American Gypsies invade Park Slope

Park Slope has long been the home to many a film and television shoot. From Bored to Death to Betty White's Off Their Rockers to Boardwalk Empire, our tree-lined streets and Park-adjacent setting draws so many film crews that it's hard to keep track of them all. But when FIPS reader SwissPotChick turned us on to a new show that's been taking place in the Slope, it turned out to be so deliciously craptastic that we simply had to talk about it.  

The show is called American Gypsies and OMFG. It's a National Geographic Channel docu-series about one of the most prominent Romani families living in NYC (the Johns family), who are struggling to uphold their Gypsy traditions while trying to adapt to the modern American culture. That struggle basically means the Johns family spends each episode screaming at one another about traditions and Gypsy Law and all other sorts of ridiculousness. And then there are the physical fights. Like, we're talking throwing-punches-at-one-another-in-hospital-waiting-rooms sort of fighting. All while telling us what a private and sacred culture the Gypsy culture is (umm...). Like most reality shows, it's trashy as hell and totally moronic and, after only one episode, I've already set a season pass on my DVR. 

Here's some background on the Gypsy culture I've learned from the premiere:

Click to read more ...

Who Gives A Shit: Will You Watch The Brooklyn Version of Jersey Shore?

 Photo via Oxygen

Fuck New Jersey. Soon trashy reality TV will be coming to us by way of our neighbors in Bay Ridge. Oxygen has a new reality show called Brooklyn 11223, which was made from the mold of The Jersey Shore. The two main players they’re trying to sell us on are former best friends, Joey Lynn and Christie. The ladies stopped being buddies after Joey banged Christie’s then-boyfriend. Sounds like classic reality show fodder, right? I hope these ladies cross paths at the Salty Dog.

The show -- predictably -- is trying to manufacture its own Snooki in the form of Carla. According to their website, “With a party-hard attitude and a ‘don’t dish it out unless you can take it’ style, Carla is the ultimate package.” You heard that? Move over, meatballs, ‘cause “Carla is the ultimate package.”

Click to read more ...

Pranked in Park Slope

While catching up on some DVR this weekend, I found myself laughing my ass off at a show called Betty White's Off Their Rockers. It's a new hidden-camera prank show from NBC, with old people serving as the pranksters, and the rest of us as their unsuspecting victims. Betty White hosts and executive produces. 

Most of the action takes place in Los Angeles. But about halfway through the episode, I caught this above scene, shot in our very own Park Slope (9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenue, to be exact)! That's right, Betty White's old fogies are walking the streets of the Slope, wreaking havoc on our sorry asses. Here are some more screen shots:

Click to read more ...

WHAT'S ON TVVVVVVV!?

As some of you may know, I watch more TV than ANY human being ever should. It's kind of a problem...except that I love it and can't won't stop.

Every so often, all of my TV thoughts, theories and opinions build up in my head to the point that my brain is about to explode. That's when I'm thankful that I have a blog to unleash it all on. Today is the day of that unleashing. 

Click to read more ...

[RUSSIAN DOLLS RECAP] Episode 6: New Year, Old Grievances

Picture this: it's New Years (or Russian New Years...whatever the fuck that is? Is this like Rosh Hashanah or something, or do you people just take the word New Year's and slap the word "Russian" in front of it--I DON'T KNOW CAUSE NO ONE EVER MENTIONED IT). Anyway, picture yourself at an exclusive party, sitting around the table with all of your frenemies, and someone raises their glass to make a toast and says the following: you know what everyone, CHEERS TO ME! CHEERS TO MYSELF!

Cause that's pretty much how shit goes down in Brighton Beach.

Click to read more ...