Grimace?

I still can't figure out what Grimace was doing at the Grand Parade for the fireman's convention yesterday. Perhaps he's helped Ronald McDonald put out some grease fires in the past? When I saw him coming, I expected to see some more of the McDonald's gang, maybe the Hamburgler or Mayor McCheese. It was just Grimace, though, flying solo. It was pretty exciting to see him. The McDonald's characters don't get enough play.

"North by Northwest"

I am attempting to watch all of the greatest movies ever made. “North by Northwest” always seems to make the list. It was on TCM this weekend so I checked it out. It was good but not my favorite. “North by Northwest” was too complicated and too splashy – government agents, explosions, a killer crop duster, a chase scene involving Mount Rushmore. I like Hitchcock better when he keeps it simple. So far, I’ve seen the renowned “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” “The Birds” and the less-prominent “Strangers on a Train” and “Shadow of a Doubt,” and I by far prefer “Strangers” and “Shadow.” I don’t need all of this espionage noise – just murder and/or murderous intentions.

There’s also something magical about a Hitchcock movie in black and white. Sometimes old-fashioned Technicolor is distracting and makes the film feel dated. Cary Grant in “North by Northwest” and James Stewart in “Vertigo” both looked so orange. It was unnatural. Eva Marie Saint and Kim Novak both managed to look flawless and people-colored, though. And those suits! Always women in suits in Hitchcock movies. They look fabulous.

The most compelling aspect of “North by Northwest” was the Cary Grant/Eva Marie Saint tête-à-tête, especially their first conversation on the train. It was pretty risqué for 1959!

Anyway, it was worth watching, but I don’t agree with the people who say it’s Hitchcock’s best.

Newly Attractive Betty

"Ugly Betty" will be ugly no longer! Betty, who finally nabbed an editor's position, will finally be getting a makeover this season. It seemed like the show was starting to fizzle -- the old format was really becoming stale -- so this comes as no surprise. They need to inject some life back into Betty, stat. I bet America Ferrara is pretty psyched about finally being able to look attractive on her show.

Focus groups are giving input on Betty's new look.

Will this makeover undermine the show's message about inner beauty and cause an uproar amongst infuriated fans? Or is it just realistically time that this girl freshened up her look? Take off those braces! Wearing them for that long damages the enamel on the teeth.

Anyway, this lends further support to my theory that Betty and Daniel will end up together at the end of the show -- but not before she got a glamorous makeover.