Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Chickenfoot III Podcast #8-- Big Foot
Yeah, I'm not skipping a day (and I just posted four 'Foot clips).
Deal with it. It's my birthday-- and I effin' love this song...
Pure, balls-out, sex drugs and rock and roll tune.
Deal with it. It's my birthday-- and I effin' love this song...
Pure, balls-out, sex drugs and rock and roll tune.
Chickenfoot Discuss A.M.P.F. Technology
I don't remember posting this one.
These guys have too much fun to call it work.
These guys have too much fun to call it work.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Premieres 9/19-9/25 addendum
So, even though I killed myself with the weekly premieres post this week, there were some that I missed (and probably even more I won't hit this time). I blame Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide, where I steal all that info from before regurgitating it in this blog.
Thanks to my friend Brian for catching Workaholics, which premiered its second season last night. Thankfully, it'll repeat in Comedy Central a couple more times this week. If you gave up on the show early-on last season, you may want to give it a second shot; it really got better by the episode.
Another I missed was Comedy Central's Tosh.0, which I'm sure will repeat this week as well as it seems to be on all the time.
I don't remember mentioning Dateline NBC as having a new season (does a news show really have seasons?). NBC; Friday, 8 pm CST.
Same with 48 Hours Mystery (Is that a real show title?) CBS; Saturday, 8 pm CST.
Finally, That Metal Show (VH1 Classic; Saturday, 10 pm CST) is giving a good chunk of its hour to Sammy Hagar. I'm really looking forward to it because host Eddie Trunk really respects Hagar, and I expect some real questions for him instead of the insipid "So you and Eddie (Van Halen) don't get along?" or "So you were abducted by aliens?" crap he had to explain in his book tour.
Anyway, I'm considering that a nice birthday present by having my favorite musician on a great show that night.
And speaking of books, I'm very late on this recommendation, but if you like hard rock or heavy metal, you should give Eddie Trunk's book Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal a read. Trunk is the real deal when it comes to metal knowledge, and what I loved about the book is he gave very honest, personal accounts of his thoughts and encounters with bands. He made a list of his forty "essential" musicians/bands and then broke them down. Each chapter gave a brief rundown of the artist, a discography (or as much as space allowed for some), and "best of" list of a dozen or so tracks to listen to, and then usually some very personal reason for their inclusion.
I gained a ton of respect for him (my prior knowledge was only from That Metal Show) and also a ton of respect for a number of artists. I'm by no means a hard rock scholar-- and know very little about heavy metal-- but he really made me care about some of them.
And, on a personal note, I feel Trunk wrote the most honest, concise critique of Sammy Hagar I've ever read-- and I have read A LOT of things people have written about him in hundreds of magazines and dozens of books (even if I don't buy the book, I always read what a book may mention about him). I know the guy is not the best at what he does in any category, but I know he always gives it his all (go watch him on tour with the Wabos, 2000 fans get the show he'd give to 20, 000), and I really appreciated that Trunk also likes that about him.
But even if you're not a Hagar fan, there are thirty-nine other hard rock/heavy metal artists to read about.
It's a great book. Once or twice a year, I read one that just makes me feel different; one that I know I just want to dig into again.
Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal has been that book for me in 2011.
I'm not saying "buy it here", but I bought it from Amazon... Twice (once as a gift). And I'm cheap as Hell; I never pay retail for anything... This is a good price, even if you pay for shipping.
Eddie Trunk's Essential
Thanks to my friend Brian for catching Workaholics, which premiered its second season last night. Thankfully, it'll repeat in Comedy Central a couple more times this week. If you gave up on the show early-on last season, you may want to give it a second shot; it really got better by the episode.
Another I missed was Comedy Central's Tosh.0, which I'm sure will repeat this week as well as it seems to be on all the time.
I don't remember mentioning Dateline NBC as having a new season (does a news show really have seasons?). NBC; Friday, 8 pm CST.
Same with 48 Hours Mystery (Is that a real show title?) CBS; Saturday, 8 pm CST.
Finally, That Metal Show (VH1 Classic; Saturday, 10 pm CST) is giving a good chunk of its hour to Sammy Hagar. I'm really looking forward to it because host Eddie Trunk really respects Hagar, and I expect some real questions for him instead of the insipid "So you and Eddie (Van Halen) don't get along?" or "So you were abducted by aliens?" crap he had to explain in his book tour.
Anyway, I'm considering that a nice birthday present by having my favorite musician on a great show that night.
And speaking of books, I'm very late on this recommendation, but if you like hard rock or heavy metal, you should give Eddie Trunk's book Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal a read. Trunk is the real deal when it comes to metal knowledge, and what I loved about the book is he gave very honest, personal accounts of his thoughts and encounters with bands. He made a list of his forty "essential" musicians/bands and then broke them down. Each chapter gave a brief rundown of the artist, a discography (or as much as space allowed for some), and "best of" list of a dozen or so tracks to listen to, and then usually some very personal reason for their inclusion.
I gained a ton of respect for him (my prior knowledge was only from That Metal Show) and also a ton of respect for a number of artists. I'm by no means a hard rock scholar-- and know very little about heavy metal-- but he really made me care about some of them.
And, on a personal note, I feel Trunk wrote the most honest, concise critique of Sammy Hagar I've ever read-- and I have read A LOT of things people have written about him in hundreds of magazines and dozens of books (even if I don't buy the book, I always read what a book may mention about him). I know the guy is not the best at what he does in any category, but I know he always gives it his all (go watch him on tour with the Wabos, 2000 fans get the show he'd give to 20, 000), and I really appreciated that Trunk also likes that about him.
But even if you're not a Hagar fan, there are thirty-nine other hard rock/heavy metal artists to read about.
It's a great book. Once or twice a year, I read one that just makes me feel different; one that I know I just want to dig into again.
Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal has been that book for me in 2011.
I'm not saying "buy it here", but I bought it from Amazon... Twice (once as a gift). And I'm cheap as Hell; I never pay retail for anything... This is a good price, even if you pay for shipping.
Eddie Trunk's Essential
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Premieres and Notables: September 19-25, 2011
It's premiere week. I'm hoping some big thing will appear. I checked out Ringer, Up All Night, Free Agents, and The Secret Circle, and I wasn't terribly impressed.
Ringer wasn't bad. I'll be sticking around. It could go many directions (not all good), but I'll see where it leads us.
Up All Night will be pretty funny when they decide to write jokes. Funny thing: many critics said Maya Rudolph "made" the pilot. Those critics would be wrong.
Free Agents: I'll admit I fell asleep (not a knock on the show; I'm perpetually exhausted). I'll also admit I still deleted the show when I woke up during the credits. I didn't feel the need to rewatch the parts I didn't see.
The Secret Circle: I like Britt Robertson, but this show really isn't geared to a 39-year-old man. I'm okay with that. I think it could have something for someone younger than myself.
So Secret Circle is out for me (I only tried it because there was nothing else in the DVR for both my wife and I to watch). Ringer is the keeper, and the two comedies will get an extended trial because it's really tough to gauge what a comedy will ultimately be like based on its pilot (yes, that doesn't make sense as the pilot sells the program, but comedies seem to experience the most changes).
And here I was hoping to not write too long. Mission failed.
Premiere Week is unleashed. I posted trailers last year, but I don't think I'm going to go that route this year. If something sounds cool, check it out on YouTube. I'll try to steer you a little if I've been reading things about these shows, but it's hard to push through what is honest criticism and what is hype.
Monday, 9/19
Dancing With the Stars; ABC. 7 pm CST. 13th Cycle Premiere.
How I Met Your Mother; CBS. 7 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
The little show that could makes it to a safe place. Marshall and Lily work on parenthood, Robin goes outside the group to find love, Marshall gets his dream job, Barney has to adjust after finding his father... And Ted keeps looking for "the one".
Hell's Kitchen (Fox; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Sing-Off; NBC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
2 Broke Girls; CBS. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Kat Dennings (love her) and Beth Behrs star as two (young) women who are broke.
I have hopes for it, but CBS hasn't had a great track record for Monday comedies to help out the veteran shows.
Two and a Half Men; CBS. 8 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
You may think "Hey, Charlie's out, Ashton's in; I'll give it a try." I thought the same thing. And then I remembered that I didn't stop watching years ago because I hated Sheen. I stopped watching because the writing was lazy and the jokes (that's being generous) were lousy. The behind-the-scenes people are still there, so I expect this to remain bogged-down in what I call "lowest common denominator" humor.
Castle; ABC. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Hawaii Five-O; CBS. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
The Playboy Club; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A show set in the '60s in the famous Chicago club.
--But the show insists it's not sexist.--
I'm not so sure.
Who am I kidding? I'm in.
Intervention (A&E; 9 pm CST). S eason Finale.
Tuesday, 9/20
The Biggest Loser; NBC. 7 pm CST. 12th Cycle Premiere.
NCIS; CBS. 7 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
Glee; Fox. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Last year had lots to like (Darren Criss, Gwyneth Paltrow's appearances), and lots to hate (waaaaay too much preaching, Sue Sylvester going way over the top, too many shoved-in song numbers, bully who has gay tendencies, girl who became lesbian without much warning).
[Let me just say I'm not against the gay thing at all; I'm actually very supportive of it all in real life and on TV. But when it becomes a preachy subject that's beaten over my head every week, I'm not as supportive. Just like I'm not supportive of any over-used plot point on any show. I get it: being a kid is tough. Being a gay kid is tougher. Move on.]
NCIS: Los Angeles; CBS. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
New Girl; Fox. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Zooey Deschanel stars as a newly-single woman who moves in with three men and they all learn what it means to be young and single in the 2010's. Lots of good word about this one. Check it out.
Raising Hope; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
One of my favorite shows from last year. Check it out.
Body of Proof; ABC. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Unforgettable; CBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Poppy Montgomery is a detective with hyperthymesia, which means she can recall any moment in her life. It's a good-- and bad-- thing...
Wednesday, 9/21
The Middle; ABC. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Not as polished as Modern Family and not as much drinking as Cougartown, but this show is hugely underrated. Check it out. And Ray Romano guests tonight, so you've got a minor Everyone Loves Raymond reunion here.
The X-Factor; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
You all know about it by now. Simon Cowell brings his show across the pond and gives it a shot on American TV.
I expect to have X-Factor burn-out by about Halloween. Because even though I won't even watch the show, I will see an article in every magazine I read, half of any mag cover on the stands will mention it, The Soup will play clips, etc etc.
Up All Night and Free Agents land in their normal weekly spots at 7 pm and 7:30 pm respectively (NBC).
Modern Family; ABC. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Tonight, Mitchel and Cameron visit a dude ranch. I expect it not to go as well as they had hoped.
Criminal Minds; CBS. 8 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
Harry's Law; NBC. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Revenge; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Emily VanCamp stars as a woman who plots to destroy the family who ruined her father.
Good news: creator Mike Kelley promises that all the questions posed in the pilot will be answered by the thirteenth episode. So if gets cancelled, we'll know who did it. And we'll also know they won't drag out the initial mysteries.
CSI; CBS. 9 pm CST.
Now with 100% more Ted Danson as he takes over the CSI team.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; NBC. 9 pm CST. 13th Season Premiere.
Now with 100% less Christopher Meloni.
The Hour (BBC America; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thursday, 9/22
Charlie's Angels; ABC. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Three "bad" girls get a second lease on "goodness" by becoming private investigators for an unseen man.
Community; NBC. 7:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Last season, this show became much more than a mere comedy. Very subtly, it became a human-relation show. Very small bits that add to our understandings of the characters that just added layer after layer. Check it out.
And there are two new faculty members that are worth giving this show a look: John Goodman appears as the vice dean (and he's a little more "rough" than Dean Felton) and Michael K. Williams (The Wire's Omar) has a recurring role as a biology professor who's a bit "intense" and has it out for Jeff.
The Big Bang Theory; CBS. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.
One of my biggest disappointments of last season. Having to carry the Thursday line-up took a toll on the show in my opinion. The over-reliance on sex jokes was tiring, and I hope the show can find its way back to the fish-out-of-water humor that made it so great the first four years.
Parks and Recreation; NBC. 7:30 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
This show gets better and better-- but it's still overrated by many critics. I'd like to see some more growth, and it looks like the dynamic is changing just a bit for many characters.
Grey's Anatomy; ABC. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
Person of Interest; CBS. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan bring us this series about an extremely rich man who partners with a former CIA operative to prevent crimes. There's a mystery or two (or ten) in the backstory to add to the mix. Worth watching.
The Office; 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
James Spader got the gig as the new manager-- and took a little more by ending up as the CEO of the company. So that means the search for a new manager will go on this season as well.
Whitney; NBC, 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I've liked Whitney Cummings on Chelsea Lately, but the commercials have not looked promising.
The Mentalist; CBS. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Prime Suspect; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Maria Bello stars in this British import that starred Helen Mirren. I have high hopes for it, but the original is a classic (legendary from what I've heard), and NBC doesn't give me much confidence...
Friday, 9/23
A Gifted Man; CBS. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
An arrogant neurosurgeon begins to get visions of his dead wife, who implores him to work at her failing clinic. And he learns to be less arrogant.
I'd skip it, but Julie Benz is a series regular, so I have to at least try it out.
Kitchen Nightmares; Fox. 7 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Nikita; The CW. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
I give a lot of credit to this show for shaking things up (and progressing the characters) so much the first season. No chance to get stale so far.
CSI: NY; CBS. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
Fringe; Fox. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Supernatural; The CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Blue Bloods; CBS. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Saturday, 9/24
I don't get a chance to listen to podcasts. I don't have an MP3 player (or any portable computer for that matter)-- and my company frowns on us having "distractions" (as if we're so unprofessional that we won't pick up the phone because a really good song is on), so work's out.
But I do try to catch the Nerdist podcast when I know I'll be at my home desktop for an extended period (like the three hours it took me to type this up).
So I'm gonna plug the BBC America "pilot" of the Nerdist talk show, hosted by Chris Hardwick at 9 pm CST. He's got Matt Smith on it, so even if you're not sold on Hardwick, check it out for The Doctor...
And if that's not enough, talk show genius Craig Ferguson will be a guest too.
Saturday Night Live; NBC. 10:35 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Alec Baldwin hosts for a sixteenth time.
Sunday, 9/25
Amazing Race; CBS. 7 pm CST. 19th Cycle Premiere.
The Simpsons; Fox. 7 pm CST. 23rd Season Premiere.
Twenty-three years. Amazing.
The Cleveland Show; Fox. 7:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
7:30 for a few weeks, then it moves to 6:30, and if Fox has two football games (noon and 3 pm), expect to find this show all over the schedule due to preemptions.
Desperate Housewives; ABC. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
The final season begins.
The Good Wife; CBS. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Family Guy; Fox. 8 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.
Boardwalk Empire; HBO. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
The Great Food Truck (Food Network; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
American Dad; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
Pan Am; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A series that follows the stewardesses of the famous airline in the 1960s. It's a retro look at the excitement that used to come with flying.
CSI: Miami; CBS. 9 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.
Ringer wasn't bad. I'll be sticking around. It could go many directions (not all good), but I'll see where it leads us.
Up All Night will be pretty funny when they decide to write jokes. Funny thing: many critics said Maya Rudolph "made" the pilot. Those critics would be wrong.
Free Agents: I'll admit I fell asleep (not a knock on the show; I'm perpetually exhausted). I'll also admit I still deleted the show when I woke up during the credits. I didn't feel the need to rewatch the parts I didn't see.
The Secret Circle: I like Britt Robertson, but this show really isn't geared to a 39-year-old man. I'm okay with that. I think it could have something for someone younger than myself.
So Secret Circle is out for me (I only tried it because there was nothing else in the DVR for both my wife and I to watch). Ringer is the keeper, and the two comedies will get an extended trial because it's really tough to gauge what a comedy will ultimately be like based on its pilot (yes, that doesn't make sense as the pilot sells the program, but comedies seem to experience the most changes).
And here I was hoping to not write too long. Mission failed.
Premiere Week is unleashed. I posted trailers last year, but I don't think I'm going to go that route this year. If something sounds cool, check it out on YouTube. I'll try to steer you a little if I've been reading things about these shows, but it's hard to push through what is honest criticism and what is hype.
Monday, 9/19
Dancing With the Stars; ABC. 7 pm CST. 13th Cycle Premiere.
How I Met Your Mother; CBS. 7 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
The little show that could makes it to a safe place. Marshall and Lily work on parenthood, Robin goes outside the group to find love, Marshall gets his dream job, Barney has to adjust after finding his father... And Ted keeps looking for "the one".
Hell's Kitchen (Fox; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Sing-Off; NBC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
2 Broke Girls; CBS. 7:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Kat Dennings (love her) and Beth Behrs star as two (young) women who are broke.
I have hopes for it, but CBS hasn't had a great track record for Monday comedies to help out the veteran shows.
Two and a Half Men; CBS. 8 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
You may think "Hey, Charlie's out, Ashton's in; I'll give it a try." I thought the same thing. And then I remembered that I didn't stop watching years ago because I hated Sheen. I stopped watching because the writing was lazy and the jokes (that's being generous) were lousy. The behind-the-scenes people are still there, so I expect this to remain bogged-down in what I call "lowest common denominator" humor.
Castle; ABC. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Hawaii Five-O; CBS. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
The Playboy Club; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A show set in the '60s in the famous Chicago club.
--But the show insists it's not sexist.--
I'm not so sure.
Who am I kidding? I'm in.
Intervention (A&E; 9 pm CST). S eason Finale.
Tuesday, 9/20
The Biggest Loser; NBC. 7 pm CST. 12th Cycle Premiere.
NCIS; CBS. 7 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
Glee; Fox. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Last year had lots to like (Darren Criss, Gwyneth Paltrow's appearances), and lots to hate (waaaaay too much preaching, Sue Sylvester going way over the top, too many shoved-in song numbers, bully who has gay tendencies, girl who became lesbian without much warning).
[Let me just say I'm not against the gay thing at all; I'm actually very supportive of it all in real life and on TV. But when it becomes a preachy subject that's beaten over my head every week, I'm not as supportive. Just like I'm not supportive of any over-used plot point on any show. I get it: being a kid is tough. Being a gay kid is tougher. Move on.]
NCIS: Los Angeles; CBS. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
New Girl; Fox. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Zooey Deschanel stars as a newly-single woman who moves in with three men and they all learn what it means to be young and single in the 2010's. Lots of good word about this one. Check it out.
Raising Hope; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
One of my favorite shows from last year. Check it out.
Body of Proof; ABC. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Unforgettable; CBS. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Poppy Montgomery is a detective with hyperthymesia, which means she can recall any moment in her life. It's a good-- and bad-- thing...
Wednesday, 9/21
The Middle; ABC. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Not as polished as Modern Family and not as much drinking as Cougartown, but this show is hugely underrated. Check it out. And Ray Romano guests tonight, so you've got a minor Everyone Loves Raymond reunion here.
The X-Factor; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
You all know about it by now. Simon Cowell brings his show across the pond and gives it a shot on American TV.
I expect to have X-Factor burn-out by about Halloween. Because even though I won't even watch the show, I will see an article in every magazine I read, half of any mag cover on the stands will mention it, The Soup will play clips, etc etc.
Up All Night and Free Agents land in their normal weekly spots at 7 pm and 7:30 pm respectively (NBC).
Modern Family; ABC. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Tonight, Mitchel and Cameron visit a dude ranch. I expect it not to go as well as they had hoped.
Criminal Minds; CBS. 8 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
Harry's Law; NBC. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Revenge; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Emily VanCamp stars as a woman who plots to destroy the family who ruined her father.
Good news: creator Mike Kelley promises that all the questions posed in the pilot will be answered by the thirteenth episode. So if gets cancelled, we'll know who did it. And we'll also know they won't drag out the initial mysteries.
CSI; CBS. 9 pm CST.
Now with 100% more Ted Danson as he takes over the CSI team.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; NBC. 9 pm CST. 13th Season Premiere.
Now with 100% less Christopher Meloni.
The Hour (BBC America; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thursday, 9/22
Charlie's Angels; ABC. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Three "bad" girls get a second lease on "goodness" by becoming private investigators for an unseen man.
Community; NBC. 7:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Last season, this show became much more than a mere comedy. Very subtly, it became a human-relation show. Very small bits that add to our understandings of the characters that just added layer after layer. Check it out.
And there are two new faculty members that are worth giving this show a look: John Goodman appears as the vice dean (and he's a little more "rough" than Dean Felton) and Michael K. Williams (The Wire's Omar) has a recurring role as a biology professor who's a bit "intense" and has it out for Jeff.
The Big Bang Theory; CBS. 7 pm CST. 5th Season Premiere.
One of my biggest disappointments of last season. Having to carry the Thursday line-up took a toll on the show in my opinion. The over-reliance on sex jokes was tiring, and I hope the show can find its way back to the fish-out-of-water humor that made it so great the first four years.
Parks and Recreation; NBC. 7:30 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
This show gets better and better-- but it's still overrated by many critics. I'd like to see some more growth, and it looks like the dynamic is changing just a bit for many characters.
Grey's Anatomy; ABC. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
Person of Interest; CBS. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
J.J. Abrams and Jonathan Nolan bring us this series about an extremely rich man who partners with a former CIA operative to prevent crimes. There's a mystery or two (or ten) in the backstory to add to the mix. Worth watching.
The Office; 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
James Spader got the gig as the new manager-- and took a little more by ending up as the CEO of the company. So that means the search for a new manager will go on this season as well.
Whitney; NBC, 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I've liked Whitney Cummings on Chelsea Lately, but the commercials have not looked promising.
The Mentalist; CBS. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Prime Suspect; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Maria Bello stars in this British import that starred Helen Mirren. I have high hopes for it, but the original is a classic (legendary from what I've heard), and NBC doesn't give me much confidence...
Friday, 9/23
A Gifted Man; CBS. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
An arrogant neurosurgeon begins to get visions of his dead wife, who implores him to work at her failing clinic. And he learns to be less arrogant.
I'd skip it, but Julie Benz is a series regular, so I have to at least try it out.
Kitchen Nightmares; Fox. 7 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Nikita; The CW. 7 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
I give a lot of credit to this show for shaking things up (and progressing the characters) so much the first season. No chance to get stale so far.
CSI: NY; CBS. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
Fringe; Fox. 8 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Supernatural; The CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Blue Bloods; CBS. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Saturday, 9/24
I don't get a chance to listen to podcasts. I don't have an MP3 player (or any portable computer for that matter)-- and my company frowns on us having "distractions" (as if we're so unprofessional that we won't pick up the phone because a really good song is on), so work's out.
But I do try to catch the Nerdist podcast when I know I'll be at my home desktop for an extended period (like the three hours it took me to type this up).
So I'm gonna plug the BBC America "pilot" of the Nerdist talk show, hosted by Chris Hardwick at 9 pm CST. He's got Matt Smith on it, so even if you're not sold on Hardwick, check it out for The Doctor...
And if that's not enough, talk show genius Craig Ferguson will be a guest too.
Saturday Night Live; NBC. 10:35 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Alec Baldwin hosts for a sixteenth time.
Sunday, 9/25
Amazing Race; CBS. 7 pm CST. 19th Cycle Premiere.
The Simpsons; Fox. 7 pm CST. 23rd Season Premiere.
Twenty-three years. Amazing.
The Cleveland Show; Fox. 7:30 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
7:30 for a few weeks, then it moves to 6:30, and if Fox has two football games (noon and 3 pm), expect to find this show all over the schedule due to preemptions.
Desperate Housewives; ABC. 8 pm CST. 8th Season Premiere.
The final season begins.
The Good Wife; CBS. 8 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
Family Guy; Fox. 8 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.
Boardwalk Empire; HBO. 8 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
The Great Food Truck (Food Network; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
American Dad; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
Pan Am; ABC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A series that follows the stewardesses of the famous airline in the 1960s. It's a retro look at the excitement that used to come with flying.
CSI: Miami; CBS. 9 pm CST. 10th Season Premiere.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Premieres and Notables: September 12-18, 2011
Monday, 9/12
Anderson; Syndicated. 3 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Anderson "The Silver Fox" Cooper gets his own syndicated show.
Bachelor Pad (ABC; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Closer (TNT; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Tuesday, 9/13
90210; The CW. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Ringer; The CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
This one has gotten a lot of buzz-- but I'm not sure if it's because the show is just that good, or if because it means Sarah Michelle Gellar is back on TV.
Anyway, it's about identical twins, and the "bad" one adopts the identity of the "good" one.
Parenthood; NBC. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
I'm almost tempted to watch this one again as Jason Ritter makes an appearance in this ep.
Wednesday, 9/14
Survivor; CBS. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
H8R; The CW. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Mario Lopez hosts this show that matches up a person with a celebrity s/he dislikes; you know, to try to show the person that the celeb isn't really all that bad.
First up: Snooki.
The whole thing just smells of shit...
America's Next Top Model: All-Stars; The CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Big Brother (CBS; 8:30 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thank God it's over. It's like crack: I know it's bad for me, but I still shoot up...
Up All Night; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Will Arnett and Christina Applegate star (with Maya Rudolph) as parents of a newborn. One that keeps them up all night. <--wasn't that neat?
If you miss it tonight, check it out tomorrow at its normal time of 7:30 pm CST.
Free Agents; NBC. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Hank Azaria (divorced) and Kathryn Hahn (grieving) are coworkers who have a fling and then try to work it out while still working together.
Doesn't sound promising, but I've heard a little buzz.
And this is NBC's latest attempt to Americanize a British sitcom (and we know they fail more than succeed). This time, they also brought Anthony Head from the original series, so maybe this remake can work.
And if you miss it tonight, check it out tomorrow at its usual time of 8:30 pm CST.
Thursday, 9/15
The Vampire Diaries; The CW. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
The Secret Circle; The CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Vampire Diaries exec producer Kevin Williamson brings us a series featuring a teen girl, who just lost her parents, and finds out she's a witch who must team-up with five other teen witches to find out what happened to their parents.
And there's teen love and angst and all that other stuff you can expect in a CW show...
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; FX. 9 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
If you've missed the great "wholesome" promos FX has been running all summer, you may have missed that Mac gained some serious weight. (<--it was all "for the funny")
Archer; FX. 9:30 pm CST. Mid-season Return/New Season Preview
Archer comes back for three new episodes (until The League premieres).
Highly irreverent, highly hilarious...
Friday, 9/16
Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Cartoon Network. 7 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Put down the Blu-Rays you just bought (trust me, you don't want to see the additional dialogue Vader has in RtoJ) and watch this episode featuring an underwater battle on Mon Calamari.
And the fact that Jar Jar Binks appears can be balanced out with the fact that (pre-) Admiral Ackbar appears as well...
Sunday, 9/18
Hoarding: Buried Alive (TLC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Anderson; Syndicated. 3 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Anderson "The Silver Fox" Cooper gets his own syndicated show.
Bachelor Pad (ABC; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Closer (TNT; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Tuesday, 9/13
90210; The CW. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Ringer; The CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
This one has gotten a lot of buzz-- but I'm not sure if it's because the show is just that good, or if because it means Sarah Michelle Gellar is back on TV.
Anyway, it's about identical twins, and the "bad" one adopts the identity of the "good" one.
Parenthood; NBC. 9 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
I'm almost tempted to watch this one again as Jason Ritter makes an appearance in this ep.
Wednesday, 9/14
Survivor; CBS. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
H8R; The CW. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Mario Lopez hosts this show that matches up a person with a celebrity s/he dislikes; you know, to try to show the person that the celeb isn't really all that bad.
First up: Snooki.
The whole thing just smells of shit...
America's Next Top Model: All-Stars; The CW. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Big Brother (CBS; 8:30 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thank God it's over. It's like crack: I know it's bad for me, but I still shoot up...
Up All Night; NBC. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Will Arnett and Christina Applegate star (with Maya Rudolph) as parents of a newborn. One that keeps them up all night. <--wasn't that neat?
If you miss it tonight, check it out tomorrow at its normal time of 7:30 pm CST.
Free Agents; NBC. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Hank Azaria (divorced) and Kathryn Hahn (grieving) are coworkers who have a fling and then try to work it out while still working together.
Doesn't sound promising, but I've heard a little buzz.
And this is NBC's latest attempt to Americanize a British sitcom (and we know they fail more than succeed). This time, they also brought Anthony Head from the original series, so maybe this remake can work.
And if you miss it tonight, check it out tomorrow at its usual time of 8:30 pm CST.
Thursday, 9/15
The Vampire Diaries; The CW. 7 pm CST. 3rd Season Premiere.
The Secret Circle; The CW. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Vampire Diaries exec producer Kevin Williamson brings us a series featuring a teen girl, who just lost her parents, and finds out she's a witch who must team-up with five other teen witches to find out what happened to their parents.
And there's teen love and angst and all that other stuff you can expect in a CW show...
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; FX. 9 pm CST. 7th Season Premiere.
If you've missed the great "wholesome" promos FX has been running all summer, you may have missed that Mac gained some serious weight. (<--it was all "for the funny")
Archer; FX. 9:30 pm CST. Mid-season Return/New Season Preview
Archer comes back for three new episodes (until The League premieres).
Highly irreverent, highly hilarious...
Friday, 9/16
Star Wars: The Clone Wars; Cartoon Network. 7 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Put down the Blu-Rays you just bought (trust me, you don't want to see the additional dialogue Vader has in RtoJ) and watch this episode featuring an underwater battle on Mon Calamari.
And the fact that Jar Jar Binks appears can be balanced out with the fact that (pre-) Admiral Ackbar appears as well...
Sunday, 9/18
Hoarding: Buried Alive (TLC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Chickenfoot III Podcast #1-- Last Temptation
Like they did for their first album, the boys talk about the new album, song by song...
Friday, September 09, 2011
Thursday, September 08, 2011
George Just Can't Help Himself
In honor of today's Star Wars release on Blu-Ray (with additional tinkering to the films-- including a head scratching "Nooooo" from Vader in ROTJ), I present to you a "what could have been"...
Maybe the dumbass "Nooooooo" isn't so bad...
George Lucas Adds More Darth Vader Dialogue - watch more funny videos
Maybe the dumbass "Nooooooo" isn't so bad...
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Monday, September 05, 2011
Jonah's Arcade Pilot
Here's a Comedy Central pilot about video games starring Jonah Ray. There are a few misses in this one-- but there is a ton of hilarious stuff as well (wait until the "Jesus Christ, Japan" bit.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Premieres and Notables: September 5-11, 2011
Monday, 9/5
Curious George; PBS. Check local listings. 6th Season Premiere.
The Glades (A&E; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tuesday, 9/6
Take the Money and Run (ABC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Sons of Anarchy; FX. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Wednesday, 9/7
Rescue Me (FX; 9 pm CST). Series Finale.
Thursday, 9/8
CBS is airing their 2011 Fall Preview at 7:30 pm. Sure, these things are usually network pap-- but you at least can get a glimpse of their new shows...
Burn Notice (USA; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Futurama (Comedy Central; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Wilfred (FX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Suits (USA; 9 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Louie (FX; 9:30 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 9/9
Torchwood: Miracle Day (Starz; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Saturday, 9/10
Fix This Kitchen; A&E. 8:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Sunday, 9/11
True Blood (HBO; 8 pm CST) Season Finale
Entourage (HBO; 9:30 pm CST). Series Finale.
About three seasons too late, this classic series limps off into the sunset...
And, of course, lots and lots of specials and episodes commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11 on various channels.
Curious George; PBS. Check local listings. 6th Season Premiere.
The Glades (A&E; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tuesday, 9/6
Take the Money and Run (ABC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Sons of Anarchy; FX. 9 pm CST. 4th Season Premiere.
Wednesday, 9/7
Rescue Me (FX; 9 pm CST). Series Finale.
Thursday, 9/8
CBS is airing their 2011 Fall Preview at 7:30 pm. Sure, these things are usually network pap-- but you at least can get a glimpse of their new shows...
Burn Notice (USA; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Futurama (Comedy Central; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Wilfred (FX; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Suits (USA; 9 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Louie (FX; 9:30 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 9/9
Torchwood: Miracle Day (Starz; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Saturday, 9/10
Fix This Kitchen; A&E. 8:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Sunday, 9/11
True Blood (HBO; 8 pm CST) Season Finale
Entourage (HBO; 9:30 pm CST). Series Finale.
About three seasons too late, this classic series limps off into the sunset...
And, of course, lots and lots of specials and episodes commemorating the tenth anniversary of 9/11 on various channels.
Rare EVH Interview
Pretty funny.
It's okay. Go ahead.
He's not gonna kick you out of his band or anything if you laugh.
It's okay. Go ahead.
He's not gonna kick you out of his band or anything if you laugh.
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Friday, September 02, 2011
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Chickenfoot's "Bigfoot" Video
I like this video for a number of reasons:
1. New Chickenfoot music
2. First look at Kenny Aronoff in the band
2a. Kenny looks like he fits in perfectly
3. Kick ass song
4. It tells a story; much like the song itself
5. It's funny
6. It reminds me of my favorite summer show: Wilfred
The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Chad Smith wore the chicken suit. (But the dude who is wearing it is great.)
And, yes, I know I upsized the video, and it's over the layout. I don't care-- this song deserves it.
1. New Chickenfoot music
2. First look at Kenny Aronoff in the band
2a. Kenny looks like he fits in perfectly
3. Kick ass song
4. It tells a story; much like the song itself
5. It's funny
6. It reminds me of my favorite summer show: Wilfred
The only thing that could have made it better would have been if Chad Smith wore the chicken suit. (But the dude who is wearing it is great.)
And, yes, I know I upsized the video, and it's over the layout. I don't care-- this song deserves it.
Candice Faces Her Fear
This is the reason why I like Candice on Attack of the Show. She loses her shit-- and it makes for great TV.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Drive, Star Wars Style
Bound to be pulled soon...
The Drive trailer, with Star Wars visuals:
The real Drive trailer:
I've seen Ryan Gosling in a few things this summer. Dude owns the screen.
The Drive trailer, with Star Wars visuals:
The real Drive trailer:
I've seen Ryan Gosling in a few things this summer. Dude owns the screen.
Old Man Fight
Classic moments in this one like guy taking off jacket and dodges -- and, of course, the mini-timeout to refuel...
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Premieres and Notables: August 29-September 4, 2011
Monday, 8/29
RuPaul's Drag U (Logo; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Death Valley; MTV. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Normally I don't even bother with junk that MTV airs, but this COPS-style spoof about vampires, werewolves, and zombies has some potential.
Trailer:
Tuesday, 8/30
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family; 7 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Chopped Champions; Food Network. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Quirky; Sundance. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Eccentric inventors bring their ideas to life in this docuseries.
Wednesday, 8/31
Royal Pains (USA. 8 pm CST.) Mid-season Finale.
Hot in Cleveland (TV Land; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thursday, 9/1
Sweet Home Alabama (CMT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Green Room With Paul Provenza (Showtime; 10 pm CST). Season Finale.
Childrens Hospital (adult swim; 11 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 9/2
Man, Woman, Wild; Discovery. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Sunday, 9/4
Masterpiece: Inspector Lewis; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Season Premiere.
Border Wars; National Geographic. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
RuPaul's Drag U (Logo; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Death Valley; MTV. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Normally I don't even bother with junk that MTV airs, but this COPS-style spoof about vampires, werewolves, and zombies has some potential.
Trailer:
Tuesday, 8/30
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family; 7 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Chopped Champions; Food Network. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Quirky; Sundance. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Eccentric inventors bring their ideas to life in this docuseries.
Wednesday, 8/31
Royal Pains (USA. 8 pm CST.) Mid-season Finale.
Hot in Cleveland (TV Land; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thursday, 9/1
Sweet Home Alabama (CMT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Green Room With Paul Provenza (Showtime; 10 pm CST). Season Finale.
Childrens Hospital (adult swim; 11 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 9/2
Man, Woman, Wild; Discovery. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Sunday, 9/4
Masterpiece: Inspector Lewis; PBS. 8 pm CST (check local listings). Season Premiere.
Border Wars; National Geographic. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Hardwick's message to Stone
It falls apart a bit at the end, but it's pretty funny otherwise...
chris hardwick's message to emma stone - watch more funny videos
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Saved by the Bell interactive game
This one was really cool.
I used to watch the show in college as a lark (with a half-dozen girls; I was no dummy), and this "game" really captures the essence of the show.
I helped Kelly with her money issues, kicked Jeff's ass, and then got married in Vegas.
I used to watch the show in college as a lark (with a half-dozen girls; I was no dummy), and this "game" really captures the essence of the show.
I helped Kelly with her money issues, kicked Jeff's ass, and then got married in Vegas.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Premieres and Notables: August 22-28, 2011
Monday, 8/22
Top Gear; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Wednesday, 8/24
Buried Treasure; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The Antiques Roadshow twins hit the road and come to the people.
Top Chef Just Desserts; Bravo. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Thursday, 8/25
Expedition Impossible (ABC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 8/26
Rat Busters NYC; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Top Gear; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Wednesday, 8/24
Buried Treasure; Fox. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The Antiques Roadshow twins hit the road and come to the people.
Top Chef Just Desserts; Bravo. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Thursday, 8/25
Expedition Impossible (ABC; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 8/26
Rat Busters NYC; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Chuck Taylor's Finishing Move Waaaay Out There
So: if you think Hulk Hogan's Leg Drop or The Rock's "People's Elbow" is a lame (not a high impact) finishing move, check out Chuck Taylor's grenade.
Good to see some rasslers out there having fun. That's why I stopped watching WWE years ago-- there just wasn't that fun there used to be.
Good to see some rasslers out there having fun. That's why I stopped watching WWE years ago-- there just wasn't that fun there used to be.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Doctor Who "Let's Kill Hitler" Prequel
A special 2-minute preview of the back-half of Season Six.
If you haven't seen the front-half of Season Six, it does contain a big spoiler (about Amy's baby). Be warned.
But if you have seen the first part of S6-- or don't care about spoilers-- give it a look. It's cool.
If you haven't seen the front-half of Season Six, it does contain a big spoiler (about Amy's baby). Be warned.
But if you have seen the first part of S6-- or don't care about spoilers-- give it a look. It's cool.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Premieres and Notables: August 15-21, 2011
Monday, 8/15
The Lying Game; ABC Family. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A new TV series based on Sara Shepard's book series.
Millionaire Matchmaker; Bravo. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Most Eligible Dallas; Bravo. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Teen Wolf (MTV; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tuesday, 8/16
Memphis Beat (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Nine Lives of Chloe King (ABC Family; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
HawthoRNe (TNT; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Wednesday, 8/17
Rocco's Dinner Party (Bravo; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 8/19
Tanked; Animal Planet. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A reality series that follows a group of fish-tank builders who "excel in the extravagant".
Saturday, 8/20
Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp; VH1 Classic. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
That Metal Show; VH1 Classic. 10 pm CST. Season Premiere.
With guest Tony Iommi.
Sunday, 8/21
In the Flow With Affion Crockett; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Crockett brings a new sketch-comedy series to Fox.
The Lying Game; ABC Family. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A new TV series based on Sara Shepard's book series.
Millionaire Matchmaker; Bravo. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Most Eligible Dallas; Bravo. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Teen Wolf (MTV; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tuesday, 8/16
Memphis Beat (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
The Nine Lives of Chloe King (ABC Family; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
HawthoRNe (TNT; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Wednesday, 8/17
Rocco's Dinner Party (Bravo; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday, 8/19
Tanked; Animal Planet. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A reality series that follows a group of fish-tank builders who "excel in the extravagant".
Saturday, 8/20
Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy Camp; VH1 Classic. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
That Metal Show; VH1 Classic. 10 pm CST. Season Premiere.
With guest Tony Iommi.
Sunday, 8/21
In the Flow With Affion Crockett; Fox. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Crockett brings a new sketch-comedy series to Fox.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Should children be allowed to attend R-rated movies?
It's from The Onion-- expect it to go to a dark place...
...and then keep going...
...and then keep going...
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Trolling Saruman
There IS a spoiler in here in case you haven't watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy yet...
Monday, August 08, 2011
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Premieres and Notables: August 8-14, 2011
Monday, 8/8
Bachelor Pad; ABC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Blaaaaargh...
*spit... spit*
Sorry-- the smell of shit makes me queasy...
Switched at Birth (ABC Family; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tia & Tamera; Style. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The Mowry sisters get their own reality show.
--Because the public demanded it...
Sugar High; Food Network. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Duff Goldman tours the country and gives local sweets a taste test.
Tuesday, 8/9
White Collar (USA; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Gordon Ramsey's F Word; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Top Shot; History. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Big Law: Deputy Butterbean; Investigation Discovery. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Eric "Butterbean" Esch becomes a deputy in Jasper, Alabama.
You know, the 400-pound former boxer...
Friday, 8/12
Karaoke Battle USA; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The title says it all, pretty much.
Oh yeah-- it's also hosted by Joey Fatone.
Whale Wars (Animal Planet; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Sunday, 8/14
Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes (OWN; 7 pm CST). Series Finale.
Doctor Who: The Best of the Doctor; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Special
In order to get everyone up to speed before the back-half of Series Six launches later this month, BBC America whipped-up a little special of Matt Smith's greatest hits as The Doctor.
The Marriage Ref (NBC; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Just in case you didn't realize it was still on the air, here's your last chance to catch it...
The Great Food Truck Race; Food Network. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Bachelor Pad; ABC. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Blaaaaargh...
*spit... spit*
Sorry-- the smell of shit makes me queasy...
Switched at Birth (ABC Family; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tia & Tamera; Style. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The Mowry sisters get their own reality show.
--Because the public demanded it...
Sugar High; Food Network. 9:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Duff Goldman tours the country and gives local sweets a taste test.
Tuesday, 8/9
White Collar (USA; 8 pm CST). Mid-season Finale.
Gordon Ramsey's F Word; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Top Shot; History. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Big Law: Deputy Butterbean; Investigation Discovery. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Eric "Butterbean" Esch becomes a deputy in Jasper, Alabama.
You know, the 400-pound former boxer...
Friday, 8/12
Karaoke Battle USA; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The title says it all, pretty much.
Oh yeah-- it's also hosted by Joey Fatone.
Whale Wars (Animal Planet; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Sunday, 8/14
Season 25: Oprah Behind the Scenes (OWN; 7 pm CST). Series Finale.
Doctor Who: The Best of the Doctor; BBC America. 8 pm CST. Special
In order to get everyone up to speed before the back-half of Series Six launches later this month, BBC America whipped-up a little special of Matt Smith's greatest hits as The Doctor.
The Marriage Ref (NBC; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Just in case you didn't realize it was still on the air, here's your last chance to catch it...
The Great Food Truck Race; Food Network. 9 pm CST. 2nd Season Premiere.
Saturday, August 06, 2011
Friday, August 05, 2011
Best Prayer Ever
This dude could probably get even me to attend church.
And I don't even like NASCAR...
Let's put it to music:
And I don't even like NASCAR...
Let's put it to music:
Doctor Who Series Six, Part Two is Coming
Here's another trailer for the back-half of Series 6; coming later this month.
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Monday, August 01, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
The Gruffalo DVD Review
I was asked to review the upcoming DVD The Gruffalo, so I thought I'd give it a shot. (Yes, I know it's been a year since my last review...)
The DVD is based on the "bestselling children's picture book" (from the back cover) by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and I was a bit surprised as I had never heard of it (my boys are 9 and 7, so they'd be at the right age for when the book came out-- 2006). That doesn't really mean much because anyone who has young children knows: they could never read all the childrens' books that are out there.
And that's a shame because if the book is as charming as I found the DVD to be, then it's something any child should have on his bookshelf.
I have been asked to review children's DVDs/shows before, and I've either run out of time to actually write about them-- or I had a hard time doing so because I just wasn't the target audience. But this one was actually a lot of fun and done well, so I felt a little more inspired.
Anyway, the story begins with two young squirrels asking their mother to tell them a story. She tells one about a mouse who comes across three predators while traveling in the woods. He's able to turn each one back by telling them he's waiting for a scary creature that he made-up on the spot called a Gruffalo. Each predator (snake, fox, and owl) is told three features of the Gruffalo that scared them enough to leave Mouse alone.
Mouse is feeling pretty good about the experience until he runs into an actual Gruffalo; just as he described it to the others. Now he has to think of how to get out of the Gruffalo's clutches. Some would (and have-- I read a few reviews) say that it was a little obvious how Mouse escapes, but I found his solution both clever and in character.
So I liked the story. How's the animation? Very impressive. I have no idea about budgets or anything, but this was probably a low-budget project that looked great. I put the DVD into my Blu-Ray player, and it was very crisp, very detailed (upconverted from SD, but not HD, which was a surprise as it looked as good as most Blu-Rays I've watched). I had a tough time deciding if I was looking at CGI or stop-motion while I watched. [I found out later it was a mix of CGI characters with models for the environment. VERY effective.]
I also the little touches the film put in as "asides". My favorite is when Mouse walked past a line of ants who were marching to the doom; right into the mouth of a waiting woodpecker. Mouse casually moved turned one ant 90 degrees, and the ants behind that one followed him instead of climbing the tree to be eaten. It was never spoken; just a small joke that was added. Nice touch.
And the voice acting was an embarrassment of riches. Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane, James Corden, John Hurt, and Tom Wilkinson... For real! We've got some heavy-hitters here. And there was not a lot of lines to be spoken (if one review I read was correct, the only spoken lines were those printed in the book), so to get that kind of talent, even for such small parts, was pretty impressive.
Finally, there was a nice behind the scenes feature that started with the book, and then moved to this animated retelling, which covered everything from just adapting it, to voice work (with live-actors and animated characters being shown closely enough that kids can see the real face of the voice). We also saw a little of the model work that made the backgrounds, and how they created the characters. Finally, they even gave us a glimpse of the musicians who made the great soundtrack to the DVD. The feature was about 15 minutes long, so short enough to keep the attention of both adults and kids-- yet long enough to really delve into how this was made. I found it a wonderful addition.
Now for the downside: the feature is about a half-hour long. Combining that with the behind the scenes feature and a look at some of the art of the adaptation, we're left with just under an hour of material (unless you count the endless advertisements/trailers that were on the DVD). That's not a lot of content, so I would have had a tough time paying for it (the suggested retail price is $10).
But I'm also happy they didn't try to pad the story to make it 80 or 90 minutes-- there's enough of those films out there. This was concise and wonderfully done. And while my kids have moved on to feature-length movies, I guess I do remember how short most "kids DVDs" (like Sesame Street or The Wiggles DVDs) are. $10 for this is not a bad deal. It's out of my price range for a DVD-- but then I'm horribly cheap and know how to wait and work the system to get deals for less than that.
Listen-- this is a kids movie. If you have kids between the ages of 2 and 6, this is right up their alley. It avoids the usual craptastic merchandising you'll see on much of that target age's media as it is just a solid little film that looks absolutely gorgeous on an HDTV, with lots of little touches that should take a few viewings to notice them all. Older kids may not go for it as much (it is based on-- and patterned after-- a children's book), but it certainly won't insult them if they sit down to watch with a younger sibling or cousin. As an adult who has seen more than my share of movies and TV-- and have also recently gone through being a father for that target age group-- I can say this is a winner. No annoying characters or voices that will drive you insane after hearing six times in a row. The story is cute, and the visuals are wonderful. I really did find myself just getting caught up in how it looked.
My only downside is, again, the amount of content for the price, but, really, it's not that out of line for the competition that's on the shelves. I will highly recommend it for parents of small children-- or as gifts for small children.
And I will be putting the Gruffalo in my private collection. I could put it with the DVDs I am considering my kids' (ones that they can watch whenever, without asking me)-- or give it to my elementary school teacher wife to take to -- but I like this enough that I want to have it part of my collection. I'll loan it to my kids or my wife-- but I will consider this part of my collection (one that is nearing 800 DVDs/Blu-Rays).
I suppose that's the best endorsement I can give...
The DVD is based on the "bestselling children's picture book" (from the back cover) by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and I was a bit surprised as I had never heard of it (my boys are 9 and 7, so they'd be at the right age for when the book came out-- 2006). That doesn't really mean much because anyone who has young children knows: they could never read all the childrens' books that are out there.
And that's a shame because if the book is as charming as I found the DVD to be, then it's something any child should have on his bookshelf.
I have been asked to review children's DVDs/shows before, and I've either run out of time to actually write about them-- or I had a hard time doing so because I just wasn't the target audience. But this one was actually a lot of fun and done well, so I felt a little more inspired.
Anyway, the story begins with two young squirrels asking their mother to tell them a story. She tells one about a mouse who comes across three predators while traveling in the woods. He's able to turn each one back by telling them he's waiting for a scary creature that he made-up on the spot called a Gruffalo. Each predator (snake, fox, and owl) is told three features of the Gruffalo that scared them enough to leave Mouse alone.
Mouse is feeling pretty good about the experience until he runs into an actual Gruffalo; just as he described it to the others. Now he has to think of how to get out of the Gruffalo's clutches. Some would (and have-- I read a few reviews) say that it was a little obvious how Mouse escapes, but I found his solution both clever and in character.
So I liked the story. How's the animation? Very impressive. I have no idea about budgets or anything, but this was probably a low-budget project that looked great. I put the DVD into my Blu-Ray player, and it was very crisp, very detailed (upconverted from SD, but not HD, which was a surprise as it looked as good as most Blu-Rays I've watched). I had a tough time deciding if I was looking at CGI or stop-motion while I watched. [I found out later it was a mix of CGI characters with models for the environment. VERY effective.]
I also the little touches the film put in as "asides". My favorite is when Mouse walked past a line of ants who were marching to the doom; right into the mouth of a waiting woodpecker. Mouse casually moved turned one ant 90 degrees, and the ants behind that one followed him instead of climbing the tree to be eaten. It was never spoken; just a small joke that was added. Nice touch.
And the voice acting was an embarrassment of riches. Helena Bonham Carter, Rob Brydon, Robbie Coltrane, James Corden, John Hurt, and Tom Wilkinson... For real! We've got some heavy-hitters here. And there was not a lot of lines to be spoken (if one review I read was correct, the only spoken lines were those printed in the book), so to get that kind of talent, even for such small parts, was pretty impressive.
Finally, there was a nice behind the scenes feature that started with the book, and then moved to this animated retelling, which covered everything from just adapting it, to voice work (with live-actors and animated characters being shown closely enough that kids can see the real face of the voice). We also saw a little of the model work that made the backgrounds, and how they created the characters. Finally, they even gave us a glimpse of the musicians who made the great soundtrack to the DVD. The feature was about 15 minutes long, so short enough to keep the attention of both adults and kids-- yet long enough to really delve into how this was made. I found it a wonderful addition.
Now for the downside: the feature is about a half-hour long. Combining that with the behind the scenes feature and a look at some of the art of the adaptation, we're left with just under an hour of material (unless you count the endless advertisements/trailers that were on the DVD). That's not a lot of content, so I would have had a tough time paying for it (the suggested retail price is $10).
But I'm also happy they didn't try to pad the story to make it 80 or 90 minutes-- there's enough of those films out there. This was concise and wonderfully done. And while my kids have moved on to feature-length movies, I guess I do remember how short most "kids DVDs" (like Sesame Street or The Wiggles DVDs) are. $10 for this is not a bad deal. It's out of my price range for a DVD-- but then I'm horribly cheap and know how to wait and work the system to get deals for less than that.
Listen-- this is a kids movie. If you have kids between the ages of 2 and 6, this is right up their alley. It avoids the usual craptastic merchandising you'll see on much of that target age's media as it is just a solid little film that looks absolutely gorgeous on an HDTV, with lots of little touches that should take a few viewings to notice them all. Older kids may not go for it as much (it is based on-- and patterned after-- a children's book), but it certainly won't insult them if they sit down to watch with a younger sibling or cousin. As an adult who has seen more than my share of movies and TV-- and have also recently gone through being a father for that target age group-- I can say this is a winner. No annoying characters or voices that will drive you insane after hearing six times in a row. The story is cute, and the visuals are wonderful. I really did find myself just getting caught up in how it looked.
My only downside is, again, the amount of content for the price, but, really, it's not that out of line for the competition that's on the shelves. I will highly recommend it for parents of small children-- or as gifts for small children.
And I will be putting the Gruffalo in my private collection. I could put it with the DVDs I am considering my kids' (ones that they can watch whenever, without asking me)-- or give it to my elementary school teacher wife to take to -- but I like this enough that I want to have it part of my collection. I'll loan it to my kids or my wife-- but I will consider this part of my collection (one that is nearing 800 DVDs/Blu-Rays).
I suppose that's the best endorsement I can give...
Premieres and Notables: August 1-7, 2011
Monday, 8/1
Shark Week; Discovery. 8 pm CST. Special
SNL cast-member Andy Samberg hosts this week's shark celebration.
The Bachelorette (ABC; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tuesday, 8/2
Take the Money and Run; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Players try to hide $100,000 from the police in this new reality competition/game show/something or other. The cops have two days to find it or the contestants get to keep it.
50 Documentaries to See Before You Die; Current TV. 8 pm CST. Mini-series premiere.
Morgan Spurlock hosts this five-part look at "must see" documentaries.
Picker Sisters; Lifetime. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Two interior designers scour the garbage heaps of America to find something to use for their clients.
Wednesday, 8/3
Franklin & Bash (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Truck Stop, Missouri; Travel Channel. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Thursday, 8/4
Detroit in Overdrive; Planet Green. 7 pm CST. Mini-series.
This three-part series looks at how Detroit is reinventing itself with greener initiatives.
Friday, 8/5
Friends With Benefits; NBC. 7 pm CST. Series premiere.
All I know about it is that it's supposed to be a sitcom.
Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension; Disney Channel. 7 pm CST. Special.
This feature-length special boasts alternate dimensions-- and Perry's secret identity is revealed to the boys.
Platinum Hit (Bravo; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
Whisker Wars; IFC. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A look at professional beard-growers.
Yep.
Sunday, 8/7
Falling Skies (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Hillbilly Handfishin'; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
In Plain Sight (USA; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Shark Week; Discovery. 8 pm CST. Special
SNL cast-member Andy Samberg hosts this week's shark celebration.
The Bachelorette (ABC; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
Tuesday, 8/2
Take the Money and Run; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Players try to hide $100,000 from the police in this new reality competition/game show/something or other. The cops have two days to find it or the contestants get to keep it.
50 Documentaries to See Before You Die; Current TV. 8 pm CST. Mini-series premiere.
Morgan Spurlock hosts this five-part look at "must see" documentaries.
Picker Sisters; Lifetime. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Two interior designers scour the garbage heaps of America to find something to use for their clients.
Wednesday, 8/3
Franklin & Bash (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Truck Stop, Missouri; Travel Channel. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Thursday, 8/4
Detroit in Overdrive; Planet Green. 7 pm CST. Mini-series.
This three-part series looks at how Detroit is reinventing itself with greener initiatives.
Friday, 8/5
Friends With Benefits; NBC. 7 pm CST. Series premiere.
All I know about it is that it's supposed to be a sitcom.
Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension; Disney Channel. 7 pm CST. Special.
This feature-length special boasts alternate dimensions-- and Perry's secret identity is revealed to the boys.
Platinum Hit (Bravo; 7 pm CST). Season Finale.
Whisker Wars; IFC. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
A look at professional beard-growers.
Yep.
Sunday, 8/7
Falling Skies (TNT; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Hillbilly Handfishin'; Animal Planet. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
In Plain Sight (USA; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Bigfoot Leaked
An industrious fan (Humanwheels) took the new Chickenfoot single "Bigfoot" ("leaked" by the band today at the band website) and added some existing video footage to get us excited for tomorrow's official release of the song to radio and iTunes.
This is what hard rock is all about, people.
Enjoy.
This is what hard rock is all about, people.
Enjoy.
98 Koshien gameplay with commentary
A little more vulgar than I enjoy at times, but it's pretty funny in a few parts.
Make sure you stick around for the second half when he demonstrates pitching.
Make sure you stick around for the second half when he demonstrates pitching.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Premieres and Notables: July 25-31, 2011
Tuesday, 7/26
Deadliest Catch (Discovery; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thursday, 7/28
Project Runway; Lifetime. 8 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
LA Ink; TLC. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Friday, 7/29
Thundercats; Cartoon Network. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The "classic" '80s 'toon gets a modern-- and anime-- makeover.
Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids (TLC. 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Deadly Women; Investigation Discovery. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Wolverine/Iron Man; G4. 10 pm CST. Series Premieres.
Both Marvel Heroes get their own half-hours in these anime-style adaptations. I'm not "down" with anime myself-- but Warren Ellis has a supervisory role on the shows, so I hope they'll be true to the comics. And, with Ellis around, probably a little bat-shit crazy to boot.
Saturday, 7/30
MTV2's 120 Minutes With Matt Pinfield; MTV2. Midnight CST. Series Return.
The '90s alternative rock show gets a monthly return.
Carson Nation (OWN; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday Night Dinner; BBC America. 10:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Sunday, 7/31
Discovery's annual "Shark Week" begins with Great White Invasion (8 pm CST).
American Ninja Warrior; G4. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The Real L Word (Showtime; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Against the Wall; Lifetime. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Rachel Carpani stars as a detective who joins the Internal Affairs unit-- against her cop family's wishes.
Deadliest Catch (Discovery; 8 pm CST). Season Finale.
Thursday, 7/28
Project Runway; Lifetime. 8 pm CST. 9th Season Premiere.
LA Ink; TLC. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Friday, 7/29
Thundercats; Cartoon Network. 7 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The "classic" '80s 'toon gets a modern-- and anime-- makeover.
Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids (TLC. 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Deadly Women; Investigation Discovery. 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Wolverine/Iron Man; G4. 10 pm CST. Series Premieres.
Both Marvel Heroes get their own half-hours in these anime-style adaptations. I'm not "down" with anime myself-- but Warren Ellis has a supervisory role on the shows, so I hope they'll be true to the comics. And, with Ellis around, probably a little bat-shit crazy to boot.
Saturday, 7/30
MTV2's 120 Minutes With Matt Pinfield; MTV2. Midnight CST. Series Return.
The '90s alternative rock show gets a monthly return.
Carson Nation (OWN; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Friday Night Dinner; BBC America. 10:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Sunday, 7/31
Discovery's annual "Shark Week" begins with Great White Invasion (8 pm CST).
American Ninja Warrior; G4. 8 pm CST. Season Premiere.
The Real L Word (Showtime; 9 pm CST). Season Finale.
Against the Wall; Lifetime. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Rachel Carpani stars as a detective who joins the Internal Affairs unit-- against her cop family's wishes.
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