Previewing Glory Daze

If you ever wondered whatever happened to the tradition sitcom that you grew up with, they are currently on TBS from the recently canceled Bill Envall to all the Tyler Perry sitcoms. But much like all those family sitcoms from the eighties, they are moderately funny at best and look very cheap. But with the recent signing of Conan O’Brien (not to mention landing March Madness), it seems like TBS has a bit a swag to them, and they are branching out from their safe sitcom fare for the first time since the embarrassing Outback Jack.

Case in point, Glory Daze, their first post-Conan offering. An hour long set in the eighties at college that actually looks like they spent money on, with the college setting, large cast, period clothing, and an actual eighties soundtrack that includes the Talking Heads, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Duran Duran, The Cars, Shannon, The Pretenders, The Fixx, Kim Wilde, Spandau Ballet, Trio, The Clash, Madness, The Ramones (and for some reason Jefferson Airplane) and that is just in the first episode. Of course we will have to see if TBS spent their entire licensing budget on the pilot or if this signs of things to come.

Like any real college, our main cast is a rag tag group of friends who only hang out due to their placement in the same dorm. Kelly Blatz (Aaron Stone’s Aaron Stone) is the pre-med student who gets wrangled into pledging. Drew Seeley (Another Cinderella Story) has the chance to be the most entertaining Republican on television since Alex P. Keaton. Hartley Sawyer (Glory Daze, this is basically the only thing on his resume) is there on a baseball scholarship that can get any lady he wants, as long as Mike Schmitt does not (expletive delete) block him. And what college story would be complete without the dork that can’t get any loving, here that comes in the form of Matt Bush (you may remember him best from AT&T’s roll-over commercials).

Rounding out the cast is Callard Harris (Sons of Anarchy) as the care free fraternity recruiter the guys rush. Juilianna Guill (the stupendous actress from the Friday the 13th reboot) is the object of Blatz affection who manages to avoid all the bad eighties hairstyles. Then Tim Meadows (The Bill Envall Show) pops up as your token liberal college professor who undoubtably will have a few run ins with the quite literal Reagan-hugging Sealy.

Knowing the greenness of the main cast, Glory Daze has signed up quite a few comedy veterans besides Meadows to show up throughout the season. The pilot boasts Brad Garrett (Everybody Love Raymond) and Cheri Oteri (Saturday Night Live) as Blatz oversharing parents, and David Koechner (The Comebacks) as the college’s baseball coach who gives some interesting works of wisdom. Also showing up sometime this season are Kevin Nealon, Fred Willard, John Michael Higgins, Andy Richter, D.L. Hughley, and Michael McKean. For those keeping track at home, that is six SNL alums.

Lame title (why they went with the name of the unwatched Ben Affleck movie instead of the awesome Bruce Springsteen song, even writing the review in Word, it wants me to change the name to Glory Days every time I write it), plot lines we have already seen on ABC Family’s Greek (and Animal House and ever other fraternity themed movie) and cheesy tongue and cheek modern references (electronic mail will never catch on) aside, Glory Daze is the first original TBS program that lives up to the network’s Very Funny tagline. The over eager Bush steals most of the scenes he is in but it is his Asian roommate who gets the biggest laugh of the first episode as he visits the Asian fraternity.

TBS has long been the red-headed step child to TNT, but with Glory Daze, TBS finally has a show the matches the quality of their sister station.

Glory Daze airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on TBS.

Lyrics Quiz: 1986

Tomorrow see the premiere of Glory Daze, the TBS series that is sent at a college in 1986. Due to its setting; there will be plenty of great music that will make up the soundtrack (assuming that TBS will have a budget to get the rights, the Pilot is music heavy). In honor of the premiere, I have collected some of my favorite songs for 1986. 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. Now onto the lyric quiz:


1. Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye.
2. I was eighteen, didn’t have a care. Working for peanuts, not a dime to spare.
3. Not the word from your lips, you just took for granted that I want to skinny dip.
4. In the paper today: tales of war and of waste, but you turn right over to the TV page.
5. You could have a bumper car bumping. This amusement never ends.
6. Now Little Bo Peep cold lost her sheep and Rip van Winkle fell the hell asleep. And Alice chilling somewhere in Wonderland, Jack’s serving Jill a bucket in his hand. (Peter Piper - Run-DMC; guessed by Rose)
7. I used to be a renegade, I used to fool around. But I couldn’t take the punishment and had to settle down. Now I’m playing it real strait and yes I cut my hair.
8. I don’t want to end up a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard.
9. Er war Superstar. Er war popular. Er war so exaltiert. Because er hatte Flair.
10. When the mirror crashed I called you in time to her you say, “If only for today I am unafraid.”
11. Every time I see you falling I get down on my knees and pray. I’m waiting for that final moment you say the words I can’t say.
12. You must have been heaven sent. Hearing me call you went out on a limb.
13. Set me free why don’t ya babe? Get out my life why don’t ya babe?
14. I know you are an emotional girl. It took a lot for you to not lose faith in this world. But I can’t offer you proof but you’re gonna face the moment of truth.
15. That’s when you she told me a story about free milk and a cow. And said no huggy no kissy ‘till I get a wedding vow.
16. I hardly know this beauty by my side. I’ll never forget the way look tonight.
17. Her weapons were her crystal eyes making every man mad.
18. Well, the whole world’s got you dancing, that’s right, I’m telling you. It’s time to start believing, oh yes, believe in who you are, you are a shining star.
19. You don’t have to watch Dynasty to have an attitude.
20. I got the gun, you got the booze, you got two chooses of what you can do. It is not a touch decision as you can see, I can blow you away or you can ride with me.
21. I got a job waiting for my graduation. Fifty thou a year will buy a lotta beer.
22. The further on the edge, the hotter the intensity.
23. Did you hear the one about Gina? Some say she’s much too loose. That came straight from a guy who claims he’s tasting her juice. (Rumours - Timex Social Club; guessed by Rose)
24. Went to see my physician Dr. Jones. He took my trousers off; told me to cough. Dr says there ain’t nothing to discuss. He tells me anyway I might have to wear a truss.
25. I am a man who will fight for your honor. I’ll be the hero you’ been dreaming of.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. CLVI

The Walking Dead: I kept on waiting the whole episode for that grenade Rick picked up to come into play (I wonder why he never tried to find the keys to the tank?); I thought he might toss it down the ladder when he realized the Walkers might climb up. I thought he might use it in the front of the department store with all the Walker broke through the first window. I thought he might use it on the grate in the sewers. I thought he would use that as the distraction as they went to get the truck. But in never came into play. Hopefully we have a good pay off with the grenade.

I thought while watching the credits this week, if these were in fact spoilers. Is it safe to assume that those that didn’t make the title sequence are essentially redshirts for the zombies to eat? Thankfully none of the actors have much name recognition so I really do not know who cast members are and who are just supporting actors. You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: So Barney finally get the name of his father in the same episode we meet Zoey’s father husband. Not that I really cared much about either as I kept hoping the whole episode would be Ted saying “wieners”. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Event: What the frack was with that ending? I think that creeped me out more than anything on The Waking Dead this week. But anyway. Didn’t Sterling have a picture of Thomas, how didn’t he recognize him in the elevator. Wasn’t his flashback about how he was going to pay attention to detail to everything, how he missed an alien standing right next to him. And what is with the promo about finally learning who tried to assassinate the president? Don’t we already know it was Hal Holbrook and his shady cabal? And how did his crony go from a broken leg held at gun point by a Federal Agent to standing on two legs free? Did I miss something? You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download The Event on iTunes.

Castle: Wow, that was the least sad I have ever seen anyone who had just been told their pet ran away. I know as a guy I have been more lenient to a big butt and a smile than I should, but I would be very happy if some token hot chick lost one of my pets, I’d at the very least want some tears before I even considered accepting an apology. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Parenthood: Just as I predicted, Patty Pryor and Vince Howard hooked up and it was as creepy as I expected. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: I can’t believe they let the incest go as far as they did, but I guess I should not expect that Sons of Anarchy will not step over the preverbal line considering just earlier in the episode they went all Hostel on one of the characters. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: Nicaragua: It has been pretty clear that they decided to cast a whole group of Russell’s and this season is suffering greatly. I’m hoping the teaser was a meteor that killed half the tribe which means they will have to end this season early. And hopefully the next season isn’t the much rumored Russell vs. Boston Rob season. Of course if Survivor were to ever bring back Russell how do you not vote him off the first tribal he goes to? You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Terriers: It has been song long since they mentioned it, I almost forgot the overarching plot. And they brought it back with a vengeance with that reporter poking into that land developer. Though I do not understand why Hank presented himself to the guy afterward, seems like a risky proposition considering his henchmen is good at concealing murder. And it was nice seeing the Nerds of Dooms back again as the worst kidnappers ever. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Terriers on iTunes.

The Challenge: Cutthroat: Who would’ve guessed that MTV would have a stronger concussion policy than the NFL? You can stream recent episodes on MTV.com. You can also download The Challenge: Cutthroat on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: I have never been a fan of a female version of Sheldon, but Amy continually checking out Wikipedia for things to do at a slumber party was pretty hilarious, especially when she tried lesbian activities.

Community: I do not know what a bottle episode is and I do not care what a bottle episode is, I am just disappointed I had to see Chevy Chase in his underwear, but Annie never stepped out from behind the desk. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Outsourced: India really needs more holidays where Charlie can shoot off his guns in the streets. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Outsourced on iTunes.

Best of the Week vol. LII

Quote of the Week: She also designed the iconic red and black jacket in Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, which I’ve never viewed in its entirety as I find zombies dancing in choreographed synchronicity implausible. And also it’s very scary. (Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory)

Song of the Week: (Expletive Deleted) You – Cee Lo Green (No Ordinary Family)



Big News of the Week: Get Ready for the Ryan Bowl: This season I just hoped the Browns would get blown out in every game. We managed to put a string of wins together at the end of last season because the Mangenius realized that Josh Cribbs was the best player on the team so maybe they should give him more touches. Coming in this season I was hoping for the team to at least be competitive in games with maybe six or seven because the Jake Delhomme / Seneca Wallace was a slight upgrade from Derek Anderson / Brady Quinn tandem. Then they both got hurt with just one win to show for in five games.

Then the Colt McCoy era started. You really could not pick a worse situation to start your career, on the road in Pittsburg against the returning Ben Roethlisberger (who got his suspension reduced because he managed to go without raping anyone for four weeks straight), and yet put up a valiant fight giving us Browns fan the most hope since Bernie Kosar wore the jersey. And if that wasn’t bad enough start, his next two games he had to go toe to toe against two Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks. And he outplayed them both, granted the defense beat the Saints and Peyton Hillis (thanks Denver for thinking he was a good trade for Quinn; finally some cosmic retribution for The Drive) beat the Patriots.

Which leads us to this week, going into this four game stretch, it was clearly the hardest four game string any team had to play this season and we could possibly go 3-1. And if knocking out three Super Bowl contenders in as many games wasn’t enough, there are plenty of storylines that NBC may have wished the flex schedule was in effect this week (well maybe if they didn’t already have Steelers vs. Patriots). Twins Rex (Jets head coach) and Rob (Browns defensive coordinator) going at each other (hunt down Rex’s recent press confress where he dresses up like his brother if you have not already), the Mangenius going against the team that fired him, Braylon “Brick Hands” Edwards going against the team and fans that could not wait to drop him like he does footballs, and rookie quarterback McCoy vs. sophomore Mark Sanchez. I do not think I have been more excited for a football game since the Browns returned.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Video of the Week:



Free Download of the Week: Blue Suede Shoes (Viva Elvis) - Elvis Presley (iTunes): Elvis recently got his own Circ de Soil show and this is a version that is featured in the show.

Deal of the Week: 202 Blu-Ray's Under $10 (Office Space, 3:10 to Yuma, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog)

New CD Release of the Week: ...Featuring Norah Jones

New DVD Release of the Week: Avatar (Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live) [Blu-ray]

Video of the Week: Ever few years two movie studio decide to release the exact some movie within months of each other whether it be about volcano, asteroids or animated bug. There were even dueling reality spring break movies. 2011 will be the year of casual sex with two trailers hitting the interwebs this week. Friends with Benefits stars Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis which is described “The story centers around two professionals who meet but are too busy to find a mate. They agree to have an intimate relationship with no strings attached. Things get complicated when the guy falls for the girl, who’s dating someone else.” It is scheduled to be released July 22. No Strings Attached stars Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman (I guess she needed something more embarrassing on her resume than the Wal-Mart baby one) which is described as “This film is about two people a woman named Emma Franklin and Adam Kurtzman who try to have a emotionally free sexual relationship, but they have a revelation of wanting more in a relationship.” It has the jump on the other movie as it is currently set to hit theaters January 21. And don’t forget NBC has a sitcom set for midseason also titled Friends with Benefits. Below are the trailers so you can decide which one you want to avoid more.

Friends with Benefits – Red Band Trailer


No Strings Attached Trailer


Next Week Pick of the Week: Glory Daze, Tuesday at 10:00 on TBS: For those that saw my list of The Best New Shows of Fall 2010 you may have noticed I snuck on a show that had not even debuted yet, Glory Daze which I called the funniest original show ever on TBS (sorry Outback Jack) and better than the similarly theme ABC Family show Greek (though not as good as similarly period piece Everybody Hates Chris). Be on the lookout for my full review of the show later this week and be sure to come back Monday for my eighties-tastic Lyrics Quiz in honor of the show’s debut.

Around the Tubes vol. LXXIV

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 Great Migrations, J.J. Abrams, Bored to Death, Skins, Harry Potter, The West Wing, Christmas in Washington, and The Hasselhoffs.

- In a story I broke last week, the National Geographic Channel has a new special event Great Migrations which will continue this week with Feast or Famine at 8:00 on Sunday with Race to Survive on right after that. Below is a clip of Jellyfish Lake which I mentioned earlier in my Preview of Great Migrations:



- I would argue he never had it, but The Daily Beast thinks J.J. Abrams lost his Midas touch.

- The season finale of of Bored to Death is this Sunday at 10:00 following Boardwalk Empire on HBO. Here is a preview:



- MTV is finally getting back into the scripted television game after such notable shows like Dead at 21 and Undressed. Coming early next year to the former music television is a remake of the controversial British show Skins. Controversial is the key, so be warned before checking out the below promo titled Lick This:

Skins - MTV Shows

- For those that need a refresher of what has happened to Harry Potter before the premiere of the Deathly Hollows, the first five movies will be available this month On Demand from your cable or satalitte provider or for download on iTunes, Amazon Video On Demand, XBOX and PlayStation and other online digital retailers.

- For the grownups out there, there is The West Wing which is now available to download for the first time in high definition. Get all seven season on iTunes or Amazon Video on Demand.

- Its that time again where it is time to drag out all the Christmas decoration and TNT is celebrating the season again this year with Christmas in Washington. Ellen DeGeneres will be handling the hosting duties this year with performances by Mariah Carey, Maxwell, Annie Lennox, Miranda Cosgrove, and Matthew Morrison. Mark your calendars for Friday December 17 at 8:00.

- And just when you thought they ran out of subjects for new reality shows: The Hasselhoffs premiering December 5 on A&E.

I Guess He’s an X-Box and I’m More Atari

I always viewed Cee Lo Green as a novelty. He was the weird troll looking dude in the eccentric rap group Goodie Mob, who managed to make OutKast seem normal in comparison. He went on to make weird RnB music on his solo work. And lest us not forget his cameo of daddy dearest on an episode of My Super Sweet Sixteen (um, not that I watched the show, I just heard he was on it). I never took notice of him as a credible artist until he hooked up with Danger Mouse for two ambitiously great albums under the moniker Gnarls Barkley. Even after that success, when I heard he was recording a new solo album, I thought, yawn, wake me up when he’s back to recording with Danger Mouse.

Then I caught wind of the name of his first single off The Lady Killer, the unapologeticly titled (Expletive Deleted) You. Despite the title, the song turned out to be no novelty song which was debuted with a viral video the featured the song lyrics scrolled across a fluorescently colored background. Not only was the song no novelty, it was the most infectious song released since his own Crazy, and also featured the greatest sing-a-long chorus that you wouldn’t dare sing in front of your mother since Closer wanted to (expletive deleted) you like an animal.

Much like his work with Gnarls Barkley, it is hard to classify The Lady Killer; is it Retro-Soul? Psychedelic RnB? Experimental Pop? Whatever you try to label it, it is highly entertaining. The biggest risk on the album may be his cover of the psychedelic pop rock of Band of Horses where Green turns up the beat on No One’s Gonna Love You and turns it into a solid gold gem.

Other stand out tracks included the disco themed Bright Lights, Bigger City which I will blindly believe was inspired by the awesome Michael J. Fox movie of the similar name. Love Gun may be the best James Bond theme song never written (the bookends to the album has Cee-Lo throwing his hat in the ring to be Agent 008). Satisfied is a Stax horn infused that will leave you like the title suggests thanks to a sixties girl group style chorus. Then Old Fashioned is just that and could have fit in nicely when Teddy Pendergrass and Curtis Mayfield were belting out RnB classics. With that all said, how about another Gnarls Barkley album by next year?

Song to Download – (Expletive Deleted) You

The Lady Killer gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

The Best New Shows of Fall 2010

It seems like every other year, most people are complaining about how bad the new crop of shows are, and after the big buzz last year around Modern Family, Glee and Vampire Diaries, this year follows that tend with a dud of a season. Before we even went to the polls to vote in the midterm elections, we had already voted Lone Star and My Generation off our television with Outlaw and Undercovers joining the scrap heap once NBC burns off their remaining episodes. Thankfully cable saved us from the network slop with a few shows to talk about. Like I do every year, I invited some television blog buddies to help me compile a list, then take their votes, send them overseas, and this is the list that was sent back from India along with places where you can stream or download if you would like to catch up:

1. The Walking Dead (AMC) Hulu - iTunes

Sandie of Daemon’s TV says: It's on AMC, it has zombies in it, but it's really about the human condition. What's not to love?

Kim of TV Screener says: Totally not into the vampire or zombie thing in general, but this is just entertaining TV.

2. Raising Hope (Fox) Hulu – iTunes

Vance of Tapeworthy says: The crassest new show also has the most heart. Plus Martha Plimpton is simply amazing.

Kim says: It has the same mix of quirky humor and heart that made My Name Is Earl good, and it has the cutest baby I've ever seen on TV.

3. Terriers (FX) Hulu – Terriers

Scooter of the 9th Green says: Some people like to say that AMC is the best network on basic cable, but with Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Rescue Me and now Terriers, I’d rather tune into FX.

4. Blue Bloods (CBS) CBS.com – iTunes

5. Hellcats (The CW) CWTV.com - iTunes

Doug of the 9th Green says: Everyone loves a good guilty pleasure. Is better than a show about college cheerleading should be.

6. Outsourced (NBC) Hulu – iTunes

Vance says: Started off terribly, but improving along nicely.

7. Luther (BBC America) iTunes

8. Sherlock (BBC/PBS) iTunes

Sandie says: A modern Sherlock Holmes from the brilliant mind of Steven Moffat = Must See Television.

9. Glory Daze (TBS)

Scooter says: This is the funniest original show ever on TBS (sorry Outback Jack) and better than the similarly theme ABC Family show Greek (though not as good as similarly period piece Everybody Hates Chris).

10. No Ordinary Family (ABC) Hulu - iTunes

Doug says: Great concept but poor execution. I'm sticking with it for 1 reason only: Michael Chiklis

Also receiving votes: Nikita, The Big C, The Event, Tower Prep, Better with You, The Defenders, Detroit 1-8-7, IRT: Deadliest Roads


And in a measure of full disclosure, here is my list:

1. Terriers – Some people like to say that AMC is the best network on basic cable, but with Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Rescue Me and now Terriers, I’d rather tune into FX.

2. The Walking Dead – Suck it whiny vampires, this is the decade of zombies.

3. Glory Daze – This is the funniest original show ever on TBS (sorry Outback Jack) and better than the similarly theme ABC Family show Greek (though not as good as similarly period piece Everybody Hates Chris).

4. The Event – After being burned by the Lost finale just months before, I gave this show an episode by episode trial run and keeps me engrossed enough without annoying me.

5. Outsourced – I am still waiting until the show hits its stride, the elements are there, and once it does it would be one of the funniest shows on television.

Previewing Inside the State Department

The Secretary of State is a relatively thankless job. How many of them can you name that served more than a decade ago beside Henry Kissinger? Well you should be able be name more that that as the position used to be a stepping stone to the president like out very first Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson. Last year Hilary Clinton became the sixty-seventh to head the State Department.

Tonight the National Geographic Channel takes you Inside the State Department tonight at 9:00 for a week that will take Clinton and her team from the UN General Assembly in New York City to Pakistan to Afghanistan, as well as unplanned stops in Abu Dhabi, Israel and Egypt. You will see just how much work in keeping the person fourth in line to the presidency safe from outside attacks. We also get to go inside the bunker that house all the gift in consideration to give to foreign dignitaries donated from various American including painting, jewelry, and a signed bat from Derek Jeter. Check out the clip below featuring Clinton at a town hall meeting in Pakistan just days after a bomb killed a hundred people:

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. CLV

Chuck: I really did not see that plot twist coming. I actually like the bumbling James Bond act and not once did it cross m mind that he would turn out to be Volkoff. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: It has become pretty clear that Jennifer Morrison doesn’t have the best comic timing ever, the only problem is that the show already has too many of those type of actors on the show (*cough* Robin *cough*). You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

Sons of Anarchy: Rember when they started to repeat Lost with the Pop Up Video bubbles ton tell you what was going on? I think I need that for this show. I am really having a trouble remembering who’s who in Dublin and why exactly why they are doing what they are doing. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Sons of Anarchy on iTunes.

Survivor: Nicaragua: I wonder when there is an obvious two people on the chopping like there was this week, those two will team up and try to get someone else out? When Alina (who thankfully made it to the jury so we can still see her every week) ask Fabio to vote for Marty and he said NaOnka, I thought to myself, why doesn’t Alina team up with Fabio, grab Marty and go after NaOnka? At the very least you could flush out the idol. Also this week we learned why they have never given Benry any screen yet. Dirt squirrel? This may be the most unlikeable cast since Thailand. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Modern Family: Finally our first Dylan sighting of the season, and too bad he was only in one scene. And just how many smoke detectors do the Dunphy’s have? Shouldn’t two be enough, one upstairs, one downstairs? One in every room seems excessive. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



The Challenge: Cutthroat: Nothing like a serious iunjury to make something like someone doing a face plant on the water to make it much less funny. I was loving them at the beginning but after Chet had to be taken to the hospital, whenever someone did that all I could think was I hope they were not hurt. Okay, Ty at The Gulag was still pretty funny. You can stream recent episodes on MTV.com. You can also download The Challenge: Cutthroat on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: Aw, good call back to the time Howard crashed the Mars Lander to impress a chick (which, if I am not mistaken, Leonard actually stole from him. And it was of course good to see Penny back, matching wits with Sheldon and he tries to drink his sorrows away.

Also check out my First Impressions of The Walking Dead and Friday Night Lights.

Best of the Week vol. LI

Quote of the Week: Hey Dumbass, you in the tank: comfy in there? (The Walking Dead)

Song of the Week: Peace / Crazy / Love Train – Yusef Islam, Ozzy Osbourne, The O'Jays (The Rally to Restore Sanity and / or Fear)

Big News of the Week: A Good Week to Be a John: It may be hard out there for a pimp, but if you are the one buying the prostitutes, you had a very good week. Last weekend, during yet another drug induced rampage, Charlie Sheen got so violent; his companion had to lock herself in the bathroom. And guess what, the ratings for his laughless sitcom Two and a Half Men actually went up. Sheen wasn’t the only guy with frequent hooker miles celebrating this week as family values crusader and prostitute patron David Vitter ,who lead the charge to impeach Bill Clinton for receiving a Lewinski in the Oval Office, won reelection to the US Senate in a landslide. And let’s not forget that Elliot Spitzer still has a television show despite everyone forgetting to actually watch the television show.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Free Download of the Week: Timeless Christmas (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Sampler): Though I try to avoid Christmas music until after Christmas, for those ready to get into a festive mood seven weeks early, this sampler includes two songs each from Michael McDonald, Neil Sedaka, and the Irish Tenors.

Deal of the Week: 100/$5: 100 Albums for $5 Each: Get albums from Prince, KT Tunstall, Maroon 5, Billy Joel and more.



New CD Release of the Week: Lady Killer – Cee Lo Green

New DVD Release of the Week: Scott Pilgrim Vs the World [Blu-ray]

Video of the Week: Once I get my hands on Scott Pilgrim vs. the World this week, Sucker Punch will move up to the top spot of movies I most want to see. And to celebrated the occasion, the movie was nice enough to release a new trailer that may actually be more awesome the first one.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Conan, Monday at 11:00 on TBS: To be honest, I’ll be asleep when this airs, but I may catch it later because I am interesting how much he rips into NBC. Guest include Seth Rogan and Jack White (the rest of the week will feature Tom Hanks, John Hamm, Michael Cera, and Carol Vessey). And do not forget Lopez Tonight will be pushed back to midnight with the start of Conan. George’s guest Monday: Antoine Dodson. Here’s hoping Antoine finally give his opinion of the return of Ben Rothlisberger to the NFL.

With Veteran’s Day this week, I also want to point out Wartorn 1861-2010 from executive producer James Gandolfini, which premieres this Veterans Day, November 11th at 9pm on HBO which brings urgent attention to the invisible wounds of war like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Check out a trailer below.

Trailer

Around the Tubes vol. LXXIII

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 Community, The Goonies, Downsized, The Locator, Boardwalk Empire, Pretty Little Liars, Jamie Kennedy: Uncomfortable, Jimmy McMillan, Naught but Nice with Rob Shuter, Days of Our Lives, and Sons of Anarchy.


- NBC released a couple Community webisodes yesterday featuring Dean Pelton. Below is episode one, then click to see episode two and episode 3.



- Eighties classic The Goonies finally hit Blu-Ray this week and you can now pick up the 25th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on Blu-Ray or DVD. Want to feel old: Stef is currently portraying a grandmother on Raising Hope. This begs the question whatever happened to Andy Carmichael?



- WeTV is premiering two shows this weekend. New show Downsized follows “The Bruce family was living the high life until the financial downturn. With two houses in foreclosure, they are cutting costs and tightening their belts. The Bruces have some non-traditional methods for saving money: making their own clothes, raising live chickens, and taking 5 minute showers! Downsized focuses on the family as they adjust to a new way of life… and get creative in their challenging quest to get back on their feet.” Then at 10:00 tomorrow is the fifth season of The Locator featuring Troy Dunn.

- New episode of Boardwalk Empire this Sunday on HBO (followed by a new Bored to Death), below is a preview:



- For those going through Pretty Little Liars withdrawal and need a fix before the show returns in January, you can participate in the Pretty Little Liars Scavengers Hunt that started this week. “The seven-week long online scavenger hunt will send fans around the internet to get clues to solve a series-themed mystery. The omnipresent “A” from Pretty Little Liars will be hacking into ABCFamily.com/secrets, the Pretty Little Liars official Facebook Fan Page and the Pretty Little Liars Insiders Text Campaign to tell fans what they need to do each week. At the end of the seven weeks, the first person to solve the mystery, and then email “A” to let her know, will win a VIP sneak peek screening of the mid-season premiere of “Pretty Little Liars” in their own hometown with up to 10 of their friends. While there will only be one grand prize winner, fans who play through the last mission will get a special treat from “A.” Fans can go to ABCFamily.com/secrets for details and full rules.”

- For those that need a good laugh this weekend, then you may want to tune into Showtime at 9:00 for Jamie Kennedy: Uncomfortable.

- Need another reason to hate New Yorkers: they didn’t elect Jimmy McMillan from The Rent Is Too Damn High party as their next governor. Despite not actually a rent payer himself, he will still be helping out those that do even if it isn’t from the governor’s mansion. Head over to BidHere.com where you can bid on the Pay Your Rent for Pennies auction for one month’s rent up to $1200). Why couldn’t McMillan have started The Mortgage Is Too Damn High party?

- Need a reason to turn into the premiere of Naught but Nice with Rob Shuter tomorrow at 1:00 on HDNet, well Barry Marilow wrote the theme song, his first since penning the theme to American Bandstand.

- Days of Our Lives is turning forty-five soon and DaysInsider.com recently launched as an “online venue for fans to share their comments, impressions, and thoughts, chapter-by-chapter and photo-by-photo, about two new titles in the Days of our Lives book series.” Head over to sign up for the subscription based website.

- Sons of Anarchy fans, the show now has its own app. Head over to iTunes to download it for free.

Previewing Great Migrations

If there is one thing informational cable channels have learned to do spectacularly are anthology series making great use out of their HD channels. Next up is Great Migrations, a four episode epic from National Geographic starting this Sunday at 8:00. The four episode split up among the reasons why animals migrate, it’s in their DNA (Born to Move, 11/7 at 8), to procreate (Need to Breed, 11/7 at 8:00), for food (Feast or Famine 11/14 at 8:00), and basic survival (Race to Survive, 11/14 at 9).



Great Migration is the natural sequel to the Discovery documentary Life and it matches it size and scale which can even view in standard definition (which begs the question when are channels going to start send Blu-Ray screeners?). It also shares its one drawback, narration by Alec Baldwin. Sure his voice is less annoying that Oprah’s but it hard when you hear the disembodied voice of Baldwin and not think of certain voice-mails. Much like Life, there is a case to be made to watch with the mute button on. Okay, it is fun to hear Alex say, “He’s four tons of raw aggression,” and no he is not referring to one of his brothers.



Much like Life, Great Migrations features the monarch butterfly, an insect that takes three generations to migrate from Mexico to Canada, but only one to get back to Mexico. Survivor fans will remember Jellyfish Lake which reward challenge winners got to take a dip in during the Palau season. But the signature segment of the series is easily when the African elephants the show features got caught in an epic sandstorm that looks like the end of days.



Great Migrations also has three companion hours for further viewing. Tuesday November 9 at 10:00 is The Science of Great Migrations, get a behind the scenes look at how scientist tracked some of their subjects of the series like how they got a microchip on the monarch butterfly that was light enough that they could still fly away. Then right after the fourth and final episode November 14 at 10:00 in Great Migrations: Behind the Scenes to see how the cameramen and producers got the iconic shots for from the show including a firsthand take on going through the previously mentioned sandstorm. Lastly Great Migrations: Rhythms of Life airs Saturday November 20 at 8:00 which is a best of the series sans Alec Baldwin who is replaced by original music.



If you cannot get enough of Great Migrations on the television, there is a companion three hundred page book also entitled Great Migrations. It is split into four sections that correspond with the television show with plenty of glossy pictures and explanations of the animal’s migration. You can also check out National Geographic’s Great Migrations social game Move “which simulates the zebra and wildebeest migration and allows users to participate in one of 14 regional teams that will be playing real-time across the globe, and invite Facebook friends to join to build the biggest herd and complete the most migrations.”



One quick warning to animal lovers before they turn into Great Migrations, many of the animals depicted migrate to get away from predators and some migrate right into them, so be warned there are some very graphic scenes of these encounters throughout the series. Check out (a non graphic) preview of what you can expect on Sunday:

Red Crab Marathon

First Impressions: Friday Night Lights: The Final Season

This Halloween I drove an hour just to watch the season premiere of Friday Night Lights on a fifteen inch television (which is smaller than my computer monitor). And it was totally worth it. I doubt I will travel the distance every week and thus will hold off my weekly commentary of the show until its NBC showing, but here is my first impressions of the final season of the best show on television (spoiler warnings to those who are waiting for the NBC broadcast).

As it has been the last three seasons, it is time to say goodbye to beloved members of the original cast as both Landry Clarke and Julie Taylor, the last remaining original high school students head off to college. The two didn’t get as triumphant send off as previous members (though I suspect both may show up later) they were both appropriate with Landry’s triumphant last waltz of Cruxifictorious and Julie got one last ping pong match in. There was also when last swich-a-roo with Julie offering an epic send off, which I thought she was going to plant one on him, but instead it turned out to be one last trip to the Landing Strip. It’s a shame that Julie didn’t accompany Landry to Grandma Saresen’s house though.

But the heart of Friday Night Lights remains the story of those left behind in Dillon, Texas. Despite only winning two games last season, Coach Taylor has to temper expectations after one of those wins came at the expense of the West Dillon Panthers’ playoff hopes. The team is still a shell and Coach has to put on his recruiting hat and apparently poached the black defensive coordinator (whom I don’t think was ever given a name) from West Dillon, sadly it looks as if Mac McGill may have stayed. He even inadvertently added Billy Riggins to the staff who managed to Coach even more than the assistant that repeated everything he said with Billy quoting of Ronnie Lott.

Coach leaves recruiting of actual players to last year’s standouts Vince Howard and Luke Cafferty. They are enlisted to recruit a stand out basketball player who wears a wool cap despite being in Texas during the dog days of August. Heb may not like football, but the white boy can jump (and apparently catch footballs). And he self admitted free sprit which means he is the likely predecessor to Tim Riggins when it comes to a penchant of skipping practices. Even more expections will have to be tempered after the Lions beat the defending state champs thanks to an injury to the opponent quarterback that had shades of Jason Street to it.

And as downtrodden as Dillon is to live in, no one is more downtrodden than Becky Sproles and somehow her situation got even worse this season. Her mother is now working on a cruise ship and though her father moved back in town to take care of her, he too if off most times on the road as a truck leaving Becky alone with his wife and her baby half-sister. Naturally, things do not go well and she cannot even turn to her only friend who if currently in jail, leaving her to turn to his brother, showing up on the doorstep of Billy Riggins who has a little one of his own. It is sad that the show won’t last long enough to see how Becky overcomes everything and leave Dillon like the characters came before her.

Friday Night Lights airs Wednesdays at 9:00 on DirecTV. You can buy previous seasons of the show on the cheap (as low as $13.49 a season) on Friday Night Lights. You can also download previous seasons of Friday Night Lights on iTunes. The show will return to terrestrial television in about three to six months.

First Impressions: The Walking Dead

You know you are in for a different kind of television show when before the title sequence even rolls; the protagonist of the show shoots a little girl in the head. Sure she was a brain eating zombie, but still jarring. And not to be outdone by the opening, the closing scene featured even more zombies disemboweling a live horse. That just sets a tone never set by any television show before it, especially by basic cable standards.

And despite a cast the size of Ben Hur in the credits, the majority of the first episode of The Walking Dead almost exclusively features Andrew Lincoln (Love, Actually) as he wakes up in zombieland after being shot some time earlier. The only (living) people he runs into are a father / son who can’t bring themselves to leave the town where the zombified remains of their wife / mother roam the streets. This does get tedious fast because Woody Harrelson, Lincoln is not. You just sit there after a while for Lincoln just to get somewhere.

We do get a small glimpse of the other cast members, which could have been a longer glimpse, maybe some back-story will come soon as how they got there. Of course all that intrigue went out the door with the introduction of the love triangle. Crappy soap opera type storylines is something that The Walking Dead does not need. More intriguing though was the snarky disembodied voice that is on the other side of the frequency of Lincoln in the tank at the end of the episode. That dynamic should maked for one entertaining second episode.

Besides the size and scope of the show, what is amazing about The Walking Dead it is the first zombie story where you actually feel bad for them even as they try to suck out the brains of those still living. From the heartbreak the husband goes through trying to put his wife out of her misery to Lincoln going out of his way to track down the zombie without a bottom half. When he said, “I’m sorry this happened to you,” so did I.

Despite not being an AMC fanboy, I still had high hopes for The Walking Dead and it almost lived up to expectations (had they cut the fat and just went with an hour premiere it might have). Between the encampment of survivors and whoever was taunting Lincoln at the end, should make for an entertaining first season, which is only currently ordered at six episodes.

The Walking Dead airs Sundays at 10:00 on AMC. You can download The Walking Dead on iTunes. You can also download the show over at Amazon on Demand (see below).

The Walking Dead: Sneak Peek [HD]The Walking Dead: Sneak Peek