Author: Tabz

Tabz (aka Tabitha Grace Smith) is a omnivorous geek with a special love of television. She's a writer, social media strategist, and teacher. In her spare time she blogs over at Doctor Her (a Doctor Who blog) and runs Between the Lines Studios.

Love and Marriage on Smallville

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I expected, when I first watched Smallville, to only root for Lois Lane and Superman, but I admit that the more interesting relationship for me was between Chloe Sullivan and Clark Kent. Despite her non-canon-ness she turned to be more deep and fascinating. The friendship and unrequited love (and finally requited love and then friendship) made for interesting television. In the end Chloe became more than a misfit with a puppy crush, she became a strong, empathetic and selfless character.

The relationship is not all roses, but it’s resolved like good, strong relationships are. In the season 3 episode “Whisper” Clark and Chloe resolve their relationship after Clark discovers that Chloe has been helping Lionel Luthor uncover information about him in exchange for a job at the Daily Planet.

With the complete Smallville series in one collection it will be easy to rewatch their relationship from episode 1. I look forward to watching unfold all over again.

With the ‘Smallville: The Complete Series’ DVD, fans will be able to relive all of Clark Kent’s romantic encounters, from start to finish! With an Exclusive Daily Planet newspaper written by DC Comics that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show, the Smallville Complete Series is a must-have for all Smallville fans! http://amzn.to/mkjtv4

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for the Smallville DVD release.

Smallville: What’s Your Favorite Rivalry?

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When I first heard about Smallville, back before the first season ever aired I was really intrigued with the idea of exploring the infamous Superman/Lex Luthor rivalry. After all, it’s one of the best super-hero and super-villain pairings ever.

To date, I still think it’s one of the best explored relationship/rivalry on the Smallvile series. First, because Michael Rosenbaum, plays Lex to a tee. Second, because the writers didn’t make Lex a straight up evil villain from season 1. Lex Luthor is allowed to play the fine line between good and evil. Even though you ultimately know he’ll chose evil, the audience gets to see what choices led him to that path. Exactly what you’d want to see in an origins series like Smallville.

Finally, what really makes the tension between Clark and Lex wonderful is their beginning friendship that disintegrates into becoming each other’s mortal enemy. While not a unique story-telling method, it keeps the relationship between those two characters fresh and all the more painful.

Relive the epic battles and the iconic rivalries with the “Smallville: The Complete Series’ DVD!” Includes 62 discs, never before seen production art and behind the scenes photos from the set!

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for the Smallville DVD release.

Review of “Out of a Far Country”

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When I was in undergrad at Moody Bible Institute I met Christopher Yuan. I was pretty active on campus and worked in the library, so there were very few people I didn’t see on a daily basis. He was a couple years behind me, but always well-dressed, excited, and bursting with excitement. It wasn’t until the school paper gave me an assignment to interview Christopher that I really began to know him and he changed my world from that moment on.

So I was very excited to see that he had written a memoir, “Out of a Far Country,” which was released today. Written by Christopher and his mother, Angela, it is brash, bold, and intimately revealing. If you want that same world-changing experience that I had when I met Christopher this book is the way to get it.

“Out of a Far Country” is best described in it’s included study guide when it says “The story that is told in ‘Out of a Far Country’ is a true account of God’s seeking and saving two people who were lost (seek Lucke 19:10): a mother who was so distraught she had decided to kill herself, and a son whose pursuit of pleasure, money, and success led to arrest, prison, and a life-threatening illness. Both mother and son hit bottom, and at different times they both turned to God. The changes in their lives are nothing short of miraculous.”

The story that Christopher and Angela shared kept me turning the pages, I did not want to put it down. The similarities in their struggles even though they were at two very different places in their lives was compelling. Ultimately it’s a story of hope. Hope that there is something bigger than our problems, hope that we can change who we are (down to our very core) and be better people, hope that all of this is possible not in our own strength, but God’s.

I’d highly recommend this book to Christians, small groups, and those struggling with their depression, anxiety, struggling with their sexuality, or feeling like they are in a hope-less situation. Brutally honest, but ultimately healing this book is not to be missed.

Maroon 5 Does it in 24 Hours…

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Last week music history was made as fans from 139 countries across the world tuned in to watch and inspire Maroon 5 as they wrote and recorded a brand new track in just 24hrs at the Coca-Cola Music 24hr Session.

Today, “Is Anybody Out There”, the up-tempo track created at the session, is released for free download at www.cocacola.com/music. For the first 100,000 downloads, Coca-Cola will make a donation to support Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) in their work to provide access to safe drinking water  to communities in Africa.The band entered Metropolis studios in London at 5pm GMT on March 22 and worked around the clock to create the track using inspiration sent in by fans via the @Coca-Cola Twitter stream.

Over 350,000 views were logged on the live stream throughout the duration of the session as fans tuned in to watch the creative process unfold. Providing inspiration for the song, over 25,000 fans tweeted their thoughts and messages of support via @cocacola using #withMaroon5 to the band in the studio.

Commenting at the end of the 24hrs, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 said; “This has been an amazing and entirely unique experience. It was 24hrs of creativity, brought to you by Coca-Cola.  We’d like to thank all our fans for their Tweets of support, ideas and inspiration throughout a really productive and intense 24hrs.”

Music is the Soundtrack of My Life

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I learn so much about my life from music. Doesn’t matter the genre or even how “good” the song is, there are certain songs that are touch points to important moments in my life. So many songs have had a strange connection to motivating and inspiring me. Looking through my iPod or iTunes is almost like flipping through a scrapbook. There’s “Irish Hymn” by Kevin Max, a rallying cry for a friend of mine who was suffering depression. The lyrics, “This one’s for all you people, who hit the rock bottom but climbed it back up again,” gave her hope that my reassurances could not.

Then there’s “Wordplay” by Jason Mraz, a song that always rallies me to enjoy writing and remember what the real reason for writing is — the wordplay. In the song Jason sings, “are you prepared to take a dive into the deep end of my head?” Every time I say, “yes.. yes I am.”

Because of this it’s easy to see how the amazing songs on the Pretty Little Liars soundtrack can be part of the soundtrack of not only the characters on the TV show, but viewers as well. Of course, the immediate connection is the theme song, which brings back the show almost instantly.

For example Fay Wolf’s cover of The Outfield’s “Your Love” is the song played in the season’s 14th episode, “Careful What U Wish 4,” when Sean (Chuck Hittinger) breaks up with Hanna (Ashley Benson) at the dance for dancing with Lucas (Brendan Robinson). With lyrics like the haunting line, “I just wanna use your love tonight, I don’t wanna lose your love tonight.” it’s easy to see why this song can match perfectly the emotions of the scene and the experience of the viewers. (I should also point out that the cover by Fay Wolf is only available on the Pretty Little Liars sountrack and very popular). You can watch this video of Fay talking about the song:

Catch Pretty Little Liars Mondays 8/7c on ABC Family, and visit iTunes to preview songs and pick up a copy of the album here: http://bit.ly/e2S527.

I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack.

Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack

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The first CD I ever owned that was truly mine was a soundtrack to a TV show: Due South. Music and film have been tied together before there was even sound. It’s almost impossible to tear away a visual story from the music aspect. I’ve never thought of my favorite shows without thinking about the music behind the scenes. Like the episode of Buffy where Angel shows up to her prom after saying he wouldn’t then “Wild Horses” by The Sundays plays. Or when “Back in Black” plays when the Winchesters resolve to hunt down the thing that killed their mother in Supernatural. Music is inevitably tied to those emotions.

So it was no surprise how much I enjoyed the Pretty Little Liars soundtrack. If you don’t know the ABC teen drama the series follows the lives of four beautiful girls living in the town of Rosewood; they’re carrying a heavy secret about a friend who disappeared a year ago while trying to figure out who they are. The CD is a great collection of songs for fans and people who haven’t watched the show yet and it enhances the TV show — this isn’t your teen rock pop collection, it’s a smart collection of fantastic songs and artists you should know.

Before I get to the songs though, I have to say how great the CD was itself. Using the iconic promo picture of four main characters with muddy arms, legs and faces sets up the music perfectly. I also loved the shout out to the fans on the CD insert (what did they say? You’ll have to pick up the CD and see for yourself). It’s always great when TV shows recognize their fans as being the reason they’re still on the air.

The show’s theme song “Secret” by the Pierces is haunting, beautiful and is the perfect theme song for Pretty Little Liars. It starts off with the lyrics:

Got a secret, can you keep it?

Swear this one you’ll save,

better lock it, in your pocket,

taking this one to the grave………

Another great song on the track is Andrew Belle’s “All those Pretty Lights” (Andrew Belle’s music has also been on  hit TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, The Vampire Diaries and One Tree Hill ).

Catch Pretty Little Liars Mondays 8/7c on ABC Family, and visit iTunes to preview songs and pick up a copy of the album here: http://bit.ly/e2S527 .

“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote the Pretty Little Liars Soundtrack.”

Two Ways to Win Big from California Blooms

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California Blooms, the premiere retailer of eco-friendly, boutique-grown California roses, is offering two exciting opportunities to win BIG for your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day.

Starting February 1 – February 7, California Blooms has partnered with Soap Opera Digest, America’s #1 Soap magazine, to offer three lucky fans the chance to win roses from one of their favorite soap stars. Winners will receive a bouquet of two dozen stunning California Blooms roses along with a personal note from some of daytime’s biggest stars including – Kyle Lowder (CBS’s “Bold and the Beautiful”), Eric Martsolf (NBC’s “Days of our Lives”) or Scott Reeves (ABC’s “General Hospital”).

To enter, e-mail tellus@soapoperaweekly.com and put “Roses” in the subject line by Feb. 7, 2011. Please include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, date of birth and the color roses you would like. Visit www.soapoperadigest.com/blooms_giveaway.html for complete information.

Also, now through February 10, you can win a Year of Wine & Roses for your Valentine, while also supporting the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation by bidding on this fantastic online auction at Charity Buzz.com. Every month for a year, your valentine will receive a fresh, beautiful bouquet of 18 roses as well as a bottle of wine from Napa Valley’s Darms Lane Wine; perfect for romantic dinners all year round!

California Blooms roses are available in one-dozen, 18 rose or two-dozen rose bouquets starting at $39 as well as an optional vase (additional $8). Orders can be placed online at www.CaliforniaBlooms.com or via your iPhone/iPad with the FREE California Blooms App available at http://www.itunes.com/app/californiablooms.

Last Day to order for Valentine’s Day is Thursday, February 10.

O Magazine Discusses “What Was Your Big Break?”

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A story in the February issue of O Magazine profiles Meredith Vieira, Suze Orman, Tom Colicchio, Ellen DeGeneres, Barbara Walters and Holly Robinson Peete – they each share the opportunity that made their careers and changed their lives.

Here’s some of the stories:

Barbara Walters:
“I was a writer for the Today show when the so-called “Today Girl” was Maureen O’Sullivan, mother of Mia Farrow. She was a well regarded actress, but she couldn’t handle Today— the time cues, the hours. NBC needed a replacement for just 13 weeks, somebody they didn’t have to pay much—and there I was. And there I stayed for 13 years. Can you imagine? My whole career is made.”

Holly Robinson:
“When I auditioned for 21 Jump Street, I was fresh out of college, nervous, and broke. I drove an old Honda with bad brakes that made a horrible screeching sound, like Fred Flintstone at a stop sign. After the audition, just as I was starting my little Honda, the21 Jump Street producers walked into the parking lot. They heard that awful noise, looked at my car, looked at me, and I swear they thought, We have to give her the part because she’s got to get those brakes fixed! That afternoon I found out the role was mine.”

Suze Orman:
“My biggest break in life was losing all my money. I was working at a bakery in Berkeley, and my customers pooled $50,000 so I could open my own restaurant. I invested it at Merrill Lynch, where it was mismanaged; in four months, it was gone. I was devastated, but I had to rise to the occasion. So I learned all about finance and investing, went to Merrill Lynch’s training program, and became an executive there. Every loss leads you to a gain, and every no takes you hat much closer to a yes.”

Check out the full story in February issue of O Magazine.
Also check out OWN’s “Your OWN Show” that airs Fridays at 9 pm.

Dress Like Your Favorite White Collar Character with Gilt.com (1/19 at 12pm EST)

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USA, the #1 cable network, has partnered with Gilt Groupe (www.gilt.com), the exclusive online shopping destination, to celebrate the return of WHITE COLLAR on Tuesday, January 18 at 10/9c.  This first time partnership brings WHITE COLLAR fans and Gilt members together to shop customized sales for both women and men, inspired by the classic style and sensibility of WHITE COLLAR’S Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer), Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) and Elizabeth Burke (Tiffani Thiessen).  The sales are pegged to begin following the first new episode of WHITE COLLAR, it was announced today by Alexandra Shapiro, USA’s senior vice president, brand marketing and digital.

“Both Gilt Groupe and WHITE COLLAR embody a refined concept of style, so we’re excited to partner with them to launch new episodes of the show,” said Shapiro.  “Through this relationship, we can showcase the series’ iconic fashion and provide another platform for fans to engage with the WHITE COLLAR experience.”

The WHITE COLLAR Gilt limited-time event will be curated by the show’s season one and season two costume designer, Stephanie Maslansky, and will take place at Gilt.com/whitecollar on Wednesday, January 19, beginning at 12pmET and will last for 36 hours.  This sale will consist of four distinct sales.  There will be three sales that will consist of clothing and accessories inspired by the show’s popular characters.  One sale will be experiential through Gilt City, paying homage to New York City, where the show is based, where Gilt members and WHITE COLLAR fans will have the opportunity to dine at restaurants, visit bars and other NYC hotspots that encompass the WHITE COLLAR lifestyle.   Lastly, USA and Gilt are also giving away a limited quantity of free Brooks Brothers men and women’s white-collar shirts at noon ET on January 19.

“As television shows continue to inspire and influence consumers’ fashion and lifestyle purchases, Gilt is excited to partner with WHITE COLLAR and USA Network to create a unique shopping experience inspired by the characters of this popular show,” said Carl Sparks, president, Gilt Groupe.  “In partnering with Brooks Brothers and the show’s costume designer from season one and two, we’ve created a unique opportunity for the five million-plus viewers of WHITE COLLAR to act on the fashion and lifestyle inspirations in the show.”

The collaboration marks the first time Gilt Groupe has ever partnered with a television series.  As part of the promotion, WHITE COLLAR will be featured in Gilt MAN’s blog, the Gilt MANual: The Daily Guide to Permanent Style, through editorial content that will describe the style and vision behind each character.

Top-rated USA series WHITE COLLAR stars Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay as an unlikely duo of con artist and FBI agent working together to put away infamous and elusive criminals.  Shot entirely in and around New York City, the series also stars Willie Garson, Tiffani Thiessen, Marsha Thomason and Sharif Atkins.  WHITE COLLAR was created and is executive produced by Jeff Eastin and comes from Fox Television Studios.  Jeff King and Mark Goffman are co-executive producers.

For gallery and episodic photos of WHITE COLLAR, as well as all USA projects, please log on to the NBC Universal Media Village at http://www.nbcumv.com/.  For show information, including bios, episodes, synopses and loglines, and clips and promos, please log-on tohttp://www.usanetwork.com/press/whitecollar, password: characters.

Gilt Groupe is an innovative e-commerce company offering highly coveted products and experiences at insider prices. Each day, Gilt offers its members a new, curated selection of merchandise, including apparel, accessories and lifestyle products for women, men and children, home entertaining and decor, along with luxury travel packages and fantastic offers on local services and experiences. Most sales start at noon ET and last only 36 hours, making Gilt.com an addictive destination for aspirational shoppers from coast to coast.

USA Network is the #1 network in all of basic cable and is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes.  A division of NBC Universal, USA is the cable television leader in original series and home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, acquired television series and entertainment events. The award-winning USA website is located atwww.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.

The Visitors Have Returned…

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(Editor’s Note: This post contains spoilers for Season 2 of V)

V has returned in all of it’s lizard loving glory. The intense season finale from last season only propelled the recent season two opening episode to a stunning hour of television. Anna, having promised to leave at the end of last season, causes red, blood-looking rain to fall on the unwitting populace in a show of her anger over the 5th Column destroying her nest of warrior eggs.

Tensions from the first season continue including the palpable conflict between Anna and Erica as the play at being friends, but it’s easy to see both characters are at opposite sides of the Vs and humans. This is probably the most fascinating conflict to watch especially considering the double meaning in most of the or conversations.

Another fascinating plot idea is the lack of emotions the visitors have and the longer they hang around humans the more emotions they start to process. This was evident in the character of Ryan, who poses as a human and falls in love. This idea is carried into season two when Anna’s emotions cause problems both internally on the visitor ships, but also externally in her plot.

I highly encourage you to pick up season one on DVD at http://bit.ly/e6ABTG.

If you missed this season if V on ABC you can catch up on ABC’s website at http://abc.go.com/shows/v/index
And, of course, dont forget to watch V tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.