Kyra Sedgwick Drops Some F-Bombs, And Inpires My First Contest
Jul 13, 2008 Product Giveaway
I tend to want to swear a lot. I know I shouldn’t, and I try not to do it around the kids, but every once in a while one slips out, and when that happens I can be pretty sure that both kids are going to repeat it in school sometime in the following 24 hours. Usually to a teacher. So, I try not to do it, but it’s always a struggle. Which is why I was rather happy to see Kyra Sedgwick the other night, in a room full of women, dropping F-Bombs left and right.
I had the opportunity to go to a screening party at Ultra for the new season of Kyra’s hit show on TNT, The Closer. The fourth season opener premiers Monday July 14th at 9pm, but some select bloggers and fans got to see it early. And then we got to chat with Kyra Sedgwick, who stars as LAPD Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
I arrived at the party starving. And while I think there might have been some veggies and cheese hidden in a dark corner somewhere, the main buffet was all dessert, in honor of Brenda Leigh’s constant sugar cravings. I was a little surprised to see banana chunks on big wooden toothpicks, next to the plates of cookies, cakes, and Rice Krispie Treats. But then I noticed the chocolate fountain. It was all I could do not to hold my hair back and stick my tongue in. But I managed to control myself. I wonder what they would have served if the main character had been a drug addict.
We settled in to comfy couches with our food and drinks to watch the episode projected all over the walls. This was only the third episode of the show that I’ve seen (and I only watched the other two because they were sent to me by TNT in a Pajama Gram), but I think I’m getting hooked. Kyra’s southern transplant character, with her slathered-on lipstick and tight sweaters, is very different from the other female cops on TV. Most female TV detectives are prettier versions of men. But Brenda Leigh manages to be her own sweet, messed-up self while still being a smart cop.
The show is able to add humor to situations you normally wouldn’t laugh at, and it’s a welcome relief from detective shows that lay the drama on too thick. And while I think the season premier gave a few too many clues as to who started the massive fire that was the focus of the episode, it was still a really engaging show, with several shocking moments, and one scene that manages to be hilarious and cringe-inducing at the same time.
Afterwards Kyra did a Q&A, and I have to say I was really impressed with her candor. She talked a lot about guilt, and what a “useless fucking emotion” it is. She said she spent a lot of time when her kids were younger feeling guilty for working, which was pointless, because the guilt was preventing her from enjoying the work so what was the point? (I agree: either do something and enjoy it and get all you can out of it, or don’t do it. Doing it while feeling guilty just ruins it. It took me 35 years to learn that.)
So, to celebrate The Closer’s season premier on Monday night, I’m giving away a Closer insulated water bottle holder, courtesy of TNT, perfect for keeping your water cold when you’re exercising yourself down to Kyra’s size, or for keeping your vodka cold when your kids are driving you crazy. It’s a little hard to see the logo in the picture because it’s black on black, but it looks very cool in person.
To enter, leave a comment on this post with your favorite swear word or phrase (because for some situations, one word just isn’t enough). If you don’t want to type it in, substituting symbols for letters is perfectly acceptable, if a little wimpy. And if you don’t have a favorite, just enter any of the phrases that Hugh Grant uses in Four Weddings and a Funeral. Make sure you leave a valid email address, so that I can get in touch with you if you win. The winner will be chosen randomly (by random.org) on Wednesday, July 16th at noon.
Good luck, and start swearing!
Originally posted on Selfish Mom
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Tags: Interview, Kyra Sedgwick, Party, The Closer, TNT, TV
The Marketing Machine Has Possession Of My Son!
Jun 3, 2008 What's Going On
On Sunday I had the opportunity to go to a fabulous event, sponsored by HP, in anticipation of the Kung Fu Panda movie from Dreamworks, which is premiering on June 6th. It was held at KidVille on the UWS of Manhattan. I was as curious about KidVille as I was about the movie. They opened a location a little while back in Park Slope, and they sent me a brochure. Actually, it was more than a brochure: it was a full color, thick paged magazine touting their activities, classes, and birthday parties. If only we lived closer to Park Slope. Oh, and if only we were shitting money.
We were supposed to go to this thing as a family. All four of us going somewhere together is a rare occurrence these days, mostly because without time away from our kids O and I would go insane. So we tag-team them a lot, one of us taking them for a while and then the other one taking them – usually I have them on Saturdays, and O has them on Sundays. I know some of our friends think that this is strange, but they should try it. It simply doesn’t take two adults to take two children to the playground. One of us would rather be off doing our own thing.
But we don’t want to do this all the time, because the kids do enjoy it when we all go out together. So O had agreed – rather enthusiastically, actually – to go with us to the Kung Fu Panda party. We were all excited.
Until Sunday actually came, of course. Then, predictably, O no longer wanted to go. He had already had a long day with the kids, taking them to Prospect Park. When the time rolled around to hop on the subway, he was begging me to let him off the hook. He was offering me anything I wanted: an entire extra day off from the kids, buying things that normally drive him batty, doing “other” things that he normally doesn’t want to do (I’d elaborate, but I still haven’t figured out just what I can talk about online without pissing off my family and friends). In the end, I let him off the hook in exchange for nothing (at least not yet). He just looked too exhausted and pathetic. And I’ve learned that when I try to force these things, they never turn out well.
So, the kids and I got to KidVille, and as soon as we got there and signed in, they were offered their choice of animal mask. Jake immediately started naming all of the characters in the movie. Before it’s out! When I was a kid I usually couldn’t remember as much after seeing a movie as my kids know before they see it.
Anyway, they got their masks and went in, and I don’t think I saw them for more than five minutes each the entire time we were there. Which for me is the perfect event. I got to chat with friends and meet new people while my kids were being entertained by the KidVille staff and the Kung Fu Panda dancers. The HP reps took pictures of my kids, printed them out on HP printers, and gave them to us in cute frames.
The kids got to decorate bags and Chinese take-out containers, and other movie related arts and crafts.
They got to learn the Kung Fu Panda dance.
They even got to eat gummy bears with chopsticks. Of course, my daughter just wanted plate after plate of meat from the carving stations. Seriously, carving stations. If you’ve ever wanted to have carving stations at your toddler’s birthday party, apparently Kidville is the place!
After asking for the last six brownies on the dessert plate, my son ignored the rest of the food and spent most of the time in front of a giant TV, playing the Kung Fu Panda video game.
Again, great marketing. I’m pretty sure he talked about the video game the entire next day in school.
Plus, they got to participate in all of the other non-panda-related KidVille stuff.
On the way out, a kidville staffer let each of my kids have four balloons. Great for them, they love helium balloons. But have you ever tried carrying eight balloons on the subway? I don’t recommend it! I was getting the same looks that I give to parents who bring Bugaboos on the subway.
Do I have a problem being a part of this machine, this viral marketing trend, getting kids excited about movies through Happy Meal toys, video games, and playground word-of-mouth? Not really. Because we got to go to a cool party. Selfishness wins out in the end.
Originally posted on Selfish Mom
Tags: Happy Meal, HP, KidVille, Kung Fu Panda, Party, video game
