Whatever Happened Happened

If Blogger allowed subtitles, it would be, “Unless of course it was all a dream then that didn’t really happen.”

Please, if you will, jump into the Hot Tube Time Machine all the way back to February 10, 2005, a mere week into the inception of the 9th Green and my very first mention of Lost here, Déjà Vu All Over Again. In the post I mention my first apprehension to the show going in the long run because it had just already in the first season utilized the second of the biggest clichés in television history when we learned that Claire had come down with a bout of amnesia. But I bring this up because of the first overused cliché they used, the “it was all a dream” sequence when Boone saw Smoke kill his sister until Locke said, “Psyche! It was all a dream Boone, she is still alive.”

There is always a lot of talk about if a series finale could tarnish a show and the answer is no. The Seinfeld was considered bad but is still regarded as one of the funniest shows in the history of television. The Sopranos ending created such visceral hatred but I still saw it on plenty of Greatest of the 00’s lists and even topped a few. These were like seeing Joe Montana in a Chief’s uniform, sure you do not want to see it, but it doesn’t disqualify him from the Hall of Fame.

While the series finale may not tarnish the show as a whole, it completely ruined the last season. As one of the few people that actually like the flash-sideways, to go back and realize that forty percent of the season happened in the dead minds of the castaways so they could have the lamest high school reunion ever really ruined that part of the season I had previously liked so much. And what was with everyone with a drinking the kool-aid look to everyone sported after they flashed. They were all way too happy to realize they were dead.

And who was and wasn’t invited was befuddling. Sure they could explain away Michael as being stuck Jacob Marley style with whispering chains (along, plausibly, with Eko, Nikki, Paulo and a few others) but what about Walt? Could have had some flashes at some time with Vincent? And who invited Ben? Did he really redeem himself that much as Hurley’s number two? And what happens to him outside the church? Couldn’t he have gone with Alex and or Rousseau? Speaking of children, where were Aaron, baby Charlie, Ji Yeon, and the spawn of Sawyer? Shouldn’t have Richard warranted an invite? Sure if the island was underwater, he never gets eternal life from Jacob, but if sideways was just make believe anyway, he could have made an appearance.

And the absence of Faraday and Charlotte could be explained away by Desmond respecting the request of Eloise Hawking, but as the “time cop” shouldn’t she know if a world created by a group that leaves, would that world cease to exist and she then was denying her son a chance to pass on? And why care enough to include Miles, Artz and Anna Lucia in you sideways world but not even invite them to your reunion? Sure they did not have some epic love story, but neither did Locke or Boone (did I miss a scene when Boone had his flash backs?). Neither did Sayid and Shannon for that matter. Seriously, Sayid pines over Nadia, cris-crossing continents trying to find her, watches her die, but his true love is a chick he dated for a week.

The big irony for me when it comes to Lost is when ABC shipped Monday Night Football I said there was nothing left on the All Broads Channel for guys to watch except for Lost. It wasn’t until the finale did I realize that Lost in fact fit right in with all the other televised chick flicks on the network. Lost was never a genre show, the sci-fi aspect of the show was no less a gimmick than a hospital or the suburbs. This is why we would never get some important answers to questions like: "Why was Sun the only living member of Oceanic 6 that didn’t flash back to 1977?" because it never matter. If you need and answer, it was just a way for the writers to keep Jin and Sun away from each other for another two seasons because it would make for a more emotional reunion and subsequent farewell.

The finale was for all the people who would annoyingly mash up character names and fights to the death arguing over if Kate should pick Jack or Sawyer and cried when Penny called Desmond on the freighter for the first time. Sure I enjoys the first couple flashes in the finale (to a point, they really went overboard with all of them) but that just isn’t me, I could have cared less who Kate picked as long as the writers found new ways to get her out of her clothes and didn’t well up during the phone call because I was still trying to figure out how present day Desmond was able to get nineties Penny to call him. It is probably not a coincidence that some of my favorite characters on the show, Ben, Locke, Hugo, Faraday, Miles, rarely got any sweet lovin’ if any.

A secondary irony is for the whole series all I ever heard about the show was, “I have no clue what is going on but I love it.” Well I almost always new was going on (I could never wrap my head around the idea of the Constant) I never thought the show was all that great since the second season. But in the end it may not have been a good idea to trust someone behind Crossing Jordan and Nash Bridges.

Lost: The Series gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Times Change, We Need to Change as Well

I tend to avoid bio-flicks. Why would I want to watch the Fresh Prince pretend to be Muhammad Ali when I can watch Ali as himself in When We Were Kings? The problem with most bio-flicks is they try to cram a whole life’s work into under two hours. When bio-flicks usually work is when they take a small segment of a person’s life, especially a little know, but important, aspect that an audience can learn about. That is such the case with the latest Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino) directed film, Invictus.

The film takes a look at the life of Nelson Mandela shortly after taking the office of president of South Africa and trying to unite the country after years of apartheid. His unlikely solution was to get the country behind its rugby team for the upcoming World Cup being held in the country after realizing all the white people in the stands were cheering for their Springboks while all the blacks were cheering against them as they came to represent apartheid. A story most of us Americans have never knew of because the sport is not big here and we were too busy following the O.J. Simpson murder case in 1995. Had this been a normal Mandela bio-flick, we would have gotten a large chunk of him during his nearly three decades spent in jail, and the rugby portion would most likely been boiled down to one scene if it even got mentioned at all.

In Invictus, Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) plays the newly elected president who reaches out the captain of the national rugby team played by Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting). I’m am sure some people could give grief to Damon’s accent in the film, but it really didn’t bother me as there are plenty of actors in the film that have natural South African accents that were hard to understand what they are saying at times.

Politics aside, Invictus makes for a pretty decent sports movie. Being about a sport that is so unfamiliar with American movie goers, it isn’t bogged down with sports clichés that you see over and over with to the point you expect them in overdone sports over here like baseball movies (though it still has some of the universal sports clichés that populate most sports movies). There are some amazing camera shots like a ground view shot of a scrum and a game that was played in monsoon type rain. And of course when the Springboks plays the All-Blacks of New Zealand we get treated to the Haka which makes you wonder why this hasn’t been imported into other team sports. Maybe if LeBron had done the Haka before games instead of clowning around with silly bowling skits or his cheesy WWE-style chalk throw, maybe he would still be playing.

For the special features on the blu-ray (in stores now as a combo pack and also separately available in DVD, On Demand and digital download forms) you get an in-depth picture-in-picture commentary with insight from the cast, crew and Clint himself. Two behind the scenes featurettes, a standard making of which includes Freeman and Damon meeting their real life counterparts and a separate one about turning the Hollywood star into a rugby play, along with the Invictus music trailer as well as access to BD Live. There is also a twenty minute excerpt from The Eastwood Factor which will be available June 1 individually or part of the blu-ray box set Clint Eastwood Collection which features 10 of his classics.

Invictus gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.



Full Disclosure Notice: This Blu-Ray was given to me on behalf of Warner Brothers Entertainment for the purpose of reviewing the movie.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. CXXXI

Chuck: Of course Superman isn’t dead, simply pumping him with bullets will just annoy him. And annoy everyone who was happy to see Superman gone from the show. The only thing worse than having Superman around again: Jesffster breaking up. Hopefully a reunion tour is already in the works. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: How did nobody point out the most in sulting part of the movie based on Ted’s life: being portrayed by Chris Kattan. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: I loved how everyone looked so different a couple years ago, yet Sheldon looks exactly the same. And we finally find out how the elevator got broken. See Lot, it is possible to give satisfying answers. You can download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.

Castle: I really hope that next season doesn’t turn into a season of will they or won’t they with near misses every couple episodes. But it looks pretty clear they are going into that direction. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes. Also be sure to check out my chat with Stana Katic.

Lost: Only two and a half more hours and I don’t have to watch the show again. Can’t wait. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



Justified: With the condition that he will keep his robe on, can we make Stephan Root a recurring character? With Winona as a court reporter, it cannot be that hard to write him into the show. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Justified on iTunes.

Parenthood: When did Patty Prior turn into such a good actress? My heart was breaking right along with hers during the episode. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Modern Family: I guess it is a good thing Hailey didn’t go to the Lakers game because of the run in with Kobe because he has been known to being attracted to girls of that age and skin color and doesn’t like the word no. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



Community: When I saw they going towards the obvious who will he pick cliffhanger I first wondered how are they going to turn the overused plot point on its head. My second thought was, they better not end it with Jeff picking Annie as the big twist. Naturally I was a bit disappointed with the ending. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Friday Night Lights: I literally stood up and clapped at the end of Buddy’s speech at the boosters party. Hopefully more people follow Buddy and put some support behind the Lions. And I also have a solution to the anemic Lions bleacher situation, bring in Mama Smash, she is better than a whole team of cheerleaders. And I hope this week we saw the conclusion of the art internship, because I am ready to move on from the storyline as a viewer. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Best of the Week vol. XLIV

Quote of the Week: You know what Buddy, you need to polish that ring of yours, its looking a bit tarnished. (Coach Taylor, Friday Night Lights)

Song of the Week: September – Earth, Wind, Fire and Rain (Chuck)

Big News of the Week: No More Lost After Tomorrow: 119 hours down, two and a half more to go until I no longer have to watch Lost. I am sure I will have a lengthy series review up next week (definitely not by Monday though, will need a full day to sleep on it). Interestingly enough HBO also wants you to DVR the Lost series finale because the premium channel will be premiering a new True Blood promo for its third season. Then embedded in the promo will be a special QR code for an exclusive clip entitled Eric and Sookie. To access the clip, simply take a picture of the QR code on your smartphone. This will need a QR reader, and if you do not have one, try Inigma.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Free Download of the Week: Sittin’ on the Hitz - Digital Underground (Amazon MP3): I do not think there was a bigger Digital Underground fan than me circa middle school. I even tried to get busy in a Burger King bathroom before I really knew what that meant. So the nostalgic side of me may have even paid for this track, but thankfully Amazon is giving away the track for free. Now if you excuses me, I have to go grab somebody in the biscuit even if I am still not entirely sure what it means.

Deal of the Week: Final Days: Save up to 58% on Spotlight Deals (Sons of Anarchy, Damages, How I Met Your Mother)

Video of the Week: Living in the Cleveland area such. Business has been fleeing for years and really all we have going for ourselves is that at least we are not Detroit. We haven’t even won a major sports championship in the state in my lifetime, or in the lifetime of anyone under the age of forty-six. Which could explain why local celebrities (including our governor, a senator, a Real Worlder, and Carl Monday who is sort of the Cleveland version of Chris Hansen) resorted to making this video below in hopes that it will sway LeBron James to stay in his hometown. And yes I am a little offended that I wasn’t asked to participate.

We Are LeBron


Next Week Pick of the Week: Chuck, Monday at 8:00 on NBC: I was actually under the impression that last week was the season finale due to the lack of “Next Week” promo at the end of the episode, but not only is there one episode left of Chuck this season, it is a two hour episode. Which means it will conflict with the season finale of The Big Bang Theory.

Around the Tubes vol. LI

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 Friday Night Lights, Gulf Oil Spill, World's Toughest Fixes, Johnny B. Homeless, Pretty Little Liars, NBC.com, and TNT Upfronts.

- If you ever watch Friday Night Lights and find yourself enjoying the music in the show, you will want to check out the video below featuring music director Liza Richardson and executive producer Jason Katims. You will want to also check out Friday Night Lights Soundtrack vol. 2 which was recently released (especially The Avett Brothers If it’s the Beaches which was featured in the second season.



- For those following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (which you should) The National Geographic Channel will be airing a special program next Thursday at 10:00 featuring never before seen footage from the fire that ensured the blowout.

=- Also next Thursday on the National Geographic Channel an hour earlier is the latest episode of World’s Toughest Fixes where Sean Riley will stay in Las Vegas to fix a roller coaster 900 feet over the city. Check out a preview below:



- With SNL done for the season, do you find yourself going through Keenan Thomson withdrawals? Then today’s your lucky day, well actually June 15 will be your lucky day because that is when Keenan’s nine episode web series Jonny B Homeless hits Atom.com. Below is a trailer:




- The latest ABC Family program Prtty Little Liars is coming next month. Here is a character profile of Aria played by Lucy Hale:

- Enjoy NBC shows and have a social media profile (Facebook et al)? Well you can get rewarded just for being a fan of a show like Chuck, Parenthood, Community and/or Friday Night Lights. Every time you talk about a show or watch a video you get points that you can redeems for exclusive access to early previews of new and returning shows, NBC merchandise, discounts at the NBC store, show-themed virtual goods and badges and entry into a sweepstakes to win huge show-related prizes. Head over to NBC.com/fanit for full details.

- Where the major networks got most of the attention, the Turner family of networks also had their upfronts this week. Here are the things that came out of it that piqued my interest:

Conan O’Brien gets a debut date: November 8.

Don Cheadle is getting his own medical show on TNT.

The long talked about Steven Spielberg series starring Noah Wiley finally has a name, Fallen Skies. Bust still do not expect the series to hit your television until 2011.

The guys behind Leverage and The Librarian films are teaming up for a detective show described as “old-fashioned (and recently demoted) detective as he teams with four brilliant but socially awkward, sheltered academics to help him solve crimes” called Brain Trust for TNT.

The Big Bang Theory cable rights were bought by TBS and will start airing in 2011.

An eighties themed series set at college called Glory Daze will be coming to TBS and will featuring the acting talents of SNL alum Tim Meadows and the “stupendous” Juilanna Guill from Friday the 13th, the recent one, not from the eighties classic.

Scooter's Fall 2010 Television Schedule

It seems like I say this every year, but I cannot said I am that excited with any of the new shows the networks have to offer this year. Of course looking back to last year, Modern Family and Community delivered some decent laughs (especially the former) and Parenthood lived up to its pedigree. Though you may have to look to cable to find the best new show of the last year, Justified. Here the shows recently announced that I am most looking forward to (granted most are slated for midseason which tends not to be a good sign for longevity).

1. No Ordinary Hero (Tuesdays at 8:00) – You would think the Heroes debacle would keep me away from a show that already featured a guy who ruined The Thing, but it does come from the guy who gave us Everwood and Eli Stone.

2. (Tie) Mr. Sunshine and Next (both midseason): Both star comedy gold of decades past, Matthew Perry as a sports arena manager and Paul Reiser apparently playing himself. But I have a bone to pick with the promo going around where he says he only gets noticed as the dude from Mad About You, c’mon, I will always remember his as the neurotic half of My Two Dads (and if we are remaking every eighties television show, how about that one, or will no one get by the easy DNA issues at the heart of the show?).

3. Better Together (Wednesdays at 8:30) – Time for an admission, I actually enjoyed Committed which I think lasted a month on NBC a couple years back where Jennifer Finnigan and Josh Cooke played mentally unstable potential companions with Tom Poston living in the closet. Now the duo is back (sans Poston in a closet) for another comedy round. It may last just as long, but I’ll be watching.

4. Outsourced (Thursdays at 9:30): If done right, this will hopefully be the feel good racist comedy of the year.

5. (tie) Perfect Couples and Friends with Benefits (both midseason) – Sure they look like your typical situation comedies, but one has Olivia Munn and the other has Dick Casablancas (albeit with very WASPy hair).

Here is a full rundown of the shows I plan to be watching next fall with CBS really testing my limits with all its changes (I hate change so much I refused to vote for Barack Obama because of it, not that I would boycott my first Russell-free Survivor in a year because of it).

Mondays
8:00 – Chuck
8:00 – How I Met Your Mother
9:00 – The Event (Maybe, depends how much Lost leaves a bad taste in my mouth)
10:00 – Castle

Tuesdays
8:00 – No Ordinary Hero
10:00 - Parenthood

Wednesdays
8:00 – Survivor
8:30 - Better Together
9:00 – Modern Family

Thursdays
8:00 – The Big Bang Theory
8:00 - Community
9:30 – Outsourced

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

I got nothing.

Take My Badge, but My Heart Remains

When The Black Keys debuted Frank the Funkosaurs Rex, I didn’t think they could top themselves, but their higher budget version of Tighten Up is just as awesome. For those that missed the Frank version of the song, I have included it below along with his follow up in Next Girl. And if I do not get the chance to review their latest album Brothers which dropped yesterday, let me quickly say it is worth checking out.


Tighten Up




Next Girl

Young Love: Full of Promise, Full of Hope, Ignorant of Reality

Valentine’s Day is a polarizing holiday, well mostly for women. If they are in a relationship, they love it; if not they hate it and hate everyone that is celebrating. Guys on the other had hate it if they are in a relationship, will those that are not could have thee day pass and not even know it. And Valentine’s Day the movie (out today on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, On Demand and for Download) may be just as polarizing where female loving romantic comedies will eat up this star studded affair while the boyfriends they make them watch will just be happy it isn’t as bad as He’s Just Not That into You.

The movie runs every gambit of love from school boy crush to young love (Taylors Swift and Lautner), couples ready to take the next step (Emma Roberts), a new relationship (Anne Hathaway and Topher Grace), a longer one (Jenifer Garner and Patrick Dempsey),a long distance love (Julia Roberts), the newly engaged (Jessica Alba and Ashton Kutcher), the old married couple (Shirley MacLaine and Hector Elizondo), a guy ready to find love (Eric Dane) and yes there are even the woman who hates the holiday because she doesn’t have a date (Jessica Biel) and a pair of guys that could care less the holiday is happening because they are not in a relationship (Jamie Foxx and Bradley Cooper). Also in the cast playing auxiliary roles to those in or about to find love include Kathy Bates, Queen Latifah, George Lopez.

Naturally, like the more entertaining Love, Actually, all the players end up interacting in each other’s storyline but what it misses is the heart where you actually care about a bulk of the cast. Oh yeah, and it misses on the second half of the romantic comedy equation but that is what happens when you can based on a pretty face (Alba and Biel should consider leaving the genre altogether) instead of legitimate comedians of which there are only two unless you count Larry Miller who makes a cameo and Jamie Foxx’s camerman (Foxx plays a sports reporters who is forced to be a man on the street asking about Valentine’s Day) who has a few good laugh even if half were reduced to the Delete Scenes section.

Also Hathaway shows that she should return to the genre more often as her storyline was by far the most entertaining. And there are some other hilarious moments including the Taylors at track practice where Lautner has a run in with a huddle (which was supposed to be funny) and Swift’s running style (which I am not sure was supposed to be funny but was anyway), then the younger Robert’s boyfriend has maybe the funniest scene I the movie while Lopez and Foxx rattle off a few good one liners. But for a movie that runs just over two hours, you should expect more than five big laughs through the film.

The blu-ray (which comes in a combo pack with the DVD and a digital copy) is pretty thin in the bonus feature department. There are your usual blooper real (which half is less bloopers and more the crew snapping the time marker but it does lead to a funny call back to a previous Garry Marshall flick) and audio commentary (which is mildly entertaining because Marshall oversells almost everything). And for all you ladies out there, there is also an extended sneak peek at the new Sex in the City 2 movie. There are also two short featurettes with stars talking about their Valentine’s Day experiences and other about working with Marshall along with a music video from Jewel. But the twenty minute deleted scenes with introduction from Marshall are worth checking including a bit where Foxx interviews Denver Nugget’s Chris Anderson in a tattoo parlor and a PSA featuring Dwight Howard and Penny Marshall (yes, Garry cut his own sister out of his movie).



Full Disclosure Notice: This Blu-Ray was given to me on behalf of Warner Brothers Entertainment for the sole purpose of reviewing the movie.

King Arthur’s Journey Has Ended

I hate Russell Hantz. Not in a love to hate kind of way like some of his Villains brethren, but I hate him to the point that I wish he had never been cast on Survivor. After dominating the screen time last season by sabotaging his own tribe last season, he was back for another go around and weaseled his way to the end yet again thanks mostly for being on the receiving end of two of the top four dumbest moves ever in the history of Survivor (and this does not even incude the dumb move Amanda made by giving the Idol hint back to Danielle). Tyson changing his vote for no apparent reason, which would have sent Russell packing, instead Tyson gets his torch snuffed out. Then J.T. for some bizarre reason gives his Immunity Idol to Russell for no logical reason and promptly gets voted out at the hands of his own Idol. Keep in mind that J.T. didn’t make the dumbest move in Survivor history, Erick deserved that (dis)honor.

And Russell is wrong when he says there is a flaw in Survivor. No, Russell, you are the flaw and deserve the title as dumbest player in Survivor history because you are too dumb to understand the rules as they are presented to you. Just because you can bully your tribe mates to get yourself way to the final vote doesn’t mean you can bully Jeff Probst into changing the rule. There is a reason Big Brother quickly changed its rule after one season from America voting to the housemates, people vote are among our dumbest America has to offer (look at how some of our political elections have gone for the last couple decades). Russell put up two of the most pathetic final tribal councils and walked out of them with a paltry two votes in total.

Besides that, Heroes vs. Villains was surprisingly entertaining after the big dud of the first All-Stars season (with Fans vs. Favorites being not that much better). That was thanks to the players this time around actually acting strategically, not just spitefully voting out all the winners the first time they got. In fact this time around three of the four previous winners here made it to at least the jury with two at the final tribal.

And if Russell put himself in the discussion of the dumbest player in Survivor history, Sandra should be discussed as one of the best ever (and I didn’t even have her in my top twenty-five Greatest Survivor Contestants Ever list that I published right before the season). In her two wins, she has received twelve of the sixteen total votes cast at her final tribal councils. And Parvati shouldn’t be too far behind because she was the clear mastermind behind her and Russell’s alliance and still played in a way they managed her a few votes on the jury.

As Survivor has wrapped up the most recent All-Star season, I have a suggestion for their next one: Winners vs. Losers. You can take this idea a couple different ways, if you can get 8-10 (depending on how big they want the cast to be) former winners to take another go at it, have two tribes with the other being the greatest players to have never actually won (like your Rob’s Boston and Cesternino) or go big with the losers tribe and have everyone be someone that was voted out first (or second) their season. Or if you can only get around five winners, go four tribes: Winners, People who lost the final Tribal, a tribe of people who made it as far as the jury, and finally a rejects tribe of people who never saw a merge their season. No matter which way you choose, just do not bring back Russell.

Survivor: Heroes vs Villains gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. CXXX

Quote of the Week: And I’m gonna give you a minute to extradite yourself out my face before I have to paint your office with your (expletive delete). (Toby – Justified)

Song of the Week: Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (as preformed by Hawaiian Wedding Band, Modern Family)

Big News of the Week: Early Pick Up’s All-Around: Usually we have to wait until Up Fronts before we know for sure what will be on the schedule, but NBC slowly tricked out their pick up’s and even ABC has even gotten into the early pick up business too. Cannot say I am all that interested with any of the shows, but I will wait for a final judgment when I get to see some promos.

Chuck: Christopher Lloyd appearing on an NBC show is making me start to lean towards him and the Christopher Lloyd who created Modern Family. And funniest scene of the week was when the patients came to Chuck’s defense. Too bad they got shot down before they could actually help. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: Why does Judy Greer always plays lose women? As soon as she showed up I though, she was going to sneak into Leonard’s room and of course it happened. What I didn’t see is her getting tossed around to all the friends, sans Sheldon of course. But Greer deserves better. You can download The Big Bang Theory on iTunes.

Lost: So Smokie isn’t really Locke or even Jacob’s brother (who turned out to be Adam), just an entity that used to be light and if it leaves the island, it will be some sort of Pandora’s Box situation. Alrighty. But much like the Richard Alpert episode, sure we got a lot of big answers, but I was still expecting much more out of this episode. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



Justified: After last week’s Deadwood reunion I thought we would get treated to a Eurotrip reunion this week except the guy from the movie in the cast didn’t bother to show up this week. And it was really had to think of the other dude from Eurotrip as some big bag former boxer. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Justified on iTunes.

Parenthood: Second funniest scene of the week: Zeke congratulation his granddaughter for not having intercourse with her boyfriend. Haddie’s reaction was priceless. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Mercy: Oh Mercy, it was a good, guilty pleasure run, but naturally NBC gave you the ax and now I will not get the enjoyment of watching Dawn Summers try to emote on a weekly basis. You will be missed. But not really because VH1 will always have much guiltier pleasure. Except for that offensive 100 Things Guys Do That Guarantee They Won’t Date or Have Sex. You know there won’t be a female version of this special because there is only one. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Mercy on iTunes.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains: Yawn. This should have been the week they did a double tribal council because it was rather boring. Even Sandra ruined what could have been an entertaining moment by not even letting Probst finish his Immunity Idol speech depriving us the chance for the usual ten second edit that the show likes to do in a will they or won’t they play the idol situation. And what was up with Colby this episode? He explodes at his brother because he cannot catch water, then at Tribal; he sits at the ends staring at the ground the whole time. I cannot believe this guy may actually win. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.



Community: The big problem this show runs into, maybe too often, is they rely too heavily on expecting everyone will get their pop culture references. I understand Troy’s storyline was one big homage, but I have absolutely no clue what it was paying tribute to. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Friday Night Lights: Holy Mike Leach sighting! I wonder if his pirate rambling was as unintentionally funny back in the fall for those watching on DirecTV as it was for those of us watching on NBC who now know Leach is unemployed. Maybe Coach Taylor can recruit him to the Lions staff next year. But my favorite part of the episode is when Tammy went to the boosters meeting and asked Joe McCoy infront of everyone if he still planned on exposing the mail box scam from season’s past. My least favorite is when Coach told Riggins he had something to show him, and we never found out what. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



Free Download of the Week: Die by the Drop – The Dead Weather (rcrdlbl)

Deal of the Week: Mega Savings on Mega Movie & TV Show Hits (Forgetting Sarah Marshall [Blu-Ray], Happy Gilmore, E.T.)

Next Week Pick of the Week: Lost, Tuesday and Sunday at 9:00: Here it is, the final three and a half hours of Lost ever and it cannot not come soon enough. Not because I am that eager to learn how it ends, but I just what to not have to worry about watching the show ever again because I am putting the chances of there being a satisfying ending in the single digits. For the fanatics, ABC is also running the two hour series premiere Saturday and there will be the prerequisite hour primer before the finale and a special Jimmy Kimmel Live afterwards.

Lyrics Quiz: As Seen on TV 2010 Edition

As we wind down the television season, I am going to run down the best music placement of the past twelve months and as an added twist, I am going to do it in Lyrics Quiz form so you have to guess to see the actual list. 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. You can also get a bonus point is you correctly guess which show the song was featured on and double bonus points if you correctly guess the character how sang the song on the show if it was not performed by the original artist (you can steal the bonus point if and only if someone correctly guesses the lyrics).


1. Maybe I can feel you, heal you on the inside. Underneath the willow tree, wearing nothing else but me.
2. I bought a ticket to the world, but now I've come back again. Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
3. She just can’t be chained to a life where nothing’s gained and nothings lost at such a cost.  (Ruby Tuesday - Rolling Stones;  guessed by Anonymous;  Bonus Not Guessed)
4. A licky boom-boom down. (Informer - Snow; guessed by Doug; Bonus Not Guessed)
5. I’ve been alone with you inside my mind. And in my dreams I’ve kissed your lips a thousand times. (Hello - Lionel Richie; guessed by Doug; Bonus Not Guessed)
6. All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go. I’m standing here outside your door. I hate to wake you up to say goodbye. (Leaving on a Jet Plane - John Denver; Bonus - Jeffster on Chuck; both guessed buy Anonymous)
7. Don’t come knocking around my door. Don’t wanna see your shadow no more. Colored lights can hypnotize. Sparkle someone else’s eyes. (American Woman - The Guess Who; guessed by Anonymous; Bonus Not Guessed)
8. Get a shoe at me by a mean old man; get my dinner from a garbage can.9. These girls are really sleazy, all they just say is please me or spend some time and rock a rhyme; I said “It's not that easy.”  (It's Tricky - Run-DMC;  guessed by Rose;  Bonus Not Guessed)
10. I’m a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb. I am the world’s forgotten boy.
11. You got the blues. Yes you ain’t got no one else to use. There’s an open road that leads nowhere. So just make some miles between here and there.
12. She was a black haired beauty with big dark eyes and points all her own, sitting way up high. Way up firm and high.
13. Our mothers cried and sang along and who’d blame them. Now you’re grown, so grown, now I must say more than ever.
14. Some folks are born, silver spoon in hand. Lord, don’t they help themselves. But when the taxmen come to the door, Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale.
15. Hold on little girl, show me what he’s done to you. Stand up little girl, a broken heart can’t be that bad. (To Be with You - Mr. Big; guessed by Doug; Bonus Not Guessed)
16. Just like the prodigal son I’ve returned. Anyone stepping to me you’ll get burned. (Jump Around - House of Pain; guessed by Doug; Bonus Not Guessed)
17. Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past; you must fight just to keep them alive.
18. Oh my love, my darling, I’ve hungered for your touch a long, lovely time. (Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers; guessed by Doug; Bonus Not Guessed)
19. Ohhhh, she got a way with the boys in the place. Treat ‘em like they don’t stand a chance.
20. Forget about that, let’s go into the story about a girl named Blah Blah Blah that adore me.
21. You’re talking to a tourist whose ever move’s among the purest. I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine.
22. Excuse me while I tend to how I feel. These things return to me that still seem real.
23. I wanna love somebody. I hear you’re looking for someone to love.
24. Take a little trip, take a little trip, take a little trip with me.25. If I told you things I did before, told you who I used to be, would you go along with someone like me?  (Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John;  guessed by Rose;  Bonus Not Guessed)

Bonus: This song wasn’t actually on television, but an internet tie in with a television show. But it was so awesome; I thought I would add it.
I look for trouble and I find it. It’s such a rush I think I mind it. What am I looking her for. I put the bottle to my lips now. I want to stop but I don’t know how.

Around the Tubes vol. L

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 Friday Night Lights, Treme, Storm Worlds, Perfect Couples, Mary Knows Best, Lost, Late Night, and Miss USA.

- Miss the season premiere of Friday Night Lights? Well here is a two minute replay to get you caught up.



- Anyone who is watching Treme, or just likes the music that comes from New Orleans, will want to head over to 17dots.com where David Rogen, the guy that David McAlary, played by Steve Zahn, is based on, will be contributing a weekly blog to the site.

- This weekend on the National Geographic Channel there will be the start of a new three part series Storm Worlds. The series shows what would happen if the worst weather conditions in the Universe happen here on Earth. Here is a preview of what you can expect Sunday at 8:00.

Disaster Lights in the Sky


- Just short couples days from announcing their next season schedule, NBC has picked up another new comedy. Perfect Couples sounds like Friends with the cast already coupled up to start the series. But the show will feature Olivia Munn, so they have that going for them. No one else in the cast sounds familiar except the one of the guys from My Boys, the second actor that NBC poached from the show. For those that need to know what next fall will look like on the Peacock, NBC will be making their announcement this Sunday at around 5 PM with their official Upfront presentation Monday at 11 AM.

- SyFy has a new reality block coming Thursdays this Summer and here is the star of Mary Knows Best taking about her show:

Mary Knows Best – Meet Mary O


- For those of you that cannot get enough Lost with the final few episodes closing in, you will want to check out The New Yorker’s article on the composer for the show Michael Giacchino.

- It is Rolling Stones Week on Late Night and you knew The Roots would be involved eventually and here they are backing up Sheryl Crow and Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell for All Down the Line.

Rolling Stones Week: Sheryl Crow


- I really haven’t gotten all the fun surrounding the photo shoot of the Miss USA contestants, just because they always talk about solving world peace, none have come close yet. And it is hard to make some moral pronouncement a contest that already features a bathing suit competition. But anyway. Here is a behind the scenes look at the previously mention scandalous photoshoot.

Waking up in Vegas

I Want My Music Television vol. LXXXII

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.


Un-thinkable (I'm Ready) - Alicia Keys



As a white dude I am not sure what I am more offended by: that when Alicia keys thinks of a token white dude, she thinks Chad Michael Murray, c’mon, when you are such a bad actor that you are not even good enough to star in One Tree Hill anymore you should just give up the profession, or when she thinks white dude in the eighties, he has to have a mullet.


Undo It - Carrie Underwood



You rarely the live performance spliced with non-live and miniskits, but Undo It - Play On gave it a try for some reason. And as much as I want to dislike this song, it just gets stuck in my head for way to long.


If It's Love - Train



Wait, another storyline to live performance video? I guess this is a beginning of a trend. Not so fun fact: the latest music video by Train was directed by Pete Wentz. Why? Who know, or cares.


One Track Mind - Mayer Hawthorne



Alicia Keys thinks she has it bad, One Track Mind is stuck in a love triangle with the real girl from Lars and the Real Girl.

First Impressions: Friday Night Lights 4.x

I am a very patient man; you may not find a more patient man than me. Yet waiting for the new season of Friday Night Lights to start on broadcast television was excruciating to the point that I was asking everyone I know if they had DirecTV last fall knowing NBC wasn’t planning airing the new season until this summer. The Jay Leno debacle gave me some hope of the show returning earlier, but alas we had to wait until May, a full year after the season three finale, and thanks to a tornado, I had to wait a couple days longer.

The show did not disappoint. Even as they recycle out some old cast members (so long Tyra and Lyla) they still manage to find ones to replace them that just intriguing. We meet Michael B. Jordan (a name made for a sports show) running away from the cops, who is lucky enough that one of the arresting officers brothers played for Coach Taylor and Coach is in desperate need of players even if the only football he ever plays is Madden.

Another entertaining introduction, but for an entirely different reason, is when Riggins tumbles out of bed to the sound of flings daughter Becky Sproles singing, who asks possibly the harshest question ever delivered from a sunny disposition, “So what is it like to be the guy who used to be Tim Riggins.” Ouch. That almost makes up for the show trying to make us believe that the pale redheaded Alicia Witt has a high school aged ethnic looking kid.

But that was all peripheral to Coach Taylor who went to three straight playoffs, two championship games and one win but because he took on the rich guy with a son who has a rocket arm, he gets stuck with the short straw when the school does some redistricting. All the good players just happened to stay at West Dillon with Joe McCoy and it seems the only former Panther relocated to East Dillon with Coach was perennial benchwarmer last season, Landry Clarke. And for some reason, even his staff stayed in West Dillon (how dare you Mac McGill after Coach stood by you after racism claims and health problems) except one who I don’t even recognize.

So after three years of a town that cared about football above all else including a new scoreboard when the classrooms were in desperate need of new books, this season will be through the eyes of the football team time forgot with even worse school conditions and I cannot wait to see how the season unfolds as I burn my Panthers blues in favor of Lions reds.

Friday Night Lights airs Fridays at 8:00 on NBC. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Friday Night Lights on iTunes.

Feed Your iPod vol. XLIV: Aisle 10 (Hello Allison)

There is probably a reason why I never do a Next Big Thing post because since sporting a Hootie and the Blowfish t-shirt in high school a good year before they got over played on the radio I have pretty much gone O-fer in predicted what unknown bands would go big. Take Scapegoat Wax, with their quirky rap subjects and live instrumental based beats, I would have put money on them being the heir apparent to the Beastie Boys. They were even signed to their Grand Royal record label and Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) came in at number fourteen on my Best Songs of 2001 list. Then Grand Royal folded and one album later, released by Hollywood Record which is known for being the label to all the Disney stars, the group disbanded. But Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) is worth discovering.

Aisle 10 (Hello Allison) - Scapegoat Wax

I Was Raising Cane, Now I’m Raising Babies

It is a tricky situation when you are in a band and one of the members isn’t up for recording but doesn’t want to leave (with the exception of Jack White who will just start a new one every year). But it has been four years since the last Dixie Chicks album and sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire were itching to get back to work though lead singer Natalie Maines wanted some more rest.

So the sister went with another animal themed side project Court Yard Hounds (not to be confused with the Junkyard Dog). Their self titled debut sounds exactly like what you would expect a Dixie Chicks album without Maines would sound like, very Chicks like, especially circa their Home era, but still mellower affair and songs do not get much mellower that the album opener Skyline. Even faster songs like Ain’t No Son still sounds restrained with Robinson taking over the vocals from the spunkier Maines (whose in her hands would have sounded something like Sin Wagon).

Some stand out tracks include Delight Something New Under the Sun and its funky guitar riff and wall of sound at the height of the song. See You in the Spring, a duet with Jacob Dylan, fits right in with his new folksier sound. Then Didn’t Make a Sound sounds like the most fun the sisters have had on a song a decade. In the end, Court Yard Hounds should be right up the alley of even moderate Dixie Chicks fans, especially the ones that jumped off the bandwagon when Maines started on her Bush tirade, though it is hard not to think how the album would have been better with her behind the microphone.

Song to Download – Didn’t Make a Sound

Court Yard Hounds gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.