Some awesome television after a long time

Like a true blue desi, I get a little excited whenever there is any mention of India, or Indians in regular American TV programs. So, imagine my surprise when I started watching Heroes.

I never had a chance to catch this much acclaimed hit television series when it first started airing in NBC. Recently, K and I discovered the incredible watch-instantly feature of Netflix. All we needed was an HDMI cable to connect the computer to our HDTV and voila, the entire first and second seasons of Heroes was at our finger tips.

One of the lead characters in Heroes is Dr.Mohinder Suresh, played by Indian-American actor Sendhil Ramamurthy. In the series, he is shown teaching at "Chennai University", and later travels to the USA to pursue answers to the mysterious research performed by his murdered Dad. The scope of Heroes is sweeping and global- there are characters from Mexico, Ireland, Japan etc. I was pleasantly surprised by Mohinder's character, and more so by Senthil's performance -he comes across as intelligent and rather cute.

However, the set design is a let down. Sure, I did not expect NBC's cast and crew to fly to Madras and shoot in the thannithorai market, but, there is very little authenticity - you see sari clad women - albeit with sarees tied in the gujarathi style; Ok maybe they were trying to recreate Sowcarpet, but there are two towering temple gopurams (almost side by side) in the background. Huh??? And then, there is a sequence set in Kanyakumari. Looks like it was shot in a beach in California, which is ok given budget constraints. The Valluvar statue is shown in one shot, but, the next shot shows a Varnasi style temple structure right there in the seashore!

Well, I guess I am needlessly nitpicking. I am totally enjoying the idea of a mainstream Indian character not being reduced to a caricature. The series is genuinely good - it is entertaining, suspenseful, and sentimental (without being cheesy). The third season premiers in September. I cannot wait!

Top 5 SATC episodes - A woman's right to shoes

Disclaimer - Almost every fabulous woman that I know is a mom. I am full of admiration and respect for mommies, and aspire to be one someday....

And with all that being said....one of my favorite SATC episodes is "A woman's right to shoes"!!!!

Most exceptional fashion statement - What else? The fabulous silver Manolos that the episode revolves around

Favorite quotes -

"I am getting married, to myself....and oh by the way, I am registered at Manolo Blahnik" - Carrie

"Where is the hallmark card for "congratulations...you did not marry the wrong guy?" - Carrie

Central premise -

Mothers are deified in every culture in this planet (and they deserve it for sure). However, the sad downside is, women without kids are often looked down upon, their lifestyle choices are seriously questioned, somehow, their passions and feelings are considered a little less important, and to Carrie's point, there really IS no occasion in which a single/childless woman's life is celebrated.

Here is the episode's storyline (and I would love to hear your thoughts on this) - Carrie is forced to take off her expensive shoes during a friend's child's birthday party. Naturally, the shoes are stolen. Carrie expects her friend to show a little sympathy, but her friend is simply callous. She accuses Carrie of having way too much time on her hands, while she, as a mom, has a real life. An angry Carrie requests compensation from her friend (her lawyer friend Miranda tells her this is legal), but her friend "shoe-shames" her by saying that she has real responsibilities and does not have to pay for Carrie's frivolous lifestyle choices.

A heartbroken Carrie does the math, and figures out that she has spent nearly 3000 dollars celebrating her married friend's lifestyle choices, and protests the fact that as a single childless woman, nobody considers her life worth celebrating. She announces that she is getting married, to herself. She registers for a single gift - the lost shoes in the Manolo Blahnik store gift registry, and her friend finally coughs up the cash (+tax by the way) and gifts Carrie the shoes

At first, I found the concept of Carrie requesting her friend to pay for her lost shoes a little odd. Miranda (who is a lawyer) thinks its fine, and legal, as it was the friend who forced Carrie to take off her expensive shoes. If I were in such a situation, would I make my friend pay? Never. But then, my real friends would NEVER ever trivialize my lifestyle choices just because I am childless.

But, if a person I considered a friend "shoe-shamed" me and somehow considered her life a lot more important than mine.....would I really accept defeat and walk away that easily? ...and then, would I even consider her a real friend? Would you??????

Top SATC least favorite episodes - Number 4

Episode title - The entire first season

Thats right...this much loved series actually had a rather weak first season, taking its title rather too literally. There were gimmicks galore.....characters looking at the camera and talking, Carrie's "nude" dress, unnatural dialogues like "abso-^&*^^-lutely", and all the ladies seeming a little too desperate.

Ofcourse, the biggest redeeming factor of season 1 was who else...Mr.Big (sorry, couldn't resist the big pun).

Most annoying moment - When Charlotte dumps a guy (who is miraculously perfect and the marrying kind) because their tastes in China do not match! (Episode- Bay of Married pigs)

The Fashion - Hmm.....maybe Carrie's giant fur coat or the chic sunglasses all the girls sported when driving to their formerly-wild-now-soccer-mom friend's babby shower....The clothes did not really stick to my mind, i think the style evolved in the later seasons. Remember, even the famous Carrie necklace showed up only in season 2.

Top 5 SATC Least Favorite episodes - Number 5

Episode title: I love a charade

Central premise: Can a relationship still be a relationship without the zsa zsa zsu?

Exceptional fashion statement: Carrie's green umbrella with Indian style embroidery

Best directed shot: Miranda enjoys the fragrance of lilacs, and baby Brady reaches out and grabs the flowers too (the scene signifies how the two are missing Steve)

This episode was the finale of Season 5 - also known as the least satisfying of all SATC seasons. The season had fewer episodes, due to Sarah Jessica Parker's real life pregnancy.

This episode does have some bright spots - politically incorrect Samantha refuses to get all baby friendly and bans little smelly-pants-Brady from her "A-list party", Steve and Miranda rekindle their relationship, and Miranda begins to fall in love with Steve again.

However, just when we thought wise-cracking writer Jack Berger was out of the scene as he had a girlfriend, he bumps into Carrie on the way to the Hamptons. The first of many unfunny banters begins (and continues till the two break up a painful few episodes later). I guess Michael Patrick King (the director) wanted to show how the two had an easy going, "clever" relationship, for, this was the first time Carrie was actually dating a fellow writer. But the chemistry was solely lacking between the two. And Carrie seemed way too eager to please, and for some weird reason, she overacted all through the Berger episodes, with exaggerated facial expressions and annoying gestures. I'm not sure if this was intentional - did the director want us to dislike the idea of Carrie and Berger together, or show that Carrie was not being natural, and somehow fooling herself?

Tomorrow's post is all about my favorite episodes - number 5 in my top 5 list!

(Image source: www.hbo.com)

Welcoming this decade's Big movie event

I'm going to type out a sentence that may seem crazy to some, but I genuinely mean it: Sex and the City (SATC) changed my life.

Three years ago, I was floundering a little in my personal life. I'm not sure why, but I kept moving away from the real me, and tried to fit into the stereotype of what I thought was a "good girl". Obviously, it was a bad idea, and it SO did not work. Then, one lazy weekend, my husband rented the boxed DVD set of SATC 's third season. (yea, you read right - its probably the worst kept secret in North America; men LOVE watching SATC, and most definitely NOT for the Samantha-scenes which give the series much of its notoriety and its R-rating)

It took a while for me to get hooked, but then there was no turning back. I found the message so tremendously liberating and joyful.....I realized there is a beautiful wide world out there, I realized my girlfriends were so precious to me, I discovered the fun in dressing up and being a girl, most importantly, I started being myself.

So, to celebrate this wonderful series, and welcome Sex and the city - the movie, I am going to write about my most favorite and least favorite episodes. Look forward to hearing your take on these!

Top 5 TV shows

I'm suddenly addicted to TV again thanks to my DVR and ability to skip commercials.

5) 24:

Just when it seemed like the show was in serious danger of jumping the shark (what with Jack's torture routine getting staler than bread six seasons old, and with the super predicatable about face that Jack's dad does), the show suddenly made a sharp turn to the left (yes, pun totally intended), with an Obama-esque president mouthing platitudes about civil liberties. Wow! Miracles are possible even in this day and age? Or is it just good ol money talking? (with Fox simply veering towards current public sentiment?)

4) The daily show with Jon Stewart:

Jon has suddenly got his mojo back. He is actually speaking complete sentences, and resorts to making juvenile faces and blowing raspberries only once in every 2 minutes (as opposed to every 2 seconds a few months ago). The high profile guests in his show are proof of his rising influence - Bill Gates the day Vista was launched, Joe Biden on the day of his famous gaffe were some good ones

3)Tonight show with Jay Leno:

Still an all time favorite for me. I'm trying to like Letterman for my hubby's sake, but Jay is too funny, night after night

2) American Idol

The season has actually gotten off to a good start, with some genuine heart warming moments, a Paula who promises to be as loopy as ever, Randy's count of the word "dawg" quickly reaching 1 million, and Simon saying what everyone else really wants to. Watch out for Bailey Brown. Shes probably the next idol.

1) Countdown with Keith Olbermann

This is quite simply the best show on TV (MSNBC). Keith discusses the top 5 news topics of the day, and the topics cover a wide range of subjects - politics, movies, scandals, sports, UFO sightings, and also lists the top newsmakers of the day, and the "worst persons in the world"!!! Warm, funny, patriotic, passionate, opinionated, fiercely independent and totally fearless- Keith is a shining beacon of hope in today's world of party hacks and suits mindlessly mouthing talking points.

What now?

Last night, I started watching Sex and the city on WB. I then realized a shocking truth - i cannot watch it anymore. I have watched every single episode 50 times. I have now truly reached the point where I know every single dialogue and can even recall every dress Carrie wore. For the past year, SATC was my great escapist tool. Now, what do I do? Can there be life after SATC?

Well, maybe yes. I just spent all of sunday catching up on episodes of Big Love (on HBO) and the Mind of Mencia (on comedy central). Big Love is about this polygamist family living in Utah and its pretty interesting (like all other HBO series).

Weekend TV/movie watch

* I started watching Bambara Kannaaley. I could not make it past the first 10 minutes

* Attention Surya - Please read this post: DO NOT DANCE. REPEAT. DO NOT DANCE. EVER.
(Case in point - Suttum vizhi sudare)

* Try not to watch sun tv on sunday night. There is a new series - Veppalaikari!!! (and you thought Raja Rajeshwari was bad enough). Luckily, the little kid in Veppalaikari is not as scary as the big baby in Raja Rajeshwari/Velan (dont remember which)

* Still cant stop laughing - The top ten songs' take on Sindhu Bhairavi and Sivakumar was hilarious!

Sun tv career opportunities

Never worry about your future again. Check out the job postings and business opportunities below! Thanks to Sun tv you can be well on your way to financial freedom!

Out-of-work older movie stars/former starlets:

Never made it in the big bad world of Thamizh cinema? Did not graduate from item numbers? Get ready for a fresh new career. Take a dabba of ponds dream flower talc, shake it all over your head, grab your mom's old sungudi saree, paint your face gray and you are all set! You can be the next famous on screen mom/mother-in-law.

Looking for job satisfaction? You can act in three different roles simultaneously! Act as the long suffering mother in law in the popular 12:00 pm prime-time-for-retired-ladies serial. Then, wear some makeup, rush over to the next set, and act as the bitchy mother-in-law in the popular 7:00 pm prime-time-for-working-women-just-back-home serial. Finally, untie your hair, look a little mysterious, and play the best role of your career in one of the many supernatural serials. Religious type? Find yourself a role in Raja rajeshwari!!

Look no further for job security. All these serials will continue for the next 40 years of your life!

In your early twenties? Want to enter the entertainment world?

But worried you can never compete with the Trishas or Asins? Know too much Thamizh to ever act in Thamizh cinema? No worries! You can now grab yourself big roles in mega serials. Excellent benefits! No need to worry about creating your signature personality or looks. Just wake up in the morning, take a center parting in your hair, wear a slick one-plait and a simple cotton saree, grab your handbag, and you are ready to go! Act in one serial in the morning as the long suffering sister, then, rush off to the next set to act as the catty sister in law. Finally, finish your day by crying copiously in your career-defining role as Radhika's 8th cousin sister! You do not need to worry about costume changes, nobody cares! You can get by with looking exactly the same in all the serials you star in!

Warning: If your body mass index is in the healthy range for your height, you could seriously be jeopardizing your career chances. Add 20 pounds, as unnaturally as possible, and apply soon for your dream supporting-sister/bitchy-in-law role! (sorry, the leading lady roles are reserved for out-of-work actresses)

Handbag manufacturers - Empower women! Make the kolangal handbag!

Are you suffering from a failing export business due to stiff competition from Gucci and Prada? Worried you can never make a bag that can even remotely compete with Fendi? Rest easy, you just found your dream market. Make the popular Devyani handbag!
Design specifications: Strap long enough to touch the floor. Should make the user keep clutching on to it for dear life. Body of the handbag needs to be big, black and as shapeless as possible. Dusty just-got-out-of-ptc-bus finish preferred.
Target market: Millions of loyal Kolangal fans and Devyani wannabes

Cloth bag(Thuni pai manufacturers)- Brand new market space! Target all harried Dads!

Potential business oppurtunity to make thuni pais. Target market will be elderly Gentleman who have a minimum of 6 daughters. Will help them carry fruits and other gifts as they make their rounds from one daughter's pugundha veedu to another. Need special compartment inside for storing youngest daughter's jaadhagam as dads make the kalyana tharagar rounds
Warning: You might face stiff competition from retailers such as Nalli who give away this classy bag for free. Differentiate your bag by giving it unique personality. Print pictures of the metti oli dad on all bags! First 1000 buyers will get their bags personally autographed by him

Sun tv ads

The much-hated but always-watched sun tv has made a big entry back into our house. Heres what I noticed:

- The pattu pudavais are getting more spectacular year after year. The best I have seen this year is the kolam sarees (i dont know which saree company makes this)
- The most irritating ad is for Thamizh Murasu - especially the song Summa nachunu irukku - whats with everyone using "nachunu" and "adhu" in every sentence now?
- Previously, women alone were targeted by the regressive fairness cream ads. Now, men cannot escape too- I just saw an ad for a "fair and handsome" cream!!!
- I started watching kolangal and vikramadhithya after a gap of over 10 months. I have not missed a thing!
- I swear I saw some guys with colored hair!
- Radhika's araajagam on suntv continues (now with full support from Saritha!)
- The only qualification for becoming a model for thamizh ads is to be a fair north indian
- The guy who acts as the Vedhalam in Vikramadhithya still appears in EVERY other program, especially the irritating one where he says "break" in every annoying tone possible (he insults every single poor soul that appears on the program and they give him weak embarassed smiles!)
- It looks like the salwar is slowly replacing the saree (not just favored by college girls anymore). I still think that salwars can never beat the saree when it comes to gracefulness, especially for thamizh women
- People are getting more and more verbally abusive in the mega serials; men, women alike!

Weekdays just got spicier

The brightest spot of every week day used to be watching the 200th rerun of Friends episodes. Things are now even better. WB is now playing Sex and the City every weekday at 10:00 central (sorry TBS, tuesday and wednesday wasnt enough).

Here are some of the best quotes from the most fabulous serial ever.

Bake? I use my oven for storage

Can a relationship still be a relationship without the zsa zsa zsu?

My marriage is a fake Fendi

When i had to choose between dinner and Vogue, I chose Vogue. It was more fulfilling

She is fashion road kill...

I was emotionally slutty. I revealed too much too soon..

I am someone who is looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love.

...The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous....