Jay Leno made TV history last week as the debut of the new "Jay Leno Show" on NBC marked the first time any big Network ran a series five nights a week during primetime hours. Anticipation for the new show was markedly high as more than 18 million viewers tuned in for the big debut.
The show's ratings dropped throughout the week, but even though Leno faces stiff competition in the ten o'clock hour- from shows like "CSI Miami" and "The Mentalist"- NBC hopes that the low cost of the show will help generate higher profits. "If you've watched promos for this new show 'Trauma,' we can do three shows in what it takes to blow up the helicopter in the promo," Leno joked in a conference call last week.
"The Jay Leno Show" features some of the tonight show's most popular elements from "The Tonight Show," including "Jaywalking" and Jay's opening monologue, but the new show intends to focus more on conversation and comedy. Some critics have dubbed the show a near repeat of "The Tonight Show," but USC students seemed impressed by and excited about Leno's new changes.
For more reviews of "The Jay Leno Show" click here.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Discovering My Online Identity
I know you’ve done it. In the privacy of your bedroom, you're all alone, you’re feeling curious, a little bored and all of a sudden you take the plunge and... google yourself. Prompted by a recent class on Online Media I started to question how my name looked online. I've always believed in the importance of maintaining a positive reputation. But what happens when your reputation is out of your hands and suddenly in placed the hands of anyone with computer access? Well, my discovery begins...
This tale starts out tragically. As I took to google to type in my little anonymous name I expected maybe some articles on me from high school or facebook information. Instead I found wretched and devastating news: my name is famous... and not by my doing. 
That's when my information started trickling in. My online footprint is pretty lacking, but it did give me-pretending to be a judgmental stranger- some input. The most informational results were my facebook and twitter accounts. Links to these accounts were uncomfortably personal and I never really considered the fact that keeping my twitter account open means that every single person on the internet knows when I'm walking my dog. My facebook account is private but I still have close to two thousand friends (and I just weeded out everyone I didn't know this summer... which leaves me wondering how is it possible to know 2,000 people?!) I've often considered deleting my facebook but in the end I cannot break the sick addiction that consumes me. Also, how would I keep in touch with the people that aren't quite phone-conversation-worthy? You know who those people are: the kid that grew up on your street that you haven't seen in 8 years, the high school crush that is on year 6 in college and worsens with age (much to your happiness), the frenemy you love to stalk that's living a fabulous life abroad. Isn't it just integral that I know what these very important people did last night and what their favorite movies are? Definitely.
In the end, after perusing a few other search engines, I realized that having a famous namesake has some perks. If anyone googles me, even with specific information, this bifocaled name-twin pops up in every single result. My 8 results are buried under her accolades and that's just fine with me because hopefully my less flattering results will be buried too. I was surprised at how little information there was on the web about me but I was also quite relieved. The juiciest bits I found were pictures of me as a Debutante in 2006... no need to scream with excitement. Of course I'm devising ways to outshine the "other" Jessica Hagy and claim the throne as the most important, but until then I'll live happily as a slightly anonymous online identity.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Tire Swing Princess
Once aloft my tree, I passed my
Royal time. Beneath the yawning
Oak leaves- my palace ‘neath the sky.
Ladies and Knights from ancient lands-
Cul-de-sacs afar, beheld my
Sacred song, bringing gifts- a rubber band,
Or a butterfly jarred.
Perched I chirped and twirled about
Those below would gasp,
“Behold the princess of oak tree palace”
As I swung and flew right past.
The aching oak held back the sound
Of mother’s yells and brother’s groans.
I did not care ‘bout those on ground
When up upon my rubber throne.
The jester squirrel would dance along
Earth-covered leaves kept beat and time,
Dancing to my royal Queen song,
As backup wind would softly chime.
When dusk drew near and arithmetic called
The royal court would retreat ‘neath the front yard
Wall and the Oak’s sappy tears would fall.
I dismounted my throne and then was small.
By Jessica Hagy
April 2008
Monday, June 1, 2009
Can't Miss Vintage: Shock and Soul
Set right near the bustling alley of London’s Camden Passage lies the Mecca of 80’s apparel and punk flair: Shock and Soul vintage.
Filled with racks of neon, white washed denim and worn black leather, the shop is a kaleidoscope of color and quirks.
Shoulder pads stick playfully from racks as glittering dresses flirt with customers and stunning vintage chairs invite shoppers to relax.
The usual customer is someone “who wants to be different or unusual, doesn’t want to look the same as everyone else, and likes something exclusive that’s vintage,” manager Bex Ward says.
On a Monday afternoon the shop is definitely full with those who “want to be unusual,” but it is equally full of the very usual-looking schoolgirls and soccer moms; the reincarnation of Joan Jett stands directly beside Martha Stewart’s greatest fan and no one seems to mind.
The welcoming of a myriad of personalities seems to be due to the appeal of the apparel, but it might also be due to the persona of Shock and Soul’s owner.
“She’s got a great eye and a good sense of humor. She projects a lot of her big personality into the shop,” Ward says.
The shop began on EBay and only translated into the Islington High Street store a year and a half ago.
Though Shock and Soul items can still be found on EBay, the store has taken precedent.
“We do EBay but it’s hard to concentrate on that with the shop cause the shop’s been so successful,” Ward says.
The success of the shop is clearly evident in the bustling store. Customers shop breezily and most leave happy.
According to Ward, Shock and Soul really values the shopping experience.
“We leave space in the rail so you can actually see the goods and everything’s in really good condition. It’s all washed and steamed and hung and checked for repairs before it goes out so where as in a lot of other vintage stores it’s the rummaging through that takes up the time, we and try and take the headache out of that for the customer,” Ward says.
In fact, Shock and Soul doesn’t consider itself a traditional vintage store at all.
“We do really pride ourselves on everything being quality. There are a lot of other vintage shops but we consider ourselves to be more of a specialized boutique,” Ward says.
Specialized service is also valued at the shop.
“If someone comes in the shop and they’re not really sure what they’re looking for, we’ll style them in the shop and take them around to the pieces that we know will look good on them,” Ward says.
Though this treatment sounds quite special, it’s known that store attendants tend to be on overly kind with wardrobe assessments when it comes to possible sales.
“We are very honest with our customers as well and I think that brings people back. We would never try to sell them something that doesn’t suit them,” Ward says.
Though style may differentiate between customers, the definitively 80’s theme has been a huge selling point for the shop in the past few months.
“Eighties is in high demand. We do try and sort of maintain other eras throughout the store as well but obviously when the customers are coming in specifically looking for the eighties then that’s what we’re going to supply for them,” Ward says.
So this may not be the place to pick up a new fifties cocktail dress or a seventies maxi gown. But Shock and Soul does have some other surprises up its (sequined and beaded) sleeve.
“The corsets are a new addition and they’ve been doing really well, they’ve been really popular which is quite a surprise but because its got that very vintage look its been really popular,” Ward says.
The stunning but completely unpractical lingerie seems like a strange purchase, but lo and behold shoppers buzz about the corset display like bees on honey. Perhaps it’s because they love lingerie, but more likely it’s because the corsets are new and different and the shoppers trust Shock and Soul’s sense of style enough to go with it.
But if previously worn intimates aren’t your thing, the shop also boasts some never-been-worn finds.
“We’re really lucky to have a stock of original 80’s earrings that have never been worn. So they’re really popular, we’re quite well known for the accessories as well,” Ward says.
Though it’s the quality and uniqueness of the products that may draw shoppers in, it’s the attention to detail and reputation that keeps customers coming back.
“We’re always on the up. We’re always doing better and better as the reputation of the shop spreads because we don’t do a lot of marketing in terms of advertising and stuff like that. We try to let the shop speak for itself,” Ward says.
I imagine that if a shop could really speak for itself, this one might yell out some 1980’s Madonna lyrics and pump its leather fist in the air.
This eccentricity is evident from the sparkly pumps on the floor, to the patent leather clutches hanging from the ceiling.
It seems, that in the end, Shock and Soul cares about its customers, but really cares about the integrity of the clothes.
“With vintage it’s very personal, we need people to look good in that particular item. Id rather see it go to someone who’s going wear it than for it to sit in someone’s wardrobe,” Ward says.
That passion for the clothes is evident in Shock and Soul, and even if you don’t possess an innate love of the 80’s, once you leave the shop you’ll be humming Madonna’s “material girl” too.
Shock and Sole Vintage
100 Islington High Street
London N1 8EG
020 7359 1490
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