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Once Upon a Time

Newest Obsession: ABC's Once Upon A Time

The following excerpt is from OnSugar user disneycouture, who posted it on her blog, Life, Love, and Lace.

The following excerpt is from OnSugar user disneycouture, who posted it on her blog, Life, Love, and Lace.

I have a love/hate relationship with television shows. I am either a devoted fan, obsessed with watching every episode on time or with the DVR, or I ignore the entire series. I cannot just jump mid-season into a television show due to hype. The last show I did this with was Lost and boy, was I lost. However, the creative team of writers from Lost are behind this fall's newest hit Once Upon a Time. I am a huge fan of Ginnifer Goodwin, my favorite sister wife from HBO's Big Love. I was so happy to see her continue on television despite her transition to comedies on the big screen.

Being a girl who still lives in a fairy-tale inspired world, I was so eager for this show to debut that I was scared that my high hopes would be crushed with a new series that could be canceled early (I am still upset about NBC's The Playboy Club being canceled. I thought it was great). However, by the end of the first hour, I was so sad to see it end. I ended my viewing of the show slightly confused, surprised at how great it truly was, and hopeful for a full series from ABC.

To read the rest of disneycouture's Once Upon a Time review, just check out the rest of her post.

Photo copyright 2011 ABC, Inc.

Fleet Foxes

OnSugar Music Review: The Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues

The following review was written by davidwolfson, who posted it on the blog Scene B Seen.

The following review was written by davidwolfson, who posted it on the blog Scene B Seen.

I'm going to come out of the gate with a bold statement, which is that Fleet Foxes' sophomore effort is even better than their debut. Every year we have multiple bands that blow people away with their debut albums; this year so far it's Yuck and The Vaccines, but most of them flop on their followup. Making their first album is a relatively simple process for most bands — they just go in and record the best songs they have, which they've usually been playing for a long amount of time already. There isn't much expected from them; the job of the debut album is simply to give listeners an idea of what the band is like. Most bands make it their definitive statement.

But the sophomore effort is a completely different animal. The songs have to be written and executed under pressure and usually within a short period of time, or else the band is either written off as old news or, in Fleet Foxes' case, the hype builds and builds. This is where most bands crack, and to me when a band succeeds at this point, it is a sign that they will be in it for the long run. Fleet Foxes have definitely succeeded.

They chose to take their time and let the hype build and expectations rise, but they matched them: that almost never happens. The safe move for a band that put out a big-time debut album is usually to ride the momentum from it and record a similar set of songs quickly to put out. But Fleet Foxes evidently did not want to do that. That would have resulted in a set of songs that wasn't quite as good as the debut album. Robin Pecknold was confident enough in his ability to match the expectations to take time out to make something great again, even though it took a while. It's somewhat reminiscent of Arcade Fire, who only put out an album every three years or so but each time they do, the album becomes classic. It speaks volumes that Fleet Foxes was able to pull this off — they are the real deal.

To read the rest of the review, just click here

The X Factor

X Factor Buzz: Who Is Cheryl Cole?

The following post was written by the editor of OnSugar blog Stars of Reality.

The following post was written by the editor of OnSugar blog Stars of Reality.

It's official! Singer Cheryl Cole will join Simon Cowell as a judge on The X Factor, a singing competition that will premiere this fall on Fox. Cheryl is a chart-topping superstar in the UK, but she isn't a household name in the United States just yet. Here are a few things you should know about Chery Cole.

1) She rose to fame as part of the pop group Girls Aloud, which was formed on a UK reality show called Popstars.

2) Cheryl stepped out as a multi-platinum solo artist in 2009, with hit songs like "Fight For This Love."

3) She has been judging the UK version of The X Factor for three years. "[She] has been fantastic to work with," Simon Cowell said in a press release. "She is also a complete brat! Most importantly, this girl can spot talent."

4) She is rumored to be dating DWTS pro Derek Hough (yes, Derek Hough!) since last year. The two have never confirmed it — but they haven't denied the obvious relationship either.

5) Cheryl almost died last year when she became sick with malaria. Her illness made headlines across the world. Derek was by her side through the ordeal. "I'm so excited to be taking part in the American version of The X Factor," Cheryl said in a press release. I absolutely love it here in the U.K., and with the talent they have out in America, I'm sure we're going to find someone very special. I can't wait to get started."

Are you excited that she will be an X Factor judge? Tell us in the comments!

Do you want to have your entertainment posts featured on BuzzSugar? Just join the community or start an OnSugar blog and you may see your submissions here!

Photo courtesy of Fox

The Voice

OnSugar Poll: Which Judge on The Voice Impresses You the Most?

The following poll was written by the editor of the OnSugar blog Stars of Reality.

The following poll was written by the editor of the OnSugar blog Stars of Reality.

So, let's talk about those Voice judges. While American Idol scored superstar judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, NBC was able to land Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green, Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine to serve as the judges/coaches for their new singing competition.The Voice judges aren't quite megastars like J. Lo or music legends like Steven Tyler, but they're popular hit-makers nonetheless. Christina went from Mouseketeer, to teen pop star, to tabloid fodder after her recent divorce. Cee Lo Green was in the nineties hip hop group Goodie Mob (then moved on to Gnarls Barkley) before he became the soulful "Forget You" singer we know today. Blake Shelton is a country crooner adored by his loyal fans. And Adam Levine is the popular Maroon 5 singer who has made a name for himself in the music industry. But let's face it. When it comes to reality TV, personality matters much more than music experience. After watching tonight's episode, we want to know what you thought of Christina, Cee Lo, Blake, and Adam in their new roles as reality TV judges/coaches. Tell us what you thought of The Voice judges' panel in the comments.

Do you want to have your entertainment posts featured on BuzzSugar? Just join the community or start an OnSugar blog and you may see your submissions here!

Photo courtesy of NBC

onsugar

OnSugar Review: Why the William & Kate Movie Was So Bad It Was Great

The following post was written by disneycouture, who posted it on the OnSugar blog Life, Love & Lace.

The following post was written by disneycouture, who posted it on the OnSugar blog Life, Love & Lace.

OK. Seriously, my DVR was all lined up, Blackberry put aside for me to curl up on my leather couch with a bowl of popcorn to watch Lifetime's William & Kate movie premiere. Ten minutes into the movie, I realized that the tissues I thought I'd need were going to be tears of laughter than of romance.

The actors in the movie were pretty similar in appearances to the real-life people they were portraying, though Prince Harry came across as angry, evil and just plain weird. We got to see the famous sheer-dress, though the movie's version was boring compared to the original, and Kate's wardrobe was the result of a bad wardrobe budget. Never attempt to re-create couture and real labels on a budget. Some of the movie was so cheesy and so unrealistic. I sincerely doubt that Prince William would ever sing to Kate to woo her, and I highly doubt that the conversation between William and his father, Prince Charles, was accurate. Their conversation of how Princess Diana chose the public life seemed a little sad, and I highly doubt there is any concrete evidence of dialogue that the writers chose to use.

The entire movie was was so slow and dragged out that by the time that the finale/engagement was shown, I was more dumbfounded by the bad computer-imaging of a safari background than by William proposing to Kate. Did anybody else laugh at how bad the acting was between Kate and her mother? Or that the "St. Andrews" college looked more community than Ivy League (folding chairs and tables? Paper decorations?). This movie was cast, directed, and launched way too fast. I'd rather see this in two years to see a wedding scene. Ugh. I was so angry that I wasted my time watching such a horrible movie, but at the same time, I was fascinated and easily amused at how bad it was. The only upside of the entire two hours was the actor playing William, Nico Evers-Swindell. He was nice to watch, and seriously much better looking than the real Prince of Wales.

Do you want to have your entertainment posts featured on BuzzSugar? Just join the community or start an OnSugar blog and you may see your submissions here!

Photo courtesy of Lifetime

TV

OnSugar TV Recap: Parenthood Episode "Slipping Away"

The following recap of Parenthood was contributed by community member gtettey, who posted it on the OnSugar blog Screen Time.

The following recap of Parenthood was contributed by community member gtettey, who posted it on the OnSugar blog Screen Time.

The Bravermans are going through changes; some for better and some for worse. This week we focus on the two teenage daughters of the family who seem to be slipping away from their parents. Haddie took the next step in her relationship with Alex and now has to deal with the repercussions at home. Amber is still reeling from her college rejections and has chosen to take her life in a downward spiral. Let's break down the episode after the jump.

  • I'm just going to go ahead and say it: Amber has lost her mind! She is down right destructive. She's smoking and playing golf with Gary in the office when she's supposed to be working. Didn't she just promise Julia that she wouldn't do that again? Doesn't he have cars to valet? She's not only putting her image and job in jeopardy, but Julia's also. But she has the perfect solution for this problem. She quits, because she doesn't need money for school anymore. There is such a thing as rolling admission, but I guess they've never heard of that. Since cars and law firm offices are no longer readily available she hooks up in Zeek's office. (Gross!) But when Sarah calls her out on her behavior and the drugs, things just escalate. Amber storms out of the house pushing her mother, purposely, to the ground in the process. She takes off smoking and drinking with Gary and, no surprise, they get in a car accident (a la Callie and Arizona). Honestly, after all the preaching she did to her brother and Haddie about addictions, you would think she would act smarter.

To read the rest of the recap, just click here

TV

OnSugar TV Recap: Parenthood Episode "New Plan"

The following recap of Parenthood was contributed by community member gtettey, who posted it on the OnSugar blog Screen Time.

The following recap of Parenthood was contributed by community member gtettey, who posted it on the OnSugar blog Screen Time.

We open this week's episode with Crosby rehashing his dalliance in an empty house to an unidentified woman. He seems to be making new plans in the wake of Jasmine's decision last week. Crosby isn't the only one making possibly questionable plans. It's prom and Adam is worried that Haddie's after-prom plans may include sex. Sarah is working hard to become a playwright and is forced to make a choice when it comes to her work. Amber makes some choices about college and her future. While everyone else is making life-changing decisions, Julia is left to deal with one that was dealt to her.

  • All Crosby wants is to get his family back. His indiscretion is still haunting him with Jasmine gone and troubles with Adam. Looking for someone to talk to and trying to find a way to get Jasmine back, Crosby recounts the story to a real estate agent. After seeing the house, Crosby goes to Adam with his new plan. However, Adam is still pissed and kicks him out. Adam needs to let it go. He and Kristina can be so self-righteous. It's really annoying. Clearly, Crosby knows that what he did was wrong and takes full responsibility for it. He didn't mean for it to happen. I also hate how they blame it all on Crosby and act like Gabby was the victim. That is not the case, but that's a post for another day. At the end of the day, they are family and Adam just needs to forgive him. In an attempt to be diplomatic, Sarah argues this point to Adam and urges him to be there for Crosby and look at the house because he's in pain. As the rest of the Braverman siblings take a look at the house, Crosby admits that he hastily and stupidly bought the house (not the pretty cottage-style house, but the shanty across the street) as a grand gesture. He can't back out now because he sold the house boat to do it. I'm going to miss that little boat. In the end, Adam shows up telling him that it was a grown up thing to do and agrees to help him fix up the house.

To get the rest of the entry, just keep reading

Music

OnSugar Album Review: The Strokes's Angles

The following post is an excerpt from davidwolfson of OnSugar blog Scene Be Seen.

The following post is an excerpt from davidwolfson of OnSugar blog Scene Be Seen.

Opener "Machu Picchu" starts strong, with Casablancas singing startlingly high and the guitarists laying down reggae-influenced lines during the verses; keep in mind that it was penned by Valensi. Next up is "Under Cover of Darkness," the album's first single. Upon its release, it was seen as a return to form by some and was criticized by others for retreading ground that they had already covered with their first album. It certainly strikes similarities with the style of Is This It, which makes sense given the fact that it was written by the entire band as a whole. It's chock-full of catchy guitar riffs and has a huge chorus, although they decide to change the tempo a bit with a slower Valensi solo. It's the point on the album when The Strokes sound most like The Strokes, and I consider it a highlight.

Third on the album is "Two Kinds of Happiness," which features a chorus far more intense than the verses, and some freaked-out sounding guitar parts. After that, we hear the B-side "You're So Right," penned by bassist Nikolai Fraiture. It is the most experimental moment on the album, and certainly steps further in the direction that First Impressions of Earth hinted at, with very futuristic-sounding electronic parts. Fifth on the album is the Valensi-penned "Taken For A Fool," which was performed on David Letterman a few days after its release. It is a definite highlight on the album, garnering praise even from the most negative reviews of the album. It has a sort of LA showtime vibe to it, and features funky verses that retain the signature Strokes sound while experimenting. The LA part makes sense because Valensi spent a lot of time there while the band were on hiatus, and being the only member who did not start a side project, it seems that he saved some good ideas for The Strokes, such as this. It works perfectly.

To read the rest of the review, check out the rest of the post. Want to see your OnSugar posts featured on BuzzSugar? Start your own OnSugar blog and write about your favorite entertainment topic!

TV

Buzz In: What TV Series Have You Watched More Than Once?

In the following post from OnSugar blog Screen Time, gtettey shared the TV series she's rewatching.

In the following post from OnSugar blog Screen Time, gtettey shared the TV series she's rewatching. Read her post and then share the shows that you have revisited in the comments!

While most shows have taken yet another midseason break until April, I've taken the time to get reacquainted with old friends. No, I haven't been looking through old yearbooks and calling the numbers left under "K.I.T." or facebooking my old college roommates. I've been watching old TV shows that have been replaced by all the shows that are now on break. Swap Buffy with The Vampire Diaries, ER with Grey's Anatomy, and Beverly Hills, 90210 with, well, 90210 and you get what I mean. You don't have to have a huge collection of TV on DVD box sets to watch some of your favorite shows; thanks to the Internet most of them are just a click away.

I usually take slow times, like these, in my TV lineup to re-watch some of my favorite defunct shows. For some reason, Roswell always makes a comeback during the Summer, My So-Called Life makes an appearance as often as possible (because who doesn't love an excuse to watch Jordan Catalano), and Freaks and Geeks gets sprinkled somewhere in between. But these aren't the only shows that I love to see make a comeback on the small screen. After a failed attempt to watch Jack & Jill on YouTube (there's only a couple episodes posted), I moved on to another NYC-based WB show: Felicity. Did the urge to watch Felicity have anything to do with Scott Foley's role on Grey's Anatomy? Of course! Now that I'm on the last three episodes of the series, I'm sad to see to old friends leave, but glad to see the new ones return. Although most shows, namely those on The CW, return the week of April 18, a couple start back up a few weeks early. Thankfully, The Vampire Diaries returns, along with Isobel, on April 7 and Grey's Anatomy begins the week earlier. Let's hope Noel (Scott Foley) is made a regular on Grey's, because without him I have no use for Teddy. He's the only thing keeping her storyline interesting.

Now, your turn: what TV series do you go back to, or is there an old show you want to give a chance to now?

TV

OnSugar Recap: Jersey Shore Season Three Episode 12

The following post is an excerpt from the editor of OnSugar blog Stars of Reality.

The following post is an excerpt from the editor of OnSugar blog Stars of Reality.

There are so many highlights to dish about from Jersey Shore season three, episode 12.

  • Vinny admitted that it "could get there" with Nicole and he has "genuine feelings" for her. (Too bad he turned into Vinny the jerk later on in the episode, and offended Snooks by treating her like sloppy seconds.)
  • Speaking of Vinny, the guys convinced him to get his ears pierced. Cute moment!
  • Danielle "the stalker" showed up again at the club — and Pauly declared he wouldn't go anywhere by himself from now on.

  • Sammi and Ronnie made up and then hooked up. No surprise there!
  • We were introduced to the "atomic bomb" — the biggest grenade Pauly D had ever seen. (We kinda feel bad for her though.)
  • Ronnie's drunk mother called the house. In fact, she was drunk dialing all day. Seems like the poor woman was just looking for someone to talk to. But Mike took it too far when he told her all about the latest Ronnie-Sammi drama.
  • Mike stirred up trouble between Sammi and Ronnie once again — by calling Sammi out on the whole Arvin drama. Looks like Sam might be hiding something, but we'll have to wait until next week to find out.

To read the rest and take an episode quiz, check out the rest of the post. Want to see your OnSugar posts featured on BuzzSugar? Start your own OnSugar blog and write about your favorite entertainment topic!

Photo courtesy of MTV

Music

Buzz In: What's on Your Party Playlist?

In the following post from OnSugar blog Live and Love, UrbanChicaLuv shares what's on her party playlist.

In the following post from OnSugar blog Live and Love, UrbanChicaLuv shares what's on her party playlist. Read her list, and then share yours in the comments!

Have you ever sat in your car listening to your local radio stations and wondered, "What is up with this music? And why do they keep playing the same songs?!" If you answered no, congrats. You must live in Florida. If you answered yes, I'm here to help . . . or at least try to help. My local radio stations lack . . . well, they just lack. This past Summer my boyfriend and I took a vacation to Florida, and on the drive there, I was amazed at the radio stations. It was as if my iPod was playing the entire time. I fell IN LOVE. Fast and hard. Back to my point, though; my radio stations don't play what I want to hear. And because of this, I search a variety of techno-like songs on the Internet. So, here are songs that bring out the party in me.

"Deja Vu" - Inna ft. Bob Taylor
"Miami 2 Ibiza" - Swedish House Mafia vs. Tinie Tempah
"The Time (Dirty Bit)" - Black Eyed Peas
"Patron Tequila" - Paradiso Girls
"Falling Down" - Space Cowboys ft. Paradiso Girls
"Bass Down Low"- Dev ft. The Cataracs
"Hey Baby" (Drop it to the Floor) - Pitbull ft. T-Pain
"One (Your Name)" - Swedish House Mafia ft. Pharrell
"I'm in the House" - Steve Aoki ft. Zuper Blahq
"Higher" - Taio Cruz ft. Travie McCoy

What are your go-to party songs? Let us know in the comments, and if you'd like to be featured on BuzzSugar too, start your own OnSugar blog!

TV

OnSugar Spotlight: TV's Biggest Breakout Characters

The following post was written by bigbowood, who posted it on his Onsugar blog, Hollywood Big Shot.

The following post was written by bigbowood, who posted it on his Onsugar blog, Hollywood Big Shot.

I just posted a clip from this weekend's Super Bowl episode of Glee that features breakout character Blaine, and I explained his insanely quick rise to series regular on the show. It's strangely rare that a single character breaks out in such a big way, but here are some major examples:

Henry Winkler as Arthur Fonzarelli (aka "Fonzie"), Happy Days: Originally a secondary character, The Fonz eventually became so popular (and so integral to the action) that he became the main character on the show once Ron Howard left to direct movies.

Luke Perry as Dylan McKay, Beverly Hills, 90210: Luke Perry initially auditioned for the role of Steve Sanders, but was later cast in a recurring role as Dylan McKay. His instant popularity coupled with the show's shift in focus from family drama to teen soap turned Perry into an instant heartthrob.

Jaleel White as Steve Urkel, Family Matters: Steve Urkel was originally written into a single episode, but the audience responded immediately so he was written into another . . . and then made into a recurring guest star . . . and then a full-time cast member . . . and that was all in the first season. Advice to any actor doing a guest stint on a show: if they give you a line that sounds like it could become a catch phrase ("Did I do that?"), sell the HELL out of it and ride that money train to your grave.

To see the rest of the breakout characters, just keep reading

2011 Oscars

Oscar-Nominated Documentary GasLand: An OnSugar Blogger's Review

The following excerpt is from OnSugar user Ciara Janae, who posted it on her blog Ciara LaVelle.

The following excerpt is from OnSugar user Ciara Janae, who posted it on her blog Ciara LaVelle.

I can't be impartial about GasLand. I grew up right on top of the Marcellus Shale, and my dad works in oil and gas drilling. The majority of my life was paid for by gas companies — food, clothing, shelter, medicine, education, basically every important thing I have ever really needed. So "conflicted" doesn't even start to describe how I feel about this documentary. On one hand, I'm worried about my family and the people in my hometown, because there are some really awful, really real things happening to people as a result of drilling. On the other hand, I know that my dad is both smart and not evil, and I don't believe he'd spend an entire career doing anything so potentially harmful to others.

The good news is this: GasLand sheds light on some serious issues. No one should be able to light his drinking water on fire. People experiencing health problems as a result of drilling deserve adequate compensation. Parks and forests that are maintained by our tax dollars shouldn't also be fair game for drilling. And the fact that we're pumping chemicals like formaldehyde into the ground is unsettling at best.

To read the rest of Ciara Janae's review, just click here

TV

What 2010 Looked Like on Television

The following story was written by kimretta, who posted it on her OnSugar blog All Consuming.

The following story was written by kimretta, who posted it on her OnSugar blog All Consuming.

It's tremendously sad to me that my overall TV top 10 hasn't changed much from last year; I'd take out Glee and swap in The Big C, but other than that: That's what I watch and what I like, once again. Some of this is a failure of imagination on my part; some is a failure of time; some is a general statement on the crappy fall 2010 TV season.

But there was TV I loved this year; oh, there was. The Big C came rushing into my life and somehow became the most devastating show I could imagine, bleaker than its partner show Weeds (which, for the record, I love again), bleaker even than Breaking Bad sometimes, and I'd thought that was as bleak as it could get. The thing is, even on Breaking Bad, there's some intrigue and even some lightness, sometimes, in figuring out how Walt will get out of this latest spot; on The Big C, "comedy" though it may be, there's no way out but death.

It was a kick in the stomach every week, and so Friday Night Lights has been — both in its fourth season and in what I've seen so far of this glorious fifth, the season I never dared dream would happen, this gem of a show getting to finish telling its own story on its own terms. The smoothness with which they've turned over nearly the whole cast continues to boggle me, and week after week there are Coach and Tami at the center, and I cry every time because I know I'm one hour closer to the end of this most unlikely survivor.

To see the rest of the post, just read more

Movies

OnSugar Review: Blue Valentine

The following movie review comes from OnSugar user cdahlen, who posted it on OnSugar blog Carly's Critiques.

The following movie review comes from OnSugar user cdahlen, who posted it on OnSugar blog Carly's Critiques.

Break-ups are awful, so why in the heck would you want to spend $13.50 to watch a fictional one? Because Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams are two damn good actors.

The two play Dean and Cindy, a young, married couple on the verge of ending their relationship. The film moves between past and present, juxtaposing scenes from when the two first met and fell in love, to their less-happy lives as a passionless married couple. As a young woman, Cindy had dreams of going to medical school and becoming a physician, and the 20-something Dean was a free spirit with a ukulele and a lust for life. Instead, she becomes an OB tech, he, a depressed alcoholic. The two try to keep up appearances for their precocious young daughter, but the love from their earlier years has all but faded.

Much of this film's publicity has been generated by its NC-17 rating and rumored gratuitous sex scenes. Both of these turned out to be exaggerations: the rating has since been switched to an R, and the sex scenes are pretty standard in terms of nudity and content. Heck, there wasn't even any full frontal! Anyway . . . the most surprising aspect of the film was the skillful shift in acting styles by Gosling and Williams. Both actors transition seamlessly between their past and present selves. Gosling maintains his character's quirky persona throughout, but what was fun and carefree behavior in the young Dean becomes unpredictable and inappropriate conduct from the older Dean. Gosling's younger character sings and dances his way into Cindy's heart, but the elder yells and drinks his way out of it. Williams' transition is more subtle, but just as powerful. Cindy is a fragile, sensitive woman — that never changes — but she loses the light in her eyes, which might be a more tragic fate than Dean's. Cindy becomes resigned to her situation as an unhappy wife, unaccomplished medical professional, and unsatisfied mother, and has no motivation to make a change. Dean tries to salvage the relationship, but lacks the will to own up to his shortcomings.

I wouldn't recommend a screening of Blue Valentine to anyone who is in the midst of a breakup. Seriously, don't see it. But. . . if you're in a healthy emotional place and wish to see two amazing onscreen performances, purchase a ridiculously overpriced movie ticket immediately!

Want to see your OnSugar post featured on BuzzSugar? Just start your own blog, and if you write about anything entertainment-related, you may see it here!

TV

Boardwalk Empire: Feminist Nostalgia Or Misogynistic Fantasy?

The following post was written by ShaynaLeah on OnSugar blog Life Forward.

The following post was written by ShaynaLeah on OnSugar blog Life Forward.

Last week I finally got to watch the first season of the latest HBO night time soap, ahem, drama, Boardwalk Empire. If you are unfamiliar, it takes place in 1920s Atlantic City, NJ, and follows the corrupt Enoch "Nucky" Thompson (played by Steve Buscemi) as he rules Atlantic City, living in the boardwalk Ritz-Carlton Hotel as he makes money as a bootlegger at the start of the Prohibition, and skillfully plays politicians like marionettes as women (finally) get the vote.

Though the show, at its heart, is about the men who ran Atlantic City, with bits and pieces about Chicago and New York (Meyer Lansky, "Lucky" Luciano, and Al Capone all have minor roles as characters in the series), the portrayal of women is fascinating. The Women's Temperance League is shown as a strong political force, though the leader is often mollified by Thompson, who profits greatly from the increased prices he can charge for the liquor he sells by the barrel to casinos and others, thanks to the Prohibition. Nucky congratulates women on getting the vote — though he continues to show that their ignorance of world politics makes them easy marks for his manipulations, in his quest to gain total power over Atlantic City.

Read more of ShaynaLeah's thoughts after the jump.

onsugar

A Holiday Playlist From OnSugar User CaliCocoAV

Onsugar user CaliCocoAV shared her favorite Christmas tunes on on her blog AV On the Loose.

Onsugar user CaliCocoAV shared her favorite Christmas tunes on on her blog AV On the Loose. Check it out!

"Christmas Shoes" - Bob Carlisle
"This Christmas" - Christina Aguilera
"Last Christmas" - Wham!
"Where Are You Christmas" - Faith Hill
"And So This is Christmas" - John Lennon
"My Grown Up Christmas List" - Kelly Clarkson
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" - 'N Sync
"Love's in Our Hearts on Christmas Day" - 'N Sync
"Wonderful Christmas Time" - Paul McCartney
"It's Christmas All Over Again" - Tom Petty
"Carol of the Bells" - Mannheim Steamroller
"What Christmas Means to Me" - Jessica Simpson
"Let it Snow" - Michael Buble
"Christmas Must Be Something More" - Taylor Swift
"Jingle Bell Rock" - Rascal Flatts
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Frank Sinatra
"O Come All Ye Faithful" - Josh Groban
"Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" - Andy Williams

Share your own Christmas playlists below, or in the Buzz community!

Thanksgiving

Do You Have a Thanksgiving TV or Movie Tradition?

In the following post from OnSugar blog Scoop, Melaina Phipps shares her family's Thanksgiving movie tradition.

In the following post from OnSugar blog Scoop, Melaina Phipps shares her family's Thanksgiving movie tradition. Read her story and then weigh in and let me know if you and yours have your own Thanksgiving viewing traditions!

My family does not watch football. Ever. Not even on Thanksgiving. My brother played hockey and the only football my father is even remotely interested in, being Italian, is soccer. So what did we do on Thanksgiving, you ask? Well, Macy's Thanksgiving day parade was a favorite. In person sometimes, but it was always on TV. And well, we ate — big traditional American Thanksgiving favorites (with some slight nods to Italian gastronomy). But after dinner was coffee, desserts, roasted chestnuts, sitting by the fire, card playing, talking, talking, and more talking. And every year it was this classic 1934 movie, The March of the Wooden Soldiers featuring Laurel & Hardy. This classic tale (also known as Babes in Toyland) has a firm place in my holiday memories. It used to be on TV every Thanksgiving, but I haven't seen it in a few years now. Maybe it's time to revive this tradition — find it on Netflix! Enjoy!

Now that you've read what Melaina's family does, it's your turn! Let me know what you'll be watching this Thanksgiving.

Video

You Can Take the Wizard Out of Hogwarts . . .

The following excerpt is written by My Scarlett Lady, who posted it on her OnSugar blog born for the rose and the pearl.

The following excerpt is written by My Scarlett Lady, who posted it on her OnSugar blog born for the rose and the pearl.

But you can't take the education out of the boy. Or so it would seem. (Alternatively, you can take the boy out of school . . . ) Well would you look at that! Harry did pay attention in Potions after all (or at least, he read Snape's Potions textbook way too much and started to sound like Hermione — being able to quote sections at will — 10 points to Gryffindor). I wasn't originally going to write about this, as it might seem a little geeky and would lead to my being scorned/laughed at, but I decided to just go for it!

Daniel Radcliffe appeared on The Graham Norton Show whilst promoting the first part of the last Harry Potter film (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) and whilst there performed his "party trick," which seems to be Tom Lehrer's song "The Elements," which includes the first 102 elements in the Periodic table up to Nobelium (it was written in 1959 remember, so several elements had yet to be discovered). Enjoy!

To read the rest of the post (including the written-out lyrics to the song "The Elements"), just click here, and to have your OnSugar post featured on BuzzSugar, go here to get started!

TV

6 Reasons Why Life Unexpected Shouldn't End

The following excerpt was written by ShaynaLeah on OnSugar blog Life Forward.

The following excerpt was written by ShaynaLeah on OnSugar blog Life Forward.

I've never felt the need to campaign particularly hard for a television show to be saved (though I was pretty bummed when Moonlight was canceled as a casualty of the 2008 writers' strike), but today's rumor that Life Unexpected may not be picked up for another season has me stricken for a whole slew of reasons (and only one is that its cast includes the adorable Shaun Sipos, formerly of the ill-fated "new" Melrose Place).

The top six reasons to watch the free episodes online to catch up and start watching Life Unexpected on Tuesdays on the CW:

  1. The storyline — which centers around teenage Lux (Britt Robertson) reconnecting with her birth parents who gave her up because they themselves were teens — is a different look at the American family, as well as the epilogue of the choices that pregnant teenagers face without being preachy.
  2. The dialogue between parents Cate (Shiri Appleby), who is notoriously uptight and insecure, and Baze (Kristoffer Polaha), who is just as notorious for being laid back to the point of sloth, is smart and hysterically funny.
  3. While there are plenty of television shows that trot out tired love triangles (the married man and his secretary, the man who falls for his brother's wife, etc.), watching Cate decide whether to marry Ryan (Kerr Smith), her boyfriend and co-anchor on a morning radio show, after Lux and Baze re-enter her life for the first time since she was 17 is, well, interesting. There is no clear "right" answer which makes me want to keep watching the show to see what will happen next as the layers of each character are explored. Laid back Baze has some really great points, but Ryan has always been a good guy — though Cate recently found out that while she was having cold feet, Ryan had his own doubts before their wedding.

For the rest of ShaynaLeah's reasons, click here. Want to see your OnSugar post featured on BuzzSugar? Just start your own blog, and if you write about anything entertainment-related, you may see it here!

Photo courtesy of The CW