Toss Up: Lost vs Veronica Mars week 3

It looks like three isn’t a charm as both Veronica Mars and Lost took a step back for the third episodes in there third season. But keep in mind Veronica Mars is like the U2 of television, even their worse stuff (i.e. Pop) is still better than ninety percent than everything else out there. As for Lost, this past episode was still more entertaining than most from season two. With no clear cut winner, let’s go to the Toss Up to see which one was better:


Grows the Sticky-Icky-Icky
Lost: John’s buddies grows mass amounts for reasons unknown
Veronica Mars: The sorority grows mass amounts to ease the den mother’s chemo sessions
Winner: Veronica Mars


Back for the First Time
Lost: Hurley, Desmond, Eko, Locke, Charlie, and Claire
Veronica Mars: Weevil
Winner: Lost


Flashbacks
Lost: Once again we don’t learn why Locke’s in the wheelchair complete with someone abusing his trust again
Veronica Mars: We revisit the linebacker’s night in slow motion complete with Guitar Hero
Winner: Veronica Mars


Apologies
Lost: Locke apologies to Eko for being wrong about the numbers
Veronica Mars: Veronica and Logan both apologize for not compromising in their relationship
Winner: Lost


Last Seen
Lost: We get a (very small) glimpse of new Lost cast member who was last seen on Related
Veronica Mars: Veronica’s new dean was last seen on Arrested Development without any eyebrows
Winner: Veronica Mars


Turn On
Lost: The FBI dude uses Locke to catch the drug ring
Veronica Mars: Trish stole her boyfriend’s playbook
Winner: Lost


New job
Lost: New Locke flashback, new job for John adding commune farmer to box company worker, toy store employee, and realtor
Veronica Mars: In the course of one episode Weevil works at the carwash (which wasn’t as fun as the song would have you believe), for Keith, and for the Dean
Winner: Veronica Mars


Music T-Shirt
Lost: Random dude at the commune was wearing a Geronimo Jackson t-shirt
Veronica Mars: The dean’s son wears a Transplants t-shirt in the family photo
Winner: Veronica Mars


MIA
Lost: Juliet is the only one that doesn’t make an appearance in Locke’s drug inspired dream
Veronica Mars: Parker, who apparently didn’t go back home with her parents, and Mac were at the gym for the whole episode
Winner: Lost


Treated Like Meat
Lost: Eko by the polar bear
Veronica Mars: The linebacker by his position coach
Winner: Lost


Streaking
Lost: This week Desmond
Veronica Mars: Last week Logan
Winner: All the female viewers (and Ducky)


The Next Miss Cleo
Lost: Desmond talks about Locke’s speech before he actually gave it
Veronica Mars: The Heart Lampoon said they’d rape the blond in the middle who ended up being raped
Winner: Lost


In another squeaker, Lost makes it two wins in a row even though any Locke-centric episode that doesn’t tell us how he got in the wheelchair is a worthless episode. Instead in the flashback we again see a fully mobile Locke who looks to be hanging out with others with daddy issues. The only thing we really learn in the flashback that we didn’t already know is how Locke learned how to make the hallucinogen that he used on Boone during the first season.

Speaking of Boone, the big news of the episode was his return when John used the stuff on himself. This then lead to a dream sequence and really there is nothing I hate more than dream sequences. I never know what I’m supposed to get from it. Was this really what the island wanted Locke to know? Was this just what was in Locke’s subconscious all along? I really hate when television show to this as it’s the worst cliché up there with amnesia and when dudes bet that they can take the ugly chick and make her cool, even though the ugly chick that is chosen is actually kind of attractive even before the makeover.

Back in reality, we finally learn the worst kept secret on television that Locke, Eko and Desmond all survive the implosion. Apparently a side effect of it was that somehow Desmond traded his cloths for being able to see the future, how very Heroes of him. Turn in next week to find out if Eko quickly heals from his bear attack and Locke begins to fly. Then there was Hurley’s reaction who gave the most overdramatic look ever.


Then on Veronica Mars there was the rare misstep. Maybe it was too heavy in the Veronica/Logan relationship which I hope ends sooner than later. Then there was the poor linebacker storyline that turned out to be the least buyable suspect the girlfriend who was last seen on Supernatual as the extremely hot Death. I definitely would follow her into the dark. But anyways. Maybe she will stick around as Piz’s boss. But the big news of the episode though was the Madison Sinclair reference. Maybe she’s stuck around Neptune to continue being on the Lamb and will see her sooner than later.

But to pinpoint the problem it most likely has to do with Ronnie almost dropping the whole rape case. Last episode she was ready to find the guilty party and publicly hang them but didn’t do anything with that case with Parker being completely missing in action this episode. And while Ronnie was sitting on her butt yet another girl got raped although we didn’t learn the status of her hairdo. But we were introduced to a couple new suspects in the editors of the Hearst Lampoon and the sport betting guy. We were also introduced to the dean of Heart who certainly is no Van Clemmons.

In other Veronica Mars news, click the name to subscribe to the new official Veronica Mars Podcast. You can find interviews, commentary from the writers and even a video version of a tour of the set. And of course you can also check out the official Lost Podcast as well.

We on Award Tour: 2006 Hip-Hop Honors

In a story I broke yesterday, VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors were last night and for three straight years it failed to disappointed putting the yearly event right up there with the Grammy’s and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Oddly enough for a show that celebrates hip-hop, the show started off with a bunch of people. But the Law and Order skit was hilarious with Ice-T’s cast members from SVU talking about there favorite honorees and T showing up late to ceremony only to be replaced by Mike B. Keep in mind Mike B could just be your next president. (See the end of the post for the video of the skit) As for the show, VH1 were really smart making ?uestlove of The Roots the musical director and should bring him in every year. Here are some thoughts on this year’s honorees and performances:

- The Beastie Boys kick thing off and surprisingly Tracy Morgan was actually funny intriguing them. Q-Tip, the recently bullet-ridden Fabolous, and Diddy come up in full B-Boy get up and spit probably the most recognizable Beastie verse with the start of Paul Revere but not surprisingly they cut off the song before they got to the part about the whiffle ball bat. Then the Beastie themselves came out to a rousing version of So Whatchcha Want, even switching the beat to the one from Fabolous’ Breathe.

- Now I’ve long held onto the belief that chicks shouldn’t rap, but I have to admit if I were to make a mix tape that represents 1996 for me MC Lyte’s Cold Rock a Party would be on it because no party during that summer didn’t feel right if it didn’t feature that song.

- Whenever you see a list of the greatest MC’s you will most likely see Biggie or 2-Pac, but whenever you see a list that is complied by rappers themselves, it would be Rakim that would be on top. Naturally one of the best lyricists of today, Common came out to introduce him. The tribute featuring Black Thought and Talib Kweli. Really there is no better way to start off a house party that something that features the bassline from Paid in Full. And hopefully the long delayed Rakim album comes out soon because the new track was tight especially with the Roots backing him. The horns were off the hook.

- When I first got into N.W.A. it was around the album that I can’t reprint here because my censors won’t allow it. But this was right after Ice Cube left the group and like many rap feuds back then you had to pick your side, do for years I refused to listen to Cube until he did that song with Dr. Dre. The dude from Pimp My Ride did a good job at Check Yo Self. Who knew he would rap?

- Russell Simmons gets the only non- music induction this year deservedly. Hip-Hop doesn’t reach the masses if it weren’t for Def Jam. But where was the love for his running mate at the label Rick Rubin? Nice mix of songs played during his tribute.

- With Eazy-E and Ice Cube being honored kind of makes you wonder why not honor N.W.A. as a whole? No surprise my favorite Eazy-E song, Gimmie Dat Nutt doesn’t make the tribute. Oh well. But my homies from just a couple miles north of me, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony crawled out of obscurity to perform their tribute song The Crossroads.

- I never got into the theatrics of Afrika Bambaataa but it’s nice to see him get his due and it seemed natural that Outkast introduced his tribute with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins participating. Odd that was the only honoree in the history of the show that didn’t perform.

- If there is one thing that I have learned in my life is that Wu-Tang Clan is nothing to (expletive deleted) with. Nice to see the Clan reunite on stage with all the members showing up (sans Ol’ Dirty Bastard, R.I.P.). I remember seeing the troupe perform back in 1998 when they toured with Rage Against the Machine. Granted they were a half an hour late to the venue. And when they arrived the spent time playing basketball backstage before actually coming out minus three members. And when they did they only gave a twenty minute set because they had to get off stage so Rage could do their set before curfew. So it was great to see them perform C.R.E.A.M. and Triumph with Method Man actually jumping into the crowd to spit his verse.

Looking forward to next year, here are my suggestions to honor next year: A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, EPMD, N.W.A., Leaders of the New School, and Slick Rick (feel free to share who you think should be honored and be sure to scroll down to check out my lyrics quiz to see if you can answer any that are left). You can watch performances from the show at VSPOT and I'm sure VH1 will repeat throught the next couple weeks.

The Best of the Beastie Boys Redux

Tonight is the premiere of the third annual Hip-Hop Honors on VH1 so I though I’d dust off a Best Of compilation I made for one of this year’s honorees, the Beasties Boys. How they weren’t a first ballot induction is baffling, but better late than never. The Hip-Hop Honors has quickly become one of the best shows on the musical calendar just below the Grammy’s and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony. I got a sneak peak of tonight’s festivities and it is worth tuning in just to see which MC’s perform Paul Revere. Yeah the show is airing opposite of Veronica Mars, but keep in mind this is VH1 so aside from airing at 9:00, it will also re-air at 11:40 and 11:00 AM tomorrow and I wouldn’t be surprised it shows up on VH1’s broadband channel VSPOT soon. This Best Of clocks in at 76:33:

1. Fight for Your Right – Licensed to Ill (1986)
2. No Sleep Till Brooklyn – Licensed to Ill (1986)
3. Paul Revere – Licensed to Ill (1986)
4. Girls – Licensed to Ill (1986)
5. Hey Ladies – Paul’s Boutique (1989)
6. Shake Your Rump – Paul’s Boutique (1989)
7. Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun – Paul’s Boutique (1989)
8. Gratitude – Check Your Head (1992)
9. Pass the Mic – Check Your Head (1992)
10. So What’cha Want – Check Your Head (1992)
11. Sabotage – Ill Communication (1994)
12. Sure Shot – Ill Communication (1994)
13. Root Down – Ill Communication (1994)
14. Get it Together (with Q-Tip) – Ill Communication (1994)
15. Intergalactic – Hello Nasty (1998)
16. Super Disco Breakin’ – Hello Nasty (1998)
17. Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim Remix) – Sounds of Science (1999)
18. Three MC’s and One DJ – Hello Nasty (1998)
19. Ch-Check it Out – To the 5 Boroughs (2004)
20. Triple Trouble – To the 5 Boroughs (2004)
21. Right Right Now Now – To the 5 Boroughs (2004)
22. Time to Build – To the 5 Boroughs (2004)
23. An Open Letter to NYC – To the 5 Boroughs (2004)


In more hip-hop news, I have some really great news, former Hip-Hop Honoree with Public Enemy, Flavor Flav and his show Flavor of Love is now available on iTunes, so click the link to download your favorite episode (mine being the spit seen round the world). You can also now download Strange Love too.

And in other iTunes news, you can download a free preview of the upcoming Tenacious D movie from the store. I haven’t had the time to look at it yet, but I’m hoping it’s at least funnier than Jack Black’s stint at the VMA’s this year. But hey, it's free so click on their name to download it. While you're there you can also pre-order their new album but it is not free though.

One last thing, please scroll down to the Lyrics Quiz to see if you can guess any of the remaining lyrics which now have hints. Also if you think there is a song missing from my Beastie Boys list, feel free to tell me what you would add or replace in the comment section.

Lyrics Quiz: Midterm Election Edition

Hints Added Below

Two years ago while trying to decide whether I wanted to vote for the guy who did a horrible job and a guy who would most mostly do a horrible job I made myself a playlist for my iPod with songs that reminded me of the election. Some were political ones while other were void of any politics and dealt with Americana or places within the nation. Now with the midterm elections less than a month away, I thought I’d duct off that playlist as most races in my district are between two candidates that aren’t really highly qualified for the job. Now I’m not going to tell you haw to vote (just please do so), but for this month’s lyrics quiz I thought I pick twenty-five songs (of one hundred and sixteen) from that playlist that maybe will help you when election day comes around this year. As always, put both the song title and artist in the comment section and if you are right, I will un-bold the song and give you credit. Now onto the quiz:

Hints:
1. As someone already guessed, the artist is Grandmaster Flash (although there are 5 other members), but the song is not guess. The song does have two words, one of which is “The.”
4. Sadly, this singer died shortly after recorded this song so he didn’t get to see how the song because one of the greatest soul recordings of all time.
7. A blatant blast at George Bush and others with huge egos; also claim he’s “no Elvis” to boot.
21. This song title was originally the title of the album that it was on, but the band changed the album’s name to the band’s name when September 11th happened shortly after the release.
22. Another band on this quiz (#11) did an amazing version of this song on a live album.
24. Someone has already correctly guessed the artist; all I need is the song title.


1. Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the edge, I’m trying not to lose my head. It’s like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under.
2. It helps to make friends. It’s good to meet girl. A sweet little queen that can’t run away. (It's Good to Be King - Tom Petty; guessed by Kristi)
3. It was a big high wall there that tried to stop me. Sign was painted, it said “Private Property.” And on the back side it didn’t say nuthin’. (This Land Is Your Land - Woody Guthrie; guessed by Erica)
4. It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die because I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky.
5. Colored lights can hypnotize, sparkle someone else’s eyes. (American Woman - The Guess Who (or Lenny Kravitz); guessed by Erica)
6. Early morning April 4th, shots rang out in the Memphis sky. Free at last, they took your life. (Pride (In the Name of Love) - U2; guessed by Angie)
7. If I met you in a scissors fit I cut off both your wings on principle alone.
8. Freedom came my way one day, and I started out of town yeah. (I Shot the Sheriff - Bob Marley; guessed by Kristi)
9. Now Watergate doesn’t bother me, now does your conscience bother you? (Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd; guessed by Kristi)
10. Let the president answer a higher anarchy. Strap him with an Ak-47, let him go, fight his own war, let him impress daddy that way. No more blood for oil. (Mosh - Eminem; guessed by Erica)
11. Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses. And now you do what they told ya, now you're under control. (Killing in the Name Of - Rage Against the Machine; guessed by Trish)
12. Away, away you have been banished, your land is gone and given to me. And here I will spread my wings. Yes I will call this home. (Don't Drink the Water - Dave Matthews Band; guessed by Angie)
13. Some folks inherited star spangled eye, oh they’ll send you down to war. (Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival; guessed by Kristi)
14. We don’t need no education. (Another Brick in the Wall part 2 - Pink Floyd; guessed by Miz)
15. There’s battle lines’ being drawn. Nobody’s right is everybody’s wrong. Young people speaking their mind getting so much resistance from behind. (For What it's Worth - Buffalo Springfield; guessed by Kristi)
16. How many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free? How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see? (Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan; guessed by Kristi)
17. I just did what I always do, everyday the same routine before I skate off to school. Who knew that this day wasn’t like the rest? Instead taking the test I took two to the chest. (Youth of the Nation - P.O.D.; geussed by some random person)
18. Everybody’s got a bomb we could all die any day. But before I let that happened I’ll dance my life away. (1999 - Prince; guessed by Angie)
19. I know things will get better; you’ll find work and I’ll get promoted. We’ll move out of the shelter, buy a bigger house and live in the suburbs. (Fast Car - Tracy Chapman; guessed by Angie)
20. We want more than this world’s got to offer. We want more than the wars of our fathers. (Meant to Live - Switchfoot; guessed by Erica)
21. I’m not along because the TV’s on, yeah. I’m not crazy because I take the right pills everyday.
22. Wherever there's somebody fightin' for a place to stand or decent job or a helpin' hand. Wherever somebody's strugglin' to be free, look in their eyes Mom you'll see me.
23. But if you wanna leave, take good care. Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there but just remember there's a lot of bad and beware. (Wild World - Cat Stevens; guessed by Miz)
24. No prints can come from fingers if machines become our hands. And then our feet become the wheels, and then the wheels become the cars, then the rigs begin to drill until the drilling goes too far.
25. I support the left, though I’m leaning to the right. But I’m just not there when it’s coming to a fight. (Politician - Cream; guessed by Kristi)

First Impressions: The Duel

Since I’m well out of the MTV demographic I missed the premiere of the only show on its schedule that I actually still turn into, the Real World/Road Rules challenge. But this is MTV so it replayed ad nausea as well as being able to stream on their broadband channel Overdrive. This season, coming from Brazil, has been dubbed The Duel because it’s everyone for themselves this year with two members going at it in The Duel with the loser going home. The selection processes is somewhat complicated in itself with the winner of that day’s challenge picks a member of the opposite sex who then does the same until there is only one member of that day’s sex left (they alternate guy and girl duels). The last person then in turns picks anyone aside from that day’s winner to go in The Duel with them that night.

But the show really is more about the characters then the challenges themselves. One of the reasons I stopped watching The Real World circa Chicago is because they cast the same people lately. You got two frat boys with either a token gay or black dude while the girls basically are just there to fill out bikinis but rarely have anything that resembles a personality. But luckily there are plenty of screw balls from back when MTV actually cast real characters. Unfortunately some have gone MIA recently like Veronica, Rachel, Julie, and Abram. But in the challenge we have some old faithfuls like Tina, Beth and I’m sure once liquored up I’m sure Brad, Wes, Derrick, C.T. will make for good entertainment. Thankfully they brought some of the Fresh Meat from last season because Casey Cooper was easily the most entertaining reality star MTV has produced in year. Although most of that last season was thanks to how she reacted to her partner Wes so we will see if she is as entertaining without the antagonist.

The challenges this season should be interesting since it will be everyone for themselves. Surprisingly the first challenge the contestants ended up actually teaming up. Beth was the only smart one and went it alone (naturally) forcing the weaker “team” to go towards her almost giving her the win but Robin ended up taking it in the end. Then after the pick ‘em two newbies from Kew West went into The Duel. In what could be the lamest reality challenge ever where the two had to pick how many watermelons they could life, going back and forth until the other said, “do it.” Random Frat Boy ended up losing to Token Gay Guy.

The other challenge was much more interesting in that each person essentially got to choose which other contestants got eliminated by grabbing that person’s lifer preserver and one all their were gone they would be eliminated. Beth was the first one out for the girls (naturally). Fresh Meat/Cancer Survivor Diem ended up winning because no one wanted to be the heel that knocked out the cancer chick. But the real fireworks came afterwards when Beth and Tina threw down. It should be interesting how this plays out because if you look at the super-slow-mo, Tina barely grazes Beth’s forehead even though Beth acted like she got hit square in the jaw by Mike Tyson.

Verdict: The Real World/Road Rules Challenge are the crack and I’m the addict so I will be watching faithfully every week. The Duel airs on MTV Thursdays at 10:00. You can also check the show as well as The Aftershow (this week with special guest Tina) whenever you want on Overdrive.

Don't Download These Videos vol. III

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I though I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form so here they are courtesy of YouTube. I advise you to watch them before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available, if not the link goes to YouTube where you can watch the video in full screen). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Smile - Lily Allen



My new favorite song that no one else is listening to (overtaking I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)). Just when you think Paris Hilton ruined faux-reggae music forever, here comes Lily Allen to make it entertaining again. And what makes this song great, in a time when Kelly Clarkson is content with getting made at an ex-boyfriend, Allen gets even. The best part is when the intruders trashed the LP’s, but them put them back in the case. Classic.


Gone Dady Gone - Gnarls Barkley



Okay so the song, a remake of the Violent Femmes song, is no Crazy which may sadly send them to one-hit wonder status, but the latest video by Gnarls Barkley may actually be more entertaining than the other one. Granted nothing beats their Star Wars performence at this year's MTV Movie Awards. But seriously, who doesn’t enjoy watching chick on bug lovin’? And what better message than there is no better hallucinogen then bug spray?


Wind it Up - Barenaked Ladies



Where Gone Baby Gone video is a chuckler, the new Barenaked Ladies video is laugh out loud funny. As funny as Earl Hickey’s mustache is, this guy’s may actually be funnier. Plus the song includes possibly the best line from any song this year, “I was a baby when I learned to suck but you have raised it to an art form.” And as great as this video is, there are making one that may top it as the group is gathering fan submitted air-guitar videos to be included in a second version.


Love Me or Hate Me - Lady Sovereign



I really didn’t plan on including two British chicks biting black music, but you got to love anyone who uses Tetris in their video. Granted the song by Jay-Z’s latest find, Lady Sovereign is mediocre at best. Really the only thing worse that white dudes rapping are which chicks rapping. Did she really start sing Phil Collins at the end of the song? So for those keeping at home, as a record executive, Jay-Z is batting .000. No wonder why he is getting back into rap.

Toss Up: Lost vs Veronica Mars week 2

Both Lost and Veronica Mars have had strong starts to their third seasons with VM squeaking out a victory last week. Now here is this week’s Toss Up:

Floral Dress
Lost: Kate is the lone person in a summer dress
Veronica Mars: Veronica is one of many in a sea of summer dresses
Winner: Veronica Mars


Bald
Lost: Sun’s lover
Veronica Mars: Parker
Winner: Lost


Back for the First Time
Lost: Sayid, Sun, Jin
Veronica Mars: Sheriff Lamb (check out Tube Talk Girl’s interview with Lamb)
Winner: Veronica Mars


Still MIA
Lost: Locke, Desmond, Eko, Claire, Hurley, Charlie
Veronica Mars: Weevil
Winner: Lost


Remember Me
Lost: Alex
Veronica Mars: Chip Diller
Winner: Veronica Mars


Torture
Lost: Kate and Sawyer are forced to break and remove rocks
Veronica Mars: Logan and Horshack are forced to listen to The Piña Colada Song
Winner: Veronica Mars


Tasers
Lost: It’s the Other favorite way to keep Sawyer and Kate in line and used it liberally
Veronica Mars: It’s Veronica favorite form of defense but wasn’t able to use Mr. Sparky when she wasn’t led to the naked room
Winner: Lost


Death Toll
Lost: Sun’s lover (and it’s safe to assume the random Other on the yacht is officially dead)
Veronica Mars: Cormac Fitzpatrick (and it’s safe to assume that Kendall is officially dead
Winner: Lost


Being Monitored
Lost: It seems like Not-Henry has cameras all over the compound if the not the whole island
Veronica Mars: The den mother has cameras all over the Theta Beta house to keep her stash safe.
Winner: Lost


Overbearing Parent
Lost: Sun’s father busts in on her in a compromising position
Veronica Mars: Parker’s berate her because she can’t think for herself
Winner: Lost


Best Line
Lost: You taste like fish biscuits
Veronica Mars: Vomit, it’s the new mace
Winner: Veronica Mars


I Love the 90’s
Lost: Charlie Salinger
Veronica Mars: Shawn Hunter
Winner: Lost


Worst Kept Secret for Next Episode
Lost: Locke, Desmond, and Eko all survived the blast last season
Veronica Mars: Parker won’t be going home with her parents
Winner: Veronica Mars


A surprising early win for Lost this season and hopefully this is signs of things to come as the were unable to string along two good episodes in a row last season and already have two straight right out of the box this season. The big news this week was the return of Sayid, Sun, and Jin. And what’s bigger is that Sun actually killed someone. I though in the final flashback it would turn out that she was going to be the person that pushed out the bald dude out the window but oh well. But the real predictable part of the flashback was that Sun was getting busy with the bald dude, something everyone already assumed.

Elsewhere on the island, Not-Henry continues to get creepier and creepier. First we learn that he enjoys watching people on monitors. Then he offers Jack a chance to go home. It will be interesting what Jack has to do and if he would actually do it. Even though they have CD’s and Stephen King novels, both of which could be leftovers from the early nineties, I’m still not sold that the Others have contact with the outside world just because they have tape of the Red Sox world series victory, just that they have a satellite feed.


As for Veronica Mars, seriously what could be more entertaining than watching Ronnie lesbian dance? I have to say I was half hoping that Vee would end up joining the sorority in the end and take Dream Lily’s advice and experiment in college. Oh well. What’s much more surprising than her not joining the sorority was she left the paper too to work at the library which I assume will be the new girls’ bathroom. But this begs the question; why not continue to work at Java the Hut? It has to pay more (especially with tips) then a work study job.

Of course Ronnie went undercover to investigate the Parker rape and I already have my lead suspect picked out, the RA. This is mainly due to picking George Michael when the college episode last year but since he is unavailable, I still think they will be going with an RA. As for the rape victim herself, it’s pretty safe to assume that Parker once again won’t be able to make her own decision and stick around like Mac asked her. And on the hair front, I really hope they find her a better wig than the one she was sporting during the episode.

But I have to admit I was totally taken out of the Wallace/Logan storyline with the Shawn Hunter sighting. And what’s extremely disturbing is he looks exactly the same since I last saw him. But at least the casting director at Veronica Mars was nice enough help him postpone his inevitable sex tape. And the guest spots didn’t stop there with the geek from Freaks and Geeks (or was he a freak, I always forget which one was which), the token hot chick from Jack and Bobby, and Homer Simpson in the flesh. But with all the absurdity that went along with this storyline, the part that I had the hardest to believe that an intro sociology class would have to do a twenty page research paper. I took upper level courses and never had to do more than ten.

Now it’s time for my far out there theory of the season (or just this mini arc): The serial rapist is a chick. Remember when being questioned by Lamb, Ronnie mentioned when she walked in she heard buzzing and Lamb said what did it sound like and Ronnie said you know and gave him a look. Well I was thinking, what do girls use that buzz? So I think in the end it will turn out that one of the feminists had a bad experience at a Greek party and are trying to set them up to get them all kicked off campus. So there’s my current out-there theory.

Next week on Lost we finally learn the fate of the boys that were in the hatch and presumably Hurley makes it back to camp so it will be interesting how he deals with what he knows. Then Veronica meets the nasty Dean played by the dude with no eyebrows from Arrested Development. Keep in mind our good friend Chip Diller got three hundred points for nailing the Deans wife so it will be interesting to see if that comes back up.

And don't forget to check out Tube Talk Girl's interview with Sheriff Lamb. My favorite part is that Lamb watches my favorite TV show, Pardon the Interuption and the question on who he would like to be "on the Lamb" this season.

First Impressions: 60 Rock

Of the two backstage at a Saturday Night Live type skit show, 30 Rock was the one that got the less press even though it is the only one that touted actual talent from SNL, and I use the word talent lightly because Tracy Morgan is one of them. The other though is Tina Fey whose Weekend Update was one of the bright spots of the show in recent years. But then again she was the head writer of the show during an era of the show was at its least funny.

Fey also handles the responsibly for the writing for 30 Rock as well as being the producer of the fake The Girlie Show. No seriously, that’s what the fake show is called. I’m not sure if that’s a step up or down from the previously considered Friday Night Bites. The star of The Girlie Show is Jane Krakowski who recently bumped Rachel Dratch from the role because, well she looks like Jane Krakowski and Rachel Dratch looks like Rachel Dratch. But feel too bad for Dratch as she didn’t get completely dropped from the show because she shows up the cat lady in the first episode.

Much like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, 30 Rock starts with a shake up in upper management. Here, Alec Baldwin has been brought in save an already successful show and plans to be hands on during the process and hopes to sell some oven in the process. First on his agenda, recruit loose cannon Morgan for the fake show. Oddly it was never brought up that he was recruited to star in a show called The Girlie Show. Seeing Morgan here reminds me of someone who recently said, “SNL hasn’t had a funny black man in years yet the fake one was able to find one.” The other actor on the fake show is Lonny Ross who is obviously playing Jimmy Fallon in that he is ambiguously gay and not at all funny.

Backstage there is the hugging guy from Dave Matthews Band’s video Stay as, um, well, I’m not entirely sure what he does but I’ll guess a writer. Another presumed writer in the black nerd played by Keith Powell, basically Carlton all grown up. And to fill in the token hot chick quota is lazy secretary Katie Bowden who actually has “mean girl” in a Fall Out Boy video on her résumé. So you have the dude from the Dave Matthews Band video and the chick from the Fall Out Video; really, what more can you ask for. Well maybe some laughs, but I’m just nitpicking here.

Verdict: There were some funny moments throughout the first episode, but nothing laugh out load funny. What’s sad is that the Tracy Morgan led show may actually last longer than Studio 60. 30 Rock airs tonight at 8:00 on NBC.

First Impressions: Friday Night Lights

Everyday I watch a lot of ESPN with Jim Rome Is Burning, Pardon the Interruption, and a good chunk of Sportcenter surround my dinner every night. I even subscribe to the ESPN Radio postcast and no matter how bad it is, I’ll still sit and watch the Browns every Sunday and my life completely shuts down the third weekend in every March. With that said, I rarely watch sports movies. Before you point to the name of this blog, let me go ahead and defend it by saying 1) Happy Gilmore is a comedy first, sports movie second, 2) golf isn’t a sport, it’s a leisure activity like bowling and darts.

Now one of the reasons I stay away from sports movies even though I’m a huge spots fan is simple, no one could ever write a story as great as Gibson’s home run, the ending of Cal vs. Stanford, or Red Sox coming from 3-0 down to beat the Yankees. And as someone who has lived his whole life in northeast Ohio, no one can write something as heartbreaking as The Drive, The Fumble, or Jordan over Ehlo. Of the few sports movies I have seen, Friday Night Lights is not one of them because, well, they didn’t have any cheerleaders in whip-cream bikinis.

I planned on continuing my moratorium on sports movies into television with the serialized version of Friday Night Lights, but after a week of glowing reviews from the few that actually watched the show, with one newspaper even calling it the best pilot they ever saw, I decided to check it out on the NBC website (where you can still see for yourself at least for now). The best pilot ever? Um, no. The best pilot this season? Not really. The best pilot of a new show this season on Tuesdays? Totally (although that may change after the debut of whatever ABC is calling Let’s Rob Mick Jagger this week).

The show follows a football team and their new coach in Texas, a state that has a disturbing obsession with high school football. And it’s not just any old team; it’s the preseason number one team in the state. Don’t ask me how a team with a new coach gets to be number one out of all the teams in Texas. Maybe it’s the Notre Dame recruited star quarterback and maybe it’s the Longhorn courted black running back who just so happens doesn’t get along too well with his white fullback. Oh, the racism, you know, just like Remember the Titans.

I’ll have to admit, there were a few chill scenes throughout the first episode like in practice like the guy that fumbled the ball who had to go in front of the tackling squad. But the show is brought down by the same reason I don’t watch sports movies, it is filled with too many cliché. The worst being (MAJOR SPOILER if you haven’t seen the first episode) the quarterback predictably going down, I knew this was going to happen the moment the backup quarterback came on screen. Then they had the backup comeback from not just a touchdown deficit, but two in the final six minutes to win the game. You know, just like Varsity Blues. (END SPOILERS)

And it’s not just the actually show that hurts Friday Night Lights. First, there is already way too much real football on television right now I’m not sure many people want to put fake football on the schedule. Not to mention the poor planning having the show debut against the start of the baseball playoffs. The show may have been better off as a midseason replacement, go from the coach getting hired and spring practices, then come back in the fall with fans already hooked that they would continue watching even with the football overload. This would have also help with introducing the players, it’s hard enough to get to know a character on a show as is, but it’s impossible when they are wear helmets half the pilot. Then much like MTV’s Laguna Beach took some steam off the fictionalized The OC, the reality of Two-a-Days takes away some allure off of Friday Night Lights.

Verdict: NBC has two new football programs this year, but I have a feeling Friday Night Lights will be off the air before Sunday Night Football plays its last game of the season. Friday Night Lights airs at 8:00 on NBC and the latest episode can be streamed at its website the day after it airs.

Don’t See the World Through Someone Else’s Eyes

Celebrity children have gotten a bad rap lately thanks to the reality exploits from the likes of Nicole Richie and the Osborne children. Most seem content on living off their parent names as opposed to making a name of their own on their own talents. Then there is Robin Thicke who not only didn’t use his dad Allen’s name (you may know better as Dr. Jason Seaver) to get famous, he even picked music over acting like his father, well after a few guest spots on his dad’s show as well as The Wonder Years. Thicke stuck out his first time around back in 2002 despite the catchy, Mozart sampling When I Get You Alone. But don’t feel to bad for him, he does have a Grammy for songwriting and has written songs for Christina Aguilera and Usher. But now he’s back with a new look, a new label (Pharrell’s Star Trak), and a new album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke.

The album sounds like a history of soul music as Thicke draws on some the best. Got 2 Be Down is his Marvin Gaye song; Complicated is his take on Smokey Robinson; 2 the Sky is could be a Donny Hathaway song; Cocaine would have fit well on Curtis Mayfield’s Superfly Soundtrack; Lonely World could have been from Stevie Wonder’s 70’era. And Thicke turning “to” into “2” and “you” into “U” in his songs is straight out of Prince’s playbook. With all the decent blue-eyed soul, you have to imagine Justin Timberlake is listening to the album wishing he wrote songs like Would That Make U Love Me and Can U Believe because this is album JT wishes he could make.

Faith Evans helps elevate the fun opening track Got to B Down, but the other guest spots don’t fair as well. One of the worst rapper in recent years, Lil Wayne, who goes by the even cheesier moniker Weezy, brings down the worst being All Night Long. Shooter, which is a reworking of a song on Thicke’s debut for Weezy’s Tha Cater, vol. 2 album which is somewhat catchy, but still not a good as the original. Pharrell continues his lackluster year with the production on the formulaic Wanna Love U Girl and throws in an anemic rap for good measure. Length is also an issue at over seventy minutes, had Thicke trimmed some of the fat, you may have been able to listen through the whole album without skipping a song.

Song to Download - Lonely World

The Evolution of Robin Thicke gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

You Could Be the Sinner and I’ll Be the Sin

In the late eighteenth century the British made claims to Australia and turned it into penal colony for their lawfully impaired. That could explained why the country has been exporting beer soaked bands for years most notable AC/DC. The latest band to follow in their footsteps is Jet who exploded on the scene in 2003 with ruckus bar brawl starters such as Are You Gonna Be My Girl and Cold Hard (Expletive Deleted). They even threw in the creepy balled Look What You’ve Done for good measure.

Now three years after the release of Get Born is the ban’s follow up Shine On. The album teeters between the alcohol anthems of their last album and a new sound and nowhere is that more prevalent than on the lead single Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. The verses are downed by falsetto that you would expect on a Justin Timberlake album if he brought in a real rhythm section complete with cowbell, but the chorus is when the band gets back to basis when lead singer Nic Cester breaks out his trademark whiskey drowned voice that catapulted the band onto rock radio in the first place.

The newer sound seems to come from listening to the Beatles, there’s even a song about a girl named Eleanor although we don’t learn her last name. But the songs with the Beatles influence end up sounding like the Beatles threw an Oasis filter. Not so coincidentally the producer on the album, Dave Sardy, also produced Oasis’ last album. Oddly enough, for a band whose came to prominence with bombast anthems, some of the best songs on this set are the balled. Kings Horses shuffles along like something of Oasis’ first album. Shine On builds and falls much like Look What You’ve Done but without the bitterness. But for my money I’ll stick with the beer-soaked songs that I’d expect from the band like Holiday, That’s All Lies, and Rip it Up. And a word of advice for Cester, make sure you include more whiskey in your diet before you record the next album.

Song to Download - Holiday

Shine On gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

It Takes a Girl to Understand

To be honest, if Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale both walked in on me right now I would be able to tell you which one is which. But apparently both were in the Disney Channel’s hit High School Musical which landed them both record contracts with Disney’s Hollywood Records, the label that has brought us albums from Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan. We’re not really talking Motown here, but anyways. Now one of the reason I can’t tell the actresses/singers apart is that I haven’t seen High School Musical for fear that is I got up to get a snack during a commercial break, Chris Hansen would be waiting for me in the kitchen. Hopefully just listening to the album won’t raise any red flags over at Dateline.

The first of the duo to get their album out is Vanessa Hudgens, apparently the brunette from looking at the album cover, with her album V which I assume isn’t a roman numeral or a nod the alien miniseries from the eighties but rather the letter as she is called “Baby V” a couple times on the album. The album is anchored by the lead single Baby Come Back that oddly samples Player’s sad love song of the same name and turns it into a dance track, but remains almost catchy. The album is your typical for pre-teen fair with songs about puppy love gained and puppy love lost along with your prerequisite girl anthem track Never Underestimate a Girl. But even though Drive comes close, nothing on the album is on par with any of Duff’s guilty pleasures, but on the bright side see does sound better than Lohan (which doesn't say much). Now I have a couple months to figure out which one is Ashley Tisdale before her album comes out.

Song to Download - Drive

V gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.

I Don't Care Whether You Like Me or Not

The Family Stone is one of those movies that were just improperly promoted. From the trailer, it looked like the movie was a romantic comedy centered on a wacky family over Christmas; almost as if one of the children in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation had brought home a longtime girlfriend he had intended to marry. But The Family Stone was just rarely funny. Now unlike many comedies in recent memories, the problem wasn’t that it was a comedy that just wasn’t funny, instead the movie is more of a family drama that just has some humorous scenes in it.

The movie centers on Durmot Mulroney (Angels in the Outfield) who brings his girlfriend Sarah Jessica Parker (Footloose) home to meet the family for the first time as he intends to get his grandmother’s wedding ring to give to Parker. But the couple doesn’t mess well primarily because Parker makes her character one-dimensional like she was in a bad sitcom while everyone else is multi-layered. There is a possibility that this wasn’t Parker’s fault, but a better actress here could have made the movie much improved.

Rounding out Mulroney’s family are the parental figures Craig T. Nelson (Coach), the go with the flow dad and Diane Keaton (Father of the Bride II), who makes it very clear that she doesn’t want Parker to get her mother’s wedding ring. Rachael McAdams (Mean Girls) is the moody sister mainly because she isn’t getting any and the resident scene stealer. Taking after his father is Luke Wilson (Legally Blonde) who tries to get Parker to get her fly her “freak flag.” Unfortunately they threw in two more siblings which only made things more clustered including a gay homosexual brother who also happens to be deaf (although his black boyfriend is a lot more entertaining) and an even more worthless pregnant sister who spends most of the time in the background with her daughter.

Feeling outnumbered, Parker calls on her younger sister, Claire Danes (Terminator III: Rise of the Machines) whom the Stones take to because, well, she is much more endearing than her sister. Things pick up upon her arrival, but I’m sure I would have liked the movie much better had I not expected to laugh while watching. So be warned if you check The Family Stone out, it’s much more a drama than a comedy.

The Family Stone gets a on my Terror Alert Scale.