First themed post....*drumroll please*

I'm putting my own spin on the common Throwback Thursday.  Welcome to....

FANGIRL FLASHBACK FRIDAY!!

I've had many celebrity interactions since the year 2001, and I think it would be fun to share those stories.  Much of these experiences happened at stage doors, concerts, and conventions, and sometimes they were completely random.  

I'm not looking to dig up gossip or talk trash, but I will be honest.  Some people may be A-listers, some people may be obscure.  I have pictures, detailed memories, and a lot of fondness.  I can still laugh even if it wasn't the friendliest interaction.  One thing I've learned over the years is that celebrities are human beings.  

This week's Entertainment Weekly Pop Culture Personality Test was taken by Matthew Morrison, and I think he's a good person to kick off this segment.  I'm also kind of bursting at the seams that we both saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 7-8 times in the theatre and that we both still sing to New Kids on the Block.  Hey, we're right around the same age, it makes sense.  

Ha, nice freeze frame.

I first saw Morrison in The Rocky Horror Show revival on Broadway near the end of its run in 2001.  He was a Phantom kid and had a big fro and lots of eyeliner, black lipstick, and leather pants.  I called him Curly Haired Hot Guy from Rocky.  When he fell into the role of Link Larkin in Hairspray, I started freaking out, especially because it was so hard to get tickets.  I happened to get lucky and bought one for half price from a desperate lady when I was in the TKTS line.  The whole original cast was there that night except for Morrison.  I still have irrational dislike for his poor understudy John Hill.  I sucked it up and bought a full price ticket for a few months later.  He was there, and the angels sang.  Well, that might have been my pants.  It was even more joyous because I got to see Shoshana Bean as Tracy, and she was just fabulous.  Put it this way-  when a guy as hot and talented as Matt Morrison falls in love with a big girl 8 times a week, I'm gonna fall in love.  Hell, even Zac Efron got a pass from me in the movie version, but no one beats Matt as Link. 

This is a rather long introduction, but I feel it's necessary since he's made it so big as Will Schuester on Glee.  I stopped watching after the 2nd season, partially because I was sad that he essentially isn't more than an overly eager and oblivious douche who loves Journey.  I try not to pay much attention to tabloids and blind items, but people often do change when they become rich and famous.  I prefer the old days of swooning outside Broadway theatres and searching for photos and footage.  It was fun to see him briefly in the movies Music & Lyrics and Dan In Real Life which may have resulted in me bouncing in my seat while loudly whispering MattyMorrisonMattyMorrison!!!  I feel bad that I didn't see him in anything onstage after Hairspray, but as I had to be choosy with my shows (living two hours away with limited disposable income will do that to a person), I ended up passing on The Light In the Piazza and South Pacific.  I know, I know.  I kind of regret that, but I just couldn't justify potentially falling asleep for that ticket price.  I really like him as an actor, but there are only a select few that I will do anything to see in a show.  

I have a few shots from 2002.  One day I'll scan pix, but for now, the high quality phone shots will do!

That is some damn nice hair.

I'll mostly be cutting myself out of pictures, but you can have a glimpse.  This was during the Broadway Flea Market when he gave me a big ole "Hey, how YOU doin'" when I came up.  I don't care if he's a charmer, that still makes me feel so good.  OhgodletmebeyourTracy.

It was fun to say "Bitches, I saw him first," but now I just enjoy the nostalgia.  However, I think it's time to shuffle up the playlist and move the swoonworthy "It Takes Two" back into the top ten most played songs.

“Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps."

We saw The Great Gatsby this weekend, and I ended up getting distracted, as I saw the big screen trailer for Much Ado About Nothing for the first time.  I may have squealed, clapped, and grasped my husband's shoulder.

I'm not going to pretend to know anything about the play.  I read Shakespeare in high school and took a course in college.  I saw the movie version of Much Ado with Kenneth Branagh and Robert Sean Leonard in 11th or 12th grade and can't remember anything except that it was a comedy.  Shakespeare's concepts, themes and characters are fantastic, but sometimes the plays can be hard for me to follow.  Modern interpretations are greatly helpful, especially with actors who have a great awareness and understanding of the material and language.

Therefore, this version of Much Ado is going to be perfect.  The ad campaign has even enchanted me!  Stylish charcoal and fuschia highlighting Alexis Denisof as the star of a Joss Whedon film with a jazzy score? Dreamy sigh alert!

                                     
Alexis Denisof might be most well known to the general public for being Alyson Hannigan's husband, which is a damn shame because he is a ridiculously talented character actor with leading man looks.  He did lots of theatre before getting the role of Wesley Wyndham-Pryce in Buffy the Vampire Slayer which led to co-starring in Angel.  Now, he tends to slip under the radar and does interesting TV projects while appearing in adorable paparazzi pictures with Aly and their two lovely little girls.

He is ridiculously funny under that serious demeanor and is a downright hoot when he appears on How I Met Your Mother.  I have been in love with him since the 4th season of Angel when he became all brooding and scruffy and having forbidden sex with Lilah.  I may have been a little stupid over how I couldn't stand his bumbling ponce ass on Buffy and how much I resented him taking over for Doyle on Angel (rest in peace, Glenn Quinn), to the point that I stopped watching Angel until Faith did the crossover episodes in season 4.

(Then I may have fallen so hardcore in lust that his name became Wes Sexypants and he was the example of how pants should perfectly hang and despite my dislike of guns it suddenly became super hot to watch him impossibly shoot two at once while slow-mo whooshing in the air and becoming an action hero who had a cut throat and really hot sex while his temporary prisoner in the closet was forced to listen and dear god that is not what I really like but for some reason when he does it it's so crazy hot...)

Ahem.  Let's continue.

Hi Amy Acker!  It's a Wes and Fred reunion!  And I didn't even ship the Fresley that much on Angel!  However, I have no problem shipping them here.

I can't choose from this wonderful tumblr post, so I'll just post the whole thing.  They really have wonderful chemistry as actors and friends.

I almost feel bad for loving this picture so much.  Sorry Alyson and James Carpinello...

It's like Joss is apologizing for their final Angel plots.  Except he apologizes by giving them starring roles in a highly acclaimed movie that was a blast to shoot at his house for two weeks and will get them plenty of acclaim.  Can't we all have bosses like that?

Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk appear and are supposed to be hilarious.  This doesn't surprise me at all.  I love them both, and I can eventually forgive Fillion for having to cancel Philly Comic Con this year...that's just how awesome and delightful he is.  I still regret not seeing Lenk in Rock of Ages on Broadway.

I'm enjoying the vast height difference and pornstache. 

  

There are many other Whedonverse actors in the film like Sean Maher, Fran Kranz, Reed Diamond, and Clark Gregg.  Apparently, once you work with Whedon and read Shakespeare at his house for funsies, you're in for life!  

I truly am looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds and how this wonderful director and group of actors will bring it to life in modern California.  It's not just for the pretty.  Ok, maybe a little.  I really hope this brings great opportunities for Denisof and Acker as they are both excellent actors who should be seen a lot more on the small and big screens.  

Introduction!

Geeks and nerds have become rather trendy, but I've always been unashamedly geeky about the entertainment world.  I'm not complaining about the rise in popularity since more people are feeling comfortable to proudly let their nerd flag fly.

I've had random blogs over the years, but I really want to focus and publicly share my writing and observations.  There will be squeeing and fangirling, but that makes it all the more fun!  I'm definitely into typical geek culture like the Whedonverse, conventions, figure collecting, and cult TV, but I will certainly be geeking out over more topics than that.  I like to think that I have a diverse palate.

I figured the best way to introduce myself is to share some incredibly random tidbits about how mass media has played a part throughout my life.  I don't want to ruin too much for future postings!



1.  My very first poster was Michael J. Fox.  I would weep if I ever met the man.  My second poster was John Stamos with a mullet.  I have met the man three times and shown him my tongue ring upon request.

2.  I talk really quickly in part because of Six LeMeure from Blossom.

3.  I used to listen to TV theme song CDs in the car.  You never feel cooler than when you're singing the Diff'rent Strokes and It's A Living themes at the top of your lungs.  But nothing beats Perfect Strangers...nothing.

4.  Boy-Crazy Stacey is still one of my all time favorite books.  I named my phone Stacey McGill.  Happily, it hasn't done anything to annoy me otherwise I would have to yell "Anastasia Elizabeth McGill!!" at it.

5.  Rocky Horror Picture Show briefly freaked me out when I was 14.  After I finally got over my dumbass reaction, I became obsessed with drag, lipstick, and fishnets.

6.  I've seen Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at least 300 times.  I know every last line and music cue.    Sometimes I get through the work day by playing entire scenes in my head.  That scene from Family Guy with Peter humming the opening train sequence?  Me. Me. ME.

7.  My husband is a gamer, and yet I still beat his ass at Tetris every time.  I can pack a mini grocery cart within an inch of its life, and I have to credit hours on the Game Boy in the early 90s for that useless skill.

8.  Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead motivates me to clean the house every time I watch it.  Every. time.

9.  My mom took me to see Pulp Fiction after I begged for weeks.  I was 14.  She swore child protective services would be coming for her after we left the theatre.

10.  I used to see Aerosmith every 4 years: '94 (first concert ever), '98, '02, '06.  I guess I got distracted these last few years.

11.  I've never seen all of Back to the Future III despite being obsessed with the first two movies.

12.  I go to thrift stores and track down books I used to read in my late childhood/early preteen years.  I practically turn cartwheels when I find copies with the exact same cover artwork and layout that I remember.

13.  During New Years Eve '06, my best friends and I were driving around trying to find something to do.  "500 Miles" by The Proclaimers came on, and we sang the shit out of that.  Next month, How I Met Your Mother had a plotline with Ted and Marshall singing that repeatedly in the car.  Amazing and a little freaky at the time.

14.  I emulated Rachel Green's outfits in the early years of Friends, and I'd be happy dressing like that forever.  And she wasn't even my favorite Friend! (that would be Bing-a-ling)

15.  I had a suicidal turtle named Agador Spartacus when I was 16.  He was happiest when he could crawl in my heels and check his face out in the mirror.