Tank Top Tuesday

Actresses I like in tank tops? Yep, it’s a Tuesday. I could get all verbose about the whys and hows of this winning combination. Actresses in current projects I’m enjoying made even more enjoyable, etc. etc. But we all know what it’s all about in the end. So, without ado-ing further, your tank tops await. Namaste, or whatever.

Hettienne Park, “Hannibal”

You know I had to stop watching “Hannibal” because it gave me terrifying nightmares. But now I feel I might have made a grave mistake.

Ali Liebert, “Lost Girl”

It was so hot. And then, so not. Oh, Crystal, Crystal.

Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”

I didn’t catch “Catching Fire” this weekend (you see what I did there, see, see?), but mostly so I could have something other than turkey leftovers to look forward to next holiday weekend.

Lily Rabe, “American Horror Story: Coven”

This season is wicked, wicked fun. But it could use a lot more of of Lily, so much more. Bring on the white witch.

Kat Dennings, “Thor: The Dark World”

This movie was a lot of fun and Kat, well, she was a big reason why.

Nicole Beharie, “Sleepy Hollow”

Yes, I’ve already gone on and on about how much I love both a) “Sleepy Hollow” and b) Nicole. But, you know, it never hurts to repeat it.

Happy New Hot

Do you know what second best way to ring in the New Year is? After laughter? With a hot lady. Or, in this case, hot ladies. Wait, did I say second best? Hm. I need to work on my priorities. Put that on my resolutions list for 2013. May I work on prioritizing hot ladies for the next 365 days. Preferabbly with the help of Sarah Shahi and friends.

Lucy Liu

Florence Welch

Keira Knightley

Piper Perabo

Katee Sackhoff & Tricia Helfer

Anne Hathaway

Kat Dennings & Jessica Chastain

Yeah, I don't know what is happening in that last one either. But, you know, go with it.

My Weekend Crush

Goddamit, if I “2 Broke Girls” more doesn’t make me laugh like an idiot. I know, I know – there are still some problematic racial overtones. Though, thankfully, they’ve begun toning those down a bit. And, no, it’s not necessarily high art. And, yes, I still think the horse is crazy. But, fuck it, sometimes you just want to chuckle uncontrollably at the sight of two girls stuffing cupcakes down each other’s shirts. Plus there’s absolutely no denying the comedic and comely charms of Kat Dennings. She’s really why I tuned in in the first place. (Well, that and friendo to the lesbians Liz Feldman writes for the show.) While Kat’s delivery bothered me at first, it has developed a nice rhythm now that is her own distinct style. I also like that she’s not a bean pole (we’ve got the equally delightful Beth Behrs for that already). Heavens, does her waitress uniform fit her tightly nicely. I hadn’t seen Kat in much before the show. But from what I can gather she’s a geek dream girl alternative to Zooey Deschanel. For those who prefer their ladies with a little more vavoom and a little less cutsie. And I have this unstoppable urge to touch her oversized upper lip. And her milky skin. I think they’d be soft – so soft. Happy weekend, all.

2 Brokeback Girls

I like “2 Broke Girls,” more than I probably should. More than its lame horsecrap gag from last week. More than the sometimes stilted delivery by Kat Dennings. I like “2 Broke Girls” because it is about two “girls,” and has real potential to be a smart – edgy even – female buddy sitcom. Also, well, there’s the subtext. I mean, seriously, there are already shipper vids.

Last week I wondered out loud if “2 Broke Girls” could become the new “Rizzoli & Isles” over at AfterEllen. Don’t get me wrong, the chemistry is nowhere as crackly and sexy as between Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. That’s just magic. But there is chemistry there, between Kat and Beth Behrs, and with a little polishing of the edges it could be something quite fun. Kind of like the show.

And there have already been a distinctly lesbianish moments. Kat’s waitress Max tells Beth’s Caroline when she asks her to open the back door, “We’ve known each other for 2 days and you’re already asking for back door?” And, then, there’s the requisite sleeping in the same bed scenes, complete with boob touching. Heck, Max even accidentally kisses another woman on the subway. If this subtext trend holds, I am totally going to start calling this show “2 Brokeback Girls.”

Granted, the “If I were gonna go lesbian, she’d be the last lez I’d be in” joke from last week was a groaner. And not the good kind of groaner. But there’s just something to be said about a show that centers itself entirely around the interactions of two women. Nothing against family comedies (I love you, “Modern Family,” I do). Nothing against ensemble comedies (you’re growing on me, “Happy Endings, you are). But a female buddy comedy is something different. Something that is guaranteed to pass the Bechdel Test week after week. And when compared to that other much-hyped female-fronted sitcom that debuted this, you can see why it makes all the difference.

“New Girl” is watchable because of Zooey Deschanel and only because of Zooey Deschanel. It’s about her adorable dorkiness (no, I will not use “adorkable,” I will not… dammit). She is the draw and she is hard to resist. But it is also told entirely from the male gaze. Look at this clueless cutie – let’s laugh at her while trying to make her more dateable to us menfolk. We see her through the lens of her three male roommates, not the other way around. I think that’s also why it’s such a hit – guys can watch a show with a female lead as long as the guys are really ruling the narrative. (No offense, guys, but you do like to rule things – like take, for instance, the world.) Whereas in “2 Broke Girls,” it’s told from a female perspective with occasional glimpses of how unwanted (i.e. the cook) the male gaze on them can be. That, for me, makes all the difference.

Look, I’m not saying this show is perfect. It isn’t. (Ugh, laugh track, ugh.) And tonight’s third new episode will go a long way to tell us whether this show will end up be truly having the charm or not. But I’m willing to make the investment right now because it’s funny enough while being all about the ladies. Also, sweet fancy Moses, is Kat’s waitress uniform tight or what? Hey, it can’t all be rocket science.

p.s. I am going to start SnapCapping the show for AfterEllen. We will see how it goes. Read them Tuesdays on AE.