Columnist, CRUSH
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Sarah Disgrace Homepage
Sarah Disgrace Blog
Tell me about your column and your latest projects.
My monthly column, CRUSH, is not just about what to like, but what to like-like, covering all aspects of pop culture including film, TV, music, fashion, food and the latest pop culture trends I’ve deemed worthy of your devotion.
I’m currently working on adapting my second novel, “The Girl I Wanted to Be,” into a screenplay while also trying to helm a super top-secret anthology project, provided my agent gives me the green-light-go signal.
Who or what are the biggest influences on your work and If you could pick one person to collaborate with dead or alive who would you pick?
My biggest influences include but are not limited to: the original Sassy magazine,”21 Jump Street,” my high score on Pitfall, Madonna’s pyramid jacket from “Desperately Seeking Susan,” Cameron Crowe, the boys I used to know (all of them, even the bad ones), Lorrie Moore, Pam Houston, Peter Hedges, Jeffrey Eugenides, Counting Crows’ “August and Everything After,” “My So-Called Life,” and the magnum size bottle of white wine that holds court in my refrigerator.
I would kill a man to collaborate with following, who I of course also rank among my key influences: Tina Fey, Kathy Griffin, Chuck Klosterman, Danny McBride, Amy Sedaris, and the geniuses behind “Reno 911” or “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” If I could sing, I’d add Rachel Yamagata and Matthew Ryan to that list. That said? I’d be too terrified to talk to any and all of the above. In fact, many/all may or may not currently have restraining orders against me. Well, except for Matthew, who I actually HAVE talked to before, but by “talked to,” I mean, “insert foot into mouth.” It’s sort of my specialty.
What album had the most influence on your adolescence?
Despite the fact that the Jackson Victory Tour was my first concert, I’m going to by-pass the obvious “Thriller” choice because I’ve officially reached MJ post-mortem overload, and instead give my nod to Hall & Oates’ “Rock’n Soul Part I.” My little dinky clock radio was one of my first constant sources of music in the early 80s, and Hall & Oates was in high rotation. This led to many late nights creating song and dance routines for my stuffed animals to a soundtrack of “Rich Girl” and “Kiss on My List” in lieu of going to sleep. Hall & Oates was also one of my earliest concerts – if memory serves, they were introduced at Cobo Hall in Detroit by Martha “Remember when MTV had VJ’s?” Quinn. Whee, I’m old! And I will always, always have a soft spot in my heart for Daryl Hall’s amazing voice. (Plus, Oates had a place down the street from my cousins’ house in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, though sadly he never came over to borrow a cup of anything during our visits)
What were your favorite toys or games from your childhood?
My brother’s Castle Greyskull set with the trap door and his He-Man action figures. Freeze tag. Making up dances and lip sync routines to Madonna “Borderline”-era songs in my neighbor Karin’s basement. My Suntan Tuesday doll, which was like a Barbie but you could flip her hair from brown to blonde and she actually turned darker when left in the sun. My scratch’n’sniff and puffy sticker collection. My OFFICIAL Judy Blume diary. My Speak’n’Spell, though I should confess the electronic voice scared the shit out of me, which is probably why “War Games” haunted me as well – “Would you like to play a game?” Um, not with YOU, scary giant government computer!
What is your pop culture guilty pleasure? (What movie, tv show, band, etc. do you love that you know is awful, but you love it anyway?)
Yikes, where to begin. The thing is, I’ve reached a point where I now more or less embrace my most embarrassing qualities. In fact, I think I’ve kind of made a career out of it. So on that note, I’m going to answer this loud and proud (but for the record, I don’t consider these “awful” per se, but guilty pleasures? Sure). Drum roll:
* “The Real Housewives of” anything
* Dr. Drew and his ridiculously buff arms – swoon!
* MTV’s “Made” series
* “Dateline: To Catch a Predator” – specifically, I’m totally obsessed with my Detroit homeboy Chris Hansen, and also why do the predators ALWAYS bring sandwiches?
* Most of the “Now That’s What I Call Music” compilations
* “Big Brother” (but only from the All-Stars season forward; I wasn’t a die-hard until then)
If you could own one piece of artwork by any artist, who would you choose and why?
I would choose a very particular page from Eric Powell’s “The Goon” because he’s a genius, because I’m honored to call him a friend, and because, let’s face it, I’m vain (he drew me a la Joan Crawford into one of the panels based on our adventures when we first met at a MegaCon show during my yesteryears with Dark Horse Comics).
What are your favorite television shows that you feel ended too soon?
“Miss Guided”; “Freaks and Geeks”; “Arrested Development”; “Popular”; “Sports Night”; “Bands on the Run” (What? I LOVED Flickerstick!)
Who is your favorite super hero?
Hellboy, the Goon, and my 1-1/2 year old Corgi, Awesome-O (extra points if you can spout off his namesake without the help of Google).
If you were to have dinner with 5 people living or dead, who are they and what would you serve?
My fantasy dinner party would take place in my favorite city (Portland, Oregon) and include Tina Fey, Tim Gunn, Christopher Guest, Justin Timberlake, and the cast of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (shut up, that counts as one unit). We would laugh a lot, try to out-improv each other, look fabulous, and at some point make a really catchy, popular viral video. Eventually, someone would suggest that Tina cast me as her long-lost sister in the next season of “30 Rock,” and I would shrug and say, “If you feel like it,” while secretly peeing my pants. I would serve macaroni and cheese from Hill Country Barbeque, Four Graces pinot grigio, and Tonnie’s Minis cupcakes. Of course, by night’s end, we’d all be fat, diabetic, and drunk, but you only live once.
What fictional character do you identify most with?
Liz Lemon. We are one and the same, to the point that most weeks there’s a new “30 Rock” episode on, my phone/Facebook/Twitter/insert preferred mode of communication here blows up with comments like, “Did you SEE that? Hello, TOTALLY YOU!” Swearsies.
What 5 movies could you watch again and again?
“Waiting for Guffman”, “Just One of the Guys”, “Dig”, “Heathers”, “The Ice Storm”
What book or author do you regularly recommend?
Lately? Chuck Klosterman, Chelsea Handler, Heather Armstrong, Steve Almond, Jen Lancaster, Melissa Walker, Blake Nelson... I could go on and on. You can’t ask an author that question!
What are your favorite web sites?
Perez Hilton for quick celeb news and gossip, FML, and Fail Blog among others.
What are you most looking forward to geeking out over in the coming year?
Matthew Ryan’s next album, Spike Jones’ take on “Where the Wild Things Are,” a full season of FOX’S “Glee,” Spinerette, and in a total self-serving way, the release of Cassette From My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Lost Loves this fall from St. Martin’s Press!
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