Watched the Golden Globes telecast tonight, along with half a billion others. How they know how many are watching? Nobody's ever asked me what I watch.

GG's is my favourite awards show, I think, if only because it's the first of the year. By the time the Academy Awards come around, the winners are a given. Plus, TV is included. And no performances, which I can do without. Well, apart, from the occasional comic presenter who decides to go off-script. Some get it right -- Ricky Gervais, beer in hand -- and some don't. But then I guess Sasha Baron Cohen always goes for the cringe rather than the laugh.

No palaver, just the awards and the frocks and OMG-handsome in dinner suits (I am quite the fan of sophisticated dressers) and most of the A-listers looked as though they might be enjoying themselves. Well, sure, they're actors. This has not escaped my attention. But they're at tables with Moet and table-hopping like mad. I imagine who you're seen talking to matters as much who you talk to.

High points:

* Anna Paquin winning for True Blood. (She's Sookie Stackhouse, right?)

* The standing ovation for Heath Ledger's supporting actor win (big lump in throat, still)

* Multiple wins for Slumdog Millionaire, including best movie

* Kate Winslet winning twice, despite her unfortunate second speech

* Not a Mickey Rourke fan but admire a genuine comeback and man loves his dogs (always earns bonus points)

* The Irish-accented erm -- or is that airrm? -- as featured in Colin Farrell's speech. And his suit. Man looked almost as good as he sounded.

* Sandra Bullock, funny without trying

* White is the new black. Eva Mendez, Kate Beckinsale and Sandra Bullock looked amazing as did Selma Hayek and Penelope Cruz in off-white

* Cameron Diaz looked amazing in pink

Movies I now want to see: Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Happy-Go-Lucky, and (of course) Slumdog Millionaire, which Anne Gracie had already insisted I must see.

The question I was left pondering: who decides who sits closest to the stage and who gets the seats way up the back? Because, damn, they must have some egos to tread eggshells around.

Labels: Award Shows, Colin Farrell, Golden Globes, my everyday life, TV

Between books is a great catch-up time and this time I've caught up on some missing television, courtesy of a Christmas gift I'd hidden and then forgotten about. It's Season 1 of Brothers and Sisters. After a weekend marathon I've now caught up on 23 episodes of awesome.

I started watching B&S when it debuted, but a few plot things irritated me and my dh hated it and I missed some episodes etc etc. I'm so glad I gave it a second chance because this time the irritations were smaller--Kitty's lips, Justin's constipated frown, Holly's enunciation, the fact that these successful 30-somethings cannot keep a secret to save themselves and despite their high pressure careers can ALWAYS find time to chat and/or gather at the family home at a moment's notice--and so I was able to swallow the plot stuff in those early episodes. I guess because I was expecting it.

The more I watched, the more I loved the family dynamics and the whole spectrum of grey in the characters. There are no goodies, no baddies, just people who make good and bad decisions and who are all the more real because of the bad ones. It would have been too easy to paint Holly as Evil Other Woman, and the episode where she and Nora had it out (Grapes of Wrath) was one of my favourites. Particularly like that all the drama is character driven, and that the finale didn't succumb to the lure of the cliffhanger. Instead it completed a beautiful arc of Nora's growth. Love that.

Love Sarah, mostly love Kevin, not so much Justin. Tommy we have not got to know (deliberate? I'm wondering if he comes into his own in season 2.) Jury's out on Kitty and that's a bit because of Ally McBeal but also because I'm not quite buying her political brilliance. Maybe if she'd stayed with the Red, White & Blue show, because I loved her snappy banter with Warren. They had chemistry. With Rob Lowe, not so much. Liked him better in West Wing. Together, I just didn't feel it, not like I did with Sarah and Joe. The episode where they broke up, man I just FELT the hurt.

Any other B&S fans in the house? If so, no spoilers. I plan to catch up on season 2 as soon as poss. Am also about to check and see if there's a soundtrack because the music, the songs, also awesome.

Labels: TV

How long has reality TV been around? A decade? Probably, something like that. In the early years I resisted the allure of Big Brother and Survivor and The Amazing Race and The Bachelor. I didn't want to be sucked in by shows that would consume too much time and which had no storyline and which created a false sense of celebrity. Notice my mention of "sucked in"? Yeah, I know myself well enough to recognise that I could be a victim and so it has come to pass. All resistence was futile. After a couple of seasons of Idol, Australian and then American, I am now marking my calendar for each week's episode of Next Top Model, Top Chef and Project Runway. The first two I can take or leave, really, but I LOVE Project Runway. Have even started watching Tim Gunn's Guide To Style. Not as good as Trinny and Susannah, in fact it's borderline irritating and I don't know why I keep watching.

How about you -- are you a reality show addict? Which do you watch each season, regardless?

Labels: TV

I haven't watched American Idol for several seasons, probably since it was last shown free to air. This year it's showing on sub TV and I'm watching and I'm enjoying. Not always the performances, but Simon.

Here's the deal: I'm going to blog a few random thoughts on the show, but I reckon we're watching AFTER you guys in America so no spoilers, okay? (Not that I always watch the results show because it's like ten minutes worth watching stretched and dragged out.)

The 11 Show: Beatles two weeks in a row--what were they thinking? Not that I don't love the fab four, but are they still relevant to kids in their teens and twenties??? My teens and twenties don't think so, and while last week's shows featured some pretty cool interpretations this week was always going to be about 2nd choices. No surprise that the 2 best performances were from artists who disappointed last week (David A and Syesha) and had to do better this time.

Simon, you were right: Jason really is all about the goofy charm, isn't he? I find myself smiling along with him. He has that kinda face.

Simon, you were wrong: Carly, Blackbird. I loved her simple, subtle, restrained delivery...but then I've never been a fan of the big, belted-out ballad.

Looking good: loved Syesha's dress, but what was Ramiele wearing? ==>>

I'm loving: Brooke and Michael.

I'm over: Amanda but I reckon it might be Kristy who goes home. A pity because she seems a real sweetie. I like her voice but she doesn't have the hey-look-at-me stage presence of some of the others.

Labels: Idol, TV

Recently I discovered British show Top Gear (Saturday nights on our SBS network) and I'm loving it. In a nutshell (and from the SBS website because, when it comes to blurbing, why tinker with the experts who market the show?): "TOP GEAR is a high octane mix of performance cars, adrenalin, comedy and celebrities. The hugely popular motoring magazine test drives and brutally appraises the world's most popular cars with startling honesty, along with celebrity laps, irreverent wraps and breathtaking stunts and driving."

Before you ask, no I am not a secret revhead. I like a nice car as much as the next person, but if I were writing a "these are a few of my favourite things" list, then the only horse-power listed would be the hooved kind. But Top Gear is now one of my favourite TV indulgences.

At first I thought it would be good research, since the guys often test the kind of high-end, expensive cars driven by Desire heroes these days. The vision of a sleek Mercedes flying along a German autobahn might have provided the initial motivation but I stayed for the entertainment. I love the witty banter between the three presenters and the intelligent good-humoured snark, but I've also learned a lot about boys and their toys and the whole male-buddies interaction thing. And that human touch is excellent research for a romance writer.

Is there a show that you found unexpectedly entertaining this year? That surprised or delighted you?

Labels: boys toys, TV