What's happening here? Is it Summer Hiatus?

As has been well-established, I love the Olympics. However, there's been this weird void of other TV shows I normally watch on a weekly basis, because even though these winter games are airing exclusively (and shittily, it should be mentioned) on NBC, all the other networks aren't really even attempting to counter-program. (Except for FOX, with American Idol, which almost always gets the gold).

Truth be told... it's kind of nice. I don't feel pressure to watch the Olympics. Sure I enjoy watching, but there isn't the same intense feeling of "OHMYGOD I need to get home to make sure I have enough time to watch four hours of television because it's MY JOB to do so."

Instead, I've been reading lots of pilots, watching pilots, writing a pilot and spending my evenings doing other more worthwhile things (like doing pilots. Heh. Hehe. Not really. I don't know any actual pilots, but that would have been funny). It's kind of like summer! Ahh summer hiatus, a time when TV-watching is put on the back burner and I'm less concerned with staying up on all the TV news and more concerned with my tan.

But then there comes a night such as tonight. I thought I had work drinks, but they cancelled. I was invited to go to some party in Hollywood, but I passed, because that whole Hollywood thing ain't my scene. And I already worked out today. So what am I going to do when I get home tonight? READ. Lots and lots of reading. What a novel idea! (Get it? Novel idea? Reading? God I am just full of puns today!) Now if it only were summer, and it was light until 9pm. Then I would go to the beach. My life is really, really hard.

America, Fuck Yeah!

First, a disclaimer: I don't like swearing on the internet. It only attracts pornbots and spam and people with dirty mouths. I realize this is ironic, because I've dropped my fair share of F-bombs between here and Twitter, but I just wanted to put that out there.

ANYWAY.

So the best part about the Olympics (yeah, that again) is not the crazy figure skating outfits we are forced to look at (and on that note, I think this year there is a new record for "ugly"). The best part is the hilarious patriotism that pops up everywhere, especially in the wake of an event where it's America versus our neighbor to the north. I can't even count how many people had updated their Facebook status' to "USA!" after we crushed Canada in the hockey game yesterday.

Ironically, I did not watch the game. Not even a minute. This is mostly due to the fact I couldn't figure out what channel it was on, (NBC wins the gold for WORST OLYMPIC PROGRAMMING EVER) but also because I was too wrapped up in watching good 80s movies on Netflix streaming (new favorite film: The Big Chill).

But you know what? I'm going to join the masses. I am going to get swept up in the patriotism. I AM GOING TO LOVE FREEDOM.

America! FUCK YEAH!

That is all.

Congratulations NBC! You've finally found some programming that gets viewers!

If only the Olympics occurred more frequently than every 2 years. At least for NBC, because apparently everyone (Or half of everyone - or some actual statistic I could look up, but feel I don't need to, because if you really care about the actual number you can just Google it yourself) is watching these Vancouver 2010 Olympic games.

I totally have Olympic fever. As a girl who grew up in Maine competing in both figure skating and downhill skiing for many years, I actually can talk about these sports with some authority (other sports I can talk about with authority? Field hockey, lacrosse, tennis... aka sports only played by WASPS in New England). Now, if I remember correctly, most people tend to prefer the Summer Olympics to the Winter Olympics and I would imagine that's because the sports for the summer games are a little more conventional. That and a bazillion more countries compete.

But there is something about the Winter Olympics... they're just... batshit crazy. And just totally rad. I mean the threat of death is imminent (and sadly, this year, a reality) and when you think about it, like when you boil it down to the bare basics, you've got people essentially seeing how fast they can go using various sharp objects on top of varying surfaces of ice and snow. I mean, that's AWESOME.

And Canada? You're okay. No really! Despite my discomfort with the French-Canadian accent (I was educated by snobby Parisians for a chuck of time, what do you expect?) I am digging the vibe in Vancouver. Looks like a beautiful city with nice people.

Ultimately, it doesn't really surprise me that these games are getting a lot of viewers, and I am sure NBC is thrilled. If only the Olympics aired year round... I mean, what other programming has ever given American Idol a run for it's money? That's like freedom vs. freedom.

And freedom always wins.

Wicked 90s

I have a tendency to use decades as adjectives. For example, this past President's Day weekend was pretty epic in a decade-specific way. How do I mean? Well, most epic was the 90s sleepover party that rounded up my Sunday night. What began as a typical night at Venice bars (what's that, it was Valentine's Day? Yeah, didn't notice) ended up with 5 people eating snacks in our living room, watching Beetlejuice (sidenote: probably one of my top five favorite movies ever) and playing Jenga. Yes, Jenga. Even better? We all slept in the living room, sprawled out on couches, and it wasn't until around 6am that people emerged from confused sleep and I stumbled off to my own bed (turns out, it is better to sleep with a blanket!).

Additionally, I watched a LOT of Olympics this weekend. Which feels very 90s to me as well, considering I spent the better part of my childhood obsessed with skiing and figureskating - and even competing in both at different points. I could watch the Olympics allllll day...