Do you have any plans tonight?
No? Oh, that's too bad. I guess you have no soul.
For anyone who does have a soul, they'll probably be glued onto their television sets tonight for the return of .. [dun dun dunn] .. The Office!
Here at Life in Boxes, it's been a bit of a running joke that another editor (Hi Jen!) and I are a little bit in love with The Office. We blogged about it here when the new season was airing. We continued on when the WGA strike put production in a standstill for 100 days. And yes, when our beloved show returns tonight, you bet your Tivo that we sure as hell are going to post about it today.
*semi-spoilers / links ahead
Tonight's episode is called "Dinner Party." From the spoilers read here and there online, as well as the recently added "cold opening" on the NBC website, it is pretty self-explanatory even in the episode title itself as to what's going on with our Dunder Mifflin friends tonight.
It'll be interesting to see how producers are going to hide Angela Kinsey's (who plays everyone's favorite cat-loving and party-planning extraordinarre, Angela Martin) burgeoning baby bump. According to recent interviews, expect to see Angela behind printers, behind the desk, etc. Aw, I guess the speculated pregnancy-lovechild story between Angela and Dwight won't be happening anytime [soon?].
Anyway, after weeks of waiting .. it's finally here. We can all breathe and start the countdown.
8 hours to go.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
And So It Begins ..
Review: Asssscat 3000
What do you get when you put the writers of Saturday Night Live, the Daily Show, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien in a room together?
The answer is Asssscat 3000.
Asssscat 3000 is an improv comedy show played at the Upright Citizen's Brigade every Sunday at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. It is led by the founders of the UCB (including Amy Poehler of SNL fame)....
The way it works is five comedians and one mediator monologist (thanks, Nathan :x) come up on stage. The mediator monologist takes an idea from the audience and builds a story together from that single idea. In turn, the comedians make up small skits based on ideas thrown out in the mediator's monologist's story.
The entire show is improvised, but you would be hard-pressed to notice. The actors all have great comedic timing and a chemistry that makes for hilarious short skits. Even when some of the ideas fall flat, the they manage to get a couple of good jokes in. In all, the show is 1 1/2 to 2 hours of laughs.
Two things make the show even more special: the actors and the price.
Aside from getting top notch writers performing, you will usually have a celebrity in the bunch. Most likely it'll be Amy Poehler or some other SNL cast member. When I went, Amy Poehler was away, but instead John Lutz (Lutz) and Jack McBrayer (Kenneth the Page) of 30 Rock were there. And during the writer's strike, Michael Cera performed on Asssscat 3000 / SNL combo show.
Most comedy clubs charge something like $20 plus a two drink minimum for a show. Asssscat 3000 tickets? They only run you $8 ($8.90 if you order online) for the 7:30 show, and free for the 9:30 show. What's more, their beer is $2-$3. This is probably one of the best deals you'll find in the city.
Such great deals do not come without caveats, however. Advanced tickets sell out a week before each show, and people start standing on line for the 9:30 show at around 6:00 or even earlier. Even if you do buy tickets in advance, be prepared to get to the theater by 6:45 or earlier to get really good seats.
Also, for $8/free, don't expect any kind of luxuries. The UCB theater is a small, tightly packed 150 person theater with seating in directly in front of and along the sides of the stage. The best seats are in the front and center (obviously). But if you're brave enough, you can sit on the floor, almost literally on the stage, with the actors about 2 feet away from you.
In all, Asssscat 3000 is a typically New York 20-something place to go. It's freakin' hilarious, cheap, and grungy. I would highly recommend spending your Sunday night at Asssscat 3000.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Music: Marie Digby - Unfold
Album: Unfold
Artist: Marie Digby
Release Date: April 8, 2008
Genre: Pop
Marie Digby is a true YouTube phenom, with her homemade videos being viewed over 15 million times. She first shot to fame in '07 when she posted a video of herself singing a cover of Rihanna's Umbrella. To date, her take on Umbrella has had over 6 million hits, and it propelled Digby into a moderate internet sensation. Contrary to popular belief (and uncovered in a Wall Street Journal article), Digby wasn't a complete unknown in the music industry when she first started posting videos on YouTube. Already signed to Hollywood Records, she explains that she was tired of the lack of promotion she was getting, resorting to YouTube as a last attempt to get her name out there before being dropped by her label.
Digby's persistence of self-promotion in this new media age has led to a loyal following, and is proving to pay off well. She went from being a nobody at her label to a much talked about star. Her channel on YouTube is one of the most subscribed to, her songs have been featured on episodes of shows like the Hills and Smallville, Gap chose her to be one of the musicians featured in their upcoming Spring ad campaign, and her first full-length album, Unfold, was released this week.
As one of her loyal fans (I love girls on pianos as much as guys on guitars), I bought the album the day of its release. Considering I was pretty familiar with most of the songs on her album- live performances of her songs can be found on her YouTube page- the album wasn't a big surprise nor does it stray from what she's known for. However, the acoustic feel of her performances in her videos is missing from the album, as Unfold is a slickly produced pop record. If she hadn't shown her coffeehouse performance-style side in her videos, you would've just thought she was a generic pop star from the sounds of this record alone.
That's not to say that Unfold is a generic album. I mean, it doesn't re-invent the whole pop, pop princess, or pop-rock genre, but it's enjoyable to listen to. Digby is a talented songwriter, and while she is best known for covering famous songs, she is apt at composing original songs that are catchy and lyrical. She has a very pretty, very melodic voice, which she employs in her very pretty, very melodic songs. If you're into pop, this is a good record to check out.
Recommended Tracks: Say it Again, Spell, Girlfriend, Umbrella
Grade: B+
You Should Be Watching...The Riches
Normal sucks. This is the sentiment echoed throughout FX's Emmy Award winning show, The Riches. The Riches (FX, Tuesdays 10PM) is actually about the Malloys, a family of travelers who are involved in a car accident that kills an upscale family named Riches. The Malloys, in an attempt to leave their Traveller life behind, assume the identity of the Riches. Yes, it sounds absurd, but the show's plot twist are so deftly intertwined that the incredibility of the plot is forgotten.
Eddie Izzard plays Wayne Malloy, the father and mastermind of the family. Minnie Driver stars as Dahlia Malloy, Wayne's wife and glue of the family. The rest of the Malloy children are Cael (Noel Fisher), Di Di (Shannon Marie Woodward), and Sam (Aidan Mitchell). They are each blessed with a wealth of intelligence and street smarts and an ability to con you out of everything including the lint in your pockets. The children's relationship with each other and their parents is interesting, but Izzard and Driver carry the show.
My one concern with the show is that it is built on a series of plot twists. This leads to the question of how long can the writers continue to pique the interest of the audience before the material turns stale. For now, in its second season, The Riches continues to get curiouser and curiouser and less normal each episode.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Spotlight: The Lonely Island
These days, the general consensus seems to be that Saturday Night Live is no longer funny. But some old habits die hard, and damnit, I love me some SNL. Sure, I admit that a good portion of the sketches baffle me, but I watch on, hoping for the show to redeem itself with either a reoccuring character (Debbie Downer or MacGruber, anyone?), or a SNL digital short. And for the most part, the SNL digital shorts do not disappoint, thanks to the lovely minds of The Lonely Island.
Mainly composed of "The Dudes," SNL cast member Andy Samberg, and SNL writers Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone are the creative minds that brought us "Lazy Sunday" and "Dick in a Box." The three all grew up in Berkley, California and met during junior high school. The trio shot a sketch-comedy show pilot for FOX called "Awesometown," only to be rejected; they then made another pilot to pitch to MTV, but was rejected once more. But upon posting their failed pilots on their website, their video clips were spread like wildfire, only to be finally noticed by SNL.
In all fairness, it's a safe bet to say that the humor of The Lonely Island isn't necessarily for everyone. Sure, "Lazy Sunday" was a popular hit, but I'm pretty sure not all people can appreciate the humor in MacGruber. I personally found punching people before they eat to be hilarious, but while watching it with a small group of people, I found myself laughing by my lonesome. Also, how many people can say that they've seen The Dudes' first feature-length film, "Hot Rod?" Cool beans!
Many might say that The Lonely Island relies on childish humor. But in a world where people are trying too hard to be funny, it's refreshing to find humor in the simplest of things. The Dudes have come a long way from their failed pilots, and keep making their low-budget videos in hopes to entertain. And it's inspiring to see that anything is possible, especially within our generation of video-recording and Youtube video-sharing. Here's to the next generation of comedy.
And in case you haven't seen "Hot Rod" yet ..
Monday, April 7, 2008
[Feature] Born to Run - A Non-Runner's Guide to Running
When I tell people that I enjoy running, I usually get 1 of 2 reactions: the 'Good for you! That's so awesome, I run too' reaction, or the 'Ugh, I HATE running!' one. I'm a newbie to running myself, but I have to say that there is really nothing like a runner's high, or knowing that you pushed your body to the limit and was successful at it. And as someone who just six months ago couldn't run a mile without thinking she was going to DIE, I think I've come a long way in a short amount of time. I'm here to tell you that, yes, running is hard no matter what level you're at, but it's never too late to start doing it, nor is it impossible for you to become a runner. I'm not an expert on it by any means, but I've come to really enjoy the sport, and I know that if I can do it, you definitely can too.
Why I Started Running
People start running for various reasons, whether they want to lose weight or get healthier. Basically, I've secretly wanted to be a runner all my life. It just seemed a cool thing to do, but I never could get myself to actually do it. One day, I got tired of my usual elliptical-for-an-hour routine at the gym, and I got on a treadmill. I wanted a challenge, and running was definitely it. The great thing about running is that you're constantly challenging yourself, and it's definitely a battle with your mind, not with your body. Everyday is something different- I'm either pushing myself to run longer, harder, or faster, but it's always something new, and I really enjoy that aspect of it.
Benefits of Running
This is a no-brainer. Running is one of the most rigorous cardiovascular exercises you can engage your body in. It allows a person to burn an average of a 100 calories per mile, which is a lot more than say biking or walking, which would only burn a fraction of that. So for weight loss, running is a great exercise option. Health-wise, running helps lower blood pressure by maintaining the elasticity of arteries. Running also keeps your lungs strong by encouraging the use of the 50% that normally go unused, maximizing its potential. And running regularly will prevent muscle and bone loss, thus helping to fight the aging process. Convinced yet??
Where to Begin
Ok, so great, you now know why I started running and the benefits of it. But what do you do when you're new to the game? Well, for starters, I like running because you don't need an equipment and you can do it anywhere. All you need are your sneakers and a road.
Make sure you have good shoes, because that's really important. To make sure you're getting the right fit, it's not a bad idea to get a shoe fitting from an expert. Road Runner Sports (there's one in Paramus) has what they call a Shoe Dog, a system in which they ask you questions about your running style and analyze the way you run to find your perfect shoe match. You don't need to get this extreme about it, but investing in a good pair of sneakers will go a long way.
A good posture is also important. You want to be efficient with your running so you're not spending any unnecessary energy. Stand tall (NO hunching over), keep your abs tight, and keep your arms at a 90 degree angle by your side. Also remember to breathe properly, meaning deep breaths in and out, no shallow ones.
Set a goal. Mine was to just start with 1 mile. I slowly but surely worked my way up from that. I have a couple of pending goals at the moment, which include more mileage and faster runs, but it's good to start small and build up. If you just want to run, I wouldn't necessarily worry about distance or speed, and just concentrate on time. Run at a pace you feel comfortable with, for about 15 minutes and build from there.
Another goal of mine is to start running outside more, once the weather becomes warmer. Right now, I prefer the treadmill because it is easier than outdoors running, and I go to the gym at night when it's dark, so I can run without worrying about being kidnapped or getting hit by a car. But treadmill running can become habitual and stagnant, so I figure a nice change of scenery, running partners, and my ultimate 08 goal of running a 5K will motivate me to run outside more. If you're also looking to run a 5K or a half/full marathon, there are plenty of training guides out there for that kind of stuff, like these: 5K, Marathon
Playlist
I can't run without the music on my iPod. Studies have shown that listening to music during activity makes people exercise longer and harder, as well as distract them from negative inhibitors like fatigue. So experts suggest that to really pump you up, you should be listening to songs that are between 120-150 b.p.m. (beats per minute). Most commercial dance and rock songs fall somewhere in this category. So make a playlist and get running!
A couple of songs on my running mix:
Young Love - Find a Way
Muse - Hysteria
Fort Minor - Remember the Name
Janet Jackson - Feedback
Notorious B.I.G - Hypnotize
The Dandy Warhols - We Used to Be Friends
Jennifer Lopez - Do It Well
Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake - 4 Minutes
So that's pretty much it. There's a ton of literature out there about running; I've only covered a couple of things here. Bottom line: running is not that bad, it won't kill you, and anyone can become a runner with a little dedication. Remember, it's like 80% mental, 20% physical. And I'm serious, if I can do it, anyone can do it. See you on the road!
Friday, April 4, 2008
What are you doing this weekend?
Forecast
Fri.: 45°F, breezy with rain
Sat.: 54°F, rainy
Sun.: 59°F, sunny
See
Opening This Weekend
Leatherheads (starring George Clooney, John Krasinski, Renee Zellweger)
Nim's Island (starring Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin)
The Ruins (starring Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore)
Events
National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. is the place to be this weekend! The cherry blossom trees will be at their peak bloom this time of the year, so get your cameras out and go for a nice weekend drive.
©Murakami at the Brooklyn Museum (through 7/13/08)
A comprehensive survey of the work of artist Takashi Murakami, who is frequently called the Japanese Andy Warhol. Probably best known for his colorful collaboration with Louis Vuitton, the museum will also have a boutique selling Vuitton bags, wallets, and other accessories for the duration of the exhibition. Jen's so there (for the art, of course).
