Money for nothing

Magnet #488 - South Africa Taxi

Tonight's the premiere of NBC's The Philanthropist, which they premiered last night at the Paley Center, complete with a cast/production team panel (which I loved) and an exclusive afterparty (which of course I didn't go to).

I love going to these events at the Paley, because you just never know who is going to show up in the audience.

Last night's surprise was Sting. No. Seriously. Just walked right on by us. Here's something - we have no proof. No one has any pics of him (yet), and he didn't do the tiny little red carpet with the 'razzi corps. So now I'm second-guessing if it was him. (Of course, it was.) Other people were there as well - Julian Schnabel of Diving Bell/Butterfly fame, a ton of network execs, and Paley stakeholders. You know it's big when they reserve the entire center of the auditorium for special guests, and leave the riff-raff members to fend for themselves.

We screened the pilot of the show, which is based on the philanthropy of this real-life guy Bobby Sager who spends 10 months out of the year, striving to make real change in this world. And that's what James Purefoy's character does - he gets tired of the little that he can do with his money, and he goes out in the world to help people, really help them.

Not surprisingly, I'm totally on the fence about this show. I like James Purefoy a lot, but I'm not totally sold on his character, Teddy Rist - there's a smugness in Teddy that I don't like, but it will be interesting to see if they continue to have his character journey match his physical journeys. In other words, how much his character will grow with each new situation he helps with. To be honest, there's a part of me that wants to see if Teddy ends up wearing (with a suit) the funky lime green converse high-tops that Mr. Sager was wearing last night. Very Doctor Who-y. Hee.

But mostly, I had real issues with the VO flashback exposition...that's a function of the pilot, I know. So hopefully they move away from that format in the next seven episodes. (They have eight in the can.) It was fairly well written, and it did keep me entertained. Some of it was over the top and melodramatic, and some was a little teary.

But what I can't complain about was the absofreakin'lutely beautiful the location shooting is. That's why I picked this magnet my friend gave me, because when they needed Africa, they went to Africa - though bless him, Peter Horton thought he could make do with shooting Germany for Africa. Heh. But the location shoot added so much to the show, and I can't wait to see where they go next. The score was pretty good, and we were wondering if that's why Sting was there. (Yes, he was.)

Finally, it'll be interesting to see how this particular story (of a wealthy man giving away his money to people in need around the world) plays in today's current economic and political climate. What's more, it will be even more interesting to see if it can inspire John Q. Public to go out and make concrete baby steps toward a better world - which is part of what everyone associated with the project wants to have happen. (Besides wanting you to watch the show.)

Oh, let's face it. We all know I'm going to end up watching it, no matter how many critics pan it, or love it. It's summer. It's pretty. He's pretty.

So, yeah. Totally watching. Come. Join me.

eta:
OMG! I forgot the biggest, most relevant to my job, part of last night's pilot! The integration of bing.com for their global navigation - kinda like how Doctor Who closes in on Earth and zooms in? Yeah, just like it.

There's a part of me that thinks it was very cleverly done, because God help me, by the end of the episode, I actually waited for bing's logo to pop up in the corner.

Then, there's the other part of me that knows it was a blatant sell, and was annoyed by it.

Then, there was the other part of me that grudgingly and somewhat jealously applauded the terrific marketing team on both ends (NBC/show/agencies/bing) that brokered the deal.

Healthy insight in every light

Magnet #395 - Meerkats from Cape Town, South Africa

A friend of mine brought me back this magnet from her trip to South Africa. How funny is this Meerkat family!

Alas, I haven't watched Meerkat Manor, so all I can think of when I see this is Amy Adams in Junebug, when she said her favorite animal was the meerkat and that kid from the O.C. fighting with the VCR to record the show about them. Heh.

Speaking of cool animals, last night around 1:30-2, as we were wandering around the Innisbrook complex - we saw not one, but two (!) armadilloes! How freakin' cool is that? Honestly, I thought they were native to Texas, not Florida. Still. Innisbrook armadilloes! Neat!

But, the real reason I picked this magnet for today, is because as you may have seen yesterday, Retief Goosen of South Africa won the inaugural Transitions Championship. Congratulations!

So funny that I walked by you two days ago, and was like, hmmm, wonder if he's one of those golfers.

I know, I know. But I'm not a huge golf fan. I think you need at least a few people like that to work this sort of event. That way, you don't feel like you're missing out if you don't get to see any of the actual tournament.

Though, I'll be honest, from our perch in the corporate skybox on the 18th green, we watched yesterday's last few putts, and then trophy ceremony. That was pretty damn cool.

Anyway, yay, Goosen!

Oh! Before I forget. Below are many, many, many pictures from the Transitions Championship. It was a great two weeks, filled with insight to how this world works and doesn't work, the learning curves and fun times, and teamwork and strife, and fun Tournament crushes and yelling matches. Yep. All in a day's work.

In the end, we can step back and say that we lived the vision we concepted months ago, put on a fantabulous event, and we're looking forward to next March. After we all get a little bit of sleep. Heh.

Riding Shotgun with Ponch pictures
Transitions Championship pictures (mine)
Transitions Championship pictures (official)

Why did the Rhino cross the road?

Magnet #295 - Rhino Crossing, South Africa

It's been quite a week for magnet giving. Yay! I've been saying from the beginning that by my count, joy magnetism would have enough magnets to maintain it for at least two years. But, I never thought my magnet collection would grow exponentially!

Yay for cool magnets! This one was from a friend who just got home from South Africa. Thanks so much! Can't figure if it's for real or not - the actual crossing of a street by rhinos. Hah.

Anyway, I'm thinking this sign is what my sister should have seen when she went on one of her jaunts around Nepal.

Ya'll ever wish you'd paid attention more in school? Cuz there are certain animals around the globe that confuse me on where their natural habitats are.

Like tigers in Asia. And Africa.

Or elephants in Asia. And Africa.

Or like like rhinos in Asia. And Africa.

Huh. I'm seeing a trend. And now, I must go consult a map.

After a while, Crocodile

Magnet #180 - South Africa

Nope. Never been. I think I picked this up volunteering at a travel trade show, might have been in the swag bag or something.

A little late, but apparently, on Monday night, Khotso Mokoena of South Africa picked up their only medal so far...a silver in the Long Jump, for 8.24 meters (No, I haven't a clue on the conversion).

Here's cool (if you don't want to read the longest non-paragraphed article ever written): When he jumps, Mokoena, whose name means Crocodile, always wears a lucky glove, an open-fingered number...lined with a bit of crocodile skin.

Well, count yourselves lucky, had the Crocodile not won this medal, the accompanying blogpost to this magnet would have been about the (ever-so-lovely) Thorsten Kaye's Shark Attack 2, which was set in South Africa.

Yes. I know. You didn't even know there was a first. Let alone a second. (And there's a third...but John Barrowman swears he only did it for the money.)


eta:
I made a cutesy favicon for joy magnetism. If Blogger doesn't override it, it should show up on your url box, your tab, and your favorites. Gimme a shout if it doesn't show up for you. Of course, I won't be able to help out tech-wise, but still helpful to know. (And again, thanking goodness that my name's not Delores. Heh.)