The 10 Best Episodes of Veronica Mars

Production on the Veronica Mars Movie wrapped last week which gives you about six to nine months until the movie hits theaters or Netflix. That is plenty of time to watch or re-watch the series which only ran for three seasons and sixty-four episodes (watching one a day will get you close to finish before the fall television season kicks into high gear). But if you do not have the time for the entire series but want to see what the hoopla around the show is and get the gist of the series before the movie comes out, here are the ten best episodes you definitely check out. But just jot down the episode titles (and rearrange them chronologically), because my descriptions will get a little spoilery.

1. Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1): Who would have guessed a show about a teenage detective would be so good? Luckily the buzz around the show was so great that I had to check it out and the premiere lived up to the hype. When we meet Veronica Mars, she is the disgraced daughter of the disgraced sheriff who bundled the murder of her best friend, bumping her down from the upper echelon of the social hierarchy to the very bottom. And to add insult to injury, she was roofied and raped on her way to the bottom. This is the start of her road to redemption and what a trip it ended up being.

2. A Trip to the Dentist (Season 1, Episode 21): Usually a show leaves its best for last, but the show has so much to wrap up they had plenty to fill the penultimate episode of the season which ended up being slightly better than the finale. After learning Logan was the one supplying the Rohypnol at Shelly Pomroy’s End of the World Party, Ronnie was slowly able to piece together what happened that night with the help of many retuning Neptune students from throughout the first season until she leaned that Madison Sinclaire gave her a “trip to the dentist” with a cup Dick meant to loosen up his girlfriend at the time. The episode even left us with one more suspect in the Lily Kane murder list when Vee discovered the Echoll’s video room and the episode ended for the second straight time with Veronica standing Logan up.

3. Donut Run (Season 2, Episode 11): The fond (almost) farewell of Duncan Kane. I have to admit Duncan and Ronnie had me fooled, but in the end they came up with an ingenuous plan to get Duncan out of the country with the aid of Vinnie and VanLowe (and unwillingly Sheriff Lamb). The episode capped with one of the best musical moments on the show with Adelaide playing by The Old 97’s playing as Vee starred at her fortune cookie complete with the Lost numbers (mmm, I just may have to do The Greatest Musical Moment on Veronica Mars around the time the movie is released).

4. The Bitch Is Back (Season 3, Episode 20): If you are going out, might as well go out with a bang. After being publically humiliated and ostracized after a video of her just as the way God made her hit the internets, we saw the return of season one Ronnie as she went on the warpath to find those responsible which even involved a run in from Jake Kane, not seen since the first season.

5. Leave It to Beaver (Season 1, Episode 22): Talk about hiding in plain sight. Despite being a violent psychopath, it never dawned on me that Aaron was the one that killed Lily leading the climactic scene with the action star stalking Veronica in her car and the subsequent showdown with Keith in a fiery back yard.

6. Normal Is the Watchword (Season 2, Episode 1): After a near perfect first season, the show could have easily fallen into a sophomore slump, but over the course of an hour, the show nicely wrapped up the burning questions from last season, solved a case of false positive drug test, and set up two season long mysteries masterfully with who killed Felix and why did the bus which included Meg Manning fall off a cliff. The season also promoted the Casablancas boys to cast members and introduced us to the Goodman family (Steve Guttenberg and Krystan Ritter) and Vice President Clemmons’s son Butters.

7. Spit & Eggs (Season 3, Episode 9): We got condensed mysteries in the third season, but the conclusion of the Heart Rapist storyline was just as epic with Ronnie having a showdown with the evil perp. And how apropos was it that it was Parker who was the one that saved Veronica (which begs the question, was does she always needing saving by the Big Bad’s).

8. Not Pictured (Season 2, Episode 22): Okay, the reveal was a bit over the top, Cassidy blew up the bus just to shut up the two other ball boys who wanted to go public about Woody Goodman’s extracurricular activities, that killed Woody (and to Veronica’s knowledge) her father right in front of her just so no one would find out that Woody also molested him. Oh yeah, and it turned out that Beaver actually did rape her at Shelly Pomroy’s party. Alrighty. Once you get past Beaver’s mustache twirling, still a solid finale to the second season. Plus the writers may have tipped their cap with the possible third season with the Duncan Clarence Weidman conversation, “CW?” “It’s a done deal.”

9. Welcome Wagon (Season 3, Episode 1): Transition to college can be tricky for television shows (and real life) but Veronica Mars made the change smoothly mostly because it was always more than a high school show. Ronnie quickly took up the case to find Wallace’s new roommate’s stolen stuff and, well, boom goes the dynamite.

10. Silence of the Lambs (Season 1, Episode 11): Mac and Madison Sinclaire return for a second episode and who would have guessed that they were switched at birth? Ironically the episode featured a blink and you will miss it cameo from Katie LeClerc who would go on to star in Switched at Birth in her first profession role. The episode also featured future Emmy winner Aaron Paul as a Girl Gone Bad wannabe cameraman. We also get our first look at the latest addition to the Neptune sheriff’s office: Deputy Leo, the Ronnie suitor I would most like to see her end up with in the movie.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/28/13

Falling Skies: When Tom shot Karen my first thought was oh my God, they killed Karen! My second thought was, wait, she did not say that line they repeated over and over again in the promos, they must have Inceptioned Tom putting him in a dream inside a dream. Stupid promo monkeys spoiling the episode. But I wonder how many people spotted Cochise in Tom’s dream. If you missed it, that was Doug Jones without his Chochise costume talking to Gloria Rubin in the teacher’s lounge.
You can download Falling Skies on iTunes.

Ray Donavan: There are very few things I need to see less than Jon Voight dancing to Now That We Found Love in a gay bar.

Under the Dome: An interesting question of what would be on your playlist if you only have a half an hour before being nuked by your own government. The DJ went with the soothing tones of Mozart. I think I would embrace the impending doom and put on It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) or maybe War Pigs. And all it took for the dude to care about his sister was a MOAB. Though odd it took Big Jim a whole day to decide he should release her. But will Junior just drag her back down next episode after he realizes the bomb failed? At least the preacher finally died. It was pretty obvious after the pacemaker took out the sheriff that the preacher’s hearing aid would do him in.
You can stream Under The Dome exclusively on Amazon Instant Video, free for Prime members.

Pretty Little Liars: So we got our first confirmation that Red Coat is Cece, assuming that hanger dude was not told to give that name by the real Red Coat if pressed. I am thinking that is the case because that is kind of an underwhelming reveal and shows like this love big reveals. I am still betting Allison is actually alive and pulling the strings.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

The Bridge: My biggest complaint about the Pilot was that I do not really like when there are random characters that seem to have no connects but undoubtedly will end up intercepting by the end of the season. Thankfully we only had to wait three episodes before the three random storylines started to intercut as the police had to inform Charlotte of the ransom and Steven became the chief suspect of the investigation. Now I just wonder how long they stay in each other’s path or how long before we get a connection between Charlotte and Steven.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download The Bridge on iTunes.

The Challenge: Rivals II: That was one solid episode even if both challenges were kind of lame (remember the good old days when they had to melt blocks of ice with only body heat?). You had Marlon open up the episode by hooking up with a dude and closed it out with hooking up with a chick (this season needs more Nanny who along with Frank was the breakout star last season). He even got in a shouting match with Knight after a game of charades got out of hand (which may be the first time ever anywhere; Hollywood Game Night certainly would be more watchable if a brawl broke out after a game of charades). And that was not even the best fight of the night which went to Anessa and Trashelle which featured Trashelle hitting Anessa’s elbow with her face which was enough to make Trashelle quit which, of course, pissed off T.J (and inadvertently sent Sarah packing for the second time simply because of the partner she was paired with). And an annoyed T.J. is an entertaining T.J. This gave me the idea of an entire season made up exclusively of people who have quit in the past. It would be awesome to see T.J. tear down these contestants week after week.
You can download The Challenge: Rivals II on iTunes.

The Hero: Of course the two people I was thinking of voting for ended up going home in the last episode. Really, all the talk of what it means to be a hero got extremely annoying this season. Seriously, you not a hero for electing to go home yourself, you are a moron. Even worse, Charles probably had the best chance of the final six to win. I hope for Charles’ sake, whoever win thinks it is heroic enough to throw him some dollars for his stupid selfish act.
You can download The Hero on iTunes.

Best of the Week: 7/27/13

Quote of the Week: What are you doing here? I can’t have sex at work. (Det. Sonia Ross, The Bridge)

Song of the Week: The Devil Takes Care of His Own – Band of Skulls (Pretty Little Liars)

Big News of the Week: Weiner’s Weiner Part Deux: Like when Part Un broke: I have no comment. I just the citizens of New York are not dumb enough to go through Part Trois in four years. Hopefully this scandal also takes down Eliot Spitzer, another person who just needs to fade into obscurity.

Preview Picture of the Week:

"Defective" Perception, Tuesday at 10:00 on TNT

Free Download of the Week: Our Favorites – Lex Land (Noisetrade): You may remember Lex from her time on The Voice. Unfortunately she was on season two before the invention of The Steal so when she lost to Charlotte Sometimes in the Battle Round she was not granted a reprieve she probably could have gotten. Now you can grap this ten song sampler from her two studio album for free (but tips are encouraged).

New Album Release of the Week: All People - Michael Franti and Spearhead

New DVD Release of the Week: Black Rock

Video of the Week: As a longtime fan of A Tribe Called Quest, I was excited to see Beats, Rhymes, and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest even if the documentary was directed by Michael Rappaport. Except that ever since it was released, it has been stuck in my queue under “Very Long Wait”. Well I will not have to wait much longer because VH1 is airing the film tonight at 10:00.


Next Week Pick of the Week: The Hero, Thursday at 8:00 on TNT: The Hero was a nice distraction in between seasons on Survivor and The Challenge but as we reach the live finale, it is pretty clear that if there is another season, there need to do a better job casting as none of the final five are really worth voting for. Not that the four that were sent home were much better. And the show needs more The Rock banter.

Around the Tubes: 7/26/13

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 Hannibal, First Comes Love, House Party 5, Black Rock, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Lissie, 9-11: The Heartland Tapes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Emergency Tiara.

- NBC has released full Comic Con panels for those not in San Diego last week including Community, new show The Black List, Grimm, Revolution, and Hannibal which you can watch below:


- The latest chapter in director Nina Davenport’s autobiographical work, First Comes Love chronicles her journey to motherhood and beyond. In the 2000 HBO documentary Always a Bridesmaid, she drew on her job as a wedding videographer and fraught relationship with a noncommittal boyfriend to probe her generation’s anxieties about tying the knot. Now, in this bracingly honest, often hilarious and ultimately moving film, she examines solo parenthood. Ranging from hormone injections to post-natal chaos, Davenport’s wry chronicle of her pregnancy and its aftermath debuts Monday at 9:00, exclusively on HBO. Check out a preview below:


- House Party: Tonight's the Night sees the triumphant return of Kid n Play to the franchise (albeit as the trailer suggests only in a cameo which you can check out below) which you can pick up now on DVD.


- Out on DVD and Blu-Ray next week is the heart-racing thriller Black Rock starring Katie Aselton (who also directed the film), Lake Bell and Kate Bosworth.


- Toad the Wet Sprocket is ready to release their first new studio album in 16 years, New Constellation. The album will be released independently on the band's label Abe's Records, and already has a jump start with Toad fans through an in process Kickstarter Campaign, which will help assist with funding the final stages of recording and releasing of the album. The initial fundraising goal was set for $50,000 to be achieved over the course of the 60 day campaign, and through incredible fan support, was reached in under 24-hours on June 5th, 2013. In return, backers between now and August 4th will receive the Kickstarter Early-Rewards Bonus Version of New Constellation, as well as an acoustic EP that was promised to fans when the second "reach goal" of $150,000 was achieved. The official version of New Constellation will be released on September 3rd, 2013 and available in all digital stores (iTunes, Amazon, etc.).

- In other sort of crowd sourcing news, Sony Music has teamed up with Pledgemusic for the pre-sale campaign for Back to Forever by Lissie. The album s being released September 9 Lissie is offering fans the opportunity to pre-order the album via pledgemusic.com as well as a range of exclusive content - from artwork, videos, remixes and backstage footage.

- With all the streaming sites out there, there is plenty of ways to get your music legally, but the question is with so many of them, which one is for you? If you are trying to decide which one to get into, Dealnews.com has created an infograph to help you out.

- We’ve all seen the horrific images of September 11, 2001 from New York City and Washington D.C. Across America, however, there are thousands of other images and sounds – ones that were seen and heard only in the cities in which they were created. From the Peabody Award-winning production team led by Tom Jennings of 1895 Films, comes 9-11: The Heartland Tapes, a one-hour special premiering Sunday, September 8 at 8:00 on Smithsonian Channel. This program combines media from across the nation and fashions them into a compelling story of bearing witness, taking action and survival. This is the story of September 11th not seen before – from the outside looking in.

- Groundbreaking actor, singer, dancer, author and educator Rita Moreno has been named the 50th recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute – the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. Given annually to an actor who fosters the "finest ideals of the acting profession," the SAG Life Achievement Award will join Moreno's rare catalog of preeminent industry and public honors, which also includes an Oscar, two Emmys, a Tony, a Grammy, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of the Arts. Moreno will be presented the performers union's top accolade at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014, at 8:00.

- For those looking out for some new catchy power pop type songs, give Poison by Emergency Tiara a spin. Look out for a full EP this fall.

Feed Your iPod LXXII: Hot Knife

It has been over a year since Fiona Apple released her latest album which was around the time the first and only music video was released which featured Fiona wearing an octopus hat. Well better late than never, we finally get a second clip for the best track off the album Hot Knife which helped by famous director, and former boyfriend, Paul Thomas Anderson who also directed all her music videos from her When the Pawn… era. And just like the song, the video is somewhat creepy, but always awesome. Hopefully the song will have the timpani replace the cello as the en vogue instrument of the moment.


Hot Knife – Fiona Apple

I Want My Music Television: 7/24/13

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.


Black Skinhead – Kanye West


Okay, the above video is just Kanye West’s performance from Saturday Night Live a couple months ago because the actual music video is not embeddable. And if you thought Yeezus was inaccessible, the music video is even harder to get into. The rapper posted the interactive on KanyeWest.com except when I went there, it was only a picture of what looked to be a picture of three black dudes in black KKK hoods. After about five minutes of nothing I figured maybe Chrome was the problem and dusted off Internet Explorer which had a launch button. But when I clicked on it, the music started playing, but there was no video. Supposedly the interacted video can “synched, posted and shared” so videos will probably pop up on YouTube any minute now (and probably already have by the time you have read this) and I may check a few up is I still care by then.


Wasting All These Tears - Cassadee Pope


It was a big week for The Voice last week as the most recent winner Danielle Bradberydropped her first single just days before season three winner Cassadee Pope released her first country music video. Both songs are your typical boring pop-country fare (Pope's is just a pop-rock song with a banjo and whiskey soaked intro) that will probably have minor success on country radio but not interesting enough to cross over unless The Voice audience gets curious about them (maybe Blake should have gotten his wife Miranda Lambert to help write something more interesting). I would slightly give Danielle the first round, but neither song is as good as Inventing Shadows (speaking of Dia Frampton, she just released a song via YouTube called Footsteps which is better than anything on her first solo album and certainly better than the above two songs).


Slow Down - Selena Gomez


On her previous albums, Selena Gomez songs ranged from catchy to non-offensive and even the first single off her new album falls within that catchy category. The rest of Stars Dance really ranges between annoying to painfully bad and the new single definitely falls somewhere on that spectrum (this will probably serve as my official review of Stars Dance). At least Selena had the wherewithal to leave Spring Breakers half way through the movie. Maybe she should stick to acting or at the very least bring back The Scene.


Sky High – Ben Folds Five


When can I get Ben Folds Five to play in my living room? Granted I would probably request A Song for the Dumped and end up trashing my own place so it may be for the best if they do not.

Previewing Web Therapy 3.x

Internet turned television show Web Therapy returns tonight for its third season on Showtime and not surprisingly the new season focuses on Fiona dealing with the fall out of her husband running off with his campaign manager. His male campaign manager. To think most people, a bad day would be their mother stealing their business idea, and both happened to Fiona at the end of last season.

Fiona is quick with the rebound which comes in the form of Steve Carell who not surprisingly will need Fiona’s brand of therapy in no time (but she ends up getting much more than she bargains for). But it is not all completely bad for Fiona because her manuscript is being turned into a musical, just without her input. And the writer (Megan Mullally) is not putting the Fiona character in the best of light. We do et to here star Lisa Kudrow sing for may be the first time on screen since Smelly Cat.

Like previous seasons of Web Therapy, there are plenty of guest stars coming up in the new one. Aside from Carell and Mullally, Alan Cumming, Jennifer Elise Cox, Victor Garber all return while Meg Ryan, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Billy Crystal, Chelsea Handler, and Sara Gilbert all Skype with Fiona this season. And what would a season of Web Therapy be without a Friends reunion and Matt LeBlanc will be popping up sometime this season.

Web Therapy airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on Showtime.

The 25 Greatest Era in Rock and Roll History

It should be noted that I am defining “Rock and Roll” the same way the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame does in it is any popular music since the dawn of rock and roll in the fifties. I have included four key tracks from each era all of which I have added to a Spotify playlist for your listening pleasures with the widget at right.

1. Mid 60’s Motown
I Was Made to Love Her – Stevie Wonder
The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
My Girl – The Temptations
You Can't Hurry Love – The Supremes

2. Late 80’s Hip-Hop
Fight the Power – Public Enemy
Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J
Award Tour – A Tribe Called Quest
Passin' Me By – The Pharcyde

3. Late 60’s Rock
All Along the Watchtower – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Sunshine of Your Love – Cream
Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones
For What It's Worth – Buffalo Springfield

4. Mid 90’s Alternative Rock
Sabotage – Beastie Boys
What's the Frequency, Kenneth? – R.E.M.
Give It Away – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Bullet With Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins

5. Mid 60’s Pop
Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
Hey Jude – The Beatles
California Dreamin' – The Mamas and Papas
I'm a Believer – The Monkees

6. Early 70’s Soul
A Song for You – Donny Hathaway
What's Going On – Marvin Gaye
If You Don't Know Me By Now – Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
Take Me to the River – Al Green

7. Mid 80’s Pop
When Doves Cry - Prince
Beat It – Michal Jackson
Hello – Lionel Richie
You Make My Dreams – Hall and Oats

8. Early 10’s Folk
The Cave – Mumford and Sons
Stubborn Love – The Lumineers
Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars
Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes

9. Mid 80’s Rock
Glory Days – Bruce Springstreen
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
Pink Houses – John Mellencamp
Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top

10. Mid 90’s RnB
End of the Road – Boyz II Men
Feenin' – Jodeci
Every Time I Close My Eyes – Babyface
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey

11. Late 70’s Punk
London Calling – The Clash
I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones
Lust for Life – Iggy Pop
Anarchy In the U.K. – The Sex Pistols

12. Late 60’s Singer Songwriters
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
The Boxer – Simon and Garfunkel
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – The Byrds

13. Early 90’s Gangsta Rap
Mind Playing Tricks On Me – The Geto Boys
Nuthin' but a "G" Thang – Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) – Ice T
Straight Outta Compton – N.W.A.

14. Mid 60’s Garage Rock
You Really Got Me – The Kinks
Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Louie Louie – The Kingsmen
96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians

15. Mid 70’s Arena Rock
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Dream On – Aerosmith
Feel Like Makin' Love – Bad Company

16. Late 90’s Pop-Rock
Hold My Hand – Hootie and the Blowfish
Crash Into Me – Dave Matthews Band
Desperately Wanting – Better Than Ezra
One Week – Barenaked Ladies

17. Early 80’s New Wave
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic – The Police
Blue Monday – New Order
One Way Or Another – Blondie
Magic – The Cars

18. Early 90’s Grunge
Would? – Alice in Chains
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Alive – Pearl Jam
Fell On Black Days – Soundgarden

19. Late 00’s British Neo-Soul
Rolling in the Deep - Adele
Rehab – Amy Winehouse
LDN – Lily Allen
Mercy - Duffy

20. Early 00’s British Pop-Rock
Clocks – Coldplay
Run – Snow Patrol
Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Babylon – David Grey

21. Early 70’s Laurel Canyon
Fire and Rain – James Taylor
Doctor My Eyes – Jackson Browne
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes – Crosby Still and Nash
So Far Away - Carol King

22. Early 00’s Singer Songwriters
No Such Thing – John Mayer
Everywhere – Michelle Branch
Flake – Jack Johnson
The Blower's Daughter – Damian Rice

23. Mid 90’s Lilith Fair
Building a Mystery – Sarah McLaughlin
You Were Meant for Me – Jewel
Never Is a Promise – Fiona Apple
Life Is Sweet – Natalie Merchant

24. Late 00’s Indie Pop
Young Folks – Peter Bjorn and John
Fidelity – Regina Spektor
1234 – Feist
Portions for Foxes – Rilo Kiley

25. 50’s Dawn of Rock and Roll
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry
I Got a Woman – Ray Charles
Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis

57 Channels and Only This Is On: 7/21/13

Falling Skies: I never thought Hal was the mole, just too obvious. But do you know who was not at all obvious: Lourdes. Certainly did not see that coming. And that face worm scene was extremely creepy. But how exactly did she know all the strategic planning? Not really something a doctor would be privy two. As for the Masons, all the counter attacks really started to border on absurdity. There had to be about six in one episode lone.
You can download Falling Skies on iTunes.

Ray Donovan: The first two episodes were good, but the show was just missing something to get me invested in it. That may have finally came when the dude who got Papa Donovan out of prison showed up and we ended the episode in his dark basement with Ray and all his friends posted on his wall. This scene really should have been the final scene of the premiere.

Switched at Birth: Bay and Daphne’s talk about sex may have been the most uncomfortable thing I have seen on television in a long time.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Switched at Birth on iTunes.

Under the Dome: So the brother finally asked someone about his sister. That only took three days. Not that he cared all that much because it look like he is already renting out her room. But just what is Big Jim going to do with her? If he lets her go, he will have to send his son, who just did not disappoint him for the very first time in his life, to jail. Since it is flooded, he really cannot keep her in the bunker. So it is either lock her up in the house or kill her.
You can stream Under The Dome exclusively on Amazon Instant Video, free for Prime members.

Siberia: It is annoying on competition reality show when contestants talk about “playing the game” and it is even more annoying on this show because there really is no “game” to play. There are no competitions, not elimination, the only thing they have to do is not die, that really is not a game.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Siberia on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: When Spencer drove into that town I thought she drove into a different show. It turns out I was right. For the unaware, Ravenswood is an upcoming Pretty Little Liars spin-off show (do not get too attached to the Hanna / Caleb relationship because is joining that cast). If the show is as creepy as these segments would suggest, it may be worth watching.
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

The Bridge: I do not know what I would do if a woman who looked like Diane Kruger walked up to me in a bar and propositioned me for sex right off the bat. I do not know what I would do if any woman walked up to me in a bar and propositioned me for sex right off the bat. I would probably be too paranoid that I was on a hidden camera show or that she is just luring me back to her place to harvest my organs that I would end up passing up the opportunity. It may not be a good thing that this was my big take away from the episode why my biggest question would be is a hostess really an upgrade over a waitress?
You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download The Bridge on iTunes.

The Challenge: Rivals II: Seriously producers, if all you can get on short notice was Cara Maria, just send Cooke home. No one wants to see her ever again (including the contestants). It is not even a hate to love thing, it is a wants to turn the channel thing. And a note to any newbies to the Challenge, watch previous seasons. I had to shake my head when Anastasia got mad at CT for using her as her own personal plaything. Had she watched the show before, she would have known that is his M.O. with the exception of Diem. Not watching the previous seasons would be as dumb as training by smoking cigarettes and not eating (God bless TJ).
You can download The Challenge: Rivals II on iTunes.

The Hero: I was really hoping they were going to vote Patti into the Hero’s Challenge, I could have done without her for the final episode. And again it is annoying they are going make us wait a week to find out who gets voted off, really unnecessary. I really doubt there are many people out there that were thinking of not watching next week but will turn in just to see who will be voted off.
You can download The Hero on iTunes.

Best of the Week: 7/20/13

Quote of the Week: Mo’ Mona, mo’ problems. (Spencer Hastings, Pretty Little Liars)

Song of the Week: Twerk It – V.I.C. (Ray Donavon)

Scene of the Week:


Big News of the Week: The Emmy Nominations Are Out: And like ever other year I do not care. Seriously, do Emmy voters not get FX?

Preview Picture of the Week:

"Pilot" The Vineyard, Tuesday at 10:00 on ABC Family

Free Download of the Week: Noisetrade Eastside Manor Sessions – Caitlin Rose

New Album Release of the Week: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

New DVD Release of the Week: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 3

Video of the Week: Hannibal gag reel. Insert your own joke here.


Next Week Pick of the Week: Web Therapy, Tuesday at 11:00 on Showtime: The web series turned television show returns for its third season this week, look out for a review later this week.

Around the Tubes: 7/19/13

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 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks, The Cheshire Murders, Sharknado, Ghost Shark, Streetcorner Symphony, Ginger and Rosa, Ray Donovan, and American Dad.

- Wednesday is the AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Mel Brooks starting at 8:00 on TCM and you can watch a clip from the special below:


- Next week, HBO returns with a riveting new documentary that explores strange circumstances surrounding the murders that took place in Connecticut back in 2007. The Cheshire Murders premieres Monday at 9:00, exclusively on HBO. Watch the trailer below:


- If you liked Sharknado, get ready for more because the Syfy movie will get a sequel next year. Even better, you can help name the movie. Just tweet your subtitle to @SyfyMovies using #Sharknado. Syfy will select the best submission as the subtitle for Sharknado 2 which will be taking place in NYC. If you cannot wait next year for another shark fix, do not worry, on Thursday, August 22 at 9:00, Syfy will premiere Ghost Shark. And like every other Syfy original movie, the title is self explanatory.

- You may remember Street Corner Symphony from the second season of The Sing-Off and they recently released their new album Southern Autumn Nostalgia which features an acapella version of The Black Crows (by way of Otis Redding) Hard to Handle.

- Out on DVD this week is Ginger & Rosa, the "exhilarating and heartbreaking" (Wall Street Journal) film that tells the emotional coming-of-age story of two best friends whose relationship is effected by the events of the 1960s starring Ella Fanning.


- If you have been enjoying the new Showtime series Ray Donovan, get ready for another season because the network has already renewed it for a second season after becoming its most watched series premiere ever and is set to premiere sometime next year.

- If you enjoy American Dad, I hope you have cable, because the animated show will be moving to TBS in late 2014

When the Music's on She Can Do No Wrong

After years of trolling in relative obscurity, a blue-eye soul man finally had a smash hit this year. But enough about Robin Thicke, let’s talk about a blue eyed soul man who actually deserves big success: Mayer Hawthorne. Where Thicke needed six album to reach the top of the pop charts, Mayer Hawthorne is still on album number three just releasing Where Does This Door Go. But much like Robin, he worked with Pharrell Williams, who has had a career resurgence this year, who produced three songs on the album.

None of those tracks have the instant catchiness of Blurred Lines, but The Stars Are Ours sound like something that may have come out of a session from Pharrell’s other summer smash hit Get Lucky if he skipped the electric sound of Daft Punk and made a song completely organic. Pharrell also contributed to what is probably Mayer’s most personal song yet, Reach Out Richard about his father.

The cover and title may suggest a more reflexive turn (and the title track is a bit darker and as close to Pink Floyd as a blue eyed soul man can get), but the album is a much more danceable affair than his previous two. And Mayer also trade in his trademark falsetto for his normal tenor voice for most of the album, one of the few time he goes into the upper register is the last song Pharrell produced on the album and Wine Glass Woman is the song where Hawthorne sound most like Pharrell. The album closes with maybe the least Mayer Hawthorne song he has ever recorded with All Better, it is still in his retro wheelhouse, but trades in old time soul to oldies pop in the vein of The Beatles type power ballad. It may not come with a song off of Where Does This Door Go, but if there is any justice, Mayer Hawthorne will have his breakout moment very soon.

Song to Download – The Stars Are Ours

Where Does This Door Go gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

Previewing Deal with It

As we begin yet another season of The Challenge, you cannot help think back to Challengers of the past. Sure a couple went on to be legitimate stars like The Miz, Jamie Chung, and the dude from Grimm. Shawn from Real World: Boston is an actual U.S. Congressmen. While most just fade into obscurity, oh Dan from Miami and Julie from New Orleans, where have you gone? After participating on Road Rules: Maximum Velocity Tour, Theo Von went on to appear on four Challenges (the last being the first Fresh Meat season), winning two before heading off to another reality show: Last Comic Standing and has been working the comedy trail ever since.

Seven years after his last Challenge, Theo is now going head to head with his own show Deal with It, premiering tonight at 10:30 on TBS. It is another hidden camera show where celebrities find civilians willing to put an earpiece in and then do whatever the celebrity tells them to do, even if it involves throwing a show at a waitress or destroying a kid’s toy. If they complete five tasks, they will walk out of the restaurant $5000 richer (and probably with one less friend).

Tonight the celebs in question are the executive producer of the show Howie Mandel (who seems to really like producing hidden camera shows) and Community’s Yvette Nicole Brown. Having minions doing their bidding later this season include Joan and Melissa Rivers, Adam Carolla, Bobby Lee, and Josh Gad. Like every other hidden camera shows, there are plenty of laughs to be had, but it really is not really appointment television unless you really love hidden camera shows. Or you are tired of all the newbies on The Challenge and want to see one of the originals again.

Deal with It airs Wednesdays at 10:30 on TBS. Take a sneak peak at the premiere below.

Say What You Wanna Say and Let the Words Fall Out

With her first two albums, Sara Bareilles recorded two late songs that were not so thinly veiled at her record company still looking for a single, which both Love Song and King of Anything became to launch the albums. Either the record label did not meddle this time around or she was tired of writing snarky anti-love songs because the first single off her third full length album The Blessed Unrest was the positive and upbeat Brave.

Maybe the record company should have irate Sara because the self empowering anthem Brave is the weakest of the three lead singles (but at least we got to see her dance in the music video which was entertaining in itself). And without the instant smash single to lead the album, the rest of The Blessed Unrest feels like a bit of a letdown as a whole without a song to latch onto.

Despite that lack of something initially bring you in, there is still plenty of good songs on the album, just nothing great. If you like your Bareilles songs to go towards the mellow stripped down route like Gravity, check out the loungey (in a good way) Manhattan. That is followed up with the spacey, equally as beautiful Satellite Call which may very well be her weirstest song o date. The album ends with December, a passionate ode to a past love. But The Blessed Unrest would probably be more memorable if it started up with something snarkier.

Song to Download – Manhattan

The Blessed Unrest gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I Want My Music Television: 7/15/13

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.


Babel - Mumford & Sons


I know Mumford and Sons are about ninety percent passion, but no one can look cool jamming out on a stand up keyboard. Even the accordion looked cooler.


Never Gonna Let You Go – Tony Lucca


I liked Tony Lucca before he was on The Voice, even had a couple albums by the guy. And though he has my favorite Blind Audition that season, he never really found his footing after that and the feud was Christina was a bit cringeworthy. This song is better than any of his Live Show performances though still a bit pedestrian. I do like the video, it looks that as if Tony learned one thing from his coach Adam Levine, is that every music video needs a token hot chick. Granted Adam usually take that opportunity to roll around with them naked.


If - Glassvegas


C’mon, Glasvegas, how do you recruit William Shatner for your music video and not have him do a horrible spoken rendition of your song? But I guess his all the great songs have already been written monologue was appropriate for a song the repurposes the Talking Heads’ Road to Nowhere.


American Girl – Bonnie McKee


I actually liked Bonnie McKee’s debut album, but apparently I was the only one because it bombed and nine years later she was not released another one. In the intervening years she has made a name for herself writing horrible pop songs for Katy Perry (including four number one hits), Adam Lambert, and Carly Rae Jepsen, all who repaid her for showing up in her new music video featuring a slew of other celebrities for a song that sound more like the horrible songs she has been writing lately that her much better earlier stuff. That probably means this will be much more successful. Ugg.