Must List

I'm reading the current issue of EW right now, and I've reached their "Must List." The "Must List" is the ten things this week that the editors of EW think are important for any pop culture addict to be in the know about. Which gave me the idea for this entry especially since I agreed with most of the Must. So today, I'm writing my Must Watch list.

1) So You Think You Can Dance. This is the only reality show that I have left in my ouerve. I used to watch Project Runway but then it moved to Lifetime, and I can't seem to find it any more. And America's Next Top Model, but then they started casting skanky hos that have back story but no real ability to be a model. OK, so maybe that's what it always was, but when the girls turned stupid and skanky, I was done. But! SYTYCD -- in fan-speak -- is unlike any other reality show as most of its contestants have talent and the judges actually judge and don't just give their opinion leaving it up to 12-year olds to crown their favorite boyfriend of the week. At least, not until the last few episodes. Until then, Nigel treats the contestants like they are in a real chorus line, or at least, in The Chorus Line, and it feels authentic somehow.

2) Huge. It's a new show on ABC Family about an obese girl who is sent to fat camp by her parents. To her, the fat camp is an indictment and rejection by her parents. But the best thing about this show is the fact that they don't tip-toe around the different emotions that go into over-eating, and they are not shy about showing vulnerability, self-hatred, and desperate hope for change. The characters are never judged from an outsiders' point of view and easy fat jokes are never made at the expense of a character. It is a strangely sensitive show that wraps up tidily with teenage angst. And it's probably exactly the right format to address the "Fat Issues" in this country.

3) True Blood. As Freud says, vampires represent a repressed desire for sex. But it doesn't need to be when watching True Blood. Good Lord! The show is girl porn. Mostly because of the jokes. The gratutious nudity, the outlandish storylines, and the so-over-the-top-they-remind-me-of-my-family characterizations make this some of the best popcorn viewing on TV. (That is, until someone violently rapes their vampire ex-girlfriend, twisting her head around in the middle of it while she confesses her love for him. Um, ew.)

4) Pawn Stars. OK, so maybe I lied a bit about SYTYCD as Pawn Stars is definitely a reality TV show, it's more like a cross between Antiques Roadshow and COPS. I don't DVR it like I do SYTYCD, but if you catch it on the History Channel on a random weekend, I swear you'll be mystified. "What's this: a big, tattooed lunk discussing a Revoltionary War Bond printed by silver-smither Paul Revere with a guy who wants to sell it for a Gibson guitar? Where am I?" Vegas, baby. It's crazy.

5) Mad Men. It's not on yet, but I'm counting the days -- 18! -- until it's back on. Last night, AMC did us all a favor by re-airing the pilot -- I forgot that Peggy got birth control pills, no wonder she thought "it" was impossible -- and some of the other more pivotal episodes from that first season. By 11PM last night, I wanted to watch all three seasons all over again. (Except I don't own them on DVD. Now would be the perfect time to remind you that I'm also counting the days -- 16! -- until my birthday. Ahem).

6) Toy Story 3. It's in the movie theaters, so you can't enjoy it from the convenience of your own home, but let me tell you something, Pixar is making the best films. Not the best animation films, but the best film you will see in a long time. TS3 was written by the scribe of Little Miss Sunshine and it's storyline is so poignant that anyone who went from childhood to adulthood and has dealt with nostaligia will probably bawl their eyes out at the end. It seems ridiculous to say that I cried at a cartoon, but they got me last year with Up! And they got me again this year. Loved. It. It's not often that I would be willing to pay for a movie twice, but I would probably do it here.

7) Pinkberry: The Movie 3D. This quirky video was put together by William Morris/Endeavor. I don't know why they did it, but I get the feeling someone was putting their tongue firmly in their cheek and trying to make a point to the higher ups...

8) John Adams. For Fourth of July, I put in my copy of HBO's John Adams mini-series. Yes, I watched all seven episodes over the last three days. And by 5PM yesterday, I was crying all over again. (That last episode is a killer!) But it reminded me of how well it was done and how -- when done right -- a mini-series is a Must Watch event. Netflick it if you haven't seen it. From production values to the acting, it's very well done.

Alright, so I couldn't come up with ten Must Watch things, but a list of eight isn't too bad. At the very least, you can click on that Pinkberry link now and get a three minute laugh.