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Monday, February 13, 2012

TV A One-Paragraph Recap of the Grammys

Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 12:09 AM

Perfect for that barely-paying-attention music fan on the go.

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Friday, February 10, 2012

2012 / TV Required Viewing: Alternate Version of Clint Eastwood's Halftime-in-America Commercial

Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 at 2:31 PM

It's required because hahahahahahahahahahaha.

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

TV / Celeb / Film / LGBTQITSLFA The Glorious Legacy of Venus Xtravaganza

Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 10:45 AM

One of the most rewarding parts of the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race—along with Jiggly Caliente, Sharon Needles, and the lightly bearded pit crew member—is witnessing the extended influence of Venus Xtravaganza, one of the many fascinating subjects of Paris Is Burning, Jennie Livingston's 1990 documentary about the New York drag ball scene and the people who make it fabulous. The film is packed with amazing people, but Venus is one of the ones that sticks with you, not just for her stunning vulnerability and beauty, but for the tragic containment of her story within the film. (Spoiler alert: Near the end of Paris Is Burning, Venus' house mother Angie Xtravaganza tells of the heartbreaking murder of Venus Xtravaganza.)

So what a joy it is to see sparks of Venus flying out of the mouths of so many of RuPaul's 21st-century drag racers. Here's Venus delivering the 20-second riff that will supply drag queens with catchphrases for eternity.

(Also, have you seen Paris Is Burning lately? If you haven't seen it in over ten years, watch it immediately and be clobbered by its amazements. It may as well be the best documentary ever made (after Hoop Dreams), and it's available now on Netflix Streaming.)

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Thursday, February 2, 2012

Comedy / TV Are Your Pants Too Dry?

Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 10:58 AM

Then I suggest reading this week's I Love Television by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey:

Though one might think my sole talent is monkey and poop jokes, I'll have you know I'm actually extremely talented in one other area: ACTING!! Before I became America's most unbeloved TV columnist, I was a practitioner of the THE-UH-TAH. (That's "theater" for those who don't speak "annoying.") What roles did I play? WELL! Ever heard of a little play called Hamlet? Me neither. Sounds dumb and boring. HOWEVER! I have auditioned for many of the great community THE-UH-TAHS and once came very close to scoring the role of Eva Perón in the Dubuque Little Theater production of Evita. Ahhh... I remember the audition like it was yesterday... (INSERT WAVY "DREAM" LINES HERE).

Follow the wavy dream lines here.

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Monday, January 30, 2012

TV Charisma! Uniqueness! Nerve! Talent!

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 8:59 PM

This is your RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4 Season Premiere open thread, ladies!

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TV / Video of the Day Lunchtime Quickie: "Would You Drink That For $50,000?"

Posted by Kelly O on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 12:02 PM

New Fear Factor episode may be cancelled. Here's the video. Is NBC overreacting?

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TV TONIGHT!

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 11:28 AM

I am so damn excited.

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Friday, January 27, 2012

TV Friday Afternoon Quicky

Posted by Cienna Madrid on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 4:51 PM

If you've seen the Sherlock Holmes series on BBC (and you should because it's created by Steven Moffat, which is code for excellent), then you'll enjoy this music video, which perfectly syncs up shots from Sherlock with a SNL perennial favorite. And if you haven't seen the series, watch anyway. Seriously, this editing job is magical.

NSFAnywhere at top volume:

In other news, it's total bullshit that I have to wait until 2013 to see the follow-up to The Reichenbach Fall.

Thanks for making my day, Slog tipper Renee!

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

TV / Books Colbert + Sendak = Awesome

Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 11:14 AM

SO GOOD.

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

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Thursday, January 19, 2012

TV / Fashion Another SCCC Fashion Alum Success Story

Posted by Jen Graves on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 3:42 PM

Perhaps you were planning to go to see that controversial Lebanese performer tonight, or to hear the Seattle Symphony play, but snow is murder and you cannot do it. Therefore: Tee Vee!

Worn Out columnist Marti Jonjak has a tip for y'all. The Lifetime channel's Project Runway All-Stars (it started January 6 and runs through March 22 on Thursday nights)—a reality show featuring notorious past contestants from PR—includes as a judge one Ken Downing.

Downing is a graduate of what Jonjak describes as "the freakishly rigorous Apparel Design program at SCCC" (as is Jonjak). He's senior vice president and fashion director for Neiman Marcus. In an interview with Christie's this past fall, he admitted, "Right now I'm having a love affair with owls." Oh, you should definitely read it.

Downing was a guest judge on the premiere episode and he'll return for the final episode March 22.

Watch until then and guess who the winner will be! It shall not be Sweet P, who feels that she was "cheated."

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TV / Media Product Placement Takes It to the Next Level

Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 12:53 PM

As Mike Hale writes at NYT's Arts Beat.

Monday’s episode of “Hawaii Five-0″ on CBS, was particularly egregious—the most jarring, disruptive and insulting example [of product placement] I’ve seen. For nearly a minute, the unfortunate actors (Alex O’Loughlin, Grace Park and the former sumo wrestler Taylor Wily) stepped completely out of the story in order to plug Subway sandwiches, as the food-truck vendor Kamekona (Mr. Wily) is found eating five subs as part of his new diet. “Trying to eat smarter, brother,” he says. “These Subways sandwiches? So ono” (Hawaiian slang for “delicious,” though it’s also the name of a fish popular in island restaurants and presumably more healthy than a Subway sandwich). The spot — it’s a 50-second commercial, pure and simple — also works in references to the Subway pitchman Jared and several specific menu items.

See video of the incident here.

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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

TV / Religion / Theater Finding Jesus: The Reality Show

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 11:20 AM

Carl Anderson: Best. Judas. Ever.

I have to admit, this is kind of a genius idea for a reality show:

After collaborating with the BBC on four talent search shows, stage impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber is teaming with ITV for Superstar. The reality musical show’s winner will be crowned with the title role in an arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar later this year. Auditions are to take place in February and March in London, Dublin, Belfast, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff. A judging panel will select candidates who will then be mentored before the final live shows. The entire series is to air on ITV1 this summer, although the number of episodes has yet to be determined. The public will vote on the outcome. Lloyd Webber will act as a judge with 3 other names to be announced soon. A show host announcement is also pending. The casting of Mary and Judas for the rock opera’s tour will not be part of the ITV Studios-produced TV show.

I would totally watch that show. Hopefully, they'll stick something controversial in there—Gay Jesus vs. Muslim Jesus! The mind boggles!—to get the evangelicals all up in a tizzy.

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

TV Life Needs More Inappropriate "Wooooooo!"s

Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 11:31 AM

Nobody has ever done inappropriate "Wooooooo!"s like the live studio audience for Saved by the Bell did inappropriate "Wooooooo!"s. (I wonder if that studio audience is still around? I'd love to hire them for our editorial meetings.) WOOOOOOOOOO!!

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Monday, January 16, 2012

History / TV I Have a Joke

Posted by David Schmader on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 10:46 AM

Here's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on a 1968 broadcast of either Mike Douglas' show or The Tonight Show (there's some disagreement). Either way, delightful and fascinating to see.

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Comedy / TV / Film A Somewhat Kinder, Somewhat Gentler, Still Hilarious Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes

Posted by David Schmader on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 10:15 AM

Here's his opening monologue, the best bit of which involves the lack of men who have seen Jodie Foster's Beaver. "This doesn't mean it's not good!" says Gervais. Foster approves. Enjoy!

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Sunday, January 15, 2012

TV / Film Feeding the Trolls at the Golden Globes

Posted by David Schmader on Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 1:44 PM

So tonight brings the TV broadcast of the Golden Globes, hosted by Ricky Gervais, whose hosting of the ceremony last year involved such prolonged and merciless mockery of Hollywood and its players it seemed certain he'd never be invited back.

But he was! And this year's Golden Globes is running with a "Uh oh! What's gonna come out of Ricky Gervais' mouth this year??" theme. Clearly, Gervais' truly biting comedy of last year (and the media hubbub that followed) was the most interesting thing ever to happen at the Golden Globes, with the benefits of the controversy outweighing the hurt feelings of megastars, and the Globes want more of that sweet Gervais poison. Which is great—I'm sure Ricky Gervais will be shockingly hilarious as always. (I love him, especially his outspoken atheism.) But NBC's cutesy handling of "the dangerous Gervais!" carries of whiff of both back-patting and troll-feeding.

But so what? Ricky Gervais being paid to mock everything America holds dear on prime-time television equals hurrah. Also, the Golden Globes have that interesting split between dramatic films and comedy/musical films, with each category calling for the traditional five-plus nominees, which enables enjoyable things like 50/50 and Bridesmaids being nominated for Best Picture (Comedy or Musical) and necessitates dumb things like Jodie Foster and Kate Winslet being nominated for Best Actress (Comedy or Musical) for their work in the godawful Carnage.

Shit goes down tonight at 5pm on NBC (with all the good bits popping up on YouTube soon after).

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Friday, January 13, 2012

Comedy / TV The Problem with Portlandia

Posted by David Schmader on Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 1:22 PM

Portlandia! It's the hit IFC comedy that I'm happy exists if only for inspiring The New Yorker to write this wonderful profile of Carrie Brownstein. But as the New York Times points out, Portlandia is a comedy that has a problem with funniness.

The problem isn't a complete lack of funniness—there are bits of Portlandia that are so funny they almost make me pee via recall, including but not limited to Carrie's line about "eco-chairs and eco-ways to sit," Carrie riding a bike and crowing "I made a homemade quesadilla!", and Carrie-as-the-feminist-bookstore-owner hitting on Heather Graham by bragging about her indigenous pantsuit.

But between these great bits are long stretches of the rest of Portlandia, which leave me wanting. So I put it to you.

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

TV / Film Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory Premiers on HBO Tonight

Posted by Megan Seling on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 8:45 AM

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, the third installment of HBO's documentary series which profiles the infamous West Memphis 3 case, was supposed to premier back in the fall, but not long after the documentary was finished, the West Memphis 3 were released from prison. That day was one of my favorite days of 2011. The documentary has since been reworked to include the latest developments and it will be premiering on HBO tonight at 9 pm. I can't wait to watch it.

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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Comedy / History / TV "Funny or Die Spring Lineup 1986"

Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 11:29 AM

"FOD is kicking off 2012 by bringing back your favorite shows from our 1986 spring lineup," crows comedy website Funny or Die, which quickly earns both halves of its name.

Funny!

Die.

See the whole 1986 spring lineup here.

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Sports / TV More Wisdom From NHL's Ilya Bryzgalov

Posted by Megan Seling on Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 3:43 PM

I ended today's Morning News post with a clip from the first episode of this season's 24/7: The Road To The NHL Winter Classic, where goalie Ilya Bryzgalov explained why he's fascinated with the universe. Last week's episode brought more quotable moments from Bryz, which I meant to post on Slog at the time, but then I was distracted by all the shiny things on the Christmas tree. Anyway, apparently Bryzgalov thinks his husky dog is "basically a hot girl."

What will Bryzgalov say next? Find out tonight on episode 3 of 24/7: Flyers and Rangers: The Road To The NHL Winter Classic

I fucking love this series.

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2012 / TV Romney Wants Advertising on Sesame Street

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 1:23 PM

"We're not going to kill Big Bird, but Big Bird's going to have advertisements," Mitt Romney said at a campaign stop earlier today:

I'm sure that in Mitt Romney's America, toy and junk food companies wouldn't be restricted from advertising to children, either. That would make Sesame Street into a harrowing experience for lots of parents, since it's one of the few kids' entertainments that doesn't leave the children howling for a Happy Meal.

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Horrors / TV It's a Cop Rock Christmas!

Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Dec 28, 2011 at 10:41 AM

Shopping for this year's Christmas presents, I decided to buy local, and got Jake a collection of T-shirts from all his favorite Seattle bars and breweries (including Loretta's Northwesterner, Queen Anne's Streamline Tavern, and various beer-logo shirts from Georgetown Brewery.)

But for my present, Jake headed straight to the black market, and tracked down something I've wanted forever: the first and only season of 1990's Cop Rock, Steven Bochco's legendarily awful cop drama with musical numbers, handily burned onto three DVDs. (Bonus: Some episodes feature actual commercials from 1990, along with news teasers promising updates on the the war in the Gulf. History!)

But the main thing are the musical numbers, which are more terrible than you can imagine, and feature lots of good listening faces from the people who aren't singing. Here's a representatively insightful number about the scourge of child trafficking.

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

TV / Tech Here Comes an Apple TV?

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 3:58 PM

The Verge says:

Rumors of an Apple television have resurfaced with supply chain sources telling DigiTimes that they're starting to prepare components for 32- and 37-inch "iTV" sets launching in Q2 or Q3 of 2012. According to the Taiwanese publication, suppliers will begin preparing materials in Q1 to prepare for the mid-year production ramp up.

Back before the iPad came out, all the tech blogs were buzzing for months about Apple's rumored slate device. This Apple TV (or iTV) talk reminds me of all that chatter: A lot of it sounds fanciful and weird, but there's probably at least a kernel of truth somewhere in there. You might want to start saving up your pennies now, because I bet that by the end of 2012, we'll at least have a very good idea of how Apple is going to re-imagine the television experience.

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Comedy / Music / TV Tim Minchin's Woody Allen Jesus: Too Blasphemous for British TV

Posted by Jen Graves on Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 2:35 PM

Tim Minchin was supposed to perform a new song he calls "Woody Allen Jesus" on Jonathan Ross's TV program tonight. Even though the producers and directors had read the lyrics, and even after the taping, a network exec cut the segment. Minchin blogged:

On Tuesday night last week, we taped the show. I met Tom [Cruise] (he’s nice and quite laid-back off camera, and not very short) and the divine Downton ladies (swoon) and the lovely Inbetweeners chaps (yay) and I did my song and everyone laughed and Tom said it was great and when it was done I ran off set onto the back of a waiting motorbike, got from South Bank to the Hammersmith Apollo in 13 minutes, walked into the building, straight on to stage to sing White Wine in the Sun with Professor Brian Cox. Rock n roll.

Subsequently, Suzi and her team edited the show and everybody was happy. ...

And then someone got nervous and sent the tape to ITV’s director of television, Peter Fincham.

And Peter Fincham demanded that I be cut from the show.

He did this because he’s scared of the ranty, shit-stirring, right-wing press, and of the small minority of Brits who believe they have a right to go through life protected from anything that challenges them in any way.

Yesterday I wrote a big rant about comedy and risk and conservatism; about the fact that my joke has no victim; about sacredness (oh God, not again!) and about the importance of laughing at dumb but pervasive ideas. But I trashed it because it’s boring and takes it all too seriously. It’s hardly the end of the world.

But I have to admit I’m really fucking disappointed. ...

Anywaaaaaaaaaay… the fun news is that I already had the footage of the song when they cut it. Yay. And so you can decide for yourself how offensive it is! Yippee.

Thanks for the tip, Gale!

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TV The Eternal (and Eternally Bizarre) Brilliance of Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special

Posted by David Schmader on Fri, Dec 23, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Here's a minute and 47 seconds that prove my subject line.

I cannot wait for the day when Paul Reubens, S. Epatha Merkerson, Grace Jones, and Van Dyke Parks (who composed the music) collaborate again.

Also, this aired during Christmas 1988, a few weeks after George Bush was elected president but a few weeks before he was sworn in.

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

TV Syllable for Syllable, Jenna Maroney Is the Funniest Person on TV

Posted by David Schmader on Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 4:00 PM

It's not as concise as that time Conrad Bain slapped her in a men's room, but here's Jenna working at her new judging gig, from the forthcoming season of 30 Rock.

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TV American Horror Story Chitty-Chat Club: Season Finale!

Posted by Wm.™ Steven Humphrey on Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 12:23 PM

OMG, you guys! American Horror Story is SO INSANE! And last night's season finale was the "insane-iest"! Hit the jump for my thoughts on this episode, and be sure to add your comments to the... ummm... you know, "comments." LET'S DO THIS!

This adorable stocking cap conveniently hides my 666 birthmark.

via FX
"This adorable stocking cap conveniently hides my "666" birthmark."

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TV / International X-Factor Pakistan

Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 11:12 AM

As Slog tipper Paul says, "Makes the Jackass guys look like preening debutantes."

Some of those are old tricks—florescent bulbs are dramatic but relatively mild, as are the brittle blocks—asbestos?—you break over people's bodies. (Though I worry a little about the stuntmen's long-term respiratory health.) And the bed o' nails is an old one. I also find it odd to see so little blood until the after-shots, which sets my Barnum radar a-buzzin'. But still—impressive showmanship! I've never seen the ride-a-motorcycle-over-the-head trick before. And that fall through the electrified lightbulbs is spectacular.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

2012 / TV Aww, He Thinks He's People

Posted by Paul Constant on Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 12:29 PM

Mitt Romney read the Top Ten List on The Late Show with David Letterman last night. It proved to be a reminder that traits like "humor," "warmth," and "self-awareness" are not Mitt Romney's strengths:

Seriously, what's wrong with this guy? It was a pre-taped segment, so unless the producers were out to make him look as robotic as possible—always a possibility with Letterman, to be sure—we have to assume that these are the best takes Romney could give. I've seen livelier urinal pucks.

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