weathered the effects of the writer's strike in TV land, but haven't quite weathered it on the movie side since those productions take a bit longer from start to finish. Hopefully the new year will bring a better batch of movies for us all to enjoy.

Back to TV. I think I'd sum up 2009 as an angry year for me. I spent a good chunk of time just plain mad. Granted, no one really knew this because I do a wonderful job of keeping it hidden. But that, my friends, is for another post. Probably a part of the NYE resolutions as a better attitude is definitely on that list! This is just a brief intro so that you know why comedies were a big respite for me. There are four shows that I look forward to each week because I know that they will make me laugh out loud and I want to share them with you. If you're not watching them, you should.

Modern Family
Hands down, this is my favorite show right now. It's the funniest thing on TV. It centers on one family comprised of 3 household units. The patriarch has remarried a much younger woman and gained a new step-son, while his two grown children each have their own spouse's and children. There's the traditional family unit of the daughter, her husband, and three kids. There's the previously mentioned father and his new wife and step son. And then there's the gay son who has a long-term boyfriend and a newly adopted Asian baby. Hence the title, Modern Family. The show is witty without being too highbrow, yet slapsticky without being too lowbrow. In short, it hits just the right combination making it my favorite show of the week.

Parks & Recreation
I love Amy Poehler. But after last season's lackluster premiere, I didn't have high hopes for this show going into its second season. In fact, I told myself I was going to axe it, but decided to give it one more shot and watch the season premiere. And man was I shocked. They found their footing and this has turned into a consistently laugh out loud show each week. It centers on the Parks & Recreation department in Pawnee, IN. Amy Poehler's character is a bit naive, but oh so passionate about her job. She has high hopes and works amongst a group of people who could not care less. Hilarity ensues. Since I find The Office getting to be a bit old, I'm glad there's a new show to replace the missing funny.

30 Rock
Remember how I just said I love Amy Poehler? Yeah, well same goes for Tina Fey. This is still the sharpest show on TV. Tina Fey's humor is just flat out intelligent. And while Modern Family has replaced 30 Rock as my favorite, I still have mad love for this show.

Glee, or more accurately Jane Lynch on Glee.
Glee is all the rage right now, so I don't have to fill you in on the premise. I love the music and the kids, but what makes me laugh out loud is Jane Lynch. I've been a fan of hers since I saw her in Best in Show. I think I would laugh at her reading the phone book. But in Sue Sylvester, she's found the perfect comedic villain, and she's given juicy zingers that have me cackling. I can't wait to see what comes out of her mouth when Glee returns to the screen in April.

An LA Christmas

I talked my parents into coming out for a visit this Christmas. Since they've pretty much been there and done that when it comes to LA, we spent a lot of time just hanging out. We played lots of Speed Scrabble, Dominos, and Scattergories. We ate lots of yummy food including a full out Thanksgiving revisited meal with turkey, dressing, and all the sides. After my roommate scarfed down all the leftover dressing, I even tried my hand at making a batch of my own. If I do say so myself, it was pretty delicious. And Christmas wouldn't be complete without some scrumptious chocolate chip cookies and Grandma's peanut brittle. Did we just sit around and eat food you might be asking yourself? Well, yes. I had to get in a lot of grub before I start that New Year's resolution of losing weight, of course. But we also managed to squeeze in a couple of other activities.

I've been working on this post for over an hour and it's just not cooperating. So how's about I just state that the pictures below are from the following activities. We opened gifts. Or more accurately, I opened gifts. We visited the Rose Bowl. We went to the Santa Anita Racetrack. Dad loved it and could have stayed all day. Mom and I thought the horses were pretty and ate funnel cake while we let Dad play. We window shopped on Rodeo Drive after all the shops had closed because it's more fun that way. We went to Santa Barbara and stopped in Malibu on the way. A good time was had by all. Hope you had a very merry Christmas, too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Bah Humbug?

Alright, I have a confession to make. I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas. I pretty much love everything about it on the surface. And you know, the underlying reason for celebration and all. But, for me, it is the absolute loneliest time of the year. And that's even when I get to be with my family (honestly, sometimes that's when I feel the most alone). So no lectures about how I should just move back to Arkansas!

Being ridiculously single is somewhat tolerable most other times of the year. But there's something about Christmas. Seeing everyone out shopping for their kids and spouses. And the idea of waking up on Christmas morning to celebrate with them. And all the stupid commercials that shove it in your face. Yeah, it's difficult.

It's funny because I've been able to cope with it a little bit better this year simply because of one little thing my pastor said during his sermon on Sunday. It was one of those lines where you're left in awe because you feel as if it was directed right at you. He simply acknowledged in passing that it is a difficult time of the year when people often feel alone. But we can't let Satan succeed in distracting us from the fact that we should be satisfied in Christ alone. I belong to the Lord, but it's amazing what a great job Satan can do in distracting me from worship. Now obviously, this is easier said than done. But I am thankful that God laid it on his heart to share with us because it's amazing what a little acknowledgement of the loneliness that many people feel during this time of year and a few words of encouragement can do to lift your spirits when most of the time people just gloss over it.

On a happier note, Merry Christmas!! What an awesome God we serve that sent his only son to die on the cross for our sins!!

Movies, movies, movies

I hadn't been to the movies in over a month before Thanksgiving day. That's highly unusual for me. But this has been a crappy year for movies, and there just hasn't been anything I've wanted to pay money to see. However, we've made it to the holiday season and things I want to see are finally starting to come out. So, in typical overdone fashion, I've seen three movies over the last three days.

The Road

First up, The Road. All I can say is don't see this. It was a waste of my money. If ever there's been a movie to label pretentious, this is it. I don't even know what this movie was trying to say. All I got out of it was a story and characters I cared nothing about. The pacing was horrendous. Definitely one of the slower movies I've ever seen.

Pros: Excellent performances from the two main stars and beautiful cinematography. Cons: Everything else. Bottom line: Avoid it like the

plague.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Next up, New Moon. I was pleasantly surprised by the latest installment of The Twilight Saga. I definitely think this one was a step or two up production wise from the first film. That being said, this is again only a movie that fans of the book will appreciate. I disagree with many of the negative reviews that complained about it lacking the chemistry of the original and being too dark and depressing. They obviously didn't read the books and fail to understand that that's exactly what New Moon is. It's a transition book that we must slog through to get to the good stuff. I'm also sick of those feminist manifestos saying it sends a crappy message to teenage girls about pining away for the perfect man. Blah, blah, blah. To them, I simply say, "lighten up!" or better yet, "SHUT UP!"

Pros: Better production value, faithful to the story, and alright, I'm going to say it...the werewolves and their uniform. Cons: I wish they would've spent a little more time developing Bella and Jacob's relationship. Despite the length, I feel they still managed to gloss over this too quickly. And the dialogue is so amazingly cheesy. It's the main reason I don't think outsiders will enjoy this film too much. Bottom line: If you're a Twilight fan, see this in the theater. If you're not, then you'll likely want to skip it. If you're just curious, wait and add it to your Netflix queue.

The Blind Side

Lastly, The Blind Side. This was hands down the best movie I've seen so far this year (or at least that I remember seeing). Even though I already knew the story from the endless profiles they did of Michael Oher during SEC games, I was still so inspired by the family that took him in and by Michael himself. Talk about Christians walking the walk. I hope more of us can strive to live our lives showing the kind of selfless love the Tuohy's did. The only negative reviews I read about the film complained that it was a typical white washing of a story. I take issue with that, it's a true story. Yes, he was a black kid, and yes, they were a white family. But that's exactly how it happened! This stuff wasn't made up. And my guess? Those reviewers are probably all sitting on their butts in their comfy houses not doing a dang thing for the underprivileged. So, to them, I also give a big fat "SHUT UP!" One last thing. I loved, loved, loved the visits by all of the SEC coaches - none of whom still coach at their represented schools. Houston Nutt even uttered one of my favorite lines, which I won't divulge. Let's just say it involves a cup, so be on the lookout for that little inside joke.

Pros: Great story, well executed, and a great turn by Sandra Bullock. That girl really can act, and it's about time people start recognizing that (see Crash for another prime example). Cons: None. Bottom line: What are you waiting for? Go see it!

New Moon Mania

The time has come for everyone to choose. Who will it be?

In one corner we have the dreamy vampire, Edward, who sports an oh-so-lovely British accent in real life. In the other corner, we have the little boy from Shark Boy and Lava Girl who has transformed overnight into the incredibly bulked up Jacob (and let's be honest, he's still only 17 so all the drooling really is highly inappropriate ladies). The gorgeous brooding boyfriend? Or the gorgeous protective best friend? Life is tough for Bella Swan.

So, in honor of this momentous weekend, I would like to dedicate this post to my favorite vampire and officially declare my allegiance.

TEAM EDWARD!!

P.S. As much of a Twilight junkie as I am, I probably will be foregoing opening weekend and the throngs of crazy teenage girls in favor of a weekend after viewing. Granted, if I had any friends out here who shared my obsession, that probably wouldn't hold true. So I will withhold judgment against all of you crazies who I'm pretty confident showed up for the midnight screening. Own it!!