Tag Archives: How to Get Away with Murder

TV Ate My Soundtrack: The “Look What You Made Me Do” Edition

25 Aug

Taylor Swift has a new song out — news I’m sure you are aware of — and while I was far, far from blown away, I have had the line “Look what you made me do” playing on a loop in my head since. And I’ve only listened to it once. Even a mediocre song can create an earworm.While this is no “All Too Well” or “Out of the Woods” it will make for a good TV soundtrack moment and my first thought after pushing aside those underwhelmed feelings was “What TV show will use this song?” Well, the TGIT ABC line-up was quick out the gate proving this song might not be a banger, but it works well alongside Shonda dramas. The Right Said Fred beat has a lot to do with that.

TV show playlists pretty much make up a good 75% of my Spotify playlists — current and old shows — and so here are the shows/scenes both past and present that I think this new Taylor track could accompany.

Sidenote — I just remembered Taylor has both been referenced in New Girl and has appeared on New Girl as an entirely different character. Here is the fantasy soundtrack casting of this song:

Felicity – Meghan finally reveals the contents of her box. She is not very happy about doing so, but we do get another Twilight Zone style episode so it is a win/win.

Game of Thrones – Taylor guest stars as Arya Stark, or rather a version of Arya as part of the acting troupe we met last season. And after hearing Arya recite her list of names actress Arya turned it into this song. It does not go over well with viewers.

Girls – Marnie sings a cover version of this song to absolve her from any wrong doing. It is simultaneously the best thing I have ever heard and the most cringe worthy moment. Classic Marnie.

Gossip Girl – pre Dan is Gossip Girl reveal, Dan feels conflicted about a Serena blast he sent to Gossip Girl after seeing her with a mystery new guy. Later on, when it is revealed that Dan is Gossip Girl, this is one scene of many that makes no sense

How to Get Away with Murder – we find out how not to get away with murder and I can still only name two characters by name (other than Annalise).

Mad Men – occasionally Mad Men would delve into contemporary music for the closing credits and I like to think this would follow on from when Pete tried to get his revenge on Don by revealing his real identity (and it failed).

New Girl – a montage of Jess attempting to appear a little edgy to her students because she wants them to think she is cool. It does not work and she instantly reverts back to all things twee. Sounds like a plan someone else should stick to.

Revenge – Emily Thorne red sharpie of doom montage. A tad on the nose, but sometimes it is best to keep it simple.

Riverdale – After a fight with Jughead, Betty sticks on red lipstick, brunette wig and bralette and goes to some dark, dark places at a nightclub while Veronica looks concerned. Yes, this is sort of a repeat of last season. But with added Tay.

Scandal – one of the main characters kills someone, but it’s handled. Red wine is consumed and cardigans are coveted.

Wonderfalls – a plastic snake tells Jaye to blow up her relationship with Eric and this song plays as Jay drowns her sorrows with a lot of shots.

You’re the Worst – Sam makes a remix version of “New Phone, Who Dis?” with the line “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now.” “Why?” “Oh ’cause she’s dead!” It is a surprise hit and now Gretchen has to do a lot more work.

Taylor, look what you made me do.

Behind the Insta-Scenes: Photos from the Set

14 Jan

This week’s Golden Globes coverage extends beyond the many red carpet posts with a whole lot of selfies from the ballroom and the after parties. Plus a whole slew of other events and reminders of when certain shows are back.

Hands down one of my absolute favorite actors. 🙌🏽 #MagicalNight

A photo posted by Gina Rodriguez (@hereisgina) on

 

Kicking things off with all the pretty from Gina Rodriguez and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac. Plus Gina Rodriguez gives an all important beard smell related tweet.

Hey girl, hey.

A photo posted by Cheyenne Jackson (@mrcheyennejackson) on

 

From the American Horror Story: Hotel table where it looks like shenanigans are being had.

Really good light back here in the presenters green room. @goldenglobes @amyschumer @evalongoria #JLaw

A photo posted by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on

 

Backstage selfies with varying opinions about the lighting.

Congrats and Thankyou for letting me rub the globe for good luck Hahahah ! ❤️😂#Empire

A photo posted by SERAYAH (@serayah) on

 

A quick change from Taraji P. Henson makes a whole lot of sense because dancing with a train that long is just impractical. Serayah opts for one of the bold color looks that was on trend this weekend.

Dressed to the nine and fighting crime! @cwtheflash is back in a week! Who's ready?! #theflash

A photo posted by Shantel VanSanten (@therealshantel) on

 

Serious smolder and pout face from The Flash’s Grant Gustin and Shantel VanSanten and also a really good opportunity to remind you The Flash is back next week.

Oh hi! Me and @rachaelmaytaylor parking lot party #JessicaJones

A photo posted by Krysten Ritter (@therealkrystenritter) on

 

A shuttle shortage caused major parking lot hanging out, but our new favorite on (and off) screen besties took the opportunity to snap a shot.

Well I'm ready earlier than usual this year. See you on the red carpet in 10 minutes. #goldenglobes #veep

A photo posted by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@officialjld) on

 

A before photo from Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Will need coffee tomorrow. #DayBeforeTheGlobes

A photo posted by Pedro Pascal (@pascalispunk) on

 

It helps to be in with both HBO and Netflix as Pedro Pascal’s invites show.

 

The Netflix love is strong at a pre-Globes party with OITNB’s Elizabeth Rodriguez, Pedro Pascal and Netflix newbie Gillian Jacobs.

"Love me the most!" @viviennewestwoodofficial @caleyrinker @marcusrfrancis @stephensollitto @sophiawebster

A photo posted by Gillian Jacobs (@gillianjacobs) on

 

A busy weekend full of events for many and Gillian Jacobs attended the Vivienne Westwood ‘Art of Elysium’ celebration on Saturday in this stunning floral number. Getting pet approval points too.

Like a little fan girl, I had to. #afiluncheon

A photo posted by Carly Chaikin (@carlychaikin) on

 

Carly Chaikin’s AFI luncheon dress is one of our ultimate faves from the sea of recent outfits we have discussed and we also highly approve of her selfie subject from this event.

 

A very good week for Taraji with awards and magazine covers, plus finally getting Jussie Smollet back at his own game.

 

Mindy Kaling has worn a lot of amazing things and her Instagram acts as an outfit archive, but I can definitely see why she is calling this one of her favorites. All the heart eye emojis.

PILLOW BITING IS NOW AN X-FILE

A photo posted by @bryanfullergram on

 

More X-Files treats this time courtesy of Bryan Fuller and a whole lot of pillow biting. Future Hannibal storyline in the works?

#HTGAWM returns in just one month! #TGIT

A photo posted by Viola Davis (@violadavis) on

 

And if you were wondering when How to Get Away with Murder is back here is a delightful cast selfie from Viola Davis with that information.

It's #flashback day for Petra and Rafael. #janethevirgin #playboyrafael #chapter33

A photo posted by Justin Baldoni (@justinbaldoni) on

 

A very intriguing Jane the Virgin behind the scenes sneak peek.

 

Just wondering how many synthetic beauties there are among this collection of Keri Russell Americans costumes and my eyes are instantly drawn to the green (p)leather number.

Drama Actress Emmy Roundtable – “I Want to Play Everything I’ve Never Played Before” (Update! Watch the Full Video)

11 Jun

This is the one I have been waiting for and every year the drama actress roundtable is the highlight of The Hollywood Reporter’s Emmy series. It might be a premature declaration as there are still more discussions to come as part of this season, but I am pretty confident in this assertion after reading the transcript and watching the clips which have been made available prior to SundanceTV airing it in full come August (Update – you can now watch the full discussion at the end of this post). I do want to point to the comedy actress chat as another enlightening and fascinating entry into the roundtable Hall of Fame. And now there is another group to add to my boozy lunch wish list.

The line-up is entirely different to last year (sometimes there are repeats) with Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Honourable Woman), Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), Taraji P. Henson (Empire), Jessica Lange (American Horror Story), Ruth Wilson (The Affair) and Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex). Gone are the questions of ‘how do you balance work and family?’ and instead there is a strong focus on their work from the shows they are currently on to past experiences. There are four Oscar nominees among these women (some multiple) and a two time winner showing the caliber of talent television attracts particularly when it comes to complex roles for women. A mixture of cable and network with ages ranging from 32 to 66 shows how well television caters to a range of experiences.

THRAs the cover so boldly states there is a focus on race, sex, age and nudity with the latter coming up on multiple occasions. Lizzy Caplan and Ruth Wilson joke about the name of their network – “Showtits” – and sex plays a big part in both Masters of Sex (it is in the title after all) and The Affair. Sex isn’t just there for sensationalism or to be gratuitous; it is worth noting that both shows have a female showrunner with Caplan going so far as pointing out that Michelle Ashford is kinda prudish and those scenes can be hard for all involved.

How to Get Away with Murder is Viola Davis’ first starring role on prime time and she talks about her initial concerns when she took the project on including her appearance. There is one point which really sticks with me and is worth quoting in full exemplifying why this roundtable series strikes a chord:

“I’ve been doing this for 27 years. I’ve performed in basements, churches, off-Broadway. I want the work to reflect my level of gifts and talent. I don’t want it to reflect my color, my sex or my age. That’s what I want most.”

The comedy actresses talked about bad auditions and incidents earlier in their careers where they maybe tried to adjust their look for an audition. This is something Maggie Gyllenhaal discusses in terms of her appearance and how she has been judged in the past in terms of being ‘sexy.’ Gyllenhaal also mentions her interest in nudity and what she looks for in a sex scene.

Cookie Lyon has made such a huge impact on the TV landscape this season and Taraji P. Henson jokes “I hate that bitch. She’s stolen my identity! My friends don’t want to talk to me unless it’s about Cookie.” I’m only halfway through Empire but within the first few minutes of seeing this character on screen it was love. Henson also reveals who she sometimes channels when she is playing Cookie and the answer is not who you might expect. There are no boundaries when it comes to want roles Henson wants to play “I want to play a superhero. I want to be a Bond girl. I want to play a man. I want to play a white woman. I want to play everything I’ve never played before.”

There are more clips to watch here before the full thing becomes available in August.

THR drama actress roundtableIn terms of the styling of the group it turns out I wasn’t proved wrong after all with an explosion of sparkle and while Ruth Wilson is the lone person in print (a beautiful Erdem frock), there is some color with Viola Davis’ Lanvin and range of styles suiting the wearer in question. Lizzy Caplan’s Donna Karan ensemble is reminiscent of her Donna Karan Atelier Emmy stunner from last year (Caplan also chose this designer when she wowed at the Met Gala last month). During the chat Caplan wears an oversized tuxedo jacket and looks super cool while doing so. Excellent lipstick game from all the ladies with Caplan’s fuchsia reminding me of my new favorite lip color. And now if you will excuse me I will be drawing hearts around this entire conversation.

Check back for more Emmy related discussions in the weeks/months to come.

Update! Watch the full uncensored Emmy Drama Actress roundtable below.

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

29 May

A relatively quiet week for “Out of the Box” but there are still plenty of treats in store including another Sarah Michelle Gellar reunion moment, magazine covers, pre-Emmy nominations events and how to brighten up the red carpet if you’re a dude.

IMG_1659Orange is the New Black returns in just two weeks (and then we will have the dilemma of  how quick to watch it) and Bust continues its excellent cover run with Laverne Cox looking super cute in a very summery gingham halter top and high waisted shorts.

Ellie KemperEmmy roundtable season is here and The Hollywood Reporter kicked off the acting side of things with funny ladies talking about a whole range of issues in smart and interesting ways. Ellie Kemper’s tiered skirt (or an extreme twist on peplum) with the turquoise underlining is the standout in this collection of bold dresses and I love what she says about Kimmy’s style during this conversation “I think that [Kimmy] came from this horrible, unspeakable experience, and she is tough like a young girl might be tough. She is all pinks and candy and yellows but still very powerful.”

IMG_0680Now this is how you do a “For Your Consideration” ad with bonus lady suit points (those leather sleeves!).

Viola DavisAt a screening for How to Get Away with Murder, Viola Davis does casual chic in an all black ensemble save for some sparkly sneakers. Heels versus flats have been a big talking point since Cannes and while I’m not sure these kinds of flats would work on a big red carpet event, they look really great in this setting.

Cruel IntentionsThanks to a surprise reunion at a performance of The Unauthorized Musical Parody of Cruel Intentions this post has been written with the Cruel Intentions soundtrack as the musical accompaniment (sorry neighbors for my attempts to sing-along to Skunk Anansie) and it has made me so happy for so many reasons. I think Sarah Michelle Gellar is fully on board with the 90s nostalgia kick. Next up recreating one of these WB ads.

Colton HaynesColton Haynes switches out this signature red for pink at the San Andreas premiere demonstrating that suits don’t just come in three colors.

Out of the Box: Look of the Week

18 Jul

It’s the TCA (Television Critics’ Association) 2014 summer press tour and this means a whole host of red carpet events with stars from current and forthcoming shows. So this edition of “Out of the Box” is an all TCA affair featuring NBC, ABC and Showtime.

Lizzy Caplan TCAKicking off with Masters of Sex (which returned this week) and Lizzy Caplan looks amazing in a stunning Roksanda Spring 2014 ensemble. The flash of hot-pink is further accentuated by the electric-blue satin Brian Atwood pumps and Caplan continues to raise her red carpet game.

Caitlin FitzgeraldHoundstooth is on the same list as polka dots and yellow for me – the “instant adoration” list if you will – and so Caitlin Fitzgerald in a Michael Kors creation using this pattern is making me drool all over my keyboard. Not so sure about the shoes and a pop of lip color (electric pink to avoid the usual red) would give this extra points.

Betsy BrandtBetsy Brandt is one of several new faces on Masters of Sex this season (her character debuts this Sunday) and she knows how to stand out on the red carpet in a bold electric blue frock. This is a great color on her and I’m looking forward to seeing her in ’50s attire.

Casey WilsonOne of the few new sitcoms that didn’t make me eye roll through the preview is Marry Me and a lot of that has to do with Casey Wilson and Ken Marino. The black belting and neckline help break up what could be a super busy pattern (which I adore) and this is an ideal TCA dress as it’s cool without trying too hard/not enough.

Karen GillanKaren Gillan is going to be starring on a show called Selfie and while I kinda hate the name I’m hoping it goes the way of Trophy Wife (not the canceled part *sob*) in that it defies the awfulness of its title. Gillan is totally endearing so the show has that (and John Cho who is also wonderful) and I’m sad that she won’t be rocking her amazing pixie cut or Scottish accent – so far this is all about what I wish Selfie was doing. Anyway, this skirt/blouse combo is pure Gillan slightly off the wall styling and the exaggerated boxy sleeves might be too much for some, but they really work on her.

Viola DavisShonda Rhimes is dominating Thursday night on ABC with a triple block when How to Get Away with Murder debuts in the fall alongside Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy and I am thrilled Viola Davis leading this project. Davis is rocking a Helmut Lang leather bodice dress (complete with pockets) and the flash of snake print on the sleeves adds an extra pop (so I can ignore whatever those shoes are).

Katie FindlayBecause I am still in mourning about The Carrie Diaries cancellation (pretty much my favorite charming shows are all dunzo) I was glad to see the cast getting work from Bennett popping up on The Leftovers to Katie Findlay (Maggie in TCD) in the aforementioned How to Get Away with Murder. This isn’t the most exciting outfit, but it’s very cute and a safe TCA choice.

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