The Skins of Slumdog Millionaire

Speaking of Slumdog Millionaire, I wondered if anyone noticed that the main character Jamal is played by Skins actor Dev Patel. Dev plays the sex crazed Anwar on my favourite TV teen drama.

Kudos to Dev on his role and for the excellent movie he made with Danny Boyle. I still can't believe this film is from the same guy who made the zombie movie 28 days Later (which I love) and Trainspotting (which I love even more).

Skins, the best teen drama on television

Unfortunately it's not on our televisions. If you're lucky enough to be watching Skins in the UK or watching it by "subversive" means like me, you'll know how powerful the last 4 episodes have been.

Chris sets his job interviewer's tie on fire to sell a cup of tea.

I thought Tony relearning (or regaining) his mental and physical capacity was an incredible story arc but the Chris and Jal story blew me away. I was really happy to see Chris find a new sense of maturity. His blossoming relationship with Jal was tender and a relief from his pill popping antics. We all know he does it to hide his pain and not simply to get high.

If Tony just had sex with this girl but it's all in his head, was he just self gratifying himself?

This last episode (s02e08) was stunning. Jal spent much of the episode pondering and avoiding her pregnancy. When she discovers that Chris has health problems of his own, the story makes the point that life and love are to be treasured. The story was so well done I didn't even recognize that it was doing the most hateful of TV cliches EVER. Yet I fell for it and was choking back tears. I should be mad but I can't wait to watch the next episode.

Jal tries to explain to Michelle in Spanish that she's pregnant.

If you haven't seen Skins yet, do yourself a favor and beg, borrow or steal it. You won't regret it.

Osama! The Musical

Today at the store I found myself singing (secretly), "Then came the day Osama blew us away... Osama blew them away..." I didn't realize till the afternoon that the verse was from season 2 Skins episode featuring an elaborate musical about Osama the terrorist. Of course what actually happened that day wasn't funny at all. The musical fortunately is.

Catching up with Skins, Project Runway / Catwalk and Make Me a Supermodel

Skins Season 2 aired in the UK this past week. The intense stories and characters continue and if the first episode is any indication this is going to be another great season. Watching this first episode was like returning from summer break in High School. So happy to be with everyone again and looking forward to the future.




Project Catwalk Season 3 has been out over a month now and I just realized it. Yes, I'm a crappy fan. However, it gave me a chance to have a 5 episode marathon. The contestants seem more talented and less first-year fashion school. There are still those types but the addition of a couple of Canadians (Jasper and Chelsey) has me rooting for the Canucks!

The final 3 week turned out to be final 4 week on Project Runway. Sweet P was really the weakest person left. However both Chris and Rami was doing their tired old schtick again and I wouldn't have been sad if either of them left. It was the right decision to have them both work on collections and have them pick the final contestant in NYC before Bryant Park. Next week is the reunion show. Victoria looks really pissed off. She probably should have made it to the finals if not for her arrogance. I can't wait to hear what she has to say.

Finally America has voted Katy off Make Me A Supermodel. She was virtually in the bottom 3 every week and survived so often that I thought there was a conspiracy. The show has been super entertaining for me. It's odd that there's more boys than girls in the house. Which of course the exact opposite of the the modeling world in real life. I think Ronnie, Casey and Frankie will likely go home in the coming weeks. Shannon, Holly and Perry are favourites to go to the finals.

Skins the new OC?

On the plane to Japan, I was watching a series from the UK called Skins. During the holidays it's always slim pickings for quality TV so I got my partner to get me the entire season of the Skins. Despite it's porno alluding name, The show is on Channel 4 in the UK and is teen drama set in the coastal town of Bristol. It's funny, edgy and incredibly sexy. The show has lots of sexual situations, drug/alcohol use and pretty much everything a teen shouldn't but probably is doing.

The leads are great and includes Nicholas Hoult the awkward kid from Hugh Grant's "About A Boy".

Definitely not a boy anymore! Hubba Hubba!

Besides Nicholas the cast is stellar. The stereotypes are all included (top left working right and down): conflicted foreign kid, cool guy, geek, gifted musician, Miss Tease, gay boy, anorexic , class clown druggie, rich bitch and generic black guy.

The stories in the beginning highlight each of the characters and then towards the end of the series pulls together into a an unreal finale. The twists and turns of the series kept me glued. The unexpected results of the story arcs, I found really respects us viewers.

Before I started watching the show, I thought I was going to get the OC (first season, when it was still good). Sure there are similarities but after watching the entire 9 episodes, Skins isn't the new OC, it's better.

Better yet season 2 starts in February! Here's the trailer for it.