Thursday, September 17, 2015

Series: First (And Third) #TBT - Week 2 Spotlight: Chelsea [Contributor: Maddie]


Maddie approached me about doing a Throwback Thursday (#tbt, for all you Internet-savvy folks) piece where we highlight, bi-monthly, our writers. She noted that what makes our site unique and separates it from all of the other entertainment sites out there is the personal touch each of the writers put on their reviews. Throughout this #tbt series, you'll get the chance to know each of us as individual writers a little bit more and hopefully relate to us a little bit more as well. Thanks, Maddie, for such a great idea!

First (and Third) Throwback Thursday is back, folks! We return to get to know our writers a bit better and to bask in the glorious nostalgia of yesteryear. Yes, I used the word "yesteryear," which I only know is a thing because of the The Parent Trap's remake. We have so many writers on this site now that the series had to be twice a month so it would finish before 2017. (I'm so proud of this site.) Moving on, this week I (Maddie) got to talk to food-fanatic, sarcasm savant, and puppy GIF proponent Chelsea. (I really like alliteration, y'all.)

ASSISTANT EDITOR: CHELSEA 
(24 years old)

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Q: What was your first major TV obsession and how did it impact you and your taste in television?

A: I remember being a kid and Digimon would come on at 4 PM every day after school and I would schedule my life around it. I missed one episode when I had to go visit my family one Friday and I’m still not over it. There was something about the show that struck me as a kid, with it being a lot darker than other kid-friendly shows and having such a great ensemble of well-rounded characters. And it actually had multiple empowered females!


Q: What show growing up most shaped your sense of humor?

A: Golden Girls for sure. I still watch reruns every night on the Hallmark channel. Those ladies were just so quick and witty. It was definitely ahead of its time in terms of feminism and social issues as well. As a young adult, 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and the first three seasons of Community really helped shape me into the person I am now.

Q: What Disney movie do you still love to watch and sing the songs to?

A: Beauty and the Beast is actually one of my Top 3 favorite films of all time. As a media producer and feminist, I get so much out of each viewing. It was so innovative at the time and I loved that the princess was a smart girl. She loved books and stood up for herself. I wasn’t aware a lot of great female leads when I was growing up that were bookworms. When the film was re-released in 3D, I was there for the first showing and seeing it on the big screen blew me away. And if you ever need cheering up, I periodically burst into song and dance with "Be Our Guest."

Q: What pop culture obsession are you a little embarrassed of loving so much in retrospect?

A: I have this thing where I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. I call them guiltless pleasures because there has to be something good about them that keeps me watching. I have no shame in liking things or in the things I liked as a kid. They made me who I am. My greatest guiltless pleasure is The Fast and The Furious franchise. I shamelessly love all of those films and have since the first one was released. I went this past week at midnight to buy the deluxe special edition of Furious 7.

Q: What was your first foray into the “nerdier” or “genre” side of pop culture?

A: Probably Digimon and Harry Potter. I got into one shortly after the other and it really made me love fantasy media. Just the depth that goes into their world-building and the rich characters. Those were my gateway drugs.

Q: I know you’re a dog lover. Favorite dog from nostalgic movies and TV? (For me, I’d have to go with Shadow from Homeward Bound.)

A: All dogs are my favorite dogs. I get anxiety when I see dogs in TV or films though and have that website where you can see if the dog dies bookmarked. Shadow from the first Homeward Bound and his scene where he’s stuck in the pit always gets me. My eyes are never dry when I watch that. The first Air Bud too because he’s also Comet from Full House. Why are Golden Retrievers so popular in films?


Q: What was your first Internet fandom and what brought you to it?

A: As an introvert, I always was on the outside looking in on fandom because I didn’t have anything to contribute and just loved to absorb the content. Community was the first BIG fandom I joined and participated with. Long live the early seasons of that show. I stumbled across a LiveJournal while looking for spoilers for the show and met some really interesting people. Six seasons and several fandoms later, I’m still very good friends with so many of them. It’s how I met Jenn and Jaime before the Just About Write days.

Q: First show/ship you read fanfiction for?

A: Probably, like, Harry Potter. I don’t remember any of it being particularly good though. I wasn’t attached to any particular ship because I don’t ship Hermione with either Ron or Harry but she was my favorite character (and still is). She’s just too good for those basic boys. Veronica Mars came right after because Logan and Veronica are epic. That was when I read good fanfic and it spiraled out from there into other fandoms.

Q: Who is your favorite F.R.I.E.N.D?

A: All but Ross. Ross is the worst. Chandler is the best. And all the ladies. And Joey. But Ross is the worst.

Q: What was the first show that inspired you to write about it?

A: Good question. Writing isn’t really my strongest quality when it comes to my media producing. Or at least, I don’t think it is. The Legend of Korra was the first TV show that I really wrote about in depth. I’ve done film review type things before but I wrote a 20-page paper about Korra this past year for a class.

Q: Favorite 90s to early 2000s teen movie?

A: I could write a novel about this. I’ll keep it short and just say 10 Things I Hate About You, The Virgin Suicides, and Mean Girls. That was such a great era for teen movies and female representation. Mean Girls should be required viewing in schools to teach ladies about the importance of female friendship and #LadiesSupportingLadies.

That is the smirk of a true Slytherin, everyone.

Q: My fellow Slytherin, what favorite nostalgic TV character of yours was totes a Slytherin?

A: Oh Veronica Mars is easily a Slytherin. She’s cunning and loyal to her real friends but is always looking out for herself. Plus she looks amazing in green.

Q: What has been your favorite thing about being involved in fandoms?

A: Hands down -- the people. I have met some of my best friends through fandom and have been fortunate enough to meet a handful of these fandom friends in person. Fandom is the reason why I became friends with Jenn, but friendship is the best part of it. The shows don’t really matter in the long run, it’s the people you enjoy them with.

Q: What TV friendship did you aspire to have growing up?

 A: Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Friendship goals, Relationship goals. Feminist goals. They are my everything. Looking forward to their film coming out this December.

Q: Finally, what female fictional character from television past was the most influential on you? Why?

A: Oh gosh, this is worst than asking me what kind of dog do I like. I’m gonna go with Veronica Mars because I’m wearing my backer shirt as I answer these. She’s just so tough and stands up for herself and others and isn’t defined by the men around her. She’s incredibly flawed but you still root for her because she’s trying so hard to do what’s right and make things fair.

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Additional adorable #tbt photo of Chelsea (with long hair!)

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