Around the Tubes vol. LIX

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 Vampire Diaries, Smallville, Being Human, Project Runway, George Steinbrenner, Mad Men, Bon Jovi, DieHard, New Country, and True Blood.

- The Vampire Diaries is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray at the end of August and Warner Brothers wants fans to head over to its website:

So you’ve thought about it, dreamt about it, even fantasized about it…now, you get to share it.

Check out the official Vampire Diaries DVD site, http://bit.ly/bDNV6N for your chance to vote and let everyone know if you would take Stefan or Damon home. Also, get access to an exclusive email with a special message from the cast, sneak-peaks, wallpapers, cell phone backgrounds and the opportunity to pre-order The Complete First Season before it comes out on Blu-ray and DVD on August 31, 2010.

@ Comic-Con? – Stop by the Warner Bros. booth Friday or Saturday to pick up your Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season tin of red hot mints with an exclusive code!”

- In other WB TV news, Smallville: The Complete Series is now available in HD on iTunes as the show heads into its tenth and final season.

- The second season of Being Human premieres tomorrow on BBC America (not to be confused to the upcoming Syfy remake). Here is a preview:

What Is Being Human


- Also returning next week is the new season of Project Runway on Thursday at 9:00 on Lifetime with a special 90 minute episode. Below is a sneak peak of the first challenge on the show:

A Sneak Peak Scene of Project Runway


- For those that could not get enough of the 24-hour coverage of George Steinbrenner’s death on ESPN last week This TV will honor the former Yankees owner by airing the newly remastered Pride of the Yankees at 7:00 tomorrow followed by four the 60’s television show Home Run Derby.

- Mad Men returns this Sunday and fan of the show who like to read will want to check out Mad Men Unbuttoned by Natasha Vargas-Cooper who runs a Mad Men blog of the same name.

- Here one for you eighties buffs out there, out July 26 is Sex, Drugs and Bon Jovi written by their tour manager Richard Bozzett. The book promises (of which gives me the feeling the book is unauthorized by the band):

• Bon Jovi’s managements connection to the largest cocaine and marijuana trafficking operations of their time, which led to multiple run-ins, while touring, with the DEA.
• Details on Bon Jovi’s use of speed prior to shows to get “amped up” and Halcion after shows to allow him to sleep
• Details on how the Living on A Prayer tour saved the band for financial chaos
• Never-before-released photos of the band touring, partying, family get togethers shedding a new light on the early days of these Rock Legends and a “Sex Scandal” that never leaked.

- I really cannot begrudge celebrities in commercials under one condition, it has to be creative; the recent Sir Mix-a-Lot Butterfinger ad doesn’t fall into that category. One that does is this DieHard commercial featuring Gary Numan playing Cars on Cars.

DieHard Battery vs. Gary Numan


- If you liked The Goodnight Anthem, you will want to check out New Country which features members of the band. You can stream and download the lead track off their EP Say What You Want on their MySpace page.

- Fans of True Blood will want to head over to the HBO store for newly arrived Jessica themed t-shirts, one of which is pictured below.

Feed Your iPod vol. XLIX: Gotta Get: Closer

There have been many bizarre covers in the history of rock and roll, but most of them are novelties (think Cake’s version of I Will Survive). There is only one really bizarre cover that really transcends novelty and is a legitimately great song on its own: Maxwell’s version of Nine Inch Nails’ Closer. Yes for those that didn’t see his Unplugged performance from back in the day, the RnB crooner did his own version of the industrial band’s ode to dirty, dirty loving. Maxwell makes the song his own, the first time I heard it, it took me to the infamous chorus, “I want to (love) you like an animal” before it clicked in my head that. And considering the original content, Maxwell goes even further into left field when halfway through the song; Maxwell takes the song to church with a gospel style in the middle before ending with a funky goodbye. And yet every second of his version worked brilliantly.

Gotta Get: Closer – Maxwell




Closer – Nine Inch Nails

The 50 Biggest Disappointments of the 00's

1. Bud Selig letting baseball become unwatchable (Big Head Barry becoming the home run king, A-Roid getting a ring, letting the Red Sox roid themselves up to break The Curse, the All-Star Game tie, etc.)

2. The death of Napster

3. The CW thinking shows like Farmer Takes a Wife, 90210, Melrose Place, Life Is Wild, The Pussycat Dolls, High Society, and Fly Girls were better alternatives that Veronica Mars

4. The football team formerly known as the Browns winning a Super Bowl in the second year of The real Browns expansion, who only won three games that year

5. Kanye West going emo

6. The rise of Ringtone Rappers and auto-tune

7. Here is something I could not understand: how Landry Clarke could just kill a man

8. The Writer’s Strike

9. Dave Chappelle going crazy; ending Chappelle's Show after only two seasons

10. Bill Belichicken cheating his way to multiple Super Bowls wins

11. Fox canceling The Lone Gunmen, Undeclared, Firefly, A Minute with Stan Hooper, Keen Eddie, The Jury, The Inside, Point Pleasant, and Reunion after (and sometime before) just one season

12. Having to constantly hear about American Karaoke

13. The entire Heroes series, and having Kristen Bell slum it on such a horribly written / acted show

14. The Steelers winning two ref assisted Super Bowl

15. TV Guide going bigger

16. Basically everything after the season one finale of Lost

17. 50 Cent deciding to make music for suburban white teenage girls

18. The Jay Leno Hour

19. Fergie joining the Black Eyed Peas

20. Having to wait fifteen years for the mediocre Chinese Democracy (and Dr. Pepper not delivering on their promise of a free can)

21. MTV deciding to cater to teenage girls who were too busy texting to care about their crappy shows

22. The Democrats unable to nominate someone competent enough to even beat George Bush

23. Superman Return

24. X & Y - Coldplay

25. The shrinking Rolling Stone

26. The Pirates of the Caribbean sequels

27. Y2K

28. Hollywood ruining my childhood (Transformers, Dukes of Hazard, etc.)

29. Trapped in the Closet; Chapters 13-22

30. Kate Bosworth Going Skelator

31. No Detox from Dr. Dre

32. U.S. Basketball Nightmare teams

33. Sam's Town - The Killers

34. Christina Aguilera starting to look like drag queen version of her Genie in a Bottle self

35. Bionic Woman reboot

36. Jay-Z’s Un-retirement song

37. Survivor All Stars

38. Smashing Pumpkins reunion

39. The Hockey lock out

40. The Shins not changing my life like Natalie Portman promised

41. Janet Jackson’s nipple

42. Working On a Dream - Bruce Springsteen

43. Joe Rogan version of The Man Show

44. Any celebrity documentary style reality show after The Osbornes first season

45. The XFL

46. Brett Favre in a Jets Vikings uniform

47. Jerry Springer banning fighting

48. Lindsay Lohan

49. Austin Powers in Goldmember

50. Tara Reid somehow being able to ruin Wild On

I Want My Music Television vol. LXXXVII

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.


Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise – The Avett Brothers



Ladies and gentlemen: the story of Detroit with music provided by The Avett Brothers.


Laredo - Band of Horses



Keeping with the Americana theme, here is the latest video from Band of Horses.


Crossfire - Brandon Flowers



There have been plenty of unnecessary solo albums in the history of music, but just from hearing one song, Brandon Flowers may be in the discussion for most unnecessary solo album. The song sounds exactly like one from The Killers. Even the video looks like a like a completely absurd one from the band. But then again, if I had Charlize Theron coming to my rescue, I’d get myself caught by ninjas on a regular basis too.


All the Small Things – Jedward



Remember a couple months ago I posted an awesomely bad video by two twins that looked the result of a night of passion between Justin Timberlake and Buster Poindexter which mashed up Ice Ice Baby and the song it ripped off, Under Pressure, and even got Vanilla Ice to rap on it? Now Jedward are just plain bad with their follow up with a Blink-182 cover. Note to any guy reading this, it is not a wise decision to pay homage Lady GaGa, Britney Spears and the Single Ladies dance all in one video.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. CXXXIX

Quote of the Week: Man, I haven’t seen this many girls on a football field since the last time we played the Steelers. (Chad Ochocinco, Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch)

Song of the Week: Tightrope – Janelle Monáe (2010 Espy Awards)

Big News of the Week: George Steinbrenner Died: It is natural whenever people die to remember the good times and gloss over their bad attributes (see Michael Jackson) but the George Steinbrenner coverage is downright bizarre where his worst attribute has be hailed as a positive. His collection of players that resemble a fantasy roster more than an actually baseball teams what has ruined baseball in my lifetime (along with steroids) to the point is almost unwatchable. Yet in the wake of his death, people are applauding his ruthlessness. This would have been like when Richard Nixon died had be lauded for having the wherewithal to spy on his opposition for political gain.

Leverage: How can they include a town called Arcadia and not have anyone named Joan from there? How disappointing. You can stream recent episodes on TNT.tv. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.

Rescue Me: It is always good whenever Shawn and Mike put their brains together and them coming up with a worthy charity may be the best conversation since discussing God with Katie after Conner died. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Rescue Me on iTunes.

2010 ESPY Awards: It was cathartic to hear LeBron get booed during the show. Even though the monologue was entertaining, some of the bit were pretty lame with Paul the octopus and the creator of the vuvuzalas. But my second favorite part of the night (after LeBron getting booed) was Lindsey Vonn calling out Marky Mark.

Persons Unknown: Me wonders if the new black chick is also a plant as a replacement for Joe. It is a little convenient for someone to have antifreeze in a town with no cars. You can also download Persons Unknown on iTunes.

Also check out my preview of Covert Affairs.

Free Download of the Week: 2010 SideOneDummy Records Summer Sampler (Amazon MP3): This set includes songs by The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly and Anti Flag.

Deal of the Week: Save up to 44% on TV Shows (Rescue Me, Diff’rent Strokes, Damages)

Video of the Week: New show on the National Geographic Channel tonight at 10:00, Monstar Fish follows fish biologist Zeb Hogan as he tries to find the world’s largest fresh water fish. Tonight is just a sneak peak before settling in to its permanent timeslot tomorrow also at 10:00. Here is a preview:

Redneck Fishing Tournament


Next Week Pick of the Week: My Boys, Sunday (7/25) at 10:00 on TBS: It has been over a year since the last new episode of My Boys aired so I have completely forgotten what is actually going on with the gang (was it common knowledge that Andy took a job in China?) Look for more on the new season of My Boys this week.

Around the Tubes vol. LVIII

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 Client List, Revenge of the Bridesmaids, DC Comics, Drake, and vuvuzalas.

- Being a dude I have never watch Lifetime Channel, and even a movie starring Jennifer Love Hewitt as a “massage therapist” most likely won’t change that (maybe if it were a decade ago and not on basic cable). The Client List is as salacious and you would expect from a Lifetime movie, a true story of a former Homecoming Queen who takes extreme measures to get some money when she and her husband are layedoff. Here is a preview of the movie premiering this coming Monday at 9:00:

The Client List Extended Trailer


- For those that prefer lighter fair in their TV movies, this Sunday ABC Family is premiering their latest Revenge of the Bridesmaids starring JoAnna Garcia and Raven Symone about two friends who go undercover to sabotage a wedding. Check out a preview below:

- DC comics recently turned 75 and to celebrate they recently opened an iTunes page dedicated to their movies, television shows, apps, cartoons and more for your favorites like Superman, Batman and many more.

- Fans of Drake will want to head over to XUMANII this Sunday between 10:50 and 4:50 fot a virtual VIP pass as cameras follow him around for an after party.

- For those going threw vuvuzala withdrawal, some protesters took the “instrument” to the BP headquarters to protest the company.

Lyrics Quiz: Greatest Lyrics of the 00's part 1

Continuing my year long look at some of the Best the last decade had to offer here are some of my favorite lyrics of the past ten years. There will be a second part coming as soon as next month where I have split the lyrics up randomly. As always leave your guesses, both artist and song title, in the comment section or e-mail me. If you are correct I will un-bold the lyric. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them. Now onto the lyric quiz:


1. We could hide out under there. I just made you say “underwear?” (Pinch Me - Barenaked Ladies; guessed by Doug)
2. Sweat baby sweat baby sex is a Texas drought. Me and you do the kind of stuff that only Prince would sing about. (The Bad Touch - The Bloodhound Gang; guessed by AJ)
3. You know this song by Phil Collins, “In the Air of the Night” about that guy who could have saved that other guy from drowning but didn’t and Phil saw it all then at his show he found him? (Stan - Eminem and Dido; guessed by Doug)
4. My block live and in color, like Rodman hair. The club is packed, the bar is filled. I'm waiting for sister to act, like Lauryn Hill. (Dirrty - Christina Aguilara featuring Redman; guessed by Angie)
5. Tell me did you sail across the sun? Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights are faded and that heaven is overrated? (Drops of Jupiter - Train; guessed by AJ)
6. I want a girl with good dividends. At City Bank we’ll meet accidentally. We’ll start to talk when she borrows my pen. (Short Skirt/Long Jacket - Cake - AJ)
7. Lucky that my breasts are small and humble so you don’t confuse them for mountains. (Whenever, Wherever - Shakira; guessed by Doug)
8. And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time. I want what’s yours and I want what’s mine. I want you but I'm not giving in this time. (Goodbye to You - Michelle Branch; guessed by Angie)
9. We can drive through the city no doubt but don’t say my car is topless, say the (expletive deleted) is out.
10. She got out of town on a railway New York bound. Took all except my name, another alien on Broadway. (Bright Lights - Matchbox Twenty; guessed by Angie)
11. I’m just trying to say the way school needs teachers, the way Kathy Lee needed Regis. (Jesus Walks - Kanye West; guessed by Rose)
12. I don’t mind spending every day out on your corner in the pouring rain. Look for the girl with the broken smile. Ask her if she wants to stay awhile. She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5; guessed by Rose)
13. There’ll be manslaughter right in front of my kids. A little blood get on my daughter, it’s nothing, she’ll live.
14. And that REM song was playing in my mind, in three and a half minutes. (A Lifetime - Better Than Ezra; guessed by Angie)
15. The talking leads to touching and the touching leads to sex and then there’s no mystery left. Portions for Foxes - Rilo Kiley; guessed by Rose)
16. With a name I’ve never chosen, I can make my first steps. (Chocolate - Final Straw - Snow Patrol; guessed by Angie)
17. I hear in my mind all these voices. I hear in my mind all these words. I hear in my mind all this music and it breaks my heart. (Fidelity - Regina Spektor; guessed by Doug)
18. If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied, illuminate the “no’s” on their vacancy signs. (I Will Follow You Into the Dark - Plans - Death Cab for Cutie; guessed by AJ)
19. Who do you think you are? Ha, ha, ha, bless your soul. (Crazy - Gnarls Barkley; guessed by Rose)
20. Get washed-up singers writing all my songs, lip synch ‘em every night so I don’t get ‘em wrong. (Rockstar - Nickelback; guessed by Angie)
21. There’s nothing you can teach me that I can’t learn from Mr. Hathaway. (Rehab - Amy Winehouse; guessed by Doug)
22. For some reason I can’t explain, I know St. Peter won’t call my name. (Viva la Vida - Coldplay; guessed by Rose)
23. It’s been a long time since twenty-two. I don’t remember you looking any better. But then again I don’t remember you. (Who Says - John Mayer; guessed by Angie)
24. Saw Cinderella in a party dress, she was looking for a nightgown. I saw the devil wrapping up his hands; he’s getting ready for the showdown.
25. Somebody’s heart is broken – it becomes your favorite song. (Funny the Way It Is - Dave Matthews Band; guessed by Angie)

Feed Your iPod vol. XLVIII: Tequila

My buddy Doug knows every obscure song ever made (remember Deeper Shade of Soul by the Urban Dance Squad? No? Well he does) or at least I thought he did until I finally stumped him the other day when I brought up A.L.T. and the Lost Civilization and their early nineties ode to alcohol Tequila which sampled The Champs song of the same name (which everyone in my generation will know best as the Pee Wee Herman song). I figure if Doug doesn’t remember the song most of you out there never have either, and that has to be rectified because the song is just cheesy goodness and should be right up there with Skee-Lo in the terms of great nineties one hit wonder rap songs.

Tequila – A.L.T. and the Lost Civilization

Previewing Covert Affairs

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Covert Affairs borrows heavily from Alias that every review of the show mentions (ever notices when someone like something, it is an homage; when they hate it, it is a rip-off): a moderately attractive CIA agent has to keep a secret life from her family and goes on mission that involves little amounts of clothing.

Though Sidney Bristow kept a double life because she was deep undercover (so deep it turned out she was part of a rouge organization), it really isn’t explained why Annie Walker tells her sister she works at the Smithsonian when she is just a normal CIA trainee. On the bright side we do learn by the end of the first episode why Annie got called to Langley when she was still a months away from graduating (and if you think her language knowledge and the ability to pass as a call girl is a lame excuse that cannot be the whole reason, you are right).

But besides being in the CIA, the secret life and the scantily clad costumes, there are very few similarities after that (thankfully no convoluted prophesies, at least not yet). The show stars Piper Perabo (the live action Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle movie) as the new agent in question while Anne Dudak (Big Love) plays the unaware older sister of whom Annie stays with. Annie works alongside Christopher Gorham (Harper’s Island) as an intelligence officer slash blind dude and Sendhil Ramamurthy (Heroes) who doesn’t actually show up in the first episode. They all report to Kari Matchett (Invasion) who in turn reports to Peter Gallagher (who also starts a run on Rescue Me tonight at the same time on FX) who currently is the most interesting part of the show. But then again when is Peter Gallagher’s eyebrows not the star of a show or movie?

The first episode of Covert Affairs prods along for the most part whenever Gallagher is not on screen and the gratuitous show of skin in the first five minutes is, well, gratuitous (I guess that is another worthy Alias comparison). Perabo and Matchett particular do not seem to settle into their roles very well. But the big reveal at the end of the pilot makes it worth another viewing or two, though it seems pretty clear that Rescue Me will be the better alternative in the timeslot. And if Annie turns up in any prophesies written centuries ago, I’ll definitely be done with the show.

Covert Affairs airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on USA. The show does have a Hulu page, so presumably you will be able to stream episodes there after it airs. You can download Covert Affairs on iTunes.

Previewing Rizzoli and Isles

This summer TNT has launched 100 Days of Drama with new episodes of favorite shows on the network as well as two new shows. Last month Memphis Beat premiered to a lukewarm response and tonight sees the start of the network’s other offering Rizzoli and Isles which hasn’t fared much better in the entertainment department.

Rizzoli and Isles follows Boston police detective Angie Harmon (Agent Cody Banks) as the first half of the title. While Sasha Alexander (He's Just Not That Into You), who despite being the other half of the title rarely appears onscreen without Harmon, plays her medical examiner buddy. It is your token opposites attract friendship with Harmon playing the tough as nails tomboy to Alexander who dresses up even to clean. Though it is unclear why Alexander is so obsessed with fashion because she is also p0rotrayed as someone with a mild case of Asperser’s who enjoys the company of the dead to that of the breathing.

Tonight’s episode involves a serial killer that Rizzoli had a run in before he was caught whose M.O. pops up again years later. The episode also has Rizzoli pull off the dumbest move I have ever seen a cop make in the history of television. On the second episode, another serial killer may possibly have returned, this time being the Boston Strangler. Yes, the Boston Strangler may have returned despite the man convicted of the crime died a long time ago. The second episode also sees the introduction of Donnie Walberg (New Kids On the Block) as Rizzoli’s new boss and probable love interest, or so Isles thinks.

On the scale of TNT cop shows, Rizzoli and Isles is darker than The Closer but doesn’t get as dark as Dark Blue, which makes for a bland combination. An things get even more clichéd with the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Rizzoli (Chazz Palminteri and Lorraine Bracco), the latter of which is so over the top to get her baby girl hooked up with someone, she suggest putting on makeup before going to a murder scene because you never know who you will meet. Though Lee Thomson Young (Smallville’s Cyborg) is mildly entertaining as Rizzoli’s new partner who has adverse reactions to grizzly crime scenes (Isles’ attempt to cure him of his phobia is particularly entertaining). But I really do not seeing the show appealing to anyone is going through procedural withdrawal this summer and just new episodes The Closer just is not enough.

Rizzoli and Isles airs Mondays at 10:00 on TNT. You can download Rizzoli & Isles on iTunes.

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. CXXXVIII

Quote of the Week: We don’t have any money. I’m in the 10th grade. It was my first time. I threw it away, and I don’t want to throw my life away. It’s just really obvious that my mom wants me to have this abortion because I was her mistake and she has just struggled and hurt and everyday she wanted better. And I knew better. I was just thinking forget about what she wants, what do I want? Maybe I could take care of this baby. And maybe I would be good at it and I could love it and be there for it. Then I think about how awful it would be if I had a baby and I spent the rest of my life resenting him or her. (Becky – Friday Night Lights)

Song of the Week: Percussion Gun – White Rabbits (Friday Night Lights)

Big News of the Week: LeBron Is Gone: As someone who has lived in Northeast Ohio all his life, the only sports championship I have witness in my lifetime was by the Cleveland Crunch (bonus points for anyone who can name the sport). So really came as not much as a surprise that LeBron would be “taking his talents to South Beach” (really, is the a more douchebagery way of saying you are leaving) but it still stung a lot coming from a guy who should know very well events like The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, The Blown Save, and Art Modell. Things are so bad here in Cleveland, the past decade, we were not even good enough in anything to have a gut wrenching loss to name. Instead we get events like watching game one of the World Series where the starters of both teams were a year before, both Indians.

So I am totally with Dan Gilbert’s douchebagry letter and I hope he is right that the Cavs with a title before the Heat and that the Cleveland Curse will follow LeBron down to South Beach. And that highlights what may be the worst byproduct of this trade: if the Heat end up playing the Lakers in the finals next year like many predict, I will have to root for Kobe Bryant for the first time ever, and I even secretly hoped he didn’t win Olympic Gold a couple years back. On the funnier side of the trade, you can now buy a LeBron James Fathead for the deeply discounted price of $17.41 (cut from $99.99), which just happens to be the same year that Benedict Arnold was born. Also keep in mind Fathead is also owned by Dan Gilbert.

Persons Unknown: Another Lost parallel, they killed off the Token Hot Chick way too early (as in ever). Hurmph. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Persons Unknown on iTunes.

Rescue Me: Of course Tommy’s great idea to get his daughter off the sauce was to pour more down her throat until she didn’t want to drink anymore. I may have to try the overindulge approach whenever I need to hold my next intervention. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Rescue Me on iTunes.

Happy Town: The final two episodes popped up online this week (check out the Hulu link below) and all I have to say about it is that I really did not care for the reveal of The Magic Man (though I correctly guessed the gender). You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Happy Town on iTunes.

Friday Night Lights: It must have been heavy discussion with you parents week with Becky, Luke, Vince and Jess (you can also throw in Tim as Billy raised him) all had heart to hearts with their parents. And watching this episode reminds me of how Tami really needs more screen time with the students because those are what got her the much deserved Emmy nomination (congrats to Coach Taylor for finally landing one also). Big laugh of the week, though, goes to the Riggins brothers for their ill conceived plan to bury the car skeletons. And even though Tim asked him to quit, I have a feeling it will not be easy to get out from under Vince’s buddy (and how heartbreaking was him getting into the car was). You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.



Free Download of the Week: Rubicon Sneak Preview - Rubicon, Season 1 (iTunes): I am not as enamored with AMC’s critically adored series as most, so I have not checked out Rubicon yet. But if you want to check it out before it’s August 1 premiere (and didn’t catch the sneak peak after the Breaking Bad finale), you can do so for free.

Deal of the Week: TV Spotlight Deal: Save Up to 58% (The Dark Knight, Planet Earth, Watchmen)

Video of the Week: LeBron may be leaving Cleveland but John Mayer will be playing here soon as he proclaims in this almots funny video.

Announcement


Next Week Pick of the Week: The Closer, Monday at 9:00 on TNT: Click here for my Preview of the new season of The Closer, which will be followed tomorrow by new show Rizzoli and Isles which you can look out for a review tomorrow.

Around the Tubes vol. LVII

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 Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Haven, Drugs Inc., Betty White, and Jersey Shore.

- Jerry Bruckheimer (along with Michael Bay) are everything that is wrong with movies these days and Nicholas Cage seems to say yes to the biog blockbusters that no one else is willing to slum it for. Yet when the two teamed up for the National Treasures movies, they turned out entertaining. So I am cautiously optimistic with their latest collaboration The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which also stars the highly likeable Jay Baruchel (Tropic Thunder) and the moderately attractive Teresa Palmer (Bedtime Stories). The tagline for the movie is The Coolest Job Ever and now you can enter The Coolest Job Ever Sweepstakes where you become an apprentice for a day for a Disney Imagineer at Disneyland in California. And to get you ready for the release of the movie July 14, here is a five minute extended scene:

- As I mentioned earlier, Haven premieres tonight at 10:00 (preceded an hour earlier by the return of Eureka), here is a sneak peak of the show:

Welcome to Haven


- Also premiering this weekend is a miniseries Drugs Inc. that will focus on specific drugs. Cocaine (8:00) and methamphetamine (9:00) on Sunday and heroin (9:00) and marijuana (10:00) on Monday. Here is a preview of the Cocaine episode:

Life as a Coco Farmer


- Just when you thought 2010 was a big year for Betty White, get geared up for twelve months of her next year with the 2011 Betty White calendar. The calendar will go on sale in September at $12.99 with proceeds going to the Morris Animal Foundation.

- The MLB All-Star game is coming up soon, Travel Expert Nicole Hockin interviewed Joellen Ferrer of StubHub on how to get hard to get tickets to your favorite events and other traveling tips.

- Personally, I am hoping Jersey Shore goes the way of Joe Millionaire, one season then no one cares anymore, but that is not going to stop crafty marketers like Three-O Bubble vodka to come up with their own Jersey Shore specialty drinks like the Snooki approved Snooki Bubble Up (3/4 oz. lemon-lime soda, 3/4 oz. cranberry juice; 1 oz. Three-O Bubble vodka; Combine ingredients with ice; garnish with a lime wedge).

Previewing Nat Geo Amazing!

New show premiering on National Geographic Channel tomorrow at 7:00, the appropriately titled Nat Geo Amazing! The show is very reminiscent of Ripley’s Believe or Not with short minute or two length segments that make up an episode. Tomorrow you can expect stories about killer swarms, city-dwelling penguins, and Lego sculptures. There is also an accompanying book to go along with series called Nat Geo Amazing!: 100 People, Places, and Things That Will Wow You that you will want to check out if you enjoy the show. Here are some previews of some of those segments.

Licking Amphibians for a Living



Spectacular Sandcastles



Lego Michelangelo

I Want My Music Television vol. LXXXVI

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.


King of Anything - Sara Bareilles



I wonder if King of Anything will be like You're So Vain where we are guessing the identity of the person in the song for the next three decades. My guess: Kanye West.


Sign Of A Victory (feat. Soweto Spiritual Singers) - R. Kelly



No one does an over the top inspirational anthem quite like R. Kelly. Whe dude goes all out, he really goes all out. I do not know why he doesn’t just release a straight gospel album. Well first he needs to give us more chapters from Trapped In the Closet (Chapters 1-12) - R. Kelly, then make a gospel album Kells.


Hot-n-Fun - N.E.R.D. & Nelly Furtado



Wow, that Nelly Furtado part is kind of jarring and takes you out of a pretty otherwise mellow song from N.E.R.D.


Popcorn - The Muppets



The Muppets have a new video out. Um, alright.

Previewing The Closer 6.x

Despite a major recession, Benda Leigh Johnson and her team are moving into a multi-million dollar headquarters on Monday, July 12 when The Closer returns for its sixth season. Yet no one seems too happy about it as they all have to learn how to use their new gizmos and try to find anything (with the exception of Will who may have very good reason to enjoy his new digs) . And the case of the week for the return episode just also happens to do with some remodeling when a contractor is found dead and the wife of his most recent client found in his bed.

Fans of Mary McDonnell will be happy to know Capt. Raydor show up in the second episode back and accompanies Brenda on a missing nanny case. Also be on the lookout for Lost’s Man in Black in the episode. And before you are quick to suspect the evil incarnate as the perp, another serial baddy, Joe McCoy (Friday Night Lights) also makes an appearance in the episode. But do not look to me to spoil the ending of the July 19 episode because TNT cut off the screener early and teased a “shocking ending” (I will say it doesn’t involve the case of the week because we do get that resolved in a heart stopping fashion).

The Closer airs Mondays at 9:00 on TNT. You can stream recent episodes at TNT.tv. You can also download The Closer on iTunes.

Feed Your iPod vol. XLVII: Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song

Watched When in Rome over the weekend, I wasn’t expecting Citizen Kane or even Hot Tub Time Machine (which I also caught, more on that after the video, small spoiler warning if you have not seen it) but I figured that a movie starring Veronica Mars, Gob Bluth, Sonny Crockett, The Penguin, The Piemaker, and Ghostface Killah at the very least has to be watchable. But not so much despite a few funny gags. But in the movie there is a song by Matt Hires that keeps popping up on my iPod every once in awhile and I thought I’d share it.

Honey, Let Me Sing You a Song – Matt Hires



Back to Hot Tub Time Machine, what is with all the revisionist Cleveland sports history going on lately? First Nike created the biggest did I see what I think I just saw moment possibly ever (or at least in the history of advertising) when they had Michael Jordan missing The Shot. Then in Hot Tub Time Machine, a squirrel keeps John Elway from completing The Drive. What’s next, is there going to be a Lost deleted in the upcoming DVD release where in flashsideways world we learn Jose Mesa actually earned the save in game seven of the 1997 World Series?