Sunday, February 27, 2011

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 2/27/11


Shameless: The Gallagher family seemed a little too fine with helping faking their father’s death. Maybe wishful thinking. Then tonight there is even more family bonding when Frank actually goes sober. No, seriously. But of course it is for money.

Chuck: Holy Robin Givens Sighting! Did she just take the 00’s off? And working in Castle means we may be seeing more of her as she teases Casey with what is behind door number two. The rest of the episode was pretty obvious who the chick would turn out to be and the necklace being the key. But what exactly did she see? I am kind of hoping it is another Intercet. It is about time Chuck met his own match. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

Greek: Thankfully they cut to commercial after Catherine slapped Casey because I need the entire break just to stop laughing. I can’t believe it took five seasons to realized that Casey needed a good slapping. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Greek on iTunes


Castle: There is nothing I hate more on television than the clichéd “x amount of time earlier” start. And this episode of Castle was even worse because it completely failed to live up to the intro. When the episode started I had thoughts of ET rolling through my head. But when the scene came rolling around again, we learn there was really no reason for Castle to be resisting. And to make matters more boring, they ended up being let go like that. No tests or anything. Hurmph. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Parenthood: Eww, they really need to add a warning whenever they are going to show graphic scenes of old people making out. That scene seemed to never end. I had to run to sink to wach my eyes out like Alex Dunphey. That aside, I do not know what Crosby is thinking but I would totally give up my first born to get Minka Kelly. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Lights Out: This is the reason why I tend to avoid fictionalized sports stories. So Lights hasn’t fought in five years and he is able to knockout a fighter who has never been knocked down before in the second round with a bad eye? Alighty. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Lights Out on iTunes.

Survivor: Redemption Island: I really have to laugh whenever Boston Rob talks down about his tribe mates calling them amateurs while he continues the same boneheaded moves that gets him voted out pre-jury. Sure he has seen the coupling alliance before as he utilized it for the closest thing to success that he has ever had in the game, but a couple is only a threat when your alliance gets down to four, and that are certainly not less than a week into the game. Yet he is repeating the same problem that got him voted out during his first go-around, an alliance means nothing if you cannot make it to the merge. And with the new twist in the game, I am certainly not blindsiding someone who could come back and haunt me. Now Rob has to shrink his alliance even more by getting rid of Andrea too because if Matt comes back and she is still around, they can both flip (not to mention he has to get rid of Kristina too because she would be easy to flip also).

But I cannot wait until next week (I wonder if this is going to be another season of Survivor where the previews are the best part of the episode). First my girl Andrea goes on a warpath and then the “biggest blindside ever.” I have a feeling that it is Russell that will be on the wrong side of the blindsided this time. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.

Survivor on iTunes


Modern Family: Poor Alex, she never seems to come out on top of her far inferior sister. You knew somehow Hayley was going to get away with her lack of a waitressing job. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Modern Family on iTunes


Justified: Most cop shows are better when the badge take on master criminals, not for Raylan Gibbons, he is at his bed when taking on the criminal inept, and his greatest adversary just may be Dewey Crow. This guy’s stupidity knows no bounds. Raylan questioning the witness was classic. Too bad Raylan’s deputy doesn’t come around more often, and I am guessing Oxy trafficking and impersonating a Marshall may keep him behind bars for a while. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Justified on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: Hopefully Sheldon’s new crew gets back together every once and a while because they were comedy gold. Can’t Sheldon make Thursday karaoke night? You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.

Outsourced: Instead accepting any of them, isn’t the correct answer to your least favorite Backstreet Boy be all of them? If you accept multiple answers, it was for the March question, because you should be able to also accept March Madness. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Outsourced on iTunes.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Best of the Week - 2/26/11


Quote of the Week: We could also stop using the letter “M” but I think that idea is isguided and oronic. (Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory)

Song of the Week: Angel of the Morning – Juice Newton (as “sung” by Gloria, Modern Family)

Big News of the Week: Muammar al-Qaddafi Back in the News: If he wasn’t one of the worst’s dictators, you would almost have to feel bad for Muammar al-Qaddafi. Growing up in the eighties, all us school children hated him and his anti-American rants as he was the reigning craziest dictator but in recent years he has been outshined even crazier rulers like Kim Jong-Il, Saddam Hussein, and the nutjobs in Iran. But Qaddafi came back in a big way this week when his country Libya seems like the next Muslim country to fall which had led to classic Muammar being Muammar moments that leave some nostalgic for his heyday in the eighties. And the cause of the unrest in his country is even more humorous: Mariah Carey. Apparently Libyans are not happy that Muatassim Qaddafi, Muammar’s son, had paid the songstress, as well as Beyoncé and Usher, millions of dollars to perform as little as four songs for the ruthless dictator. So the next time you are downloading one of their songs illegally, do not feel bad because they support terrorists.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:

Yvonne Strahovski with wings


Free Download of the Week: Blue Skies Again – Jessica Lea Mayfield (iTunes)

Deal of the Week: Save up to 59% on Oscar Nomanees (The Dark Knight, Toy Story 3, Sound of Music)

New Album Release of the Week: The Valley - Eisley (Head over to Spin.com to download to tracks for free and stream the whole album)

New DVD Release of the Week: Bambi

Video of the Week: I have never received any greater advise ever than to never trust a big butt and a smile. And the great thinkers that gave us that pearl of wisdom have recently reunited and we on Late Night this week, backed by The Roots. And since one Bell Biv DeVoe song is not enough, the trio filmed a second performance exclusive to the interwebs and I bring it here for you. You’re welcome.

Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison


Bell Biv DeVoe – Do Me!


Next Week Pick of the Week: The Cape, Monday at 9:00 on NBC: Poor Summer Glau, she cannot seem to get anyone to watch any show she is on. Her most successful show to date is one and a half seasons. At least her latest outing The Cape was her first not regulated to the Friday Death Slot. But the show is coming to a close for the season (most likely ever) tomorrow after just nine episodes.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Around the Tubes - 2/25/11

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 Oscars, Film Independent Spirit Awards, Lights Out, Portlandia, The Voice, The Sing-Off, Oprah, and Hulu.

- Could James Franco and Anne Hathaway break out a little Grease during their hosting duties at the Oscars this Sunday? The video below suggest it may just happen.



- A day before then (that would be Saturday) the Film Independent Spirit Awards will be handed out and you can watch the live arrivals over at Livestream starting at 2:30.

- Lights Out hit is midseason point this week and here is a sneak peak of what you can expect the rest of this season.



- Just a reminder that tonight is the season finale of Portlandia, but do not fret, the show will return to IFC second season next year and an encore of the first will begin next Friday.

- I could copy and paste on how you can audition for The Voice online, but why not just have host Carson Daily (hey, at least it isn’t Nick Lashey) tell you how in the video below. Or just click the link. Hurry up, the casting period ends March 1.



- NBC also picked up its other vocal show earlier this week, The Sing-Off. No word though if they have taken my suggestion and turn it into a weekly series. Also returning next season is more unscripted episodes of The Biggest Loser and Who Do You Think You Are.

- Seal recently sat down with Oprah for her Breaking Down the Bars series on OWN Tuesdays at 9:00. Check out a clip below where the singer talks about why he let his song be used for the woman in prison show.



- For those that prefer the Big O in written form, the March issue of O, The Oprah Magazine will feature Amy Poehler who shares her aha moment and Regina King dishing on her Best Life.

- Think there are too many commercials on television? So does Hulu’s CEO Jason Kilar who is profiled in this month’s issue of The Hollywood Reporter.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Feed Your iPod vol. LV: (There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again


For last week’s Lyrics Quiz (there are plenty of songs left) I included Macy Gray’s line about “feenin’” and went to my iTunes library to do a spell check because apparently Word is still twenty years behind in adding it into its dictionary only to find the Jodeci song was sorely missing. While scouring my boxes of randomly forgotten CD for Diary of a Mad Band copy I posted the video onto my Facebook page wondering whatever happened to the group. As my buddy Doug pointed out the group was trying to mount a comeback on Keith Sweat’s Platinum House on some channel called TV One; I have never heard of the channel let alone the show. Seriously, how is that show on some network I have never heard of when VH1 hasn’t aired anything watchable since the last season of Tool Academy? But anyway. This only led me to realize that Keith’s Keep it Comin’ is another CD hiding in one of my boxes that needed to be added to my iTunes library. After some scavenging it turns out that I also own his self title, which I completely forgot I had.

The one track of my scavenging weekend that stuck out more than any other was Sweat’s (There You Go) Tellin’ Me No Again (seriously, what did early nineties R&B acts hate about the letter “g”?). Yesterday I mocked so many artist using cassette tapes in their music videos, but I first heard the song on cassette for the New Jack City Soundtrack. I played out the cassette so much because of the song; I had to buy it again on the more durable CD format. It’s sad that modern R&B has morphed so much into rap music that smooth R&B from the nineties has all but disappeared, but as long as I keep finding gems like this in my myster box of lost CD, it will soften the blow.

(There You Go) Tellin’ Me No Again – Keith Sweat (There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again - Keep It Comin'



Wednesday, February 23, 2011

I Want My Music Television - 2/23/11


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.


All of the Lights – Kanye West



My eyes hurt now, thanks Kanye. Odd that Kanye can get twenty different singers to go all the way to Hawaii to sing one line or less, but could only get two to show up in the video.


Mine Smell Like Honey - R.E.M.



Speaking of headache inducing music videos, here is another one from R.E.M.


Bodies – Cee-Lo Green



A creepy theme to begin with but the showing the video via pictures just makes it creepier, and I mean that as a compliment Cee-Lo. And poor Common, gets killed for his shades and doesn’t even get a mention in the opening credit.


Single Girls - Laura Jansen



Weird chalk outline boyfriend aside, I find this song by newbie Laura Jansen very sweet and melancholy even if Bruno Mars did the cassette tape outline a couple months. What is with the cassette comeback? I haven’t used one in about a decade.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

There's a Fire Starting in my Heart

21 - Adele

Adele has the kind of voice that all her contemporaries on the pop chart would kill for and couldn’t come close to with all the auto-tune in the world. But let’s face it; her debut album was a bit of a bore. The music she was singing over was so bland it might as well have been Musak. And so when the first single off her sophomore outing, Rolling in the Deep was released it instantly became her best song. The voice remained unmistakable, but production went to another level thanks to Paul Epworth (Florence + The Machine) with opening strumming of a guitar which adding a driving bass drum a couple lines later and turning into a full on foot stomping clap along by the bridge. Even her phrasing gets betters, when she says, “Don’t underestimate the things that I will do” you can’t help but believe her while chills go up your spine.

And that sophomore album 21 (she is keeping with the age of when she recorded the record theme from 19) continues the promise of Rolling in the Deep. After the album kicks off with the first single, it goes straight into Rumor Has It which could have been the most haunting song from the girl group era of the sixties. Then out of nowhere the song slows down for a even more haunting piano accompanying part before picking right back up again.

Aside from Rolling in the Deep, Epworth helped write two of the best songs on the album. I’ll Be Waiting opens with an Elton John flair on piano before being joined by some horns and is easily the most fun you will have listening to Adele and listening to the song makes you wonder why she doesn’t go up tempo more often. He Won’t Go starts off with the beat and piano riff from The Roots version of Dear God before morphing into a soft rock R&B song from the eighties without managing to sound cheesy.

Rick Rubin, who produced four of the tracks, goes for the less is more approach he took when guiding Johnny Cash’s American records. Don’t You Remember and One and Only are the songs on the new albums most reminiscent of her previous album. And where Rubin made an art of picking cover songs for Cash, having Adele cover Love Song by The Cure with an acoustic bossa nove twinge just doesn’t reach the highs she had when she reworked To Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan on her last album which is the only advance 19 has over 21.

Song to Download – I'll Be Waiting

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



Monday, February 21, 2011

Previewing Blue-Collar Dogs


Blue-Collar Dogs

George Washington owned a dog, ten in all, Abraham Lincoln owned two of them himself. In fact the seventeen last presidents had a four legged friend to keep him company all the way up to Bo who currently resides in the White Dog House. But tonight on Nat Geo Wild, the channel will premiere a show that highlights dogs that go even further than being the best friend of the Leader of the Free World.

Blue-Collar Dogs follows dogs are more than man’s best friend but help their owners do some tough jobs. And tonight starting at 8:00 Nat Geo Wild will air three straight episodes starting with Canine MD. Sure we are all familiar with Seeing Eye dogs for the blind, but some do even more than guide their owners. Watching a dog open the refrigerator , grab a Sprite, give it to his owner with a degenerative muscle disease, then close the door is a sight to be seen. And the medical field is also putting a dog’s nose to good use by having them sniff out cancer and one dog that helps her owner by predicting her blood sugar crashes.

At 9:00 is Border Hounds which views like the best dog segments from Border Wars on its sister station but goes deeper into the training that goes on to making a drug sniffing dog. And the “Don’t Touch My Junk” guy may want to skip this episode because one of the dogs smells something a suspect’s crotch area as we get to see an agent go in and fish it out of the hiding area. But the best visual is a dog training to be dropped out of a helicopter getting strapped to an agent’s back and repelling down a six story structure (as seen above).

Rounding out the night is New York Police where dogs are trained to protect the world’s busiest city by sniffing out bombs, which they did to keep the scene safe during the Times Square Bombing attempt, attacking criminals in the subway, and as part of a search and rescue squad. Some of New York’s finest four legged officers went down to Haiti to find people stuck in the rubble after last year’s earthquake. And how New York is it that even police dogs need to be issued credentials just to sniff for bombs at the US Open tennis tournament? The most interesting part of the episode doesn’t even take place in New York, but across the river at a woman’s prison in New Jersey wear inmates actually help train puppies to become bomb sniffing dogs and even lives in the inmate’s cell. Check out a clip of that below:

Puppies Behind Bars


Sunday, February 20, 2011

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 2/20/11


Chuck: If Chuck were not to be renewed for next fall, here is hoping they pick up a prequel spin off featuring the C.A.T. Squad, I’d totally watch that over the proposed Charlie’s Angels reboot. Now if only they could work Casey into the series. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: Finally Marshall is back in New York, his dad’s death storyline went on for far too long. And what is with Barney dating a British chick? You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: So that is why the swimmer was acting so weird last week. I totally did not see that coming. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

Greek: I thought this show took place in Ohio? As someone who has lived in the state for his whole life, we have had plenty of snowstorms that bad or worse, that couldn’t have been the first one they have witnessed. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Greek on iTunes


Castle: Of course Castle and Beckett both had to be right, his buddy didn’t murder his wife, but she was right that he was involved with his father’s murder. I saw that ending coming a mile away. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Parenthood: I can’t believe I just watched Lyla Garrity talk down Ben Linus. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Parenthood on iTunes.

Mr. Sunshine: Hopefully they find a way to keep the pyromaniac secretary around because she was my favorite part of the show after Allison Janney. Certainly her son won’t be able to help out Matthew Perry. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Mr. Sunshine on iTunes.

Justified: Interesting that weed lady lied to the girl about her daddy dying instead telling her that he went on a business trip. What is she going to tell the girl when he doesn’t return? I guess he will “die” on the trip if she doesn’t find out the truth in the meantime. Here’s hoping she goes Hit Girl on the family if she does find out. And what was with Ava and Boyd? Did they hook up or is that the only place he thought he could go after getting beat up? But this episode featured my third favorite scene with the apricot line coming in just after the series opening and “Use it or throw it away.” You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Justified on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: I don’t really think we really needed that “previously on segment.” You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.

Outsourced: It’s a shame we only got to hear three seconds of karaoke Sister Christian, hopefully there is an extended version unleashed on the internet in the near future. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Outsourced on iTunes.

You can also check out my First Impressions of Survivor: Redemption Island.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Best of the Week - 2/19/11


Quote of the Week: I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I don’t do drugs. I don’t have crazy, reckless sex with strangers. If Charlie Sheen outlives me, I’m gonna be really pissed. (Chuck Lorre – Two and a Half Men)

Song of the Week: Reading Rainbow Theme Song - Tina Fabrique (as sung by Troy and LeVar Burton, Community)

Big News of the Week: Adrianne Palicki is You New Wonder Woman: Please if you will, step into the 9th Green time machine all the way back to October of 2010 when hearing that David E. Kelly was working on a Wonder Woman television show I commented,
“No word on who will fill Lynda Carter’s spandex, but if I were a casting director, I would definitely screen test the recently unemployed and currently brunette Tyra Collette.”
Keep in mind that the show just got picked up for a pilot and there are no guarantees it will make it to air and no live action actress has donned the golden bracelets since Lynda Carter hung up her lasso of truth thirty two years ago (but this is NBC and they have been throwing everything at the wall the last couple seasons).

The casting comes shortly after another casting I suggested that Trya’s nemesis Lyla Garrity become one of Charlie’s Angels for ABC’s reboot. Unfortunately the casting director didn’t take my other suggestions of Veronica Mars and Lana Lang to fill out the trio. But with my tract record of finding role for Friday Night Lights alums, now I need to scourer the trades to find Coach and Mrs. Taylor some work. Or maybe Parenthood should take up my suggestion that the Taylors should move to California to coach Drew’s football team.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick(s) Picture of the Week:

Yvonne Stahovski and the C.A.T. Squad


Free Download of the Week: Happily Ever After – He Is We (iTunes): Don’t ask me what the band name is, but I found the song sugary sweet. For your previewing pleasure, here is an acoustic version of the song.



New Album Release of the Week: 21 - Adele

New DVD Release of the Week: All-Star Superman

Video of the Week: After the cinematic masterpiece that was Blue Crush, I assumed that we would get a chicks surfing movie once a year for a while, but no luck, not even a crappy straight to video “sequel” that has nothing to do with the orginal aside from the name and stolen plot. Finally almost a decade later Hollywood is going back to the beach with Soul Surfer.

Soul Surfer Official Trailer


First, if this chick is willing to amputate her arm for a role, just give her an Oscar now. Second, Carrie Underwood? What? Third, I had no clue that was Helen Hunt until they credited her. What has she been up to since Mad About You ended?

Next Week Pick of the Week: Episodes, Tomorrow at 9:30 on Showtime: With all the hype of the Friends returning to television, it doesn’t look like they will spend much time of the schedule together with Chandler replacing Monica and Joey’s show ending its season already. The press release teases
“Deeply regretting her tryst with Matt (Matt LeBlanc), Beverly (Tamsin Greig) returns home to find Sean (Stephen Mangan) waiting with open arms. As the pilot for the “Pucks!” pilot wraps, Sean and Beverly prepare to return to London. A final goodbye between Matt and Sean, however, takes an unexpected turn involving a missing Jaguar, a red-nosed reindeer and the smell of cinnamon.”

Friday, February 18, 2011

Around the Tubes - 2/18/11


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 Are We There Yet?, Being Human, Big Love, Battle: Los Angeles, Secret Service Files, January Jones, Portlandia, Pretty Little Liars, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.


- Before the new episode of Are We There Yet? series stars Terry Crews (Nick), Essence Atkins (Suzanne), Teala Dunn (Lindsey), Coy Stewart (Kevin), Keesha Sharp (Gigi) and Christian Finnegan (Martin) will answer questions submitted by fans. Head over to TBS.com or the show’s Facebook page at 9:30 next week to participate.

- A new episode of Being Human is hitting Syfy this Monday at 9:00, here is a sneak peak:

It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Wrong


- I finished season four of Big Love this weekend and now ready for the DVD of the final season to hit shelves. For those watching in real time on HBO, here is a recap of the last episode to get you ready for the next episode on Sunday. And do not forget Margene’s blog who’s latest entry is a Girl’s Gotta Dance.



- For those looking forward to the upcoming Battle: Los Angeles (or just like winning stuff like a PS3) visit the movie’s Facebook page to play Battle: LA W.A.T.C.H.

- There are a couple new installments of the Secret Service Files coming up with four episode spread across Sunday and Monday on the National Geographic Channel starting at 8:00 each day. Here is a preview of what you can expect:

Secret Service Argent Training


- AOL Moviefone recently talked to January Jones about the grace Kelly comparisons, just how revealing her X-Men wardrobe is, and what is next for Betty Draper.

- It was announced this week that IFC’s new series Portlandia has been renewed for a second season for ten episodes starting January 2012. And on tonight’s episode will feature the band Echo Echo.

- What better way to celebrate President’s Day than a Pretty Little Liars marathon. Starting at 1:00 PM on ABC Family with the midseason premiere going all the way up to 8:00 with a brand new episode. George and Abe would certainly approve this message.

- TV.com recently nabbed an interview with Camille Grammar who revealed she tried to quite in the middle of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

First Impressions: Survivor: Redemption Island


The cast of Survivor: Redemption Island

Survivor: Redemption Island poises the question can the unredeemable actually be redeemed? For its new season Survivor brought back two of its biggest doushebags ever for another go around. Boston Rob gets his fourth go around even though he failed to make the jury on two of his previous season. Then the other contestant is the one person that can make Rob seem sympathetic, Russell who gets to play for the third time (and most likely last since it has been brought to light that he spoiled his first two seasons, which is a breach of contract that could cost him millions) who played the dumbest game ever only to repeat it on the second go-around and got completely outplayed by two girls.

Of course Redemption Island has less to do with the two returning contestants and more with the place voted out contestants go to battle in hopes to reenter the game. We will have to wait until next week to see how it fully works after a second contestant gets voted out (or possibly the third episode depending on when exactly the competition takes place). But from the preview it looks like something out of MTV’s The Challenge and it looks like Francesca Hogi will be taking on a dude (though the thick leg in the preview could be a production personal doing a run-through or someone from a later challenge) and hopefully it is Russell.

Then at some point during the season, the person left standing on Redemption Island will be released back into the game. I originally assumed that it would be around the merge, but the Redemption Moments were all of jury members who went fairly deep in the game. So I wonder when they get to the jury, will the person still on Redemption Island be able to sit in on Tribal Council? Hopefully they are not let back in late in the game because the later the less I like the idea of Redemption Island.

Andrea_Boehlke: I'd hit that even if she hasn't showered in a monthAfter a poorly cast Nicaragua season, there were plenty of standout characters from Redemption Island including redneck Ralph Kiser and an overabundance of eye candy highlighted by Andrea Boehlke but former Special Agent (?) Phillip Sheppard was the breakout star of the premiere episode. He bragged about his ability of being able to read people thanks to his federal agent (?) yet he has the social skills of Sheldon Cooper. His blowup was one of the more entertaining tribal councils in a while. Hopefully he somehow manages to stay awhile but sure dumb luck.

Contestant I’d Most Like to Have Dirty, Dirty Sex with Even if She Hasn’t Take a Shower in a Month: Andrea Boehlke

Winner: Andrea Boehlke

Back Up Choice: Mike Chiesl

Survivor: Redemption Island airs Wednesdays at 8:00 on CBS. You can stream episodes on CBS.com. You can also download Survivor on iTunes.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

I Want My Music Television - 2/16/11


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.

Howlin’ for You – The Black Keys



Seriously, if Robert Rodriquez can turn a trailer he made for Grindhouse in the full length feature Machete, how about turning this Black Keys music video into feature film. I’d plop down money for the blu-ray just to see more of Sir Todd Bridges as a preacher.


Good Man - Raphael Saadiq



Ooo, Raphael Saadiq goes dark. Speaking of music videos that need to be turned a motion picture, someone create a Blaxplotation film to put this song on because it would make the best soundtrack since Curtis Mayfield.


White Limo – Foo Fighters



I do not know about the new Foo Fighters song or the homage to Journey’s Separate Ways video but the awesomeness of the video can be summed up in one word: Lemmy!!!


And lastly, here is my favorite performance from this year’s Grammy awards.



And for your downloading pleasures, here are the studio versions of the songs performed in order:

The Cave – Mumford and Sons
Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise – The Avett Brothers
Maggie's Farm – Bob Dylan

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Lyrics Quiz: Crazy


About a month ago, I declared Crazy by Gnarls Barkley the Greatest Song of the 00’s (check out the list for the other 999 that made my list). In honor of the accomplishment I thought I would run Crazy through iTunes’ Genius function and here are the songs it gave me. Well, with the exception of Green Onions which I could add to the Lyrics Quiz considering it lacks any lyrics. With Crazy’s eccentric pop leaning I was a little surprised at the old school R&B heavy playlist Genius came up with (hint, hint). But anyway. As always leave your guesses, both artist and song title, in the comment section or e-mail me. If you are correct I will un-bold the lyric and give you credit. Please keep in mind the lyrics quiz is for entertainment purposes only so please only use your own meandering mind to guess them.

1. I cannot play myself again, I should just be my own friend, not (expletive delete) myself in the head with stupid men.
2. There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do. I’d twist through fire for you. Anything you asked me to. But I’m tired of living this lie, it’s getting harder to justify.
3. I won’t let my guard down for anyone but you. We do it all the time, blowing my mind.

4. I’m just straight ill, riding my motorcycle down the streets while politicians is sounding like strippers to me. They sayig but I don’t wanna hear it. (Lapdance - N.E.R.D.; guessed by Doug)
5. Who you going to tell when the reprocussions spin? Showing off you (expletive deleted) ‘cause you’re thinking it’s a trend. Girlfriend let me break it down for you again.
6. People say that I’ve found a way to make you say that you love me. But baby you didn’t go for that, me, it’s a natural fact that I wanna come back. Show me where it’s at, baby.
7. Oh, what did you do? What did you say? Did you walk or did you run away? Where are you now? Where have you been? Did you go alone or did you bring a friend?
8. She saves her lovin’ early in the morning just for me, oh yeah. She saves her lovin’ just for me. Oh she loves me so tenderly.
9. But here are some of music’s pioneers that time will not allow us to forget. For there’s Basie, Miller, Satchmo.
10. My brother sit me right down and he talked to me. He told me that I ought not let you just walk on me. And I’m sure he meant well.
11. I remember way back, way back when. I said I never wanna see your face again ‘cause you were loving, yes you’re loving somebody else.

12. And we should be together but we’re not. I play it off but I’m dreaming of you. I’ll keep it cool but I’m feenin’. (I Try - On How Life Is - Macy Gray; guessed by Doug)
13. Father, father, everyone thinks we’re wrong. Oh, but who are they to judge us simply because our hair is long.
14. I guess I must be dumb ‘cause you had a pocket full of horses, Trojan and some of them used.
15. I remember when I was sitting home alone waiting for you until three o’clock in the morn’. And when you came home you’d always have some sorry excuse.
16. When I hold you in my arms, I know I can’t do no wrong now. When I hold you in my arms, My love can’t do me no harm.
17. Sometimees these feelings can be so misleading. He turns and says, “Are you alright?” Oh, I must be fine ‘cause my heart’s still beating.
18. I’m pumping louder please don't tell me you don't like the flow. You cry to me to put this down so lemme step it – yo.
19. Hey, we don’t know each other well so why I keep picking up my cell. Memories just keep ringing bells.

20. Attracting honeys like a magnet, giving ‘em eargasms with my mellow accent, still moving this flavor. (No Diggity - Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre; guessed by Doug)
21. I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly. (Bootylicious - Destiny's Child; guessed by Doug)
22. All you gotta do is man; hold her where you want her. Squeeze her, don’t tease her. Never leave her.
23. The low pro (expletive deleted) should be cut like an afro. See what you’re saying, huh? She’s weighing but I know she’s a loser. How do you know: me and the crew used to do her. (Poison - Bell Bive DeVoe; guessed by Doug)
24. Now I heard a crying man is half a man with no sense of pride. But if I have to cry to keep you, I don't mind weeping if it'll keep you by my side.
25. Don’t you ever be sad. Lean on me, when times get bad. When the day come, and you know your down in a river of trouble, you’re about to drown.


Monday, February 14, 2011

We on Award Tour: 2011 Grammy Awards


- What a way to attract an audience that an Aretha Franklin tribute. Why they introduced everyone involved twice. And poor Christina Aguilera, first she flubs the national anthem then falls on the Grammys. It almost makes up for having to sit through Burlesque.

- The first award goes to Train and is the only award given out in the first hour which is why the Grammys is the only award show worth watching. Instead of expanding Best Movie, the Oscars should make Best Song ten to fifteen nominees and perform them all and push most of the awards to “handed out before the telecast.”

- Lady GaGa’s performances are known for being painfully to watch with her smearing herself with fake blood or fake ash, but Born This Way is most notable for just being painfully boring. And “Don’t be a drag, be a queen” may be the lamest chant in a song ever. Hopefully this is the official end of the Lady Gaga era.

- Marky Mark is officially off the hook for worst use of Walk on the Wild Side because that HP now holds that honor.

- I wonder if Muse gets asked to perform if the lead singer didn’t knock up Kate Hudson.

- It is a shame Janelle Monáe isn’t bigger than she is, she is the female embodiment of James Brown. And I really enjoyed the do-wop version of Grenade. Also, bonus points to B.o.B for rocking a monocle.

- Wait, Jewel is a country artist now? Was that common knowledge?

- Odd that Eva Longoria came out just as Desperate Housewives was starting on another station.

- What was with the Sub Zero dancers during the Justin Bieber performance?

- Speaking of Beiber, Donny Walberg is in no position to scoff at the crappy teen starlet because he was ten times worse.

- I liked how Selena Gomez hightailed it out of there after she announced Lady Gaga as the winner. I would too.

- Despite Bob Dylan being even more gravelity voiced than usual, the Mumford & Sons / The Avett Brothers stole the show with the best performance of the night.

- Teddy Pendergrass deserves better than having one line song in honor of him. And didn’t Lady Antebellum sing Need You Now last year?

- Kings of Leon did not look happy that they were paired with Miley Cyrus. And speaking of Cyrus I am completely against her hosting Saturday Night Live because The Miley Cyrus Show is the break out sketch of the season and I fear her showing up on it with ruin it.

- Apparently the Grammys made Cee Lo Green change so many lyrics that he actually forgot them. Or maybe he was distracted by his Elton John costume.

- Just when you thought Katy Perry couldn’t get any worse she breaks out a balled featuring pictures of Russell Brand. Eww.

- I liked how they referred the Cee-Lo song as “The Song Otherwise Known as Forget You” much more entertaining than simply “Forget You.”

- Lady Antebellum wins Song of the Year. Keep in mind this is a songwriter’s award, which went to a song about drunken dialing.

- When Seth Rogan said Adam Levine was part of the Eminem / Rihanna / Dr. Dre performance I thought he was joking, but there he was at the piano. And Dre, it time to stop teasing us and give us an official release date for Detox.

- At least they spruced up the token old white guy moment this year by playing music over him. Now he knows how long winded award winners feel like. Although it was odd how he talked about accepting free speech right after a heavily censored Eminem set.

- I am not the biggest The Rolling Stones fan out there, but Mick Jagger tore the roof off the place. Too bad Raphael Saadiq get mentioned as the guitar player.

- Okay, Lady Gaga wasn’t as boring as Barbra Streisand. It’s too bad Duck Sauce didn’t come out and perform with her.

- Walk Up is a good song and all, but I have never gotten Arcade Fire as a whole.

- If Arcade Fire wins Album of the Year but lost Best Alternative Album to The Black Keys, doesn’t that mean Brothers is really the true Record of the Year?

Sunday, February 13, 2011

57 Channels and Only This Is On - 2/13/11


Shameless: It’s parent-teacher conference tonight on Shameless and not surprisingly Frank is opposed to the idea despite many people needing him to show up. Someone will also get the Suge Knight treatment sometime during the episode. And for anyone who just watches in hopes to see Emmy Rossum in various states of the undressed will not be disappointed with tonight’s episode.

Chuck: Sarah and Chuck cannot elope because they have to have a big wedding with Jeffster as their house band. And who would be against a lengthy guest stint from Gary Cole. Which begs the question; do we know what happened to her mother? I do not remember her ever being brought up. I may have to re-watch the original Gary Cole episode to see if she was mentioned at all. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.

How I Met Your Mother: I didn’t think this show could find a worse actor than Britney Spears, but Katy Perry managed to be even more painful to watch. She even made Jennifer Morrison’s comedic styling compliant. And hopefully Marcus visits Marshall frequently when he goes back to New York. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.

Pretty Little Liars: What a weird turn face from the swimming teammate, a rain soaked apology followed by a biking accident. I thought she was going to blame the accident of the lesbian, but no, she just had to learn to swim for herself. Alrighty. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Pretty Little Liars on iTunes.

Greek: I really thought Casey would be mad that Cappie took advantage of her last week, but I guess the writer are not waiting for the series finale to get the two back together. And just when I thought Ashleigh hooking up with Dr. Burton would be icky, Rusty joined the love triangle. Double eww. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Greek on iTunes


Castle: If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion with a Silver Spoons style train in it. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Castle on iTunes.

Harry’s Law: They are not really going to hagve Shooter McGavin hook up with Kathy Bates are they? You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Lights Out: They cut off the episode about five minutes too early because I really would have liked to see the conversation between Hal Brennan and Barry Word. I wonder if Brennan was the one who actually put the concrete in the punching bag. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Lights Out on iTunes.

Modern Family: It is always good to see Dylan back (though I wish we would have gotten more of his song) but I wonder if had seen Hayley lately before going Jon Cusack on her lawn because she was looking really frumpy this episode to the point I did not even recognized her on the couch and thought maybe she was a friend of Manny. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu.

Modern Family on iTunes


Mr. Sunshine: A solid start and it clear the Allison Janney’s crazy version of Marge Schott is the breakout star of the show. And I would mind more of the psycho assistant. But less of the co-worker with benefit, I am not sure how she still gets jobs on sitcoms considering she isn’t very funny. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Mr. Sunshine on iTunes.

Justified: That is the first time I remember a show opting just to show the previous episode’s late couple minutes in lue of the usual “Previously On” segment. And I guess growing up the son of a con man gets you in with a pretty bad crowd being good friends with the Crowder family and the new weed family. Ava and Winona must be very good in the bed because I cannot think why he would want to stay in Harland with these families when he was offered his job back in Florida. But I liked the ending with Boyd once again uttering the title of the story the show is based on, “Fire in the whole.” Can’t wait to next week to see what he is up to now. You can stream recent episodes on Hulu. You can also download Justified on iTunes.

The Big Bang Theory: Just when I thought nothing would get ickier this week than Dr. Burton hooking up with Ashleigh, Lucille Bluth had to go and seduce Lenard. Now if you excuse me, I need to go and wash my eyes out Alex Dunphy style. You can stream recent episodes over at cbs.com.

Community: Just how hard is it to get shows On Demand the next day? It seems like every other week Community and Outsourced take different amount of days getting On Demand (where I tend to watch them) which makes little sense to me. And as I write this, Community still is not available. Technology should makes thing easier not harder. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Community on iTunes.

Outsourced: By bringing new meaning to a double date, Manmeet has officially upgraded to G status. You can stream current episodes on Hulu. You can also download Outsourced on iTunes.