On Demand Weekly

Media savant T Tara Turk goes deep inside cable TV to reveal Video On Demand's Hidden Gems so even the busiest of our readers can get the most out of On Demand TV. Tell Tara what VOD shows you think deserves her attention.

Oprah's Life Class (VOD Hidden Gem)

By T. Tara Turk

I loved college and grad school. I loved it so much, my fantasy is to one day go back and study history as a hobby and get featured on a Ken Burns documentary. For you, I reveal my not so inner nerd happily. Now here’s a bit more of that revelation: I’m stanning (that slang for being a fan for you fogies) for Oprah’s Life Class.

I’ll admit I was VERY skeptical because OWN has not lived up to all my hopes and dreams as a channel aside from Lisa Ling’s Our America series. Behind the scenes of Oprah’s shows do not interest me as I wouldn’t want to see how Beyonce puts on Sasha Fierce or how Michael Kors designs a dress. In theory, these things SOUND fascinating but in reality, it could be like watching a real time clock movie.

But now that her Royal TV Highness has quit the biz and can devote some time to some programming, this Oprah’s Life Class seems to be her true calling. She’s an incredibly knowledgeable, seeming self effacing and honest person (I did read the unauthorized Kitty Kelly bio so some of that awe I had is a bit dusty but still there!). The way she speaks has eased millions of people into a sense of introspection that has rarely happened in television and it would be a shame to not use that gift for her new network.

I watched Letting Go of Anger and You Become What You Believe. Yes, these do sound like bumper stickers but it’s Oprah and this what she’s known for. She spoke to Terry McMillan (the great author and infamous woman scorned by ex who turned out to be gay), Jim Carrey (the man who wrote himself a $10 Million Dollar check he could cash soon after), JK Rowling (the woman who knew her story was gold even after a multitude of publishers said no) and Ralph Lauren (the man who said no to a famous department store and can now buy them outright).

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand and from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: THE TENTS (Gravitas).

THE TENTS

By Sky McCarthy

Calling all fashion lovers! Fashion enthusiasts and pop culture devotees will delight in THE TENTS, directed by James Belzer. From 1994 to Spring of 2010, Bryant Park symbolized a vision of American creativity and brought together a culture of designers under pristine white tents in the middle of Manhattan. This documentary provides an inside look into one of New York City’s most iconic events – New York Fashion Week. From its humble and sporadic beginnings in vacant SoHo lofts to its current location at Lincoln Center, Fashion Week in New York has catapulted the American fashion industry to the forefront of the market.

THE TENTS will be enjoyed not just by lovers of clothes but by New York historians and people interested in the business of brand creation. Through interviews with top designers like Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Zac Posen and more, Belzer brings to life an industry known for its exclusivity. The director also makes the case that young designers who are rarely given a chance in other markets have been able to flourish under the guidance of the CFDA.

Today, New York Fashion Week is more than just the shows. THE TENTS goes beyond the runway to explore how the fashion industry has evolved in the U.S. While youthful looks and beauty reign supreme, it is usually the older clientele purchasing the couture styles. Modern designers must adapt their brand with ready-to-wear and sportswear lines to compete in larger markets.