Friday, August 21, 2009

Around the Tubes vol. XIX


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 Sons of Anarchy, Community, Ghosthunters, Alien Earth, Naked Science: Hawking’s Universe, Miss Universe, the Hope Diamond and the Dreadnots.

- I recently started watching the first season of Sons of Anarchy and it is real epic. For those that are already caught up and ready for the season premiere Tuesday September 8 at 10:00 on FX, here is a preview of the second season:



- Speaking of Sons of Anarchy, fans of the show or those that want to get into the show, head over to FX.com to enter the Gear Pack Giveaway that includes the first season on DVD and all the goodies below:

Win a Sons of Anarchy Prize Pack


- We are about a month until the premiere of Community and in addition to the Greendale Community College website, there is now an orientation video to go along with the college which touts its straight A’s, first up is Accessibility (as someone who’s dorm room without it, I appreciate that air conditioning is an upcoming one):



- A new season of SyFy’s Ghosthunters premiered this week and here is a promo for the new season Wednesdays at 9:00:



Two new specials hitting the National Geographic Channel this Sunday. Starting at 9:00 is Alien Earths where astronomers predict what far off planets may look like using CGI and if they could possibly host life. Then at 10:00 there is Naked Science: Hawking’s Universe which looks at Stephan’s contributions to the science field. Here is a clip from the latter that deals with Hawking’s speech software.



- Ever want to be a beauty pageant judge? Well here is your chance as you pick Miss Photogenic for the upcoming Miss Universe contest. And the photos they used just happened to be from the bikini competition. Then turn into the contest this Sunday on NBC and Telemundo.

- The Hope Diamond will be celebrating its fiftieth year in the Smithsonian this year and to commemorate, it is getting a new look as chosen by you. Head over to Smithsonianchannel.com to see the choices and to vote.

- How about some “good music for a bad economy”? For fans of what they call psychedelic hip-hop, you will want to check out the free download of Dreadnots Robotic Hands of God: Voice of the Last Days.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Music Within Makes Me Whole and a World That I Built on My Own


Kate Earl - Kate Earl

Two people that Kate Earl probable hates hearing about are Sarah Palin and Jewel as the newcomer is also from Alaska and those two are the only people to make a name for themselves in Continental US since Steward’s Folly unless you are a basketball fan that knows Carlos Boozer is also from the state. Like Jewel, Earl is a singer-songwriter and no she has never spent anytime living in a car. And Earl’s self titled album definitely isn’t some coffeehouse fair like her Alaskan predecessor.

Kate Earl should fit in pretty well with the other female singer-songwriters of the decade with songs like Melody fitting perfectly between the latest from Coblie Caillet and Sara Bareilles, but Earl has an music appreciation that seems to date back to the girl groups of the sixties as Only in Dreams could have fit on the radio back in the sixties between Diana Ross and Martha Reeves with Earl paying tribute to doo-wop in the middle of Melody. Basically Earl sounds like Cat Power had she ever cared about pop sensibilities.

But Kate Earl is plenty diverse, besides the present day pop hook of Melody and classic sound of Only in Dreams, All I Want and When You’re Ready have heavy dance beats to them. Nobody and Can’t Treat Me That Way are sleek songs that could fit in at the local cabaret. Golden Street is a clap heavy jam with a great synth groove to it and Learning to Fly sounds like an updated version of The Wall of Sound. While Impossible is your token girl anthem for the album. All the while with the introspective lyrics that are as good as any of her contemporaries. Soon we may have a third Alaskan for us in the lower forty-eight to point to.

Song to Download – Only in Dreams

Kate Earl gets a Terror Alert Level: High [ORANGE] on my Terror Alert Scale.

(Scooter’s note: You can download Melody for free on iTunes as long as the picture below is of Earl)

Kate Earl free on iTunes



Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I Want My Music Television vol. LXII


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.


Goodnight, Travel Well – The Killers



UNICEF, MTV and The Killers teamed up this thought provoking video to shed the light on human trafficking. Hopefully since they are involved, MTV actually shows the video sometime other than times when normal people are not sleeping.


Fugitive – David Gray



Back in 2000, I would have pegged David Gray to end up being one of the artists of the decade. As we close out the ’00 that sadly didn’t turn out to be the case aside from my own record collection as most people were turned off by his dark turn on A Day After Midnight. But still color me excited for Draw the Line out next month.


Melody – Kate Earl



iTunes use to find a lot of gems with their weekly free Single of the Week, but this year has been mostly misses. But that turned around this week where you can get this song from Kate Earl for the low price of nothing. As long as the banner below is of Earl, you can still get it for free. As for the song itself, I love the subtle doo-wop in the middle of the song.

Kate Earl free on iTunes



Relator – Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson



Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson teamed up for an album, so, um, yeah, that happened.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Previewing The Jon Dore Television Show


In a story I broke last week, tonight sees the American premiere of The Jon Dore Television Show on IFC at 10:00. The show is hard to describe as it is a little mix of things. You really cannot call it a reality show on Dore’s life because some of the bits are obviously scripted, we even get to see inside the writers room. But it also seems to be heavy on improve especially his “interviews” that are reminiscent of the ones conducted by The Daily Show where the interviewer are not being all that seriously though acting like it while the interviewees are trying to give the most serious answer they can come up with.

IFC will be show the first two seasons of The Jon Dore Television Show straight, twenty-six episodes in all, as they have already aired in Canada. Being a Canadian show be warned there are a lot of Canadianisms like people mispronouncing words like “aboot.” Oh, those silly Canadians. The first episode follows Dore while he goes to a fertility clinic to see if he can have kids. Later in the series Jon battles alcoholism, smoking, STD’s and even tries to get in shape in order to audition for a softcore porn role. And dude had a serious spare tire that he disturbingly likes to show off.

The Jon Dore Television Show is a quirky series that is reminiscent of another Canadian comedy import, Tom Green, but more polite, less annoying and better budget. When it is on, there is plenty of chuckling, but it seems if Dore would have done better in short form of a webseries that featured his interviewing skills as the episodes do go a little song for a twenty-two minute show with Dore taking many pit stops, much that are not as funny as the interviews, on his episode journey.

The Jon Dore Television Show airs Tuesdays at 10:00 on IFC and is repeated Saturdays also at 10:00.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Feed Your iPod vol. XXXIII: Broken Hearted


Eric Clapton is one of those artists that it is nearly impossible to have one favorite song of. His catalogue is so extensive and diverse; you really cannot single out one. But with a gun to my head, I may have to go with Broken Hearted. While the album version (which the link below goes to) came during his electronic era where he became fascinated the drum machine (which was to rock bands in the late nineties, what the auto-tuner is for rappers today: overused). But where the song truly shines is in the acoustic setting where the video below come from with some help from John Mayer.


Broken Hearted – Eric Clapton Eric Clapton - Pilgrim - Broken Hearted



Sunday, August 16, 2009

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. XCIII


Quote of the Week: Miss Gilardi, I don’t like conspiracy theories. I don’t think Princess Diana was murdered by the Royal Family. I don’t think they dissected aliens in Roswell. And I’m pretty (expletive deleted) sure that the grassy knoll in Dallas, just a grassy knoll. (Judge Albert Farnsworth, Raising the Bar)

Song of the Week: Walk Away - Dropkick Murphys (Rescue Me)

Big News of the Week: Oz’s Ernie Hudson Joins Heroes: Okay, nothing Heroes does anymore can be considered “Big News” because no one, including myself, watches it anymore. The big news is the title itself where everywhere across the internets wrote just that: “Oz’s Ernie Hudson Joins Heroes.” I had to do a double take each time I saw that thinking, “was there another Ernie Hudson that happened to be on Oz?” because when I think Ernie Hudson, I think Ghostbusters. Is there really anyone out there that hears the name Ernie Hudson and thinks Oz first?

Coalition Links of the Week:
It's summer, it's hot, and Vance's brain can no longer think in more than 140 characters. He hasn't blogged much lately, but he's twittered the summer away. (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace had an exclusive interview with Bones showrunner/executive producer Hart Hanson about what to expect from Season Five of Bones, Booth's mental state, Brennan's Guatemalan trip, Angela's celibacy vow, a possible return to London, Stephen Fry, and much more. (Televisionary)

Design Star -- it's no Project Runway, but it'll do during the summer doldrums. Also, Nathan and Dan are good enough eye candy to keep tuning in. (TiFaux)

Dr. Gregory House trying to actually connect with people?!? Matt is excited to see if this House spoiler become a reality. (TV Fanatic)

Buzz geared up for Mad Men's third season with a little quiz about the first two years of the show. (BuzzSugar)

Sandie interviewed Michaela Conlin, who plays Angela on Bones. (Daemon's TV)


Rescue Me: That may have been the most low key wedding ever in the history of television. Made even more shocking with the knowledge that the hooker is apparently loaded. I still don’t see this ending well. You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.

Rescue Me on iTunes


Leverage: It was pretty funny that they ran a Nancy Grace commercial during an episode that called out her and her ilk for being shady and corrupt. You can stream current episodes over at TNT.tv. You can also download Leverage on iTunes.

The Philanthropist: Well that was a surprised that Madestone turned out to be the governor’s brother. Surely didn’t see that one coming. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download The Philanthropist on iTunes.

Free Download of the Week: Fire Escape – Diane Birch (Rcrd Lbl): If you saw my review of the debut album from Diane Birch, Bible Belt (if not see: Love Makes the Price Good Enough to Wanna Pay) then you may have noticed the Song to Download was Fire Escape which you can download for free.

Deal of the Week: Blu-ray Sale: Buy Two, Get One Free (Spaceballs, Office Space, Wayne’s World)

Video of the Week: Just a reminder that CTRL is still airing new episodes (I think they have two more left). The latest, where Buster Bluth learns what CTRL-Z does, may be the funniest yet. Or click the link to view the entire series so far.



Next Week Pick of the Week: Shaq Vs., Tuesday at 9:00 on ABC: Every week the newly Cleveland resident will be taking on other athletes in their sports with Shaq getting a handicap. Hopefully he shows his city’s loyalty by getting in a cheap shot to the knees of Ben Roethlisberger. Also expect Shaq to go up against Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Oscar De La Hoya, Albert Pujols, Kerry Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Lyrics Quiz: ?


As usual, place your guesses in the comment (or e-mail me), both artist and song title, and if you are correct I will un-bold the lyric. 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 quiz:

1. In the past where the sun don’t ever shine I will shiver the whole night through.
2. The sun do’n go down, it’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning ‘round.
3. When you can see your unborn children in her eyes. (Have You Ever Loved a Woman? - Bryan Adams; guessed by Rebekah)
4. You still acting up. Running around here like some brand new (chicken) about to get (plucked).
5. All that I’ve been giving is this pain that I’ve been living they got me in the system.
6. Coming in a mess going out in style. I ain’t good looking but I’m someone’s child.
7. They say you are a snuff queen, honey I don't think that's true. (Why Don't We Get Drunk - Jimmy Buffet; guessed by Rebekah)
8. I always thought our love was so right, I guess I was wrong. I always thought U'd be by my side mama, now U're gone. (How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore - Prince; guessed by Rebekah)
9. I ask myself, “Is all hope lost. Is there only pain, hatred and misery?”
10. So we pray to as many different God's as there are flowers, but we call religion our friend.
11. How many times do I have to try to tell you that I’m sorry for the things I've done? (Why - Annie Lennox; guessed by Rebekah)
12. It's enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best. (Can You Feel the Love Tonight? - Elton John; guessed by Anonymous)
13. So tell me why we have to die and kill each other one by one?
14. My friend gots a boyfriend, man she hates that (expletive deleted) she tell me every day. (Why Don't You Get a Job? - The Offspring; guessed by AJ)
15. You know we got to find a way to bring some lovin’ here today. (What's Going On - Marvin Gaye; guessed by Rebekah)
16. There’s a dream that strings the road with broken glass for us to hold. And I cut so far before I had to stay.
17. Richard said, “Withdrawal in disgust is not the same as apathy.”
18. Take me as I am; put your hand in mine, now and forever.
19. So I made a big mistake, try to see it once my way.
20. Mom it’s my birthday. (What Would You Say - Dave Matthews Band; guessed by Jo)
21. Nobody likes you when you’re 23. (What's My Age Again? - Blink-182; guessed by AJ)
22. Someone told me long ago, there’s a calm before the storm. I know, it’s been coming for some time. (Have You Ever Seen the Rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival; guessed by Rebekah)
23. You shut your mouth. How can you say I go about things the wrong way.
24. Got some bad news this morning that in turn made my day.
25. Seems to be a misunderstanding ‘bout who you belong to. I’m tired of he saying, she saying.


Friday, August 14, 2009

Around the Tubes vol. XVIII


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 Jon Dore Television Show, Community, Black Gold, Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel, HawthoRNe, and Paula Abdul.

- Variety recently called Jon Dore one of “10 Comics to Watch” and watch you will be able to do when IFC airs The Jon Dore Television Show coming this Tuesday at 10:00 which will be airing the first two seasons of the Canadian show back to back.

- You still have a couple hours to watch the season premiere of Community if become a fan of the show on Facebook before you will have to wait until September 17 for the premiere. If you are still wondering if it is something you want to watch, check out this preview:



- Black Gold (which you remember as the reality show that features Matthew McConaughey’s brother, Rooster) returns for a second season this coming Wednesday at 10:00 on TruTV. Here is a preview:



- Also going into its second season on TruTV is Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel retuning September 1 at 10:00.


- For those enjoying the inaugural season of TNT’s HawthoRNe should be happy to hear the Jada Pinkett Smith medical show has been renewed for a second season which is set to air sometime in 2010.

- TV Guide recently polled their readers and 55% of them want Paula Abdul to appear on Dancing with the Stars while I polled the workers on the 9th Green and 100% of them said they wouldn’t watch Dancing with the Stars even if they cast MC Skat Kat.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I Want My Music Television vol. LXI


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.


Heartless – The Fray



Kanye West cannot be happy that The Fray did a better version of his than he did and their animated video is better too. Of course this is why Kanye should leave emo to the professionals. You don’t see The Fray dropping a rap mixtape do you?


Give Me the Meltdown – Rob Thomas



Rob Thomas has made some of the most mediocre music of the past fifteen years, but dude does have a sense of humor that I learned second hand when I asked the other Rob Thomas about how much he hated Matchbox 20 jokes (see No, Not that Rob Thomas). Another case in point, this faux YouTube-style music video.


Little Bribes – Death Cab for Cutie



There is just something about the lyric, “The Eiffel Tower built to a smaller scale; the freshest oxygen I ever inhaled” from the latest Death Cab for Cutie song.


Wanted – Jessie James



When I reviewed the debut album from Jessie James (see The Rebel Moon Is Shining) I called Wanted “disposable as disposable pop can get (although any red blooded American male won’t get tired watching the video.” Well here is said video for all the red blooded American males out there.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Love Makes the Price Good Enough to Wanna Pay


Bible Belt - Diane Birch

Diane Birch has the kind of voice that can melt your heart and warm your soul. There have been many retro artists of late but Birch is one of the few that mange to be retro but still sound current at the same time (the only other being Amy Winehouse, but who knows if she will ever be cognizant enough again to make another album). Sounding like Carole King with more edge at times, Birch should still find room on the playlist of present day adult contemporary radio station. And if Birch isn’t on your local station you should call for the resignation of the programmer.

The name Diane Birch may make some head scratching happen, but her debut album Bible Belt assembles an impressive list of session players, Lenny Kravitz’s recording and touring drummer Cindy Blackman, George Porter from The Meters on bass, Adam Blackstone from The Roots, Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith Group, and some backing vocals from Eugene Pitt of the doo wop group The Jive Five. With all that assembly of talent, the real secret weapon is legendary soul singer Betty Wright who co-produced Bible Belt, provided backing vocals and served as Birch’s vocal coach.

Despite the religious title, Bible Belt is no Christian record instead seems to be inspired by her traveling preacher, and spending most of her youth going from place to place like South Africa and Australia certainly helped the creative process in Birch. The closest she gets to being non-secular is near the end of the album including Choo Choo which features hints of organs that could be from a church service (or maybe just a lost The Doors groove) while singing about how the devil has targeted her guy to just get to her. Then there is the bluesy Forgiveness that starts off with the line, “Hallelujah I got water, I got air.” Actually the song could work as a hymnal just as well and a pop song. Also Photograph ends in a crescendo of a choir to great effect after starting off as a lullaby.

With a voice like hers, naturally the slow songs are where she truly soars like on Fire Escape, the opener to the album. The other showcase to her voice bookends the album with the closer Magic View. But shows her many other skills throughout the album, Valentino is a bouncy New Orleans inspired track. If you listen closely you may her influences from the original Iko Iko. But for a full New Orleans march go to Rise Up.

The lead single Nothing but a Miracle is a dreamy jazzy song that laments the demise of a relationship that should be in heavy rotation of any broken hearted girl playlist, way ahead of any cheesy angry pop tart’s break up song. The piano into to Rewind sounds like the greatest chord progression Billy Joel never got around to writing himself while the chorus starts to sound like the melody of Alone by Heart before going somewhere different when the horns come in.

Song to Download – Fire Escape

Bible Belt gets a Terror Alert Level: Severe [RED] on my Terror Alert Scale.







Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Feed Your iPod vol. XXXII: Summer in the City


Here is one for the youngins that don’t realize there was music recorded before they were born. In fact this song even outdates me by more than a few years. Summer in the City comes to mind mostly because the last two days have topped off here at over 90 degrees after an extremely mild summer so far. Since I had it this far without the air conditioner being turned on I decided a couple weeks ago that I would try to go the whole summer without it. Thanks to the mini-heat wave I spent the last two days sweating profusely as I walk around in nothing but my boxers to stay cool. And whenever I sweat profusely, I think of this song because it just sounds like the musical version of sweat.

Summer in the City – The Lovin’ Spoonful The Lovin' Spoonful - Platinum & Gold Collection: The Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In the City



Monday, August 10, 2009

That Rebel Moon Is Shining


Back in the nineties I had a deep disgust of country music as I felt it contributed to the dumbing down of its listeners with its songs about sexy tractors. I am pretty sure my country music fans peers in high school grew up to be the people that blacked out John McCain’s name on their front yard McCain/Palin ’08 sign. It wasn’t until college that rediscovered the genre thanks to Rick Rubin reintroducing Johnny Cash that I realized that is basically country radio, much like Top 40, was contributing to the dumbing down of its listeners, but if look deep enough you could find quality country music.

Of course today the borders of pop and country are getting so melted to the point where singers like Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift are considered country even though they are basically just pop singers who occasionally utilize fiddles and banjos. But Emmylou Harris they are not. These last two weeks those borders have gotten even murkier.

The melding of pop and country come to a head with current Swift opening act Gloriana which even features Cheyenne Kimball whose reality show chronicled her attempt to be the American Avril Lavigne. Now in a group with a heavy dose of mandolins Kimmel is happy to straddle the two genres. Their self titled debut starts well enough with the southern rock of How Far Do You Wanna Go? which is followed by the mellow clap along Wild at Heart that will probably ever Swift fan will be singing along to by the end of their tour with her. The only song after track two worth mentioning is You Said which sounds like a left over from Kimmel’s solo outing. Sadly the rest of the album if ripe with filler, and with a group of four singers I was expecting more harmonizing, but the four tend to just take turns with lead vocals.

Gloriana gets a Terror Alert Level: Elevated [YELLOW] on my Terror Alert Scale.

Gloriana on iTunes



No one, though, has blended the two genres more than Jessie James to the point that more than anything James acts the part of a country singer with the cut off jeans and t-shirts (with that said, her name is no pseudonym, she was born Jessica Rose James) but she is much more a Christina Aguilera clone than Reba McEntire. Yeah there is an occasional banjo, but songs like Wanted are as disposable as disposable pop can get (although any red blooded American male won’t get tired watching the video). And the lyrics don’t help her out much like “Is that a gun in your pocket or are you happy to see me” from Bullet which was not surprisingly co-written by Katy Perry. Interestingly enough the strongest song on her also self titled debut is Psycho Girlfriend. Cheesy titles and screaming intro aside, it is one of the few songs James doesn’t try to out-Aguilera Aguilera and utilizes a silky vocal over a sly track and even slips in some Suzanne Vega to boot. If only her whole was this fun and clever.

Jessie James gets a Terror Alert Level: Elevated [YELLOW] on my Terror Alert Scale.

Jessie James on iTunes




Sunday, August 09, 2009

The Way I See it, You’re Kind of Like You’re Car


Bart Got a Room

Early in the movie Bart got a Room, Ashley Benson (who seems to where a cheerleader outfit more often than Hayden Panettiere) gives a monologue about the car that Steven Kaplan is driving her around in is just like Steve, not flashy but dependable. But Benson might as well been talking about the movie which may lack any flashy names but is at best watchable even if it falls flat at time.

Newcomer Kaplan is the lead of the movie despite not named Bart. It is the fact that even Bart got a room for after prom that makes Kaplan’s search for a date even urgent. Naturally underclassmen cheerleader Benson is at the top of the list but there are a few other opportunities Kaplan tries, including a blind date, in hopes of not getting stuck with going with his best friend, Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), because, much like Bart, we wants to get a room and share it with someone and not just to play Scrabble with all night.

Making it harder for Kaplan is that both his recently divorced parents are doing better finding dates. Mom Cheryl Hines (Waitress) has gotten serious and is hoping a question gets asked soon. While dad, William H. Macy (Wild Hogs) has resigned to finding dates in chat rooms (not the kind Chris Hansen trolls, but real adult ones) with mixed result. Bart Got a Room is dependable for a few laughs but is prone to breaking down for short stretches throughout.

The DVD does get bonus points for including a Pop-Up Videos style commentary that is much more entertaining than standard audio commentaries.

Bart Got a Room gets a Terror Alert Level: Elevated [YELLOW] on my Terror Alert Scale.



Saturday, August 08, 2009

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. XCII


Quote of the Week: “The pasty, skinny kid who looks like one of those Twilight (expletive deleted)” (Maura Tierney, Rescue Me)

Song of the Week: I Got Messed Up – R.L. Burnside (Rescue Me)

Big News of the Week: MTV Video Music Award Nominees Announced: There is really nothing that makes me feel older the last five years than the VMA’s and this may be the first time I don’t watch the award show since I first got cable in 1989. The only category with any interesting nominees is the new one Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman). The network has long since avoided any nod to its history so it is surprising they would do so this year. The list includes:

Beastie Boys – Sabotage
Bjork – Human Behaviour
Dr. Dre – Nuthin’ but a “G” Thang
Foo Fighters – Everlong
George Michael – Freedom! ‘90
OK Go – Here it Goes Again
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Into the Great Wide Open
Radiohead – Karma Police
David Lee Roth – California Girls
U2 – Where the Streets Have no Name

Even though I think Sabotage should win (seriously, it features Cochise), I hope California Girls wins just for the potential David Lee Roth acceptance speech. I would actually tune in to see that.

Coalition Links of the Week:
One more month until Glee!!! Whee!!! Can you tell Vance is really excited? (Tapeworthy)

This week, Jace had an exclusive video interview with Doctor Who and Torchwood writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies and director Euros Lyn about what's coming up on the final David Tennant Doctor Who specials, a possible fourth season of Torchwood, the return of some familiar faces, and many, many other things. (Televisionary)

It's fun and it's quippy! Enter to win the first season of Leverage on DVD by e-mailing us with the last thing you stole. (TiFaux)

Matt can't wait to see Rachel Evan Wood on True Blood. As if this show could get any more fun/ridiculous! (TV Fanatic)

Kate wondered which oldie but goodie The CW will tackle next. (TV Filter)

This week, Sandie took at first look at Syfy's Alice, a re-imagining of "Alice in Wonderland." (Daemon's TV)


Rescue Me: They really went a long way just for a joke with Garrity’s, um, carrot. Maybe the best written episode of the season from an entertainment standpoint especially the discussion with Maura Tierney. But from a storyline stand point, the show seems to be coming off the rails again like it did last season. Hopefully they can pull it back in before the end of the season which only has three episodes left. You can stream current episodes over at Hulu.

Rescue Me on iTunes


The Philanthropist: Another great storytelling devise this week with Teddy defending himself to some Glen Beck type nutjob. You can stream current episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download The Philanthropist on iTunes.

Free Download of the Week: Defying Gravity (iTunes): I had a luke warm First Impression of Defying Gravity, but if you would like to check it out for yourself, you can download the two hour premiere for free and in HD.

Defying Gravity for free on iTunes


Deal of the Week: Comedy DVDs and More from $5.99! (Office Space, Spaceballs, UHF)

Video of the Week: I really need to get DirecTV because I don’t think I can wait until next summer to see the new season of Friday Night Lights. Here is an interview with Julie Taylor from the TCA’s.




Next Week Pick of the Week: I got nothing. For those that need some sort of TV fix this week, may I suggest going through The 100 Greatest Television Shows of the 00’s and add some of the shows you have missed to your queue.

Friday, August 07, 2009

Around the Tubes vol. XVII


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 Drain the Ocean, The Tonight Show, Mercy, The Bill Engvall Show and Skeet Ulrich.

- The National Geographic Channel heads under the ocean to explore the terrain and critters that habitat there that we know very little about for Drain the Ocean this Sunday at 9:00. Head over to their website for a cool interactive map that coincides with the program. Below is a clip from the show:



- Apparently the economy is so bad they are even canceling the UCLA Undie Run. Unfortunately they didn’t tell the people at The Tonight Show. Take a look:



- Looky who is in the new Mercy promo, Garrity’s mom. She sure likes hospitals.



- Tomorrow on The Bill Engvall Show, Bill’s deadbeat brother stops by. Check out a clip below:



- TV Guide has exclusive scoop of Skeet Ulrich showing up on the next season of CSI: New York for three episodes as a deeply disturbed killer. Yeah, that sounds about right.

- OnlineCourses.org has posted a list of 25 Super Smart TV Shows You Can Actually Learn From.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

I Want My Music Television vol. LX


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.


CNR – “Weird Al” Yankovic



Last month I implored “Weird Al” Yankovic to stick with parodied, well slide me some crow because his latest “style parody” is as cool as any real parody. Al takes the Chuck Norris (who makes a cameo if you look closely) facts and goes one ups man with game show legend Charles Nelson Riley in the style of The White Stripes. Watching this makes me think of the old Remote Control category Dead or Alive (the answer for Riley at the bottom of the post).


She Wolf – Shakira



Excuse me for not being able formulate a cognitive thought to the new Shakira video because my mind has turned to mush. I am pretty sure this would have constituted as softcore porn in the eighties.


Let Me Be Myself – 3 Doors Down



If you remember last month I mentioned Jet made a Teen Wolf reference in their latest video and now another one pops up in the new 3 Doors Down video. Although it may have supposed to be a caveman. I guess we should blame the makeup guy. But between the two videos and the previously mentioned Shakira wolf themed song, I want to again push my McLovin in a Teen Wolf remake with Ellen Paige as Boof. Seriously, I should be a Hollywood executive.


Sleep Alone – Bat for Lashes



There is something extremely haunting about Bat for Lashes but I can never seem to turn it off or turn away whenever she is on.


Sadly Charles Nelson Reilly died in 2007.

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Breaking Down the 100 Greatest Television Shows of the 00's


By now I hope you have had the chance to digest The 100 Greatest Television Shows of the 00’s. If not, follow the link to give it a look before reading further. I didn’t do an introduction to the list because I tend to get wordy when I get on a roll and I just wanted the list to speak for itself, only adding a quick note to the requirements. So I will get wordy today instead.

Yesterday kicked off a year long look back at the decade that is about to end. Every month for the next twelve months (sans December where I will be too busy doing my usually year end retrospective) I will release a new comprehensive list remembering the best of the 00’s. I do mean comprehensive because I have been researching these list for the last two years to make sure they are as complete as they could be. Of course I am only an armchair pundit and will not have gotten to experience your favorites, so if they are missing, that most likely be the case. Granted there is an off chance I did catch it and just didn’t like it (I’m talking to you the people who still think Heroes is watchable).

Like I said before, I wanted to have the lists speak for themselves so just like yesterday future list will be just that. But much like today, the day after a “Greatest of the 00’s” list, I will delve a little deeper and over digest each list. I would first like to say that I may the eligibility requirement September 1999 to August 2009 because it seemed easy to include full season and thus eliminating such quandaries like “should Freaks and Geeks included even though it only aired half a season?” So here is the 100 Greatest Television Shows of the 00’s by the numbers:

Shows by Network
NBC - 14
ABC - 11
VH1 - 11
FOX - 10
CBS - 8
MTV - 7
WB - 6
Comedy Central - 5
HBO - 5
CW - 4
Showtime - 4
ESPN - 3
TNT - 3
UPN - 3
ABC Family - 2
Bravo - 2
G4 - 2
National Geographic - 2
Cartoon Network - 1
CMT - 1
DirecTV - 1
FX - 1
MSNBC - 1
PBS - 1
Spike - 1
Tech-TV - 1
USA – 1

Shows by Genre
Drama - 30
Comedy - 19
Competition - 10
Documentary - 10
Sci-Fi - 10
News - 9
Variety - 6
Music - 4
Animation - 2

(Scooter’s Note: There is no “reality” because I divided those shows into Competition and Documentary)

Shows by Debut Year
Pre-1999 – 15
1999 – 5
2000 – 4
2001 – 9
2002 – 8
2003 – 13
2004 – 7
2005 – 9
2006 – 8
2007 – 9
2008 – 7
2009 – 6

Shows by End Year
2000 – 2
2001 – 4
2002 – 6
2003 – 5
2004 – 8
2005 – 7
2006 – 8
2007 – 8
2008 – 2
2009 – 8

Creators with Multiple Shows
Brian Fuller - 3
Joss Whedon – 3
Aaron Sorkin – 2
Denis Leary – 2
Greg Berlanti – 2
J.J. Abrams – 2
Norm McDonald – 2
Rob Burnett and Rob Beckerman - 2
Rob Thomas – 2

Cast Member in Multiple Shows
Adam Baldwin - 3
Denis Leary – 3
Tom Cavanaugh – 3
Allison Hannigan – 2
Chi McBride - 2
Ian McShane – 2
James Purefoy – 2
Jason Segal – 2
Julie Gonzalo – 2
Katie Finneran - 2
Kevin McKidd – 2
Lee Pace - 2
Mark Valley - 2
Nathan Fillion - 2
Norm McDonald – 2
Rachel Nichols - 2
Sarah Paulson – 2
Seth Rogan - 2


Still on the Air - 42

One and Done Seasons – 26

Jumped Networks – 4

(Scooter’s Note: The UPN/WB and G4/Tech-TV mergers and the special Friday Night Lights agreement with DirecTV and NBC are not included in the number. Monday Night Raw is only counted once.)

Disappeared in the Digital Age (no DVD, no streaming, no (legal) downloading): 18

One last thing, since the decade is over and there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on what to call it, when you see me talk about “Greatest of the 00’s” think the last syllable of Cheerio’s.