A Lesson for Bad Drivers

This is the latest entry on my life's list of near escapes.

After snagging some free tickets to the Vancouver Canucks game earlier this evening, I picked up my friend, Mel in a cab for a fun night of bawdy, bad-girl behavior. While exchanging quips in the back seat, I turned to see this car come out of his lane and ram into the side of our cab. While the impact was extremely loud, our very skilled driver managed to maneuver, minimizing the impact, and stop within inches of hitting a row of parked cars.

Once we stopped, we quickly surveyed each other for injuries. Confirming we were all fine, we got out of the car. The other driver and his passenger pulled over, got out of their car and started berating our driver for, get this, "not looking."

Yea, because driving straight in one lane can get a little tricky at times.

I decide to let the cab driver (let's call him Joe) deal with them. Five seconds later I changed my mind.

I couldn't help myself. Joe wasn't defending himself, so someone had to let these people know their bullshit wasn't going to get them very far. I understand that when you've done something incredibly preventable that endangers the lives of four other people that you may want to pass the guilt onto someone else. Being responsible for an accident is a really awful thing and I can understand if someone simply can't deal with the implications.

Having said that, these people didn't scale back the hostility but began getting more and more hysterical. It needed to stop. I walked up to them and took the only reasonable action I could: YELL REALLY LOUDLY AND WAVE MY FINGER IN THEIR FACE!

It needed to be done and since Joe was obviously distracted, probably trying to figure out how many days of work he was going to lose getting his car fixed, I figured I'd step in for the greater good and clarify the situation.

I made many valuable arguments that were clear, concise and included various re-enactments of how to shoulder-check and how to identify a douchebag (I gave them a mirror).

In the end, I have no idea how it turned out. We were late for the game and decided to walk the rest of the way so as not to miss the opening face-off. However, as a parting shot, I turned to Joe and said (very loudly for the benefit of all involved), "If you need me to explain to the authorities how these people nearly killed us or maimed us to the point of leading an utterly useless and unfulfilled existence, please give me a call."

Grey's Anatomy fires Brooke Smith (Erica Hahn)

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. That's the first thing that went through my mind when I heard that ABC had fired Brooke Smith (Erica Hahn). They were apparently uneasy with the lesbian relationship between Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Erica. This is such bullshit. I had a bit of a breakthrough with this character last week. In the episode she had this great scene where she declares she's gay. Here it is.



Sometimes these monologues can sound so trite but she pulled it off so well. "I'm so so so gay! I am extremely gay." This woman is having a freakin' life-altering epiphany and they aren't going to dignify her character with an ending?

I'm so pissed I could spit nails right now. I knew this was going to be a disappointing TV season with the dearth of interesting new shows this year. But now we have to contend with the decent programs (making a valiant effort at a comeback, btw) basically lays a big turd on our collective faces.

Shonda Rhimes issued this statement:

"Brooke Smith was obviously not fired for playing a lesbian. Clearly it's not an issue as we have a lesbian character on the show – Calliope Torres. Sara Ramirez is an incredible comedic and dramatic actress and we wanted to be able to play up her magic. Unfortunately, we did not find that the magic and chemistry with Brooke's character would sustain in the long run. The impact of the Callie/Erica relationship will be felt and played out in a story for Callie. I believe it belittles the relationship to simply replace Erica with 'another lesbian.' If you'll remember, Cristina mourned the loss of Burke for a full season."


Dear Shonda Rhimes,

F*%k you and the gurney you road in on.

1. I would say that it neither "clear" nor "obvious" as to why this character was let go in such a disgraceful manner.
2. You don't issue a statement about firing an actor by talking about all the actors EXCEPT THE ONE YOU FIRED!
3. If there were problems on the set and that is the reason she was let go, then just say, "Great actor, going in another direction." You had much nicer things to say about Isiah Washington and he said 'faggot' on live TV. Brooke Smith deserved better.
4. This show has been on a one-way slide to shitsville since you got greedy and tried to helm 2 primetime hour-long dramas. Well congratulations you're now responsible for two crap hours of tv a week instead of one good one.
5. Burke and Hahn were great characters. You almost lost me after Burke left but I stuck around because shows need loud-mouthed flawed female characters like Hahn. But you saddled her with a lesbian storyline that had no support from network brass and then don't even acknowledge her last episode? You could have done better with this one.
6. What's left? More of the same. Way to build on a mis-guided, boring season four with a gutless, disappointing start to season five.
7. If you make me hate Christina, I will write you hate mail for real.
8. Seriously!