My apologies to contributors
Well, I've never posted a blog before, and I figure that now is as good a time as any to start. As some of you may know, I am the editor for one TV show on this site--"Little House on the Prairie." It has been brought to my attention that I may be turning into the type of editor that some people would prefer to avoid, so I'd like to take the time to apologize and try explaining exactly why my points level keeps going up quickly.
I know that when some people have contributed trivia for LHOTP, they have found that I have "doctored" their submissions quite a bit, adding my opinions and moving some words around (okay, a lot of words). In my defense, I do not do that all the time, but there are times when I have, and there have been other instances where I thought of something to add onto someone else's submission, so I just did that while the submission request was in my queue instead of going back and fixing it later. I never meant to come across as an arrogant person who just wants to write things her way. I am sorry for doing this, and I intend to stop it immediately. All I can say is that I love surfing around the guide for this show, adding submissions and changing things around, but I understand that I cross a line when I completely edit people's submissions, and I need to put that to an end. Once I log onto the guide, I tend to get a little carried away, and that would explain the problems that some people have been experiencing with me.
As for my points level, I just want to say that I really don't care about points. There are a lot of TV show editors who will attest that I tend to clog their queues with all kinds of submissions, but it's not because I'm particularly eager to "level up." I am simply a TV-a-holic who is borderline obsessed with television, but seeing as this is TV.com, I have a feeling there are a lot of people here who enjoy it as much as I do. When I watch an episode of something, and I hear a good quote, I immediately think, "Wow, I should add that to TV.com," or if I notice interesting trivia, I think the same thing. I just love TV, and I love submitting stuff to the guides. That's it. It has reached a point, though, where I may have gone a little overboard, and I should take a step back and think about what I'm doing before I do it. I admit that I sometimes go back and change things, but not to take advantage of someone else's submission by altering it myself and getting the points added to my name. That was never my intention, not even close. It never crossed my mind that I was interested in turning someone else's submission around to earn points for myself, and just because I go back and change certain things does not mean that I am trying to do something sneaky or suspicious. I really get into certain TV characters and storylines, and I love to write about them, so that comes across in my editing/contributing. I never knew that there was a limit to how much one person should be adding to a guide, and as I've said before, there are some shows where I really just post a bunch of stuff at once. I just like to do that; if there is something interesting about a show or episode that I want to add, I submit it. The editor for the family drama "7th Heaven," for example, can tell you that I probably submitted literally 50 quotes in the past week alone! 
God bless her for patiently sifting through all my contributions.
I became an editor for LHOTP about a year ago, and since then, I have also become a Trusted User for one other show and a few people. It's an honor when that happens, and I get really excited when it does. Still, I am learning more and more about TV.com standards and such, and I am learning that the TV show guides are mostly for facts and a smaller selection of quotes. I may go back now and take off some quotes from LHOTP that I submitted that are a little too long, or trivia blurbs I've added that are more like a novel than a simple trivia blurb.
I am just a person who is having fun being an editor here, and I felt really bad when I heard that some contributors were not happy with the way I was running things. I understand their feelings and would like to fix it, so from now on, if you contribute to the LHOTP guide, I will accept submissions EXACTLY as they come in, without putting in my own two cents. It has offended and irritated some people, and I don't want to do that. The only reason I would change something is if the quote isn't quite right, or if there is a formatting error somewhere. Otherwise, the way you word it is the way it will remain. If even the slightest alteration is made, I will let you know what I changed and why in the Comments section that is sent to your PM mailbox. If, in rare cases, I find the need to change more than just a little, I will reject the submission and let you know why (but I don't think that will happen often; the only time I really reject something is if it's a duplicate submission or inaccurate information).
I don't want to be one of those editors that contributers feel the need to avoid, so PLEASE, if you have a question or a problem with something I am doing, just send me a message and tell me. I can handle it, and I won't get mad I don't see myself as a rude or obnoxious person, and I hope that when you talk to me, you won't feel that way, either. But if I seem to be acting like a jerk, I like being made aware of it so I can change it. We all sometimes do dumb things without realizing it, and I think that has been the case with me. When problems arise with some editors, it's better to try working it out with them first before submitting complaints to the site itself. I am open to all questions and concerns, and I want to make the guides I am editing a good place where people feel welcome to submit things. I promise to listen to what you have to say, and I will do my best to make it right.
Once again, I am truly sorry for the embellishments I have already made with many submissions, but if you submit again to the guide, please know that it won't be happening again. If I have lost any previous contributors because they were fed up with my editing style, I am hopeful that they will consider coming back and submitting again, with the knowledge that things will be different now. Naturally, every editor will have his/her own style; some will want to only have five or so quotes per episode, while others will accept an infinite number. Some editors' episode synopses will be longer or shorter than others. Everyone has their own idea of what is acceptable for trivia and what is not, so each guide on this site will vary accordingly. But I promise to, at the very least, be fair to everyone, and that means allowing a person's submission to be in their own words. I know how I would feel if someone did that to me, so I won't do it to you.
I hope you will feel comfortable asking me any questions you have, so we can make the guide a spot for EVERYONE to take part. After all, that's the way it should be!
Have a great day, and remember, if you need to say anything, please do!!
~ECgirl08~
Print
Email
Comment
Tag
Digg thisMy Recent Reviews
|
Gilmore Girls A House Is Not a Home Avg Score: 9.43 Total Ratings: 485 Total Reviews: 55 |
I guess I can appreciate the fact that the writers wanted to "humanize" Rory's character and flesh her out a little bit more by showing audiences that while she is a good kid for the most part, she is capable of making huge mistakes. These final episodes of Season 5 have brought out a Rory Gilmore that most of us do not like, and sadly, her new attitude remains right through to Season 6. I can't say that it was my favorite part of the series, but in most ways, it was a well-written and true-to-life account of what can happen to even the best kids out there.
The only major scene that truly, truly bothered me was the one between Lorelai and Rory, when Rory announced that she was not returning to Yale the following year. All she did was whine and complain that the big, scary Mitchum Huntzberger told her she didn't "have it" as a journalist, and if Mitchum Huntzberger says she can't do it, then by golly, she better pack her bags and figure out something else to do. Are we expected to believe, then, that this extremely intelligent, hard-working girl can only thrive when she is being garnered with praise and positive feedback? I never got the impression that this was what kept Rory going all these years, specifically when she had such a rough start at Chilton and eventually rose to the top of her graduating class. She got plenty of criticism there, and the Headmaster even told her at one point that if she couldn't take the pressure of a college-prep school, then she should get out pronto. But oh no, that's not part of Rory's go-getter personality, and she used that criticism constructively to improve herself. That's what her character has always done, and now, all of a sudden, because her boyfriend's father is being a jerk to her, she is ready to throw everything away? This does not seem very likely to me, and if I were Lorelai, I would have given her a good shaking, reminded her that life is about dealing with negative people, and told her to pull herself together. Of course, if that were the case, we wouldn't have much of a plot here. For the moment, though, Rory is no longer a bright, industrious girl who knows what she wants and fights to get it, and she is acting like a spoiled baby who can't cope with a little bit of adversity in her life. I'm sure that when this episode aired for the first time, viewers everywhere were wondering who this character was and what she did with the original Rory.
By episode's end, Lorelai's worst nightmare comes true when her parents, after promising to help her talk some sense into Rory, go against her and offer Rory their lavish poolhouse as she drops out of school and contemplates her next step. To say that this is a slap in the face to Lorelai is a tremendous understatement, and for the time being, she has lost her daughter to two of her biggest enemies. The final scene between Lorelai and Rory, with the gorgeous song "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" in the background, will certainly have your eyes welling up within seconds. You can sense exactly what's going through Lorelai's mind, and while you find yourself practically begging her to knock on that door and get Rory out of there, you know that unfortunately, it's not going to happen that way.
In short, this episode ended with a huge bang and presented a lot of emotional baggage to come in the now-troubled relationship between mother and daughter, and of course, a lot of pain, joy, and turmoil that is in store for Luke and Lorelai. In general, it is a truly sad moment in Gilmore Girls history, but it's some genuinely solid drama from beginning to end, with a plot, characters, and actors who know how to get the job done.
|
The Secret Life of the American Teenager Caught Avg Score: 7.63 Total Ratings: 38 Total Reviews: 7 Users who agree: 1 |
In short, the clip of Grace confronting her attackers wound up on local TV as the reporters clucked and cackled about "The Bible warrior" or whatever they called her. I'm sorry, writers, but this isn't drama. This is full-blown satire, and you know it's satire when real, legitimately dramatic events are being shown on screen, yet it's nothing but a joke. Actually, when all these scenes were going on, all I could do was shake my head at the insanity of it all.
Amy's storyline continues to be the most honest and interesting part of the series, and unlike her other female co-stars, Shailene Woodley is managing to hold her head high and keep it real. Unlike them, she is neither obnoxious nor overstereotyped, and I truly feel for her character. Amy was also represented more in this episode than she was in the past, which is good. Her father is pretty crazy, though, and he keeps getting crazier. Every week, the show encourages teens and parents to come together and talk about sex, but then they have characters who illustrate every single way NOT to do it, and at some point, you have to actually give a good example if you want people to learn from it. First, the father accuses his 13-year-old daughter of wearing a "nun's outfit" and starts screaming at her because he thinks she's having sex. Then, on a completely different topic, when Amy asks him why he's so amused by Grace Bowman's recent appearance on the news, he says something to the effect of "Hey, I don't like the Bowmans, and if I don't like them, then you don't like them, either." Oh yeah, that's really nice. That's a good example to be sending out. After each episode, a message pops up with Shailene Woodley encouraging teens and parents to talk about sex and help prevent teen pregnancy, but I don't know any teen who would want to do that after watching the overblown reactions of Amy's father in this episode. Also, Amy's secret pregnancy has been dragged out way too long. Is this the only way they think they can keep her storyline interesting? Do they just not know what they're going to do with her once she reveals the truth to her parents and Ricky? Are the writers still deciding whether or not they want Amy to stay pregnant? I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that were true! Personally, I think Amy's plot will thicken and get even better once the writers give up the secrecy and allow her to move forward and get the help she needs. Something like this can only be concealed for so long before it becomes too much.
I think the writers are truly attempting to inspire young people and depict the realities of high school life today, but the show is ANYTHING but realistic. You'd think the people in charge of creating these episodes haven't met a single teenager in their entire life, and they're just going off their own preconceived notions. This isn't the way most teenagers are, and it's insulting to the people who aren't like Adrian, Grace, Jack, Ricky, or the rest of them. Of course, there may be audiences who are interpreting the show in a completely different light than I am, and I'd love to hear their thoughts, too. In my opinion, though, the writers need to pull themselves together quickly and learn how to get a little more original, or the series is barely going to last through the summer. The show could be a true winner if it found a way to reach a much wider range of people, not just angsty, self-obsessed teens who try to prove that sex is the only thing on high schoolers' minds these days. I can only give this episode 3 stars out of 10, and those 3 stars are solely for the solid performance from Shailene Woodley as Amy. Keep up the great work!
|
The Secret Life of the American Teenager Avg Score: 7.57 Total Ratings: 472 Total Reviews: 37 Users who agree: 3 |
With the surprising success of the 2008 Oscar-caliber film "Juno," the issues of sex, teen pregnancy, and high school angst are becoming more and more common with the media. Because of the obvious cliches involved, however, these are difficult topics to portray on screen, and if you're going to attempt it, you have to know what you're doing. You have to do it right, and part of that means being as creative as possible. The reason "Juno" did so well is because the title character was this unique, well-written, and completely unconventional 16-year-old girl who did her own thing, and the script found a way to go beyond just the same old "pregnant teenager" angle. I have respect for series creator Brenda Hampton, and I think she did a great job (for the most part) with her previous drama "7th Heaven," but if you think back to that show's first season or two, the writing was genuinely good and interesting, and audiences of all ages could connect with it in some way. I don't see the same quality in "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." The show wants to shed light on a taboo topic that isn't all that taboo these days, but most of the acting is wooden, the characters are shamelessly cliched, and the writers are trying to deal with too many characters and situations at one time. The one character I like is Amy (played by the charming and likable Shailene Woodley), but as much as the commercials try to convey her as the heart of it all, she is only a small part of the episodes. I hope that changes once her dirty secret is out.
The character of Grace is just a typical goody two shoes who isn't as innocent as she pretends to be, and her boyfriend's "Hell no, I don't listen to my parents" attitude isn't exactly the greatest example to be sending to young people. Then there's that Adrian girl, who referred to her love interest as her "bed buddy" in the most recent episode! Are you kidding me??? Some people may believe that this is the kind of "real life issues" we are seeing with today's teens, but personally, I find it a little sick. Granted, kids this age are growing up in a much different and scarier world right now, but I have a hard time believing that this is a completely accurate interpretation. Overall, I agree with other reviewers in that the show has potential (you can't go wrong with talented actors like Molly Ringwald in the cast), but it's going to need a lot of work if it wants the same kind of success that "7th Heaven" had. That series lasted as long as it did because it started off with good writing and solid characters, and those are the things you need to get a new series on its feet. Cheesy, uninspired plot elements like "I'm a band geek who lost my virginity at band camp" are not going to cut it, and it's a stretch to say that a beautiful, sweet girl like Shailene Woodley's character is portraying that, but again, her role is the most interesting, and I also like the relationship between her and her sister. That should be emphasized more in future episodes.
I will continue watching to see if things improve, and I truly hope they do, because if the writers get their act together and give the show some direction by choosing smaller focuses, "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" may have a shot at sharing a message that's worth hearing. Teen pregnancy is a growing trend that needs to stop immediately, and if a show like this can help, then I'm all for it staying on the air.
|
Denise Richards: It's Complicated Avg Score: 7.00 Total Ratings: 34 Total Reviews: 11 |
Let me just start off by saying that I loathe reality television, and I agree that it is ruining the once-dignified world of Hollywood, where people had to show genuine talent and come up with truly substantial material in order to make it to the silver screen. Reality TV allows just about anyone to prance around with their kids in tow (if they have any), whine about the daily struggles that come with their celebrity status, and claim that they are working their butts off when, in truth, they're just donning the designer clothes and hamming it up for the camera. Yes, it is a shame that ridiculous romps like "Living Lohan" and "The Hills" are taking the place of real, legitimately written shows that people used to take time to develop. Yes, I have spent years refusing to watch anything with the word "reality" in the title, but I can't help being interested in Denise Richards' show. I was channel surfing one night and came across it, and I couldn't believe I was watching it, but again, some reason, I was interested.
At first glance, Denise really does seem like a sincere, thoughtful, and down-to-earth woman who loves her kids, is trying to bond more closely with her now-widowed father, and is fighting to dodge the brutal things that are being said about her by the press. At first glance, it seems that way. But looks can be deceiving, I guess. I really don't know a thing about Denise and am not going to pretend that I do, but I know that reality TV is a chance for them to portray themselves exactly the way they want to be seen. Those cameras can cut, edit, and elaborate upon anything they want, and in retrospect, I'm not so sure we're seeing her as she really and truly is. Granted, Charlie Sheen is no saint, but I don't think she is either. Denise APPEARS likable, and as you watch, part of you feels that she's just a normal person, but you never really know for sure.
It is lighthearted and easy to watch. Denise is not a complete witch of a person, and despite what may or may not be true about her, I don't think she's had it easy at all. My only big problem with it is that Denise keeps saying that she loves being a mom and wants to be there for them, but everyone around her keeps saying there is something wrong with the fact that she is choosing to build a playhouse for them instead of "going out and having fun with her friends." I mean, come on. Her two daughters are very young right now, three and four years old, to be exact, and she's never going to have this time with them again. Ten years down the road, when they're teenagers, she's going to miss having her sweet little girls around. It's my opinion that if you're a mother who is all about your "me time," then there's a problem. Part of the problem with our world in general is that some people think it's wrong to let your children become your life. Denise should realize that yes, she is a mommy right now, and this is an important time with her girls that she can never get back. She shouldn't be ashamed to be giving her entire self to them, and it's unfortunate that instead of helping her see that, Denise's therapist and "friends" are encouraging her to get out, go pole-dancing, and get drunk in the evenings. Give me a break. And as another reviewer said here, the whole "teddy bear" thing in one of the first few episodes was a sweet thing to do for Sami and Lola, to help keep a piece of their grandmother in their hearts, but when it was done in front of a bunch of cameras, it cheapened it.
The thing is, the show's ratings have apparently dropped between episodes 1 and 4, and now I have a feeling that Denise is going to try grabbing back some of those ratings by pushing to have her kids in more than just 10% of each episode. Hey, if nothing else, a pair of cute, smiling kids can be good for ratings. You can bet that she will also bring the subject of her ex-husband into the fold for sympathy reasons. I don't know how much longer I'll be tuning in, but those two little girls sure are adorable, and even if it is just partly fictional TV, I've seen things that are a hundred times more grating on the nerves than this. Why am I even watching this? I don't know. Would you believe me if I said that "it's complicated?"
|
Miley Cyrus Avg Score: 9.06 Total Ratings: 822 Total Reviews: 207 Users who agree: 1 |
As an early childhood teacher, it's tough not to walk into a school and see a bunch of pint-sized "Hannah Montana" wannabes walking down the halls with their trendy Hannah Montana hairdos, T-shirts, notebooks, and more. To Miley's credit, she has built an absolutely phenomenal empire with her television show, concert tickets, and the merchandise being sold as a promoting device. She truly is a "one in a million" success story, but then again, with the world we live in, you can bet that in the future, they'll probably be taking hundreds of young girls like Miley and molding them into overnight superstars like never before. It's the kind of thing that little girls love to eat right up, and agents and producers know that if they start Miley out with a squeaky clean image and "girl power, be whatever you want to be if you keep trying" song lyrics, they can get away with it and maybe even start winning over many of the moms, too.
One thing is for sure: Miley is growing up in an extremely adult world, and as a result, she's going to have her work cut out for her if she wants to keep what she's got. We've seen former talents like Britney and Lindsay essentially throw it all away by making foolish mistakes, and I genuinely hope that doesn't happen to Miley. She's very young, and she has a fighting chance, but she's gonna have to work to maintain that chance. It's too bad that her father Billy Ray is turning out to be less than the "ultimate dad" that he was originally perceived as, but I guess you can't believe everything you hear. In either case, I hope he straightens out too and helps his daughter keep going strong. Sure, the "Hannah Montana" phenom will wear thin, and this current American obsession will come and go like many others in the past. Look at how Hilary Duff's "Lizzie McGuire" run burst onto the scene, ran its relatively short course, and came to be replaced by new teenager Miley Cyrus and her similarly plotted show. It's just the way it is. Fortunately, Hilary seems to have turned out fairly well (much better than most of her contemporaries), and if Miley continues working to keep her head screwed on tight, she too can be respected for years down the road, and a good example like that would REALLY be something that our world could use right now.
Profile
Last online Jul 24, 2008 9:14 pm PT
Member since Sep 22, 2006
Profile views: 2462 (+ 17 new)
| Send Message | |
| Report Abuse | |
Stats
Rank: Commander in Chief
Forum Posts: 279
|
Submissions Accepted: 8,735 Pending: 3 Denied: 277 Total: 9,015 |
Reviews Shows: 3 Episodes: 26 People: 2 Total: 31 |
Comedy 8: 42.1%
Children 2: 10.5%
Soap 1: 5.3%
About Me
