tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88108906972345060762024-03-13T10:39:01.056-05:00A Year of Oz: The Wizard of Oz Is All Around UsI'm testing a theory that Victor Fleming's masterpiece "The Wizard of Oz" is so woven into popular culture that someone or something makes reference to it at least once every day. It comes up in conversations, songs, TV shows, ads, other films, colloquial saying, etc. For one year I'll be updating this blog each time Oz comes up. Check back daily to see if the theory holds water, or melts in it. (And try it yourself. You'll start to notice Oz everywhere, I promise.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-38609177454506924212009-12-25T23:10:00.002-06:002009-12-25T23:12:20.607-06:00a blogThis is a blog:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.totalsmartass.blogspot.com/">http://www.totalsmartass.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />I think you will enjoy it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-28877217404915234832008-10-07T09:46:00.000-05:002008-10-07T09:47:08.933-05:00A yearHas it been a year? Almost. <br /><br />That was quick.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-68590826937969046672008-08-20T23:14:00.002-05:002008-08-20T23:20:03.539-05:00Engulfed in ObligationsNow I know why I've been so bad at updating my blog. Because there's no goddamn time for anything any more. Besides my "normal, everyday" life (wife, work, friends, etc.), I have to keep up with email, phone calls, facebook, stupid fantasy football league, and a million other things that waste my time. I shouldn't complain -- they are all self-imposed. There's no rule that says I have to update my stupid facebook status almost every day. I just feel compelled.<br /><br />David Sedaris had another Oz reference in When You Are Engulfed in Flames. He was quoting the Cowardly Lion -- "I do believe in spooks. I do, I do, I do."<br /><br />Btw, did you know Australians refer to their home country as "Oz", at least in print. And least one Australian. I don't know about the rest of them. Know how I know that? Facebook. See, this is why I have to keep up. How depressing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-8245101641075608982008-08-17T23:38:00.002-05:002008-08-17T23:41:55.637-05:00Scrabuwaste<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:3NDRXR2GjuWf7M:http://macqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/scrabulous.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:3NDRXR2GjuWf7M:http://macqueen.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/scrabulous.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>There have been a number of Oz references over the last few days, but I haven't done a good job of including them here. One was in the movie Zeitgiest, which you can stream on Google. It's a bunch of conspiracy theory stuff, but pretty interesting.<br /><br />Maybe I'm so bad about updating the blog because I'm wasting my life away playing Scrabulous. Right now I have the "O" and "Z" tiles. Very unfortunately, they don't count that as a word.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-21515051573463475572008-08-14T15:18:00.003-05:002008-08-14T15:26:06.953-05:00Engulfed in Oz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kenstein64.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/when-you-are-engulfed-in-flames-hardcover-small.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://kenstein64.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/when-you-are-engulfed-in-flames-hardcover-small.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I'm reading When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and came across this quote yesterday:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"It was easy to imagine that the house, set as it was on the lip of a university parking lot, had dropped from the sky, like Dorothy's in The Wizard of Oz, but with a second story."</span><br /><br />On the train, I get some sideways glances as I try to stiffle laughter while Sedaris describes the "Stadium Buddy" or the horror of being forced to scratch a baby-sitter's disgusting back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-3059605818695007332008-08-05T23:44:00.002-05:002008-08-05T23:49:22.416-05:00double whammyTwo Oz references today. First, at a meeting today my boss plunked a stack of books in front of me, including this one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/oz/images/vc91.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/oz/images/vc91.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Then, I was looking at a friend's facebook page and came across this hilariously amazing pic of her daughter, who is coincidentally (or not) named Dorothy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v297/80/92/1407750656/n1407750656_30026834_3509.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v297/80/92/1407750656/n1407750656_30026834_3509.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-26721374782455037772008-08-04T19:54:00.003-05:002008-08-04T19:57:51.320-05:00Ozballs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.enchantedanna.com/images/yogurt_01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.enchantedanna.com/images/yogurt_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I'm trying to do something writing (unsuccessfully). My wife is watching Spaceballs (part of the problem). When was the last time you saw that movie? There's a whole big Oz scene when we first meet Yogurt ("just plain Yogurt"). <br /><br />p.s. I still owe this blog a post.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-42347763705544718472008-07-30T22:56:00.002-05:002008-07-30T23:01:56.679-05:00book it!My wife and I were leaving a sandwich shop in Chicago (One that has been steadily declining in quality for years now, so much so that I vowed I was done with it. We used to love this place. I don't know what happened. I don't want to name names but it starts with a "C" and ends with an "ostellos". See if you can guess it.) when Christine (wife) noticed a book in the window of a Lincoln Square record store. It was The Wizard of Oz. <br /><br />I've been meaning to pick up a copy for a while so I snatched it up. $3.30 with tax. I had exact change, which is always nice. It has this cover, which is not my favorite (but as the saying goes: cheapskates buying copies for $3.30 can't be choosers):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.sewardlibrary.org/kids/review_graphics/oz-book.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.sewardlibrary.org/kids/review_graphics/oz-book.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-40307712419499593692008-07-27T18:08:00.002-05:002008-07-27T21:05:27.281-05:00Sad reference, part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:6P2whHL-4MHLVM:http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iePTEcpRFx0/Rs45Gtlb4wI/AAAAAAAAAIo/TWKiJGWt9Ho/IMG_0256.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:6P2whHL-4MHLVM:http://lh4.ggpht.com/_iePTEcpRFx0/Rs45Gtlb4wI/AAAAAAAAAIo/TWKiJGWt9Ho/IMG_0256.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a>Today's reference was a little sad. Tomorrow's will be sad as well (it's the last of the four I had last weekend). <br /><br />I was thumbing through Newsweek and came across an article on a teenager named Larry King who was murdered in a classroom because he was gay. His sexuality made another student uncomfortable, so that student saw fit to end Larry's life. It's a horrific story. You can read it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_%22Larry%22_King">here</a>.<br /><br />The article specifically mentioned the students making fun of him because he would sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Hopefully Larry found the other side of the rainbow and is resting peacefully there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-73234497787259475562008-07-24T19:08:00.003-05:002008-07-24T19:14:41.794-05:00awesome Oz reference from a fellow bloggerJay Amabile of "The Sexy Armpit" has an awesome post about a random Wizard of Oz reference. Watch this video:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sge2jq67n1k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Sge2jq67n1k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Then go read <a href="http://thesexyarmpit.blogspot.com/2008/07/wonderful-parking-garage-of-oz.html">HERE</a> to read the entry. I love coincidences like that. Great stuff, Jay.<br /><br />I have one more reference to add from the 24-hour Oz reference marathon, but it's going to take a little more time to add than I have right now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-44345961346748856782008-07-22T20:54:00.003-05:002008-07-22T21:00:49.541-05:00give me back my bike!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://brighton.gumtree.com/posting_images/65/22637865__1207923672__1__1-9f536a0404f2a3e7a51786fff86d7d09.__big__.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://brighton.gumtree.com/posting_images/65/22637865__1207923672__1__1-9f536a0404f2a3e7a51786fff86d7d09.__big__.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I feel the compulsive need to tell the entire world that my bike was stolen today. It was locked to a rack by my train stop, and while I was hard at work some <series of very harsh expletives> broke the lock and took it.<br /><br />So I'm too mad to explain the third Oz reference. That's lucky, because I can't remember exactly what it was. I just know it was in <span style="font-style:italic;">People </span>magazine somewhere. I know I'm not supposed to read <span style="font-style:italic;">People </span>(and usually don't), but cut me some slack today. I just lost my bike.<br /><br />p.s. That is not a picture of my bike. Just a bike that looks kinda like my bike. That bike pictured is probably safe at home with its rightful owner. Unlike mine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-52692479067846811062008-07-21T23:56:00.003-05:002008-07-22T00:06:34.378-05:00en Toto<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Totolive.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Totolive.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Oz reference #2 from the 24-hour reference fest: The song "Africa" came on in the car. You know, the one about blessing the rains or something. This song is by the band <span style="font-weight: bold;">Toto</span>.<br /><br />Now the band claims that they are not named after the dog, or the Japanese toilet maker, or a part of the female anatomy if you speak certain African dialects.<br /><br />But I'm going to choose not to believe them and count it as an Oz reference. They may wan to dispute that when they wrap up their third set at the Branson Missoui Casino and All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp Shack at around 2am. <span style="font-style: italic;">Zing! </span><br /><br />That Merlin lookin' guy may put a spell on me for saying that.<br /><br />(I shouldn't make fun, I sing the hell out of that song when it comes on.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-32042913403355205372008-07-20T22:06:00.002-05:002008-07-20T22:19:30.850-05:00four in 24If you thought Kiefer Sutherland could get a lot done in 24 hours, I got <span style="font-weight:bold;">FOUR </span>Oz references in that amount of time. Yeah, I know, MIND BLOWING, maaaan. Well, I was excited. Because I've been so bad about updating the blog, I'll add one a day for the next four days (in no particular order).<br /><br />So first I'll bust out my wife. Love the girl to death, but she's got a <span style="font-style:italic;">really </span>bad habit. She's hopeless addicted to <span style="font-style:italic;">Days of Our Lives</span>. She's not proud of it, but at the same time, doesn't do anything to stop. It's hopeless. How do we stay together? you ask. My answer: just barely.<br /><br />Because of this nasty habit of hers, I'm pretty much up to date on who's cheating on who, who's plotting who's death, who wears an eye patch (I'm pretty sure there are several characters), who's acting skills can only rival, say, Mariah Carey's, who's died and returned multiple times, and so on. I've stopped asking myself years ago why a town of, it seems, about 40 people, has like eight detectives, seven doctors, and then a hand full of people who don't do much but walk around their houses in towels and make out noisily quite often. <br /><br />So blah blah blah -- there was an Oz reference on DoOL (Dool??). One asshole came in and another asshole was reading The Wizard of Oz to her daughter. 'Nuff said.<br /><br />Oh, I can do a pretty good impression of the <span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">CONSTANT</span> <span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span>look of smugness on this asshole's face:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.freewebs.com/laprinsipessa/1728.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.freewebs.com/laprinsipessa/1728.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-10387087199686640932008-07-16T22:49:00.002-05:002008-07-16T22:53:20.749-05:00flair<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://chotchkies.flair.nliven.com/flair_img/6/2/a/3/62a36a03f1d60e3f0a5dd468b99565233baaeed9.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://chotchkies.flair.nliven.com/flair_img/6/2/a/3/62a36a03f1d60e3f0a5dd468b99565233baaeed9.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>These days I'm all about facebook. It's job related. No, seriously.<br /><br />Today while stuck in one of those vicious facebook loops (you know -- where every page you're on leads to another thing you just can't not click on), when I came across a Wicked button on a friend's pieces of flair board. <br /><br />Here it is, in all its pixelated glory.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-63369776341131140742008-07-14T00:17:00.002-05:002008-07-14T00:20:35.533-05:00sad reference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.roysephotos.com/zzNorthernCardinal16D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.roysephotos.com/zzNorthernCardinal16D.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I got an Oz reference today in a catalog I was mindlessly flipping through. But I spent the whole day at a wake and I'm too exhausted to explain the reference. My word will have to be taken at face value today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-66279953694109925012008-06-30T19:10:00.003-05:002008-06-30T19:12:47.920-05:00has it really been two weeks?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/PICKOVER/oz.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/PICKOVER/oz.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Has it really been that long since I've updated my blog? It's not for lack of Oz references, it's for lack of energy. Today my boss said of the internet revolution and blogging and facebooking and everything else: How do people find the time?? I guess in this case, they don't.<br /><br />I promise to try harder.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-49385224550357105082008-06-15T18:05:00.002-05:002008-06-15T18:08:11.252-05:00Farmer's MarketAt a Farmer's Market this weekend, a girl had a booth set up with all kinds of little signs with different phrases painted on them. One said:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">I have flying monkeys, and I'm not afraid to use them</span></span><br /><br />and the other said:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">No one gets in to see the wizard. No way. No how.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-34840970611289086412008-06-09T19:16:00.002-05:002008-06-09T19:18:33.138-05:00the end of a reference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.lovefishgames.com/screen/en_wheel-of-fortune-2/screen2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.lovefishgames.com/screen/en_wheel-of-fortune-2/screen2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>When flipping past Wheel of Fortune I spied a girl dressed as the Wicked Witch doing ... something. I couldn't tell what it had to do with Wheel of Fortune (more likely something to do with Wicked), but we'll count it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-33457401405338868612008-06-07T10:58:00.002-05:002008-06-07T11:02:37.952-05:00Wait, wait, ... an Oz reference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/06/04/arts/04brenn_CA0.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/06/04/arts/04brenn_CA0.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>If you caught "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me" on NPR this morning, you surely caught an Oz reference at the end. P.J. O'Rouke was talking about Hilary Clinton and mentioned Dorothy, Toto, flying monkeys, and the ex-first lady dropping a house on Barack Obama. <br /><br />I didn't quite get his meaning, but I know it was an Oz reference. (DVR has spoiled my life experience in that now whenever I miss something in the "real world" I think I can push a button and back it up 30 seconds.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-63624978836226935282008-06-05T19:15:00.004-05:002008-06-05T19:23:58.311-05:00Not so smart now, are you, Trebek?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.letsgetitright.org/blog/jeopardy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.letsgetitright.org/blog/jeopardy.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Do you ever wonder how "smart" Alex Trebek would be without all the answers sitting right in front of him? Ever witness him get a little arrogant with contestants when he corrects a wrong answer. I would LOVE to see Trebek play Jeopardy as a contestant.<br /><br />Why haven't they done that yet? I think Trebek's afraid.<br /><br />On today's Jeopardy there was actually a category called "Oz" and every question was about WoO. At the end, Trebek said something about the man behind the curtain. Thanks for the shout-out, Trebek!<br /><br />p.s. Who's got two thumbs and ran the category. ... This guy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://umanitoba.ca/about/image_library/resize.php?image_name=./data/media/60/2thumbs_up.jpg&image_width=300"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://umanitoba.ca/about/image_library/resize.php?image_name=./data/media/60/2thumbs_up.jpg&image_width=300" border="0" alt="" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-46340191245700147822008-06-03T22:28:00.002-05:002008-06-03T22:29:09.908-05:00neglectUgh. I haven't been keeping up. New job has got me exhausted. No more excuses. Starting tomorrow I'm back on the Oz watch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-17286871569933538882008-05-15T15:59:00.003-05:002008-05-15T16:13:12.181-05:00Gilliam's handywork<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://reporter.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/logo_brazil_movie_1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://reporter.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/logo_brazil_movie_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Have you seen the movie <span style="font-style:italic;">Brazil</span>? If not, I highly recommend it. It's one of Terry Gilliam's finest movies. It features several unexpected cameos by Robert DiNero as a rouge heater mechanic (that's the best way I can describe it). <br /><br />If you've seen the film you know it features many "pipes". Pipes seem to be one of Gilliam's themes. Shortly after DiNero appears on screen, he is examining a pipe and comments:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Now that's a pipe of a different color. </span></span><br /><br />He says it so quietly it's almost hard to hear (I have to rewind the DVR several times to confirm). But sure enough, it's an Oz reference.<br /><br />p.s. The cover of this film used to freak me out when I was younger.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-31849126917878941222008-05-12T23:48:00.002-05:002008-05-12T23:50:51.132-05:00Colbert's guest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.womensheart.org/content/about_whf/images-about/OzM.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.womensheart.org/content/about_whf/images-about/OzM.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>Stephen Colbert's guest was Dr. Mehmet Oz. The show's intro made a reference to WoO. The interview was downright hysterical. At one point Dr. Oz asked Stephen what color his urine was and Colbert responded "Colbalt Blue."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-75422031786617737002008-05-08T13:06:00.004-05:002008-05-08T13:16:13.036-05:00I don't watch as much TV as you're thinking<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080317/topmodel/anya_l.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/080317/topmodel/anya_l.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Now I know it seems like I watch hours and hours and hours of television. I'm telling you, it's not true. I have a handful of shows to which, for varying reasons, I'm very loyal. The good shows I enjoy are The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, South Park, The Office, 30 Rock, and a few others. The bad shows I enjoy are American Idol, America's Next Top Model, Hell's Kitchen, and a few others. That's about it. <br /><br />I record those shows in our DVR, watch them quickly without commercials, and get on with my evening.<br /><br />So don't judge me because a number of my recent references have been television-related. I'm not as bad as you think.<br /><br />America's Next Top Model contestant Anya did a semi-Wicked Witch impression as she described herself on a photo shoot: "I'm melting! Melting!"<br /><br />Let's hope my next Oz reference is from a source that's a bit more ... elevated.<br /><br />p.s. I don't see the Anya appeal...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810890697234506076.post-64325977819622084092008-05-06T22:52:00.002-05:002008-05-06T22:58:27.840-05:00Hell's Reference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.criticsrant.com/Images/criticsrant_com/TV_Hells_Kitchen/gordon_spotlightsingle2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.criticsrant.com/Images/criticsrant_com/TV_Hells_Kitchen/gordon_spotlightsingle2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Tonight on "Hell's Kitchen" the chefs were cooking for a girl's Sweet 16 party. I wrongly assumed that the birthday girl would be an uber-spoiled, snotty L.A. teenager (see MTV's "The Hills"), but it turned out the girl actually seemed pretty sweet and normal. Shocker. On the other hand, Mom was the one who came off as uber-spoiled and snotty. There were obviously times when daughter was repressing the urge to tell her mom to shut up or suck it up. She bit her tongue.<br /><br />At one point, however, one of the chefs referred to Mom as "the Wicked Witch of the West". So that was a nice Oz reference.<br /><br />Also one of my co-workers mentioned The Wizard of Oz at lunch today, but I can't remember the context.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0