entertainment Archives - Strange Daze Indeed

New Leap! Movie Dances Into Theatres August 30th!

July 19, 2017 By Debra Pearlstein Leave a Comment

Check out the brand NEW trailer from The Weinstein Company’s LEAP!, featuring Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit song from the soundtrack, “Cut To The Feeling.”

In LEAP! 11-year-old orphan, Félicie has one dream – to go to Paris and become a dancer. Her best friend Victor, an imaginative but exhausting boy with a passion for creating, has a dream of his own – to become a famous inventor. The two friends flee their orphanage in pursuit of their passions. But Félicie quickly learns that talent alone is not enough, but determined to succeed, Félicie finds her mentor in the tough and mysterious school custodian, Odette who, along with Victor’s encouraging friendship, help her reach for the stars.

This charming animated comedy will inspire the whole family! Parents, kids, anyone who has ever dreamed of following their heart will fall in love with LEAP!. The entire cast captures the spirit and humor of the story and the music will have you dancing all the way home!

Make sure to get your tickets early!

LEAP! opens in theaters nationwide on August 30th and stars Elle Fanning, Nat Wolff and Maddie Ziegler alongside Mel Brooks, Kate McKinnon and Carly Rae Jepsen.

#LeapMovie

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

This sponsored post is brought to you by The Weinstein Company and coordinated by Wendy’s Bloggers

Fall in love with Parenthood – Now on UPtv Starting 5/30!

May 30, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 23 Comments

“Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.” — Brad Henry

Every once in a while, a show comes along that brilliantly touches our hearts as well as our minds. Parenthood is that rare type of show and one of the best stories about family there is. Starting on May 20, Parenthood will launch on UPtv at 8 pm with episodes running through midnight.

Now is the time to catch this heartwarming show if you haven’t seen it, or, for those who have already fallen in love with the series, to re-visit Parenthood from the beginning.

This critically acclaimed drama follows the ups and downs of the Braverman family, starting with Zeek and Camille, the matriarch and patriarch. The four adult Braverman siblings – Adam, Sarah, Crosby and Julia share the joys, trials, heartbreaks and celebrations of parenthood.

#WelcometoParenthood #THIS

From my perspective, Adam (Peter Krause) is the more responsible brother. As the oldest, he’s had to be, but, that doesn’t necessarily mean he always wants to. Sarah (Lauren Graham), is the somewhat wild child, divorced with two kids and, as the saga begins, moving back home with her parents for financial reasons. Crosby (Dax Shepard) is the third child, striving to find his place in the world who gets an unexpected surprise in the premiere. Julia (Erika Christensen), the youngest child, is a competitive lawyer, and is as much by the book as Sarah is a free spirit.

Where this all becomes fascinating to me is how their personalities blend as they grow and the categories they fit in change and overlap. With all the kids and grandkids, this large family goes through a lot of heartache and change, but the one constant is them always being there for one another.

I fell in love with this show because it is so authentic and true to life, because it isn’t afraid to explore any issue, and because of the family camaraderie. With any up or down, they join forces to either celebrate or brainstorm a plan.

One of my favorite stories involves Adam and his wife Kristina’s son, Max, who starts the series at age 9. Diagnosed with Aspergers, his is not an easy road, but, his struggles and triumphs are moving and affect the family, just as everyone’s actions affect one another.

UPtv sent us a premiere watching kit for Parenthood which is really cool!

A tote bag, light blanket to snuggle on the couch, tissues, wineglass and popcorn!

And, my favorite of all, this hoodie to which they added my name. I love it because when you watch The Bravermans, you really become part of the family!

This is a show the whole family will love. There is plenty of humor mixed with the drama, wonderful stories and a stellar cast!

So grab your snack and beverage of choice and catch the premiere 5/30 at 8pm. If you want to binge watch, there will be five episodes Monday night. Check out the schedule on UPtv for more Parenthood!

Have you watched Parenthood? Who is your favorite character?

This post is brought to you by UPtv & The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

‘The Voice’ Returns Tonight! Catch the Premiere on NBC

February 23, 2015 By Debra Pearlstein 33 Comments

Season 8 of NBC’s singing competition, “The Voice”, returns tonight at 8pm EST.

The mix of judges includes Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Pharrell, and Christina Aguilera who has taken a few seasons off.

Though I enjoyed both Shakira and Gwen Stefani the past few seasons, I’m looking forward to seeing Christina again. She brings a fierce energy and passion that is exciting.

Will someone from Team Blake win yet again? Is it Pharrell’s time to shine? Will Adam return to his former glory or will Christina be the one who picks the victor?

I love discovering new artists and enjoy the dynamic between the coaches.

Here is a sneak preview from tonight’s show where the four judges rock out to “Are You Gonna Go My Way.” Now that’s not a group you see together often! Awesome chemistry.

Will you tune in? If you had to pick a coach, who would be your choice?

All photos courtesy of NBC.

TV Mania – Join me on Beamly this Summer!

June 10, 2014 By Debra Pearlstein 8 Comments

As the summer nears, there are a boatload of returning shows I can’t wait to see! I love grabbing a big glass of iced tea with lemon, and hanging out at Beamly, one of my favorite sites, to check out the latest news and gossip on my favorite programs. I enjoy visiting the myriad chat rooms to talk about my favorite shows with other fanatics! And, whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, Beamly is open 24/7! If you haven’t signed up yet, it just takes a minute to join.

I really love watching the shows with others in real time and comparing ideas and opinions on the happenings. Whether we’re rooting for our favorites to win on America’s Got Talent or peeking through our eyes at Hannibal, it’s so much fun gathering together in one big virtual community. Participate as much or as little as you want. Be at home. Put your feet up!

I hope you’ll follow me on Beamly and come visit this summer. You can find me right here. Just say hi and jump right in!

This summer, I’ll be chatting in my favorite vampire room with True Blood. I can’t wait to see what crazy misadventure is going to befall Sookie next and if Eric really burnt up last season! Now that would be a true tragedy! So much gorgeous Viking vampire reduced to ashes. But, remember, that’s not a given by any means!

You can also find me in So You Think You Can Dance. My mom started me in ballet at an early age and I loved it! I’m not ready to try out for the show just yet, but I enjoy watching and discovering brilliant performers. This show also has amazing choreography and I love voting each week!

For my guilty pleasure, you will find me in the Big Brother 16 room. Every summer, I have to see what shenanigans these random folks are up to. I surely wouldn’t last in that house with no tv, internet or phone and cameras everywhere! Can you imagine? Not to mention a house of wacked out strangers!

I’m always one who adores watching tv with others as I feel it amplifies the experience exponentially! Instead of waiting till after the show to call a friend and say, “Can you believe what happened!”, you can discuss it in real time with fans. No waiting! I find the camaraderie and the discussion both stimulating and relaxing.

Beamly plays an integral part in my Entertainment universe.

I can’t wait to see you there! Beamly me up, Scotty!

Beamly is THE 24/7 social and content network for TV and TV fans. Join me today in TV conversations and get the latest juice and gossip about your favorite shows!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beamly. The opinions and text are all mine.

Labor Day and a wonderful recipe for Peach Pie

May 11, 2014 By Debra Pearlstein 41 Comments

Have you seen Labor Day yet?

If you have, or even if you haven’t, you may have heard that a peach pie has a major role in this film!

Last weekend, I invited a good friend over to have coffee and my own Peach Pie and watch the movie on DVD.Though my pie did not turn out as perfect as the one in Labor Day, we had a great time! My friend loved the movie, especially the chemistry between the two main characters and the romance.

I found Labor Day to be a movie that illustrates how life can change in just a second. Each one of us has to decide for ourselves what chances to take, and oftentimes following your gut and your heart will take you places you never imagined or dreamed possible. Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin are excellent in this drama that is about life and love, and about coming of age for Henry, brilliantly played by Gattlin Griffith.

Each of the main characters in the movie undergoes a transformation. When it opens, Adele (Winslet) has been paralyzed with grief and depression over events in her life. Frank (Brolin), the stranger who enters Adele and Henry’s lives unexpectedly as he jumps out a hospital window to escape from prison has been leading an empty existence and Henry is struggling to understand adolescence and having to become an adult way too early.

I don’t want to spoil it for you as it’s now on DVD and you can check it out! I found it fascinating how just five days can change a life forever and a peach pie can be so much more than just dessert.

Speaking of peach pie, one of my favorite scenes is the “peach pie baking scene”. It’s a very sensual scene somewhat reminiscent of the pottery scene in Ghost, yet it has its own special “flavor”.

The recipe for the pie comes from author (of the book, Labor Day) Joyce Maynard’s mom, and Maynard taught Brolin and Winslet how to make that very same pie for Labor Day. The above photo shows Maynard (in the red sweater) sharing her recipe with Kate and Josh and the dialogue in the scene comes from her own special tips. To become confident for the scene, Brolin’s character, Frank, baked a pie every day on the set so it would be authentic. And it is!

For those who want to learn how to make the peach pie Josh Brolin made in Labor Day, the recipe follows:

Labor Day Peach Pie

Ingredients

3 pounds peaches
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Crisco vegetable shortening
1 stick plus 1 tablespoon chilled butter, cut into pieces
1/3 to 1/2 cup ice water
2 tablespoons Minute tapioca (plus 2 additional tbsp to stir into peaches)
1 beaten egg
1 tablespoon sugar

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the peaches, sugar, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Stir in 2 tbsp Minute Tapioca to help absorb juices. Let stand, stirring occasionally.
Preheat the oven to 400°. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, work in the shortening and 1 stick of butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the ice water over the flour mixture, stirring gently with a fork. Continue adding the water just until the dough holds together. Shape the dough into a ball and divide it into two discs, one slightly larger than the other.
Place the smaller disc on a sheet of waxed paper, and use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the dough into a 12-inch circle. If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, dust it lightly with more flour. Lay a 9- to 10-inch pie pan face down on top of the circle; flip the pan over and remove the paper. For the crust, on a sheet of waxed paper, roll out the other disc to form a 14-inch circle. Do not roll the dough more than necessary.
Sprinkle the tapioca on the bottom crust. Add the filling, mounding it in the center, and dot with 1 tablespoon butter. Lift the waxed paper with the remaining crust and flip it over the filling. Peel back waxed paper. Trim the edges of the crusts and pinch together the top and bottom crusts. Optional: Roll out the trimmings and cut into decorative shapes. Brush the pie with the egg, and arrange the shapes on the crust. Sprinkle with sugar. Poke fork holes or cut vents in the top crust. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

https://www.strangedazeindeed.com/2014/05/oflabordayandpeachpie.html

Enjoy!

Home Is Where the Snark Is – My Collaboration with Beamly

April 14, 2014 By Debra Pearlstein 8 Comments

While other kids were getting dirt in odd places in the sandbox or getting bruised in dodgeball, you could find me on the couch at home munching on my PB&J, watching Days Of Our Lives with Mom. To this day, I still watch that show and the shenanigans going on in Salem, Everywhere, USA.

You could even say I’m a bit of a tv freak. I get hives when I miss my favorite show and am inconsolable when my favorite is voted off the island. Speaking of Survivor, I’ve watched every season from back when Richard Hatch ran around naked and Sue Hawk ranted about “Rats and Snakes” to the current season when the Brains tribe in Brains, Brawn and Beauty turned out to have none!

Some of my favorite daydreams are outwitting everyone on Survivor or getting to tour the world on The Amazing Race, so it’s great fun to see others take on the adventure.

Though I don’t quite have the talent, I love watching hopefuls on The Voice compete for a chance to find their place in the music world. I’ve always loved the unique premise, with the Blind Auditions assuring that the voice is truly the deciding factor. I also come to check out the coaches, their finesse and their snark. Whether you’re Team Adam, Usher, Shakira or Blake, this show is better than any in its genre. Personally, I have a soft spot for the cowboy.

So what’s a TVPhile like me to do for great conversation and content? Just like Hannibal digesting his latest prey, I really need to ruminate over my favorite shows with other TV fanatics. That’s why I’m really excited to have discovered Beamly.

Beamly is my new companion, a multi-dimensional Social Network for TV lovers with personalized tv picks, news, buzz and chat about your favorite shows 24/7. Beamly helps you find programming that fits your interests and then allows you to chat it up with like-minded individuals. Shows have their own “rooms” where hundreds of people virtually meet.

I am collaborating with Beamly and am thrilled to be contributing to TV rooms over the next four weeks. You can find me in the Survivor, Voice and Days of Our Lives Rooms discussing all the latest shockers and happenings.

Beamly is available for mobile devices, including iPad, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10 and via the interwebz.

It’s incredibly easy to sign up so I hope you’ll come visit and chat with me at Beamly. See you there!

Beamly is THE 24 X 7 social and content network for TV and TV fans. Join me today in TV conversations and get the latest juice and gossip about your favorite shows!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Beamly. The opinions and text are all mine.