Once Upon a Time...I Needed Rent Money

Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Cory. His parents owned two business, at which he spent most of his young life, which happened to be located next to a comic book store (Acme Comics). He soon found himself visiting the shop often, buying books he thought had cool covers (Avengers Volume 3 written by Kurt Busiek, mostly). As he grew, so did his thirst for these skinny stapled pages filled with thought bubbles, bright costumes, and heroic deeds. As he grew even older he, in an attempt to separate himself from the 'geek' stereotype of a comic book reader (and to get laid), began to read non-superhero comics (which he referred to as "graphic novels"). Although this did not help him get laid, it did get him reading some really great stories. He read, and read, and read. He went to college. He wrote his freshmen research paper on how 'heroism displayed in the medium of superhero comics has changed" in which he analytically compared the first issues of The Avengers from the 1960s to the first volume of The Ultimates from the early 2000s. As comics became more popular (Watchmen movie-what?) and he began to find himself among others who enjoyed the story-telling form he decided to start buying comics again. But only in collected additions, because they were a little cheaper than buying issues monthly, and they would last longer. Then he decided to move into an apartment. And couldn't get a job to help with rent. But still wanted to read comics (among other things like drink, buy groceries, and get laid). What is our hero to do? 

Well that's as far as the tale has come kiddies. 

Essentially, I can't find a job in St. Louis. Not even the university 'residence department' would e-mail me back. And they just wanted me to carry garbage around the Washington University campus. Oh, and my internship? Totally unpaid. 

So here's the series that is going to break my bank:

Fables by Bill Willingham

The concept? What if all of the characters from fables, storybooks, nursery rhymes lived in a magical land together? And what if those fables were run out of this land by some unknown evil known only as The Adversary? And what if then, these fables took up secret residency in New York City? Well that would be Fables. The mere concept should be enough to hook you, but the amazing writing, mostly beautiful artwork, superb covers, and the ability to see what happens when the fairy tale ends (the Beast is only human as long as his Beauty loves him...what if she stops? Do the princesses mind that they are all rescued by one figure, simply Prince Charming?) will all grab you as well. 

The reason this is going to cost me? Well the series has been going for awhile now. In fact, I began reading it in High School, stopped at some point, and am now picking it back up again. There are currently 11 regular volumes, one extra previously unreleased graphic novel, and the series is still being published. Oh, and there is a spin-off with something like five volumes as well. With each of these costing (considering shipping) around $15-$20 a piece, its going to be an expensive hobby to take up. Luckily, I already own a number of these, but unfortunately also have every intention of buying the rest. And soon. 

Before you start, yes. I've thought about just getting them from a library. But I don't want to have to do that each time I want to read them. I don't read novels more than once usually (only have on a few occasions), but I read comics multiple times pretty often. They're a quick read because of their length, and depending on the series, some amazing artwork. 

Please ask me to borrow these, or check them out at your local libraries. You'll want to start with Volume One: Legends in Exile. Key characters you'll be following? Snow White, The Big Bad Wolf, Boy Blue, Prince Charming, and Rose Red (don't know who it is? Don't worry, you'll learn LOTS of fables by reading the series). 

*CORY FUN FACT: I used to have a livejournal. Try to find it. It was Fables themed. Oh yes. My username was a mix of one of my high school activities and a race of creature in a Final Fantasy game. Because I was really cool in high school. (I swear I actually was. I was even on Prom Court. Check that shit.) You'll never guess it. Comment and I'll probably just give it to you. 

Other comic collections I'd recommend? 

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughn

I've already whored these books out to most of my close friends. I don't want to ruin anything, so I'll tell you the basic plot of this ten trade (that's a collection of about six issues for those non-comic readers) series. What if every man on Earth died? Every last one but an amateur escape artist named Yorick Brown and his pet monkey Ampersand? These books are heart-wrenching, hilarious, and surprisingly epic (but with totally down to earth characters). I can honestly say that it may be the greatest piece of storytelling I've ever experienced. A must read. Especially before the movie trilogy comes out (in the works, starring Shia LaBeouf). (ALSO: There are lesbians!)

The Authority by Warren Ellis

This is for those who are a fan of the superhero genre but like their heroes a little darker, more realistic, and beating the living shit out of people. There are LOTS of volumes of this out (not all by Ellis) and while I can't think of an Authority story I didn't like, I'd say that the Ellis stuff is probably a little stronger than the others. It's a great look at superhero stories (especially if you're familiar with the genre) that explores what gives supposed heroes the right to do any of the things they do, and if that right even matters if the heroes have enough power. Oh, and it does it in a way that doesn't shove a bunch of shit down your throat (see: Marvel's Civil War). You don't have to pick a side, you're just along for the ride. 

So, will I make rent? Stay tuned. I'm sure internet will be the last thing I cut off (after heat, but probably before electricity) so at the very least you'll be given warning. 

I may be financially irresponsible, but I rationalize it pretty well in my mind. I attended a theater festival in my early and formative high school years, and the theme was "Why We Tell Our Stories". I consider myself a storyteller (a writer, comedian, and all around tale weaver). I live for narratives. And why I'd love to know why Willingham does the the things he's doing to his characters in Fables, I'll absolutely settle for finding out what exactly happens. 

What's your favorite childhood fable?

Life of the American College Student

Time to share with you two of my new favorite ways to waste/spend time. 

As you know, I've just completed my sophomore year at Washington University in St. Louis. I've lived in the dorms for two years (Lee 3 and Dauten 3 FOR LIFE). Living in the dorms has been an amazing experience. There's something about the energy that comes with too many people crammed into too small of a space to co-habitate effectively. There are always adventures, laughing, probably some screaming, and somewhere, somebody, is getting sloshed. 

I'm excited to be moving into an apartment next year, and even though I'll be living in a building with most of my friends from the dorms, I can't help but wonder if that energy will prevail when we all have our own rooms, our own spaces, and no reason to band together as a housing unit (see RES-COLLEGE OLYMPICS in the dorms). 

Being away from the dorms for only a week so far, I've already become pretty nostalgic. So what do I do? I start watching MTV's College Life and the internet's very own Dorm-Life. These two shows both focus on freshmen at school and their wayward adventures along the out of high school and into sophomorehood. 

College Life

If you're not familiar with the show, MTV has given a number of freshmen at University of Wisconsin, Madison camcorders and told them to film their first years at school. There are no crews, no mics, no directors on set, just kids with a camcorder. An idea my friends and I have had many a time (ours idea was to just set up a camcorder in a corner and film one of our parties). 

I didn't start watching the show when it premiered. Probably because I was at the time an enrolled college student. College life? I was living college life. Of course now that I'm stuck in Bloomington, IL, I miss the college life dearly. The show is particularly interesting because it's a look at state schools that I've never had. Sure, I grew up on the campus of Illinois State University, but any ISU parties I have attended have been house parties surrounding the large campus. The major differences I've observed between UW-M (I don't know how you kids abbreviate your school, sorry) and Wash U are that drinking is not allowed in the dorms, and the floors don't seem as close. 

Wash U doesn't officially allow drinking in the dorms...but yes it does. Freshmen year, as long as you have your door open (so the RAs can make sure you're not vomiting, dead, or playing beer pong) drinking is okay. No drinking games. No parties (what's a party? when the RA decides it's too loud). 

N

ow, it could be that the College Life kids just aren't filming their floor interactions (or MTV has decided that stuff isn't dramatic enough) but it seems like these kids are friends with their roommates and that's about it. I never get the feeling of camaraderie that I think so specifically defined my freshmen experience. The idea that all these kids are in it together, come hell or high water. 

There have only been five episodes so far, so it's not too late to jump into the show. I caught up in just a night (the episodes are only half-an-hour long each). If you want to start watching this Monday at 10:30/9:30 central, but you don't have the time to watch the older episodes, here's a quick primer of what you need to know:

- Alex is an overachiever who for whatever reason can't NOT fail her classes. Little drama, seems to be in the show less and less every week.

- Andrea is a Miley Cyrus looking princess. She can't decide what she wants. Or rather what she wants is insane. She wants her ex-boyfriend (Josh) to pine after her so she can act like he's a freak for not being able to let their relationship go, but she doesn't want Josh to be happy with any other girl, because she's supposed to be his everything. Least sympathetic character on the show (maybe). Her roommate is awesome for keeping it real and calling Andrea out on her shit. 

- Jordan is a mixed student from Illinois who actually might be the least sympathetic character. He brings no drama with other students (not convinced he has friends), but has the time to spend $2400 on a stupid tattoo when he's supposed to be paying his parents back for school. And yes, his mother has two jobs to put him through college. 

- Lindsay was added in the second or third episode to add some drama. She argued with her roommate for getting sexiled, and is currently hooking up (and de-virginizing?) Josh. Yes. Andrea's Josh. 

- Kevin. Kevin. Kevin. Really the only genuinely entertaining character on the show, Kevin is a bro. He plays beer pong in his room. He sexiles his roommate constantly. He can't pass calculus. And he's gotten kicked out of the dorms for drinking offenses. Oh yes. Give this man a show. 

Dorm-Life

This is a web-show recommended to me by a friend after hearing I liked College Life. This, unlike College Life, is an intentional comedy show. Each episode is around five minutes long, a new episode premieres every Monday on the Dorm-Life website, and there are currently about thirty episodes. This sketch comedy follows the lives of the 5-South freshmen floor, and oddly enough is more believable than College Life. Even though each of the characters are built around a stereotype (douchy RA, overexcited floormate, sorority girls, freshmen with girlfriend back home, theatre kid), the show actually presents situations that should appear very familiar to the typical college student (team-building day, theme parties, shy kid's first shot). And I've got to say, after twenty episodes (the first season and first semester, and how far I am into the show) these stereotypes have grown legs and I've actually started to care about them (much more than I could ever see myself caring about that hoe-bag Andrea from College Life). 

Seriously, I'd suggest this over College Life. It's made me unbelievably nostalgic for dorm life...so you may want to wait until you've actually left school (I know some of you are still there). I'll leave you with the link to the first episode, Roommates, and my favorite episode, Group Shot. It's a hilarious episode, but if you do plan on watching all of them, I'd suggest not viewing the clip. All of the episodes kind of build on one another, and this episode comes pretty late in the first season, so it has plenty of spoilers!

For those of you over the age of 18... what's your favorite memory from your freshmen floor?

Season Finales and a New Beginning

Hello all! I'm back!

It's a new summer, and a new beginning for See:Oh!Are.Why?

Essentially to get caught up here's what you need to know:

- I'm Cory.

- I've now completed my sophomore year at Washington University in St. Louis in the Olin Business School.

- I watch a lot of trashy TV.

- I try to read a lot of great stuff.

- I hope to update this a few times a week.

- Assume spoilers for every book, magazine, TV show, album, and movie ever thought of or released. Sorry.

- Now that it's summer, the blog is up and running again (with a new layout!)

I'm sure I'll have a post about my upcoming summer plans soon, but essentially I'm going to be moving back to St. Louis in two weeks to start a management/marketing internship with HotCity Theatre. 

There's something much more important than internship happening though. It's SEASON FINALE...SEASON. Regularly scheduled programs are about to end and summer programming is about to begin. Which means shows have to end with a bang. A kablam. A total cliffhanger. The detonation of an A-Bomb and the ruination of time. 

So obviously there's a big one tonight. The season finale of LOST. The end of season five. The finale of the penultimate chapter of the LOST saga. Will Jack detonate the bomb? Will Ben kill Jacob? Will we see Jacob? Where is Claire? Does time just...NOT exist? 

I'm unfortunately watching the finale alone. My parents are only halfway through season one, so they obviously can't watch it with me. So I'm making them hang out in my room so I can experience the two-hour finale on our big screen HDTV. That makes me sound spoiled, and bratty, but really my parents are just cool about stuff. Right? Whatever as of this year I'm only home for four weeks out of a year, so I can get a little spoiled while I'm home. 

Other notable finales in my life? 

Uhhh. NINEOHTWOONEOH. That's90210forthoseofyouwhorequirespacesinbetweenwordstoeffectivelyread. 

That's 90210 for those of you who really require spaces in between words to effectively read.

Part one of the finale already aired (it wasn't billed as such, but both episodes take place at the West Bev prom/after-prom so they might as well be one episode. I highly suggest tuning into the finale, it's sure to be electric. Here's what you need to know:

<-- Annie is a dumb bitch (yes, she is the girl from Degrassi)

Meanwhile, 90210 should be called the NAOMI SHOW. She's the bitchiest girl on 'campus' (is that what it's called in high school?) and really the funniest/most entertaining character. ---->

Things to look out for in the finale? Will Liam finally make a move for Annie after finally confessing his "like" for Naomi? How many minutes in will Silver hook up with Ethan (BOUND TO HAPPEN, MARK MY WORDS), and will they explain why the hell Sophomores a) are all at prom or b) have their own prom?

Also looking forward to the finales of Parks and Recreation (seriously, give this show a chance), The Office, and of course my new favorite 30 Rock. All the upcoming finales look funny, but the great thing about dramas is that the finale is INTEGRAL to the whole experience. I'm sure something important will happen during each of these finales, but nothing is set up to have the same impact as the end of season two of The Office (JIM AND PAM KISS). If anything, the cliffhanger would have to be that for whatever reason Jim and Pam decide to call of the wedding. But even if they do, you know they'll get back together next season. So, yeah, looking forward to these, but could probably DVR them as well. 

The other big finale of the season? The Real Housewives of New York City. I didn't even watch this show (caught it a few times) until I finished school last week. I've caught up on marathons and WHAT A SEASON. Essentially, there are three likable characters, Jill (the Jewish Motha I never had), Alex (the quirky one who lives in Brooklyn and nobody will talk to), and Bethenny (the smart ass single chef who makes the show bearable). The finale was last week, but this week Bravo is airing the reunion special. And there's so much dirt to dish that it [reportedly] took seven hours to film, and the network is breaking it into two hour long segments. The first has already aired (last night) but the second is coming up on Thursday. If you've seen the show you KNOW you have to watch so you can see Bethenny and Kelly tear into each other, and even if you didn't watch the show, why not watch some rich bitches argue for an hour? 

Seriously though, Bethenny is the break-out star of the show. Check her website or twitter. And yes, she follows me on Twitter. 

And finally some other reality finales of worth:

- For the Love of Ray J (so glad Cocktail won)

- Rock of Love: Tour Bus (did anybody watch this once Ashley got kicked off?)

- Tough Love (this wasn't a competition. I stopped watching it.)

- Make Me a Supermodel (uh, that British white guy is going to win. NO DOUBT.)

- America's Next Top Model (I watched part of the marathon this week and have to say I'm rooting for Allison. She's just so goofy looking.)

- I Love Money 2 (We all wanted Saaphyri to win. Don't play.)

- American Idol (I don't watch this. The gay guy is going to win, right?)

- Real Housewives of New Jersey (I'm just on a RH high)

I leave you with this. Although our favorite shows are ending, the summer season is not without its own diamonds in the rough. I feel like that should be spelled 'diamonds in the ruff'. I must be thinking of some dog pun. 

Right, so the notable shows to start watching out for?

- Charm School hosted by Ricki Lake (I love Ricki Lake, and I love this show. Premiered already, and it looks like the Rock of Love girls are going down. I'll stop watching when Ashley gets kicked out).

- Big Brother (guilty pleasure)

- SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (I'll be blogging about this a lot, so just start watching it to save time). 

- NOT The Fashion Show (seriously, if the rest of the episodes are like the first, this show suckssss)

I'm going to try a new thing where I ask a question at the end of each post. So you can answer, and I can know people read this. 

What is the best season/series finale episode you can think of? What made it so good?