Previewing American Gypsies

Like many people my age, I spend too much time wondering whatever happened to Ralph Maccio. He was an Outsider, the Karate Kid (the real one), and turned in a great performance in My Cousin Vinnie. Then he basically disappeared for two decades. And now he is back like every other eighties ex-pat, via reality television. Thankfully it is not in front of the camera like the painful to sit through Scott Baio is 45… and Single. Instead he is producing American Gypsies (answering the question, what ethnicity and / or occupation could reality television possibly exploit next?).

Honestly I did not know much about gypsies aside from what I learned from Stevie Nicks. Even then I learned more about lightning then the gypsy culture. American Gypsies follows an extended gypsy (or Romani if you want to be less offensive) family featuring five brothers and their fifteen kids (with two grandkids on the way). Despite being very a very insular culture (homeschooled, arranged marriage complete with a dowry and their own court) they look assimilated and would not be able to pick them out of a lineup. If face they look like they could have been a Jersey Shore feeder family.

The heart of the show are two brothers, Nicky is the traditionalist who wants to make sure every of their 5,000 year old traditions continue. While Bobby wants to become more America even allowing his daughters to take acting classes even though associating with Gaje (non-Romani; naturally one of the third generations on the show is secretly dating a Gaje) is shunned upon. This conflict seems to be the heart of the show and Nicky is very vocal about the kids taking acting classes. Granted every time Nicky complains about this I want to yell at the television, “Dude, shut up, you are on a reality show.”

Aside from a different ethnicity to exploit, American Gypsies does not add much new to the docu-series genre. There is fighting be it verbal or physical (the brothers even throw punches in a hospital sometime in the season) and shameless self-promotion (even though the daughters in the acting class have less charisma than the average Kardashian and even less of a worth ethic). It is a bit disappointing that even though the family is in the physic business, which is the most interesting part of the family, the actual business is rarely shown in the first two episodes and no one ever exhibits the gifts they claim to be bestowed upon them. But If you are fan of docu-series, American Gypsies will probably have enough to pull you in. But if you hate the genre, the show will not do anything to change your mind.

American Gypsies airs Tuesdays at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel. You can download American Gypsies on iTunes including the first episode which is free as I write this. Check out a preview below:

I Want My Music Television - 7/16/12

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.


Breaking Down – Florence + the Machine



I would never have guessed that Florence + the Machine would go the old school Americana route for making a video. It just does not match the epicness of their music.


Two Way Street – Kimbra



It is a shame there is not a song on her album as good as Somebody that I Used to Know because Kimbra’s album as a whole is much better than the one Gotye put out. So she really has not had a single catch on stateside (although Warrior should have been much bigger than it is, I wonder if the sigma of being associated with Converse hurt it at all). Hopefully for her sophomore album she hooks up with some producers that can take her to that next level.


Man on Fire – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros



Honestly, this is the last video I would have expected the hippie enclave Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros to released. It looks like more like a promo I would expect to see for some crappy Lifetime reality show.


Heartbeat – JJAMZ



For those that have never heard of JJAMZ, they are a supergroup of sorts featuring members of The Like, Phantom Planet, Maroon 5, and Rilo Kiley. As for the video, thanks to the synthy track, I am not surprised that the video is inspired by the 80’s but it is a little odd that they started off the video with a serious kidnapping message when the video itself plays like a campy, horror film from the decade.

Lyrics Quiz: The Greatest RnB Songs of the 90's (That Should Had Been on VH1's List)

A couple weeks ago VH1 released their latest list of The 40 Greatest RnB Songs of the 90’s and like all of their lists, some of the inclusions (Bone Thugs-n-Harmony are RnB?) and omissions (were Michael Jackson and Prince too big for the RnB label by the 90’s) were head scratching even if this list was as egregious as their list of The 40 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 90’s which was so bad it inspired me to make my only list of The 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders of the 90’s. I probably will not come up with my own RnB songs of the 90’s list, but for this month’s Lyrics Quiz I did pick twenty-five songs that probably should have been on VH1’s list. 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 and give you credit. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them.

1. Take my money, my house and my cars. For one hit of you, you can have it all, baby. (Feenin' - Jodeci; guessed by Doug)
2. How blue can I get, you can ask my own heart. Well like a jigsaw puzzle, it’s been torn all apart. (Nobody Knows - Tony Rich Project; guessed by Doug)
3. Now you can have me when you want me. You simply ask me to be there.
4. The very first time that I saw your brown eyes. Your lips said, “Hello” and I said, Hi.” I knew right then you were the one. (If I Ever Fall In Love - Shai; guessed by Doug)
5. Other guys have tried before to replace you as my lover. Never did I have a doubt, boy iy’s you I can’t do without. (Love Will Never Do (Without You) - Janet Jackson; guessed by Doug)
6. In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair, will you still care?
7. Girl if I told you I love you, that doesn’t mean I don’t care. And when I tell you I need you, don’t think that I’ll never be there. (Cupid - 112; guessed by Doug)
8. Tell me who I have to be to get some reciprocity. See no one love you more than me and no one ever will. (Ex-Factor - Lauryn Hill; guessed by Doug)
9. Would you be a happy boy or a girl. If I could I would give you the world. But all I can do is just offer you my love. (Diamonds and Pearls - Prince and the New Power Generation; guessed by Doug)
10. Prejudice: wrote a song about. Like to hear it? Here it go. (Free Your Mind - En Vogue; guessed by Doug)
11. You remain my power, my pleasure, my pain. To me you’re a grown addition I can’t deny. (Kiss from a Rose - Seal; guessed by Doug)
12. I thought we’d get to see forever. But forever has gone away. (It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - Boyz II Men; guessed by Doug)
13. Still have your picture in a frame. Hear your footsteps down the hall. I swear I hear your voice, driving me insane. (Anytime - Brian McKnight; guessed by Doug)
14. Is it my turn to wish you were lying here? I didn’t dream you and I’m sleeping.
15. You are the girl that I never had and I want to get to know you better. (Iesha - Another Bad Creation; guessed by Doug)
16. Since the first day I ever laid my eye on your face I knew you would be mine. And since the time you gave me your tiny hand I knew I wanted to be your man.
17. I wanna tease you, I wanna please you. I wanna show you baby, that I need you. I want your body ‘till the very last drop. (Nobody - Keith Sweat; guessed by Doug)
18. Put your faith in me and I’ll do anything. I will cross the ocean for you. I will go and bring you the moon. (For You I Will - Monica; guessed by Doug)
19. If you should feel that I don’t really care and that you’re starting to lose ground. Just let me reassure you that you can count on me and that I’ll always be around.
20. Tell me princess now did you last let your heart decide?
21. The twenty-third of loneliness and we don’t talk like we used to do. Now it feels pretty strange but I’m not buggin’. (Creep - TLC; guessed by Doug)
22. Large, if large is how you living why you living large? Are you taking what is given to you in the form of true experience ‘cause if you’re not you life will be spent. (Live and Learn - Joe Public; guessed by Doug)
23. It feels like springtime in winter. It feels like Christmas in June. It feels like Heaven has opened up its gates to me and you.
24. You want me but he needs you. Yet you’re telling me everything is cool. Trying to convince me to do as you say. Just go along and see things your way.
25. Smack it up, flip it, rub it down, oh no! (Do Me! - Bell Bive DeVoe; guessed by Doug)

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 7/14/12

Quote of the Week: An eye for an eye just make both people blind. (Bobby, Dallas)

Song of the Week: Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men (Covert Affairs)

Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Comic-Con: Okay, it is not particularly big news this year as nothing that has trickled out so far (I am still waiting for the Homeland season two preview to be released). Really the only thing that raised my eyebrow so far was the trailer to Oz: the Great and Powerful but mostly because it is directed by Sam Raimi. But I fear this film is just a gateway drug for Hollywood to do a full Wizard of Oz reboot starring Kristen Stewart as Dorothy, Justin Timberlake as the Scarecrow, Tyler Perry as the Tim Man, and Channing Tatum as the Cowardly Lion.



Preview Picture of the Week:



Falling Skies: An interesting plot twist with the skidder uprising, considering the overlords did force them into slavery, but the humans do have a very good reason to cautious considering they have the mind controlling harnesses stuck to their back. And they do not know, like the audience does, that the scarred-face skidder has that eye parasite computer thingy that they pulled out of Tom’s eye.
You can download Falling Skies on iTunes.

Weeds: Nancy has taken on her fair share of drug lords in the series history, but the drug dealing clown was easily the most entertaining.

Pretty Little Liars: The talk of the Katy Perry movie was so awkward (“It's a behind-the-scenes look at Mrs. Firework.”) I was convinced it was a product placement. And lo and behold the next commercial break, there it was. Why is it so hard for writers come up with product placements that do not seemed shoehorned in? But I guess this is why Pretty Little Liars writers are on this show and not Mad Men.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

Dallas: Last week I pondered how Rebecca would stay on the show after Christopher boisterously dismissed her and concluded she would just do some bed hopping. Apparently I forgot the more obvious way to keep her around: make her pregnant. Or at least have her claim she is pregnant. You are in Dallas Christopher, make sure you see the ultrasound live in person and get a blood test (I am still not completely convinced that her “brother” is really related to her). And after two episodes, I am already prepared to call Assistant Director Skinner the best character on the show after J.R.’s eyebrows. Can we get him promoted to the main cast by next season please?
You can download Dallas on iTunes.


Free Download of the Week: Live at Eddie’s Attic – Rhett Miller (Noise Trade)

Deal of the Week: 2.99 Country Hits: Amazon went country for their super discounted albums for the week including ones by Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Black Shelton and the 61 track box set from Willie Nelson (which comes out to about five cents per song).



New Album Release of the Week: Life Is Good - Nas

New DVD Release of the Week: Friends With Kids

Video of the Week: Mark finally found his love on Burning Love which you can watch below. If you have not been watching, head over to BurningLove.com to watch the entire season. But those that are caught up, do not fret, there is still one more episode where the Woman Tell All. Hopefully it will also be announced there with be a Bachelorette-style spin off featuring Annie. And if so, I would like to offer my throw my hat into the ring as one of the suitor.

Next Week Pick of the Week: Leverage, Sunday at 8:00 on TNT: In a story I broke earlier this week, Leverage returns tomorrow for another season of pure summer fun. Or as much fun as you can get in the rainy pacific northwest. Check out my Preview of Leverage.

Around the Tubes - 7/13/12

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 Dexter, George Lopez: It’s Not Me, it’s You, Tales from a Ghetto Klown, Freaks and Creeps, Falling Skies, Woman's Day, Upload with Shaquille O’Neal, ALMA Awards, and Ernest Borgnine.

- Please note I did not actually watch this video or even read the press release on account that I am still on episode eleven of season three of Dexter. So I still have eleven weeks to watch the remaining thirty-eight episodes to catch up. For those that are up to date here is a two minute sneak peak of the seventh season which premieres September 30.



- Tomorrow, tune into HBO for George Lopez: It’s Not Me, it’s You where the comic is returning for his third live solo special for the network from the famed Nokia Theater L.A. Live. Check out the promo below:



- Tonight on PBS, they will be airing Tales from a Ghetto Klown which follows award winning actor and playwright John Leguizamo as he struggles to mount his latest one-man show. It is set to air at 9:00 (check your local listings).

- This Tuesday, join zoologist Lucy Cooke in her new series Freaks and Creeps which premieres at 10:00 on Nat Geo Wild. Cooke will be traveling the globe to find the world’s strangest creatures in the wildest place including Devil Island in the premiere episode to find the strange animals of Tazmania.

- TNT has been on a renewal kick lately and you can add a third season of Falling Skies to the recently renewed Dallas and Rizzoli and Isles.

- Starting with the October issue, Katie Couric will be writing a new monthly column for Woman’s Day. You will also be able to read the column ay Womansday.com and KatieCouric.com.

- Shaq is getting on the internet video commentary trend as TruTV has just picked up Upload with Shaquille O’Neal (working title) where the big man will comment on the funniest internet videos with comics Gary Owen, Godfrey, and a special guest. Ten episodes have been ordered.

- The Alma Awards are set to air Friday, September 21 on NBC. Until then, head over to ALMAAwards.com where you check out and vote on the catergories.

- We lost another legend this week with the passing of Ernest Borgnine and TCM will be honoring his work with a 24-hour marathon Thursday, July 26. Check out the schedule below:

6 a.m. – The Catered Affair (1956) – with Bette Davis and Debbie Reynolds.

8 a.m. – The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) – with Kim Novak and Peter Finch.

10:30 a.m. – Pay or Die (1960) – with Zohra Lampert and Al Austin.

12:30 p.m. – Torpedo Run (1958) – with Glenn Ford and Diane Brewster.

2:30 p.m. – Ice Station Zebra (1968) – with Rock Hudson and Patrick McGoohan.

5:15 p.m. – The Dirty Dozen (1967) – with Lee Marvin, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Robert Ryan, Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland, George Kennedy and Telly Savalas.

8 p.m. – Private Screenings: Ernest Borgnine (2009) – hosted by Robert Osborne.

9 p.m. – Marty (1955) – with Betsy Blair and Joe Mantell.

10:45 p.m. – From Here to Eternity (1953) – with Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra.

1 a.m. – The Wild Bunch (1969) – with William Holden, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien, Warren Oates and Ben Johnson.

3:30 a.m. – Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) – with Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, Dean Jagger, Walter Brennan and Lee Marvin.

5:00 a.m. – Private Screenings: Ernest Borgnine (2009) – hosted by Robert Osborne.

I Believe That I Was Born with a Song Inside of Me

Recently I came to the realization that my music listening throughout my life have come in eras. Sure I listened to other genres during those periods (aside from my only hardcore gangsta rap phase in middle school). I started out my life heavy into Top 40. That transitioned into my hip-hop phase. By high school, I was deeper into the crates with classic rock which morphed into my modern rock phase by college. Recently I have been on a folksy, country, Americana kick with bands like Mumford & Sons, The Civil Wars and Fleet Foxes.

Sure much like pop radio today, country radio is for the most part unlistenable (the eighteen year old version of myself did call country music songs for stupid people) but like everything there are a few exception. One of them is Zac Brown Band even though it is a bit of a surprise that they are as big as they are in the country world. They do not sing unapologetic songs about Middle America or the small town there and they are not cute blondes with an angry streak singing straight from their diary. But there they are with ten songs that hit the top two spots on the country charts.

They are also one of the few (really only) country bands that could be considered a jam band, even opening for Dave Matthews Band. And the band has recorded with Jimmy Buffett, written with Shawn Mullins, and covered Ray Lamontange. The band is also expanding their musical pallet on their third major label album Uncaged. The album starts off with Jump Right In, co-written with Jason Mraz which has that breezy summer feel of a Mraz song taken down South. And though a duet with Philly Blue Eyed Soul singer Amos Lee may sound like a weird combination, but Day That I Die is a standout track on the album that works perfectly where Zac and Amos trade verses about how that want the last day on Earth to be with a guitar in hand. Trombone Shorty adds his expertise on the surprisingly sexy Overnight.

The rest of Uncaged sounds like what you would expect from a Zac Brown Band album. The title track shows off their rockier side. Goodbye in Her Eyes exhibits their James Taylor influence. Even though Buffett does not show up on this album, Island Song could have been a lost track of his (and I put money on a cover showing up on Buffett’s next album). While The Wind is a pure ho down. And many of the songs like Natural Disaster show off the best harmonies in country since the The Oak Ridge Boys.

Song to Download – Day That I Die

Uncaged gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing Leverage 5.x

Leverage could very well be the best show on television that is not in the discussion for best show on television. It is not in the discussion because it does not take itself too seriously which also means there are no eye rolling pretentious “best shows”. After four seasons, the format has not changed yet has managed not to feel tired with its criminals taking down bigger criminals Robin Hood style theme. Sure the last season got a bit dark with Nate taking up drinking again and he kind of, sort of killed somebody even if indirectly.

Now with Jack Latimer and Victor Dubenich out of the way, Leverage Incorporated has relocated to Portland, Oregon (the FBI, InterPOL and other groups have been staking out their Boston hideout) and is quick to find a new job in the City of Roses. And how very Portland of them to use a microbrewery as their cover? This week’s case involves a shipping executive (who shows up in the form of Carey Elwes who will also show up in a future episode of another TNT show Perception later this season) who cheap techniques leads to the death of a couple of employees. To get him back, the team may have its biggest con yet (or at the very least they “steal” one of their biggest prop for con).

Even though it is only a brief cameo, Christian Kane’s Angel buddy Adam Baldwin shows up in a hilarious flashback tonight. Hopefully this only sets up a bigger role for Baldwin later in this season. Also showing up this season will be Treat Williams (Everwood) as an ex-hockey player turned team owner who cares more about money than wins or player safety. Matthew Lillard (Scooby-Doo) also pops up as a corrupt businessman (is there any other kind?). And what would a Leverage season be without a face-to-face with their longtime nemesis, insurance-investigator turned InterPOL agent Jim Sterling?

Leverage airs Sundays at 8:00 (until August 26 when it moves to 9:00) on TNT. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.

I Want My Music Television - 7/10/12

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.


Both of Us - B.o.B. featuring Taylor Swift



I am trying to figure out if this is a good B.o.B. song or a bad Taylor Swift song.


Let’s Go – Matt and Kim



Considering Matt and Kim have created some of the most interesting music videos of the past couple years, I kind of expected a bit more than just a dude dribbling a basketball for three minutes.


Girls Like You – The Naked and Famous



I am really hoping there was minimal CGI involved in The Naked and Famous video because I would like to think there was really a dude in each room flicking the lights on and off.


Diversity - Family of the Year




A nice play of the lyrics, “Nobody’s ever gonna take anything from me again” with strangers taking everything in the room occupied by Family of the Year, even, quite literally, the clothes off their backs. Everything but their instruments.

Previewing Perception and The Closer

When I was growing up, cop show featured cops partnered with other cops. From to Sipowicz to John Kelly all the way up to Benson and Stabler (with an assist from Ice-T). But during the middle of last decade, all the cops started getting paired with civilian, some reasonably with scientists and others with the absurd be it psychics, novelist, or my personal favorite, a piemaker who could bring the dead back to life (R.I.P. Pushing Daisies). Even the dude from Awake had an imaginary partner (possibly two). It also seemed like most of these civilians fall somewhere on the Asperger Spectrum.

Eric McCormack (whose previous TNT series Trust Me lasted only one season) is the latest civilian consultant and though he has the very helpful profession of neuroscientist professor, but of all the consultants on the new breed of cop shows, McCormack is probably highest on the Asperger Spectrum, closer to Sheldon Cooper than anyone else, and really his best cast study for his class is his own. The cop in this equation is Rachael Leigh Cook (She's All That), an FBI agent who gets demoted back to Chicago for obsessing too much over cases. Sure recruiting the obsessive compulsive McCormick (she was a former student of his) as a consultant may not have the best idea considering why she got demote, but there would be no show had she not.

Along for the ride is Arjay Smith (The Journey of Allen Strange) as McCormack’s teaching assistant slash live in man servant. Yeah, it is a very weird relationship that I still cannot quite comprehend after watching a couple episodes. There is also Kelly Rowen (Cyberbully) as McCormack’s best friend and possible former girlfriend who have a very complicated relationship that is revealed at the end of the first episode (or earlier if you figured it out like I did when Kelly first appears on screen).

LaVar Burton (Reading Rainbow) also shows up in a recurring role as the Dean at McCormick’s university who hilariously gets involved in one of the cases later this season. Jonathan Scarfe (a name you will not recognize but whose face you will because he has been on almost every television show in the past two decades going all the way back to Robocop the Series; wait, there was a RoboCop television series?) is also recurring as Cook’s FBI partner who routinely butts head with McCormick eccentricities and always has a quick whip about them. Neal McDonough also show up for an episode as an evil executive (you expect him to play a do-gooder?) who ironically gets Marshall Protection.

Aside from McCormick being the most eccentric person ever to help out the fuzz Perception does not add much to the burgeoning genre. What is does have going for it is some really weird affliction like a human lie detector introduced in the premiere (surprisingly even though they have a human lie detector at their disposal they do not use him in the future episodes). Later in the season Sheryl Lee (Twin Peaks - Fire Walk with Me) pops up as a patient who came down as the same syndrome that Drew Barrymore had in 50 First Dates. Unfortunately for her, Adam Sandler is not the one trying to get to her, it is a raping murderer. Also expect a lot of anagrams (which are solved The Da Vinci Code style) and there is a whole episode dedicated to ciphers. Seriously. But hey, it is nice to have Rachael Leigh Cook back in our lives.

Perception airs Mondays at 10:00 on TNT.


Just as Perception gets started, The Closer is, well, coming to a close with its final six episodes. Naturally some familiar faces return like Brenda’s longtime nemesis Philip Stroh who returns tonight as the lawyer of a suspected rapist. Brenda’s parents also return as she gets her father new treatment for cancer in Los Angeles. And with the lawsuit out of the way, at some point in the final episodes we do learn who the leak within the department was. All this leading up to the series finale on August 13 which will be followed by the series premiere of its spin-off Major Crimes.

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

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 7/8/12

Quote of the Week: You phone sex in Latin? (Jared, Franklin & Bash)

Song of the Week: Rainy Day Janie – Peter Bash (Franklin and Bash)

Big News of the Week: It’s Hot: Seriously, it was 90 degrees by noon almost every day this week. On the bright side my lawn is officially dead and I may not have to mow it again until next year. Unless of course weeds start sprouting up in lieu of grass. Is it fall yet?

Preview Picture of the Week:



Falling Skies: Wow, that harness factory was extremely creepy and was only made creepier by the reveal of that the harnesses are actually living entities. I wonder if that knowledge will make removing them easier or lead them to being able to remove them completely. But my favorite part was when the Hispanic leader, then told Lourdes that Northern Mexico was destroyed. He just told her he was from Pennsylvania. How does someone from Philly know what happened to Mexico anymore than someone who living in Boston? The only thing that will make me laugh harder if her family shows up in Virginia.
You can download Falling Skies on iTunes.

Dallas: I do not understand why Rebecca fessed up to the e-mail. Why not just say JR Jr. was setting you up and blackmailing you? I am sure Christopher would have believed her over him and it is very plausible explanation. Now I just do not k now what that can do with the Rebecca character after this. Oh wait, this is a soap opera, she will just hook up with JR Jr.
You can download Dallas on iTunes.


Free Download of the Week: Medicine Spoon – Ruby Velle and the Soulphonics (Spinner)

Deal of the Week: $2.99 Soundtracks: Sure the art of soundtracks died in the internet age because you could just cherry pick some of the best songs anyway. But there are still some oldies worth picking up like Footloose (the original, not the crappy reboot), Reality Bites, Dirty Dancing, and Romeo + Juliet.



New Album Release of the Week: Uncaged - Zac Brown Band

New DVD Release of the Week: American Reunion

Video of the Week: It has been a while since I have seen anything that involves Nickelodeon on account that I am old. But back when I did, the most salacious it got was kids getting green slime dumped on them for saying “I don’t know.” Fast-forward a decade (or two… or three) and Nickelodeon Films is about to release a movie featuring Chelsea Handler, Jonny Knoxville, an animatronic humping chicken and some dude shouting “trick or treat (expletive deleted)”. But Fun Size also features Suburgatory’s Jane Levy in full Snarky Emma Stone mode which I fully approve of.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Perception, Monday at 10:00 on TNT: New show Perception starring Rachael Leigh Cook premieres Monday which begs the question, where has Rachael Leigh Cook been the past decade? She was poised to be the next best thing after She's All That (the gold standard of Ugly Chicks Who Are Secretly Hot movies) and the greatest anti-drug commercial ever. Unfortunately she followed that up with three high profile clunkers: Josie and the Pussycats, Antitrust, and Texas Rangers (where James Van Deer Beek once again botched the Texas accent). After that her IMDB page is filled with movies I doubt anyone has even heard of (Blonde Ambition with Jessica Simpson anyone?). Twenty-four movies since 2002 and I saw one of them. Hopefully Perception can get her career back on track because the world could use more Rachael Leigh Cook in stuff worth watching. If not, there are still people taking drugs she can knock around with a frying pan. Look for a full review (minus Cook’s career overview) tomorrow.

Previewing The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan: The Final Season

It is a sad day for those of us hoping to one day get Cesar Millan to Tsst our dogs into submission because the final season of The Dog Whisperer starts tonight. And just like the greatest athletes in the world, Cesar is off to London to make sure the likes of Michael Phelps do not get bit by the local canine population (although I would not mind if LeBron James gets nipped a time or a hundred by an angry Chihuahua). Cesar will be across the pond for four episodes including back to back episodes tonight including an owner who got a Dalmatian because of the movie (never a good sign), a rescue dog from Romania where strays roam the streets by the thousands, and a dog of an actress from Absolutely Fabulous.

Back stateside, Cesar will be helping some famous faces including Kelsey Grammer whose dogs are not as well behaved as his televised version Eddie. Fitness trainer may be able to whip humans into shape but will need Cesar’s help to quiet her barker. Cesar will also hit the road to help NASCAR drivers Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick. And we know how good Cesar is with dogs, but we will also get to see how well he works with bunnies when he heads to the Playboy Mansion West to help Hugh Hefner’s King Charles spaniel get along with Miss November’s dog.

Even though there will be no new episodes of The Dog Whisperer after this season, Nat Geo Wild will continue to air the entire catalogue of episodes. And Cesar will not be going anywhere because he is currently in production on his new Nat Geo Wild competition series Leader of the Pack, due to premiere in early 2013.

The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan airs Saturdays at 8:00 on Nat Geo Wild. You can also download The Dog Whisperer on iTunes. Check out a clip from tonight:

Around the Tubes - 7/6/12

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 Hard Times: Lost on Long Island, Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World, Comic Store Heroes, Syfy, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, Andy Griffith, H+, Blue Like Jazz, Dallas, Rizzoli and Isles, The Sound of Music, The Song That Changed My Life, Audio-Files, Beverly Hills Nannies, Border Wars, Horders, and Rhoda Vincent.

- This Monday HBO is airing their latest documentary Hard Times: Lost on Long Island focusing on the unemployed and underemployed is what is considered the the birthplace of post-war suburbia. Check out a trailer below:



- Premiering tonight on PBS is Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World which explores 1,400 years of cultural history through Islamic art and architecture.

- If you are unable to make it to Comic-Con, you can live vicariously through Comic Store Heroes premiering next Friday (the 13th) at 8:00 on The National Geographic Channel.

- For those that are attending Comic Con, Syfy recently announced their shows that will be attending. Friday, JULY 13: DEFIANCE: PANEL: 6:45 PM- 7:45 PM ROOM 6DE. Saturday, JULY 14: WAREHOUSE 13; PANEL: 10:00 AM-10:45 AM BALLROOM 20. ALPHAS: PANEL: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM; HILTON BAYFRONT, INDIGO BALLROOM. BEING HUMAN: PANEL: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM, HILTON BAYFRONT, INDIGO BALLROOM.


- Totally Biased with W Kamau Bell is set to premiere Thursday August 9 at 10:00 on FX and you check out the latest clip below:

Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell


- We lost Andy Griffith earlier this week and TCM will be honoring the iconic actor Wednesday July 18 by airing four of his films starting at 8:00 PM with A Face in the Crowd which will be followed by No Time for Sergeants (10:15), Hearts of the West (12:30), and Onionhead (2:15).

- Coming to an internet near you in the newest digital series H+ from director Bryan Singer. The show is about the future human race who is hardwired to the internet with a cast that includes ast that includes Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Amir Arison (Law & Order: SVU) and David Clayton Rogers (Jane By Design). While waiting for the premiere, can subscribe to the H+ YouTube page.

- Based on the New York Times Best Seller List by Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz is coming to DVD and most other movie watching formats August 7 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.



- They are not even half way down with it’s their current seasons, but TNT has already renewed Rizzoli and Isles for a fourth and Dallas for a second. Expect 15 new episodes of each coming your way in 2013.

- For fans of Broadway that cannot make it to New York City, you will be in luck because it was recently announced that NBC will present a live broadcast of the classic stage musical The Sound of Music. Casting and a premiere date are soon to come.

- On this week’s episode of The Song That Changed My Life, pop folk band Over the Rhine will be featured. While on Audio-Files, indie folk band Trampled by Turtles will take center stage.

- New show alert! Beverly Hills Nannies premieres next Wednesday on ABC Family.

- In other premiere news, the new season of Border Wars premieres July 9 at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel.

- While on Sunday the fourth season of Hoarders opens up with an Elvis impersonator with a heartbreaking story.

- Rhoda Vincent has returned to her gospel roots with her latest album which you can currently stream for free over at music.aol.com until July 15

I Want My Music Television - 7/5/12

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.

Brendan's Death Song - Red Hot Chili Peppers



Ever since I started watching Treme, I became fascinated with the Second Line to the point that I have it written into my will. I do not know what the tradition never got exported from New Orleans but it is nice to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers incorporate it into the song written about their fallen friend.


50 Ways to Say Goodbye - Train



Why don’t I ever run into The Hoff while grocery shopping? Lucky dude from Train. Well at least I haven’t run into Death there. Yet.


One More Night - Maroon 5



I was content with nailing a new model in every new Train music video, but how dare he defile Lyla Garrity? Good for her for leaving.


National Anthem - Lana Del Rey



Even though everyone was content with Lana Del Rey to fade into obscurity after her abysmal performance on Saturday Night Live earlier this year, she is stick kicking and screaming trying to stay relevant like anyone one else with minimal talent does: with shock. So she is playing Jackie O (and Marilyn Monroe?) to a black JFK. Alrighty. And I am back to ignoring Lana Del Rey.

We've Lost Our Kindness, We've Lost Our Soul

We have all wanted to smack a mean person every now and then, be it the idiots who talk on their cell phones during movies, protest soldier funerals, talking heads on twenty-four hour news channels, reality stars, or people who want to be reality television. I’m sure a few of us have even contemplating murdering these mean people to keep them from repopulating their meanness but do not act on it because of because of morals and stuff. For those who have ever thought about killing a fan one of those crappy vampire flicks, I have a movie for you: the appropriately titled God Bless America.

In God Bless America, Joel Murray (Shameless) has had it. Every channel there is a worse person than the previous channel and work is no refuge because all they talk about are the mentally challenged people singing karaoke on the television. And it is probably a good thing his daughter does not live with him because she is turning into one of the people he despises. So after a terminal diagnosis and one more episode of Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen he has decided to end it all. That is until he gets a better idea: kill all the mean people of America, starting of course with the chick on Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.

So he goes on a cross country killing spree of the worst offender of the decline of Western civilization and somehow picks up a teenage Tara Lynn Barr (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Season 3) along the way to help with the carnage who may actually hate stupid people more that Murray does. Even when they are taking time off from killing people, they still take aim at everyone from Fall Out Boy, Diablo Cody and of course hippies. Sure Barr is no way near entertaining as Hit Girl, but a teenage girl killing and cursing is still pretty funny. Sure their relationship is a bit creepy no matter how many times Murray protest it is just platonic.

God Bless America does for mean people what Idiocracy did for stupid people (unfortunately there is no one as awesome as President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho, I cannot confirm or deny I would vote for Camacho if he were on the upcoming ballot this November). The kills are graphic and their failed attempts managed to be even funnier than when they succeed. The movie does lag at time in-between killings (you would think with so many potential targets, you would think they would not need so much time to try and figure out whom to gun down next). Oh yeah, did I mention that the movie was written and directed Bobcat Goldthwait? Naturally he is also listed as auteur in the bonus features. Sure there is some irony in a guy best known for his work in the Police Academy movies writing one killing people laughing at a mentally unstable person, but that only adds to its charm.

The DVD comes with an audio commentary featuring Goldwait, Murray and Barr (where you learn where Spongbob Squarepants has a cameo and all the ties to Mad Men aside the obvious Freddy Rumsen and Anna Draper being featured in the film) as well as a thirty minute Behind the Scenes special. There are some deleted scenes of from the television shows that send Murray over the edge, a gag reel, interviews with the cast and Bobcat that is also around thirty minutes. There is also HDNet’s A Look at God Bless America.



Full Disclosure Notice: This DVD was given to me by Bender/Helper Impact for the purpose of reviewing it.

He Was About as Popular as a Snake in a Sleeping Bag

When you think of Australia you probably think of The Outback, but like every other continent, it has many other terrains including the forests of Tasmania, an island just south of the mainland which is home to the Tasmanian devil. The forests there were also home to the Tasmanian tiger, the last of which died in captivity in 1936. And though they have been believed to be extinct for over seven decades, there remain many sightings across Tasmania.

That is the basis for The Hunter where Willen Dafoe (Auto Focus) plays the titular character looking for the last remaining Tasmanian tiger for a company that wants the elusive animal for nefarious reasons. Naturally the locals, especially the loggers, are not too fond of foreigners even when they are poising as zoologists. It also does not help they he is stuck renting at the home of a bed stricken women with two kids and a husband who got lost in the same woods Defoe will be going into to do his tracking.

Of course Sam Neill (Happy Town) plays a mysterious figure who is more interregnal to the story than his initial meeting would have you believe (basically every Sam Neill role). With his introduction, we slowly learn there is more to the story and the characters involved that a simple animal capture. Even though it takes a while to unfold, the shots of the Tasmanian wilderness are beautiful and breathtaking (and I would assume are even more so on the blu-ray). And Dafoe’s performance, who spends half the film alone on the hunt) is memorizing to watch as he starts to realize just what he is getting himself into and how he plots to get out of.

The Hunter DVD comes with an audio commentary track with director Daniel Nettheim and producer Vincent Sheehan. The deleted scenes, which runs about eight minutes total, also have optional commentary. There is also a four part Making of The Hunter feature that runs about a half an hour.



Full Disclosure Notice: This DVD was given to me by Bender/Helper Impact for the purpose of reviewing it.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

When they announced Marc Webb would direct the next Spider-Man I thought to myself, wait the dude from (500) Days of Summer? Yeah it was a good movie but I have no interest in seeing Spidy in a dance sequence to a Hall and Oates song. Seriously, why are we getting a reboot ten years after the last one when a fourth Sam Raimi would have been much better? What makes it worse is that a proposed fourth Raimi movie would have featured John Malkovich as Vulture in perfect type casting and Anne Hathaway as Felicia Handy, aka Black Cat (who ironically went on to playing a female cat person in another comic book movie). And since Webb cast Emma Stone in his movie I am going to have to begrudgingly rent it in a couple months.

Aside from a massive upgrade at love interest, I just cannot see the new version begging better than the Sam Rami version which is this month’s induction into the Scooter Hall of Fame. After the campiness of the later nineties Batman films almost killed off the superhero movies, they came back in a massive way in the early 00’s thanks to films like X-Men and Spider-Man who brought some seriousness back to the funny books and Sam Raimi’s love and respect for the story is shown throughout.

As cool as Spider-Man’s web slinging is, let’s face it, a superhero is only as good as his rouge’s gallery and Spidy’s is second only to Batman’s. And while some of my favorites were held back for future movies (Doc Ock, Sandman) , the Green Goblin was a worthy first opponent thanks to a stellar performance from Willem Defoe (even if he looked scarier with the mask off). And like any great nemesis, Green Goblin was a close relationship to Spider-Man as the father of Peter Packer’s best friend. J.K. Simmons also gave a great performance as Peter’s boss J. Jonah Jameson. And of course what Same Raimi film would be complete without a cameo from Bruce Campbell (who played three different roles in the three movies). Spider-Man is also notable for have one of the very few video game that not only did not suck massive but it was a really great game and even features Bruce Campbell as the Narrator all three game tie-ins.