Showing posts with label Orange is the New Black. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orange is the New Black. Show all posts

Wednesday 7 August 2019

Only in a parallel universe could Netflix kill The OA




Like every other fan of the wonderfully twisty, time travelling drama The OA I was  saddened to see the show being cancelled  after just two seasons by Netflix. 

The so-called champions of new shows and the amazing people who create them have cancelled a truly one of a kind show beloved by critics and fans in equal measure. And we are damn angry. 

What makes the cancellation such a bitter pill to swallow is that right now we need a show like The OA especially at a time when we've waved goodbye to another popular show with a stellar and diverse cast Orange is the New Black. 

Both shows are the perfect antidote to the big bad in the White House Donald Trump who tells people who were born in the USA to go back home (but would never dream of saying that to his non-US born wife because she's white). 

A man who is the pin up boy for the racist extremists like the racist coward who went on a shooting rampage in El Paso, a place that was apparently deliberately targeted because of its high Hispanic population. Or if you want to put it another way because it'd a high percentage of non-whites. 

A man who's cohorts seem to want to turn the land of the free into their own version of The Handmaid's Tale by cutting off women's rights to choose abortion. 



The OA has the kind of diverse cast that's under attack in the USA right now. The transgender community is represented by the wonderful Ian Alexander as Buck/Michelle Vu.

The Latino American community by gay boy genius French played brilliantly by Brandon Perea.

Disaffected youth by the extremely likeable Patrick Gibson who plays Steve. 



Phyllis Smith from The Office is handed the best role I've ever seen for a mature woman as Betty Broderick-Allen (or BBA for short).  The way she saves Steve from wayward teens camp (it looks more like parent sponsored kidnapping) still makes me smile. 



In the OA's world you can change the world and you don't do it with hate speech or bullets, you do it with love and some tai chi style movements. The way the gang stopped what would have been a mass school shooting was nothing short of genius. 

Maybe in another dimension The OA does still exist on Netflix and there's a season 3, then 4 and 5 on its way as was planned. I'll keep meeting my friends to do the movements just in case I can reunite Prairie and Homer once again. 

Until then The OA will continue to live in all of us privileged enough to watch it thanks to its amazing creators Brit Marling  and Zal Batmanglij.

Monday 5 February 2018

From Orange is the new black to Community - Let's potato chips- the fake brand tv shows love





Chances are if you've watched any American comedy you'll have seen the characters eating Let's potato chips.

Whether you've seen them being eaten in shows like Orange is the New Black, Arrested Development, The Middle, Ugly Betty, My Name is Earl or Community, you might have found yourself saying like I did: "Mmmm, they look nice - I fancy a bag."

It's when you start looking for Let's potato chips that you hit a rather large snag.

It might surprise you to know - because it sure surprised me - that they're a fake brand that are manufactured and sold by a company called ISS Prop House.



What's more, they don't come cheap and cost 40 dollars for a big bag and 20 dollars for a small bag. So, no spilling any of those lovely chips, TV show stars because they quite literally cost a packet.

Community is one show that used the chips frequently throughout the show’s six season (and hopefully a movie) run. The diva of a Dean is often seen eating them as is Abed and his pal Troy. Abed's favourite TV show also features Let's potato chips.



In The Middle siblings Axl and Sue Heck even share a bag. Well, kinda. Axl's not the sharing type.



As well as Let's potato chips, creators ISS Prop House also have a huge collection of props as well as doing a large range of snacks and drinks like Henry's chocolate bars, Hooskerdoo cookies, Tit For Tat bars and Rocky Road ice cream among others.

You can read more about Independent Studio Services and the props they offer here

According to their site, Let's potato chips come in 3 different flavours and are available for when TV show makers want their actors to get their snack on.

Note - The copyright for Let's potato chips belongs to ISS.


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