The Toshis

My roommates and I have a cat named Toshi. He looks like this

Awwwww. There's my Toshi! He's so cuuuuute.

Those of you familiar with American Dad the cartoon know there is a character on the show named Toshi as well. He looks like this

 

Since I love my cat and I love comedy - even lame cartoons - I was totally psyched when I discovered this coincidence. So to recap:

 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/13P1f0Ni7paEAbId79zdBG15I1zjU7UfN9srnOhiqUqwTsuLxTZJchbGMIQ2s/edit?usp=sharing

 

 

 

Damn this shitty computer. 

Christy the Reporter Provides the Scoop on Bob's Burgers Live

While most people were home fixing dinner or watching the latest network singing competition, my pal and I were enjoying some of the best live entertainment I’ve ever experienced: Bob’s Burgers Live. If you are familiar with the show you are probably wondering how they could make an animated television show live. It was no ordinary performance, however. There was stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, a table read and finally a Q&A.

            The stars of Bob’s Burgers were all comedians in their own right before the show was created. If the names Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz. John Roberts or H. Jon Benjamin don’t mean anything to you I recommend looking up their stuff immediately. All of them are very talented. It’s rare to find a show that is rounded out with such great talent. These actors did not disappoint. Kristen Schaal regaled us with her fantasy ideal meeting with Tori Amos. Eugene Mirman shared his fan mail to Justin Bieber (“I put a $1 bill in my butt and I won’t remove it until we have an open and honest dialogue about religion!) and John Roberts did his trademark impressions. Roberts’ impression of his mom wound up being the basis for the character, Linda, whom he voices on Bob’s Burgers. Dan Mintz performed his observational, deadpan humor that did not fail to amuse us all. One joke that stands out: “If I were in a plane about to crash, I’d start taking away gay rights”.  Maybe you had to be there. Trust me though, it was hilarious.

 Jon Benjamin’s act was perhaps the most unorthodox. What started out as a rambling, narcissistic monologue about his comedic talent turned into a sketch where Bane from The Dark Knight Rises is discovered by Jon, sitting in the audience. Jon asked Bane about his visit to L.A. (to visit the financial markets and Bane’s homosexual brother) and Bane cited the coffee shop Intelligentsia as one of his favorite tourist attractions.

            The audience got a glimpse of the upcoming Christmas episode of Bob’s Burgers followed by a reading of the upcoming Thanksgiving episode. The latter was not read in its entirety so we’ll all be waiting until November to see what happens in the third act. It was so surreal seeing the actors voice their characters, especially Jon Roberts and Dan Mintz. Both actors are male and voice female characters.  I have to note that when Dan Mintz started his stand-up he had to try three times before people stopped laughing. I am pretty sure that the audience was imagining him as Tina, the awkward thirteen year old girl he brings to life in the cartoon. I think his voice will be forever linked in our minds to that female character.

            Unfortunately, Jon Benjamin proved somewhat rude in the Q&A session. Is this part of his charm? I don’t know. I felt as though some of the audience members left with their questions unanswered at best, insulted at worst. The short lived comedy central series “Jon Benjamin Has a Van” starring the authoritarian, self-centered Benjamin perhaps proves more autobiographical than most of us thought. On the bright side, we learned a few gems about the world of Bob’s Burgers. Bob’s favorite children are his girls, especially Louise, and Linda’s favorite is Gene closely followed by Tina. Also, the show takes place on the Jersey Shore. Here I was thinking it was Staten Island!

            I have to thank UCLA radio for the opportunity to see this fun show. Bruin Comedy and the UCLA radio promotions manager put in a lot of work for me to get these tickets and I just want to say I appreciate their effort very much. Due to their hard work hopefully there will be other great shows and lucky winners in the future.  I went to PaleyFest a few months ago and I can honestly say Bob’s Burgers Live, although similar, was much more entertaining. I had a great night seeing one of my favorite TV shows brought to life in my very favorite art form – comedy!  

Some things you should check out

People always ask me, "Christy, you know so much about life and culture what are some bands/comedians/foods/artists I should check out?"
This is not true. However, I had some friends over for some wine once and they said I was "classy".
The truth is all blogs are self indulgent to some degree so I will condense some of my favorite lifestyle tips in this post.

I think list format is preferrable, don't you think? Starting with most important...

FOOD
Anything Italian, French or Greek. I also enjoy Vietnamese food (which has a French influence often times).

Restaurants: Osteria Mama, Le Pain Quotidien, Balthazar's

COMEDY
I really enjoy witty, high brow comedy. I also like satirical, observational and physical comedy. It's great when these categories overlap.

Writers/performers: Tina Fey, Melissa McCarthy, Sarah Silverman, Amy Poehler, Dan Harmon, Louis C.K., Larry David, Moshe Kasher, Mindy Kaling and pretty much anyone on SNL.

Here is a picture of the genius Dan Harmon and me.

FILM
Comedies are of course the best form of entertainment you can find. I also watch anything nominated for an award.

Movies: E.T., The Other Guys, Dennis the Menace (1993), Hook, Angels in the Outfield, Superbad, Milk, Indiana Jones 1-3, Star Wars, Back to the Future 1, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Milo and Otis, Jurassic Park, Independence Day, etc.
...Can you tell I grew up in the 90's?

Directors: Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, Quentin Tarantino, Sophia Coppola, Nancy Meyers, the Coen brothers, Steven Spielberg, Gus Van Sant, Steven Soderbergh, etc.
Most films by these artists are worth a watch.

TELEVISION
Again, mainly comedies.

Shows: Community, Comedy Bang Bang, The Sarah Silverman Program, Saturday Night Live, Bob's Burgers, Parks and Recreation, Family Guy, Kids in the Hall, Flight of the Conchords, Mad Men, The Cleveland Show, Workaholics, Children's Hospital, Delocated, The Colbert Report

I gave you a lot of information to look into today. So, I will continue the condensed list of the finer points of an informed lifestyle in a subsequent post. Keep a look out for part deux (two)!

Pasta Estivo

I have been making this delicious Spring/Summer pasta dish for the past couple weeks. I love it so much I made it 3 times in that short span! I cannot claim full credit for the recipe. I don't know which magazine I got it from but I have a feeling I ripped it out of a magazine I found while I was helping middle-schoolers do an art project. It could've been from 1998. I don't know. Recent or not I have adapted the recipe just enough to call it my own.

Ingredients:
1 C. Whole wheat rotini
about 10 sun-dried tomatos (in a jar or bag)
fresh ricotta cheese
sliced olives
1-2 Tbsp. capers
3/4 C. cherry tomatos (halved)
1/4 C.olive oil
3-4 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Directions:
Boil water with a dash of salt. Add rotini. While the pasta is cooking add capers, sun-dried tomatos, vinegar and olive oil to a food processors (a blender will do in a pinch). Sometimes I add pepper and italian herbs. A little hot pasta water is good to thin out the dressing a bit.
After about 10 minutes the rotini should be done. Drain in collander. Run pasta under cold water while still in collander. You don't want piping hot pasta in this dish. Put cooled pasta in a medium sized salad bowl.
Pour dressing over rotini and mix thoroughly. Add most of the olives and most of the cherry tomatos and combine with pasta. Place the few remaining olives and tomatos on top for a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Put a dollop of ricotta (or more) on top of the pasta. Grind some pepper on top or italian herbs.

Oh Lordy. It is so good. I have a picture below. I didn't make it super fancy and presentable for this picture unfortunately, but I will do better in future.

Bon appetit!

A quick recipe for the flat broke

Wow. It's been a while since I've blogged. Sorry, no one! (That is precisely how many people read this.)
I have another recipe to share - the No dinero Huevos Rancheros:

Ingredients:
tortilla chips
salsa
eggs
black beans
olive oil/vegetable oil/butter

Coat a small frying pan with olive oil or the fat of your choice. Cook one or two (depending on your appetite or preference) eggs sunny side up. In the meantime put a handful of tortilla chips on a plate. Sprinkle with a serving of black beans. Spoon some salsa on top of your chips and beans. When your eggs are cooked (the yolk should be intact but still a little wobbly) slide them onto your chip melange.

Use a fork to eat since the yolk will ooze all over the chips. This dish is cheap, fairly healthy and quick to make. Perfect for anyone lazy and broke. I hope this recipe serves you well as it has me.