Wednesday, September 28, 2011

"30 Rock" vocab lesson: "mind grapes"

"Mind grapes"; expression:
  • the fruit of one's mind, from which "juices" (ideas, concepts, etc.) may be produced.
Origin: Jack Donaghy, portrayed by Alec Baldwin, and Tracy Jordan, portrayed by Tracy Morgan, in "30 Rock" episode 107, "Tracy Does Conan" (written by Tina Fey).

Screen cap credit: Lore-85.

In "Tracy Does Conan", Jack Donaghy is trying to write a speech about Jack Welsh, saying that Welsh "squeezes... juice out of his workers' mind grapes". Liz and Jack agree it doesn't make sense, and moments later Tracy says, "what else is on my mind grapes?" ... perhaps confirming that it does not, indeed, make sense. But I dare you not to use it in your everyday life.


Use it in a sentence: "I'm on a deadline and I've got to squeeze every last drop of juice out of my mind grapes."

Wise words: Tracy Jordan of "30 Rock"

Tracy's keys to success:

Screencap credit: lore-85.


1. Live every week like it's Shark Week.

2. Dress every day like you're going to be murdered in those clothes.



Origin: "30 Rock" episode 104, "Jack the Writer", written by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.

"30 Rock" daily diversion: one-minute dance party

Daily diversion: One-minute dance party.
Origin: "30 Rock" episode 104, "Jack the Writer", written by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock.


Sometimes we all need a little break from the day-to-day dullness. What better way to bust out of a funk than to bust a move? Liz Lemon and her staff of "TGS" writers like to take a quick dance break when frustration sinks in.





Incorporate it into your life: throw together a quick playlist of awesome songs to break it down to. (Use songs that start strong; you've only got a minute, so don't choose anything that builds up to a crescendo. You want it to bump all the way through.)  Then, when you're having an "ugh" moment, play a random song from the list on your iPod, iPhone, computer, or boom box (props for goin' old school) and dance your little heart out for a full minute. Even more fun if you bring friends or coworkers into the mix!

Song suggestions: Liz and her team "love the music of Chamillionaire" and dance to "Grown and Sexy". Some other good options are: "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C&C Music Factory, "Beat It" by Michael Jackson, "Push It" by Salt-N-Pepa, "Lose My Breath" by Destiny's Child, "Bust a Move" by Young MC, and anything by Girl Talk.

"New Girl" Jess's DVD collection

Show: "New Girl"
Character: Jess Day, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel.

Photo credit: FOX.

FOX's new comedy "New Girl" is peppered with pop culture references, which gives it instant cred to me. Part of main character Jess's quirky charms are the way she makes up her own theme songs and quotes Lord of the Rings at inopportune times, as well as her obsessions with certain movies.

Much like her hair, her glasses, and her overall personality, Jess's taste in movies is pretty adorable. In the pilot episode (written by series creator Elizabeth Meriwether), she attempts to get over her breakup by watching Dirty Dancing on repeat, much to the chagrin of her three male roommates. In episode 101, "Kryptonite" (also written by Meriwether), Jess offers up her DVD collection for a movie night with her roommates. Her collection consists of classics like Adventures in Babysitting, Newsies, and Curly Sue (which Schmidt takes an interest in; "Curly Sue -- let's do this").

So if you're up for a movie night, Jess-style, here's what you've gotta move to the top of your Netflix queue:

Dirty Dancing

The classic 80s swooner about a privileged young woman who falls for a dirty dancer at a resort in the Catskills.


Adventures in Babysitting

A babysitter's ordinary evening turns extraordinary when she takes her babysitting charges into Chicago to rescue her friend.


Prancer

A farmer's daughter nurses back to health an injured reindeer, believing it to be Prancer from Santa's crew.


Newsies

A newsboy strike is organized in turn-of-the-century New York.


Curly Sue

A homeless man and his curly-haired little companion con people, until they meet a woman who changes everything. (Bonus: it's straight from the heart of the late, great John Hughes.)

There you have it! Also, Zooey Deschanel's favorite food is popcorn, so make sure you pop some hot & fresh for your Jess-inspired film fest.

Monday, September 26, 2011

"30 Rock" vocab lesson: "buying all the hot dogs"

"Buying all the hot dogs"; expression:
  • overreacting to a situation and doing something illogical or grandiose just to prove a point; impulsively enacting an over-the-top solution to a not-so-major problem.
Origin: Liz Lemon, portrayed by Tina Fey, in the pilot episode of "30 Rock" (written by Tina Fey).


Screen cap credit: Lore-85.

In the pilot episode of "30 Rock", Liz Lemon gets upset that a man cuts in line at the hot dog stand, and further incensed when people in line behind her leave to start a second line behind him. Infuriated, Liz buys all of the hot dogs so that the cutter and his followers can't have them. She proceeds to hand them out to the "good people" who stayed in her line, as well as random strangers, homeless people, and the writers on her show. She also eats four of them herself. She later explains to Pete that she hates it when people cheat or break rules, so her solution was to buy all the hot dogs. She realizes that it was irrational, impulsive, and over-the-top, but it proved her point and the "bad" people didn't get hot dogs.


Use it in a sentence: "Joey wouldn't stop chewing on the pens I lent him, so I bought all the hot dogs and threw away all the pens in the office."

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Penny Can

Game: Penny Can
Show: "Cougar Town" (ABC)



Penny Can is a game created by Bobby Cobb on "Cougar Town". The basics are very simple: players throw pennies into a can from at least 10 feet away. Sounds a little snoozy, no? But if you give it a shot (pun 100% intended; it's how I roll), I promise you'll get hooked, just like our favorite Cul-de-sac Crew.

Since the game's inception, the gang has developed some additional funtimey rules.
  • When a player gets a penny in the can, all players yell "penny can" in a high-pitched singsongy tone. If a player sinks a penny while the can is moving, players sing "moving target penny can".
  • If your penny goes in the can but bounces out, it's time for a 'Stache Attack! That means another player gets to draw a mustache on your face. (If you're already mustachioed, you may get a Crazy Brow.)
  • If a "rim shot" occurs, the other players flick your ears. (Ouch!)
  • If your penny spins, you become the meat in a "face sandwich" with two other players until the penny stops.
  • If you sink three pennies in a row, you do the robot and say "penny can" in your most robotic voice.
Adaptations of the game include Ultimate Penny Can and Truth or Penny Can. It's also very easy to turn into a drinking game. (You miss you drink; another player gets a penny can and everyone else drinks.)
    So how do you bring Penny Can into your life?

    Step 1: obtain a penny can. I was lucky enough to have one delivered to me in the mail (for free!) because my friend and I called 1-855-Penny-Can and spoke to Nellie, one of the show's writers. A stroke of good luck, and the Penny Can is glorious in person! The Penny Can is occasionally on sale here for $19.95, but if it's out of stock just grab an old paint can or coffee can to use. If you're feeling creative you can add a label as in the photo above, or personalize it for you and your friends.

    Step 2: get some friends together. Penny Can is most fun with at least 3 or 4 competitors. Ideal occasions? A backyard barbecue, a night at the beach, or after everyone's had a tall glass of wine, beer, or cream soda. I personally brought mine to a work barbecue:


    ... and good times were had by all.