The Bubble was a short lived show but I absolutely loved each of the six episodes. Three celebrities are isolated from the outside world for a week with no access to television, phones or internet and if this is beginning to sound a bit like Big Brother you'll be happy to now that this portion of the show is hardly seen and in fact is made fun of by the host David Mitchell in the fifth episode when fans of the show asked for more. After the celebrities' imposed isolation they are presented with three news stories two of which have been faked and they must choose which story actually aired on television or appeared in a newspaper. The ridiculousness of the stories not only adds to the fun but points out, in a clever way, the current state of the news. Although the show was aired on BBC the BBC boycotted the show, a fact which is discussed in the first episode. The BBC's decision to disallow their journalists to present fake news stories as it would undermine the integrity of BBC News is laughable as, Mitchell and guests point out, they have done similar things in the past. I can't help but think of Jon Snow's reports on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year although granted that's for Channel 4 and not the BBC.
The last episode for me was one of the best because it made me like Robert Webb. I was never a huge fan, always preferring Mitchell alone but Webb is more tolerable on his own when he's not trying to be outwardly funny. Of course this isn't what he's trying to achieve but I can't help the fact that I don't find him funny. However, I could watch the following clip again and again for Webb's reaction. He looks so hurt.
What I really like about the show and why it's such a shame that it didn't continue is that I enjoyed watching it even when I didn't know any of the guests which occurred in episode 5 which I initially skipped. It turned out to be just as good if not better than the other episodes on which I knew all the contestants.
I had about given up hope that David Tennant could carry the lead of a movie, the two previous films I have seen him in, The Last September (in which my hatred for Keeley Hawes first began) and Young Bright Things left him either dead or without the girl. I contented myself with his television work and his bit sinister part in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire but finally the day has come where I have found a great film where he gets the girl!
Waiting to the see the film I was a bit worried that it would disappoint and yes like many romantic comedies it was predictable and we all know how it ends but there was a simple charm to the film which filled my heart with joy. The film is only 85 minuets long, not a lot of time for a detailed story but because there aren't many characters involved it works and isn't really bogged down by other side stories but there's enough there to make a story. I think I liked the fact that it was so simple of a story because it
allowed it to just tell the story instead of getting sidetracked. I did
think that the end was a bit rushed but at the same time I don't think I
would want them to have taken more time with it. It did what it needed to do without unnecessary frills. It had the pace of a British drama but kept the mood, for the most part, upbeat and in the romantic comedy mindset.
I loved the cast. Kelly Macdonald as Katie in particular was great and I would love to see more of her. Sally Philips who wrote the story could have had more to do but made the most of her scenes and was a good match for Michael Urie who really stole the scenes he was in.
I also loved Dylan Moran, who I wasn't expecting, although he does tend to pop up in strange roles. However, Maureen Beattie as Iseabail the mother of Katie was my favorite of the film. When Lara takes her to the cliff with the choice of either throwing the money over or herself she has to think about it. That was such a great funny but dry moment. I remember her eyes, so very expressive. Her death was bittersweet but I felt brought the story home.
Dance Moms is the reason that reality television gets such a bad rap and the reason behind the fact that people who watch reality television are more aggressive and angry then people who don't. The show follows the moms of young competition dancers at Abby Lee Dance Company. I wasn't excited about the premise when I first starting watching it thinking that I would totally hate the moms who are making their kids dance but maybe because I went into it thinking that the moms were going to be horrible that it didn't turn out quite like I was expecting it. Instead of having a burning hatred for the moms its Abby Lee the owner of the dance company and 'choreographer.' This is not to say that the moms get off scotch free but they were better than I was expecting. Abby on the other hand is a whole other ball game. She really is a vile woman and yes she does deserve this strong of language.
My first problem with her is that she doesn't belong in the dance studio as she can't dance. She belongs in a gym (or perhaps the biggest loser) not 'choreographing' dance routines, yelling about the faults of the dancers when she can't do it herself. No where else is the age old phrase 'those you can't do teach' more appropriate. This for me is a big thing to get over but once you do Abby's attitude doesn't get any better. She plays favorites with dancers and then denies it which is beyond frustrating. It is at this point that I side with the moms even if it pains me to do so.
The show is really centered on the rivalry between Maddie and Chloe ages 8 and 9 in the first season respectively. Maddie always wins and takes extra dance classes and gets extra time with Abby. She really wants to dance and wants to win even more crowns and trophies than she already has. Even though she's only 8 because of her attitude I don't want her to win. I want the underdog Chloe to win who still wants to dance and wants to win but is sweet about it. Although every week one of the moms has a problem with Maddie getting all the attention while their children don't get the solo time they need or their music or costume I'm more concerned with the behind the back favoritism of Maddie by Abby which she denies to everyone else even the camera. Does she not realize that the things she says are caught on camera?
Chloe gets the feature in the music video and Abby said to Maddie's mother that it was better that Maddie didn't get the feature because then people will just see her dance and she'll get more calls. What a way to take away from what Chloe had accomplished. Just like when Abby but Maddie into the 9-10 age category to compete against Chloe when she was only 8. This also continued in the second season when Maddie and Chloe were in the same age category. Chole got first place and Maddie got third but what does Abby have to say? Maddie was perfect nothing wrong and although Chloe was ok she made some mistakes and isn't as good as Maddie.
Abby doesn't seem to realize the age group of the children she's working with and thinks its okay to send out these 8-9 year old children to dance in very slutty costumes. The mothers complained but Abby defended herself saying that the kids liked it not getting the fact that just because they like it doesn't make it right and its the moms job to police it. After not even placing Abby still doesn't own up to her mistake in using the costumes blaming the judges. Her inability to own up to her mistakes is infuriating especially because a sign in the studio reads something along the lines of 'if you make a mistake admit it and never repeat it.'
Costumes and dance styles are another thing which Abby does wrong. Nia the only African-American dancer is given ethnic routines over and over which are more attitude than dancing and her mom Holly brings this up with Abby but is once again sidelined as a mother. Abby tries to defend herself saying that she needs to be taught ethnic dances that only she can go audition for and even more outrageous she needs to be taught about her heritage. I side with Holly on this one and it shows how much of a racist Abby is even if she won't admit it.
My last straw was when Brooke decided to try out for cheer forcing her to not perform at the dance competition in which she was the featured dancer. Abby went ballistic and acted like an immature child. Saying that there wasn't going to be a group number only solos to which the moms said they weren't going just for solos in an act of support to Brooke. The second teacher agreed to reblock the number in the morning four hours before getting on the bus and Abby at that point wasn't going to go but changed her mind in the end and went. What was so striking about the number is that yes they won first place but Abby had nothing to with it and it was the best routine they had ever done! Abby of course made snide remarks about them winning even without Brooke.
I just couldn't watch anymore after that I was so frustrated with Abby and the moms for continuing to allow their children to be subject to Abby's cruelty and revengeful nature. Even thinking about the show makes my blood start to boil and I didn't touch on half of the stuff I wanted to.
