Saturday, April 18, 2009

Best of the Week vol. XVII


Quote of the Week: I think Dick Cheney gets a bad rap. (Jeremy, Cupid)

Song of the Week: Hungry Like a Wolf – Duran Duran (Chuck)

Big News of the Week: A New Millennium Tea Party: Nothing more entertain when people make grand gestures but end up looking like idiots. Case in point when a bunch a yahoos littered the White House lawn with tea bags to protest the escalating taxes and all the bailouts. Now I am all for civil disobedience, but throwing individual tea bags lacks the gravitas of dumping crates of the stuff into the Boston Harbor.

Of course the irony of the whole thing is that original tea party wasn’t about high taxes. Remember the slogan: “No taxation without representation,” the people wanted to pay taxes, it is just they wanted the representation that should come along with paying it.

But that doesn’t top the most stupid tax related idea of the week. No, that goes to Texas Governor Rick Perry who suggested his state could secede from the Union because of the current tax situation. Yes, because the last time the state seceded when really well.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:

Yvonne Strahovski double fisting


Coalition Links of the Week:
Buzz took a look back at some of the best engagements (some broken, some still going strong) of the past TV season. (BuzzSugar)

This week, Sandie spoke with Eric Lange better known as Radzinsky on Lost about what is coming up for his character, his career, and more. (Daemon's TV)

Vance seriously can't get enough of the trailers for the new FOX musical TV show Glee. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace took an early look at HBO's Grey Gardens, a dramatized version of the cult 1973 documentary film, which stars Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange as Big Edie and Little Edie Beale. (Televisionary)

Jesse took issue with the tired old re-hashed formulas employed by the SNL folks on the most recent Zac Efron-hosted debacle. (TiFaux)

This week, theTVaddict.com is your source for Paley Festival '09 coverage with reports from Dr. Horrible, The Big Bang Theory, The Mentalist, Desperate Housewives, Pushing Daisies Battlestar Galactica and Caprica. (The TV Addict)

After listening to the latest music on 90210, Matt knew he had to include a section for it on TV Fanatic. (TV Fanatic)


Free Download of the Week: Funny the Way it Is – Dave Matthews Band (RCA Records): The new trend these days is to give your first single off your album for free as it has been used recently by Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Counting Crows, Keane, and Michelle Branch. You can add DMB to that list as for a limited time you can download their first song off of the upcoming Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King due out June 2nd. Granted all these “free” songs require joining their mailing list, by hey, it’s free and you can always unsubscribe.

Deal of the Week: ABC TV: Pre-Order the Latest Season and Save on Previous Seasons (Scrubs, Desperate Housewives)

Video of the Week: We are heading into wedding season and if there are any Bridezillas in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area that still needs musical entertainment, take a look at the ad below for Here Comes Treble:



Next Week Pick of the Week: Locked Up Abroad, Wednesday at 10:00 on the National Geographic Channel: When the press release was sent out for this season of Locked Up Abroad, each episode was accompanied with a quote and two stood out above the rest. I already talked about the season premiere when one of the people uttered, “Sarah’s not only destroyed my life, but she’s also destroyed my faith in humanity.” This week features my other favorite, “I was the only American in jail and I was wearing a dress, and that’s probably not a good combination in a Mexican jail.” If that doesn’t make for Must See TV, I don’t know what will.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Around the Tubes vol. VII


I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on My Boys, Neighbors from Hell, Jimmy Fallon, New World Order, Earth Day, and Friday Night Lights.

- When I was previewing the new season of My Boys, I mentioned they would be participation in the game board decathlon and that episode is coming up this Tuesday. Then right after the show, you can head over to TBS.com to participate in a web chat with cast members Jordana Spiro (PJ), Kellee Stewart (Stephanie), Jamie Kaler (Mike), Reid Scott (Brendan), Mike Bunin (Kenny) and Kyle Howard (Bobby) beginning at 11:00 EST.

- TBS is also going to get into the animation game with the announcement that they have greenlit Neighbors from Hell. No word on a voice cast or an air date, but is coming from the Fox Animation and DreamWorks studio. Here is a synopses:

Neighbors from Hell centers on the Hellmans, a typical, all-American suburban family, with Balthazor; his wife, Tina; their two children, Mandy and Josh; and their dog, Pazuzu. The only thing that distinguishes them from the rest of the folks in the neighborhood is that the Hellmans happen to be from Hell. They have been sent to Earth to pose as normal suburbanites with a mission to keep humans from finding their way to Hell. Their task is made all the more complicated by Balthazor’s growing affection for humans and their odd but endearing qualities.


- Can’t say I have caught Jimmy Fallon yet on account it is on well past my bedtime, but whenever The Roots jam with someone I try to run down a video of that. But apparently he is running his own The Hills type reality called 7th Floor West. Below is the first part of the latest “episode,” for the second part, head over to NBC.com.



- This past week on Rescue Me we saw Franco spout his crackpot conspiracy theories about 9/11 and the reason why the writers gave him this to do is because the actor that portrays him Daniel Sunjata actually believes it and is appearing in a new documentary New World Order which premieres on IFC May 26 (and On Demand April 16). Below is a trailer:



- Next week is Earth Day and in honor of that next Wednesday, National Geographic Channel is showing a special at 9:00 about one of the world's most eco-friendly manufacturers, TerraCycle. I may have more on it later, but until then, take a look at the video below:



- Also I would just like to mention for those in Northeast Ohio like me who tuned into the Friday Night Lights season finale only to see a Indians’ rain delay, WKYC will be airing the episode Sunday, April 19 from 12 midnight to 1:00 a.m. (That's Sunday night going into Monday morning.) Also note your DVR program directory may not have Friday Night Lights listed at this time. For accurate recording, you will need to set your DVR to using the time and date rather than the program name. Of course you can always view the finale anytime on Hulu.



Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Lyrics Quiz: One Song Wonders: 80's Edition


Earlier this month, VH1 unveiled their list of the 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 80’s. So what if ten percent of the artist had a legitimate second (or more) hit. But this got me to thinking of all the artists on my iPod that only garnered one song, hence One Song Wonders. So I made up a playlist and took all the ones from the 80’s and hit random and these were the first twenty-five. And since I had an even seventy-five, you will likely see the other fifty eventually. As always leave your guesses, both artist and song title, in the comment section or e-mail me. If you are correct I will un-bold the lyric. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them.

1. You see I wanted her real bad and I was about to give in. And that’s when she started to talking about love and talking about sin. (Keep Your Hands to Yourself - The Georgia Satellites; guessed by Angie)
2. I hear your name in certain circles and it always makes me smile. I spend my time thinking about you and its almost driving me wild. (Missing You - John Waite; guessed by Angie)
3. I said to the man “Are you trying to tempt me? Because I come from the land of plenty.” (Down Under - Men at Work; guesses by Angie)
4. Like the knife that cuts you the wound heals, but the scar, that scar remains. (Every Rose has its Thorn - Poison; guessed by Angie)
5. I’ll tell you one and one makes three.
6. Sometimes you have to try to get along dear. I know the truth and I know what you’re thinking. Down down down down da down down down.
7. All I know is that to me that you look like you’re lots of fun. Open up your loving arms. (You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) - Dead or Alive; guessed by Angie)
8. Not the word from your lips. You just took for granted that I want to skinny dip. (We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off - Jermaine Stewart; guessed by Angie)
9. London, Washington, anywhere you are I’ll run. Together we’ll be.
10. Face to face, out in the heat. Hanging tough, staying hungry. (Eye of the Tiger - Survivor; guessed by Angie)
11. She cuts my security; she’s got control of me. I turn to her and say… (Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart; guessed by Angie)
12. We can act like we come from out of this world and leave the real one far behind. (Safety Dance - Men without Hats; guessed by Angie)
13. Baby, I know it makes you sad. But when they're handing out the heartaches you know you got to have you some.
14. An invisible man sleeping in your bed. (Ghostbusters - Ray Parker Jr.; guessed by Angie)
15. We are young but getting old before our time. We’ll leave the TV and the radio behind. (Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson; guessed by Angie)
16. I’m not expecting to grow flowers in the desert but I can look and breathe and see the sun in winter time. (In a Big Country - Big Country; guessed by Anonymous)
17. Father wears his Sunday best. Mother’s tired, she needs her rest. The kids are cleaning up downstairs. (Our House - Madness; guessed by Angie)
18. Just one look and I knew you would make everything clear. Make all the cloads disappear. Put all your fears to rest. How do I love the best? (You Got it All - The Jets; guessed by Angie)
19. I don’t know what color your eyes are baby but your hear is long and brown. (So Alive - Love and Rockets; guessed by Angie)
20. People say I’m crazy, just a little touch. But maybe showers remind me of Psycho too much. (Somebody's Watching Me - Rockwell; guessed by Angie)
21. Kissing like a bandit stealing time underneath the sycamore tree. (Wishing Well - Terence Trent D'Arby; guessed by Angie)
22. So you think my sing’s out of time. Well it makes me money. (Cum on Feel the Noize - Quiet Riot; guessed by Angie)
23. Just a small town girl living in a lonely world. She took the midnight train going anywhere. (Don't Stop Believin' - Journey; guessed by Angie)
24. Do you wanna eat, do you wanna to sleep, do you wanna drown, just settle down, settle down, settle down.
25. Er war Superstar, er war popular, Er war so exaltiert because er hatte Flair. (Rock Me Amadeus - Falco; guessed by Angie)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

I Want My Music Television vol. XLVIII


There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


We Made You - Eminem



It has become a time honored tradition for the lead Eminem single to ultra-pop-y and insult everyone he can in three minute. And ever since The Real Slim Shady, the songs have become exponentially more disposable. We Made You is just like Better Off Ted, yeah it causes a few chuckles but there is no reason to watch it ever again.


Wild At Heart - Gloriana



Can’t say I am the biggest country (I much prefer classics opposed to the hillbilly moron music that populates today’s country charts) but there is just something infectious about the debut from Gloriana. And the video is just enjoyable. I love anyone who can pull off the singing face to face without being absurdly cheesy, but they managed the allusive double face to face movie. You may recognize the blonde chick as Cheyenne form her MTV reality show of the same name. Although I cannot comfirm or deny that her band mates are Bradley Cooper, Billy Riggins, and Ashley Tisdale’s younger, hotter, and brunetter sister.


Not Fair - Lily Allen



Speaking of country music, here is the latest from, um, Lily Allen? Alrighty.


Boy Like Me - Jessica Harp



Might as well make this an all country post with the latest from Jessica Harp, who made up half of The Wrecker. But judging from this song, she might join the other guy hall of fame with Art Garfunkel, John Oates, and the dude from Wham not named George Michael. Note: this video is currently iTunes Free Music Video of the Week, so as long as the picture is of her, get it for free.

Free Music Video of the Week on iTunes


Monday, April 13, 2009

Let Me Just Ask You One Question: Can You Play Like Champions


Friday Night Lights on iTunesJust when I thought I couldn’t be happier after hearing that Friday Night Lights garnered a two season pick up, along comes the season finale. A nice tranquil beginning to the docile sounds of Jakob Dylan with a rundown of all the coupling and the funny juxtaposition of a near empty baseball stadium considering during the football season the whole town shuts down and shows up. Of course this turned out to be a little foreshadowing.

The parents to beWhen you thought the Riggins/Collette marriage couldn’t get any funnier than Mindy’s Finding Nemo wedding vows, we get the whole white wedding complete with a mariachi band singing Peter Frampton. But my favorite part was the Taylors wonder why they got an invite because we all have gone to weddings were we didn’t really know the bride and groom but went because 1) you didn’t want to be rude, 2) open bar. With that said, how did Buddy Garrity get an invite?

Will Tami join Coach at East Dillon?The big new going into the fourth season was Joe McCoy’s power trip to oust Coach Taylor to institute his own patsy to guarantee playing time for his boy. As eloquent as his speech to the school board was, he really shouldn’t had said anything, just stepped to the mic and flashed his jewelry and say, “That’s all I have” and walked out. It should be interesting to see who follows Coach to East Dillon, Tami? Julie? Buddy? Lance? And even if the boosters redrew the district line, does Texas have open enrollment which may lead any Panthers to change his stripes to a Lion?

Who didn't cry when Tyra got her acceptance letter?This season we saw emotional and heartfelt sendoffs of Small Williams and Jason Street, but the third season really belonged to one Tyra Collette. At the beginning of the series, she was basically the throwaway character bouncing from boy to boy without a discernable plotline to participate in for the first half of that season. The writers more than made up for that with Tyra’s determination to get into college this year. Sure there was a hiccup along the way named Cash, but the student body president got her biggest win with her getting admitted into UT thanks to an admissions essay that should hang on the wall of every teen girl’s wall to remind themselves of the potential they have.

Really, it would be silly to even debate any other show is the best one currently on television; Billy Riggins of all people gave a monologue when Tim pulled him aside after the reception was better than any other character on any other show. Seriously, Billy Riggins. But the third season puts Friday Night Lights in the discussion of the greatest of this decade if not all time. I can’t wait to root for the Lions, I may even get DirecTV just to be able to do that sooner than later.

Friday Night Lights 3.x gets a Terror Alert Level: Severe [RED] on my Terror Alert Scale.