Miss Sugarbritches

FridayNightLights

MVP: Stacey Oristano

Danielle VialeComment
NBC Universal Television Distribution, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, ABC Family, Warner Bros. Television, Netflix

NBC Universal Television Distribution, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, ABC Family, Warner Bros. Television, Netflix

Let's take a moment to appreciate Stacey Oristano who appeared in the recent Gilmore Girls mini-series, A Year in the Life. Stacey has appeared in some this fangirl's favorites including Friday Night Lights and Bunheads. Each time, she successfully blends herself into a new world be it Texas football or Southern California ballet dancers.

In Friday Night Lights, Stacey played Mindy Collette, the promiscuous sister to Tyra, bride of Billy Riggins, and stripper at The Landing Strip. One year after FNL wrapped, Stacey made her appearance on Amy Sherman-Palladino's short lived series, Bunheads. As Truly Stone, Stacy played the bashful, painfully awkward shopkeeper at Sparkles in Paradise, California. After keeping to herself in the quaint, tiny community, she befriended Michelle and began to break out of her Sparkles shell.

It's no surprise that Stacey was invited for the return of Amy Sherman-Palladino's original series reboot, Gilmore Girls, A Year in the Life. Stacey's was a welcome ASP alumni face in a sea of random cameos. She appeared as Allie, a fellow Wild-er to Lorelie's short lived Pacific Crest Trail adventure. As Allie, Stacey brought a dash of Truly's awkwardness mixed with a new determination to solve life's post-divorce mysteries. While I've always enjoyed Stacey's appearances, it's this last one that reminded me she's someone special and we should all take notice. I'm grateful for her friendship to Lorelai around the campfire and hope she finds her next adventure soon. I'll definitely be tuning in with s'mores in hand!

Willing Lightning to Strike Twice

Danielle VialeComment

Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, ABC Family Original Productions, Disney-ABC Domestic Television

In anticipation of the Gilmore Girls’ return to the screen courtesy of Netflix, I decided to go through the Amy Sherman-Palladino back catalog.  Bunheads is the story of a former American Ballet Academy dancer, now showgirl who, at the end of her Las Vegas rope, accepts the marriage proposal of an admirer. He entices her with his view of the beach from his house in Paradise, California. There, his mom runs a dance academy where our hero, Michelle, befriends the restless, boy crazy bunheads who make up the senior dance troupe. As the show progresses, Michelle continues to grow as an inspiration and confidant to the girls, and in Paradise, she finds a sense of belonging and purpose.

The 2012 Amy Sherman-Palladino vehicle has memorable characters and a great deal of charm. As a Gilmore Girls fan, I was psyched to have another show from the ASP team to devour. However, I was split as to how Bunheads ranked next to it's predecessor. I wanted Bunheads to succeed on it's own and not rely on tropes that came before. But I am split. So here's the best of Bunheads and also the things I continue to reimagine – not least is their denied second and third seasons.

TOP FIVE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT BUNHEADS
1.   The four Bunheads Boo, Mel, Ginny and queen, Sasha.
2.  The great friendships Among the bunheads themselves, Michelle and fellow showgirl, Talia, Truly and Fanny. But the best relationship was between Sasha and Michelle. Left behind by her family, Sasha leaned on Michelle, and Michelle, still reluctant to be an adult, let her.
3. The familiar Gilmore Girls' faces Kelly Bishop, once Mamma Gilmore, now Fanny Flowers, Kirk, now coffee extraordinaire, Sebastian, and Paris, now money-loving Milly, the Taylor Doose of the show.
4.  The set design The Bunheads characters had plenty of charming places in the made up town of Paradise to meet including Fanny's house, the dance studio, the dressing room, Michelle’s cabin, Sparkles Dress Shop, and The Oyster Bar where Boo worked.
5.  The plentiful pop references Ferris Bueller's police station scene with Jeanie and Charlie Sheen was reimagined at Paradise Hospital with Sasha and Roman. In the same episode, Dead Poet's Society, Oh Captain, My Captain, was recreated by the ballet troupe. If that weren't enough, dance performances were set to such acts as Tom Waits' Picture in a Frame, They Might Be Giants' Instabul (Not Constantinople), and Bjork's It's Oh So Quiet.

TOP FIVE THINGS I'D CHANGE ABOUT BUNHEADS
1. The show's name The name Bunheads is a little inside even for a former ballet student (however begrudging) like me. I'd prefer to celebrate the name of the studio, Paradise Dance Academy. Bonus points for a great hashtag, #PDA.
2. The opening credits and typography If the name and opening credits has to stay the same, the font must change. It’s too small, girly and precious. It's tight and insulated when it should be wide and open, like it's dancing across the screen, confident, exploring, and ready for anything. 
3.  The music Bunheads uses the exact twangy musical track and “la la las" used in Gilmore Girls. That soundtrack belongs on the streets of Stars Hallow, not Paradise, California. I find this confusing and borderline infuriating. Bunheads deserved it's own soundtrack, to stand uniquely on its own. Which brings me to...
4. The language As a Gilmore Girls fan, there is only one fast talking brunette I want to hear and that is Lorelai Gilmore. I have no need for an impression of her. Michelle didn't need to be a confusing, rapid-fire, fast talker, that's not authentic to her. Michelle is world-weary, street-smart and snarky, she has her own take, she didn't need to walk in anyone's shoes. My favorite Bunheads moments are the ones that don't rely on Gilmore Girls tropes and music. 
5.  The storyline of Michelle's brother. And her mother too.

TOP FIVE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE IN BUNHEADS' SO RUDELY DENIED SEASON 2
1. Millicent Stone Performance Center opening night
2. Quality time in Sasha’s apartment
 Maybe even Sunday night dinners with Michelle so Sasha can feel like she has family around who are interested in her and her home
3. The evolution of Sasha and Roman
4. The comic relief and sweetness that is Boo and Carl
5. The fallout with Ginny
 Mel would most def have her friend's back. Maybe Ginny would try to take out her anger and disappointment on the roller derby track.

For the one season wonder that it was, it was a good show not only about the triple threat talent that is Sutton Foster but also about a group of girls leaving the safety and comfort of childhood and girlhood for the more treacherous waters of adolescence. The four Bunheads of different shapes and sizes, talents, interests, and comfort-level with boys, were all exploring, but their love of ballet that was the pink, satin ribbon that kept them tethered together.

Jeremy Gilbert Joins Firehouse 51

Danielle VialeComment
Warner Bros. Television Distribution, NBC Universal Television Distribution

Warner Bros. Television Distribution, NBC Universal Television Distribution

This week, two characters from my TV watching past have come back to haunt an already fragile Chicago Fire. First up, the doe-eyed younger brother to Elena Gilbert, officially joined the 51st District, trading his Vampire Diaries vamp-hunting, white tank for Chicago’s finest fire fighting gear. Admittedly, Chicago Fire feeds a certain need, however, I don’t know that it has a Jeremy Gilbert level of leeway. Here’s hoping his reservoir goes beyond his former TVD flex-a-thon days. Second up, is the paramedic newcomer, Chili Chilton – formerly Jellybean of Chicago PD, and before that, Becky Sproles, who ushered in the downer days of Friday Night Lights. Not only have these two returned to my screen uninvited, they are also each other's love interest.

Let's make one thing clear, Season 4 of Chicago Fire is even more precarious than usual with the absence of Leslie Shay – which I’m still reluctant to acknowledge. Shay was quality. And she left big shoes to fill. While these two throwback characters seem to have smaller feet, I’ll attempt to trust the Chicago family to make the right call. Here's to shaking off your former selves, Jeremy Gilbert and Becky Sproles. I guess that's something we can all aspire to.