Tag: Matthew Perry

FLYOVER AMERICA AND STUDIO 60 (and my trip to Syracuse)

The pledge, which I accidentally violated, was to post every day in November.  A promise is a promise and I am trying.  Tonight after a wacky 36 hour trip to Syracuse (don’t ask) I’m so tired I’m hallucinating.  I was guilty the whole time I was there because it felt so small and it was winter-grey besides.  Couldn’t get into it. 

Pittsburgh_incline From childhood family visits to my cousins and our current annual trips to the Cleveland Clinic I’ve grown perversely fond of Cleveland – and I grew up in Pittsburgh so I have a real feeling for it.  But lots of smaller cities just feel claustrophobic and kind of disappointed.  This was one of them although the people we met were lovely and very friendly — like Midwesterners.

Harriet_and_hughley Which reminds me (stay with me here) – Studio 60 is fun.  I loved seeing John Goodman make all the coastal liberals (of course I AM one) squirm – and say several things that were true and also are what’s wrong with my political tribe, in my opinion.  About those uppity liberals who think everyone between the coasts is stupid.

The show has a determination to look at this issue I think – not only in a Nevada courtroom but also through the constant dialog between Matt (Matthew Perry’s character) and Harriet (Sarah Paulson) — probably the most beautiful woman I’ve seen on TV in a long time — maybe ever. 

I’m going to bed now and sleep off the last of the airplane air before I have to get on another plane Friday and get to Orlando before Shabat.  G’nite.

Sorkin and Sunshine (that ought to get your attention!)

Earned myself a media feast yesterday.  I’d been waiting for weeks for my husband to go with me to see Little Miss Sunshine and he finally admitted that despite rave reviews from both of our sons he just didn’t want to go.  So while he was at class last night I went.  By myself.  And had popcorn for dinner.  Which of course added to the pleasure.  But this film didn’t need any help.  One of our friends told me she was laughing and crying at the same time; NOT laughing THEN crying and not crying from laughter but feeling both emotions at once.  Boy do I get that.

If you live in a family you will love this film.  If you’ve had someone you love drive you nuts with a crazy dream you’ll love it.  AND if you know that, underneath, most families really do love each other and, when it’s really important – actually come through for each other – well – give it a try.  In addition to a lovely story and script it’s so well-acted and directed that it’s effortless.  How a couple of music video directors developed such calm, steady use of a camera I’ll never know.  At the AFI theater, where I saw the film, the two of them offered an on-camera intro.  They’re real grown-ups and pretty no-nonsense and that’s probably part of it. 

BUT that’s far from the end of this happy day — last night got even better.  If you did not see the debut of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip or get a preview DVD from NetFlix find find find someone who TiVo’d it and watch.  Or go here and watch the premiere from the same link.  This is going to be AT LEAST as good as the West Wing.  Really.  The characters are great, the writing is wonderful and the stories don’t go where you think they will.  Whitford and Perry are just lovely, Amanda Peet very cool, ( and don’t we love seeing a woman network president?  Yup, we do)  and Timothy Busfield still playing a sweetheart. Then there’s Steven Weber playing a bad guy.  How cool is that?  From Wings to villainy?

Anyway it was a great night for popular culture and a real brain-feeder.  Try for both.  You’ll be glad.