The Virtue of Being Bad

Warner Bros. Television Distribution

I am so done with sundresses and sunscreen. This waiting for the Fall TV season is torture. The marketing campaigns haven’t even started! No palettes wetted. Come. On. Instead of impatiently waiting to be wowed, I decided to pull a throwback, best-at courtesy of Gossip Girl season two.

In it’s first season, Gossip Girl was widely misunderstood as a younger targeted show – the press had a field day and the dismal ratings warranted cancellation. What was supposed to be a fun, entertaining, and soapy drama, turned into a lightning rod for conversations on child rearing and a sad reflection of a reckless, feckless youth. Taken too seriously by media and watchdog groups alike, Gossip Girl incited venomous reactions and headlines.

As a last ditch effort, with nothing to lose, Gossip Girl went into the season two promotions with guns blazing. Those venomous headlines were turned into a white hot marketing campaign. Instead of hiding the negative coverage, Gossip Girl (and the geniuses at WongDoody) matched the quotes with incendiary imagery. The campaign put the show's wit, intelligence and sophistication on full display for all to see. Job done. Bow down. Don't even get me started on the typography. Delightful.

Also of note, are the Gossip Girl season two TV promos which employed the same venomous headlines. All are here on this link. The last two are just magic, using the track, Ca Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand. 

I mean, OMFG in all the best ways. XOXO

The Fills Are Alive...

Warner Bros. Television Distribution, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Disney–ABC Domestic Television

As I impatiently wait in the purgatory that is the pre-Fall TV season, I decided it's about time I sent an 'Elevator Love Letter' to Alexandra Patsavas. Music supervisor extraordinaire, Alexandra has selected, mixed and supervised tracks of some of the most beloved TV shows. With The OC, she led the trend for the return of music promotion through TV integration. The OC's theme song, California by Phantom Planet, made it impossible to get through the opening credits without singing at the top of my lungs. And while Seth Cohen was dubbed uncool, his love for Death Cab absolutely was. 

With the first six seasons of Grey's Anatomy, Alexandra had music lovers clamoring to itunes immediately after each episode. Tracks from Grey's Season's 1 and 2 swung so hard, they still sting so good. She dropped the gauntlet and set the tone with the pilot's opening track 'Portions for Foxes' by Rilo Kiley. That was the beginning of the long tracklist synonymous with Grey's Anatomy, rising well beyond the background and soundtrack of the show. Listed below are some of the early favorites 1. because I can't control myself and 2. because with these particular tracks, it's almost impossible to separate them from the show.
‘Somewhere Only We Know’ Keane
‘You Wouldn’t Like Me’  and ‘Where Does the Good Go’ Tegan and Sara
‘Sunday’ Sia
‘Breathe’ Anna Nalick
‘How to Save a Life’ The Fray
‘Chasing Cars’ Snow Patrol
'Break Me Out' The Rescues (this live performance is way sweet too)

Alexandra even featured a Taylor Swift track before she went pop. And that's only Grey's! F me, Gossip Girl! Again, with the pilot's opening track – gauntlet dropped, tone set with Peter Bjorn and John's 'Young Folks.' Like Grey's, there are far too many excellent tracks to list, I can only scratch the surface, otherwise I'll go so deep, I'll dig a tunnel right out of the Internet. Here's a few highlights:
‘What Comes Around’ Justin Timberlake
‘You’re a Wolf’ Sea Wolf
‘Rolling in the Deep’ Adele
‘We Are Young’ Fun

Alexandra took her love of music and turned it into her own firm, Chop Shop Supervision, later leveling up to her own music label, Chop Shop Records. She's supervised music for movies including The Twilight Series, Hunger Games, and Perks of Being a Wallflower. And for a slew of other TV shows including Mad Men, Selfie, Scandal, iZombie, and Chuck. Her IMDB page reads like a dream resume.

In the very simplest of terms, Alexandra made a career out of fangirling music. Fucking awesome. Meanwhile, my fangirling efforts – including a long history of camping overnight for concert tickets or hands shaking over the keyboards for the clock to strike ten – still takes the form of drawing hearts and stars, making over-earnest proclamations and nicknaming favorite rock heroes – Jackie Jack, Ry Ry, and Dave. You know, Alexandra, we all show our love of music in different ways. But sending a love letter for all the ways you've shared your love with us.