Sunday, October 6, 2013

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

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