Great staging. Everything else is a bit too...well, OTT.
And apparently the tacky whore look is popular worldwide as well.
Seemed oddly appropriate to select a style over substance theme for today's jukebox.
Can't imagine why.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Friday Jukebox Says Pagent Hair Is International
(Case in point: Monrose--the Popstars band who tried to represent Germany last year.
Great staging. Everything else is a bit too...well, OTT.
And apparently the tacky whore look is popular worldwide as well.
Great staging. Everything else is a bit too...well, OTT.
And apparently the tacky whore look is popular worldwide as well.
Oh Fuddle Duddle
Fine, I'm voting Clinton and hoping Edwards gets a major position in her administration.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
It's Not Like We Didn't Know (New York Edition)
Pharmacist who helped supply NYPD officers with steroids found dead in an apparent suicide.
Let's break this down:
A pharmacist who supplied NYPD officers--who most likely know about staging--with steroids just happens to wind up dead.
Dick Wolf, once the strike is over, you have your season finale.
Let's break this down:
A pharmacist who supplied NYPD officers--who most likely know about staging--with steroids just happens to wind up dead.
Dick Wolf, once the strike is over, you have your season finale.
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Last Sunday in January
And I decide to try my hand at podcasting.
Inspired by a conversation I had recently with a friend of mine in respect to modern life and the political process. You might notice that all of a sudden I flip into a Southern accent. It's a quirk.
Download it here.
Inspired by a conversation I had recently with a friend of mine in respect to modern life and the political process. You might notice that all of a sudden I flip into a Southern accent. It's a quirk.
Download it here.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Either it's still 1975 or 1995 in Estonia
Judging by their selection for this year's Eurolaul. (Listen to the songs on the left, "Kuula eurolaule")
Not necessarily complaining, because 9 of these songs are quite good, and genres run the gamut from ska to easy listening, but it does sound like ETV's criteria this year was pastiche.
It also helps that Mr. Sexpot of the Baltics himself, Kristjan Kasearu is back with his band Paradise Crew.
Not necessarily complaining, because 9 of these songs are quite good, and genres run the gamut from ska to easy listening, but it does sound like ETV's criteria this year was pastiche.
It also helps that Mr. Sexpot of the Baltics himself, Kristjan Kasearu is back with his band Paradise Crew.
Friday, January 25, 2008
I Don't Know What To Say
Namie Amuro has two new videos out, and from a technical standpoint they're good.
but...
Well, they're tied to this Vidal Sassoon campaign about 1960s/70s style (maybe 80s as well), and she's sampling Motown.
Not only that, she's sampling The Supremes and Aretha Franklin. BIG HITS (Baby Love and Rock Steady) too...in Patricia Field costuming no less.
Now, I am happy that more people will be exposed to these songs (well Rock Steady at least, I think there might be a few people out in the Amazon who have never heard Baby Love), I just...I don't know...it seems a little too calculated and shallow. You be the judge. Admittedly, I'm a curmudgeon.
Bonus: The February* Video Blog featuring my reaction to Ms. Amuro's homage.
* I'm trying to do these on the first of the month, but this particular February 1, I'll be traveling, so it's best to get it in early.
but...
Well, they're tied to this Vidal Sassoon campaign about 1960s/70s style (maybe 80s as well), and she's sampling Motown.
Not only that, she's sampling The Supremes and Aretha Franklin. BIG HITS (Baby Love and Rock Steady) too...in Patricia Field costuming no less.
Now, I am happy that more people will be exposed to these songs (well Rock Steady at least, I think there might be a few people out in the Amazon who have never heard Baby Love), I just...I don't know...it seems a little too calculated and shallow. You be the judge. Admittedly, I'm a curmudgeon.
Bonus: The February* Video Blog featuring my reaction to Ms. Amuro's homage.
* I'm trying to do these on the first of the month, but this particular February 1, I'll be traveling, so it's best to get it in early.
Thursday Jukebox Loves Jason Walker
(As an anecdote to the "celebrity death reminds me that the world is mean" coverage...I liked Brokeback Mountain but Ledger was not Harry Hay, he wasn't even Alfred Kinsey)
I stumbled across Jason Walker on the late lamented Q Television Network, and have enjoyed his work since.
Here he is on QTN's Flesh & Threads (a cute, but very LA concept of a show)
And here's his latest (and possibly first ever) music video: I Can't Get You Off My Mind
My name is Hikaru, and I love house music, especially as performed by men with falsettos.
I stumbled across Jason Walker on the late lamented Q Television Network, and have enjoyed his work since.
Here he is on QTN's Flesh & Threads (a cute, but very LA concept of a show)
And here's his latest (and possibly first ever) music video: I Can't Get You Off My Mind
My name is Hikaru, and I love house music, especially as performed by men with falsettos.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Food for Thought: Mark Steel
From the Conclusion to Vive La Revolution:
For today's establishment, the French Revolution provides proof of the mayhem that reigns when those who talk of equality get their way. Which is why I get the impression we're not supposed to like it very much...every reference to the revolution as nothing but carnage is a warning--leave things as they are, these people who ask you to
protest about things might seem well-intentioned, but if they get their way it will be
heads on pikes around the fountain at the shopping mall.
For the establishment relies on passivity, the very opposite of revolution. For a kaleidoscope of reasons, most people most of the time choose not to confront the injustices on the planet. Even when they do, their suggestion is invariably that a different president, or chairman of the World Bank, would possibly be fairer. The last group that anyone considers should run society is themselves.
Beware people who talk about uniting as a way to absolve others of their sense of guilt.
For today's establishment, the French Revolution provides proof of the mayhem that reigns when those who talk of equality get their way. Which is why I get the impression we're not supposed to like it very much...every reference to the revolution as nothing but carnage is a warning--leave things as they are, these people who ask you to
protest about things might seem well-intentioned, but if they get their way it will be
heads on pikes around the fountain at the shopping mall.
For the establishment relies on passivity, the very opposite of revolution. For a kaleidoscope of reasons, most people most of the time choose not to confront the injustices on the planet. Even when they do, their suggestion is invariably that a different president, or chairman of the World Bank, would possibly be fairer. The last group that anyone considers should run society is themselves.
Beware people who talk about uniting as a way to absolve others of their sense of guilt.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Saturday Jukebox Salutes The Nevada Caucuses
With a Mika Nakashima tribute... (Can you guess the connection?)
Without question, she has a great voice, but her performing style seems to be from the Juliette Lewis school of training.
Without question, she has a great voice, but her performing style seems to be from the Juliette Lewis school of training.
Nonetheless, she does come up with the most visually striking music videos...
...Even if she still acts like Goldie Hawn circa 1969 in some of them
And Mika can rock...sort of
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday Jukebox SMAPs You Upside The Head
I'm going to go ahead and admit this potentially embarassing aspect of myself: I like SMAP. I own several of their albums, and I always liked the fact that they (or at least Johnny's) always made musical choices which seemed to be funkier and a little bit more mature than the standard boyband/idol genre would suggest--especially in Japan. I even used to have (and still have a soft spot for) crushes on Tsuyoshi & Shingo.
That being said, I wonder if the guys (you certainly can't call them "boys" these days--I'm younger than Shingo and "boyhood" left me in 2000) are beginning to show the strain of being tied together for so long. Now, I'm only stating this based on reading body language, since I'm not privy to the gossip rags and blogs that somebody living in Japan would be.
Nonetheless, here's Exhibit A, a retrospective from Music Station of SMAP's hits from 1991 to 2003. I don't know if the SMAPers are either tired, embarassed, or just over it, but they don't necessarily seemed all that enthused by glancing back at their past.
And now, here's Exhibit B: The group's recent appearance at last year's Kouhaku (think the Japanese answer to Eurovision). My kingdom to find out what they were thinking while performing. (Tsuyoshi: Stop blocking me! I'm popular now! Shingo: Move it, Inagaki! I'm trying to sing my bit. Goro: I'm still pretty, right? Takuya: I'm not the one singing flat. Nakai: Money!)
Exhibit C: The video for Dear WOMAN. Now, while there's no question that this song is more about praising the women of Japan as opposed to praising the SMAPers themselves, I can't help but wonder as to why the video is shot with each of the guys singing their bits solo. I know they're busy doing tons of things on their own, but is it that tricky to get them all in a studio together? Or at least shots of them doing something together.
Exhibit G: (I swear on Nakai's receding hairline this is the last one) The unintentional hilarity that is Five Respect, which features the SMAPers rapping and praising each other while doing their utmost to actually avoid each other onstage.
That being said, I wonder if the guys (you certainly can't call them "boys" these days--I'm younger than Shingo and "boyhood" left me in 2000) are beginning to show the strain of being tied together for so long. Now, I'm only stating this based on reading body language, since I'm not privy to the gossip rags and blogs that somebody living in Japan would be.
Nonetheless, here's Exhibit A, a retrospective from Music Station of SMAP's hits from 1991 to 2003. I don't know if the SMAPers are either tired, embarassed, or just over it, but they don't necessarily seemed all that enthused by glancing back at their past.
And now, here's Exhibit B: The group's recent appearance at last year's Kouhaku (think the Japanese answer to Eurovision). My kingdom to find out what they were thinking while performing. (Tsuyoshi: Stop blocking me! I'm popular now! Shingo: Move it, Inagaki! I'm trying to sing my bit. Goro: I'm still pretty, right? Takuya: I'm not the one singing flat. Nakai: Money!)
Exhibit C: The video for Dear WOMAN. Now, while there's no question that this song is more about praising the women of Japan as opposed to praising the SMAPers themselves, I can't help but wonder as to why the video is shot with each of the guys singing their bits solo. I know they're busy doing tons of things on their own, but is it that tricky to get them all in a studio together? Or at least shots of them doing something together.
Exhibit D: A live performance of Dear WOMAN, which--for me--seems to have that energy in it that was around Take That right before they announced that they were knackered and bored with each other. The fact that the SMAPers are eerily wearing the same 1970s inspired haircuts as Take That did around 1995-6, might be a reason. It also isn't the most cohesive performance beyond dancing. (I don't remember a SMAP song being this heavy on Tsuyoshi & Shingo, not that I'm complaining.)
Exhibit E: (And I swear I am going to be well and truly SMAPed out after this) The video for Dynamite, a 1997 single which seems to show the lads at least appearing to have fun together.
Exhibit F: (I guess, one can never SMAP too much) The presentation of their latest single on their TV show SMAP x SMAP. The ending conversation is quite funny and passive-agressive, like a group of old men (not that I'm saying they're old!) who love bickering with each other.
Exhibit G: (I swear on Nakai's receding hairline this is the last one) The unintentional hilarity that is Five Respect, which features the SMAPers rapping and praising each other while doing their utmost to actually avoid each other onstage.
Despite all the previous, I still like the SMAPers, and hope they're around for quite sometime. (Supposedly, they have another single coming out in this Spring.)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Lift Every Voice And Sing
For those unfamiliar with Lift Every Voice & Sing, the black national anthem:
Performed by Kim Weston at the 1973 Wattstax Festival in Los Angeles.
Performed by Kim Weston at the 1973 Wattstax Festival in Los Angeles.
The United Belgian States of America
Today is the actual birthdate of Martin Luther King, Junior (as opposed to the "holiday" on next Monday--which to be honest, I have problems with, since like Memorial Day, most view it as a day off, not a day to reflect upon Dr. King's work and how we have progressed/failed), and once again, I find myself convinced that as a nation, we are continuing to step further and further away from equality.
But wait, don't we have a white woman and a black man vying to become president?
Yes, we do.
Isn't that a sign of progress?
Not if they (and their attack dogs) spend time sniping about semantics surrounding the work of Dr. King. And by the way, in 1972, Shirley Chisholm tried to run for president, I think that was inherently more gutsy and revolutionary than anything either Hillary or Barack have done.
As I see it, the United States is a country where the residents of many different ethnic backgrounds continue to live in relatively separate communities and viewpoints that occasionally intersect, but for the most part are isolated. The only thing that seems to unify us is mere geography. Much like Belgium, I'd reckon.
Three years ago, I went to Palm Springs for my birthday and the flights there and back were quite memorable: At the risk of losing crediblity, I flew first class. (A frivolous expense, to be true, but it was my birthday and I'm a believer in that the flight that one takes sets the tone for the trip itself.) The flights from Chicago to Palm Springs and back were completely full in both cabins. As everyone knows, there is that infamous march that everyone has to do past the first class cabin. Never before in my life have I ever been shot so many dirty looks, which I interpreted as having a racial undertone to them (even if those who threw them did not have that intention).
The fact that I did, speaks volumes for the society and country in which I grew up: How many people out there know that there is a Black National Anthem? How many know about the black upper classes and their organisations and communities? They came about because there was and continues to be a schism between the experiences of white and black America, and there is little effort to address it, lo these centuries later.
As Americans, we like to believe that everybody is equal, and everybody is, but the hardest thing to do is to actually practice that belief. We carry the ideological baggage of our ancestors, whether we accept that baggage or reject it altogether, it is a part of us, and we have to deal with it.
That baggage is everywhere we look in this country: from the demographics of Detroit to those of Ellis Island. It is evident in the fact that there are hundreds of communities with Native American names in this country where the actual Native American population is zero and few people would be hard pressed to actually name the tribe who gave the community its name.
I mention this not because of guilt, but because it is important to actually look at our country, what it is, and how to steer it towards an all-inclusive future cognizant of its past. (I find the term "all-inclusive" a bit strange, personally, as it makes it sound like the US should be some sort of continental Club Med.)
Nonetheless, I hope this actually means that by my deathbed (2101, if I'm lucky), there might actually be a truly United States of America. Sadly, at this point in time, I would not surprise if the status quo persists.
Before I sign off on this, I'd like to leave with this very interesting incident from a post on December 20th by Expat Jane over at Where The Hell Am I? , which I think underlines the fact that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the reality of American history (read the whole post as well, and the blog, too--it's excellent):
I remember being on the bus when a Korean man was talking to my white female coworker and was simply ignoring me. That was fine as he was drunk, but when he asked her if she was an "American". She said yes and pointed out that I was American too. Do you know this man had the nerve to say "no, I mean an original American." I thought that was funny because 1) the original people living on what is now American soil weren't white people and 2) when you look at the black American population, the majority of black American families have been in the US longer than most white families. There are only a select few white Americans who can claim ancestry from that first wave of British colonists. I can't remember where I read or heard it but basically to make this point a teacher in the US told everyone in her class to stand up. She told them if they had a parent who had immigrated to the US to sit down. She then asked students who had grandparents who'd immigrated to the States to sit down. She continued and the last students standing were the black students. Black Americans come from multi-generational American families, so that "original American" comment made me laugh 'cause that man was simply ignorant, but it shows how much the world at large has bought into the pop culture images that flow out of the States.
But wait, don't we have a white woman and a black man vying to become president?
Yes, we do.
Isn't that a sign of progress?
Not if they (and their attack dogs) spend time sniping about semantics surrounding the work of Dr. King. And by the way, in 1972, Shirley Chisholm tried to run for president, I think that was inherently more gutsy and revolutionary than anything either Hillary or Barack have done.
As I see it, the United States is a country where the residents of many different ethnic backgrounds continue to live in relatively separate communities and viewpoints that occasionally intersect, but for the most part are isolated. The only thing that seems to unify us is mere geography. Much like Belgium, I'd reckon.
Three years ago, I went to Palm Springs for my birthday and the flights there and back were quite memorable: At the risk of losing crediblity, I flew first class. (A frivolous expense, to be true, but it was my birthday and I'm a believer in that the flight that one takes sets the tone for the trip itself.) The flights from Chicago to Palm Springs and back were completely full in both cabins. As everyone knows, there is that infamous march that everyone has to do past the first class cabin. Never before in my life have I ever been shot so many dirty looks, which I interpreted as having a racial undertone to them (even if those who threw them did not have that intention).
The fact that I did, speaks volumes for the society and country in which I grew up: How many people out there know that there is a Black National Anthem? How many know about the black upper classes and their organisations and communities? They came about because there was and continues to be a schism between the experiences of white and black America, and there is little effort to address it, lo these centuries later.
As Americans, we like to believe that everybody is equal, and everybody is, but the hardest thing to do is to actually practice that belief. We carry the ideological baggage of our ancestors, whether we accept that baggage or reject it altogether, it is a part of us, and we have to deal with it.
That baggage is everywhere we look in this country: from the demographics of Detroit to those of Ellis Island. It is evident in the fact that there are hundreds of communities with Native American names in this country where the actual Native American population is zero and few people would be hard pressed to actually name the tribe who gave the community its name.
I mention this not because of guilt, but because it is important to actually look at our country, what it is, and how to steer it towards an all-inclusive future cognizant of its past. (I find the term "all-inclusive" a bit strange, personally, as it makes it sound like the US should be some sort of continental Club Med.)
Nonetheless, I hope this actually means that by my deathbed (2101, if I'm lucky), there might actually be a truly United States of America. Sadly, at this point in time, I would not surprise if the status quo persists.
Before I sign off on this, I'd like to leave with this very interesting incident from a post on December 20th by Expat Jane over at Where The Hell Am I? , which I think underlines the fact that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the reality of American history (read the whole post as well, and the blog, too--it's excellent):
I remember being on the bus when a Korean man was talking to my white female coworker and was simply ignoring me. That was fine as he was drunk, but when he asked her if she was an "American". She said yes and pointed out that I was American too. Do you know this man had the nerve to say "no, I mean an original American." I thought that was funny because 1) the original people living on what is now American soil weren't white people and 2) when you look at the black American population, the majority of black American families have been in the US longer than most white families. There are only a select few white Americans who can claim ancestry from that first wave of British colonists. I can't remember where I read or heard it but basically to make this point a teacher in the US told everyone in her class to stand up. She told them if they had a parent who had immigrated to the US to sit down. She then asked students who had grandparents who'd immigrated to the States to sit down. She continued and the last students standing were the black students. Black Americans come from multi-generational American families, so that "original American" comment made me laugh 'cause that man was simply ignorant, but it shows how much the world at large has bought into the pop culture images that flow out of the States.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
I Think We're Supposed To Care
But it's such a manufactured spat, exploiting our nation's still unresolved racial disharmony for personal gain.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Can I Get A Side of Humbled Peacock?
The once-mighty NBC is beginning to get a littl less bombastic these days: what with their ratings being the toilet and now their OTT coverage of the Golden Globes has become a press conference which can be aired by any network who so desires to.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I'm A Touch Horrified
Inside Edition is 20 years old today, according this article in The New York Daily News.
I'm a bit shocked in that:
I'm a bit shocked in that:
- It lasted so long.
- It still claims newsmagazine status (but then again Entertainment Tonight and TMZ are technically newsmagazines as well).
- How anyone takes Bill O'Reilly seriously knowing he was the first host of Inside Edition.
Friday, January 04, 2008
Iowa & Mitsuhiro Oikawa
Today is the Iowa Caucus, an event that quite honestly has too much weight given to it--solely because it's the first electoral event of the US primary season. Therefore, Iowans (who aren't really that representative of the whole nation, although in a nation of 300 million plus spread out over a continent, no state is, and is proof positive of the need for the interregional primary system) get to essentially do the first vetting of candidates, and the rest of us (especially those of us who won't be able to vote until after the absurd Super Tuesday) have to do our pickings based on the opinions of Iowa & New Hampshire.
Or to put it in an even more absurd perspective: residents of 2 barely urban states choose the candidates for a majority urbanised nation who will go to the polls in November to participate in an election which is not decided by the popular vote.
In all fairness, I like the quaint notion of the caucus, and for a state like Iowa, it makes sense to have that format. That said, it's no bellwether.
So what does Mitsuhiro Oikawa have to do with this? Nothing really. Much like how Iowa & New Hampshire's status during primary season is out of proportion with the rest of the nation, so is Oikawa's status in relation to this post.
But he is a cute little aging pretty boy, isn't he? (That's him swaying on the left in the video.)
Or to put it in an even more absurd perspective: residents of 2 barely urban states choose the candidates for a majority urbanised nation who will go to the polls in November to participate in an election which is not decided by the popular vote.
In all fairness, I like the quaint notion of the caucus, and for a state like Iowa, it makes sense to have that format. That said, it's no bellwether.
So what does Mitsuhiro Oikawa have to do with this? Nothing really. Much like how Iowa & New Hampshire's status during primary season is out of proportion with the rest of the nation, so is Oikawa's status in relation to this post.
But he is a cute little aging pretty boy, isn't he? (That's him swaying on the left in the video.)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Fearless Leader's Video Message for 2008
By the way, Anderson Cooper & Kathy Griffin are a brillant pairing.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Out of the ashes of one British Mark...
...rises a phoenix of another.
This is a rather dramatic way of saying that the disenchantment with Mark Ravenhill has been replaced with the discovery of Mark Steel, a Socialist comedian, whose book Vive La Revolution I've been reading.
Listen to him speak from the book at Marxism 2003 here. (Part 2 here.)
This is a rather dramatic way of saying that the disenchantment with Mark Ravenhill has been replaced with the discovery of Mark Steel, a Socialist comedian, whose book Vive La Revolution I've been reading.
Listen to him speak from the book at Marxism 2003 here. (Part 2 here.)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Year That It Was (On Here): 2007
It wasn't as busy a year as last at this corner of the internet, but there were some moments.
January
January
- I drink myself sober on New Year's and turn all Pollyanna-like.
- Don't drink with the ex.
- There is a programme better than The Closet, and it is subsequently picked up by here!
- The Polish final which is surprisingly low on actual Poles.
- A forecast for life in the next century.
- 700 posts!
- I dissect Eurolaul and irk prissy Vanilla Ninja fans for merely mentioning the strange resemblance between the band members and Lindsay Lohan.
February
- Jump in the time machine, because it's Eurovision 1992.
- Atlanta is not fun...especially when it is colder than New York (in more ways than one).
- A poll to see which Melodifestivalen act was aiming for the gay vote.
- A moment of reflection.
- Praising Ms. Nanne.
- Fun with the Spanish Eurovision selection (part 1).
- Fight for your right...to pick up hustlers.
- Cocaine is a helluva a drug...to watch Spanish National Finals with.
March
- Matt Sanchez and his idiocy.
- Escape from the land of muscle worshippers.
- GLAAD slides toward irrelevance.
- Me vs. Tacky theatre.
April
- We are saved from the possibility of President Tommy Thompson.
- Yet another Russian Eurovision entry with catchy music and lyrics by Babelfish.
- Praising MISIA.
- Eurovision Preview Reviews galore!
- He speaks.
May
- We Love Bitchy Nordics
- I am bewildered by the Eurovision Qualifier, and indifferent to the Final.
- Inane questions run amok on New York local news.
- Like many others, I fall for the daft Endemol joke.
June
- Shut up, Bono & Bob.
- The Tonys slide towards irrelevance just a touch slower than GLAAD.
- Bloomie gets a partial clue
- Take That revival.
- I Love Elliot (Spitzer).
July
- Oh, to be on the wrong side of the housing boom.
- I try to get religion...and realise I am my own church.
- Nobody likes Dick
- Milwaukee: test market for terrorism.
August
- My name is Hikaru Krispy Kreme, how may I serve you?
- I'm getting old, people...old & crotchety.
- Siberian independence NOW.
September
- Just a sampling of the GOP idiots running for President.
- Sensenbrenner needs to get eliminated....again.
- The Loonie reaches parity and then surpasses it. (Perhaps we're the real Loonies.)
- Janet Jackson makes a true lapse in judgement.
- Guess what? The Closet is coming back!
October
November
- Writers' Strike!
- WTMJ thinks moral indignation is the key to ratings success.
- ...And Al Roker is on Court TV.
- NBC slides towards irrelevance, faster than the Tonys & GLAAD.
- How not to do an interview.
- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade review...not for those incapable of comprehending context.
- Crap shows reopen.
- I hate Judd Apatow, but not as much as I despise La Perry.
December
- Perhaps we all really can't get along?
- Mourning a role model.
- Silver lining in Wisconsin's bigoted anti-SSM amendment.
- Edwards = JFK-meets-FDR and I'm all for it.
- Yes, MISIA has lost her mind, but it's catchy.
- Drunk Kiwis...awww.
Perhaps you've noticed something different this year, particularly a big drop in posts. I haven't mentioned it all this year, but there's been an underlying theme in my posts particularly in the second half of 2007: Cancer.
First, my aforementioned ex was diagnosed and treated for Prostate Cancer in July & August. The next month, my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. (Fortunately, it was caught very early.) Two weeks later, my great aunt died from Lung Cancer. (My extended family--like my immediate family--is very small, so this was quite a huge deal.)
As for myself, I've so far been declared healthy by several doctors, which is good, especially since this year, I seem to hear and see cancer everywhere. Yet, as a result of these medical issues, I've taken on some extra non-writing work in order to lighten the load of those recovering.
Although it's likely I'll post again before January: Good health to all who read this (even Jonathan Capehart) in 2008.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Running of the Drunk Kiwi Santas
Several times a year, a story comes along that allows us to basically laugh at a certain nation ad its foibles.
This Christmas, I would nominate the running of a bunch of drunk Kiwi students in Santa Claus (or as the accent seems to suggest: "Center Klaus") outfits through a Christchurch movie theatre.
The coverage on TVNZ seems to be pleading for the world not to judge all of New Zealand as bored drunkards bent on terrorising young children.
This Christmas, I would nominate the running of a bunch of drunk Kiwi students in Santa Claus (or as the accent seems to suggest: "Center Klaus") outfits through a Christchurch movie theatre.
The coverage on TVNZ seems to be pleading for the world not to judge all of New Zealand as bored drunkards bent on terrorising young children.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Modern Life Is Absurd (Part 100)...and touchng
The Daily News's David Hinckley goes all existential on disembodied voices.
And while several media outlets picked up the story of Lee Thomas, the black anchor whose skin is losing its pigmentation, I think the best and most poignant coverage (albeit solely on presentation...since it is an AP article) is on The Sydney Morning Herald.
And while several media outlets picked up the story of Lee Thomas, the black anchor whose skin is losing its pigmentation, I think the best and most poignant coverage (albeit solely on presentation...since it is an AP article) is on The Sydney Morning Herald.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday Jukebox Thinks MISIA has lost her mind
Damn catchy, and she's still in great voice, but what on god's green earth inspired that title?
Thursday, December 13, 2007
I'm Coming Out (Politically) Part 2
The other contender for my primary vote is John Edwards.
There, I said it...and god, am I shocked that I did...I mean, I was STAUNCHLY Clark in 2004.
Lest you think it's actually brought on by the recent uptick in Edwards's political fortune, it actually came after looking at The Washington Post's Candidate Selector.
Quite frankly, the man never really was on my radar, because he really never seemed to get the media's attention. So it was interesting actually reading what he does actually have to say.
First, quite honestly the man screams JFK revival, but since I was born 16 years after JFK was shot, that means social policies to me as opposed to pretty spouses and children all in a row.
I do like that he's basing his campaign on economic disparity, which is quite frankly running rampant and no one is really doing much more than paying lip service.
Secondly, he's improving his stance in respect to GLBT rights, and with him it seems to boil down to equal treatment under the law, which is a stance I can get behind. Now here's where I have to hold my nose a bit and hope that he gets some sense: he's against same-sex marriage personally, but is for civil unions and against a constitutional ban. On the plus side: it allows for wiggle room. On a down side: Does it mean that he would impede legislation against same-sex marriage? I honestly don't know.
Ultimately, the Edwards & Richardson decision came down to a process of elimination.
(NB: all these statements have an implied "at the moment" following them.)
Kucinich: Just no. Idealism without practicality
Biden: Milquetoast and in it "just because"
Obama: Pre-McClurkin: Too Green. Post-McClurkin: No. Way. In. Hell.
Gravel: Great policies, but he's not the right messenger because it comes through a bunch of babble that makes you wonder as to what he would actually do if elected. He came VERY close for my support.
Dodd: See Biden.
Clinton: I really wanted to like her, but she's too moderate and if Edwards (who seems just a little bit more left of HRC) is also in favour of health care, I don't see any reason to go with Hillary.
And I have yet to hear who the DSA is in favour of, they are probably as flummoxed as I am.
For what it's worth, SP-USA is putting up Brian Moore for president, like Gravel, I like the policies, but not the babble.
There, I said it...and god, am I shocked that I did...I mean, I was STAUNCHLY Clark in 2004.
Lest you think it's actually brought on by the recent uptick in Edwards's political fortune, it actually came after looking at The Washington Post's Candidate Selector.
Quite frankly, the man never really was on my radar, because he really never seemed to get the media's attention. So it was interesting actually reading what he does actually have to say.
First, quite honestly the man screams JFK revival, but since I was born 16 years after JFK was shot, that means social policies to me as opposed to pretty spouses and children all in a row.
I do like that he's basing his campaign on economic disparity, which is quite frankly running rampant and no one is really doing much more than paying lip service.
Secondly, he's improving his stance in respect to GLBT rights, and with him it seems to boil down to equal treatment under the law, which is a stance I can get behind. Now here's where I have to hold my nose a bit and hope that he gets some sense: he's against same-sex marriage personally, but is for civil unions and against a constitutional ban. On the plus side: it allows for wiggle room. On a down side: Does it mean that he would impede legislation against same-sex marriage? I honestly don't know.
Ultimately, the Edwards & Richardson decision came down to a process of elimination.
(NB: all these statements have an implied "at the moment" following them.)
Kucinich: Just no. Idealism without practicality
Biden: Milquetoast and in it "just because"
Obama: Pre-McClurkin: Too Green. Post-McClurkin: No. Way. In. Hell.
Gravel: Great policies, but he's not the right messenger because it comes through a bunch of babble that makes you wonder as to what he would actually do if elected. He came VERY close for my support.
Dodd: See Biden.
Clinton: I really wanted to like her, but she's too moderate and if Edwards (who seems just a little bit more left of HRC) is also in favour of health care, I don't see any reason to go with Hillary.
And I have yet to hear who the DSA is in favour of, they are probably as flummoxed as I am.
For what it's worth, SP-USA is putting up Brian Moore for president, like Gravel, I like the policies, but not the babble.
Skeptical Optimism in Wisconsin
According to The Advocate (has the Journal Sentinel dropped the ball on this one?), a straight political science professor is challenging Wisconsin's year-old ban on Same-sex marriage and civil unions.
And for all the right reasons.
Says the aforementioned professor, Bill McConkey: "If you don’t like gay people, who’s next? Short people? As a student of history and an educated person, I know the history and the implications of that mind-set."
And for all the right reasons.
Says the aforementioned professor, Bill McConkey: "If you don’t like gay people, who’s next? Short people? As a student of history and an educated person, I know the history and the implications of that mind-set."
All Hail Tim Cuprisin
For those of us who are cynical about the constant hyperbole coming out of television stations whenever there is a snowstorm on the way, take a gander at this video by The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tim Cuprisin, who lightly pokes fun at the phenomenon.
And for a more sharper attack, read his blog posts from yesterday.
And for a more sharper attack, read his blog posts from yesterday.
I'm Coming Out (Politically) Part 1
So I figure it's time to get off the proverbial pot and fess up which candidate I'm voting for in the primary.
Well, it's now narrowed down to 2 main contenders.
MAJOR faux pas aside, I cannot completely discredit Bill Richardson, because I think he is the kind of statesman that this country would benefit from. I think that his verbal missteps, as Rod McCullom mentions in this article at Rod 2.0 are mere nerves.
Yet is that enough? More to come in Part 2.
Well, it's now narrowed down to 2 main contenders.
MAJOR faux pas aside, I cannot completely discredit Bill Richardson, because I think he is the kind of statesman that this country would benefit from. I think that his verbal missteps, as Rod McCullom mentions in this article at Rod 2.0 are mere nerves.
Yet is that enough? More to come in Part 2.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Puppies grow into dogs that get old and DIE!
The above is one of my favourite movie quotes, and I find it particularly insightful when applied to this article in The Guardian by my own playwright role model, Mark Ravenhill, whose play Shopping and Fucking convinced me of the power of writing for the stage and how subversive it could be.
Essentially, it's the standard "I'm too old for this shit" treatise that anyone in any profession is apt to echo, but it's interesting to see how Ravenhill claims that he is holding onto his rebel status by choosing to write heterosexual themes at the moment:
Something seem odd there to you? It does to me.
One of the major tenets of performance writing--especially for stage--is that character comes first. Personality, history, all the things about life experience are present whenever a character speaks. Now perhaps my naivete is showing, but one thing I remember very clearly being affected by is in how the playwright creates and reveals these aspects. If these characters were gay, then it was a part that informed them and also my own understanding. If they weren't, I didn't view it as a stumbling block.
I wonder whether Ravenhill--and his success--has lead him to distrust in his own abilities to create characters that are incidentally gay. As a fan, I've always read his characters that way, so I wonder why he feels they were always GAY with capital letters lit up like a rainbow.
Ravenhill's work for the most part has always been intimate in terms of setting--at least in my view. I always had the sense that he was using the insularity and self-obsessiveness of the characters to make a comment about society at large.
So why refocus on heterosexuals?
He claims they offer him more vision of a modern Britain, but do they?
I would say chances are likely not.
What I see hiding underneath the words of the article is well...a Don Quixote...or perhaps Stockholm Syndrome.
While I agree with his themes of the homogenised gay characters, I suspect that his statement is triggered more by fear of unemployment/relevance, rather than fatigue.
Another dead old puppy.
Essentially, it's the standard "I'm too old for this shit" treatise that anyone in any profession is apt to echo, but it's interesting to see how Ravenhill claims that he is holding onto his rebel status by choosing to write heterosexual themes at the moment:
Now, I'm surprised to say, I'm happy never to write another gay character
again. It feels as though every aspect of the gay experience has been narrated,
performed and picked over in the past 30 years. It has left us with some
brilliant work. Alongside all the bad generic gay work, artists such as Derek
Jarman, Alan Hollinghurst, Tony Kushner and others have left a body of work that is both gay and great. But that work seems over now.
Right now, I'm eager to explore the strange, twilight world of the
heterosexual - to expose its anguishes and mysteries and unconscious
comedies. Maybe one day there will be something to pull me back to the gay
experience, the sense of something new to be said about the gay world. But, for
the moment at least, my lavender quill is at rest.
Something seem odd there to you? It does to me.
One of the major tenets of performance writing--especially for stage--is that character comes first. Personality, history, all the things about life experience are present whenever a character speaks. Now perhaps my naivete is showing, but one thing I remember very clearly being affected by is in how the playwright creates and reveals these aspects. If these characters were gay, then it was a part that informed them and also my own understanding. If they weren't, I didn't view it as a stumbling block.
I wonder whether Ravenhill--and his success--has lead him to distrust in his own abilities to create characters that are incidentally gay. As a fan, I've always read his characters that way, so I wonder why he feels they were always GAY with capital letters lit up like a rainbow.
Ravenhill's work for the most part has always been intimate in terms of setting--at least in my view. I always had the sense that he was using the insularity and self-obsessiveness of the characters to make a comment about society at large.
So why refocus on heterosexuals?
He claims they offer him more vision of a modern Britain, but do they?
I would say chances are likely not.
What I see hiding underneath the words of the article is well...a Don Quixote...or perhaps Stockholm Syndrome.
While I agree with his themes of the homogenised gay characters, I suspect that his statement is triggered more by fear of unemployment/relevance, rather than fatigue.
Another dead old puppy.
Are The Oughties All About Rolling The Clock Back?
That was my thought when I read this article (admittedly from this past September) in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about the rise of resegregation.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Just Because...
...December on here should start with some tattooed pretty boy cavorting around with a bunch of Santa Clauses half in the bag.
Don't you think?
L'Arc~en~Ciel - Hurry Xmas (HD)
Uploaded by aureliendu76
Don't you think?
L'Arc~en~Ciel - Hurry Xmas (HD)
Uploaded by aureliendu76
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Does Falling Upwards Equal Intelligence?
Others can debate the merits of Judd Apatow--since I find films and television shows geared towards stroking the ego of emotionally arrested critics boring.
Yet this same list puts Tyler Perry at #8.
Tyler "Closet Case" Perry.
Tyler "Lowest Common Denominator" Perry.
Tyler "My name is on every thing I do" Perry.
The Free Dictionary defines smart as so:
1. a. Characterized by sharp quick thought; bright. See Synonyms at intelligent.
(Nope. "Savvy" maybe, but La Perry doesn't fit this definition of smart.)
b. Amusingly clever; witty: a smart quip; a lively, smart conversation.
(Would doing an updated Mammy impression qualify under this? I don't think so.)
c. Impertinent; insolent
(I wouldn't be surprised if he's like that behind closed doors. The closet can give you rage like steroid abuse, but no. Doesn't apply.)
2. Energetic or quick in movement
(He paint himself as whatever Adonis he imagines himself to be, but that man is not fast even if Tiger Tyson was running buck naked slathered in butter in front of him.)
3. Canny and shrewd in dealings with others
(Possible, if you apply that famous quote from The Usual Suspects about "the greatest trick the devil ever played." And even then, there are those way "smarter" than Perry in that department who are below him in the list.)
4. Fashionable; elegant:
(Nope. If that was the case, where's his clothing line?)
5. a. Of, relating to, or being a highly automated device, especially one that imitates human intelligence: smart missiles.
(Well, only something artificial could live all of La Perry's contradictions without having a meltdown, but, no, not applicable.)
b. Manufactured to regulate the amount of light transmitted in response to varying light conditions or to an electronic sensor or control unit: smart windows.
(see above.)
6. New England & Southern U.S. Accomplished; talented: He's a right smart ball player.
(He is accomplished, but then so was Chester Arthur, and is he that accomplished to come ahead in front of Jerry Bruckheimer? George Clooney? Peter Jackson? No. Way. In. Hell.)
Yet this same list puts Tyler Perry at #8.
Tyler "Closet Case" Perry.
Tyler "Lowest Common Denominator" Perry.
Tyler "My name is on every thing I do" Perry.
The Free Dictionary defines smart as so:
1. a. Characterized by sharp quick thought; bright. See Synonyms at intelligent.
(Nope. "Savvy" maybe, but La Perry doesn't fit this definition of smart.)
b. Amusingly clever; witty: a smart quip; a lively, smart conversation.
(Would doing an updated Mammy impression qualify under this? I don't think so.)
c. Impertinent; insolent
(I wouldn't be surprised if he's like that behind closed doors. The closet can give you rage like steroid abuse, but no. Doesn't apply.)
2. Energetic or quick in movement
(He paint himself as whatever Adonis he imagines himself to be, but that man is not fast even if Tiger Tyson was running buck naked slathered in butter in front of him.)
3. Canny and shrewd in dealings with others
(Possible, if you apply that famous quote from The Usual Suspects about "the greatest trick the devil ever played." And even then, there are those way "smarter" than Perry in that department who are below him in the list.)
4. Fashionable; elegant:
(Nope. If that was the case, where's his clothing line?)
5. a. Of, relating to, or being a highly automated device, especially one that imitates human intelligence: smart missiles.
(Well, only something artificial could live all of La Perry's contradictions without having a meltdown, but, no, not applicable.)
b. Manufactured to regulate the amount of light transmitted in response to varying light conditions or to an electronic sensor or control unit: smart windows.
(see above.)
6. New England & Southern U.S. Accomplished; talented: He's a right smart ball player.
(He is accomplished, but then so was Chester Arthur, and is he that accomplished to come ahead in front of Jerry Bruckheimer? George Clooney? Peter Jackson? No. Way. In. Hell.)
Friday, November 30, 2007
Broadway: Now Fully Open
...and I'm feeling indifferent, to be honest.
I'm glad that the actual day-to-day workers both on and off the stage are able to resume their work, but....
It doesn't change the fact that the current slate of Broadway shows (as opposed to Off-Broadway, though they've got a fair amount of mind-numbing fare) are mostly moronic claptrap designed for those impressed by shining moving objects.
The producers need to stop underestimating the IQ of the majority of their audiences. To use a quote for Absolutely Fabulous (and likely many other sources): "We're not all stupid."
I'm glad that the actual day-to-day workers both on and off the stage are able to resume their work, but....
It doesn't change the fact that the current slate of Broadway shows (as opposed to Off-Broadway, though they've got a fair amount of mind-numbing fare) are mostly moronic claptrap designed for those impressed by shining moving objects.
The producers need to stop underestimating the IQ of the majority of their audiences. To use a quote for Absolutely Fabulous (and likely many other sources): "We're not all stupid."
Thursday Jukebox Loves Crystal Kay
A natural follow up to Insooni, is another talented singer of Black and Korean heritage, Crystal Kay from Japan.
First up, Shadows of Desire, released when she was 14.
Then 2001's Ex-Boyfriend, which kicked her career into higher gear.
The extremely addictive (although the video seems a little bit incoherent to me...what are all those women in green supposed to represent?) Can't Be Stopped.
Crystal Kay - Can't be Stopped
Uploaded by Linnouch
The Jam & Louis produced Kirakuni, which has an interesting and slight anti-commercialist bent to the lyrics. (Crystal is apparently a huge Janet Jackson fan.)
Crystal Kay - Kirakuni
Uploaded by Kitsuney
Her most recent m-flo collaboration Love Don't Cry.
Crystal's latest, Shining.
First up, Shadows of Desire, released when she was 14.
Then 2001's Ex-Boyfriend, which kicked her career into higher gear.
The extremely addictive (although the video seems a little bit incoherent to me...what are all those women in green supposed to represent?) Can't Be Stopped.
Crystal Kay - Can't be Stopped
Uploaded by Linnouch
The Jam & Louis produced Kirakuni, which has an interesting and slight anti-commercialist bent to the lyrics. (Crystal is apparently a huge Janet Jackson fan.)
Crystal Kay - Kirakuni
Uploaded by Kitsuney
Her most recent m-flo collaboration Love Don't Cry.
Crystal's latest, Shining.
I have also stumbled across a very interesting and informative blog called Where The Hell Am I? by Expat Jane who is at Ewha University in Seoul. Check it out.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday Jukebox Loves Insooni
Meet Insooni.
Experience Insooni.
(A rarity for me: a decent ballad...primarily because she knocks it out of the park and is not at all trying to be cute)
(And the obligatory cover of Proud Mary, but she's damn good at it.)
Experience Insooni.
(A rarity for me: a decent ballad...primarily because she knocks it out of the park and is not at all trying to be cute)
(And the obligatory cover of Proud Mary, but she's damn good at it.)
And she's 50!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Too Hungry to Kill?
New York on the way to having the lowest number of homicides this year since the 1960s.
One in Six New Yorkers can't afford to eat.
One of these facts won't be mentioned on the Today.
One in Six New Yorkers can't afford to eat.
One of these facts won't be mentioned on the Today.
Friday, November 23, 2007
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2007 Post-Mortem
This ought to be a fun show.
The stagehands are on strike.
The writers are on strike.
Please let there be some agitprop!
Anyway, "Camp Broadway" has their annual saccharine tribute to god knows what, but look! It's kids with ribbons!
And Matt & Meredith are in the middle of the sugary sweetness all of a sudden. They toss to Al.
Al gives the standard send-off for the march. Surprisingly, the banter is not stilted. (Scabs?)
And it's let's have an ode to commercialism.
Deep-voiced announcer gives down the rundown of celebrities and shows and I sense that this might be the first evidence of the strike's effect: only 3 shows and half the celebrities, most of whom are NBC plugs for struggling shows. (Although let's be honest, only Howie Mandel and John Madden are the only people on NBC shows which aren't struggling.)
After commercial we have desperate network plug #1: Jane Krakowski begs us to watch 30 Rock.
Meanwhile, Matt & Meredith plug the first of only 3 musicals this year: Legally Blonde.
It's a minor improvement on Camp Broadway. Minor being the operative word, since they are doing the same amount of flinging about over inane lyrics.
Deep voiced announcer hypes Bob Saget, who will be doing the exact same thing as Martin Short last year, which is flying over the parade providing quips. I doubt they'll be full of swears, but we can hope.
As we come back from commercial: the aerial shot shows somebody dangling their child off the balcony!
NBC plug #2: Patti Labelle tries to interest us in the inanity that is Battle of the Choirs and her Christmas CD. Al Roker apparently did several lines because he's really animated in the plug.
Matt & Meredith drowsily attempt to interest us in Young Frankenstein.
Roger Bart is no Gene Wilder, and is quite honestly dialing it in. Sutton Foster, however, is apparently game enough to lift for both herself, him, and the man playing Igor.
This show is no Producers, people, and they ought to be glad that they aren't affected by the strike.
Matt & Meredith send a message of support to everyone affected by the [stagehands'] strike. They say nothing about the writers, which is very telling about who wrote their banter. (I hope that somebody sabotages their teleprompter.)
Bob Saget makes a good theatre strike joke preflight. He proceeds kick Martin Short's ass in terms of comedy during the parade route tour.
M&M hype Xanadu, which in all honesty, is the only decent show of this lot. As much as I hate Douglas Carter Beane, he did turn in an excellent satirical script.
Anyway: roller skates, Cheyenne Jackson, falsettos, and Andre Ward. Not too bad when combined. Fun fact: Jane Krakowski turned down the female lead in Xanadu in order to do 30 Rock. Oops.
My new favourite ad: US Cellular has an ad where a flower delivery man complains to a woman about his asthma.
NBC Desperation Plug #3: Al Roker talks to 2 of cast members from Heroes who must be on some sort of pharmaceutical (or just fear of cancellation) to be that perky. Al cuts them off to screech "It's Nikki Blonsky!" Burn!
After commercial, we have Christopher Meloni & daughter with NBC Desperation Plug #4. He does not look like he's drunk or high like that interview he had on Morning Blend. He is also drowned out by a marching band. Meloni is the only one so far to get out of these plugs with some shred of dignity, and he was assaulted by a band, clowns, and Al Roker.
Meredith makes a SVU/SUV reference to Al's flub. Matt rolls his eyes. They intro Mary Poppins.
I am beginning to think that Disney-on-Broadway execs have a bet going on to see what is the worst show they can keep running. Clearly MP is up there, but then again, I would've greenlit an Aristocats musical a long time before this.
Commercial for Battle of the Choirs, and yes, it looks like a big ol' Port Of Spain (POS).
M&M intro The Rockettes.
The Rockettes kick and march about Herald Square and I really don't get the connection between the number and "New York at Christmas," but I'm not a choreographer.
Perhaps it's me, but does it seem like there are twice the amount of ads so far this year?
And the parade makes it to Herald Square and M&M are plotzing.
(I am so happy not to be there this morning.)
Something called "The Great American Marching Band" performs "Swing Swing Swing" and the placement of stars is hilarious as blatant synergy.
Dolly Parton sings on a Showboat float, although she looks extremely nervous. It's rather funny that everybody on the float is desperately trying to cover up the fact that they are lip-syncing.
M&M give the standard "Pilgrims good, Native Americans who?" version of Thanksgiving in reference to the Turkey float.
Abby Cadabby balloon: Eh. M&M are looking for another gram to get through the next 2 hours.
Sesame Street float: The annual chance to see how many of those cast members are still alive. (My god, Bob is still on that show? Good god, man, retire!)
M&M have found their lines and I find myself missing Katie Couric and the fact that she was considerably more aware of the camp factor and didn't let Lauer overshadow.
Jonas Brothers/Build-A-Bear-Dammit float: Who are these people? Click 5 for 2007? They look like they need a flea bath. Mediocre song, but they cover up their lip-syncing better than Dolly Parton...sadly.
After commercial: Clowns and Barbie (buy my DVD!)
Perhaps it's me, but I'm a bit perplexed: after Barbie has encouraged millions of girls to go out be businesswomen, pilots, and political leaders, she is now encouraging girls to be bitchy overbearing princesses with extreme self-entitlement.
Utah marching band: As much soul as an Osmond Family TV special in Iceland.
Another reason to miss Katie Couric: she might've been able to make Hello Kitty seem interesting. Of course, the good writers are on strike, so I don't entirely blame M&M for making do with a poor script.
(By the way, La Couric is not fronting CBS's coverage, Hannah Storm & Dave Price are. Yikes.)
After commercial: Up With People sing some song that doesn't know if it wants to be dance or world, either way it's crap.
Animal Planet: Bindi Irwin & "The Crocmen" sing something about jumping and my jaw just drops. It's just so...mind-boggling and inane, like a blatant attempt to ride upon the Wiggles bandwagon combined with the "oh she's soldiering on without her dad" sentiment that the weak-minded would fall for. Dignity, what's that?
Some band of clowns does something, but I'm still recovering from The Irwins' slaughter on Herald Square.
Two random Broadway actors sing "Give My Regards to Broadway" on the M&M float. It's really not all that interesting except they are not lip syncing and it features a completely unnecessary electric guitar score.
NYC Parks Mounted Patrol ride into Herald Square and I wonder if those horses could sue for animal abuse.
The Virginia Tech band: M&M act all solemn because of THAT incident. The band does nothing of note except march back and forth again and again and again. But you know, we can't cut away early because of THAT incident.
Rant of the day: When did it become illegal for shit to happen? Let's be honest, anyone can find reasons for others to "feel their pain."
USPS float: Crap MOR band Lifehouse looks bored or just sultry. They also make no attempt to cover up their miming.
After commercial: An insurance company provides a Malt Shop inspired float. (Draw your own cynical conclusions.) Anyway, Nikki Blonsky (apparently she was in Hairspray) sings live and decently.
Al has now joined M&M which means there might very well be some life in the commentators' booth from here on in--if only because Al carries the good pure stuff and M&M have been running low.
Evidence: Matt actually sounds interested in a bunch of cheerleaders thrusting pom poms in the air to 1950s songs. As for me, not even a cigarette could give me seem remotely interested.
Some twink called Ne-Yo lip-syncs on the cheerleaders' float. He has a career why?
After commercial: A bunch of kids from New York clog dance. That's right, a bunch of kids from New York clog dance. MAM are as dumbfounded as I am. The kids are good, but again, a bunch of kids from New York clog dance.
New York Daily News float: Menudo (nuevo) give the first decent performance on the smallest performance space seen so far. All other acts should hold their heads in shame. MAM are impressed.
This is followed up by a band from Indiana murdering "Gee, Officer Krupke."
Fireman float and then Hess float with Good Charlotte proceeding to blow any cred they might have, even with a decent song like "Dancefloor Anthem"--since they are followed by the Energizer Bunny.
MAM start on the next baggie.
After commercial: Pirate float (complete with Al Roker doing a piss-poor pirate imitation). Sarah Brightman sings some trance-like song called "Journey Home" and I am tempted to say that the performances from Good Charlotte onwards are going to be better. Let's be honest though, all you have to do is lip-sync believably.
Some random band from Kentucky performs songs from the Nutcracker. The flag team are waving some flag that looks like a hybrid of the Maryland & Estonian flags. They're good, but I see no Nutcracker connection.
One possible reason why MAM are becoming more alert: They have to push those NBC Universal products! Represented at this particular instance by the Shrek balloon.
Cartoon Network float: I have never particularly cared for that song, but I never want to hear "You Make Me Live" sung like that again.
Jeff Koons's Rabbit: Damn impressive. MAM are impressed as well.
Some Alabama band performs "Oh Susannah." Maybe it's me, but I think it's a little bit in poor taste.
Rhino Mountain float: What the hell is that supposed to be for? Some High School Musical castoff lip-syncs "Last Christmas" relatively well, although she misses the point of the lyrics.
Commercial: Why not use your Citicard to get a haircut instead of a cheap suit? And NBC is so starved for ratings that they are reviving American Gladitors?
Horn of Plenty float: The Cherokee National Choir sings "Jingle Bells" in Cherokee. While this is quite a momentous occasion (think about it), but am I the only one who thinks this is also a bit wrong like using a $20 bill to an AIM supporter (and I'm not referring to an instant messenger).
OU band: Bigger is rarely better.
Pillsbury float: Jordin Sparks tries to justify her win by poorly lip-syncing her own song. I guess it was a bad year on American Idol.
After commercial: An acrobat hits his brother in the crotch. Yep, it's the good stuff now.
Space float: Another High School Musical castoff whines his way through his song with lyrics last heard on California Dreams's Christmas special.
After commercial: Willard Scott gestures wildly outside an antique car freaking out the Centarian Queen of the parade.
History Channel float: Michael Feinstein and Anika Noni Rose sing (live!) between showing off their teeth. Decent performance, but what I find interesting is that there is a sly plug for Terrance McNally's The Ritz.
NYPD Marching Band butchers Silver Bells. (Insert police brutality joke.)
American Greetings float: The Care Bears are back? And who is this Kay Hanley girl? She has no talent and sounds like a poor man's Lindsay Lohan. At least Vanilla Ninja have some talent and sing about heroin.
After commercial: Dancing trees. The drugs have kicked in for MAM, but since all I have is a Max menthol, I just see weirdness.
Weirdness that is enhanced by a marching band that is seeming composed of SWAT team members and women in pigtails. I am not kidding.
Gibson guitar float: Wynonna Judd (looking like Sandy Patty meets Greta Garbo) barely lip syncs "I'll Be Home for Christmas." If she thinks that waving an American flag will save her, she's so wrong. That has to be the most laziest rendition of that song I have ever heard.
After Commercial: A bunch of Rockette wannabes thrust cardboard cutouts of presents and candy canes up in the air, thus emphasising the low-rent cheapness that is this year's parade.
And we have Santa Claus and MAM actually manage to sound excited.
While I can sense that the march of time has done a number on me, but this year's effort has been subpar at best. If this is an indicator for the strikes to be settled, then I suggest GE & the League get their asses in gear.
When Menudo is the best thing on it, you have to wonder.
The stagehands are on strike.
The writers are on strike.
Please let there be some agitprop!
Anyway, "Camp Broadway" has their annual saccharine tribute to god knows what, but look! It's kids with ribbons!
And Matt & Meredith are in the middle of the sugary sweetness all of a sudden. They toss to Al.
Al gives the standard send-off for the march. Surprisingly, the banter is not stilted. (Scabs?)
And it's let's have an ode to commercialism.
Deep-voiced announcer gives down the rundown of celebrities and shows and I sense that this might be the first evidence of the strike's effect: only 3 shows and half the celebrities, most of whom are NBC plugs for struggling shows. (Although let's be honest, only Howie Mandel and John Madden are the only people on NBC shows which aren't struggling.)
After commercial we have desperate network plug #1: Jane Krakowski begs us to watch 30 Rock.
Meanwhile, Matt & Meredith plug the first of only 3 musicals this year: Legally Blonde.
It's a minor improvement on Camp Broadway. Minor being the operative word, since they are doing the same amount of flinging about over inane lyrics.
Deep voiced announcer hypes Bob Saget, who will be doing the exact same thing as Martin Short last year, which is flying over the parade providing quips. I doubt they'll be full of swears, but we can hope.
As we come back from commercial: the aerial shot shows somebody dangling their child off the balcony!
NBC plug #2: Patti Labelle tries to interest us in the inanity that is Battle of the Choirs and her Christmas CD. Al Roker apparently did several lines because he's really animated in the plug.
Matt & Meredith drowsily attempt to interest us in Young Frankenstein.
Roger Bart is no Gene Wilder, and is quite honestly dialing it in. Sutton Foster, however, is apparently game enough to lift for both herself, him, and the man playing Igor.
This show is no Producers, people, and they ought to be glad that they aren't affected by the strike.
Matt & Meredith send a message of support to everyone affected by the [stagehands'] strike. They say nothing about the writers, which is very telling about who wrote their banter. (I hope that somebody sabotages their teleprompter.)
Bob Saget makes a good theatre strike joke preflight. He proceeds kick Martin Short's ass in terms of comedy during the parade route tour.
M&M hype Xanadu, which in all honesty, is the only decent show of this lot. As much as I hate Douglas Carter Beane, he did turn in an excellent satirical script.
Anyway: roller skates, Cheyenne Jackson, falsettos, and Andre Ward. Not too bad when combined. Fun fact: Jane Krakowski turned down the female lead in Xanadu in order to do 30 Rock. Oops.
My new favourite ad: US Cellular has an ad where a flower delivery man complains to a woman about his asthma.
NBC Desperation Plug #3: Al Roker talks to 2 of cast members from Heroes who must be on some sort of pharmaceutical (or just fear of cancellation) to be that perky. Al cuts them off to screech "It's Nikki Blonsky!" Burn!
After commercial, we have Christopher Meloni & daughter with NBC Desperation Plug #4. He does not look like he's drunk or high like that interview he had on Morning Blend. He is also drowned out by a marching band. Meloni is the only one so far to get out of these plugs with some shred of dignity, and he was assaulted by a band, clowns, and Al Roker.
Meredith makes a SVU/SUV reference to Al's flub. Matt rolls his eyes. They intro Mary Poppins.
I am beginning to think that Disney-on-Broadway execs have a bet going on to see what is the worst show they can keep running. Clearly MP is up there, but then again, I would've greenlit an Aristocats musical a long time before this.
Commercial for Battle of the Choirs, and yes, it looks like a big ol' Port Of Spain (POS).
M&M intro The Rockettes.
The Rockettes kick and march about Herald Square and I really don't get the connection between the number and "New York at Christmas," but I'm not a choreographer.
Perhaps it's me, but does it seem like there are twice the amount of ads so far this year?
And the parade makes it to Herald Square and M&M are plotzing.
(I am so happy not to be there this morning.)
Something called "The Great American Marching Band" performs "Swing Swing Swing" and the placement of stars is hilarious as blatant synergy.
Dolly Parton sings on a Showboat float, although she looks extremely nervous. It's rather funny that everybody on the float is desperately trying to cover up the fact that they are lip-syncing.
M&M give the standard "Pilgrims good, Native Americans who?" version of Thanksgiving in reference to the Turkey float.
Abby Cadabby balloon: Eh. M&M are looking for another gram to get through the next 2 hours.
Sesame Street float: The annual chance to see how many of those cast members are still alive. (My god, Bob is still on that show? Good god, man, retire!)
M&M have found their lines and I find myself missing Katie Couric and the fact that she was considerably more aware of the camp factor and didn't let Lauer overshadow.
Jonas Brothers/Build-A-Bear-Dammit float: Who are these people? Click 5 for 2007? They look like they need a flea bath. Mediocre song, but they cover up their lip-syncing better than Dolly Parton...sadly.
After commercial: Clowns and Barbie (buy my DVD!)
Perhaps it's me, but I'm a bit perplexed: after Barbie has encouraged millions of girls to go out be businesswomen, pilots, and political leaders, she is now encouraging girls to be bitchy overbearing princesses with extreme self-entitlement.
Utah marching band: As much soul as an Osmond Family TV special in Iceland.
Another reason to miss Katie Couric: she might've been able to make Hello Kitty seem interesting. Of course, the good writers are on strike, so I don't entirely blame M&M for making do with a poor script.
(By the way, La Couric is not fronting CBS's coverage, Hannah Storm & Dave Price are. Yikes.)
After commercial: Up With People sing some song that doesn't know if it wants to be dance or world, either way it's crap.
Animal Planet: Bindi Irwin & "The Crocmen" sing something about jumping and my jaw just drops. It's just so...mind-boggling and inane, like a blatant attempt to ride upon the Wiggles bandwagon combined with the "oh she's soldiering on without her dad" sentiment that the weak-minded would fall for. Dignity, what's that?
Some band of clowns does something, but I'm still recovering from The Irwins' slaughter on Herald Square.
Two random Broadway actors sing "Give My Regards to Broadway" on the M&M float. It's really not all that interesting except they are not lip syncing and it features a completely unnecessary electric guitar score.
NYC Parks Mounted Patrol ride into Herald Square and I wonder if those horses could sue for animal abuse.
The Virginia Tech band: M&M act all solemn because of THAT incident. The band does nothing of note except march back and forth again and again and again. But you know, we can't cut away early because of THAT incident.
Rant of the day: When did it become illegal for shit to happen? Let's be honest, anyone can find reasons for others to "feel their pain."
USPS float: Crap MOR band Lifehouse looks bored or just sultry. They also make no attempt to cover up their miming.
After commercial: An insurance company provides a Malt Shop inspired float. (Draw your own cynical conclusions.) Anyway, Nikki Blonsky (apparently she was in Hairspray) sings live and decently.
Al has now joined M&M which means there might very well be some life in the commentators' booth from here on in--if only because Al carries the good pure stuff and M&M have been running low.
Evidence: Matt actually sounds interested in a bunch of cheerleaders thrusting pom poms in the air to 1950s songs. As for me, not even a cigarette could give me seem remotely interested.
Some twink called Ne-Yo lip-syncs on the cheerleaders' float. He has a career why?
After commercial: A bunch of kids from New York clog dance. That's right, a bunch of kids from New York clog dance. MAM are as dumbfounded as I am. The kids are good, but again, a bunch of kids from New York clog dance.
New York Daily News float: Menudo (nuevo) give the first decent performance on the smallest performance space seen so far. All other acts should hold their heads in shame. MAM are impressed.
This is followed up by a band from Indiana murdering "Gee, Officer Krupke."
Fireman float and then Hess float with Good Charlotte proceeding to blow any cred they might have, even with a decent song like "Dancefloor Anthem"--since they are followed by the Energizer Bunny.
MAM start on the next baggie.
After commercial: Pirate float (complete with Al Roker doing a piss-poor pirate imitation). Sarah Brightman sings some trance-like song called "Journey Home" and I am tempted to say that the performances from Good Charlotte onwards are going to be better. Let's be honest though, all you have to do is lip-sync believably.
Some random band from Kentucky performs songs from the Nutcracker. The flag team are waving some flag that looks like a hybrid of the Maryland & Estonian flags. They're good, but I see no Nutcracker connection.
One possible reason why MAM are becoming more alert: They have to push those NBC Universal products! Represented at this particular instance by the Shrek balloon.
Cartoon Network float: I have never particularly cared for that song, but I never want to hear "You Make Me Live" sung like that again.
Jeff Koons's Rabbit: Damn impressive. MAM are impressed as well.
Some Alabama band performs "Oh Susannah." Maybe it's me, but I think it's a little bit in poor taste.
Rhino Mountain float: What the hell is that supposed to be for? Some High School Musical castoff lip-syncs "Last Christmas" relatively well, although she misses the point of the lyrics.
Commercial: Why not use your Citicard to get a haircut instead of a cheap suit? And NBC is so starved for ratings that they are reviving American Gladitors?
Horn of Plenty float: The Cherokee National Choir sings "Jingle Bells" in Cherokee. While this is quite a momentous occasion (think about it), but am I the only one who thinks this is also a bit wrong like using a $20 bill to an AIM supporter (and I'm not referring to an instant messenger).
OU band: Bigger is rarely better.
Pillsbury float: Jordin Sparks tries to justify her win by poorly lip-syncing her own song. I guess it was a bad year on American Idol.
After commercial: An acrobat hits his brother in the crotch. Yep, it's the good stuff now.
Space float: Another High School Musical castoff whines his way through his song with lyrics last heard on California Dreams's Christmas special.
After commercial: Willard Scott gestures wildly outside an antique car freaking out the Centarian Queen of the parade.
History Channel float: Michael Feinstein and Anika Noni Rose sing (live!) between showing off their teeth. Decent performance, but what I find interesting is that there is a sly plug for Terrance McNally's The Ritz.
NYPD Marching Band butchers Silver Bells. (Insert police brutality joke.)
American Greetings float: The Care Bears are back? And who is this Kay Hanley girl? She has no talent and sounds like a poor man's Lindsay Lohan. At least Vanilla Ninja have some talent and sing about heroin.
After commercial: Dancing trees. The drugs have kicked in for MAM, but since all I have is a Max menthol, I just see weirdness.
Weirdness that is enhanced by a marching band that is seeming composed of SWAT team members and women in pigtails. I am not kidding.
Gibson guitar float: Wynonna Judd (looking like Sandy Patty meets Greta Garbo) barely lip syncs "I'll Be Home for Christmas." If she thinks that waving an American flag will save her, she's so wrong. That has to be the most laziest rendition of that song I have ever heard.
After Commercial: A bunch of Rockette wannabes thrust cardboard cutouts of presents and candy canes up in the air, thus emphasising the low-rent cheapness that is this year's parade.
And we have Santa Claus and MAM actually manage to sound excited.
While I can sense that the march of time has done a number on me, but this year's effort has been subpar at best. If this is an indicator for the strikes to be settled, then I suggest GE & the League get their asses in gear.
When Menudo is the best thing on it, you have to wonder.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Coming Up: Slaughter on Broadway
Yes, it's the return of one of my most favourite and vicious non-Eurovision events of the year: The annual critical deconstruction or just destruction of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Here is last year's review, which apparently pissed off someone because I just *dared* to poke fun at maudlin ballads with vague religious overtones.
Here is last year's review, which apparently pissed off someone because I just *dared* to poke fun at maudlin ballads with vague religious overtones.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Horrors of mid-morning television in Milwaukee
Having to sit through interviews like this, on a show which--for some bizarre reason--bifurcates the Today Show into normal and developmentally impaired parts.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Ratings Shutout!
NBC scripted programming (including fiction and "reality") effectively shutout of the top 20 programmes, according to Nielsen.
The only exception: football.
Start importing, Mr. Peacock.
The only exception: football.
Start importing, Mr. Peacock.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Do You Get The News You Need or that You Want?
I've found myself back in Milwaukee due to a health situation with a family member, and it's very interesting looking at the world from the very isolated confines of Southeastern Wisconsin. It really is like being in another country, as I've mentioned on this corner of the internet from time to time.
Milwaukee has a horrendous crime rate and yet the majority of the time the news prefers to lead with stories related to the Packers or weather. It is truly local news as opposed to news provided locally. Not but a few days ago, a UWM student was shot (ostensibly in a drug deal, and not fatally--so far), but the lead story on one of the stations was how the wind knocked over a streetlamp.
The local NBC affiliate, which used to be the ratings juggernaut has mostly fallen to 2nd place in all areas, and for some reason believes that the key to restoring its glory will be in hiring twink reporters and presenting the remaining veterans as demi-gods protecting local interests. (Then there's the disingenuous nature of trying to come across as folksy while working on a set designed to be urban chic--a metaphor for the region itself.)
The local ABC station played ultra-coy during the 5 pm news with their teaser about a man arrested for indecent exposure, stating that they couldn't say what the nature of the crime was due to the hour, which personally suggests to me that they either have no thesaurus handy or hypersensitive viewers.
I am inclined to believe the former since this same station broadcasted the Dahmer trial live and uncensored in the middle of the day.
There's a problem in Milwaukee and one that I suspect is going on in many markets throughout the country: The public is being perceived as being too sensitive for the world, only because a vocal minority (frequently the ones whose disapproval masks their own culpability) wants to see a rose-coloured world.
How to change this? I don't know. You could argue that you can go and find alternative news sources, but to me that sounds like the flip side of the rose-coloured complainers. Personally, I believe that people are much more savvy and stronger than the ultra-sensitive types would have us assume. I hope that any possible employee for a news organisation (from intern all the way to owner) who reads this would remember that, and just as importantly that anyone who reads this realise that they are oftentimes smarter than the reports they are given. (Al Roker is on Court TV...think about it.)
Since I've been so serious in this post--and the keep up the quarterly "drool" factor--here is a link (with video) to a report CNN did with Hikaruland lust object Ken Hirai earlier this year.
Milwaukee has a horrendous crime rate and yet the majority of the time the news prefers to lead with stories related to the Packers or weather. It is truly local news as opposed to news provided locally. Not but a few days ago, a UWM student was shot (ostensibly in a drug deal, and not fatally--so far), but the lead story on one of the stations was how the wind knocked over a streetlamp.
The local NBC affiliate, which used to be the ratings juggernaut has mostly fallen to 2nd place in all areas, and for some reason believes that the key to restoring its glory will be in hiring twink reporters and presenting the remaining veterans as demi-gods protecting local interests. (Then there's the disingenuous nature of trying to come across as folksy while working on a set designed to be urban chic--a metaphor for the region itself.)
The local ABC station played ultra-coy during the 5 pm news with their teaser about a man arrested for indecent exposure, stating that they couldn't say what the nature of the crime was due to the hour, which personally suggests to me that they either have no thesaurus handy or hypersensitive viewers.
I am inclined to believe the former since this same station broadcasted the Dahmer trial live and uncensored in the middle of the day.
There's a problem in Milwaukee and one that I suspect is going on in many markets throughout the country: The public is being perceived as being too sensitive for the world, only because a vocal minority (frequently the ones whose disapproval masks their own culpability) wants to see a rose-coloured world.
How to change this? I don't know. You could argue that you can go and find alternative news sources, but to me that sounds like the flip side of the rose-coloured complainers. Personally, I believe that people are much more savvy and stronger than the ultra-sensitive types would have us assume. I hope that any possible employee for a news organisation (from intern all the way to owner) who reads this would remember that, and just as importantly that anyone who reads this realise that they are oftentimes smarter than the reports they are given. (Al Roker is on Court TV...think about it.)
Since I've been so serious in this post--and the keep up the quarterly "drool" factor--here is a link (with video) to a report CNN did with Hikaruland lust object Ken Hirai earlier this year.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
From The "Wither Stockard Channing" Department
Now, I would be very surprised if the actress in the video really is Stockard Channing, but it is quite an entertaining thought to imagine her doing the "Dame" dance (and the possibly rude/lewd gesture it begins with) along with Tackey & Tsubasa (how appropriate are those names?)
By the way, for more information on the strike, check in with Deadline Hollywood Daily.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Meanwhile in Milwaukee...
WTMJ-TV airs a report on how the internet is allowing people to meet their sugar daddies...and they are just S.H.O.C.K.E.D. at how blatant it is.
I am shocked too, because the local "sugar babies" seem to think they are that appealing, when in all honesty being a 10 in Milwaukee is at best a 5 in Chicago.*
* Those who are wise and ambitious--like these sugar babies claim to be--were smart enough to leave right after high school. Prime example: Kato Kaelin.
I am shocked too, because the local "sugar babies" seem to think they are that appealing, when in all honesty being a 10 in Milwaukee is at best a 5 in Chicago.*
* Those who are wise and ambitious--like these sugar babies claim to be--were smart enough to leave right after high school. Prime example: Kato Kaelin.
Writers' Strike: Day 1
Striking writers hit Manhattan...and Millie from Memphis clearly had no idea that negotiations went on for 11 HOURS and god-knows-how-many weeks prior to strike action being taken.
And if she did know, then she can go sunbathe at Indian Point.
Congrats to Winship (WGAe president) for the slogan: "When you get paid, we get paid."
And if she did know, then she can go sunbathe at Indian Point.
Congrats to Winship (WGAe president) for the slogan: "When you get paid, we get paid."
Monday, November 05, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
The Annual Halloween "BAH HUMBUG" Post
First off, some greatest hits from the archive.
Some incompetence from Ozaukee County.
And finally, MELL, she of the terribly incomprehensible lyrics, but damn good voice:
Black Lagoon - Red fraction [MELL]
Uploaded by Megami_Yoruichi
Some incompetence from Ozaukee County.
And finally, MELL, she of the terribly incomprehensible lyrics, but damn good voice:
Black Lagoon - Red fraction [MELL]
Uploaded by Megami_Yoruichi
What? Me rip off Madonna? Surely, you jest?
And once again, Halloween: BAH HUMBUG.
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