Lettuce Field Trip

An Evening with Brad Ellis

        Last week, Charlotte and I had the opportunity to go see Brad Ellis perform with the UMBC Wind Ensemble. For those of you who don't recognize the name, Brad played Brad the piano guy and was the accompanist for Glee, both on and off screen. At the concert we got to see him perform delovely and a song about the joys of Burbank. He also accompanied two of the vocalists from the college, one of whom sang Nothing from A Chorus Line. Following that was by far the funniest piece of the night, the same events told from Mr. Carp's point of view. A Chorus Line was one of my favorite shows in high school, and seeing the perspective of a teacher who has a student who refuses to participate in class was hilarious. Next was a piece composed by Brad himself, but before I talk about that, I want to mention the final piece, Rhapsody in Blue. This is a band standard, but Brad played it expertly. It was truly a joy to see how talented he is on piano, in a piece that really allowed him to show off. 

               
          The most enjoyable part of the evening was the world premiere of McMurphy's Reeder, for Oboe, Piano and Wind Ensemble, composed by Brad. I am an oboe player myself, so getting to see this was extra special. One of the things I desperately wanted in college was to play a jazzy oboe solo, since I think the expressiveness of the instrument lends itself well to the genre. The minute Trevor, the soloist, started playing blues and swing rhythms, I was ecstatic. The piece was so much fun to listen to, as well as really showing off the oboe's range. At this point I need to give a shout out to Trevor, who currently plays with the President's Own, who's masterful performance truly brought the piece to life. After the performance, we got to go backstage and meet Brad. He was very gracious, and we got to talk to him about music and performance, and even a little bit about the podcast. We got our programs signed, and our pictures taken. It was a night to remember.

We would like to thank Brad for his time, Trevor for his talent and the students and staff of UMBC for bringing such a wonderful program right to our backdoor.

  

Dr. Lettuce: A Mission with 007! - Show Notes

 
The Lettuce Podcast is on a trip to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of Strangways and his girl! Laura, Tori, and Charlotte sit underneath the mango tree and discuss the first James Bond film, Dr. No, in episode 4. Join in the fun as they critically examine the film and exploit its most confusing plot points. Discussion topics include: the James Bond franchise and how it affected the movie industry, the use of music throughout the film, and the portrayal of women. The girls also investigate several questions raised by the film. Is a tarantula an effective murder weapon? How does one remove radiation from the body? What exactly is Dr. No's motivation? Oh yeah, and there's a dragon!

Laura puts Tori and Charlotte to the test as they compete to win a game called Who Said It: Donald Trump or a James Bond Villain? Then they each create their own Bond Girl name using a formula involving actress' names and fruits. You can find the formula and create your own Bond Girl name here. If you'd like to create a truly dirty Bond Girl name, try here. Leave a comment and lettuce know what you got!

This episode's podsnacks were fancy appetizers that one might receive at a high-roller casino or restaurant. Charlotte provided a selection of olives, pesto & mozzarella pastries, and herbed cheese with crackers. The podtails were martinis (shaken, not stirred by Laura) with a choice of olives or a twist for garnish. For those who don't know, Bond asks for a medium dry vodka martini with a twist. Though this is his signature martini, it is actually improper! True vodka martinis are garnished with olives. Shaking a martini, as opposed to stirring, causes "bruising" in the drink so that the drink appears cloudy instead of its classic clear. The more you know!

-----
The next episode of The Lettuce Podcast will be a return to the Harry Potter series. Tori will moderate with Charlotte and Laura in tow as The Lettuce Podcast explores Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!

Arugalater!

Escarole-Back: Mad Men Series Overview (Season 5)

Season 5! My favorite season of Mad Men! This was the season for which viewers waited nearly 2 years as contracts were negotiated. Though I hated waiting for so long, it ended up being worth my patience. There are so many great storylines and moments in this season. A couple standouts: Megan's "Zou Bisou Bisou", Betty's cancer scare and weight issues, Lane's issue with back taxes and (spoiler alert!) eventual suicide, and Joan's divorce. Don also tells Sally the truth about his identity, past, and Anna. It's a great season that at the same time furthers the developments of the characters and continues to draw them together in interesting ways. My favorite episode from the season features humongous development for two of my favorite characters.

Episode 11: "The Other Woman" 
Joan, Joan, Joan. This was a rough season for Joan. A quick word about her divorce before getting into the episode proper: it's already been well established that Greg sucks. He treats his wife poorly and lies to her. Typical Don Draper stuff, right? But it reaches a whole new level when he commits to a second tour of duty in Vietnam before even coming home from the first. And before consulting with Joan about this choice. This leaves her feeling abandoned with an infant and leads to their divorce, which Greg serves. I will point out- Joan isn't completely innocent in their relationship. After all, the son she is raising is actually Roger's child and Greg is none the wiser. Maybe this is karma?

This episode is the worst of the worst for Joan. A bigwig at Jaguar named Herb (the most appropriate name for a perv) tells Pete and Ken in no uncertain terms that SCDP will lose Jaguar's business unless they can arrange a night for him with Joan. Rightfully, Joan is completely disgusted and offended by the proposal. After a series of arguments and negotiations, Lane uses financial stability for her and her son as a way to convince her to do the deed in exchange for a 5% partnership in the company. He's also looking to increase the financial gains of SCDP in order to deal with his tax problems. And just like that, Joan is literally whored out for Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Her evening with Herb seems like a nightmare. He's every bit as gross as you might imagine he'd be.

Don arrives at her apartment to convince her not to go through with it. He's easily the most stand-up and respectable he's ever been as he says he cares more about her than the business. He doesn't want to do business with people that terrible and she shouldn't want to either. Joan is touched by Don's integrity and thanks him for being "one of the good ones", but neglects to tell him she's already slept with Herb. It's so touching to see Don caring for someone so much, as he has a tendency to be incredibly selfish. He's rightfully surprised and disappointed when Joan enters the office for the partners meeting the next morning; he knows that Joan degraded herself. And she does, too. Although it was ultimately her decision to accept the proposal, she was bamboozled by a man to accept the deal. Lane tricked her into thinking he was helping her when he really was trying to help himself. Men in the 1960's, am I right?

What little was left of Joan's dignity is destroyed and her character extremely degraded. The sex appeal she once used smartly as a great asset to both her professional and personal lives has become a currency. It's sad. It's sad because at the same time it both is and is not her fault.

Also in this episode is great development for Peggy. She spends this entire episode basically doing Don's job for him while he deals with all matters concerning Jaguar. Even though Don leaves her "in charge" he steamrolls all of her ideas and insults her work. Oh yeah, and he throws a fistfull of money in her face when she points out he's treating her unfairly. Up until now, Peggy has been willing to take Don's mistreatment because he was instrumental in career development and also helped dig her out the hole she was in after giving birth. All of that seems to have worn off, though. She takes a meeting with Ted Chaough from CGC and accepts a job with his agency. The scene where she tells Don that she's leaving for another agency is just as heartbreaking as watching Joan lose her integrity earlier in the episode. Fortunately, it leaves the viewer with a better feeling. Although Peggy was angry at Don's treatment earlier, she understands that none of this would have been possible had he not taken a chance on her way back when. Don is understandably sad about her departure and does try to counteroffer with a larger salary.  Ultimately, they both understand that this isn't personal. It's a sad, but touching goodbye for them.

-----

What are your favorite moments from this season? Do you think it's the best one? See you next week for Season 6!

Arugalater!
Laura

Escarole-Back: Mad Men Series Overview (Season 4)

For the last Escarole-back, I passed on reviewing the season's most iconic episode. I did this because I felt that episode had been combed through enough times already and thought a different episode that I love equally would be a better choice. For Season 4, I almost regret to say, I will not be following suit. "The Suitcase" is easily the most widely loved episode in this season. Much like "Shut the Door. Have a Seat.", it has been examined thoroughly and all of its wonder has been discussed. But I can't help myself. I love this episode so much that I just can't pass up the opportunity to comment on it publicly. 

Episode 7: "The Suitcase"
This episode centers around Don and Peggy as they attempt to create a campaign for Samsonite luggage. Don and Peggy's relationship is one of the most beloved aspects of Mad Men. They go through so many ups and downs and this episode might encapsulate their relationship perfectly. In an effort to ignore his heartache over Anna Draper's impending death, Don throws himself headfirst into work. He drags Peggy along with him, who remains by his side even though she is increasingly late for her birthday dinner with her boyfriend. They work through the night and experience several changes in how they view each other.

At first, Peggy is irritated with Don for the aforementioned birthday reasons. Her anger increases as they argue about the Glo-Coat campaign for which Don recently won an award. Their anger with each other culminates when Peggy's boyfriend breaks up with her over the phone because she is more dedicated to work than him. Peggy confronts Don about the way she is treated at work: "You never say "Thank You"!" she screams, to which Don replies "That's what the money is for." I hear you, Peggy! All anyone wants in a job setting is to feel they are valued. Don assumes wages express value, but there is so much more. 

A great and funny scene brings our two heroes back together. Don finds a recording of Roger's memoir and the two laugh over the scandalous information it holds. All I have to say about it is... Miss Blakenship? Who knew!? The way Don and Peggy laugh over the tape is extremely sweet. I think the fact that they can scream at each other one moment and laugh with each other the next shows us that their relationship is special and familial. Both Peggy and Don feel that they have been exiled by their families. They can relate to one another. They find comfort in one another. Their newly restored bond becomes even stronger while they are out to dinner. They discuss the child that Peggy gave away in Season 1 and she confesses that her mother assumes Don is the father as he is the only person who visited her in the hospital. Peggy assures Don that she knows who the real father is, but doesn't tell him it's Pete. Some things are better left unsaid.

Upon the return to the office, there is an altercation with Duck Philips who is accusing Don of stealing Peggy away (In a professional sense. Although Peggy and Duck were doin' it for a while in Season 3). Duck claims he and Peggy were in love, but also calls her a whore (?), which results in an underwhelming fistfight. After Duck has gone, it's Peggy's opportunity to comfort Don. He falls asleep in her lap and dreams of Anna passing through his office with a suitcase. When he wakes up, he knows that Anna is dead. Things get really heavy as he sobs to Peggy, telling her of the great person that was Anna Draper. Not only do we weep along with Don at the loss of the only woman who has ever truly loved him, but our hearts surge as the torch of unconditional love for Don is passed to Peggy. 

Sure, Peggy and Don will go through some more rough spots over the rest of the series. But this episode solidified their relationship for me. Peggy is Don's new support system. She may not have as congenial a personality as Anna, but she does see the good in Don. Even in the closing moments where Don presents his idea for the Samsonite Ad (a reference to the Ali v. Liston boxing match that serves as a backdrop for the whole episode) and Peggy isn't enthused, we see her back down to offer support to a person who is truly in need of it. They may not always see eye to eye, but they will always offer what the other is truly in need of when necessary. They are family.

-----
Only two more episodes of Mad Men are left! Can you believe it? I'm curious about where Don and Peggy will end up in their relationship. What do you think?

-Laura

Game of Thrones - Charlotte's Vlog Series!

Check out my new vlog series about Game of Thrones! Check back with me week after week for a recap of the most recent episode!