OPEN LETTER - Food Network

Dear Food Network,
You suck...and hard...and not in the good way.

I can barely contain myself. You eliminated your one chance at finally hitting all the stops (i.e. - The Korean, and your one chance at full inclusion). Your choice, the white guy and the white lady (who by the way was fantastic, I don't disapprove of her) unexpected because of their, well, white-ness. This is coming from a white, Irish guy, and I'm pissed.

Debbie Lee was the final brick in the Food Network being all inclusive (save for the gays, but you keep choosing people like Michael as your options, or the Hardy Boys - Really...because gay people are just cliches).

Ok, so kind of annoyed with Food Network for two reasons, but Debbie Lee, she deserves her own show, and Mr. Big Forehead needs to go. He's boring, keeps repeating his stories and it feels like you setting up Happy Homemaker to get her own show.

I'm done with The Next Food Network Star...

Unless you honor real talent, get that gays aren't just cliches or that white guys are never the answer (and just to remind you that I'm not being racist, I'm white...you dropped the ball majorly, and the housewife, while lovely, will fold).

xo
Ryan Kelly

One, Two...Freddy's Coming for You...

So, I had to post this pic. My favorite horror icon will be back in theaters next April. His name, Mr. Freddy Krueger.

The first dark, but disturbing image is above.

Dream Warriors unite. He's baaaaaaack.

:)

Bravo - An Open Post

OK Bravo,
So you and I have had a pretty good relationship these many years. However, lately, you're just getting sloppy, inattentive and you've been just shoving things down my throat I don't like.

Case in point, NYC Prep. There's a reason that Gossip Girl is popular. It's NOT REAL. It's a fictional drama, starring incredibly beautiful 30 year old teens who do incredibly hurtful things to one another. This, what you're hawking, is just plain wrong. One, you couldn't find one attractive wealthy teen in Manhattan? Two, you couldn't find one with a redeeming quality? Aspiring pop star? Not good enough. Pseudo-albino brunette....also, not good enough. And don't get me started on the douche whose initials signify Political Correctness, but whose behavior signifies an angry, gay, but in denial teen.


Second strike, also in the category of "Holy, Unlikable Reality Show Participants" is Miami Social. I saw two of these people before. One being Hardy from Big Brother. The other is that chick from The Apprentice. Everyone else, from the one guy with the horrible eye-blinking twitch to the sweaty gay to the totally gay former model, now total bitch to people are awful...NOT WATCHABLE.

Tips for Redemption:

1) Kelly Rowland, as much as I like her, ban from the second season of The Fashion Show, which I not-so-secretly hope is never made. Isaac, the fat lady (aka your reflection) is calling - take a bow.

2) Kim's weave must be finally ripped from her head in the second season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

3) Expose The Real Housewives of New Jersey for the mafiosas that they truly are. C'mon, really. Paying over $100,000 in cash for furniture shopping, that happens? As in "...watch what happens?" I think not, unless you sucked Don Corleone off many a time.

4) Get Project Runway back from Lifetime. I love Lifetime, but it's not meant for reality shows...what will Valerie Bertinelli, Tori Spelling, Susan Lucci, Tracey Gold and Shannen Doherty do?

5) Bring back Work Out, at least those unlikeable bastards and bitches had nice bodies to ogle unlike another show I'm thinking of (see: Miami Social). And actually, I take it back. I liked some of them...and hi, had a relationship with them from a few years with them.

6) Find a way to keep Kathy Griffin's mom from leaving this earth. She is GOLD, and she is loved. Kathy is liked, but that woman, loved. OK, I love Kathy, but her mom with a glass of white wine from a box...love a little more.


OK, I'm done venting now, but Bravo TV, get it together. Also, I get that Mr. Cohen is a higher up, but he is not a celebrity, he can host the reunion shows, but get over yourself, you're the brains behind the operation, not the talent.

Sincerely,
Ryan Kelly

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

So, I know it's been out for a while, but if you don't know or haven't heard of Grizzly Bear. Take your head out of the sand and pay attention.

This is a band that I came to a few years back thanks to my friend Dave T. I did get to see them open for Feist at McCarren Pool about a couple years back, and they were quite good live, but I had no touch point for them. You know how it is sometimes, you see a band, don't know their music, and they could be the most astounding band, but if you don't know the songs and the words (ok, maybe it's just me), but it can leave you cold.

Their new album, Veckatimest, I have few words for. It's that good. I know, I've been all superlative-y on this blog thus far (and yes, superlative-y - it's a word, why? Because I said so).

First song that I loved, lurved, what have you..."Two Weeks" and then I saw the video...and had nightmares for weeks, and yet couldn't stop watching it.

I've included it here..so that my nightmares are shared and not solo.

"Two Weeks," "Cheerleader," "Ready/Able" and "About Face" I recommend to all Grizzly Bear virgins. Can't describe the melange of music, but it's if the Beach Boys married Broken Social Scene and after that, don't know what...vocal harmonizing is key, and beautiful.

Seek it out. You won't be disappointed.

Drop Dead Diva (thank you, Lifetime)

So yes,
We all know the routine. Lifetime (new home to Project Runway - YAY!) has a new show, and they're trying their usual shtick to get people to tune in. Yes, it's got Margaret Cho (she's sassy and the gays LURVE her - myself included), add a woman with body issues who really is a reincarnated former model and you cover all the possible bases. The shock, and I mean, SHOCK...is that, wow, this show is damn good and affecting, and not in the usual Lifetime gut-punch sort of way.

If I could re-dub the show, and it should be, the title is not, not, NOT good. But if I could, I'd say "Fat Like Me" though that was already one of Lifetime's movies with Kaley Cuoco. I say Fat Like Me because it is super reminiscent of a beloved show of mine, many years past...Dead Like Me.

The show is funny, sweet, actually challenges and addresses societal ills and yet makes you feel happy in the end. Will there be tears? Probably. Laughter? Most definitely. Also, Brooke Elliott as Jane, who is really the vapid, former pseudo-model Deb reincarnated is FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC. Emmy, next year, you have your date and her name is Brooke Elliott.

The commercials have not done this show justice, and if this post at least makes one person watch the show who wouldn't...well, then, I've done my job.

I just finished watching the second episode and I'm officially now hooked. So, Lifetime, thanks for once for not totally pandering and actually giving a show that men, women, gay men, and gay women can watch. It's just that good.

Hope someone out there gives it a try.

Welcome to My New Blog

Hello there,
So since I've recently been availed with extra free time on my hands, I thought it was a good opportunity to brush up on my writing skills, as well as share a little of my life and my loves (namely, pop culture and cooking)...hence the title "Pop 'N Fresh Dough."

My aim is to share some new pop gems I may stumble upon, be it book, movie, band, song or whatever else comes down the pike, as well as some of my culinary adventures of my own creation or those found out and about in Philly.

So please join me along the way, and hopefully, I can expose you to something fun in pop culture or even in the kitchen.

Ryan