Best of the Rest

TV Drama: Mad Men

There's a reason the seasons of "Mad Men" are so short (a mere 13 episodes) and spaced so far apart (nearly 10 months between season two and season three, which aired this fall on AMC). Just read any interview with creator Matthew Weiner, and he'll tell you how much work goes into crafting each episode of the 1960s period drama about ruthless ad execs and the immaculately dressed, tiny-waisted women that color their worlds. The show has received critical acclaim, including three Golden Globes and nine Emmys, for its meticulous attention to detail - there was even a story in the New York Times Dining section this summer about the historical accuracy of the cocktails that the characters drink. Of course, such scrupulous production work takes time, and as a result, the show moves at a snail's pace ... but we're not complaining. "Mad Men" is like a fine glass of protagonist Don Draper (Jon Hamm)'s favorite bourbon whiskey: Its flavors unfold slowly, mysteriously. There are no blockbusting cliffhangers or dramatic musical punctuation here - just careful plot development and beautiful styling. "Mad Men" must be savored.

-Isia Jasiewicz

TV Comedy: Parks and Recreation

When "Parks and Recreation" debuted last spring, it didn't seem like Thursday night needed another mockumentary-style workplace comedy featuring an oblivious boss and oddball colleagues. But what started as a much-maligned knockoff of "The Office" somehow turned into the funniest show on TV this season, exploring the inanities of small-time government while letting different comedic styles - from deadpan to improvisational to a sometimes "Simpsons"-esque absurdity - play off each other. Amy Poehler's relentlessly eager mid-level bureaucrat still has me cringing often enough, but this season the show has turned the hyper-competent, over-eager deputy director into a character who has can give as good as she gets. It took nearly two seasons for me to learn to not only love, but also respect Michael Scott, but it took "Parks and Recreation" only six so-so episodes to figure out they could mine more humor from a fully-developed supporting cast than from 30 minutes of schadenfreude. As "The Office" starts to seem stale and "30 Rock" returns to the same well of cheap gags each week, "P&R" has surprisingly become the best thing about the night.

-Esther Breger

Nassau Eatery: Twist

Dear bank account, I have a confession to make: This spring, I stole five dollars from you every single day to spend on frozen yogurt. I couldn't help it; it was a crime of the heart. See, I fell in love, madly in love ... with Twist. I wasn't even a huge fro-yo fan before, but Twist's tangy Eurotart - think Greek yogurt, frozen so that it's icy and smooth and slides down your throat - has made me a convert. But let's face it. The real reason we all love Twist isn't even the yogurt. It's the toppings. Fruit, nuts and candy, oh my! And then there are those weird dusty white things called mochi. I'm told they're Asian rice-based gummy snacks, but all I really know is that they're chewy, cool, sweet and - like everything else at Twist - absolutely delicious.

-Isia Jasiewicz

Art Exhibit: Gifts from the Ancestors: Ancient Ivories of the Bering Straits

With its unique combination of fine art and historical narrative, "Gifts from the Ancestors" brings viewers into contact with a culture they would not otherwise experience. The exhibit displays nearly 200 carved ivories (the oldest believed to be from 100 A.D.), many of which served a dual purpose as both decorated object and useful tool. One particularly stunning example is a reconstructed harpoon with a socket piece in the form of polar. In fact, watch for a variety of human and zoomorphic forms in the sculptures. And the best part? The show doesn't close at the University Art Museum until Jan. 10, so it's not too late to have a look.

-Kate Benner

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Dance Show: diSiac presents ‘Borderlines'

A dazzling visual spectacle, diSiac's "Borderlines" fused dynamic choreography and raw emotion with impressive lighting and multimedia. Pieces exploring sacrifice, isolation and identity questioned what happens when we break through the boundaries society creates in everyday life. From touching to sensual, dark to uplifting, this collection of student-choreographed pieces showcased versatility in both the dancers and choreographers. Though the music in the show ranged from "Shots" by LMFAO to the spoken-word "Dimensions" by Lisa Einstein '13, a coherent message was maintained throughout. Beyond the technical precision characteristic of diSiac performances, the powerful emotion in pieces like "I Wish I Could Be There" and "A Fading Reminder" was nothing short of breathtaking. Taking full advantage of what Berlind Theatre has to offer, multimedia was also incorporated into pieces like "POL 114: American Interventionist Diplomacy," which used the booming tenor of President Obama's voice to add a layer of political commentary. The cheering crowd said it all: diSiac certainly succeeded in crossing borderlines and exceeding expectations.

-Bruce Easop

Concert: GZA

Princeton's best concert of 2009? That's easy to answer: GZA, Terrace Club, almost exactly one month ago. A simple testament to this was the attendance of several employees of my residential dining hall, who were bumping to the music at the back of the venue.

Opening for The Genius was sexagenarian dirty rapper Blowfly, who appeared clad in a bedazzled wrestling costume, complete with cape and mask. While flipping the audience off with his coke-length fingernails and massaging his crotch with remarkable regularity, the old man performed such gems as "Should I Fuck This Big Fat Ho?" Enough said.

Once Blowfly wrapped up, the delay between sets was agonizing. The crowd was uncomfortably crammed, and despite several rousing chants, the DJ had to spin back the "Shogun Assassin" intro track twice because of GZA's conspicuous absence. (Apparently, he was blazing.) Ultimately, though, the wait was worth it. At a fever pitch of excited anticipation, the legendary rapper made his entrance, and a concentrated mass of sweaty, bouncing college kids enveloped the performance area.

GZA performed a balanced set that incorporated well-known crowd-pleasers drawn from "Liquid Swords," party-banging throwbacks like "C.R.E.A.M." and "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and lesser-known songs that showcased his lyrical ingenuity. Highlights included a moment when he completely blanked on a verse but was able to triumphantly bring it back, as well as the few times he dropped the beat and spat impressive a cappella free-styles. Also striking was his live delivery, which reflected his own unique cadence as a laid-back, intellectual emcee. Whether it was because of this distinct energy, or simply the "oh shit it's GZA" factor, the crowd was unquestionably amped for the entire performance.

It was this charged atmosphere that really set the experience apart, because what truly made the GZA concert at Terrace so tremendous was its raw intensity. There was a complete lack of formality and theatrics - no steroid-addled bouncer ushering you back three steps or snide hipster mandating you sit down and watch a projector screen. The show was just a tight, huddled sphere of kids with GZA situated in the dead center, rhyming his ass off for a solid hour. As the saying goes: Wu-Tang Clan ain't nothin' to fuck with.

-Sebastian Franco