Gossip Game: S01E04 Recap

Ms. Drama, Kim Osorio, and Ciara win this episode.

I couldn't bring myself to care about the other women this episode. Vivian tells the world K Foxx slept with Maino, and K Foxx says this never happened. Who cares? Sharon Carpenter argues with JasFly because Sharon thinks she's the shit (she's done reporting for CNN, CBS, and BBC). Can someone tell me why Sharon's reporting for a hip-hop blog now? Makes no sense. Angela Yee is not present for the majority of the episode.

Meanwhile, Ms. Drama has a "quick kiki" with her friend Casey at his favorite gay bar. Who cares WTF they are talking about. They are essentially the only customers in a gay bar in NYC--which means it must be like 10am--and the bartender is only wearing his tightie yellow-ies. Pour up. Drank. Ms. Drama wins because she can just drank with her friend at 10am.

Kim Osorio wins because she doesn't have time to waste on this fucking reality show. She's clearly gotta get some filming in, but she has an important meeting with DJ Khaled. Solution? She tells JasFly to come in the car with her on the way to see DJ Khaled. First I thought JasFly was gonna tag along at the meeting, but it soon became evident that JasFly was just coming for the car ride. JasFly, I have to be in the car for like half an hour, and since I'm the editor of The Source, that's the only time I can schedule for you. OK? OKAYYY.

Ciara also wins because I actually remember her song, which was played during the episode. Remember Ciara? Whose last big hit was "1, 2 Step" featuring Missy Elliot back in 2004? Who is trying to have a comeback so is therefore on Nicki Minaj's latest album? Behold "Got Me Good," which apparently was released as a digital single last year:



Her style in the video is Janet Jackson meets early 00s Britney. The chorus also invites comparison to Khia's "My Neck, My Back" (and clearly loses).

Stopping all the moneyz

I think newspapers furloughed their photographers to show their solidarity with government employees.

Front page on the New York Times website.

Front page on the Washington Post website.

Oh, also, they are cutting a lot of research funding. Hey, remember when research was the best thing this country had going for it in terms of healthcare? Now it will just be expensive and old technology!

The Gossip Game Recap: S01E03

Sorry this recap is late; I was busy recovering from some pointless exam for grad school.

As heavily advertised in previous clips, Kim Osorio's husband asks if they can have a threesome. Kim says no, so Kino, being ever the asshole, decides to complain about it on a double date with Viv and her husband. Kim gets pretty embarrassed because they are not actual friends (in case you missed the memo, the whole point of this type of reality show is to throw together people who have never interacted/will not get along in order to see the drama that ensues). Kim later introduces Kino to an inflatable girlfriend to say that's the only kind of threesome he is going to get. She tells him the whole thing makes her feel insecure, and he (insincerely, IMO) apologizes, telling her she is all he needs in this world.

On the flip side, Sharon Carpenter refuses to date. When Angela Yee sets her up with some actor from the Wire (no, Sharon, you are not the only person who's "never seen an episode of the Wire," there's also me), she constantly checks her watch, and then walks out when he's not there after 15 minutes. She doesn't have time to spare from her job (this week, she's interviewing Biggie's daughter, Tianna Wallace), and he just wasted like an hour of her time. Punctuality is key. I can relate.

Ms. Drama decides she's going to completely change her image by taking photos for a gentlemen's magazine. She hosts an event for said photos. The only problem is, she doesn't come off as sexy, according to the new resident mean girls clique, Sharon Carpenter and Angela Yee. (Don't worry, I love Mean Girls.) One photo, which Angie dubs, "the stepping out one," is particularly un-sexy (see the photo @ 1:50 into the video):

The Gossip Game

This photo is so bad, it forces Angie and Sharon to wonder if Ms. Drama has ever had sex. It reminds me a bit of this moment from RuPaul's Drag Race:



However, Ms. Drama will not be made fun of at her event. She recaptures the spotlight when she gives a ridiculous speech, which includes gems such as, "People come in your life, and they go out with the wind. They are seasonal." Her speech is so entertaining, K Foxx comments on how entertaining it is, thus leaving us reeling in the meta-ness that is reality TV.

The episode ends with a verbal spat between Ms. Drama and JasFly. Ms. Drama concludes with a monologue, because she wanted to yell at JasFly, not argue with her.

GWU in the news.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/04/11/the-education-issue-george-washington-university-fights-its-rich-kid-reputation/

In response to this article, Shobs writes:

I think this is the best piece of reporting that the Washington Post has released since Watergate. 

since

this article hits the highlights-- the hole on 23rd street, urban tanning, New Jersey, VIP tables, luxury cars, GWorld, expensive parent-funded off-campus apartments, army of skanks.

Gossip Game: S01E02 Recap

Can a reality show perpetuate and address stereotypes? Can black women hold their own in the world of hip-hop despite being portrayed as stereotypically catty bitches?

First, K Foxx is the sole woman (out of a group of four) on the Hot 97 morning show. On air, her (male) boss implies that she got her job by sleeping around. K Foxx gets angry after the show, yelling at her boss, and calling him a "chauvinistic pig." She contends he's sullied her name when he knows that's not how she got her job, since he hired her. He contends that it was a joke in good fun, and that she is asking for special treatment because she is a woman. Oh yes, he went to that argument. Moral: women in hip-hop face sexism, while screaming at their boss!

I must say that this is something that has always pissed me off about morning shows. There is always a room full of dudes who all say annoying, sexist shit and get off with only a "come on, guys" from the token woman on the show. That is one reason why I loved "the Ladies Room," which was hosted by two (!!) women on the old Movin 92.5. Suffice it to say, that show was canceled. I guess the annoying, sexist shit sells better.

Second, Vivian and Ms. Drama continue their motiveless feud. They fight twice in public (once at Angela's bowling birthday party... yay for bowling parties!), and once in private. A reality show featuring professional black women is also featuring fighting. Two of the other women on the show say they were "embarrassed" by the fight (JasFly and Angela). Kim Osorio feels inclined to defend herself by saying that women in hip-hop generally have more credentials than men, because they had to work harder to get there. Moral: women in hip-hop get into fights, while having to constantly apologize for them!

In the episode, Kim Osorio beautifully sums up the conundrum of this show. She notes that the fight between Vivian and Ms. Drama at a public event is "unprofessional... but at the same time, I will say I am guilty of being entertained."

I'm going to Southern Italy this May

I immediately thought of Jay-Z's shout out to the Amalfi Coast in "Upgrade U." 



Jay-Z's reference is at 3:04.

Does this mean I'll be visiting Cuba next?

Lil Wayne in Nicki Minaj's "High School" Video

Everyone's mentioning the "steamy" sex scene, but nobody noticed he's rocking the hobo-chic look with the old man's fisher hat and nondescript, ill-fitting shirt.

Lil Wayne's fashion statement in Nicki Minaj's "High School" video.

Also, this video is pretty bad.