Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (10/27/13)

I got a semi-full blog for you this morning.  I can't promise that next week because there's quite a bit on the plate - Halloween football game for North Texas and another football game for Christian on Friday and Caleb's last regular season game on Saturday.  This week had another well played game by Christian at QB but no defense led to a loss.  Caleb only managed a walk in his game but it was a great comeback win in the last inning.  Today, everyone is heading in a different direction and I'm not sure if I'm headed out or staying in yet - a nap seems in the cards.  But there's still a trip to the gym to be had.  For now, I'm looking into getting Doctor Who tickets to the theater showing of the next episode and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

DAFT PUNK - ONE MORE TIME.  Before this Summer, was this the Daft Punk song that everyone knew that they didn't know was a Daft Punk song.  But think about the lag time - this was first out in 2000.  And it took 13 years until everyone knew them from "Get Lucky".  I'm a big fan of this still - remember when auto tuned was not a tired style.  How old is this song?  It was featured on an episode of "Daria".  Fun way to begin the day.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . next time around.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . .  Bud Adams was the owner of the Houston Oilers who I disowned when he moved them to Tennessee. . .  I never really appreciated Don James because he coached the Washington Huskies team that beat Michigan to win their National Championship . . .  Lage Fosheim was from the little known The Monroes from Norway - they had a couple ska hits in the early 80s.  "Sunday People" was a precursor to the English ska hits of the mid-80s . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST TWINS IN FILMS OF ALL-TIME

10.  CHARLIE and DONALD KAUFMAN (Adaptation)  Nicolas Cage probably doesn't get enough credit for his roles in this film.  

9.  SHARON and SUSAN (The Parent Trap)  It's the greatness of Hayley Mills - not Lindsay Lohan.  Her dual role showed an acting talent beyond that which most modern actors could pull off.

8.  JULIUS and VINCENT (Twins)  I admit that I find this movie funnier than it probably really is.  C'mon - who wouldn't laugh with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as the title characters.

7.  ALEX and CHAD WAGNER (Double Impact)  Van Damme!!!  He'd do it again later in MAXIMUM RISK but this is Jean Claude at his non-acting, butt kicking best.

6.  THE GRADY TWINS (The Shining)  Who's going to be creepier than these two girls?  What they lack in the size of their roles they made up for in "Come play with us, Danny."

5.  NATALIE and NICOLA (Life Is Sweet)  Such an excellent film that more people need to know about.  Claire Skinner and Jane Horrocks do such a good job making sure that they let the story by Mike Leigh flow through their characters.

4.  FRED and GEORGE WEASLEY (Harry Potter franchise).  They had the Marauder's Map that helped Harry out so much.  And their shop is probably the best place to spend an afternoon.

3.  MARTY and JACKIE-O PASCAL (House of Yes)  This is a movie that not too many people have seen.  The acting by Parker Posey is top notch as Jackie-O and I've moved it up the list at least twice since I started writing this because I think it's just so creative.  Josh Hamilton as her brother is a little lost against her acting and that keeps this from making the Top Two.

2.  BEVERLY and ELLIOT MANTLE (Dead Ringers)  Twins played by the creepy Jeremy Irons - rarely has one actor made it seem like the twins are two distinct characters.  Combine that with the fact that the movie's awesome and that he plays twin gynecologists.

1.  LUKE SKYWALKER and PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA (Star Wars franchise).  Twins that are both Jedi and almost share a really hot kiss.  This is the dream twin pairing - that both are hot and kick butt.  

I've only known a handful of twins very well in my life.  I've recently come to be friends with someone who's a parent of twins and I've held back asking a billion questions.  Twins in films have always been a great device.  It works too because of the deep symbolism of twins and the ability of filmmaking to use it to make the connection even deeper.  The worst?  What about Bob and Walt Tenor as conjoined twins in STUCK ON YOU.  I could never even finish the film.  The worst I've never even tried to watch?  JACK AND JILL with Adam Sandler is one that even Sandler fans don't claim.  Just off the list - TWIN DRAGONS, THE SOCIAL NETWORK and those weird twins in THE MATRIX trilogy.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . ROOM 237 covers all the crazy theories about Kubrick's THE SHINING (hopefully you've watched the film 100 times, like me, before) . . . both seasons of MY CAT FROM HELL are up now - it makes me feel much better about Desmond . . . the first RESIDENT EVIL is on "Watch Now" for your Halloween viewing pleasure . . . 

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#421 - From Hell
#705 - Coneheads
#1525  - Naked Gun 2 1/2:  The Smell of Fear

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  working on many but updates to come.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#22     Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

It wasn't going to be hard to pick what Beach Boys album was going to be my favorite.  I just thought at first it might be ranked a little closer to #1.  Most importantly, it includes not just two of my favorite Beach Boys songs but actually two of my favorite songs period.  The same album has the beautiful "God Only Knows" that sums up forever love and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" that captures young love as well as it's ever been sung about.  I heard this album when I was young but it took until after college for me to appreciate its place in history.  The instrumentation, the simple lyrics and different styles of music all rolled into one fun album.  There are 13 solid tracks here - it's a rare Beach Boys album that can say that.  Not a track that I'd throw away and I often listen to it start to finish.  Don't sleep on some of the great tunes like "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" (one of Brian's most fascinating songs), "You Still Believe In Me" and "That's Not Me".

"You Still Believe In Me"

"That's Not Me"

"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times"

Previous Rankings

#23 - U2 - Unforgettable Fire (1984)#24 - Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

#25 - Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (1968)

#26 - Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)

#27 - Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY
SEDUCED AND ABANONDED (HBO)  Monday night on HBO has been Doc night.  So what do I make of this "doc" of Alec Baldwin and Ames Toback trying to make an Iraq set romance by raising money at Cannes.  I guess it's a doc by definition but I'm still confused by the trailers.

THE PETE HOLMES SHOW (TBS)  I didn't know who this guy was until it was laid out that he's the voice of the E*Trade baby.  A new show debuting on TBS by the voice of the E*Trade baby - yes, this is why you are TBS, TBS.

TUESDAY
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: WAR OF THE WORLDS (PBS)  I'm hugely fascinated by this radio play.  I've listened to the actual radio play a number of times.  I've read about it and watched other films on it.  I'm not sure I'll discover much new info here but I do like the PBS take on these events - so it's headed to my Tivo.

RIVER MONSTERS: UNHOOKED (ANIMAL)  Not just a normal "River Monsters" episode on the Loch Ness monster but something called an "enhanced episode".  

WEDNESDAY
THE LEAGUE (FXX)  Now that I'm getting closer to being caught up with this series -  it's  time I should be taping these episodes.  I'm still a huge fan of the show - favorite characters Taco and Andre recently.  

THE GETAWAY (ESQUIRE)  Do I get this channel?  I't Ryan Kwanten from "True Blood" doing exciting things, I think.  This week he does LA food joints and spends some time down at the local beaches.

THURSDAY
PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC)  I"m still a little behind this season but I know that the recall vote is coming up soon.  And as a bonus - tomorrow you can hit up Anziz Ansari's new special "Buried Alive" on Netflix.  That's something you can't pick up at Rent-A-Swag.

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (ABC)  Own it or not, there's something special about watching it on TV on Halloween night.  Sorry I'll be working and have to wait until the weekend.

FRIDAY
NFL IN SEASON (DISC)  This is like a mid-season "Hard Knocks" as the producers of that show follow the 49ers and Jags as they headed over to England for a game tonight (Sunday).

HIS GIRL FRIDAY (TCM)  I watched it earlier this Summer but it's hard to get enough of this film.  There are so many intricacies to the humor.  Probably be there watching it again.

SATURDAY
stuck with a bottle of bourbon for the night . . .  PAWN STARS (HIST) has a nice long, mindless marathon all night.  And CELEBRITY GHOST STORIES (LMN) gives you a few episodes.

HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (TCM)  If you want to invest some time in an actual good story - here's where you head.  Very dramatic story of a mining town in Wales.  Walter Pidgeon, Roddy McDowall and Maureen O'Hara will rip at your emotions.

SUNDAY
COMIC BOOK MEN (AMC)  The 3rd season feels a little more scripted but it's still fun (with my insider knowledge to that type of store in general).  It's kinda the perfect companion to the evening on AMC - a little zombie, some zombie show talk and then comics.  Kinda like looking into my living room.

AMAZING RACE 23 (CBS)  It's kinda tiring that like previous seasons of "Survivor" they seem to be settling on a set "type" of characters.  The show will benefit from pushing beyond the predictable set of cute girl cheerleader types, male athletes, fighting exes, dating, married couple, African American couple, father-daughter, etc.  That said . . . what is up with my "exes" team this season?  Ugh.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  working on some humor for next week.



"I may not always love you
But as long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I'll make you so sure about it."  - Beach Boys

God only knows.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (10/20/13)

Most of the activities for the week happened earlier.  Caleb had baseball on Thursday (a win) and on Saturday morning (a close lose).  Christian played a great game at QB on Thursday night but the defense couldn't hold the other team and it was a 36-21 loss.  So Saturday was mostly free and today doesn't look too bad.  Might head to the aquarium with Caleb today but for sure there's a workout ahead and maybe the Cowboys.  Week ahead looks similar to last.  I'm looking at some menus for lunch ideas and listening to some tuneage . . . 

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

NIRVANA - BREED.  It's 1991 and I've purchased "Nevermind" on CD.  This was the song of the first five that I would usually skip.  I never really appreciated this tune for years.  It was about 6 years later when I'd actually listen to the whole album all the way through that I learned to appreciate many of the "non-singles" on the album.  Today - this and "Polly" are ones that I love to go to - especially live versions on YouTube.

ZERO 7 - THIS WORLD.   With so many great songs on the Simple Things album from 2001, this is on the bottom half of my favorites.  But that's not necessarily a bad thing because the album is full of so many great tunes.  The Mozez vocals are great here.  It's not the quality of the Sia vocals but it's still awesome.  Appreciating it more today - the live versions are a little better even.

J. GEILS - I DO.  This live 1983 hit off the last "real" J. Geils Band album was a cover of a 1960s song by The Marvelows.  I don't know many of their other songs.  But this cover was extraordinary.  It's a break from the horn based rock-funk that was coming out of J Geils at the time.  This throwback to their influences is awesome.  I've forgotten how much I loved this in the Winter of Sophomore year in High School.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . 

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . .  Stanley Kauffmann was a very interesting film critic.  He was part of the old school reviewers that I like that have a solid background in how films are made . . . Phil Chevron was a guitarist of the very influential Irish punkers - The Pogues.  His work is not given the due it deserves. . .  Tom Foley was a long term but relatively unremarkable Speaker of the House in the early 90s.  Oddly while Speaker he failed to win reelection . . . I loved coach Bum Philips when I was younger as the head coach of the Houston Oilers.  Can you imagine a coach today wearing a cowboy hat while coaching?  Unique and quite the character. . .  I could go on about Lou Scheimer - I've seen him at least four times at Comic Con.  He told some great stories of shows of my youth.  The Filmation pedigree is amazing - He-Man, Isis, Fat Albert, Groovie Goolies, etc.  He's one of the old school guys with amazing stories that will be missed greatly . . . you don't know Ed Lauter's name but you'd recognize his face - a role in Hitchcock's FAMILY PLOT and as an astronaut in "X-Files" episode "Space" among a hundred other appearances . . . Hans Riegel was the owner of Haribo and the son of the man who invented the gummy bear . . . Vixen guitarist, Jan Keuhnemund passed away last week. . . Kumar Pallana may be most famous around here for owning the awesome Cosmic Cafe in Dallas but you know him from the Wes Anderson films - BOTTLE ROCKET (as Kumar), RUSHMORE, ROYAL TENENBAUMS and DARJEELING LIMITED . . . Cal Smith was a fun old-time Country artist singing "Country Bumpkin" and "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST XM CHANNELS

10. LITHIUM (Ch. 34)  A big dose of 90s alt rock - Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Bush, etc.  They don't go as deep into the catalog as I'd like but it's a nice flashback to the era.
9.  HOWARD 100 (Ch.100)  The King of All Media has fallen off the radar by leaving Terrestrial Radio but I find that I miss his more serious interviews with actors and music artists.
8.  WILLIE'S ROADHOUSE (Ch. 56)  It's Country the way I miss real Country.  Just the other day - Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Patsy Cline all in a row.
7.  CLASSIC VINYL (Ch. 26)  You've got the usual Classic Rock artists like Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who.  But they go a bit deeper than the FM Classic Rock channels with some T-Rex, Van Morrison deep tracks and Traffic.
6.  ON BROADWAY (Ch. 28)  Just the perfect blend of classic songs I know from movies and stage shows I love from the 50s, 60s and 70s (Oklahoma, My Fair Lady, Funny Girl, etc) and some new ones for me to learn.  Guilty pleasure.
5.  THE BLEND (Ch.16).  Elton John, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams.  This is a channel that you can go to and usually find a great sing-along song.
4.  THE LOFT (Ch. 30)  I would normally think that The Coffeehouse would be in this spot but The Loft has a much better eclectic mix.  You get Dylan, The Band, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Norah Jones.
3. 80S ON 8 (Ch. 8)  You'll have to fight through some crappy pop hits but for the most part you're going to get the good stuff like Duran Duran, Hall & Oates and Pat Benatar.  It's worth it for every Taylor Dayne you sit through.
2.  BACKSPIN (Ch. 46)  Old school rap that never disappoints.  There are some deep cuts here that bring back some great memories.  Lords Of the Underground, Tribe, 2Pac and more just in one trip to work.  Tune in for the Ed Lover show.
1.  1ST WAVE (Ch. 33)  I would pay for the service just to get this channel.  It's the best songs of the early 80s.  They've yet to play a song I don't know and yet to play a song I don't like.  There are shows hosted by Richard Blade and the Swedish Egil.  Dark Wave on Sunday nights is worth taking a ride in the car - Bauhaus, Joy Division and The Cure.

Been living with XM Radio for a couple weeks including a road trip to Austin.  There are still a few channels I need to sample more - Grateful Dead Radio, Pearl Jam Radio, Sirius XMU and all the Talk channels.  The worst so far?  Other than the Christian channels I don't imagine listening to - HAIR NATION is one that will tire you out in a minute - Kix, Ratt, Skid Row, etc.  and FACTION is supposed to be this station with a mix of X-Games related artists that should be good with multiple genres but just doesn't deliver the right mix of Sublime, Green Day and 2Pac.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . I love docs and writers - SALINGER combines my loves with a bunch of interviews from people who know the elusive author . . . MOVIE 43 intrigued me from the trailers and then got compared to KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE, so I'm on board to check it out . . . AIN'T IN IT FOR MY HEALTH: LEVON HELM was a key member of The Band and this doc covers his breakdowns and troubles after the breakup of the band. . . 

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#5   The Birds (pretty high for this Hitchcock flick but still awesome)
#634  Commando
#1292   Blade

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -   I'll spend the rest of the year updating some of the smaller projects I don't get to much.  The CASTLE project.  I caught up just before last season started.  I've been caught up and a vocal person against many of the formulaic episodes last season.  This season has started with some better plots.   I didn't like Becket being in DC but (spoiler alert) - that's been taken care of.  I've even considered reading the tie-in books.  All that being said - the concept of the outsider working with the police department to solve crimes is currently being done much better by ELEMENTARY.  For the first time, I'm watching ELEMENTARY before I watch that week's CASTLE.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#23     U2 - Unforgettable Fire (1984)

I feel like this 1984 is a largely forgotten album for these Irish boys.  Bringing on Eno as a producer was a great move because it moved them away from being the next big Rock group into being something completely new.  He added a touch that he brought to the Talking Heads - this album really pushed their boundaries.  This is a group that had a style and depth that wasn't happening in 1984.  I was in love with this album from the very first listen.  The subtle beauty of "A Sort of Homecoming" showed that this band had found a soul in the last couple years since "War".  "Pride" is the anthem of the album but "The Unforgettable Fire"  is probably one of my Top Three U2 songs.  This album has remained one of the few albums that demands a listen from beginning to end.  There are ten songs and not a weak moment in the bunch.

A Sort of Homecoming

The Unforgettable Fire

4th Of July

Previous Rankings

#24 - Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

#25 - Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (1968)

#26 - Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)

#27 - Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)

#28 - The Clash - London Calling (1979)

#29 - Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY
CASTLE (ABC)  Finding it's way into my heart again.  This week has a Doctor Who-like character saying he's a time traveller  back to change history.  

INDEPENDENT LENS: THE WAITING ROOM (PBS)  Doc on the crazy ER room in Oakland where the wait time can be as long as 14 hours.  With Oakland-type injuries too!!!

TUESDAY
AMERICAN DAREDEVIL (HIST)  Spanky Spangler is a stuntman and this doc series follows him training his son to take over for him.  Great name, Spanky.

RAVENSWOOD (ABC FAM)  Dee is a huge fan of PLL but she's even a little skeptical of this spinoff.  It seems to be aimed a little more at the "horror" angle of shows like "Grimm", "Sleepy Hollow" and "Once Upon a Time".  You can tell that they want to aim at "fans of Buffy" too.

WEDNESDAY
ARROW (CW)  Planning on catching up with this current season today.  I rewatched a couple episodes from last season and I'm ready to get onboard with this new season - I found last year that it plays well at 2-3 episodes at a time.

CSI (CBS)  I haven't watched in a few years but Marg Helgenberg returns for the 300th episode.  I never would have guessed in those early seasons that it would  last this long.  It's pretty formulaic but it manages to hook audiences in still - I grew tired of the similar mysteries (looking at you "Castle") but I do see the appeal in general.

THURSDAY
THE HOUSE OF WAX / THE MAD MAGICIAN (TCM)  Two classic Vincent Price horror films to get you in the mood for the holiday.

THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW (NBC)  I like Michael and I like Betsy Brandt from "Breaking Bad" but I watched a few moments of this last week and it's not anything I'd like to watch on a regular basis.

FRIDAY
THE CARRIE DIARIES (CW)  This show is still on?  And the new season is premiering?  I probably should go back and review my initial comments - I might have to eat a shoe or something.

A BUCKET OF BLOOD (TCM)  One of Roger Corman's best combinations of horror and comedy.  Dick Miller is brilliantly cast as the sculptor - I won't give away anything else if you haven't see it before.

SATURDAY
BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (TCM)  I make a point to watch this 1935 sequel at least once a year - usually on my disc but I'd watch it here on TCM equally well too.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS (PBS)  Vampire Weekend and Grizzly Bear perform.

SUNDAY
AMERICAN BLACKOUT (NAT GEO)  This is a show about the real "Revolution".  What if there was a real blackout across the States.  The show combines real life footage from Hurricane Sandy and computer generated effects.  If this was History Channel it would be cheesy, but somehow on Nat Geo it turns out very cool.


WORLD SERIES GAME 4 (FOX)  Or as I am calling it - Anybody But The Cardinals . . . 

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  Shasta beverages just don't taste as good as you remember but the ads . . . well, they haven't aged that well either . . . 

This Bank of America commercial seems to take a cue from the beginning of UP! but it's just a fun collection of family portraits and it gets to me . . .

Another Bank of America because Benny is a huge fun doggy . . . 

"If I could you know I would

If I could, I would let it go, this desperation, dislocation

Separation, condemnation, revelation

In temptation, isolation, desolation."  - U2

Wide awake, I'm not sleeping.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (10/6/13)

This Sunday Morning writing finds me in Austin to visit the Geise family on vacation for Austin City Limits.  Just down for less than 24hrs but finished this before I left town and finished up in the morning.  It was a semi-crazy week.  Baseball for Caleb on Saturday.  Christian's team lost their Friday night game without him playing to go to 2-3 on the season.  This morning brings a post-night of drinking and it brings some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

CIARA - GOODIES.  It was 2004 and Crunk was all the rage.  This little song seemed like it was pretty popular.  I wasn't a huge fan when it was actually out but it's kind of a nice throwback now.  Lil Jon did a great production on this tune and it seems kinda quaint that she's singing about her virginity.  This is the T.I. remix version that probably plays better in a club than the original.

LOU DONALDSON - EVERYTHING I DO GONNA BE FUNKY (FROM NOW ON).  This is a bit of Hammond Organ funky goodness from Blue Note records.  From the 1970 album - "Everything I Play Is Funky" - enough to get me to buy the album.  And he was right.  It's funky sax all over your speakers.  This album also breaks down a funky version of "Over The Rainbow".

TALKING HEADS - THIS MUST BE THE PLACE (NAIVE MELODY)  Didn't I just do the Best Talking Heads list?  Since I listened to all the Talking Heads songs that day - it seems like iTunes is making an effort to keep more TH in my life.  That's not a complaint.  The naive point of the song is debatable.  Some say it has to do with the music - others say it's the simple view of love.  I still claim that the simplicity of the lyrics are meant to convey the complex confusion of love.  I can't get enough of this tune.  Replay.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . a trailer for an interesting doc that I've been waiting to come around here.  BLACKFISH is about the controversy of have Killer Whales in captivity.  Covering the trainer that was killed by one . . . 

And the other documentary on my radar is this one WE STEAL SECRETS about the WikiLeaks incident and other secret leaks from the government . . .

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . .  L.C. Greenwood was a key member of the Steelers of the 70s.  He was a sack machine before they had the stat.  And he had the iconic gold shoes.  The man played his best games in each of the Steelers four Super Bowl victories in the 70s. . . . Gates Brown was an awesome left fielder for the Tigers in the late 60s and early 70s.  Always one of my favorites - he continued on as hitting coach through the 1984 World Series team . . . Oscar Castro-Neves was a key early member of the Bossa Nova movement, touring with Stan Getz among others. . . Tom Clancy wrote a bunch of novels that I talked about reading but never got around to.  I'm a huge fan of "Hunt For Red October" and I'm sure the book is even better.  Figure I'd like to go through that and "Patriot Games" and "Clear and Present Danger" at the very least . . .

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST MONTY PYTHON SKETCHES OF ALL-TIME

10.  THE OLYMPIC HIDE AND SEEK FINALS.   Terry Jones loved this skit so much that it was on his Best Of picks on PBS.

9.  BUYING A BED.  Newly married couple trying to buy a mattress in a shop filled with the oddest salesmen in England.

8.  BRUCES. The hilarious Australian philosophy professors all named Bruce.  They love beer and call each other poofters.  The Drinking Song was not added until the live shows and movies.

7. ARGUMENT CLINIC.  People think of Monty Python as being such a physical comedy troupe.  But here is the ultimate in word play.  It's brilliant and should be read as well as heard.

6.  THE MINISTRY OF SILLY WALKS.  The skit that I most associate John Cleese with is one that he's not a big fan of.  Oft imitated never duplicated.

5.  NUDGE NUDGE WINK WINK.  Say no more.

4.  THE FUNNIEST JOKE IN THE WORLD.  A few moments ago I thought this was going to be my #1 pick. It's the one that I've gone to in moments of need of a laugh.  I always loved their doc style in the films but this one was so spot on as almost be believable.  

3.  SPAM.  The weirdest thing that still makes me laugh is the random Vikings sitting in the diner too.

2.  DEAD PARROT.  I heard this on album before seeing the TV sketch.  It works so well when you don't see it.  You hear the wordplay.  And then it's even better visually.  Polly is not just tired and shagged out after a long squawk.

1.  THE UPPERCLASS TWIT OF THE YEAR.  This Olympic short film is my favorite by far because it includes physical humor, word humor and parody of the highest degree.  It might not be one of their most brilliant but it's my favorite and I'm sticking with that for today. "And Oliver has run himself over."  

For the purpose of this list - I've only considered the skits from the TV show.  I worry that the quality of the films would overwhelm the great skits that are often forgotten from the show.  Sure, there would be Biggus Dickus and the Stoning and Fishy Fish.  The worst of the TV sketches?  There are some terrible ones - especially the first season but most of them pass quickly.  The popular ones that I'm not a fan of?  The Cannibalism/Undertaker one is not so funny.  And the Fish Slapping Dance is one that everyone lists - sometimes as their most favorite.  But it gets a meh reaction from me every time.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . TENT CITY, USA is a fascinating doc about the homeless in Nashville . . . KATHLEEN MADIGAN:  MADIGAN AGAIN is a pretty funny lady - put this on in the background and you'll find a laugh or two . . . A PLACE AT THE TABLE is another doc about people who aren't having good days - this is about families and folks who aren't sure where their next meal is coming from . . .

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#391 - Anchorman
#532 - Kick-Ass
#846 - 50/50

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -   The HUNGER GAMES project.  As we approach CATCHING FIRE movie release - I picked up MOCKINGJAY again.  I"m over half way and losing momentum.  Probably my own fault - I should read faster.  But I'm worried now that Movie #4 in the series may be a bit of a letdown.  I'll finish the book before Movie #2 and we'll see where we're at.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#24 - Radiohead - Kid A (2000)

In 1997 with the release of "OK Computer" I was a mediocre Radiohead fan.  I thought they had some talent, that most of their songs were good but something was missing for me.  And then three years later I was caught completely off guard.  I'm not even sure what it is about this album.  It's the perfect combination of an Electronic album and a more traditional Rock album.  For 2000 and most of 2001, this was the album that played on my computer night after night.  It's an album that I don't revisit nearly enough.  It's been 13 years now and I can live those days with just the start of "Everything In It's Right Place".  These 10 songs are still the best set of Radiohead songs as a group that they've released.  I believe that this is an album that kids 20 years from now will discover again.  I'm going to add these songs to my jukebox rotation immediately.

Everything In It's Right Place

How To Disappear Completely

Optimistic

Previous Rankings

#25 - Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul (1968)

#26 - Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (1975)

#27 - Paul Simon - Graceland (1986)

#28 - The Clash - London Calling (1979)

#29 - Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY
CASTLE (ABC)  The first two episodes were interesting.  I'm not sure I like the relocation to DC.  I miss my NY family too much.  That's what made the show for me.  But the story was pretty good.  This week returns to the single episode parody - this time of a "Saved By The Bell" type of show.

DREAM SCHOOL (SUND)  I can't make this up . . . 50 Cent and Jamie Oliver team up to create the ideal school for 15 kids from LA.  This six parter examines the troubled kids journey with teachers - Suze Orman, Oliver Stone and Jesse Jackson.

TUESDAY
THE BIGGEST LOSER (NBC)  The new "Second Chances" season starts with an hour long episode - you know I feel like it's the best length for this show.  Anxious to see Ruben Studdard from "American Idol".

THE MINDY PROJECT (FOX)  Mindy is going through some new boyfriends - this first one is Glenn Howerton from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia".

WEDNESDAY
ARCHER (CW)  I'm reluctant to seriously call myself a fan of this show - but I did watch the 1st season recap last week.  For 60 minutes.  The 2nd season starts tonight with my crush, Summer Glau.

THE TOMORROW PEOPLE (CW)  I'm not sure that this remake of a classic sci-fi show will do much for people.  It has a good lead in but cute, trouble teens who are part of a telekinetic race might be . . . oh heck, it's CW, that's exactly what succeeds here.

THURSDAY
ONCE UPON A TIME IN WONDERLAND (ABC)  This spinoff is really pushing the limits to play with the Big Boys on Thursday nights.  Sophie Lowe is cute but I don't see this show having a chance.

PARKS AND RECREATION (NBC)  It's another week in Pawnee and more Kristen Bell as the anti-Leslie.  You don't see me complaining.

FRIDAY
PHOTOGRAPHERS: THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD (NATGEO)  The magazine that knows a thing or two about photography has a party for their 125th anniversary.  You know that "Afghan Girl" photo will be talked about.

HAWAII FIVE-O (CBS)  A "Lost" reunion of sorts as Jorge Garcia guests with fellow regular "Lost" character - Daniel Dae Kim.  Still think this show won't make it past New Years.

SATURDAY
DEBBIE MACOMBER'S CEDAR COVE (HALLMARK)  You can complain about Wal-Mart but Hallmark is airing a new Christmas episode of this show before Halloween.

AL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 1 (FOX)  What are the chances we are still watching the Tigers?

SUNDAY
BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)  The addition of Patricia Arquette this season had me scratching my head.  But what I've seen of the Tampa bar owner works for me.  I was ruined on her by "Medium" - she's recovering her reputation with me.

THE WALKING DEAD (AMC)  And all is right again on Sunday night.  We have "Boardwalk" and "Dead" until they give way for "Game".  Gotta review end of last season in the next few days to be ready.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  I love that MetLife still uses Peanuts characters.  And "everything can't be 5 cents." . . . 

And pissed off Snoopy is hilarious here - look at his face . . . 

In 1994 - Met Life ads looked like this with stressed out Snoopy . . . 

"In a little while 
I'll be gone 
The moment's already passed 
Yeah it's gone 
And I'm not here"  - Radiohead

 This isn't happening.  Stay hard.

sb