I Keep Forgetting

I keep forgetting that all of you who read this blog are not part of the rabid fans like I am. Oh, I know some of you are exactly like I am and could write this blog — meaning you could keep it supplied with the information over which so many salivate. Case in point is Richard Armitage leaving the Old Vic. I’ve long since looked at the YT clip of him leaving the theater after the plays. I figured anyone who read this blog had already looked at it too. But I was wrong. I’ve had emails and Facebook messages asking me about any word on footage or pictures of him at the theater, so here it is:

I love the YT user’s name, smartandcleverlass. Yes, she is, and I appreciate her grabbing this candid shot for all of us to drool over. But as I started to drool, I have to confess I had some hesitation. I began to feel sorry for RA, and the crap he must go through. His acting is wonderful, and I’ve already said I would love to see him on stage. That would be the ultimate experience of his acting for me. But I really can’t see myself following him out the door to take a shot of him with my phone. Maybe I sound like a hypocrite and one day may prove myself a liar, but I know my gut would be screaming: NO, DON’T DO IT! leave the guy be. Or perhaps I’m just a coward.

But enough of my conscience rearing its ugly head. Oh hell, I would just like a chance to find out if I would have a conscience. It would be a dream to go to one of his performances, but ever lurking at the back of my mind is this question: would I wait at the stage door to see RA afterward? I honestly don’t know. As I think about it now, I would feel like a fool doing that. No, I wasn’t kidding when I said I have too much pride to posture as a fangurl in public. I just can’t see it, but then I might let myself get caught up in the hysteria and do it anyway. Man, I am a coward.

I was talking with a fellow Armitage lover this evening, and she asked if I would go to the stage door if she dragged me there, and I said, “Of course, ’cause then I could blame it on you.” :D

Sometimes I wonder if I should have named this blog ‘The Reluctant Fan.’ That really is the best description of me, but I think that domain name was taken. All I know is I have fought this from the beginning and still fight it. I mentally slap myself about once a week. So my post about still stopping is describing a frequent occurrence. Maybe I shouldn’t write this post, but I must do it to at least fool myself into thinking I’m still sane. Momma didn’t raise a fool, so I’m trying to make her proud, but then Momma would go to the stage door. LOL! Maybe I should stop fighting my genes? Either that or take up drink. No, that will never happen. I’ve been too up close and personal with alcoholics, and that, my friends is about as revealing as I’m going to be on this blog.

Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com

November 27, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 30 Comments

This is the Way to Sell Newspapers!

This is a public service announcement for some of you chocolate lovers out there. :D

I received a little treat in my inbox today, but alas I can’t claim it. In case any of you John Thornton fans and chocolate lovers in the UK missed this, I thought I would bring it to your attention. Here’s the deal:

“Free chocolates for every reader!” according to the Daily Mail:


We have teamed up with Thornton’s to offer all our readers a delicious chocolate treat from the nation’s favourite British chocolate company.
chocs

Buy the Daily Mail on Saturday November 6 to claim yours free!

Simply buy the Daily Mail on Saturday November 6 where you will find a Voucher printed. Then take the Voucher along to your nearest Thorntons store to redeem your free bag of Viennese Truffles.

Read the rest here.

Now if Thorntons Chocolate would just figure out they have a goldmine in Richard Armitage.

If I had time, I would make a mock up bag for them. Perhaps someone resourceful out there can do it!

November 5, 2010
Categories: Fandom, North and South . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 1 Comment

Have You Been Drafted?

[note: Also read “Where’s the Bunny” and “Are You A Fangirl?” to ensure you are adequately indoctrinated into this fine madness]

November 1, 2010

It’s interesting to talk to people around the RA universe about the Armitage Army. Over the last couple of years I’ve found that many I talk to do not consider themselves part of this phenomenon even if they did at the beginning of it, and newcomers really don’t consider themselves part of it. This determination is mostly made on lack of participation with a particular website. I can see where some might think that’s the criterion for membership since it was at the beginning. But it’s become apparent after three years of observing this fandom, that the term Armitage Army long ago transcended association with a particular website.

All of that begs the question: who exactly is the Armitage Army? To answer that, it’s important to understand how it came into existence. It’s my understanding that the characterization began with a Yahoo group who was dubbed that by a participant’s husband, and the press picked up on it. The press has more or less become the arbiter of its meaning since then. I did suggest as “the real me” (as if I’m not real here LOL!) that perhaps some of the principals in the fandom could do something to take control of this image, but that was met with resistance. Fair enough. The media’s take on the Army is where the definition remains, and as I said in my last post, I suspect publicists have something to do with it as well.

So how does someone join the Army? From reading countless blogs and articles on Richard Armitage or watching countless interviews with him over several years, it would seem the press characterizes any female fan who manifests herself in some way to Richard Armitage through letters, standing on the red carpet or sending gifts (appropriate or otherwise) as a member of the Army. But membership was initially and is most importantly a female fan who makes her comments known in cyberworld. If you’re a male fan, then you get a pass on being drafted.

Let me make this plain. If you have made comments somewhere in cyberworld (yes, this includes comment sections of individual blogs) or God forbid you run a site or blog that focuses on Richard Armitage even a little bit in a complimentary way, you are probably a de facto member of the Armitage Army. Therein lies the rub for some of you who want to run like hell away from this. My advice: get over the rub and let’s have some fun with this. Two (or more LOL!, oh heck, all of us) can play this game, and I think Richard Armitage has a great sense of humor and is probably laughing himself silly at some of the stuff that’s happened. He DID NOT have to mention the pants from the fan in Australia. C’mon, he’s not stupid. He did it because it’s funny, and it makes good copy! I for one intend to enjoy the joke even if some consider me part of the butt.

I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said:

Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Well, I don’t feel inferior and neither should any of you. This is supposed to be fun, and I for one am having a blast. By the way, if you don’t have a blog, you cannot imagine how freeing it is to sit here and type this post. If anyone is tempted to jump in with their own, do it! As long as you don’t come with the attitude of hell hath no fury like a blogger scorned, you should do fine.

Man, I knew all those years of dealing with bs would come in handy. I’m seriously thinking of adding the tag “bs.”

I started to call this piece “Have You Been Shanghaied?” but my pc gene reared its ugly head. It just wasn’t strong enough to keep me from posting the picture below. This is what I think of when I think of the negative comments about the Armitage Army — Bob Geldof in ‘The Wall.’

Oh, there’s another Eleanor Roosevelt quote that comes to mind, but I’m not going to say it. If you want it, send me an e-mail.

November 1, 2010
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 24 Comments

What’s So Fearsome?

So Richard Armitage has a fearsome army. But we’re a bunch of pussycats, aren’t we?

Whatever has happened, somewhere along the way this Army has begun to be characterized as something powerful. What else am I to make of such descriptions as “slightly terrifying” or “advancing angrily?” Wow. The Army sounds like a threat. Fear not my fellow troops, we are not a threat. We just make damn good copy. :D

The only trick is for us not to succumb to this kind of talk and go into a full-scale defense. Frankly, if my piddly words about Richard Armitage and the words on a few other blogs and forums or some comments here or there have that much power, then damn! we need to start putting up ads and making some MONEY! Yeah, I like the sound of that. ;-)

Bark off the tree: my jaded self has a hard time believing Richard is really that bothered by all of us, and I sense the work of a publicist. Yep, there’s some manipulation going on, and that screams publicist. If anything, we have been a great means of helping Richard get some press. After a while it’s a little hard to believe he’s trying to marginalize the Army when so many articles have “us” mentioned and sometimes featured.

I will reiterate that this has bored me to tears in the past. When I first started reading articles about RA, I wanted to read about him and not a bunch of women like me. I could think of nothing more BORING. No offense to any of you. But as things go on, I think this is funny as hell, and I’m running with it. Just as Richard has. Smart boy.

And if my gut is wrong about all of this, well, that husband who hung the moniker on us is getting a wonderful revenge! I would so love to know about that guy and if he really exists. Truly, I am curious about him and have been since I heard he was the unsuspecting genius who coined the term.

Note to unsuspecting genius:

Dude,

Too bad you couldn’t make any money on this, or maybe you did. LOL!

Signed,
One of Richard’s crazy fans

November 1, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Spooks . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 12 Comments

Tangent: All About Viggo

Okay, okay, I get it! I’ve just gotten a slew of e-mails from people wanting Viggo links. So here is a link with his art, writing and music, and another with links to links to his CDs. Enjoy!

And of course I must have a picture:

I’m sure this isn’t enough, but it will get you started. LOL!

By the way, ‘Eastern Promises’ was good, but it’s not for the fainthearted.

I hope some of you listened to that interview in the last post. It’s great, and sadly, RA can probably commiserate with him about some of the fans.

October 31, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Tangents, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

They Won’t Know What Hit ‘em

The recent news that Richard Armitage is cast in ‘The Hobbit’ has some speculating about his abilities, and for some he comes up wanting. As a former skeptic of Mr. Armitage, I don’t care what they think. Once they actually watch him in action, all that negative talk will be a thing of the past. Oh, I’m sure there will be a few naysayers. Aren’t there always? But those aside, most will be pleased with his performance. The guy can pull off just about anything. I have yet to see him in drag, but somehow I feel sure he could pull that off too. LOL!

Now where was I?

Oh, yeah, RA was cast in a big budget movie!!! Someone slap me ’cause I think I’m dreaming. But really it makes sense. He’s just that good. Am I biased? Damned right, but it’s my gut that dictates it, and rarely is it wrong. Sounds arrogant I know, but it’s true. You can ask SO, but then I’m keeping SO to myself, and he doesn’t get to read this blog and interact with any of you here. I just get to talk about him. Along with talking about Richard Armitage.

For anyone new who has landed here out of curiosity about Richard’s work, you can see several different clips on my “Who’s Richard Armitage?” page or at RichardArmitageNet.Com, aka the mother lode, or if you’re in a hurry, you can watch a showreel of his work:

Showreels courtesy of Elvira Sweeney and uploaded here with express permission.

October 29, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Fanvids, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 14 Comments

I Can’t Help Myself

So Richard did an interview for Woman’s Weekly (actually it sounds like another interview and maybe they just picked it up? even the picture was a recycle), and now we know where the underpants came from, but knowing Mulubinba, I know it was not her. She has too much class for that! And I thought that even before I read her piece.

But take note, fellow fans, this interview is why I will never send a letter to Richard Armitage. I’m too proud, and not afraid to admit it. LOL! The real issue is that there is too much room for things being misconstrued. Okay, I did throw in with Nat’s letter, but that was different; it was about Nat. Plus, Nat’s a class act who is obviously funny and respectful, and if Richard Armitage doesn’t appreciate that, then he’s not who I’ve been led to believe. By the way, I’ve been wondering about that letter lately. Nat?

All of this begs a fake fan letter.

Dear Richard,

I love your honesty. It’s startling sometimes how honest you are, and I felt for you when some fans got their knickers in a twist about your comments awhile back and you felt compelled to address them. A word of advice from someone who understands what it feels like to live in a glass house: if someone gets their knickers messed up over this interview, I hope you ignore those people and don’t feel the need (out of being so nice) to respond. You can never appease your critics and that includes fans. Hey, I may be one of those fans who criticizes at times, and to be honest, I have and probably will again. That doesn’t mean I don’t love ya. I’m just really honest too.

But I have to chuckle at the response to this interview so far. Earlier I compared your words about fans like pebbles going into a pond. That picture is too serene. No, it’s like someone startling the hens in a coop. Thankfully, this hen is decidedly unstartled. Yeah, I think I said that earlier too. Sorry, my honesty gets the best of me sometimes, so I just blurt out what I’m thinking.

All of that aside, I’m curious about something. Is it possible to determine if a package is inappropriate before you open it? Maybe someone who has no emotional attachment to you can open the blasted stuff before you see it?

Sincerely,

One of your crazy fans (but not so crazy to send you underwear)

Oh, there is so much more to mine from that interview, but I’ve got to stop. Maybe more later. For now I’m on my way out the door to somewhere else again. For those of you who know, I’ve got eight days until the season ends. I’m glad for my little SO, but I’m also tired and need a break!

edit: Late breaking news (for me anyway): it was Nat who sent the pants!! Say it ain’t so, Nat!! Oh wait, I should have finished the piece first. She’s full of it. ;-)

second edit: I really am trying to get out the door and apparently moving so fast, I forgot the link to the Woman’s Weekly article, and to say THANK YOU to RichardArmitageNet.Com for posting it.

October 22, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Interviews . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

Kool-Aid Anyone?

I finally posted my diary entry on ‘Between the Sheets’ (BTS) and granted, it was mostly a rant. I have many more thoughts about a lot of things including more on BTS. Heck, I have so many thoughts about so many things I probably couldn’t help but start a blog. I just wish I had the guts to publish more, and thankfully, all of my thoughts are not of Richard Armitage. Fascinating as he is, that would be dull indeed. But I must admit that I went through a period in my viewing of RA’s acting where I wondered more about him as a person and what motivated him. I am a human being who is intensely curious about many things not the least of which are people, so I couldn’t help but go there, and I still go there from time to time. Some of my diary entries tend to explore that a little more than others, and those entries are probably too candid for publication. I will attempt to edit them so they’re respectful but not so respectful they’re boring.

However I edit them, I do not want to lose my honest voice, but I would be lying if I said it’s not a temptation to do just that out of fear my thoughts might generate ill will. This is probably based on the experience that people do not like you if you disagree with them or say something even a little bit critical. I, on the other hand, almost love it when people disagree with me or criticize. It can make things very interesting, and it’s certainly when I learn the most. Perhaps this is a pitfall of being reared in a very antagonistic household where I could never make a statement without being compelled to defend it. The usual reaction to a declaration was, “I understand you think that, but why?” It was always why and a tendency to try to poke holes in what I was saying, so now I’m cursed to continue asking questions, but hopefully I don’t descend into ad hominem. Whatever the case, when someone questions my stance or flat out disagrees, I feel more at home. LOL!

And I have long since realized Richard Armitage was not conditioned to be a fighter as I’ve been. He’s more of a “lover,” or at least gives that appearance, and many of his fans appear to be like him, which puts me at odds with quite a few of them, and yep, I knew that when I started the blog. Apparently, I wasn’t daunted, and even though I tend toward antagonistic and snarky, I hope I have some courtesy.

I need a picture after that long-winded preface to coming entries:

series742a

If you want to see this picture in all its glory, click on it, and then zoom in. I feel like a little more objectification than usual. Maybe reviewing BTS brought that on. I encourage you to zoom in on this picture just to look at his mouth. I’ve made a big deal out of his jawline, but I’m not sure I could really tell you what I think of his mouth. Not ready to be quite that candid. LOL!

Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com, and I can’t thank them enough for doing all that they do.

October 21, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Spooks . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

I May Get Serious

….eventually or maybe not. I toyed with again getting on my soapbox about the spoilers for Spooks, but I caved the day before it aired. Yes, I am weak. So very weak, but then I had an enormous temptation, or maybe I was just looking for an excuse to fall off the wagon.

Someone sent me the audio of RA’s interview with David Stephenson. I’m so glad! It was a pleasure to listen. Thank you, friend for sending me that file, and unless David is under a rock about now, he had to know that file would be passed around. It’s profitable life was no more than a day. I just happen to have a great scruple about these things, so I’ll hop over there sometime and buy it for a pound and happily help with overhead. But I hope my friend doesn’t let this talk of scruples keep her or anyone else from sending me things in the future. LOL!

After I was done listening, I read the print article. Wow. What a difference. I realize Mr. Stephenson has only so much space to write, and he must capture what he feels is salient for readers, and I really appreciate the way he writes. Please keep it up! But the casual reader does not get to really appreciate RA’s wonderful sense of humor. You must listen to the audio for that.

Once I got done listening and reading that interview, my appetite was pretty whet, so it was easy to just gorge myself on the rest of the interviews. Some were a rehash with a few extra comments. In particular RA mentions in one of having performed astral projection, and my first thought was he might need some pants that don’t ride up for that. I was going to make hay out of this until I had my second thought — wondering which Avengers fly. Yes, yes, I admit I’m not up on my Avenger characters! But I may have to bone up in light of today’s developments. Look at the last few lines of this interview from a couple of days ago. That tease!

September 22, 2010
Categories: Captain America, Fandom, Interviews, Miscellaneous works, Movies, Rumors, Spoilers, Spooks . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 16 Comments

Okay, Who’s the Guilty Party?

No spoilers (that I know of) in this article linked below. Well there was one comment that some may consider a spoiler, but then again, it’s one you may want to know and possibly fantasize about before it happens.

But I have a question for all of our British cohorts. Is it the norm for British actors to talk about food this much? Or am I imagining that Richard talks about food a lot? Yes, that’s two questions. Oh, I’m not down on RA if he’s into food. I’m a huge, a big, uh an enthusiastic fan of food myself, so maybe it’s just me who thinks there is incessant talk of food. When I first came into this fandom, I remember hearing about him watching Nigella Lawson and fantasizing about kissing her after she had eaten a chunk of chocolate cake. I used to think it was because she was voluptuous………..excuse me, that thought still makes me dizzy. So I used to think it was Nigella’s figure that generated the fantasy, but now I’m wondering if that chunk of cake may have been a big part of it.

And speaking of chocolate, it seems that our Richard was once again asked about his fans. You’re wondering what chocolate has to do with his fans? You must be new. Aside from his voice being like chocolate if chocolate made a sound, can I see a show of hands of those who want to be schooled in the history of the chocolate pants? Never mind; I’m not quite sure of the history myself. I’ll just share with you that somewhere along the way some fans sent him some pants made of chocolate, or maybe that was just a crack from a reporter (see tenth paragraph). Whatever the case, it seems that Richard and pants of varying kinds go together as topics of discussion. Recently someone sent him a pair of pants “that don’t ride up your bum.” The good news is that I’ve put my bs detector away while reading some of these interviews, so I can go happily along wherever Richard leads. But damn I wish my imagination weren’t so vivid. Truly, I sometimes curse it. I won’t share all of my thoughts, but I must admit that I saw him on the floor in a Bridget Jones’ position when he mentioned these corrective pants.

In the meantime, I’m feverishly reading Blake by Peter Ackroyd. Phew, Blake would’ve had a field day with chocolate pants.

“Closer” article courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com

edit: okay, I was wrong; it’s the eleventh paragraph.

September 17, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Interviews, Spooks . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 15 Comments

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