DahlELama

47 posts
DahlELama enjoys TV, YA, Chinese food, and long walks to the couch. She speaks Russian very badly and dreams of one day making the perfect macaron.

So You Think You Can Dance 101

I was late to the game; I’ll admit it. I had no interest in watching a bunch of people who thought they could dance flail around the stage in shiny costumes while a second-rate Simon Cowell (or maybe first-rate Simon Cowell; I don’t really think much of Simon Cowell) tells them they’re whatever the dance equivalent of “pitchy” is. Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you at this point how I finally started watching So You Think You Can Dance in season 5, which is, coincidentally, the same season I started watching American Idol; all I can tell you is that now that I’ve hopped on the hot tamale train, I’ll never go back. Continue reading →

QOTD: Who’s Your Top Chef?

Way to go, jerk. You’ve killed 369 people in a freak blowtorch incident (sure, you say accident, but you also say Crocs are acceptable footwear, which has lost you all credibility), and now you’re on death row. One perk, though–you do get that delightful last meal. Yes, I suppose you could choose it yourself and have your mom’s fried chicken or this fantastic truffle with truffle sauce, drizzled with truffle oil, that you once had at Eau de Truffle, but in Crasstalk Maximum Security Prison, the rules dictate that you have to rely on the wisdom, taste, and skill of your favorite chef–whose food you may or may not have actually tasted–to make the menu for you.

And so, for today’s Question of the Day: Which chef, celebrity or otherwise, would you entrust with your last meal? Continue reading →

YA Lit: The Lighter Side

It’s always nice to see YA lit in the news (not counting casting news for Hunger Games because oh my God, hasn’t this movie been finished yet?), but its latest appearance, in Meghan Cox Gurdon’s Wall Street Journal piece entitled “Darkness Too Visible,” might just be its most contentious yet. (You can read Publishers Weekly‘s rebuttal here, Salon‘s here, and you can find links to about a zillion others by going to the fascinating Twitter topic that emerged as a result of the WSJ piece, #YAsaves.) Continue reading →

Summer 2011 TV Preview

Summer TV gets a bad rap. I should know; I’m one of those people who’s always hated it. But have you really taken a look at summer’s offerings recently? I mean really looked, beyond shows like Wipeout and Generic Reality Show: Fifth Season of Jackassery. Because ya know what? Somehow, while we were busy actually getting some sun and fresh air, summer TV was out getting…kinda good. Sure, it’s good in a super trashy, intellect-free sort of way–especially now that Mad Men won’t be airing until 2012–but really, isn’t throwing seriousness to the wind what summer is all about?

Continue reading →

Dressing for The Rapture

The dictionary defines “Rapture” as an English noun derived from the Latin verb rapio, with a literal meaning of “I catch up” or “I snatch.” I define “Rapture” as “Aw fuck, here we go.” Now, I don’t know about all of you, but I like to be prepared, whether it’s keeping an umbrella at work in case of rain or being ready for the day of the Lord’s wrath against the ungodly which is supposed to last about seven years. For those of you with the FastPass to Heaven, bless you*! It doesn’t matter what you wear, as soon as you fist bump (with explosion) St. Peter and stroll through those pearly gates, you’ll be halo’d up and good to go for eternity. For the rest of us poor unfortunate souls, your Sunday best isn’t going to help you now, so ditch the designer duds and check out this guide for the ultimate Rapture wear. Continue reading →

The Replacements – Reports From the 2011 Upfronts

Impatience may seem like a childish trait, but having to wait doesn’t really get any easier as you get older. Being able to legally drink doesn’t make it any easier when the concert you can’t wait to go to is still three months away. Having a real job and responsibilities hardly takes the edge off the fact that the newest Geraldine Brooks novel won’t be available in paperback for another year, or that Final Fantasy MDCCLXXVI is still light years away. And seeing those first gray hairs certainly doesn’t help with the fact that Mad Men won’t be reappearing until 2012 and 30 Rock‘s return revolves around baby Fey-Richmond’s arrival. Continue reading →

When Shows Meet the Axe


Some stars have all the luck. Take Damon Wayans, Jr.: He was poised an ready to star in a new pilot that actually got picked up, when–oh no!–the show he’s already starring in also got picked up. Or H. Jon Benjamin, whose lead voice work on not one but two animated shows will be continuing to echo through living rooms across America for yet another year. Continue reading →

Why We Love The Office

By DahlELama and The_Obvious

Because it inspired bobbleheads, putting office supplies in Jello, and “That’s What She Said.” Because everything the inimitable Mindy Kaling does is genius. Because few couples on TV can match the chemistry of John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer during the three-year budding courtship of Jim and Pam….except maybe Steve Carell and Amy Ryan playing Michael and Holly. Because Phyllis’s secret bitchy side can be twice as vicious as Angela’s not-so-secret one. Because Oscar is one of the only characters on TV who happens to be gay instead of being A Gay Character. Because Meredith was born without the shame gene. Because Andy will never, ever look out of place in a J. Crew catalog. Because no one can make you laugh, seethe, and weep in one episode like Michael Scott. Because Kevin. Because Ellie Kemper is both hilariously unassuming and unassumingly hilarious. Because of course Ryan didn’t really go to Thailand. Because bears, beets, Battlestar Gallactica. Because planning a backup wedding ceremony made sense to absolutely everyone. Because it was an emergency; we look really good in white. Continue reading →