M.K. Defends Sibling Rivalry, Fashion Faux Pas
Mary-Kate Olsen somehow managed to break free from her birth-canal pal and fly solo in Elle magazine’s July issue.
But this separation of Tinseltown’s twin titans is only temporary, as they have not one, but, naturally, two clothing lines to runwhich, Mary-Kate admits, comes with its fair share of friction.
“We don’t agree all the time,” says Mary-Kate of her working relationship with sister Ashley.
“The way we go about business or designing or making a decision is that we come at it from two completely different angles that at the end of the day, even when we don’t think we’re agreeing with each other, we are agreeing. We’re just getting there in different ways.
“Unless you’re a twin,” she adds, “you honestly can’t know how close twins can be.”
Close, maybe. But, of the two, Mary-Kate is definitely more the free spiritfrom where she prefers to do business (”I do know I can’t work in an office. Ashley, on the other hand, loves going to the office”) to her sometimes, okay, make that always, devil-may-care bohemian fashion choices.
“I think there’s a real disconnect between the media’s perception of fashion and the fashion world’s idea of fashion,” argues Mary-Kate. “I don’t know why I wear some of the things I wear…it’s sort of like an art.”
Oh M.K., doncha know? All great artists are misunderstood.
What I love about Burn Notice
What did I do during the writers’ strike, you ask? I got caught up on the first season of Burn Notice, which I regrettably missed the first time around.
This show has got it all — great characters, action-packed plots and layers of intrigue. Without simply saying that I love everything about Burn Notice, here is my list:
1. Jeffrey Donovan
The lead of Michael Westen could not be better cast. He is believable, but he layers on the quality of the performance with the best facial expressions on an actor’s face that I can remember. I know when he is being a smart-ass, I know when he feels overwhelming love for his mom and I know when he knows he is in it deep.
2. The voice-overs
Yeah, I know. Sometimes voice-overs are the worst thing that could ever happen to a show. Not so in Burn Notice. They are done by lead character Michael Westen, who tells us little tidbits about what it is like to be a spy. They are funny, insightful to his character’s history and experience, and help tie the storyline together. Here’s one of my favorites:
“Thirty years of karate, combat experience on five continents, a rating with every weapon that shoots a bullet or holds an edge… Still haven’t found any defense against Mom crying into my shirt.”
- Michael Westen, Burn Notice
3. Michael’s family
Take two likable actors (Sharon Gless of Cagney and Lacey and Seth Peterson of Providence fame), insert chain smoking, hypochondria and huge costume jewelry; a shady job, a questionably acquired mansion and a little sibling rivalry whining and you’ve got Michael Westen’s mother and brother. It’s a recipe for success and the perfect foil to the straight man spy, although we do get some glimpses of what the family life was like growing up and it wasn’t all fun and games.
4. The chemistry between the three leads
There is sarcastic banter between Sam (Bruce Campbell) and Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), who say they don’t like each other but I think they really have a deep respect for each other as colleagues. Michael and Fiona, who were a thing, then weren’t, now are again. The dance of them getting there was fun because Fiona’s got sass. And Michael and Sam? Their friendship runs deep and true. They’d do anything for each other and they mean that.
5. Yogurt
The only food that is ever in Michael’s fridge is yogurt, with only beer to keep it company. It is reminiscent of Seinfled’s cereal and it is funny. Someone is always grabbing a yogurt to eat while discussing surveillance or making fake explosives, and Sam has even been known to use the ol’ “running out to get Michael some yogurt” excuse.
6. Gadgets
I tell ya, Michael Westen makes MacGyver look like a downright sissy. Westen and his partners make everything from homemade bugs to motion detecting devices to C4. And it is a whole lot more believable than an explosive made from a piece of gum and a paper clip.
7. The “burn”
This is a new concept to me, and I like it. The writers have layered the basic burn with conspiracy, intrigue, murder, set-ups and the like. It has all the makings of big secrets akin to X-Files and Alias. It make one wonder if there is a government agency out there that isn’t corrupt …
The season finale was gripping and really leaves us with a cliffhanger. The DVDs of season 1 come out in June, and season 2 is due out sometime this summer. I can hardly wait.
Ugly Betty: Bananas for Betty
(S02E10) Even with her Mode days behind her, Wilhelmina had another Betty to contend with. The fabulous Betty White was on hand to take advantage of Wili’s bad PR and contempt for the elderly. There were no St. Olaf stories, but it was still one of the funnest Ugly Betty episodes I’ve seen in a while! I mean, come on–Betty White and a paintball war? It’s like Christmas came early!
Leave it to Wili to piss off a Golden Girl. Who will she alienate next–one of the Designing Women? Actually, a showdown between Dixie Carter and Vanessa Williams might make for good TV. I loved that the Ugly Betty world was filled with people who loved Betty White (even Marc!). I like to imagine that’s what Betty White’s real life is like, minus the broken hand. With the swing of a door, Wili ruined her plans to launch Slater magazine. I’m still waiting for Wili to make her way to back to Mode somehow, even if only for Marc’s sake. In the meantime, Alexis will be taking Wili’s place as the office villain.
It had to happen sometime. The famous Meade sibling rivalry put Daniel and Alexis on opposite sides again. Thanks to Bradford’s techno-incompetence (couldn’t he have had someone operate the camera for him?), the fight for control of Meade Publications was settled by a paintball war. And what a glorious war it was! The gullible softie in me wanted to believe that Alexis would accept Daniel’s offer to share the company. Naturally, both Daniel and I were mistaken. Alexis’ competitive streak came out once more, and she shot her brother during a fake hug.
Amanda and Nick made an unlikely love connection during the war, although it was mostly based on mutual hatred. How long will this bizarre romance last? Amanda probably needs someone to get her through these lonely, Marc-free days, but still. I’d rather see her being catty with Marc than making out with Nick Pepper. I was glad that Halston’s still in Amanda’s life, though. That paper clip sweater was priceless.
Is it just me, or did Gio just get considerably hotter? His speech about couples making the most of their time together got both Hilda and Betty’s attention. As the only currently single woman, Hilda got the first shot at the passionate sandwich maker. At least she didn’t get her hopes up too high before she realized that Gio had his eye on Betty. I know that Gio has been intended as a love interest for Betty all along, but I thought he had a lot more chemistry with Hilda at first. It’s clear that Gio isn’t the type to pine away for someone just because she’s spoken for. How long before he makes a move on “The Eater”?
“Egg Salad” might have a little something to say about that. Things were looking bad for Henry and Betty this week, but they avoided a messy break-up (thanks to Henry’s smoking hot bod and adorable dance moves). I really thought that Betty was going to have another Walter moment where she tried to make her boyfriend something he’s not. I was having flashes of the hotel restaurant blow-up. Thankfully, Betty has matured since then, and apologized to Henry. Betty’s side was understandable, though–Sundae Saturday is a cute idea, but did they have to do it every week? In the next few months, I hope those two find a healthy balance between ice cream mishaps and a dull routine.
So, Wili’s Plan B involved Bradford’s frozen sperm. Gross. And kind of lame! Can’t she come up with a more evil scheme than impregnating herself with the next Meade heir? What will that plan do for her in the here and now? Slater is kaput, and she was just forced out of Mode–Wili’s got to have something else up her sleeve. As a die hard Betty fan, I’m willing to see where this leads, but I don’t want to watch Wilhelmina twiddle her thumbs for the next nine months. She has to find another way to get back in the game. If anyone can do it, she can!
My favorite lines of the night:
- “Wear socks, ’cause they’re gonna get knocked off.” –Henry, preparing Betty for their date
- “The goal is to make me look five years younger than I say I am. Be prepared to work through lunch.” –Wili, to the staff of Slater
- “It’s like Eleanor Roosevelt has come back to life…as a woman.” –Suzuki St. Pierre
- “The bulls are giving me a wider berth.” –Claire, on the benefits of being an escapee in prison
- “She’s Alexis. Big as Texas. She knows what it’s like to be both sexes.” –Kenny
- “It was an Anna Sui. I know I should feel something, but I feel nothing. War has changed me.” –Amanda
- “I love ’em. Except for the few sickos who write lesbian fan fiction about me and Bea Arthur.” –Betty White, on her fans
Next week–a re-airing of “Family/Affair.”
Hilary and Haylie Duff’s Childhood Rivalry
Hilary and Haylie Duff’s Childhood Rivalry
It’s hard to imagine, but at one time the famous Hilary and Haylie Duff duo were dueling sisters, playing out all of the typical scenarios of a sibling rivalry. And Hilary had a special way of pushing her sister’s buttons.
Hilary, 19, told press that her secret weapon was freezing her panties! “If Haylie had friends over to stay when we were little and they left me out I’d freeze their underwear! I’d wet the underwear, put them in the freezer and snap them to ruin them.”
If Haylie ever wondered why her friends didn’t want the sleepover to be at the Duff residence, she now has the answer. But the 22-year-old Napoleon Dynamite actress always got her just desserts.
“Whatever I did, Haylie always got me back. Older siblings know how to be good fighters – when you’re younger you just hit back. When Haylie and I were really young and we played games together – she’d always make me pretend to be a boy because I had short hair. I hated it!”
While these two sisters are young rich and beautiful, it’s good to know that they had the same humble beginnings as the rest of us.