RE: Friendship Three-ways: Handler/Aniston/Cox-By Julie

As Weekend Fat's resident Aniston promoter (I'm seriously happy with this self-appointed title), I am back to discuss Jennifer's gal-pal choices based on a previous post about friendship.

My own thoughts on friendship in my life goes like this: I am not one to have a million friends. I'm not a social butterfly. I find it hard to have surface relationships, friends of convenience, even just acquaintances. I hate insincerity. I hate snobbery. I hate any type of fake. Thus, I keep friends for a long time. If we become friends, we are going to be friends for the long haul. So, I can relate to the threesome Jennifer Aniston has going on. Let's dissect.

I'll be there for you!

Jennifer and Courteney Cox: This relationship makes everyone happy. They were on a show called Friends. I mean, you can't get better than that. This is your best friend from high school. You spent some very formidable years together. They have seen your awkward phase and love you anyway. You basically grew up together. You shared experiences that make you who you are today. These types of friends are super important. They may not be the friend you see the most these days. You are probably in different stages of life now. But, these friends are the ones that you can pick up right where you left off. No explaining needed. They just get it.

Then you hear that these two friends might not be as close as you thought (did Jenn and Courteney have a fight???). Maybe there was a tiff here or there. Well, that happens. Remember, these people know you. They have known you for a long time. If you start dating someone that isn't really great, they might tell you. And you might not like it. Then, you realize they were right to begin with and all is good again. That's how it works. BFF. To the end.

Chelsea's face says it all.

Jennifer and Chelsea Handler: This type of relationship is your later-in-life type. You both have experienced a lot of things (Jenn's divorce, Chelsea's.... ummm, whatever she has experienced) and you have lost that need to impress people. You are who you are. That doesn't mean that you make friends super fast. It means that when you find that type that cuts through the BS and is actually being real about life, you latch on to them. You laugh a lot. You probably hang out a lot. They are probably in a similar life stage. These types can be complete opposites and that is the beauty of it. They like you for you. And, I'll bet that in Jennifer and Chelsea's case, that is a true rarity in Hollywood.

To be sure, it takes a while to find the Chelsea's. I'm no celebrity, but even I am super guarded around new people. I can be nice and friendly. But, true friends? That takes time. I'm not fake at all. Just not likely to be emotionally slutty around new folks.

I can't say that I can really pick sides on this one. No Team Courteney or Team Chelsea here. Both friendships have their place. And, if Jennifer is anything like me (I like to think that we are alike), then I'm guessing that both of these friendships will be around for a while. I say, Mazel to them!


(Julie Bunkley is a wedding planner in Auburn, Ala. If you ever see her at a Starbucks with her computer, she probably isn't working. She's just looking up celebrity life photos, red carpet gown photos and celebrity wedding news. You can learn more about her here!)

Laugh Tracks: The Evolution of Humor

For the record, none of this should be taken as actual fact, but rather just one of my many pop-culture theories. I am sure I could spend time researching the history of the laugh track, but instead I skimmed a Wikipedia article on it, found that I generally didn't find what I wanted to find, and now I'm forging ahead with my own opinions.

In my mind, laugh tracks on Sit-Coms should have been officially buried on May 6, 2004. That's when the last episode of Friends aired. Friends gets grandfathered in simply because when it started in 1994, most comedy shows had a laugh track.

The last time laugh tracks were acceptable, people dressed like this.

Growing up with Full House and Family Matters, laugh tracks taught me how to get jokes. In fact, most shows for children have canned laughter because kids need to be taught when to laugh at words. So much comedy for kids is physical comedy, so they are visually cued to laugh, but when shows rely primarily on dialogue, some jokes might be beyond the development of a kid's brain. Laugh tracks help them know...hey, this is funny, enjoy it. And if you have or know any kids then you've probably had them excitedly repeat jokes from TV shows to you. They are proud to get the joke and they want to share it. That laugh track was probably vital to their understanding it. SO...before I go totally off on laugh tracks, please know that I recognize they have their place.

But prime time comedies are not that place.

The laugh track tells us she's funny, not obnoxious.

It used to be that in order to be culturally informed, you had to watch hours of news, or Entertainment Tonight, listen to the radio, or read newspapers and magazines. But now you just have to have a Twitter, a Facebook feed, or a nearby teenager. Getting the headlines is so easy. In fact they come at us fast and furiously, but rarely is there a need to actually read or explore a topic. In other words, it's not hard to get the culturally relevant jokes that show up in our comedies these days. For example: I didn't watch the VP debate a few weeks ago, but I know that Biden laughed in a cocky way and that Ryan didn't really go into detail with his answers. I knew this from what I saw on Facebook. So when SNL did a spoof of the debate last week, I felt fully informed and got the jokes. It's a shallow existence that allows us to know very little about A LOT of topics and still come across generally informed. Which is horrible for having an educated point of view or being able to discuss any given topic of importance...but is GREAT for our TV watching.

The only show I like as of right now that has a laugh track is Two Broke Girls. Which by the way, is a really great show even with the enhanced laughter. Think of shows like 30 Rock, Arrested Development, Community, Parks and Rec, The Office, and even Cougar Town, The Middle, and Modern Family. None of these shows have laugh tracks even though they cover very different types of characters and plots. I like to think of this as more educated TV, or at least TV that gives a little credit to their viewers. These shows know that we don't need the laugh track anymore. But even these shows don't escape giving us clues that they want us to laugh at something. The laughter has been replaced by little musical trills, documentary style glances at the camera, or flashbacks in some cases.

Did I do that funny thing causing mechanical laughter to ring through the sound stage?

There are petitions to get the laugh tracks removed from shows like The Big Bang theory, which carries an interesting mixture of audience. The jokes are often sophisticated and scientific in nature, so the audience with those leanings doesn't need the cue. But the audience that watches a group of socially awkward nerds interact and likes the easy funny flow of the show,  doesn't mind the track. It will be interesting to see if a show ever attempts to transition between the two. Because truthfully, laugh tracks are more than just about making an audience laugh, they are there for transitions and comedic timing too. Adding one or taking one away would mean changing the filming style, the writing, and the acting. For proof of this check out 30 Rock's live shows where there is audience laughter as opposed to their week to week rhythm. It's a noticeable difference in the way they do things.

Now I've equated education with no laugh tracks and said that I like shows with no laugh tracks. I realize that I might come across as a snob with that kind of reasoning. In order to prevent that assumption, I would like to point you to exhibit A: my blog two days ago where I confess to watching over 20 hours of TV weekly, as well as exhibit B: my post last month where I defend Honey Boo Boo. We all have our vices. I happen to hate laugh tracks, but when Ramona gets drunk on Real Housewives of New York, I cannot look away! Believe me, I know I am no better than anyone else...laugh track or not!

Maybe this isn't something you notice, but I challenge you to watch your favorite comedies this week and pay attention to the things that make you laugh. Was there a pause in dialog? Was there a laugh track? Was there some other cue? Do you watch any shows with laugh tracks? Do you watch any without? What's your general feeling about canned or enhanced laughter? Or do you have an actual life and haven't bothered to put any time into thinking at all about such things....

When You're The Best Of Friends!

The squeal I let out when I heard that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey will host the Golden Globes together was something similar to the night my high school boyfriend kissed me in my front yard while my friends watched from inside. I ran back inside to celebrate with them and lots of squealing happened. Yes, I used to squeal about boys and kisses.

But this post is not about that. Because no matter how great that kiss was, the part I remember being the most fun was the celebration inside with my friends. We'd heard from someone (this was before anyone was googling to fact check) that being french kissed turned your tongue white. We all ran into the tiny bathroom in my house, and I stuck out my tongue to see if it was true. Funny thing, it wasn't even my first real kiss. But this one held a different level of excitement because my friends were there for it. Oh, and I'm pretty sure my tongue was pink.

I'm very aware that my brand of friendship might be quite different than yours. Maybe it comes from being single for so long, but I think it's fair to say, I've always had a deep love for friends. My mother has amazing friends who were "other mothers" to me, and I think she stressed the importance of friendship as much as she did independence and putting on deodorant. I remember hearing "boys will come and go, but friends will stay forever." I mean, in retrospect, that's a little idealistic. I've had lots of friends come and go too. But on the whole...my friends have really been there. And I have THEEEEE most amazing friends.

Friendship doesn't just hold up as legit for us real people, it also seems to be able to survive the fame and fortune of Hollywood. I think this is because if you are rich and important, recognized around every corner, and you actually find someone who you can trust and who will love you for who you are without make-up, you probably hang onto them.

So, in celebration of what is bound to be the BEST Golden Globes EVER, and in celebration of friendship...here are some notable Famous BFF's.

Bitches get stuff done.

Tina and Amy-The Funniest
The way Tina talks about Amy in her book Bossypants gives a real idea of the kind of support these two show each other. They have risen to stardom at the same time, and been active participants in their individual successes. Recently at a charity auction they put a night of being their BFF up on the auction block and two women wrote checks for $36,000 each. I want to go to there.

Sense and sensibility.

Kate and Reese-The Ones I Want To Know
When Kate Winslet moved in next to Reese Witherspoon, she came over to say hi one night. As they talked about possible playdates for their kids, Kate told Reese she hadn't had anything to drink and asked if she had wine. Of course Reese did, and their friendship was born over wine and conversation that night. You all know Kate is my favorite actress, and Reese is from the South...I love this pairing so much!

Oprah and Gayle-The Real Deal
You can't even mention BFF's in Hollywood without thinking of these two. When I think about the success Oprah has had, in all reality, Gayle is probably the only person in her life that she can truly trust. Watching them on their road trip was hilarious because they fight like sisters! And their camping trip at Yosemite. Best ever.

There is no me without you.

Busy and Michelle-The Soulmates
Seriously, this might seem like a strange combo, but these two have been friends for a long time. Through all the tragedy of Heath Ledger's death and the celebration of having babies. They are seen together all the time, and apparently some people question the proclaimed platonic nature of their friendship. They make no bones about calling each other soul mates and admit having "girl crushes" on each other. But those who know them or spend time around them just say that they are seriously the best of friends, in ways that you can only understand if you've had this kind of best friend.

Dakota and Kristen-The Opposites
Um. What? They're best friends? In my mind, Dakota is still sweetly knitting things on talk shows, while KStew is busy...well, stewing. This friendship alone is proof that opposites attract not only in romance, but in friendship.

Everyone just calm down.

Penelope and Salma-The Sexiest
This is too much sexy in a friendship. I mean, somebody has to be the Rhoda.

The Threesomes
There are some internet discrepancies over these next few people. It's bound to happen. There's always that poor woman who thinks that she is her BFF's, BFF, but has no idea that her BFF has another BFF. I think that's what's happening in some of these situations. Which of these pairings do you think is the real deal?

Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz or Drew Barrymore and Ellen Page
Their birthdays are 1 day and...er...a few years apart. Seriously, even with a 12 year age difference, I have to vote for Ellen and Drew on this one. Mainly because I cannot imagine anyone ever being best friends with Cameron Diaz. Except maybe Scarlett Johannsen.

Shenanigans.

Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox Arquette or Jennifer Aniston and Chelsea Handler
As much as we all want Rachel and Monica to be friends forever, there are rumors that they've suffered some rough spots in the last year or so. Meanwhile, Chelsea loves to mention Jennifer on her show and reference their nights out. I am sure that Courtney has the staying power in this, but I do think that Jenn needs a friend who will go to the mat for her. Chelsea doesn't take shit off of anyone, and for that reason, I like the thought of the two of them as best friends.

Even at my worst, I'm best with you.

Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler or Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin
FALSE. There is no right answer to this, because in spite of both Liv and Ginnifer seemingly being wonderful people, they are obviously HORRIBLE friends because they let Kate do this:

I have no real friends.

Talk to me about BFF's...

Who did I leave out that's worth mentioning? 

Who will never have one? 

Which celeb do you want to be BFF with?

TV Couples that "Cross The Streams"

Any child of the 80's knows that there are a few rules you should always follow:
1. Never feed a Mogwai after midnight.
2. Don't say "Candyman" 5 times while looking in the mirror.
3. Don't take One Eyed Willie's treasure.
4. Never hate your baby brother or else David Bowie will kidnap him.
5. And finally...Whatever you do, DO NOT cross the streams.

Either we will explode, or save NYC!

We could collectively write an entire blog about these rules and more. But I just finished catching up on Gossip Girl, and I really need to talk about what I have found to be the television equivalent of crossing the streams.

In Ghostbusters, crossing the streams is what happens when the streams from the proton packs (that trap the ghosts) cross each other and create havoc on all things around them. Egon vaguely warns that crossing the streams "would be bad." He goes on to say that it would ruin life as we know it and our bodies would explode. Get the point? It's bad to cross the streams. They are not meant to be crossed.

You want us to what?

In Season 5 of Gossip Girl (now when I start a sentence like this it means I am going to give spoilers) Dan, the good boy from Brooklyn, and Blair, the Queen Bee of the UES end up together. As a couple. Together. Did I mention they get together? It's weird. It's unnatural. It's CROSSING THE STREAMS!

Dan's hair is too curly and he is a writer, and Blair is in love with Chuck and born to be a mean girl. She has never even spoken a kind word to him! It's a horrible match, but I couldn't help but watch. When they kissed the first time, I stared hoping that the actors would crack a smile at this obvious joke they were playing on the audience. But nope. No smiles. We were just supposed to forget everything we have known for 4 seasons and go with it. I hate it when writers think their audiences are stupid. But it happens a lot.

Here are some other TV couples that were dangerously close to ruining some of our favorite TV shows by crossing the streams with incompatible couples.

Like this.

Friends-Monica and Joey
OCD Monica and clueless Joey would have NEVER gotten together in real life, but through flashbacks/flashforwards we get to learn that Monica had a huge crush on Joey in the beginning and down the road could have ended up together. It's hard to pair Joey with any of the girls because he takes such a brotherly role with them. But I think we can all agree that if this particular couple had manifested, it would have been hard to watch even if they were fat and happy.

Not this.

Glee-Puck and Santana
Before Santana comes out as a lesbian, she makes the rounds though the guys in Glee, but her relationship with Puck is the one that lingers. Even when they are not dating, Santana makes whoever Puck is with, the target of her galactic bullying. It's obvious that they have a great connection, even if it is just physical, but there's no heart here. If anything this is a classic case of two people being too much alike, having too much in common. It doesn't stretch their characters the way that their other relationships do. Santana eventually softens up with Brittany and watching Puck's love for Lauren is just too much fun!

Santana + Puck = Suck.

Grey's Anatomy-George and Callie
It's fair to say that George with ANYONE is a horrible pairing, but this particular couple (if you can dig back and remember it) just never felt right. My personal thoughts? The writers were never sure up front if they were gonna keep Callie around. So they decided to get her into a relationship, knowing that when that relationship ended, they would have a chance to get rid of her if her character had not caught on. But when the actor playing George decided to go off the show, the Grey's staff found that Callie had some staying power and was actually a fan favorite. The couple itself never made much sense to me. Callie was so clearly a rebel, proved to us through her long sleeved hippie shirts sticking out from under her scrubs and untamed hair. George was an insecure dork who never quite cured his crush for Meredith. Let's not even analyze the facts that in real life the actor playing George is gay, and Callie ends up being a lesbian (or bi?) on the show. When George was killed off, it was more of notch in Callie's belt of tragedy, and only made us like her more. Poor George.

Awkward Anatomy.

30 Rock-Liz and Dennis
He's her comfort zone; the place Liz always returns to. But Dennis is the only beeper salesman left in New York (maybe the world), and was seen on Dateline and not for good reasons, not to mention, his pet name for our beloved Lemon is Dummy. And yet until recently, Liz just hasn't been able to stay away from Dennis, or keep him away from her. We adore Liz for her quirky habits that are way too similar to our own at times, but there's something about watching her be demeaned by someone as stupid and annoying as Dennis, that their relationship stopped playing as funny to us years ago. Liz, here's some advice...if he's the beeper king, you do not want a ring. SHUT IT DOWN.

Dealbreaker.

Of course, the thing about crossing the streams is that sometimes...it saves the world. In all of Egon's concern over not crossing the streams he forgot to tell us up front that sometimes, it works. So here is my vote for the couple that crossed the streams and managed to save the TV show in spite of what could have been an obvious mismatch.

Moonlighting-David and Maddie
It's the classic Taming of the Shrew storyline. Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) is a type A, independent former model and celebrity, accustomed to living well, that is until she loses everything except her detective agency. David Addison (Bruce Willis) comes along with his crazy antics and careless attitude and the two begin a business partnership and eventually a romantic one as well. The show itself is a classic in that it was the first to do a few things that we see all the time now on TV. It broke the fourth wall before most people had ever even heard of a fourth wall. The writing was excellent and combined drama and comedy, practically giving us the genre we now call, "dramedy." And of course it created a building tension between David and Maddie that audiences could NOT get enough of!

So much sexy.

The theory before Moonlighting was that having two characters on a show like this finally hook up would ruin the show. But the social campaigns (promoted through magazines) for David and Maddie to "do it" were so substantial that the writers eventually gave in. The episode where the two have sex was the highest rated in the show's history. In an unfortunate turn of events, David and Maddie did not stay together and thus viewers lost interest. This directly disproved the idea that having two main characters hook-up would kill the show and instead it proved the exact opposite, keeping them together might have saved Moonlighting. People wanted to see them together! With decreasing viewership, writer's strikes, Willis' booming movie career, and Shepherd's unwillingness to work the long hours, the show did die shortly after. But it remains one of the greatest TV romances of all times, even if they did cross the steams to get there.

What are some TV relationships that "cross the streams" to you? Sam and Diane? Elaine and Jerry? Angel and Buffy? 

I left out quite a few, state your case as to whether the relationship ends life as we know it, or saves the world!

It's The Final Countdown: How To Leave 'Em Wanting More

One summer a friend of mine and I were working at a camp together. We were given the task to entertain a group of children for an hour. We only had a parachute. She pulled the parachute out began to play with the children. They loved it! But about 30 minutes in, she packed up the parachute and had them play tag, followed by hide and go seek. I was confused. That parachute would have easily entertained them for the entire hour. When I asked her about it later she said something I'd heard a million times, but never really seen in action: "Always leave 'em wanting more!" By quitting at the height of their enjoyment, she could always return with the parachute, it would always entertain them, it would always be successful.

Most fun ever.

It should be that way with television. Each season, we cross our fingers and wait to see if our love for characters, humor, and drama have translated into enough ratings and money to secure a place in next year's line up. This year, the news I was the most anxious to hear revolved around 30 Rock, Parenthood, SMASH (don't judge me) American Horror Story, and Community. All were renewed, even if some of those renewals had conditions such as: Community without Dan Harmon, rumors of entirely new story lines/characters in American Horror Story, and a final season for 30 Rock. I can live with that...just bring them back, I'm not ready to lose them yet!


Listen, no one wants to see their favorite shows cancelled. My cousin and I were the only ones in the world watching Best Friends Forever, and we both understand why it's gone, but are we happy about it? No. Because it speaks to some part of us. We all have our attachment issues, and breaking up is hard to do. But there's one thing that's worse that missing your favorite show....and that's watching it be totally ruined.

I miss them!

There are 2 kinds of show endings. The first is that the creators of the show decide it's time to cut it off. The second is that the network isn't making enough money and decides to cut it off. The most common is the second kind, because the truth is that people don't know when to put the "parachute" away. One notable exception to this is my personal favorite TV show in the history of TV, Six Feet Under. I will fight you to the death about the perfection of Six Feet Under. And here's the amazing thing, it only went 5 seasons. Because creator, Alan Ball, came to the network and said that he felt that the show had run it's course. Yeah, you heard me. He fired himself. But he did it because what he was creating with Six Feet Under was about making good TV. Not about staying on the air as long as possible!


The problem with TV today (wow, I sound old, uptight, and like I know everything. I'm not old.) is that somehow the networks and creators haven't caught onto the fact that for the most part, the generation they are dealing with these days wants authenticity, cleverness, and a sense of purpose. We want it in our own lives, and we want it in the TV characters' lives. And so when a show like ER ends with an entirely different cast than where it started, it doesn't feel real! That's not how we live our lives! It feels desperate and grasping and like this is really all about a paycheck.

Who are these people?

Don't get me wrong, I KNOW it's all about a paycheck, but I don't want to be reminded that it's all about a paycheck. I want to see a story arc come to completion, run it's course. I want to see characters evolve as they face hardship (even if that hardship is a bit too dramatic at times) and come out on the other side. I want to relate to them. And if it's a comedy, I want the inside jokes and one liners that started the show to end with it. Friends was great at this. The characters were strong, they evolved, we literally watched them grow up on TV, and before it was too silly or over the top or they took too many trips out of the country or used too many green screens, it ended. And we still love it today.

Perfect Timing.

But some of our favorites are in danger of going too long. It's time for a few of those shows that we love to consider saying goodbye. Now, don't get upset with me as I name your favorite show for cancellation material, but remember the parachute story. Don't you want to be able to miss it and watch it again without thinking of how boring it got in the end? We are talking quality here, not quantity. I suggest the following shows should go 1 more season and end, securing their places on pedestals instead of falling into the category of "Yeah, I used to watch it before..."

Community-I know. It hasn't been on long enough. But it's been on the chopping block since its inception.  And now, without Dan Harmon, I have my doubts. My friend Amy suggested that the 3 part finale of this season could have served as a great series closer. I agree. But it didn't go quite like that. And so if for some reason, Community actually manages to survive next year, I don't think that it should survive another year after that. Plus, it's community college. They have to leave at some point. And don't even THINK about bringing in new characters.

The Office-Please go away. Not only is it depressing seeing Jim and Pam all married with kids and not nearly as adorable as they once were (a writing issue, not a life situation issue), but Michael Scott was the heart of the show. To try to continue it without him has left me trying to remember why that red headed lady from Florida is in Michael's office and why Andy is acting like a fool. I would be okay to never see James Spader again (the same way I felt about him after seeing The Secretary), and even Dwight's antics can't revive this show. Please, just let it die. Write an ending. Shut Dunder Mifflin Down. Let Dwight and Jim be co-managers. ANYTHING. Just...enough. It hurts to watch.

When it's all over, I vote for a cooking show with Dexter as the host. Specialty: Breakfast.

Dexter-It's finally happened. Deb has finally seen the real Dexter. So, next season it's Deb vs. Dexter. We've always known it had to be this way. But it really has to end this way, and it has to end this season. Deb could go down in history in the Miami Metro Police Department if she turns him in. Is Dexter cold-hearted enough to go after Deb? Can they talk through it? Can Dexter explain and justify his reasons for killing? Will Deb let Dexter go, or will she pull a Sound of Music whistle blow on him and send him running for the hills? If none of the above happen, then we are looking at either the death of Deb, or incest, neither of which we want to see. Kill it off before it's squirming, please.


30 Rock-You know my love for this show, and I've already read that next season is the last. I'm glad. The show has always been a little exaggerated, but within regards to the revolving door of characters, it's been tamed to the love interests of Jack or Liz. This season, bringing on a new page, Hazel, just about killed me. The actress herself drives me crazy, but she doesn't work in the cast. We love Kenneth. But we love him for the role he plays, which is not the protagonist. Liz is the protagonist (though Jack would argue that). The page storyline just gets us off focus from where we really want to be. Tracy, Jenna, Liz, and Jack. So, please. Let Jack call Nancy Donovan (Julianne Moore) and rekindle with her happily in Boston, let Kenneth rise to Jack's position as the new executive, and for the love of God give Liz her baby with her current adorable boyfriend, while she is still happily working on TGS. Let her finally, have it all. 

Grey's Anatomy-You know I love it, but it's time to go. I want to see the characters land. They are grown up doctors now, with grown up relationships. It's time to tie up the loose ends. If Arizona is gonna die, let Mark and Callie live happily ever after. Meredith and Derek have a child now, we want to see them be responsible enough to stay together and raise her after they fought so hard for her. Yang and Hunt are going to get back together and pour themselves into that hospital. Let Bailey have her man. And Alex. Sigh...Alex. Just don't bring in a new batch of residents and get some ER thing going. I don't want this show to be unrecognizable in 5 years. 

Speaking of always leave 'em wanting more...I cannot WAIT!

What shows do you want to see cancelled before they go bad?