That’s the easiest way that I can explain how much Alex Chilton and his music touched and influenced my life. I’m so glad I caught the Big Star show in Brooklyn last year — he was uncharacteristically uncranky, and seemed to be having a pretty damn good time. He will so very much be missed.
"I could have killed you all, but I didn't. And that's what was great about me."
“My love of Star Trek is well known… I’d give anything to have the chest at 35 that [Ricardo] Montalban had at 72.
I went to the premiere of the Star Trek 2 DVD and Montalban was there. And he was in a wheelchair, as he’s had some issues as he’s gotten older, and I was going, “oh, that’s so sad, he’s in a wheelchair” and then they gave him a microphone and he opened his mouth and was like, “Hello! I am Ricardo Montalban” and every one of us was like, “oh god!” Literally, in a wheelchair, this guy could kick anyone’s ass. He is the manliest man alive. They don’t get manlier than Ricardo Montalban. I think he’s manlier than anyone on any show I’ve ever been on…
He’s the manliest. Good lord — he could kill us all if he wanted to, but he hasn’t and that’s what’s so great about Ricardo Montalban.”
Don’t forget — today’s your LAST CHANCE to enter in our Elizabeth Scott Living Dead Girl book giveaway!
The Book:
When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends–her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she wants.
She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.
The Reviews:
“Scott’s prose is spare and damning, relying on suggestive details and their impact on Alice to convey the unimaginable violence she repeatedly experiences. Disturbing but fascinating, the book exerts an inescapable grip on readers–like Alice, they have virtually no choice but to continue until the conclusion sets them free. — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“Scott gives the phrase emotionally wrenching a whole new meaning in this searing book… the ending itself will leave readers gasping.” — Booklist (Starred Review)
“Scott, best known for such chick-lit pleasers as Bloom (2007), breaks the mold with this harrowing tale of abuse leavened only by lyric writing a la Adam Rapp (33 Snowfish, 2003, etc.). When Alice was ten, Ray kidnapped her; five years later, Alice wishes only to escape by dying, as the last Alice did. But her freedom comes at a price–a new girl for Ray. Bit by bit, Alice reveals the depths of psychological and physical terror that hold her captive. Her voice is convincingly naive yet prematurely aged; vivid but never graphic, details of the sexual abuse perfectly capture the way in which she has normalized her situation while still recognizing the truth. Ray is a complex abuser, perhaps a bit too psychotic but terrifying nevertheless; he himself was abused, and the logic of how his own past has shaped his present and his treatment of Alice never falters. Choosing Ray’s next victim does not provide a re-entry into empathy, a bold but believable choice. Scott provides neither easy answers nor a happy resolution, although the ending provides a grim sense of release.” — Kirkus
Just send an email to freestuff@popgurls.com by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT and we’ll select 5 names at random to win.
Hold onto your hats, kids — here’s a PopGurls Update!
+ 90210 — Deja Vu All Over Again? This is not a recap. This is not really a review. These are simply our reactions. Shame and sanity were left at the door.
CLASS DRAMA, IN-LAW DRAMA, and ALCOHOLISM. All these important issues must be in caps — otherwise the very special-iality of these issues wouldn’t be as apparent.
+ A Quickie With Renee Loux
The host of Fine Living Network’s It’s Easy Being Green talks about easy ways to go organic, relax and how it’s really a small world after all.
+ A Quickie With Author Sara Zarr
She talks about her writing process, step-parents in literature and, of course, potatoes.
There is this moment early on in Ocean’s Eleven, where the crew is being put together. Frank Catton (Bernie Mac), a dealer in Atlantic City, “has developed a bad case of bronchitis and is putting in for a transfer to warmer climates.” Warmer climates, of course, being Las Vegas where a heist is about to be pulled.
There is no dialogue, only a voice-over by Danny Ocean, yet Bernie Mac makes it one of the most memorable scenes from the movie. He makes puppy-dog eyes, even the beginnings of a pout, and it’s just magic.
Bernie Mac created magic in so many more ways, but that’s the one that created a lasting memory of him in my pop-culture overloaded brain. I always found it a fantastic comedic scene, never pushing it too far as it easily could have been. Now, it’s a bittersweet reminder of what we have lost.
Sadly, Estelle Getty has passed. Even more sad, she had been battling Lewy Body Dementia for years. I remember in one of the <i>Golden Girls</i> reunion shows, the fellow ladies had said how Estelle barely recognized them anymore. I hope that she has found peace.
Here’s one of my favorite clips — Sophia and Dorothy as Sonny and Cher, and a very freaked out Rose:
Golden Girls may have gone off air in 1992 (my god, 16 years ago?), but the ladies have never been far from our hearts. And our collective minds — a few select quotes from Overheard in New York:
In case you didn’t know (or happened to see Bravo’s massive Project Runway marathons all weekend) — Season 5, and the final season on Bravo starts Wednesday at 9pm/8c. Today, just about every thing you’d want to know about the show (aside from who wins) has been leaked — on the Bravo website.
Sure, they usually let you know makes the cut to compete on the Project Runway before the season premiere — but I think someone screwed up and decided to make live a page that should have remained dark for the next 14 or so weeks.
Want to know what all the challenges are, broken out by episode and guest judge? Check it out here.
It seems that money is a sticking point here, but if the producers want ratings gold they need to give Doherty what she wants. She will be worth every dollar in her pocket as fans who tuned in 18 (my god!) years ago will tune-in in droves.
I’m so embarrassingly excited about this possibility!
In high school, I came across my mother’s copy of George Carlin’s FM & AM album and pretty much had it memorized in about a week. I loved him, his brilliance and his humor, so much. When I found out that he had died, I immediately flashed back to my old living room, lying on the floor for hours listening to his routines over and over.
There’s far better eulogizers than me out there, and a lot of people have been quoting Carlin’s infamous “Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television” today in honor of his passing, but my favorite routine will always be my first introduction to him. It was his HBO special, What Am I Doing in New Jersey?… I wore that VHS tape out and most of that routine is still burned into my brain. To this day, I keep his advice on how to keep people alert close to my heart.
For those who have been under a rock for the past few weeks — A family relocates from the Midwest to Beverly Hills, bringing their two kids along to chart the rocky waters of high school in the notorious zip code. Yes, it’s 2008, don’t check your calendar.
The CW posted a new clip from the show, primarily consisting of interviews with the cast. This worries me a little bit as I play “count the cliches” (taking it to the next level, Silver is a “free spirit”! ). But I’m open to embracing the utterly amazing trainwreck to come…
Just try and tell me you didn’t get a bit nostalgic with that opening song! Anyway, Lori Laughlin plays the new mom and Silk Stalkings’ Rob Estes was just cast as the dad. Which, honestly, is a brilliant, brilliant move. I can’t think of a better dad, and certainly a much hotter one than Jim Walsh.
There’s a bunch of new kids, but let’s face it — most of us just care about which of the old crew will be back. The count as of now:
Dreamy Dylan McKay (even with those ridiculous overalls) (Luke Perry): no word yet, which is fine if he’s off playing house-husband to Brenda
And speaking of my beloved Brenda “Bitch and a half” Walsh: no word yet. But man, that would get people back in droves.
While discussing the spin-off at work, one idea came up that is the best thing this show could do — give it the Heather Locklear treatment. Have Brenda come back mid-way through the season and save the show from the inevitable bad ratings. You thought Amanda Woodward was a bitch? You ain’t seen nothing yet.
Ann Powers has a very lovely eulogy here:
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Don’t forget — today’s your LAST CHANCE to enter in our Elizabeth Scott 
This is not a recap. This is not really a review. These are simply our reactions. Shame and sanity were left at the door. 
