Saturday, February 17, 2007

Toss Up: Lost vs Veronica Mars week 8


Lost is at its best this season whenever they focus on The Others, who were absent this week. While as Veronica Mars oddly enough is at its best whenever there is a scene in an elevator, which featured on in the past episode. But let’s see which episode was truly better by the numbers.


Words of Wisdom
Lost: Desmond got some from old chick that may or may not be a figment of his imagination
Veronica Mars: Logan got some from some young chick that may or may not be Dick’s sister-in-law
Winner: Veronica Mars


Music Requests
Lost: As a street-side performer in Desmond’s flashback/dream, Charlie played Oasis’s Wonderwall
Veronica Mars: Heather requested Nick Lachey’s What’s Left of Me for Logan
Winner: Veronica Mars


Return of the Evil
Lost: Mr. Widmore makes an appearance in Desmond’s flashback/dream to crush Desmond
Veronica Mars: Mr. Stultz returns as a suspect in the coach’s murder
Winner: Lost


Wait, They Are Still on the Show?
Lost: Pretty much any of the original passengers
Veronica Mars: Wallace
Winner: Veronica Mars


MIA
Lost: Everyone on Other’s Island, oh and the new cast members were also absent
Veronica Mars: Mac, Parker, Piz
Winner: Lost


Trickery
Lost: Hurley and Charlie get Desmond drunk to find out how he knows the future without him knowing that’s is their plan
Veronica Mars: Keith makes Ronnie breakfast to get her to come to office for work
Winner: Veronica Mars


Broken Up Over a Break Up
Lost: Desmond still is hung up on Penny years later
Veronica Mars: Logan is still hung up on Vee days later
Winner: Veronica Mars


Fooled You
Lost: Mr. Widmore made Desmond think that he was going to offer him some whiskey only to insult him during his flashback/dream
Veronica Mars: Dick led Logan to believe that his future wife had a sister that was basically a twin
Winner: Lost


Form of Entertainment
Lost: Soccer Football on the telly
Veronica Mars: Mario Cart
Winner: Veronica Mars


Leader Replaced
Lost: With Jack away, Locke has taken a leadership role
Veronica Mars: With Weevil on the straight and narrow, Arturo is the new leader of the PCH’ers
Winner: Lost


Marriage Problems
Lost: Without her father’s Desmond decides against proposing to Penny
Veronica Mars: After seeing her toes, Dick regrets getting married
Winner: Veronica Mars


Cliffhanger
Lost: “Charlie… You’re going to die.”
Veronica Mars: “Ms. Mars, you are under arrest for the aiding and abiding of the escape of Josh Berry. You have the right to remain silent…”
Winner: Veronica Mars


On the Internet
Lost: You can see the latest episode over at ABC.com or download Flashes Before Your Eyes over at iTunes
Veronica Mars: You can see the latest episode at CWTV.com or download Postgame Mortem at iTunes


There is nothing I hate more than dream sequences which is what made the most recent episode of Lost so excruciatingly painful to watch, like season two painful. What makes dream sequences so bad is that I never know what I’m supposed to get out of them: is it the character’s subconscious, is it what the writers want you to see. And the episode added another layer making us wonder if the whole thing actually happened, did Desmond really relive everything. And if that was so, how could he save Charlie the second time, if the first time around he died, then Desmond wouldn’t know he would have drowned had he not died originally. And this was basically the whole episode, with nothing happening except some puzzle pieces in Desmond back-story were filled, none of which were that interesting. Oh but next week there will be three big mysteries solve, which using previous Lost math means we will get thirty more questions to ask afterwards.

Luckily we have Veronica Mars who rarely is fails to move the storyline along. And we even get, as far as I can remember, the very first two part-er mystery of the week. And poor Wallace, he finally makes a triumphant return, to the team and the show, only to have his coach killed. I am kind of glad he bit the dust because I always thought they should have filled the coach’s shoes with a more high profile name like Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, although they may want to cross Tim Haraway’s name of the list of potential replacements. I‘m also wondering if this will possibly tie into the Dean’s death.

But the best part of the night belonged to the Logan-Dick storyline and the girl Dick met that was so hot that he said he had to wear oven mitts just to feel her up and promised Logan her sister who was practically a twin. Logan delivered the great deadpan, “which one is yours when it turned out the sister was eleven. But it was the little girl that had the best lines including, “Do you want me to put highlights in your hair?” “I’m starting to smell like you” and “Quit flirting with me old man, I’m eleven. Geez that’s creepy.” And let’s not forget about her requesting Nick Lachey for Logan and the scene in the elevators. Why are all the Veronica Mars scenes set in elevators instant classics? I’m really hoping that Dick’s divorce doesn’t go too smoothly and is a future mystery of the week as you remember when Dick asked Logan if he knew any good lawyer, he responded he knew a lawyer, which presumably would be Cliff, which would the divorce proceeding even more entertaining.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Lyrics Quiz: Seems I’m Not Alone at Being Alone


Yesterday was Valentines Day, or as some of us called it, Wednesday. And here is a lyrics quiz for those of you that didn’t do any celebrating yesterday. And let’s face it; the anti-love songs are much more entertaining than the lovey dovey ones anyways. So here are my favorite songs to put on when ever I’ve been wronged. No pansy Nick Lachey songs here folks, just pure vengeance ones (but in a moment of weakness I did dedicate What's Left of Me to an ex on the radio yesterday). As always leave your guesses in the comment section, both song title and artist. If you are correct, I will un-bold the lyric and give you credit. The person with the most correct lyrics will be added to the Winner’s list on my sidebar. Oh and a bonus point for the title of this quiz. Now on to the lyrics:


1. Give me my money back you (expletive deleted). I want my money back and don’t forget to give me back my black t-shirt. (Song for the Dumped - Ben Folds Five; guessed by Dara)
2. She was low down and trifling and she was cold and mean. Kind of evil make me want to grab my sub machine. (Delia's Gone - Johnny Cash; guessed by Kristi)
3. How can I put it, you put me on. I even fell for that stupid love song. (Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson; guessed by Dara)
4. It turns out he was a missing person that nobody missed at all. (Goodbye Earl - Dixie Chicks; guessed by Dara)
5. I’m going down to shoot my old lady; you know caught her messing ‘round with another man, and that ain’t too cool. (Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix Experience; guessed by Kristi)
6. You didn’t know all the ways I loved you. So you took a chance, made other plan. I bet you didn’t think they would come crashing down. No. (Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake; guessed by Dara)
7. You love her, but she loves him, and he loves somebody else, you just can’t win. (Love Stinks - J. Geils Band; guessed by Kristi)
8. Packing up, shacking up is all you want to do. If I could maybe I’d give you my world, open up everything is waiting for you. (Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac; guessed by Dara)
9. Weren’t you the one who tried to break me with desire? Did you think I’d crumble; did you think I’d break down and cry? (I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor; guessed by Dara)
10. Maybe I should rob somebody so we could live like Whitney and Bobby. (Used To Love U - John legend; guessed by Ashley)
11. Carved my name into his leather seats. Took a Louisville Slugger to both head lights. (Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood; guessed by Angie)
12. I gave all my money and my time. I know it's a shame but I'm giving you back your name. Guess I'll be on my way. I won't be back to stay. (Sail On - The Commodores; guesed by Kristi)
13. I got all your love letter I through them all away. I hear you think that I’m crazy. I’m driving 95 and I’m driving you away. I shine a little more lately. (In the Rough - Anna Nalick; guessed by Jules)
14. So go ahead and get gone. Call up that chick and see if she’s home. Oops. I bet you though that I didn’t know. What do you think I was putting you out for? (Irreplaceable - Beyoncé; guessed by Arielle)
15. You don’t really want anymore from me to make things right you need someone to hold you tight. And you think love is to pray but I’m sorry I don’t pray that way. (Tainted Love - Soft Cell; guessed by Dara)
16. Whenever you see me you say that you want me back. And I tell you that it don’t mean jack. (Smile - Lily Allen; guessed by Dara)
17. Broken heart again, another lesson learned. Better know your friends or else you will get burned. Got to count on me cause I can guarantee that I’ll be fine. (No More Drama - Mary J. Blige; guessed by Monique)
18. I wonder how I bought all the lies. You said that you would treat me right but you was just a waste of time. (Leave (Get Out) - JoJo; guessed by Angie)
19. You didn't know what Rock-n-Roll was until you met my drummer on a grey tour bus. (Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Great White; guessed by Dara)
20. You burn (expletive deleted), I heard the story. You played me; you even gave him (expletive deleted). Now you’re asking for me back, you’re just another hack. Look elsewhere cause you’re done with me. ((Expletive Deleted) It (I Don't Want You Back) - Eamon; guessed by Arielle)
21. I saw the surprise and the fear in his eyes when I took his glass of champagne, I toasted you, said, “Honey we may be threw but you’ll never hear me complain.” (Friends in Low Places - Garth Brooks; guessed by Dara)
22. You’ve got your dumb friends. I know what they say, they tell you I’m difficult but so are they. But they don’t know me, do they even know you? (My Happy Ending - Avril Lavigne; guessed by Dara)
23. I'd rather clean all the bathrooms in Grand Central Station with my tongue. (One More Minute - "Weird Al" Yankovic)
24. And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time. I want what's yours and I want what's mine. I want you but I'm not giving in this time. (Goodbye to You - Michelle Branch; guessed by Dara)
25. You're a loaded gun. There's nowhere to run. No one can save me the damage is done. (You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi; guessed by Dara)

Bonus. Seems I'm not alone at being alone. (Message in a Bottle - The Police; guessed by Dara)


Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Public Service Announcement #2


Never, under any circumstance, shovel snow on Valentines Day or any day where Sting-type length of dirty, dirty sex sessions. And if must shovel snow for some reason on days like Valentines Day, definitely don’t volunteer to shovel your neighbor’s driveway even if they have been ordered not to do any manual labor and wouldn’t be able to leave the house if you weren’t nice enough to shovel his driveway. Don’t do it, there is important baby making duties to do on Valentines Day (even if babies aren’t the result you are looking for). Unfortunately I didn’t take my own advice and spend four hour today shoveling snow and am now almost too tired to watch the Beauty and the Geek Finale.

And for those of you south of the Mason-Dixon Line or west of the Rockies who are asking themselves, “What is this snow that Scooter is talking about?” I even have a Public Service Announcement for you too: If you need to lose some weight, move to the Snow Belt. I’ve lost ten pounds in the last two days with all the snow we gotten. Of course the most important part in the weight loss is that do not buy a snow blower. You see those lazy neighbors that have snow blowers and were done in ten minutes certainly didn’t even lose a pound over the last 48 hours.

Valentines Day wasn’t a complete waste though as Avril Lavigne was nice enough to send me a Valentines Day card. Okay so when I opened it up she said she doesn’t like my girlfriend (apparently this is the title of her upcoming single off her new album coming out in April). So in the last year I’ve gotten a Valentines Card from Avril Lavigne a Christmas gift from Katharine McPhee and a birthday card from Kristen Bell (to be technical I got a card from Kristen on my birthday). With St. Patrick Day in month, maybe Mandy Moore, who has an album coming out in May, will come out to have a green beer with me. On a side note, is it wrong for someone who is called a music elitist to be way too excited for a new Mandy Moore album?

In complete unrelated television site MeeVee is launching it’s new site tomorrow so be sure to check that out then. Well unless it’s already Thursday when you read this and you can check it out now. I have more information on it but I have a lot of television to sleep through tonight (Friday Night Lights, Beauty and the Geek, Let’s Rob Mick Jagger, Lost), so I may post that later tonight or tomorrow. Also be sure to stop by for Lyrics Quiz dedicated to all of you that didn’t celebrate a holiday today.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Don't Download These Videos vol. IX


There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I though I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form so here they are courtesy of YouTube. I advise you to watch them before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available, if not the link goes to YouTube where you can watch the video in full screen). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


What Goes Around…/…Comes Around - Justin Timberlake (NSFW)



Do we really need a nine minute epic from Justin Timberlake? Probably not. But at least when he did, he went all out leading to the highest of high comedy (well the unintentional kind). The hallway scene could be the funniest scene in a video that isn’t meant to be since Pat Benatar confronted her pimp in Love is a Battlefield (see on YouTube). And why does JT chase after she storms out when he catches her cheating? Why doesn’t he do what normal people do when they catch a boy/girlfriend cheating, go home and listen to Cry Me a River on repeat?


Read My Mind - The Killers



I’m not sure how filming a video in Japan falls into The Killers recent Spaghetti Western look that they have been sporting for this album, but their look against a Japanese backdrop may be the least odd thing about the video filled with a Japanese Elvis and the hint of dude on puppet love.


Alfie - Lily Allen (NSFW)



We Americans may just be discovering the greatness of Lily Allen, but most of the rest of the world are already on her fourth single, the ode to her lazy brother, Alfie. As a little brother myself I probably should like the song and video, but how can you resist the best puppet porn since the creators of South Park last made a movie?


PDA (We Just Don’t Care) - John Legend



Here’s one for all of you celebrating Valentine’s Day tomorrow. I know John Legend will get plenty of play around the McGavin household. Although there won’t be any PDA in the park because it seems we have gotten about a foot a snow per hour here today. And for everyone who will refer tomorrow as just Wednesday, I have a Lyrics Quiz just for you coming Thursday so be sure to check back then.

Monday, February 12, 2007

We on Award Tour: 2007 Grammy Awards


The Grammy’s are always the best award shows of the year, but going into this year’s event you had a sense that the show would be an off year considering that 2006 wasn’t the best year for music in recent year. I first realized this as every year I make a mix tape for my sister of the best songs of the year for Christmas but this past year but only came up with about forty-five minutes of music. I ended up filling the rest of the album with seven different versions of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy. In the end this year’s Grammy’s were solid but were missing a big water cooler event. In fact the only unannounced performers were Earth, Wind & Fire jumping on stage with Ludacris. The show may have been better off not announcing The Police reunion instead tease something big. But anyways. Her are some more thoughts on the big show:


The Police back together, but for how long?- The big show starts off with the much hyped reunion of The Police performing their very first hit Roxanne. If I had a complaint it would be they only performed one song. Well, at least Quincy Jones’ daughter didn’t jump on stage to sing Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.

- No host this year, but Jamie Foxx takes it upon himself to do a short monologue anyways that includes a funny Snoop Dogg left because he heard The Police were there joke.

A ruffle for every Grammy the Dixie Chicks won- Natalie Maines defiantly looks better as a brunette. Although the darker hair didn’t help her fashion sense as the ruffles on her dress was a bad idea.

- Wow, two Prince sightings in as many weeks. And only he could have save the bland Beyoncé performance. Should have gone with Irreplaceable and put Prince to wok with his phallic guitar instead B.

- If there were a Jump the Shark equivalent in music it would letting the chick from Kids Incorporated in the The Black Eyed Peas. Need to come up with a catchy name though.

- It is nice to know that anyone with a record contract, a hand held camera, and a YouTube account can win a Grammy as OK Go takes home the Best Short Form Video Award.

- Can anyone explain to me why Justin Timberlake needs three piano players on stage with him when he is playing one too? But I like how he tried to convince everyone that the song What Goes Around... was written in voice of a friend of his. What I didn’t need though was the extreme close up during the Interlude part of the song.

- In the biggest shock of the night, in awards handed out earlier, "Weird Al" Yankovic didn’t win Best Comedy Album. I demand a recount.

- I wasn’t quite sold on it when I first heard it, but after sleeping on it, I appreciate the collaboration between Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend (whose Coming Home stole the segment) and John Mayer much more. Although I am now convinced Mayer is purposely making the Joe Cocker faces during his guitar solos, not coming naturally. And after hearing his acceptance speech for Best Pop Album I’m also convinced that his IQ is dropping fast since hooking up with Jessica Simpson.

- Who invited the chick from The Pussycat Dolls? (Fun fact, the only chick that sings in that group was also in the reality made group, Eden's Crush, um not that I remember them either.)

Shakira:  I'd hit that- Yeah Shakira basically did the same performance as the one she did at the VMA’s this past year except instead of Indian garb her and her dancers wore golden breast plates for some reason. They also edited something out of Wyclef’s rap which to me sounded like he was trying to say, “I move the crowd like I’m Obama.” A network censoring someone shouting out Barack Obama, what is this Fox?

- Leave it up to the liberal commies of the music industry to give the Song of the Year to the anti Bush Not Ready to Make Nice over the pro-God Carrie Underwood. Fascists. And was that the dude from Semisonic up accepting the award with the Dixie Chicks?

- Wow, CBS held out its blatant product placement until the second hour with the chicks from How I Met Your Mother out to present Gnarls Barkley. The costumes were a little bit of a letdown as I’ve already seen the airport theme, but they by far had the best performance of the night.

- In categories handed out earlier, Ludicris takes home Best Rap Song for Money Maker with lines like, “It took yo momma nine months to make ya, so ya better shake what yo momma gave ya.” Did someone forget to tell the voters that this was a songwriting award? Luda then picks up the Grammy for Best Rap Album and gives the best shout out of the night that wasn’t censored thanking Oprah and Bill O’Reilly.

- Your random presenters of the night are Mandy Moore, Luke Wilson and LeAnn Rimes as they give the Best Country Album to the Dixie Chick who quote Nelson from the Simpsons. Classy.

Say hi to Milli Vanilli too- It would be too easy to mention that naturally all Carrie Underwood did was last night was sing karaoke. But I swear her drummer is the black writer for Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip. She then walks away with the Best New Artist award. Be sure to say hello to the Starland Vocal Band on your way to obscurity.

- In categories handed out earlier, My Humps won a Grammy. Also winning a Grammy this year: Ike Turner. Feel free to discuss amongst yourself which is more disturbing.

- Samuel L. Jackson comes out and says his favorite words are “Rhythm and Blues.” C’mon Sam everyone knows one of your favorite words is “Mother.” If you are unsure of the other word check out my review of Snakes on a Plane.

- During the R&B section, Smokey Robinson comes out and sings one of my favorite songs of all time, The Tracks of My Tears. Then Lionel Richie sings one of my favorite songs of the eighties, Hello. Then some dude named Chris Brown comes out and proves Rolling Stone’s assertion that he’s a better dancer than he is singer. Then in the most inexplicable moment of the night Christina Aguilera finally completes her transition into a drag queen by singing It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World.

- Token Old Dude alert. Well at least he didn’t spend his time whining about illegal downloading like Michael Greene always did.

- Your random transition of the night goes to the Ludacris with Mary J. Blige and Earth, Wind and Fire morphing into James Blunt.

- They spent way too much hyping that lame Grammy Moment contest. If I wanted to hear mediocre singers singing other people’s crappy songs I’d watch America Karaoke.

- For those keeping track at home, Justin Timberlake and Carrie Underwood both got to sing three songs, The Police: one.

- In the second biggest upset of the night, Not Ready to Make Nice beats out Crazy for Record of the Year. I really need someone to explain what exactly what is it about NRtMN that makes it better than Crazy. And was I just not paying attention, did CBS do some crafty editing to not promote a show not on their network, or did the dude from Heroes show up late because I didn’t notice him up to this point.

Just how back could her album be?- The break announcer said the Red Hot Chili Peppers were going to have the performance that everyone will be taking about today. Um, what exactly should I be talking about, that it snowed, a trick they pulled at the VMA’s circa the Dave Navarro era?

- I had to chuckle at Al Gore when he talked about environment friendly the music industry is considering the stage was just covered in fake snow which I doubt is too good for the environment.

- Scarlett Johansson is recording an album. But how bad can it be when people like Lindsay Lohan and Jennifer Lopez have set the bar so low for actresses turned singers? She and Don Henley are out to give the Dixie Chicks a complete sweep for the night adding Album of the Year to names. Yeah they made a good album, but I wonder if people voted for them more because of their anti-Bush statements then the music itself.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. VI


Quote of the Week: You checked in two days ago under the name Richard Sambora. I think the scariest part of this whole thing is the fact that you’re a Bon Jovi fan. (Dean, Supernatural)

Song of the Week: The Indian version of Cats in the Cradle (Knights of Prosperity)

Big News of the Week: One of the most critically acclaimed shows of the season, Friday Night Lights made its way to iTunes this week where you can download all of the episodes of the show. For those still wavering on giving the show a chance, you can download the Pilot episode for free.

Super Bowl: Checkout out Super Bowl Shuffle 2007 where you can see that I was the only one who actually liked the Snickers commercial. But the only thing I find funnier than the ad itself is that those Communist Liberals hated it because they thought it promoted homophobia whereas the Bible-Thumping Conservatives hated it because they though it promoted the gay agenda.

Heroes: Yawn, it was way too easy to predict that Nathan would be Claire’s father. They should have gone with the more shocking route with it being the mysterious Linderman or even the cop, but then again, there is probably why they have a show and don’t so we will see how this turns out. I wonder if there is any coincidence that most of the heroes are related to other heroes, could the mutated hero gene be some sort of sexually transmitted disease? Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: If there is one complaint I have about the show it is sometimes the storylines go on too long. Almost every episode is a two or three part-ers like the last three were. As much as I loved Chandler bidding on Harriett, Snakes on the Set, and the Tom and Lucy debacle (which ended way too nicely) I was ready to move on early in this episode. But I loved how that Macow knew English all along, that surely comes in handy. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.

The (White) Rapper Show: Holy Bushwick Bill sighting! Mind Playing Tricks on Me is one of the greatest rap songs of all time and a Halloween won’t go by without me thinking of Bill’s verse. It was also great when Serch called out Sullie out for that whole snitching crap. The whole anti-snitching campaign is one of the dumbest aspect of rap and when they have you on film it really can’t be considering snitching because they already know everything. Moron.

Friday Night Lights: Really there is nothing much to say but Landry was the Powerpuff Football referee. If there are outtakes or an extended scene of this on the DVD, I will buy it the day it comes out. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.

Lets Rob Mick Jagger: The two Cats in the Cradle segments were the funniest scenes on any show this week and I’m laughing again just thinking about them. Not to be outdone, Rockefeller Butts also had an instant classic explaining how he and a white girl ended up with an Indian baby going with the Intelligent Design excuse. Fracking brilliant. Check out the latest episode over at ABC.com.

My Name Is Earl: As great as the nerd from Road Trip was as the white version of Crabman, they could have taken it further. But I content with the meeting between Mr. Turtle and Mr. Bearded Dragon. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.

The Office: I’m just going to come out and say it, I am rooting for Roy.


Check out the Toss Up between Lost and Veronica Mars

Check out my First Impressions of Rules of Engagement

Check out my First Impressions of Survivor: Fiji

Promo of the Week: Look, a Veronica Mars promo that doesn’t have anything to do with the Logan and Veronica relationship. Of the twelve promos this year I think eight of them hinted at the two breaking up so it is refreshing to see one that doesn’t and this is one of the few promos this year that has actually got me excited for the episode. Also getting me excited for this week’s episode, my sources tell me we may actually have a Wallace sighting. Below the promo, for all you spoiler lovers, check out the director’s cut for a scene from the upcoming episode with a shocking reveal from Dick:





Pick of the Week: Beauty of the Geek, Wednesday 8:00, The CW: Yeah this season was a bit of a let down with the two least deserving beauties making it to the end but the tease that the final showdown will be something unexpected has me intrigued and C.C. doesn’t looked too happy about it. As for the surprise, I’m guessing the ousted teams get to choose the questions. As for the winners, I’m going with my original choice, Scooter (naturally) and Megan. You can catch up on the latest episodes over at CWTV.com.