B-Side Blog

ADVENTURES IN DOMESTICITY: Ina Garten's Banana Sour Cream Pancakes Edition

Apologies for the dearth of updates on the blog today. I spent a decent portion of the day working out my taxes, which is never a particularly fun experience. The good news is that I’m done (for now), which means I can turn my attention back here. As avid readers of this blog may remember, about two weeks ago, I attempted my first ever batch of flapjacks. The result was very promising, and I was happy to have finally conquered such a basic breakfast staple.
My friend Andrea, however, was beside herself with frustration. She insisted that when it came to pancakes, there were Ina Garten’s Banana Sour Cream variety… and then everything else. Over the course of many emails and Facebook posts (often written in all caps), Andrea declared that Ina’s griddle creations were the end all and be all of pancakes and that I was simply wasting my time with these namby pamby other recipes. Normally I’d just nod politely — after all, a pancake is a pancake. Some are better than others, but can one recipe be so head and shoulders above the rest that it inspires rabid loyalty? Well, apparently yes. I trust Andrea’s tastes, and furthermore, I trust Ina Garten’s recipes. Therefore, I stocked up on bananas and sour cream and assembled the batter.
Results after the jump.

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OC HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: All Good Things Come To An End

Raise your hand if your mind was totally blown by this most magnificent Real Housewives of Orange County finale? It was a spectacular hour of passive aggression and tears, thanks in part to free flowing booze but also the boorish behavior of some of the males on this show. I just knew we were in for something special when the episode began with all the women preparing for the traditional bash that comes at the end of the season. Usually it takes about forty minutes before we arrive at such events, but with Tamra and Simon teetering on the edge of divorce on the limo ride over to the St. Regis, the producers wisely decided to cut to the action.
The result was the most riveting season finale in the franchise since the famous “Last Supper” of New Jersey (very little can top that). The whole cast was a mess. Vicki and Alexis were trading snippy remarks behind each other’s backs, Lynne’s daughter were drunk and screaming, Gretchen was incurring the wrath of all the other women with her bizarre his-and-hers pseudo marriage outfits with Slade, and Tamra… well… when she wasn’t flinging passive-aggressive barbs Simon’s way, she was bawling into the arms of Vicki. And this wasn’t a “Hahaha, bitch got hers!” cry. It was a sad, scary, and fascinating display. As awful as Tamra’s been in the past, it’s never enjoyable watching someone’s marriage fall apart. However, that’s exactly what we’ve witnessed over the past season, and with each sniveling remark or controlling request by Simon, the entire situation just gets more disturbing. Let’s put it out there: Simon’s a Grade A creep. I know, I know — this is not a bombshell revelation. Still though, he’s absurdly manipulative and emotionally abusive, and honestly, I did believe that Tamra was truly afraid of him. Watching the way she clammed up when Simon appeared at her side truly gave me the chills.
The good news is that Tamra wasn’t a total wallflower. She did get a few spicy digs in at her soon-to-be ex-husband, including one that went something along the lines of “Well, maybe if you were working and we had some MONEY, we wouldn’t be in this situation!” Of course, this begs the question of what kind of marriage is this that can’t survive financial insecurity? Clearly one built on the wrong things. My pop psychologist inclinations would be to surmise that he married her for the looks, and she married him for the money. And now they’re losing both. Oops.

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‘Community’ Is Amazing

Modern Family has all the buzz, but I think after having watched last night’s episode of Community, it’s the Joel McHale-led ensemble that is the best new sitcom of the season. Honestly, this latest episode was genius; definitely the funniest thus far. This isn’t to detract from Modern Family whatsoever. Obviously that show is very funny too; however, at the end of the day, it’s Community that makes me laugh more.
Here’s a brief clip from the top of last night’s episode — the first of many that made me guffaw on my couch. If you don’t watch the show or haven’t seen last night’s episode, be sure to check it out.
ALSO: check out this 90 second mini-episode here. (Sorry, I can’t embed it)

Bethenny Frankel Nip Slip!

So here I am, dutifully checking out the preview clips for tonight’s Real Housewives of New York City, and what do I come across? A good old fashioned nip slip! That’s right: one of my favorite housewives, Bethenny Frankel, completely flashes the camera, and what’s most shocking is that Bravo doesn’t even blur it out. An error on behalf of the network? Or salacious pushing of the envelope?
Nevertheless, I went back several times to see if there might have been a tiny pixelation or perhaps even the presence of a pasty, but it all looks pretty nipple-tastic to me. Scandal!
After the jump, check out the nip-slip video (flashing occurs in the first few seconds). I also took a screen shot, lest a blur mysteriously appears after press time…
Oh yeah, NSFW.

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'Lost' Star Goes To Jail!

I don’t know much about Lost, but I do know that one of the creepier characters is played by Michael Emerson, and years before his stint on the island, the actor clocked in a nifty performance in a prison training video, embedded above. Sort of gripping, even for an instructional video.
Also, not very instructional.
Via Best Week Ever.

ADVENTURES IN HEROISM: Saving My Dear Friend From A Feral Beast

As is often the case, I had a sudden and intense craving for frozen yogurt last night, and when I asked my dearest friend Sly if she’d like to join me, she made a proposition: she would come with me if I went up to her apartment and fulfilled her deepest needs, and in this case, her deepest needs involved killing a spider. Being the gentleman that I am, I happily headed up the street to Sly’s dwelling where I found her cowering behind her door, her face full of dread and fear. I sincerely felt pity for this woman, and from my pity sprang a deep surge of manliness — the sort of manliness that made me want to save this trembling lass from the tormentor that, er, tormented her so.
But of course, I wasn’t about to do anything without being documented. Fuzzy pictures of the experience after the jump. Animal activists and PETA representatives be warned: you won’t be happy.

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I'm Adding 'Archer' To The DVR

Over the weekend, I ventured over to Hulu to sample this new animated sitcom Archer I’d been hearing about, and I’m happy to say that while a tad uneven, it’s actually pretty damn funny. Then again, it’s hard for anything featuring Jessica Walter to not be funny. Sweetening the deal is the presence of fellow Arrested Development alum Judy Greer, as well as the voices of Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live) and Aisha Tyler (go Big Green!).
In the clip above, Judy Greer’s character, Carol, gets into it with office busybody Pam to amusing effect. And after the jump, Jessica Walter delivers a withering insult in classic Lucille Bluth fashion. Hey, it’s not Arrested Development, but it’ll do until the movie comes out.
Is anyone else watching this show?

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Oyster Warning FAIL

I spotted this in a Korean supermarket last night. I’m still trying to figure out what exactly it means. Needless to say, I avoided the oysters.

REAL HOUSEWIVES PHOTOCAP: Looking For A Shot Of Happiness

I don’t have much time to write this post today; so I’ll keep the recapping short. Shouldn’t be hard though — after all, most of last night’s episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County speaks for itself. The show focused on attempts at resurrection and rejuvenation — from Lynne’s second attempt at marriage with Frank to Alexis’s mom’s new face. Vicki let Jeana back into her life for a new chapter of friendship, and Tamra and Simon attempted to reignite the spark in an ill-fated birthday gondola ride. As for Gretchen, she gave a go at a second career, this time in makeup instead of real estate. However, serious doubts linger about all these developments. Will they really pan out? Will these people find happiness? Probably not.
Despite melancholy undertones, this episode was actually quite hilarious — thanks to some keen editing and some choice quotes from some of our favorite dunderheads. Simon brought some doozies towards the end of the hour as he first compared Vicki to Hitler (with a straight face — Simon, not Hitler) and then informed us that he didn’t control his wife. He then went on to suggest that without his presence, Tamra would be ten times crazier than she is now (thus implying that he does in fact control her).
Alexis, meanwhile, babbled away endlessly throughout the show about the joys of beauty and plastic surgery. And when she wasn’t doing that, she was repeatedly calling her mother “plain” and harping on food and exercise. The poor woman is so obsessed with her personal upkeep, and I think not a small part of that comes from a fear of losing her sugar daddy. Maybe that’s why when she announced she’d be taking one more bite of bread, she merely pecked a mini-crumb, much like a pigeon poking at a loaf of stale marble rye. It was such a ridiculous display that I couldn’t help letting out a hearty guffaw.
Nevertheless, there’s much more to this episode, but I’m must be off. Check out photos after the jump, and feel free to discuss the many things I’ve omitted in the comments section…

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REAL HOUSEWIVES PREVIEW: Scenes from a 'Perfect Marriage'

Is it already Thursday? Is a new Real Housewives of Orange County already upon us? The answer is yes. In two short hours, the ladies will hit the airwaves once again, and we’ll be dazzled with all sorts of exciting things such as this warm and cuddly (read: cold and frosty) conversation between Tamra and Simon on her birthday. It’s both hilarious and sad hearing Simon explain that his marriage is “perfect,” especially when in reality he and Tamra are currently going through divorce proceedings as we speak. Either way, take a gander at the clip above and enjoy (there’s even a nifty Hitler ref as a bonus!).