A fairly low key event this year at the Grammy’s missing the usual goosebumps moments the show is known for instead there were too many head scratching moments. Really, the big surprise of the night was Stevie Wonder performing with the Jonas Brothers. And if I am not mistaken, this was the first year they didn’t run the “Awards previously handed out earlier” segment instead opting for a “go to gammy.com” to see those. Granted I am too lazy to do so. Here are some other thoughts from the night:
- Even though they were not up for any award, U2 opens up the show. Hopefully Get on Your Boots isn’t a preview of what is to come on their new album as it is just a Vertigo retread. Then we get our first awkward moment of the night with Bono throwing to Whitney Houston.
- I know they were engaged, but it is hard not to start laughing seeing I Love New York castoff Punk next to Jennifer Hudson, who takes home worst dressed award (M.I.A. gets a pass on account that she is nine months pregnant).
- The biggest showdown in the night didn’t actually take place in any announced category, but between The Rock and Jay Mohr between for most uncomfortable dialogues.
- The Rock throws to the next awkward moment of the evening with Justin Timberlake rambling on about stalking Al Green or something. Granted this performance was rushed together after Rihanna canceled her performance early Sunday after she may or may not have been assaulted by Chris Brown.
- I was a little disappointed that Coldplay didn’t get served during their performance. I actually thought that was Jay-Z was doing before I recognized him. And is Coldplay winning a Grammy for Viva la Vida the musical equivalent of Barry Bonds being the home run king?
- Miley Cyrus should go back to lip-syncing Hanna Montana songs for ten year olds. Singing live just isn’t her strong suit.
- A little part of my soul died watching Stevie Wonder slumming it with the Jonas Brothers. And isn’t Superstition a little too heavy for the teens. Will they be performing Walk on the Wild Side with Lou Reed next year?
- Do we really need a Blink-182 reunion? Certainly their sophomoric rock was fine when you’re twenty-three, but not when you are thirty-three.
- Did I miss the point of My Grammy Moment? Wasn’t it to perform with someone on stage at the Grammy’s, not having your video played on a screen behind someone for about twenty seconds? And one of the Jonas Brothers looked a little too excited during the Katy Perry performance.
- And here is why CBS is the number one network and NBC will be battling The CW soon. During their big event last week, NBC only promoted one night of television, while CBS actually spread out all their shows including upcoming ones. Although if I am Vegas, I setting the Over/Under on Harper’s Island at 5 episodes. That just looks cheesy. And can I go ahead and predict the Bride does it.
- It may be time for a Kanye West intervention. It is never a good sign when you are starting to look and dress like Michael Jackson circa Off the Wall.
- Well at least the Adele / Sugarland wasn’t as bad as when the country band joined Beyoncé onstage for Irreplaceable.
- Why is USC the go to marching band? Certainly being in Los Angeles has something to do with it. But can’t someone give UCLA a little love?
- Shouldn’t T.I. be in jail by now? Since when do we let felons just wonder the country for a couple months before repaying their debt to society? To make maters worse, I have to sit through that horrible Justin Timberlake collaboration. That should add a couple more months to his sentence.
- Holy Neil Diamond sighting. But how do not get an all-star chorus to sing a drunken backup like has happen in every bar for the past thirty years? That could have been the highlight of the show.
- I would like to make it known I am completely against doubling and tripling up the tribute portion of the program.
- And the least surprising part of the night was the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss sweep. And that is your 2009 Grammy’s. Yay.
Tool Academy: Thanks to the promo monkey who basically gave away who go kicked off this week as it became pretty apparent that M.E.G.A.’s girlfriend would turn out to be the Tool that gets her boy kicked off this wee. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
Chuck: Yeah that 3-D stuff sucked. When I watch something in 3-D, I want object to feel like they are an inch from my nose not look like they just come an inch out of the television. And except for the flying knife during the elevator screen, there really wasn’t much that was 3-D worth. And they really glossed over Chuck being disturbed that he saw the Token Hot Chick killed someone. That was supposed to be the big cliffhanger and she was able to explain her way out of it in less than a minute. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.
How I Met Your Mother: So was the theme of this episodes was that I should delete that I am an award winning actor and a Safety Town volunteer off my résumé? You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.
Trust Me: Do Thumbthing seems like the tag line equivalent of a Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip sketch to the point I spent most of the episode thinking, they are doing everything they can to keep Do Thumbthing? And Ed made my point to the focus group because as someone who grew up with a speech impediment (or three) who had to be pulled out of elementary classes two times a week for a half hour, I found it a bit offensive. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.
Lost: Now that was a huge shocker: Rousseau was actually quite attractive in her youth. But anyways. It was odd that Sawyer would call the Polynesian Boat people Other Others because I thought Faraday and his ilk were the Other Others. I originally thought that it may be the Oceanic 6, but they don’t really need two boats, but it seems obvious that that time is somewhere in the future. So I’ll go with my old standby when I don’t know and predict that it is Whitmore people. Speaking of time travel, they should really limit themselves to one flash per episode like in the perennial time travel show of all time Quantum Leap. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.
Friday Night Lights: What a bunch of heart wrenching scenes between Tyra telling Landry she chooses the rodeo dude and Matt telling off his mother. But at least they followed those up with the scene at Texas A&M (which Jo apparently thinks is a great school or something, I mean, it is no Kent State or anything) between Coach, Smash and the A&M coach which will go down in the anneals as on of the best Friday Night Lights scene ever. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Big News of the Week: Michael Phelps, I’m Sorry, But You’re Just a Tool: Naturally whenever you make list, right after you publish it you think of a couple thing you forgot. Like last week when I gave my dream Celebrity Tool Academy list but forgot to include Michael Phelps. And that would be a deserved spot even before his most recent picture came out, but being dumb enough to put your lips half way down at a house party with dozens of co-eds with camera phones.
Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week (in 3-D!):
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz wondered what's been driving viewers away from Ugly Betty this year. (BuzzSugar)
Now that the spoilers are out, Vance handicaps the alleged Top 36 American Idols and needs help making his picks for an Idol pool! (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace landed quite a few scoops, celebrated Televisionary's third birthday, and marveled at the latest installment of HBO's deliciously taut polygamist drama Big Love. (Televisionary)
Scrubs has its faults, we all know this, but Jesse decided that people should give it a little more credit than it gets. (TiFaux)
Free Download of the Week: Sonny with a Chance (iTunes): Here is one for the kiddies. My sources tell me that Demi Lovato is huge in the underage crowd.
Video of the Week: No specific date set yet, but Rescue Me returns sometime in April. But since there hasn’t been a new episode since August 2007, I guess another two months won’t hurt. Maybe I can finally get around to watching the minisodes while I am waiting. Here is a promo:
Video Has Been Removed Due to Terms of Agreement with FX
Next Week Pick of the Week: Survivor: Torantins - The Brazilian Highlands, Thursday at 8:00 on CBS: The last time, and only other time, Survivor hit Brazil was the first time the show spilt up tribes by gender. But the show is moving out of the Amazon and to the Highlands. And please excuses me if I get weak in the knees if Tamera “Taj” Johnson-George takes it downtown to a win because it is only human nature because she is always on my mind. Although I may have root for my former Miss Ohio Candice Smith. Fun Fact: her predecessor, Kim Mullen, was in the Palau cast.
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 Gifted Hands, Charles Darwin, Eastbound and Down, 30 Rock, Leverage, and Meet the Browns.
- On Saturday at 8:00 TNT is presenting Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story. As you would expect it is cheesy, overdramatic, and sappy. Of course it is also touching, powerful, and uplifting at the same time. Check out a clip below:
- February 12, 1809 was a pretty good day for births: Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were both born on that date. To celebrate the latter, The National Geographic Channel is holding a two day celebration next week. Here is a rundown:
Sunday 8:00 - MORPHED: FROM DINOSAUR TO TURKEY digs 230 million years back into the fossil record to witness the emergence of the first dinosaur and follows different dinosaur species as they respond to changes in the earth's environment. Sunday 9:00 - MORPHED: WHEN WHALES HAD LEGS examines the environmental pressures that turned a wolflike creature that hunted in shallow waters into a leviathan of the seas. Sunday 10:00 - MORPHED: BEFORE THEY WERE BEARS travels back 30 million years to watch the bear's doglike ancestor climb down from the trees of central Europe and set out on a journey that spanned the planet. Tuesday 9:00 - DARWIN'S SECRET NOTEBOOKS; Using Darwin's own diary and field notes as a travel guide, National Geographic Channel retrace Darwin's expedition beyond the Galapagos to uncover the forgotten evidence that inspired his revolutionary work. We see how fossils in Argentina, seashells in the Andes and fish in the South Pacific helped him cultivate his radical theory of evolution. Tuesday 10:00 - EXPLORER: MONSTER FISH OF THE CONGO; Join a team of adventurers and scientists and travel deep into the heart of Africa's Congo River Basin in search of an elusive man-sized predator known as the tiger fish. While locals believe this ravenous relative of the piranha is cursed, scientists believe the fearsome fish may hold the key to understanding the evolution of an extraordinary array of bizarre creatures found throughout the Congo.
- Danny McBride, you may remember him from recent movies Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express, is starring in a new HBO show Eastbound and Down about a major league pitcher who returns home to North Carolina to teach Phy. Ed. The show debuts February 15 at 10:30 and head over to HBO.com fore some behind the scenes video.
- My sources tell me that Valentines Day is next week. And for those that you want to get something but don’t want to give them the wrong idea by actually spending money on them, head over to NBC.com to send them a 30 Rock e-card.
- A couple weeks back Leverage featured a trio of Whedon-verse actors and the show continues to cater to the sci-fi genre despite not actually being a part of that genre by recruiting three Star Trek alums Brent Spiner, Armin Shimerman and Kitty Swink for an episode where Parker gets stuck on jury duty. Naturally all the social interation doesn’t sit well with her. As an added bonus, the episode is directed by Jonathan Frakes who was on The Next Generation. In other Leverage news, the show has been renewed for a second season which is currently set to return later this year.
- Good news for those that like TBS’s Meet the Browns, after becoming cable’s number one ad supported comedy on cable for its original ten-episode run, TBS has announced they are going to produce another seventy episodes for a total of eighty.
Bit busy today so I will keep it brief. The album I am most looking forward to this spring not named No Line on the Horizan is by Michelle Branch. I am not sure when it is coming out but both of her previous solo album are worth checking out. My favorite song off of Hotel Paper is the song below.
The Fray are basically a band for those that want to get into Coldplay but in the end find them too artsy. That made it appropriate that the band got its big break by being placed in an episode of Grey’s Anatomy, a television show for women who would like to get into daytime soap operas, but find them to wordy.
There are no deviations on The Fray’s self-titled sophomore album from their debut. Lead singer Isaac Slade is still doing his best Chris Martin impersonation on the ivories while his band follows along with paint by numbers accompaniment. The lyrics are still geared toward relationships, be it friends family or that significant other.
But much like their big hit off the first album, How to Save a Life, when everything comes together, they can still deliver an emotional punch much like on the first single You Found Me that finds the band talking to a chain smoking deity on a street corner.
But much like the first album, when they cannot muster up enough to land a punch, it can be pretty sleep inducing like Ungodly Hour which should go into heavy rotation at any sleep inducing clinics. And when the band finally tries to change the mid-tempo, heart-bleeding template from their debut, like near the end of The Fray with the straight ahead rocker of We Build Then We Break, it just seems forced.
Coldplay were able to break their own mold with their forth album, hopefully The Fray can do that next time out with their third.
You know something wrong when Tamara Witmer, someone who acts and talks like most people when they are drunk, but she is sober, has the most profound statements of the hour and half premiere of I Love Money 2, when she laid into the crew after losing an arm wrestling contest to Leilene Ondrade. Leilene is also of note as being the only contestant on the show that ditched her Flavor Flav (or other Of Love seeker) gave her. Really, there isn’t anything sadder than someone who goes third person with a name given to them by New York. Although The Entertainer looks to going The Rock route, now going as Frank “The Entertainer” Maresca much like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
And note to 20 Pack, just because The Entertainer has done the show, does not make him an expert at anything. Case in point, how to you take Frenchie with your fourth pick? Seriously, the Gold team may not win any challenges. The two headed beast of The Entertainer and Heat can’t possible win anything that will take any strategy. A brain trust this bad may have never been forged before on reality television.
But I guess it was good that Tamara left because had she stayed and some how hooked up with It, we would have one generation closer to Mike Judge’s Idiocracy coming to fruition. That boy needs some massive help. The other stand out of the caste whom I have never experienced before was Bonez, the ultra-religious dude who yet, depite his beliefs, when on reality television to find love with New York. Wow.
With all that said, if someone at Time Warner Cable is reading this, please reconsider not dropping VH1 from your line up, because you giving the network the ax may be the only way I will stop watching all these shows. If not I may have to turn to Dr. Drew to rid my addition. I Love Money 2 airs Mondays at 10:00 on VH1.
If I were a conspiracy theorist (which I am not, just a biased Browns fan who was programmed since birth to hate the Steelers) I would point out that every questionable call just happened to be called in favor of the Pittsburg Steelers and there was such an egregious hold on the winning touchdown that a Steelers’ lineman pulled up a Cardinals’ lineman shirt over his head hockey style. But I am not, so I won’t.
I will say that once again the game well outshined the commercials which most likely have the economy to thanks with less big name celebrity cameos and big special effects. The most disappoints has to the 3-D of Aliens vs. Monsters, So-Be, and Chuck preview which pretty much like 2-D but with the added bonus of a headache. I may have to skip Chuck’s episode tomorrow and hope they stream a 2-D on Hulu.
The most surprising to me had to be G.I. Joe, a movie, much like Transformers, I wanted to avoid at all cost to avoid Jerry Bruckheimer from ruining my childhood (and that A-Team movie better not get off the ground either, unless of course Mr. T gets to play B.A. Baraccus) but the trailer drug me in before the title screen came around.
And if I learned one thing from the Super Bowl is that NBC only airs shows on Mondays. God forbid they air a promo for the football-themed Friday Night Lights during the biggest football game of the year instead showing that extremely lame Doing Alright Monday Night promo three times (with that said, more Token Hot Chick dancing please). No wonder they are dead last in the ratings. And if I were a midseason replacement (besides Medium), I’d be irritated that Jay Leno gets a spot but I don’t. The unemployment rate is reaching 10% yet Ben Silverman isn’t part of it yet? But anyways. Here is the best (and worst) commercials:
Last year during the run up to the Super Bowl it was laughable at all the Best Team Ever discussion with the New England Patriots (especially in hind sight considering they couldn’t even with the biggest game of the season). For my money, had they played an a neutral field and all things considered even (no cheating from Bill Belichicken, no HGH), the 1985 Chicago Bears would beat the 2007 Patriots by at least two touchdowns. This is why the 1985 Bears are the first ever sports team inducted into the Scooter Hall of Fame.
Just to remind you how dominate the Bears were, they started the playoffs with two straight shutouts before giving up 10 points in the Super Bowl for a combined 91-10 score for that playoffs. In comparison, the 2007 Patriots out scored their playoff opponents by just 66-49. And of course they lost the final game too.
And the Bears were just as entertaining off the field as they were on thanks to their punky QB and their massive rookie, Jim McMahon and William “the Refrigerator” Perry who also participated in the most memorial part of the game when The Fridge, at 400 pounds, scored a rushing touchdown. Both of which took part in the Super Bowl Shuffle (fun fact: the song was nominated for a Grammy), which didn’t turn out to be much of a distraction as they then went out and won by five touchdowns.
Quote of the Week: Now, let me be your mother. That is my job. (Mama Smash - Friday Night Lights)
Song of the Week: Freedom ’90 - George Michael (Trust Me)
Big News of the Week: Networks Party Like it’s 1989: Since Bionic Woman, Knight Rider, 90210 remakes bombed miserably (I have a feeling we will be able to add Cupid to that list soon enough), all the networks are going to try it again this time by recreating the short lived movie to television show Parenthood (NBC), The Witches of Eastwick (ABC), DC Comic turned failed ABC show Human Target (FOX), and Americanized version of Absolutely Fabulous (FOX), and the two times mini-series turned failed series V (ABC) which gave us the first lizard/human baby ever. And for those that cannot get enough of the 80’s there is Lost in the 80’s from ABC set in the time period. CBS, I assume, will just recycle CSI with another different name. Wake me up when they get around to remaking Sledge Hammer!
Coalition Links of the Week: With tons of pilots in the works for next Fall, Buzz wondered if you could tell the real ones from the fakes. (BuzzSugar)
Vance discusses Degrassi:TNG, Lie To Me, Bones, Scrubs and Lost this week. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace took an early look at next week's episode of NBC's Chuck, presented in box-busting 3D. (Televisionary)
Who's the next to die on Battlestar Galactica? Dan made a graph to help try to figure it out. (TiFaux)
This week, the TV Addicted posted our exclusive interview with Buffy, Angel, and Dollhouse mastermind Joss Whedon. (The TV Addict)
Tool Academy: Note to self: if you ever run in to Cameron, never, under any circumstance piss her off. And is it too soon to cast the (hopefully) inevitable Celebrity Edition of Tool Academy? If not, here are my suggestions: Ashton Kutcher, Terrell Owens, Sean Hannity, Pete Wentz, Spencer Pratt, Al Gore, Sean Avery, Donald Trump, and the dude you’re getting a Dell guy. I would have also suggested Ryan Seacrest but the show involves having a girlfriend, so he may have to wait until Beard Academy. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
Leverage: An interesting Whedon-verse reunion Lindsay and the father/son tandem of Jonathan and Holland even without any wink-wink connection to their pasts. But when did Nathan become a raging alcoholic to the point random cops knew this? You can also download Leverage on iTunes.
Lost: Let me be the last person to predict that Faraday’s mother is the old chick last seen talking to Not-Henry and only other time seen in Desmond’s dream/flashback/mind trip. There in lies one of many problems with the show is they build up these big reveals that everyone sees coming, and then pays I off a couple episodes too late. Hopefully I am wrong and it turns out that it is really Jack mom.
As for the twist I don’t think anyone saw coming, we got a double dose of Charles Whitmore. And in true Lost fashion, that is all we got, a glance, no explanation of how he become an Other, why he had a falling out with them or how he got off the island. I have a bad feeling that Whitmore is going to turn out to be Biff Tannen who became rich thanks to knowing what happens in the future. But does that make Not-Henry Marty McFly? You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.
Friday Night Lights: Poor Matt Saresen, if only they had instant replay, they could see he clearly had possession when the ball crossed the plane, and that is all you need no matter if it gets loose (assuming that Texas football has they same rule as the pros, college, and intramural flag football). And nice swerve by the promo monkeys that made it looked like the Riggins Boys get caught. And if Mama Smash is looking for some extra income, I wonder if the Taylor’s could use a nanny for baby Grace. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Deal of the Week: Take 10% off all Battlestar Galactica: Visit SCIFI.com and click on the shop tab. Then use Coupon code: "BSGFAN". Excludes QMx items and Cylons.
Video of the Week: The second episode of Trust Me is a little stronger than the first even though it gets into Studio 60 skit territory where you wonder why they are so behind their tagline. But anyways. Here is a clip for the upcoming episode (and be sure to check out my Preview of Trust Me):
Next Week Pick of the Week: I Love Money 2, Monday at 9:00 on VH1: This should go to Chuck and its special 3-D episode on the same day but an hour earlier, but I am bitter because of all the trouble I am having locating the special 3-D glasses. This is mostly because they don’t have them at my local grocery story and haven’t looked for them anywhere else yet.
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 Office, Jimmy Fallon, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, and The Exterminators.
- There doesn’t seem like there is much hoopla around the Super Bowl, maybe it’s the teams or the economy which keeps companies from buying, or hyping, their million dollar ad buys. As for the coveted post-Super Bowl spot, NBC decided against going with the most logical synergy by putting the football themed Friday Night Lights on, instead opting for The Office which will feature Jack Black and Jessica Alba (for a quick laugh google Alba and Sweden). Below is a preview of what you might see Sunday:
- Also getting ready for the Super Bowl is Jimmy Fallon who isn’t sure who to root for (the answer is the Cardinals by the way) as seen in this video:
- If you are like me, a nerd who wanted to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but not big enough nerd to sit home on Fridays to watch it or even remember to tape it most times, we are in luck. The show is coming to TNT, naturally, because they know drama. Back to back episodes beginning Saturday February 14, after the NBA All Star Saturday Night at 11:00. It will then move to its regular timeslot on Wednesdays at 10:00 starting the 18th. The show will be available in HD for those of you cool enough to have that.
- Also coming to TNT February 8 is the movie Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story staring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Kimberly Elise. It is based on the true story of Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, whose lifelong journey led him to become director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a best-selling author and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I may or may not have more on this later.
- Switching over to A&E, they have a new program called The Exterminators, a docusoap about a pest removal company. The show premieres Wednesday February 4 at 10:30. Check out a clip from the show below:
It is time for another rousing round of Playing the Percentages, again along for the ride is the good people from TV on the Brain. If you want to play the home game, just drop your thoughts in the comments or leave a comment on a question you would like to be answered at a later date. Now let us play the game where I will play the role of the Joe Torre with Jo playing the role of Alex Rodriguez.
What chance do you give to the Arizona Cardinals upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Scooter: As a Browns fan I want it to be 100% but from a practical standpoint, I always take great defenses over great offences. What the Cards have going for them is that no one has stopped Larry Fitzgerald in the playoffs and the Steelers CB are their Achilles heel, and one of Ben Rothlisburger’s worst game of his career came in his last Super Bowl appearances (that they should have lost because he in no way crossed the plain of the goal line on that QB Draw). So I will give the Cards a punter’s chance at 40%. Jo: In the Super Bowl, anything is possible. But before the divisional playoffs, I emailed Scooter and told him that it'd be the Steelers over the Cardinals by two touchdowns in the Super Bowl...so I'll have to stick with that. I'll give the magic touch to the Cards at 25% likely. Scooter: She did and I am now glad that I did not respond by mocking her for doing so.
What are the chances that viewers will be satisfied with the Lost series finale?
Scooter: I lost faith in the show (cheesy pun intended) around they killed off the Token Hot Chick, so on a personal level I really do not have high hopes that I will be satisfied come June 2010. But the writers will have has two and a half seasons top conclude everything they want to get down, so barring the show fading to the blank during a random scenes, all the principles end the series in jail, or the whole story turns out to have taken place in the snow globe of an autistic kid, I’ll say 60% of watchers will be satisfied, I doubt I’ll be one of them. Jo: As a newly converted Lost watcher, I feel like the writers let the show's plots get away from the in the second season. As a result, it'll be near impossible for them to tie everything up by the end. I feel like this will a great Sopranos debate all over again, with 50% of the Lost fanatics satisfied and 50% irate by what will probably be a vague ending.
What chance does Dollhouse have of getting a second season?
Scooter: If I were a Vegas line maker, I would put the Over/Under at 5 episodes; so I would put the odds of the show getting to finish it’s first very low being that it is in the Friday death slot where every sci-fi shows has been one and done on FOX (and anyone who is at home should be watching Friday Night Lights at 9:00). But since Eliza Dusku somehow managed to get a second season out of Tru Calling I’ll go as high as 18%. Jo: Wait, is this Whedon and Fox? 0%.
Seems like everyone I know owns The Ultimate Experience yet no one owns a Jimi Hendrix studio album. I understand how daunting getting into an artist that died before you were even born and I have a large collection of Greatest Hits myself as the lone album I own by that artist. But the thing with Hendrix is that he only released three studio albums all of which are must owns. But if you want to start small, my favorite non-ultimate Experience track is Bold of Love. Unfortunately when I searched for the song on YouTube all I found were hacks butchering the song in their basements or live versions with crappy audio. So I have to go with a John Mayer version, but defiantly hunt down the Hendrix version.
Just when you thought Obama inspired music couldn’t stoop any lower than Ashford and Simpson reworking their classic to go Solid as Barack, Bruce Springsteen, voice of a the working class writes the worst song of his career, the overtly sappy Working on a Dream in honor of the man who would be president. Here is a guy that once sang, “Wherever somebody's strugglin’ to be free, look in their eyes Mom you'll see me,” and now he palling around with the machine instead of raging against it.
At least I thought Working on a Dream was the worst song Springsteen ever record, and then I listen to the whole album of the same name and found Queen of the Supermarket which is as cheesy as the title of the song would suggest and sounds like The Boss was trying to make a more serious verion of Lunchlady Land. And the explicitly cheery tone of the title track overspills into My Lucky Day (which is almost saved by a Clarence Clemmons sax solo) This Life, Tomorrow Never Knows, and Surprise, Surprise.
Thankfully it isn’t all happy, happy, joy, joy on Working on a Dream. The eight minute opener Outlaw Pete manages to merge the folk of The Ghost of Tom Joad with the arena rock of Born to Run effortlessly. The result is an opus about a baby already with a rap sheet whose life intertwines among mustangs (of the horse variety), Irish bounty hunters and young Navajo girls. Many artists have written this type of song before, even Bruce, but it still sounds fresh here in 2009. Good Eye, with its harmonica and scratchy vocals also has that down home feel to it and these songs may have made for a better template for a full album.
Springsteen has noted of 2007 album Magic that this was the first time he wanted to continue writing which was what spawned Working on a Dream. The result was his most scattershot album of his sixteen studio records. Even though it resulted in one of his best work in Outlaw Pete, the rest of the album just playes like and B-side or outtake compilation rather than a proper Springsteen disk. Hopefully for the next album, Bruce tears everything down and starts anew because it worked well on the previous fourteen times.
If I were to create the best television shows of the 00’s, Ed would be in the discussion for the top ten. So I have an affinity for Tom Cavanagh and other former Stuckyville residents that get me to watch Big Love, Love Monkey, and not complain about Lost whenever Jack’s wife shows up. Granted I still have yet brought myself to buy a Mac. With that said, if I were to make that list, Will & Grace wouldn’t make it unless I were to extend it to triple digits.
There in lies the selling point to the new TNT series Trust Me which relies on how well the two leads, Cavanagh and Eric McCormack plays off of each other as the show is a buddy tale of two ad men, not of the mad variety, and how the react when one (McCormack) gets promoted but his partner (Cavanagh) now has to work under him. It is hard to tell how they jell from their first couple scenes, but if there are anyone whom you want to play your best bud, these two would be near the top of anyone’s list.
Also along for the ride is Monica Potter who just have the worst agent or worst luck in Hollywood because after breaking through in Patch Adams she has yet to land a quality role since. She had to slum it as a love interest for Freddy Prinze Jr. for goodness sake. But she can rest in the solace that she had a great song written about her in the eight minute long Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby.
That luck could change with Trust Me as she stars as someone who has a pretty bad first day on the job, not that she doesn’t deserve some of the crap coming to her. To put her character in perspective, she pretentious enough to go with the hyphen when getting married but too self conscious not to drop his name when she gets divorced. And this isn’t the first time she has met McCormack that doesn’t get explored much except maybe a throw away line about an alley.
Also showing up is everyone’s boss Griffin Dunn (40 Days and 40 Nights), although his boss only gets screen time with her hand. McCormack’s wife gets about as much screen time as we only get a fleeting glimpse of Sarah Clarke (24). Providing the comic relief are the two copy boys at the bottom of the totem pole, Geoffrey Arend (Greek’s Egyptian Joe) and Mike Damus (Teen Angel).
Trust Me airs Mondays at 10:00 on TNT. You can also download Trust Me on iTunes or on Amazon Video on Demand (see below):
By law I am not allowed to tell you Detective Sanchez’s fate or Brenda’s response to Fritz’s ultimatum on The Closer, but I am allowed to say (I think) that it won’t take long to find out the answer to either. Without the ability to talk about the personal aspect (aside from that someone besides Sanchez may also be making their way to the emergency room), the case of the week is really all I can speak of.
The fourth season closes with five straight episodes starting tomorrow (followed by the series of Trust Me, also check back tomorrow for more on that) with a whimper. Or at least that is what the crew thinks as they investigate a suicide that turns out to be more than they originally thought. And the fact that the case takes them to a church located in a roller rink which is incidentally considering Fritz’s ultimatum.
Other cases Brenda and the boys tackle over the next couple weeks include a death of an obese man who is left in the trunk of a car, a possible homicide that may have been revealed though text messages, and a murder at an escort agency. And on February 9th Lucky/Tim Foyle pops up as the subject in a murder case but it is his sleazy lawyer played by Billy Burke (Bobby’s brother on My Boys) that is causing all the problems for Brenda.
Also showing up sometime is Amy Sedaris (Strangers with Candy) as Fritz’s sister and resident physic who thinks she can help Brenda with one of her cases. The Closer airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download The Closer on iTunes or through Amazon Video on Demand (see below):
Quote of the Week: I’m merely exercising my 1st Amendment right. And the 1st Amendment states very clearly you can rip anything off as long as you change it slightly. (Leslie Poole - 10 Items or Less)
Big News of the Week: Veronica Mars: The Movie: Apparently Rob Thomas took my advise to finish off the Veronica Mars movie script right after the amount of Cupid episodes got slashed and now has Joel Silver and Kristen Bell attached as producer and star. One thing that wasn’t announced this week was the most important thing needed when making a movie: a studio. So color me cautiously optimistic until someone puts up some money to get the movie made.
Coalition Links of the Week: Buzz wrapped up her stay at TCA by offering up some awards for the best, worst, and most awkward moments from her time in LA. (BuzzSugar)
Sandie thinks Legend of the Seeker is the Best Show You're Not Watching. (Daemon's TV)
Vance shows some love for Privileged and Lost. (Tapeworthy)
This week, Jace took an early look at the third episode of Season Five of Lost (Jughead) and hinted at some surprising twists to come! (Televisionary)
In this week's Gossip Girl recap, Sara draws some comparisons to Saved By The Bell and 90210. (TiFaux)
This week, the TV Addict revealed why we digg Jimmy Fallon. (The TV Addict)
Tool Academy: Yeah, this show is totally staged. I’m supposed to believe that the couple that has never been intimate just so happen to win the conjugal visit reward. And I am beginning to think this is a Joe Schmo (remember the show starring Kristen Wiig) situation where the cast are paid actors but us, the audience, are the Schmos. The only thing from me thinking it is completely scripted is these stupid women; all saying the show is their last chance, choose to stay with their Tools after being voted out. I may have to put the Over/Under at 1 of chicks that actually dump their Tool on the show. You can also download Tool Academy on iTunes.
The Big Bang Theory: It may not be a good sign that I was mentally editing Sheldon’s flow chart before Howard did. I may have to stop watching this show, not for quality reasons, but to keep me from getting any more ideas. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.
How I Met Your Mother: This show is at its worst when they think they are clever and this is the worst case to date with their time shifting. With that said, I must admit the word, “We should buy a bar” have crossed my lips before. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.
Gary Unmarried: How can you have a discussion about not legally mentioning the attractiveness of a fifteen year old and not make a Chris Hanson reference? I was sitting there all episodes waiting for one and it never came. You can stream current episodes over at Innertube.
Friday Night Lights: Nothing made me laugh harder this week is when Riggins stood up when Lyla arrived without his pants on. I laugh because I am the same way about getting out of good clothes as fast as possible, sometimes starting when I am in my car. And for any fan of the show, you really need to check out The B.S. Report with Bill Simmons who recently interviewed show creator Peter Berg for about an hour where you learn such gems like who Berg wanted to be the coach over Kyle Chandler and which Survivor he once dated. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com.
Video of the Week: For your entertainment (or at the very least mine) the greatest Jeopardy question answer ever in the history of the world:
Next Week Pick of the Week: Super Bowl XLIII, Sunday (2/1)at 7:00 on NBC: For the second straight year, one of my least favorite teams is a heavy favorite. Hopefully for the second straight year the underdog comes out on top. And if it turns out to be a blow out, there’s always a new episode of Tool Academy at 10:00 and even a commercial in 3-D this year. Hold onto those glasses because the next day, Chuck is back with an episode in 3-D. Now I just need to hunt down some glasses because the Token Hot Chick in an extra dimension is something that should not be missed.
I never liked the name Cleaning Out My Inbox so I have tweaked its name. What remains the same is that a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Dangerous Encounters, Air Force One, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Battlestar Galactica, Scream, Late Show and Saving Grace.
- A big weekend over at the National Geographic Channel starting tomorrow, Saturday, with the final episode of Dangerous Encounters in this recent batch. And it goes out with a bang as Brady Barr goes back to cave where he was bitten last year. Will he be able to accomplish what be set out to do before getting bit in finding a twenty foot snake? Hint, look at the picture below and also check out a promo for the show:
- Then on Sunday at 8:00, you can get to know Air Force One just as President Obama gets his first peak of the presidential aircraft himself. That is directly followed by a special on Marine One, the presidential helicopter fleet. Head over to the official site for photos, videos, an interactive feature and even download a paper model of Air Force One.
- Also this weekend, on TNT and TBS, is the Screen Actors Guild (which has one of the worst acronyms ever). This year Forrest Whitaker will present the 45th Life Achievement Award to James Earl Jones. For more information on the show and the complete rundown of the nominations, head over to sagawards.org.
- Here’s a treat to all you Battlestar Galactica fans, here is a code to the Sci-Fi Channel Store (click on the link, then click on the store tab once you are there) where you can get 10% off any BSG items in the store (excluding QMx and Cylon items). Just enter BSGFAN in the coupon entry code place at checkout. The code expires April 15.
- Yesterday Whoopi Goldberg laughed a new video on demand series Scream launching on FEARnet’s website. The series will span six episodes and you can head over there now to watch the first episode or watch the trailer below to see if it’s for you:
- As you may have heard, in the run up to him taking over Late Night, Jimmy Fallon has to taken to the internet to get his feet wet. His latest interview is with Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht of Diggnation to discuss the interwebs. Check it out on his website.
- Saving Grace returns to TNT March 2nd with guest star Christina Ricci. Be sure to mark your calendars.
- Even though they were not up for any award, U2 opens up the show. Hopefully Get on Your Boots isn’t a preview of what is to come on their new album as it is just a Vertigo retread. Then we get our first awkward moment of the night with Bono throwing to Whitney Houston.
- The biggest showdown in the night didn’t actually take place in any announced category, but between The Rock and Jay Mohr between for most uncomfortable dialogues.
- Was that Lita Ford playing guitar for Carrie Underwood?
- Do we really need a Blink-182 reunion? Certainly their sophomoric rock was fine when you’re twenty-three, but not when you are thirty-three.
- Holy Neil Diamond sighting. But how do not get an all-star chorus to sing a drunken backup like has happen in every bar for the past thirty years? That could have been the highlight of the show.
(Say Anything, Garden State, Lars and the Real Girl, 
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on my 
coming to fruition. That boy needs some massive help. The other stand out of the caste whom I have never experienced before was Bonez, the ultra-religious dude who yet, depite his beliefs, when on reality television to find love with New York. Wow.
I’ll go as high as 18%.
she has yet to land a quality role since. She had to slum it as a love interest for 
for goodness sake. But she can rest in the solace that she had a great song written about her in the eight minute long 
), although his boss only gets screen time with her hand. McCormack’s wife gets about as much screen time as we only get a fleeting glimpse of Sarah Clarke (
) that is causing all the problems for Brenda.
) as Fritz’s sister and resident physic who thinks she can help Brenda with one of her cases. The Closer airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT. You can also download 