I think I remember the first time I really, really wanted to look like somebody on TV. It was the late 1980s; the show was Saved by the Bell; the actress was Tiffani-Amber Thiessen; and the relevant monstrosity was this:

Now, you might be saying, that isn’t really so bad. I mean yes, the top is mauve, the jeans are floral, the hair is big and static ... but that Tiffani-Amber Thiessen is a pretty girl, right? No wonder at eight years old you wanted to look like her.

Well — yes. I mean, I’m sure the fact that Tiffani-Amber Thiessen is pretty had an impact on it — but I’m afraid I can’t excuse myself so easily. It wasn’t just that when I watched Saved by the Bell, I wanted to have Kelly Kapowski’s hair, or Kelly Kapowski’s smile. No, I wanted to have Kelly Kapowski’s look, her whole gloriously '80s pastel-and-neon wardrobe — complete with a pale orange T-shirt with rolled up sleeves that I remember particularly coveting. And — since it was the '80s — I think I more or less got it.

Fast-forward five years, to the premiere of a show called My So-Called Life in 1994. Jordan wore plaid flannel. Danielle wore plaid flannel. Rayanne had a plaid flannel shirt that reached the ground. And Angela ... well, Angela had red plaid flannel shorts that she wore with black tights. To quote a poster on TelevisionWithoutPity.com, “I can’t believe how normal I used to think these outfits were [...] Today, it looks to me like she’s wearing cutoff pajama pants over leggings.”

Did I run from this sea of flannel? Did I say “no plaid for me?” No. I had a pair of plaid green shorts that I hoped would make me look like Angela (they didn’t).

Plaid got a different, less grungy and more preppie twist the next year, when Clueless hit the movie theaters: … continue reading

There are several reasons why I have long admired Kate Beckinsale. She’s a talented actress, who is capable of both excellent comic timing and subtle emotional response. She is, to state the obvious, extremely beautiful. She’s intelligent — she had started a degree at Oxford, studying French and Russian, before she dropped out after her third year to pursue her flourishing acting career. But, courtesy of the fan site KBeckinsale.net, I think I may just have found another reason to admire her:

The site doesn’t state what year this photo was taken, but I think it’s safe to assume she can’t have been more than 18. I honestly cannot imagine what you would have had to do to me when I was a teenager to persuade me to pose with my mother (that’s Kate’s mom, actress Judy Loe, on the right), in matching outfits as if we were both dancing. I truly think that there’s something admirable, not only about being able to do something so adorably dorky, but also to look really cheerful doing it. Mothers across the world must wish their teenage daughters would be as sulk-deficient as Kate.

Perhaps the cheerfulness has something to do with the fact that it was about this time that she captured her first big-screen role, featuring as the sweet, innocent Hero in Kenneth Branagh’s excellent film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. I was 12 the year the movie was released, in 1993, and when I set eyes on Kate, it was pretty much love at first sight: … continue reading

I haven't been to the theater for about a month and am starting to experience withdrawal. In an effort to stave off physical symptoms, I searched the arts section of The New York Times for interesting theater articles. I came across this one by theater critic Charles Isherwood. Without rehashing the entire article, it's basically Isherwood observing that while actors used to go from Broadway to Hollywood, it's now more common to go from Hollywood to Broadway. He highlights Claire Danes as an example of the new trend and Amy Ryan as an anomalous exception.

Three guesses which model I prefer.

I had actually been thinking about these two actresses prior to reading the article, so I found it particularly interesting. I've been following the coverage of Claire Danes in Pygmalion — because I like her and I because I feared it was poor casting.

And less than an hour before I read the article, an actor friend had been raving about Amy Ryan's performance in Gone Baby Gone. … continue reading

The long lusted-after, dreamed-about and angsted-over My So-Called Life: The Complete Series DVD box set is here. It’s finally here. I think Rickie’s World Happiness Dance is in order here. Who knows the steps? Geez, where are all the gay boys when you need them?

The deluxe set by Shout! Factory includes all 19 episodes from the much-loved landmark show’s one and only season, as well as a slew of extras. It’s an upgrade and then some from the first box set, released in 2002. Which, of course, I also own. But don’t think I haven’t hinted profusely to all my family, friends and assorted passersby about this new set, since, well, my birthday is coming right up. What? I’m just being helpful. … continue reading

You've seen stills of Michelle Pfeiffer in Stardust here and here, but I would like to offer up another reason, aside from the brilliance of Neil Gaiman, to see the film.

I'm referring to Gaiman's fallen star, Yvaine, as portrayed by Claire Danes.

At age 10, Danes was studying method acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. By age 15, she was winning us over with all the teen angst she could muster as Angela Chase in My So-Called Life. A year later, Steven Spielberg called her "one of the most exciting actresses to debut in the last ten years." I don't think Mr. Spielberg says that about just anyone. And that was after she turned down a role in Schindler's List because they wouldn't fly tutors to Poland for her. … continue reading

IMDb is featuring a photo gallery called "The Girls of Summer 2007." It collects still photos of the female stars of pretty much every summer movie you can think of, from the what-were-they-thinking (Isla Fisher in Hot Rod; Elisha Cuthbert in Captivity) to the pretty good (Claire Danes in Evening; Katherine Heigl in Knocked Up) to the sublime (oh, wait; it's summer. Never mind.).

What a nice weekend gift! Friday the thirteenth? More like Friday the droolteenth.

Here are some samples — visit IMDb for the complete eye candy.

Lauren Graham in Evan Almighty, stunning in her down-to-earth way

Mandy Moore in License to Wed — you still can't pay me to see this … continue reading

I just came across some production stills from the movie Stardust, based on the Neil Gaiman book of the same name and starring Claire Danes, Sienna Miller and Michelle Pfeiffer. The movie premieres Aug. 10, and it looks stunning. (My dorky captions aren't so stunning, but I tried!)

Pfeiffer: "Who, me?" AfterEllen.com: "Yes, you!"

"Sorry I'm home so late, honey. Oh, crap, am I that late?" … continue reading

My So-Called Life might be coming back. No, sorry, not with new episodes (I know, that was just cruel, teasing you like that), but as a re-released DVD box set of its one and only season. Now, I'm sure some of you are saying, "But I have MSCL on DVD." Yes, so do I. But that set was a bare-bones, extras-free exercise in finally being able to throw out your old VHS tapes of all the episodes.

This new rumored DVD box set tantalizes with promises of much-coveted bonus material and (dare we dream) new cast commentaries. I am doing Angela's "Blister in the Sun" dance as we speak. (OK, not really. But in my head, yes.) … continue reading

Devotees over at the lovingly maintained tribute site MSCL.com are cautiously optimistic about the new set.

Take a look at this poster for the movie Evening:

First, can you believe all of those women are in the same movie? It's like The Hours on crack. Several of those names would be impressive on their own, and in certain pairs (like Streep/Close, Collette/Redgrave) I'd be gape-mouthed. But six super lady stars in one film? (I'm counting Danes, Collette, Redgrave, Richardson, Streep, and Close as superstars.) I'm gobsmacked.

Once I get past the mind-blowing litany of names, though, I have to ask: What the hell kind of order are they in? … continue reading

Claire Danes has occupied a soft, mushy spot in my heart since her days as the everyteen in all of us on My So-Called Life. While the other girls were falling for broody blinker Jordan Catalano, I was dreaming about the blossoming wallflower Angela Chase. (Raise your hand if you wished Angela and Rayanne would hook up instead — don't be shy.) Her Manic Panic–stained days of flannel and angst ended a dozen years ago, but ever since, I've watched Claire's career with interest and some bemusement. The Mod Squad? T3? And then there was the unfortunate absconding with a very pregnant Mary-Louise Parker's (very bad) boyfriend Billy Crudup.

Now more bemusement, but at least this time it comes courtesy Claire in her skivvies. The 27-year-old actress is the latest khakis hawker for The Gap. In the spot for the new Boyfriend Trouser, Claire and actor Patrick Wilson show off their dance skills as they one-up each other to the tune of "Anything You Can Do" (from Annie Get Your Gun — rest in peace, Betty Hutton).

Great song. Cute commercial. Kinda ugly pants. But is it a wise career move?