Beauty and the Beasts and Mark Watches Redux

Thanks for the funnies last night, folks. Laughter truly is the best medicine.
Much cheerier mood today. And while work is amusing me, I can't really discuss it online that much. [Except to say - write your congressman and tell him/her not to pass the House Bill that does away with federal funding for mass transit. Unless you want to see me poverty stricken and gloomy for the rest of my working life? They take tax revenues from fossile fuels and gas and supply toward public transportation - which saves the environment and helps with global warming. Okay end of PSA. ]

I know I keep saying I'm not going to read Mark Watches Buffy, but I'm weak and I find weirdly entertaining. Also at different points, I feel compelled to chat about it - I have no clue why. I find some of his comments bewildering.
Other's completely agree with. And I can't comment directly on his posts - because I'd spoil everyone. Too much work to avoid it. And I'm lazy.

Today's "Mark Watches Buffy" post is on the S3 episode "Beauty and The Beasts" - which I realized upon re-watching several years back was in reality all about the Buffy/Angel relationship and Domestic Violence (not misogyny). ( spoilers for Buffy S3-6, and Mark Watches...commenting on both )

Gotta go and get my walk in. Bye.

"Smash" - an in-depth TV Review

Saw the new musical television workplace drama entitled Smash last night, which I keep calling the anti-Glee in my head - not that it is, but in some respects I prefer it to Glee (a little satire goes a long long way, just saying). In others? Glees musical acts are more interesting. But they are vastly different shows, with only the whole "musical" thing in common. Say what you will about Glee but it paved the way for shows like Smash - a venue for music to be performed in a believable manner without throwing the modern audience out of the story.

While I enjoyed Smash, I do have quibbles...based on both the pilot and the preview for what to expect from the series this season. But first the good stuff or what I liked about it. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly so to speak...although there isn't really much ugly, since it is a workplace drama that for a change of pace has no violence, and no crimes. In short one that actually doesn't deal with cops, doctors, lawyers or forensic scientists. Shocking! Isn't it? And we thought no one in Hollywood had any new ideas. I give Spielberg credit for coming up with a workplace drama about the lives of people putting on a Broadway musical. That's actually more interesting to me than the case of the week. So kudos. Plus, different! And no violence! And female centric with powerful women leads. (I've watched too many violent male centric tv series...and I work in a male dominant workplace, so this makes me happy.)
( Review of Smash, does contain vague spoilers )