Liz Lemon, You're My Hero

Here now, we present The Let's Makeout's homage to Liz Lemon...and our final single for the foreseeable future:



It's ridiculous...and we love it.

P.S. Please don't mock the crappy video skillz. The lovely Falwless is MIA so I had to make something myself (the horror!).

Your Chance to be Thanked on Our First Record When We Become International Pop Superstars!

We're writing a new song for The Let's Make Outs that may or may not be about Liz Lemon and I need a rhyme for "hot dog."As you may remember, if you are a REAL 30 Rock fan, when we first meet Liz, she's buying all the hot dogs from the street vendor to stick it to some jerks who cheated and started a second line. When we meet Liz in our song, she's buying all the hot dogs, too. So it starts:

When we first met
You bought all the hot dogs

Now, I need two lines with an end rhyme for "hot dog." This is your assignment for the day. 3...2...1...Go!

Best TV Shows of 2009

It was a good year for TV and I'm still formulating this list in my head. Let's discover my favorites together, shall we?

10. Big Love HBO - The third season of the polygamist drama was chock full of deceit and murder and even a controversial look into the Mormon church and it's rituals. This show just keeps getting better.

9. Lost ABC - Season 5 will be remembered as the season the hit show really let it's Geek Flag fly. I'm still not sure what the frak is going on, but I can't wait to find out.

8. Glee Fox - I realize it's too cheesetastic for a lot of people, but I like it. The music is fantastic and it reminds me so very much of my high school days.

7. Friday Night Lights NBC - I've not watched the latest season, as it won't be on regular TV until the summer (I think), but season 3 was a great. Coach and Tami are still the best couple on TV, Lyla has become less of a skeeze, and watching the Riggins brother, Jason and Herc flip Buddy Garrity's house was one of the funniest things ever.

6. 30 Rock NBC - Deal breakers. Slankets. Night cheese. Liz Lemon speaks to me (and every other women like me...I know...I am not special). The most recent episodes have been uneven at times, but it's still one of the best shows on TV.

5. Dexter Showtime - Best nemesis ever (John Lithgow) + Best ending ever = Best season ever.

4. Breaking Bad AMC - Bryan Cranston is so good on this show, it's ridiculous. Add Aaron Paul's outstanding performance, drugs, chemistry, cancer and small town America and it's hard to understand why more people aren't watching.

3. Curb Your Enthisiasm HBO - Hands down, the funniest show of the year. Nothing else comes close.

2. Mad Men AMC - A friend of mine said to me last night, "You and Liz are obsessed with Mad Men" and why wouldn't we be? It's a phenomenon. Good season and perhaps the most satisfying season finale of all time (what? hyperbole suits me!).

1. True Blood HBO - I don't care if it's campy...or if most of the foreign-born actors have trouble with southern accents...I love this show. It's my favorite of 2009 and summer 2010 can't come soon enough.

Honorable Mentions - Damages, Torchwood: Children of Earth, Dollhouse, Rescue Me, #1 Ladies Detective Agency

Thoughts?

How is there not room on the actual list for this awesome season of Rescue Me? Gah!

Best of the Decade: Liz and Red's Top TV Shows

We like lists around here...I think that's well documented. So Liz and decided to each present our Best Of picks for the entire decade. We'll present them every Thursday or Friday (you know we can't be tied down!!!) for the next few weeks and you are encouraged to present your picks in the comment section. Should be fun, right? RIGHT?!?!?

We start with our favorite TV shows. The only criteria we established was the show must have debuted between 2000 and 2009 (this eliminated some classics such as Freaks and Geeks and The Sopranos, so there's that). Here's what we came up with (NOTE: Our picks are very similar because we are pretty much the same person. That's why we get along so well...narcissism):

Liz's Picks (Liz goes first because she wrote better blurbs than I did. Sue me!)


The Wire - As we enter year two of the Greatest Depression Ever, and people point fingers at Wall Street, debtors and every president ever elected, The Wire is there to remind us that the corners of American cities have been rotten since long before national unemployment hit double digits. The Wire did what weekly television has always been capable of but never quite dared: Fixed it eye on the great problems of our day, and never flinched.

Lost - The question, “How will it end?” has hung over Lost since its mind-boggling pilot debuted 5 years ago. This May, we’ll find out. I can’t imagine the writers can find an ending to the time-bending saga of more than a dozen castaways, “others” and the people caught in between that will satisfy every viewer. But the journey to that end has been like nothing we’ve seen on TV (especially network TV) before, and no matter what, it will be worth it.

Mad Men - The first thing you notice about Mad Men, is that it looks like nothing else on television, and I’m not just talking about the skinny ties and evening gloves. Every shot is framed with precision, every color feels agonized over; this is a very delicately constructed world. Add to this brilliant, subversive writing and acting, and you really feel like you’ve been transported to another time and place. One you might not want to live in, but sure is fun to visit for an hour a week.

Arrested Development - The Bluths never really learned or grew the way bad people are supposed to on television, and that’s what made them so endlessly entertaining. If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, Arrested Development’s central characters were some of the craziest ever concocted, and the show was an all-too-brief shot of brilliant lunacy into the TV comedy landscape.

30 Rock - When trying to describe 30 Rock, the word I always come back to is “zany.” Less sophisticated than Arrested Development and not as cringingly realistic as The Office, 30 Rock thrives on a scattershot rhythm that makes viewers think anything could happen next. The only safe assumption is that whatever it is, it’ll be hilarious.

The Office - When it’s at its best, The Office finds hilarity in the mundane. Such banal tasks as going to meetings, eating lunch and selling paper are sources of high comedy. The show has wavered a bit lately, largely because it’s gotten away from the everyday realities of actual offices, but then every once in a while, Andy will refer to himself as “the ‘Nard Dog” one more time, and I fall in love all over again.

Veronica Mars - Whip smart writing, a cool film noir vibe, and all shot in beautiful San Diego? Naturally this show about a teenage sleuth was too good for this world. But those who did watch got a fantastic mix of humor, mystery, action and wise cracks that all the Law & Order spin offs in the world will never be able to fill.

Battlestar Galactica - The sci-fi show for people who don’t like sci-fi flipped the script on just what it was metaphoring so many times, the eponymous space ship itself felt like a human character by the end of the series. Were the show’s humans oppressed or oppressors? Is an insurgency evil or necessary? What does it mean to be human? BSG asked all these questions, and left the answers up to us. Plus, hot robots.

Big Love - Of course the best female characters and most sympathetic depiction of a deeply religious family on television are all on a show about bigamy. The trials and tribulations of the Henrickson clan make for fantastic drama, and they don’t even swear!

The Colbert Report - In taking on the persona of a blustering, blow-hard right wing pundit, Stephen Colbert has managed to do what The Daily Show tries but really doesn’t: Make equal fun of the left and right, and points out how ridiculous and silly it all is anyway. In spoofing the likes of Bill O’Reilly, Colbert comes off as mostly poking fun at Republicans, but he manages to make a lot of subtle (and therefore all the more cutting) jabs at Democrats as well. You end up not really knowing where Colbert himself stands on it all, which you can’t say about Jon Stewart.

Red's Picks
The Wire - You're totally shocked, right? If you still haven't seen this show, what in the eff are you waiting for?!

Mad Men - It looks amazing and stars the most beautiful people in the known universe.

Lost - Proof network television can produce a terrific, hour long drama.

30 Rock - Liz Lemon is my hero.

Battlestar Galactica - I like sci-fi, but this show redefined the genre and made it cooler and more human than ever before.

Friday Night Lights - Coach and Tami Taylor are the most remarkable couple on TV. They give me hope.

The Office - The evolution of this show has been most entertaining. So different now from it's UK counterpart, Thursday nights wouldn't be the same without Michael Scott and company.

Veronica Mars - Criminally underwatched, Kristen Bell gave one of the best performances of the decade and, as we've mentioned before, inspired the name of our blog.

Gilmore Girls - This show makes me want to move to small town USA. Even if the last season was less than satisfying, Lorelai and Rory will always be my favorite mother/daughter combo.

Rescue Me - The first and second seasons were fantastic...the third, not so much...but the most recent season proved this is a series to be admired. Plus, the fact that it deals so much with 9/11 makes it an important show for this decade.

Honorable Mentions: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dexter, Weeds, Breaking Bad, Flight of the Conchords, Alias: Seasons 1 and 2, and John From Cincinnati...just kidding.

This (mostly) Just In...

It's Friday! And tomorrow is Halloween! Life. Is. Good. Some other things enhancing it at the moment...

Subtle Sexuality! - New webisodes from The Office feature my potential BFF Kelly Kapoor (seriously, I wish she was real) and The New Pam (aka Erin) singing a Lady Gaga-esque ode to Ryan called "Male Prima Donna." It's totally rad and will be stuck in my head for the entire day.

That's a Dealbreaker Ladies! - While we're on the subject of faux websites, here's one for Liz Lemon's dealbreaker book. Sadly, it's kind of lame.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Prequel! - I liked PP&Z, but I thought it was, oddly enough, a little too faithful to the original. This prequel is in the style of Jane Austen, but includes all original material...which sounds more up my alley.

Happy Halloween! - As Liz mentioned yesterday, we're having a party and it will be, as I'm sure you can imagine, totally awesome...especially now that we've received your fantastic song ideas. (However, it may be slightly hindered by my carved pumpkin which is, for the record, the worst carved pumpkin in the history of ever. The seeds I roasted are delicious, though.) Wish you could be there, but since you can't, tell us all about your costumes in the comments. Be safe! Don't give away the Reese's!

Oh Frabjous Day!

You guys!!! Hulu and Youtube and Gmail are no longer blocked at work!!! (shhhhh...don't tell anyone, lest the IT Nazis realize and rob me of future happiness.) Also, tonight is the Season 4 premiere of 30 Rock. To celebrate, here's VIDEO from HULU of Tina Fey TALKING!:



Seriously. Best. Day. Ever.

(my life is so effing sad)

Update: And we're blocked again. I think I might cry.

Top 5: Characters I Most Relate To

Last week on Mad Men, Peggy had a moment that hit me like "Whoa. I have so done that!" So, naturally, I decided to collect other such moments and post them. This proved to be damn near impossible, so instead, here are the top 5 characters that are so like me at times, it freaks me out:

The aforementioned Peggy Olsen from Mad Men - As much as I love and wish I were like Joan, I really relate most often to Peggy (she had that amazing line in the Season 2 finale that still kills me). While not as career driven as Pegs, her single gal, imitating Ann-Margaret in the mirror and kickin' it with the boys act is totally my scene. Plus, I, too, would probably fall for Pete Campbell because I am just that retarded when it comes to men.

Norah from Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist -Norah (played by Kat Dennings...love!) is goofy and awkward and a dreamer and responsible and cool and dorky and, again, willing to settle for crappy guys who simply take notice. I like to think I "was" Norah in high school, but I'm pretty much still like her today...except I don't punch people in the throat (though not from lack of desire, mind you).

Liz Lemon from 30 Rock - Liz said to me recently "We decided last night that you are Liz Lemon, except not that pathetic parts." I had to disagree, as I think I am MOST like Lemon in her pathetic parts, but it was one of the best compliments I'd ever received. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my slanket working as hard as I play.

Charlotte from Lost In Translation - I know a lot of people find this movie incredibly dull and pointless, but it's one of my all time faves. I like the loneliness. Also, it reminds me of when I was married (yes, I was married...there's some "mixing in more about ourselves" business you are all clamoring for), making fun of stupid people and my spouse thinking I was a jerk for doing so. Stupid know-nothing spouses.

Angela Chase from My So-Called Life - I never had a hot boyfriend like Jordan Catalano or a nerdy neighbor like Brian Krakow or parents like Graham and Patty. I did have friends like Rayanne Graff and Sharon Cherski, but, in hindsight, I my life wasn't much like Angela's at all. That didn't stop me from identifying with it like hell. However, rewatching the series now, I see more clearly the follies of youth (kinda like when I re-read Catcher in the Rye in college and realized Holden Caufield was immature and not the all knowing truth proclaimer I'd thought him to be in high school). I guess this, as the shitty band says, is growing up.

Your characters who hit close to home in the comments, por favor...

I'm Peggy Olsen and I want to smoke marijuana

Guess Who Turns Two Today?

We do! I kinda can't believe we've stuck with it this long, but yay for us! My gift to you (since birthdays are all about giving back)? What I know you all actually come here for...pictures of attractive people! You're welcome.

This (mostly) Just In...

TV is a Social Surrogate - Well, duh! That's why Liz Lemon and I are BFF! On a related note, I've decided my DVR needs a name. Thoughts?

Is that lithium in your water or are you just happy to see me? - Apparently, small does of lithium in drinking water may reduce suicide rates. I mean, we're a society addicted to drugs anyway so why not, right?

Milo Ventimiglia is a Total Nerd! - Jess is creating an web series to solve age old bar debates like "Who'd win in a fight? Superman or the Hulk" and other silly things men talk about when they are drunk and there are no cute ladies around to hit on. The show sounds Meh. I just like when hot guys are also super nerdy.

Happy Star Wars Day! - Get it? May the Forth (be with you...). Anyone?

Golden Globe Predictions: TV

Today, I shall use the same powers of prediction that called Christian Siriano as the winner of Project Runway season 4 to predict the winners for the TV awards at the Golden Globes this Sunday. Here we go:

Television Series - Drama: Mad Men. The best drama on TV was even better this year than last. It can't not win again.

Best Actor - Drama: John Hamm. Gorgeous and talented. Sometimes life is so unfair.

Best Actress - Drama: January Jones. Gorgeous and talented. Sometimes life is so unfair.

Television Series - Comedy: 30 Rock. Nothing on TV is funnier. Nothing!

Best Actor - Comedy: Alec Baldwin. Steve Carell is just as hilarious, but I'm betting Baldwin takes it.

Best Actress - Comedy: Tina Fey. For creating and writing the series as much as anything.

Best Mini-Series/Made for TV Movie: John Adams. Where is Generation Kill, dummies?!

Best Actor - Mini-Series/Made for TV Movie: Paul Giamatti. Pig vomit does it again.

Best Actress - Mini-Series/Made for TV Movie: Laura Linney. Judi Dench may sweep in and nab this one, but I actually watched John Adams and Linney is totally deserving.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Neil Patrick Harris. It's his time finally, right? They can't give another award to Piven, can they?

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Laura Dern. Pitch perfect Katherine Harris.

Tomorrow, it's the movie nominees, which I will predict without having seen most of them. God, I'm bold.

What I Did On My New Years Staycation

Experienced man trouble that almost drove me insane, but now just mostly makes me laugh.

Sang "Auld Lang Syne" until I lost my voice.

Met a ginger fella from "Connecticut" with a faux sounding Brooklyn accent.

Re-watched season 1 of 30 Rock. Re-watched season 2 twice.

Lived like it was Shark Week.

Watched Britney: For the Record and kinda wished I was BFF with Britney Spears.

Laughed at my neighbors for keeping their horrific xmas decorations up way longer than acceptable.

Watched the Chargers beat the Colts in overtime. Go Bolts!

Got sick and wished for death to come.

Participated in this exchange with my friend LizO:

LizO: You think we'll ever get to the point where we just have one glass of wine and that's enough?

Me: God, I hope not.

Happy New Year, people. Happy New Year.

Best TV of 2008

Like Liz and her music, I am a connoisseur of television. Sometimes, I wonder how I ever lived without a DVR (and how anyone lives without HBO). I'm pretty sure I watched more TV this year than ever in my life, and here are my pics for the best of the best (I've included a memorable quote from each show because, you know, I effing love me some quotes):

10. Real Time with Bill Maher HBO - Sure, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are more popular, but Real Time is, for my money, the best political program on TV. In an exciting election season, Bill talked about things others ignored and contributed greatly to the most encouraging election in my lifetime. Memorable Quote: "You know who's bitter in America? I am, because shit-kickers voted twice for a retarded guy they wanted to have a beer with and everybody else had to suffer the consequences." - Bill Maher

9. Summer Heights High HBO - Like Flight of the Conchords last year, nothing made me laugh harder. Australian Chris Lilley is a bloody genius. MQ: "No offense but I seriously hate all fat people." -Ja'mie

8. Battlestar Gallactica Sci-Fi - The re-imaged nerdfest just keeps getting better. I won't say much about this season, as Liz is still catching up, but I eagerly await the final installment of this incredible series early next year. Thanks to Dave for getting me into this show. MQ: "Old gods die hard." - Six

7. The Office NBC - While I think this show is failing to live up to the terrific first seasons, I still love the Dunder-Mifflin gang...especially Michael. His love, and loss, with Holly this season was perfection. I never thought I'd say this, but more Michael and the randoms, less Jim and Pam drama, please. MQ: "As it turns out, you can't just check someone into rehab against their will. They have to do it voluntarily. They have to hit rock bottom. So I think I know what I need to do at this point. I need to find ways to push Meredith to the bottom. Um. I think I can do it. I did it with Jan." - Michael Scott

6. Pushing Daisies ABC - We're big fans around these parts of this already canceled gem. Creator Bryan Fuller is apparently cursed to be too creative for his own good. 'Tis a shame. MQ: "The pie-maker considered how not telling Chuck the truth about her father was a lot like being locked in a prison. Then he considered how being locked in a prison was actually much worse than some silly metaphor about truth." - Narrator

5. Ashes to Ashes BBC - It wouldn't be a TV list by Red if there wasn't some British show you've never heard of. This show, a sequel to the BBC version of Life on Mars, follows a modern cop, who is shot and wakes up in the 80's. It's totally awesome, mainly because of the performance by Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt, who can sexually harass me anytime. MQ: "Right! How many birds does it take to screw in a light bulb? Two! One to run around screaming 'What do I do?' and one to shag the electrician!" - Gene Hunt

4. 30 Rock NBC - Oh, Liz Lemon. Can I move to NYC, move in with you and make you my best friend? Pretty please? MQ: "[The Postmaster General and I] had a falling out over the Jerry Garcia stamp. If I wanted to lick a hippie, I'd return Joan Baez's phone calls." - Jack Donaghy

3. The Wire HBO - I almost forgot the final season aired this year. One of the best TV shows ever came to a close and, while not the best season of the series, it left me satisfied. I love seeing actors from The Wire pop up everywhere from 300 to Lost to the 90210 remake. Every time, it's like seeing an old friend. MQ: "The bigger the lie, the more they believe." - Bunk

2. Mad Men AMC - What a year for our friends at Sterling Cooper. Year of the ladies...and it was incredible. This show makes me long for the days of dresses and suits and drinking in the office. And then there's Joan. Sweet, sweet Joan. *sigh* MQ: "One day you're there and then all of the sudden there's less of you. And you wonder where that part went — if it's living somewhere outside of you — and you keep thinking maybe you'll get it back and then you realize it's just gone." - Peggy Olsen


1. Generation Kill HBO - What do you get when you take a fascinating and funny book about recon Marines entering Iraq, hand it to the brilliant David Simon and Ed Burns, mix in a ton of hot dudes and put it on HBO? Simply, the greatest TV production of 2008. Catch it today on DVD. MQ: "Saddam is just part of the problem, if Saddam invested more in the pussy infrastructure of Iraq than he did in his fucking gay ass army, then this country would be no more fucked up than say, Mexico." - Cpl. Josh Ray Person

Honorable Mentions:
Life - Please watch this show before they cancel it. Gingers everywhere will thank you.
Skins - BBC America calls it their version of Gossip Girl. It is, if GG were, like, a zillion times better.
True Blood - I never expected to enjoy a vampire show so much.
Lost - I'm all caught up now and I'm hooked. My mind has been sufficiently blown.

Let the debate begin...

30 Rock Quote of the Day

In anticipation of the Season 3 premiere of 30 Rock (aka the funniest show on TV), I'll be posting my favorite quotes from the first 2 seasons all week for my your enjoyment. Let's start with this gem from my hero, Liz Lemon, in the episode called "Succession" (which you can view here):

"Hey, nerds! Who's got two thumbs, speaks limited French, and hasn't cried once today? [pointing both thumbs at herself] This moi."

Oh, Liz. You're like my much funnier, long lost sister.

And look! I just found the season 3 premiere on Hulu! What would you do without me?