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.

Best of the Week - 11/12/11

Quote of the Week: Trust me, if I had a death ray I wouldn’t be living here. I’d be in my lair enjoying the money the people of Earth gave me for not using my death ray. (Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory)

Song of the Week: Kiss from a Rose – Seal (as sung by the cast of Community)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: A Melancholy Happy Tails to Heavy D: I lived in the right time for rap music with the Golden Age of the genre spanning my middle and high school years. And if I were ever to get around to writing a book on the Golden Age of Hip Hop, Heavy D and the Boyz would definitely get a couple pages. The Overweight Lover MC showed that people of girth were not just resigned to being a novelty act and could actually flow and dance (seriously, check out the Now That We Found Love video; though rewatching it, we may have him to thank for the super-shiny suits that dominated videos in the genre from the nineties; and the see-through suit that one of the dancers wore remains disturbingly funny). Heavy would be one of the few rappers who collaborated with Janet and Michael Jackson (on his underrated Jam) and his Nuttin’ But Love video featured a pre-Friday Chris Tucker and Rebecca Gayheart back when she was still referred only as the Noxzema Girl. Heavy would later focus on acting playing the guidance counselor on Boston Public and stared in the recent Tower Heist film. But his greatest contribution to television remains as providing the theme song to In Living Color. Heavy D was 44 and gone way too soon.



Free Download of the Week: When I Was Young – Nada Surf (Rolling Stone)

Deal of the Week: 100 Holiday Albums for $5 Each: We are still six weeks away from Christmas but for those already to get their holiday cheer on, Amazon MP3 has 100 Christmas albums for $5 each including She and Him, Boyz II Men, Snoop Dogg (seriously), and John Denver teaming up with the Muppets.



New Album Release of the Week: Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982 - 2011 - R.E.M.

New DVD Release of the Week: The California Raisins Collection

Video of the Week: The latest episode of Boardwalk Empire hits HBO this Sunday at 9:00 and here is a quick promo:

Ep. 20: Two Boats and a Lifeguard - Preview

Next Week Pick of the Week: Suburgatory, Wednesday at 8:30 on ABC: Being a suburbanite, I was interested in checking out Suburgatory expect it airs opposite Survivor (which I cannot miss because it is basically the only watercooler show I watch. So after it premiered I fired up Hulu to give it a look except it was not there. Same for abc.com and iTunes. I checked back a week later and still not up. I resigned that the show would be a DVD catch up until last week I noticed it was finally on Hulu (sans the Pilot, but since I had some credit for Amazon Instant Video, I checked it out there; you can also download Suburgatory on iTunes). So after a quick marathon I am finally caught up and ready to call it the best new show this fall on terrestrial television which says a lot because as funny as it is, I am a bit offended at its depiction of the suburbs. But there are few things funnier than a black dude in a Medium fan club.

Around the Tubes - 11/10/11

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 Where Soldiers Come From, Being Human, Homeland, Sons of Anarchy, Chuck, Taylor Dayne, Southland, Nurse Jackie, Franklin and Bash, TMC, and polling results.

- Tomorrow is Veterans Day (for those wondering why you won’t be getting mail) and to honor the occasion, tonight on PBS they are airing the acclaimed documentary Where Soldiers Come From at 9:00. You can also stream the film in its entirety on the POV website starting tomorrow until December 11.

- Being Human returns to Syfy for its second season this January and here is a first look at its return:



- Got a webcam and a microphone? If so you can take a polygraph just like everyone on Homeland this week. Head over to sho.com to give it a shot. If you do not have the equipment and live near New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, you can take on in person, head over to the website for the when and where.

- Fans of Sons of Anarchy should be happy to learn that the current fourth season will be getting an additional fourteenth episode. Update your television calendars as now the season finale is slated for December 6.

- Chuck fans while you are waiting for the next episode, head over to the Verbanski website to check out Carmichael Industries biggest competitor (hint: roll over the crest with the gun for an Easter egg)

- Taylor Dayne is back and her new single Floor On Fire is already entered the Billboard Dance Charts in at number 8.

- The most influential talk show host? Ellen DeGeneres. Head over to Klout to see the entire top ten (spoiler alert! Arsenio Hall did not make the list).

- Marla Bibbs (yes Florence Johnston) will be guest starring on Southland next season reteaming her with her 227 daughter Regina King. No word on when Jackée will show up. The new season starts up Tuesday January 17 on TNT. The Gibbs episode is set to air the 24th of the month.

- No word on when it will return, but when it does come back, Nurse Jackie will feature guest spots from Joel Grey and Aida Turturro who will reunite with Sopranos co-star Edie Falco.

- Even more guest stars are signing for the TNT show Franklin and Bash including Peter Weller, Jane Seymour (play Zach Morris’ mom), and Beau Bridges is set to return as Papa Franklin.

- TCM recently announced its guest hosts for the month of November including Oscar winning actress Eva Marie Saint (7-13), film critic, lecturer and author Kenneth Turan (14-20), and actress Rita Wilson (21-27)

- In polling news, Poll Position finds 63% Americans believe the White House should comply with a subpoena from Congressional committees demanding the White House turn over documents related to the Obama administration’s $535 million loan guarantees to the now-failed solar energy company Solyndra. (The margin of error is +/- 3%) They also found 76% of Americans do not miss the NBA at all. (The margin of error is also +/- 3%) While a poll conducted just after Herman Cain’s new conference Tuesday found that 43% of Americans do not believe him, including 48% of woman, Independents at 45% margin of error, you guessed it: +/- 3%).

I Never Changed My Number, Still Got the Same Address

While talking about Last Man Standing with a friend of mine recently, he told me he was not watching the show because the Tim Allen sitcom is stuck in the nineties. I retorted by saying the reason why I was watching Last Man Standing was because it was stuck in the nineties. I bring this story up because the new Keith Sweat album 'Til the Morning could have been recorded fifteen years ago, hermetically sealed, put in a time capsule, dug up a month ago, and released in tact yesterday. And though my buddy may scoff at that, for me it is highest of high compliments.

Just how stuck in the nineties is ‘Til the Morning? Not only does he regroup with LSG (his RnB supergroup with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill) on the track Knew it All Along, but he even recruits Coko from SWV (no, she was not the one that participated on Survivor), who very well could have been hermetically sealed herself way back in 1998 because no one has heard from her since, for My Valentine. He even reprises basically the entire chorus from his 1996 hit Nobody for High as the Sun, but this time sans Athena Cage.

Not surprisingly the worst song on the album is the one track where Sweat tries to update his sound for To the Middle where he trades auto-tuned verses with T-Pain. And if robotic singer was not bad enough the song asks “how many licks ‘til I get to the middle.” Eww. Seriously, Tootsie Pops should be looking into a lawsuit right about now. The rest of the album is pure Keith Sweat: he is going to wine and dine you (One on One), take you wherever you want to go (Getaway), of course he is going to give it to you (Make You Say Ooh) all night long, (‘Til the Morning) and even put a ring on it (Ring Size) because he likes it.

Song to Download – Knew It All Along

‘Til the Morning gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing AFI’s Master Class – The Art of Collaboration

Back in college I worked at the local amphitheater and besides your usual rock concerts, on most weekends it also served as the summer home of the local orchestra. And yes it was almost as boring as you are thinking, and even more on weekends when they would perform the same music. On the bright side, unlike the rock concert, we were allowed to sit down during the performance. The only two performances I looked forward towards each year where the 4th of July concert and every year John Williams would stop by as the guest conductor which would always include a climatic performance of Indiana Jones Theme.

Williams will be joining long time collaborator Steven Spielberg next Tuesday for TCM Presents AFI’s Master Class – The Art of Collaboration: Steven Spielberg and John Williams premiering at 8:00. In fact next year will mark forty years of working exclusively together with next year’s Lincoln as their twenty-sixth film together including The Adventures of Tintin and War Horse both due this Christmas. Their work has led to Williams taking home three Oscars, the same number Spielberg has.

Aside from talking about their most famous works like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Jaws, and of course the Indiana Jones films (Steven even makes fun of the fourth movie in this special) the two discuss some of the most memorable music scores to them including Vertigo, Spartacus, On the Waterfront, and Amadeus which Spielberg calls one of the characters of that film. The duo even took time to take questions from the audience filled will AFI Conservatory students.

TCM Presents AFI’s Master Class – The Art of Collaboration: Steven Spielberg and John Williams airs Tuesday, November 15 at 8:00 on TCM.

I Want My Music Television - 11/7/11

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.

Party - Beyoncé featuring J Cole




I could have sworn that Andree 3000 was originally on the Beyoncé track. I am not sure who J Cole is, but it is certainly a downgrade. At least they keept the Ladi Dadi sample in tact.


Make You Say Ooh – Keith Sweat



Who is ready for a Keith Sweat comeback? I am assuming everybody out there has their hand up right now.


Sing Your Own Song - John Wesley Harding



I am not sure if this is a great homage to You Can Call Me Al or just lazy. It does not help that I am not sure which one is John Wesley Harding and the other is certainly no Chevy Chase.


What Do You Take Me For – Pixie Lott featuring Pusha T



I may have to watch Pixie Lott a couple more times before I have a coherent thought on the video.

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

Once Upon a Time: I was a little surprised that we did not see Maleficent in the real world. At first I thought it was because the Evil Queen was going to remove her heart for the spell as I was unaware that the old dude was her father. I thought it was just her man servant. But the most interesting scene was The Evil Queen and Rumplestiltskin talking in the real world. Sure the kid thinks everybody in town is walking around in a haze, but you have to wonder who exactly knows what, and these are the two leading candidates to actually have memories of fairytale land. Snow White’s grandkid just does not happen to get adopted by her archnemesis in a town populated by fairytale characters.
You can stream current episodes on Once Upon a Time. You can also download Once Upon a Time.

The Walking Dead: Sure Shane is a jerk and all, but I did not see him leaving the fat dude for dead (morally aside, how was he going to be able to get back to the truck and then the farm without him, and in the dark at that). I just picked up my jaw at that scene about an hour ago.
You can stream recent episodes over at amc.com. You can also download The Walking Dead on iTunes.

Pan Am: This may be the episode where the show finally turns the preverbal corner as it was the first one I whole heartedly enjoyed if it were not for the pilot subplot. Hopefully he gets fired because the pilots have never quite fit in to the show very well. But Christina Ricci’s back-story was extremely enjoyable. Note to self: start tipping waitresses three cents and if they call me on it, tell them it is to get them from getting complacent in a no end job. Brilliant. Bonus points for next week when Smash Williams makes his return to television.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pan Am on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: Seriously, the Slutty Pumpkin? Wasn’t that season one? Just because everyone complained that Lost did not tie up most of it loose ends does not mean that this show does. If everyone has forgotten about the storyline, you really do not to bring it back up even if it is unresolved.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Sing Off: With three all-male college groups left in the competition it is not surprising they finally gave one the ax, but after giving the best Swan Song of the season, is it too late to give the University of Rochester YellowJackets a reprieve? Maybe they should start rewarding the group that gives the best Swan Song performance and let them back in the competition at some point. The Dartmouth Aires regain their spot on the top of my power rankings this week for the first time since the second week thanks to a rousing Queen medley (insert your own Antoine Merriweather singing Queen joke here), but it was still disappointing that Bohemian Rhapsody got resigned to a medley, they should have just performed that because it is basically three different songs in one anyway.


The Sing-Off Week Five Power Ranking (change from last week in parentheses)
1. Dartmouth Aires (+1)
2. Afro Blue (-1)
3. Delilah (+3)
4. Urban Method (-)
5. Vocal Point (-)
6. Pentatonix (+1)



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

Castle: Early on I actually pegged the one hostage as an inside man until he had a seizure then I just figured I had too big of an imagination. I guess maybe they should have sent in an actual medical examiner instead of Beckett and maybe they would have know he was not epileptic.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Parenthood: Julia kind of overreacted a bit with the sushi. Really having her doctor explain to her baby mama what she could and could not eat would probably have been a better idea.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Survivor: South Pacific: First off: bad promo monkeys who spoiled the merge. I was eagerly hoping that there was not going to be a merge to see Ozzy’s face when he learns he would have to spend a couple days at Redemption Island, only for it to be ruined for me on Sunday. Booooo. With that out of the way, I never understood why there are not more people flipping votes after a tie. I would much rather bail on my alliance than go to rocks even if there is a Redemption Island safety net. Though I have to question Coach for not using his Immunity Idol to try to save himself or somebody in his alliance.
You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Revenge: I still hate the start of the series and really do not care for any of the characters beside Amy Abbot, but gosh darn is this show getting good. Two major what the frack moments this week. I have long pegged the annoying little frat boy as a gay homosexual con man, but what I did not see coming was the computer nerd blackmailing him for sexual favors. Then the other was Not-Amy Abbott bashing in the skull of the bodyguard then showing up all happy, happy, joy, joy on Amy’s doorstep. I cannot wait until the next episode (which sadly I will have to because of some study country music award show next week).
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Revenge on iTunes.

Grimm: I originally thought this episode would be about Hansel and Greta, thankfully I was wrong when they started having sex and it ended up being the Goldilocks and the Three Bears. But they really took way too long to have the only interesting character in the cast to show up. The Big Bad Wolf did not even make an appearance until over half way through. But it was worth the wait when he hysterically tore some dude’s arm off.
You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Grimm on iTunes.

Best of the Week - 11/5/11

Quote of the Week: So you’re a religious man and a torturer. What are you? Catholic? (Saul, Homeland)

Song of the Week: Living In America – James Brown (How I Met Your Mother)

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Nope, Not Gonna Do It: I refuse to give publicity to anyone who sole purpose to what they do is to gain more publicity. Nope, not gonna do it. And anyone who complains about these sorts of thing, just ignore them, even complaining about them is what they want because all they want is to be talked about. So stop taking about them.

Free Download of the Week: Public Enemy No. 1 – Megadeath (iTunes)

Deal of the Week: 100 Albums for $5: This month for only $5, you can get full albums from Coldplay, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and the Footloose Soundtrack (the real one).



New Album Release of the Week: Wish You Were Here - Immersion Box Set - Pink Floyd

New DVD Release of the Week: Alpocalypse-HD (Blu-ray)

Video of the Week: Kristen Bell in her underwear; Emmy Rossum wearing less. If this does not get you to order Showtime, I do not know what will. You have until January 8 when House of Lies premieres and Shameless returns to do so.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Hell on Wheels, Sunday at 10:00 on AMC: This may be the least buzzed about show of the fall because I heard very little about it so far. What I gather it is a period piece that has something to do with the railway and Common is in it. I am always up for a history lesson on television so I will at least give it a chance. Worse case scenerio it is a low rent Deadwood and I can be fine with that.

Around the Tubes - 11/4/11

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 The Witch Doctor Will See You Now, Parks and Recreations, Keep a Child Alive with Alicia Keys, The Real L Word, Neverland, The Wild Thornberrys, Mr. Magoo, Impractical Jokers, Archer, and a TV Guide Reader's Poll.

- Is there a better way to get your attention then with a title “3 Kinds of Penis Wine”? Did not think so. Supposedly the cocktail has healing properties and these weird concoctions is exactly what they are looking for on The Witch Doctor Will See You Now which will be airing a new episode four straight nights next week on The National Geographic Channel at 10:00 starting Monday. As for the Three Penis Wine, here is someone actually sampling it:

3 Kinds of Penis Wine


- For those that could not get enough Parks and Recreations last night, nbc.com has five webisodes featuring April and Andy’s roadtrip.

- In honor of World’s Aids Day, Showtime will air Keep a Child Alive with Alicia Keys Thursday December 1 at 9:00. The documentary follows the songstress to Africa during the recent World Cup to see how Aids has affected the country.

- In other Showtime news, the channel recently announced that they have renewed The Real L Word, but for the third season they will be moving to New York City and will be introducing new cast members while also featuring the return of fan favorites. No word yet on an airdate.

- Syfy’s latest miniseries Neverland is just a month away and here is the latest promo:

A Story You Never Knew


- Hitting shelves next week is The Wild Thornberrys: Season Two, Part One as well as Mr. Magoo: The Television Collection, 1960-1977, a 11 disk DVD box set. Plan your Christmas list accordingly.

- Hidden camera enthusiasts will want to mark December 15 on your calendar when Impractical Jokers premieres on TruTV.

- Burt Reynolds enthusiasts will want to look out for new episodes of Archer, returning to FX in January, because the legend will be lending his voice to the animated series naturally playing Burt Reynolds.

- According TV Guide readers, Revenge is the best new show of the fall with Persons of Interest and New Girl right behind. Not surprisingly the already canceled H8R ranked dead last.

Lay Me Down, Let the Only Sound Be the Overflow

Singers are a dime a dozen these days, just check out all the crappy karaoke shows that litter the networks these day. Very few singers use or can even use their voice like an instrument, and you can count Florence Welsh of Florence + The Machine as one of them. Her voice demands your attention from the first note managing the most controlled screams you will ever hear and turns them into some of the most beautiful sounds you will ever hear.

Now Florence and her Machine are back for their sophomore outing Ceremonials which is full with more anthemic songs with easy to chant along with choruses. At the top of this list is the epic What the Water Gave Me which soars from start to finish with Florence’s sweeping vocals backed by a frantic barrage of piano and fuzzed out guitars. Seven Devils is as spooky as the song title would suggest and will haunt you long after the last note has played (though not as haunting as her rendition of Addicted to Love). Lover to Lovers sounds like something Aretha Franklin would have recorded in the eighties, but Florence manages to keep it from going into the cheesy way pop music from that decade can easily go into. Ceremonials end with Leave My Body which sounds like the culmination everything the group was trying to make the album be.

If there is a complaint about the album is maybe Ceremonials is too epic that it almost becomes cumbersome. When you get through the hour long album it feels as if you had been listening to it all day. The album could be one of those that you buy at an MP3 outlet so you can through it on in shuffle to have other artist songs buffer the songs from this set. Ceremonials is also missing an upbeat danceable song along the lines Dog Days Are Over and You Got the Love to break up the monotony of the otherwise stellar tracks. Maybe producer Paul Epworth, who produced half of their debut Lungs (and most notably Adele’s Rolling in the Deep) returned to produce this entire album maybe only good at crafting anthemic tunes which is why all of Ceremonials comes across that way. Though maybe not the best album to listen all the way through, any of these songs would may a great addition to any playlist.

Song to Download – What the Water Gave Me

Ceremonials gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I Want My Music Television - 11/2/11

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.

Lonely Boy – The Black Keys



Much like the Funkasauras Rex starring video from their last album, apparently this is not the official music video for the lead single off the new Black Keys album, but it is as equally awesome. I cannot stop watch and may not until El Camino is released December 6. And for those late to the Black Keys music, their second album Thickfreakness is currently on sale for $5 on Amazon MP3.


We All Go Back to Where We Belong – R.E.M.



Sure there is also a Kirsten Dunst version of this R.E.M. video, but since she was already in Savage Garden video, so I will give the John Version some love, whoever he is.


Children – VV Brown featuring Chiddy



Between VV Brown and My Morning Jacket it has been a very entertaining years for children’s choirs. I still cannot decide which one is catchier.


Bonfire – Childish Gambino



So Childish Gambino (aka Troy from Community) wakes up with a noose, in his own woman’s t-shirt. Alrighty. But bonus points for the Toejam and Earl reference.

Bend Through Alleys and Bounce off all the Buildings

Holidays are about tradition and n two holidays are steeped in more tradition than Thanksgiving and Christmas. For the former, the day always starts off with some with some cinnamon rolls while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, which is this month’s induction into the Scooter Hall of Fame. Then a trip to a relative for some turkey, football, and cards, not necessarily in that order.

Parades are all about childhood wonderment with floats only as limited as a five year old’s imagination. Every small town has one with the local marching band, fire trucks, and local businesses and politicians who try to endear themselves to adults by bribing their kids (and lefts face it the adults too) with candy. But as really the only national one, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is much grander and everything is bigger, the marching bands are better, and of course the balloons, from Garfield to the recently introduced Shrek all the way back to the very first balloon Felix the Cat, introduced all the way back in 1927. Look out for Sonic the Hedgehodge in his very first Macy’s Parade later this month.

Sure in recent years the parade went from a who’s who of celebrity appearance to me asking “Who?” through the parade, but it is hard to break tradition. So come the 24th, I will surely wake up, put some cinnamon rolls in the oven, and turn on NBC for its 85th airing of the American tradition. Here’s hoping I actually recognize someone other than Al Roker this year.