Our apologies, East Coast & Central time-zoners who were hoping to tweet along with Jon Tenney (@jontenney) during this Thursday's "Scandal" (4/10/14).

You see, our would-be VP Governor Andrew Nichols was busy hobnobbing at the TCM Classic Film Festival's opening gala, celebrating the world premiere restoration of Oklahoma!, and I was busy trying to get him to sing a song of spoilers about what's next for Andrew and Mellie.

Watch Jon's scandalous move here:

Who here would be surprised if Shonda Rhimes actually employed snipers or secret agents to dispel any and all "Scandal" leaks? Anyone? You win again, Shonda. You win again. Watch the handome and talented Jon Tenney on "Scandal", airing Thursdays at 10pm on ABC.

This quote from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is one of my all-time favorite movie lines and one I genuinely think about often. Tonight, I learned that lesson in a very real, very sad way.

Life moves pretty fast.
I had just settled into watching the live stream of "The Mindy Project" panel at PaleyFest, smiling at my computer screen and laughing.

As an avid TV watcher for the entirety of my 27 years on earth, I have become accustomed to this fast-paced world in which our eyes are more often glued to screens of varying size than they are to nature, to people, to our feet moving on the sidewalk, to LIFE. While the content on these screens give me immense pleasure and entertainment, I am not exempt from spiraling down the rabbit hole, finding myself in a technology haze, resurfacing for air, not quiet sure how many hours or days have passed since I skipped my last ad. The same experience can apply to working, enjoying relationships and vacations, or simply getting through our days, and all the while time does not wait for us.

The video feed played on and even my devoted fangirl eyes strayed to a new browser tab, to Facebook.

If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
It only took a few seconds for me to scroll downward through my newsfeed to see a post on Ned Vizzini's wall, my Facebook friend and WaldenPonders interviewee. A stranger's comment caught me off guard and initiated instant panic. Digitally inscribed in an almost rude form of lazy lowercase were the letters “rip”.

An immediate Google search confirmed the devastating news. Ned, a highly accomplished young adult author and screenwriter whom I'd conducted an interview with this past July, had committed suicide after a near lifelong battle with depression and anxiety.

He was only 32 and wrote and spoke publicly of his disease, most notably chronicled in his semi-autobiographical novel It's Kind of A Funny Story, which was turned into a feature film in 2010. Our interview is even more poignant and heartbreaking now, as his words were lined with hope and talk of a long-term future tragically never to be realized.

Almost as unbelievable is to just now learn the news, as he'd taken his life on December 19th. How could I have missed something like this? Life. Family. Christmas. Business. Resolutions. Some recent Facebook posts echo my sudden shock, four months late, blindsided by a fast pace. 

On March 10, I set my DVR to record the new NBC drama series “Believe”. Since then, I’ve been busy. Busy with work, busy with personal matters, busy sleeping, busy having fun, busy doing absolutely nothing. Aren’t we all? Such is life. I'd been meaning to catch up and watch, primarily in support of Ned, who had gotten an incredible career break working as an Executive Story Editor on the series, alongside the likes of creator Alfonso Cuarón and producer J.J. Abrams. Had I watched the premiere episode when it aired, I would have seen a title card at the end of the program reading, "In memory of Ned Vizzini 1981-2013". I had intended to email him and share my congratulations upon viewing. 

I never met Ned in person, and though I only spoke with him once over the phone, I understood that he was an incredibly smart, poignant, and thoughtful man full of stories, humor, and love for his wife Sabra and young son Felix. 

Ironically, today, March 25th, was the release date of the second installation of Ned's House of Secrets book series with co-author Chris Columbus. I'm saddened that Ned could not witness the many successes awaiting him this year and beyond.

In one of our last emails regarding my article, Ned wrote, “Courtney, this looks perfect, and in addition to being a great interview, it is a really kind and insightful look at The Other Normals, a book I am watching gain an audience in the shadow of Funny Story."

It's incredibly rare to receive feedback once interviews are published, but Ned was eager to see it through, and I'm grateful for his enthusiasm towards WaldenPonders. He also asked that I tweet the story using #Fanzinis, the name his loyal readers had dubbed themselves, mentioning his desire to support them.

Currently on his community Facebook page, the 2nd post from the top is a link to my article of his and Columbus’ appearance at the LA Times Festival of Books in 2013.
His caption reads: “This was a fun day!”

As a writer and mental health advocate, Ned Vizzini was a voice for the outsider, the misunderstood, the “other normal”, and my thoughts go out to his family and to all the Fanzinis and kids who read his words, connect with his stories, and feel inspired and less alone. 

In It's Kind of A Funny Story, the fictionalized version of Ned says, "That's all I can do. I'll keep at it and hope it gets better." 

Ned, thank you for your voice, your stories, and your fun.
"Believe" like Ned. It gets better. 

Addendum: While writing this, I watched the 100th episode of "Glee", which featured a cover of Oh Honey's gorgeous song, "Be Okay," and I'd like to end by sharing the official video, so that the song may find you in the here and now, uplifted and okay. Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Hey, Marshmallows!

The Veronica Mars Movie may have only hit theaters a few days ago on March 14th, but
WaldenPonders already has your chance to snag a copy of the DVD when it's released ETA May 2014!

One lucky winner will receive a Veronica Mars Movie Prize Pack which includes the
Veronica Mars Movie on DVD and a limited edition "Neptune, CA" trucker hat!

Play the Exclusive "Veronica Mars: Purity Test Marshmallow Super-Fan Trivia" App,
and ENTER TO WIN Below!

Think you know all there is to know about Neptune, California? Test your Veronica Mars knowledge and roast your fellow Marshmallows with all 3 levels of super-fan trivia and find out if you are the ultimate Veronica Mars Super-Fan!  Play "Purity Test Marshmallow Super-Fan Trivia" Now:

CONTEST REGULATIONS:
Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Veronica Mars Prize Pack via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address (no P.O. Boxes) per giveaway. WaldenPonders is not responsible for delivery of prize. Prize pack supplied by Warner Bros. and shipped after the DVD release date ETA May 2014. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

http://theveronicamarsmovie.com  | @veronicamars | #VeronicaMarsMovie

Hey, Lena Dunham, would you mind moving over just a scooch? Yeah, that's fine, right there. Thanks.
Mindy's meeting us. I know, right? LOVE her.

In recent months, most industry fervor about a young. female writer has been centered on Lena Dunham and her smash HBO hit "Girls." I'd have to agree with Lena lovers, as her character Hannah Horvath delivers some of the best observations about life as a twenty-something I've ever heard. Most memorably, in trying to persuade her parents that she could have a career as a writer, Hannah said, "I think that I may be the voice of my generation...or at least a voice...of a generation."

Here's what's up, though: Dunham isn't the only game in town. Mindy Kaling's been here all along, and if we're in the habit of naming preeminent voices of our generation, she is decidedly among them.

Promoting herself from Kelly Kapoor on "The Office" to Dr. Mindy Lahiri on her self-titled series "The Mindy Project," Mindy is a girl's girl (and coincidentally a "Girls" girl - see Twitter) if there ever was one. Lahiri is the star of her own Carrie Bradshaw-esque monologue, which is often said aloud, and often with charming disregard for the reality that surrounds her. In her romantic comedy of life, she's Meg Ryan...if Meg Ryan had a penchant for narrating her every thought and motivation. Well, you know, except for that time she ate at a diner. But I digress.

The 30th Annual PaleyFest aimed its spotlight on the recently renewed "The Mindy Project" and welcomed the cast and writers to dish on their new hit show, the cast's favorite rom-coms, and why Mindy, in all her forms, resonates so well with her audience.

On Dunder Mifflin:

*"Leaving 'The Office' was so hard," says Mindy and understandably so, after devoting eight years to the series.

*You WILL see Mindy reprise her role as Kelly on the series finale (airing Thurs. May 16), and she promises, "It's an amazing episode of television."

*Mindy says friend, former "Office" co-star, and current "Mindy Project" guest star BJ Novak is "a great friend to the show" and is Chris Messina's (Dr. Danny Castellano) favorite guest director.

*Mindy hilariously scolded Ed Weeks (Dr. Jeremy Reed) during the BJ Novak lovefest, asking, "Can we not refer to a group of episodes as 'The BJ Novak Episode?'" Ed countered, "The really good one, cause there was the guy from 'The Office' in it."

On Season 1 of "The Mindy Project":

*The series is set at an OBGYN practice because that was Mindy's mother's occupation. Also, Mindy noted, "It just seemed like a fun environment, and I get to interact a lot with women."

*Ike Barinholtz started out as a writer before taking the on-screen role of Morgan Tookers.

*The quirky (and catchy) theme song was composed by Jesse Novak, BJ's younger brother, and that's Mindy's voice you hear after some "hip-hop" embellishing!

*Wondering who says, "Go to bed!" during Mindy's production company credit? That'd be showrunner Matt Warburton!

*The show's aesthetic is noticeably bright and plucky, and character fashion, in particular, is a "really fun part of the job," says Mindy.

*Regarding Betsy (Zoe Jarman), Mindy says, "There's a naivete about her that is so funny and so appealing. I think that what's great about the character is that she just decided a long time ago that I was glamorous and great, and I think it's good for a lead to have someone who thinks that they're worth something." This analysis she compared to Dwight Schrute's affection for Michael Scott, despite Scott's multitude of character flaws and offenses. 

*Ed Weeks' favorite line so far is Mindy clarifying to Dr. Castellano, "Best friend isn't a person, Danny. It's a tier." It's our favorite, too, Ed!

On Upcoming Episodes:

*Caution: Laughter Ahead! Three "30 Rock" writers have recently joined the staff!

*The episode "Sante Fe" is Mindy's favorite script of the season and will feature Morgan and Jeremy in a sweat lodge together. Naturally.

*More sexiness! Chris and Mark Duplass (that dude you've seen pop up in everything this year) will wrestle each other on the beach, wearing a "speedo and one-piece swimsuit" (this?), respectively.

*Beth Grant has been promoted to series regular and says of cooky character Beverly, "I just learned that I've had several ex-boyfriends of many different religions, and I've been fantasizing about it." She added, "I'm always open to a younger man," and then things got even juicier, as she admits, "I do love it when Mindy hooks up. She is so sexy and so hot -  I am living my whole life through her vicariously. I can't get enough of it!"

*Surprisingly, Mindy said she had trouble being heard during her writing tenure at 'The Office':
"Stories that I could never push through [on 'The Office'], I can push through here. For a long time, I wanted to do an episode where Michael came in, threw his stuff at Pam like in The Devil Wears Prada. But now, I was like, 'Oh, I could just use it in my show.'" Stay tuned for a scene where Dr. Lahiri does just that - with Betsy as her target.

On Desired Guest Stars:

*Ike and Mindy divulged that they would've liked to had time this season to introduce Danny McBride as a guest star, playing Mindy's anti-stereotypical gay friend, not the "Sex and the City" sidekick type, who has a strong affection for Dr. Castellano.

*Chris (part of the Oscar-winning cast of Argo) wants Ben Affleck. Ike says, "I want to know that the cast of Argo watches our show!"

*Perhaps Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) will one day appear as Jeremy's dad? Mindy thinks it'd be hilarious.

*Another suggestion per Mindy: "I always thought it would be a great coup to have Rainn Wilson on the show as like someone dapper and sexy. I want to be responsible for that...in my career."

(More) Panel Hilarity:

*In an adorable moment, Zoe said her comedic influences "have been friends in my life. Most of these funny friends that I had were girls, women. [They] made me want to be funny."

*A little-known fact about Chris: "My mom was a dance teacher. I wanted to take karate. But I loved it, I wanted to be Baryshnikov for a while." To which Ike responded, "Nothing fends off bullies more than dancing."

*At one point, Ike stood up and exposed his character's "fresh ink," which encircles his navel and reads:
"No More Stealing Cars."

Mindy: "If your belly tattoo..if you can read it, you're in good shape."

Ike joked, "That's a real tattoo. That's how committed I am."

Will They or Won't They?:

*Chris wants to see a Danny and Mindy kiss!

*Ike says the writers' room is evenly divided over the decision to add romance to the relationship.

The Cast Picks Their Favorite Rom-Com:

Beth: Roman Holiday

Zoe: Sense and Sensibility

Ed: Hannah and Her Sisters

Chris: Manhattan - "Another drama!" laments a disapproving Mindy on the men's Woody Allen selections.

Ike: Saw II - which earned him a forearm pinch from Mindy until he corrected to: Love, Actually. Girl was not having anyone disrespect such an important life question. (I feel the same way.)

Mindy: You've Got Mail, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Much Ado About Nothing (the Kenneth Brannaugh version). She was quick to point out the coincidence that Chris acted in two of these favorite films. Aw!

*Author's note: I'm with Beth. It doesn't get better than Audrey Hepburn...or Gregory Peck, for that matter.

What Mindy's Co-Stars Have to Say About Their Boss:

Ike: "She makes me laugh more than anyone. She's just like this little hurricane. I call her 'Hurri-Kaling.' The minute she starts talking to you, you're interested, you're in, you wanna hear what she's gonna say. There's literally never a dull moment."

Chris: "She's tireless, and our writers, they're tireless. They're the reason why we're coming back next season. It's been beautiful to watch."

THIS IS WHY I (AND WE) LOVE HER. Nearly 45 minutes into the panel, Mindy put on her Voice of A Generation Hat (one of the many she wears, the cast agrees), and it was brilliant.

*An audience member asked Mindy to relay her "worst date" story:
"I didn't date much. I was a nerd who dated nerds. I don't have those kind of sexy stories." 

*Her advice for aspiring writers: "I never like partied or had boyfriends. I was just very focused. I've dated more people on this season of the show than I've even met men in real life. That was my lifestyle so that I could achieve...this. I was just really, really hardworking. I was very singular-minded." Now 33, the career-driven Mindy does want marriage and kids, too. She added, "Read and watch everything. I really have seen everything, and being really nerdy about that is helpful." 

*Mindy is the first woman of Indian descent to star in her own television series. On this subject, she said, "I love it, and it's daunting, and it's frightening. That's when I get really jealous of the Danny McBrides and Steve Carell's...they just get to play Michael Scott." (As opposed to also shouldering the burden of representing "white males" as a demographic.) "So when I play this character, I sometimes think that I'm speaking for all Indian American women. I try not to rely on it or deny the fact that I'm Indian."

*The good news: she's writing a NEW BOOK! (Her first, "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)" came out in 2012.) The bad news: It won't be on the market for another 1.5 - 2 years. Mindy said (of course) what we were all thinking: "That's depressing."

It's a sobering reflection that Kaling's attitudes and admissions feel "rare" and like "a breath of fresh air" in public personality world, because we don't witness many female celebrities who will admit to not always being so attractive throughout their life, not being ogled and sought after by every male passerby, not pretending to be Samantha Jones. Take note, ladies - those who do show up on the relatability spectrum, your audience tends to cherish even more.

For anyone hanging out without Mindy, add her to the email chain already. She's earned it, and I bet you she plays one kick ass game of "Celebrity." 

See all of the hysterical panel photos in the Gallery, and watch the entire PaleyFest panel here, sponsored by Hulu Plus. "The Mindy Project" airs Tuesdays at 9:30pm on FOX.

These wise Dickensian words resonated with hundreds of "Parenthood" fans last Thursday night (3/7) at PaleyFest, where we were given individual Kleenex packets labeled with the quote. In this case, PR nailed the meaning of "public relations" with the fitting wink to a show known and adoringly teased for its ability to elicit tears every.single.episode. Happy? Sad? Concerned? Comforted? Feeling a feeling? Yeah, you're crying. Don't even try to deny it. Just let "Parenthood" happen to you. It's undeniable, and we're not ashamed.

Tissues at the ready, we engrossed ourselves in an incredibly smart, moving, and entertaining panel discussion featuring most of the near twenty-member regular cast.

I am an obsessive TV watcher and a confessed hyperbolic superlative user (are there meetings for that?), but I happily go on record that "Parenthood" is the most excellent show currently on television. Considering my affection both for the show and talent, words can be hard to construct when all you find yourself using are a myriad of positive adjectives: awesome, amazing, incredible, wonderful, heart-warming, and other applicable Thesaurus entries.

Therefore, to prevent gushing, here are only some of my favorite observations of the night.

So This Happened:

It's necessary that I designate the first few mentions as a Monica Potter-only zone. She's just that fun.
Correction: *Future Emmy-Winner Monica Potter. (Crossing our fingers!) We couldn't imagine someone else portraying Kristina, am I right?

*Monica admitted to playing a drinking game while watching. Rule Numero Uno: You cry, you drown your sorrows. So "drinking game" / real life, whatever you call it, I want to be Monica's drinking buddy from now on.

*When she first sat down, she noticed two girls in the crowd who pulled a genius move and wore "I <3 Monica Potter" t-shirts. Her immediate reaction was to cry and freak out:

*After the panel, she told me her favorite and most fun experience of the year was her downright epic and hilarious "flash mob" bit with Anthony Anderson while presenting at this year's People's Choice Awards. Enjoy!

*Monica "Cooler than Harry" Potter was meeting-and-greeting fans long after the stage had been deserted - chatting, being present, relatable, generous, and all-around as wonderful as we could imagine. She's completely hysterical, as proven by these gems where she's seen modeling poses for fan photos:

*There was a small exchange between Jason Ritter (Mark) and Lauren Graham (Sarah) where they showed off their matching necklaces. When I met Lauren post-panel, she told me the necklaces are a champagne bucket charm from Tiffany & Co., which she originally gifted to "her kids" Mae Whitman (Amber) and Miles Heizer (Drew), and they all wore them for the panel. How sweet is that? Even though, Lauren says, the actual champagne icon has no meaning among them.

*Jason was cast in a new pilot as the love interest opposite Lauren's "Gilmore Girls" daughter, Alexis Bledel.  Asked her initial reaction to this news, Lauren cheekily replied, "They always trade you in for someone younger, don't they?" Let's just say both Lauren and Alexis are two very lucky and um...connected ladies.

*Erika, Lauren, and Mae became emotional throughout the evening, tearing-up hearing fan stories of personal struggle and discussing impactful scenes from the show. Craig T. Nelson (Zeek) brought up the memorable scene where he tells Amber post-car crash, "You do not have my permission to mess with my dreams."

*Max Burkholder (Max) is really funny! He didn't say much, but when he did, it often came in one-liner form. Similarly, Dax Shepard (Crosby) and Craig had their fun cracking everyone up.

*Jason prints his name instead of a signature on autographs. Could he be more adorable? Why yes, yes, he can. Here he is signing someone's tissue packet. Apropos, no?

I love this show. This show loves it's audience, and we all want a Season 5 more than ever. So "Parenthood" fans, go watch the full panel from the Paley Center's 30th Annual PaleyFest via premier sponsor Hulu Plus, and Go Team Braverman!

All of the beautiful Braverman photos in the PaleyFest gallery!

My dissenting bubble may have finally burst for NBC's consistent bubble show "Community," as I find myself perusing the Greendale course catalog for the first time since 2009...

On 3/5, the cast and creative team were celebrated for the fourth year in a row at the annual PaleyFest where some of the most devoted fans in television packed the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills to share their laughter and support.

I was there, but I can't count myself among the loyal on this one. When the show premiered, I watched a handful of episodes and could not get into it. Sitting in the audience, I felt a bit like I didn't belong, like I was a fraud among these intensely passionate 'shippers, and they'd smoke me out somehow. Now in its fourth season, "Community" is a show that I've been told eventually found its stride and is worth revisiting.

I took to PaleyFest to see what the fuss is about, and from the start, the night promised entertainment with one major format change. The cast, sans Donald Glover (Troy)/plus special guest Fred Williard (!),  performed a live table read of the Season 4 premiere episode (which aired on Feb. 7) in lieu of a pre-panel screening. This immediately struck me as exactly what these interactive programs should aspire to include. We're there to see our favorite casts and go "inside" our favorite shows, so what better way than to do just that and take viewers behind-the-scenes of the inner-workings to which we're rarely privy?

Maybe it's not a groundbreaking idea in the grand scheme of things, maybe it's been done before, but considering the (not-so-advanced) screenings tend to feel like more of a time-suck than a rewarding perk, I welcomed this breath of fresh air.

Here's what I observed - every member of this cast is equally and uniquely hilarious: improv-ing, impersonating, and one-lining their way through one hell of a good time. Yvette Nicole Brown (Shirley) was even cracking herself up thinking of an unrelated, previously filmed scene - in particular, an amusing expression of Donald's. It's clear these people are more than fake classmates - they're friends, family, and overjoyed that they're doing this for a living.

Alison Brie (Annie) pretty much stole the panel, killing at impressions which she adopted throughout the night, including mimicking Jim Rash as Dean Pelton and pretending to be a chain-smoking cigarette girl out of the '20s complete with an Amelia Earhart-esque vocal affectation. Another big hit was a reenactment of (the seriously awesome) Joel McHale's and Jim's "tango" scene. See for yourself:

For a show that's been threatened with cancellation season-to-season, Yvette gracefully reminded everyone that no matter what, this show is an undeniable success story.

"We're in the gravy years of this show. It's not a bad thing. We made it four years, and we did it together, and that's a great thing," she said to much applause. 

Joel concurred, addressing the fans, "Without you guys, we wouldn't be here."

Consider this: As far as "college" shows go, "Felicity" only made it four years, and fans had to graduate right along with her. I mean, it's "Felicity" - a cornerstone of our generation! So given the fact that "Community" has earned the same number of DVD sets and may survive even longer, I'd say it can safely retire its underdog cape.

The only non-funny part of the evening was any mention of Chevy Chase and character Pierce, after his more-than-awkward and unfortunate departure from the series. The producers dodged the subject, even avoiding having to speak the actor's name, but when prodded about the issue of replacement, one replied, "I think we've proven we can just say it's Pierce and move on. They did it on 'Roseanne' with Becky." 

Since "The History of Ice Cream" was over-enrolled, it's no surprise there wasn't much scoop to be served, besides a sneak-peek at an upcoming episode in which the characters are transformed into puppets, akin to "Avenue Q."

Also, Joel offered that he'd like to see John Goodman and Malcolm McDowell return as guest stars, and Yvette spoiled that we'll soon discover Shirley's house looks like a Dorothy Gale explosion of gingham and odd wallpaper. 

During a brief intermission, moderator Mike Schneider led the audience in his own lighthearted "Pledge of Allegiance," prompting us to stand at attention and pledge our devotion to the series and its opportunity for renewal. On my feet repeating Schneider's words in unison with the crowd, I couldn't help but hear Paley Center President Pat Mitchell's voice in my head. Prior to each PaleyFest event, a video package runs in which she declares, "Television, like radio, is a communal experience." 

I'm only starting to go back through season 1 on DVD. I can't promise I'll become a devotee, but in the moment I pledged myself to the show "Community," I most definitely felt a part of one - and a really fun one, at that. 

The evening served as a reminder that even if you don't belong to the "Community" as it exists at fictional Greendale Community College, the vital and nourishing sense of belonging is a fundamental product of television and it manifests - most definitely - at PaleyFest.

Want a Season 5? Tweet #WatchCommunityLive!

Don't miss the "Community" PaleyFest Gallery for more panel photos!

Broadcast on 4/29 from New York City, the TV Land Awards celebrated its 10th Anniversary this year. During the telecast, Paul Reubens' alter-ego Pee Wee Herman accepted the Pop Culture Award and invited everyone to share in his emotion and scream their GRATITUDE via his famous "Secret Word" segment. (Watch the entire program on tvland.com)

The last year or so for WaldenPonders has been quite the "playhouse" of its own, and Pee Wee's choice couldn't describe upcoming events more perfectly.

Next week, I'll be attending a TV Land event celebrating "veteran comedic actresses" including Kristen Johnston ("The Exes," "Third Rock from the Sun"), Fran Drescher ("Happily Divorced," "The Nanny"), Jane Leeves
("Hot in Cleveland," "Frasier") and BETTY WHITE of AllAmazingTVEver!!!

...which brings me to back to my primary point, pondering Pee Wee's principle: Gratitude. You're welcome, alliteration addicts.

As of a few days from now, I will be in the same room as Betty White for a record 4th time! This concept, however factual, is utterly ridiculous to comprehend and will remain so for pretty much ever.

My first Betty White experience was at a taping of "Hot in Cleveland."
Side note -  I truly wish the 18-34 demographic would embrace it like the seniors do, because it's "The Golden Girls" for the Millennium, and who doesn't like "The Golden Girls"? That's right, no one.

Betty White redux took place in the form of a book signing where I had the privilege of "meeting" her. In that 18-second window, I managed to throw in as many "It's an honor"s, "I love you"s, "You're a role model for women everywhere"s as one aims to do in these situations. Of course, the praises in my head typically malfunction. My vocal chords produce the sonic representation of a unique dialect I've adopted through the years:
Elated Fangirl Gibberish. The EFG of my ABC's.

My third (#firstworldproblems) Betty White sighting was at a PaleyFest event for "Hot in Cleveland." To recap, in less than two years, I have been in proximity of the iconic Ms. Betty White three times with a fourth on the horizon.

It is my distinct belief that incredible opportunities, in Hollywoodland or otherwise, should be treated as once-in-a-lifetime, even if that's knowingly not the case. We aren't guaranteed anything, so why not do your best to avoid taking experiences for granted?

Sure, sometimes, I, we, don't succeed with these optimisms, but I've found that this town has a way of surprising you. Somehow, a few legends of showbiz have proven more accessible than I would've ever imagined given their status. The dream of seeing Betty White in person, while still a singular dream, has been realized and realized and realized and realized. So, for today and always, WaldenPonders' not-s0-secret word is GRATITUDE.

Dear Rosie (Star of “The Flintstones”) O’Donnell,

       As one career highlight dims upon the start of your 50th year, I was compelled to write a little something in reaction to recent events and offer a more positive early birthday message. Wanna hear it? Here goes.
        Your newest television venture, “The Rosie Show,” was simply a show that I wish could have had more life or at least a healthier fighting chance in the fickle world of network programming. In adopting the intimacy of one-on-one interview format, your talk show cultivated an honesty that I found refreshing and rejuvenating and predominantly nonexistent in the inked landscape of today’s TV guide. It has come and gone prematurely, and I’m simultaneously disappointed and proud to lack the opinions of the majority share.
        With each episode, I anticipated learning about each person as a whole entity based on your humanizing approach to the conversation, which is a value the OWN network has celebrated so wonderfully. For subjects I would ordinarily not have chosen to watch elsewhere, you invited me to gain perspectives I may not have otherwise conceived. As always, I appreciated your features on the legends of the industry who are rarely seen on other programs, much less profiled so devotedly and with your signature reverence.
        Regardless of those who do not share similar viewpoints or endorse certain personalities, I hope “The Rosie Show” and your professional talents can be appreciated for their apparent quality. To naysayers, to the
18-to-49-year-olds who weren’t there when you needed them, I can only hope that they come to recognize the spirit and heart that you are sure to generate in future endeavors.
        There’s so much I have yet to say in gratitude, in humor, and in admiration, and I hope that one day I may have the opportunity right here on WaldenPonders, because it would not exist without your example.
        After all, Oprah couldn’t have become Oprah without making a few       (see: innumerable) right decisions along her journey. In my opinion,
“The Rosie Show” was most certainly one of them.
        As I conclude, I’m reminded of an autograph I received as a kid which you inscribed, “You rock.” And so I say the same to you, Rosie.
       Rock on, sistafriend, rock on.