Top 5: TV Shows I’m Breaking Up With

1. “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (FX) - The first season of this show was very good. And then Danny DeVito came in and ruined the show in my opinion. Then I heard the fact that most of the dialogue was improvised (a la “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), and I realized how much I noticed their improvisation during the show and how much it took me out of the experience.

2. “Man v. Food” (Travel Channel) – You were a nice show to watch during the summer when little was on. But I can only take so much of Adam Richman’s forced descriptions of the food he is eating and the faux news conferences.

3. “Gossip Girl” (The CW) – Yea, I know. I tried to start watching it again once “House” moved time slots on Monday nights.  So, so bad.

4. “The Simpsons” (Fox) – I started watching again once it switched to HD. And its not a bad show, good for some chuckles every once in a while. It’s just not worthy of DVR-ing on an already crowded Sunday night.

5. “Weeds” (Showtime) - “Weeds” was a nice breath of  fresh air when Showtime was trying to establish itself as a player for original cable programming a few years back. But slowly, over 5 seasons the show lost its way when it consistently made Nancy an unlikeable character. and it moved further and further away from its original premise.

 

Thursday Music Videos: 11/5/09

Florence + the Machine – “You’ve Got the Love (XX Remix)” – I don’t know much about Florence + the Machine, but I dig this very xx remix.

Built to Spill – “Oh Yeah” – From the new album There Is No Enemy, a recent performance from Letterman.

Washed Out – “New Theory” – I believe this is a fan-made video for “New Theory” and its very cool and very fitting of the sound of the song.

Florence + the Machine – You’ve Got the Love (XX Remix)Florence + the Machine – You’ve Got the Love (XX Remix)

 

Linkdown: 11/4/09

Hey, how about a linkdown…

- Interview with Chris Pratt of “Parks and Recreation”

- After Hugh Jackman dropped out of hosting this year’s Oscars, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin have been tapped to co-host but it was almost Steve Martin/Tina Fey

- James Franco will guest on “30 Rock” after his arc on “General Hospital”; Padma from “Top Chef” will also guest

- Highlights from the “Bored to Death” panel at the Paley Center last night

- Ryan Adams released a new song you guys

- The Village Voice speaks with Julian Casablancas

- “Dexter” hit a season high with last Sunday’s episode, and has gained 600k viewers over the past three weeks

- And finally, “in its debut on German television Sunday night, Emmy-winning comedy “30 Rock” scored a 0.0 rating, meaning fewer than 5,000 viewers tuned in.”

 

Netflix Rundown: October 09

* indicates movies watched instantly

For All Mankind (1989) – 8/10 – Amazing, never before seen footage of the Apollo missions, including the moon landing. Nice soundtrack by Brian Eno to accompany the film as well.

Californication: Season 1 (2007)* – 7/10 – Enjoyable enough as a series, and the occasional T&A certainly doesn’t hurt. While the dialogue sometimes suffers from being too sharp or snappy (much like “Dawson’s Creek”, on which creator Tom Kapinos was a writer and exec producer for 5 years), David Duchovny usually pulls it off nicely.

Away We Go (2009) – 7/10 – I was a little disappointed since the script by David Eggers and Vendela Vida was a bit too twee for my tastes.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) – 9/10 – Yes, I had not seen this movie until this past month (I know, I know). And it turned out to be exactly what I was expecting – very good.

The Girlfriend Experience (2009) – 8/10 – Another “one for me” movie by Steven Soderbergh that provides an interesting look into the world of a high class call girl, with an interesting performance by adult film star Sasha Grey.

The Karate Kid, Part II (1986)* – 6/10 – It was decent, but not great. Worth watching the week leading up to Halloween so I could get Miyagi down pat though.

Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009)* – 9/10 – Amazingly bad all the way around. Deborah “Don’t Call Me Debbie” Gibson lisps her way through a role as a marine biologist and Lorenzo Lamas plays a government higher up who doesn’t play by the rules (which you can tell because he is dressed in all black). Awful CGI combined with out of place stock footage and awful acting by everyone makes this one highly recommended for anyone anywhere.

Currently have out:
Sugar (2008)
Michael Clayton (2007)
Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2008)

 

Fight Club 10th Anniversary poster art

ChuckPalahniuk.net and designer Kevin Tong teamed up for a movie poster and t-shirt to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the film. The poster is available for $30 in a limited edition of 200.

(via Slashfilm)

 

Tuesday Trailers: 10/27/09

Bioshock 2 – The latest gameplay trailer for the much anticipated sequel coming next year, from a section of the game called “Siren Alley.” Looks way intense.

Green Zone – Matt Damon and director Paul Greengrass reunite in a non-Bourne movie that looks a lot like a Bourne movie.

The Expendables – This film looks to be an orgy of action, gunfire and explosions. Cast includes Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Charisma Carpenter and Eric Roberts. Pretty sure  I also saw Stone Cold Steve Austin in there too.

 

Linkdown: 10/27/09

- Matt Damon and Josh Brolin in talks to join The Coen Bros. next movie, an adaptation of the novel True Grit

- A quick interview with Bill Simmons

- Interview with Eating the Dinosaur author and frequent Bill Simmons podcast guest Chuck Klosterman about his greatest fears

- A Q&A with Ricky Gervais from this week’s NY Mag

Louis C.K. does the best stand-up in America. I discovered him on YouTube and immediately cast him in The Invention of Lying. He’s honest and brave, he’s audacious, but he’s fucking bald, so I win. I’ve got hair.

- And in related and awesome news, Ricky Gervais to host the upcoming Golden Globes

- I decided not to look, but here’s a photo of Neil Patrick Harris in a fat suit from an upcoming “How I Met Your Mother” episode

- A premature evaluation of Julian Casablancas‘ upcoming solo album

- WTF: The final season of “Lost” will be interrupted by the Winter Olympics…on another network

 

Linkdown: 10/23/09

- The Life Feed’s 5-week fall report card for each major network; CBS tops the other networks thus far

- “Top Chef Masters” gets a second go-round

- The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn and a Letterman writer are adapting Chuck Klosterman’s Fargo Rock City into a movie

- Speaking of Chuck Klosterman, Bill Simmons posted a two-part podcast featuring Chuck earlier this week that featured a lot of varied discussion on sports and pop culture (right sidebar)

- The apparently awful Miss March just shot up my Netflix queue, thanks to AV Club’s latest “I Watched This on Purpose” feature

- A couple of Tracy Morgan interviews: excerpts from Playboy and a segment from NPR’s “Fresh Air”

On his hobbies: “These days I’m into bike riding and breaking water. I like breaking women’s water. If you’re pregnant and you need your water broken, you need your labor induced, give me a call and I’ll ride my bike over and take care of it.”

- Hilarious: Happy One Week Anniversary, Bubble Boy

It is funny how Richard Heene was an avid storm chaser and now he has found himself in a MEDIA STORM! (Sorry.) But seriously, what a week, huh Heenes? Your family is basically ruined, you know. That’s sad. Although it’s probably for the best. You guys were too nuts! Nuts always finds its level. Level = jail. Nuts always finds its jail. I’m saying: go to jail. You’re driving us all crazy.

 

Thursday Music Videos: 10/22/09

The Big Pink – “Dominos” – I still have yet to check out the full album A Brief History of Love. Need to do something about that soon. Here’s the official video for “Dominos.”

Goes Cube – “Saab Sonnet” – This is a little heavier than music I normally listen to, but I’ve noticed the more melodic instrumental sections of their album Another Day Has Passed remind me of Hum.

Girls – “Laura” – The sunny track from the excellent album Album.

 

The Road poster art

Pretty standard, really. A little disappointing to be honest, though.

(via Coming Soon)