Quote of the Week: When he does, you act like your little girlish self. Scream like a banshee so he doesn’t think you’re a threat. When he pulls you out, you find a weapon and flash. (Casey, Chuck)
Big News of the Week: The CW Is Going Back to the 90’s… Again: I haven’t watch a second of The CW since Everybody Hate Chris went off the air (to score bigger rating for repeats on Nick at Night and BET then it did for orginal episodes on The CW), on account that I am too old and too male to watch the channel. I still inadvertently catch news coming from the outlet like when it broke this week that the channel will once again be trolling the 90’s for television idea even after 90210 and Melrose Place have been miserable failures. But sadly my prediction last year that Models Inc. would be next on The CW docket (which itself was a spin-off of Melrose Place) though The CW I going with the equally laughable La Femme Nikita, the show that ran on USA for five series. Although I am not sure why The CW is even developing shows because either 1) the network won’t even exist next season (which some predict), or 2) it will cut its programming down to only four nights a week (which I predict). But if they are still around in 2011, may I suggest your next crappy 90’s reboot be Cleopatra 2525.
Next Week Pick of the Week: Lost, Tuesday at 8:00 on ABC: The long awaited final season of Lost commences this Tuesday and I am ready. I have been mentally preparing for a letdown since around the third season. And looking over Sci-Fi Wire’s The 100 Questions Lost Better Answer or We’ll Be Pissed, all I could think was, “Only 100?”
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 Inside Polygamy: Life Is Bountiful, Fight Science, Temple Grandin, Caprica, and the new slate of TNT shows.
- For those that watch Big Love and enjoy the fictitious polygamy fun, will want to tune into the upcoming National Geographic Channel special Inside Polygamy: Life Is Bountiful coming February 10 at 9:00 which features Winston Blackmore who will be passing out more than twenty chocolate boxes this Valentine’s Day. But he will more than make that back on Father’s Day from his over one hundred children. For more, check out the cover story for February’s National Geographic magazine which went on sale yesterday.
- In other National Geographic news, a sneak peak at their new series, Fight Science airs this coming Monday February 1 at 10 before settling in on its regular timeslot on Thursdays. Here is a sneak peak of the sneak peak:
- For those of you with HBO, next Saturday, February 6 at 8:00, you can check out their latest film, a biopic about the best-selling author, animal scientist and autism advocate Temple Grandin starring Claire Danes in the title role. Check out the trailer below:
- For those of you that saw the Caprica pilot long before it aired, just a reminder that the first new episode airs tonight at 9 on Syfy. But you will have to wait until the March 5 to get a first glimpse of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s James Marsters on the show. Until then, here is a supertrailer for the show.
- As some networks are figuring out ways to air less programming, TNT is upping their slate of new shows greenlighting three new series including the much talked about (and still untitled) Steven Spielberg produced, Noah Wiley starring alien invasion series coming sometime in 2011, Delta Blues starring Jason Lee, and recent Chuck guest Angie Harmon starring in Rizzoli and Isles, both set to premiere sometime this year. All shows are set for ten episodes each. To get you used to a mustacheless Jason Lee, below is a promotional photo for the show.
It is heartbreaking listing to The Sea, the sophomore outing from Corrine Bailey Rae. For those unaware, Bailey Rae’s husband was found dead in March of 2008 after seven years of marriage. And she doesn’t shy away from that subject, even starting out the album with the one-two emotional punch of Are You Here, where you your heart swells when she asks the title question and ends the song with the line, “Wait till you see those eyes.” And even though it was written before his untimely death, I’d Do it All Again, it takes on a different meaning the way she sings it after the event.
But it is where tries something new where The Sea really shines. Feels Like the First Time starts off with an ominous piano riff before going back to her smooth self reminiscent of her first album, but that riff comes back for the chorus to much effect. She fulfills that genre defying promise of Feel Like the First Time with the bass heavy, near rock of The Blackest Lily complete with the organ flair of a rock group complete with Bailey Rae unleashing her inner rock star on the chorus and a weird Peter Frampton vocal distortion (which sound refreshing today with everyone else in her genre abusing auto-tune).
The most accessible song of the set, is the breezy Paris Nights / New York Mornings which may not have the sing a long vibe as her breakout hit Put Your Records On but is just as fun and will most like be over abused in upcoming romantic comedies. Add some new wave type synthesizers and some attitude to that and then you get Paper Doll. But those songs are just a diversion for the heart break that starts off the album.
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.
Pretty wise of Jay-Z to debut a video called On to the Next One as the first of the decade. But dude sure likes his black and white videos just like his last one. No comment on all the weird vinaigrettes aside from following up the Obama line with a picture of a crucifix and bullets.
K’naan landed three songs on my Best Songs of 2009 list and it looks like he may land another one for the 2010 list and maybe be crack the Best Videos list with this one.
At the end of every year since 1996, I have gathered up my favorite songs from that year for a countdown of my favorite. I was interested in seeing who were the artist that appeared most on those list over the past decade and here are the top 25 (well since there was a tie there are actually 31). I counted any song of which they were listed as a featured artist, not just when they were the lead artist. Also keep in mind this list has nothing to do with my upcoming Greatest Songs of the 00’s which I promise to release before the next decade ends. I also included a list of the number 1’s of the past twelve years as well as Mr. Irrelevant (the song that was last that year). For the full list for the past five years, click the Best Songs label at the bottom of the post.
When Michael Jackson passed away, like most people I went back and listened to the music of his on my iPod which included We Are the World. That got me to thinking it that there was still plenty of poverty in Africa and it may be time to remake the song for a newer generation (especially considering Do They Know it's Christmas? is already on it'd third version). While doing research, I realized the twenty-fifth anniversary was this year so I sat on the suggestions I made at the time so I could release it to coincide with the anniversary. Then new came out last week that the co-writers of the song Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones (along with Jackson) were planning on doing so after the Grammy’s next week to benefit Haitian relief (so I guess they will be renaming the group USA for Haiti). So here are my suggestions next to those that did the original part. And as a point of reference, here is the original song:
Lionel Richie – Ne-Yo
Stevie Wonder – Maxwell
Paul Simon – John Mayer
Kenny Rogers – Taylor Swift
James Ingram – John Legend
Tina Turner - Beyoncé
Billy Joel – Norah Jones
Michael Jackson – Michael Jackson
Diana Ross – Christina Aguilera
Dionne Warwick – Alicia Keys
Willie Nelson – Keith Urban
Al Jarreau – Justin Timberlake
Bruce Springsteen – dude from Green Day
Kenny Loggins – dude from Fall Out Boy
Steve Perry – dude from Maroon 5
Daryl Hall – Robin Thicke
Michael Jackson – Michael Jackson
Huey Lewis – dude from The Fray
Cyndi Lauper – Lady Gaga
Kim Carnes – Kelly Clarkson
Bob Dylan – Dave Matthews
Ray Charles – Jamie Foxx
Stevie Wonder – Stevie Wonder
Bruce Springsteen – Bruce Springsteen
Dan Akroyd – Adam Sandler
Jackson Family Chorus – Jonas Brothers and other Disney stars Chorus
Naturally the hardest singer to recast was Michael Jackson himself and came I up with three alternatives; Bono, who technically is not American; Prince, who was actually supposed to duet with Jackson in the original but didn’t show up the first time; or have a chorus do all his part. But maybe it would be best to just pipe in his original vocals. And even though I recast their earlier parts, I still have to bring back Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder to recreate their duet which was the highlight the orginal. Not bringing them back would have been like not asking Bono to sing "Tonight thank God it's them instead of you" for the new Do They Know it's Christmas? versions.
Hope for Haiti Now: Stevie Wonder singing Simon and Garfunkel, Taylor Swift covering Better Than Ezra, Jay-Z teaming up with Bono, The Edge, and Rihanna, Neil Young and Dave Matthews dueting, Chris Martin playing piano for Beyoncé, The Roots backing Shakira, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson. It almost seems like a steal to buy all these performances, twenty in total, for $7.99, but you can download Hope for Haiti Now on iTunes and Amazon MP3 (see below) both of which also includes a studio version of the Jay-Z, U2, Rihanna song Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour). And you can also download the whole video in both places for $2.99. 100% of all purchases from either site will go to various Haitian relief charities such as Red Cross and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
Chuck: We finally get to meet Shaw and no surprise it is Superman even though I still don’t see how he pulls rank on Beckman when, as Casey puts it, he has back issues of Guns and Ammo older than him. And it is not surprising dude is a tool either. And his big secret: he’s married? When he pulled out the ring I thought, Oh my, he’s part of THE Ring, then he put it on his ring finger and thought, that is an odd reveal. Could Superman’s wife possibly be the upcoming guest star Lana Lang? And the drunken Casey excuse: hilarious. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.
How I Met Your Mother: Nothing groundbreaking as we have all had the Settler vs. Reacher debate (well, at least I have) and created our own stupid drinking game (well, at least I have). It was a little odd that they would bring in Amanda Peet for such a thankless role, especially when I would put a good chunk of change on her in a real fight vs. Alyson Hannigan. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.
The Big Bang Theory: Of course Sheldon hates Windows 7 because it is more user friendly. But I am shocked that he didn’t have a contingency plan in case, or to keep someone from robbing him. Like he hasn’t put a GPS on his gaming systems. You can download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.
Castle: I was just wondering when they were going to bring up Beckett’s mother’s death and here they do in a big way. And she kills the person who did it. Wow. But one thing that bugs me is who in the police force is signing up to be a decoy (sorry unlucky token Asian guy on the NYPD)? While putting on his bullet proof vest all I could think is the mark is a trained assassin, former marine and could probably easily take someone out with a headshot. Lucky for Token Asian Dude the plan itself was a decoy for the assassin. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes. Also be sure to check out my chat with Stana Katic.
Mercy: Oh snap, Ronnie gets turned down because of a cat. I didn’t see that one coming. Although why was that Still Bill’s one premonition? Did I miss a scene wit Ronnie telling the comatose Still Bill she was? But I love how Dr. Sands’ inner circle consists of his drugged out sister, and the emotionally stunted bearded doctor. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Mercy on iTunes.
Modern Family: Holy Dylan sighting! The really need to get this guy involved more often. I miss him and the Rusty Zippers. But I wonder if the show is getting too stale already. Last week it was pretty easy to figure out it was Phil downloading porn and this week it didn’t take a detective to deduce that Manny’s date was going to overaged (and then come on to the gay Cameron). You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.