cattle prods and the i.m.f.

February 4, 2008 at 11:41 pm | In Politics | 3 Comments
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For numerous reasons, this post almost didn’t happen. The post-Super Bowl letdown actually wasn’t as large a factor as pre-Super Tuesday apprehension. I also became sidetracked when taking the initial steps towards constructing a list of my favorite Counting Crows songs, following the band’s free concert in Tempe on Saturday night. Yet I promised a post, and a post I shall make – even if it IS just a brief look at a few of the many strange roads people take to this blog. I’ve also added a page for anonymous e-mails if someone has information that my cursory research did not yield (or just doesn’t want to comment but has something to say).

This Week Recent Weeks In Blog Traffic: Pre-Super Tuesday Edition

Don’t I Wish It Was True

John Edwards Kenneth 30 rock” and “Mandy Moore” “John Edwards”: It is mildly surprising how many of my celebrity-plus-political-figure hits have involved the former North Carolina Senator. I suppose that he’s the least-blogged about of the top three Democrats this year, but even so, it’s interesting to see the sort of celebrities people want to back him.
steve earle, mandy moore: This wasn’t just an isolated event, but a search that appeared several times (in varying syntactical constructions). I’m hoping that its frequency makes it true, because were it to happen, it would be pretty effing awesome. Earle could stand to do more duets (“Poison Lovers” and “Promise You Anything” are among my favorite of his songs, and — …damn it, now I have another list to do), and Moore’s serious music career would probably gain a few more fans (and also get the all-important seal of hearty approval from this blog).

What Is…

amber tamblyn democratic 2008: With all of the hits I get, some of the ones about actresses’ political affiliations end up being real. According to the USA Today, Ron Howard, Quincy Jones, Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and sport legends Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King have stumped for Hillary Clinton. (And beyond a simple Jack Nicholson-y “Clinton is good” speech, Ferrera and Tamblyn are actively involved in the campaign’s youth outreach, something that seems desperately needed against Hulk Hogan-powered Obama.) I commend these individuals for defying the hip trend of Obamamania, again retract any negativity I’ve had about the media’s fondness for Ferrera, and thank Tamblyn for beginning the actualization of my ‘08 attractive endorser dream team (your move, Senator Boxer!).
30 rock quotes mitt romney:

Jack: Those jokes you wrote for my Mitt Romney fundraiser, they were top-notch.
Liz: Those weren’t jokes. That was an appeal for a return to common sense and decency.
Jack: Well, it got big laughs.

Thanks for reminding me of this, searcher!
the nightwatchman cover midnight oil and tom morello midnight oil cover: After a quick bit of searching, I’ve found that Morello covered “Beds Are Burning” at a recent concert in Australia. It’s worth noting that Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett is now part of the Australian government’s push against Japanese whaling, which helps make up for the band being defunct. Midnight Oil covers – even of the band’s big U.S. hit – are far too rare, and I would love to see Morello get this on an album (or at least an iTunes release).
don imus insults of hillaryclinton: While I disagreed with the controversy specific to “nappy-headed ho’s,” Imus was a rather vile misogynist long before Al Sharpton took offense and pushed for race-based censorship.
studio 60 on the sunset strip songs: Last week, I finally got my DVD set of the greatest television drama ever produced. I am still stunned at its failure, and was spoiled by its greatness; every drama I watch fails to live up to “Studio 60″’s lofty standards, and I remain bitter at the medium for its targeting of the lowest common denominator. I am glad that even gone, it is not entirely forgotten.

…And What Should Never Be

john fogerty barack obama and seth Macfarlane ron paul: Neither of these searches seem to reflect an actual endorsement, though Macfarlane has given to Obama.
hayden panettiere springsteen and hayden panettiere + barbara boxer: I’m all about basing conclusions on evidence, rather than seeking evidence to justify my existing beliefs. I try to determine my feelings about celebrities based on their actions, rather than hope their actions match my existing feelings (and as noted in my last post, I don’t make arbitrary choices too often). Yet it seems that whenever I see Panettiere, she’s either displaying how little dignity she has in her pursuit of fame, or she’s demonstrating how little acting ability she has (on “Heroes”).
While a Boxer endorsement, on paper, would make me like any celebrity, this one would be too at odds with other evidence and create too much cognitive dissonance. I fear that such an event would end up threatening my own fondness for California’s Junior Senator, or force me to become a fan of publicity whorishness. It is incredibly unlikely that I would instead accept that the human condition allows both good and bad traits to co-exist within the same person, and that no one is perfect nor is anyone without any redeeming qualities. That’s just crazy talk.

‘07 spaces: i looked at my choices, and i made a choice

December 26, 2007 at 1:20 am | In Space Awards, TV | Leave a Comment
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2007 Space Awards ~ People of The Year: Part V

5. Al Gore: This series of blogs has mentioned the importance of having a sense of humor about oneself, and the Nobel Prize winner who could have been president certainly lived up to that standard. As well as his self-parodying appearance on “30 Rock,” Gore made a hilarious Oscar speech where his “big announcement” was stopped as the orchestra played him off. Sadly, he still appears to be the Best Candidate Not Running for President.
4. Senator Barbara Boxer: The junior senator from California has long been a favorite of mine, and this year’s scolding of Senator James Inhofe means she stays very much in my favor. And, at the risk of being creepier than usual, that sort of thing makes her the Best Feisty Sexagenarian (“More like Barbara Foxer!”) on the list.
3. Tom Morello: Where this list cites music artists, it’s not just about the quality of an album – something that will comprise my next and final list for the year – but about the quality of the idea behind the music. Former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Morello had the most distinct creative genius when he created The Nightwatchman, an acoustic-rocking alter ego that explored the same sort of lyrical themes (with the same extreme outlook) as his old band, but with a much quieter musical feel. It seemed like the Best Audience-Expanding Idea of the year, but the lack of album sales and commercial success sadly indicate that I am in the minority on that opinion.
2. Tina Fey: It seems like I could go on and on, but what is there to say? She’s the Best Comic Mind Working In Television right now, and “30 Rock”’s worst episodes are better than almost anything else on television.
1. Aaron Sorkin: I haven’t seen “Charlie Wilson’s War” yet, but “Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip” – and the degree to which I miss it – single-handedly puts its creator in this spot. While it was a collaborative effort – not an achievement of but one man – I found it meaningful enough that the most responsible individual defaults to being my favorite person of the year.

I believe that television has the potential to be the best visual medium for powerful, humanistic storytelling; the episodic, long-term nature affords greater opportunity for character development than film, and watching at a regular time in the comfort of one’s home gives the audience more opportunity to “connect” with a show. “Studio 60″ capitalized fully on these advantages and created a compelling, sympathetic cast of smart characters with whom one could relate, while also infusing the show with quirky humor to prevent it from becoming too serious or preachy.

While this level of character development and entertainment is seldom achieved, the subject matter elevated it to another level altogether. It was television’s Best Ideological Love Story – the individuals portrayed were a group loyally committed not just to one another, but also to something greater than any of them: the belief that television and the media may be used for good. Sadly, the ratings seemed to disagree; the public was not ready for television of this high a caliber, and I believe the medium has fallen greatly since the show’s death.

down at the epicenter things started heating up

March 23, 2007 at 3:41 pm | In Politics | Leave a Comment
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“I really let him have it. He has no business being in your audience if you didn’t want him there!” It’s quite great to see President Gore getting the credit he deserves for his long history of environmental activism. That, of course, is secondary to the mere fact that Congress is no longer in the hands of people who disbelieve science in favor of tenuous evidence manufactured to support existing policies. But really, the highlight of Wednesday’s hearings was Barbara Boxer reprimanding James Inhofe. That blessed moment marks the birth of what I’m calling “C-SPAN porn.” I have watched it at least a dozen times, and I still feel like cheering (and yes, my analogy is falling apart) at the end.
“That’s who I care about – the little kid who needs bootlegs, because his parent or guardian won’t let him see the excessive violence and strong sexual content you and I take for granted.” I’ve never been in Physicality Scouting for the money or the fame, but I wonder how much longer this big little project will last. Unless things change between now and the end of the season, a much clearer hierarchy has emerged among the elites – there’s almost twice as much of a gap from first to tenth as before. This clarity makes future work of questionable value. On the other hand, watching TV would become a much more passive activity without the Endeavour, so perhaps a better solution is simply scaling back or shortening seasons to reduce “scouting fatigue.”
“It’s too stupid to confess. Look at what I’m confessing to.” Slowly, I’m joining those who are discontent with the offerings of today’s television schedule. Since the presumed death of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, no new shows have emerged as favorites. The Black Donnellys, Raines, and Andy Barker, P.I. fail to really capture my interest in a way beyond “well, I’ll watch something to relax.” American Idol has ceased to have contestants with unique personalities and styles, Battlestar Galactica has plummeted in quality since the start of the season, and classic Law & Order is really just going through the motions these days. Worst of all, of course, is that The Pussycat Dolls’ show is the apparent death blow for favorite-that-must-not-be-named-lest-I-cry. I’m basically down to two hours of weekly shows on most nights, compared to three-plus in the fall.

Coming soon: a full hierarchy of the good, the average, and the replacement-level TV shows! The 2007 Opening Day MLB Rooting Hierarchy! Other things no one cares about!

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