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Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach

Category Archives: Just For Fun

Great Article About Mentoring

28 Tuesday Sep 2010

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I got this article today from a site I belong to called, 6FigureJobs.com, they have great advice, even if we are in the entertainment industry as writers and the rules are all different, and yet they are the same.

I posted it on my other blog, but I think it is so great that I am posting it here as well.

I believe as writers, especially in the entertainment industry, it is vital to have a mentor to help guide you. I am looking for a great mentor for tv/film writing. I have one girl that was sort of giving me mentoring advice, but without giving too many clues into who she was, the show she was on isn’t on anymore, so she had to step back and focus on her own career-which I totally understand and respect.

In any case, I hope you all find this interesting!

Mentors Pay It Forward

By Anne Cheevers
General Manager, 6FigureJobs

Last week I talked about why it’s important to have one (or three!), the wonderful people who agreed to be mine, and what we all got out of it. Today, I want to focus on why you should become one.

When you become a mentor, you agree to offer that person advice, access and advocacy.

Whether you are mentoring a college student or a professional whose career path is shorter than yours, your experience gives you invaluable perspective that your mentee can use to help them avoid pitfalls and missteps and to supercharge their careers.

I have several people that I mentor. Here are a couple of examples:

The first is someone I worked with 20 years ago that was an AP clerk in the accounting department. He was a very bright, very analytical guy who wanted to “make a lot of money” but didn’t want to put in the time to get his CPA.

My advice? Given his analytical bent, marketing was the career path he should consider.
Access? I helped him transition into the marketing department at my company.
Advocacy? Throughout his career I have helped prospective hiring managers understand his strengths. Today he is a lead marketer for a major advertising agency…making a lot of money.

Another mentee is a former vendor. She worked at a major printing house I used, she was an incredibly smart estimator (meaning she got me great pricing) and we had a great working relationship. At one of our meetings she shared her frustration with me that she felt like she had been dead-ended and that her opportunities at her current company were limited.

My advice? Move to the client side where “purchasing” is less narrowly defined.
Access? I worked with her to identify target companies, and segments, where opportunities might exist.
Advocacy? I’ve helped her get recognition and face time with those companies. We’ve worked together as she has transitioned from “ink on paper”, to online media and today, she is one of the top buyers for a major telecom company.

So what did I get out of all this? I feel a sense of accomplishment, and pride, in seeing the success that my mentees have achieved. Could they have done it without my mentoring? You bet. Could they have achieved their high level of success without having a mentor? I doubt it – at least not as quickly.

As my mentors have done for me, I feel a responsibility to do the same for others. That’s what my mentors have taught me – ask, learn, give back.

Please share your experiences on being a mentor at the 6FigureJobs Blog and pay it forward!

Brothers & Sisters Delivers in Season Premiere!

27 Monday Sep 2010

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ABC, Brothers & Sisters

I wasn’t sure what to expect last night when I tuned into the season premiere of ABC’s Brothers & Sisters and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised.

SPOILER ALERT

The storyline being pushed ahead a year was a great way to start off, unlike Grey’s Anatomy that started just a month after the tragedy – it was also very well done and very Grey’s. In Brothers & Sisters they fast forwarded to a year from the accident. I was impressed with Holly’s character and thought the subtle way they handled her memory loss was powerful and brilliant. I also enjoyed how Justin finally has some balls and isn’t just the cry baby that we have seen the past few years. He stepped up and got the family to finally talk about what happened.

I also loved the way they handled Kevin’s emotional turmoil. Kevin usually has it together, or it seems like he does. A bit of a control freak normally, I was happily surprised to see him crumbling the fastest and hardest; well visibly.

I have never really been in love with the Kitty character, and I hope they keep it real with this loss. I thought last night was a good start. She would reject the idea of losing Robert and instead try to save him for months and so I was happy with the way it played out.

Nora is still Nora and I love her. She was running around trying to fix everyone and hold it together. Well done.

From someone, me, who has experienced a lot of lost  in the past 10 years; from tragedy to illness and the shock of it, loss is really hard. I find it is a lot harder than anything we have to deal with in life. I know what it is to run away and pretend something didn’t happen, or sort of push it aside and go one like things are normal when in fact they will never be normal again. So when I turned on my television last night I wasn’t sure what to expect and am happy to say they delivered in a very real way!

Brothers & Sisters is a great show that has so much potential this season. I hope you all tune in~

Dear Sesame Street,

24 Friday Sep 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun

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Elmo, Katy Perry, Sesame Street

I am writing to tell you that I am deeply offended that Elmo was naked in the video with Katy Perry that has been all over the web. In the words of some kid on Charles In Charge, “I am shocked and dismayed at this … shocking dismayance!”

I mean, really? How dare you put a naked puppet on public television? I don’t know how you sleep at night. I don’t have kids, but if I did, I am sure they would only see a naked Elmo sporting the full Monty, instead of a lovable puppet.

And to add serious insult to injury, you put him with that sweet Katy, who was fully clothed.

I don’t know what to say, but where has the innocence gone? Bert and Ernie always have clothes on, and yet Elmo-NAKED!

I really hope you pay more attention to what is allowed on your show.

Sincerely,

A Concerned Citizen

Families, Vampires and Glee Oh My!

23 Thursday Sep 2010

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GLEE, Grey's Anatomy, HOUSE, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Vampire Diaries

So excited for the new seasons on my fav shows: (in no particular order), GLEE, Modern Family, The Middle, Two & a half Men, House, Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory and many more are all back on the air! Yippee I scream and shout in joy, but then remorse sets in when I realize I have no time to watch all of these!

What is a girl to do?

And then, new shows! : Terriers, Detroit 187, Hawaii 5-0, Rubicon, Lonestar, The Event! Oy vey! So many hours, so little time.

I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. This week has been amazing and last week as well. I am only thankful that some of my summer loves, like Top Chef ~ Congrats Kevin! ~ and Mad Men, and Entourage are done.

I haven’t checked back in with the wives of Wisteria Lane yet, but am excited to see Brothers & Sisters as well as No Ordinary Family on ABC.

Television has never been so good. Check back with me during Christmas break!

Now shhh-tune in please!

Mad Men “The Suitcase” Reaches New Heights! IMHO

07 Tuesday Sep 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun, Writing (film & television)

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Don Draper, Mad Men, Peggy Olsen

Oh My God!! So did you all watch this week’s episode of Mad Men?

I was floored with how brilliant it was.

I really love Don Draper so much. His character is so deep, so tragic and yet so sympathetic. He acts like a jerk at work to push people away, but you always see how much pain he is in. His best friend’s passing sent him into a drinking spell that would challenge a frat boy on spring break in Florida, and he even got sick, and yet he kept going because that is how he ‘deals’ with things. I have a friend that hates this character, in fact I am not sure she really likes the show because she is constantly saying that there is no hero, and I completely disagree. Don is our hero. He is the one we are following the most.

The writers have done an amazing job of filling in his backstory through out the years. Not knowing his mother, witnessing his father’s death, living with a cold step mother who didn’t like him much, escaping his life to build another, covering it all up with bravato and alcohol. Yes he isn’t perfect, but who is? And when a television character becomes perfect we lose interest. That is just the truth.

I think that Don Draper is on of the most complex characters ever written. I love him, I cry with him, I get frustrated with him, I sympathize with him and I definitely feel his pain.

Peggy Olsen is another very dynamic character and is played beautifully by Elizabeth Moss. The character herself going against what women are expected to do, in that time period, and disappointing her family by standing up and choosing her own career and life plane. Some people hate her for giving up the baby, but I believe that she is more strong for doing so. I can’t imagine having to make that choice.

This week’s episode showed her in a most fragile state, and it paralleled with Don’s in perfect harmony. The addition of the episode being about Samsonite luggage was beyond brilliant. The luggage, Peggy and Don all being super strong even under harsh conditions. WOW! Congrats to the writers for pulling something like this off.

This is truly inspiring television and writing. It doesn’t matter what kind of writing you do, this is an episode not to be missed when it comes to studying the craft!

I myself am more inspired than ever to learn and grow as a writer.

AND

I can’t wait until next week’s!!!

Going the Distance~Adorable!

03 Friday Sep 2010

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Okay, so I admit when I saw that Drew Barrymore-who I absolutely love-was in a new Romantic Comedy with the Mac guy-a.k.a Justin Long-I was already sold, but then while out walking my dog one night, I stumbled upon a poster with the two of them, the Brooklyn Bridge (MY FAV BRIDGE) & the Golden Gate Bride (HELLO? Love it) I was convinced.

I knew this was a film for me.

&

the best part? It didn’t suck! It was actually quite enjoyable. Adorable is the first word that comes to mind. Drew didn’t play her normal ‘RomCom’ self that we have seen so many times-but always love-The Wedding Singer, Music & Lyrics, Lucky You, Never Been Kissed, etc..she was more edgy, and just, well, adorable.

Justin was your basic guy-the usual guy-not a dick-not ready to commit-the standard for the RomCom formula. That said, it worked.

The long distance relationship seemed very real. The way they hooked up and fell in love felt very real as well. The writing was good, the acting was good. There were memorable supporting characters, as well as several laugh out loud funny moments.

If you like romantic comedies, you will like this one. Yes it isn’t anything new, but it is really sweet, funny, adorable, romanic (ugh I hate that word), and enjoyable.

Going the Distance opens tomorrow Sept 3rd.

HOUSE is a Perfect Character, and Show

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun

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Dr. House, Gregory House, HOUSE

Why do we love HOUSE so much? You have this man, a doctor, who is rude to everyone, pops pills, has hardly any friends, and is basically a curmuggen, but we tune in every week for more. Why? Because we love him!

Gregory House is quite possibly the only perfect character in television. Sure all television characters are flawed, but he is flawed in so many ways, on so many levels-with hardly any growth happening, that we have all fallen in love with him. We care about him and his loneliness-even though he has brought it on himself.

My theory on the why of this is simple-elemetary Watson-Sherlock Holmes. Dr. House is Sherlock Holmes with a few modern day twists and turns along the way. If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, you will love HOUSE. The characters follow the same basic character traits as in the stories and the episodes, all procedurals, follow a very Holmesy style of clues, no one being smart enough until finally with bouncing ideas off Watson-er I mean, Wilson, Holmes/HOUSE solves the puzzle.

It is truly brilliant and honestly, there aren’t many shows that even come close to being this well executed. I can’t wait for next season to start!

Don Draper Returns!!

25 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun, Writing (film & television)

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Don Draper, Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, Rich Sommer

Mad Men is one of the best shows I was not watching. What was I thinking? OMG. I have seen Matt Weiner speak a few times, but just was always so busy working that I couldn’t break in a new show. Now I can’t turn it off. I only wish I had more time to ‘watch’ it as apposed to mostly listening while I am drawing, but I will take what I can get.

The characters are superbly developed, but there is never too much exposition. The shots are beyond amazing. This is a great show to study if you are interested in storyboarding in any way. Every shot captures the essence of the scene without turning it into a comic book, and or an ‘ad’.

I also am learning a lot about my parents because they met in the early 60s and I never understood the way my dad thought about women and I never understood why my mother married my father-now I do. Thank you Matt Weiner.

*A little side note about Matt, he started writing sitcoms before moving onto New Jersey mobsters in the Sopranos and now the advertising men of Madison Ave. *

Here is an article I found this morning!


Rich Sommer: Season Four of ‘Mad Men’ Is ‘Unbelievable’
By Denise Warner Posted Jul 25th 2010 09:45AM
The fourth season of ‘Mad Men’ premieres in just a few hours (10 PM on AMC), and we can hardly stand the wait.

PopEater was lucky enough to talk to star Rich Sommer, who plays Harry Crane — Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce’s head of media — and he is just as enthused about the upcoming episodes as we are.

“I’m excited to finally get it out there. We’ve been sitting on it for so long. It pains us as much as it pains you guys,” he says in our interview.

The audience should expect the usual greatness that the show brings. “There are a couple of episodes this season that are unbelievable, so I can’t wait to see them,” Sommer adds.

More good news for the actor? He and his wife are expecting their second child at the end of the summer. “We’ll be having a little boy to match our little girl.” Read the Full Interview After the Jump!


Are you excited for the season four premiere as I am?

[Laughs] Yes, of course. I’m excited to finally get it out there. We’ve been sitting on it for so long. It pains us as much as it pains you guys.

You’ve seen it?

I have. I’ve now seen it twice.

What do you think?
I think it’s great. It’s hard. I said recently, it’s hard not to be a sycophant for AMC and our show in particular. It’s hard because it’s good and I’m really really proud of what we put together, especially how it kicks off. I think it starts strong.

So what can you tell me about where this season is headed?
Well, I mean, as you know by the way you asked that question, not very much. I can say that it does move forward some amount in time. We don’t start the next day after season three. We continue to be affected by the time we were in, as far as events that happened. And you see a new paradigm, it’s a new company. Even though some people are still in the same job, everyone has a new status because there are fewer people at the company. It’s a tighter run ship and it forces everybody into an elevated position of authority.

Well, let’s talk about Harry for a little bit. Where do you want to see him go in this world?
I’m rooting for him. I like Harry so much. It’s weird because obviously he’s not me. There’s a lot about him that is like me and I think we’re both pretty ambitious guys and hope for both of us that that pays off. Historically, people who did what he does, continued up the ladder. This is not the top of the ladder for someone who does what he does. People like Harry who were head of media became heads of entire agencies or got more involved in entertainment. I think that he got on the right train when he started the TV department. It looks like it could go well for him if he doesn’t f— it up.

He’s obviously very forward thinking.
Yeah. I think so. He’s at least not willing to be complacent, which is good.

What’s it like on set? Do you all hate each other?

[Laughs] No, we do not all hate each other, luckily. We get along very very well. Over the years it’s like summer camp. We’re away from each other for the bulk of the year, but when we get together, there’s a lot of talking about what you did in the off time and there’s always that renewed thing at the beginning of the season, everyone’s hanging out a lot. Jon Hamm and I like to spend a little time going to see some comedy — sorry I almost started naming the one place that we go.

[Laughs] Don’t worry.
But yeah, we like to go see comedy and Lizzie Moss [who plays Peggy Olson] is a good friend. And of course Michael Gladis [Paul Kinsey] and Aaron Staton [Ken Cosgrove] are all good friends. It’s a very social group. We’re a friendly group, we luckily get a long well. You’re best friend for the moment is whomever you’re working with that day. It’s nice.

Is there anyone you want to do more with?

Hmm. Let me preface that– it’s hard for me to answer this question, obviously, because it can give away if I have or haven’t had time with anyone yet this season — we’re now 10 episodes in — and that’s a lot of information that would be communicated by that question. I think it’s safe to say that any scene with anyone, it’s a different dynamic any time you do a scene. I loved the stuff I got to do with Christina Hendricks [Joan Holloway] in season two with ‘A Night to Remember’ when she was reading those scripts.

That was such a heartbreaking moment, when Harry hired someone else.
I know. I know I got yelled at for that off screen a few times. More than a few times. But, with her, she’s just so good. She and I have a short, albeit fun, little scene in the premiere. It’s good. As far as who do I want to work with more? Anyone. Working with Jon Hamm is always amazing. He’s so good. The scene that I got to do with him in ‘The Wheel,’ in season one, talking about the Lascaux cave paintings and the carousel, is the best scene I’ve gotten to do in anything in my entire life. Half of it was the writing, half of it was Jon, just getting to do that with him. Anytime I get to work with him is great. Of course, John Slattery [Roger Sterling] is hilarious, we have a lot of fun together. That’s a hard question to answer, for lots of reasons.

I’m sure you don’t want to make any enemies or hurt any feelings.

There’s no one I don’t want to do scenes with, let’s put it that way.

How do you feel about the phenomenon that the show has become?
I still remain pretty astounded. I’m not astounded that the show is popular, necessarily, in the way that it should be. I think it’s the best writing on TV hands down, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s kind of a no brainer. I guess I’m a little surprised because we’re still getting love. A lot of shows don’t even make it to a third and fourth season and those that do, it’s rare for them to get the respect we seem to get. The only bad thing about it is, it’s literally down hill for me. There’s nothing that can ever measure up to this. I cannot in my brain fathom how something gets bigger than this, since my biggest dreams of doing a TV show didn’t even encompass — didn’t even come close to what this show is. It’s hard to imagine it being any better.

On the flip side, I know that I feel — and a lot of other people feel — that it doesn’t get better than this for us as an audience.

That’s awesome. I mean, we agree.

I remember watching the finale last season and thinking ‘Oh my God, it got better.’
We’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. Luckily, it’s not even in sight, so it’s good.

Will we get to see ‘Mad Men’ into the ’70s?
Do you really want to? Really? I’m guessing that part of the reason people want us to go into the ’70s is the novelty of it. Seeing Don Draper in bell bottoms. I don’t think he’d ever really be in bell bottoms, but I don’t know. I know that as it stands, there is not an end in sight for the show. There was all this weird back and forth about when AMC or Lionsgate wants the show to end or when Matt Weiner wants the show to end. I’m not privy to any of that stuff. I’m just enjoying the time that I’m here and recognizing that this is a finite thing. My time on the show is finite or the show is finite — I don’t know. I just want to enjoy it while it’s here.

I’m afraid I’ll sound like an obsessed fan girl here, but I’d take as much ‘Mad Men’ as I can get. Bring on the 22-episode seasons, please.
Well, I love that and I of course, anytime I get to put on Harry Crane, I get excited but that being said, the reason the show is so effective is because of the tightness, how little time there is to do it. There are things where I will look at an episode, late in the season and realize how quickly we got from zero to 60. If you look at episode 13, we didn’t know [PPL and Sterling Cooper were going to be sold], until the beginning of 13 and that whole episode changed the entire structure of the show. While I hear what you are saying and it’d be fun, I think it’s really an integral part of why the show is as compelling as it is, to have it be stuffed into those 13 episodes as it is.

We prize what we do get, believe me.
I’m glad.

Do you have a favorite episodes?
Ohh. I have lots of favorite episodes. My favorite episode to shoot was ‘Nixon Vs. Kennedy’ in the first season. That party that happens throughout the show was basically really happening. We were all there together, we were having fun. We shot it almost entirely in chronological order, so those scenes where everyone was exhausted at the end and laying on couches [was really like that.] And one of my favorite scenes happens in the entire series, which is Paul Kinsey and Joan Holloway having a conversation about when they used to date and then dancing, silently, the Cha-Cha, with no music. They were exhausted, it was two in the morning when they finally got to that scene. They look exhausted, they sounded exhausted. That day was incredible. A lot of the people involved with that still cite that as their favorite day at work. That was my favorite to shoot. My favorite to watch? I think this answer will be different once I see this season because there are a couple of episodes this season that are unbelievable so I can’t wait to see them. But, you know, [last season’s finale] ‘Shut the Door, Have a Seat,’ the show’s never been more fun than that episode and sad and funny. It hits all the notes that the show is known for.

I love the scene where Harry finds out that they are starting a new agency is in disbelief about what is happening and he says ‘You’re kidding’ and Roger replies, ‘Yes, we are. Happy birthday.’
[Laughs.] That was really funny.

What else is going on for you, besides ‘Mad Men’?
When ‘Mad Men’ is happening, it’s pretty bonkers around here. I’m sort of on call. It’s hard to do things while we’re shooting this. I did manage to squeeze in a couple of things for Funny or Die. It’s called ‘The Committee.’ We’re hoping to do more of those. And [my wife and I are] having a second child at the end of the summer.

Congratulations!
Thank you. Right as we wrap, we’ll be having a little boy to match our little girl. Anytime I’m not at work, I’m doing that. It’s been a very full and fulfilling summer.

Well thank you so much, I obviously really enjoy the show. I don’t know if you got that.
[Laughs.] I did. But honestly, I really appreciate it. Especially when it comes to interviews, it’s always nice to talk to someone who knows the show and can kind of get the references and isn’t just asking what’s in those fake cigarettes you’re smoking. Those questions got old halfway through season one

My Boys is Back! Sundays!

25 Sunday Jul 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun, Writing (film & television)

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My Boys

MY BOYS IS BACK. Yay, season 4. I love this cute show and below there is a review that was posted about the new season.

I’m not entirely sure I agree with some of the less than positive things this reviewer says, except for sure, it doesn’t feel like it was really in Chicago, until the one episode where it was 1 degree outside for a high of the day and then got warm and then snowed..that was real(Okay, what show besides ER has felt like Chicago? Once and Again used to shoot in downtown Burbank and you could tell from the palm trees and the fact they were never wearing winter hats, scarves or anything).

But at the end of the day, who cares? (Shows set in New York always make that city look bright and sunny, and we all know that it is usually dark and gray, but  no one seems to care. Like in Friends, there were never any people on the streets-it did NOT ever feel like New York, and yet we liked it.)

I watch the show because I love the concept and the characters, and baseball of course~which if you don’t know already plays a huge part-I mean, could this show be written just for me? A comedy with baseball comparisons running throughout? Nice.

It is funny to me that this reviewer compares My Boys to How I Met Your Mother-which is also a show I really like. As well have been told on more than one occasion that I am either Robin or PJ or a combination of them both, which I take as a huge compliment, even when it is usually meant as an insult for my more tomboy-ish side-well hanging out with my boys. (pun intended)

Here is the review for you. I haven’t seen any of season 4, so I can’t review it, but I am happy it is back on. I am bummed that Andy left, but I am sure it will be great. I also do agree that the cast works really well as an ensemble.

TV Review: Talented Cast of Chicago-Set ‘My Boys’ Finds Comic Rhythm

Submitted by BrianTT on July 24, 2010 – 8:09pm.

CHICAGO – The writing on “My Boys” can still be overly self-aware of its perceived cleverness but the ensemble has developed to such an extent that they’ve reached level of talent that can overcome the occasional weak punchline or false character moment. These talented actors have finally gelled into the fine-tuned comedy ensemble that they always threatened to be and you couldn’t ask for better drinking buddies on a Sunday night this summer.

HollywoodChicago.com Television Rating: 3.5/5.0
Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

Part of the problem with the first few seasons of “My Boys” was that it wasn’t a true ensemble show. It felt like Jordana Spiro’s vehicle and the rest of the cast were merely playing off her lead. If you just saw the first two episodes of the fourth season, you’d have no idea that this was “her show.” Everyone is finally on the same level, turning the series into a much-more-successful ensemble piece like “Friends” or “How I Met Your Mother.” And that’s meant as no slight to the talent and charm of Spiro but it’s nice to see the rest of the cast treated equally and rising to the occasion.

My Boys
My Boys
Photo credit: TBS
The writers seem equally more confident about the talent of their ensemble as evidenced by the excellent scripts for the first two episodes of season four. Jim Gaffigan left between seasons and the first episode features a search for a poker replacement for the grumpy Andy. The quest to find someone to join a group that thrives on in-jokes and personal preferences is a funny and relatable one with a clever ending. The second episode allows the writers to play with the new couple dynamic as former enemies Kenny (Michael Bunin) and Stephanie (Kellee Stewart) are now dating and the pair head to the fancy new restaurant with PJ (Spiro) and her boyfriend Bobby (Kyle Howard), leaving friends Brendan (Reid Scott) and Mike (Jamie Kaler) to hilariously attempt to me men instead of merely boys.

My Boys
My Boys
Photo credit: TBS

I admit to not having seen every episode of the first three seasons of “My Boys” but I think I’ve seen more than half and I was startled at how funny the first hour of the new season ended up. These are definitely two of the most consistently enjoyable episode of the show that I’ve seen and for the first time I think I’m ready to upgrade the show from occasional diversion to regular viewing.

What’s different? The comic timing seems improved all around. Spiro is still good and she’s becoming a more capable lead with every season but by allowing her talented co-stars to share the spotlight, the show has taken on a much more effective rhythm. Scott and Kaler’s arc in episode two as they don suits and ties to try to meet a higher class of women is hysterical and a series of flashbacks in episode one about how the gang met each other — often in passing long before they were even friends — is spectacular. Howard also seems significantly more relaxed. He never looked quite comfortable in previous seasons but with the focus not so intensely on his relationship with PJ he can become a more effective player.

Of course, the Chicago connnection has always been a major part of the show but has never felt quite believable. The show often seemed to me a series set in the Windy City that didn’t quite feel like any of it was shot here or that the characters ever lived here. It’s hard to put a finger on why but even that sensation is a bit different at the start of season four. With more subtle Chicago shout-outs (a Michael Jordan autograph and a new restaurant from a “Top Chef” winner, which mirrors an establishment opened here by the winner of season three, play roles in the first two episodes), the setting feels more organic and genuine than it did before.

There are still a few punchlines that are unnecessarily underlined and the banter often sounds overly scripted (not unlike “How I Met Your Mother”). People don’t always have the right clever quip to volley back and forth in the real world. The best shows about groups of twenty- or thirty-something friends finely walk that line of presenting characters who almost always seem to know what to say with keeping them believable. “My Boys” had the clever dialogue from the beginning but they seem to have finally found the believable characters to take a decent show and turn it into a potentially great one. It took three years, but these “boys” may finally be men in the world of comedy.

‘My Boys,’ which airs on TBS, stars Jordana Spiro, Michael Bunin, Kellee Stewart, Kyle Howard, Reid Scott, and Jamie Kaler. The show returns on July 25th, 2010 at 9PM CST.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com
Read more: http://www.hollywoodchicago.com/news/11377/tv-review-talented-cast-of-chicago-set-my-boys-finds-comic-rhythm#ixzz0ufdkLvFL

so you want to be a writer? by Charles Bukowski

21 Wednesday Jul 2010

Posted by StephOBourbonWriter in Just For Fun

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so you want to be a writer? by Charles Bukowski
if it doesn't come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don't do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don't do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don't do it.
if you're doing it for money or
fame,
don't do it.
if you're doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don't do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don't do it.
if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,
don't do it.
if you're trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.


if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,
don't be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don't be dull and boring and
pretentious, don't be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don't add to that.
don't do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don't do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don't do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.
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