Lord knows this week has been kind to me, but it's also drained so much energy out of me I'll probably need one big stinkin' nap before I do anything this weekend.
Today was among the more hectic of the last four days, beginning with my late arrival to the panel on the future of print media. With the exception of the sweet-ass short film festival I got to attend on Tuesday (complete with free well drinks afterward) it was my favorite Advertising Week event of the week. I'm going to miss getting paid to go to awesome venues across the city in Tribeca, Chelsea and Times Square and eat free food and listen to really important people talk about less than interesting things.
What I will not miss is the tremendous amount of work-related stress going to all of these has put me through. So far I've covered seven events, with two more to finish things off tomorrow. Add to that two MediaWorks stories and my long-awaited feature for next week's book and I will have written TWELVE articles this week. That's a dozen! And you can't even fry, hardboil or scramble them either for a sandwich later...
My diversity feature impressed the M.E. so much she decided to make it Monday's cover story, which is both very exciting and anti-clmactic. Sure, I'm proud of the reporting I did for the piece and definitely think it presents some new information, but it wasn't my idea, nor did I really shape much of the story itself on my own. It was all kinda strongarmed either by the features editor or my contacts at City Tech. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but I'm reserving my utmost pride for the cover story I write that's based on my own ideas and source gathering.
Having said that, apparently I'm the very second intern to have a story run on the cover. Who was the first? Well, now she edits the Digital section for us, so that would seem to bode well for my chance at employment, right? We'll see...
Luckily, I didn't even have to wait for the weekend to reward myself for my immense productivity this week. Regina Spektor took care of that with the show I just caught at Town Hall tonight. It's a no-brainer: she put on one of the best female shows you're likely to see this year.
There just aren't too many singers — male or female — who can completely capture an audience's attention and interest with nothing but vocals and a piano for 45 minutes straight. Playing a lot of new material, no less. But Regina's songs are all so cleverly humorous (one of the new ones was about keeping a statue of the baby Jesus in her closet and feeding it bread and water), melodically intricate and damn well sung it's impossible to find her anything less than captivating. By the time she brought out the band for the second half, it was on like Donkey Kong. And "Samson" was just as heartbreaking to see live as it is to listen to.
I end this still in one of the most optimisitc moods I've been in all year, let alone since arriving in New York. I could not be more content with my social or professional lives at the moment, and am considerably less worried about my academics even though they remain unresolved. I'm still working on the romantic part, but perhaps I'll have some luck at the "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" sreening with John Cameron Mitchell I'm plannin on attending Saturday night!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Stoned in New Jersey
Well, my things-to-do-before-I-die list just got shorter. Tonight I saw the Rolling Stones. In New Jersey. That's two birds with one stone: see the Rolling Stones and go to New Jersey.
And let me tell you, it was worth it. Set list wise, the show was nothing to write home about. Opened with "It's Only Rock N Roll," played a bunch of obscure/newer stuff for the next hour then closed with a rousing if predictable stream of the biggest hits, ending with "Brown Sugar."
What made it worth the ticket price (which the delightful Amy Mitten comped as an early birthday present for me) is seeing Mick Jagger in person. Much is often made of his vitality at 63, but it's something that has to be seen to truly register. Watching him strut, shake and swagger for a full two hours 1.) wore me out 2.) impressed the hell out of me and 3.) kinda turned me on. If it weren't for his slightly weathered face and his singing voice that has turned into more of a howl than a croon (not that he was ever a Sinatra in his heyday, either) you'd swear he was a 20-something New York rocker. He had the multiple costume changes of clingy shirts and tight black pants to prove it.
Keith Richards, however, is also more ridiculous in person. (And by in person, as seen through binoculars on a Jumbo-Tron from the VERY LAST row in Giants Stadium. As in the very top, the summit, against the wall. Hey, I still enjoyed myself, even when I ducked the occasioinal low-flying plane.) He has so many deep-set wrinkles on his face it's as if someone folded his skin and glued it. You could lose change in those creases! He even sang on two songs, which was just as impressive vocally as it was incoherent lyrically. No one sings "No wuh luhv meee like yuh duh" the way Keith does. Can't wait for your PIrates cameo, by the way, dude!
All in all, it was a totally memorable, surreal experience, and my first time leaving the city (and state) since coming here five weeks ago today. Both hard and crazy to believe it's been that long already.
And tomorrow, the week of insanity continues. Two more Ad Week events (including one at 8:30, but with free breakfast and CEOs from Meredith, Hearst and Conde Nast — sweet!) and an interview with Howie Mandel at Toys R Us (how's that for a check-off on the ol' to-do list?) before another concert, Regina Spektor. I'm expecting that one to be completely opposite of the Stones, but every bit as awesome. And after THAT, Kate Bigam's supposed to be in town, making her the third hag to touch down in the city in one week. Oh, Advertising Week, you have so many more surprises left up your sleeve these next two days, don't you?
And let me tell you, it was worth it. Set list wise, the show was nothing to write home about. Opened with "It's Only Rock N Roll," played a bunch of obscure/newer stuff for the next hour then closed with a rousing if predictable stream of the biggest hits, ending with "Brown Sugar."
What made it worth the ticket price (which the delightful Amy Mitten comped as an early birthday present for me) is seeing Mick Jagger in person. Much is often made of his vitality at 63, but it's something that has to be seen to truly register. Watching him strut, shake and swagger for a full two hours 1.) wore me out 2.) impressed the hell out of me and 3.) kinda turned me on. If it weren't for his slightly weathered face and his singing voice that has turned into more of a howl than a croon (not that he was ever a Sinatra in his heyday, either) you'd swear he was a 20-something New York rocker. He had the multiple costume changes of clingy shirts and tight black pants to prove it.
Keith Richards, however, is also more ridiculous in person. (And by in person, as seen through binoculars on a Jumbo-Tron from the VERY LAST row in Giants Stadium. As in the very top, the summit, against the wall. Hey, I still enjoyed myself, even when I ducked the occasioinal low-flying plane.) He has so many deep-set wrinkles on his face it's as if someone folded his skin and glued it. You could lose change in those creases! He even sang on two songs, which was just as impressive vocally as it was incoherent lyrically. No one sings "No wuh luhv meee like yuh duh" the way Keith does. Can't wait for your PIrates cameo, by the way, dude!
All in all, it was a totally memorable, surreal experience, and my first time leaving the city (and state) since coming here five weeks ago today. Both hard and crazy to believe it's been that long already.
And tomorrow, the week of insanity continues. Two more Ad Week events (including one at 8:30, but with free breakfast and CEOs from Meredith, Hearst and Conde Nast — sweet!) and an interview with Howie Mandel at Toys R Us (how's that for a check-off on the ol' to-do list?) before another concert, Regina Spektor. I'm expecting that one to be completely opposite of the Stones, but every bit as awesome. And after THAT, Kate Bigam's supposed to be in town, making her the third hag to touch down in the city in one week. Oh, Advertising Week, you have so many more surprises left up your sleeve these next two days, don't you?
Monday, September 25, 2006
The "Yeah!" (almost) heard 'round the world
This weekend, many of my mini-New York dreams came true. A Friday stroll into the beautiful depths of Central Park (20 tiring blocks worth, in fact), a discovery of a truly rare CD in St. Mark's Place (Cat Power radio sessions circa 2000, complete with emotional breakdown within the first minute) and a Sunday visit to Serendipity (which was just how I pictured it would be from the movie appearance-wise, even though we didn't honor our reservation.)
But the best yet was being in the studio audience for "The Daily Show" today with Kelly and Logan (Joey missed making it by literally one minute — stupid ticket lady!) I've been watching that show for what I can't believe has been a decade now. Since the days of Craig Kilborn, the Beth Littleford interviews and correspondents like Brian Unger. Ah, those were the days...
The studio was much smaller than I pictured it, and even its current state is apparently impressive compared to years past. The 200-something capacity place has apparently doubled in size in the last year. Yikes! But small venue means intimate relationship with the performers — excuse me, journalists, who included Samantha Bee (my current fave correspondent), Dan Bakkedahl (who I also saw at UCB two weeks ago) and of course Jon Stewart, one of the foxiest men in news today, fake or otherwise.
As far as talk show experiences go, I can't imagine a more welcoming one. Dave Letterman, for example, never addresses his audience before, during or after the show, and I definitely can't see the ladies of "The View" taking time before their show to chat up their audience.
Jon Stewart, however, does a Q&A with the crowd before taping, which naturally turns into standup. A woman stood up and introduced herself as Elizabeth Swallow, which of course got a huge laugh. "I thought you could do something with it," she said to Jon. "I'm not even going there..." he said, waving his hands.
Another dude in the front row asked why JOn — a notorious germophobe — doesn't allow hugs from fans but welcomes handshakes.
"See, you think it's for my protection, but it's actually for yours," he said with perfect timing.
It was so crazy to see him in action. Even between takes or while footage was playing, he seemed both intently focused and ready to make an insanely witty comment at a moment's notice. He and Stephen Colbert even did some off-camera banter via satellite in between commercials that involved a ram's horn (he reprised it for tonight's show, in case you saw it.)
But if you saw "The Daily Show," you probably did not hear my contribution. After the first commerical break, Jon introduced Dan Bakkedahl's piece by saying, "And now for something completely different, a story about boys..." Anyone who's attended a show with me could tell you what the sound I made was called: the concert "Yeah!" It's deep, guttural and not unlike a frat boy at a football game. It was perfectly timed and, I thought, pretty darn loud.
But whether it was drowned out by the studio during taping or during our collective excitement as we watched the edited broadcast at 11, my "Yeah" was nowhere to be heard. But just knowing that I did it is satisfying enough. Besides, as Samantha Bee pointed out during her "live broadcast" from the Fox News headquarters, "I heard it with my eyes."
But the best yet was being in the studio audience for "The Daily Show" today with Kelly and Logan (Joey missed making it by literally one minute — stupid ticket lady!) I've been watching that show for what I can't believe has been a decade now. Since the days of Craig Kilborn, the Beth Littleford interviews and correspondents like Brian Unger. Ah, those were the days...
The studio was much smaller than I pictured it, and even its current state is apparently impressive compared to years past. The 200-something capacity place has apparently doubled in size in the last year. Yikes! But small venue means intimate relationship with the performers — excuse me, journalists, who included Samantha Bee (my current fave correspondent), Dan Bakkedahl (who I also saw at UCB two weeks ago) and of course Jon Stewart, one of the foxiest men in news today, fake or otherwise.
As far as talk show experiences go, I can't imagine a more welcoming one. Dave Letterman, for example, never addresses his audience before, during or after the show, and I definitely can't see the ladies of "The View" taking time before their show to chat up their audience.
Jon Stewart, however, does a Q&A with the crowd before taping, which naturally turns into standup. A woman stood up and introduced herself as Elizabeth Swallow, which of course got a huge laugh. "I thought you could do something with it," she said to Jon. "I'm not even going there..." he said, waving his hands.
Another dude in the front row asked why JOn — a notorious germophobe — doesn't allow hugs from fans but welcomes handshakes.
"See, you think it's for my protection, but it's actually for yours," he said with perfect timing.
It was so crazy to see him in action. Even between takes or while footage was playing, he seemed both intently focused and ready to make an insanely witty comment at a moment's notice. He and Stephen Colbert even did some off-camera banter via satellite in between commercials that involved a ram's horn (he reprised it for tonight's show, in case you saw it.)
But if you saw "The Daily Show," you probably did not hear my contribution. After the first commerical break, Jon introduced Dan Bakkedahl's piece by saying, "And now for something completely different, a story about boys..." Anyone who's attended a show with me could tell you what the sound I made was called: the concert "Yeah!" It's deep, guttural and not unlike a frat boy at a football game. It was perfectly timed and, I thought, pretty darn loud.
But whether it was drowned out by the studio during taping or during our collective excitement as we watched the edited broadcast at 11, my "Yeah" was nowhere to be heard. But just knowing that I did it is satisfying enough. Besides, as Samantha Bee pointed out during her "live broadcast" from the Fox News headquarters, "I heard it with my eyes."
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Yikes!
First of all, much love to everyone who's been reading and commenting on the blog this week. I finally have an audience!
Secondly, I've barely been able to keep up with updates because I've finally gotten big assignments to work on at AdAge. I'm currently waiting on sources to call me back for this big piece for the book on racism in the advertising industry (heady stuff, I know) and couldn't be more excited to actually be working on a story that invovles more than congratulating an ad exec on his new promotion or the unveiling of the new Elmo (although that was admittedly pretty funny.)
But things will get even crazier this weekend when Dana, Kelly and Logan all come to the city at once for a big NYC free-for-all I've dubbed Hagfest 2006. There are talks of museum visits, party hopping, karaoke and Amy Poehler all in store for the next three days, with a big finish at "The Daily Show" on Monday night.
Even crazier, however, is Advertising Week, which kicks off Monday and will be held at a variety of swanky locations across the city (Rainbow Room, Tribeca Cinemas, Museum of Television & Radio, etc.) I've always wanted to go to and now have a reason. But the event I'm most excited about covering above all is the Crativity No Spot Short Film Festival at the Chelsea Clearview. I have purposefully linked to the festival at the list of directors because there are at least two who are pretty damn sweet.
Add to the excitment and rush of Ad Week the Stones and Spektor concerts and it's pretty much going to be my most fabulous week in the city yet. Best of all, my eds want me to write a column for the book at the end of Ad Week from a consumer's point of view, summarizing whether or not the week was effective to anyone outside the industry. Coming from someone who just learned what it meant for an account to be placed into review two short weeks ago, I'd say they definitely picked the right person for the job.
Finally, I will end today's post with a link to a video that has provided me endless mirth and merriment this past week. Strangers With Candy fans, take note!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BCMStcns-Qs
Secondly, I've barely been able to keep up with updates because I've finally gotten big assignments to work on at AdAge. I'm currently waiting on sources to call me back for this big piece for the book on racism in the advertising industry (heady stuff, I know) and couldn't be more excited to actually be working on a story that invovles more than congratulating an ad exec on his new promotion or the unveiling of the new Elmo (although that was admittedly pretty funny.)
But things will get even crazier this weekend when Dana, Kelly and Logan all come to the city at once for a big NYC free-for-all I've dubbed Hagfest 2006. There are talks of museum visits, party hopping, karaoke and Amy Poehler all in store for the next three days, with a big finish at "The Daily Show" on Monday night.
Even crazier, however, is Advertising Week, which kicks off Monday and will be held at a variety of swanky locations across the city (Rainbow Room, Tribeca Cinemas, Museum of Television & Radio, etc.) I've always wanted to go to and now have a reason. But the event I'm most excited about covering above all is the Crativity No Spot Short Film Festival at the Chelsea Clearview. I have purposefully linked to the festival at the list of directors because there are at least two who are pretty damn sweet.
Add to the excitment and rush of Ad Week the Stones and Spektor concerts and it's pretty much going to be my most fabulous week in the city yet. Best of all, my eds want me to write a column for the book at the end of Ad Week from a consumer's point of view, summarizing whether or not the week was effective to anyone outside the industry. Coming from someone who just learned what it meant for an account to be placed into review two short weeks ago, I'd say they definitely picked the right person for the job.
Finally, I will end today's post with a link to a video that has provided me endless mirth and merriment this past week. Strangers With Candy fans, take note!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BCMStcns-Qs
Monday, September 18, 2006
I love tickets!
Especially when they're free. NBC just called to tell me I won two free tickets to see a dress rehearsal of SNL on Nov. 11, which is four days after my birthday. So Happy Early Birthday to me!
In fact, I've gotten a series of other birthday-related tickets lately. I realized early this month that all I'm really going to want at my age and in my financial and geographical situation is to see a couple concerts for my 23rd. So my mom went ahead and gave me free reign of $100 (an amount of money I sadly have not been able to spend all at once for weeks now) to use on concert tix of my liking.
So I put it toward the Regina Spektor show next week at Town Hall and the Goldfrapp show at Roseland next month, which is her only US date on the entire fall tour. After all the stupid convenience and shipping charges, I was only left with $20 or so, which I spent on the new Amy Millan (from Stars and Broken Social Scene) CD and haven't stopped listening to it since. The first five tracks are all insta-classics, particularly "Losin' You." She's playing two shows at Joe's Pub next month, so assuming I can hold onto $13 by then I can probably just show up and catch her there.
But that's not all the free tickets I have lined up. Kelly and Logan arrive this weekend for what is sure to be my most exciting three days in the city yet, and with them come free tix to "The Daily Show" next Monday. I can't imagine a cooler show for me to lose my studio audience virginity. I have no idea who the guest is, although apparently if we were there tonight it's Bill Clinton. But there's a dude in my building who interns there (we call him "Daily Show Dave") so he can give me the scoop.
Also, perhaps most exciting of all in the realm of free tickets, I'm seeing the Rollign Stones and Kanye next week!!! One of the many joys of a friendship with the fantastic Amy Mitten is the reckless abandon with which she spends her inheritance on cab fare, nice dinners and her friends. If any other friend had asked me if I wanted to see the Stones with them, it would have required months of planning and saving just to be able to afford the concert and make it there on time. With Amy, it was "Do you want to go?" and "We can totally get a car service to take us to Jersey." Granted, the seats are nosebleed, but it's Giants Stadium, where they're certain to have at least five Jumbo-trons, and it's the mothafuckin' Rolling Stones. They're perhaps the only classic rock band that is both still together and has all its importnat founding members still alive and kicking, a claim Pink Floyd, The Beatles The Who and Led Zeppelin cannot make.
But the free ticket that is the most significant to me in terms of fulfillment of a lifelong dream is the one I have reserved on Oct. 20. That is the day I will be sitting in the studio audience for a taping and after-show audition for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," still hosted by the untouchable Meredith Veiera. Ever since my days of faking sick in kinergarten so I could go home early to watch "Price Is Right," "Name That Tune" and "Press Your Luck," I have always, always, ALWAYS wanted to be a contestant on a game show. And now that I'm piss poor, to win even $1,000 would be amazing, let alone on national television with my absolute favorite daytime talk show hostess.
New York City may be killing my wallet, but just like in life, the best things are free!
In fact, I've gotten a series of other birthday-related tickets lately. I realized early this month that all I'm really going to want at my age and in my financial and geographical situation is to see a couple concerts for my 23rd. So my mom went ahead and gave me free reign of $100 (an amount of money I sadly have not been able to spend all at once for weeks now) to use on concert tix of my liking.
So I put it toward the Regina Spektor show next week at Town Hall and the Goldfrapp show at Roseland next month, which is her only US date on the entire fall tour. After all the stupid convenience and shipping charges, I was only left with $20 or so, which I spent on the new Amy Millan (from Stars and Broken Social Scene) CD and haven't stopped listening to it since. The first five tracks are all insta-classics, particularly "Losin' You." She's playing two shows at Joe's Pub next month, so assuming I can hold onto $13 by then I can probably just show up and catch her there.
But that's not all the free tickets I have lined up. Kelly and Logan arrive this weekend for what is sure to be my most exciting three days in the city yet, and with them come free tix to "The Daily Show" next Monday. I can't imagine a cooler show for me to lose my studio audience virginity. I have no idea who the guest is, although apparently if we were there tonight it's Bill Clinton. But there's a dude in my building who interns there (we call him "Daily Show Dave") so he can give me the scoop.
Also, perhaps most exciting of all in the realm of free tickets, I'm seeing the Rollign Stones and Kanye next week!!! One of the many joys of a friendship with the fantastic Amy Mitten is the reckless abandon with which she spends her inheritance on cab fare, nice dinners and her friends. If any other friend had asked me if I wanted to see the Stones with them, it would have required months of planning and saving just to be able to afford the concert and make it there on time. With Amy, it was "Do you want to go?" and "We can totally get a car service to take us to Jersey." Granted, the seats are nosebleed, but it's Giants Stadium, where they're certain to have at least five Jumbo-trons, and it's the mothafuckin' Rolling Stones. They're perhaps the only classic rock band that is both still together and has all its importnat founding members still alive and kicking, a claim Pink Floyd, The Beatles The Who and Led Zeppelin cannot make.
But the free ticket that is the most significant to me in terms of fulfillment of a lifelong dream is the one I have reserved on Oct. 20. That is the day I will be sitting in the studio audience for a taping and after-show audition for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," still hosted by the untouchable Meredith Veiera. Ever since my days of faking sick in kinergarten so I could go home early to watch "Price Is Right," "Name That Tune" and "Press Your Luck," I have always, always, ALWAYS wanted to be a contestant on a game show. And now that I'm piss poor, to win even $1,000 would be amazing, let alone on national television with my absolute favorite daytime talk show hostess.
New York City may be killing my wallet, but just like in life, the best things are free!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
New career
Screw the part-time job hunt. This is my new calling. Consider it mine:
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®
Conducts Nationwide Search for Next Ringmaster
Selected Candidate to Tour America as
36th Ringmaster of The Greatest Show On Earth®
WHO: "Who?" is the big question as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey conducts a nationwide search for a worthy candidate to don the Ringmaster top hat and join an elite group of only 36 individuals in the 137-year history of The Greatest Show On Earth to hold the Ringmaster title.
The ideal candidate will be that special individual with a commanding presence and a pop-star voice who is able to spark the imaginations and stir the passions of families across America. He will be a dynamic, charismatic and spontaneous comedic actor who is prepared to perform in more than 40 cities across the United States, introducing a myriad of entertaining acts, including death-defying Chinese acrobats, a tiger trainer with nerves of steel, comic dare-devil Bello Nock - named by TIME magazine as America's Best Clown - and the audience's favorite stars, the enchanting elephants.
WHAT: Feld Entertainment producers Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld, Vice President of Talent and Production Tim Holst, and director of the 137th Edition Gabe Barre will hold auditions in New York City, searching for the perfect Ringmaster to say the immortal words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children Of All Ages, Welcome to The Greatest Show On Earth!"
WHEN: Auditions will be open to males 18 years or older and at least 5' 10" tall. Auditions will be open to media and will be held on:
September 18, 2006 in New York City
10:00 AM - Press
10:30 AM - Auditions to Begin
WHERE: New York City
Ripley Grier Studio (Between 36th and 37th Street)
Studio 16T
520 8th Ave
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®
Conducts Nationwide Search for Next Ringmaster
Selected Candidate to Tour America as
36th Ringmaster of The Greatest Show On Earth®
WHO: "Who?" is the big question as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey conducts a nationwide search for a worthy candidate to don the Ringmaster top hat and join an elite group of only 36 individuals in the 137-year history of The Greatest Show On Earth to hold the Ringmaster title.
The ideal candidate will be that special individual with a commanding presence and a pop-star voice who is able to spark the imaginations and stir the passions of families across America. He will be a dynamic, charismatic and spontaneous comedic actor who is prepared to perform in more than 40 cities across the United States, introducing a myriad of entertaining acts, including death-defying Chinese acrobats, a tiger trainer with nerves of steel, comic dare-devil Bello Nock - named by TIME magazine as America's Best Clown - and the audience's favorite stars, the enchanting elephants.
WHAT: Feld Entertainment producers Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld, Vice President of Talent and Production Tim Holst, and director of the 137th Edition Gabe Barre will hold auditions in New York City, searching for the perfect Ringmaster to say the immortal words, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Children Of All Ages, Welcome to The Greatest Show On Earth!"
WHEN: Auditions will be open to males 18 years or older and at least 5' 10" tall. Auditions will be open to media and will be held on:
September 18, 2006 in New York City
10:00 AM - Press
10:30 AM - Auditions to Begin
WHERE: New York City
Ripley Grier Studio (Between 36th and 37th Street)
Studio 16T
520 8th Ave
The many faces of Fergie Ferg
As a shameless fan of Kids Incorporated reruns on the Disney Channel during my younger days, I felt a certain sense of pride and ownership when Stacy Ferguson got a grown-up gig as the lead singer of Wild Orchid in the mid-90s (almost no one rememebrs them, but I'm not ashamed to say I still have two of their CD singles from all the way back in 1997).
That said, I couldn't have been more shocked when Stacy reappeared four years after Wild Orchid's demise as the newest Black Eyed Pea, all thugged out and looking incredibly Latina, neither of which were traits she possessed during her ultra-white bread days on Kids, Inc.
As if to remind me of how far she's come, someone went to the trouble of assembling a highlight reel of Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson's best Kids Inc. clips to tune of "My Humps."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LIMhhrygGXQ
It doesn't always work editing-wise, but it sure is fun to see all those dance routines, uber-80s outfits and fake smoke again. Noticeably absent, however, is footage from the episode where she sang "You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover" and danced with a frog. A gross oversight by the editor's part if ever there was one...
At any rate, I'm hoping a post like this finally gets me some comments on this mofo. Check out the video and let me know what you think! And if you were a Kids Inc. geek like me, too, and remember the days when Jennifer Love Hewitt was credited as Love Hewitt but strangely called "Robin" on the show, holla back!
That said, I couldn't have been more shocked when Stacy reappeared four years after Wild Orchid's demise as the newest Black Eyed Pea, all thugged out and looking incredibly Latina, neither of which were traits she possessed during her ultra-white bread days on Kids, Inc.
As if to remind me of how far she's come, someone went to the trouble of assembling a highlight reel of Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson's best Kids Inc. clips to tune of "My Humps."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LIMhhrygGXQ
It doesn't always work editing-wise, but it sure is fun to see all those dance routines, uber-80s outfits and fake smoke again. Noticeably absent, however, is footage from the episode where she sang "You Can't Judge a Book By Its Cover" and danced with a frog. A gross oversight by the editor's part if ever there was one...
At any rate, I'm hoping a post like this finally gets me some comments on this mofo. Check out the video and let me know what you think! And if you were a Kids Inc. geek like me, too, and remember the days when Jennifer Love Hewitt was credited as Love Hewitt but strangely called "Robin" on the show, holla back!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The stars at night, are big and bright [clap clap clap clap] deep in the heart of Times Square
Today's "Dancing with the Stars" insane-a-thon was even more hysterical than it sounds on paper.
First of all, they weren't kidding when they said they'd have stars all across the city. I encountered them three times before I had even met up with the account manager at the Richard Rogers Theatre at noon. The stars were prepared to dance to pretty much anything -- cha cha, swing, even fiddle. As one of the street teamers scaremed out, "Dancing with the Stars, tonight at 8 on ABC! Be there or be square-danced!" I made sure to put it in my article today, too, for which I also made my photography debut due to web deadlines.
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=111815
And, since this assignment was rife with puns, I could say I was shooting stars all morning.
What was even more awesome than the sight of stars dancing on top of a theatre, Hard Rock, double decker bus and with a fiddle player in a subway was being on the set of "Good Morning America." Right behind Diane Sawyer, who was impeccably blond and gorgeous in person despite her unfortunate leopard-print skirt.
It's so weird to watch newspeople off-camera (as the voyeuristic window of the GMA studio allows you to do), though. They were airing a totally bizarre cooking segment with Justin Timberlake where he baked a blueberry crunch cake with his grandma, but intercut the footage with clips from the "SexyBack" video. So one moment it was, "OK Grandma, let's put the cake in the oven," cut to: "Go 'head be gone with it." I half-expected him to say at one point, "Uh oh grandma, I think you have something on your blouse." [camera cuts away a la Janet Jackson at Super Bowl.]
So while they're showing all the Timber-cake footage, the anchors are distributing samples of their very own Grandma dessert, complete with Sawyer flittering around good-naturedly to make sure each member of the studio audience was pleased with their dessert. As fabulous Claire said, "She looks beautiful, but there's still something a bit treacly about her."
All in all, it was one zany morning, and one I should only hope to top as the season progresses. With today's job interview still ahead of me, I can at least hope for one more good story to come out of the day.
First of all, they weren't kidding when they said they'd have stars all across the city. I encountered them three times before I had even met up with the account manager at the Richard Rogers Theatre at noon. The stars were prepared to dance to pretty much anything -- cha cha, swing, even fiddle. As one of the street teamers scaremed out, "Dancing with the Stars, tonight at 8 on ABC! Be there or be square-danced!" I made sure to put it in my article today, too, for which I also made my photography debut due to web deadlines.
http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=111815
And, since this assignment was rife with puns, I could say I was shooting stars all morning.
What was even more awesome than the sight of stars dancing on top of a theatre, Hard Rock, double decker bus and with a fiddle player in a subway was being on the set of "Good Morning America." Right behind Diane Sawyer, who was impeccably blond and gorgeous in person despite her unfortunate leopard-print skirt.
It's so weird to watch newspeople off-camera (as the voyeuristic window of the GMA studio allows you to do), though. They were airing a totally bizarre cooking segment with Justin Timberlake where he baked a blueberry crunch cake with his grandma, but intercut the footage with clips from the "SexyBack" video. So one moment it was, "OK Grandma, let's put the cake in the oven," cut to: "Go 'head be gone with it." I half-expected him to say at one point, "Uh oh grandma, I think you have something on your blouse." [camera cuts away a la Janet Jackson at Super Bowl.]
So while they're showing all the Timber-cake footage, the anchors are distributing samples of their very own Grandma dessert, complete with Sawyer flittering around good-naturedly to make sure each member of the studio audience was pleased with their dessert. As fabulous Claire said, "She looks beautiful, but there's still something a bit treacly about her."
All in all, it was one zany morning, and one I should only hope to top as the season progresses. With today's job interview still ahead of me, I can at least hope for one more good story to come out of the day.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Oh my God
My job just got a whole lot awesomer.
Tomorrow morning, I will be following 100 of these guys across the city for a story on ABC's bizarre promotional launch of the third season of "Dancing With the Stars." In a move so literal I'm kicking myself for not thinking of it, "stars" will be dancing everywhere from Times Square to Broadway to the Brooklyn Bridge. And I get to write a man-on-the-street reaction type story, something I've missed from my Dispatch days. Hurrah for me!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Counting the stars
What a uniquely New York weekend.
I'm too tired right now to recount all the details, but here's a summary.
Went to the Empire State Building on Friday despite my initial reservation to doing anything touristy during my first few months here. I mean, I had to compare the view at night to the Eiffel Tower, right?
Saturday I got a new pair of jeans for 25 un-freakin-belieavble dollars at Mexx in SoHo. What's even more amazing than the price and the quality of the jeans is the size — 32, bitches! This whole less-money/more-walking approach to New York living has prompted me to eat less in order to save money and end up sweating off more weight in long commutes. I have already dropped a full jeans size since moving here three weeks ago, with no signs of the pound-droppage letting up anytime soon. Hurrah!
That night I saw "Sherrybaby" with Joey on the Upper East Side and Maggie Gyllenhaal did a Q&A with the audience afterward. She was crazy preggers (8.9 months, by the looks of it) and very candid. I'm just disappointed no one asked her, "If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you at the pearly gates?"
We then went on a whirlwind run through St. Mark's in the Village and stopped for drinks at the Yaffa Cafe, breezed through Phoenix and sang a Pink song at this karaoke bar on Avenue A. I got mad props from a few gays who were singing along.
Today, I mostly took it easy with my ginormous Sunday times and spot of homework for my new (and absolutely final) online class, Technical Writing. I finally left the dorm for an extended period for my second attempt to get free tickets to see Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz in ASSSCAT 3000 at the UCB. This time, it worked, even though you have have to get there by 6:45 to get the free passes at 8:30. Oh well...Daniel kept me entertained with his many impressions, "Friends" quotes and Celine Dion references.
As for ASSSCAT itself, Poehler was a no-show (boo, that whore!) But Horatio was there with Jason Sudeikis, a Daily Show writer and a couple dudes who are going to be on the new Tina Fey show 30 Rock. But star wattage aside, I think "The Stepfathers" on Fridays is better.
This week should have many surrpises up its sleeve, and a part-time job interview on Tuesday I can't help but be really excited for. Not only would it be fantastic to actually have spending money, I would really enjoy working at this place, too. So stay tuned, and you may be reading a lot more posts where yesterday's jeans splurge came from. And by "splurge," I of course mean spending money...
I'm too tired right now to recount all the details, but here's a summary.
Went to the Empire State Building on Friday despite my initial reservation to doing anything touristy during my first few months here. I mean, I had to compare the view at night to the Eiffel Tower, right?
Saturday I got a new pair of jeans for 25 un-freakin-belieavble dollars at Mexx in SoHo. What's even more amazing than the price and the quality of the jeans is the size — 32, bitches! This whole less-money/more-walking approach to New York living has prompted me to eat less in order to save money and end up sweating off more weight in long commutes. I have already dropped a full jeans size since moving here three weeks ago, with no signs of the pound-droppage letting up anytime soon. Hurrah!
That night I saw "Sherrybaby" with Joey on the Upper East Side and Maggie Gyllenhaal did a Q&A with the audience afterward. She was crazy preggers (8.9 months, by the looks of it) and very candid. I'm just disappointed no one asked her, "If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say to you at the pearly gates?"
We then went on a whirlwind run through St. Mark's in the Village and stopped for drinks at the Yaffa Cafe, breezed through Phoenix and sang a Pink song at this karaoke bar on Avenue A. I got mad props from a few gays who were singing along.
Today, I mostly took it easy with my ginormous Sunday times and spot of homework for my new (and absolutely final) online class, Technical Writing. I finally left the dorm for an extended period for my second attempt to get free tickets to see Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz in ASSSCAT 3000 at the UCB. This time, it worked, even though you have have to get there by 6:45 to get the free passes at 8:30. Oh well...Daniel kept me entertained with his many impressions, "Friends" quotes and Celine Dion references.
As for ASSSCAT itself, Poehler was a no-show (boo, that whore!) But Horatio was there with Jason Sudeikis, a Daily Show writer and a couple dudes who are going to be on the new Tina Fey show 30 Rock. But star wattage aside, I think "The Stepfathers" on Fridays is better.
This week should have many surrpises up its sleeve, and a part-time job interview on Tuesday I can't help but be really excited for. Not only would it be fantastic to actually have spending money, I would really enjoy working at this place, too. So stay tuned, and you may be reading a lot more posts where yesterday's jeans splurge came from. And by "splurge," I of course mean spending money...
Friday, September 08, 2006
Ewwww
Carson Daly looks orange, bald and old in this video.
http://www.itsyourshowtv.com/carson.shtml
Makes you nostalgic for the "TRL" days when he wore chipped black nail polish and actually seemed like the man for dating Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tara Reid...
http://www.itsyourshowtv.com/carson.shtml
Makes you nostalgic for the "TRL" days when he wore chipped black nail polish and actually seemed like the man for dating Jennifer Love Hewitt and Tara Reid...
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Brotha gotta work it out...
One downside to my otherwise fabulous internship is the fact that no one is ever available to speak with you when you need them to. Nor is anyone in advertising accessible directly. You have to go through their PR to arrange a phone interview, and even then you often have to go through an assistant to even get ahold of the PR.
Such has been my day of phone tag while trying to complete four different stories, only two of which look like they may pan out by day's end. Already did a rather interesting one about The Economist's "Green" issue (both of my sources were British -- awesome!) and am currently waiting to hear back from a veteran broadcast media buyer who was just named "chief activation officer" at Initiative, whatever that means.
Sure, it's not quite the same as my days of Paul Simon and Raven-Symone Q&As just weeks ago at the Dispatch. But no matter what you're reporting on at AdAge, you're guaranteed to talk to at least one "very important person," and often moreso. My mom has such a warped concept of what journalists actually do she didn't believe at first that I actually talked to the West Coast Pres. of NBC a few weeks ago.
So even though Tim Spengler or Marc Graboff may not have as much name recognition as Jessica Simpson or Dashboard Confessional, I'm arguably talking to people more powerful than the majority of my previous interviews combined. I mean, nearly all the celebrities I've interviewed have only achieved enough fame to be one album/movie away from being has-beens. They can't make or break careers at a network like NBC or influence the way people listen to and learn about music like NPR.
OK, enough about my job. In other news, I've been hanging out with the Y kids a lot this week, and it's been both fun to relive my dorm days, it's a little weird. A lot of the kids who hang out at "the stoop," as we call it, are 18 or less. At least two girls are 17 and born weeks after me in November, making me a full FIVE years older than them. That's pretty weird to me...
But I have also made two really good friends -- Aviana and Daniel -- who have become great surrogates when the Kent kids and Christie (who seems to have disappeared since I last saw her nearly two weeks ago) are busy. Not to mention I finally registered for my final online class (Intro to Technical Writing..I think I can handle that) and my part-time job hunt is finally showing some signs of life. I just got my first callback today from this toy store in Chelsea seeking parttime help and will be interviewing with them on Tuesday. I figure, I did Mr. Fun's for a summer. I could eeeasily do a toy store in Chelsea, right?
That's all that's worth updating for now, although I'm crossing my fingers I get out of here in time to see Anderson Cooper for FREE at the Y tonight. GOD, I love my building!!!
Such has been my day of phone tag while trying to complete four different stories, only two of which look like they may pan out by day's end. Already did a rather interesting one about The Economist's "Green" issue (both of my sources were British -- awesome!) and am currently waiting to hear back from a veteran broadcast media buyer who was just named "chief activation officer" at Initiative, whatever that means.
Sure, it's not quite the same as my days of Paul Simon and Raven-Symone Q&As just weeks ago at the Dispatch. But no matter what you're reporting on at AdAge, you're guaranteed to talk to at least one "very important person," and often moreso. My mom has such a warped concept of what journalists actually do she didn't believe at first that I actually talked to the West Coast Pres. of NBC a few weeks ago.
So even though Tim Spengler or Marc Graboff may not have as much name recognition as Jessica Simpson or Dashboard Confessional, I'm arguably talking to people more powerful than the majority of my previous interviews combined. I mean, nearly all the celebrities I've interviewed have only achieved enough fame to be one album/movie away from being has-beens. They can't make or break careers at a network like NBC or influence the way people listen to and learn about music like NPR.
OK, enough about my job. In other news, I've been hanging out with the Y kids a lot this week, and it's been both fun to relive my dorm days, it's a little weird. A lot of the kids who hang out at "the stoop," as we call it, are 18 or less. At least two girls are 17 and born weeks after me in November, making me a full FIVE years older than them. That's pretty weird to me...
But I have also made two really good friends -- Aviana and Daniel -- who have become great surrogates when the Kent kids and Christie (who seems to have disappeared since I last saw her nearly two weeks ago) are busy. Not to mention I finally registered for my final online class (Intro to Technical Writing..I think I can handle that) and my part-time job hunt is finally showing some signs of life. I just got my first callback today from this toy store in Chelsea seeking parttime help and will be interviewing with them on Tuesday. I figure, I did Mr. Fun's for a summer. I could eeeasily do a toy store in Chelsea, right?
That's all that's worth updating for now, although I'm crossing my fingers I get out of here in time to see Anderson Cooper for FREE at the Y tonight. GOD, I love my building!!!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Even better than U-Wire
Even though my story was old news when it ran last week, that apparenty didn't stop Jossip from picking it up and treating it like fresh meat. Either way, I got my first (anonymous) shout-out from a Manhattan gossip blog! I am SO in...
http://www.jossip.com/gossip/jessica-simpson/jessica-simpson-will-say-your-name-say-your-name-20060830.php?rss
http://www.jossip.com/gossip/jessica-simpson/jessica-simpson-will-say-your-name-say-your-name-20060830.php?rss
Friday, September 01, 2006
Gloomy forecast
What crappy weather we've been having lately. And more to come — heavy rain in store for tomorrow and scattered thunderstorms planned for Sunday.
Luckily I've had a legitimately nice week to make up for all the indoor moping I'll likely be doing this weekend to avoid the weather.
So after Tuesday's Jessica Simpson insanity, I met my new roommate Antonin on Wednesday. He's everything I didn't expect him to be — French, extremely polite and looks exactly like Orlando Bloom. I mean, EXACTLY. I'll post pictures soon for proof.
Antonin is from Provence, France, and will be working at the French Embassy this year as part of a special training program at his college in Toulouse. His English is pretty good, even when his knowledge of the States isn't.
"So you're from Ohio. Do you ever visit Des Moines [pronounced as a French word]?"
"No, Antonin, that's actually in Iowa."
Later on: "Do you eat a lot of potatoes in Ohio? Isn't that what you're famous for?"
"Nope, that's Idaho."
It's cute and fun to correct, and we've gotten along famously for what few hours we've actually been in the same room together. Yesterday got pretty busy.
The highlight of my 10-day work day was my phone interview with the lead singer of Ok Go, who was on his way to the VMAs via limo as we spoke. The Q&A was in regards to the fact that their hysterical dance routine video for "A Million Ways" recently became the most-downloaded music video in history, a strong example of viral marketing on the web. I'm always proud when I can manage to work straightforward entertainment/music pieces into pitches and actually have my editors approve.
After catching bits of the VMAs themselves online (Jack Black was soooooo lame, JT's performance was so-so and Lil' Kim's outfit was extremely underwhelming) I headed out to Chelsesa for another night out with the Kent kids. We were determined to make up for our failed attempts to get crunk last Saturday. And boy did we succeed this time.
I met up with Joey, Mary and their cute Asian friend Sorai from work at Dallas BBQ or margaritas and appetizers (onion loaf before going out? NOT a good idea...) My Texas size margarita was aptly named and awfully tasty. The dangerous part was that it came with an extra test tube full of tequila, which I periodically poured into mine to keep the juices flowing.
We then hopped over to Duvet — whose sister club "Bed" may sound familiar to fans of "Sex & The City" — for what was unbeknownst to us a VMA after-party with a special performance from Wyclef Jean!!! Talk about a week of celebrity surprises — first Jessica Simpson, now this!
It was absurd — the most crowded I have ever been in a club but also one of the most memorable times I've had in one. I mean, how many people can say they went to go dance at a club and ended up seeing Wyclef sing everything from "We Tryin' To Stay Alive" to "Ready Or Not" to "Hips Don't Lie" all while all the ladies in the hosue got to come up on stage and dance with him. Including Mary, who definitely seemed to be enjoying herself.
Joey was having fun until the booze got the better of him and caused him to puke all over the backseat of the taxi on the drive home. Looks like tequila wasn't his friend.
Cut to me running back home from Harlem this morning to shower, change and make it to work on time. Only to discover that our servers were down and no one had Internet. It was like a snow day or something. So I made a bunch of photocopies for the editorial asst. before heading out after just three hours time. The three-and-a-half day weekend has already begun!
As for what to do for said weekend, I'm clueless. There was talk of trips to Syracuse or Boston, but both are out as I am broke. Even more so after last night's adventure. Antonin had the best idea when he said of the rain, "It's museum weather." So maybe I'll do that. Venture over to MOMA for a student discount — or possibly a free ticket. Apparently they have them from 3-7. So who knows what this weekend has in store, but based on the events of the days preceding it it's bound to be good...
Luckily I've had a legitimately nice week to make up for all the indoor moping I'll likely be doing this weekend to avoid the weather.
So after Tuesday's Jessica Simpson insanity, I met my new roommate Antonin on Wednesday. He's everything I didn't expect him to be — French, extremely polite and looks exactly like Orlando Bloom. I mean, EXACTLY. I'll post pictures soon for proof.
Antonin is from Provence, France, and will be working at the French Embassy this year as part of a special training program at his college in Toulouse. His English is pretty good, even when his knowledge of the States isn't.
"So you're from Ohio. Do you ever visit Des Moines [pronounced as a French word]?"
"No, Antonin, that's actually in Iowa."
Later on: "Do you eat a lot of potatoes in Ohio? Isn't that what you're famous for?"
"Nope, that's Idaho."
It's cute and fun to correct, and we've gotten along famously for what few hours we've actually been in the same room together. Yesterday got pretty busy.
The highlight of my 10-day work day was my phone interview with the lead singer of Ok Go, who was on his way to the VMAs via limo as we spoke. The Q&A was in regards to the fact that their hysterical dance routine video for "A Million Ways" recently became the most-downloaded music video in history, a strong example of viral marketing on the web. I'm always proud when I can manage to work straightforward entertainment/music pieces into pitches and actually have my editors approve.
After catching bits of the VMAs themselves online (Jack Black was soooooo lame, JT's performance was so-so and Lil' Kim's outfit was extremely underwhelming) I headed out to Chelsesa for another night out with the Kent kids. We were determined to make up for our failed attempts to get crunk last Saturday. And boy did we succeed this time.
I met up with Joey, Mary and their cute Asian friend Sorai from work at Dallas BBQ or margaritas and appetizers (onion loaf before going out? NOT a good idea...) My Texas size margarita was aptly named and awfully tasty. The dangerous part was that it came with an extra test tube full of tequila, which I periodically poured into mine to keep the juices flowing.
We then hopped over to Duvet — whose sister club "Bed" may sound familiar to fans of "Sex & The City" — for what was unbeknownst to us a VMA after-party with a special performance from Wyclef Jean!!! Talk about a week of celebrity surprises — first Jessica Simpson, now this!
It was absurd — the most crowded I have ever been in a club but also one of the most memorable times I've had in one. I mean, how many people can say they went to go dance at a club and ended up seeing Wyclef sing everything from "We Tryin' To Stay Alive" to "Ready Or Not" to "Hips Don't Lie" all while all the ladies in the hosue got to come up on stage and dance with him. Including Mary, who definitely seemed to be enjoying herself.
Joey was having fun until the booze got the better of him and caused him to puke all over the backseat of the taxi on the drive home. Looks like tequila wasn't his friend.
Cut to me running back home from Harlem this morning to shower, change and make it to work on time. Only to discover that our servers were down and no one had Internet. It was like a snow day or something. So I made a bunch of photocopies for the editorial asst. before heading out after just three hours time. The three-and-a-half day weekend has already begun!
As for what to do for said weekend, I'm clueless. There was talk of trips to Syracuse or Boston, but both are out as I am broke. Even more so after last night's adventure. Antonin had the best idea when he said of the rain, "It's museum weather." So maybe I'll do that. Venture over to MOMA for a student discount — or possibly a free ticket. Apparently they have them from 3-7. So who knows what this weekend has in store, but based on the events of the days preceding it it's bound to be good...
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