WHYYYYYYYYYY

WHY DID MTV CANCEL ALEXA CHUNG?

FUCK THEM.





FUCKKKKKKKKK THEM.

And fuck ONTD for being assholes about it. I've lost like half of my respect for them right now.

Sad day. And I have to write a research paper. UGH. This makes me feel like I have abnormal taste when so many people hated her and I fucking looooved the show. WTF is wrong with me, then? Everyone sucks.

Paris, Not France: A Review (of Sorts)

Yeah, I watched it.

The documentary about Paris Hilton filmed in 2006 called Paris, Not France, which aired on MTV recently:



And yeah, while watching it, I fell for the evil bigwigs' plan and saw Paris as a human. And I thought, "she's not all that bad." So I felt for the girl.

So shoot me!

I'm not saying I would want to be her best friend, but I understand her and get that she is a human now. Which is good. It probably helped that I have warmed up to her now that she has lost a lot of attention (fickle audience and all), and she was really funny and sweet this one random time I was watching Life on the D-List with Kathy Griffin and she guested. Plus I used to love The Simple Life when it first started. And I've always respected her a bit more for not getting a boob or nose job, as a fellow weird-nosed tiny-boobed female. Finally, I've been watching lots of band documentaries for no particular reason as of late (Radiohead's Meeting People Is Easy, Metallica's Some Kind of Monster...) so watching this continued the trend of seeing the not-so-great side of success and fame.

Weirdest part was probably seeing how she changes her voice from "public" cutesy coo to "real" deep man-voice. WTF girl.

I'm not even going to try to explain myself further because there is no way to justify this apparent lack of good judgment on my part. Plus, I can't remember more specific reasons for appreciating the documentary and her in it, even though I just finished watching it a few hours ago. I have Alzheimer's.


I excitedly went on my computer after to finally read what Rich from fourfour wrote about it, because I was sure he would have a similar opinion to mine (why do I only enjoy opinions that are he same as mine? Eesh). But to my chagrin, his review was waaay negative and harsh. He just sounds ultra bitter and 'tis quite unbecoming of that lovely man.

Some of the things that bothered him (these are direct quotes):

1. She complains about the press running her through the mud, but admits that she's addicted to reading it.

2. She talks about the importance of being humble, but then refers to a gaggle of squealing Japanese admirers as "worshiping" her.

1. Yeah, because that's real life, Rich. I also complain that eating junk food makes me gain weight but damn if I don't enjoy the hell out of it while I'm eating. Life is full of contradictions. Especially when you're a celebrity "living the dream" yet having to deal with some overwhelming and not-so-great side-effects.

2. The thing about Japanese admirers "worshiping" her- I did notice when she said it, but it didn't annoy me because she said it so matter-of-factly. She wasn't saying it in a cocky above-everyone way, she said it more like she felt detached. It's like when my friend from Beverly Hills gave me a tour of her house but seriously acted like the whole place was blah- no affectation, it just really meant nothing to her. It was kind of like that when Paris said it.


And, I mean, damn, those Japanese fans were worshiping her! They were fucking crying and screaming and looking at her as if she was the second coming of Jesus. So, yeah, she wasn't exaggerating. It's not cool of Rich to put that down because those words look much worse in type than in video, and he should know better than to take things out of their context like that.

But, oh well. Haters gonna hate. And I'm a big hater too so I shouldn't be talking. I think my thing is that I go *against the grain* because I'm a *rebel* like that, so I hate on people that the masses like too much without good reason and I (like on?) people that the masses hate too much without good reason. I'm just trying to balance the world out, yo! Oooookay I'm pathetic I'll go sit down now.

Alexa Chung Update

I've recorded and watched every "It's On with Alexa Chung" episode so far. It's good, okay!



I just wanted to send props to the talented cutie ptutie Conor Knighton of Infomania, who I already gushed about here 5 million years ago. MTV, do you know how impressed I was with you after I got over the shock of seeing him on the show? Good job! You deserve a pat on he back for that decision.

He was great, especially for his first time. And you could tell Alexa liked him because she gave him a high-five in the end. Hey, MTV, keep your good streak going and bring him on the show again. I would also be pretty awesome if you brought Sarah Haskins, also of Infomania and Current TV fame, who does the revered "Target Women" clips.

Hmm other suggestions for future celeb-gossip-guests (I love how they keep rotating):

-Perez Hilton. That would be hilarious. Seriously, get on that.
-Trent of Pink is the New Blog
-Michael K of the hilariously snarky blog Dlisted
-Kathy Griffin. yeahhh girl.
-Rosie O'Donnell. HA.
-Tom Green. OMG can you imagine.
-Rich from the fourfour blog. Please! Also his famous cat Winston would get major bonus points.
-Tracie, the girl that does the "Pot Psychology" videos with Rich on Jezebel
-the ~famous mods over at ONTD - mattchew03, ecctv, and brenden
-Martha Stewart. or Ina Garten! omg how great would that be if it was both of them.
-John Mayer. He's funny, mmkay.
-Joel McHale of The Soup!
-some of those people from the now cancelled Best Week Ever THE SHOW. Not the blog and that horrible BWE blog woman (ok gosh she's not horrible I know I know BUT SHE IS) Michelle something or other. Not her. I'm talking that guy that was always high... people like that. BTW Michelle or whatever was a mega bitch the second time she was on "It's On." WTF girl, chill and go away.
-Adam Lambert. Yeaaahh.
-Simon Amstell or Alex Zane! bring some British imports por favor.
-Kanye West! Hhahaha.
-Lady Gaga. yes please.

Ok that's enough. MTV show poducers pay attention, I have provided you with solid gold right there.

Also, the more the merrier on the same show. Today three members of some sketch comedy group talked with Alexa about the gossips and it was a lot funner with less awkward silences than usual.

And Alexa, you are marvelous darling. The girl is a natural. Keep doing your thang.

"It's On" with Alexa Chung: an Overly Thorough Review of the Premiere

I tuned into the very first episode of "It's on" with Alexa Chung on MTV today- all proper timing and everything. I don't really know why. Possibly because I have known about this girl for a while now (you're so damn slow USA!)- even before she started dating Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys (lucky girl). I knew about her from a discontinued music interview show in the UK called Popworld, which she hosted with equally awesome Alex Zane. Here is a sample interview that proves she's got it going on- she asks Panic at the Disco questions and they act like idiots. So she treats them like an evil bitch, obv, and I love her for it.

It's funny- I know I would hate this girl in person, but on TV she's just very entertaining and doesn't take shit from anybody. Breath of fresh air for MTV- if they don't beat it out of her, that is. I'm not going to hold my breath.

............Michael Cera gave Alexa a snuggie as a gift teehee............

The show itself was mixed. It's the first episode, so I can't judge too harshly, but most of the downers were MTV's fault and the high points were Alexa's.



Lame:

- That woman wearing the horrendous striped top, talking about celebrity gossip with Alexa at the beginning of the show. I couldn't catch her name and I haven't found it anywhere, not even on the official website for the show. [EDIT: I found her! Michelle Collins]. Maybe the producers are trying to hide her as a quick fix? 'Twould be nice, because she was TERRIBLE. Okay, okay- not that bad, but she just didn't fit with Alexa at all. She did this cheesy commentary that would go fine with Entertainment Tonight but looks like crap in contrast with Alexa's straightforward, no-BS snarkiness. And you could tell Alexa wasn't having any of it either- she kept looking disgusted after each awkward comment she peeped out. See what I'm saying- Alexa can be mean in a way that is very satisfying- especially in this case- on TV, but would be a huge turn off in person. Think Blair Waldorf. Anyway, this idiot of a woman- oh, fine, she seemed sweet, whatever- but she's so wrong for the show. She brought everything down. This calls for a catty gay guy or something to take that dullard's place and match Alexa's wit. MTV producers- I know you're surfing blogs for reactions right now, so listen to me- FIRE THAT WOMAN and hire someone better. You can switch her to host some crap reality show, whatever. Just take her out.

-the Internet pimping. Goodness gracious, MTV. I swear sometimes I think these old exec dudes are like "if we mention twitter the kids will cream themselves!!" No they fucking won't idiots, it doesn't work that way. You don't just integrate a bunch of useless mentions of Facebook statuses and feature illiterate tweens twittering and call it a show. Granted, the "internet integration" wasn't as bad as I expected after initially reading the press about the show. But it was still bad. We're watching TV for a reason, MTV. So no more twitter commentary (don't you want people to post the interviews online and have them 'go viral'? You don't want that ugly rectangle covering half the screen).

-Too fast-paced, too much crap going on. Actually at first with the celeb gossip part, it was really slow because that other woman was talking nonsense and it looked like Alexa was utterly bored by her. But then the show went into overdrive and it jumped from pictures of cats on heads to relationship advice to beat-boxing, and surprises left and right. Too much.



Good:

-The set was nice. It reminded me of Good Morning America or the View or something, but in a good way. I'm just glad it's nothing like TRL. It's new for MTV. Fresh.

-Alexa. I'm impressed with MTV for hiring her. First Russell Brand, now her- not bad. Now they just need to bring Alex Zane and Simon Amstell over- maybe even Zane Lowe, and Jonathan Ross- and I'll be happy. Anyway, back to Alexa- I can't wrap my head around HOW she is so confident and seemed completely unfazed about hosting this show in the US for the first time. Yes she has done this in the UK for 3 years, but it seems like since this is her first US and MTV show, she should be stuttering and blushing and instead she was owning it as if she has been in that same studio for five years already.

-She is not going to be MTV's puppet. She knows what she wants the show to be and she will not be afraid to wrangle it out of her guests if she has to. I just hope, again, that MTV won't crack down on her too much (they inevitably will to some degree. Bastards).

-that idea to have Jack Black and Michael Cera narrate over the trailer was hilarious , but it didn't really work out because the stupid fucking producers decided to show them staring at the screen and talking instead of making the video full-screen and letting the viewers enjoy the narration! Otherwise what is the point? That part pissed me off. It was such a good idea, too, and I feel like now the producers or whoever will probably think it failed and throw it out. Tragic. Oh and Jack Black was right, they should have the actors narrate over a scene instead of a trailer, which is too fast-paced. Michael Cera was hilarious in this part by the way hahahah. He just kept saying "heey" and finally he admitted "I'm bad at this." I love Michael Cera.

Here are exclusive videos that will probably be taken down, The first is of Alexa interviewing lovely ol' Souljah Boy. You can witness the annoying twitter updates here too. Distracting!

http://www.rapradar.com/focus/soulja-boy-tell-em-checks-in-with-qits-onq.html

And go to this link to see a video of a young female beat-boxing champion (Julia Dales) being surprised by one of her heroes, Rahzel:

http://nahright.com/news/2009/06/15/video-rahzel-vs-julia-dales/



And an official MTV video, of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt making a surprise visit:

It's On with Alexa Chung - MTV Shows

By the way, not that anyone cares but this IS my blog after all muaha- I'm not that into Alexa's style. It's okay but it's not worthy of all the 'fashion icon!!111!" praise it gets. She wears nice things, but for some reason it doesn't seem natural. Almost as if she doesn't choose the clothes herself, although I know she probably does. I think what it is is that nothing she wears is very original. Also her current hair is a cop out of this era MIA, just sayin':



If you do want to know what label and brand and blah blah Alexa's clothes are, MTV's Buzzworthy Blog will be updating readers on what Alexa is wearing daily, so keep your eye on that.

Russell Brand to Host MTV VMA's- Good Job MTV! (And No, For Once That is Not Sarcasm)

Personally, I think this is a genius step on MTV's part. And, obviously, they haven't made too many genius decisions in a long time so I am not just saying that lightly.

From HuffPo:

NEW YORK — MTV is staking its brand on a lesser-known one: Russell Brand.

The British actor and comedian will host this year's Video Music Awards, set to air live from Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, MTV told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Brand recently co-starred in the Judd Apatow-produced comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and the Reese Witherspoon-produced fairy tale "Penelope." He is currently filming the Adam Sandler comedy "Bedtime Stories," slated for release later this year.

Brand told the AP that he hadn't started thinking about how he would approach the assignment _ not that there's much planning to be done for the infamously anything-goes show.

"I've just been invited to do it," Brand said in a telephone interview from London. "It'll be good to preside over what is sure to be only vaguely coordinated televised insanity."

Not that chaos or improv a problem for the 33-year-old comedian.

"That's how I've made my name in this country: Flying very much by the seat _ and the crotch _ of my pants."

MTV hired Brand to be a VJ on its Britain-based show "Dance Floor Chart" after catching his comedy act in Edinburgh, Scotland. He also hosted a call-in show called MTV Select.

Why genius? Maybe I'm being hyperbolic, but I really am impressed by MTV actually taking a chance and having someone virtually unknown on this side of the pond hosting the VMA's. Who is an actual host and knows how to, you know, host. As opposed to, well, the typical egomaniacal, deplorable, half-witted tabloid celebrity. Let's face it, MTV barely takes any risks and so this is a refreshing surprise. Of course I, with my Anglophilia and obsession with all things British, am just about one of only like 100 Americans who knows who Russell Brand is. He's just a crazy man with crazy hair from England and he's sure to make the night fun. I might actually watch just because of him. So good job MTV! I'm proud of you for taking a risk! And for actually knowing who this guy is, I mean damn. And I thought your (MTV's) head was up your ass all along! Good to see it come out finally! And also, I haven't mentioned this, I laud you (MTV) for creating the show FNMTV. It is a very noble and admirable effort to inject music back into MTV, and although it is still a bit awkward, it has a lot of potential. And I love that it plays bands like Vampire Weekend, Slipknot, and the Jonas Brothers all together. That is awesome.

Keep up the good work MTV. (Please!)

New York Noise

I found this show through BuzzFeed, and it's pretty awesome if I may say so myself. It's not, well, overly pretentious as you might expect from a channel that exclusively covers indie rock.

This is how BuzzFeed describes it:

A NYC cable-access show featuring well-curated music videos picks up where MTV left off. Online episodes are now available. If you live in New York, you’ll find comfort in knowing that your precious tax dollars are going towards educating the masses about important life topics like indie rock bands and rediscovering irony. Anyone still unwilling to throw out those tattered VHS tapes of old episodes of 120 Minutes will surely appreciate this show.

There are only three full episodes up right now, but they have only just started putting them online HERE.

And the official website has a schedule of the shows and featured artists- who include Klaxons, Vampire Weekend, Yeasayer, etc.

They play music videos, interviews with bands, and so far my favorite feature- commentary by bands on other bands' music videos. It's like a sort-of-not-really resurrection of Beavis and Butthead!

Add this onto the growing list of shows I have to watch online because my vicinity over here does not have cool state shows like this, nor does American cable in general have too many worthwhile shows.

Also, this is so easy to do. Why can't MTV do this? Just make some freaking music shows. Goddamn, MTV. Goddamn.

More Like Douche World...

Here's the new trailer for the Real World: Hollywood-



Why must MTV insist on only casting douche bags on the Real World? This show has so much potential and they kill it every single time... it's quite frustrating, really. Okay, have one brainless, steroid-abusing guy in the house. Fine. But why do all of the guys have to be that way? One is seriously not enough? What about the geek, or the artistic sensitive guy, or the funny guy? At least those clichés are less irritating, and (for me at least) much more interesting.

MTV- You lose at life. Get yourself together already. It's tragic to watch your slow and painful demise.

"Reality" Shows

There is the typical bad reality show, and then there is the good one. There's a very thin line between them and it's oh so easy to cross over to the bad side. It can even happen in the middle of a season. I don't know exactly what make a good reality show... or at least what makes it good in my eyes.

I think that, for me, the show has to be at least somewhat genuine to catch my fascination. I know they're all staged to some extent, but I need some real human emotions and interactions. If there's real-ness, I can watch a whole conversation on TV with undivided interest. Maybe it's because of my weird habit of analyzing people, I don't know.



This is probably the reason why I lost interest in the MTV show "The Life of Ryan," about the famous skater boy Ryan Sheckler. I first watched the show simply to give it a chance- I was probably bored at the time. I also had very low expectations because the whole concept was already unpromising. But I ended up loving the show with all my heart. Ignoring the cheesy voice-over/narration by Ryan himself and the even more cheesy and frequent video "flash backs" to Ryan's happy childhood, the show turned out to have a heart and it pulled me in. At first look I thought Ryan was another cocky teenager whose early success inevitably went to his head, but he actually surprised me. What broke my wall of cynicism was the way he treated his two brothers- one a couple years younger and very quiet, the other just a little kid (with huge, adorable eyes). When the youngest brother (I think his name is Kane) fell while "scootering" and started crying, Ryan ran to him to help him out, saying, "Come on buddy, you're okay." Then in another episode Kane cried because Ryan was so busy with his friends and traveling that he didn't hang out with him as much anymore and Ryan felt really bad and took him out somewhere. Then the older, quiet brother- this is weird but there was just something so real about him- you don't get a lot of quiet people on TV because they're not "entertainment." Plus the whole deal with Ryan having to deal with his parents' divorce and being stuck in the middle, and his dad dating a gross blonde bimbo who yells at him "I love you!" out of nowhere while he leaves their house, which understandably causes him to freak out and go back to his mom in horror and confusion.

Anyway, all of the interactions and conversations on the show, at least on the part of Ryan's family, were surprisingly genuine and they transcended the cheesy structure of the show.

Yet, there was a turning point. The show apparently became very successful, although while it was on I felt like I was pretty much the only one watching it. Then the new season recently started, with more MTV attention as they have very few successes these days... and something changed. The first two episodes were alright, a bit worrisome but still the story sucked me in. But by the third, I think it became undeniable. The producers structured and manipulated the content so much that it lost all substance, all that made it what it was. I don't care if they want to tell Ryan and his manager to meet at a restaurant and talk- but please don't make it so obvious. Like, to the point that it become absolutely undeniable that producers are constantly feeding every talking point to each person. That ruins everything. And that's what I felt was happening... Also, they kept pushing a non-existent story line. Fine, it was somewhat there- something about Ryan feeling lost with all of the new business negotiations. But there was something disturbingly contrived about how many times he mentioned it to every person. It's like, "enough, we got it the first time. We're not retards, MTV, we swear." So nearly all the magic of the show was lost, and I sadly stopped watching that episode half-way through. I might give it another try, but I'm not too optimistic.

With success comes the downfall, I guess... MTV sure knows how to kill a good thing and keep alive all the bad things, eh?

Well, at least I currently have: Project Runway, the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency, and Make Me a Supermodel. Ooh and Top Chef soon... and then there's that new Bravo dance show that looks very promising. The good thing about reality shows is that they come in droves.

Oh, Nostalgia

When I lived in Israel during my elementary school years, I used to watch this video on MTV (the cool channel!), utterly mesmerized. Here it is, Janet Jackson with "Together Again":



I remember being very impressed by those cheesy dance numbers, haha.