When the Cheshire emerges...

*This is about the finale. If you're like me and have been delayed in watching it, don't read this.*

Before I left on my overseas trip I had been frantically trying to watch the second half of the final season of How I Met Your Mother. I was keeping up with the States, then fell a bit behind.

I left, and was then reminded multiple times while away, that I had failed to get the final double episode under my belt. It killed me. And others too, who so badly wanted to discuss the ending...

I made it one of my weekend's priorities to finish this chapter of modern television. I've been back more than a week and am yet to turn on my actual TV, but got on the web for this. And WOW. I know I'm behind everyone else here, but I need to have my two cents because this is one of my favourite shows and I'm upset it's over.

Not one to really pick out the way something is heading, I didn't see this coming at all. I hadn't read rumours about the Mother - Tracy - dying, and I've been watching the last few seasons sporadically thanks to my persistence in dealing with the airing on Australian free-to-air television (that won't be happening again...).

What got me the most stumped from this is just how quickly the news of Barney and Robin's divorce was announced, and then not really discussed. And you didn't even have the time to digest it before 50 other things were flung at you to deal with. Like fans were quick to point out, it stumps you because you'd just watched a whole season revolving around their wedding day. For nothing.

One of the simpler memes to arise from the finale.

Reactions as collected by the Sydney Morning Herald give a pretty good picture of what viewers thought. Other blogs also described disappointment and sadness at the ending. I'm still not really sure how I feel about it. But I'll be honest and say that there were good parts to it. Namely Barney's reaction to meeting his daughter, which was probably a little cheesy in reference to previous use of his words but also quite touching.


Having slept on it, I've realised just how much the show grew up. Yes, that final episode was rushed, but there was a life past nights at MacLaren's Pub for all of them. It was a little difficult to watch. When so much revolves around something, like season nine with the wedding, and then its whole ideal is shattered, it's a metaphor for the way some things really go in life. In a way shit got real more than ever before.

I can't say I'm totally happy with the ending, but I see its merit. It was good television for the fact most didn't see the twists coming - something becoming harder and harder to achieve these days. And that's what satisfies its creators at least. It should satisfy us, but I'm calling it to say this will divide people for a really long time.

Now that I'm happy to talk about it, I want to see what people think about this with it not being so fresh. Please comment and let me know what you thought!

I want to share an article I read earlier today. It is genius; it involves Friends and the words of an eight-year-old boy.

Discover great thinking from America's youth.

(Warning: use the arrows to flick through the pages/pictures, if you click like I did you manage to miss a pivotal moment).

Photo: tenplay.com.au

Having immersed myself in the latest season of Glee this week as part of an ongoing TV catch-up post-move, I wanted to talk about a couple of things regarding the show.

1: The Cory Monteith tribute episode.

I didn't watch it at the time; the news of his death was horrible, I was particularly busy and I hadn't watched the episodes before it. Finally getting to it a couple of months later though, it was still incredibly sad. Glee has always dealt with strong topical issues, from school shootings to gay acceptance, and Monteith's death was dealt with accordingly.

If I'd watched the Cory Monteith tribute ep of @GLEEonFOX when it aired I would've been a right mess. Still am after watching it only now...
— Katina V (@Katiinkaa) December 23, 2013

2: The Beatles episodes.

I can't say I've ever been a huge Beatles fan. The only song of theirs I think I have on my iPod is Get Back because that's what my dad had downloaded once (and I was influenced by his taste for different pop/rock music). But listening to the Glee crew singing their way through a snippet of their illustrious catalogue, I was touched by the simple lyrics and melodies. It's actually made me want to go and buy their 1 album.

I love that five seasons in, Glee has the ability to still influence younger generations into appreciating good music - while still embracing modern and perhaps dubious acts like twerking.

Photo: bigbrother.com.au

I had intended to write an entry on the final three, but I've been a bit behind the eight-ball this week with my television - I only watched the Big Brother finale this morning after a self-imposed social media blackout.

And HOW GOOD was the result?! Out of the three, I think Australia got the order right. And Tim was the perfect player of this game, perhaps more open in that than anyone else we've seen.

Photo: bigbrother.com.au

While fast-forwarding through the three-hour broadcast makes you realise just how much they draw the announcement out, we get a great reflection of the season that was.

I wrote this time last year about how great the 2012 season was, but when you get a season that is just as good it becomes lost on you. The 2013 selection of housemates was not just interesting, but the continued twists kept them on their toes and it made for fantastic television.

And the relationships were some of the most intense yet.

Photo: news.com.au

Well, Tully and Drew's was the biggest. She cheated on national TV, he admitted to love. It was more than Ed could manage, although he changed his original plans to 'just have fun' to 'OK, Jade's persistent so I'll go with it' - so he gets some credit, right?

This series, while I wasn't in it, was the result of a good selection of people, that had interesting conflicts. Although news on the outside that it might be rigged has annoyed me a bit today. On wondering why Justynn wasn't at the finale, it's revealed he wasn't invited. And then I find out he's a part-time actor...

Oh and speaking of, I was reminded that Tim was the Rihanna plane streaker. So this year we've had an aspiring actress/model, a race car driver's boyfriend, former AFL player and well. It's been a bit of a B-grade special hasn't it?

***

I'm sad it's over for another year though. Maybe next year I'll give it a go. It looks like they have so much fun.

Photo: bigbrother.com.au

And PS: Sonia Kruger was in possibly her best dress for the year for the finale. Stunning.

WOW.

I've been watching Big Brother tonight in slight disbelief.

It's that time of year ALREADY. It's back. For season number 10 if you can believe it.

Last year's return of the best reality TV show around (sorry, I don't care for singing contests, that's not a social experiment) came off pretty brilliantly. I'd considered going for it but decided not to, and by the end of the season was so impressed I thought 2013 could be my year.

I did actually apply this year FYI, with a video audition because I live far enough from Sydney that I'm allowed to. In hindsight, I think I would have looked more reserved, and as a result didn't have that, ahem, x-factor.

***

This year's contestants really seem like a mixed bunch, different to usual. Ed's the hottie (and Adelaide born, woo!), Tim is going to rub everybody up the wrong way, I think Sharon's going to be a cooler 'older' person than previous counterparts, and this gay Ben is just so cuddly cute.

I can't believe how excited I was before on remembering Big Brother started tonight. It's going to be another three months of obsessing over people and their reactions to changes in their constrained environment.

I can't wait to see how it unfolds.

'Jump/jumping the shark' has to be one of the best common phrases to come from pop culture. It symbolises so much more than the beginning of the end; it makes or breaks perceptions and helps to distinguish the good and bad of many situations.



Photo: ITV

So we have finally caught up to the rest of the world with the ongoing events of Downton Abbey. Not having read the spoilers was a godsend in not anticipating this. At all.

The biggest news of the day (in Australia): Days of our Lives is being canned by Nine. Yeah, Adam Scott won the US Masters and that's pretty awesome, but Days is leaving free-to-air television after 45 years. WOAH.

Daytime TV will never be the same again.

On free-to-air anyway... this is a real game-changer.


My history with Days stems back to countless holidays watching it with my yiayia at her house, getting caught up in what I thought were daring (and scary) storylines of how Marlena was possessed by the Devil and Stefano DiMera was wreaking havoc across all of Salem.

There was Kristen DiMera, who suffered a miscarriage in secret and pretended to still be pregnant with John's child to keep John away from Marlena. Oh, and Hope being brainwashed into thinking she was a princess.

After losing touch, I rejoined the storyline in  high school/uni years with mum - Bo and Hope's endless dramas were still ongoing with new kids popping up on the scene, and then there was the mega episode fast-forwarding about three-and-a-half years as Nine decided to get us closer than the four-year gap we'd always had from the US airings. Can you believe it, for the longest time we were FOUR years behind.

I kept up with it for a while, but eventually I let it go once again.

Now the days are coming to an end after 45 years. 45 YEARS. With any luck a Foxtel channel will pick it up like with The Young and the Restless - and what a furore that caused. My yiayia is yet to find out, and I know when my mum tells her she will be devastated (keep in mind that she wouldn't understand about 95 per cent of the dialogue because of her minimal English).

As will many mothers and (apparently) uni students. What will Nine's daytime programming become? What will free-to-air daytime TV in Australia become?

What will fill the void that was once our security blanket, there whenever we needed it?

For those who watch it: what's been your favourite Days of our Lives storyline?
(There are so many good ones *sniff*)

I think I might have to watch on April 26 when it apparently has its last day...

Watch If You Are The One on SBS2 at 8.30 tonight (so now if on Eastern time) if you have any interest in dating shows.

This one has 50 million viewers across China each week - and for good reason, it's pretty interesting. I discovered it last week and have actually gone back to it.

One guy has 24 potential dates and either has the choice of choosing or gets rejected by all of them.

I'd put a photo up but none of them are working. Trying to figure out if that's because of China's internet controls...

Anyway, watch.

***
Looking into the mirror and disliking the self that you take with you everywhere you go is one of the most self-defeating things you can do.

No-limit people are so in charge that they can trust their instincts, be childlike, be creative, and do anything that makes sense to them.

Turned the TV on and the NRL pops up. So the footy (as they know it in NSW) has started... but all that did was make me think of how I wish it was AFL. It's coming Katina. Soon...

Having said that, tonight marked Sonny Bill Williams' return to the NRL fold after his not-so-glorious exit in 2008 (wow, that's ages ago). I, as AFL-loving as I am, do know about this and remember how big it was at the time.

Seeing him on the field was intriguing, and to be honest a part of me is thinking about eventually learning to sit down and understand a bit of it. Maybe. Unfortunately for me now though, I have work to do so any Sonny Bil - oh I mean NRL - watching will have to wait.

***
The more you have a harmonious, loving, accepting approach, the more you'll see the rest of the pieces all fitting nicely together.

Did anyone catch The Mindy Project after HIMYM on Monday night? I found it taped by accident and ended up watching it after looking up that it was the first episode. Pretty funny actually, even for another doctor show (seriously USA, there's enough of them now). See how we go with next week's episode...

Now doesn't this look interesting? Another reworking of Sherlock Holmes, yes, but I'm kind of intrigued. Jonny Lee Miller already to me is an awesome choice as the great detective - how has he NOT done it before now? I'm cautious to see how this goes with the major differences (Watson as a woman and the New York setting); I've never really gotten stuck into a Sherlock TV series so I might give this a go.

***


On a different note, I've never watched My Kitchen Rules for more than 20 seconds before Tuesday night, but I found myself eating dinner in front of the TV as Tassie dad-son duo Mick and Matt did their best to impress their fellow contestants with their seafood expertise. I can see how it's addictive! Can't say I'll be watching it every night, but it's high pressure watching for sure.

I'm trying to avoid getting into too much new stuff again this year. I found 2012 was pretty hectic just as it was and I'm trying to do different things in my spare time. Will still be keeping up with Downton Abbey among other shows from last year though - I've found myself singing and bopping to my rendition of She Wolf for weeks not being able to get the montage from the ad out of my head! So excited it's "after the tennis" now (in one way anyway).

I'd still like to know what shows you'll be getting into in 2013...

***
Creativity means believing that you have greatness.
Why?

Little did I know I'd be getting my country on and going on a road trip yesterday (to the Warrumbungles, but that's a story for a later time), but something struck me when I saw this on my fridge back on Wednesday.

One of the more random Shoe of the Week choices I think, this is a shoe purely for the farming/animal enthusiast. One would hope it is not real cowhide or PETA activists would surely have something to say. I would too - but not for that...

***
So who's seen the Downton Abbey preview for Season 3 on Seven?

I feel like fistpumping every time I see it... Whoever thought of putting a montage to David Guetta is a champ. DA in da cluuuub (OK that's really lame but what else can you say, it's so random).

It's been done so well, not least because of what looks like excellent content. I can't wait until the end of January (no doubt it'll premiere after the Australian Open) - but I will; looking for this was hard enough not to read any potential spoilers.

Here you go :D

As the Big Brother winner for 2012 was announced last night, I apparently upset a fair amount of people on Central Standard Time by briefly sharing my happiness on Facebook. Unbeknownst to me - as Dubbo, like Adelaide, regularly gets the show on a half-hour delay - we actually got the result live, whereas they unfortunately did not.

As far as I'm aware it's my first boo-boo since being on NSW time, resulting from my incorrect logic. I've made my apology, but this episode (no pun intended) brings a timely reminder that there's one simple rule to follow: if you don't want to know, don't log on.

Living in a non-live time zone's hard in the days of mass social media. It's not like I haven't done it, and like most I've had my monumental stuff ups.

A particularly big one was finding out the Eurovision winner in 2009 (I think, or 2008) the hard way just before going to my friend's to watch the delayed final. Now, for those outside Europe, avoiding the result every year is REALLY HARD. A total media blackout for an entire day is usually required, but it can be done. Disappointingly in 2009, I found out not through the TV or radio reports, or even Facebook (because it most certainly would've been discussed there), but Google. Google is not even safe.

But ultimately, it was my fault for turning the computer on.

***

I wrote at the beginning of the season about my thoughts of the return of the series as well as the housemates in contention for the crown. I hadn't warmed to anyone then, and while I really liked the group as a whole entity I don't think I ever did cement a favourite in my mind. But the season was fantastic for a number of reasons, namely a rollercoaster of emotional drama, inventive tasks, and a back-to-basics approach.

In the end, I'm impressed that Benjamin won. Why? Well yes, he was a bit of a bully and a lot of people hated that. But he didn't try and hide his dislike of people all that much, and the girls weren't exactly perfect. Layla dumped George to go with Sam (debate for or against that all you like), while Estelle ended up kissing three of the guys: Bradley (to help him out yes, but still, there was an almost romance there), Ryan and finally Michael. So you could judge and point fingers at all of them about something really.

Benjamin had different sides to him that made for very good television. And that's what it comes down to really. He was excellent at dishing out constructive advice, good at taking on challenges in a number of questionable outfits and OK, a bit of a gossip. Does it matter that he's gay? Yes, on the point that in a country not officially accepting of gay marriage we were acceptant of his personality and preferences.

The Big Brother finale was very well programmed; impressive from Nine. I look forward to watching again in 2013 - oh hang on, no, I plan to try and be ON THERE... The show was fun, and not without a huge surprise from the winner to his partner. For me it was a huge deal - it was a marked statement not seen before on Australian television before; a defiant stance that marriage is not a dirty word.

At least I left that for everyone to discover themselves.

Soooooo... who just watched Big Fat Gypsy Weddings?

WOW.

I had it on after Big Brother so thought I'd give it a go. And I've not seen anything so bizarre in some time.

Incase you missed it, this is Josie. An Irish traveller (aka gypsy), 17 and oldest of nine.

Looks a bit like Linsday Lohan in this photo and fits the apparently typical traveller bill of dressing with her boobs out all.the.time.

And this is her on her wedding day to 19-year-old English traveller Swanley.


The story with this is that she could hardly walk in it and that frustrated me. What's the point?! But the whole time I just couldn't figure out HOW they have the money to spend on these big days... if they're travellers they don't have a normal level of stability do they? The whole thing was just... oh, I don't know. Weird.

From watching this though, the whole concept of travellers' morals seems a huge contradiction. They walk around looking like prostitutes (the dressmaker's words), but can't drink or have sex before marriage, and they're also anti-careerwoman. So you'd think there's some good values in there but it comes across SO tacky.

Does anyone agree?

What did you think Australia? I'd love to hear some opinions!

So with Channel Nine bombarding us with ads for their new program schedule during the Olympics, my interest was taken. Although half have started, I thought I'd weigh in on how they might fare.

Big Brother

Well you all know where I stand with the return of the reality TV king, returning for the first series since I came of age. I don't think Nine have great production value overall but so far it's looking OK.

Underbelly: Badness



This has started already - and while I was excited for a new Underbelly series and also to see how Jonathan LaPaglia would fare as a bad-ass, I've decided to give it a miss. Just have too much going on right now. Plus LaPaglia doesn't look great on the ads (purely because of his character) - if I want to watch him I might as well watch The Slap again where he looked reeeeeally good.

Anger Management



Not a fan of Charlie Sheen or a watcher of Two and a Half Men, but really appreciated the first teaser ad where he took the mickey out of himself. He DID make the channel what it is (whatever that means for Nine), and he's clearly not losing (so that means he's wi..., geddit?) if he's back being paid a shitload for every episode of this show. I won't be watching.

House Husbands



I wouldn't mind giving this one a look actually, it sounds like a good concept. Great Australian cast and something of a dramedy that's making me think of the dads in What To Expect When You're Expecting.

Dallas



This is the one that intrigues me the most. I thought it was in vein of the remakes of 90210 and Melrose Place where they've just rehashed the same characters and stories. This will no doubt rehash some things too, but it's a continuation to focus on the descendants. I like that idea, and I like that Jesse Metcalfe's in it (the other guy's creepy looking, if he's not the really evil one that would weird a lot of people out).

I latched onto the other big event of the early 80s, Dynasty, for a time but never got onto the episodes of old from JR and the gang. I know about the whole 'who shot JR?' thing and how HUGE that was, and it turns out my parents were big fans and fully into it when that went down. Hilarious. Very curious to see how it'll rate, whether people will tune in to see where it goes.

***

Have you seen the American offerings in advance? Will you be watching or leaving Nine in the dumps?

I was meant to make the trip to Penrith in Sydney's outer west yesterday which from Dubbo is about five hours away.

I was planning to present myself with a filled-out application form for Big Brother auditions.

But as I'm talking in a negative tense, I didn't go.

Excited to hear Big Brother Australia was coming back from a significant hiatus (although on a different channel with a host many aren't happy about), it was finally my chance to be eligible.

But filling out the form, I didn't feel as positive about the idea as I thought I would. I'm stable in life and live in a much smaller place where the repurcussions would be more sorely felt. Not that I would do anything really stupid, but people easily create rumours and negative innuendo and my work would be affected. And I really didn't want to miss out on my soccer game if I was doing it half-heartedly.

The perfect years for me to apply were those it had left Australian screens.

I was a bit disappointed because I've always wanted to go on this show over anything else on TV. I consider the concept the ultimate social experiment and I think I'd be an amazing BB contestant. At least, I've told I would be.

I will watch this year's season with interest to see how differently it's handled. I'm more comfortable going into this with a bit more wisdom and confidence under my belt, if I ever decide to get to an audition.

Dear Diary,

I couldn't bring myself to write in here again before now, I'm still crushed by the Socceroos' loss. After my last entry I slept in my sorrows for five hours and still felt like absolute shite when I had to get out of bed. Yes, even though it was a public holiday I still had to get up. Can't believe they're considering suspending Tim Cahill for TWO games because of the red card. If anything I would think FIFA had the authority to REVOKE the decision because it was unwarranted. However, the upside to yesterday was that I managed to get myself on TV. TWO stations (Nine and Ten), one as a vox pop with a comment (thanks Nick lol) and one belting out the national anthem with scarf above head. Sound embarrassing? It still is. But for some reason I find myself hilarious. Should I be admitting that? Now I feel like a comedian should when they laugh at their own jokes: like a douche.

Last night I have to admit I hit struggle town. Now, lately I've been okay with handling long hours at work and everything else, but I think adrenaline has a lot to do with it. Watched bits and pieces of Netherlands v Denmark (the og was HILARIOUS, at least the guy himself saw the humour in it), but I was really keen on Italy v Paraguay at 4am. So after sitting in front of the lappy until midnight I got my shuteye.

First half, I was fine. Saw Paraguay's goal, the Italians were panicking and noticed they had a few younger players in their squad (although it's interesting that they're still a VERY strong side and it's the oldest in the Cup). Second half, kept drifting off... 'woke up' at one stage to see a 1-all scoreline, nodding in agreement. Next thing I notice it's NOT 3-1 in Italy's favour. Guess the images I saw of two extra goals being scored were figments of my imagination. My bad. Before I know it, it's 6am and Mum's asking me to take her to work. And so began my day.

Hours of sleep: 4. Have slight headache, but that could be from straining my brain at French class before. I couldn't remember what 'vous vous appelez comment' meant when she sprang that on me. It's only what we learnt in the first lesson... Idiot.

OMG, NEW ZEALAND JUST SCORED. WHAAAAT??? First goal for NZ at the Cup in 28 years apparently. First POINT in Cup history (think I heard that right). HA, they've drawn with Slovakia. Wow, that's fair impressive. Go All Whites. Ok, looks like I'm ending this on a good note. Ivory Coast and Portugal to come. Brazil later a possibility.

Yes, by Totally Wild I am talking about the TV show. I'm currently halfway through a week of work experience at Adelaide's Channel Ten studios, and today was the first of two days in the Children's Unit, which holds one of three Totally Wild bases (Brisbane's the HQ and Melbourne plays a small role too).

To say I had a different experience to the general newsroom is an understatement. Today was one of the most fun days I've had in ages. Fun normal days that is (which I guess doesn't count parties/pub crawls etc. which lately have raised the bar). TW's feature format

First was overlay footage of two dogs for Bondi Vet (produced interstate); we had to get a Jack Russell (named Jack haha) to drink out of a swimming pool. It took us at least half an hour. Even then we only got a bit of footage and ended up getting him to drink out of a bowl. Turns out he likes chicken. Talk about never working with animals...

Our main story of the day was on arborists, who prune trees without harming them, etc. Standing in the wind for about 3.5 hours wasn't too ideal, but seeing Colin (the presenter) and Matt (cameraman) being harnessed and lifted 12m up a 30m redgum tree to get an interview was pretty awesome. Then I got my 15 minutes of fame. No, I did not go up the tree. Although that would've been pretty fun. But I'M IN THE STORY! With LINES!

I was 'Sarah', Colin's past love interest (fabricated for purposes of childish humour) who's curious about what he's doing up a tree. But I reject his invitation for a milkshake because I'm 'more into TV presenters'. It was so much fun; Colin, Matt and soundman Savvy are champs and I couldn't stop laughing as Colin was shouting after me from the tree with a broken voice. Hilarious. Won't be on air for about 2 months, but I'm glad I've got something to show for my work experience now (because I can't shoot a news story)!

After going out on politics/education-related interviews with the seriously awesome journos Daniela and Jemma, and the Totally Wild gang today, I understand the different types of news journos can present. Absolutely loving this week. It's getting better and better! Although I'll be sussing out why I was given what I think was a (mediocre) latte instead of a chai...