Best of the Week: 3/23/13

Quote of the Week: You should know that watching TV rots your brain. It’s your choice if you want to grow up and be stupid. Just saying. (Hannah Martin, Pretty Little Liars)

Song of the Week: Love Train – The O’Jays (Justified)

Scene of the Week:


Big News of the Week: Bracket Busted Already: I had New Mexico going to the Final Four. Oops.

Preview Picture of the Week:

Justified "Peace of Mind" Tuesday at 10:00 on FX

Free Download of the Week: Blowin' Smoke – Kacey Musgraves (iTunes)

New Album Release of the Week: Girl Who Got Away – Dido

New DVD Release of the Week: The Borgias: The Second Season

Video of the Week: Happy Endings returns a week from yesterday after ABC tried to burn it off on Sundays and the unceremoniously pulling it from the schedule all together. With its return, ABC has launched a Save Happy Endings campaign to promote its return which kind of reeks of the same promo “Death Slot” Fox had when they moved Fringe and that did not turn out too well (or maybe it did, I do not watch Fox or follow its news). And I wonder if the Save Happy Endings ad is actually for the viewers, but really aimed at TBS who saved their woefully bad and underwatched Cougar Town.


Next Week Pick of the Week: The Voice, Monday and Tuesday at 8:00 on NBC: I was on the fence of watching this season of The Voice because of the coaching shake up. That was until I saw a promo featuring a dude playing an accordion during his blind audition. Considered me sold. But if he does not get anyone to turn around, I am out.

Around the Tubes: 3/22/13

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 TNT summer schedule, Elisabeth Moss, Carol Burnett Night, The Collection, House Arrest, Bob Marley, Showtime Sports, Oprah's Master Class, Sons of Anarchy, Outnumber Hunger Live!, General Hospital, and The Walking Dead.

- Spring may have just started this week (in the strictest calendar sense, it is still bitterly old here) but TNT just released their summer television schedule featuring nine series including four new ones. Watch the video foe a preview or just go straight to the days and times below:



The Hero: New competition series hosted by The Rock premieres Thursday, June 6 at 8:00

72 Hours: New competition series hosted by Brandon Johnson premieres Thursday, June 6 at 9:00

Falling Skies: Two hour Season 3 premieres Sunday, June 9 at 9:00 (regular timeslot start the following week at 10:00)

Major Crimes: Season 2 premieres Monday, June 10 at 9:00 with new cast member Nadine Velazquez (My Name Is Earl)

King and Maxwell: New series starring Jon Tenney and Rebecca Romijn premieres Monday, June 10 at 10:00 Rizzoli and Isles: Season 4 premieres Tuesday, June 18 at 9:00

Perception: Season 2 premieres Tuesday, June 18 at 10:00

Franklin and Bash: Season 3 premiere Wednesday, July 24 at 9:00 with new cast member Heather Locklear

Cold Justice (working title): New unscripted procedural drama premieres Tuesday, August 27 at 10:00

- In the most recently issue of New York Times Magazine, Elisabeth Moss discuses if she thinks the Don-Peggy relationship will be consummated (“I hope not”), on being a scientologist, and the lessons she learned from being married to Fred Armisen .

- PBS announced “Carol Burnett Night,” Tuesday, April 9, 2013, featuring two shows that chronicle the longtime success of a beloved television comedy star. An encore of the 90-minute AMERICAN MASTERS “Carol Burnett: A Woman of Character” leads the night, followed by a 30-minute encore edition of the PBS series PIONEERS OF TELEVISION, called “Carol Burnett and the Funny Ladies"— in which iconic TV stars discuss Burnett’s legacy and her influence on contemporary comedy stars.

- Out on DVD next week include horror movie The Collection starring Josh Stewart and comedy House Arrest starring Stacey Dash and The Game.



- This year marks the 35th anniversary of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ now classic, 1978 release, Kaya. To celebrate, on April 23, 2013, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) will release Kaya: 35th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Island/Tuff Gong/UMe), an expanded, two-CD collection featuring 24 tracks, all completely remastered to the highest modern standards.



- SHOWTIME Sports has scheduled more than 100 hours of diverse boxing and documentary programming across broadcast television, cable television, premium television, and digital portals in advance of the upcoming SHOWTIME PPV presentation of MAY DAY—the mega-event headlined by boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound titlist Floyd “Money” Mayweather’s welterweight world championship defense against Four-Division World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

- Singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks discusses her mother’s recent passing, her bold approach that led to a legendary musical partnership with Lindsey Buckingham, her band Fleetwood Mac, her decision to forgo marriage to pursue her music, the mistakes she has made including marrying her friend’s husband, her challenges with drugs and getting clean on this Sunday’s episode of Oprah’s Master Class at 10:00 on OWN.

- It's been several decades since Katey Sagal sang back-up for Bob Dylan, Bette Milder and Etta James, but the Sons of Anarchy star says that in spite of her success as an actress, music is still her true passion. So it’s with that in mind that a touring show was put together— KATEY SAGAL: An Evening of Music and the Cast of Sons of Anarchy. The first tour dates will consist of a Midwest run April 18 through 21 (dates and information below).

Tour Dates: 4/18/13 Kansas City, MO @ The Midland Theater 4/19/13 Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater 4/20/13 Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights 4/21/13 Chicago, IL @ Vic Theater

- AXS TV and Big Machine Label Group will broadcast a special two-hour concert event on Saturday, April 6, from Las Vegas. Platinum-selling sibling trio The Band Perry will headline Outnumber Hunger Live! and will be joined by labelmates Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore, Florida Georgia Line, Greg Bates and Cassadee Pope. More information on how to make a difference in your local community with Outnumber Hunger is available at OutnumberHunger.com.

- In celebration of General Hospital’s 50th anniversary, SOAPnet is airing an unprecedented 50-hour marathon of classic episodes from the beloved series, starting Friday, March 29th at 10pm ET/PT and running through Monday, April 1 at 12:00am ET/PT (Sunday night/Monday morning). The marathon kicks off with the very first episode from 1963, and will include shows from every decade. The stunt leads up to the very special 50th anniversary episode of “General Hospital,” airing on Monday, April 1 on ABC (2:00-3:00 p.m. ET//1:00 p.m. PT/CT) and SOAPnet (9:00PM ET/PT, encore at 12:00AM ET/PT).

- The Walking Dead: Original Soundtrack – Vol. 1, which features the Greene Girls version of The Parting Glass from a couple episodes again, is now available on Rdio, the groundbreaking digital music streaming service, and you do not even have to leave this page to listen:

2013 Spring Music Preview

I really could not tell when I bundled up while walking the dogs yesterday with light flurries coming down, but supposedly spring started yesterday. It seemed like the groundhog lied to us once again this year (there is nothing above 40 degrees in the ten day forecast here). It also looks like the music business saw its shadow because more of the most interesting album that may come out this year are mostly listed in the TBA category, which usually means just before Christmas. But here are a couple albums coming out over the next couple months that at the very least caught my eye. If you would like to pre-order the album on Amazon, click on the title name and the artist’s name to be taken their iTunes page.

This Week
Same Trailer Different Park - Kacey Musgraves
Happiness Waltz – Josh Rouse
More Than Words – Brian McKnight
Anthems – Anthrax
On The Verge – The Fabulous Thunderbirds

March 26
Girl Who Got Away – Dido
Delta Machine – Depeche Mode
Based On A True Story... - Blake Shelton

April 2
Dear Miss Lonelyhearts – Cold War Kids
Pioneer – The Band Perry
Gravel & Wine – Gin Wigmore
RKives – Rilo Kiley
Silver Linings Under Grey – Shanna Sharp

April 9
Stories Don't End – Dawes
Paramore - Paramore

April 16
Mosquito – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Twelve Reasons to Die – Ghostface Killah
Ghost on Ghost – Iron & Wine
Let's Face The Music and Dance – Willie Nelson
Matangi – M.I.A.
Devotion - Jessica Ware
The Terror – The Flaming Lips
Save Rock N Roll – Fall Out Boy

April 23
Indicud – Kid Cudi
Reincarnated – Snoop Lion
Bankrupt – Phoenix
Love Has Come For You - Steve Martin & Edie Brickell

April 30
Prisoner of Conscious (P.O.C.) – Talib Kweli
If The River Was Whiskey - Spin Doctors
Ready to Die – Iggy & The Stooges
The Anchor and the Sail – Jessica Campbell

May 7
Modern Vampires Of The City – Vampire Weekend
Mother – Natalie Maines
Volume 3 – She & Him
More Than Just A Dream – Fitz & The Tantrums
Magnetic – The Goo Goo Dolls
Nocturnes – Nocturnes - Little Boots
Golden – Lady Antebellum
Time – Rod Stewart

May 14
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here – Alice In Chains

May 21
True Believers – Darius Rucker
Good Songs & Great Friends - Bret Michaels

May 28
Wrote a Song For Everyone – John Fogerty

June 11
13 – Black Sabbath

TBD
& Then You Shoot Your Cousin – The Roots
James River – D'Angelo
West Coast Time - Michelle Branch
Don’t Look Down – Skylar Grey
Roses – Selena Gomez & The Scene
My Name Is My Name – Pusha T
The Black Keys
Diane Birch
Kanye West
Pearl Jam
Elvis Costello and the Roots
Barenaked Ladies
Jay-Z
Jimmy Eat World
Eminem
Matt Nathanson
Beyoncé
Arcade Fire
Sleigh Bells
Avril Lavigne

And let me leave you with the obligatory, maybe this is the quarter that Dr. Dre finally releases Detox.

10 Things I Hope Make it into the Veronica Mars Movie

Last Wednesday, I was scrolling through Google Reader when I came upon a Veronica Mars article referencing Kickstarter. I was a little annoyed with what I thought at the time was another way to get a Veronica Mars movie that would never come to fruition like the ten or so other rumors over the year. But being the sadomasochistic, I still click the link where the article linked to an actual Kickstarter page started by creator Rob Thomas complete with a video featuring Kristen Bell, Dick Casablancas, Logan Echolls, and Keith Mars. The Kickstarter quickly got to a million dollars, and reached its two million goal in less than a day. Which means the movie will be made and by my best estimation will end up with around five million dollars.

Now I am not one of those people who demand silly plot points like Ronnie and Logan end up together. I would be content if the movie would end up being Ronnie working cases for the FBI like the proposed fourth season. From interviews it does sound like Rob hopes to get the band back together and setting the movie in a Neptune ten year reunion (even Parker and Piz made his outline). Currently only Bell has officially signed on for the movie (well Kristen and the guy who paid $10,000 to say one line) but considering they are listed in the rewards, it is a safe bet Keith, Logan, Wallace, Weevil, Mac, and Dick will all be part. Here are ten things I also hope make it into the Veronica Mars Movie.

1. Vinnie Van Lowe – Number one with a bullet. Not having Vinnie Van Lowe (who very well be Sherriff Vincent Van Lowe by now) make at least a cameo would be like leaving a concert of your favorite band and they did not play your favorite song. Considering Ken Marino also starred in Thomas’s Party Down and Kristen Bell starred in Marino’s hilarious Burning Love webseries, I am sure Vinnie will make an appearance.

2. Shelly Pomroy – When I visited the set of Veronica Mars, one of the first questions I had to ask Rob Thomas was will we ever get to meet Shelly Pomroy (see The Mystery that Is Shelly Pomroy). Her name had been dropped since the first episode as it was her party where Ronnie was roofied but we only got fleeting glimpses of Shelly by three different actresses. Let’s face it, a Neptune High reunion will not be complete without Shelly Pomroy. And since there have already been three Shelly, why not bring in a fourth this time in the form of Lizzy Caplan, who starred in Thomas’s Party Down. And if she is unavailable starring in the upcoming Masters of Sex, may I suggest Allison Brie.

3. Deputy Leo – Most of the fangirls hope that Ronnie will end up with bad boy Logan, not me. If I had to pick one of her suitors, it would definitely be the good cop, Deputy Leo. Hopefully by now Detective Leo can help Ronnie solve whatever case she will be tasked with in the movie.

4. Madison Sinclair - Long before the ABC Family show aired, Mac and Madison were switched at birth (fun fact, both Switched at Birth co stars Katie LeClerc and Lucas Grabaal guested on Veronica Mars early in their careers). Ronnie would usually find herself butting heads with the boys of Neptune High, Madison provided one of the few female antagonists tangled with and was a worthy adversary. Plus what reunion would be complete without Dick running into his ex? Thankfully this looks to be likely because Rob has stated in multiple episodes he hopes to bring her back. And for those that did not bother to click on the Shelly Pomroy link above, Shelly Pomroy is a real person that Rob went to high school with and the actress who played Madison is her niece.

5. An “I (Heart) Dick” T-Shirt – One of the stories Rob Thomas regaled us while on the set of Veronica Mars was when Standards and Practices forbid them from letting a character wear an “I (Heart) Dick” t-shirt. Sure someone could actually say, “I love Dick” on screen but they could not wear it on their person. Instead, they were forced to give an actress an “I (Heart) Dick Casablancas” t-shirt. Ironically in the episode I Am God, the camera actually cut off the “Casablancas”. Now without the confines of Standards and Practices, I hope they do not go overboard and have Dick turn into Al Swearengen saying (expletive deleted)sucker ever third word and gratuitous nudity. Well maybe some gratuitous nudity. And since a Veronica Mars t-shirt is part of the rewards by donating to Kickstarter, how about an official “I (Heart) Dick” t-shirt? Either that or a “Veronica Mars Is Smarter than Me” t-shirt.

6. Jessica Chastain – You may ask yourself why the chick who took down bin Laden is on this list, but Chastain does have a Veronica Mars connection in that it was her second acting job ever playing Ronnie’s pregnant neighbor who went missing. Hopefully Rob kept her in his rolodex.

7. Kristen Bell Singing - Ronnie sang karaoke early in season one but do not get to hear her sing again until she serenades someone with Bad Day after making him have a bad day. Certainly they can work a song (or two) into the movie. Maybe the gang can meet up at Java the Hut for a little karaoke.

8. Ten Year Old Lilly Kane - Last time we saw Lilly Kane (not to be confused with her dead aunt), she was a baby on a beach with her dad in Australia. I am not sure what the statue of limitations on kidnapping is, but it would be nice to see the Kane family represented in the movie someway. Also some tribute to her namesake, like the memorial that Neptune High put up at right, would also be nice.

9. Hannah Griffith – Much like Deputy Leo, I am in the minority (or at least part of the silent majority) when it comes to Hannah who everyone else hated (at least on the internet) because she came between Logan and Veronica. It may be tough to write her in because she did not graduate from Neptune (she was shipped off to boarding school because her father disapproved of her dating Logan) and was not even in the class of ’06 to begin with.

10. The Movie Is Successful Enough for a Bryan Fuller Kickstarter – Moments after the Veronica Mars Kickstarter went live, the internet was abuzz with other possible resurrected prematurely canceled series. I am not saying I would not watch a movie version of Terriers, Chuck, Deadwood, Rome, Friday Night Lights, The Cape (six movies and a season), a preemptive Community campaign, anything associated with Joss Whedon, or the other bandied around by creators or fans, but really all I want is for Bryan Fuller to get a Kickstarter campaign or two going. And it may happen as Thomas stated in an interview that Fuller has already contacted him and like Veronica Mars, Pushing Daisies is owned by Warner Bros. But Veronica Mars definitely has to be successful to open up the floodgates (notice the lack of cult television shows made into movies after Serenity bombed at the box office). But what will Warner Bros., or other studios (20th Century Fox owns Fuller’s other cult show Wonderfalls) consider successful: five, ten, twenty-five million gross after everything is said and done? Warner Bros. is in the business of making money and though they do not have to worry too much with the upfront costs thanks to Kickstarter, if they do not make money off the project, we may have to go back to hoping Netflix, DirecTV, or other companies of their ilk resurrect our favorite canceled too soon shows. Hopefully it is successfully enough for Bryan Fuller to do more Pushing Daisies (which he guestimates would need to raise ten million dollars) and / or Wonderfalls.


I really have only one thing I hope does not make it into the Veronica Mars movie: Paris Hilton. And can we get a Kickstarter going to save Google Reader please?

I Want My Music Television: 3/19/13

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.


Whisper in the Dark – Mumford and Sons


Mumford and Sons shot four videos for their latest single, but why release them separately when you can combine then into one? The lower left is my favorite.


22 - Taylor Swift


Taylor Swift with cat ears is way more attractive than it should be.


Radioactive - Imagine Dragons


I really have not put much thought into Imagine Dragons, they are good at what they do: soundtrack for movie trailers, nothing more and nothing less. And I really did not give much thought to them unless the latest sci-fi trailer is released. But I am a bit disappointed that I am just learning that their music video features a killer Care Bear, Lou Diamond Philips, and Adam Braverman’s hot assistant.


By Crooked Steps - Soundgarden


Who knew Soundgarden had a sense of humor? Though I have a feeling the thirteen year old version of myself would have hated Soundgarden doing basically a Foo Fighters type video (this was directed by Dave Grohl).