They shop at H&M too!
Well, at least Jeana and her daughter Kara do. At the mall! Just like you and me!
Oh, this is cute.
Don’t be shy, Jeana. This is where Kara shops when she pays for her own clothes. And she lives in LA now, so she knows what’s what. Plus, SALE!
Filed under Century 21 Reality, Local Flavor, Masochism
But it’s still good.
Twitter is all abuzz with Retweets about a new Muppet video uploaded to YouTube today in which our favorites perform their very own version of Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” music video!
Pretty amusing, but how cool would it have been if it featured Kermit and Fozzie in the Mirth Mobile, head banging and lip syncing along, Fozzie in the Dana Carvey/Garth role behind the wheel and not knowing the words. Oh, well, I guess it would have looked like this, but with “Bohemian Rhapsody.” And maybe Animal going crazy in the backseat.
Got to admit it though, the Muppets sure look good in 1080p.
Filed under Crucial Taunt, Muppets, Virulent
Last week the Regis Philbin runaway train barreled through Meryl Streep, nearly sending her into cardiac arrest when Reege mistakenly informed Streep that her daughter had broken her leg (Just a little error reading the cue card. NBD. She’s only the daughter of Oscar Royalty. Relaaaaax).
Now Reege has once again turned the knife onto himself, as he’ll undergo hip replacement surgery on December 1, followed by a four to six-week recovery and absence from Live!
And now I feel kinda bad. Like it was our constant warnings that Reege is a loose cannon and is a danger to himself and others that caused the need surgery. Can’t help but feel somewhat responsible.
Plus, it’s boring without Reege. Now I’ll have no reason to tune into the show. Unless, of course, Anderson Cooper guest hosts, because that guy goes Eddie Murphy Raw when he’s freed from the shackles of prime time cable news into the anything goes of world of syndicated morning television. No other CNN personality with evidently limited knowledge of popular culture can eviscerate the Lohan family like Anderson Cooper.
What a roll Terry Gross is on! First, last Friday she had on Judd Apatow, and today she welcomed another auteur, Mr. Wes Anderson. Now I can connect Apatow, Gross and Anderson on the 2nd Level of the Judd Apatow Chart!
Anderson joined Gross of Fresh Air to talk about his new stop-motion masterpiece Fantastic Mr. Fox (when I say masterpiece it sounds sarcastic, but it’s not intended to be. The film is truly excellent). The Texan native talks about what drew him to the Roald Dahl book, how he unknowingly based some characters on himself and his older brother, and how they turned to Bob Fosse for inspiration. Terry Gross talks about cat postcards.
Say what you want about Wes Anderson (and a lot has already been said), but he is one of the true visionary geniuses working today. He gets a lot of criticism for his obsessive devotion to the most minute details. But it’s one thing have an obsessive devotion to the most minute details, and it’s another thing to have an obsessive devotion to the most minute details and create these unbelievably vivid, unique, and charming worlds. He has begun to reuse the same tropes and devices, but they are his tropes and devices, and how many directors have created such a distinct style with such a small sample of work? Not many.
And if you still want more Anderson and details on Fox, here’s a behind the scenes featurette:
Unfortunately, Gross will not be hosting one of our favorite writer-directors tomorrow. Well, you can’t hit a home run everyday.
Filed under Judd Apatow, Marconi & Cheese, Team Zissou
Well, there was no denying that the energy level was turned up to 11 on this weekend’s Saturday Night Live, with a burst of adrenaline that was no doubt due in great part to Joseph Gordon Levitt’s raucous enthusiasm, and, perhaps, with the scathing reviews after last weekend’s January Jones episode, the cast and crew felt they had something to prove. And they came out and put on an entertaining, upbeat, cue card independent show. But was it actually any funnier?
Well, yes, it was. But was it the “best episode of the season,” the superlative that many blogs have given it, so soon after they did the same for the Taylor Swift outing? That assertion, like the Taylor Swift platitudes, is debatable. Certainly though, there was no arguing it was better, and, at the very least, not nearly as lazy. But in this case, let’s not confuse enthusiasm for a good sense of humor, or entertainment for comedy. They’re definitely related, but one does not necessarily equal the other.
Over on his EW blog Ken Tucker provided an excellent commentary that’s quite similar to my own take (so if you’re in a rush and can only read his review or ours, read his), noting that while Levitt’s frenetic monologue performance of “Make ‘Em Laugh” from Singing in the Rain was impressive (especially his two off-the wall backflips followed by a well-executed pratfall) and a crowd pleaser, it didn’t exactly make you laugh. It was almost more like a successful awards show opening number than a sharp, funny SNL monologue. That being said we’ll be lucky if all future hosts can provide as much talent and effort as “regular Joe” (However, with that kind of energy, one has to wonder if JGL was on more than just regular joe).
Filed under Analysis, Good Humor, Other people's stuff, Saturday Night Live
As we’re a bit late to the party, just some (hopefully) quick thoughts on last week’s Office entry, “Shareholder Meeting.”
The theme for this season (and probably the entire series), as we have already talked about in great detail, has been the vacillation of Michael Scott from mildly idiotic but well-meaning and somewhat competent to completely oblivious, self-absorbed and wildly unqualified, and finding that the best episodes seem to be when Michael trends towards the former. Indeed, in their review Vulture notes that, “as a general rule, the less Michael Scott is a Homer Simpson–esque boob, the better The Office becomes.” In “Shareholder Meeting,” we get a glimpse of both Michaels, and I think this episode just missed the mark, not because Michael again veered of course (although, he sorta did), but because the show shied away from the opportunity to let things get even uglier.
Read on: What could have been. Douche or consequences. The return of Ronni!
Filed under Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam, Good Humor, Must See TV
While we put together some thoughts on The Office and SNL, let’s start off the new week with an old favorite:
Filed under Nostalgia Corner
Our favorite Canadian tweeny bopper and Taylor Swift defender Justin Bieber is making headlines again. But this time it’s what he didn’t do that was the news.
A meet and greet at Long Island’s famed Roosevelt Field Mall had to be canceled after the throngs of blood thirsty tweenage girls and their mothers proved too dangerous. Clearly, the Roosevelt Field Mall and its parent company, Simon Malls, underestimated the appeal of the pint size pop star who is not afraid to push up the sleeves on his jacket or his cardigan. Let’s hope the mall is more prepared come Friday morning.
Apparently a SVP from Bieber’s label was arrested, as police “…asked for his help in getting the crowd to go away by sending out a Twitter message,” and he refused to cooperate. It’s rather alarming when Plan A for the authorities is to harness the power of Twitter.
Truly a shame, as it appears that Nancy Brcocowski drove all the way from Norway for the show. Although, if she completed the trip in three hours as she claimed, then she made incredible time, so it wasn’t a total loss.
via our dear friend Eliot
Filed under Local Flavor
Well, not really. Not unless he casts her in his next movie. But maybe this time instead of stand-up comedians he’ll focus on the textured lives public radio personalities. Anyway!
Been a long time since we talked about Judd Apatow on here (some might say too long), but Apatow was on Fresh Air with Terry Gross today, primarily to promote the DVD (and Blu-Ray!) release of Funny People (in both in Theatrical and Unrated editions! So many choices! Digital Download!). Of course he also touched on Freaks & Geeks, casting his children in his movies, his history with Adam Sandler, and the one time while waiting to meet with Lorne Michaels he was overcome with weed paranoia. A must listen for any Apatow completist. A recommended listen for anyone who’s interested in the craft of comedy. A marginally encouraged listen for anyone who likes interviews, specifically public radio interviews. A must not listen for anyone who hates fun and/or does not have internet access.
Here –> Judd Apatow on the Alchemy of Funny People
Speaking of Funny People, and what would a quick post be without some sorta unnecessary commentary, while the movie was bloated and somewhat self-involved, I think that it will benefit from the passage of time. It wasn’t the kind of movie that lends itself to being seen in the theater with a full cackling, popcorn flying in the air from spastic laughter, kind of audience. It’s probably best viewed from the couch, with microwave popcorn in hand (and all the better! Did you read the new study on the caloric content of movie theater popcorn? It’s outrageous! Still going to buy it every time) and the flexibility to pause the film for (several) bathroom breaks. It moves at a glacial pace, but there was some good acting being done there, and it’s certainly Apatow’s most personal, introspective movie. The “you know how I know you’re gay?” jokes might not hold up in twenty years, but the sentiments and humanity in Funny People might. It’s just not that funny.
And finally, an excuse for this, the best part about Funny People!
(and yes, that includes Randy. He’s a close second. Followed by Eric Bana)
Filed under Judd Apatow, Marconi & Cheese
Over at the Awards Picks Red Carpet Blog I contributed a piece comparing Inglourious Basterds and District 9, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Tarantino’s revenge fantasy is the superior film, and is more deserving of a possible Oscar nomination.
Also, why did I ever get excited about a video game like this:
Really was the slowest, most boring product in the entirety of the EA Sports catalog. The complete opposite of its hockey brother.
I want my scalps! Or at least a bloody Wayne Gretzky.
Filed under Commodore 64, The Big Screen
Jumped The Snark 