What Padma Lakshmi Has Learned

April 26th, 2010 | Posted by James K in The Rant - (0 Comments)

padma lakshmi 17 What Padma Lakshmi Has Learned

Padma Lakshmi does the “What I’ve Learned” feature in this month’s Esquire (the Women issue). Some of what the hostess and author has learned:

“The best thing you can do for someone is make them a beautiful plate of food. How else can you invade someone’s body without actually touching them?”

“Sex is an act. Love is a way of being. Both are very enjoyable to engage in. Both can be in short supply sometimes.”

“If a woman is dressed up like a million, her hair is done, she’s got the perfect shiny shoes, and the bag, and the this and the that, and she smells exactly as she should, it’s just too much artifice. Food is the same way.”

“Everything tastes better when you eat it with someone you love.”

The New Yorker

December 19th, 2009 | Posted by Joy Hogger in The Rant - (0 Comments)

sjp ny The New Yorker
Sarah Jessica Parker has lived in New York for 32 years and proudly calls herself a “New Yorker.” The actress, whose latest movie “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” opens today, defined “New Yorker” in a recent AP interview:

“Independent, candid, devoted, impatient, hospitable, proud.”

Joyhog New Yorkers, did she nail it?

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26th, 2009 | Posted by Joy Hogger in The Rant - (0 Comments)

Thanksgiving JoyHog Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at JoyHog! We’ll be back soon with more film and TV news, trailers and magazine covers.

Also, next week we kick off our great 2009 Holiday Gift Guide!!

More Pepper Please

November 19th, 2009 | Posted by James K in Television | The Rant - (0 Comments)

glee pepper More Pepper Please
There is so much to say about last night’s “Glee” (“Ballads“) — great songs, funny lines, where was Jane Lynch? — but, most of all, we want to say: BRING BACK SUZY PEPPER. Sarah Drew, such a sweetheart on “Everwood,” was perfect as Mr. Shue’s infamous crush. Don’t let this be a one-shot deal. Make her a continuing character.

New ‘Angels’ We’d Like To See

November 13th, 2009 | Posted by James K in News | Television | The Rant - (0 Comments)

abc angels New Angels Wed Like To See
Did you hear that ABC is planning to remake “Charlie’s Angels?” We offer some free casting suggestions:

  • Smallville‘s” Kristin Kreuk in the Kate Jackson role.
  • Friday Night Lights‘” Minka Kelly in the Jaclyn Smith role.
  • ESPN sports reporter and internet sensation Erin Andrews in the Farrah Fawcett role.

Best ‘Glee’ Yet

November 12th, 2009 | Posted by James K in News | Television | The Rant - (0 Comments)

20091112 glee 560x375 Best Glee Yet
Glee” creator Ryan Murphy, in a recent interview in the Los Angeles Times, said that Wednesday’s brilliant episode “Wheels,” which he wrote, is “the turning point for the show.”

“Certainly, after this, it remains a comedy, and it’s fun. But writing this made me feel the responsibility of showing the truth of the pain that outcasts go through. It’s not all razzle-dazzle show business. It’s tough, and it’s painful, and it was for me growing up, and it is for most people. So I think this made me realize that amid the fun and the glamour, it’s really great now and again to show the underbelly of what people who are different feel.”

Murphy, director Paris Barclay and the sensational cast delivered an instant classic… without doubt the best hour of television in 2009. If you’re a Gleek, you loved it. “Wheels” made you laugh, made you cry, probably made you get up and dance. If you haven’t yet hooked onto America’s pop obsession, drop whatever you’re doing and immediately go to Fox.com and watch it. Like right now.

The best moment, of course, was the “Defying Gravity” diva-off between Rachel and Kurt. Murphy took Stephen Schwartz’s beloved liberation anthem from “Wicked” — is there a better show tune? is there? — and deftly worked it into the episode’s context. Rachel’s version of the song is included on the first “Glee” soundtrack that came out this week… and you can’t stop playing it. (I played it over and over again as I wrote this.)

Murphy:

“I found a way to write it into the show because that’s in a nutshell what this show is about: someone being told that they can’t do something because of what the perception of them is as opposed to what their real ability is.”

In Good Health

November 6th, 2009 | Posted by James K in Television | The Rant - (0 Comments)

greys anatomy blood In Good Health
Grey’s Anatomy” has suddenly gotten good again. After a few lackluster seasons, in which watching felt like a chore, the hospital drama is back on its game, mixing compelling medical stories with solid soap opera. In last week’s episode, Derek defied authoity and saved a co-worker’s life. This week, Arizona faced a test of ethics in a heart-tugging case of a terminally sick 10-year-old whose parents have millions to donate to the hospital. Patrick Dempsey and Jessica Capshaw gave tremendous performances. Brilliant acting raised by great writing. New characters have pumped new blood into the show as George exits, Izzie disappears and Meredith rests in a hospital bed. Kim Raver joins the cast next week. Let’s hope the upward swing continues.