We on Award Tour: 2009 ESPY Awards Nominations

Samuel L. Jackson is back for his fourth ESPY hosting gig which remains one of the most entertaining award shows of the year. Two awards we already know that will be given out July 19 are The Arthur Ashe Courage Award will be given to Nelson Mandela while Don Meyer will pick up the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Usually an award voted on by fans, Dana Torres has already been announced as the Best Comeback. For those that are still being voted on by the general public, head over to ESPN.com. For my thoughts on the major categories, check out below:


Best Male Athlete
Kobe Bryant, NBA
LeBron James, NBA
Jimmie Johnson, Auto Racing
Michael Phelps, Swimming

Who I Voted For: Michael Phelps
Who Will Win: Michael Phelps

Odd no football players made it this year. When I first saw this list I thought that Michael Phelps should win but may not because of his scandal. But then I realized he just got caught with a bong, not to sound like Manny Ramirez, but it’s not like he raped anyone.

Best Female Athlete
Natalie Coughlin, Swimming
Nastia Liukin, Gymnastics
Maya Moore, NCAA Basketball
Candace Parker, WNBA
Serena Williams, Tennis

Who I Voted For: Natalie Coughlin
Who Will Win: Nastia Liukin

In Olympic years we judge our athletes by gold and Coughlin has gotten her fair share of them in her lifetime even if they have much more chances to grab them in any other sports. Had their not been a Michael Phelps she would have been the dominate story in the first week.

Best Championship Performance
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimming
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, Olympic Beach Volleyball

Who I Voted For: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh
Who Will Win: Kobe Bryant

Didn’t Kobe Bryant lose a game all by himself during the finals? Many they thought he made up for that by not getting called for an elbow at the end of the game Derek Fisher won. I’ll go with the team that won 108 straight matches.

Best Breakout Athete
Shawn Johnson, Olympic Gymnastics
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Who I Voted For: Matt Ryan
Who Will Win: Evan Longoria

Maybe the hardest category. I gave the edge to Longoria because he got further in the playoffs and to make up for all the Eva jokes I made all year.

Best Record Breaking Performance
Usain Bolt, Olympic Sprinter
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Phil Jackson, Los Angeles Lakers
Michael Phelps, Olympic Swimmer

Who I Voted For: Usain Bolt
Who Will Win: Michael Phelps

Quick: what record(s) did Fitzgerald break? I didn’t know either. As much as I hated his antics, I had to go with Bolt. Dude pounded his chest with ten meters to go and still broke the record. Oh and Fitzgerald broke Jerry Rice’s records for receptions and reception years.

Best Upset
Mine That Bird wins the Kentucky Derby
Oregon State stuns then #1 USC
Tampa Bay Rays win the American League Championship Series
US Soccer shocks Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals

Who I Voted For: US Soccer
Who Will Win: Tampa Bay Rays

Upsets happen all in the Derby and College Football. This one is hard to gauge between USA and Tampa Bay. Here you have two “ever’s.” First time Tampa Bay ever was above .500 and ended up making the World Series. The US beat their first ever world number one. Unfortunately they both fell short in the championship game.

Best Game
Federer vs. Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon Final
Steelers vs. Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
Syracuse vs. Connecticut in the Big East Tournament Quarterfinals

Who I Voted For: Federer vs. Nadal
Who Will Win: Steelers vs. Cardinals

Not only was the tennis match the best “game” this year, it may even be the best ever tennis match. The Super Bowl doesn’t even ranking the top five as the first half was horribly boring. Six overtimes is a cool novelty, but in the end, that’s all it is when it is not part of the big dance.

Best Moment
Florida’s Tim Tebow’s speech
Helio Castroneves wins the Indy 500
US swim team wins thrilling finish in Olympic relay

Who I Voted For: US swim team
Who Will Win: US swim team

What a sad list. Certainly there were better moments than this over the past year. The swim team was the only on the edge of your seat moment here and the only part of Michael Phelps’ run that lived up to the hype.

Best Play
Ovechkin vs. Rangers
Pacquiao KO’s Hatton
Roethlisberger to Holmes Super Bowl Winning TD
Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree makes game-winning catch vs. Texas

Who I Voted For: Ovechkin vs. Rangers
Who Will Win: Roethlisberger to Holmes

Best Team
Connecticut Women’s Basketball
Los Angeles Lakers
North Carolina Men’s Basketball
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Steelers
Who I Voted For: Pittsburgh Penguins
Who Will Win: Pittsburgh Steelers

I live in a city that hasn’t seen a championship in my lifetime and here is a city that had two in one year. I hate Pittsburgh. But the Penguins won two game sevens on opponent’s ice in the playoffs.

That is ten of the thirty-seven awards. Head over to ESPN.com to see all the individual sports nominees including how Micky Rourke can pick up one after getting snubbed by the Oscars.

Around the Tubes vol. XI

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 Raising the Bar, Trauma, The Office, Nurse Jackie, Sons of Anarchy, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

- After checking out the clip of tomorrow’s all new Raising the Bar (10:00 on TNT), one can only hope that Chris Hansen is involved somehow:



- NBC.com recently released promos for the upcoming shows, head over there to check them all out. Below is the one for Trama, the show I am most looking forward to:



- NBC has been compiling a bunch of The Office lists, the latest being The Best of the Accountants head over to NBC.com to check those out are watch the video below to see what the cast thinks is the best:



- Next Saturday is July 4 so expect a bunch of marathons. Over on Showtime startring at 8:00 the network is showing all the Nurse Jackie episodes. Granted I am not sure if two hours can constitute a marathon.

- The new season of Sons of Anarchy is coming in September and to get ready for the return, there is going to be a Sons of Anarchy Ride Free or Die Tour that will be traveling the country offering fans the chance to experience a replica of the notorious SAMCRO clubhouse complete with official show props. The exhibit will also includes sneak peeks at the new season, customized giveaways and prizes. For tour stops visit FXNetworks.com. Also the first season will be out August 19 on DVD and Blu Ray.



- For those that wanted to know who won I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! but didn’t want to sit through the whole episode, check out the clip below:



- Also, be on the lookout this week as I may have a little something extra special to give to some lucky reader.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. LXXXVI

Quote of the Week: I can’t believe you got Feinberg in your corner. It’s like the Jets and the Sharks joining forces and becoming one giant gay, dancing, singing street gang. (Ken, Rescue Me)

Song of the Week: Syrup & Honey – Duffy (Rescue Me)

Big News of the Week: Bryan Fuller Leaves Heroes… Again: One of the many sad stories that came out of the cancelation of Pushing Daisies was that series mastermind began slumming it again on Heroes. But as he told Ain’t it Cool News, he will be likely creating two pilots for NBC Universal. No work on what either of those may be, but one would assume the lead female will have a dude’s name (George, Jaye, Chuck). Speaking of the George portion, I started watching Dead Like Me recently, currently into the second season. Certainly below Wonderfalls in the Bryan Fuller pantheon, but I still haven’t decided if I like it more than Pushing Daisies yet. But certainly worth a look if you do not have anything better to watch this summer.

Coalition Links of the Week:
With network TV ratings on the decline, Buzz wondered if you — yes, you! — are watching less TV this Summer than usual. (BuzzSugar)

Other than So You Think You Can Dance, Vance didn't have much time to watch TV last week because he was out in the park watching Twelfth Night starring Anne Hathaway, Raul Esparza (Pushing Daisies), Audra McDonald (Private Practice), Hamish Linklater (New/Old Christine) and more. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace offered an elegy for ABC's canceled The Unusuals and offered advance reviews of FOX's Virtuality and the first four episodes of HBO's Hung. (Televisionary)

After this week's episode of Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Sara has the irresistible urge to become BFFs with Kathy and Paula Deen. (TiFaux)

Eric is so glad that Lafayette is back for season two of True Blood and even happier to find out how he gets out of imprisonment this week. (TV Fanatic)


Kings: So did Silas make a deal with Death (what, no George Lass?) who for some reason wears a cowbell in the form of piano that he would step aside willing (presumably for Mr. Boston) or will be taken by her? And just as puzzling is the princess being promised to God yet not a nun. Alrighty. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download Kings on iTunes.

Eli Stone: Much like Pushing Daisies, it was a little hard getting back into the show knowing there will only be two more after this. But once the car pulled up to Eli’s house to reveal a road trip, I was drawn back in. What is sad that after a second season let down after a superb first one, we finally get the first great episode right before getting pulled. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com. You can also download Eli Stone on iTunes.

Merlin: I sat down to check the series out only to find golf. I understand you don’t cut into golf to air new programming, but couldn’t NBC put in a scroll saying Merlin will start in “X” amount of minute or after this hole or just have the announcers acknowledge that golf is running over thanks to the rain delay? So I waited a minute or two and just ended up watching a couple more episodes of Dead Like Me. I may catch Merlin on Hulu sometime this weekend if the weather is crappy.

Charm School with Ricki Lake: What’s up with the random rerun this week? You can also download Charm School with Ricki Lake on iTunes.

Rescue Me: Hopefully Garrity stays in a coma for a while so we can get a couple more musical numbers. The fruit song may be the funniest thing ever that nobody should have been laughing at. You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.



The Philanthropist: NBC managed not to blow the premiere of this show. It reminded me a little like Kings in that they both have a big scope to them and at times are too big for their own good. And they certainly get heavy handed at times (seriously, Teddy’s dead son leads him to the village?). But the show is defiantly likeable. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download The Philanthropist on iTunes.

Free Download of the Week: Documentary Recordings Presents- Patriotic Music - Amazon Sampler: Just in time for the Fourth of July, here is a ten song sampler of four American classic along with six songs from the various factions of the armed forces.

Deal of the Week: The Big DVD Sale: Blu-ray (300, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima)

Video of the Week: We have hit the oversaturation point for vampires I am actually glad they are rebooting Buffy the Vampire Slayer, even if it is without Joss Whedon, so she could come back to slay all the Twilight, True Blood and the sure to be unwatchable new CW show vampires as well all their annoying fan. As for supernatural fair, sign me up for the upcoming Zombieland which looks from the trailer like it will battle Snakes on a Plane as the greatest horrible movie of the decade (and I mean that as a good thing, check out my review of SoaP: I Have Had it with These Mother(Expletive Deleted) Snakes on This Mother(Expletive Deleted) Plane).




Next Week Pick of the Week: Nothing: Fourth of July is next Saturday, enjoy the outdoors.

A Melancholy Happy Trails to Michael Jackson

As anyone who grew up during the eighties, Michael Jackson was a huge part of that. It all started with Thriller, the album and the song. Or more specifically the music video. No one did appointment video premieres like Michael Jackson and that started with Thriller, which should be considered more of a short film than a music video. And that continued with the premieres of Bad, Black or White, and Remember the Time all of which attracted A-list talent. He would even release legitimate short films with Moonwalker and Captain Emo.

As a kid in grade school at the time, we all tried to emulate Michael’s moves especially the Moonwalker. Jackson was even nice enough to put the steps of some of his moves in the liner notes for Bad. Even going into high school, I was excited when my choir picked Will You Be There to perform and I even volunteered to recite closing monologue as I knew it by heart despite it be erroneously missing from the sheet music. Unfortunately the choir didn’t take me up on this offer.

Sadly kids of today do not fully understand how popular Michael Jackson was during the eighties. There hasn’t been a bigger star in the world since and his popularity may only be rivaled by The Beatles during their heyday. Jackson truly earned his moniker, the King of Pop. Mostly today’s youth just know him as a tabloid fodder who, along with O.J. Simpson created the popularity of twenty-four hour cable news. Certainly brought some of that attention on himself with some questionable behavior that pretty much derailed his career since the mid-nineties along with some lingering health problems that kept him from performing for many year. Those health problems looked to have done him in just as he was about to launch one last concert string in London.

Michael Jackson was fifty years old. Below is a live version of Will You Be There circa the Dangerous tour:

In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair. Will you still care? Will you be there? In my trials and my tribulations, through our doubts and frustrations. In my violence, in my turbulence, through my fear and my confessions, in my anguish and my pain. Through my joy and my sorrow, in the promise of another tomorrow. I'll never let you part for you're always in my heart.

I Want My Music Television vol. LV

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.


21 Guns - Green Day



I guess these are the two characters that Green Day chronicles throughout their new album and even recreate the album cover for good measure. The song is still a Boulavard of Broken Dreams retread.


(Expletive Deleted) You – Lily Allen



Like I mentioned during my review of her latest album (see: I Am a Weapon of Massive Consumption) Lily Allen randomly ripping on George Bush after he is out of office is just bad form. But the special effects are pretty cool and the video as a whole comes off as a less creepy version of Smack My (Expletive Deleted) Up.


Laughing With – Regina Spektor



For more on Regina Spektor check out yesterday’s review of her new album Far, It Was so Easy and the Words Were so Sweet.


100 Little Curses - Street Sweeper Social Club



For his fourth group of the decade, Street Sweeper Social Club, it sounds like Tom Morello splits the difference between Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. But it is hard to take any social statement away from a video when it stars the dude from Road Trip and the chick from Joey.

It Was so Easy and the Words Were So Sweet

You would think if you went into the studio with as diverse producers as Jeff Lynne (ELO), David Kahne (Tony Bennett), Jacknife Lee (Snow Patrol), and Mike Elizondo (Eminem) you would come out with an eclectic groups of tracks. Yet for the third album by Regina Spektor with those for four producers all contributing, Far still sounds like classic Spektor with only those with the highest musical I.Q. would even come close to matching songs with the producer without peeking at the liner notes.

Far continues Spektor’s trend of quirky female piano pop that many people try but fail to get her recognition (it is no surprise that she recently recorded with her male counterpoint Ben Folds). Really, Spektor is the only person that could wax poetic about a DJ forgetting to take November Rain off of repeat and turn it into a kids sing a long for a video or turn heart and fall into fifteen syllable words. And that continues on the new album whether she is making dolphin sounds on Folding Chair, a chorus that just repeats the word Eet, lines about making computers out of macaroni (The Calculation) or creating a whole song about thumping through a stranger’s Wallet.

But the strangest of them all may be Dance Anthems of the 80’s which despite the title still has Spektor’s signature piano instead of the decade’s familiar synthesizer. And the oddness of the song is only outdone by the video for Dance Anthems of the 80’s. Spektor gets plenty existential on the album like on Blue Lips where the Adam and Eve verses work much better than the simplistic chorus. Or Laughing With where she takes a look at some of the more depressing creations God have given us like poverty, hospitals and natural disasters. While Machine is one of her more brooding song thanks to some heavy percussion and lyrics that deal with humans become one with them.

Song to Download – Eet

Far gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Got What I Wanted and it’s Never Enough

Concept albums are always a tricky situation, but Pete Yorn started off his career with a concept trilogy dealing with the times of the day: Musicforthemorningafter, The Day I Forgot, and Nightcrawler. The first two albums had their great moments signaling Yorn as the next great singer-songwriter from the Garden State making a niche as either a folksier version Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band era of a more rocking version of his Nebraska style of music.

But by the time he got around to finishing his trilogy, Yorn sounded like he was just spinning the tires with songs that sounded like his previous work but less adventurous. With the trilogy out of the way, there were high hopes for his fourth full length album Back & Fourth. Unfortunately is follows in the trend of Nightcrawler, a step backwards.

There are a few bright spots on the album like the depressing (in an entertaining, more melodic Ryan Adams kind of way) Social Development Dance where Yorn hears about the passing only to get no results when Google her name in quotations. Last Summer perfects Yorn’s ability to write hard driving emotion songs. But in the end, if you already have the first two Pete Yorn albums, there isn’t much need to pick up Back & Fourth.

Song to Download - Social Development Dance

Back & Fourth gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing Iran and the West

Sometime filmmakers luck into good timing for a documentary. Such is the case for tonight’s Iran and the West on the National Geographic Channel thanks to all the chaos surrounding Iran’s recent election. None of the recent turmoil is profiled but there are still plenty to cover in the thirty years since the Ayatollah took power in the country. But where Iran and the West excels is with its unprecedented number of interviews they landed for the documentary, over forty on both sides including Vladimir Putin, two former Iranian presidents and Jimmy Carter.

Considering the first half hour is focused so much on how Carter dealt with the hostage crisis, it is a little disappointing that none of his successors chose to participate, but four of the recent secretary of state, George Shultz, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell, fill in the holes. The documentary does a great job explained the contentious nature between Iran and the west, although Iran-Contra seemed to get glossed over with just a small reference. And even though he didn’t give an interview, current Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes an interesting cameo early on during the documentary.

Iran and the West premiere tonight at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel. Check out a preview below involving Madeleine Albright that could explain why things haven’t gone very well over the past thirty years:

Where My Horns At, You with Me?

Considering they are remaking every movie these days because Hollywood has run out of ideas or are just too lazy to promote original ones, when they get around to ruining Animal House with Jonah Hill as Bruno, Michael Cera as Otter and Megan Fox as Katy we can rest in the solace that they can use a respectable replacement for Otis Day and the Nights in Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.

Naturally the debut album from the band, Tell ‘em What Your Name Is! starts with the explosive Gunpower that sets the tone of the band’s garage soul. The song in drenched in horns and organ and a controlled scream by Lewis that is very reminiscent of the James Brown. But Brown was never this dirty as he always made sure every note was just right. The Honeybears just want to play.

Gunpower is followed up by Sugarfoot (who is the drummer of the Honeybears) which will be the most infectious song you will hear all year and cold even make the whitest of guy get up and dance. Filling out the rest of the Honeybears are Rooster Andrews (guitar), Big Show Varley (keyboards), Wild Card Bill (bass), and horns section of Slyder, McKnight the Night Train and Sleepy Ramirez.

Like the two songs that start off the album, most of Tell ‘em What Your Name Is! is a mix of all the great soul and R&B artists of the seventies from the previously mentioned James Brown, Motown, Stax and even some Sly Stone funk mixed in. While Please pt. Two pushes the band into a more Psychedelic feel to it. Big Booty Woman features a classic call and response which should be a requirement at any house party, Get Yo (Expletive Deleted) features the classic spoken word chorus, while Humpin’ could rival Green Onions as the funkiest instrumental ever put on wax. Adam Sandler’s character from The Waterboy even gets a shout out in Bobby Booshay.

Song to Download – Please pt. Two

Tell ‘em What Your Name Is! gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. LXXXV

Quote of the Week: You put the Evil in Knievel lady. (Emerson Cod, Pushing Daisies)

Song of the Week: I Want to Live – Shawn Garrity and a Choir of Angels/Nurses (Rescue Me)

Big News of the Week: Big Head Sammy and the Monsters: In a the least surprising news of the week that just beat out Sun Rises in East, it was revealed that Sammy Sosa was another of the 104 names on the same list that Alex Rodriquez whose name was leaked earlier this year. I guess at this rate we will get the last name on the list by 2025.

In other morally questionable athlete news, I am glad the NBA playoffs are finally over so we stop hear the talking head talk about Kobe Bryant cementing his legacy with another title even though he cemented his legacy in Colorado in 2004. Not that he really deserved another ring because he was a goal tend and an elbow throw call away from being down 3-1.

Now if want to talk about an athlete who legitimately cemented his legacy, look to the NHL with Sidney Crosby who went into Hockey Town and won a game seven after winning a seven game duel with Alex Ovechkin in Washington.

Coalition Links of the Week:
Will you watch four additional hours of The Real Housewives of New Jersey? Come on, be honest. (BuzzSugar)

"It's the end of the world, Cappie. What are you going to do?" If you missed the season finale of Greek, check out our recap. If you've never seen the show, now is a great time to get caught up. You won't be disappointed. (Give Me My Remote)

It's summer so all Vance can talk about is So You Think You Can Dance! This week, his take on the Top 18 performances. (Tapeworthy)

As we say goodbye to Pushing Daisies and prepare to say goodbye to Kings, Marisa has just one question: What the heck is wrong with you people? (TiFaux)

Raoul wrote HawthoRNe a Dear John letter. Yes, already. (TV Filter)

This week, the TV Addict crafted an Open Letter to Dawn Ostroff, CW President of Entertainment. (The TV Addict)

He's no Robert Pattinson, but Ian Somerhalder looks smokin' in The Vampire Diaries. (TV Fanatic)


Kings: So if the Prince wasn’t happy that Mr. Boston saved his like when he was captured by Gath, I can’t imagine he will be thrilled that he saved yet again this week from certain death. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download Kings on iTunes.

Pushing Daisies: A strong ended considering it was extremely rushed. Really can’t complain about the open resolution of Papa Piemaker and Charles Charles thanks to the premature cancelation, but I was a little disappointed we didn’t get an explanation as to why Charles Charles and the aunts had the same last name despite having intimate relations with each other. Oh well. You can stream current episodes over at ABC.com.



Greek: I really hope that last scene was a sign that Frannie won’t come back next season. Hopefully Casey is stupid enough to let her move in for her final semester. Or maybe she could move in with Rusty and Dale because certainly they could come up with some great storyline with her and Dale butting heads. You can stream current episodes over at ABCFamily.com. You can also download Greek on iTunes.

Charm School with Ricki Lake: Why is everyone so eager to leave this show. There are very few things that would get me to drop out of a competition for $100,000 but we have already had two people quit and now there are two people fight over who wants to be sent home. You can also download Charm School with Ricki Lake on iTunes.

Rescue Me: Why couldn’t we have gotten a full episode of singing Shawn? When his brother showed up I was laughing hysterically. Hopefully he sticks around to nurse his brother back to health. But then again the episode was filled with plenty of non-musical hijacks like Black Shawn getting the hose turned on him adn Tommy and Janet getting caught. You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.



Free Download of the Week: Arrested Development – Pilot (iTunes): iTunes is offering up a bunch of comedy episodes for free. If you download just one, get Arrested Development.

Deal of the Week: Save up to 47% on HBO (Rome, Deadwood, Band of Brothers)

Video of the Week: I hate it when you hear about a movie and instantly know it is going to suck and then you see the trailer and think to yourself, “That just may be watchable.” Case in point: Bandslam. Yeah, there is no way this will be any good, but the trailer makes it look like it may be enjoyable. Plus it has Jason Street as an antagonist rival singer. And what is it with Vanessa Hudgens and cheesy seventies songs? First she samples The Players Baby Come Back for her debute single and in the movie she tackles Everything I Own by Bread. And surprisingly the pseudo-ska version in the trailer actually sounds listenable. Luckily I have until August to completely forget the movie ever exists.

Bandslam Trailer HD


Next Week Pick of the Week: Eli Stone, tonight at 10:00 on ABC: Last week we saw the end of Pushing Daisies and tonight starts the three week reprieve of Eli Stone before it heads off to DVD for all eternity. Or at least until networks start recycling late ’00 show ideas in ten to twenty years.

Around the Tubes vol. X

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 Stargate Universe, Merlin, The Philanthropist, Tracy Ullman’s State of the Union, Locked Up Abroad, Stories from the Vault, and Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story.

- The latest Stargate staring I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’s Lou Diamond Philips is hitting The Sci-Fi Channel Syfy this fall and here is a sneak peek to whet your appetite:



- Coming this Sunday at 8:00 is the premiere of Merlin on NBC. Here is a preview:



- Also debuting next week on NBC is The Philanthropist Wednesday at 10:00. It looks interesting but I am not sure I can watch it because I have seen the lead completely naked, and as How I Met Your Mother showed me this season, once you seen a dude in all his glory, you can really look at him in anything again. And for all the ladies out there wondering, pick up the HBO series Rome. Actually everyone should pick up the show, because the full frontal male nudity aside, if I were to make a list of the best shows of the ’00, Rome would most likely crack the top ten. But anyways. Here is a preview of The Philanthropist:



- A new season of Locked Up Abroad is coming to the National Geographic Channel July 15. This season the show will feature people stuck in Iraq, Barbados, Ecuador, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, and India.

- Nurse Jackie isn’t the only show Showtime is renewing these days; Tracy Ullman’s State of the Union is getting a third season. Seven new episodes should hit the channel early 2010. Also Penn and Teller’s that will go unnamed will become Showtime’s longest running series returning for its seventh season Thursday June 25 at 10:00.

- Still not sure if I have the Smithsonian Channel, but I may want hunt it down by July 12 because that is the new season Stories from the Vault premieres which it hosted by Tom Cavanagh (Ed). Also coming to the Smithsonian Channel September 4 (Labor Day) is a two part documentary that tells the story of the Federal Writer’s Project of the 1930’s called Soul of a People: Writing America’s Story. So those that have the Smithsonian Channel, mark your calendar.

I Want My Music Television vol. LIV

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.


Craigslist – “Weird Al” Yankovic



“Weird Al” Yankovic has finally harnessed the internet, releasing songs as soon as he records them instead of waiting for a full album with some parodies becoming dated by time of the release. It started with last year’s Whatever You Like with four others to be released sometime this year. First up is a style parody of The Doors which actually features Ray Manzarek on the keyboard because Al thought it was funny thinking about Jim Morrison singing about Craigslist (not to be confused with the Backstreet Boys parody E-Bay). Supposedly the next song will be released as soon as next month.


Paranoid – Kanye West



It is nice that Kanye West says he is going back to rap and even co-produced Jay-Z’s D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune) yet he is still releasing videos for his horrible auto-tune inspired album. And an odd choice to have Rihanna star in a video entitled Paranoid.


I’m Broke – Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears



Hoped you picked up the free Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears song Sugarfoot I mentioned a couple days ago. Here is the second single from the group.


Thug Story – Taylor Swift and T-Pain



We very may well be witnessing the end of the Taylor Swift era.

I’m Singing Why Can’t I Stay Like This?

If they gave away awards for best song titles, Ida Maria would land one for I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked. And that isn’t even the best lyric in the song as that sentiment is followed up by the line, “I like me so much better when you’re naked.” You won’t be able to resist chanting along when her band chimes in at the end of the song.

The rest of the Norwegians debut album Fortress ‘round My Heart is garage rock nirvana filled with quick and to the point songs (only one song goes past three and a half minutes) with power pop chords that are allowed to fuzz out; no pro tools or auto tune here as Maria has no problem letting her voice crack throughout the songs. The mood id set right from the opening with Oh My God. Another standout is the bouncy Louie which may or may not be a shout out to the original garage band song..

The drawback for Fortress ‘round My Heart is a lack of diversity; most songs follow the same template. And when she does deviate, slow songs like Keep Me Warm just don’t sound right for her voice until they turn up the guitars, just to turn down the volume in time for the next verse. And at a half an hour that garage rock theme can get tired during repeat listening. Not that the phrase I Like You so Much Better When You’re Naked will ever get tired saying.

Song to Download – I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked

Fortress ‘round My Heart gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing Hawthorne

It seems every new television season there is a new show about doctors (or five) it is surprising it took so long for networks to deviate and have a medical show focusing on nurses. Now in the span of four months, we get three new shows that revolve around RN’s. Last week saw the debut of Nurse Jackie on Showtime, the fall sees NBC’s foray into the profession with Mercy, while TNT premieres Hawthorne which sets itself apart by having the lead have RN in her name. But really not much else.

Jada Pinkett Smith (Reign Over Me) is said title character who is the head nurse at Richmond Trinity and the show picks up on the one year anniversary of the death of her husband. We are not that privy as to how it happen, just bits and pieces leak out in the first couple episodes on how he died. But naturally it causes some strain between her and her daughter and mother-law (Joanna Cassidy; yes, the white one) as it did happen at the hospital.

Other staffers include Michael Vartan (Monster-in-Law) who is just as wooden as ever, not that the female patrons will care much as the Chief of Surgery. Smith’s right hand woman is Suleka Mather (The Net) who self proclaimed damaged good (we do get to find out why she thinks that in a did that really just happened moment). David Julian Hirsh (Lovebites) is your comic relief, which is kind of sexist being the lone male nurse on staff.

Rounding out the cast is Christina Moore (Mad TV) whose main purpose apparently is just there to be the object of Hirsh’s affection. In fact Vanessa Lengies (American Dreams) isn’t officially in the cast but gets much more screen time, and better storylines, in the first couple episodes than Moore as a rookie nurse. It did look like Moore was going to be a nurse that gives her patients a little too much TLC, but that seemed to be quickly dropped after first alluded to.

The show does start to be more entertaining during the second episode thanks to some infusion of humor and a pair of guest stars. Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Listen Up) is admitted after a brain aneurism who mistakes Smith as his wife. And Cloris Leachman (Dancing with the Star) as a cantankerous patient that newbie Lengies has to deal with.

Hawthorne airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on TNT. The show is preceded by The Wedding Day at 8:00 and followed by Saving Grace at 10:00. Check out a preview below:

Lyrics Quiz: Summer Songs

Summer officially starts next week so I thought I would break out some “Summer” themed songs for this month’s lyrics quiz. As usual, place your guesses in the comment (or e-mail me), both artist and song title, and if you are correct I will un-bold the lyric. Now onto the quiz:

1. Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach. I feel it in the air. (The Boys of Summer - Don Henley; guessed by Tony)
2. Around about this time the telephone blew its horn across the room. Scared little Annie clean out of her mind and I tell ya.
3. Man we were killing time, we were young and restless. We needed to unwind. I guess nothing lasts forever. (Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams; guessed by Tony)
4. When you’re on a holiday, you can’t find the words to say all the things that come to you. And I want to feel it too. (Island in the Sun - Weezer; guessed by Tony)
5. Wandered through the valley of the shadow of the dead stumbled round this old sundial, there these words I read.
6. The weather is hot and girls are dressing less and checking out the fellas to tell them who’s best. (Summertime - D.J. Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince; guessed by Rebekah)
7. Two peas in the same pod, yes we are. Or have I read too much fiction?
8. Blowing through the jasmine in mind. (Summer Breeze - Seals and Croft; guessed by Rebekah)
9. The Midwest farmer’s daughters really make you feel alright. (California Girls - The Beach Boys; guessed by Tony)
10. When I’m a walking, I strut my stuff. (Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes; guessed by Tony)
11. In the shade of willow tree, creeps are crawling over me. Over me and over you. (Staring at the Sun - U2; guessed by Rebekah)
12. You come from Georgia where the peaches grow. They drink lemonade and speak real slow.
13. Well she’s deceiving me, it cuts my security. She’s got control of me. (Sunglasses at Night - Corey Hart; guessed by Tony)
14. Whenever I’m with him something inside is still burning and I’m filled with desire.
15. Twenty-five years ago they spoke out and they broke out of recession and oppression.
16. See me once, see the way I feel. Don’t discard me just because you think I mean you harm. (Don't Let the Sun go Down on Me - Elton John; guessed by Tony)
17. My friends the communist holds meeting in his office. I can’t afford his gas. So I’m stuck here watching TV.
(Soak up the Sun - Sheyrl Crow; guessed by Rebekah)
18. Well the streetlights shine down on Blessing Avenue. Lovers they walk by, holding hands two by two. (Girls in Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen; guessed by Tony)
19. It’s the morning and just we two. I’ll stay with you darling now, I’ll stay with you till my seas are dried up. (Sunshine of Your Love - Cream; guessed by Rebekah)
20. When the weather’s right you got women, you got women on your mind. Have a drink, hav a drive, go out and see what you can find. (In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry; guessed by Rebekah)
21. Little darling, their smiles are returning to their faces. (Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles; guessed by Rebekah)
22. Now every time I go for the mailbox I have to hold myself down. (Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves; guessed by Rebekah)
23. All around, people looking half dead. Walking on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head. (Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful; guessed by Rebekah)
24. The shadows are on the darker side. Behind those doors, it's a wilder ride.
25. Making love out by the lake to our favorite song. Sipping whiskey out the bottle, not thinking about tomorrow. (All Summer Long - Kid Rock; guessed by Tony)

Previewing Saving Grace

Last season of Saving Grace ended with the shocking execution of Leon Cooley despite Grace’s decision to help try to help clear his name. Equally shocking was, much like when Grace got a second chance when she killed Cooley, she herself was a victim of someone who ended up getting a second chance for themselves so instead it ended up being just a dream for Grace, and for some reason Rhetta.

The third season opens up with Grace trying to get in contact with the person from the dream who naturally is into something bad that Grace and her boys investigate. There is also a subplot with Grace and Ham getting caught in a precarious position which leads to a pretty funny scene at the end of the episode.

Later this season F. Murray Abraham shows up as a co-worker of Earl who conspicuously always wears black and arrives with a bolt of lightning and tries to poach Grace for his cliental when Grace runs into one of his former assignments. For a preview of tonight’s episode, check out the clip below:



Saving Grace airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on TNT and is preceeded by new shows Wedding Day at 8:00 and Hawthorne at 9:00 (check back later for a preview of the series). You can stream current episodes of the show over at TNT.tv. You can also download Saving Grace on iTunes or on Amazon Video on Demand (see below):