The Funniest British TV Show You've Never Seen

I wrote a little post on BuzzFeed about BBC's Miranda, one of my favourite British TV shows.

Read it here:

The Funniest British TV Show You've Never Seen

Fiction by Fictional Authors

Remember that time Anne Shirley wrote a story that won the Rollings Reliable Baking Powder contest? Don't you kind of want to read that story?

There is something so tantalizing, yet frustrating, about a book that is referred to in a novel or film... but doesn't actually exist. Your favourite characters keep talking about it & you just really want to read it. But you can't! Because it doesn't exist! Discord & frustration.

Here are a few books that I really want to read but can't, because both they & their authors are fictional.

An Imperial Affliction

from
The Fault in Our Stars

Yeah, this one tops the list. I've read The Fault in Our Stars twice already, but no matter how many times I read it, I'll never quite know what happens in Hazel's favourite book. For that matter, I'll also never get to live inside the endless fiction of The Price of Dawn, based on Augustus's favourite video game.

Of the many pleasant miseries afforded by reading John Green, not getting to read Van Houten's fictional fiction is just one of them. I really want to read Augustus & Hazel's favourite books. I also want to listen to The Hectic Glow. I also want everyone to live forever. Alas.

Hogwarts: A History

from 
Harry Potter

Here's a question: do the characters in Harry Potter read fiction? They read a lot - especially Hermione, obviously - but it seems to be all textbooks & Flying with the Cannons & Rita Skeeter's scandalous Dumbledore biography & Gilderoy Lockhart's made up memoirs.  Do Harry, Ron & Hermione ever read novels?

Every time I read or watch Harry Potter, I find myself really wanting to get my hands on Hogwarts: a History. What wonders might be revealed if this book actually existed? Maybe J.K. Rowling should get on that. I bet half of it is already floating around in her head.

In the meantime, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them, & Quidditch Through the Ages all do really exist & can be read.

An Unkindness of Ravens

from
One Tree Hill

I recently became obsessed with One Tree Hill, & have been binge-watching it on Netflix. I'll spare you the details; suffice it to say, I really want to read Lucas's books.

Although there is something that bugs me; An Unkindness of Ravens is confusingly referred to as fiction, even though it seems to be an exact retelling of Lucas's high school experience, without even any name changes. It's kind of like when TV show characters say they want a Mocha Latte. It drives me crazy. Because that's not a thing!

The Simon Snow series

from
Fangirl

Simon Snow is a Harry Potter-esque series in the book Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. There are clips of it scattered throughout the book & to be honest, it seems pretty gripping. If it was real, I would read it. I wouldn't mind reading a bit of the main character Cath's fanfiction, while I'm at it.

The Subsect

from
Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls was full of amazing references to real live books, but there was also one that was fictional. Remember when Rory was languishing away at her grandparents house, skipping school & being all un-Rory-like, & in the meantime Jess wrote a book? Yeah, don't you kind of want to read that book?

The Nikki Heat series

from
Castle

I'll polish off the list with this: fiction, by a fictional author, that also really exist in the real world & you can buy it & read it & it's awesome.

I love the show Castle, where the main character is an mystery writer that also helps the NYPD solve crimes. And this time we're in luck; Richard Castle's books really exist, in the real world. No one quite knows who writes them, but they are actual New York Times bestsellers.

It's all so meta.

Any that I'm missing?

Do you have any favourite fake books that you can't actually read?

Let's share the agony.

picture of Hazel reading in The Fault in Our Stars from Entertainment Weekly

10 Great Things about the Olympics

There are so many great things about watching the Olympics. Here are ten.

#10 The Olympic theme music

We Olympic fiends are total suckers for the motivational feel-good Olympics music.

We love it. So does Phoebe Buffay.

#9 Learning stuff

You sit down to watch a few minutes of Snowboarding Slopestyle, having never really heard of it. Hours later you emerge an expert, able to discuss in detail the merits of each run.

#8 Being a fan

You suddenly remember people you haven't thought of in four years (Evan Lysacek! I forgot about him; he's awesome!)

Your old favourites are back &, thanks to emotionally told backstories, you quickly develop new favourites as well. Which leads to...

#7 Routing for the underdog

We love to route for the underdog, & the Olympics are chock full of "regular" kids, attempting great things.

We may have only heard of them five minutes ago, but oh man we really want them to win.

#6  Seeing bits of the world

Two weeks spent looking at epic views of mountains & beaches in Sochi, which I for one had never even heard of pre-Olympics.

#5 Bob Costas in his fortress of solitude

We just love Bob Costas, our epic American sportscaster. I've heard a rumour that he'll be back on tonight; apparently the whole dramatic eye infection situation is under control. We've missed you, Bob Costas.

#4 The inspirational ads

Like for example that P&G ad about moms. Sob! I've developed a pavlovian response at this point; I don't even need to be watching the ad, just hearing the music in the background makes me tear up.

#3 Marveling at the possibilities of humans

Just like watching a great sports movie, there are lots of life lessons to be discovered by watching Olympians, even when you're sat on your couch with your popcorn.

#2 Odd things can matter

Do you know what is awesome about the Olympics? Odd things can matter.

I love that someone can decide to do something seemingly inconsequential (like snowboard)... & can actually use it to make a difference.

#1 The whole world comes together.

Like, very nearly the whole world. How often does that happen really?

It's amazing that with all the craziness that goes down between countries & nationalities & groups & even just the fighting within families... at the Olympics so many people come together & agree to abide by the same set of arbitrary rules for a few weeks.

We compete together & hang out with a relative lack of animosity & I love that.

Go world.

10 Great Things About the Olympics picture: Snowboarding Sochi 2014

Inspiration from Castle: Richard Castle's Office

My obsession with the TV show Castle continues.

It's just so good. Seriously.

Of course Richard Castle has an awesome New York apartment.

He is a rich, successful mystery writer, after all.

My favourite room is his office; not least because of these super epic bookcase walls...

...complete with typewriter, & lots & lots of books.

Books, books, books.

The view from the desk.

Castle's office leads into his bedroom with more bookshelves, which is awesome. 

More books, & a little Hamlet moment.

And of course; SWORDS.

Castle's office is amazing.

Can I move in here & write?

Castle's Office pictures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 12

A Great British Sitcom

I just found out you can watch one of my favourite British sitcoms on hulu.

It's called MIRANDA & it is hilarious.

(If you've seen Call the Midwives, you'll recognize Miranda Hart -- she plays Chummy.)

Seriously, this show makes me laugh until I cry.

Go. Watch it.

Great British Sitcom picture: BBC's Miranda

The Sound of Music Live

Did you watch The Sound of Music Live Thursday night?

Apparently 18 million people did.

According to twitter, opinions were decidedly mixed.

Remaking anything as loved as The Sound of Music has it's perils, especially if you are doing crazy things like performing the original stage production live on television in front of 18 million people.

But it was kind of awesome.

First of all, those nuns singing How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria. Charming.

This scene involved singing, dancing, yodeling, jumping on the bed... all live. I was impressed. Where were the microphones, even?

BTW, yes we were all expecting My Favourite Things here. Turns out this was a remake of the original Rogers & Hammerstein stage musical, not the beloved Julie Andrews film. That also explains those songs that we've never heard before, sung by lovable old Uncle Max & the Baroness Schraeder.

Speaking of the Baroness...

Laura Benanti. She was awesome in Go On with Matthew Perry, & apparently she also sings. On broadway.

She made Baroness Schraeder downright likeable. She also rocked some great dresses & a crazy pair of red trousers, which I now want.

And then there's Audra McDonald.

Carrie Underwood was not the only one crying when the Rev. Mother sang Climb Every Mountain.


If you're a purist, I get it. Nothing competes with the Julie Andrews version. (Much like Meryl Streep, Julie Andrews can do anything.)

But I loved that they just went for it. I love the film Mamma Mia because there are no holds barred, & this felt the same way. Crazy outfits? Wild hair? Jumping on the bed? Bursting into song? Why not.

It was a big, crazy thing to do but they just did it. I liked watching them attempt something so big.

Also? The Sound of Music just makes me happy.

What did you think?

BTW, I've been listening to the original Sound of Music soundtrack all day:

And I like these two articles, which basically say "It wasn't good, but I enjoyed it," & "The Sound of Music Live was borderline unprofessional. Also: Terrific."

(I'm now dying to go re-watch the regular film.)

The Sound of Music Live pictures: Carrie Underwood, Goatheard song & nuns, Laura Benanti, Audra McDonald

2 Books for Downton Abbey Fans

If you are one of the millions who have become strangely gripped by the drama of the Crawley family, & you've found yourself suddenly fascinated by WWI & the class system in England, these 2 books are for you.

Lady Almina & the Real Downton Abbey
by the Countess of Carnarvon

Who wouldn't want to read a book written by "The Countess"? I picked this book up expecting it to be just thrown together to cater to the Downton craze. But it turns out to be a good story, well told.

It tells the real story of Highclere Castle (where Downton is filmed) & the eccentric aristocrats who lived there during the same time period as Downton Abbey. Lord Carnarvon happens to be one of the guys who discovered King Tuts tomb. And Lady Almina really did start a hospital at Highclere during WWI.

The World of Downton Abbey
by Jessica Fellowes

I found The World of Downton Abbey in the book aisle at Tesco & I couldn't resist. It shamelessly caters to it's demographic (Rivalry & Romance Revealed!)... & I am it's demographic. Also it's written by Julian Fellowes niece, Jessica Fellowes, so it's the real deal. Pictures, behind the scenes, historical details; I'm a sucker for all of this.

And who knows, reading these books might help you remember how much you love Downton... even if you are still a little mad at Julian Fellowes.

Downton Abbey book pictures from 1, goodreads

Our Favourite Fall TV Shows

We both love a good TV show. Here are a few of our fall favourites...

Agents of Shield
Agents of Shield is a little bit of Marvel every week. We both love this show so far. It seems like it needs some time to find it's feet & balance out, so hopefully it gets the chance. It did just get picked up for a full season; yay. Hulk smash.

Parenthood
Truly, this is one of the best shows on television, don't you think? It just nails what family & relationships really feel like. The Bravermans are the best. Who wouldn't love Zeek, Crosby, Max? (Catch up on the first 4 seasons on Netflix.)

Castle
Christy caught up on all 5 seasons of Castle in the last few months, that's how much she loves it. Nathan Fillion as a writer, people. It's great.

How I Met Your Mother
This show makes Christy laugh out loud every week. And she kind of want to be friends with The Mother.

Chicago Fire
Oh, the crazy drama of being a firefighter in Chicago. (If you haven't tried Chicago Fire yet, the first season is totally worth catching up on.)

Also, Christy is trying out Hostages, with Toni Collette & Dylan McDermott. Oh & The Michael J. Fox show is quite funny.

What shows are you watching?

Our Favourite Fall TV Show images: Agents of Shield & Chicago Fire

Emma Approved

Have you seen The Lizzie Bennett Diaries? It's a modern adaptation of Pride & Prejudice done as a video diary. I usually get a little twitchy with all the crazy Jane Austen adaptations & spinoffs (although I do kind of want to read Death Comes to Pemberley) but I got pretty hooked on Lizzie Bennett.

Now the creators of The Lizzie Bennett Diaries have launched a new series based on another Austen classic. The first video of Emma Approved went up last week, with the "handsome, clever, & rich" Emma Woodhouse (& a quick Mr. Knightley sighting.)

I only recently realized that Hank Green (brother of John Green, author of The Fault in our Stars) is the co-creator, with Bernie Su. They actually won an Emmy for The Lizzie Bennett Diaries.

The Emma Approved characters have their own Twitter accounts & sometimes even Pinterest boards. This time there is also a blog where you can find links to the clothes worn in the videos, like the "E" monogrammed necklace worn by Emma & available on Etsy. A couple new short videos go up every week.

The whole thing is so clever &, I'll be honest, totally addicting.

What do you think? Will you be watching Emma Approved? Do you like all the Jane Austen spin-offs or is it a little too much?

Emma Approved picture

BBC's The Paradise

It's no secret that we really love British period dramas. And thanks to Downton Abbey, so does the rest of the world! While we anxiously await the premiere of Downton Abbey series four in America, we are enjoying a few of the many other excellent British costume dramas.

I am super excited about BBC's The Paradise, which just started airing on PBS this week. The show tells the story of Denise Lovett & her new job at The Paradise, a swanky department store in London. I already have the book on hold at the library, and am excited to see that series two will start airing in England at the end of this year.

This show has all the "power struggles, intrigues and romance" we love about a good British series. Thanks for keeping me entertained while I wait for Downton Abbey series 4, PBS!

The Paradise image via the BBC

Inspiration from Castle: Kate Beckett's Apartment

Nathan Fillion used to be in this great old 90's show Two Guys, a Girl & a Pizza Place with Ryan Reynolds.  (Jenny & I still refer to Ryan Reynolds as "Berg," his character in the show.)

Also, my friend Sharelle, who has impeccable taste, has been raving about Castle (Nathan Fillion as a writer!) for years.

So when I finally got around to watching Castle, I was not surprised to find that I loved it.

Let's take a moment & admire Detective Kate Beckett's sweet loft apartment, shall we?

A union jack pillow, always a good thing.

Check out those bookshelves on the left. They are individual shelves, staggered randomly on the wall.

Industrial lights attached over the bookcases. In fact, the lighting in general is really good.

Supposedly that door leads to a rooftop garden.

And Stana Katic (who plays Kate Beckett) is adorable as always.

Those bookshelves again.

A little fireplace.

And that room you can see is a little home office.

The look of Beckett's apartment is more stark & industrial than the way I tend to decorate.

But there are a lot of great little details & the whole thing just works.

The view from the front door. The fireplace & office are on the left, the kitchen on the right. And see those stairs on the right, with books stacked on them? That's the spot that leads to the roof.

The kitchen.

The stairs with stacks of books.

That table/stove top is awesome.

And I think this use of small space would make IKEA proud.

In the second season of Castle, Beckett's old apartment was blown up by someone trying to kill her. (It's rough being a NYPD Detective.) So when the designers planned this new apartment for her, they intentionally made it eclectic & industrial, with bits & pieces from her old apartment mixed haphazardly with new stuff.

I just love that Kate Beckett so much. She has definitely joined the list of my favourite strong female fictional characters.

And I wouldn't mind living in that great loft apartment of hers.

{More Inspiration from Castle: Richard Castle's Office}

Kate Beckett's Apartment pictures via: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Chicago Fire

Have you seen the show Chicago Fire?

I'd seen them filming around Chicago several times & kept meaning to sit down & watch it.

When I finally did, I got totally hooked. It's so good! I'm kind of tempted to go back & watch the whole first season over again.

Season two starts in about a month, so now is the perfect time to catch up on season one (it's on hulu right now.)

Have you seen it?

What TV shows have you been hooked on lately?

Chicago Fire image via fanpop.