(no subject)

[pearwaldorf]

In lieu of whingeing about how I don't have any fandoms anymore and before I dive headlong into Dr. Who (which is downloading as we speak), I would like to recommend to your attention a show that was never given much of a chance. So you've heard of this guy Anthony Bourdain, right? He wrote this book called Kitchen Confidential, which was at one point optioned by David Fincher to make into a movie, but ultimately ended up as a TV show on Fox that was mercilessly (and unfairly) yanked after three episodes.

I admit, I was rather skeptical at first. But it's raunchy and funny and involves two of my favorite things in the world: food and sex. And it has Nicholas Brendon as Seth (who is basically Xander in a neckerchief brandishing a pastry whip) the patissier and John Cho (from Harold and Kumar) as this totally neurotic fish guy who are so gay for each other. What's not to love? There are also these totally random literary references sprinkled everywhere that I didn't catch at the first airing, like the shifty Limey sous chef named Stephen Daedalus (although the naming was rather confusing, as Daedalus and Joyce were both Irish. He and Jack are also totally gay for each other) or the (hot beyond all reason) woman chef named Becky Sharp. It's also deeply awesome to see random actors/actresses from shows I enjoyed in the past pop up in guest spots, like Andrea Parker (and oh my god why didn't anybody tell me there were Pretender TV movies?! They look so wonderfully bad!) as Jack's girlfriend and Morena Baccarin as the restaurant owner's alcoholic mistress/accountant. The episodes are floating around on BitTorrent, but I highly recommend you get the DVDs, because they're cheap and they're worth watching. I promise you'll like it!

Comments

[subduction.livejournal.com]

Just last night my sister and I were discussing Nicholas Brendon's total failure to appear in anything else ever, so that's kind of an amusing coincidence -- and couple that with litgeek references, my desire to make out with admire the finely-honed acting skills of John Cho, and Morena Baccarin as anyone's alcoholic mistress? I am SO there.

...okay, and now that I have restrained myself sufficiently to type that, OH MY GOD YES DOCTOR WHO YES YES YES. Although, if you're looking for a fandom? It's a scary one. Like, HP levels of overthinky meta and ship wars, coupled with Star Trek levels of obsessive/reactive geekery. But the canon is so profoundly awesome it's worth wading through the crazy. (And I almost shudder at recommending it, given that it's frankly terrible as a television show -- but you might also consider giving Torchwood a look, simply for the intense canonical gay.)

[threerings.livejournal.com]

HP levels of overthinky meta and ship wars, coupled with Star Trek levels of obsessive/reactive geekery

That's a very good description of DW fandom, which is certainly the scariest fandom I've ever been a part of. Although I keep meeting completely awesome people in DW fandom, so I'm not sure where all the others are coming from.

[threerings.livejournal.com]

before I dive headlong into Dr. Who (which is downloading as we speak)

YES! The addiction, she is spreading.

And I think the rest of your post had something to do with Anthony Bourdaing (new episode next week, OMG), but I was too busy celebrating the Who.

;)