Best of the BEST: A Look Back at BEST Blog’s First 100

100 Posts on BEST Blog. Can you believe it?

I have been watching my WordPress dashboard closely the past few days because with every post that I published I moved closer to the triple digits. And, it just so happens this is my 100th Post. Since starting BEST Blog as the Blog of Brian Tuft in September of 2009 I have published 100 blog entries about all sorts of my favorite things. Fashion’s Night Out, One Direction and “Glee” have all gotten their own posts. I thought in honor of this milestone I would share what the top five posts are in terms of traffic, response and reaction.

Karine Vanase and I on the set of “Pan Am”.

The number four and five posts are the blogs detailing my visits to the “Pan Am” set. Last week, the news hit the web that the show had been cancelled by ABC. But, I don’t know how because the show has been a gold mine for me in terms of traffic. It seems that web surfers could not get enough of the stewardess centered drama, even visiting my blog to hear some behind the scene scoop and find out what the stars are like in real life. My third biggest post of all time is a much more recent one, where I detailed who I would cast in “the Hunger Games” sequel “Catching Fire”. I picked Colton Haynes and Mia Wasikowska as Finnick and Johanna. But, obviously my pull at Lionsgate is minimal, even if the official “Hunger Games” account follows me on twitter. The second most successful blog is my first post about “Pan Am” where I listed the reasons why I loved the series and why I thought my readers should give it a shot. Obviously it would seem like it fell on deaf ears since the series was cancelled. But, the entry drew and still draws steady traffic to my little site. It should also be noted that on the list of top search engine terms that bring people to my blog, Pan Am, Karine Vanasse and Colette all rank highly.

Trevor Donovan star of 90210, dreamboat, gay rights supporter and blog traffic magnet with me last year.

My top post of all time is one of my earliest posts but still one of the most popular ones I’ve ever published. In January of 2010 I posted about 90210′s newest cast member Trevor Donovan’s Teddy Montgomery. At this point Teddy was still a home wrecking ass wipe who was pretty much loathed by everyone until the end of the season where he was sweet to Silver as her mother died. In the time since that post went up the character came out of the closet as a gay man who hid behind womanizing ways to keep the truth a secret. This development made Donovan a real life gay hero. He has been honored by countless gay advocacy groups and has become arguably the most famous part of the show. A few months ago, I went to the Ripple of Hope Awards Dinner and got to meet Trevor. I told him how much I enjoyed and appreciated his work on 90210 and his work off screen with the gay community. He was just as handsome in real life, and as nice as he was dreamy. And, while I have posted about many other dreamy men I have loved like Darren Criss, Josh Hutcherson, Matt Bomer and Max Greenfield who is tomorrow’s subject. I think its fitting that my biggest post of all time is the one about Trevor,my original BEST Blog crush. I look forward to seeing who else and what else I will post about, here’s hoping the next 100 posts are as much fun and as successful as the first. Thank you s much for reading, and I hope you will continue to see what the future holds for BEST Blog.

Same Old Song and Dance

The grand daddy of "Glee" and "Smash" - "Cop Rock".

There was a time when the idea of a musical television series was laughable. I was first taught all about how unlikely the idea of a successful musical television drama was when I watched VH1′s “I Love the 90′s”. They did a segment on the Emmy award winning “Cop Rock”, a police drama musical that ran for 11 episodes. That was all the way back in 1991, fast forward 18 years to 2009 and along comes “Glee”. My relationship with “Glee” has been long, difficult and complicated. I’ve watched all three seasons, never given up or walked away from it and my feelings have ranged from absolute love to absolute hatred. This season has been a roller coaster of feelings. From happiness when they introduced us to the deliciously evil Sebastian, to sad with the Karasovsky suicide episode, to WTF when they randomly brought in Ricky Martin for sweeps week. The most recent episode aired February 22nd, 2012. Another problem with being a “Glee” viewer? They tend to take long breaks. The other reason that date is important? It is three weeks after the premiere of NBC’s musical drama “Smash”.

The cast of the fabulous NBC hit "Smash".

“Smash” stars Debra Messing, Angelica Houston, Megan Hilty and the amazing Katharine McPhee. Set in New York it tells the story of a group of Broadway insiders as they bring a musical centered around Marilyn Monroe to Broadway. We are nine episodes in and it is the anti-Glee. It has aired every week, on the same night at the same time. The storyline has stayed constant, the episodes seem planned out, the characters do shocking things but they never seem out of character. And, most crazy of all? The intricate and beautifully staged musical numbers seem based in reality and relevant to the story line. Ask any Glee fan and they can tell you the storyline changes on a dime, the episodes seem to be thought up as cameras roll and the characters change so quickly viewers can get whiplash. Don’t even get me started on some of the unnecessary and unrealistic musical numbers I have sat through.

Diana Agron as Quinn, in the shocking cliff hanger set up.

“Glee” returns tonight after three months and after watching “Smash” these past few weeks, I am unsure if I could even tune back in. When Glee last aired, Rachel and Finn were getting married but their wedding was put on the back burner after Quinn got into an accident. The big cliff hanger is did Quinn die? It was a crazy moment and totally caught me off guard. So imagine my surprise when the promo for this coming episode is focused around Matt Bomer’s guest starring role, the Glee club going to an amusement park and Darren Criss covering “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera. Only Glee could take a shocking cliff hanger and bury it under a Christina Aguilera cover. I’m not saying I want them to give away what happens in the promo. But, how about a little “everyone has questions about the most shocking moment of last winter, this Tuesday the answers are revealed.”

Also I love Matt Bomer, more than the next person, but even I am a little perplexed as to what he is doing there. It seems his character Cooper Anderson’s return stirs something up in Blaine and that’s why he is singing “Fighter”. But, maybe the stunt casting could have waited until next week after we got the Quinn situation squared away? And, it’s not just Matt Bomer, my favorite Glee guest star Gwyneth’s return as Holly Holiday last season got old as well. Also, if Quinn does survive this crash shouldn’t she be singing the song about overcoming adversities? Teen pregnancy, being thrown off the Cheerios, her parents divorce, being dumped, her bad dye job and now the accident when she finally got it together? Quinn is the fighter Ryan Murphy, not Blaine. Sadly, my issues with “Glee” are not a new development. But, usually the promos can pull me back in even after a several month long absence. This time I am feeling like what’s the point?

Now, “Smash is not perfect”. The characters are almost too based in reality so they are not as much fun as some of the New Directions. My other concern is what is going to happen when and if “Bombshell: the Marilyn Musical” makes it to the stage? Other than that, the show is kind of wonderful. The show runners have to have watched “Glee” and listed all of it’s flaws and how to avoid them. Even their stunt casting, bringing in Uma Thurman as a Hollywood star to play Marilyn was done so expertly I’m not even mad about it. It will be interesting to see how the New Directions graduating will effect the ratings of both shows. Because, one of “Glee’s” most alluring elements is it’s stars. Even with all the WTF moments and frustrating plot holes the cast is able to sell you on the show thanks to their attempts to elevate the material and make up for the flaws.

I wonder how the creators, cast and crew of “Cop Rock” feel about this new wave of musical television. I haven’t seen a single episode of the drama but from what I saw on “I Love the 90′s” the show ended in a very cheeky fashion. Knowing that it’s end was looming, the final episode shot featured a scene where a great big fat lady was lowered into the court room singing the final number. Because, it’s not over until the fat lady sings. With it’s numerous plot issues, a majority of the cast graduating and a new and improved musical drama on the air “Glee” better find a way to work it out, and soon. Because, I don’t know about you but I can hear the fat lady warming up in the wings and from where I stand she sounds good.

Who’s Bad? … Sebastian is!

The opening and most inspired number of the episode.

On Wednesday morning, as I fired up my TiVo and began the Michael episode of Glee I was already underwhelmed. I thought about what songs they were going to be doing and I thought about my favorite Michael Jackson songs. Those would be Thriller, Man in the Mirror, The Way You Make Me Feel and Wanna Be Startin’ Something. Also I know its technically a Jackson 5 song but I Want You Back is my jam. I remember my mother playing it on repeat when she bought some Jackson 5 cassette during a day at the mall when I was little. The problem is, only one of these songs was performed, another was apparently shot but wound up on the cutting room floor. The others for the most part had already been performed on the show, which I think made this Michael extravaganza feel a little been there, moonwalked that.

The episode was not free of inspired moments though, Darren Criss leading Wanna Ba Startin’ Something was amazing, as was Naya Rivera facing off against our new villian Sebastian Smythe played by Grant Gustin in Smooth Criminal. We’ve been seeing Sebastian for a while now, but in this episode he took center stage in the eyes of this Glee viewer. Even with his cut solo. Ever since they softened her once in the first season, Sue Sylvester has been a watered down villain. And, as much as I love Jonathan Groff his Jesse St James is such a self obsessed diva he was never ever able to really do anything but ruffle the feathers of New Directions.

Finally, a high school aged gay character I can relate to.

Sebastian on the other hand? He is a man stealing, tie wearing, rock salt slushie tossing monster. And, I love it. While I draw the line short of throwing rock salt in other people’s eyes regardless of how annoying the little Marie Osmond doll faced troll might be. I feel he is my kindred spirit. From the first moment he arrived at the Lima Bean he immediately threw shade at Kurt’s questionable fashion choices, made a borderline racist quip about Santana’s family being in jail and then reestablished the Warblers as a singing gang of blazer wearing hell raisers. Plus I love that he is so equally matched with Santana, they went toe to toe with the put downs and its nice to see Santana get to use her acidic tongue and not seem like a bully. Then just when I thought I couldn’t love him any more he made a few elitist jokes about public schools. Obviously the qualities I see in Sebastian are not qualities I use to inflect harm on others, well not since high school anyway. Now that I am nearing 25 I attempt to keep them to myself. But, it is lovely to see a high school aged gay character I can relate to, even if he is the villain.

Here’s a little clip showing Sebastian (Grant Gustin) in action.

Now unfortunately Glee is not the dark comedy it was when it started out, it has become a wishy washy chase your dreams beyond the furthest rainbow after-school special. So I think we all know that the New Directions will take the high road all the way to glory and Sebastian will be served just desserts in some sort of an embarrassing, crushing defeat. But, until that episode airs he may give Darren Criss a run for his money in terms of my favorite warbler.

25 for 25 Project: Week One Update

Last week, I launched my new project on this blog. After developing the project over the month of December I knew I was excited about it. But, after viewing the traffic stats for that day, I saw that I wasn’t alone. The day I posted the list was the highest day of traffic, since I broke the news that Colette and Dean were going to get together on Pan Am back in November. Along with the hits, I got some great feedback and lots of offers and invitations to do things on the list with different friends. I am really excited about upcoming movie days, a group outing to see Mamma Mia! and getting everyone together for a day at Yankee Stadium. Aside from planning, I actually did a few things so let’s get to that.

On Monday, I invited Alex over to do some baking. Before she came over, I looked through Martha Stewart Cookies to pick a few recipes for us to make. While flipping though, I noticed how many cookies there were that no one in the house would ever eat. Like Rosemary & Thyme tea biscuits and Cashew Bars. So I made a quick decision to switch Bake My Way Through MS Cookies to Bake My Way Through MS Cupcakes. Alex came over, we caught and drank coffee while getting to work on our cupcakes. They came out really great. But, they didn’t seem dark enough to be Devil’s Food, plus the original Chocolate Ganache frosting came out like pudding. Oh and our plan to make a second cupcake went out the window when we had to run to the store to get some forgotten ingredients. Oh well, there’s a whole 15 months to bake the rest and from the reaction I got I’m off to a pretty delicious start.

After my day of baking with Alex, Sara and I had a date to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. While it has not been on my list as long as Mamma Mia! Sara and I have been discussing going to see it since Darren’s run had been announced. I have to say, How to Succeed is not the best musical I’ve ever seen. There’s only one really fantastic musical number and the story is kind of blah. But, I was impressed by Darren’s performance. I had been assured by friends and even strangers who had seen it that Darren’s charm and charisma is obvious and that his dance moves are down pat. But, no one had raves for his voice. Maybe it was because they saw it in his first week and he was still working it out because, I was impressed. His voice is not Broadway but it was really great.  When you factor in that he had less than a month to rehearse/train and that its his Broadway debut I think Darren did a fantastic job and cemented his status as the Glee star with the brightest post-McKinley future. Seeing this show by getting rush tickets for $30 has inspired me to take in other shows, not just Mamma Mia! My next pick? I’m going to continue my hot guys from TV on Broadway tour and see Hunter Parrish in Godspell.

I spent Thursday laying low, making dinner for the family, catching up on DVR shows and even having a movie screening. The first film to be crossed off my Best Picture list? Million Dollar Baby. I heard so much about Clint Eastwood’s multiple Oscar-winning film about a boxer, that I even knew how it ended. But, never got around to seeing it. To be honest, it wasn’t the film I was most interested in seeing but I had rented it from Netflix a million years ago and never returned it. I thought I had lost it, but recently found it while moving the furniture around for Christmas decorating. (I promise to return it to Netflix when I am done with it.) There is honestly nothing at all I can say about this film that hasn’t already been said. Only that I enjoyed it and am excited to pick my next Oscar winner. I saw All About Eve is on Netflix Instant View. You know, I love Bette Davis… Well I love that song about her eyes, that counts right?

How to Succeed in Meeting Darren Criss By Really Trying…

Darren as Blaine with the Warblers singing Teenage Dream.

There was a point, moments after the second episode of Glee’s second season aired when I thought there was no way the season would get better. The episode had been a Britney Spears tribute episode, and featured 5 of her signature songs. I have been a fan of Britney since the beginning, so to see the Glee kids perform her songs in her signature costumes in replica sets? There was no way it could better… until a few episodes later when Kurt goes and tours another school. Even before I saw the episode, I had heard Darren Criss’ rendition of Teenage Dream when it hit the internet. Even when some very strongly opinionated people I follow on Twitter threw their noses up and labeled it “kids bop sounding” I was in love. Then the visual? Seeing an openly gay teen, sing that song and those lyrics to another gay teen? Oh my God. It was my teenage dream. Forget skintight jeans, from that moment on my teenage dream wore a navy blue blazer.

Darren and I at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One.

I was lucky enough to meet Darren a few days after that episode aired, when he was invited to attend the New York Premiere of Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. Darren brought his mother as his date, and when I spotted him as he was exiting the after party I made a bee line to him. He was so nice, and so humble as he listened to me prattle on about how much I loved him. I glanced around as Glee’s newest star and singer of the biggest Glee cover to date went unnoticed by hundreds of Harry Potter fans, a TMZ cameraman and a Just Jared paparazzi. Not that I minded, we got more  face time with him. It allowed him to be patient with us as we got our camera struggles under control, he then introduced us to his mom and told my friends June, Ann and I that Deathly Hallows Pt 1 was dark… but awesome.

A fan's homemade Darren doll, in the background you'll notice the large crowd Darren attracted that morning.

It would be some time before Darren and I crossed paths again, I had never assumed it would as easy as our first encounter. In the time since I had first met him, he had become a regular on Glee, performed on a sold out tour with his Star Kid vehicle, become a scene stealer on the Glee tour and also landed the lead in a Broadway show. However, as I left the house the morning of January 5th, I had no idea what I was in for and just how crazy popular Darren had really become. When Sara, who loves Darren as much if not more than I do, and I arrived at the studio of Live with Kelly we were two of twelve people waiting for Darren. By the time Darren arrived at the studio at 8:30, there were what I estimate to be around 100 people. The crowd of people around us was pretty interesting, a lot of them had seen the show already, some had seen it more than once. The nice girls next to us, had traveled from the UK to see Darren debut on Broadway. At one point, the security from Live with Kelly had to procure barricades from down the block and set them up. I have never seen a crowd that needed to be contained outside this studio. And, I have been there when Tom Cruise, Shia LaBeouf, and the kids from Twilight were making appearances on the show. As I stood there surrounded by about a hundred people wrapped in Harry Potter scarves, holding playbills and wearing Darren’s signature pink sunglasses I had a bad feeling. I thought there was no way Darren was going to come outside to say hi.

Darren signing for his adoring public.

But, then like a Crissmas miracle the garage door opened and out walked Darren. Even though all of this change that surrounded him and him now being a superstar he was unchanged. Out he walked, smile on his face, sharpie in hand to greet his public. I drew the right straw, because I was legitimately the first person Darren came up to. I greeted him with “good morning Darren!” and he responded with a similar greeting and then remarked “wow, you look so spiffy” and then added “and I love your glasses, too.” What can I say? I am pretty stylish but its always great getting complimented from someone I admire. Darren signed all he could then did a few pictures, unfortunately my friend Sara was skipped in the chaos. Regardless, I was rather impressed at how long Darren was outside signing and granting requests.

Darren and I.

Now, as my photo illustrates I did succeed in meeting Darren. However, I did not succeed in getting a decent photo with him. You can’t see my spiffy outfit that Darren loved so much. But, I treasure it regardless. It is a symbol that even though Darren has been blessed with a whirlwind of success – becoming the star of Glee, his role on Broadway and an upcoming movie with Kristin Wigg he is still very appreciative of the people who support him. While I doubt I will ever have the same access to Darren as I did back in November 2010 it is great to know that he is still a nice guy. Sara and I are planning on rushing the show this week so I will report back on what I think of the show. I’ve heard many good things about Darren’s performance especially how well he nails the charm and dancing required for the role. I now know firsthand, Darren has a lot of charm.