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June 02, 2011

Morning Coffee (6/2/11)

Good morning! It's a little cooler here today, which is making me very happy. While you enjoy the weather, you should:

Watch the premiere of Love Bites on NBC at 10/9c.

Listen to 25 Hot Summer Songs of 2011.

Check out new June books at Diversity in YA.

Read this piece about restaurants run by fringe religious movements.

And check back here later for that Crush Pizza review, I promise. (Last night went off the rails and I didn't get to it.) Maybe a book review, too.

Posted by Kat at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)

June 01, 2011

Morning Coffee (6/1/11)

Happy June! It seems June is pulling no punches - it's supposed to be 90 today. I may give in and turn on the air conditioner. So. If you're not busy melting, today you should . . .

Meet your new Jace Wayland, Jamie Campbell Bower. (He's good in Camelot. I like this casting.)

Listen to a newly recorded song from jaQ Andrews, "Chinatown."

Watch the premiere of Franklin and Bash on TNT at 9/8c.

Update your calendar with the fall Masterpiece schedule. Emma Thompson and Alan Rickman! More Inspector Lewis! This is so exciting.

Read about Five Great British Things the Americans Ruined.

And check back here later for a review of Nashua's new Crush Pizza.

Posted by Kat at 07:50 AM | Comments (0)

May 31, 2011

Morning Coffee (5/31/11)

Good morning! I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. (Or just a great weekend, if you're not in the US.) Sorry for the lack of posts - I didn't mean to totally disappear like that, but I think I needed the break. But now Morning Coffee is BACK, in a slightly different format - instead of a list of links you should read, I'm going to give you a sort of cultural to-do list for the day. So we'll see how that goes. Let me know if you like it!

Visit the new and improved ThinkProgress.org, especially Alyssa Rosenberg's new culture blog.

Tweet happy birthday to YA author Robin Wasserman, and pick up one of her books while you're at it.

Watch this video about Colin Hanks' documentary project about Tower Records:

Then head over to KickStarter to pledge your support. I did!

Local folk - stop in at Crush Pizza today for their grand opening. I am SO excited about this place, as I live in hope of finding decent pizza in New Hampshire.

If you're on Tumblr, follow me at KateLinnea. Warning: That feed is less about the content and more about an endless stream of pictures of hot actors, pretty landscapes, and Nina Dobrev and Taylor Swift being flawless.

And check back here later for my recommendations for summer TV shows to try.

Posted by Kat at 07:36 AM | Comments (0)

May 11, 2011

Morning Coffee (5/11/11)

Good morning. The cat does not seem to want to let me sleep, ever, so I'm grumpy this morning.

Tonight's TV pick: Breaking In

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are off on their honeymoon.

I keep hearing about Portal 2, and this piece has convinced me to give it a try at some point.

Meet Disney's new tween star.

Listen to Modest Mouse cover "That'll Be the Day." Um... huh.

Potential vague Fringe spoilers, but what if Joshua Jackson had never existed?

Google is launching a cloud music service.

How Your American Girl Doll Shaped the Rest of Your Life

Jamelle Bouie explains why it makes sense for poor people to have cell phones.

Masked Identity Politics

Evil Overlord Romance? Yes please!

Fascinating: The Tragedy of Sarah Palin

"Barders" and Classism

Posted by Kat at 05:44 AM | Comments (0)

May 10, 2011

Morning Coffee (5/10/11)

Happy Tuesday! I . . . apparently don't have much for you this morning. Huh. Sorry.

Tonight's TV picks: The Good Wife and Body of Proof

Gingrich is in.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver are separating.

Samoa is jumping ahead a day. Hee.

Mitt Romney's South Carolina problem

Posted by Kat at 06:05 AM | Comments (0)

May 09, 2011

Morning Coffee (5/9/11)

Happy Monday. Or something.

Tonight's TV picks: Castle, The Chicago Code, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl

The Duchess of Cambridge: grocery shopping like the rest of us!

The Six Most Hateful Things About Something Borrowed

The Trials of Kaplan Higher Ed and the Education of the Washington Post Company

Neat: Aerial surveys of Viking shipyard on Skye

So sad: After Elisabeth Sladen's unexpected death, the BBC has confirmed that The Sarah Jane Adventures are over.

The Maine senators don't like each other much.

Posted by Kat at 05:24 AM | Comments (0)

May 05, 2011

Morning Coffee (5/5/11)

Happy Thursday!

Tonight's TV Picks: Vampire Diaries, Community, Bones, The Mentalist

Hilarious: Rob Lowe watches old footage of Rob Lowe

Eat Your Cultural Vegetables "Am I laughing because I get the jokes or because I know what jokes sound like?"

Sorkin's new show sounds exactly like everything else he's done and I cannot wait.

Summer Movie Decision Tree!

Man beats up his cousin because of Game of Thrones

The state of Sbarro

I'm a few episodes behind on Camelot, but this is hilarious anyway.

Here are some good royal wedding links, for anyone not sick of it yet:
Kate's Dress from Every Angle
The royal wedding doesn't make women dumb.
Some wedding highlights
A review of Kate's dress
Hats!
In Defense of Frivolous Royal Watching
Lipreaders are on the case.
How British and American coverage differed.

Posted by Kat at 05:31 AM | Comments (0)

May 04, 2011

Morning Coffee (5/4/11)

Good morning! Sorry I've been quiet. Still unpacking. Gah. Let's try to catch up on some links I've had lying around...

Tonight's TV Picks: Breaking In and Justified

Andrew Morton has a royal wedding book out ALREADY. Wow.

A history of birtherism

Politics turns on parties, not policies.

Spencer Ackerman's story about a possible spy on Twitter is fascinating.

In Defense of Entertainment

Eric Bolling and the Case of the Time Traveling Doctor

A New Era of Innuendo

Apparently there's a new Broadway musical based on the Shirelles, and they're suing.

Fun with statistics: The Senate is way more Mormon and Jewish than the country.

When countries disappear, do monarchs keep their titles?

This profile of FBI director Robert Mueller is long but worth it.

Posted by Kat at 05:29 AM | Comments (0)

April 28, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/28/11)

It's . . . Thursday. Yes. Geez, I'm tired.

Tonight's TV picks: The Vampire Diaries, Bones, Community, The Mentalist

Everything about the birth certificate issue has probably been said, but here's the document itself and here's the best take I've read on it.

In case you were wondering, Santorum is still making things up.

Hot this summer: Grover Cleveland.

Royal Wedding Dalek!

The idea that a teacher shouldn't write erotic romance novels under a pseudonym is completely ridiculous.

BBC1 thinks it has too much crime drama. That makes me sad, since I have a basically bottomless appetite for British mystery shows.

I kind of love cursive, personally.

Class and the Fight Against Aliens

Posted by Kat at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)

April 27, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/27/11)

Happy Wednesday! I am tired and really just want this week to be over. I hope your week is going better!

Tonight's TV Picks: Breaking In and Justified

What happened with Haley Barbour

The fascinating history of Wikipedia's "macaca" entry.

Trig birtherism completely misses the point. And is kind of gross.

The prospective new passport application is completely insane.

These ideas on how the press should cover the press are really dumb.

Presidents: They all want to be Irish.

Atlas Shrugged: not doing so well.

Homophobia in Publishing: Why It Matters

This essay on culling vs. surrender in our cultural consumption is really, really good.

Posted by Kat at 05:49 AM | Comments (0)

April 26, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/26/11)

Happy Tuesday! The cat is very committed to making sure I get up on time this week.

Tonight's TV pick: Body of Proof

Haley Barbour is not running for president.

Reconsidering the Feminism of Joss Whedon

Library cards are awesome.

This explanation of satisfying literary romance is really good.

Aw, lawmakers in love.

This is spot on: How American showrunners would remake Doctor Who

The Sununus and the Tea Party

Jake Tapper has a book coming out. And, um, so does Lauren Graham. I am wary about the latter.

A good read on sex and YA fiction.

iPads in restaurants? Yes, PLEASE.

The question of gender balance and college admissions is really quite complex.

Posted by Kat at 05:53 AM | Comments (0)

April 25, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/25/11)

Good morning, and to those of you still here, thank you for your patience! My move is winding down, although I still have a ton of unpacking to do, so blogging should get back to something resembling normal this week. Warning: For the next few days, some of the Morning Coffee links will be old as I catch up on things I bookmarked over the past few weeks.

Tonight's TV Picks: Gossip Girl

This is awesome: an Oregon lawmaker got his colleagues to rick roll themselves.

A history of steampunk

Royal wedding custom slideshow! AND an official app focused on seven historical royal weddings. Meanwhile, America celebrates with doughnuts.

Christine Johnson has announced an exciting-sounding new book.

This review does a good job of explaining my issues with Extreme Couponing.

This hilarious take on Ulysses is right on.

Fun: unsolved codes and ciphers.

Forbes Fictional Fifteen

Posted by Kat at 05:55 AM | Comments (0)

April 13, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/13/11)

Happy Wednesday! It's my last day of work before moving, so I keep thinking it's Friday, but it's not. Anyway!

Tonight's TV Picks: A new show called Happy Endings premieres on ABC, and reviews are wildly mixed, so I figure I'll give it a try. Also: Justified and Breaking In, which I still need to review, huh?

Gary Johnson is going to make a big announcement in New Hampshire. Gee, I wonder what that could be?

In a move that seems to have surprised practically everyone, including those of us who sell the things, Cisco has killed the Flip camcorder line.

A school in Chicago has banned homemade lunches. I went to a private school that didn't allow them, but it seems different for public.

It makes me happy that the Anything Goes revival is getting so many great reviews. I am determined to see it. This DVD sounds interesting too.

The 10 Most Inexplicable Fictional Games

Before there was Photoshop: 20 Classic Pin-Up Girls, in their original and painted forms.

Hailee Steinfeld as Juliet? I guess that makes sense.

Why well-born Brits often have hyphenated names

A philosophical defense of blogging. Hey, Quine!

Why Aren't You Married Yet?

China has banned fiction about time travel.

Posted by Kat at 07:33 AM | Comments (1)

April 12, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/12/11)

I keep thinking it's at least Wednesday, but no, it's only Tuesday.

Tonight's TV Picks: The Good Wife and Body of Proof

Mitt Romney is officially running. With a logo that looks like Aquafresh and a slogan that Kerry used in 2004, this can't possibly end poorly.

The Orange Prize shortlist is out! I must admit I have read none of these books (yet).

Crime is wrong, and all, but this is the most awesome thing ever: a real-life jewelry store heist based on a Sherlock Holmes story.

Good news: Tastykake found a buyer.

Richard Castle has a shiny new site.

This is not the best way to tamp down rumors, FBI.

Oh, NO: 42% of college graduates never read another book.

I was going to say something about Katie Roiphe but I don't even want to link to her thing. Let's just say I'm Team Waldman all the way.

John Lennon's letters will be published.

These photographs of girls and their bedrooms are fascinating.

Gossip Girl fans! Here's a rather exciting trailer for the rest of the season.

I know we're past the shutdown thing, but you should read Jamelle Bouie's take anyway. Plus, it's his birthday. Happy birthday, Jamelle!

Posted by Kat at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)

April 11, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/11/11)

Good morning! Monday again. I'm only working three days again, and then I'm finally moving, and also doing some traveling in the middle of it. So . . . I'm not sure what posts will look like for the next two weeks, but I'll keep up as best I can.

Tonight's TV Picks: Castle, The Chicago Code, HIMYM, Being Human

This letter by Donald Trump in the Times is completely ridiculous.

Extremely important chocolate bunny lawsuit.

When I first read this, I thought they were saying Hugh Jackman might be the prince in the Kristen Stewart Snow White, which sounded . . . mismatched. But no, the huntsman. I guess that works.

Cat and Dolphin Make Friends

Famous scifi scenes made out of peeps.

New favorite Tumblr: ACCESS MAIN COMPUTER FILE

The first British recession

There is hope for civilization: Christie and Fleming are still Britain's top-earning crime writers.

I will try to reserve judgment on the Wrinkle in Time graphic novel until I actually see it.

Hee: What if every show was on Showtime?

Teenage Girls Who Can Kill You Whenever They Feel Like It

Why do people think it would be good to have no parking law enforcement?

Posted by Kat at 07:32 AM | Comments (1)

April 08, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/8/11)

Happy Friday! Will the government shut down? Maybe!

Tonight's TV Picks: CHAOS and Blue Bloods

10 Teen Books for Adult Readers

Ta-Nehisi Coates gets the Cathie Black situation right here.

Lost Dr. Seuss stories will be published!

Where are religious conservatives when the poor need help?

Apparently this is the ultimate Canadian family.

Natalie Portman's father wrote a fertility thriller. Of course he did.

When You May Wear a Button-Down Shirt

235 Pixelated Star Trek Characters. Awesome.

Posted by Kat at 07:10 AM | Comments (1)

April 07, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/7/11)

Thursday! I'm running late, so this will be quick. Quick like a bunny!

Tonight's TV Picks: Vampire Diaries is finally back! Also: Bones and The Mentalist.

Financial aid via Facebook? I am skeptical, but will wait for my dad's expert opinion.

This campaign is so much fun already.

How Paul Ryan became Honest Paul.

Mad Men: coming to Netflix Instant in July.

Oregon State House rick rolls itself.

This is the most terrifying online psychology test ever.

Here, this will make you feel better.

Posted by Kat at 08:04 AM | Comments (0)

April 06, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/6/11)

Good morning! Update: I still hate packing, in case you were wondering.

Tonight's TV Picks: It's the premiere of Breaking In, the new Christian Slater show that will undoubtedly just make me miss The Forgotten. Also: Justified and Mr. Sunshine.

Sad: An arsonist has destroyed costumes from British TV and movies, including Downton Abbey and The King's Speech.

ABANDONED BEAR CUBS PLAY WITH TIGER KITTEN!!!

What can the font President Obama is using tell us about his reelection campaign? A lot, actually.

No one rigs an election quite like Kazakhstan.

The Queen is getting a flotilla for her Jubilee. Whee!

News from mummies: Ancient Egypt had a lot of heart disease.

Killer unicorn fans! Get Diana Peterfreund's novella for 99 cents.

Awesome: From Here to Eternity, uncensored.

Apparently Disney is making an animated short about a ridiculously cute version of the Loch Ness Monster.

Posted by Kat at 06:52 AM | Comments (0)

April 05, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/5/11)

Good morning! UConn won! I'm not much of a basketball fan, but I'm from CT, so, you know, yay!

Tonight's TV Picks: The series finale (alas) of Lights Out. Also: The Good Wife and Body of Proof.

VP Biden cemented his position as basically My Favorite Ever by speaking out against sexual violence at UNH yesterday. Two favorite quotes: "No means no even if you said yes at first and you changed your mind." "You want to measure your manhood, measure it by the gumption you have to speak up."

President Obama kicked off his re-election campaign yesterday. What you need to read, of course, is John Dickerson's take.

The Hunger Games has found its Peeta and Gale: Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth. The Internet is pretty upset. I am enthusiastic about Hutcherson and have no opinion about Hemsworth. Also, TWoP has some good ideas for the minor characters.

Dear Slate, please stop encouraging people to hit on retail employees who HAVE to be polite and generally can't escape.

Dear Gov. LePage, when even your own GOP senators are telling you to tone it down, you might want to rethink some things.

This is a fascinating takedown of what sounds like a really infuriating book about literature.

I haven't had a chance to read this all yet, but if you're interested in Sandra Lee, don't miss the new NYMag profile.

I agree with Yglesias that TV would be better if the business model supported shows knowing they had a set number of seasons/episodes in advance.

Deanna Raybourn on supposedly-sympathetic characters she hates. Man, I thought I was the only one who hated Helen Burns.

An introduction to pulp fiction in Europe before 1914

Easter candy dessert taco plate Uh . . . wow.

The Royal Wedding in Legos

Posted by Kat at 06:30 AM | Comments (0)

April 04, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/4/11)

Ah, Monday, we meet again.

Tonight's TV Picks: Castle, Being Human, Make It or Break It

Country music seems to have a lot of different award shows, but anyway, the Academy of Country Music Awards were last night and my darling Taylor Swift won Entertainer of the Year. Zap2it has a gallery of the best and worst of the award show here. There were a lot of rather unexpected people there. Huh. And the Jake Gyllenhaal "joke" was why I can't watch country music award shows, even though I like a lot of country music.

I'm not usually an audiobook fan, but this teaser for City of Fallen Angels has me convinced to try this one. In other Cassie Clare-adjacent news, Lily Collins as Snow White? Sure. Meanwhile, it should surprise absolutely no one that someone's doing a Sleeping Beauty remake, too.

Gone with the Wind is the original post-apocalyptic epic

No no no no no please no.

Are mermaids the new vampires? Or maybe zombies were the new vampires and mermaids are the new zombies? Whatever.

Oh look, a dress made of Little Golden Books.

Wow. Mobbed DOES have everything we hate in one place.

I know I'm a nerd, but I am SO EXCITED for How the States Got Their Shapes.

Oh, Real America...

What do people read on the subway?

Posted by Kat at 06:52 AM | Comments (0)

April 01, 2011

Morning Coffee (4/1/11)

Happy April! Look, a snowstorm! I actually don't have time for a proper Morning Coffee today because I have to leave for work early so I can take my time in the snow, so I will just tell you to BE ON YOUR GUARD. It is April 1. Trust no one.

Oh, and I will also tell you that the new CBS show CHAOS starts tonight. Rogue spies! Whee!

Posted by Kat at 06:30 AM | Comments (0)

March 31, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/31/11)

Happy Thursday! I have determined that it IS Thursday, even though NPR completely confused me by saying it was Wednesday in their 5 a.m. newscast. Don't toy with me like that, NPR!

Also: We're getting a big snowstorm tonight. This does not appear to be an April Fool's joke. Please prepare yourselves accordingly.

Tonight's TV Picks: The Mentalist and . . . that's it. Wow. That's sort of good, because all I've managed to watch this week is Castle, so I'm way behind.

Oh, Tea Party, never ever change.

Burn Notice fans! Head over here to watch the prequel trailer.

Gone with the Wind typescript found!

John Le Carre is not into prizes and wants his name taken off the Man Booker list to give the space to a newer author. The Man Booker people do not agree. Sheesh. If he doesn't want your prize, he doesn't want your prize.

Block angry-making British tabloids with tea and kittens.

Actually, the Tea and Kittens site itself is pretty nifty. "Presenting for your enjoyment a fine selection of Tea and Kittens for the removal of stress in office environments."

Why do screenwriters hate nerd love?

I can tell you from personal experience that making a wedding cake actually is a pretty effective way to upstage your friends at their own wedding. (Also, just a nice thing to do!)

Posted by Kat at 06:51 AM | Comments (0)

March 30, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/30/11)

Hm. April Fool's Day is almost here. I just figured I'd warn you so you can start preparing yourself, in case you HATE it as much as I do.

Tonight's TV Picks: Mr. Sunshine and Justified

You know what Newt's worried about? A "secular atheist country, potentially one dominated by radical Islamists."

Those who live in glass houses with no birth certificates probably shouldn't throw stones.

What You Need to Know About the Wal-Mart Sex Discrimination Case

The Fug Girls go on a wonderful (but serious) rant about the way women are portrayed on magazines like Rolling Stone.

This is really good advice on validating people's feelings without necessarily agreeing or giving advice.

Okay, that was all kind of heavy. Here, it's an adorable Nathan Fillion gallery!

The Awl has many good questions about this Tommy Hilfiger ad.

Useful: Simple Drinks for Stupid People

Something to watch: Catherine Cookson's estate is going to publish scores of cheap ebooks without notifying her print publishers. (Unless, you know, they read it in the paper.)

Posted by Kat at 06:48 AM | Comments (0)

March 29, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/29/11)

It's . . . Tuesday? Yes. Tuesday. Not Wednesday, as I keep thinking. But I finally got my movers scheduled yesterday, so yay!

Tonight's TV Picks: Series premiere of Body of Proof! Also: The Good Wife and Lights Out

Jennifer Garner as Miss Marple? I . . . I don't even know. Unless it's a prequel. Is it a prequel? That would be a little better.

TIME releases its list of the 140 Best Twitter Feeds of All Time. And it took me way too long to realize why they picked 140.

A Birtherism Lexicon

He NEVER RECOGNIZED Fergus Cullen? Dude, Giuliani has no chance. But we knew that already.

The Burdens of Female Politicians

How to Beat the Salad Bar is funny but kind of misses the point.

If you haven't read the Hunger Games series and want to know what everyone's going on about, here's a decent cheat sheet.

Alyssa Rosenberg makes me less inclined to just write off Sucker Punch.

I like the idea of dollar coins.

Royal Wedding Cakes Revealed! Really, a McVitie's cake sounds like the best thing ever, and I'm determined to make my own.

Posted by Kat at 06:29 AM | Comments (0)

March 28, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/28/11)

Happy Monday! I'm in a productive mood. Let's hope it lasts.

Tonight's TV Picks: Make It or Break It starts its new season. Also: Being Human and Castle

YA author Diana Wynne Jones passed away over the weekend. I have to admit that I haven't read her (yet), but you should definitely read Neil Gaiman's memories of her regardless.

Armie Hammer as the prince in Snow White? Sure. (Note: This is not the Kristen Stewart Snow White. Apparently we're getting several. Or at least two.)

Tom Hooper's next project: Les Mis. That could be fun, although I'd rather a miniseries faithful to the novel than a movie of the musical. Oh well.

George Harrison forgave Patti Boyd. Aww.

An important point: Selective Fetal Personhood.

TV movies based on Sarah Mlynowski books! Whee.

Sucker Punch sounds so bad, and we were all so hopeful. Sigh.

Apparently there's an "insatiable appetite" to challenge Gov. Lynch. Joy.

How the Filibuster Wrecked the Roman Senate

Leaving aside the (very good and valid) point about gender and race that others have made, the strained Brat Pack references in this article make it a thoroughly weird read.

Sci-Fi Hero Samplers! Want.

Posted by Kat at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)

March 25, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/25/11)

Happy Friday! Finally!

Big breaking TV news last night: Fringe was renewed. Whew.

Sounds like Michele Bachmann is running. This will be SO MUCH FUN. I will go to a campaign event and report back, I promise.

Women just ruin everything, including publishing, apparently. Sigh.

The summer Masterpiece: Mystery! schedule is up. They're giving me Rufus Sewell as an Italian detective for my birthday? AWESOME.

<3 is now a word.

Google's recipe search promotes the wrong things.

Houdini everywhere!

Posted by Kat at 07:36 AM | Comments (0)

March 24, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/24/11)

Happy Thursday! Only Thursday? Really?

Tonight's TV Picks: Fairly Legal season finale! Also Community and Parks and Rec

Honestly, I will probably buy music from the royal wedding.

Oh, RNC, never change.

GOP commentators are trying to appease Palin fans by convincing them that the presidency would be a step down for her. That's . . . kind of adorable, in a horrifying way.

Audra McDonald is going to star in Porgy & Bess. Awesome.

Not awesome: "updating" The Thin Man. With Johnny Depp? REALLY? Must we?

The Russians are studying yetis, in case you were concerned.

I so wanted Red Riding Hood to be good, so this is very disappointing.

Posted by Kat at 07:49 AM | Comments (2)

March 23, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/23/11)

Good morning! Just to warn you, I have some stuff going on (all good stuff! Don't worry!) that may mean a bit less blogging in the near future. But we'll see how it shakes out. And I promise I'll tell you when it's official. But this seemed like a good time to ask - What do you actually want to see here? More book reviews? More links? More TV analysis? More music? Cooking, knitting, something else entirely? Let me know!

Tonight's TV Picks: Mr. Sunshine and Justified

Sharron Angle is writing an autobiography. Called Right Angle. God, I LOVE campaign season.

Check out our shiny new Staff Page at TheTelevixen.

If you're a Cassie Clare fan but didn't figure out the password for the secret Dirty Sexy Alley Scene link, it's now available to the public here.

Which TV characters would make good Amazing Race partners? My first choice would be Michael Westen. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind.

Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story should in fact have been called "WTF Sullivan Entertainment?!!!!"

A YA author's story was taken out of an anthology because of a boy/boy romance. Sigh.

Oh my. A Royal Wedding refrigerator.

Mark Paul Gosselaar fans - Check out WereTotallyLawyers.com for some fake law firm ads that are actually Franklin and Bash ads.

Posted by Kat at 07:01 AM | Comments (0)

March 22, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/22/11)

Good morning. It's . . . Tuesday? Yes. I guess so. Yes. Even though I keep thinking it's Wednesday.

Tonight's TV Picks: Lights Out and The Good Wife

Important, from Matt Yglesias: Lack of Congressional Authorization for Use of Force is an Abdication of Responsibility, Not a Power Grab.

My new favorite thing: The Electronic Publishing Bingo Card

Penguin on a plane!

Ooh, an official Royal Wedding coin.

Julian Fellowes is doing a Titanic miniseries! Comment from a friend: "Those will be the wittiest drowning people ever." In other miniseries news, HBO is doing a Cheney miniseries. Huh.

Cadbury Creme Deviled Eggs!

Valerie Plame Wilson is going to write suspense novels. Hm. I thought her memoir was fascinating, but the writing didn't particularly jump out at me. She'll have a co-writer, though. I'll definitely give them a try.

Posted by Kat at 07:43 AM | Comments (0)

March 21, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/21/11)

Happy Monday! No, I'm not actually feeling that cheery about it, as I stayed up too late reading. One good thing about this particular Monday, though: fans of Cassandra Clare should keep an eye on her blog because the DSAS video is coming.

Announcement! I'm going to start a book of the month feature, where I pick a book I love and have a variety of content about it throughout the month, generally aimed at making you all read it and talk to me about it. We'll start in April, and if you want to prepare, the book will be The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan. (I'll be looking for a few guest posts, so let me know if you're interested.)

Tonight's TV Picks: Pretty Little Liars season finale! Also: Castle, HIMYM, Mad Love, Chicago Code, Being Human.

What the current presidential campaign books tell us.

26 Great Season Finales (I would have added last year's Vampire Diaries.)

Whoa: Vegetarian couple barred from adopting in Greece.

The Six Most Horrendous Things About the New Wonder Woman Costume

Ausiello's May Sweeps Scorecard is always fun to track.

Very different movies with identical titles

The lead guy from Blur is writing and performing in a musical about John Dee, an advisor to Elizabeth I. I . . . I just . . . I don't even know.

Any time you can replace Ron Moore with Michael Chabon, you're certainly trading up.

Posted by Kat at 07:30 AM | Comments (0)

March 19, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/19/11)

Happy Saturday!

Tonight! Supermoon! Don't miss it!

Matt Yglesias's take on Libya echoes a lot of my own thoughts, which is reassuring because I'm sure he's better-informed than I am.

Saturday means that the latest edition of Slate's presidential Facebook feed is up.

Minnesota Republicans to Outlaw Poor People Having Money

Adorable in vitro kittens! Awww!

Dave Grohl is my new hero.

This is how they're making Wonder Woman "a serious, non-campy take"? Really? REALLY?

I am dismayed by the cruel reaction of grown adults to Rebecca Black, a child. Good takes on the issue here and here. (Caveat: Black's supposed Twitter account has since been debunked.)

A Boxcar Children prequel? Is that . . . necessary?

Posted by Kat at 07:00 AM | Comments (1)

March 18, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/18/11)

Happy Friday! As I mentioned, I'm taking a quick trip this weekend, so I'm currently running around getting ready.

Tonight's TV Picks: Fringe, Merlin

The Times has announced digital subscription details, including its new paywall (after a certain number of articles, and not counting links from blogs or Twitter). A lot of people are up in arms, but I want the Times to stay in business, and I don't think anyone has any magical right to all their content free, so . . . I don't really get the issue. That said, I'm a paper subscriber, so it's nice that they're including the digital subscription with that.

Another thing about which people are up in arms: Jennifer Lawrence being cast in The Hunger Games.

Taylor Swift and Zac Efron are finally doing a movie together, as some of us who spend too much time thinking about this stuff have been saying they should for quite a while. Please, Taylor, fall in love and write us a song about his pretty pretty eyes.

Real-life Mills & Boon covers

A producer of Midsomer Murders was suspended for making awful comments about how he refused to cast ethnic minorities on his show because it would make it less "English." Gah. In general, I'm in favor of movies or shows set in a particular time and place accurately reflecting the demographics and attitudes of those settings, but this obviously . . . doesn't.

Killing the "Literary Wife" Memoir Subgenre

Posted by Kat at 06:59 AM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/17/11)

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I made a soda bread for my critique group, and even took a picture for you, but I'm running late so I'll try to get that posted tonight.

SiriusXM listeners: Don't miss the special Irish music channel today!

Tonight's TV Picks: Community, Bones, Parks and Rec, Fairly Legal

It seems that Jennifer Lawrence will be Katniss in The Hunger Games. She wasn't my first choice, but she certainly has the acting chops, and I'm sure she'll do fine.

Look, another theory about the Ninth Legion.

Here's the Orange Prize longlist.

The sad, hypocritical retirement of Evan Bayh

This review covers most of my issues with the Glee original song nonsense.

In Praise of Cultural Omnivores

Oops.

These TV show drinking games are pretty great.

FishbowlDC interviews PoliticoMouse.

Posted by Kat at 07:10 AM | Comments (0)

March 16, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/16/11)

I woke up thinking it was Thursday. It's not. It's Wednesday. This is actually sort of good, because I have a bunch of stuff to get done before the weekend and I need more time.

If any of you (or your kids or other teens to whom you have ready access) took the SAT last Saturday and wouldn't mind answering a few very quick questions, would you get in touch? Thanks!

Tonight's TV Picks: Justified and Mr. Sunshine

Could you survive the Victorian period? Find out in this handy game!

Horror Stories from Women in Tech

Fascinating: "I Was Undocumented on Sesame Street

This is pretty huge news for the industry: Netflix is getting into original programming.

On treating TV like movies

If you missed it yesterday, Etsy did something really dumb: they made it so people's purchase history was public by default. They've changed it now, but SHEESH. Makes me glad I've never gotten around to actually ordering anything from Etsy.

Posted by Kat at 06:59 AM | Comments (1)

March 15, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/15/11)

Happy Tuesday! This will be another short one - I'm still recovering from the time change, which makes getting up early much harder. And - news! - yesterday I put down a deposit on my new apartment, so I'm really moving! This means I have to pack, so I'll have less blogging time for the next month or so. Sorry.

Tonight's TV Picks: Lights Out, Glee, Traffic Light

I haven't caught up on the Japan news yet this morning, other than what I gleaned from NPR as I was waking up, but here's the most recent Times story as of this writing.

Heh. The Modern Prometheus.

The brothers who run the Wisconsin legislature

Pregnant Iowa Woman Arrested for Falling Down

Will and Kate are inviting their exes to the wedding! Gasp! Yes, New York Times, some people stay friends with their exes. Really.

Posted by Kat at 07:25 AM | Comments (0)

March 14, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/13/11)

Grumble grumble, Monday. And it was SO DARK when I got up. This is why I don't like Daylight Savings Time.

Tonight's TV picks: The Chicago Code, Mad Love, Being Human, Pretty Little Liars

The fundraising drive I was helping with was wildly successful, and we raised over $14,000. Read all about it. Thanks so much to everyone who helped!

I kind of just loved this headline: Idaho Rancher Revealed as Gangster From Boston. Oh, Boston.

Dear Michele Bachmann, the battles of Lexington and Concord were actually in Massachusetts.

A Macy's Parade movie? Hrm. I am skeptical.

Soy takes its place at America's dinner table. And now I want some tofu.

Pens for women? Really? Sigh. Pens are, in fact, one of the areas in which I am proudly and staunchly in favor of the patriarchy: My dad declares an "official family pen" and I buy it. No, really. (I guess we're kind of weird.)

The timing seems kind of weird for Atlantis to be found, no?

Posted by Kat at 07:00 AM | Comments (1)

March 12, 2011

IMPORTANT: Name of the ShelterBox

This is going to be a one-link Morning Coffee, both because the earthquake's devastation is too recent for me to feel like being as frivolous as usual, and because all my free time the past day has been spent helping with fundraising instead of finding you fun links. So let's talk about that!

You may remember that I posted about author Maureen Johnson's fundraising for ShelterBox a few weeks ago. At that time, we raised $15,000 for crisis areas around the world. When the news hit about Japan, Maureen decided to get another drive going, and I'm once again helping out by keeping track of the donations for her. We've raised $6500 since yesterday morning, and the drive goes until tomorrow morning.

Would you like to help? Sure you would! Read all about it here. And did I mention the prizes? We have DOZENS of prizes to give away, mostly signed books or ARCs from a variety of wonderful authors. And SIX signed first editions of a Neil Gaiman book. Other authors involved: Holly Black, Ellen Hopkins, Stephanie Perkins, Carrie Ryan, Kiersten White, Robin Wasserman, and many more!

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

March 11, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/11/11)

Good morning. Obviously the big news of the day is the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. My prayers are with those in all the affected areas. It sounds like Al Jazeera English has the best coverage; watch it here.

There are lots of places taking donations, obviously; my choice is ShelterBox. They do amazing things, they're well-run, and the people have been a pleasure to work with. Donate from the U.S. here or U.K. here.

Go donate somewhere. We'll return to our discussions of dumb politicians and hot vampires tomorrow.

Posted by Kat at 07:36 AM | Comments (0)

March 10, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/10/11)

Welcome to Thursday. The end of the week is in sight!

Tonight's TV Picks: Bones, Fairly Legal, The Mentalist

I didn't entirely follow what was going on in Wisconsin last night - I was out with friends and then came home and went to bed - but here's a primer from Ezra Klein.

I know this is more serious than I usually go for here, but it's important: This article about the gang rape of an 11-year-old is possibly the worst thing I've ever seen in the Times: They chose to use no quotes expressing any concern or sympathy for the victim. Instead, they quoted someone saying "These boys have to live with this the rest of their lives." REALLY? Also, they blame the victim for dressing older than her age and her mother for not supervising her, but say that the perpetrators were just "drawn into" the situation. This is disgusting.

Okay, there's no possible segue here, so we're just going to move on to hot guys and vampires:

Colin Firth is going to play a vampire. Please celebrate or mourn as you see fit.

The Twitter prank war between Jeff Eastin and Shawn Ryan is getting pretty entertaining.

The Royal Mail has awesome wizard stamps. I am jealous.

Posted by Kat at 06:59 AM | Comments (0)

March 09, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/9/11)

Good morning! I'm going to look at an apartment today. Wish me luck.

Tonight's TV Picks: Justified and Mr. Sunshine

I assume there is someone out there who would want to rent movies from Facebook, but for the life of me I can't figure out why.

In Facebook news that's actually interesting, Mark Zuckerberg adopts adorable puppy.

This takedown of the Newsweek redesign is hilarious.

Ooh! Sneak peek at The Borgias. If the whole moving thing goes according to plan, I'll actually have fancy cable and be able to watch this.

I've been avoiding saying anything about Charlie Sheen, but this Chinese editorial is amazing - his father "was once the president of the US" - and TWoP's suggestions of new showrunners are pretty good too.

Ryan McGee has an interesting look at continuity in serialized television.

Apparently the movie J. Edgar didn't think it was hot enough already, what with Ed Westwick and Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer, so they cast Jeffrey Donovan. AS A KENNEDY. This is my new favorite movie already.

The complete @MayorEmanuel archive

Here's a Casablanca-style Parks and Rec poster.

Sweaters Are Awesome

Posted by Kat at 07:31 AM | Comments (0)

March 08, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/8/11)

It's Tuesday. It's cold again. Blah.

Tonight's TV picks: White Collar season finale! Also Lights Out, Traffic Light, Glee.

I love campaign season:
The magical shrinking GOP field
Can Mitt Romney win?
An interesting profile, such as it is, of Callista Gingrich.
Oh, John McCain, not quite.
Arizona might get a Tea Party license plate.

Hey, look, it's a project James Franco is no longer doing. Amazing.

The "paper beats rock" thing is nonsense.

How to Always Get a Seat at a Crowded Coffee Shop

Is ANYONE surprised that Glee is releasing a Warblers album?

There is no Summer Glau curse, folks.

Posted by Kat at 07:11 AM | Comments (0)

March 07, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/7/11)

Happy rainy Monday! I love rain but don't love my basement flooding, so my feelings are mixed at the moment. But at least the snow is melting!

Tonight's TV Picks: Pretty Little Liars, The Chicago Code, Being Human, Mad Love

Haven't had time to read this yet, but it looks interesting: The People V. Football

The most admired women in America

Is FOX News considering getting rid of Glenn Beck? Oh please oh please.

How did I never realize that Katie Cassidy is David Cassidy's daughter?

I want a TARDIS purse.

Posted by Kat at 07:34 AM | Comments (0)

March 06, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/6/11)

Good morning! Happy Sunday!

Tonight's TV Picks: Breakout Kings premieres on A&E at 10. I'm not completely sold on the idea, but I'll give it a shot.

Your James Franco project of the day

TWoP comes up with more ideas for celebrity ice cream flavors.

Colin Firth's wife is pretty awesome.

Posted by Kat at 08:25 AM | Comments (0)

March 05, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/5/11)

Happy Saturday! Finally.

Here's what you should do this weekend: watch Anne of Green Gables and play this drinking game.

An illuminating explanation of concert ticketing

Huntsman and Romney have a fascinating history.

Some more biological ideas to explain Henry VIII's futile quest for a son.

Slate has the latest Obama Facebook feed parody.

"American Masters" Subjects Ranked in Order of Americanness and Mastery

Oh, John Edwards.

Advice for Callista Gingrich regarding political mistresses becoming wives.

Read the short story on which they based The Adjustment Bureau.

Glee does Neon Trees. Bleh.

The weirdest Vampire Diaries scandal ever.

Posted by Kat at 08:55 AM | Comments (0)

March 04, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/4/11)

Happy Friday! I'm a little distracted because I have a wildly exciting ARC to read. (Don't worry; I'll review it for you when it gets a little closer to its publication date.)

Tonight's TV Picks: Looks like Supernatural and Merlin are both new.

No, seriously: There is no YA Mafia.

The most important thing you'll read all day: Ask an Abortion Provider

The other most important thing you'll read all day: Anna Holmes on Charlie Sheen and domestic violence.

100 Most Memorable Female TV Characters

Daniel Radcliffe is all grown up, and seems remarkable stable and down-to-earth.

An interesting idea from Yglesias: improving education with better sorting.

I do, in fact, always check my boots.

Jimmy Fallon ice cream! That sounds really good.

Steven King is writing some sort of time travel Kennedy thing. I really need to give King a try at some point.

A USA Network detective movie starring Mark Harmon? Sure.

Posted by Kat at 07:06 AM | Comments (0)

March 03, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/3/11)

Ah, Thursday. Thursdays tend to be long. But it's almost the weekend!

Tonight's TV Picks: Thursdays are now a vast barren wasteland because everything's on hiatus. So you have no excuse not to watch Fairly Legal. (It's been getting better! Really!)

James Levine is resigning from the BSO. Can't wait to see who they choose next.

This profile of Lori Berenson is long but a fascinating read.

This infinite photo is neat but I eventually just found it annoying. LET ME GET TO THE END ALREADY.

10 Women Who Secretly Control the Internet

The House GOP is focusing on important issues, like making sure they stop composting and start using styrofoam. Styrofoam is more FREEDOMY, you know.

In order to become President, do people have to actually like you? Thanks to Newt Gingrich, we may finally find out.

How the 2012 Election Will Destroy My Life. This is so, so true.

NPR listeners really are horribly annoying.

Willow Smith has a new single, and it's pretty adorable.

How to End a Conversation

Posted by Kat at 07:00 AM | Comments (0)

March 02, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/2/11)

Happy Wednesday! And don't forget, we're getting into the most confusing month of the year.

Tonight's TV Picks: Justified and Mr. Sunshine!

Listen to the new Mountain Goats album.

Don't forget to read Vulture's Gossip Girl reality index.

Good for Natalie Portman.

Matthew Morrison's first single is out, and you can listen here. It's kind of Jack Johnson/Jason Mraz-ish, with a hint of Michael Buble. I adore him, but I'm a little disappointed with this - I wish he'd do a Broadway album or something, frankly.

Josh Brolin + Tim Burton = Hunchback? Huh.

Does hidden sexism discourage girls from math and science? I'm not saying I don't believe this research, but these articles always drive me nuts for reasons I can't quite pinpoint.

Bristol Palin has a book coming out, and honestly, I'll probably get it from the library out of curiosity.

Babies in frontier states have more unusual names.

Here's an interesting look at how a TV rumor gets started.

Posted by Kat at 07:32 AM | Comments (0)

March 01, 2011

Morning Coffee (3/1/11)

Hey! It's March! Happy March! Sorry this is late again - my new routine on icy days is to get the car out BEFORE blogging so I don't have that hanging over my head.

Tonight's TV Picks: Attn. West Wing fans: Richard Schiff will be on White Collar. I've heard that and The Good Wife are both great tonight. Also: No Ordinary Family, Hellcats, Parenthood, Lights Out.

Today is Justin Bieber's seventeenth birthday. Mark the occasion as you see fit.

Gossip Girl fans: start your day with Tierney's recap.

Oscar stuff:
Breakdown of speech lengths (and how long each person kept talking after the music started). The winner in the latter category is exactly who you'd hope/imagine.
Some actually interesting behind the scenes stuff.
What Worked and What Didn't
Did James Franco Ruin the Oscars?
I totally want to go to one of these Best Picture marathons. (Actually, there are a few not far away. Maybe next year. Dad?)
What will James Franco do now?

Here's a good article on Last Little Shelter Box.

@MayorEmanuel revealed.

I'll admit I own most of these.

It's not that I was concerned that the new Tinker, Tailor wouldn't get distribution, but it's nice to be sure.

I felt pretty much exactly this way about I Am Number Four.

Posted by Kat at 08:01 AM | Comments (0)

February 28, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/28/11)

Ah, Monday, grumble grumble. I let myself sleep in a little because I was up late watching the Oscars, and then I had to shovel out my car before doing anything else, so you're getting the quick and dirty here.

The Oscar show was thoroughly weird, and I'm sure you'll be reading about that everywhere today. If I find any particularly good/interesting takes, I'll post them tomorrow. In the mean time, here are the winners.

Tonight's TV picks: The second part of that two-parter of Castle! Also: Chicago Code, Gossip Girl, HIMYM, Being Human, Pretty Little Liars, Mad Love.

The other big news last night: Andrew Sullivan and his team have left The Atlantic and are headed for the Daily Beast. Huh.

How The Social Network Saved Mark Zuckerberg

Your James Franco project of the day

Vampire Sound of Music? Must we?

Posted by Kat at 07:51 AM | Comments (0)

February 26, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/26/11)

I don't have much for you today, because I'm still not feeling well and have been mostly sleeping and reading. And now I'm peering out at the snow that fell yesterday, thinking about how I have to shovel it within the next hour if I'm going to make it to the post office and library by noon. Don't wanna.

Also, Twitter is down and so I am completely disoriented. Hah.

This is also disorienting, but in a good way: 5 seconds of every number one hit. I listened to the whole thing and it's pretty amazing, and gave me a list of a LOT of songs I've been meaning to buy.

The Turing papers will stay in the UK after all.

If you'd like to listen to Glee's original songs, here they are. They're, um . . . I don't even know anymore.

Posted by Kat at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)

February 25, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/25/11)

Good morning. Sorry so late - I'm home sick and just managed to get up. But yay, Friday? Also, it's snowing again. Blah blah blah fishcakes.

Tonight's TV Picks: Uh, Blue Bloods? Yeah. And things I wish I weren't seasons behind on: Supernatural, Fringer, Spartacus.

More on Wisconsin: Why everyone cares about the Kochs and what the prank call proves.

Also: a look at life on the run for Democrats. Hee.

The leaked Palin emails are . . . something.

Confessions of Ted Kennedy's dog's ghostwriter.

How humanity survived for 8000 years on the most extreme islands on earth

Why is dystopian fiction so popular for teens but not adults?

Rafael Yglesias on Cliches for Aspiring Writers

Why isn't cricket popular in America?

Find your YA signature cocktail.

Posted by Kat at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)

February 24, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/24/11)

And now it's . . . Thursday, I think? Yes. Okay, I just want to say that there are about five million big huge things going on in the world right now, and I know I'm not even mentioning most of them, and I promise, I'm aware. I just mostly tend to talk about things that I know something about or have a particularly interesting link for, and Libya, for example, is not something I know anything about. So. It's not like any of you are depending on me for real news, anyway. I just worry you'll think I'm oblivious to everything other than pretty boys on TV and the occasional Dave Weigel piece.

Speaking of! More Weigel on Wisconsin - this time, how the state Assembly fits in.

IMPORTANT: YA author Maureen Johnson is raising money for Shelterbox, because of all those aforementioned crazy things going on in the world right now. Donate! Win books! Read about her Last Little Shelter Box campaign here. I've been helping her tally up the donations, so I can confirm that in addition to the $6000 raised by 8 p.m. yesterday (enough for SIX shelters), we already have enough for a SEVENTH shelter as of this morning.

Tonight's TV picks: Vampire Diaries! Season finale (already?) of Royal Pains! Also, Community, Fairly Legal, Parks and Rec, The Mentalist. Yes, Bones is off this week.

This is huge: President Obama told the DOJ to stop defending DOMA in court.

A Battlestar Galactica roller coaster. One assumes it crashes and burns at the end of the ride.

7 Firefly Nods in Castle

Reagan endorses Barbour. 2012 is going to be SO MUCH FUN, you guys.

A new site you should be following: Lady Journos!

SyFy has a cooking show? I'm just . . . I don't even know.

Cornish pasty wins protected status from European commission. OH THANK GOODNESS.

Little Italy: much less Italian.

Lost Thomas Jefferson books found!

Posted by Kat at 06:54 AM | Comments (0)

February 23, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/23/11)

Good morning! I'm working from home this morning while I wait for FedEx to bring my new BlackBerry. It's fuchsia. I'm leaning toward naming it Fiona. I think.

Tonight's TV picks: Mr. Sunshine and Justified! I may give Suspect Behavior one more try as well before I write my review.

I still don't entirely believe that this is real, but Matt Yglesias gives us the greatest memo of all time.

Another must-read from Dave Weigel on Wisconsin: The Cheddar Revolution. Related: Indiana Democrats are fleeing the state now too, and Mitch Daniels isn't sending the police after them. There are union-related protests in Ohio now, too.

Finally, the voice of reason: Nathan Fillion isn't going to bring back Firefly, so just stop people.

4 Things Aaron Sorkin Puts in Every Show Um, only four? I could probably think of ten more. Perhaps I'll make a post out of that.

I really wanted this story to be about mohair allergies or something, not subsidies. Oh well.

Castle fans: This is a really good article about the show, and what Marlowe says in the last paragraph entirely confirms my overarching theory, so I feel so vindicated.

Glee is doing original songs. Prepare as you see fit.

Vulture's always-amazing Gossip Girl recap

CBS and Netflix have signed an agreement that means more streaming shows for us! Amazon Prime members now get free streaming video too. Wheee.

Posted by Kat at 07:46 AM | Comments (0)

February 22, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/22/11)

Welcome to Tuesday. I'm tired. I know, you're shocked.

Tonight's TV Picks: White Collar, The Good Wife, and Lights Out are my top choices. Also: No Ordinary Family, Glee, Hellcats, Traffic Light, Parenthood.

Gossip Girl fans: don't miss Tierney's recap. Now I really need to watch The Philadelphia Story again.

President Obama moonlights as basketball coach. Awww.

Why We're Paying More for Coffee

Oooh! The Royal Wedding invitation!

The science behind ice cream headaches.

Did This American Life find the recipe for Coke?

Tim Gunn's new book actually sounds really interesting.

Are Joshua Jackson and Diane Kruger wearing wedding rings? Even though she kind of once said she didn't want to get married again? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

They found lost Daphne Du Maurier stories!

An investigation of the LCD Soundsystem ticket conspiracy, or not.

Posted by Kat at 07:17 AM | Comments (0)

February 21, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/21/11)

Happy Monday, and, oh, Happy Presidents' Day! Not that I get the day off or anything. And now I'm wondering if this means the new BlackBerry I ordered yesterday will take longer to get here. Hmph.

I have recently become obsessed with GetGlue. Any of you use it? You can find my page here and add me as a friend.

Qaddafi's Son Warns of Civil War Have we decided for sure how we're spelling Qaddafi yet?

I've been saying for a while that Twitter is the way to keep people watching live TV.

Update on Wisconsin protests

The MPAA is close to naming Chris Dodd its new chairman, and at first I assumed it was some other Chris Dodd, but no, it's that one.

Where did the giants go?

Posted by Kat at 06:26 AM | Comments (0)

February 20, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/20/11)

Happy Sunday! If I get all my work done I might go see I Am Number Four. I know, I know, James Frey. But Timothy Olyphant and Alex Pettyfer!

The Importance of Wisconsin

Elena is better than Bella. No contest.

It's like a supergroup in baby form: Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen's daughter have a child.

Community's Chevy Chase Problem

A Guide to Glee's Dropped Storylines

Posted by Kat at 07:55 AM | Comments (0)

February 19, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/19/11)

Happy Saturday!

I love my iPad, but Swansburg's piece about how he hates his is a good read.

Can the Wisconsin Democrats really stop the vote by fleeing the state?

The NH GOP thinks college students shouldn't be allowed to vote because they'll vote liberal.

Do sports helmets help or hurt? You know, I get the argument about helmets encouraging more risk-taking, but God, when I'm watching a bunch of kids I care about - most notably my brother - tackle each other on a football field, I want them wearing as much protective gear as humanly possible.

The Daily Beast has Music's Top 10 Rising Stars, which sounds unnecessarily superlative, but has some stuff worth checking out.

Posted by Kat at 10:27 AM | Comments (1)

February 18, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/18/11)

Oh, Friday, how nice to see you. For those who watched TVD last night: OMGWTFBBQ, huh? Best episode ever? For those who didn't: you're missing out.

Tonight's TV Picks: Blue Bloods! And if I were caught up on any of these, which I'm not: Supernatural, Fringe, Merlin, Spartacus.

The Wisconsin Democratic state senators have left the state to block a vote on a budget with big anti-union stuff. This is awesome.

Misleading TV headline of the day. At least I warned you.

This just in: Superman is pretty.

Oh yeah, there's supposed to be an F1 race in Bahrain soon.

A movie about Madame Tussaud? Fun!

On Adrianne Palicki as Wonder Woman: YAY ADRIANNE PALICKI. On the other hand, when brilliant casting happens to horrible scripts.

15 Worst TV Spinoffs Ever

I've never really noticed Vulture's Good Wife recaps before - maybe because I was way behind for a while - but this one is really good.

How to Attend a Funeral

Ryan Murphy doesn't want you to know what his new show is about. I don't CARE what his new show is about. I only care that he doesn't cast anyone I like, so I have no temptation to watch it.

I can't imagine that New Hampshire will have much patience for Haley Barbour.

Tweet of the Day. (When I maintained the Twitter account for my company, I lived in fear of doing something like that.)

Colbert creates his own version of HuffPo. I love him.

I don't have much interest in the tweeting Francos.

How House Democrats plan to take advantage of Republican overreach on abortion.

Posted by Kat at 07:24 AM | Comments (1)

February 17, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/17/11)

Happy Thursday! First, a note: I've discovered that Gmail has been sending comments to my spam folder again, so if yours never got approved, please don't take it personally. I'm trying to go back and fish them all out.

Tonight's TV Picks: Vampire Diaries! Community! Bones, Parks and Rec, Royal Pains, The Mentalist, Fairly Legal. Man, I love Thursdays.

Best story of the week. Or maybe ever. The real Rahm Emanuel is offering $2500 (for charity) if the person behind the @MayorEmanuel Twitter account comes forward.

I've never seen an episode of Survivor, but I was confused enough by discussions of the new rules to appreciate this.

We all knew it was coming, but it's still sad that Borders filed for bankruptcy. You can see a list of the stores that are closing here.

Nazis: surprisingly good at 3D.

Who at The Good Wife DOES hate Sorkin so much, anyway?

A handy timeline of when various presidential candidates say they will commit (or not).

Ecuadorean Villagers May Hold Secret to Longevity

Posted by Kat at 07:13 AM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/16/11)

Happy Wednesday. Grumble grumble. I was a good girl and went to bed early, and then couldn't sleep. Totally unfair. So I'm less than completely cheery this morning.

Today is the birthday of author Maureen Johnson. Happy birthday, MJ! Go tell her Happy Birthday on Twitter.

Tonight's TV picks: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior is premiering, and I've heard mixed things, but I'll give it a try if only for Richard Schiff's appearance as the FBI director. (That's Toby from The West Wing. Also, I noticed while looking that up that he's going to be on White Collar soon. Wheeee.)

Also tonight: I am unreservedly excited about new episodes of Mr. Sunshine and Justified.

That Jeopardy Computer Is Totally Cheating at Jeopardy (Actually, that's a funny-but-not-untrue take, and I'm working on an actual post about this soon. Spoiler: The computer is acting exactly like a computer.)

"Sneaky excellence" is a really good way to describe The Good Wife.

25 Great TV "I Love You"s

This week's Gossip Girl Reality Index: "Wait, Dan and Blair hide together behind the arras? That's so Shakespearean. So them! Plus 3."

Jensen Ackles: Gentleman.

Best and Worst YA Movie Adaptations

Related: When I realized that Timothy Olyphant was in I Am Number Four, I basically gave up my moral scruples and admitted that I'll go see it. Do we think it's worth The IMAX Experience, or just a regular theater?

Posted by Kat at 07:04 AM | Comments (0)

February 15, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/15/11)

It's only Tuesday? Really?

Tonight's TV picks: No White Collar. Boo. I'm excited about The Good Wife and Lights Out. Also: Glee, No Ordinary Family, Traffic Light, Parenthood.

Pacino as Matisse? Huh.

I don't agree with everything in this piece on Sepinwall and TV criticism, but it's an interesting read.

William and Kate: the graphic novel.

Just stop, kids.

Glenn Beck continues his habit of not really listening to the lyrics of the music he espouses and then getting all upset after the fact.

Eva Gabrielsson's side of the story should be interesting.

Jared Padalecki's evolving hair. (It was a hard choice, but I picked season three.)

The Great Gatsby: The Nintendo game.

A few belated Valentine-themed links:
THE CUTEST THING EVER, at least for Taylor Swift fans. (Explanation here.)
Pros and Cons of TV's Most Eligible Singles
Who's your TV valentine? (Rick Castle all the way. Or, okay, if I'm being super honest, Chuck Bartowski. Not too shabby either way.)
TV's Best Love Triangles
And last but certainly not least: a demonic valentine from Sarah Rees Brennan.

Posted by Kat at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)

February 14, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/14/11)

Good morning and Happy Valentine's Day! The window just randomly refreshed itself and I lost everything, so this will be quick. Grrr.

TV premiere tonight: yet another relationship sitcom, Mad Love, on CBS at 8:30.

Tonight's TV picks: Castle, Gossip Girl, HIMYM, The Chicago Code, Being Human, Pretty Little Liars

The President's budget will be posted here at 10:30.

Lots of awards last night: Grammy winners. BAFTA winners.

The royal wedding party has been announced, and it sounds adorable.

Yale is returning Machu Picchu artifacts.

Posted by Kat at 07:42 AM | Comments (2)

February 13, 2011

Sunday Morning TV News at TheTelevixen

My Morning Coffee: TV News Edition has moved over to TheTelevixen. Head on over for this week's news on renewals, cancellations, casting, and the million new shows in development.

Posted by Kat at 11:19 AM | Comments (0)

February 12, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/12/11)

Happy Saturday! Last night I had a dream about yogurt, which I think means I need to watch Burn Notice today, and one about registering for college classes. And the classes were really awesome and now I'm upset I can't actually take them.

The CPAC straw poll is today! You know, for whatever that's worth. Which is not much.

Is the GOP really messing with PBS and NPR? Slate says probably not.

Which couples from different shows might be meant for each other?

Also in honor of Valentine's Day, watch a montage of TV's best kisses. I was all ready to be upset about . . . someone . . . not being in there, but they were pretty thorough! Okay, how about Gus and Felicity? It doesn't get any better than "Better'n kissin' my dog."

Would you like some new music from Paul Simon? Of course you would. It's, you know, Paul Simony.

They found the ship of the captain who inspired Moby Dick!

The Hunt for Mubarak's Billions

What do William and Kate's advisors do?

Posted by Kat at 10:16 AM | Comments (0)

February 11, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/11/11)

Good morning! Happy Friday! Finally! Yay!

Yesterday it looked like Mubarak was going to resign, but then he didn't. The army is now backing him.

Inside the Secret Service

Emma Watson and Logan Lerman have been cast in the movie adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

The Tea Party didn't derail the Patriot Act extension - Democrats did.

How a commercial is totally messing up the expression "It takes two to tango."

Posted by Kat at 07:37 AM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/10/11)

Good morning! Happy Thursday!

Tonight's TV picks: Vampire Diaries, Community, and Bones! Also Royal Pains, Fairly Legal, The Mentalist, and Parks and Rec. Oh, Thursdays, how busy you are.

Those rumors about L.J. Smith being fired? True, it seems.

FYA continues their series with a review of Anne of the Island.

Leonardo DiCaprio as J. Edgar Hoover. I cannot wait for this movie.

Webb won't seek reelection.

A Thirteen Reasons Why movie with Selena Gomez? Intriguing.

Yglesias on why Bittman and Pollan aren't quite as straightforward as they seem.

The most important thing you'll read about those Planned Parenthood videos.

Can we make Playmobil videos a thing, please?

Posted by Kat at 06:54 AM | Comments (0)

February 09, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/9/11)

Good morning! I'm so much more chipper when I get up before six. I just need to REMEMBER this when the alarm goes off.

New feature: Tonight's TV picks: There's a new Blue Bloods, and don't you dare miss the series premiere of Mr. Sunshine or season premiere of Justified. (More on both of those in a bit.)

Lots of shows have been filming in Canada recently, and now they're even recreating specific cities on what sounds like an ongoing basis (rather than just using a street scene for a show or two). That's kind of nifty.

Cobie Smulders will be in The Avengers! Yay.

Your James Franco Project of the Day

10 Shows That Should Do Real-Time Episodes. I particularly like the Community idea.

Top 10 Best-Dressed First Ladies

FYA reviews another old favorite: Madeleine L'Engle's And Both Were Young

The Times reviewer really, really didn't like the new Spider-Man musical.

Vulture's Gossip Girl Reality Index for the week

3-D Royal Wedding Ruled Out By Palace. Thank you, Your Majesty.

Malcolm Gladwell Book Generator

Haley Barbour: the closest a 2012 candidate will get to actually being endorsed by Ronald Reagan.

Want to learn more about Doctor Who? Here's a handy infographic.

10 Bizarre Love Triangles in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Michael Oher's book actually sounds pretty interesting.

Whoa: The Invisible American Welfare State

Posted by Kat at 06:37 AM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/8/11)

Good morning! Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday - I was having some technical difficulties and then the morning just got away from me.

Olbermann will announce his new gig today, but it's pretty much leaked that he's going to Current TV, which . . . I know that's the Al Gore thing, but is it also a real station that people actually get? I don't, but my cable is shockingly unfancy.

The Today show will be doing a whole royal wedding special. That's a relief.

It's Jules Verne's birthday, and make sure you look at Google.

Alex Pettyfer may or may not be doing every teen movie ever.

If I knew about this Nathan Fillion Green Lantern thing, I had forgotten. Awesome.

This is the sort of link I should probably just send my dad, but: It's a really good and important read about cannibalism and comparing genocides. I swear.

I haven't had a chance to read that whole big New Yorker Scientology article yet, but Vulture has some highlights.

Brian Jacques has died. Sad.

As I'm sure you've heard by now, AOL bought HuffPo. Read the Awl's take here.

Get well soon, Robert Kubica!

Robert Pattinson will sing in Breaking Dawn. Which . . . doesn't he have a band? Why is this such a big deal?

Your James Franco project of the day.

Posted by Kat at 07:06 AM | Comments (1)

February 06, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/6/11) - TV News Edition

As I mentioned a few days ago, I'm going to start compiling TV development news into a weekly post, and Sundays seem like a good day for that since there's less news on weekends anyway.

Taylor Kinney has been cast as a hot hairdresser in A Mann's World. Heee. That same link has some other casting I don't care so much about.

A few items of note here: De Niro is producing a cop show called Rookies, presumably not to be confused with Rookie Blue; ABC has a "dysfunctional family drama set in the world of professional dance;" Rob Thomas's Little League show got a director.

Kevin Williamson (of Vampire Diaries) has joined The Secret Circle. Wheee. (This is based on another trilogy by the same author, this one about witches.)

Comedies that I'd probably watch once and never again: here, here, here (okay, the one about a family of doctors sounds vaguely interesting), here, here.

Krysten Ritter has joined Dreama Walker in Don't Trust the Bitch in Apt. 23, and that combination makes this a must-see for me.

ABC Family picks up a comedy and two dramas. To series, not pilot. I'm sure you're amazed that I'm excited about the dramas but not the comedy. (The Nine Lives of Chloe King is supernatural and has my favorite actress from The Gates, and Switched at Birth is what it sounds like but has Vanessa Marano from Gilmore Girls!)

David O. Russell is developing an FX drama for Connie Britton. No premise has been released yet, but honestly, with Russell, FX, and Britton in one sentence, I'm not that concerned.

Starz has an upcoming political drama starring Kelsey Grammar as . . . President Bartlet, basically? Except mayor of Chicago? Hm.

Dan Savage may be doing an MTV advice show.

The Walking Dead will have a writing staff after all.

Amber Heard as a Playboy club bunny in the 1960s? Hmm.

Jesse McCartney has joined Locke and Key.

An NYPD detective who remembers everything? Count me in. And wait, A&E has a Boston detective with hyper-acute senses. Trend?

NBC orders pilots for an American Prime Suspect and a post-Civil War historical drama. I am cautiously intrigued by both.

Kyle Killen of the late lamented Lone Star is doing an Inception-style drama? Huh. Okay.

My inexplicable enthusiasm for 7th Heaven alums continues: Barry Watson has been cast in a pilot! About cola! Whee!

Ethan Hawke on TV? In a high-octane CIA procedural? Okay.

ABC picks up four pilots and two pilot presentations, all of which sound varying levels of promising.

Honestly, none of these CW pilots sound that great, but it's the CW, so I'll try whatever makes it to air. Seriously, though, CW, play to your strengths: More pretty teenagers; fewer lawyers.

CBS has a supernatural medical drama that sounds like it should be on that CW list.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

February 05, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/5/11)

Happy Saturday!

Over at The Atlantic, Alyssa Rosenberg and Hampton Stevens have a series about female sports fans.

Voting is open for TV Guide's Fan Favorites Awards, and when people saw the favorite actor category, half my Twitter timeline erupted into "This is like my own personal Sophie's Choice!" Luckily, you can vote more than once.

David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman script sounds awful.

Unpublished Dashiell Hammett stories were found in Texas.

Oscar Best Song performers! Yes, Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore are included. That's all I care about.

Aaron Ginsburg is one of the nicest guys in television, and I'm glad people are noticing.

CW Debuts Mobile Social Virtual Stores for Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries. Hint: When a store is mobile, social, and virtual, it probably means that what you are buying is pretend.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

February 04, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/4/11)

Good morning and happy Friday! This is going to be a quick one because I have to go try to shovel out my mailbox before work so that my Burn Notice disc from Netflix will be delivered. (Priorities!)

In Plain Sight is coming back May 1! And here's a picture of Bradley Whitford on the set. When he and Fred Weller are actually on my TV at the same time, I will be beside myself.

Congratulations to Colin Hanks and Samantha Bryant (and grandfather Tom Hanks) on the birth of Olivia Jane!

10 Reasons the Star Trek 2 Screenplay Still Isn't Done

Here's a clip of Matt Bomer singing on White Collar! And yes, I have no trouble believing that it will be the best musical moment on TV all month, including Glee.

You know, sometimes I feel like these posts should actually be titled "Some stuff attractive guys are doing," and today is one of those days.

Would you like to listen to the final album by The Streets? Here you go.

Posted by Kat at 07:03 AM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/3/11)

Happy Thursday. I have to shovel out this morning. I am not looking forward to it. You know, I've been posting a lot of TV development news recently - pilot pickups, casting, etc. - and I think rather than having it clog up this post ever day, I'm gong to start compiling it into one post one weekends. Sound good?

Start your morning off right: Tom Hardy in a Batman T-Shirt. In related news, it looks like Joseph Gordon-Levitt may also be in the movie, and at some point we're all going to pass out from the hotness they're concentrating here.

The White Stripes have broken up, surprising all of us who thought that happened years ago.

F1 testing started, and Sebastian Vettel was quickest.

I'm not sure this Aaron Sorkin article actually has new information about his show, but I'm going to be giving you every scrap of information I can find on this, so get used to it.

Oh, Borders...

If you're into Stephen King, you should be following my friend's new Tower Junkie site.

This is no good: Apple Moves to Tighten Control of App Store

Friday Night Lights final season NBC premiere: April 15. I swear I'll catch up by then.

The current Gossip Girl Reality Index

Your James Franco Project of the Day

When Did Elegant Women Become Villains? (And I agree that I love the stepmother on Fairly Legal.)

The Community cast pretends to make out.

The Duchess of Cornwall will be on The Archers. Hee.

Not that I need more TV to watch, but this makes Korean dramas sound really fascinating.

I'll admit that the participants in the Celebrity Beach Bowl have me almost ready to go drop in on my parents, who have DirectTV: Matthew Morrison, Chace Crawford, Matt Bomer, Josh Duhamel...

Someone we've never heard of has been cast as Kate Middleton in that Lifetime movie. Wait, I take that back. She was a Jane Doe on The Forgotten. Man, I miss that show.

This is the sort of thing I actually think about: 4 Tips for Buying Great Cheese on a Budget

Hey, I think about this sort of thing too: Are your various notes and lists coherent enough to help someone solve your murder?

This is the only theory about Jon Huntsman I've read that actually makes any sense.

Really, Connecticut? Really?

Forever YA continues their Montgomery-fest with Anne of Avonlea.

Posted by Kat at 07:06 AM | Comments (1)

February 02, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/2/11)

Don't even talk to me about this groundhog nonsense. We're in the middle of a snowstorm, and there's never not at least six more weeks of winter, anyway. Snowstorm does mean I get to work at home, so that's something. I mean, work is the same, but I can do it in my pajamas and it's more convenient to make tea. And I can take a lunch break to watch The Good Wife later.

The Cory Booker vs. Rahm Emanuel shovel-off is worth watching.

ABC picked up a DC drama from Josh Schwartz (of Gossip Girl). This pilot season is really shaping up nicely.

Ricky Gervais: invited to host the Globes again. Oh boy!

I don't care about reality TV, but this story about Survivor leaks is fascinating.

Robert Pattinson in a wedding ring. You know, for a movie.

I guess this is a Politico self-spoof? Or something? Hilarious, anyway.

This paragraph was the funniest thing I read all day yesterday:

Can a show be too dreamy? I ask because I'm unable to watch White Collar on a regular basis, mainly because Matthew Bomer is just too damn dashing and his eyes are just too easy to get lost in. Before I know it, it's 2 a.m. and I've missed Conan. So what will happen to America now that Paul Blackthorne is regularly appearing on the show? Will entire segments of the population simply stop going to work? Will there be swooning outbreaks in suburban neighborhoods nationwide? Could Bomer-Blackthorne Syndrome grind our country to a halt?
It's a totally valid concern!

A post-apocalyptic Persuasion retelling? I'm . . . guardedly interested.

If you aren't reading Alex Balk's daily weather reports, you're missing out.

2012 DNC: Charlotte.

5 Ways to Keep Track While Measuring Ingredients

Tyler Perry will play Alex Cross, which . . . I feel like I should have more opinions about than I do, because really, I tend to just roll my eyes in Patterson's general direction.

The Bachelor as Science Fiction

The Internet has been won: Jacob recaps Gossip Girl in the style of Jay McInerney.

Posted by Kat at 07:52 AM | Comments (0)

February 01, 2011

Morning Coffee (2/1/11)

It's February! Huh! And, of course, we're supposed to be buried in snow again. It hasn't quite started, so I'm headed to work, but I'm already more or less planning to work from home tomorrow.

Bradley Whitford's going to be in a new movie! And . . . well, just look at that cast list. They're all good, of course, but isn't it a bizarre combination of people?

Did you watch that epic Gossip Girl last night? Your two must-reads of the morning: Tierney's Zap2it recap and . . . oh, I typed that before actually checking that NYMag's Reality Index was up already, and it's not. Tomorrow!

Kristen Bell will be in a Showtime pilot. Please, Kristen, come back to TV and we'll forget When In Rome ever happened.

The Stand may become a movie, which reminds me that I've never seen the Rob Lowe version. Oh, and speaking of Stephen King adaptations, read my friend Sharmin on Javier Bardem and The Dark Tower.

Listen to the new Bright Eyes album at NPR First Listen.

There are rumors of some sort of free video streaming for Amazon Prime members. Color me intrigued.

Posted by Kat at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

January 31, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/31/11)

It's Monday, but I'm home with some sort of icky stomach bug, so let's see what I can find for you in between wanting to barf!

The SAG Awards were last night. Here are the winners. Nothing particularly surprising, I guess.

Your new Superman: Henry Cavill. Yes, this means Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman are all British. And yummy.

How to Find Real Food at the Supermarket

South Africa discovers the joy of romance novels.

Taylor Kinney of The Vampire Diaries will guest star on CSI: New York.

Could a U.S. government crackdown take America off the internet?

Posted by Kat at 07:41 AM | Comments (1)

January 30, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/30/11)

Happy Sunday! The SAG Awards are tonight. Wheee. The Fug Girls will be liveblogging the Red Carpet, so I recommend stopping by.

Pop culture piece of the week: The Social Network Gang Is Like a Boy Band: Who's Your Type? Seriously, someone needs to put "of the emo Garfield persuasion" on a t-shirt.

Taylor Momsen sings "Wonderwall," and, you know, it could be worse.

Ten Oscar-Nominated Movies That Would Make Good TV Shows I really, really want numbers 5-8 to happen. Get on this, someone.

Brannon Braga regrets not having gay characters on his Star Trek shows. My impression is that many people regret many things about Brannon Braga's involvement.

The Geopolitics of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

See Franco and Hathaway's first Oscar promos here and here.

Posted by Kat at 09:48 AM | Comments (0)

January 29, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/29/11)

Happy Saturday! There's tons of pilot and casting news today, so let's do that first. I'll put it all in a row, so if you don't care about TV news, skip down to the next paragraph break.
Minka Kelly (love!) and Rachael Taylor to Charlie's Angels.
If anyone could make me tolerate zombies, it's the CW.
HBO ordered a pilot of Aaron Sorkin's news show show. Wheee! I'm not convinced by the title More as the Story Develops, though. I like it but it's long.
The Bones spinoff has cast Geoff Stults as its lead, and I won't lie: I'm thrilled. Can we get his brother on too?
NBC ordered some sort of Brothers Grimm-based fantasy cop show, headed by Buffy's David Greenwalt.
Greg Grunberg has been cast on an A&E police drama.
I love Dreama Walker, so I might have to try Don't Trust the Bitch (and there's Rita Moreno news at that link, too).
CBS picks up David Hornsby's How to Be a Gentleman (not, as I keep misreading, Nick Hornsby), and two sports comedies, one of which sounds like Sports Night and the other of which sounds like a comedic football version of Lights Out and is produced by Mark Wahlberg. In other words, I'm in.
FOX's Family Album gets a director.
Here's more casting for USA's Eden, which is a) USA, b) involves a con artist, and c) set at a fancy New York hotel. In other words, it just became my second-most-anticipated new show. (Doesn't quite beat Sorkin.)
ABC has ordered pilots for family comedies Frickin' Family and Bad Mom and honestly, when I first saw this headline on Twitter I really, truly thought it was a joke. It is not. I don't think Ayelet Waldman is involved, either.
Okay, actual to-series orders, not just pilots: We have the ABC summer drama lineup: Missing from the people who brought us The Gates last year (because that worked so well?), some sort of Afghanistan medical drama, and season two of Rookie Blue. (I might actually catch up on that one if the DVDs come out in time.)
Jack McGee to a USA buddy cop dramedy! Tony Hale to an HBO political comedy!
Various networks picked up various comedy pilots. The only one that stands out to me is Brave New World, "a workplace comedy that follows a group of unusual characters at Pilgrim Village, a theme park that specializes in recreations of New England in 1637."

Okay! Whew! IN OTHER NEWS:

Oh no! They killed some Girl Scout Cookies! But not any of the good ones.

"Ride-In Daleks"? Whoa.

I still kind of can't believe that this is the actual new NBCUniversal logo.

Hugh Jackman will be presenting at the Oscars. In case you were concerned.

Mark Zuckerberg may - may! - appear with Jesse Eisenberg on SNL tonight.

Posted by Kat at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)

January 28, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/28/11)

Happy Friday! Finally. I know I'm inconsistent about the amount of real news I mention here, but there's so much going on that I think we need a quick roundup, and I'm giving you links all from the Times because it's quicker that way: There's unrest in Egypt and the Internet and cell phones have been "turned off." Tunisia's interim government is purging the Cabinet. Rahm is back on the ballot. Mike Pence is not running for President, but may run for governor. And pretty pretty Jay Carney is your new White House Press Secretary.

That Burn Notice prequel movie? Sounds like it's coming THIS SPRING. Whee!

This will be useful to bookmark as we head toward the spring: TV Renewal Scorecard

Ahem. Sweet Valley High: The Musical!

An interesting read: The Lessons You Learn When You Write About TV For Money. Actually, I have learned many of those lessons while writing about TV for no money.

Wondering why Toy Story 3 is an adapted screenplay or Hailee Steinfeld is a supporting actress? Answers are here. And here's a great Best Picture Cheat Sheet from NPR. And If Best Picture Movie Posters Told the Truth.

People still fax things?

Kristen Stewart as Snow White? I could be convinced.

It's looking more likely that the O author is Mark Salter.

I adore Alan Menken.

Patti Smith is . . . writing a mystery novel? Okay then. I just want to know how she knows it's exactly 68% done.

Lifetime is making a William and Kate movie!!!

Know Your Veils: A Guide to Head Coverings

Vampire Diaries fans: This guy may be playing Klaus. MAYBE. Other sites say it's way less of a done deal than this makes it sound.

Posted by Kat at 06:57 AM | Comments (1)

January 27, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/27/11)

Happy Thursday! I'm trying to convince myself that I'm not getting sick. Really! There's no reason why I slept for hours longer than normal and feel vaguely awful this morning!

Your big big news of the day: Bradley Whitford will guest star on In Plain Sight. If he and Fred Weller are on my TV at the exact same time I might faint. Just to warn you.

Excited about The Vampire Diaries coming back tonight? Watch Carina MacKenzie's great interview with Ian Somerhalder about what's coming up for Damon. Word of the day seems to be "deflect."

Dennis Kucinich is suing the House cafeteria because he bit into an olive pit. Man, I love Kucinich.

Here's Alyssa on the Red Riding Hood/wolf stuff I was talking about the other day.

Hunger Games release date: March 23, 2012.

Naomi Watts has joined J. Edgar. Is it just me or does this movie's cast just keep getting more amazing?

The incomparable June Thomas on why Hawaii Five-0 is so popular.

The Mad Love premiere has been moved up to Valentine's Day, if you care.

Here's some more on Sarah Michelle Gellar's new pilot. Plus some other pilot pickups that sound interesting, as opposed to the plethora of pilot pickups that just made me shrug: S.I.L.A. (crime, law enforcement, and politics...something), Poe (the author as detective), and, somewhat improbably, two shows about 1960s auto racing.

Battlestar Choclactica - almost certainly more satisfying than the actual show!

The Long Pull of Noodle Making

Springsteen will guest on the new Dropkick Murphys album.

Jay-Z is producing the Willow Smith Annie, and I have many concerns, but I will wait until more details emerge and I can determine whether my concerns are justified.

Forever YA has an awesome review of Anne of Green Gables.

Remember how last week I was hoping that The Decemberists would top the charts this week? They did!

Posted by Kat at 06:19 AM | Comments (0)

January 26, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/26/11)

It's the morning after the State of the Union. I am tired. And I just discovered that Blue Valentine is disappearing from the one semi-local theater it's at on Friday, so I guess I know what I'm doing tonight!

Here are the Oscar nominations! Now I start trying to see them all. Whee. Slate has an interesting take on the Oscar pool. They also have an interesting discussion about it going on.

They're going to film Jersey Shore in Italy, and . . . man, I don't even know what to say. Actually, I'll say this: at lunch yesterday, one of my coworkers said "Snooki's not even Italian. I don't know what she is, but she acts Irish." My response: "As someone who is both Irish and Italian, I don't even know on what level to be offended."

Did you watch that great Castle episode on Monday? Here's an illuminating interview with the writers.

They had me at "Jane Espenson" and "Britain's greatest ghost detective."

Sexual Assault and the Super Bowl

Diagnosing dead people - always fun!

Did you notice Rebecca Traister's book on Gossip Girl? Huh.

Ooh, exciting history scandal! Lincoln document was altered.

What is your state worst at?

The Best Songs About New York That Don't Have "New York" in the Title

Posted by Kat at 06:33 AM | Comments (1)

January 25, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/25/11)

Happy Tuesday! The Oscar nominations will be announced this morning, and then tonight is State of the Union! It's like Christmas! Ahem. I'm a little excited.

The nominations will be announced at 8:30am Eastern, so I won't be able to post immediately, but if you go to Oscars.org you'll be able to see them, and I'll post some thoughts tonight or tomorrow. My main thought at the moment: I hope they do that handy printable checklist again. That was awesome.

I don't know if any of you are as excited about the Anything Goes revival as I am (hi, Mom!), but I was on a call with Jessica Walter about Archer yesterday, and it turns out she's playing Hope's mother! Awesome. Rehearsals start today!

I'm not an audiobook person, but Cassie Clare announced some news so amazing that it will cause me to actually seek out her next audiobook: Ed Westwick (Chuck from Gossip Girl) and Molly Quinn (Alexis from Castle) will be reading it!

Robert Burns letter discovered in castle

Wondering why liberals think conservatives don't care about the poor? Reasons like this.

Who's got a date to the State of the Union?

The many historical issues with The King's Speech

Borg serenity prayer! Cross-stitched!

Newsweek's Oscar roundtable always has some interesting stuff. Apparently your James Franco Project of the Day is a sex tape he made at 19.

Rafael Nadal with baby penguins. The end.

Posted by Kat at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)

January 24, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/24/11)

Good morning! It's very cold. About -9 F at the moment. I am not looking forward to going outside in this.

HitFix's Final Oscar Predictions before the nominations are announced tomorrow.

This documentary about Elmo sounds fun, although I agree with Fienberg that Elmo has always seemed like something of a usurper to me.

Olbermann split came after years of tension. You don't say!

A look inside a Chinese factory making royal wedding memorabilia. (Plus I love Damian Grammaticas's name.)

Drew McWeeny really didn't like Kevin Smith's new film, and I can assure you that reading his review is a better experience than watching the thing would be.

I can't believe no one at MTV thought about whether Skins was illegal before they filmed and started airing it.

Posted by Kat at 06:43 AM | Comments (0)

January 23, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/23/11)

I woke up around 6:30 completely panicked that I hadn't set my alarm, and then remembered that it was Sunday. It was very nice.

Aaron Sorkin talks about The Politician and his upcoming HBO show.

This art forger story is long, but a really interesting read.

Larry Page Prepares to Take the Reins at Google

NBC is picking up shows all over the place: a musical, a lesbian romance, and David E. Kelley's Wonder Woman.

Is Olbermann the victim of his own success?

Posted by Kat at 09:40 AM | Comments (0)

January 22, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/22/11)

Happy Saturday! I am eating a bowl of honeydew. It is delicious. I know, you care.

Big news: Keith Olbermann is out at MSNBC.

Here you go: The first image of Renesmee from Breaking Dawn.

I got all excited about this Pedro Almodovar news and then realized I was, as usual, conflating him with Alfonso Cuaron in my head. But, you know, still interesting.

They're remaking About Last Night.... I still haven't seen the original, but obviously the young actors that look the most like Rob Lowe are Chace Crawford and Ian Somerhalder, right?

I suppose news of an Angry Birds TV show should not be surprising, but it kind of is. Really? No one has any better ideas?

Florence + the Machine will play "Cosmic Love" live on Gossip Girl on February 7. Can't wait.

Headline of the Day: See Katy Perry Hanging Out With Mark Zuckerberg, for Some Reason

This Steampunk Palin comic book is baffling.

Brace yourself: Damon Salvatore is getting a bedroom.

CBS ordered more Flashpoint. I keep meaning to watch that show and then completely forgetting it exists, for some reason.

Cuteness of the day: Baby Dolphin Meets Baby Penguin

Johnny Weir has a single out. Color me . . . not at all surprised, actually.

Your new James Franco project of the day

Posted by Kat at 08:40 AM | Comments (0)

January 21, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/21/11)

Happy Friday! It's snowing here. Again. Of course. Movies opening today: No Strings Attached, The Company Men, The Way Back.

Breaking! RonReaco Lee of The Good Guys has joined the cast of the Burn Notice prequel.

Ben Smith continues to investigate the O author here, here, and here, while Daily Intel pleads for sanity.

TV development news: NBC ordered the pilot of Ron Moore's "Harry Potter for grown-ups" and USA Network ordered two new series I'll undoubtedly watch. The legal one sounds . . . like a USA show. The football one sounds interesting but confuses me, because I can't figure out what kind of therapist she's supposed to be. Mental health? Physical therapist? Massage therapist? I'd first assumed physical therapist, but now that I think about it, it's probably a psychology/mental health thing.

Alex Pettyfer may or may not have been offered the role of Jace Wayland in the Mortal Instruments movies. You probably have no idea what any of those proper nouns mean, but trust me, if my Twitter feed is anything to go by, if you care, you care deeply.

Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez are writing a memoir.

TLC is planning a whole week of royal wedding coverage.

Magic: the Gathering's Secret Sci-Fi History

Amy Chua's daughter speaks.

Did this story make anyone else want to dig out their old copy of The Face on the Milk Carton?

I'm no particular fan of Condi Rice, but really, Piers Morgan? REALLY?

Will Smith wants to remake Annie with his daughter starring. Which . . . could be interesting, or awful. Hm.

The "British Schindler" gets a movie.

Biggest mafia bust ever!

Spoof of the day: The Most Emailed New York Times Article Ever

Posted by Kat at 06:27 AM | Comments (0)

January 20, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/20/11)

Happy Thursday! Bones and Community come back tonight! Everyone excited? (Note: Bones is now at 9 rather than 8.)

Don Kirshner has died. NPR has a nice retrospective.

England is considering changing the law of succession.

Rob Thomas, creator of Veronica Mars, has a new pilot about Little League families. Oh, yes, please.

Michael Steele: "I know exactly how Caesar felt." Yup.

Vulture's Guide to Decoding 2011's Oscar-Season For Your Consideration Ads

The Coachella lineup sounds awesome, but even better: The State of Current Musical Fame According to the Coachella Poster

Cake has the new lowest ever sales numbers to hit number one on the charts. I'm pulling for The Decemberists next week. I did my part.

Shocker: Alcoholic whipped cream is gross. One of my cousins showed up with some on Christmas but I couldn't bring myself to inflict it upon my lovely dessert, so I didn't try it. Also, because it sounds gross.

Eric Balfour will guest star on No Ordinary Family. Yay! I guess now that Haven is getting a second season we have to stop calling him "show killer Eric Balfour," huh?

Rock stars need to stop writing good books.

This review of No Strings Attached makes me even more eager to see it.

A trilogy coming out in consecutive months doesn't exactly count as serialized, I don't think. And romance series have been doing this for years!

Here are Jason Segal and Amy Adams dancing while filming The Muppets. Oh my gosh, I can't wait for this movie.

Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy will be in the new Batman movie.

Here's the PaleyFest lineup.

Headline of the day: The team behind The Social Network readies its next flick: Sex On The Moon

Posted by Kat at 06:34 AM | Comments (0)

January 19, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/19/11)

Welcome to Wednesday. My throat hurts and I have discovered that I'm out of Cream of Wheat. This is clearly a tragedy.

Let's start with a few items of actual big news before going to our usual frivolity: The FCC has approved the NBC/Comcast deal, with a bunch of conditions that sound more or less reasonable to me, but I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been following this as closely as I should have been.

Susan Bysiewicz is running for Senate in Connecticut. Meanwhile, Lieberman will announce today whether he's running again, but it sounds like he's probably not.

Add to the retirement list: Kent Conrad.

R. Sargent Shriver has died.

Would you like some rage with your coffee this morning? Here you go: The Daily Mail has published some nut (who has a book to sell) saying depression is fake and people should get a grip. And Buzz Bissinger, who brought us Friday Night Lights, has decided that violence is the only fun part of football after all and so we should stop worrying about safety. (On the other hand, please, please read this piece in Slate about different kinds of concussions and brain damage among kids playing football.) More about this later, I think, because I started writing about all the things wrong with the Bissinger piece and realized it should be its own post.

Blind item! (Ooh, fancy.) Which Good Guys actor/actress is headed to Colombia to join the Burn Notice prequel?

The news that there's going to be a new "official" Sherlock Holmes book would usually not particularly excite me. But. It's being written by Anthony Horowitz, creator of Foyle's War. I'm in.

I shall join the host of people improbably defending a Bush and say that Matt Yglesias is complete right here. And re: his last paragraph, actually, one of my great-grandmothers was an Italian Argentine.

Do pianos need more keys? I'm unconvinced.

That other leaked version of Jennifer Lopez's new single was not the finished one. Here's the real thing. It's, you know, fine, but not really interesting or exciting in any way.

The Baby-sitters Club: Where Are They Now? Heee.

Tracking the mood of a nation via tweets

Boston Fans Not as Good at Being Losers Anymore. SO. TRUE.

Sundance starts tomorrow. Here are some previews from HitFix and the Daily Beast.

Hilarious headline of the day: Robert Pattinson Says 'Breaking Dawn' Sex Scene Was 'Like Doing Twister'

The publishers of O are asking journalists not to confirm or deny whether they wrote it. But Dave Weigel says it's bad and gives us the ending.

Posted by Kat at 06:14 AM | Comments (0)

January 18, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/18/11)

Happy Tuesday! I'm blithely pretending that this snow-turning-to-freezing-rain will not affect my commute in any way. How are you?

Today is the birthday of two friends. Happy birthday, Liza and Jack!

Headline of the day: Caligula's tomb found after police arrest man trying to smuggle statue

New album from the Strokes (and not, as I originally typed, the Storks): March 22

BAFTA nominations!

Saving rare map of New York

After Tunisia, Is Egypt Next?

Chris Christie is not running for president. Today. Right now. Yet.

They're cloning mammoths. Just to warn you.

All I want in life is for my Target to start carrying groceries.

Steve Jobs is taking medical leave from Apple. Get well, Steve!

If this rumor about Jake Gyllenhaal and Camilla Belle is true . . . God, I don't even know. Well, I guess Belle can continue to get attention for dating Taylor Swift's exes and Swift can keep writing songs about it, so everyone's happy?

Ryan Murphy says Anne Hathaway is coming to Glee, but I don't trust stories about Glee anymore, even (especially?) when they're from Murphy himself.

Star Trek 2 may be in 3D. Or not. It's totally unclear.

Starbucks is unveiling a new 31 oz. size, and because I am everything wrong with America, I was really excited about this until I realized it's only for a few specific cold drinks that I never order anyway.

Is Jon Hamm really too old to play Superman? Uh, no?

Your new Spartacus: Liam McIntyre

The best theory about Miley Cyrus I've ever read.

Alyssa was fairly positive about Harry's Law. Sepinwall was not. (I'm planning to watch it tonight.)

Hear the Jurassic Park theme slowed down 1000%. You know, if you want.

Posted by Kat at 07:18 AM | Comments (1)

January 17, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/17/11)

'morning. Grumble. It was a late night with the Golden Globes, and it's going to be another late night as I try to clear room on the TiVo to record a White Collar marathon tomorrow. But I realize the latter is more of a just-me problem than the former.

Globes: If you missed my liveblog, you can read it here. I'm happy that Social Network got so much recognition, but I also kind of wanted The King's Speech to win everything, so I guess I was destined to be unsatisfied. Off the top of my head, I'd say best dressed was Olivia Wilde and worst dressed was Helena Bonham Carter (does she even count?), but I reserve the right to change that decision after I look at pictures of everyone. I'll round up links for you and post more about the Globes tonight.

TV premieres tonight: Skins, Being Human (both of those are British remakes, actually), and Harry's Law. I'll try to have pilot reviews for you within a few days.

Your new James Franco project of the day.

Never fear! There will in fact be William and Kate tea towels.

In New Military, Data Overload Can Be Deadly

Did I ever post the SAG nominees? Here you go.

Posted by Kat at 06:34 AM | Comments (1)

January 16, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/16/11)

Happy Sunday! Don't forget to join us at our Golden Globes liveblog at TheTelevixen tonight! And don't forget there's a new episode of Downton Abbey tonight too.

Giffords has been taken off her ventilator.

Flo Gibson, who recorded over 1000 audiobooks, has died.

A retrospective of last year's Golden Globes: Best/Worst Style and Best/Worst Moments. I couldn't quite remember if I'd actually watched last year until that article reminded me about the endless Scorsese speech. Also: The Ten Best Things Ever Said at the Golden Globes

Did you miss Miss Arkansas's yodeling ventriloquism last night?

The Deadliest Book Review

LePage needs to stop answering everything with "My son is black." Not a free pass to do whatever you want and not be questioned!

Posted by Kat at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)

January 15, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/15/11)

Happy Saturday! I was up ridiculously late reading last night, but the cat doesn't seem to care, so I am up. Ah well.

RNC? TCA? Whatever. Your really important news of the day: Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) is coming back to TV (if her show gets picked up, etc.).

Okay, RNC. Your new chair: Reince Priebus.

This Slate article about why you shouldn't put two spaces after a period has become ridiculously popular, especially given how much real news there's been this week. But it's good! I at some point stopped using two spaces, but it wasn't really a conscious decision. Hm. I wonder how that happened?

Just How Crazy, Really, Are The Golden Globes Musical/Comedy Picks?

Hey look! A new dinosaur! Call Brannon Braga.

This headline did not at all mean what I thought it meant: Touring Camelot, Without Having to Leave Home. But it's still interesting, because it's about how the Kennedy library has been digitizing their archives and making them searchable. Actually, a few months ago I sat next to the guy in charge of this project at a search-related conference, and my boss was all "Yeah, of COURSE you wind up next to the Kennedy Library guy." But anyway, he was really nice, and it's a fascinating project.

Speaking of the Kennedys, DirecTV might air that miniseries that the History Channel turned down. I don't have DirecTV, but if it shows SOMEWHERE, there's a better chance of it making it to DVD, I guess. Or I could DVR it at my parents' house. They'd probably never even notice.

The BBC is making a new Great Expectations.

Edmund White's Top 10 New York Books

Going to the Golden Globes? How to stay off the worst-dressed list.

Posted without comment: Your new James Franco project of the day

10 Reasons to Look Forward to the Golden Globes

An interesting map of the US with each state named after a country with a similar GDP.

Stop ordering mimosas. It's cheaper to just order orange juice and champagne.

Five Emotions Invented by the Internet

Posted by Kat at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)

January 14, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/14/11)

Good morning! Friday! Yay! The Golden Globes are this Sunday, so I'll be trying to get a few more things watched/reviewed, and then I'll give you a big post with my picks. AND I'll be liveblogging the ceremony itself along with Melissa over at TheTelevixen, so please come join us!

Before we get to TV and kittens or whatever, here's today's long but important, serious read: Can Europe Be Saved?

Okay, since I promised you kittens: Planet Money's Cute Animal Stock Market

Twitter's best joke. No, really. I love it.

"Bitch, it's winter."

Don't look now, but climate change is still real. Also, it has guided human history (you don't say!), and that's the sort of article on which I always want Jared Diamond's take.

Any headline starting with "J.J. Abrams offers cryptic clues" makes me giggle.

Do you want to see the first photo from Breaking Dawn, of Bella and Edward in bed? Sigh. Of course you do. Fine.

Possibly more interesting: The first photo of Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man.

Have questions on the whole "entail" concept in Downton Abbey (and Pride and Prejudice and half of all historical romance novels)? This might clear things up.

I love how all the gossip blogs are suddenly talking about Matthew Bellamy because he's having a baby with Kate Hudson. E! Online has five things to know about him, and according to my personal Muse expert, they're even mostly true.

Headline of the Day: Vermonters Blast McDonald's for Violating Strict Maple Syrup Law

Holden Caulfield Sucks

Keira Knightley and Rupert Friend broke up. Anyone else COMPLETELY forget they were together in the first place?

I was considering going to see The Green Hornet, but maybe not.

Some TV news: Charlie's Angels: on. Rockford Files: off.

James Franco's project of the week: producing a musical at Yale.

I have lost all hope for our society: A Pac-Man reality series? REALLY?

Posted by Kat at 06:35 AM | Comments (0)

January 13, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/13/11)

Good news: I can see my road! So as soon as I finish this I have to go shovel and try to make it to work. Wish me luck.

This item about Rep. Giffords's wedding ring will make you cry. And get a certain song stuck in your head all day. Just to warn you.

Uh, no. I think the real victims of the shooting were the people who were shot.

The day year the music died

Winona Ryder's Second Act

Remember that spring preview/fall premiere thing FOX did with Glee? Yeah, they're doing it again with Terra Nova, that Spielberg/Brannon Braga time travel dinosaur thing. Yeah, sorry, I still think it sounds ridiculous. Not that that means I won't watch it.

Our mass fascination with Sandra Lee continues, and she wears a lot of white.

Are we so into Josh Radnor that the release of a poster for his upcoming movie is news? Apparently.

Kristin Chenoweth loves The Hunger Games, and I agree that she'd be the perfect Effie.

Kate Hudson and Matthew Bellamy (of Muse): having a baby.

Posted by Kat at 07:31 AM | Comments (1)

January 12, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/12/11)

Snow day! Well, sort of. I'm working from home for a few hours. But I'm NOT venturing out there, at least until my road has been thoroughly plowed. This turns out to be good, because my cat woke me up in the middle of the night, presumably to tell me about the snow, and it took forever to get back to sleep and so I slept late and now I'm all discombobulated. Anyway. Onward!

Off the Map (aka Grey's Anatomy in the jungle) premieres tonight at 10 on ABC. For good or ill, it sounds like it will be exactly what we all expected. I'll have a review for you tomorrow.

Headline I did not expect to see today: Jeremy Piven Joins Miley Cyrus Movie

On the other hand, several pieces of awesome movie news:
Rights to Sarah Rees Brennan's amazing Demon's Lexicon have been optioned.
This might not be news, but I had not noticed the amazing cast of At Swim-Two-Birds. LOOK AT THAT.
Also not strictly news, but I didn't know they were making a movie of Madeleine L'Engle's Camilla!
Actual news: Ed Westwick is joining the J. Edgar Hoover movie with Leonardo DiCaprio and Armie Hammer. That will be a very pretty movie.
Bond will be back in 2012.

There is now Glee nail polish. Of course there is.

Why isn't anyone running for president?

A new site that looks worth keeping an eye on: PopDust

The White Swan/Black Swan party game is brilliant.

Read John Kerry. No, really.

If there's any argument in favor of Gatsby in 3D, this is it.

A hilarious take on the new Britney song. "It makes Madonna's vapid middle period sound like Goethe!"

I'll admit it: I kind of love Costco pizza.

Drinking extra fluids while sick: a waste of time.

I really wanted the lede of this story to mean that someone had actually polled New Jersey on Springsteen for president, but alas, it did not.

Posted by Kat at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)

January 11, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/11/11)

I'd like to point out that I'm actually drinking coffee this morning. (Recently I've been on more of a tea kick.) And we're expecting a Nor'easter here. How are YOU?

A few things on the Arizona shooting (Note: Linking doesn't mean I agree with all the content, just that I thought it was an interesting read):
Perhaps the source of Loughner's grammar thing
You can't legislate civility.
Weighing the Consequences of Political Rhetoric

Would you like to make a donation in honor of Rep. Giffords? Her husband has some suggestions.

My friend Sharmin on OWN: All Oprah, All the Time

Britney has a new song. You can hear it here. (Watch out; it loops!) I'm not a huge Britney fan, but I like some of her songs well enough. This is not one of them. It's awful.

Good news! Melissa Wiley has a contract for a YA historical!

The Problem with the Special K Challenge

Oh no! Tube drivers may strike on royal wedding day.

If The Cape is really our new hero, then America is doomed.

This "description" of the anonymous author of O: A Presidential Novel is absurd. Actually, even I fit that description. So. No help there! (My reasonably uninformed guess, by the way, is Greg Craig.)

Once is being adapted for Broadway. Whee!

Posted by Kat at 07:07 AM | Comments (0)

January 10, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/10/11)

Happy Monday! After two days home sick, I'm really ready to get back into the swing of things here. I think the cat and I would drive each other completely nuts if we were both home for another day.

There are still good stories about the Giffords shooting all over the place. Here's a look at the judge who was killed, and a little big about Giffords' relationship with her astronaut husband.

A bit of good news: Eta declares permanent ceasefire

The Harry Potter theme park sounds pretty awesome.

The History Channel will not air their Holmes/Kinnear Kennedy miniseries. I'm actually quite disappointed about this.

Baz Luhrmann's Great Gatsby might be in 3D. I know. I know.

HitFix on award possibilities halfway through the season.

Posted by Kat at 06:30 AM | Comments (1)

January 09, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/9/11)

Good Sunday morning. The main news today, of course, is the shooting in Arizona; there are so many articles out there that I'm having trouble picking one to link to, so take a look at the first page of the Times, Post Politics, and, for a local perspective, KVOA in Tucson. If I come across any particularly good/interesting/different articles in my reading today, I'll list them for you tomorrow.

The Cape starts tonight at nine (and then moves to its normal time of Monday at nine). TWoP is more hopeful about it than many.

News you need: Cupcakes are dead. Long live the pie!

Stop worrying: the Queen's head will remain on stamps.

Posted by Kat at 09:30 AM | Comments (1)

January 08, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/8/11)

I've been sitting here at the computer for 20 minutes trying to convince myself to get up and make coffee and turn on the radio, so, you know, it's going to be one of those kinds of mornings.

Blast from the past: Nazi fury at Hitler the paw-raising dog

This is the most compelling case for Bill Daley I've found so far.

I always take NYTimes trend pieces with a heaping tablespoon of salt, but this idea that college students like long-distance relationships because they're less time-consuming is interesting.

The President's Movie

In praise of Dwight Garner.

Emily Bazelon: Denying birthright citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants is just plain unconstitutional.

Posted by Kat at 09:23 AM | Comments (1)

January 07, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/7/11)

I really wanted to go to work today - no, really - but I woke up feeling worse than I did yesterday. Bah. In better news, I am drinking tea out of the new Jane Austen mug I got for Christmas.

It's Friday! Movies coming out today: Season of the Witch (so bad it's awesome?) and Country Strong (maybe actually good). Meanwhile, if you're planning ahead: 55 Science Fiction/Fantasy Movies to Watch Out For in 2011.

The most dire news I have today, and I am not even joking: Tastykakes are in trouble.

The House read the Constitution aloud yesterday - except the parts they didn't. Come on, people, pick one! Either it's to be treated as a sacred, immutable scripture, OR you can leave parts out during your ritualistic readings of it. You can't have both! (Actually, that's part of what Dahlia Lithwick is saying.) And I am shocked - shocked! - that some nut started yelling during the part of about qualifications to be president. Meanwhile, it took the new Congress being in session for about three seconds for this GOP bends its own new House rules story to appear. Ah, Politico, never change.

If you'd like to keep track of how well Republicans are keeping the promises they made to Tea Party activists, Dave Weigel has you covered with the Don't-Tread-on-Meter.

Is it a bad sign that when I see a headline like Executives at Renault Suspended in Secrecy Breach, I immediately assume it's about Formula 1? Anyway, this one isn't!

Alyssa Rosenberg does not like The Cape, but does point out that Richard Schiff (Toby from The West Wing) is in the first episode, so I'll have to at least watch that.

Authors I like saying awesome things: Sarah Rees Brennan on the good and bad parts of "teams" among fans. Kiersten White on how people assume her blonde main character who likes pink is dumb.

John Edwards: Not mentioned in Elizabeth's will.

I can barely bring myself to care about pilots pitched by J.J. Abrams at this point, but if you do: Pulp.

Journal's Paper on ESP Expected to Prompt Outrage

Please, everyone, leave "Hallelujah" alone.

Women, the 14th Amendment, and the Ambiguity of Intent

George W. Bush and the Question of Authorship

NH 2012 primary news: Santorum has hired a staffer. That article says he's the first candidate to do so in NH, but I read somewhere else that Pawlenty has, too. Meanwhile, Michele Bachmann might be running. Wouldn't she and Palin draw from the same base and split it? Hmmm.

We sometimes take for granted that we have virtually no political violence in America.

Or you can do it this way: Romanian witches to cast anti-government spell. (No, it sounds funny, but it's actually a fascinating story.)

The People's Choice awards sound so awkward I almost wish I'd watched.

Posted by Kat at 07:58 AM | Comments (0)

January 06, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/6/11)

Good morning. I'm home sick today, which could mean either that I'll get bored and post a bunch or that I'll end up sleeping all day. We'll see! Anyway, I figured I might as well get Morning Coffee out there before I go back to bed.

Yesterday: TCA press tour started (no big news yet, I don't think) and so did the new Congress. Today: CES starts, I think. Quite a week.

Question: Should I start grouping the links by category (music, books, politics, movies) or do you like the semi-random order?

Yglesias on Obama's CEO Problem: "The executive class' views on public policy are often misguided, and its feelings about it are irrelevant."

Why are dead birds falling from the sky? Well, the world probably isn't ending. Probably. Although now crabs are dying too, so who knows?

Did you miss The Social Network in theaters? You're getting another chance. Go see it. Really.

The gold coins as currency thing continues.

Is John Boehner still crying?

Meg Ryan and John Mellencamp? Huh.

We thought maybe Paramore was going to stay classy and just get on with things, but, uh, not exactly.

Forever YA's latest Pretty Little Liars recap is pretty great.

I wasn't the only one underwhelmed by the "shocking event" on The Archers. On the other hand, maybe that's the point.

Casting news: George Clooney as Douglas Preston? Sure, why not? And Gemma Arterton and Jeremy Renner as grown-up Hansel and Gretel (or, more correctly, Gretel and Hansel)? Actually, the more I think about this one, the more excited I get.

Have you always wanted to live in Gaius Baltar's apartment? Now you can. Cylons not included. One assumes.

When does a bad movie become a must-watch spectacle? I'm not sure, but I'm seriously considering going to see Season of the Witch for exactly those reasons.

The Dave Matthews Band shows how to make money in the music industry. And is Lady Antebellum the world's dullest band? (I've always felt like their name was a bait-and-switch, too.)

Royal wedding details announced!

Posted by Kat at 07:22 AM | Comments (0)

January 05, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/5/11)

Good morning! Wednesday! We're halfway through the week. Thank goodness. For those of you into TV, the TCA press tour starts today, so get ready for Twitter to explode. (Speaking of TV, Ausiello's new site has debuted.)

The Internet has been won for, like, EVER: James Van Der Memes

David Tennant (who played the Doctor on Doctor Who) is marrying the daughter of Peter Davison (who played the Doctor on Doctor Who). Less creepy than it sounds, although she (sorry, her name is Georgia Moffett) also played Tennant's daughter in one episode.

NPR has a new song from R.E.M. I really like it.

A medieval city discovered under Oxford

This year I swear I'm going to get into the big bag of salad habit.

Were the Arkansas bird deaths caused by . . . fireworks? Um, really? There are fireworks all the time. Usually birds seem to deal with them fine, right?

News to make you feel like a failure: a 10-year-old discovered a supernova.

The 7 Most Essential Pots and Pans

Russia: less fond of Tolstoy than you might think.

How Mood Rings Work

Nazi-era graves to be dug up in Austria

TWoP's Golden Globes picks

Paying taxes in gold and silver? Really, people? How exactly would that work?

Here are the Producers Guild Award nominations, if you care. They look more or less exactly as you'd expect.

Forever Young Adult makes resolutions on behalf of YA writers.

Posted by Kat at 06:49 AM | Comments (1)

January 04, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/4/11)

Good morning! It's . . . Tuesday? That's all? Really? Huh. If you've been having trouble getting up on time, you may be able to blame your iPhone.

You can stream the upcoming album by the Decemberists here. On the other hand, the reported new Timberlake song is fake. To round out our music news for the morning, Muse wants to play in space.

The big shocking event on the anniversary episode of The Archers was rather less shocking than I'd hoped, actually.

Cuomo is now governor, and Sandra Lee is already doing vaguely weird things.

The modern trials of the ancient Samaritans

The Seahawks: Worst playoff team ever?

Weigel picks conservatives to watch in 2011.

TWoP is now recapping Pretty Little Liars.

Swords: The murder weapon of nerds

Orwell's rules for tea

A friend of mine has been complaining about this for years: TV characters never say goodbye when they hang up the phone.

For those who care about NH politics: Sununu endorsed Bergeron, which presumably means no Sununus want the job.

I have no idea what to make of James Franco anymore: He's now directing Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy interpretations. At the same time? Really?

Posted by Kat at 06:59 AM | Comments (0)

January 03, 2011

Morning Coffee (1/3/11)

Good morning, and welcome to the first Morning Coffee of the new year!

Winter TV is starting. See a calendar here. Tonight: Castle! How I Met Your Mother! Pretty Little Liars!

Pete Postlethwaite has died.

Saving Babylon

Gentry Collins dropped out of the RNC chair race.

Posted by Kat at 06:42 AM | Comments (1)

December 31, 2010

Morning Coffee (12/31/10)

Happy New Year's Eve! Let's clear out my "links to post" folder, eh? First, you can see the top story for each day of 2010 at the Guardian.

It's finally official: Murkowski won.

Is Black Swan camp?

2010 in Parliamentary Scuffles

The oldest von Trapp child, inspiration for Liesl, has died.

What filibuster reform might look like.

The story of the first journalist to confirm John Lennon's death.

The Daily Beast's Oscar favorites

I'll admit I'm worried about what's going to happen on The Archers.

The rise of the "yes, but" headline.

The 19th-century British version of Wikileaks.

Henri IV's head: identified.

Colin Firth has broken with the Lib Dems.

Only in New York: clergy help a burger restaurant end a jinx.

A period drama about the Transcontinental Railroad? Yes please. On the other hand, I can't decide whether this new show looks good or awful.

The military and religion in Israel

How the Christmas Tree Got Its Lights

Have you wondered what music Ian Somerhalder would use to seduce you Katherine? Wonder no more. (Actually, I think it would have been more interesting if they'd asked what he'd use to seduce Elena. More of a challenge, really.)

Posted by Kat at 08:26 AM | Comments (0)

December 30, 2010

Morning Coffee (12/30/10)

Hello! Let's try to get back on track, (she says as she prepares to travel to CT yet again). Some of these links are pretty old at this point, but they provide interesting information/viewpoints even if the particular issues (START, Christmas) have been resolved.

Top 10 of 2010 from Dana Stevens, my favorite movie critic.

Two longish pieces you should really take the time to read: Christopher Beam on libertarianism and thisBoston Globe expose on retired generals taking jobs with defense firms.

Scholars enlist the public to transcribe papers

A modernized Latina Sense and Sensibility? Starring Camilla Belle? I am . . . cautiously intrigued.

Best headline ever? Senate passes... everything.

Yglesias on START

Sugar plums: They're not what you think.

Why it's still okay to hate Joe Lieberman.

I don't think there's even much debate about the worst song of 2010.

This article about the last Kennedy leaving Washington (for now) made me cry, because I'm a dork.

The recently-widowed Julie Andrews is getting a lifetime Grammy.

Curb Your Bipartisanship

I don't like Hockney's iPad nonsense either.

Remembering Grandmother's French Christmas Cake

Posted by Kat at 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

December 22, 2010

Morning Coffee (12/22/10)

Hello! At this point I should probably just admit to myself and to you that blogging won't get back to normal until the new year. But I do have some links for you!

The Sandra Lee threat is real and spreading.

Knitting on planes is totally allowed. Really.

A Klingon Christmas Carol

I am against the movement to get rid of caps lock.

A brief history of nutcrackers

Congress may allow iPads.

The campaign season never ends. Thank goodness. Primary debates are coming! Not that there are any official candidates yet, but whatever.

This new book on holiday punch sounds great.

Why old people make better entrepreneurs

How Oprah's book club gets Dickens - and literature - all wrong

Shakespeare in Love II? Must we?

How to dress for parties without freezing

Posted by Kat at 07:06 AM | Comments (0)

December 09, 2010

Morning Cheer (12/9/10)

Good morning! Cookies, anyone?

Molasses Cookies

That's what I've been doing this morning. Today is my Friday, and I'm off to Connecticut tonight and then New York tomorrow! I'll try to set up a few posts for the weekend in advance, but we'll see how it goes.

Britain's whole "number one single at Christmas" thing is adorable and quaint, but this John Cage contender is awesome.

Yes, Gibbs was making West Wing jokes yesterday.

Blue Valentine: No longer NC-17.

TWoP Gallery: TV's Naughty and Nice of 2010

The RSS reader summary of this straightforward Times item about Oprah picking Dickens for her book club read, in its entirety, "The author is not expected to appear on her show."

Christine O'Donnell is just . . . I don't know. There are no words.

If you only read one piece on Elizabeth Edwards, make it this one by Ezra Klein.

Posted by Kat at 07:09 AM | Comments (0)

December 08, 2010

Morning Cheer (12/8/10)

Good morning! Wednesday. Right? I think. I'm having trouble keeping track of that this week. Elizabeth Edwards died yesterday - very sad. I'll try to round up some of the links to stories about her for you tomorrow. Today is the thirtieth anniversary of John Lennon's death, so I should post his Christmas song, even though it has never been one of my favorites.

Related: Is Paul McCartney the "Most Uninteresting Person Ever to Inspire a Mountain of Literature"?

Matt Bai and Matt Taibbi: two different people. Honestly, I did that with Michael Dirda and Michael Dibdin for years. Except I never actually met either of them, so it was less embarrassing.

These may be the worst interview questions ever.

Google has a new e-bookstore.

It seems like there are Russian spies all over the place recently.

The United States of America According to Google Autocomplete

Uh-oh. Mistletoe under threat!

People are still trying to make George Pataki happen.

Oh, but speaking of "inexplicably still trying to make people happen," Eliza Dushku is off her pilot.

I would like the German Christmas market craze to catch on here, please.

The Fight to Preserve Jesuit Heritage in Bolivia

To Fool Baby Panda, Human-Shaped Chinese Scientists Sport Panda Suits

Posted by Kat at 07:51 AM | Comments (1)

December 07, 2010

Morning Cheer (12/7/10)

Good morning! It's Pearl Harbor Day, and Julian Assange was just arrested. And I'm rushing off to try to get an oil change before work, so I have little for you this morning, except eek! Someone stole a Stradivarius! I realized I haven't posted any Hanukkah music yet this year, so here's one of my favorites:

Posted by Kat at 07:09 AM | Comments (0)

December 06, 2010

Morning Cheer (12/6/10)

Ah, Monday again. Three more work weeks until Christmas! Today is Dave Brubeck's 90th birthday, so we're going to take a break from the Christmas music for him:

The Joy of Lists

I can get behind the Awl's "JUST DRINK BOURBON, YOU WUSSES" campaign. I mean, alcohol-infused whipped cream could be interesting on some desserts, but just as an alcohol delivery method? No.

An online retailer seeks bad publicity to up his Google score, and Google changes its algorithm.

Posted by Kat at 07:57 AM | Comments (1)

December 05, 2010

Sunday Brunch Cheer (12/5/10)

Good morning! What's everyone up to today? I think I'm going to stay home and try to get stuff done around the house. I went and saw Tangled yesterday, and it was adorable. Highly recommended.

Hee. The lieutenant governors had a convention.

This project doing statistical research on Victorian novels is fascinating.

Does Apple have its eye on console games?

Marilyn Stasio's Notable Crime Books of 2010, which includes the amazing line "To be really bold, give gifts that make people cry."

Posted by Kat at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)

December 04, 2010

MORNING CHEER (12/4/10)

Good morning! Happy Saturday! My weekend plans consist of cleaning, Christmas shopping, reading, and maybe seeing a few movies. You?

Important Notice: It has come to my attention that some people might not realize that Ari Shapiro is hot. Now you know.

Okay, I have a LOT of links for you today, because I've been getting behind. Ready?

Before we get into the rest of this nonsense, you should really take a moment and read Yglesias on Don't Ask, Don't Tell. It's short but important. And then Jamelle Bouie on the Catholic League and National Portrait Gallery. Same deal there.

People. PEOPLE. The President will not get a serious primary challenge. Charles will not and should not abdicate for William. Can we just STOP with these two rumors already?

Winter in Russia

Yes, food is part of the culture wars.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway has reopened.

How Republicans are using WikiLeaks to indulge their spy thriller fantasies

The Times talks to a Christmas tree man.

People love single-focus restaurants.

I would be in favor of a port revival.

Hey look, a TV Advent Calendar.

This is the best explanation of the Comcast/Netflix thing that I've read.

What's each 2012 candidate's big vulnerability?

The Clarence House Christmas tree arrives!

I have been waiting for metamorphosis puns for months. Thank you, Byron Tau!

The Wonder and Terror of College Football

Why do we hate modern classical music?

A slightly different take on the economics of gift-giving.

Automats have always sounded kind of fascinating.

Infidelity in Russia

Amazon Prime is a genius business move. And yes, I figured, considering the amount of money I now spend with them because of it.

Manjoo is right: disposable computing is the future.

I really kind of want some of these Lego architecture sets.

I now want to have holiday parties just to make these drinks.

Baking isn't scary if you just follow the recipe.

The Bartender Who Played with Fire isn't quite as weird as a Stieg Larsson book, but it's close.

Posted by Kat at 10:20 AM | Comments (1)

December 03, 2010

MORNING CHEER (12/3/10)

Happy Friday! My God, it has not come a moment too soon. One of my goals for the weekend is to finish planning out my baking and card-sending and all that. Wish me luck.

This Steve Martin story is completely ridiculous. Really, people? Really?

The Times has named their Ten Best Books of the year.

The real-life Swedish murder that came before Larsson and Mankell.

The state of the Hannukah song.

There are no Kennedys in Congress right now. Who's next?

Even when you look at it from a purely economic standpoint, Republican opposition to extending unemployment benefits makes no sense.

Hannukah, Rekindled

I liked this article about the NYT selling their share of the Red Sox just for this line:

Even in 2002, the general consensus was that a print newspaper with $75 million to invest would have been better served throwing the money--literally throwing it--at the first programmer, TED panelist, or bronchial hobo who said he had an idea for making money off the Web.
But I'd also forgotten they owned the Sox!

The WikiLeaks cables as literature

The Atlantic's Ideas of the Year

What's with Betsy Rothstein?

I like Doctor Who as much as the next girl, but I'd only pay $4500 for a TARDIS bed if the Doctor actually CAME WITH IT.

Posted by Kat at 08:13 AM | Comments (1)

December 02, 2010

MORNING CHEER (12/2/10)

My God, is this week over yet? No? Really? Oh, but happy Hannukah to those celebrating!

Today's Morning Edition highlights: Does Paterson have a future in sports radio? What makes a good diplomatic cable?

The last Mitford sister has published her memoirs.

This history of ballet sounds fascinating.

This article about how Kate Middleton will fit into court protocol is detailed and fascinating, but sheesh, people. There are rules. Just follow them. Why all the drama?

Dave Weigel read Sarah Palin's new book so you don't have to.

Where are the departing senators going?

This piece about the student demonstrations in London is fascinating, and has a picture of the best protest sign EVER.

I know I was talking about going to see Oscar contenders, but this weekend, what I actually want to take myself to see are Burlesque and Tangled.

Posted by Kat at 08:04 AM | Comments (2)

December 01, 2010

MORNING CHEER (12/1/10)

Oh, hey, look, it's December! Wow. Monday and Tuesday went pretty smoothly, at least around here, but today is a little rockier so far, so here's a cute video to ease you into Wednesday: A cat adopts a baby squirrel and teaches it to purr.

Slate's 80 Over 80

What are diplomatic cables, anyway?

I've always wanted to try making sourdough. This Slice Starter-Along might be enough to make me finally do it.

You should really read this essay by a Harvard student who was brought to the U.S. illegally as a child.

I've been looking for a list like this: 13 Movies to See Before the Oscars

Bloomberg? Really?

I could get behind the drip coffee backlash backlash. I mean, seriously. A few minutes ago I tried to put a coffee filter in my teacup. The more labor-intensive coffee preparation methods sound nice and all, but don't ask me to do that before I've had caffeine.

Does Shonda Rhimes ever sleep?

The new Nutcracker movie sounds AWFUL, and that makes me sad.

Bob Geldof knows he wrote the worst Christmas song ever. He's sorry.

Posted by Kat at 08:04 AM | Comments (1)

November 29, 2010

MORNING CHEER (11/29/10)

Good morning and happy Monday! We're at that point at which we're just past Thanksgiving and it seems like it's time for Christmas, but then comes the realization that we have another four weeks of work to get through first. Sigh. So let's have some nice mellow music to get us through this Monday morning back at work:

I don't know much about this blog in general, so I'm not endorsing their overall program or anything, but a friend sent me the link to this list of things to do now to get ready for Christmas and it has some good ideas.

This Morning Edition story about a gay Marine discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell was very interesting.

Leslie Nielsen has died, and here's where I admit that I've never seen any of his movies. I know, I know. I shall Netflix Airplane posthaste.

NPR is doing a Christmas Carol-themed series on the deficit. I love NPR.

Posted by Kat at 08:19 AM | Comments (0)

November 28, 2010

Brunch-time CHEER

It's not technically morning anymore; I'm sorry. But hey, it's Sunday, so we'll call it brunch! It's been a busy morning at my parents' house and now I'm getting ready to head home this afternoon. I'm thinking "Home for the Holidays," with its mention of traffic issues, is good for days on which I'll be driving a lot. Are there other songs about traffic, or should I just use different versions of this one? Hmm.

Three good links from Apartment Therapy:
Goblets for the Holidays (Slightly random, I know, but I love goblets.)
Last Minute Things to Do before you entertain
Setting Up a Beautiful and Efficient Buffet

Posted by Kat at 12:37 PM | Comments (0)

November 27, 2010

MORNING CHEER (11/27/10)

Good morning! Welcome to your first edition of MORNING CHEER! The dog (my parents' dog) and I are the only ones up, and he's gazing at me adoringly, which is nice, but he's kind of stinky. Anyway! You need a morning song! I promise I won't use Glee music every day, but we've been decorating my parents' house, and I love their version of "Deck the Halls" . . .

A few Thanksgiving-specific links I didn't manage to post before Thanksgiving:
Where to Buy Last-Minute Thanksgiving Pie in New York
What all the food magazines are pushing this year.
The women of Slate on mothers and holiday cooking traditions. (Warning: This made me cry.)
I know I already recommended this Awl series in general, but this apple pie recipe reads like some sort of cross of Spencer Ackerman and Jay McInerney, and it's completely hilarious and now I want to make pie. (The pie crust article it links to is pretty great too.)
Backstage at the Macy's Parade

These were written for Thanksgiving but will work for the whole month of holiday events to come. Want to win all the arguments at the holiday dinner tables? Slate and Foreign Policy have you covered.

Happy news! The early, out-of-print novels of Rafael Yglesias are now available as ebooks.

Looking for a movie to see with family or friends over the holidays? TWoP has you covered.

Annie Lowrey visits the offices of one of the companies that makes those airport scanners everyone's talking about.

Which books are Penguin authors giving and hoping to get this year?

I liked the Avalon High movie better than the folks at Forever Young Adult did, but their take on it is hilarious regardless.

Not quite feeling the holiday spirit? This is for you.

Ten Things I Hate About Slideshows [A Slideshow]

Posted by Kat at 08:32 AM | Comments (0)

November 03, 2010

Morning Coffee (11/3/10)

Happy beginning of the NH 2012 presidential primary season! Whee! Yes, I am genuinely excited about that. I even started making plans with a friend yesterday about all the candidates we would go see. So. Excited.

But anyway, yes, that means this election is more or less over, although a few races are still being counted. Last night wasn't good, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. And the race I cared about most went the way I wanted, so there's that.

NaNoWriMo update: Yesterday's total ended up being 4136, and I had a productive morning and am now at 6153. Yay!

The enduring appeal of The Sound of Music

What's Juliet up to on Gossip Girl?

I am somewhat concerned about this Tintin movie.

Sister Wives: Renewed!

Life Unexpected, on the other hand, has been basically canceled.

The Skating with the Stars cast is pretty underwhelming, but I'm actually more interested to see who the skaters are. And the judges will include Dick Button and Johnny Weir, which - AWESOME.

Posted by Kat at 08:23 AM | Comments (1)

November 02, 2010

Morning Coffee (11/2/10)

Good morning! So, the whole blogging during NaNoWriMo concept is clearly not working very well. But I will try to at least give you a little update each morning. I actually had a few links for you, but then I forgot and turned my computer off, so you're getting a linkless iPad post.

Happy Election Day! It's one of my favorite days of the year. Seriously. Go vote! And this ALSO means that the 2012 NH presidential primary campaign really gets going tomorrow, and that thought FILLS ME WITH GLEE.

Novel update: day one total was 2116, and I got to 3336 this morning. I think I'll try to get to 5000 while watching election coverage tonight.

Oh, and so the baseball season ended last night, so all that existential angst about WHAT IT MEANS if they're playing baseball after Election Day was for naught.

Okay, I'm off to go vote!

Posted by Kat at 08:50 AM | Comments (0)

October 29, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/29/10)

Happy Friday! This week went... quickly, actually. Huh. Has everyone recovered from The Vampire Diaries last night? Tonight I'll be running a live chat about The Good Guys over at GoodGuysFans.com, so if you're watching, come chat with us!

I'm sure we've all heard about Gawker's ridiculous Christine O'Donnell thing, right? I'm not giving them the satisfaction of linking to it. Leave a comment if you have no idea what I'm talking about and actually want to know. Hah. I was also pretty unhappy with Jezebel's response. But very happy with the dozens of really good Twitter responses. So.

Maureen Johnson has REVEALED SECRETS about her upcoming books. I cannot wait.

The Greek yogurt phenomenon is pretty interesting.

This piece about why Halloween and New Year's are awful is somewhat New York-specific, but I sympathized with it anyway. Oh the pressure!

The Fug Girls Herald TV's Most Unheralded Actors

And the best flow chart in the history of ever: How to Explain the Internet to a Dickensian Street Urchin

Posted by Kat at 08:08 AM | Comments (1)

October 28, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/28/10)

Oh, hey, it's Thursday already! That seems to have happened suddenly.

Why would anyone commit voter fraud? and The voter fraud racket is back!

The Marie Claire editor responds. The Internet is unimpressed.

Joe Miller is in trouble for lying about accessing his staff's computers to vote more than once in his own online poll, but as some (forget who, sorry) on Twitter pointed out, the crazy thing is that he didn't manage to just rig his own site.

We know concussions are bad for football players. Now: minor hits: also bad. Great.

Oh, I don't have a link, but if you care, Caprica was cancelled.

Posted by Kat at 08:23 AM | Comments (1)

October 27, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/27/10)

Oh, hi! I have a blog! Right! So... here's the deal. NaNoWriMo starts on Monday, so I'm currently trying to get various things squared away before that. During NaNo, blogging will likely be reduced - I'll try to keep up with Morning Coffee (with NaNo updates) and Song of the Day, but no promises about anything else, at least not every day. And then I'll reassess my posting schedule when we get to December. I want to work on writing more longer posts, which probably means fewer shorter posts, and... well, we'll see.

I assume we've all heard about the ridiculous Marie Claire "overweight people are gross and shouldn't be on TV" thing, but if not, here's the original article and here's Jezebel's take.

KITTEN BOMB OF CUTENESS. (Although, really, if there's someone next door who rescues cats - maybe someone was trying to leave them THERE?)

What happened to the Newsweek/Daily Beast merger?

Fox News and gold

Posted by Kat at 07:58 AM | Comments (0)

October 21, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/21/10)

Happy Thursday! Today is going to be endless, but it's also my Friday, so I shouldn't complain. Too much.

Oh look! NPR finally got rid of Juan Williams! And that's . . . really the only part of today's news that I feel like mentioning. The rest is depressing and more of the same.

Morning soundtrack: AC/DC, Back in Black

The Stewart/Colbert rally is bad for democracy and the Democrats.

About the much-discussed Glee GQ cover: I pretty much agree with the Fug Girls. I do not agree with all the people blaming Lea Michele personally. And Dianna Agron herself has some interesting thoughts on the subject.

Was The Black Cauldron movie really that bad?

The President is going to be on the Daily Show!

Yes, the use of the name Megan on Mad Men was anachronistic.

Vampire Diaries fans: the CW is developing a new show based on different books by the same author.

Posted by Kat at 08:29 AM | Comments (0)

October 20, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/20/10)

Happy Wednesday! Please make sure you saw my post about Spirit Day earlier this morning. It's important. Related good news: military recruiters are, for the moment, accepting gay recruits.

PSA, because I've been getting lots of questions: Yes, Gossip Girl and Glee were both reruns this week. Vampire Diaries is back tomorrow, but Bones and Fringe are off.

Clarence Thomas's wife has asked Anita Hill to apologize. Um, okay. In other news of everyone connected to the Supreme Court being incredibly mature, Alito doesn't want to go to the next State of the Union.

Morning soundtrack: Mumford and Sons, Sigh No More

Christine O'Donnell: Unaware that the separation of church and state is in the Constitution.

Wondering how NBC and MSNBC will be covering Election Night? Wonder no more. (ABC, of course, will be too busy announcing the Skating with the Stars cast during Dancing with the Stars that night.)

The adorable little drummer kid from Love, Actually is all grown up and playing Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy.

Posted by Kat at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)

Morning Coffee (10/20/10)

Happy Wednesday! Please make sure you saw my post about Spirit Day earlier this morning. It's important. Related good news: military recruiters are, for the moment, accepting gay recruits.

PSA, because I've been getting lots of questions: Yes, Gossip Girl and Glee were both reruns this week. Vampire Diaries is back tomorrow, but Bones and Fringe are off.

Clarence Thomas's wife has asked Anita Hill to apologize. Um, okay. In other news of everyone connected to the Supreme Court being incredibly mature, Alito doesn't want to go to the next State of the Union.

Morning soundtrack: Mumford and Sons, Sigh No More

Christine O'Donnell: Unaware that the separation of church and state is in the Constitution.

Wondering how NBC and MSNBC will be covering Election Night? Wonder no more. (ABC, of course, will be too busy announcing the Skating with the Stars cast during Dancing with the Stars that night.)

The adorable little drummer kid from Love, Actually is all grown up and playing Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy.

Posted by Kat at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)

October 19, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/19/10)

Happy Tuesday. How is it almost late October already? Crazy. I am eating my first bowl of Count Chocula for the season, so there's that.

It sounds the like the gubernatorial debate in New York was kind of hilarious. Check out the Rent Is Too Damn High Party. Warning: Their song starts playing when you open the page. But also - HEE.

Less hilarious: Joe Miller (Senate candidate in Alaska) is now having his private security guards "arrest" reporters.

In better news: Counting Crows' Adam Duritz has been watching Supernatural and tweeting about it, and it's pretty awesome.

In "downfall of civilization" news: Outsourced has been picked up for a full season, while Friday Night Lights reruns can't even make it on ABC Family. (Also getting full seasons: The Event and Law and Order: LA. The V order was cut from 13 to 10.)

Posted by Kat at 08:23 AM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/18/10)

And we're back to Monday. I'm only working four days this week, though, so that's something.

This series of famous inboxes is hilarious. Yes, of course I linked you to Elizabeth Bennet.

Female Character Flowchart. Just. Amazing.

My friends Bailey and Laura have started a book blog. You should read it.

ABC is doing Skating with the Stars, which I'm quite sure FOX or someone did years ago, but fine, whatever SKATING. I'll watch it. Especially if they get exciting skaters I actually care about.

Slate has found the dumbest libertarian quote ever. From New Hampshire, of course.

Posted by Kat at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)

October 15, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/15/10)

Good morning! Friday! Finally! We're in the middle of a Nor'easter here, but I feel cheated because there isn't any snow. Boo.

The new Sherlock starts on PBS on the 24th, and NPR has a great interview with the co-creator and lead actor here.

Planet Money bought gold, and their story about it is surprisingly interesting.

More scripts have been ordered for a bunch of shows, including No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, Brothers and Sisters, and Life Unexpected.

Neil Patrick Harris is continuing his quest for world domination by directing a movie, and really, I'm okay with that.

The GIF Renaissance

Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke may be directing a Romeo and Juliet series for ABC and . . . I don't know, write your own joke. It's too easy. Two semi-serious things, though: 1) I would not be opposed to seeing Renaissance Verona on my TV every week and 2) how do you make a series out of something in which the main characters die pretty quickly? Like after a few days/weeks, right? What is this going to be, the 24 version of Romeo and Juliet?

The wristwatch is declining? Really? Huh. I feel utterly disoriented when I'm not wearing mine.

"Samuel Jackson," "the CW," and "Sherlock Holmes" are not entities I would usually put in the same sentence. And yet, this seems to be happening. I am baffled but intrigued.

Posted by Kat at 08:12 AM | Comments (4)

October 14, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/14/10)

Happy Thursday! The Chilean miners have been rescued, which is good because I'm getting really annoyed at how there's so much "human interest" coverage and so little mention of the problems and issues that led to them being trapped in the first place. And my thermometer says it's 33 outside, which is making me wonder if I would have seen a temperature below freezing if I'd thought to look at it when I first got up. Boo. Oh well. There will be plenty of time for that.

For those who like this sort of thing: ABC Family has ordered seven new pilots. And by "this sort of thing" I mean "wildly improbable teen dramas," from the looks of it. Sign me up!

The cast list for Too Big to Fail is . . . wow.

The Five Worst Mean (Little) Girls of All Time

Just How Sorkin-y is The Social Network's Mark Zuckerberg? The answer: Very.

Posted by Kat at 08:27 AM | Comments (0)

October 13, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/13/10)

Happy Wednesday! The Chilean miners are in the process of being rescued - yay! Don't Ask Don't Tell is, for the moment, illegal. (I think. It's changing quickly.) And The Situation is off Dancing with the Stars. So I guess I'm saying that the world is not entirely a dreary place today.

The Dangers of USB Drives

The latest Gossip Girl Reality Index: "Lily and Eric took a road trip without Rufus? That's like making a hemp necklace without Vanessa. You'd never get away with it. Minus 3."

How can we have an election if the World Series isn't over yet?

Something I try not to think about too much: Are the dangers of football worth it?

Posted by Kat at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)

October 12, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/12/10)

So, we have a problem. The almighty web filters at my office are cracking down, and they have decided that my site is "pornography." (Why? No idea.) This is a problem because the way this usually works is that I write posts in the evenings or the morning before I go to work, and then go in and hit Publish at various points throughout the day so they show up for you nicely spaced instead of all at once. For today, I think I'll try publishing from the phone or iPad, so we'll see how that goes. But it does mean that the timing might be a little weird, and that I won't be able to approve comments until the evening. (And if you tell me about a typo or coding error, I won't be able to fix that until the evening either.) Thanks for your patience!

For those of us writing a novel in November and using iPads: A NaNoWriMo iPad Toolkit. I actually haven't decided whether to write on my iPad this year. Thoughts, anyone?

Has the fall TV season failed us?

You may have heard that Nick Hornby and Ben Folds have collaborated on an album. Now, for NYMag, Hornby picks his favorite music and Folds picks his favorite books. They're calling this a big shocking "switcheroo," but given that Hornby has written a book about his favorite music, I'm not sure how much of a departure this is. But still interesting! (Folds picks one of Hornby's books, but Hornby doesn't pick one of Folds's songs. Heh.)

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

October 11, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/11/10)

Happy Monday! I barely slept last night, but I'm surprisingly awake. Huh. Hope you're better-rested than I am.

USA scheduling news: White Collar returns Tuesday, January 18 at 10, and Royal Pains Thursday, January 20 at 9. New show Fairly Legal (formerly Facing Kate) premieres right after that at ten. It stars Sarah Shahi and Michael Trucco (BSG, Castle), and I can only hope that the fact that Trucco is a lead means for once he won't be getting between a couple I like and I can just enjoy his prettiness as God intended. Currie Graham is in at least an episode, but I really hope he's going to be a regular.

I really want to see Nowhere Boy, but Secretariat sounds pretty bad. Although this review of it as a creepy Tea Party allegory is fascinating.

I'm not particularly interested in Marilyn Monroe, but the cast of this movie is incredible.

More interesting movie news: Al Pacino as Phil Spector? By Mamet? Huh. Okay then.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

October 08, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/8/10)

Happy Friday! The Nobel peace prize was given to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. You can read about him here.

NPR had a bunch of great stories this morning. Make sure you catch:
Understanding Pakistan, By Way of Its Pop Idols
Quantitative Easing, Explained
Serving Up Economic Advice, With A Smile (An Austan Goolsbee story featuring Dahlia Lithwick AND Skull and Bones!)

SyFy has picked up Haven for a second season! Yay!

The CW greenlit a pilot about a hairdresser turned lawyer with a mall kiosk. I want to joke about it but who am I kidding? I'll totally watch.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

October 07, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/7/10)

Happy Thursday! Today in "things I don't think we quite expected," Mario Vargas Llosa has won the Nobel prize for literature. I . . . don't think I've ever read him. Huh.

I think it's the first scarf day of the season. Wheeee.

The Calculus of Cancelling TV Shows

Were you wondering if there's a new line of National Parks quarters? No, just me? Anyway, there are.

I don't remember whether I already linked to this, but I kind of love the headline "The Connecticut Country-Club-Crackup." You know, as long as she doesn't actually win or anything crazy like that.

New Vampire Diaries tonight! Hey, look, more pretty promo pictures. And by "pretty" I mean "badly Photoshopped," but whatever.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

October 06, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/6/10)

Mystery: My alarm LOOKED like it went off this morning, but I didn't actually hear anything. Which means I got up two hours late. Ugh. Hope your Wednesday is going better than mine!

The Facebook Movie Facebook Feed Brilliant.

Is Mercury in Retrograde? (No. But it looks like December will be just delightful.)

The latest Gossip Girl Reality Index: "Sorry, but while we may believe that Chuck Bass would hand over a jumbo-size check to the “Gulf Coast Fisherman’s Relief Fund,” we do not believe he would authorize the use of Comic Sans. Minus 3." Point. Also, "No one in the history of time has ever sneaked up on a person at a laptop and not looked at what was on their screen. Especially not someone who is in the midst of a complicated scheme to bring down a whole group of friends, using the Internet. Minus 5 for Juliet’s lack of sleuthiness."

Tumblr of the day: Incredulous Kristy

The West Wing Cast: Where Are They Now?

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/5/10)

Happy Tuesday, even though I keep thinking it's Wednesday. It's really not. Today was one of those mornings when NPR kept doing interesting stories so I kept not getting up. The guys who won the Nobel for physics sound really interesting - no, really - and Bill Bryson's new book sounds GREAT. But I was half-asleep so I'm a little hazy on all that. Anyway!

The Fug Girls Pick the Best and Worst Dressed Characters on TV

Fall TV 2010 Ratings Winners and Losers

The Five Funniest Things About The Disastrous 'Idol' Announcement

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

October 04, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/4/10)

Happy Monday! Ready for a new week? There seems to be some sort of travel warning for Europe, but that's both very broad and very vague. And according to NPR, Europeans themselves are unconcerned. Hm. In other European news, there's a subway strike in London, so, uh, good luck getting around?

Happy Supreme Court Day! The new session opens today, with three women and no Protestants on the bench. Wow.

Listen to this really interesting interview with retired Justice Stevens.

I was barely online at all over the weekend, so I'll have more links for you tomorrow. Good luck surviving your Monday!

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2010

Morning Coffee (10/1/10)

It's . . . October. Wow. Happy October. That seems to have snuck up on us quickly. It's also Julie Andrews's 75th birthday, so we're going all Julie all the time today, with a variety of songs and clips. Enjoy!

The Social Network comes out today! I am excited. Going tonight. Of course.

So, uh, there was a coup in Ecuador? But I think it's over? Yeah. Oh, here's the story. In other news, Rahm is out - to run for mayor of Chicago - and Pete Rouse (rhymes with house) is in.

GMA is showing a pink hippo, but it's less cute than one might think. And this story about the poor Rutgers student just makes me sick.

Yes, folks, it's a quiz to see which Salvatore brother you belong with. Oddly, I thought I was giving mostly Stefan answers - trying to be honest - but it told me Damon. Wait, does it EVER say Stefan? We need an investigation!

The Columbia-based site that almost beat out Facebook

Six Reasons Why You Should Be Watching Rubicon

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

September 30, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/30/10)

Current GMA headline: "Tourist Scorched by Heat Ray: Windows That Burn." I was hoping to see one of their Facebook movie interview, but apparently I am getting burning windows instead.

Sorry, John Stephen, but I don't believe that John Lynch is trying to send sex predators after me. But points for trying! (No, not really. That's an awful ad.) In other news, the park Kelly Ayotte is in in her "two paths" looks really familiar but I can't quite place it. Anyone?

Breaking: George Stephanopoulos does not have a pre-nup. Robin is a little too happy to hear this. Also, sentences poor George never thought he'd say: "Later, we're going to catch up with Lorena Bobbit." And something about a movie about the pastry Olympics? What?

My new favorite Web site: Is This a Word?

The Race to Save Twitter

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 29, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/29/10)

Oh, hi! Sorry, we might just have to call this week a loss, blogging-wise. I was away doing family stuff all weekend, and home sick yesterday, and generally feeling overwhelmed, and . . . yeah, really no good excuse. I'll try to be completely back soon. In the meantime:

Which of the TV Season’s New Justice-Serving Crime Solvers Is Right for You?

One Oprah episode I will actually watch: a Sound of Music cast reunion!!!

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 24, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/24/10)

Happy Friday! You can stop panicking: Facebook is back up. I know, I mock, but I totally freak out when Twitter is down, so. Did everyone survive crazy Thursday premiere night? As usual, Vampire Diaries was amazing and ruined me for all other shows.

The first woman in five years was executed in the U.S. yesterday, and while that's very sad, I'm uncomfortable with the way the stories are all about her gender. Why are we implying that it's worse to execute women than men?

Singer Eddie Fisher has died. We'll have a tribute in Song of the Day. So has Jackie Burroughs, also known as Aunt Hetty on Avonlea. Sad. Also, did you know she was married to one of the founders of the Lovin' Spoonful? I did not.

A campaign finance reform bill failed again, and the local NPR station correctly surmised that this is of interest to people in New Hampshire mostly in that it means we will get YET MORE political ads leading up to our early primary. In other news vital to the Granite State, Log Cabin is marketing a fake maple syrup as "all-natural" and selling it in beige jugs like the real stuff, and We Are Not Amused.

Dahlia Lithwick takes down Outlaw.

Dan Fienberg takes down Outsourced.

(It is not a good year for shows starting with "Out.")

Kristen Bell would finance a Veronica Mars movie herself. Still: Don't get your hopes up, kids.

The English language is dead, and here's a moving obituary.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (2)

September 23, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/23/10)

Happy Thursday! Tonight: premieres of Bones, Grey's Anatomy, Community, Fringe, The Mentalist, The Office . . . um, and other stuff. Notably, this is the first week of the dreaded "Thursday at 8" issue, with Bones, Vampire Diaries, My Generation, The Big Bang Theory, and Community all up against each other. Which are YOU watching?

Fans of vampires, pretty men, and/or energy policy: Ian Somerhalder is participating in the Washington Post's Energy is Urgent conference today. You can watch live at that link.

Breaking Dawn will not be in 3-D. Thank heaven for small favors.

Pretty people are pretty.

Here's a Vampire Diaries drinking game.

Danielle Steel claims she doesn't write romance novels.

Is Muse's "Feeling Good" the best cover ever? I am skeptical.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (2)

September 22, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/22/10)

It's Wednesday. Yesterday, the Senate dashed all our hopes and dreams (heh) by voting down the DREAM Act and not repealing DADT. Sigh. Also, Larry Summers is leaving.

In TV land, premiere week continues, and it's looking like the first fatality may be Lone Star, which was very, very good, but which no one watched. Why, Nielson families, why???

The SEO issue with $#*! My Dad Says had occurred to me, but I hadn't even thought about not being able to type the name on a DVR remote. Heeeeee.

That Stewart/Colbert rally is, um, maybe not such a great idea after all. It's more important to actually vote, folks!

Alyssa makes actual good points about my vague "the rapping doesn't really work" comment on Glee. I completely agree that "the songs work better when there's some tangential connection between the characters and the material," and this, by the way, is my main issue with the musical theme episodes - I'd rather have songs that actually relate to the plot than a bunch of Lady GaGa for no particular reason.

Bening and Moore are competing against each other for Best Actress nominations for The Kids Are All Right. Really brings home how heteronormative the standard awards categories are . . .

The Gossip Girl Superfan Quiz I got 39/50. You?

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/21/10)

ALERT! ALERT! DO NOT use Twitter.com this morning! There's a security issue and it's all messed up. Third party apps are fine. If you need a browser-based app, I recommend Brizzly.com.

Okay! That out of the way - welcome to Tuesday! Did everyone enjoy Monday evening of premiere week? What are your favorites so far? Was that scene on Gossip Girl the best scene on this show, or just the best scene ever? What did you think of The Event? No, I basically have nothing else to say because I was up late trying to watch stuff, so I slept late and didn't want GMA this morning, so I have nothing to comment upon. To the links!

Here's Carina MacKenzie's recap of last week's Vampire Diaries.

Here's the cover of Mariah Carey's new Christmas album.

Necessary Roughness is a weird name for a show, but the premise of a football psychologist is interesting. And hey, it's USA, so I'll give it a try.

The good news: Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna are making another movie together. The bad news: It's a Will Ferrell comedy.

The definitive Gossip Girl location map

I may be more excited about Jacob's recaps being back than I am about Gossip Girl itself.

Oh, NO. The Algonquin is becoming a Marriott.

Depression chic?

Joe Trippi's going to be on The Good Wife.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 20, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/20/10)

Happy Monday, and welcome to premiere week! Are we all rested and ready? Tonight's returning favorites: HIMYM! Chuck! House! Dancing with the Stars! Castle! And new shows: Lone Star (watch it, trust me), Chase (meh), Hawaii Five-O (looks fun), The Event (I'm intrigued). More about, well, some of those shows as the week progresses. (I don't watch all of them.)

I don't understand all these War of the Roses references in this divorce story on GMA. The Wars of the Roses weren't actually about divorce, folks.

Tomorrow on GMA: The Breakfast Club cast reunion. You've been warned.

Fiona Apple is supposedly releasing a new album in the spring. Has it really been five years since Extraordinary Machine? Wow. I feel like I have a vaguely fraught relationship with her music, but I don't even remember why.

There might be a Cher musical, although now that I think about it, I'm just surprised there hasn't been one already.

An early review of Mr. Sunshine is . . . not great, but not awful either.

I thought Russell Brand was going to be on the kids' show Arthur, and I was really confused, but then I realized it was actually this.

Vulture overthinks the Love and Other Drugs poster. Not that I'm one to criticize people for overthinking things.

"Kyle Chandler mixed with Zac Efron" is a perfect description of James Wolk in Lone Star.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (2)

September 17, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/17/10)

Happy Friday! I'm very ready for a weekend, and I'm going to see Easy A tonight, so I'm excited.

GMA had an interview with the Discovery Channel hostages, and they seem like really nice guys. I hadn't realized they'd escaped themselves. Wow. In other news, the girl in the acid attack was lying and did it herself, but didn't we know that already?

This article about My Generation really made me much LESS excited about the show. I don't think that was the intended effect.

Dating writers: Not all it's cracked up to be.

It seems that Jamie Oliver named his new son Buddy Bear. Nooooo.

This interview with the executive producers of The Vampire Diaries is a little spoilery and verrry interesting.

Is Bridalplasty the worst TV show concept ever? Possibly!

Elizabeth Reaser and some other chick I don't care about are joining The Good Wife. Reaser will be playing a new love interest for Josh Charles, and will be - get this - a sportswriter. (Sports Night fans understand why this is funny.)

This looks unconfirmed, but the Black Eyed Peas may be the Super Bowl halftime show. You could go with one friend of mine and say "Yay! Someone not old!" or you could go with everyone else on the Internet and say "OF COURSE THEY ARE." Up to you.

I really, really want to see The King's Speech.

September 16, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/16/10)

Good morning, and happy Thursday. And that, of course, means that it's Vampire Diaries day! Whee. Anyone else feeling really ready for a weekend? Yeah. Kelly Ayotte won her primary, by the way, so I can stop trying to remember how to pronounce "Ovide" now.

Wait, I was just looking at movie times for tomorrow and saw there are currently two movies out starring Justin Long. That seems a little random. And I haven't even heard of Alpha and Omega. I suppose it's probably less Greek than it sounds. (What I'm actually going to see: Easy A.)

Nancy Grace was just on GMA, and I realized that I always think of Sarah Paulson's impression of her as the real thing, and the real thing as some sort of parody. Huh.

Random GMA question: Their huge wide mugs are really cute, but do they actually drink out of them? On TV? While wearing nice clothes? If I tried to drink out of a mug that wide, I'd had coffee all over myself every morning.

ABC is making a new drama about a fictional vice president. It won't be The West Wing, so we'll all be disappointed, but we can at least pretend enthusiasm for the moment.

Here's some guest star news about The Good Guys.

TV's Hottest Teachers Max Medina! Will Schuester! Ezra Fitz! Alaric Saltzman at #1! I approve. And man, I had managed to totally forget about that Gossip Girl plot. But no Giles???

Here's an interview with Ian Somerhalder in which the interviewer somewhat inexplicably doesn't understand why Somerhalder cares about the oil spill. Huh.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 15, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/15/10)

Happy Wednesday morning! I'm glad I gave up on staying up until the NH Republican Senate primary had a winner, because they're still counting. You can see New Hampshire results at NHPR.org. Annie Kuster beat Katrina Swett, though, so yay. Elsewhere, Christine O'Donnell shockingly beat Mike Castle in Delaware, which means that that seat might stay Democratic after all.

I liked this story about a female sports reporter in a locker room MUCH better when it was a plot on Sports Night. GMA is being completely ridiculous about the whole thing at the moment. Not that I'm surprised. It doesn't matter what a woman is wearing, people! Harrassing her isn't okay! Oh, Cokie Roberts, I expected better from you.

My Boys has been cancelled. Boo.

What TV show represents your home state? Yes, I am more than happy to claim Gilmore Girls.

NYMag's Gossip Girl reality index is back!

Would you like to see a preview for season six of Supernatural that includes shirtless Sam Winchester? Of course you would. Here you go.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (2)

September 14, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/14/10)

Happy Tuesday! That means primary day here in New Hampshire and in a few other states. There's not really much for Democrats to vote on where I live, though. The only seriously contested race on my ballot is for county register of deeds (why not registrar? I have no idea), and I've been unable to find anything online about either candidate. My big question: Will I ever consistently remember how to pronounce the "Ovide" in "Ovide Lamontagne"? Probably not.

In TV news, tonight we have the premieres of One Tree Hill, Life Unexpected, and Parenthood, and the season finale of Covert Affairs. Wheee.

I have a work-related luncheon today, but it's from one to 5:30. So what will we be doing besides lunching? I'm so curious. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Are you in New Hampshire and need to know where and when to vote or how to register? WMUR has you covered.

Jezebel writes Shakespearean Ed Westwick fanfic.

Two more must-read Vampire Diaries "The Return" recaps:
Lucia at Heroine TV
Cindy McLennan at Television without Pity

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/13/10)

Happy Monday! It's Gossip Girl premiere day! (It's also 90210 premiere day, if you'd into that sort of thing.) My cousin Liz and I will be liveblogging the premiere at 9:00 p.m. Eastern tonight, so make sure you come by and watch with us!

GMA is taunting me with the Letters to Juliet DVD ads. WANT. Speaking of movies, Easy A and The Town are both opening this weekend. Can't wait.

At least the DVD ads are a nice change from all the political ads. Our primaries here are tomorrow, and I'm fairly ready for them to be over with. I will vote, of course, but there's practically nothing for me to vote on in my particular primary. Oh well. Oh God, apparently Joe Arpaio was in the state yesterday. JUST what we need.

GMA just told me that the Olive Garden deliberately overcooks their pasta. That explains so much.

YA author Sarah Rees Brennan recaps the first two episodes of Vampire Diaries season one. Hilariously.

NPR has a new blog network.

Carina MacKenzie recaps the Vampire Diaries premiere.

Tabloid hack attack on royals.

Here's a little info on Matt Morrison's solo album. I wish he'd do Broadway stuff or standards instead, but I'll take what I can get.

A little more on Ron Moore's new show - it's not just magic, it's a magical police procedural. Hmmm. Were Moore not involved, I'd be reasonably enthusiastic about that idea.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

September 09, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/9/10)

Good morning, and welcome to Thursday! More importantly, welcome to Vampire Diaries premiere day! If you've somehow missed the news, the season two premiere will be airing on the CW at 8 Eastern tonight, and I'm hearing that it's COMPLETELY AWESOME.

Here's some TVD reading for you:
A good, non-spoilery review
Katherine, or Why Bad Girls Are Awesome
A hilarious recap of the first season

Now back to our regularly scheduled links:

Google's new search may be killing SEO. Yes PLEASE.

I was actually something of a Frasier fan, but this sounds like the worst idea ever.

TBS and TNT picked up some pilots. A Dallas remake? Really?

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 08, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/8/10)

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to the fall TV season! Hellcats, America's Next Top Model, and Terriers start tonight, and I'll have reviews of two of those for you tomorrow or Friday. In honor of this momentous occasion (ha!), it's going to be a list sort of day around here. First I'll round up my five favorite new summer shows, now that the seasons are winding down. Then this afternoon I'll give you the top ten returning shows I'm most excited about and ten new shows I'm looking forward to checking out.

In the world of real news: Daley is retiring! Will Rahm run for mayor? We'll see! I'm trying to ignore all the September 11 anniversay/Koran burning nonsense because it just makes me crazy. Also, Texas is very wet. Stay safe, everyone in hurricane-prone locations!

And on a personal note, my computer is headed in for surgery again - and it's staying a few days for observation this time - so posting may be somewhat erratic. Please think happy motherboard thoughts.

If you like pretty boys, check out Vampire Diaries.net where there are, and I quote, "more white tank tops on [the] front page right now than a high school gym class."

Why America Is Addicted to Olive Garden

F*** Yeah The Good Guys

The Times takes on Shatner.

Holding Wal-Mart Accountable

I'm not wild about Google's Schmidt's vision of the future of search.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 03, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/3/10)

Happy Friday! And really, thank goodness. I am very ready for this three-day weekend. I am hoping to actually have time to clean my house, and also to catch up on a few fall TV shows. Whee. Or maybe I'll just sleep to try to recover from the way it seems every at my company has gone nuts this week.

As far as actual news . . . well, there's really nothing good. Hurricane. Another oil rig exploded. Unemployment numbers coming out. I'm seeing pictures of North Carolina or somewhere on GMA, and oooh, the waves are so pretty! But seriously, people, evacuate if you're supposed to. Watch the waves from TV instead.

Non-spoilery photos from the second episode of The Vampire Diaries season two are here. Pretty boys arm wrestling? Yes please!

Vampire Diaries: Book vs. Show DEATHMATCH!

Wondering about Markos Moulitsas's new book? Jamelle Bouie read it so you don't have to.

Twitter has a new iPad app. I like Twittelator, as I've said, but I'll check this new one out and let you know how it is. Honestly, if it loads more tweets than Twittelator (which stops at 200), I might switch.

The Preppy Handbook changed June Thomas's life.

Lockwoods, Legends & Lycanthropes – OH MY!

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

September 02, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/2/10)

Happy Thursday! I spent this morning rearranging my storage room, so I have no idea what they were saying on GMA for once. I do know that today is supposed to be the last day of this heat wave, thank goodness.

Here's a tantalizing review of the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries.

Mo Ryan's new blog at AOL TV is up: Stay Tuned!

Ron Moore of BSG is making an adult Harry Potter-like show. Feel free to run away in horror now.

Lizzie Skurnick on the Franzen hubbub.

Why Netflix is way awesomer than people think.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 01, 2010

Morning Coffee (9/1/10)

Happy September! I am THRILLED that it is September, because I hate summer (have you noticed?) but I am also extremely bitter because it's going to be 98 today and that is NOT proper September weather. Also, my laptop is going in for surgery today, so please think happy motherboard-replacing thoughts.

Last night, the President gave an Oval Office address about the end of combat operations in Iraq, but OBVIOUSLY the big story is that he redecorated the Oval Office. (I like the new look well enough, for the record.) Murkowski has officially conceded to Miller in Alaska. And people on Cape Cod are being dumb talking about how much they love hurricanes and how they won't evacuate. Good luck with that! And - oh, fine. Entertainment Tonight is doing a behind the scenes thing of the Emmy opener, so I will give in and TiVo it.

Oh! Vanity Fair has a Sarah Palin profile out. It just came out so I haven't read it yet, but Roger Ebert tweeted that it's "devastating," so there you go.

I'm assuming that anyone who wants Grey's Anatomy spoilers heard the big news yesterday, but if you somehow missed it, click here.

I hate to say it, but I agree with every bit of this post about Emily Deschanel's look at the Emmys.

There's going to be some sort of 3D Nutcracker movie. With Elle Fanning and Nathan Lane? And new songs by Tim Rice? Is it not a ballet? Wait, is it a musical? What on earth is going on? I can't decide whether I'm excited or terrified.

Wait, haven't we read this John Le Carre story about assassinations in the Cold War about three times already? Why does it continue to be news?

Oh NO. American Girl is retiring Felicity.

Chad Lowe got married. Brother Rob Lowe was the best man. Aww.

The creators of Gossip Girl are making a show about twentysomethings in DC. I am cautiously optimistic.

New pictures from Glee!

The new Preppy Handbook sounds rather disappointing.

Politeness Enforcement Tactics

Gmail's Priority Inbox sounds nifty. Can't wait to try it out!

Sweden continues to be awesome.

Sepinwall on Inception

I'm not the only one excited for Easy A.

TV Squad agrees with me: Rubicon is not boring.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

August 31, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/31/10)

Happy Vampire Diaries release day! Season one comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray today, so you just have time to pick it up and catch up for the next season, which starts September 9! Do it! In other news, the President is giving an Oval Office address tonight, the Dancing with the Stars cast list is out, and so is Meghan McCain's book. Also, I have learned from Emmy-related interviews that Glee's Mike O'Malley is from New Hampshire. And Cory Monteith is ridiculously adorable, but we knew that already. Welcome to Tuesday!

I promised you a lot of Emmy links. Here you go:
Emmy writeups:
HitFix's Alan Sepinwall
HitFix's Winners and Losers
NPR's Monkey See
Time's Tuned In
Zap2it

Liveblogs:
The Fug Girls Live Blog the Red Carpet
HitFix's The Fien Print
NPR's Monkey See
Television Without Pity

Fashion roundups:
E! Fashion Police
Fug Girls Hits and Misses at Vulture
Go Fug Yourself
HitFix's Best and Worst Moments
Jezebel's Good, Bad, and Ugly
MTV Hollywood Crush
Television Without Pity

Why are there so few women in the tech world?

The Glee cast doesn't get royalties from their albums? Crazy.

Dave Weigel on the Beck rally

Slate is doing a book club of the Hunger Games series.

The odd similarities between Wolverine and Edward Cullen

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 30, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/30/10)

Good morning! Happy Monday! I'm pretending to be cheerful, can you tell? I had a busy weekend and was up late watching the Emmys last night. And it's going to be in the nineties all week and I could barely convince myself to get out of bed because I didn't even want to think about wearing any of my summer clothes, as I am READY FOR FALL NOW. So basically I have nothing for you this morning. Oh! Except for this: A Castle story at TheTelevixen. I promise I will have lots of links to interesting/funny Emmy commentary tomorrow to make up for it.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 28, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/28/10)

Happy Saturday! I'm off to Connecticut for a quick visit with my family. Have a great weekend! See you Sunday night for the Emmy Awards live blog!

I haven't tried Google Voice merged with Gmail yet, but I'm intrigued.

I don't watch Degrassi, but I keep wanting to, so you should read what my friend Erin said about the finale the other night.

The Most Embarrassing Emmy Moments

Presented without comment, because I'm not really sure what to say: John Cusack is playing Edgar Allan Poe.

Yglesias is somewhat perplexed by Maine's Fort Knox. The fact that it doesn't seem odd to me probably just means I'm a New Englander.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

August 27, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/27/10)

I know TGIF is a cliche, but . . . seriously. Although my weekend is going to be busier than my week, so I'm not sure exactly what I'm so excited about. Still. Friday. Yay.

io9 has an interesting review of Mockingjay.

The list of Emmy presenters is looking pretty exciting.

I am not the only one having nightmares about Thursdays at eight.

New planets!

Here are TWoP's Ten Worst New Shows of Fall. Let's not discuss how many are on my to-watch list anyway. (Okay, seven. But I only actually want to like two of them - Hellcats and Outlaw. I'll be perfectly happy to watch the pilots of the others, post about how awful they are, and never think about them again.)

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

August 26, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/26/10)

Happy Thursday! Votes are still being counted in Alaska, but in hotter news, the votes are tallied for EW's Sexiest Beast Contest, and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder) of The Vampire Diaries officially beat Edward Cullen of Twilight in the finals. Good job, Internet! Real vampires have sex and kill people and do not sparkle. I'm glad we've learned this. And individual roles aside, Somerhalder is obviously much more attractive than Pattinson. So.

If you need evidence of that, check out these new Vampire Diaries season two cast portraits. No big news here, just, you know, pretty people are pretty. My favorite, of course, involves a waistcoat and bookcases.

A lot of people say a lot of things about fandom and fan communities, but they really can make incredible things happen.

Notice: Tonight is the season finale of Royal Pains. Set your DVRs accordingly.

Tubey Award Winners!

James Marsters is getting his own superhero show.

Would you like to see Brennan seeing Booth's new girlfriend? here you go.

FiveThirtyEight is now at the Times.

I've always thought public proposals were really awful.

The eternal question: What killed Mozart?

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 25, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/25/10)

Good morning! Who else has a Mockingjay hangover today? I read the whole thing last night, and it made me cry. Books never make me cry! Short non-spoilery take: It wasn't perfect, but it was really good, and the trilogy feels complete. I'll have a full review coming for you probably on Monday, so as to avoid spoiling more than necessary, and to give myself some time to think about it all. And maybe reread.

In real world news, I'm trying to catch up on yesterday's primary results, as I only half paid attention to them on Twitter as I was reading last night. We woke up to the somewhat surprising news that Miller is winning in Alaska, at least so far. Huh. Also, I'm expecting a lot of fun "Meek" headlines, and maybe a "Great Scott!" or two. Don't let me down, headline writers!

The Washington Monthly really, really likes my alma mater.

Linking to myself, all classy-like: Angela Sarafyan has been cast in a major recurring role on The Good Guys.

Why won't any Republicans condemn the "Obama is a Muslim" myth?

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Actually all about sandwiches.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 24, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/24/10)

Happy Mockingjay Day! If you don't know what that means, you should get yourself to your nearest library or bookstore and pick up The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Mockingjay is the final book in this amazing trilogy, and my copy from Amazon should be appearing at any moment. So that's what I'll be doing tonight.

Tiger Woods is now divorced, if you care about that for some reason. And I feel like we should all leave poor Fantasia alone.

The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama.

You absolutely must see what Alan Cumming wore to the Creative Arts Emmys.

I almost always dislike discomfort comedy.

There's a new hot werewolf in town on The Vampire Diaries.

Look, I'm not the only one who can't tell Rubicon Will and Glee Will apart! They've got good Rubicon recaps, too.

Vampire-Diaries.net is publishing a series of guest essays leading up to the season premiere. I thought this first one was really good: The Salvatore Brothers: The Ties That Bind.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 23, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/23/10)

Ah, Monday, we meet again. But it's raining and only going to be 64 out! I'm so happy!

Vampire Diaries fans MUST read this: Super Sekrit Adventures of a Hot History-Teachin’ Vampire Slayer

On GMA, a whole high school football team is sick and it's a big mystery. Hmm.

Here's the other TWoP gallery that goes with the one I posted yesterday: Fall TV Preview: Best and Worst New Shows

E! has a Fall Movie Preview Gallery.

Explaining baseball to aliens

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (1)

August 22, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/22/10)

Happy Sunday!

The Creative Arts Emmys were last night, and Sepinwall has a nice write-up. I am apparently one of the few who thinks that Neil Patrick Harris absolutely earned his win for Glee (although O'Malley was, of course, very good as well). And I agree with Sepinwall that it's disappointing that we'll miss out on the fun little writer videos in the big ceremony next weekend.

This new promo for Lone Star is notable for the complete lack of political or business intrigue or references to oil. But it's pretty!

TWoP Gallery: Fall TV Preview: Returning Favorites

Here's an interesting look at Tom Welling and Hellcats.

Posted by Kat at 10:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 21, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/21/10)

Happy Saturday! GMA is all about bears again, so I'm going to assume there's not much going on in the world. Now the guy who owns the bear who killed someone is calling PETA a bunch of terrorists. Good times.

Ooh, look! You can now preorder the Vampire Diaries soundtrack!

Here's the Scott Simon story that made me cry yesterday.

NPR's Linda Holmes says exactly what I've been thinking about the Starbucks bagel outrage. If you order a bagel, being asked whether you want something on it is not crazy, people. I think if you ordered a bagel in a diner you'd be asked that. And I have given into the fact that I'm one of those people who orders things like "venti non-fat no whip no foam cinnamon dolce latte," and you know why? Because that way I get exactly what I want. What the heck is wrong with that?

Michael J. Fox will be guest starring on The Good Wife.

More Gossip Girl promos

Posted by Kat at 10:00 AM | Comments (2)

August 20, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/20/10)

Hey, look, it's Friday! My excitement for the week: there was a bear in my driveway when I got home last night! I think that's the first time I've seen one in the wild. Also, the cheese puffs came out well. I know you were concerned.

Scott Simon just made me cry on Morning Edition, talking about his daughters, but the audio isn't online yet so I'll look it up and post it over the weekend.

I continue to be completely astonished the Katrina Swett's slogan seems to be "Swett: It's not just her name." Um, okay.

Because of my inexplicable fondness for 7th Heaven alums, I was happy to see that Stephen Collins will be on Brothers and Sisters.

Elizabeth Gilbert's ex: classier than she'll ever be; cancels book deal.

TV Shows for Smart People

Facebook Places: Letting people report on your whereabouts all the time.

Slate tries to make us feel a little better about the "18% think Obama is a Muslim" nonsense. CNN? Not helping.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 19, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/19/10)

Good morning! It's Thursday, somehow, even though I was convinced I had another day to figure out what I'm bringing to a party on Friday. (I think the answer is cheese puffs.)

Last night, the last U.S. combat troops left Iraq. Thank God.

Dear Bill Binnie, You're going to have to come up with a better way to attack the Union Leader than by saying they don't like you because they're a bunch of communists, because no one will believe that. (For non-locals: That's the big conservative paper in the state. Not communist. At all.)

Is Sharron Angle a Christian Reconstructionist?

The Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block will be touring together. Oh my.

SOMEONE recently asked me what new show Michael Trucco (Anders from BSG) was going to be on, and I couldn't remember, but! I have found it! It's USA's Finding Kate. Of course, now I don't remember who asked. Anyway, information about new seasons of many of your favorite USA shows is at the same link, although In Plain Sight is a glaring omission.

Teri Polo (of Sports Night and The West Wing) will be on Law & Order: LA, so I suppose my streak of ignoring Law & Order shows is at an end.

Things like this are why I read Hello!: Princess Anne: The Early Years

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 18, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/18/10)

Hello, Wednesday. We're still on the mosque story? Really? I'm curious how many of the out-of-state people protesting actually know how separate something is that's a block or two away. And now even Paul Hodes is against it. Sigh. His statement made it sound like he thought it was literally right at the site. Gaaaah.

Check your eggs! There's a recall.

In better news, Dr. Laura is off the air! In order to, um, regain her first amendment rights. Okay then. And on GMA, GSteph is talking to Karl Rove, which always makes me giggle. Wait, we're STILL going on about Eat, Pray, Love? Jennifer Aniston will be live on GMA tomorrow, and perhaps that will be the end of it.

EW's Sexy Beast poll is down to the finals: Damon Salvatore vs. Edward Cullen. Any thinking person can see that Damon must win, as, for one thing, he is a vampire who does not sparkle and reads Anne Rice. Go vote for him!

And here's the cover art for the first of the Vampire Diaries prequel novels.

Five Fame-Extending Ideas for Levi Johnston

A defense of Ted Mosby

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 17, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/17/10)

Good morning, and happy Tuesday! I'm getting sick of this "Ground Zero" "mosque" story. Freedom of religion. That's it. I don't get why this is even a question. (Never mind that it's not actually at Ground Zero, is actually a cultural center, etc.) And wait, why are we still having Harold Ford on TV as an expert on . . . something? Anyway! Moving on.

Melissa and Joey premieres on ABC Family tonight, if you're interested.

Your Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will be Rooney Mara.

In case you were wondering, I am really, really done with this hot weather thing.

Now GMA is going on and on about "kids today" and references they do or don't know. "They don't know regular coffee!" Um, I doubt that. Calm down, everyone.

And NOW we're on to this story about a father who became a bank robber so his kids could keep going to private school and have designer clothes. Clearly he is Robin Hood! Uh, no. Really? People are on his side with this? The mind boggles.

Posted by Kat at 09:00 AM | Comments (0)

August 14, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/14/10)

Good morning, and happy V-J Day! It's Saturday. Thank goodness. And the President finally came out in support of the "Ground Zero Mosque" (which is not actually at Ground Zero), so good for him.

Dear Ben Quayle, If your father was vice president, you might want to come up with a different plan to run on than being an "outsider." (I'm totally giving him a pass on the kid thing, though. They're his nieces! That's fine.)

Would you like some production stills from the season two premiere of The Vampire Diaries? Of course you would.

I'm so glad Dave Weigel has a steady job again. Here's his Five Myths About the Tea Party and Crazy Enough to Win.

My boss has suddenly started blogging.

This Slate story about the Japanese economy and percent of adults depending on their parents is fascinating. And scary.

This Julia Roberts death watch piece raised a bunch of interesting points, but mostly left me with the question, "Whatever happened to Meg Ryan?" And then the desire to watch You've Got Mail. (I just consulted IMDb and I'm still wondering what happened to Meg Ryan, as they don't list anything in production or even rumored for her, and that's practically unheard of for major names.)

Gail Collins is wonderful, as usual, on the legislative maneuverings involved in getting women the vote.

Posted by Kat at 10:00 AM | Comments (2)

August 13, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/13/10)

Happy Friday! We've made it! It's Friday, I already exercised today, I'm wearing a new shirt, and I have lunch plans with one friend and dinner plans with another, so I've decided it will be a good day. This was not, however, helped by coming downstairs to find Voldemort on my TV. Eesh. Too early in the morning for that. We're not even going to discuss the fact that GSteph is on stage, in jeans, at the Jonas Brothers concert right now.

Happy birthday, Caitlin!

Are you a nursing mother? Beck is doing a giveaway you should look at.

The Senate is pretty messed up.

Did we know that Madonna is writing and directing a movie about Wallis Simpson? That's fairly exciting.

The Fug Girls Believability Scale for Suspicious Celebrity Couples

TV Guide has a handy Fall TV calendar.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (2)

August 12, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/12/10)

Happy Thursday! It's only supposed to be in the seventies here today, which is pretty exciting. Have I mentioned how ready I am for fall? Sigh.

GMA is still on the flight attendant thing. STOP IT. I DO NOT CARE WHAT HIS EX-WIFE HAS TO SAY. I also think we should leave poor Fantasia alone. And apparently we have another Eat, Pray, Love interview coming up. Charming. Something I actually sort of care about: The comic strip Cathy is ending. Sad.

I was about to say that I was mad at Netflix because I sent a disc back last Thursday and another on Monday and they hadn't received either, but I just got e-mails saying they got them. Obviously just mentally threatening to complain about them worked.

How walkable is your neighborhood? Find out at Walkscore. My address? NINE out of 100. My parents? ZERO. Sigh.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (1)

August 11, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/11/10)

Happy Wednesday. Yesterday was primary day in a few states, which means that Linda McMahon is now on my TV. This is sad. In other news, I'm not so into this flight attendant story. Meh. I mean, sure, it was funny, but why are we calling him a hero? I don't get it.

I've been playing with my schedule a little - this week I'm trying staying up later and getting up at six instead of five. But then I don't have time to do as much as I want in the morning. Perhaps I'll try 5:30.

Last night was the summer finale of Pretty Little Liars, but I didn't quite get through the whole thing, so the reviews will be a bit behind. You'll get posts about episodes eight and nine today, though.

Wait. MORE JULIA ROBERTS on GMA? It really is Eat, Pray, Love week. Stop the madness! And now we're back to SEXLESS MARRIAGE WEEK. Good Lord.

Denny's has put mozzarella sticks in grilled cheese sandwiches. Whoa.

People don't talk about character much these days. But my friend Beck does! Over here.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (1)

August 10, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/10/10)

Happy Tuesday. It's going to be 90 and humid today, and I am just so done with this. My lunch group usually eats outside, but I've had enough. I think I will boycott that until the temperature falls. And hey, if I eat at my desk, I can read more random blogs and find exciting links for you. See what I do for you??

An oddly high proportion of the news this morning is coming from Alaska. Most amusing: Levi Johnston wants to run for mayor of Wasilla and have a reality show about it. Honestly, I would probably make an exception to my no-reality-TV rule for this, because it sounds like a wonderful trainwreck. Bad news from Alaska: there was a plane crash and former Sen. Ted Stevens may have been on board.

GMA has been talking about a woman who was having sex with her teen daughter's friends, and I am a horrible person, because my first thought was that it sounded like the plot of a CW show. Their "how not to spend thousands of dollars on back-to-school clothes" stories are getting annoying, because, you know, you can just not spend thousands of dollars on back-to-school clothes. Ooh, Javier Bardem is going to be on later. I'm bored of what seems to be Official Eat Pray Love Week, but I'll take Bardem over Roberts any day. I'm trying to decide whether I should bother actually finishing that book. (I started it a few years ago.)

A Pop-Tarts store and cafe?? Yes please.

Social Media Monopoly is completely awesome and I wish I could actually buy a copy.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (2)

August 09, 2010

Morning Coffee (8/9/10)

Hey, it's 8/9/10! Fun. And, of course, it's Monday. My vacation was great but today I'm back to work, so we'll be getting back into the swing of things around here within the next few days. At the moment, Julia Roberts is on Good Morning America talking about her lofty sense of destiny, and I have to say, that's not particularly endearing, Ms. Roberts.

Last night were the Teen Choice Awards (although they're not on TV until tonight, which is dumb, because anyone who cares has been spoiled), and you can see a gallery of the winners here. I haven't looked through the whole thing yet, but a bunch of my favorites won, and I'm particularly happy that Damon Salvatore took "Best Villain" from Sue Sylvester. Of course, this probably means that my tastes are immature, but whatever. Go Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries!

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

July 31, 2010

Morning Coffee (7/31/10)

Good morning! And happy birthday to me! Today is both my birthday and the beginning of a week of vacation time for me, so I'm not sure how much I'll post over the next week. I'll try to post a few times a day, but the scheduling will certainly be wonky. This will be my first experiment with traveling with only the iPad and no laptop, so I'll let you know how that goes. I saw Charlie St. Cloud last night and will see The Kids Are All Right today, so I'll try to at least get those reviews up for you ASAP.

Renewed: Leverage (so I should really catch up), In Plain Sight (Yay!), Rizzoli and Isles (so I need to decide if I'm going to keep watching).

So, Ed Westwick's red boots that I kept talking about? They were part of, well, quite an outfit, as you can see on Go Fug Yourself.

The Fug Girls on Professions That Deserve Their Own Reality Shows

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (3)

July 30, 2010

Morning Coffee (7/30/10)

Good morning! It's finally Friday! Amazing! Between people being inexplicably and unusually difficult at work all week, and it being the last day before vacation, and the day before my birthday, I just don't have it in me to write much this morning. So you're in for a day of stuff like movie trailers and cute kittens. Sorry. In other news, it was under 60 outside when I got up, and I can't even tell you how happy I am about that.

GSteph is still absent from GMA, so I definitely think he's at the wedding. I don't think they've even mentioned the wedding yet today, which is shocking. The bear news continues, though, and they tried to make us think they were going to kill the cubs of the bear that killed people, but the bear expert was all "Yeah, no. They'll go live in a zoo." They're showing lots of commercial's for Amanpour's This Week debut, and making me think I might actually have to watch. Oh, now they're talking about Chelsea's wedding again. In case you were concerned.

Yesterday at the TCA press tour: Showtime and the CW. Showtime had panels for a bunch of new shows that made me wish I got Showtime, and the CW, which already owns my soul, had panels for Hellcats and Nikita, and I continue to be moderately excited about both. They also had a Gossip Girl panel, which seemed like a somewhat random choice, but I will not complain about any event that produces pictures of Ed Westwick. Up today is NBC Universal, so that's NBC, USA, SyFy, MSNBC, and BRAVO.

You know I think you should read every word that Gail Collins publishes, but sometimes I feel the need to point out something specific. Like this column on presidential children. Good stuff.

Here's some spoilery How I Met Your Mother news that's supposed to reassure those of us who were disappointed with season five.

I lost the link, but Oprah is reportedly giving the Duchess of York her own show, and I thought you should know.

The first families of politics

This piece about movies about famous composers is very interesting and right on. And I definitely want to see Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

July 29, 2010

Morning Coffee (7/29/10)

Happy Thursday! Maybe this week will finally end after all. The news this morning is all about bears and Chelsea Clinton's wedding. No, really. Both local and national news are covering bear-related stories seemingly nonstop. And for a "secretive" wedding, everyone has a lot of details about the Clinton shenanigans. Oh! Oh! New theory: George Stephanopoulos is on vacation, and I bet it's because he's going to the wedding! That would actually make a lot of sense. Um, now Shaq is singing to Justin Bieber on my TV. It's too early in the morning for this nonsense. Anyway! In real news, an Arizona judge blocked some of the anti-immigration law, thank goodness.

Yesterday was CBS's day at the press tour, and based on the coverage I read, my impressions about their new shows were confirmed: I'll try Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods, maybe look at an episode of The Defenders, and stay far, far away from The Talk, Mike and Molly, and $#*! My Dad Says. Today is the CW (whee!) and . . . FOX, maybe? No, Showtime. (TV still talking about bears. One of them stole a teddy bear. Really.) Oh, and apparently Ed Westwick wore bright red suede boots to a press tour party last night. I want photographic proof, Internet!

I swear I don't read Seventeen on a regular basis or anything, but look! Best High School Boyfriends (from movies and TV). Nate Archibald is number one, really? I mean, he's fine, but . . . I was glad to see Finn Hudson and Dean Forester on the list, but no Logan Echolls? No Stefan Salvatore OR Angel, who were both better vampire boyfriends than Edward Cullen? Sigh.

Did you know that the first online spoiler alert was for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan? Wow.

I don't want to say that Plain Jane sounds like the worst show ever, because I'm sure there's something worse, but boy, does it sound awful.

At this link is a huge Private Practice spoiler about which I am decidedly unenthusiastic.

Starbucks with wine? Sounds good to me. (Thanks for the link, Liz!)

The Washington Post suggests Ian Somerhalder run for Congress. No, I couldn't even type that with a straight face. HEE. (Although, really, not the worst idea ever.)

Hah! It's not just me! The TV Addict has the same issues with names on The Gates and the Sam/Dean thing as I do.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

July 28, 2010

Morning Coffee (7/28/10)

Welcome to Wednesday. Has this week already seemed endless to everyone, or is it just me? This was one of those mornings when I woke up and couldn't decide if I was sick or just tired. I'm going with "tired" and pretending I'm fine. So we'll see how THAT goes. The news isn't improving the day much: Plane crash in Pakistan! Wildfires in California! Immigration showdown in Arizona, which means that Joe Arpaio is on my TV right now. OF COURSE. That's not going to improve my day any. Just saying. Also, there was something about Warren Jeffs that NPR was talking about before I was quite awake.

A bit of good news: Dave Weigel: Hired by Slate! Which is, you know, owned by WaPo. Heee. Anyway, I'm thrilled: One of my favorite journalists at one of my favorite publications.

In TV land, the TCA press tour is getting underway, which means that I will never, ever catch up on the "Arts and Entertainment" folder in my Google Reader. Perhaps not a coincidence in timing: ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson quit last night, right in time for his successor to be able to not answer questions at press tour. It looks like his successor will not be Jordan McDeere, though, so my interest is limited. Go read that piece I linked, though, because it's actually way funnier than I expected.

I will not lie: Back-to-school themed commercials are cheering me up a bit. And hey, the fall TV season starts six weeks from tonight!

Would you like to see Nate (Chace Crawford) filming with his new girl (Katie Cassidy) on Gossip Girl? Here you go.

The Glee boys will be co-hosting the Teen Choice Awards with Katy Perry. Now all we need is confirmation that the Vampire Diaries cast will be there and I'll be all set.

You know how they're making a movie of the game Battleship? Rihanna is going to be in it. Well then.

New Formula 1 site in Austin!

TV Guide has all sorts of delightful information about season two of The Vampire Diaries. I cannot wait.

AMC is making a show about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad! I am perhaps a little too excited about this.

David Plotz and Hanna Rosin discuss their Netflix queue. I'd like to be Hanna Rosin when I grow up, please.

Glee news: Coach Tanaka is out. A few people I've never heard of are in.

Tristan from Gilmore Girls and Hannah from Pretty Little Liars are making an ABC Family Christmas movie. Sounds awful. I can't wait.

Billy Baldwin: going to Parenthood. I think he's the Gossip Girl Baldwin, right? Yeah.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

July 27, 2010

Morning Coffee (7/27/10)

Good morning! Yes, you're seeing something a little different here. I've been trying to find a way to revamp my posting schedule in a way that will still make sure you get lots of content but not completely exhaust me. As part of this, Endnotes are moving to the morning - because you have more time to click links while you're waking up and easing into your day, anyway, right? - and becoming Morning Coffee, going up around 8 a.m. Eastern. These posts will still have recommended links, but they'll be a little chattier, with some commentary on the morning news and whatever personal stuff doesn't need its own post.

The rest of the new schedule: TV reviews will appear at nine and eleven, and the Song of the Day is moving to one - think of it as a nice lunchtime interlude. At three, we'll have either another TV review, if I have one, or something else to do with TV, movies, or music. The five o'clock post is reserved for book reviews and knitting pictures; if I have neither of those, it'll be whatever else I have to talk about. (And I weirdly feel like I'm being unfair to books here, but it just takes longer to read most books than it does watch an episode of TV. So that's why books only get one slot on the schedule.) So we'll try that for a while and see how it goes. I reserve the right to go off schedule at any point, of course, and I can already predict that during fall TV premiere week the schedule will be totally off as I try to watch and review pilots of new shows as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world, Tony Hayward is stepping down, one of the missing sailors' bodies was found in Afghanistan, and it's going to be 90 again today. Sigh. And I kid you not - the traffic report on TV just gave a location based on a store that has been closed for years. No one in New Hampshire will ever call anything by its current name. Sununu is accusing Hodes of push polling. For the record, the only push poll calls I've gotten in New Hampshire have been from Republicans. And wow, they're already interviewing Hayward's replacement on Good Morning, America. And this big GMA story on Chelsea Clinton's wedding includes impressively little actual information!

Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist in the American Girl with the Dragon Tattoo? Huh. Okay. He hadn't really occurred to me, but I can see that working.

Amanda Bynes has un-retired. If you care.

Should I go to the movies on my birthday on Saturday? What should I see? Inception? Salt? The Zac Efron thing? Is that coming out this week? Hmm.

Posted by Kat at 08:00 AM | Comments (0)

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