"Borderline" Cover, as heard on THE MINDY PROJECT

The Flaming Lips' cover of Madonna's Borderline.

Heard this version on The Mindy Project's second season premiere and I thought it was a refreshing cover of the 80's hit song. It was equally refreshing to hear it used as background music for a very important ceremony on the show. The choice was uncanny, given Borderline's lyrics, but the music's tone and mood couldn't have been more perfect for the scene!

Listen ----


2009 Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarfs - Borderline from George Salisbury on Vimeo.

As for the show, overall, I thought the first episode for the second season of The Mindy Project had a clear direction. It was entertaining and well put-together from start to finish, which is to say that its writing was seamless. The show has had a few hitches at the beginning of its first season, which reflected on the series. This time, I think (and I hope!) that Mindy has it under control. I'm so excited for what else is coming on The Mindy Project!

This was what I wrote on my Facebook Page, after watching Season 2 Episode 1 (click photo for a bigger resolution):

And this may be the right time to say that I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with this blog anymore (talk about clear direction!). Writing about TV shows can be super draining and time-consuming, especially if you do this on a regular basis, required and expected from you. I'd rather spend all my energy, or what's left of it, actually watching, you know?

So, as much as I would like to talk in great length about what I've just watched, micro-blogging works better for me now. (If this still isn't clear, this is my not-so subtle way of telling you --- over and over --- that you can find me blabbing about TV on Facebook or Twitter. Thank you for joining me there!)

You can check out my short feedback on the newest crop of shows for 2013 TV season on my Facebook album here.

My Tribute to James Gandolfini (As Published in the Inquirer)

Thanks to Inquirer's Pam Pastor for granting me the space. :)

I wrote this hours after the news broke out. Pam sent a message asking if I would like to write a letter. I wanted to say many things that I could've geeked out about The Sopranos or sounded too emotional. (Dammit, I was crying the whole day!)

Instead, I came up with this.

I hope it made sense.

Because I still cannot believe this happened.

To the Boss ---

Your death comes as a shock to me. It feels personal because I’ve spent the better part of last decade following “The Sopranos” and I was one of those captivated by your portrayal of the head of the Family.

Minutes after your death, the LA Times wrote this: “Without Gandolfini's Tony Soprano, there would be no Don Draper, or Walter White, or Vic Mackey.” I read years ago that “The Sopranos” ushered the Golden Age of Television, where you’ve made Tony Soprano an iconic figure. Badass, flawed, and unapologetic --- you embodied this character so well, it wasn’t really hard to embrace his badass-ery, demons, faults and all. 

Lucky for those of us who have witnessed your talent watching your show. But it’s still sad to accept that your life is too short.

It still hasn’t sunk in: Tony Soprano --- James Gandolfini is gone.

I want this sad news to be so much to be like how your show ended, with cool but simple fade-to-black, giving viewers the power to draw their own conclusions. All those years, I had assumed life went on for the Sopranos and nobody died. And for six years after the show aired its last episode, that was what I truly believed.

Until today.

My letter, published in PDI June 22, 2013.

Your death seemed to seal the fate of one of my most beloved TV characters. It just got real.

I will never see you in another movie or TV show again and exclaim to myself, “Ahh, Tony!!! See? You’re still okay!” because you are truly gone. No more fade-to-black this time. 

But I will be forever grateful that you’ve made watching TV such a pleasure and a gratification, and for that, you will not be forgotten.

Buonanima, Mr. Soprano! You truly were one of the greats. 

With so much respect, 
Mindy

[Vid] Philippines & Pinoys were Special Mentions in The Office Finale

I haven't completely processed the final episode of The Office. My eyes are still not dry. I've been nostalgic and teary-eyed since yesterday.

The finale? It wasn't the best send-off I've seen. Like many of the show's loyal viewers, I also believed that the The Office would've been better ending when Steve Carell left after Season 7. Yet, they pressed on for two years and since then, I've had a love-hate relationship with the show.

Howver, it didn't feel right to miss the series finale, despite how mad I was the previous episodes leading to it. In a way, that's how passionate I was for The Office. It has been one helluva trip.

Briefly, I wanna say...

• Thank you for these 9 impressionable and remarkable seasons. Some of the best moments from television & pop culture are from this show. I'm thrilled to have witnessed it.
• Thank you for Jim and Pam. And for Dwight & Angela.
• Thank you for bringing Steve Carell back to close the show. Happiest. Fan. Moment. Ever. (And the guy has not lost his touch as Michael Scott!)

Lastly, thank you for this! I'd like to believe it's the show's way of reaching out to fans in the Philippines. It truly felt like The Office came full circle for me.

Goodbye, Dunder Mifflin.

I'm gonna miss this.

PS. Can someone name who these Filipinos are in the video?