Best of the Week - 3/12/11

Quote of the Week: You’re like the hillbilly whisperer… put you on Oprah. (Art – Justified)

Song of the Week: Sea of Love – Cat Power (Pretty Little Liars)

Big News of the Week: Sheen off the Charlie: Last week’s media blitz was entertaining with all the tiger blood and warlock talk but that wore real quick when Charlie Sheen went from crazy fun to just crazy. I’ve talked more about Two and a Half Men over the past two weekes than the two season before and now it is time to not caring about one of the least funny shows on television.

Free Download of the Week: Childish Gambino EP (iamdonald.com): Last week I brought you the new video from Community’s Donald Glover’s rap alter ego Childish Gambino and you can download that and the rest of the songs on his EP for free on his website.

Deal of the Week: Blu-ray for Under $15 (Kick-Ass, Sin City, 300)

New Album Release of the Week: Scandalous - Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears

New DVD Release of the Week: Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Season One, Part Two

Video of the Week: After a decae of making a name for himself on the backs of Beta Males, Judd Apatow’s next film in his production teny will focas on the quintisential Beta Female, the bridesmaid.

Bridesmaids Trailer


Next Week Pick of the Week: March Madness, Starting Thursday at Noon on CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV: It’s the most wonderful time of year, Spring, Shamrock Shakes, St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness all happening this Thursday (assuming McDonalds doesn’t run out prematurely like they seem to do every year). Seriously, can we just declare it national holiday because nothing will get done. Or just make next Thursday a half day like we had in grade school? To get geared up, tune into Selection Sunday starting at 5:00 on CBS while ESPN will have a three hour braketology special. And the field gets expanded to 68 teams with the last eight in battle Tuesday and Wednesday during the newly announced First Four round.

Around the Tubes - 3/11/11

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 Ultimate Factories, Fish Warrior, Law and Order: Los Angeles, Big Love, South by Southwest, Tina Fey, CMT's Next Superstar, Peel, TNT premiere dates, Hawthorne, Discovery Channel DVD's.



- Last night Ultimate Factories went inside Jack Daniels and next Thursday they will go into its natural companion Coca-Cola. Below is a preview. As for tonight on the National Geographic Channel, at 8:00 is an episode of Fish Warrior expert angler and conservationist Jakub Vagner goes in search of giant catfish (see above):

Secret Formula of Coca Cola


- NBC has finally announced the return date for Law and Order: Los Angeles which is Monday April 11 at 9:00 for a two hour return before settling down at its usual 10:00 start time the following week.

- Only two more episodes of Big Love left and below is a special retrospective of the show’s title sequences set to God Only Knows performed by the Dixie Chicks.



- For those that cannot make it to Austin this weekend, you can watch South by Southwest live musical performances, exclusive interviews, comedy and more much over on Livestream.

- Fans of Tina Fey will want to check out the March 14 issue of The New Yorker where the comedienne talks about her tenure on Saturday Night Live.

- CMT has announced their new singing competition, appropriately titled CMT’s Next Superstar, will premiere Friday April 8 at 9:00. Like the show on Facebook for cast updates, exclusive extras and more.

- I am not much of a techie, so this kind of goes over my head (the lack of an iPhone / Pad / Touch does not help much), but for those that do may want to check out Peel Personal TV Listings & Remote Control. Take a look below below:



- TNT has recently announced summer premiere date for their show and here they are so you can march your calendars.

Franklin & Bash (New Series) – Wednesday, June 1, at 9:00

Men of a Certain Age – Premiere: Wednesday, June 1, at 10:00

Memphis Beat – Premiere: Tuesday, June 14, at 9:00

HawthoRNe – Premiere: Tuesday, June 14, at 10:00

Falling Skies (New Series) – Two-hour series premiere Sunday, June 19, at 9:00; regular timeslot Sundays at 10:00

Leverage – Premiere: Sunday, June 26, at 9:00

The Closer – Premiere: Monday, July 11, at 9:00

Rizzoli & Isles – Premiere: Monday, July 11, at 10:00

- Speaking of Hawthorne, when it returns the cast will include Marc Anthony as Police Detective Nick Renata, the character he introduced as a guest star in two episodes last season.

- Discovery Channel has a bunch of DVD’s hitting shelves this month including Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman; Cake Boss Season 3; Best Food Ever; Atlas: Uncovering Earth; Two Weeks in Hell and I Shouldn’t Be Alive 3.

I Know What I am Chasing, I Know that this Is Changing Me

For those of us whose formative years happened during the nineties, Automatic for the People was a seminal album by R.E.M. Released just nineteen short months after Out of Time, which pushed the band into the mainstream after being college rock gods for the previous decade, Automatic for the People hit a major chord with their newfound melodic sound and Michael Stipe’s impassioned lyrics. But in the nineteen years since the release, they have yet to release an album up to that standard which makes you wonder how much drummer Bill Berry, who left the band two albums later when he suffered an aneurysm during the Monster tour, had to do with the greatness of those nineties albums. But at this point I would be happy if the band released an album as good as Monster.

That has not to say the remaining three hasn’t scrapped together a few great songs in their drummer’s absent, but they never have seemed to fill a full album of them. Their fifth post Berry album (fifteenth overall) is their best work since Monster. Collapse Into Now mixes songs that have the energy of their eighties college rock days and melodic songs from the nineties, though definitely leaning more towards the former.

Album opener Discoverer can make any middle-aged remember back to college when they were in some sweaty bar seeing the band for the first time as you shout along with the chorus with one fist in the air. The band prominently breaks out a mandolin for the first time since Losing My Religion for Oh My Heart, the band’s catchiest songs since At My Most Beautiful. While Überlin sounds like a perfect blend of the band’s first two decades. And the boys brings back Patti Smith to close out the album with Blue and the spoken word is reminiscent of their last hook out on E-Bow the Letter.

Song to Download – Oh My Heart

Collapse into Now gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Assessing the Fall 2011 Network Pilots

TV Guide recently ran down the pilots, eighty-two in all, which the networks are considering considering for their fall schedule. It is premature to predict what is going to be good or not since we are still two months away from any of these shows from being picked up and six months before any of them premiere. But they did not called me Premature Scooter in college for no reason so I am going to do some predicting anyway. Here are five shows I would like to make it on their respective schedules.

Wonder Woman (NBC) – Sure the scripted has been ripped to shreds online and David E Kelly doesn’t seem like a good fit guiding the show, I would certainly tune in to see Trya Collette don the red, white, and blue spandex every week.

Once Upon a Time (ABC) – Considering this is being described as “A woman travels to a town where fairy tales are real” we may have to wait until this weekend to see how well Red Riding Hood does at the box office to gauge the chances this show has to getting picked up. Though I would be more confident if a show like this came from someone like Bryan Fuller, it was instead created by two writers from Lost who seemed to do a lot of Hurley-centric episode. And it stars Ginnifer Goodwin (Diane Snyder returns to free TV!) as Snow White. NBC will also have their own fairy tale themed show Grimm from Buffy / Angel writers.

Work It (ABC) – I have waited almost three decades for a Bosom Buddies reboot and this may be as close as it gets with two unemployed car salesmen dress in drag to get jobs a pharmaceutical representative. We will also get the bonus enjoyment figuring out which of the two will go on to be Tom Hanks and the other Peter Scolari.

Two Broke Girls (CBS) – Kat Dennings, who is great with passive aggressive dialogue, staring as a waitress co-written by Whitney Cummings, a standout of recent Comedy Central Roasts. Cumming also has her own starring vehicle for NBC from the creator of My Boys.

Playboy (NBC) – Let be the last red blooded American boy on the internet to get excited to hear they are doing a Playboy Club themed show (donning the bunny suits will be the absurdly hot Amber Hear and moderately attractive Naturi Naughton and Jenna Dewan) only to be let down to hear it will be on NBC, not HBO.


And as the great philosopher Butt-Head once told his understudy Beavis, “If it weren’t for things that sucked, how would we know if something was awesome?” And this year looks like there is a bunch of crap that hopefully never makes it to your televisions.

Charlie’s Angels (ABC) – Whenever something is successful is on television it spreads like wildflower (seriously, just count the number of three different couples themed shows that have popped up since Modern Family), and that is understandable. But why do networks continue to reboot show considering every single one in the past decade has failed miserably? And as much as I would like to see Lyla Garrity kick bad guy butt in skimpy clothing every week, I just cannot see this being any good and “from the producers of Smallville” doesn’t help.

Home Base (CBS) – Speaking of failed ideas, was NFL player who goes home already failed recently? Executive producer Marky Mark is also a serious red flag.

Touched (Fox) – Seriously, how does Heroes creator Tim Kring keep finding work? Only Lane Kiffin has fallen upwards faster.

Ringer (CBS) – I hate to break it to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans, Sarah Michelle Gellar cannot act. She is only passable when Joss Whedon is putting words in her mouth, and since he won’t and Supernatural writers will, this will be unwatchable.

Grace (ABC) – Nothing could get me to run further from a show than “from Dancing with the Stars judge” but here’s the catch, this show isn’t some crappy dance themed reality show, it’s a drama. Staring Eric Roberts. Of course it is set in the world of professional dance.

Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea (NBC) – Sure Laura Prepon was surprisingly good as Nikki Heat, but portraying Chelsea Hander (who inexplicably will play he older sister) screams unwatchable.

Partners (ABC) – No description made me laugh harder than, “Two female police detectives are fiercely loyal to one another... because they're also secretly sisters.” Actually, I may have to move this to the please get picked up pile because this may be so bad it’s good.

College Has Been Everything I Ever Imagined it to Be

Back in college, one thing all the graduate assistants I worked with agreed on, do not do graduate work at the same school you did your undergrad. I could not help think of those words of wisdom when watching this season of Greek. Though I did not have any plans of going to grad school after graduating, watching Casey Cartwright this season I could see exactly why everyone suggested not continuing even higher learning at the same school.

Sure hanging out with undergrads you were friends with just three months ago may not seem that band, but how quickly you turn into that old guy at the college bar. And I got that vibe that Greek itself may have stayed one season too long and may have been better if the series would have just ended when Casey and Even Chambers graduated. Instead Casey and Cappie end up riding off into the sunset one semester too late (leaving Evan to wallow by himself yet again).

We even got a steady parade of returning alumni this season with Frannie, Katherine, Ashleigh, and Wade all finding their way back to Cypress Rhoades this season to mixed results but with one common theme, they did so with their tails between their legs. Again, you may be able to go home again, but that doesn’t mean you should. Even Lonegirl15 inexplicably popped up for no apparent reason. Who knew she was still attending CRU? Which begs the question whatever happened to Ben Bennett?

That is not to say season four was a complete waste. Dale, always the series MVP, finally got a major storyline worthy of the spotlight when the former president of USAG (fun fact: Abed from Community was also a founding member) actually rushed a fraternity and taught the guys who only gave a bid to get back at Rusty a thing or two about brotherhood. And his work as the ZBZ hasher was always comedy gold especially whenever Rebecca was involved.

Greek did miss the usual ten years later epilogue you expect at the end of college stories, but at least Dale finally got that kiss from Casey he had been pining for since he first laid eyes on her at his Darwin Lied concert. Here is hoping they do not come back to Cypress Rhoades except for the occational Homecoming weekends.

Greek 4.x gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Greek the Series gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I Want My Music Television - 3/7/11

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.


Uncharted - Sara Bareilles



I thought this was going to be another one of those fan made video until I went, “wait, isn't that Pharrell? And Josh Groban singing into a banana? Turns out Sara Bareilles got all her singer-songwriters friends to film videos of them lip-syncing her new song. Apparently no one in Maroon 5 has been on YouTube because their camera is too high quality and do not ham it up enough.


From the Clouds – Jack Johnson



Leave it to naturist Jack Johnson to shoot a beautiful video featuring the ocean. This screams view me in HD. And for anyone who would like to download this song for free (and more important legally) head over to Jack Johnson Music to do just that. The catch though is you have to post the link on your Facebook page or Twitter it to get the download. But for me free is free.


Uberlin – R.E.M.



At least the new R.E.M. video is less seizure inducing than their last one.


Freaks and Geeks – Childish Gambino



Yes that is the dude from Community (Childish Gambino is what a Wu-Tang Clan name generator gave him back in college; for those wondering, mine is Illmaster Assasin). I keep on going back and forth on if I actually like the song. Dude’s got wordplay skill, but the nasally delivery puts me off. But bonus points for including a shotout to time slot rival and fellow LaVar Burton fan, The Big Bang Theory.

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 3/6/11

Shameless: Who would have guessed Frank would be more annoying sober than drunk?

Chuck: Holy Pierre Chang sighting! With both arms in tack! You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: Wow, that may have been the worst karaoke performance I have ever heard that I do not think was intentionally supposed to be bad. At lead they did something for her hair because the previous cut was even worse than her singing. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

Greek: Is there really only one episode left? You would seem like there would be some sense of urgency, but it seems like this season has been the same old episodes we have seen in the past, not something leading somewhere. Hopefully they have something big for tomorrow. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



Castle: There were three times I yelled at the television: 1) Shoot at the fans to stop them while in the freezer, 2) For the dude from Heroes to shoot the terrorist when he drew his gun in the interrogation room, 3) For someone to just start pulling wires when they were out of option in front of the bomb. At least they listened to me once. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Parenthood: Wow, that sure was a heartbreaking episode. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Lights Out: Those were some pretty big scars on the trainer. I guess it is a good thing I have never tried to slit my wrists because I would have cut across the hand, not all the way up from the wrist to the elbow. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Lights Out on iTunes.

Survivor: Redemption Island: I was a little worried that Russell was yet again going to benefit from one of the dumbest moves in Survivor history, because if the firelady had switch and Ralph got voted out, Ralph would have shot to number two dumbest Survivors ever for not going, “hey, forget this risky split the votes, Russell doesn’t have the Idol because I do so let’s just all vote for him.” Luckily things worked out for him. Here’s hoping that Boston Rob joins Russell on Redemption Island next week. But I do not understand why let four contestant observe Redemption Island. This would be the only season where contestants wouldn’t know what they were getting into and now they completely ruined that. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Mr. Sunshine: Since I also have a pretty bad time at remembering names, I will have to remember not to try to learn names but creating nasty names for their initials. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Mr. Sunshine on iTunes.

Justified: I have no recollection of the business guy Raylan visited this week. I used to be able to rattle off the littlest detail on Lost that most of the creators seemed to forget, and now I cannot even remember a guest star on a show nowadays. Getting old sucks. Speaking of Lost, it is weird seeing Daniel Faraday playing a moron. I keep waiting for him to outsmatrt someone, but I do not think it is ever going to happen. And which member of the Gibbons family had something to do with his limp? This season is only getting better, now if only I can remember the recurring characters. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Justified on iTunes.