Best TV Series of Summer 2013

If you're a TV-show junkie like me, you know that this summer was full of incredible series premieres/ new seasons. I for one, have been choosing Netflix over real time TV but there are, of course, the exception for these shows!

The shows I've obsessed over this past summer:

These six shows top my list for the best series of summer 2013. If you haven't seen them, pick one and start your binge-watching! (OITNB's entire first season is available on Netflix, Ray Donovan & Dexter are available OnDemand or on SHO Anytime, Suits & Graceland are available OnDemand or on the USA Network site, and Twisted is available OnDemand, or through the ABC Family site/app.)

The good thing about TV is that there are always new premieres each season... which means there are already shows to start obsessing over this fall! :) Take a look at some shows that I already love/am super excited for!
1. The return of "New Girl" (probably my favorite show at the moment.)
2. The return of "The Mindy Project" (Mindy Kaling is hilarious. Not to mention, the line-up of guest stars for this season looks so good! James Franco, Kendra Wilkinson, Josh Peck, etc. And congrats to Adam Pally, former Happy Endings star, for being casted as a new series regular!)
3. "Dads" (so funny!)
4. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Adam Sandberg. That's all you need to know.)
5. Super Fun Night (set to premiere on ABC 10/2 with the hilarious Rebel Wilson as the star! I'm so excited for this - watch the trailer right here.)
6. Ravenswood (set to premiere on ABC Fam on 10/22, right after PLL's halloween episode!)

P.S I know there are a ton more great shows out there, so feel free to comment/suggest anything! Click here to follow me on twitter.

Dexter - Series Finale

*THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Okay, so if you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw my endless tweets/rants about the series finale of Dexter. For some strange reason, I have zero friends who watch this incredible show and so I had to take my thoughts/heartache to to my followers. It was a pretty intense season and honestly, I had no idea how it would all play out so it was pretty shocking. I didn't watch the finale in real time last Sunday, but I did watch it last night and it mainly consisted of me yelling out my frustrations to the TV. Did Deb really have to get shot?! AGAIN?! Not to mention how she ended up BRAINDEAD after telling Quinn she loved him. (UGH) I had been rooting for their reunion as a couple for so long, and was completely devastated that they couldn't end up together. Debra Morgan was a huge favorite of mine, I always wanted things to work out for her. As for Dexter, I WISH HE KNEW HOW INCREDIBLE HE REALLY WAS! I get the whole "blaming yourself for every bad thing that happens" bit but I sincerely don't think he was a danger/threat to his loved ones, why couldn't he see that?! *sigh* The last scene of the finale completely shattered me (along with the Dex/Harrison goodbye scene at the bus stop AND the final "i love you" on their last phone call, of course.) By that point, I was already in tears yelling out "Don't you dare do this Dexter! Do not leave your child behind!!!!" But, we don't always get what we want unfortunately.
After the finale, I looked to twitter to see what people in the twitterverse were thinking. Majority seemed 100% unsatisfied with the way things panned out, and thought it was a horrible ending to a great show. I disagree. Yes, I'm heartbroken over the way it ended and the fact that it's all over, but I do feel like it fit the show. After eight seasons of ups and downs, there's no way Dexter could have ended on a happy note. It just would've felt too fake, you know? This finale made people feel things - whether it was heartache or anger. Isn't that what all great shows aspire to do? Provoke emotion? Plus, the controversy made it a topic that no one will ever stop talking about. Great job, directors. And of course, phenomenal job, cast. Michael C. Hall, you are legendary.

P.S If it seems like I'm overly attached to this series and the characters, it's because I am.
So goodbye Dexter, you will be missed.

(Thank God for OnDemand & the SHO Anytime app so we can all relive this glorious show whenever our heart desires.)

• An NYT critic says "the 'Dexter' finale had one of the saddest endings ever on a primetime show." Click here to read more about that.
• If you're interested in reading an alternate ending to Dexter, given by former show producer, Clyde Phillips, click here. (It sounds like an awesome idea but it still would've left me just as heartbroken..)

Thoughts? Opinions? If you're a fellow Dexter fan, feel free to comment this post. Unless it's too soon... I get it guys, take your time to mourn for this show.

Cher Lloyd's "I Wish Tour", NYC

Cher Lloyd's "I Wish" tour hit NYC last Saturday (9/7/13) and the Queen of Brats did not disappoint. She had three insanely talented acts open up for her which included Swedish singer Zara Larsson, Cali native Jackson Guthy, and XFactor's fan favorite Fifth Harmony. The different sounds/style from these artists are what made the show so fun to watch! I had never heard of Zara before that night, but I am SO glad I got to see her perform. I'm totally in love with her voice, style, and overall persona. (she's definitely an artist to watch!) Unfortunately, her EP isn't available in the US iTunes store just yet, but you can go to her official YouTube channel and check out her music! Jackson Guthy is such an adorable performer - he hyped up the entire crowd with his music & awesome dancers! (Totally bummed he didn't sing 'Roll' though..) Fifth Harmony slayed the stage, as a l w a y s. They sang some new songs that are expected to show up in their upcoming "Better Together" EP (available for Pre-order here) If you haven't already ordered it, do it now! It's less than $5 and totally worth it. As for the main act, the queen of the brats - Cher Lloyd, I couldn't have been more impressed. She never fails to show off her genuine love for music and her incredible vocals. She played some new songs and announced that her upcoming album will hopefully be available in November! She sounded flawless and was so interactive with the crowd- it was impossible not to have just as much fun as she was! The little speech she made at the end of the show about how grateful she was for her fans was the most sweetest thing! Here's some of my videos/photos from that night! ♥

  

Slideshow of pictures available! (: 

Alexz Johnson

Let's bring it back to 2004 real quick, if you watched "The-N" (now known as TeenNick,) then you knew/loved the show "Instant Star." The show followed the career (and all the struggles that came along) of a girl who was catapulted into superstardom after winning a singing contest. Since the show revolved around a singer, we got new music in every episode. Alexz, as you'll hear in this clip, has some serious vocals and, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated artists. Even though the show ended in 2008 & her Instant Star days are long behind her, I still listen to this show's soundtrack like, religiously. Here's a list of the show's greatest hits; If you've never heard of Alexz or the show, just give the music a chance.

2012-In PA.

2011-NJ.

               She's definitely one of the people who've inspired me the most, musically. I seriously admire her so much for always keeping her music true to herself, and for all the honesty that she puts into her songwriting. The first time I met her was at a concert in NJ where Jimmy Robbins was playing - Alexz had tweeted that she might "make an appearance" and so, on the off chance of meeting her, I bought tickets. I ended up spotting her at the merch table and it doesn't seem like a big deal, I know, but it was huge to me: meeting the girl who inspired me to make music a part of my life. The second time I met her, my sister had driven us all the way to PA (after begging her, of course.) It was the first time I got to actually hear her sing live, and honestly, it's incredible how flawless her voice is. You know those people who can belt out any note and not even look like they're trying? That's Alexz. Her setlist included songs from her Skipping Stone EP, and her stage presence was amazing. The only thing that could have possibly made it better was if she sang an Instant Star song (I think the whole crowd would've died) but it was still one of the best shows I've gone to. I could honestly go on and on about my love for this girl but the music speaks for itself. Here's some videos I recorded from the 2012 show!

And to anyone wondering, Alexz is working on an album now! She also announced a 2014 European tour, so if you're an international reader - CHECK HER OUT. (: