Written by HIH Houseguest, Caleb Bacon.

WordSpy.com defines “appointment television” as “television programming for which one sets aside time to watch, either live or on videotape.”

I blame HBO.

One day, our nation’s elites (they say: “cinemaphiles”) had their own Must See TV. NBC’s Thursday Night lineup became simply pedestrian compared to Sunday Nights on HBO where shows like The Sopranos and Six Feet Under looked, sounded, and watched like film.

Weekly appointments were made by the affluent and hundred-aires alike to gather around the ole’ idiot box. I was one of them. Then came the blow-up of TiVo, DVR, Hulu, and even (gasp!) Torrents. Appointment television became less of… well, an appointment.

Then came the second season of Party Down.

Party Down was a show whose first season had been chicken soup in DVD-form on an overcast Los Angeles day where I was under the weather. Sunset Boulevard billboards suggested the second season’s premier was shortly after. I knew I wasn’t waiting a year for DVD set and I certainly wasn’t in the 0.003% of Americans with Starz (even if I do have it, it’s probably impossibly buried somewhere between 584 and 1,483b.)

I downloaded that second season premier on the very night of its release, thanks to a Starz partnership with Netflix, whose instant watch option did the trick and quick.

(While Netflix Watch technically streams content, “appointment stream” sounds a little too pervy, even for me.)

My appointment book featured a thirty-minute block on Friday nights spent with a group of showbiz up-and-comers and near-misses who paid rent via civilian employment as event caterers. Ten Fridays were spent appointment downloading.

I loved those five total hours with Henry Pollard (Adam Scott, Step Brothers’ wonderfully douchetastic Derek) Ron Donald (The State’s Ken Marino,) Kyle (Ryan Hansen,) Roman (Freak and Geek Martin Starr,) Henry’s love interest Casey (Lizzy Caplan, recently topless on True Blood,) and newcomer Lydia (Megan Mullally.)

As a writer in Hollywood, I typically loathe the dramaticization of youngsters trying to make it in Tinseltown. (I also hate people who say “Tinseltown.”) It’s a lazy premise that bores me and exposes a lack of creative imagination. Party Down was nothing like that — it was smart, had heart, great writing, great characters, and a strong assault of weekly guests.

Unfortunately, Starz recently announced that weren’t picking up (read: canceling.)

the low-rated yet critically acclaimed Party Down for a third season.

Looks like I have to cancel an appointment.

Caleb Bacon is a staff writer for LAist, and eventual screenwriter who co-hosts the weekly men’s interest comedy podcast, The Gentlemen’s Club. He lives in Los Angeles and writes his bios in the third person (but not Tweets.)

http://calebbacon.com

http://www.gentlemensclubpodcast.com/

http://twitter.com/thecalebbacon

Eating fresh cut watermelon, the smell of charcoal burning, drinking out of a big glass bottle of Coca Cola, sliding on a  Slip-n-Slide and bringing out the brightly colored box of Otter Pops to all my friends. That was summertime in the 70’s.

It was great fun deciding which Otter Pop to choose. There was Alexander the Grape, Little Orphan Orange, Sir Isaac Lime, Louie-Bloo Raspberry, Strawberry Short Kook, and Poncho Punch. Those fun frozen treats are still sold today and they have a fun cool website for the kiddos. Click here to check it out.

Looks like Otter Pops aren’t just refreshing and fun to eat, they’re also a source of creative inspiration.

Bryan Cranston from Breaking Bad shares Otter Pops and a head freeze with Jimmy Kimmel:

Ode to an Otter Pop

Otter Pops LIVE

Otter Pop Song

What was/is your favorite Otter Pop flavor?

Written by HIH Houseguest Lizzy Cline

I caught up with Holt at the young stage play, “Love like a Hun” in Hollywood. The ‘test run’ was a great concept and reminiscent of theatre in Los Angeles before “politically correct” became the norm. (See review below) The Hun is looking for independent support and investors, interested parties can contact Holt on facebook. Get to know one of Hollywood’s emerging stars Mr. Holt Boggs. You can see Holt right now in The Prodigy currently playing on Starz and Encore.

Click here for more info:

Review of “Love Like a Hun”:

What happens when you believe in modern progress? The thought presents itself besides the question, what happens when you get what you thought you wanted? This is the situation that Joe finds himself in during the stage play of “Love like A Hun.” The script addresses the preconceived notions of marriage and social standing prejudices in today’s society. Joe, portrayed by Holt Boggs, thinks he is control over every part of his life at work and at home. When he loses control over his own desire for “progress”, a circle of life’s clichés follow. Holt pulls along the dialog like the tourbillion in a clock with his passion and honesty to the character and story. A hint of humor, Holt doesn’t skip a beat as he is asked, “Where is your wife from again?” “Hell, she’s from Hell.” The counter to Joe is Atilla, Frank Gangarossa, who brings about a bit of dark drive to the stage with his direct approach to the character itself. Mixed in with the comedic timing of Holgar Moncada as Daniel, there were plenty of laughs and enjoyable action scenes that brought about an afternoon well spent. True to the stereotypes and surface views in today’s world, the writer and director of this piece has successfully approached topics that still seems to be taboo in most circles.

Holt Boggs official site: www.HoltBoggs.com

Click here for Holt Boggs Facebook Page.

Click here for Holt Boggs at IMDb.com.

To learn more about writer and HIH Houseguest, Lizzy Cline visit her Facebook page,  Click here

Visit joedator.com  to find out more about the cartoonist/writer that brought us BORIS.

He’s also a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine. Click here  to see his work.

I clicked on a few news links this week that explained a dangerous new trend in eyewear. We’re not talking glasses here but custom contacts that give eyes an Anime/Manga style.

These contacts are supposed to be unsafe, unsanitary and from what I’ve read you can only get them via the internet. Women of all ages are purchasing these things but its teens that are said to be hooked, changing them daily like earrings or handbags.

The fact that people are trying to alter their irises and pupils to look like cartoon characters is new to me. If it’s also new to you, the question you might be asking is… who came up with this idea?

Much of the media is pointing the finger at singer/entertainer Lady Gaga and the following video for “Bad Romance”. According to reports Lady Gaga’s Anime inspired look was digitally enhanced. We know better than to point fingers at any one person. So it goes in pop culture, life imitates art.

I’m a 40 year old housewife so its probably no surprise that I’m not wearing Anime Eyes while I type this up. I’ve never been one for eye enhancement beyond makeup. Even the trend towards longer, thicker, caterpillar-like lashes seems a bit wacky to me.

Remember the late 80’s, early 90’s when colored contacts were the big rage? I had friends that turned their deep brown eyes teal blue, and some went from light blue to saturated purple. The idea gave new meaning to the Crystal Gale song, “Don’t It Make my Brown Eyes Blue”.

Then there were the 8-ball, smiley face, planet earth contacts that thankfully went out of style quickly. Who knows what eye accessory will be in fashion in the next decade? Any ideas?

Instead of having Anime/Manga eyes, I’d rather draw them. Check out this video by Mark Crilley, creator of Miki Falls, teaching us How to Draw a Manga Eye via YouTube:

So what’s your take on Anime Eyes? Would you give them a look-see?

HIH Houseguest, Randy Jo Stewart brings us the following post. You can find out more about Randy Jo, a.k.a. The Halfass Housewife by visiting her group on Facebook, click here.

Being the Half Ass House Wife that I am (putting the ME in Mediocre) I decided a year ago to venture out and expand my repertoire. I have been doing some extra work on TV shows, movies and even a video game promo. It’s been a lot of fun but the best of all happened a month or so ago. I was on set for a TV show and they announced who the guest star of the episode was: John Schneider. Did I hear that right? The John Schneider? As in Bo Duke  from the Dukes of Hazzard? Looking around at the other extras in the holding room I soon realized only about half knew who he was. Granted, most of the extras were at least ten years younger than me but come on people. It’s Bo Duke!

Let me explain something right here, right now. Bo Duke was my very first crush. I can recall fantasizing about him pulling up in the General Lee and running out of gas in front of our house and having to stay the night. He would come in and eat dinner with us, totally ignore my A-hole big brother, marvel at my beauty and help me convince my dad to let us sleep in my tree house. That’s about as far as I got with the fantasy. I was five. I even wrote him a fan letter and at the bottom drew a picture of the General Lee. My brother got a hold of it and asked why I drew a picture of a block of cheese on it, see, like I said he was an A-hole. So I never sent the letter.

These memories came flooding back as I was led on set and positioned to look like a patron at a country western bar. Then HE walked in, not only did he walk in, he walked right by me. The fake beer I was holding shook and threatened to spill. He has aged beautifully. Tall, fit, handsome and still has a full head of blonde bouncy curls (curls I fantasized about cutting a piece from and eating in front of him and saying “Now we are one!” but thought better of).

I did my best to play it cool whenever he was around. There came a time when I was in a booth behind him in a scene and he walks right by, brushing my thigh with his leg (I like to think he did it on purpose) and I wanted to declare “Um, Mr. Schneider, you just brushed my thigh with your powerful, masculine body…pretty sure I’m pregnant now. I just know our baby will be beautiful.”

Once again I was able to keep my cool, but I was beginning to waver.

It was a twelve hour work day and I was booked to work the next two. I found myself newly energized just knowing I’d get a chance to be in the presence of Bo Duke…oops I mean John Schneider. The last day on set only ten extras were requested and I was one. I got to get up close and personal with Mr. Schneider and every time I breathed as deep as possible as if trying to steal his soul, when asked by another extra what I was doing I lied and said, “I have asthma and have to do breathing exercises to strengthen my lungs.” The glint in John’s eyes told me he knew what was up. I bet he gets sniffed like that all the time. He smells like soap, a hint of cigarettes and kind of a woodsy… my heart races just thinking of it right now.

I wish I could tell you after a brief conversation he declared his undying love for me and we drove off in the General Lee into the sunset but that would be a HUGE lie and also would piss my husband off. What I can say is Bo Duke (just going to call him this FOREVER) did talk to me, and I quote, “You having fun darling?”

OK, Ok, I don’t know for sure he used the word “darling” but he could have. My response was, “Uh, yeah, (deep breath)” and that was it.

Relaying my star struck experience to my eleven year old daughter I was disappointed with her response. Maybe it’s because my friends who I had told were at one time or another either in love with Bo or Luke and a couple even Daisy and were impressed. My eleven year old looked at me and said, “Gross, Mom. Isn’t he like old?”

I said “No, No, not at all and for your information he looks better now than ever. Me having a crush on him as a girl and getting to meet him now is the same as if you get to meet Robert Pattinson in twenty five years.”

The look on her face was one of shock and confusion. After reassuring me that I was wrong she quietly secured herself in her room, her Robert Pattinson clad room, to do some deep thinking I hoped. The next morning she and I went to a local garage sale where she found me a “John Schneider Greatest Hits” record. It was her way of a peace offering and also I think the universe saying Bo will forever be linked in my heart, only the fantasies are WAY better now.

Find out what John Schneider is up to these days, visit his official site: http://www.johnschneideronline.com

Click here for info about Dukes of Hazzard on DVD.