MAY
2007
10

The Eurovison Song Contest Must Be Outlawed!

Manolo says, after seeing the latest pictures from the this year’s manifestation of the Eurovision “song” contest the Manolo has decided that action must be taken. The Eurovision Song Contest must be outlawed!

Here are the Manolo’s top five reasons from this year.

1. Shrieking Moldovan hotties in the low-rise, leather half-kilty pants.

2. Danish la Cage aux Fools.

3. Maltese Goldfinger stalker and his victim.

4. Menacing Austro-Seussian fur creatures and their spokesman.

5. Nothing they can ever put on the Eurovision stage will exceed the entertainment value of My Lovely Horse.

MAY
2007
09

My G-G-Generation

Manolo says, this has made the Manolo smile from ear-to-ear all afternoon long.

Sanjaya

Manolo says, the Manolo does not usually follow the American Idol, as his tolerance for cheese and schmaltz is surprisingly low, however, he is now unable to ignore the rise of this Sanjaya person.

So, he has very nice hair, yes?

Unfortunately, as everyone acknowledges, his singing voice, unlike his hair, lacks texture and depth and volume, although by the usual American Idol singing standards, in which molto fortissimo fortissimo is considered just the good start, this is not necessarily the bad thing.

What he does have is the innocent and naive charm, and the undeniable stage presence that can only come from being sweet, sassy, and seventeen.

Who cares if the Sanjaya can sing? This competition is not really about the singing, it is really about the television, and the sparkly, bouncy, dippy Sanjaya is good television. Undoubtedly, he has the great future ahead of him.

MAR
2007
21

Kinda Different, Kinda Wow!

Manolo says, while the Manolo was looking for the Mel Tormé videos he came across this antique advertising gem.

Do you think she has applied enough perfume to catch the man?

MAR
2007
02

Dorcs!

Manolo says, Here is the very amusing fake commercial from the Canada. The Manolo especially appreciates this bit of dialogue:

Nancy: “But they’re so ugly!”
Jim: “That’s how you know they’re comfortable.”

This says everything about how many not very bright peoples regard the feetwear, that only those shoes which are wickedly ugly can provide comfort.

When will these peoples learn that comfort and style are not incompatible? One does not obviate the other.

Yes, if you are cheap and all you wish to spend is $34.99 you will undoubtedly be disappointed in your shoes, unless you are able to delude yourself into thinking that the ridiculous plastic slippers in the infantile colors are the height of fashion.

As always, the solution is to shop carefully, to choose wisely, and to spend the reasonable sum on the high quality shoes that fit your feets properly. But this is much harder than throwing on the pair of Dorcs.

P.S. Many thanks to Manolo’s friend the Hilary.

Looking for the Fans

Manolo says, occasionally, the Manolo he receives the requests from the entertainment peoples who are in need of the help. Here is one such request.

Looking for Sex & the City fans for new TV show.

My name is Jennifer and I’m working on a brand new television series about fans of TV shows. I’m looking to get in touch with Sex & the City fans, and I’ve asked Manolo to post this message to help me get in touch with big fans of the show. Sex & the City was a relevant and liberating program that reflected the views and attitudes of a generation, so of course everyone is a fan… but we’re only looking for the biggest fans. Are you a fabulous fashionista or a shoeaholic inspired by the series, are you a downtown single gal influenced by Carrie & co, do you use the show as your dating bible, how has the show influenced you? We want to hear from you.

Here’s a little more about our show:

It’s a 26 part documentary series which explores popular TV shows through the eyes of the fans. Each episode will focus on a different program – everything from Bewitched to The Simpsons, and of course Sex & the City – and will feature 2-3 fans of the program from Canada and the US. The series will unearth: why the fans love the show, how watching the show makes them feel, what their friends and family think of their love for the show, and the culture of their particular fandom (individual shows express their fandom differently – look at Sex & the City fans compared to Star Trek fans).

The show will air in Canada on TVtropolis, a new Canadian Network devoted to airing re-runs of classic TV shows. More information about our series can be found at our our company’s website at http://www.peacepoint.tv/pr/ABOUTFANatical.pdf

Come on ladies, let our voices be heard! If you’re interested in participating or may be able to offer assistance please drop me a line at [email protected]

I look forward to your reply,
Jennifer

If you are the truly devoted fan, perhaps you would like to help the Jennifer.

Project Runway, Season 3!!!

Manolo says, Ayyyyyyyy! The designers for the next season of the Project Runway, they have been announced, and the Manolo’s good friends at the Blogging the Project Runway, they have the links to the various webpages of the designers.

The start of the show it is only the mere weeks away, and the Manolo he is almost breathless with anticipation.

Perfect for the Bravo!

Manolo says, Manolo the TV show? All the Manolo needs now is the concept and the announcer/sidekick.

P.S. Manolo’s choice? The Stedman. He is indeed, muy suave.

Project Runway 2

Manolo says, the Manolo he is indeed most happy that the Project Runway it has returned for the second season. Mainly because it means many more weekly visits from the super fantastic Tim Gunn.

Last night the Bravo they showed the two hours worth of the Project Runway, starting off by sending the chubby boy and the poor Alabama girl home almost immediately for the crime of producing the luster lacking dresses.

Then it was the challenge for the designers to be to transmorgify the mostly appalling clothes on their backs into the fashion outfits. And here the true personalities of the contestants they begin to emerge, and for the most part, like the rags they choose to dress themselves in, they are not pretty. At the end the was the former fashion model/swimwear designer/corporate lawyer Kristen who was to the curb kicked.

Here is the Manolo’s thumbnail assessement of each of the remaining contestants.

Chloe: She is this season’s Kara Saun. Cool, collected and very talented. She will last until the very end.

Andrae: Annoying, whiney, and histrionic, certainly annoying, whiney, very annoying. Did the Manolo mention annoying? His fashion vision, nothing special. Gone soon.

Daniel Franco: Poor Daniel, it was better for him to remain in the obscurity, than to return to certain rejection, and quickly.

Diana The brainiac, whom the Manolo finds adorable in that way that only the goofy intellectual nerd-girls can be. She too will be leaving the show soon, which it is too bad, because she is so cute and clueless and interesting in her way, which is not the way of fashion.

Emmett: Tall, dignified, well-dressed and talented. He will last until the end, or at least so the Manolo hopes, as he is the only one who knows how to dress himself in the becoming style.

Daniel V. He has the nice, pleasant way about him, and his clothes they are not bad. Sadly, having the nice personality it is not enough. If only he could become nasty he would have the chance to stay longer in the competition.

Guadalupe: What is there to say about the Lupe, but that she is the nut, but in the charming but badly dressed way. It is the middle of the pack for the Lupe.

Kara: She made the Manolo laugh, first at the retro street urchin outfit she designed and then by saying that her inspiration was the “Oliver Twist”. Trust the Manolo, your fashion inspiration it should never be the Oliver Twist. Still, there is something here.

Marla: Yes she is one of the few adults in this group, and seems to be very nice, but the clothes she is designing they are nothing to write to the home about.

Nick: Manolo votes Nick the contestant most likely to self destruct. He has some talent, but it is obscured by the somewhat overwrought personality. The Manolo’s advice for the Nick? Switch to the decaf, homeboy.

Zulema: She is sort of the black Wendy Pepper, only with less talent, and more aggression. Because she has the difficult personality, one that is sure to interact badly with the others, the producers they will keep her around longer then her talent merits.

Santino: Very talented, but he has the over inflated, grandiose sense of his own abilities, which it is not necessarily the detriment in the fashion. He will last for many weeks, pehaps until the very end.

Raymundo: Manolo finds the Raymundo’s East Los Angeles pachuco gay boy way to be charming. And to the mind of the Manolo, he is one of the few who has his own fashion vision, or at least one that is worth paying attention to. If the Manolo could pick the longshot to win, it would be the Raymundo.

So, for the Manolo the final four or five, they will be Chloe, Santino, Raymundo, Emmett, and possibly the Kara.

P.S. The Project Runway first season it is now available on the DVD!

DEC
2005
06

Manolo’s Holiday Gift DVDs, Part I

Manolo says, previously the past week or so, the Manolo he has been suggesting the holiday gift book ideas for his many internet friends. But what to get the person who is not much of the reader? Or for the person who is addicted to the films?

Well, the Manolo he is here to help, by suggesting the few of the Manolo’s favorite DVDs, ones suitable for the giving as the gifts.

The Funniest Television Show Ever

Father Ted - The Holy Trilogy
Father Ted – The Holy Trilogy

The first three or the four episodes of the Father Ted they were probably the funniest thing the Manolo has ever seen. Three reprobate priests exiled onto the desolate Irish island. It does not sound promising, but it is, in the fact, absolutely brilliant, anarchic and brilliant, and guaranteed to make you laugh until you cannot breathe.

How the Manolo Thinks the Wild West Really Was

Deadwood - The Complete First Season
Deadwood the Complete First Season

It is perhaps not well known that the Manolo he is the connoisseur of the cowboy movies, from the worst to the best. And this series, it is one of the best media purchases of the Manolo during this past year.

Simply put, the Deadwood it is the masterwork of sorts. Alternately horrific and hilarious, it has the ring of historical and artistic truth to it. And the Manolo he cannot tell you how much he has enjoyed watching it.

Manolo’s Favorite Fashion Movie

Zoolander

There is no competition for the title of the Manolo’s Favorite Fashion Movie. Nothing can touch the Zoolander, one of the few recent movies with the Ben Stiller in which the Manolo does not find the Ben Stiller actively annoying. It is funny from the start (with the cameo in which the Evil One unveils his true malevolence) to the end. Funny, and yet at its core so true.

What the Manolo Is…

Manolo says, it is the Tuesday, and you know what that it means, time to see what the Manolo is…

Reading…

Watching…

Going to Have to Read When It Comes Out but Will Probably Not Enjoy…

Listening to…

Manolo says, yes the Manolo he loves the Clampetts. Their antics they have always made the Manolo laugh.

The Manolo he knows that the elaborate critique of the disposable pop culture it is somewhat ridiculous, however he cannot help himself, this one he found at the Amazon site it is worth the reading.

Watching this DVD collection, I came to realize just how fundamentally good and smart that show was. It was brilliant in its conception and execution. Jed Clampett is the show’s moral compass; he is a New Testament figure in his fundamental good-will toward all, trusting, forgiving, and absolutely lacking in any sort of irony or sarcasm. Granny is the ultimate Old Testament fiesty matriarch, whose superstitious beliefs are based on mistrust, fear, and retribution. Ellie May is the Wood Nymph, who most closely resembles Jed in attitude (by way of her heart, more than the moral thinking of Jed). Lastly, Jethro is the the Modern Man, who is driven by ambition, with few thoughts of consequence, who sides with Granny in schemes, tempered by his naive/shallow beliefs in Good Results. As a foursome, they confound the world that confounds them.

Mr. Drysdale and Miss Hatheway provide bookends to the Clampett clan, in the roles of Id and Super Ego, each attempting to direct and/or prevent the family’s actions at cross-purposes to the other.

Everything about the show is brilliant, sweet, and silly, with a massive moral lesson hidden in the guise of a goofball comedy.

This it is ridiculous, but also nonetheless perfectly correct in its essence.

And thus we should seek to emulate the Jed in his kindness and generosity, in his open and trusting nature, and in his simple but deep and tolerant love for the eccentric members of his family and for his fellow humans.

The Awards of the Emmy

Manolo says, many of the Manolo’s internet friends have been asking the Manolo for his opinion of the show of the awards of the Emmys and the clothing of the famosos who were there.

In the word…meh.

The show and the clothes they were so boring, that only the few minutes could be managed before the Manlo he felt it necessary to flip the channel in the hopes of finding more entertaining fare, perhaps like this.

Yes, there were the few who were willing to entertain us with their awful fashion. Such as this sad girl, who was screaming for the attention.

No, the Manolo he does not know who this person is, nor why she was invited to the Emmys, nor even why she is dressing like the Pompeiian prostitute, but such were the pickings of slimness at the Emmys that this pitiable person would nearly merit our attention.

And so the Manolo he has not the report to give to his many loyal internet friends. But trust the Manolo, you did not miss much.