Veronica Mars movie

I am so excited. The Veronica Mars movie is out in just three days. The TV series ended too soon after three seasons and never felt resolved. There is much to be said for leaving your fans wanting more. The money for this movie was raised on Kickstarter in record time. Had I been quicker off the mark, I would have certainly invested. For a relatively modest $10,000 I could have had a speaking part in the actual movie. For $6,500 I could have named a character in the movie. Kickstarter is such a brilliant idea. I have backed Beyond Clueless which is a film about teenage movies. Find out more here. My name is going to be in the credits!

Anyway, back to Veronica. All the cast return, especially Logan. We like Logan. I cannot wait. 12.01am - I really might have to watch it at that time in the cinema.

Top Ten female TV characters

I did my Top Ten annoying TV characters but I never did my favourites. What an oversight that was. Allow me to inform and inspire you. In no real order since all these are marvellous.

We start with CJ Cregg. I actually think CJ is the greatest female character on television past and present. She was smart, funny, sexy and yet one could relate to her even when she ended up as Chief of Staff. She did the Jackal. And she was played by Allison Janney who will, one day, be my best friend.

Alexis Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan (I had to look up Rowan, who was Mr Rowan?) There is no greater entrance to a show than her walking up the aisle of the courtroom at the end of season one (which frankly is deadly dull) in that white hat. Joan Collins is a legend and I can't imagine anyone playing Alexis better than her. She also had the best costumes in the TV soap history, a perfect combination of 80s, Aaron Spelling and glamour. I still wish I could wear my hair in a turban like Alexis and smoke out of a cigarette holder.

Christine Cagney was simply awesome. All these women are such good role models. OK, maybe not so much Alexis who schemed and stepped on everyone to get her way (although all the men did the same thing). Cagney was epic, a character who had no children and a career back in the 80s and wasn't a bitch. Until she descended into alcoholism, I wanted to be Cagney. Busting criminals and shopping in her spare time. Who wouldn't want to be her?

Rachel Karen Green. Choosing a favourite Friend is hard and I adore them all (even Ross) but Rachel is the one who gives me belly laughs. Her princessy, bitchy side is just the right side of endearing. Jennifer Aniston will never be better than this.

Tami Taylor. The mane of wondrous hair. The pearls of wisdom dispensed but never lectured. The loyalty to her yummy husband. Tami was ordinary but yet extraordinary. Her life wasn't soapy, epic or front page news yet she was so easy to watch. God I miss Friday Night Lights.

Hotlips Houlihan. Basically there was nobody cooler than Hotlips.  She played with the boys and always had one up on them. Her and Hawkeye's barely simmering lust for each other built up over so many seasons until, at last, in the final episode they kiss. Awwwwwww.

Lorelei Gilmore. She made many bad choices and could be selfish but boy Lorelei was funny. Boring little Rory was so lucky to have her as a mum. The pop culture references in Gilmore Girls were always hilarious and rang true to someone like me who felt the need to start a blog about all this.

Miranda Hobbes. The only Sex and the City girl surely anyone intelligent could relate to. She was a kick-ass lawyer and memorably called the other girls on their incessant talk about sex and their relationships. I have been rewatching this show and Miranda is fabulous, funny and gorgeous.

Veronica Mars. 14 March people. What's your damage?

Cristina Yang. I can't tell you what season of Grey's I am now on, I'm a bit ashamed. Except not really because Cristina makes every episode worth watching. She's cynical, competitive, downright mean and very talented. I honestly feel that Cristina and I would be great friends.

It's so life affirming to write something complimentary about great female TV characters. I feel like a good person.

Haircut 100

The 80s was the decade of some truly perfect pop. I was not a huge Haircut 100 fan but who doesn't adore Love Plus One? It's a bonkers song: "where do we go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear?" It's so catchy and frothy though. This song will always remind me of rollerskating in Maldon. I only went once (not being someone who is fond of balancing on tiny wheels) but they played this and I thought I was fabulous. No doubt I was wearing neon too.

Also, when I worked at Our Price in Kingston, Nick Heyward came into the shop. It was terribly exciting.

Stevie Wonder

I'm having a Stevie Wonder moment. Here's the thing, it's impossible to sit still listening to Stevie. I am listening to him as I write this (Superstition) and am jigging about like a demented woman. Also, how completely brilliant is the above photograph?

I don't pretend to be a Stevie expert, I don't own all his albums and I don't know about rare B sides. I am pretty populist in my Stevie love but honestly, the man is a genius. One of my favourites is I Wish:

It's just funka-rama. It's impossible to be miserable listening to this.

Superstition. Perfection. One of the best introductions in popular music.

Everyone's favourite wedding song:

Another great wedding song. I hadn't properly appreciated what lovely songs Stevie writes. They are so uplifting. For Once In My Life. I love the backing singers on this.

Another great introduction here.

Putting I Just Called To Say I Love You to one side, Stevie also does a fine line in love songs.

Another classic here, this one just sounds like summer.

Unusually for Stevie, here is a more torturous love song. This was used in Scandal. I think Shonda Rhimes is a huge Stevie fan, he features a lot in Scandal.

Lately has always been one of my favourite love songs. I can listen to this over and over.

I could go on. Special mention to As, All I Do, Higher Ground and oh so many more. How can anyone not listen to Stevie? They must have no soul.

Grey's Anatomy

I present myself ready to eat humble pie. I have dissed this show for some time based on snippets I've seen where someone is always crying. Also, the music montage with a band like Snow Patrol playing over people crying. Also, the protagonist has a squeaky, irritating voice and she opens nearly every show with a voiceover saying stuff that means nothing: "in a world where all we have are dreams, it doesn't hurt to sleep a little." I made that one up but you get my drift. Anyway, I had decided Grey's was not for me.

I admit it. I was wrong. You can get your diaries out and make a note of the day. I have been watching Grey's on Hulu (fab online TV service for peanuts) and I am addicted. I started watching this about two weeks ago and I've just finished season three. I am not proud. In my defence it's brutally cold here in New York and it's January. I am trying to save money. Also, I've been sick. Nonetheless, like I say, I am not proud. But damn, if it isn't addictive. My initial impressions still stand. There is an inordinate amount of crying, there is generally too much emotion for my taste, the musical montages are overdone and Meredith is annoying. So why am I watching it? Let's look at the evidence.

Miranda Bailey. One of the finest characters I've seen on television. Miranda takes no prisoners. She's hilarious, the actress delivers her lines beautifully. She bosses around her interns and I love her. I want to be her.

Cristina Yang. I really like Sandra Oh and she plays the over-achieving, highly competitive Yang so well. Another one who has great lines.

Preston Burke. It's all a bit unfortunate what happened here with the actor because Preston is a fine character. I like his mother too.

Callie Torres. I want to have this woman's hair.

McDreamy. Patrick Demsey, who knew? This is a case of being all about the character. I don't fancy Patrick Demsey but man, I fancy McDreamy. He is definitely at his best in season one, he is getting a bit tired and emotive now but the scene in the lift when him and Meredith kiss is dreamy indeed. Plus he's a brain surgeon.

I have major issues with Meredith who is just wet. I don't have a huge amount of time for Izzy who makes bad decisions all the time and George is plain annoying. However, I admit it, I am loving this show. And it's still going at season 10! I have so much to watch. Excuse me...

Chris Hemsworth

A new year and it's time for a new crush. This one has been brewing quietly for a while, it's not in the Ryan Gosling sphere yet but it's just been pushed up the ranks after a viewing of Rush.

This is a dream of a role as James Hunt was clearly a bit of alright.

Bad boy, smoking, driving fast cars and being funny all at the same time equals sexy and Chris impressed me in many ways. Firstly, he actually is a good actor and he gets the posh English accent perfectly. Being Australian, he has a bit of wit about him naturally. But who are we kidding, that's not what the crush is about.

It's no accident this guy played Thor. His body is well, it's rather nice isn't it? Let's not beat around the bush. He gets his kit off in Rush and I for one am not complaining.

As usual my sister was here first, she announced she had a crush on Chris ages ago but I couldn't see it. I think I was tainted by my Home & Away memories.

His acting chops have improved massively because I remember him being pretty awful in H&A. He does have slightly nitty eyes (trademark - my mother) but I am willing to overlook this flaw because he is maturing very pleasingly indeed. Like I say, this crush isn't raging yet but it's coming along nicely and it's a pleasant diversion to the January blues. Also, if you're not see the first Thor, it's worth a watch because Kenneth Branagh directed it and it's got Chris flexing his muscles and smashing things in a manly way.

Love Actually

It's ten years since this odious film was released. I have nothing against Richard Curtis, I love Four Weddings and adore Notting Hill but this film makes me angry and what makes me most angry is that I watch it when it comes on the telly. I am watching it now. WHY? Why do I do it to myself? Let me explain why I loathe it by story lines.

Keira Knightley. I don't understand why she gets any work, she's a terrible actress and she has a funny jaw. Whatever. Good luck to her. This story is so trite. He's in love with his his best friend's wife and it's not romantic. He makes a creepy wedding video where it's all shots of her. He then turns up at her doorstep doing this Bob Dylan pastiche. Arrrrghh. It's awful. He's awful, she's awful and the story is awful. What about his poor mate? No mention of that. And the godawful wedding where they burst into All You Need Is Love. Again, awful.

Bill Nighy. I don't share the Bill love but again, that's my problem. This story of him doing Christmas Is All Around is again, so cringeable and unfunny. Why are we meant to find it funny that he sings this with a bevvy of buxom ladies?

2003 and he's writing on a typewriter. WTF? Cliches ahoy with the Italian/Spanish/French (I paid no attention to where he is meant to be) woman falling in love with him despite them not speaking a word of each other's language.

This one moment is funny, in fact it's the best moment of the film, but why is she not allowed to have a boyfriend because of her brother? Why does she answer the phone in the middle of finally making out with the hot guy? Why does she not explain to him? He seems like a sensitive chap, I am sure he'd understand. It's nonsense.

No film is ever better with the addition of Rowan Atkinson just to be clear. And this is no exception. This scene goes on and on and it's tedious and Not Funny.

Hugh Grant as Prime Minister? Ummmm. Maybe. Billy Bob Thornton as the US president? No. And this scene is so ridiculous that I can't believe anyone requires an explanation as to why.

This storyline is moronic. No goofy English guy would rock up in America and be a hit like this. American women are not stupid. That is January Jones next to him by the way. I am embarrassed for all of them.

The widowed dad. CLICHE ALERT. A 10 year old is in love and we're meant to take it seriously and find it heart-warming. I find it nauseating. And the precocious girl he likes sings that damn Mariah Carey Christmas song. It makes me want to cry. And not in a good way.

Much is made of Emma Thompson and rightly so since she can actually act and does so here effortlessly. Her scene crying over the Joni Mitchell CD is touching but she's married to such an arse that you wonder why she bothers.

I don't even know what to say about this. Again, not funny and Martin Freeman is another bland, boring actor that mystifyingly gets work.

It comes to something when the best story involves Martine McCutcheon. But she is sweet in this and the scene near the end where he goes carol singing with his security is quite amusing.

Finally, it has Ant and Dec in it. And Michael Parkinson.

Gawd. It's a contender for worst film ever made and I am never watching it again. Ever. It is designed to appeal to the lowest possible denominator and I'm afraid I do judge people who like this film as idiots.

Jennifer Aniston update: We're The Millers

Another flight, another Jen film to watch. She's a busy girl. To keep my Jennifer Aniston reviews up-to-date, I present We're The Millers.

Is it as bad as the picture above suggests? Not quite. Let's look at the evidence. Jennifer Aniston plays a stripper. This is beginning to smack of desperation. Jen, we know you have a kick ass body, there is no need to resort to playing strippers to show it off. Do a Playboy cover if you feel so inclined to show the world. There is inevitably a scene in which Jen has to strip (if you count leaving your knickers and bra on stripping) and it's excruciating. I am honestly not a stripping expert, I've never been to a strip club and apparently neither has Jen. The whole scene is an embarrassment.

The plot: a bunch of misfits pretend they are a family to smuggle drugs from Mexico back to the US. Happens all the time I'm sure. The guy is a drug dealer but small-time and with a heart of gold really. Of course. The young girl (played by Julia Roberts niece) is a runaway and the boy is a neglected kid who lives in the apartment block. The two kids are good, especially Emma Roberts who I was impressed with. I can't defend this film, it's pretty bad but there are moments that are quite amusing and when one is on a plane, that can be all you need to keep you entertained. I can't imagine ever going to see this at the cinema however I've sat through far worse and the closing credits are a joy where the cast sing the Friends theme to Jen. Genuinely funny and worth watching just for that.

Jen, stop taking your clothes off. You'll never win an Oscar doing that love.

2013 RIP

Another year passes. Here are the deaths that have touched my heart.

Michael Winner. No, I don't harbour a secret affection for Death Wish but Winner was a true British eccentric and he went to school with my dad.

Mel Smith. Much sadness at this news. He was way too young.

Lou Reed. Effortlessly cool.

James Gandolfini. I never got in to The Sopranos but I enjoyed Gandolfini in many films. He was a class act.

Peter O'Toole. They don't make stars like this anymore.

Richard Briers. For The Good Life.

Lewis Collins. The cool Professional.

Joan Fontaine. For her legendary rivalry with her sister, Olivia De Havilland and for excellent genes - she was in her late 90s and Olivia is still alive.

Nelson Mandela may not be in entertainment but how can I not mention him? What a man. RIP.

Now That's What I Call Music

Thirty years ago this album was released. Obviously I had it in vinyl. I still can't listen to You Can't Hurry Love without expecting Duran Duran's Is There Something I Should Know immediately after it. I was reminded of this album because I heard The Safety Dance on an episode of The Carrie Diaries. The track listing for the original Now album makes my heart sing. It's like a history lesson in 80s pop. Let's explore.

It opens with Phil Collins. I mean, why? And he is covering a Supremes song. It's like the worst of the 80s right off the bat. Then we move to one of the worst Duran Duran songs. Then another cover with UB40's Red Red Wine which I can't even discuss I hate it so much. Then, wait for it, Limahl. Anyone sane would give up but no, what's this? Heaven 17's Temptation. A classic of our time indeed. Things are looking up.

KC and the Sunshine Band with Give It Up follows which I love. I had forgotten how much I loved this and I am just listening to it now. It's going on my workout playlist. Double Dutch by Malcolm McClaren and the mighty Bonnie closes side one.

Side two and we have Karma Chameleon. I bloody hate this song. I feel I should like it being an 80s kid but god it's awful isn't it? The only people who like this are those who are too young to remember it the first time round. Culture Club did some good songs but this wasn't one of them. The magnificent Safety Dance follows and what is this video about? Bonkers.

Mike Oldfield bores us and then we come to Down Under. Possibly one of the greatest songs ever recorded. Not much else to say about side two except to ponder how Paul Young was ever successful.

Side three and New Edition hit us up with Candy Girl. Bobby Brown!

Limahl left Kajagoogoo and they decided to press on without him. To the regret of all of us. This is the worst of the 80s. Another cover with Tina Turner's Let's Stay Together. Al Green did it better. But we have Human League to save us. (Keep Feeling) Fascination with a great use of 80s brackets there. And Howard Jones with New Song - love, love, love it. More UB40, there is no explanation. Peabo and Roberta close side three with Tonight I Sellotape My Glove To You as my sister likes to call it.

Side four and Tracey Ullman with They Don't Know. A contender for one of my favourite 80s songs this, I adore it. The bells! Then Will Powers Kissing with Confidence, another fave. Skipping over Genesis to The Love Cats. This is totally perfect pop from a band that didn't really do pop. Then we have Simple Minds with a song nobody remembers, Waterfront? Anyone? The tedious Madness follow and we close with yes, just what we all wanted, another Culture Club song, Victims.

I am puzzled. I loved this album, I listened to it a great deal because I was 12 and hadn't built up a large collection of music and had not discovered my parents Beatles albums yet. I had remembered it being brilliant. It's clearly not. It has about 8 good songs on it and then bad songs by bands that weren't even that good to start with. I mean, Kajagoogoo? But the good songs really are properly good, we have Bonnie, The Cure, Tracey (although I admit it might just be me that loves this), Men at Work and the mighty Men Without Hats. Men did us proud in 1983.

I wish I'd kept my original vinyls but alas, they have long gone. Looking at the cover takes me back to fluro socks, Frinton-on-sea and poring over Smash Hits. Bliss.