Best of the Week - 11/19/11

Quote of the Week: You think you can get by with your Justin Bieber hairdo and your Invisaline braces, guess what, puberty is gonna set in and it is gonna set in ugly. Be a friend; be a friend not a bully. (Kristina, Parenthood)

Song of the Week: Someone Like You – Adele (Saturday Night Live)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: NBC Announces its Midseason Schedule: The headlines coming out of the new NBC schedule was the lack of Community which was scuttered from the line up to make room for 30 Rock. In other comedy news, Up All Night is trading places with Whitney which NBC looks to be killing off putting the critically abused show in a rough timeslot without a chushy lead in that it has had. And it does not bode well for the Chelsea Handler sitcom to get the post-Whitney timeslot (I wonder what Vegas has the Over / Under for when Community and new show Bent replacing the duo because I would take the under at any point after Valentine’s Day).

On the drama side, Prime Suspect looks to be effectively canceled being left off the schedule with new show The Firm replacing it on Thursdays (but will have a two hour premiere Sunday January 8 at 9:00). Ratings anomaly Harry’s Law (which manages to be the networks most watch drama yet has the lowest rating in the most sought out advertising demo) moves to Sunday at 8:00 while Rock Center takes its old timeslot. And once again Parenthood will be ending its season early (February 28) to make room for something called Faison Star which sounds like something that should be airing on a basic cable channel like Bravo instead.

Oh yeah, and for those not already sick of the ads playing ad nausea: The Voice get the post-Super Bowl slot before settling in on Mondays and will be followed by Smash.

Free Download of the Week: Hundreds of Songs from Google Music: Google Music came out of beta this week in style with hundreds of free songs from artists ranging from John Mayer to Outkast to Living Colour to Bill Withers to Willie Nelson to an entire twenty-nine song live album from Pearl Jam and not one, but two free Dave Matthews Band live albums. Unlike beta, you can now download these songs to your computer. You can download tracks individually by clicking on them in your Google Music Library or with the Music Manager (you may have to reinstall it like I dide if there currently a “download” tab in the program). Granted now I have over 600 songs to download.

New Album Release of the Week: My Life II: The Journey Continues, Act 1 [Deluxe Edition] - Mary J. Blige

New DVD Release of the Week: Three Amigos [Blu-ray]

Video of the Week: You know you watch too much On Demand when you can recite a commercial word for word which I can do for The Muppets trailer because ABC On Demand has been airing it during every commercial break for the last month (and I watch four of their shows On Demand per week). And apparently the best way to avoid the naughty words in Cee-Lo’s Song Otherwise Known as Forget You is just to have it performed by animals that cannot actually sing it. And now here is a full version of the song performed by a bunch of chickens. Sadly no one was smart enough to change the title to Cluck You.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, 9AM on NBC: It is the 85’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and they are pulling out all the stops this year because I actually recognize some of the names. This year you can look out for Stars joining the festivities this year include Rodney Atkins, the Big Apple Circus, Mary J. Blige, Cobra Starship, Neil Diamond, Michael Feinstein, The Fresh Beat Band, Cee Lo Green, Avril Lavigne, Shelby Lynne, Mannheim Steamroller, China Anne McClain, Scotty McCreery, Ingrid Michaelson, the cast of The Muppets, Savannah Outen, Power Rangers Samurai, cast of Broadway's Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Daniel Radcliffe and the cast of Broadway's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Willard Scott, cast of Broadway's Sister Act, cast of Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Straight No Chaser, US Naval Academy Glee Club, Johnny Weir, and Zendaya. In addition, the telecast will feature a special performance from the world-famous "Radio City Rockettes." And if that is not enough Parade for you, later that night NBC is running a special on the Parade at 10:00.

Around the Tubes - 11/18/11

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 Women Who Rock, JFK: The Lost Bullet, Countdown to the 25 Days of Christmas, Katrina, Christmas in Washinston, Shark Attack Experiment: LIVE, Top Chef, and Weeds.


- Tonight at 9 on PBS (check your local listings) will be airing Woman Who Rock as part of their PBS Arts Fall Festival coming to you from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Look for interviews and live performances with Bessie Smith, Ma Raney, Mother Maybelle, and Mahalia Jackson as well as contemporary stars Darlene Love, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Bonnie Raitt, Cyndi Lauper, Wanda Jackson, Mavis Staples, Deborah Harry, and Kathleen Hanna of the bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre.

- We are closing in on the 48’s anniversary of John F. Kennedy and the National Geographic this Sunday at 9:00 will air JFK: The Lost Bullet which has restored some film from the day to a higher resolution than ever before which may explain the mystery of the missing bullet. Check out the restored footage below:

Video: Restored JFK Footage


- We are still two weeks away from ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas but for those looking for some holiday cheer before then, their Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas starts Sunday with Holiday in Handcuffs starting at 8:00.

- And for those looking to get in a festive mood, here is a free download of Santa Baby by Katrina courtesy of Red Red Records.

Santa Baby by katrinamusic

- For those that can wait until December to start celebrating the holidays, on December 15 is TNT’s annual Christmas in Washington special and this year it will be hosted by Conan O’Brien with performances by Justin Bieber, Cee-Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, Victoria Jackson, and the Band Perry.

- If you are like me and the Friday after Thanksgiving is a time to avoid your family but going shopping is not your idea of fun, here is a good diversion, Nat Geo Wild will be airing a marathon of shark documentaries beginning at noon leading up to Shark Attack Experiment: LIVE at 9:00. Yes live on television leading experts will be testing shark attack myths. Live. Tune in to learn such valuable information as it better to swim or float listlessly if a shark attack is imminent.

Want autographed item from Tom Petty, Jack Johnson and / or Switchfoot? Head over to peacelovethrumusic.com for an auction to win such items to benefit Guitars in the Classroom by November 28 to bid on them.

- In this week’s Newsweek, Jerry Seinfeld sits down with Regis Philbin about his last show.

- Top Chef judge Gail Simmons is featured in the December issue of Redbook where she tells the magazine where she gives the readers some cooking tips.



- With the cliffhanger they had it is not surprising Weeds will be having another season and earlier this week Showtime made it official that there will be an eighth season.

- For today’s Political Story of the Week, if the Republican primaries were a reality show, Michelle Bachmann would be the first to be voted off the island according to Poll Position. Though that is for all voters, among Republican voters, the sanest of the bunch John Huntsman naturally would be voted out.

Why Does Every Black Actor Gotta Rap Some? I Don’t Know, All I Know Is I’m the Best One

History is littered with actors who have tried their hand at music with little result because mostly they have all sucked massively. So it is easy to write all the future ones off as future sale bin with the Joey Lawrence, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Meadow Soprano. But I do not know if ringtone rappers have set the hip-hop so low that even a comedian can step over it, but Camp by Donald Glover of Community is one of the best rap albums of the year.

Recording as Childish Gambino (a name he got from a Wu-Tang Clan name generator) stays clear of overused clichés like auto-tune that have plagued rap on top forty station in recent years, there are no big name guest appearances (his slick singing style alleviates any need to bring on Bruno Mars to sing his hooks) or the flashy producer of the moment. Childish Gambino kicks it old school as an unabashed backpack rapper and even names a song after the hip-hop lifestyle even if Backpack features a much harder delivery then any A Tribe Called Quest track.

Camp is an unfortunate name for the album for a comedian trying to play it straight because there is nothing campy about the album. The title instead seems to refer to the noun where children go for the summer as there is plenty of themes about childhood and growing up throughout the album with Glover seems guilty for being black and growing up with a father. Topics like this make Childish Gambino the most boisterous self loather since Kanye West. But really the only topic he likes more is, um, how do I put this without annoying my censors; the completion of intercourse on things.

Much like Community which is constantly throwing pop culture references, Gambino has as many of his own on that rival the number on any Beastie Boys referencing everything from Rugrats to Mumford & Sons to Human Centipede (eww). As great a wordsmith Glover is, his high delivery style can get grating at times and the likeability of most songs are determined by how good the beat is (highlighted by standout track Bonefire), but others are only mediocre at best and nowhere as creative as his Adele sample of Melt Your Heart to Stone for his song Do You Like off his Culdesac mixtape.

Song to Download – Bonfire

Camp gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I Want My Music Television - 11/16/11

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.

Girl Panic – Duran Duran



Sure Duran Duran created the whole models in music videos scene, but how about casting some that are not current members of AARP? Each of them were featured in major music videos that came out in 1990. That is over two decades ago. Then again that is right around the time they had their last hit so the models of today may not even know who Duran Duran is.


Monarchy of Roses – Red Hot Chili Peppers



Sure the new Red Hot Chili Peppers video kind of looks like the a-ha video sans an actual storyline, but still it look pretty cool.


Call It What You Want - Foster the People



I am all for nonsensical music videos as much as the next pretentious music fan, but seriouslyFoster the People: what the frack is this?


Work Out - J Cole



Last week I called J Cole’s participation in the new Beyoncé video pretty bland, but as for his own music is anything but, for at least this song. I am not sure what is more bizarre: building a beat from the outro to California Love or the Paula Abdul quotes throughout the song.

Lyrics Quiz: Songs from The Sing-Off

The promo monkeys at The Sing-Off had me worried there for a while; seriously, how dare they even suggest Antoine Merriweather might have been voted out last night. Thankfully much like any Survivor promo that implies someone is going to be sent home never actually does the following episode, Antoine and his boys were saved this week (weirdly with the doom and gloom promo, they did not even fall to the bottom two last night). With just one more episode until the season finale (though there is a holiday special the following week) I thought I would look back at some of my favorite songs from this past season in Lyrics Quiz form. 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 and give you credit. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them.

1. But you promised her next time you’d show restraint. You don’t get another chance, life is no Nintendo game.
2. Three little birds sat on my window and they told me I don’t need to worry. Summer came like cinnamon, so sweet. Little girls Double Dutch on the concrete. (Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae; guessed by Doug)
3. Teachers keep on teaching. Preachers keep on preaching. World keep on turning ‘cause it won't be too long. (Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder; guessed by Doug)
4. I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you. And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you. (Wicked Game - Chris Isaak; guessed by Doug)
5. In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey. (Loser - Beck; guessed by Beck)
6. I’ll be lounging on the couch just chillin’ in my Snuggy. Click to MTV so they can teach me how to Dougie. (The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars; guessed by Doug)
7. Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm wrap around, take a hold of my heart.
8. We’re going to party, liming, fiesta, forever. Come on and sing my song. (All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie)
9. Slam your body down and wind it all around. (Wannabe - Spice Girls; guessed by Rebekah)
10. And there are voices that want to be heard. So much to mention, but you can’t find the words. (Listen to Your Heart! - Roxette; guessed by Rebekah)
11. Never trust a big butt and a smile. (Poison - Bell Biv DeVoe; guessed by Doug)
12. I heard he sang a good song. I heard he had a style and so I came to see him and listen for a while. (Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack; guesed by Doug)
13. I’m not loving you way I wanted to. What I had to do, had to run from you.
14. I will give up everything, even start a world war for these ghettos girls and boys I’m rapping round the world for: Africa to New York, Haiti then I detour, Oakland out to Auckland.
15. I get knocked down, but I get up again, you’re never gonna keep me down. (Tubthumping - Chumbawamba; guessed by Doug)
16. Who ya gonna call? (Ghostbusters - Ray Parke Jr.; (guessed by Doug)
17. I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me. (Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen; guessed by Doug)
18. Sometimes I love you; sometimes you make me blue. Sometimes I feel good; at tmes I feel used. (Fallin' - Alicia Keys; guessed by Rebekah)
19. We’ll fight the powers that be just don’t pick our destiny cause you don’t know us, you don’t belong.
20. Guess I’d rather hurt than feel nothing at all. It’s quarter after one and I’m a little drunk. (Need You Now - Lady Antebellum; guessed by Rebekah)
21. You thought I would fail without you but I’m on top. Though it would be over by now but I won’t stop. (Survivor - Destiny's Child; guessed by Doug)
22. Right now he’s probably buying her some fruity little drink because she can’t shoot whiskey. (Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood; guessed by Rebekah)
23. If the children don’t grow up, our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up. We’re just a million little God’s causing rain storms turning every good thing to rust.
24. It’s the feakin’ weekend, baby I’mma ‘bout to have me some fun. (Ignition (Remix) - R. Kelly; guessed by Doug)
25. No matter what your friends try to tell ya we were made to fall in love. We’ll always be together, any kind of weather. (Every Little Step - Bobby Brown; guessed by Doug)

Previewing Knights of Mayhem

Tomorrow marks the start of the third week of the NBA season. Or at least it would have if millionaires and billionaires were not still unable to find a way to split their very large pie. For basketball fans in need of a new sport to watch while the NBA heads to canceling their season, how about Full Metal Jousting? Yes, exactly what you are thinking, dudes on horses with poles trying to knock each other off.

Knights of Mayhem follows a group of jousters as they trying to go from Renaissance Fairs to the next extreme sport in America (it is hard whenever one of the Knights talks about how big the sport will be without thinking about the time on Mad Men when Don Draper was tasked to making Jai Alai the next major sport). Every week these modern day knights strap on 130 pounds of armors and arm themselves with nothing but an eleven foot lance going up to thirty miles per hour in the hopes they stay on their horse while knocking their opponents off theirs.

The Knights of Mayhem themselves range between the best in the world to two rookies, one of which has not even spent much time on a horse up until now. And animosity fuels the group also as bad blood from competition has seeped its way into the group. And what would a reality show be without a villain, and the Knights even boasts a member who wears a quite literal black hat right down to his armored which he has spray painted black.

Most the most interesting parts of the show are when the Knights suit up for battle and mount their horses to go one on one. Even with all the armor, there is a very good chance for injury and even death (most deaths are the result of a lance going through the eye). The second of back to back episodes tonight is especially violent with multiple medics making appearances throughout the matches.

Knights of Mayhem airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel. Check out a preview below:

Jousting Battlefield

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 11/13/11

Once Upon a Time:I still have not completely bought into the show, but one of the more interesting aspects of the show is whenever they introduce a new character in the real world my mind instantly tries to predict who they are in the fairytale world. Some are pretty obvious like Slutty Red Riding Hood, but we still do not know who the sheriff is, and this week we were introduced to the sleazy doctor. But the writers need to make sure they do not take too long to reveal the characters’ alter ego because much on Lost, everyone stopped caring about how Locke got into a wheelchair about two seasons after they finally revealed the reason. Also, where were the seven dwarfs?
You can stream current episodes on Once Upon a Time. You can also download Once Upon a Time.

The Walking Dead: I did not think they would able to out-gross the scene where they checked out the contents of the zombie’s stomach, but the well zombie comes very close. Though I wonder why they went straight for human bait before trying out a squirrel or smaller animal first. At least Glen got some sweet lovin’ for his troubles.
You can stream recent episodes over at amc.com. You can also download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Homeland: She may like to fly so close to the flame that she could beat all the boys at chicken at the local train tracks, but having sex with someone you are convinced is a terrorist is completely over the top. And the further down the rabbit hole Carrie goes, the more entertaining her character is. Though I am a bi suspicious about the polygraph test, are these people trained on how to beat one incase they are captured in the field? Plus if Beavis and Butt-Head know how to beat one, how hard can it be?

Pan Am: If I have one complaint about the return of Smash Williams to television was when he started talking about his mom I was hoping we were going to get an appearance from Momma Smash. Oh well. And I wonder what happened with the pilot hooking up with the mistress of his boss? I thought he would get in trouble for that or did Maggie tell him something different?
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pan Am on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: Was there anyone out there that knew the Slap Bet was still going on? And now there are actually two more to go. And the writer still seem to be taunting us again this week when the boyfriend asked that Ted’s story be as log as possible. With that all said, even though it was the cheesiest of all sight gags, I could not stop laughing whenever the bear attached Marshall.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Sing-Off: If the rating were not reason enough, how strong this episode with ten less groups than the original sixteen was is a strong sign that an abridged two week, Christmas time airing is probably the best for the show then a weekly series. I doubt we will see the Sing Off in the fall next year, but hopefully they do bring it back for the pre-Christmas slot like they had the first two seasons. And if it does come back, make sure to have Antoine Merriweather return in one of the show’s patented Supergroups like The Backbeats and Delilah (it is a shame they got kicked off this week before they let the attractive redhead sing the lead in any song). So many strong performances this week, but the opening number Wake Up may be the best group performance ever on The Sing-Off.

The Sing-Off Week Six Power Ranking (change from last week in parentheses)

1. Afro Blue (+1)
2. Urban Method (+2)
3. Dartmouth Aires (-2)
4. Pentatonix (+2)
5. Vocal Point (-1)

You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download songs from The Sing-Off on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: That fight between Gemma and Clay went way too long. You can get the same idea across with being that graphic. But it looks like someone will be joining Piney in the big biker bar in the sky, but we may have to wait until the end of the season to find out who and by whose hand, a bunch of possibilities there.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: South Pacific: I do not know how you can say you are playing with honor and then sit out a challenge for food. But anyway. I fear if Albert and / or Sophie does not do something soon, this season will play out just like the previous one with Coach / Brandon / Edna taking the place of Boston Rob / Philip / and the hot chick whose name I have already forgotten as the mastermind / psycho / worthless person and that is not a good thing. And note to Survivor producers, please stop casting people who cannot come up with a better insult that “wiener” and definitely do not bring them back three times.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Chuck: I did not think that Morgan could get any more annoying but he even managed to outdo his annoyingness this episode. Hopefully the assassin assign to kills him is successful.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.