More blogs about pop culture.
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Here's a reminder for all of you Reminder fans: MSN.com will stream a Feist concert tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET. The performance was taped at the Rams Head in Baltimore Sept. 11, and I'm guessing it was a pretty good show.
MSN has posted Feist photos 'n' features for anyone who wants to visit the page early. What a delightful post-Halloween treat.
Looking for a creepy page-turner this evening? I've got a couple -- and they're both so cool you won't mind keeping them on your coffee table in November:
- The Dead Travel Fast by Eric Nuzum (Thomas Dunne Books, $23.95). Nuzum is a D.C.-based pop-culture writer (you should like him already) who picked a fantastic topic for his latest title: vampires. Instead of going the historical route, he takes a Chuck Klosterman-esque approach and travels the country investigating every place the little bloodsuckers pop up. Yes, there are Buffy references! It'll make you laugh and cringe. Read the first chapter here, and go here to check out Eric's blog.
- Devilish Greetings: Vintage Devil Postcards edited and designed by Monte Beauchamp (Fantagraphics, $18.95). If you like looking at old postcards -- or if you're just a friend of the Devil -- you'll dig this pretty book of illustrations, which spotlights the cool and the crazy. I've had Greetings on my desk for a few weeks, and almost every day a co-worker comes by to thumb through it. Glance at some of the postcards here, and visit Beauchamp's website at blab-world.com.
Both of these books are in stores now. Check 'em out!
Are you more skilled with a mouse than you are with a knife? Here's a link to where you can carve a pumpkin online. It's pretty fun 'n' easy -- when you're done, the site will give you a link where you can see the pumpkin or let you forward the Jack-o'-lantern to friends.
Thanks to Jeremy P. for the tip. And yes, i am bombarding you with Halloween links today, but it only comes once a year.
Monday's and Tuesday's reader Halloween costumes were great, but this may be the best batch so far. If you're partying tonight, don't forget to send me a low-res photo along with your screen name (if you have one) and a brief description of your outfit. I'm posting costume pics every day this week.
Today's favorites:
Meet Nick Nolte, aka Colin M. in Minneapolis. "And the best part about it is I look like Nick Nolte every day of my life!" he says.
Evan G. initially planned on being an "old-school white rapper, but it turned into a white Run DMC."
Check out Pop reader Mason P. as Homer Simpson with his buddy Tom as Frank the bunny from Donnie Darko. Says Mason: "My costume looked great for about 10 minutes until I started to bleed yellow all over my shirt and then spilled punch on myself. D'oh!"
Troy D., aka randomtroy, sent me this pic of his friend Ray R. as Edward Scissorhands. "He made his costume from scratch," Troy said. Troy added that Ray always makes Troy's Pop Candy avatars for him.
Steve M. in Winter, Wis., sent me a pic of himself dressed as Papa Smurf (and, for some reason, playing the bongos). All of his friends dressed up as Smurfs, too.
"Yeah ... this was my take on Amy Winehouse," says Jeff F. in Ventura, Calif. I've received about 10 Winehouse photos so far, but this might be my favorite.
"Pretty sure you can figure out who this is!" writes Steven E. of his stunningly accurate "Weird Al" Yankovic costume.
Here's an appropriate link for Halloween: Trailers from Hell is a fun site that posts classic horror-movie trailers with commentary from contemporary filmmakers. (Warning: You may want to put on headphones when you click the link.)
The site just posted the trailer for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein with commentary by director John Landis. Edgar Wright, Allison Anders and Joe Dante have also been featured. Look for a new trailer every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
If Veronica Mars had been renewed for another season, we probably would've seen a very different show: The gang wouldn't be in college anymore. Veronica would suddenly be solving crimes for the FBI, far away from her dad and Logan (if they were still together).
A pilot for VM's fourth season was presented to the CW, but the network rejected it. You can watch it by renting/buying the third season DVDs or going to this page on YouTube. (Here's the second part.) Honestly, now that I've seen this, I'm thinking maybe it's a good thing the series ended when it did. There's something about seeing Veronica in a suit that just doesn't sit well with me.
Thanks to Zack S. for the tip.
I just got an e-mail from Pop reader Scott D., who lives in Philadelphia. Take a look at the Office-themed pumpkin he carved last night:
Dwight Schrute would definitely approve. And check out the Calvin and Hobbes pumpkin St. Louis reader Kara K. carved last weekend:
"This took me about five hours to complete, and I'm swearing off stripes from here on out!" she says. I applaud these creative readers for their skills -- I can barely muster the old-fashioned triangle eyes.
At the stroke of midnight, the Jack-o'-lantern on WhySoSerious.com finally extinguished and a mysterious message appeared. "Hey, clowns!" it reads. "Ready to do what you're told? ... Follow all of my directions to the letter and send photos of what you find."
What appears to be a treasure hunt leads us to 49 specific locations in 21 U.S. cities, from Albuquerque to Washington, D.C. You can click the letters to see if your city has been selected, or you can just visit this page for a list of locations.
I'm guessing the site will post photos of what people find, though today we may also see pics on other websites of potential "treasures." If you find anything Dark Knight-ish in your town, let us know!
Welcome to the forum. Before you start chattin' about pop culture in the comments, meet today's featured fellow:
Reader of the day: theeasytiger
Real name: Michael B
Where I live: Birmingham, Ala.
Occupation: Shallow corporate raider at a large online auction company
Favorite album: This one is really tough for me. I would have to say Ryan Adams' Jacksonville City Nights. I love all of his albums, but I find myself listening to this one the most. The man is a genius, and I have been accused of having a man-crush on him way too many times to count.
Favorite website (aside from the Candy): Damninteresting.com. When you're done reading each article, you think to yourself, "Wow, that really was damn interesting."
One famous person I've actually met: I literally ran into Ewan McGregor one time. He was in Montgomery, Ala., (my hometown) for about a year while filming Big Fish. When I found out he was in town, I planned this whole spiel about how I think Trainspotting is one of the greatest movies ever made in case I ever got to meet him. One day I was at a gas station filling up, and I went inside to get a snack. After I got my change, I turned around and started walking out, but at the same time Ewan was walking in and we collided. In my head I was saying, "This is it, tell him!" but all I was able to manage were random sounds that vaguely resembled "I dig your work." He laughed, said thanks and offered to replace my now-smashed-up Cheez-Its, but I decided to keep them.
Favorite movie quote: "The Dude abides."
Happy Halloween! I hope you have costumes ready and buckets of candy by the door. I have my 3-D glasses on hand, which I'll be sporting during Regis. Yes, I am ridiculous, but I've never been able to resist 3-D.
Let's check in with some headlines:
- So sad: The legendary Robert Goulet has died. He was 73.
- Jerry Seinfeld says his wife isn't guilty of plagiarism.
- Yahoo has the trailer for Angelina Jolie's new movie, Wanted.
- Here's an interview with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss about the album they made together. You can hear it on AOL.
- U2 is releasing a 3-D concert film next year. I'll save my glasses.
- Rufus Wainwright Judy Garland concert is coming to CD and DVD.
- Here's a countdown of the scariest music videos ...
- ... And here's a look at the best monster ads.
- Krist Novoselic is glad Nirvana's Unplugged performance is being released on DVD.
- Here's an interview with NBC's Brian Williams about his gig on Saturday Night Live this weekend.
- Samantha Who? has been picked up for a full season.
- Daniel Craig has signed to do four more Bond movies.
- The Green Lantern is about to be a superstar at the movies.
- The trailer for the new Queen Latifah/Katie Holmes comedy looks ... not good.
- MTV has a tour of the late Jam Master Jay's studio.
- A writer has been hired for a possible Spider-Man sequel.
- Here's more info about The Smurfs on DVD.
- Brooke Shields drove into her own house. Watch those platform shoes, ladies.
- Check out these cinematic pumpkins.
- And finally, here's a video top 10 list of the best "That's what she said" lines from The Office. Thanks for the tip, Cynthia C.
Candy Jack-o'-lantern created by Pop reader IamSneezy
If you liked yesterday's batch of reader Halloween costumes, I think you'll like these even more. Take a look at some of my favorites, then feel free to send me yours. Include your screen name (if you have one) and a brief description of the costume with your low-res photograph.
Today's pics:
Arrested Development fans will love Phil M.'s costume. He's Tobias (David Cross' character) from the show.
Hey, look -- it's Sloth from The Goonies! Scott G. sent me this photo, and it's one of my favorites so far.
Jennie H. and friends dressed as the Scooby gang. That's her pal Greg as Fred, Angie as Daphne, T.R. as Shaggy and her dog, Seuss, as Scooby-Doo. Jennie makes a great Velma!
Dave in Raleigh went with a friend as the "Guinness beer guys." He says, "People bought us Guinness all night and made us say the 'brilliant' line wayyyy too much." That's Dave on the right.
Here's Manuel P. as Speed Racer with Kim C. as -- you guessed it -- Bjork in the infamous swan dress.
Mollie G. sent me this pic of her friend Jamie L. dressed as Bender from Futurama. Believe it or not, this is a homemade costume.
Joe T. dressed up as the "Heath Ledger version" of The Joker. Why? "I thought I would try before everyone else does next year," he says. That's his friend Shannah as Harley Quinn.
I posted Gene H.'s photo twice today: first at the Scranton meetup, now with his wife as "classic" Batman and Robin.
Wade G., aka misterfilmgeek, sent in this photo of himself as Shaun of the Dead (right) and Shaun's "stunt double." I'd say he has the look nailed down ...
It's a pretty snazzy week for releases, especially if you're a fan of cult TV shows. Let's take a look, shall we?
- My So-Called Life: The Complete Series. This is the set we've been waiting for! It's beautifully packaged with commentary tracks on several episodes, bonus features and a fun booklet. On the very first page, co-executive producer Winnie Holzman reveals what she would've done with the characters in future episodes. You won't believe what was in store for Patty ...
- Spider-Man 3. Depending on how much you adore Peter Parker, you can buy the regular version or the two-disc special edition.
- No End in Sight. This documentary about the Iraq war received critical acclaim this year and is a new addition to my Netflix queue.
- Talk to Me. The always-impressive Don Cheadle plays a charismatic D.C. disc jockey in this flick, based on a true story.
- The Wendell Baker Story. Luke and Owen Wilson star in this little-seen movie about a con man determined to change his life.
- Day Watch. The Russian supernatural drama bursts with special effects and is the sequel to Night Watch. Sci-fi fans might get into it -- after so much buzz at Comic-Con, I'm quite curious about it.
- The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965. Dylan performs a batch of classics at the legendary fest.
- License to Wed. John Krasinski, Mandy Moore and Robin Williams may not make for the perfect date at the theater, but it could result in an OK time on the couch.
- Twin Peaks: Definitive Gold Box Edition. The entire series (including the pilot) is featured in this lovely set.
- Family Guy Freakin' Party Pack. Four-and-a-half seasons of the show and bonus features are included in this massive box set.
- Angel: Seasons 1-5. The collector's set includes all the Angel you could ever dream of.
- El Cantante. J. Lo and her husband dance and sing.
- In the Land of Women. Adam Brody attempts to make a romantic comedy that won't draw comparisons to Zach Braff.
- John Waters: This Filthy World. Waters performs his gloriously dirty one-man show.
Also out: October Road: The Complete First Season, Scrubs: The Complete Sixth Season, Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume 5, Captivity, CSI: Miami -- The Fifth Season, Family Affair: Season 4, Jackie Chan's The Myth, Miami Ink: Season 1, Outer Limits: The Original Series Volume 3
It's been awhile since we've done a Pop Candy hotline, so let's open the phones again Friday, Nov. 2, from 3-5 p.m. ET.
The number to call is 1-800-872-4992. We can talk about whatever you want: The downfall of/hope for Heroes, my recent travels, your musical discoveries, comic-book recommendations. Sing a song. Tell me a story. Do an impression of legendary comedian Paul Lynde. Seriously, it's your time.
Since a lot of people will be waiting on the line, we can't talk for too long. One of these days, I'll figure out how to infiltrate USA TODAY's phone system and give you some better music to hear while on hold.
Talk to you Friday -- keep in mind our conversation may be included in a future podcast.
Photo: FX (It's Glenn Close from Damages. Frobisher forever.)
Here's something for all of you How I Met Your Mother fans: A limited-edition Robin Sparkles T-shirt is being sold here. You can only pre-order it until Oct. 31, though, so act fast ... you never know how many people are rushing to buy clothing that advertises the 1993 "Sparkles Mall Tour." Thanks to MrsP55 for the tip.
The cast discusses their favorite HIMYM episodes on MySpace, and it's no surprise that Cobie Smulders cites the Robin Sparkles ep. Robin, of course, has her own MySpace page.
When I first announced an event in Scranton, Pa., I was worried it might just be me, a Yuengling and the bartender. I ended up meeting about 20 Pop Candy readers last week -- and that was on a rainy Friday night!
While some readers were in town for the Office convention, several were Scranton natives. One of those was Brendan J., aka Joey Jo-Jo Jr. Brendan was kind enough to bring me a gift basket full of Scranton products. He explains the basket in this first-ever Candy meetup video:
Yes, he brought beets. And check out what else happened at the soiree, which took place at the super-friendly Farley's restaurant:
As soon as I stepped into Farley's, the first people I saw were BIG BUSINESS and ... President Bush. I'm not sure why there was a cardboard cutout of the president at Farley's, but we let him hang out at the bar. After all, everyone is welcome.
BB and his wife traveled all the way from Cleveland for the convention. The last time I saw him was at the Chicago meetup in August, when he attended Lollapalooza. He and a select few belong to the "two meetup" club. (As far as I know, no one has been to three!)
Here's BB with Gail, aka IamSneezy. She traveled from Camp Hill, Pa., for the weekend -- and she said she rarely travels alone, so this was a big deal. I was thrilled to meet Gail in person after years of corresponding with her online, and she even wore a shirt that had Sneezy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on it.
Scranton resident bill_kir brought the whole family to the party. He only stayed for a little bit because he daughter was getting sleepy (speaking of the Seven Dwarfs), but he gave me a few Scranton tips before he took off.
Pop reader Sabrina A. brought me this awesome shirt from the Scranton Army & Navy store. I will wear it proudly!
Gene H., left, and Chris P., right, are just as cool as they look in this photo.
The fun-lovin' Dana and Bruce drove from Harrisburg, Pa. I think all of us had at least one conversation about traffic before delving into topics like Lost and new music and (of course) The Office.
Nate, a student at Syracuse University, sent me this altered photograph after the meetup. Nate is originally from Scranton, and he brought some of his friends to wow me with Scranton trivia. Personally, I was just impressed that Nate wore a tie.
And then there was this guy, who didn't come to the meetup but wanted to let us know he had become a "minister" on the Internet that day. He even showed me his confirmation e-mail via Gmail.
Finally, here's Brendan again, posing with his gift basket wares. Brendan wanted to make sure I had a great time in his town, which I did. The owner of Farley's was very accomodating ... and, as it turns out, he used to give Brendan rides to elementary school.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who attended the meetup, and let's do it again soon!
I still haven't grown tired of the "Hear a celebrity call your cell phone" promotions, so this one for Nip/Tuck made me chuckle. Fill out the appropriate fields, and McNamara/Troy will dial your friend and ask them to come in for a consultation.
The site could work in wicked ways, too: Give them an enemy's phone number, and in minutes the person will be hearing Julian McMahon talk about how she/he may need some liposuction or breast work done.
Don't forget the new season premieres tonight at 10 ET.
As I've mentioned before, one of my favorite moments during the CMJ Music Marathon was seeing Cincinnati band Bad Veins perform in a cramped, sweaty basement club.
The duo sounds a little like The Strokes mixed with Neutral Milk Hotel, if you can imagine that. Singer Ben Davis incorporates a telephone, megaphone and reel-to-reel player in their set, and the result is a powerful sound that deserves to be heard by more people.
In this week's podcast, I chat with Davis about his music. (Coincidentally, I learned he was a fan of this podcast after I asked to interview him.) I also play new songs from Dwight Yoakam, Maritime and Blanche, so it's your loss if you don't hear it now:
- Download the free podcast via iTunes
- Stream it as a Windows Media file
See the archive at candypodcast.usatoday.com, and check my RSS feed for more options. Thank you for listening!
On last night's Heroes, Hiro engaged in some old-fashioned action, Peter was thrown into a new environment and Claire battled the Heathers at her high school. What did you think? Are you still on board, or is Sylar not enough to save this show from a second-season slump?
Share your thoughts in the comments, and go here to watch the ep online. I'm not sure what disappointed me more: Kristen Bell's absence from this week's episode, or last week's Katee Sackhoff-free installment of Bionic Woman.
Welcome to the forum, where pop-culture conversation is welcome. Before you start talking, get acquainted with today's featured face:
Reader of the day: tamara25
Real name: Tamara R.
Where I live: Houston
Occupation: Communications/marketing for a global company
MySpace: myspace.com/tamara
Favorite movie: Reality Bites. It's a simple quirky romantic comedy that was shot (and set) in Houston back in the '90s. C'mon, Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder, before one got married/divorced and the other got arrested, what's better than that? And Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn pre-fame. You also get a second of Renee Zellweger before anyone even knew who she was. And what about the scene in the gas station with everyone singing My Sharona? (OK, I'm a dork). At least the soundtrack never gets old.
Favorite book: I'm a sucker for a thesaurus. I know it's not a novel, but it still qualifies as a book. I often have to write press material for work, so it comes in handy when I'm stumped on choosing a word to avoid repeating. So it's my favorite!
Best Halloween costume I've ever worn: I was Lady Miss Kier from Deee-Lite when I was 14. My friends thought I was so strange. I rocked the hair, the Groove Is In the Heart outfit and tall shoes. I loved it.
Hey, happy free taco day! Last night I went to see the Comedians of Comedy and laughed until my face hurt. The guys (and gal) still have a few dates left on their tour, so you should see them if you can. You can also watch video reports from each city they visit at Superdeluxe.com.
Let's get started with some buzz:
- Don't forget that Nip/Tuck is back tonight. I've seen the episode, and it's pretty good! Bradley Cooper and Oliver Platt are hilarious, and the L.A. move is just what this series needed.
- Seriously, Jerry -- enough with the Bee Movie promotion. It's getting annoying.
- OK, Lost fans: Start making plans to travel to Hawaii for the premiere. (Thanks to John P. for the link.)
- Yes, Jay Leno is definitely leaving The Tonight Show in '09.
- Ving Rhames has been tapped to star in a Sonny Liston biopic.
- A trailer is up for the touching indie documentary I mentioned a few months ago, My Heart is an Idiot.
- Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Charles Schulz are the top-earning dead celebrities.
- Remember Coolio? He's getting a reality show called Coolio & the Gang.
- The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to reconsider a lawsuit involving a Van Gogh painting owned by Elizabeth Taylor.
- I knew we'd see Arcade Fire doing that Smiths cover at some point ...
- Kanye West is writing a book.
- David Cronenberg: not a fan of the Oscar-winning Crash.
- CBS has announced its sweeps plans, which include a CSI/Without a Trace crossover, Frankie Muniz on Criminal Minds and Victoria's Secret models on How I Met Your Mother.
- Here's a fun "Where are they now?" update on the cast of Dazed and Confused.
- Tell us how you really feel about the Star Trek movie, Shatner.
- Family Guy's Star Wars parody will be released on its own DVD.
- The B-52's are working on their first studio album in 16 years.
- Are you a My So-Called Life superfan? Take this quiz.
- And finally, we're still keeping an eye on whysoserious.com for Dark Knight news. Says Pop reader Chris L.: "I noticed that only one side is falling apart. Ya think that might be in reference to Two-Face?" Not a bad theory, Chris ...
Today might as well be Picture Day on the Candy, eh? Here are a few more shots I took in Scranton over the weekend:
Check out Creed on the guitar! I saw him perform three times, and he never looked happier than he did with a pick in hand. The Creed highlight might have been hearing him sing Midnight Confessions, the big hit he had with his band in the '60s, the Grass Roots.
In my video, you see who wins the Dwight Schrute look-alike competition, but I was kind of pulling for Bobblehead Dwight. This had to be one of the hardest costumes to make and to wear. Other creative outfits included "fax from future Dwight," the Benihana girls, Angela's cats, a stripper nurse (with a giant check) and a vending machine with Dwight's stuff in it.
Roland Greco, a Scranton-based financial adviser, told me his co-workers, family and friends have been telling him he looks like Steve Carell for years, so this was his opportunity to finally take advantage of it. He won the look-alike contest without much competition.
Here's a Mose look-alike; he lost to a kid with a crazy fake beard. In real life, Mose is played by Office writer Michael Schur. At the writers' panel, he said it took him three and a half months to grow the beard for his first guest appearance. "It's a little odd, because the only thing I have in common with Mose is that in real life I live on an Amish beet farm," he said.
Pop reader Maureen Coyne from Rochester, N.Y., won the Meredith category. On constructing her outfit: "I bought a 20-pack of Depends at Target."
College student Emily Lines traveled from Indianapolis with her mother for the convention. She spent a day making this shirt, which features quotes from the cast. Click it to get a better view.
Here's Pop reader Clark Ferguson, a fan who got autographs from Ed Helms and Oscar Nunez. (Look closely, and you'll see that Helms wrote "Sales" below his signature.)
At the "Office Olympics," contestants had to do things like race across a gym with paper boxes on their feet.
Here are Leslie David Baker (Stanley), Melora Hardin (Jan) and Greg Daniels. The crowd seemed a little surprised when Hardin belted out a sultry, breathy, not-very-Jan-like song during Saturday's Scrantones concert. She sells CDs on her website.
And here are Dunder Mifflin umbrellas, which I saw just as frequently as any cast members. My socks are still damp, but it was a small price to pay.
Now that Radiohead has encouraged the "pay want you want" concept, how many bands will follow suit?
So far, not many -- but at least one magazine has. Today Paste announced a one-year subscription offer for whatever price readers are willing to pay. Wanna shell out $20 for 11 issues? Go ahead. Think it's only worth $1? That's fine, too.
Paste is a music magazine that comes with a CD of new music each month. Go here to sign up. This is no scam; in a press release issued today, Paste president/publisher Tim Regan-Porter explains the promotion:
"While it's certainly a bit unconventional, we also see it as a chance to get our product in the hands of people who could become lifelong fans," he says.
Last week I mentioned the Flaming Lips were getting their own alley in Oklahoma City. "It was quite a sight!" reports Pop reader Karee. "But where else can you see aliens, Santas, confetti balloons and a Flaming Lips snow globe?"
Lots of video of the event has been posted online, and you can see some choice moments here. Pop reader Paula tells me her friend Nathan took lots of photos; head to his Flickr page for a more informal view of the festivities.
In related news, the Lips hosted a huge Halloween parade last weekend called the "March of 1,000 Flaming Skeletons."
Each day this week I'm posting some of my favorite reader Halloween costumes. You still have time to send me yours: Please include a low-res photo, your screen name (if you have one) and a brief description of the costume.
Today's favorites:
Hey, it's Bret from Flight of the Conchords! Actually, it's big fan Lawrence B. "Yes, that is a disposable camera glued to an old phone, and, yes, I got Krazy Glue on my fingers whilst creating the Kiwi contraption," he says. "Sadly, Jemaine quit the band before this photo was snapped."
It took me a minute to get this, but Pop reader Jerry sent this photo of his friends Potter, Austen, Candy and Winter dressed as ... the gang from Dateline's "To Catch a Predator." From left to right, they're newsman Chris Hansen, the predator, the decoy and the camerawoman.
Aggh! This is Brent, possibly the scariest Borat I've ever seen.
Alison B., aka abailin, is dressed as "Jaws and her poor, sassy victim."
Jose S., aka jj_ramone, dressed up as Billy Mitchell from The King of Kong, while Kimberlee D. is pictured as Hermione from Harry Potter. Jose says his costume consists of an "American flag tie, coifed hair, stuffed gorilla and Donkey Kong Jr. keychain game."
Chris, aka cbars420, attended a party last weekend as Ernie. His date was Marilyn Monroe. "We were the 'it' couple of the night!" he said.
You guessed it: Rick C., aka HellboyOne, is a "Dick in a Box" guy. Open the box, and you'll see a photo of Dick Van Dyke. "Also, you might notice a little white wire going to the box from my jacket," he says. "I had my MP3 player wired to speakers in the box where the Dick in a Box song played on loop all night." You know that must've been a hit with the ladies.
Clay and his wife, Lori, are Heroes fans, so it makes sense that they dressed up as Future Hiro and the cheerleader.
Here's Jon and Dave in their Guns N' Roses getups. "Rock on!" he says.
Tony H. and his wife, Eileen, dressed up as The Incredibles this year. "That's her on the right," he says. (Somehow, I think we could've figured that out.)
Who says kids get all the good stuff on Halloween?
Imeem and Palm Pictures are presenting a free horror movie in the spirit of the holiday. The Eye, a 2002 Hong Kong thriller, will be streamed here from Oct. 30 through Nov. 4. It's guaranteed to spice up a dull workday, though it will require reading subtitles, so you can't watch it while doing other things.
Thanks to Pop reader Chad A. for the tip.
Some of you have told me your workplace blocks Twitter and you missed my reports from Scranton, so I'm pasting all of my Office-related Twitters after the jump. The most recent post is at the top.
Aside from checking Twitter.com, you can sign up to receive my updates via text message, if you so desire.
If I hadn't spent last weekend in Scranton, I might've gone to Pittsburgh for Zombie Fest 2007. Pop reader Kristy, aka undeadhead, put on her best corpse makeup for the event, which attracted more than 1,000 horror fans. "My husband and I celebrated our first anniversary searching for fresh brains," she writes. "Unfortunately, the Gap didn't have any in stock."
Check out her photos:
Here's Kristy taking a bite out of her husband -- at least, I hope that's her husband ...
And here's a really cool pic of the crowd, almost all of them in zombie makeup. Click it to enlarge.
I had such a fun time during my trip to the Office Convention that I wanted to show you a few of the sights and sounds I encountered along the way.
Today I'm excited to post the first-ever Pop Candy video. It includes a few of the moments I Twittered last weekend, brief interviews with cast members and music by The Scrantones. I hope you like it.
Other highlights that didn't make the video:
1. Talking to Ed Helms. We just chatted for a few minutes, but I got to ask him about the banjo (he plays bluegrass-style, I play clawhammer), and he told me he loved seeing a bluegrass band at cool bar The Bog the night before. Helms was the fan favorite of the weekend, though Creed came in a close second.
2. Listening to Creed's thoughts. Creed is the master of random statements, and the crowd loved every minute of it. During a press conference, he would blurt out lines like, "Is it me, or is there a chlorine smell in here?" During a concert with the Scrantones, he delivered a monologue about how he believed his character developed only four toes. (It involved being adopted by a Chinese family.)
3. Casino Night. Honestly, I thought this event could turn out to be kind of lame, but it was one of the most fun parties all weekend. The cast openly chatted with fans, the food was plentiful, and the music didn't stop. Fun fact: Weezer bassist Scott Shriner sat in with The Scrantones.
4. Meeting Candy readers. I'll post a recap of the Scranton meetup later, but I was so surprised by how many Pop Candy readers attended the convention. One of them, D.C.-based Clark Ferguson, said he was glad it was raining. "It's like, would I expect anything less from Scranton?" he said. He felt it added to the Office-y vibe.
5. Attending the "Writer's Block." This was the session where the show's writers divulged how they concoct the series. B.J. Novak revealed he was the first person to add "That's what she said" to a script. We found out Pam started at Dunder Mifflin before Jim. Executive producer Greg Daniels said Carol Burnett has offered to play Michael Scott's mother, but he hasn't decided whether to use her or not. The cast and crew has (finally) discovered Yuengling. Mindy Kaling went shopping at Boscov's.
And I loved how someone asked Novak why he decided to make Ryan "such a butt" this season. Answer: The character is more interesting this way. In fact, Daniels said, when he saw Novak in character behind the desk, "He really reminded me of David Brent."
I've got a few photos to share, so sit tight. And oh, by the way, the cast's favorite blog is Office Tally, which has some great coverage of the weekend, too.
I know you've been aching to see how our first D.C. meetup went down. Here's a look at some of the highlights -- thanks to everyone who partied with us in the rain last week!
I had to make our sign at Bar Pilar, but I think it turned out OK. After it became apparent that Pop Candy fans were poised to take over the place, the bar gave us a back room to ourselves.
About 40-50 people showed up with their umbrellas to drink 'n' mingle. Here's a glance at the room, which had a cool photo booth in the front. (Coincidentally, our room at the last New York meetup also had a photo booth.)
Jim D. and Troy F. (aka Tha Darkside) were a few of the early arrivals. You may remember Jim's photo when I wrote about band T-shirts; he was the big Husker Du fan. Troy is trying to convince me to attend an upcoming Prince dance party.
Yemisi, aka terrastrana, came all the way from Philly for the meetup! We must've taken 10 photos together, and this is the only one where her eyes aren't closed. She's a loyal Candy reader and a super-fun person to boot.
Here I am with Merideth. She sings for the band Pash, which you may have heard in a podcast. The band just returned from CMJ, where they played a showcase.
Here are Mary, left, and Cassandra. Mary gave me some CDs (Athlete, Kate Nash) and photos from her recent trip to the Lost set in Hawaii. Mary is actually about to move to Hawaii for a little while, just for the heck of it. How awesome is that?
Nick lives in Seoul and reads Pop Candy in South Korea every day. He was able to attend the meetup because he's spending a few weeks at nearby Fort Meade. (He works a graphic designer for the Army.) During the meetup, I called his wife, Maria (also a reader), who was at home in Seoul. Nick assured me I wouldn't be waking her up.
Wanna talk about pop culture? Feel free to drop in on the forum, a spot where readers chat throughout the day. (You don't need to keep up with the hundreds of comments to join the conversation.) Meet today's Candy fan:
Reader of the day: abqLaura
Real name: Laura Chambers
Where I live: Albuquerque
Occupation: Admin. assistant for now. Also a full-time accounting student.
MySpace: myspace.com/freklzz
Favorite movie: Better Off Dead
Favorite book: Angela’s Ashes. After a very long hiatus, it reminded me why I love to read.
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Eddie Vedder (jealous of you other guys), Matt Damon and Dave Matthews
Favorite movie line: "You gotta hear this one song, it’ll change your life I swear."
Good morning, everyone! I've returned from Scranton, and I can't wait to share more of my adventures and photos today. The Office Convention was a little rainy and a bit disorganized in places, but I did get to meet the cast and several cool Pop Candy readers. All in all, it was much more fun than spending the weekend on my big green couch.
Before we get to any of that, though, it's time for the buzz:
- I hate to begin the week with sad news, but country legend Porter Wagoner has died. The world is a little less colorful without him.
- We have a story about the Tom Petty documentary, Runnin' Down a Dream, which airs on the Sundance Channel tonight at 7 ET.
- Showtime has launched an online series called The Dark Defender, related to last night's episode of Dexter. (No spoilers here, but wasn't it a good one?)
- Here's a contest I'm kind of afraid to enter: The winner enjoys Thanksgiving dinner with Ozzy Osbourne.
- TVGuide.com has an interview with Heroes' James Kyson Lee.
- We have an interview with Adrian Pasdar.
- Go here to check out the much-publicized MySpace conversation between Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson.
- Remember Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? (This was one of my favorite books as a kid.) The boy in the book was real, and now he's all grown up with kids of his own. Thanks to Justin B. for the tip.
- Another Underworld movie is in the works.
- Harvey Keitel is gearing up to play ... Jerry Springer?
- Thousands of people around the world did the Thriller dance simultaneously last weekend, hoping to set a world record.
- More scripts have been ordered for Reaper and Dirty Sexy Money.
- Here's a great interview with the Damages creators about the finale and the future of the show.
- Did you know Rainn Wilson appears on the first season of Dark Angel?
- Arcade Fire covered a Smiths song the other night. I'm hoping that pops up on the Internet soon.
- Here's a review of 10 religious Halloween candies.
- Go here for ticket information about the Battlestar Galactica: Razor screenings in select cities.
- What are the top geek T-shirts? (Thanks to Amy V.)
- And finally, don't forget: Tomorrow, we all get free tacos.
How would I describe the Office Convention in one word?
Rainy.
So far my experiences in Scranton have been pretty soaked, albeit fun. After a long, stormy drive from D.C., I arrived at the University of Scranton Friday afternoon to pick up my press credentials, then scoped out Farley's, where our meetup was being held.
Last night's event was a big success and attracted about 20 Pop Candy readers, which is way more people than I expected to show up in the rain on a Friday night in Scranton, Pa. (Two random diners in the restaurant even recognized me and walked over to meet the crowd.) Look for photos of Big Business, IamSneezy, bill_kir and the rest of the gang on Monday.
After the meetup, I drove to "Casino Night," a party that took place at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The event was open to VIP passholders only -- these are folks who paid the most to attend the convention -- and there was free food and cocktails, plenty o' gambling and music by The Scrantones, aka the band that's often featured on The Office. (They perform the theme song and double as Kevin's group, Scrantonicity.)
I happened to walk in at the exact moment Creed Bratton stepped in as singer for The Scrantones, and he was a sight to behold. Shortly thereafter, Craig Robinson (Darryl) grabbed the mic and belted out I Will Survive. He may not have Bratton's musical chops -- Creed was a member of '60s band The Grass Roots -- but what he lacked in skill he made up for in spirit.
Other cast members hanging out included Angela Kinsey (Angela), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin), Oscar Nunez (Oscar), Phyllis Smith (Phyllis), Ed Helms (Andy) and Kate Flannery (Meredith), who told me she felt "like one of the Beatles" because the fans were so psyched to meet her.
Most conventiongoers I've spoken to are in their 20's or 30's and drove a reasonable distance for a cheap 'n' fun weekend getaway. I did encounter these rather animated twins, however: By 9:30 p.m., Scranton natives Angela and Fannie Tunis said they had met every cast member there. They were bummed that their favorite actor, Steve Carell, couldn't make it, though. "But we forgive him, because we love him so much," Angela said.
Everyone always asks me what celebrities look like in person, and I can tell you this: Most of them are smaller than you'd expect except for Bobby Ray Shafer (Bob Vance -- Vance Refrigeration), who was the tallest man in the room.
Today I'm off for more Office excitement, including the all-day outdoor festival. Outside, it's pouring. I hope Creed brought some galoshes.
As you know, I'll be at the Office Convention this weekend, and most of the supporting cast members will be there: Stanley, Phyllis, Creed, Andy, Angela, Bob Vance from Vance Refrigeration, etc.
If there's anything you'd like me to ask the cast or the writers, feel free to let me know via the comments or e-mail. Go here to see a full list of actors who will be attending the event. I'll be there through Sunday.
Hey, guys -- I've had a rough time lately with a broken laptop, so you'll have to bear with me. I'm leaving to go get it fixed (again) before I hit the road, then it's off to Scranton. Once I arrive at the Office Convention, you'll be able to follow me there via Twitter and the blog.
I'm posting a forum entry (via my husband's computer) before I go ... wish me luck, and I'll talk to you soon. As a reminder, tonight's meetup starts at 6:30 p.m. at Farley's.
This is so horrible -- I feel like I've lost an appendage!
In more cheerful news, look at this lovely reader:
Reader of the day: grahamgoh
Real name: Graham Gohmann
Where I live: New Albany, Ind. (basically Louisville, Ky.)
Occupation: Graphic designer
Websites: grahamgohmann.com / myspace.com/wormina
Favorite movie: Heaven Can Wait
Favorite album: Nine Inch Nails, With Teeth
Three famous people I'd love to meet, dead or alive: Kurt Russell, Michael Jordan, Trent Reznor
One famous person I've actually met: David Copperfield
This weekend many of you will be heading to Halloween parties, and I'd love to see what creative costumes you come up with.
How can you get your getup posted on Pop Candy? E-mail me a low-res picture along with your name, screen name (if you have one) and a brief description of your costume. I'll be posting photos next week, so stay tuned. Have a happy Halloween!
The trailer for the new season of 24 premieres at 1 p.m. ET today. (Yes, that's in roughly five minutes.) To see it, go to this page. Barring any sort of technical malfunction, we'll be able to talk about it shortly ...
The trailer is being broadcast live from Times Square in New York. Mary Lynn Rajskub (Chloe) is scheduled to make a special appearance. The season premiere airs Jan. 13 at 8 ET.
Update: The trailer is up now, and it looks like some cast members have changed their hairstyles ...
I thought this quiz was impossible, but then I scored 80%: Can you tell discontinued Ben & Jerry's flavors from bands on MySpace?
Examples given are Coconut Fever, Caramel Sunspot and Watermelon Eating Contest. Don't cheat! Thanks Abby P. for the tip.
It's almost time for another National Novel Writing Month. Are you up for the challenge?
Each year writers sign up to pen a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. The event has grown each year, and this year it looks like several kick-off parties are scheduled around the country. During the month, several celebrity writers will offer pep talks, and participants can track their progress on the website. (I participated back in 2001, and it was a fun experience.)
An alternative to NaNoWriMo is NaNoMangO, which challenges participants to create a 30-page comic book during November. The website may be a little less fancy, but the end products require just as much (if not more) hard work.
You know those Wes Anderson-directed AT&T commercials that talk about living in several places at once? Now there's a viral site to go with them.
Go here to come up with a made-up town like one in the ads. The one that's supposed to suit me is "Washmcleanicburg," for Washington, D.C., McLean, Va. (where my office is located) and Fredericksburg, Va. (my hometown). Pop reader Tobias S. got "Hunexton" for his Alexandria neighborhood and Washington.
"If only we had the commercial sets that would transform around us," he said.
This is just a reminder that one of the best documentary series on television, Iconoclasts, returns for its third season tonight on the Sundance Channel. The show features artists interviewing other artists, and in the season premiere, Sean Penn takes a trip to Alaska with Into the Wild author Jon Krakauer. They discuss the book/movie quite a bit, so you may want to record it and read the book/see the film first.
Upcoming installments pair Alicia Keys with Ruby Dee, Mike Myers with Deepak Chopra and Madeleine Albright with Ashley Judd, among others. Several video clips from the episodes have been posted online.
Iconoclasts airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET. Check it out. (I love the part in tonight's episode where Penn and Krakauer go to buy alcohol and the woman behind the counter asks to see some ID.)
Welcome to the forum, where readers gab about pop culture all day long. Meet one of them now:
Screen name: briggs1997
Real name: Ryan Briggs
Where I live: "The Horse Capital of the World" ... Lexington, Ky.
Occupation: I sell shoes
MySpace: myspace.com/briggs1997
Favorite TV show: Robot Chicken is tops, with Family Guy, Daily Show, CSI, and Venture Brothers close behind it. I'll never forgive Fox for cancelling Arrested Development.
One famous person I've actually met: Mickey Rooney, when he was doing Sugar Babies.
A movie I can't stand (and why): Waterboy. It's just so ridiculously inane. And yet I watch the damn thing every time it comes on.
Good morning! First of all, huge thanks to everyone who braved the rain and came to last night's meetup. It was so cool to put faces to screen names, and I can't believe how far some people traveled to be there. Stay tuned for a recap with photos.
In the meantime, check out these headlines:
- Here's video of Steve Carell on Monday Night Football, in case you missed it.
- We have a story about Scrubs' final season.
- Speaking of Scrubs, creator Bill Lawrence will be answering viewers' questions at 10 p.m. ET tonight, after the season premiere.
- Ron Howard is quickly working on Angels & Demons, even though audiences didn't flip for The Da Vinci Code.
- Vanity Fair has named Purple Rain the best soundtrack of all time.
- Have you heard about the controversy surrounding Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook?
- More episodes of Samantha Who? have been ordered.
- Maybe Bionic Woman will improve now that a new guy is running the show.
- CBGB is reopening ... as a fashion boutique. Ugh.
- Here's a list of the top 25 action heroes.
- Maxim doesn't think Sandra Oh is sexy? I'm going to disagree.
- Who are the scariest TV characters of all time?
- Yahoo has posted the season premiere of Run's House.
- Why is no one going to see indie films right now?
- The New Yorker is featuring an audio excerpt from Steve Martin's new memoir.
- If you're going to be scammed by a ticket scalper, make sure you ask for his MySpace page.
- The Flaming Lips are getting their own alley today. If you attend the festivities, send me a photo.
- Ooh, what happens when the Bat-o'-lantern burns out?
- This face-changer is a ridiculously silly time-waster. (Thanks, Lynn S.)
- And finally, I hate to be the one to break this news, but Simply Red is breaking up in 2009. Nooooo!
Before I start getting ready for tonight's meetup -- bring an umbrella! -- I thought I'd share one more thing that made me "chuckle" and "waste some time" today.
It's The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks, and it's exactly what it sounds like. Thanks to Matt (aka cinemo) for the tip. It's amazing how many people use quotes like they're going out of style. (This blog is updated almost every day!)
We're about a month into the fall TV season, so it's time to start making some hard decisions: What new series are worth our time? Which ones do we need to kick to the curb?
CBS has already decided Viva Laughlin isn't worth a chance, and I can't say I disagree -- that show wasn't on my fall viewing schedule.
"I am done with Reaper," Pop reader Jeff L. writes. "It is completely lifeless, and the main guy does nothing but look befuddled. Looked promising -- oh, well!"
At this point, I have also bid farewell to the CW's Reaper. I loved the pilot, but I didn't realize it was going to be a one-case-per-episode show, and so far the situations haven't been terribly memorable or diverse. I'm also only invested in one character -- the Devil! -- and he makes far too few appearances.
Other shows I may remove from my DVR:
- Chuck. Once you get over the cute cast members and the catchy soundtrack, there's little else to embrace. I tried to watch this week's episode, but I found myself being pulled to a stack of unfolded laundry and dirty dishes. To win me back, Chuck needs to become a little less formulaic and a little more suspenseful from week to week.
- Dirty Sexy Money. I like the premise, but I feel the writing doesn't live up to the cast. Peter Krause deserves an awesome series, and this one gets a C+. If it doesn't improve, I may let it go in a week or two.
- Bionic Woman. I hate to admit this, but during the last episode, I fast-forwarded through most scenes that didn't feature Katee Sackhoff. Michelle Ryan really seems like the wrong casting choice, and her sister whines more than Dawn from Buffy! I had high hopes for Bionic, so this might be the most disappointing new show of the season.
OK, your turn: What's turning you off? Why? Is there anything these shows can do to win you back?
Do you ever think about what you'd like to eat for your last meal? Mine changes a lot -- sometimes I want something super-gourmet, but then I keep returning to comfort foods, like pork barbecue or meatloaf or a cheeseburger.
In her new book, My Last Supper, author Melanie Dunea asks 50 world-famous chefs this very question. She presents the answers alongside lovely portraits, and Time.com has compiled a bunch of them into a nifty gallery.
Mario Batali says he "would prepare a meal of eight to 10 courses which would include marinated anchovies served with a little bruschetta; mozzarella en carozza (a Neapolitan-style grilled cheese sandwich); and fresh Amalfitana pasta with shrimp and zucchini." Mmm.
The book is in stores now. Thanks to Gigi S. for the tip.
How cool is this skirt that transforms into a Coke machine? Yes, you read that correctly -- Japanese fashion designer Aya Tsukioka has made a "ninja skirt" that changes into a vending machine costume. Why? Because a woman never knows when she might need to hide from attackers.
"It is just easier for Japanese to hide," Tsukioka says. "Making a scene would be too embarrassing."
The designer has also constructed a purse that looks like a manhole cover and a children's backpack that transforms into a fire hydrant. The only trouble I can foresee is if someone tried to buy a Diet Coke from the costume -- then the wearer might get way more than she bargained for.
Thanks to Tobias S. for the tip.
You know how yesterday I joked that Pop Candy oven mitts were next on my list of promotional products? Well, today reader Gary B. made me laugh with this image of what he thinks the mitt should look like. (Click to enlarge.) "Just think: You can use it when cooking or baking," he says.
Gary also provided a list of foods I could make while wearing the mitt: Pop Tarts, Jiffy Pop, popovers ... Little does Gary know that I only cook cereal, tuna and the occasional can of soup.
I wish I could make it to the Vegoose Music Festival on Saturday; alas, I'll be partying with cast members from The Office, so that isn't a bad trade-off.
The two-day music festival will be webcast, so if you'll be near a computer, check out the performances. Artists that will be streamed live include The Shins, Cypress Hill, Gogol Bordello, Thievery Corporation, Mastodon, Franti and Spearhead and Atmosphere. Go there in person, and you can see headliners Rage Against the Machine and Daft Punk rip up the joint.
Keep an eye on the webcast page for set times and additional artists.
After I wrote about Dexter's upcoming comic-book episode, I received an e-mail from Pop reader/cartoonist Joe Eisma. In it, he shares another TV tip for comics lovers:
"I saw your story about Dexter, and wanted to share with you that the show Numb3rs is also doing a comic book-themed episode, featuring a comic convention," he writes.
"How do I know? They asked several artists to submit artwork for the show, and I was one of them. Hopefully, the art I contributed from my upcoming independent comic, A Dummy's Guide to Danger: Lost at Sea, will appear!"
You can read more about the episode on Colleen Doran's blog; she was also asked to submit artwork. According to Doran, the Numb3rs episode is scheduled to air Nov. 23 at 10 ET.
If you're too busy on Monday nights to catch Heroes, the G4 network is going to start re-broadcasting the episodes Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET. Following the re-broadcast, G4 will present a live Heroes "post show," featuring interviews, viewer commentary and more.
This weekend the Heroes spectacular kicks off with G4's two-day marathon of Season 1 episodes. It starts Oct. 27 at noon, so start clearing space on the TiVo if you're one of the 10 people who haven't seen the series.
Holy freaking Frobisher, how great was last night's Damages finale?
Since we learned so much last week, I wasn't sure what the episode would hold. We were treated to more twists than I imagined possible, including some of the best performances all season from Glenn Close and Ted Danson. "I was blown away!" Pop reader Randy D. wrote to me shortly after it aired. "I'm hoping it'll be back for another season. Patty Hewes needs to GO DOWN!" (FX has yet to renew the series.)
Zack S. also e-mailed me afterward, saying he was "still out of breath." He added, "Danson outdid himself. ... And a killer set-up for season two that also gives a great sense of closure to this story." Said James S. "That's some damn good teevee." I couldn't agree more.
Seriously, Damages is just as good as Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck (if not better) and deserves another season, especially now that we see where it could go. FX shouldn't hesitate to extend its run.
Let's continue our Frobisher freak-out in the comments, shall we?
Welcome to the forum, a place where folks converse about pop culture throughout the day. Here's one of them up close:
Reader of the day: IamSneezy
Real name: Gail Dull (last name comes from a city in Scotland, not a description of my personality)
Where I live: Camp Hill, Pa.
Occupation: State government technical writer
Websites: myspace.com/iamsneezy, http://gailsparanormalport.tripod.com and http://justforkinaround.tripod.com
Favorite movie: Ferris Bueller or Titanic (I named my first car "Ferris" and I went to the Titanic Maritime Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for my honeymoon)
Favorite album: Once More with Feeling from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Favorite book: Morrigan's Cross trilogy by Nora Roberts or any Harry Potter. I also like Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities -- My ninth grade english teacher made us memorize the first paragraph for extra credit. I can still recite it today.
How is everyone this morning? I'm counting the hours until we convene at Bar Pilar (the festivities start at 6). If you come, you shouldn't have a problem parking, though the bar is very close to the U-Street Cardozo Metro stop. You may also want to bring a camera. No RSVP is required, and please bring a friend!
Check out some fresh headlines:
- We have a first look at Mike Myers' new movie, The Love Guru.
- Robert Goulet is awaiting a lung transplant.
- ABC has picked up Pushing Daisies for a full season.
- Six minutes from Bee Movie are up on Yahoo. (I think I'd like this film more if Seinfeld weren't trying to shove it down my throat.)
- Garrison Keillor has a stalker. Scary.
- The band Jet is taking a break.
- Fox may create a Prison Break spinoff that takes place in a women's prison.
- Ooh, Shannyn Sossamon is on Moonlight? I may need to get a glimpse of that.
- Authorities have shut down music file-sharing site OiNK.
- Eight cities will be screening Battlestar Galactica: Razor Nov. 12.
- Gretchen Mol gave birth to a son last month and named him Ptolemy.
- Martin Scorsese and Leo DiCaprio are reteaming for an adaptation of a Dennis Lehane novel.
- Here's a Q&A with Sarah Silverman.
- I'm just catching up with this David Sedaris interview, which ran in the Chicago Tribune last week.
- Wow, here's a classic photo.
- Peter Dinklage discusses his roles in this piece.
- Notice anything weird about Peter's ID on Heroes?
- A charity auction is offering a signed pair of Regis Philbin's shoes.
- And finally, do you know how to do "The SpongeBob"?
A few months ago, I told you a Pop Candy widget was coming. I'm happy to report it officially launched today!
Go here to experience the Whitney widget (the Whitget?) in all its glory. This nifty device will allow you to add Pop Candy content to your Facebook, MySpace, Typepad, Blogger or other social-networking pages.
I hope you enjoy this development, and I welcome all feedback. Stay tuned for more ways to add Pop Candy to your life. I'm thinking alarm clocks and oven mitts are next ...
I'm spending way too much time on this page right now. It asks celebrities the most important question of our time: "Who would win in a fight -- a minotaur armed with a trident, or a centaur armed with a crossbow?"
Tons of stars have answered, including George Clooney, Paul Reubens, Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne, Neil Gaiman and Tiger Woods. I want to say centaur, but my head knows that he doesn't have a chance.
It's a splendid Tuesday for DVDs, so start rearranging those Netflix queues in time for the weekend. Here's a glance at what just landed in stores:
- Breathless. Criterion releases one of my favorite movies of all time -- I've been waiting forever for this! The two-disc set includes archival interviews, a short film by director Jean-Luc Godard, a making-of documentary and more.
- Veronica Mars: The Complete Third Season. This show may be gone, but it will never be forgotten. I still miss you, Piz.
- Stanley Kubrick: Warner Home Video Directors Series. This 10-disc set includes remastered special editions of 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut. It also includes a documentary about Kubrick called A Life in Pictures, so you're getting quite a bit for your buck. (You can buy new, restored versions of Barry Lyndon and Lolita separately.)
- The L Word: The Complete Fourth Season. Catch up on the Alice-tastic season before the series returns.
- Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq. The moving HBO documentary is a must-see and will linger in your head for days.
- The Sopranos: Season Six, Part II. What, you still haven't seen that finale?
- The Company. Chris O'Donnell stars in this TV miniseries about the CIA.
- The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Volume 1. Prepare yourself for the return of Old Indy with these classic eps on DVD.
- Hostel: Part II. The gorefest continues.
- Into Great Silence. I'm eager to see this acclaimed documentary about a monastery in the French Alps.
- Mr. Brooks. Kevin Costner stars in a movie that has nothing to do about sports. (Instead, he plays a serial killer, which sounds unintentionally funny.)
Also out: Meet the Robinsons, I Love Lucy: The Complete Series, Saw III: The Director's Cut, Fido, The Tripper, NCIS: The Fourth Season, The Adventures of Aquaman: The Complete Collection, Home of the Brave, Jack's Big Music Show: Let's Rock, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries: Set 2, Tales From the Crypt: The Complete Seventh Season
If you live near Portland, Ore., or Flemington, N.J., you should make plans to participate in the second annual Wonder Woman Day on Sunday. The charity event benefits domestic violence shelters and features art shows and silent auctions. Go online to learn more and check out the items up for bid. (They're all portraits of Wonder Woman, and many of them are drawn by acclaimed cartoonists.)
If you don't live in Oregon or New Jersey -- and that's most of us -- you can still bid online. Last year Wonder Woman Day raised more than $15,000, so it would be awesome if they could top that this weekend.
LoriS just e-mailed me about a "mini-meetup" she had last night with another Candy commenter, IN Mike. I'll let her tell the story:
"Two of your loyal readers had occasion to meet up for dinner last night. We both happened to be in Detroit for work stuff, and we thought you'd get a kick out of it. A crummy self-portrait, taken with my camera phone, is attached.
"I live in Arizona, and Mike lives in Indiana. A mini-meetup in Detroit is a little like hanging out in the Annex with Toby and Kelly. :) One day, we'll attend an official Pop Candy event! It's cool to put a face to the comments."
Thanks for sharing, guys! It's great to see the blog bringing folks together -- and, if the smiling faces in this photo are any indication, it appears they made it home in time to watch Heroes.
I was a little worried about Dexter's second season, but so far the show has been just as juicy as it was the first year. (Placing Dex in a 12-step program was a nice touch.)
Sunday's episode will take the star into new and mysterious territory: a comic-book shop. There, he'll meet someone named "The Dark Defender," but that's all I'm allowed to reveal.
For your viewing pleasure, here are a couple non-spoiler-y pics:
The Simpsons will also jump aboard the comics train in November, when the show airs a highly anticipated episode featuring the voices of Daniel Clowes, Alan Moore and Art Spiegelman. Comic Book Guy is going to have a heart attack.
Dexter airs Sundays at 9 ET.
I can't type fast enough to tell you about this week's podcast. I've crafted a mix of all-new music, and after you hear it, you may have some downloading to do.
First of all, let me tell you about my favorite performer in the batch: Her name is Cannonball Jane, and she spends her days as an elementary school music teacher in Bridgeport, Conn. After work, she crafts these amazing songs -- I play one called Take It to Fantastic -- and if you don't dance, you're not human. She counts Le Tigre's Kathleen Hanna among her fans, and Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys does a Fantastic remix on her new record, Knees Up!.
You'll also hear an up-and-coming band called Athlete that has a new record out called Beyond the Neighbourhood. If you're a Snow Patrol fan, I think you'll like them a lot. Hip-hop artist Kevin Michael, ex-Banshees singer Siouxsie Sioux (left) and crazy-catchy Steve Goldberg & The Arch Enemies also get airtime this week.
Finally, don't miss the track from singer/songwriter Mishka Shubaly. I guarantee it will be the first time you've heard the lyric, "You left a bunch of dirty Kleenex underneath the mattress/like an unwanted batch of kittens."
Hear it now:
- Download the free podcast via iTunes
- Stream it as a Windows Media file
Check out the archive at candypodcast.usatoday.com, and see my RSS feed for more options. Huge thanks for listening!
Last night marked Kristen Bell's first appearance, a discovery for Peter, more action for Hiro and assorted drama for the rest of the gang. What did you think?
Share your observations in the comments section, though warn us if you include spoilers about upcoming episodes. Last night's ep is also available at NBC.com, in case you need to consult the videotape.
Welcome to the forum, where readers chat about pop culture throughout the day. Meet one of them now:
Reader of the day: MrsP55
Real name: Amanda P.
Where I live: Sylva, N.C.
Occupation: Communications assistant
MySpace: myspace.com/mrsamandap
Favorite movie: Love Actually, You've Got Mail and Zoolander. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic and stupid things make me laugh.
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Dolly Parton, because she is fabulous and a sweet Southern lady; Tina Fey, because she is funny and smart and I want to be just like her; and George Clooney because, well, he is so pretty.
Favorite movie quote: "If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more suprised than I am right now." -- Clark W. Griswold, Christmas Vacation
Happy Tuesday, everyone. Can I just take a moment to share how much I adore How I Met Your Mother? OK, so maybe the show has been off to a shaky start this season with single Ted, but last night it made me laugh with everyone else's "how I met" story -- and they played my favorite Guided by Voices song (I Am A Scientist) to boot. That is all.
Some headlines:
- CBS has canceled Viva Laughlin.
- Marie Osmond fainted on Dancing With the Stars last night. See for yourself.
- TVGuide.com has a tiny preview of the new season of Lost.
- Ryan Adams continues to surprise crowds at his shows -- check out the chain mail he wore the other night.
- Grey's Anatomy has recruited Pacey from Dawson's Creek. They're really trying to get me to watch this show, aren't they?
- Conan O'Brien is holding a contest where you can appear on an episode of Pale Force.
- Yeah, I can see Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock ...
- Johnny Marr hasn't ruled out a Smiths reunion. Too bad Morrissey has.
- Os Mutantes is back, thanks in part to David Byrne.
- Ryan Gosling and George Clooney have something in common: They walked away from big movie roles last weekend.
- Paul Raven, bassist for Killing Joke and Ministry, has died. He was 46.
- Check out the preview for Judd Apatow's latest comedy (they never stop), Drillbit Taylor.
- Donald Trump may be getting his own daytime show -- it would be "Dr. Phil meets Judge Judy."
- The Sci Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters will broadcast a six-hour live investigation on Halloween.
- Will Oldham will cover R. Kelly and Danzig on his new record.
- What are the 20 craziest costumed musical acts?
- NPR broadcast a concert with Stars the other night. Hear it now.
- Have you all been using the relaunched version of The Hype Machine? Feeling good about it?
- Check out these live performances from Nada Surf.
- And finally, in light of Kid Rock's arrest, entertain yourself with the Waffle House jukebox.
Some of you have asked for more of a Mad Men discussion, particularly since last week's season finale was so out of control. (Seriously, how could that have happened to Peggy? Elisabeth Moss did an excellent job of keeping a secret during our recent interview.) "Was that a dream, or was it real?" asks Pop reader Amanda B.
Some resources: A big discussion is going on at the official site, and I linked to this interview with creator Matthew Weiner this morning. One interesting thing to note is that Weiner isn't sure where next season will pick up: It may be 1960, it may be 1962, who knows. Personally, I'd like to see what happened to Peggy and Don soon after the finale, so I hope the show doesn't jump ahead too much.
Here's a lengthy review of the ep. If one person earned an Emmy nomination, it just might be Jon Hamm for his Kodak pitch. Watch the scene before it disappears.
Haven't seen Mad Men? Catch up on demand or on iTunes. It returns next summer.
This afternoon I've been reading all about Kaiju Big Battel, the Boston-based performance troupe that mixes American wrestling with Japanese monster movies. The troupe's crazy costumes are featured in the excellent new Bloc Party video, which will tantalize your senses with demolished buildings, android love and hypnotic laser beams.
I've never seen a "battel" before, but now I'm willing to drive several hours to witness one. And now that I've spent some time on kaiju.com, this random flyer that I spotted on a bar at CMJ makes a lot more sense:
"Dr. Cube" is one of the Big Battel characters. Hmm, I wonder where he'll pop up next?
Here's a quick 'n' fun "Where are they now?" feature on the cast and crew of The Goonies. We all know what happened to the film's major stars like Corey Feldman and Sean Astin (and may Anne Ramsey rest in peace), but it's fun to see where some of the other folks have gone.
As for a sequel to the 1985 flick, it sounds like it's more a question of "when" and not "if." Is that a good thing? And, if it happens, would any original cast members appear? I'm guessing Martha Plimpton would pass.
Thanks again to everyone who came out last week to the Crocodile Lounge, which ended up being the perfect place for our second Candy meetup in NYC.
The Lounge featured drink specials and free pizza, so no one left with an empty stomach. Here are a few highlights from the evening:
I couldn't believe it when I saw the Lounge had printed an official-looking sign on the door! I'm trying very hard to look cool and restrained here, but I think you can see the excitement in my eyes.
We had the whole back patio reserved for our event. On the right (blue shirts) are Cheryl and Ken -- they're big Serenity/Firefly fans who will be dressing as Mal and Inara for Halloween. They promised to send me a photo, so I'll post it with my batch of costume pics. In their spare time, they also do a movie podcast.
A game room adjoins the patio, so anyone who needed a break could go play, sit in the photobooth or what have you. I was too busy mingling to hang out there, but I heard there were a few mean games of skee ball going on.
Remember when I was on a college radio show called Thugg Lyfe? The hosts of that show, Zach (right) and Brendan, came to the meetup! The guys were in town for CMJ and told me about meeting Ira Glass, Murray from Flight of the Conchords and all sorts of awesome potential guests. I predict Thugg Lyfe is really going to break out in '08.
Jane and I talked a lot about Regis Philbin -- she met him years ago when he first started hosting a morning talk show in New York (before Kathie Lee). She sat in the audience one day, and his guest was her biggest crush of all time: Malcolm McDowell. She got to meet him, and she tells me she's still a huge fan. She even sent me this link this morning!
Pop reader Henry gave me the coolest book: Uncovered: Photographs by Thomas Allen. Allen is this amazing artist who turns book illustrations into works of art. Henry said he interviewed him for a small publication but will send a link if it goes online. Go here to see some of Allen's work.
Chris (right) and Autumn took some time out from playing in their band, the iOs, to hang out at the Lounge. The Brooklyn-based musicians performed as part of CMJ. I ran into them again at the Forms show Saturday night. (Chris also gave me a great tip -- the next time I'm in town, I'm hitting Barcade.)
I saw a ton of posters for Love in the Time of Cholera while I was in New York, so I guess buzz is building for the flick, which is based on the book by Gabriel García Márquez. (The novel is also the current pick in Oprah's book club. In case you're curious, a bunch of info about the author and the book can be found on her website.)
Javier Bardem and Benjamin Bratt star in Cholera, so I'm already enthused. You can watch the trailer and see a seven-minute behind-the-scenes feature on MySpace. Be warned, though: A Shakira song automatically starts playing when you click.
Go here to read a long excerpt from the book. The movie arrives Nov. 16, just in time for Oscar consideration.
Over the last few years, Jeffrey Brown's Wolverine comic has become almost legendary. Brown created a story called Wolverine: Dying Time that features the X-Men character battling zombies, though it's impossible to find -- and, since it's a copyrighted character, the chances of it ever getting published have always been slim to none.
In a new interview, Brown discusses how he hopes Marvel Comics will publish Dying Time and shares the first 11 pages of the comic. As you'll notice, Brown's drawing style is very different from most superhero books, so it would be pretty amazing if they decided to release it.
Above is a shot of Brown with yours truly at this month's Small Press Expo, where he signed copies of The Incredible Change-Bots. Brown's next book, Little Things: A Memoir in Slices, is due in April.
Update: Here's some video of Brown at SPX. Don't miss the "incredible change" (i.e. Transformers impersonation) at the end.
I'm sorry I was out of pocket last week, but I've returned with a noggin full of information! Let's get right to it with a list of marvelous bands you should hear on your lunch break, in no particular order:
1. Bad Veins -- I've raved about them quite a bit already, but you really do need to experience this high-powered duo, which might make Strokes and Interpol fans shuffle their feet. The song that made me swoon was The Lie (on their MySpace page), but I know you'll dig Gold and Warm, too.
2. The Black Kids -- This keyboard-heavy Jacksonville, Fla., group just wants to make you forget your troubles. You're guaranteed to love I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You, if you haven't heard it already. One, two, three four!
3. AA Bondy -- He's somewhere between Woody Guthrie and Ryan Adams, and I'm anxious to see what he does in a couple years. I like the song Vice Rag on MySpace, though if you see him perform it in person, he adds a lot of boot-stompin'.
4. St. Vincent -- I've mentioned her before, but I didn't realize how much she could rock (particularly on the guitar) until I saw her last week. Start with Now Now, which is kind of Tori Amos, kind of Bjork, kind of Sufjan Stevens (and she used to perform with Stevens).
5. The Loved Ones -- Are you in the mood for simple, American punk songs (a la Green Day, Blink-182 and the like)? Hear Living Will first.
6. Yeasayer -- I saw these guys during the day and was so impressed I'm considering seeing them again in D.C. this week. If most of your mix tapes consist of songs from 1985, you'll like them -- and, as a special bonus, the singer has a mustache. Dig in with 2080.
7. The Forms -- This is the only band I saw twice during CMJ: Once was an acoustic set, the second was a rocking performance on the final night of the fest. Fun fact: They cover Ignoreland on Stereogum's Drive tribute album. (Lead singer Alex Tween wanted me to tell you he is definitely not posing in this photo.)
8. Dan Deacon -- Missing his set is my greatest regret, because everyone was talking about it the next day. Fortunately, the electronic musician lives in Baltimore, so at some point I will be able to experience his glowing green skull. Hear him now.
10. The 1900s -- There are a bazillion people in this band, but they come together for good-time harmonies that sound more 1960s than anything else. The first song to hear is When I Say Go. (On the left is a photo of them in action.)
9. We Are Wolves -- Who needs guitar when you have bass, drums and keyboards? It also didn't hurt that the trio sang one song in French. Check out Fight and Kiss. Happy listening.
Wanna talk about pop culture? Visit the forum, where a discussion happens all day long. First, though, meet a fellow reader:
Reader of the day: Lorelai
Real name: Cori Poff
Why I chose my screen name: I love Gilmore Girls and a lot of my friends tell me I tend to talk as fast and as sarcastic Lorelai Gilmore.
Where I live: Hoboken, N.J. Birthplace of organized baseball, Frank Sinatra and the first brewery in the United States. Plus, we also had the most bars in a sqaure mile in the Guinness Book at one point.
Occupation: Fundraising and development for a nonprofit organization
MySpace: myspace.com/corimp
Favorite album: Judy Garland, Live at Carnegie Hall. It's not surprising that it's been called "the greatest night in show business history." I highly recommend picking it up because the woman did a heck of a lot more than Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Favorite TV show: Lost. Hands down. However, I presently have a love/hate relationship with it. I LOVE watching the show, but having to wait nine months between seasons is just cruel.
Good morning, everybody! I'm finally back from New York -- I'm still pretty tired, but I've decided that I won't be getting much sleep until after this weekend's Office convention. Scranton, here I come.
Attention, D.C. residents: Don't forget our first meetup in the nation's capital is this week. We'll be gathering at Bar Pilar at 6 p.m. Bring a camera and a smile.
Some headlines:
- J.K. Rowling has revealed Dumbledore is gay.
- Porter Wagoner has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
- Check out the "Top 70 Vampire Movies of All Time." Yes, this countdown goes to 70! Thanks to Brad K. for the tip.
- We have a story about Feist today, although you probably already know everything in it.
- RollingStone.com has posted a list of the 25 greatest moments from The Office.
- Here are some clips from the My So-Called Life box set, including Claire Danes interviews.
- Sacha Baron Cohen is a father.
- I'm not into these Jamie and Teddy "Cloverfield" videos at all, but a new one is posted on JamieAndTeddy.com. See it on YouTube here.
- Oh my god, did you guys see the awesome Mad Men finale? Here's an interview with creator Matthew Weiner. Don made me cry.
- Has a singer been chosen for the next Bond theme?
- CBS has picked up The Big Bang Theory for a full season.
- Hellboy 2 now has an official website. It arrives in theaters next year.
- Patti Smith took a nasty fall onstage last weekend.
- Jimmy Kimmel is searching for the funniest college student in America.
- We have a video tour of the Nip/Tuck set.
- Knight Rider could be returning as a series. A two-hour TV movie airs later this season.
- Alec Baldwin returns to Inside the Actor's Studio tonight.
- We won't see more Superman until 2010 at the earliest.
- Tripadvisor.com posted has a page devoted to Dwight Schrute's bed and breakfast. (I wish we'd discussed this episode, because it may be my least favorite of all time.)
- What has Ricki Lake been up to? She stars in a Lifetime movie that airs tonight.
- Fox canceled Nashville, a show you probably hadn't seen.
- And finally, here's an elaborate list of the "100 Scariest Movie Scenes of All Time." Video is included.
Three nights down, two to go.
The CMJ Music Marathon really is an endurance test. As you can tell from my Twitters, the action never stops. Each night I have to force myself to go home even though bands play until all hours, and then I feel guilty for not waking up at the crack of dawn to experience more music.
Before I left D.C., I sent my editors a list of bands I planned to see. I wish I could've seen the looks on their faces, because I know they hadn't heard of any of them -- and, truthfully, I didn't know much about them, either. Whereas most music fests are about seeing multiple mainstream acts in one location, CMJ is all about discovery. In fact, those who only stick to bands they know are a little lame.
Some pics:
Bon Iver was the first band I saw here, and they remain one of the best. (That's singer Justin Vernon above.) Wonderful three-part harmonies and really heartfelt songs marked their set. If you go to their MySpace, I recommend starting with The Wolves (Act I and II). We did a little sing-along when they performed that on Tuesday.
OK, here is the best band I've seen at CMJ thus far: Bad Veins. Remember their name! I love situations like this, where you stumble into a grimy basement and end up seeing a super-fantastic show. The two-piece Cincinnati act features a lead singer who wails into a megaphone and a telephone. (I'm still not sure how that works.) High-energy, visually captivating rock 'n' roll that is perhaps best enjoyed in person.
I also caught a performance from the charismatic Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping. I've written about this guy before -- his whole schtick is that he's a preacher who is fighting against consumerism. Shows by the "church" are like revivals, and the audience is encouraged to participate. It's definitely an experience. Rev. Billy stars in an upcoming documentary called What Would Jesus Buy?, which is produced by Super Size Me's Morgan Spurlock.
Here's a shaky pic of KISS' Peter Criss, who appeared on a panel about how to have a good stage presence. He told the audience to believe in themselves and entertained us with stories about the band's early days ("We had a room full of makeup ... Shoe polish I was using, some crayons, whatever we could grab.") On his left is Eric Davidson, formerly of the New Bomb Turks.
Here's Oh No! Oh My!, a band from Austin I saw Wednesday. You may have heard one of their songs on Weeds this season -- it's from their new self-titled album.
I loved Thursday's daytime set from We Are Wolves. Bass, keyboard, drums ... that is all you need. They definitely woke me up, and I plan to check them out the next time they roll through my town.
As I mentioned before, last night I wandered into a show by a feel-good punk band called The Loved Ones. I had just seen a couple super-mellow bands, so they helped me rejuvenate. A pit formed seconds after this photo was taken, however, so I had to scoot to the back.
Finally, here is the lovely St. Vincent. I think I've mentioned her cool and layered indie rock before, but you should check it out if you haven't already. She was supposed to go onstage at midnight and ended up starting at 1:15 a.m. It was worth it, though.
So that's a little peek into what I've been doing this week. I'll still Twitter like crazy until I leave on Sunday, since the music doesn't end until late Saturday night. (We also had our awesome Candy meetup yesterday. Look for a full recap Monday -- if you attended, please send me your photos by Sunday so I can include them.)
Aside from all the performances, the other cool reason to be at CMJ is just to chat with the people. Between sets, I've met so many Pop Candy readers, bloggers, attendees, folks at record labels, etc. -- and the thing we have in common is that everyone loves music! I've already accumulated such a long list of bands and websites to check out that I can't wait to share them with you in upcoming weeks.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a long day ahead of me. I'm glad I packed extra earplugs.
Note: To get minute-by-minute updates from CMJ, read my Twitter reports at the top of the blog or twitter.com/popcandy.
Hey, guys -- I'm forfeiting the Early Buzz because I ended up rocking 'n' rolling until the wee hours this morning. Stay tuned for photos and tales from CMJ, though ... and, in the meantime, here's a closer look at a fellow reader and a space to chat about pop culture:
Reader of the day: robotpain
Real name: Chris Felax
Where I live: Brunswick, Maine
Occupation: Web designer/at-home dad
MySpace: myspace.com/robotpain
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Bill Clinton, Seth MacFarlane, Rob Zombie. Man, they'd make a great sitcom together!
A movie I can't stand (and why): Yentl. My aunt dragged me to see this 3+ hour movie when I was 9 or 10 years old. It felt like the movie that would never end ...
Best Halloween costume I've ever worn: "The Fly" when I was 10 or 11. My dad and I made a paper mache fly head and claw. It was awesome, but after one block of trick-or-treating, I was sweating so much I ditched the fly head and only had a lab coat and right arm claw. I'm sure people were wondering what the heck I was after that!
Yes, you read that correctly: The first Office convention is being held Oct. 26-28 in Scranton, and I'm letting my hair down and brushing up on beet history for the event.
I encourage Pop readers to join me on Friday, Oct. 26 at Farley's for some good times in the happenin' city. I'll be there from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (We're doing it a little later so convention-goers can attend the opening ceremony a few blocks away.) Farley's was featured in the basketball episode of the show; go to the restaurant's website, and you'll see a photo of Rainn Wilson.
I think this could be the most memorable meetup yet ... that is, if there are any Pop readers in Scranton! Feel free to drop me a line if you're coming via the comments or e-mail. See you next week.
As you probably know by now, the forum is a space where readers gab about pop culture as they please. Here's one of those readers now:
Reader of the day: Areila
Real name: Kiesha Jenkins
Where I live: Columbus, Ohio
Occupation: Peddler of fine merchandise (retail)
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Jim Carrey and Seth Rogen. If I could go back in time, it would be Laura Ingalls Wilder.
One famous person I've actually met: I've actually met several famous people. David Sedaris, Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry, Michael Moore, Al Franken, Craig Thompson, Paul Feig, the "geeks" from Freaks and Geeks. My boyfriend books bands here in Columbus, so I've met some bands through that: Ted Leo says hi to me at every show I attend; I've had pizza with Andrew Bird (he doesn't like garlic).
Coolest pop culture item I own: Probably a book autographed by David Cross. When I met him at one of his comedy shows, I had him autograph a CD for me. Then my car got broken into and the CD was stolen and I was heartbroken. My boyfriend Rob went to South by Southwest the following year and went to a panel for the book Fired, and David Cross was in attendance (he's featured in the book). So Rob told him about my CD being stolen and asked him to autograph the book. It reads, "Kiesha! Don't let this book get stolen! - David Cross"
Good morning! I'm excited about today's Pop Candy meetup and can't wait to hang out -- again, it starts at 5:30 at the Crocodile Lounge. Look for us on the back patio.
Here are some headlines while I'm resting up for another big day and long night:
- I am still too afraid to watch myself on TV (I always am), but you can see me on Regis and Kelly here if you wish.
- Here's a scene from Kristen Bell's Heroes debut.
- George Lucas is planning a Star Wars TV series.
- Yes, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams really did break up.
- Tommy's wife on Rescue Me is joining Lost.
- Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy have been cast in the Star Trek movie.
- Special 20th anniversary rereleases of U2's The Joshua Tree are on the way.
- RollingStone.com has posted an excerpt from its new interview with Bruce Springsteen.
- Now you can download a screen saver just like the bouncing box they had on The Office.
- Debra Messing is returning with more Starter Wife.
- Slate has a piece called "The Trouble With Clooney," on the heels of Michael Clayton's disappointing box office.
- Here's the tracklist for Cat Power's new covers album.
- Sufjan Stevens is making a "30-minute, seven-movement orchestral suite" about the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. I dare you to not roll your eyes. (Via Golden Fiddle)
- Hmm, I think this report about Battlestar DVDs is just rumor, but see for yourself.
- I think I could accept Shannyn Sossamon as Wonder Woman.
- We can expect a Wolverine movie in 2009.
- Why did Death Cab for Cutie's guitarist have his music taken by federal border agents?
- And from The Onion: "Sears Gold Card Holder Pushing Weight Around Area Sears."
Usually, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa are in my living room every morning, but today I was in theirs. Well, sort of.
I had to be at the studio where Live with Regis and Kelly is taped by 8:30 a.m. Regular members of the audience have to arrive by 8 a.m., but I'm special -- instead of waiting in a long line before the show, I get a backstage tour.
If you watch Regis and Kelly -- and I swear I do -- you may have heard the hosts joke about how small and shabby their digs are. In reality, they're telling the truth. The audience stands in a small waiting area, which is near a small, electric blue hallway. Off of that are dressing rooms, a green room for guests and shared bathrooms (yes, shared!), and all of it looks about the same as any other office building.
Just before I reach the set, I run into executive producer Michael Gelman. He shows up to work around 7 to get the show rolling. Kelly comes in about 8, and Regis arrives at 8:20 or 8:25 -- he walks to work from his home a few blocks away. I'm amazed to hear how fast everything moves: They're in hair and makeup at 8:45, and Gelman talks to Kelly about the "host chat" before he goes onstage and warms up the audience at 8:55. The hosts meet up seconds before they go on the air. And then it begins.
Welcome to the forum, where readers chat about pop culture throughout the day. Here's one of them up close and personal:
Reader of the day: IN Mike
Real name: Mike Potter
Where I live: Pendleton, Ind.
Occupation: Chemist
Three famous people I'd love to meet: If I had to choose, I’d go with Dennis Miller, Robin Yount, and Michael Palin.
One famous person I've actually met: Does before they were famous count? I lived in the same dorm as Ted Leo in college. We weren't best friends or anything, but the dorms at Notre Dame are set up like fraternities and sororities since there is no Greek system. Everyone knew everyone.
Best concert experience: Van Halen, January 1984, Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, Tenn. Their last tour with the original lineup. It was only the second concert for this 14-year-old, and one that hasn’t been topped.
Good morning! As you can tell from my Twitters, my clock is a little off this week, so the posts may be few and oddly timed. Here's some buzz, though. While you're reading it, I'll be watching Live with Regis and Kelly -- in the studio!
- Orson Welles' Oscar for Citizen Kane is going to be auctioned.
- I thought the CMJ gift bags were pretty lame, but this person finds some treasures.
- Neil Young is previewing new songs on his YouTube channel.
- Fox's The Sarah Connor Chronicles will be paired with 24 in January.
- Yeah, yeah. Everybody wants to be Wonder Woman.
- Is Jason from Friday the 13th guesting on Supernatural this season?
- I've missed Benjamin Bratt, so I'm glad he has landed a pilot.
- The Onion A.V. Club releases a list of celebrities "blown second chances." Do the Pixies really belong on there?
- Check out this preview of Alan Moore's tantalizing Black Dossier.
- Who stole the Travelocity gnome?
- Kristen Bell talks Heroes -- can't wait for next week.
- Mario Batali has launched an online series.
- It's nice to see Earl Scruggs gettin' a little love.
- Here's how Angel fans can get that collector's set early.
- Target is offering an exclusive transforming DVD case of Transformers.
- Artist Paul Friedrich hung out at a Bojangles' restaurant for 18 1/2 hours yesterday and blogged about it. Give that man a biscuit.
- Ryan L. sent me this right brain/left brain test.
- And finally, the "30 Most Hideous Gaming Tattoos" cracked me up, even though I didn't think some of them were so bad.
You've been waiting for months for this announcement, so I'm thrilled to finally say that the Washington, D.C. meetup has been scheduled: We'll be gathering in my city next week, on Wednesday, Oct. 24. The place? Bar Pilar. The time? 6-8 p.m.
I'm so excited about my first hometown event I can hardly stand it. An RSVP isn't required, but I'd appreciate it if you left me a note in the comments or dropped me an e-mail if you're coming, just so I know about how many people to expect. (Who knows, some Candy co-workers and relatives might show up, too.)
Bar Pilar is located at 1833 14th Street NW, between S and T streets. There's no dress code, and you'll have to pay for your own drinks. The good times are free of charge.
Photo: 20th Century Fox
If you haven't been watching AMC's Mad Men, you're missing one of the coolest and most addictive shows on TV.
The drama about New York City advertising executives wraps up its first season this week -- the finale airs Thursday at 10 ET -- and AMC has already picked it up for a second season. In this week's podcast, I get the behind-the-scenes scoop from Elisabeth Moss (left), who plays mousy-'n'-awesome secretary Peggy on the show. We chat about the finale, the 1960-era set and her character's sudden, mysterious weight gain. Could Peggy be preggers? She's not telling.
I also play three bands I'm excited to see at the CMJ Music Marathon this week: Saturday Looks Good to Me (their new CD is so delightful), Tiny Masters of Today (with some help from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) and Orba Squara (you know them from a popular commercial).
Hear it now:
- Download the free podcast via iTunes
- Stream it as a Windows Media file
Check out the archive at candypodcast.usatoday.com, and see my RSS feed for more options. Thank you so much for listening!
Last night we met another new hero, watched Claire fall for the flying dude, heard about Matt Parkman's past and finally got a glimpse of Nathan's hairless face. What did you think of the episode? Is the show gaining momentum, or is it losing steam?
Leave your thoughts in the comments, but warn us if you post spoilers for upcoming episodes. Don't forget that eps are posted online if you need a refresher.
(By the way, how excited are we about that preview for next week?!)
Welcome to the forum, a place where readers chat about pop culture as they please. Who's in the spotlight today?
Reader of the day: Badlands
Real name: Muuka Muyumba
What my screen name means: My friends named me after the competitive eater.
Where I live: Indianapolis
Occupation: Law
MySpace: myspace.com/muuka
Favorite TV show: X-Files, Seinfeld, Heroes, SportsCenter, 4400, Entourage ... I watch too much TV
Favorite book: Anything Michael Chabon or Nick Hornby
Best Halloween costume I've ever worn: Fat Albert (see photo)
A movie I can't stand (and why): Titanic. Never have watched it and never will. Don't get me wrong, I like Leo and Kate to no end. I watch their movies just because they are in them, but that boat sank a long time ago for me.
Good morning! It's super-early, but I wanted to post something before I left for New York. I'll be in Manhattan all week -- if you'll be in the area, don't forget we're having a Pop Candy meetup Thursday at the Crocodile Lounge.
Some headlines:
- Led Zeppelin is releasing its back catalog online.
- It's not too early to look at the must-see movies of 2008.
- Everyone's talking about the zombie series CBS didn't pick up.
- Yahoo has posted the trailer for Charlie Wilson's War, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
- Check out this video of Arcade Fire joining Bruce Springsteen onstage.
- My Name is Earl's Darnell has made a music video.
- The Sci Fi Channel and G4 have gotten the cable rights to Lost.
- Debbie Harry thinks Kirsten Dunst could play her in a movie.
- Harry enthusiasts may want to check out this interview, which includes a lot of photos.
- Here's a story about Scott Porter, star of Friday Night Lights and lover of comic books.
- Wheel of Fortune will welcome a bunch of celebrity contestants next month.
- Cracked counts down "The 10 Most Asinine Movie Twist Endings."
- Can you believe Madonna's daughter is 11 years old?
- Joss Whedon isn't happy that Fox shut down the Buffy sing-alongs.
- The White Stripes are now selling cameras.
- Here's TVGuide.com's interview with Zach Quinto, in case you missed it.
- The DVD of Live Free or Die Hard will come with an electronic copy that can be played on computers.
- The new show from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino may be in trouble.
- And finally, Anderson Cooper appears on Sesame Street today.
Happy Monday! I'm taking the day off to entertain houseguests and pack my own suitcase, but I'll return with more posts tomorrow before I leave for the CMJ Music Marathon in New York.
Until then, meet today's featured reader and feel free to chat about pop culture in the comments:
Reader of the day: kjkwis
Real Name: Kevin Kotke
Where I live: Milwaukee
Occupation: Forms administrator for a large law firm.
Favorite TV show: Family Guy. With so many pop-culture references, how can you go wrong? I still laugh after multiple viewings of single episodes. SpongeBob SquarePants is usually a weekend morning staple. I love mindless television. It's so relaxing, and SpongeBob shows go pretty well with coffee.
People say I resemble: I've been approached many times by people telling me I look like Sting, which is a compliment I happily took. I was even OK with comparisons to Kevin Costner. BUT, recently, some guy told me I look like Bill Engvall from Blue Collar Comedy. I'm not so sure that's a compliment.
Best concert experience: Violater tour Depeche Mode, 1991. Depeche was super hot in the early '90s, and the concert was high energy and the crowd was wild. Ultimately, my NEW favorite concert was my recent attendance at Erasure show, in August, 2007. Andy Bell was amazing on stage and his voice was perfect. And I had third-row seats!
Highlights of last night's episode of The Office included ... well, I don't know, because I was too busy eating barbecue and trying to show an out-of-towner good times in the District.
However, if you'd like to discuss last night's ep, feel free to do so in the comments. (Has the hourlong format outstayed its welcome?) I'll catch up as soon as I can. Don't forget that full episodes are now available online.
Welcome to today's forum, where readers chat about pop culture throughout the day. Here's one of them up close:
Screen name: tvpam
Real name: Pam Myers (Here is Pam with me at the L.A. meetup)
Why I chose my screen name: It's not just a screen name, it's a way of life!
Where I live: Hollywood, Calif.
Occupation: Court reporter
Website: twitter.com/tvpam -- I just started this in September, but I'm trying to get it going.
Favorite movie: Gone With the Wind and Fight Club. I was very into widescreen VHS tapes and wasn't particularly interested in getting a DVD player because the movies were so expensive back in the day. I only bought a DVD player after reading about all the cool stuff on the Fight Club DVD that was coming out, and it was the first DVD I ever bought.
One famous person I've actually met: Barry Williams when he was on his college tour supporting his book. I worked in TV before going to court reporting school, so I met John Salley, Jay Leno, Martin Short, and Bernie Brillstein on the different shows I worked on.
Best concert experience: I've seen Prince 10 times starting with the Purple Rain tour when I was a kid, but the best was when I showed up for a screening of Prince Live at the Aladdin Las Vegas and didn't even know there was a performance after. The people I met in line knew what was up and sat with me after my friend bailed. Morris Day walked through the theater before the movie started, and we all ran out of the screening early to get to the concert. Prince did not sing (which the line people also knew was the deal), but he opened with Shhh and played maybe an hour while I stood two feet from the stage.
Happy Friday! I took the day off today so that I could entertain my houseguest and go to the Small Press Expo. While he's sleeping, here are some headlines:
- My Girl star Anna Chlumsky is engaged.
- Gilmore Girls' Amy Sherman-Palladino will make her feature directing debut with The Late Bloomer's Revolution, a movie starring Sarah Jessica Parker.
- John Cho and Simon Pegg have been cast in Star Trek as Sulu and Scotty.
- Fisher Stevens will join Lost as Minkowski.
- Penelope Cruz has been cozying up to Javier Bardem.
- Ron Howard and another Arrested Development vet are working on a new series for Fox.
- Check out this image of Benicio Del Toro as Che Guevara.
- Not surprisingly, Sweeney Todd will be rated R for "graphic bloody violence."
- RollingStone.com has some video with Beirut's Zach Condon. (It's a little weird to call him a "breaking artist, though, since he's been around for awhile.)
- Fans in Britain are trying to get the Sex Pistols' God Save the Queen back on the UK singles chart.
- Elvis Costello will perform at Hillary Clinton's birthday party.
- NBC is departing Burbank, Calif., leaving Conan O'Brien to do The Tonight Show from Los Angeles in 2009.
- Does Boner from Growing Pains have the worst TV name?
- Coming soon: David Bowie-inspired clothes at Target.
- TV Land will start streaming full episodes of classic TV shows like The Andy Griffith Show and Gunsmoke.
- Here's a list of the top 10 "hidden" performances (i.e. the actors are hidden beneath prosthetics).
- Here's an interesting post about ratings for HBO shows. Flight of the Conchords has smaller ratings than John from Cincinnati and Tell Me You Love Me.
- Drew Carey is engaged.
- And this is pretty weird: It's a made-up conversation "between R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and chef Mario Batali, if they'd stayed up Wednesday night listening to Radiohead's In Rainbows in Stipe's TriBeCa penthouse loft, and later went out for food at an unknown location, possibly where saffron risotto was being served."
Also, for those of you who will be near Bethesda, Md., this weekend, I'll be appearing on a panel Sunday at 10 a.m. called "Publicity and the Media." If you see me at SPX, say hello!
So today I opened my mail and discovered ... a box of wigs!
It was a box of Hairspray wigs, to be exact: You can purchase a variety of Hairspray costumes and accessories for Halloween this year, from wigs to dresses to suits to an inflatable can. (A bunch of retailers are selling them, including BuyCostumes.com.) They're available for men and women -- in plus sizes, too -- so the whole family could get in on the action if they felt so inclined.
Take a look at a few of the selections, if you dare:
This is the "Tracy Turnblad." Out of all of them, I think it goes with my skin tone the best ... though that's not saying a whole lot.
Here's the "Motormouth Maybelle." Yeah, I don't think I was meant to be a blonde. If I ever want to dress up as Rip Taylor for Halloween, I might wear it again.
Finally, this is the "Penny Pingleton." I wonder how long it would take the authorities to capture me if I wore it in public?
The wigs retail for $19.99-$24.99. They'd probably look better on you than they do on me, especially if you comb them.
Did you know Ellen DeGeneres posts a photo of her lunch each day on her website? She eats pretty well, though I didn't expect her to dine on grilled cheese sandwiches and Ramen noodles -- I was also impressed that she uses real plates and silverware. (I've got to stop using plastic forks.)
Today's lunch for Ellen: "Delicious Cod Au Gratin. A classic dish of North East Atlantic cod, oven poached in a béchamel sauce with organic Canadian Cheddar and breadcrumbs and then broiled for just long enough to get the cheese perfectly gooey. On the side is a salad of butter lettuce and heirloom tomatoes in a lemon mustard vinaigrette."
Today's lunch for me: A cup of mystery soup from the cafeteria downstairs. I spotted some carrots and celery in there, and beans of an unrecognizable variety. Mmmm.
Thanks to Ashlee D. for the tip.
We're almost to the point where there's a blog about everything -- including trash.
Last Night's Garbage posts a daily photo of trash on the streets of New York. Some of the pictures tell a story by themselves, while others are accompanied by facts about diapers or air conditioners or the environment. A few photos include short stories beneath them ... all inspired by the wonders of trash. Wow, I'd hate for them to see what I throw away every week.
Thanks to SpicyMustard for the tip.
A cool book landed in stores this week -- if you're not a big comics fan, you may want to keep it in mind during your holiday shopping, because it has "snazzy gift idea" written all over it.
The Marvel Vault (Running Press, $49.95) presents itself as a "Museum-in-a-Book," for lack of a better term. The spiral-bound, 192-page binder is filled with color illustrations and detailed history of the Marvel universe, from the beginning to present day. The coolest parts, though, are the removable reproductions of collectibles most fans could never find or afford, like sketches, holiday cards, fanclub membership certificates and posters.
For instance, the book includes a reproduction of Howard the Duck's campaign button from 1976. You can gaze upon drawings of the Sub-Mariner from the '40s, or put the 1982 Marvel visitor pass in your wallet. The geeky fun never stops!
For a glimpse at what's inside, check out photos here and here. Here's a list of its contents. (And yes, all of the vintage items say "reproduction" on the back, so don't try selling them on eBay or anything.)
Even if you won't be in the Big Apple next week, you may want to download this free sampler of artists that will be performing at the CMJ fest. Let's Get Digital 3 includes tracks by Jesu, British Sea Power, The Teeth, We Are Wolves and other bands that everyone will be talking about in six months. Check it out before they become too popular.
(By the way, I still haven't made my schedule yet, so if you have any tips, let me know!)
Since I'll be in New York next week for the CMJ Music Marathon, it makes sense to have another gathering for Pop Candy readers. I'm excited to announce that the next meetup will be Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Crocodile Lounge. We'll be there from 5:30-7:30 p.m., so stop by after work for a drink and some good times.
We'll be gathered in the back, though I'll Twitter during the event so you know exactly where we are/what I'm wearing/if any plans change. Bring friends if you want -- an RSVP isn't required, though I'd like to hear from you in a comment or an e-mail, just so I can have some names in my head when I go.
The Crocodile Lounge is located at 325 E. 14th St, between 1st and 2nd avenues. I hope to see you there ... and if you're not in the New York area, sit tight: I'll be announcing another meetup very soon.
Attention, Tom Petty fans: A new documentary about the musician debuts next week. Depending on your attention span and your level of fandom, you may choose to see it on the big screen and/or buy the DVD.
Runnin' Down A Dream traces the history of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and is directed by Peter Bogdanovich. It includes interviews, concert footage, celebrity appearances, rare performances ... pretty much everything a Petty fan could ask for.
One thing to note: This movie runs more than four hours. That's why most theaters are screening it only once, on Oct. 15. Here's a list of cities that are showing the film, and here's a trailer. The DVD will go on sale Oct. 16 exclusively at Best Buy as a three-DVD/one-CD box set. There's also a matching coffee-table book, if you'd like to complete your collection.
I just snagged this shot of Heroes' Masi Oka and George Takei sittin' pretty -- don't you want to pinch Masi's cheeks? The pic appears in Entertainment Weekly's upcoming "Photo Issue," which hits stands Oct. 19. The issue includes several of the mag's "greatest hits," along with never-before-seen shots like this one.
Here's what photographer Justin Stephens said about taking the portrait:
"George was joking the whole time about how in a traditional Japanese family portrait, the mom would always be in the photo. They made the picture work. If they hadn't given me great, over-the-top expressions, the whole thing would have been dead."
In the last 24 hours, I've received two phone calls from Optimus Prime.
It's safe to say this viral site for the Transformers DVD release is spreading fast, so you may want to send a message soon. I have a feeling I'll be hearing from Optimus at least one more time today ... not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.
The DVD arrives Oct. 16 as a regular release and a two-disc special edition.
Welcome to the forum, where Candy readers talk about pop culture throughout the day. Here's one of 'em now:
Reader of the day: cmjj957
Real name: Marni (aka "The Pug Lady"). The pug is my boy, and his name is Dozer.
Where I live: I live in small town outside of Atlanta that is only a few miles from Alabama!
Occupation: Curriculum designer
Website: www.its-a-pugs-life.blogspot.com
Favorite album: I’m an '80s geek, so it would have to be Built for Speed from the Stray Cats, or Seven and the Ragged Tiger from Duran Duran. Throw in a little GNR, Whitesnake or any '80s hair band and I’m a happy girl!
One famous person I've actually met: Country singer Trisha Yearwood. Long story made short: Her limo dropped her off for an interview at a radio station. The station had moved to another building within our complex. I was walking in to work and she needed a ride. She jumped in my car along with her two managers and I sped them off to her appointment. I wound up making a Heart of Georgia Chevrolet commercial, but it never aired.
A movie I can't stand: Cocktail with Tom Cruise. What a cheesy, slow, BORING movie. I’m not a huge TC fan in the first place, but this movie pushed me over the edge. So predictable ... and TC’s smugness made me gag. Can’t watch it, no way.
Happy Thursday! Last night I watched way too much TV, including Bionic Woman, Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. I wasn't a fan of last week's Bionic, but it was back on track with episode 3 -- then again, I'm of the opinion that they need to kill Jaime Sommers and replace her with Katee Sackhoff, who clearly dominates every scene she's in.
Pushing Daisies almost scared me away with the singing, but it remains my favorite new show. And Dirty might be my guilty pleasure this season (if it's not canceled). Despite the silly storylines, I just can't resist that cast.
On to some headlines:
- We have a short Q&A with Stephen King.
- Kiefer Sutherland is expected to spend the holidays in jail.
- Did you hear the one about the guy who bought the comic book valued at $250,000?
- Regis Philbin has a new gig: He'll host a remake of the game show Password.
- Seth Green is heading to Grey's Anatomy for two episodes.
- George Harrison's albums are now online. Let's hope the Beatles are next ...
- IMDB has launched character pages.
- Gothamist has an interview with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood about In Rainbows.
- Check out the new trailer for Jumper, a sci-fi flick starring Samuel L. Jackson and Hayden Christensen.
- Kate Flannery writes about the return of Meredith, her character on The Office, in her blog.
- Has your favorite TV show become unwatchable this season?
- The first-season DVD release of Torchwood has already been set. I'm still loving this show!
- Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County is returning, but Jo won't be on it.
- It's not too late to sign up for 24 Hour Comics Day, in which cartoonists try to create a comic book in 24 hours.
- Fox has stopped the Buffy sing-alongs that were being held around the country. Sigh.
- Slate has a piece about Todd Haynes' new Bob Dylan biopic.
- Additional scripts have been ordered for NBC's new shows and CBS' Cane.
- Anthony Bourdain isn't afraid of criticizing Rachael Ray.
- Fox may resurrect The Pitts, a series it canceled in 2003, as an animated show.
- And finally, how does the Star Trek fan community feel about the new movie?
I know, by the end of the month you'll get tired of hearing me mention costumes, ghosts, Elvira and the like. But for now, you might get a kick out of lists like the "50 Best-Reviewed Horror Movies" on RottenTomatoes.com.
These are scary flicks you probably wouldn't have minded paying $10 to see in theaters. The top five: The Devil's Backbone, Rosemary's Baby, Shaun of the Dead, King Kong (1933) and Psycho (1960). Looking at this list made me realize just how many horror flicks have been remade in recent years ... and hope that nobody tries to make another version of Rosemary's Baby.
Today's Halloween-themed link comes courtesy of otisfirefly, aka Birmingham-based reader Kevin W. He writes:
"About a month ago, my wife asked our 3-year-old son what he wanted to be for Halloween, and he said 'Smashing Pumpkins.' At only 3, yes, he is a fan. So my wife had an outfit made like the one Billy Corgan is using on tour this year. We drove over two hours to a photographer in northeast Alabama. They turned out so good, I uploaded one of my favorites."
Check out Kevin's son in his cute Corgan costume:
And here's Billy, rocking a similar outfit on the road:
I'll be posting Pop readers' Halloween costumes once again this year, so don't forget to snap a pic of your own getup in a few weeks!
Several readers have asked me how they can catch up with Damages, especially now that the season is about to end. (Shame on you for not jumping on the Frobisher bandwagon early!)
Here's some good news: FX is airing a 12-hour marathon Oct. 20, starting at 8 a.m. ET. The show is also available on iTunes, though from what I understand, new episodes don't always appear as quickly as fans would like.
Start clearing those TiVos, and don't forget to catch the season finale Oct. 23. I have some theories, but I'll keep them to myself for now.
As you may know, I'm a big fan of the Comedians of Comedy -- I just bought tickets to their D.C. show a few days ago, so maybe I'll see some of you there.
As a special bonus, the Comedians (Patton Oswalt, Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford) are posting weekly videos from the road on SuperDeluxe.com. The first episode shows what happened when the gang went to Seattle. Check out their full itinerary and more musings on MySpace.
(Note: The video has some spicy language, so you may want to listen through headphones.)
Several of you have told me about Mustaches of the Nineteenth Century, a marvelous blog devoted to "the Golden Age of upper lip hair." Each day the site posts an historic mustache photo along with some insightful/funny/informative comments.
For instance, did you know that on Oct. 6, 1916, "the British Army revoked the standing order that all military men were required to maintain a mustache?" Pass it on.
Thanks to Amanda B., Jessica W., Boing Boing and everyone else for the tip.
In case you've been living in a box, the new Radiohead album arrives today.
In Rainbows is available for download for whatever price you're willing to pay. So how much did you pay for it: $1? $10? $100? Was it worth it?
NME.com has a track-by-track review and is playing it three times today on their online radio station. Here's RollingStone.com's track-by-track review and a four-star writeup from the UK Times.
Some fans have complained about the bit rate for the new album, though the general reaction to the music seems to be very positive. Do you agree?
Welcome to the forum, where readers can chat about pop culture throughout the day. Meet today's featured face:
Screen name: randomtroy
Real name: Troy Dodd (I've attached a pic of me and my daughter Alyssa)
Where I live: Los Angeles
Occupation: Writer/server/bartender
Website: www.randomtroy.com
Favorite album: Beauty and the Beat by The Go-Go's. I used to be in love with Gina Schock.
People say I resemble: Master Shake. I also get Benjamin Bratt a lot.
My celebrity crush: This week it's a toss-up between Jessica Alba and the Dramatic Prarie Dog (I get lost in those eyes!).
Good morning, all! I'm still thinking about last night's shocking turn of events on Damages (I won't give away any spoilers) ... in fact, I dreamed about the show last night. If you're not watching, you're really missing out.
A fellow fan sent me this tidbit: "I am finishing up Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell (fabulous book, been meaning to read it for ages), and wanted to pass along the fact that one of the characters is yet another Frobisher (Robert), and that his family of Frobishers is referred to as 'the Frobishery.'" Ha!
Anyway, your daily headlines:
- We have a story about the creators of The Real World, who are about to kick off the 20th edition of the MTV reality series.
- Oh man, I really can't wait for the new Battlestar season to start ... how fast can 2008 get here?
- A new R.E.M. song is premiering today on ... Anderson Cooper 360?
- Anthony Bourdain finally updated his blog about the Top Chef finale.
- VH1 will air the first two songs from Bruce Springsteen's concert in East Rutherford, N.J., tonight at 8 ET.
- Here's an interview with Mike Mills, director of the documentary Does Your Soul Have a Cold?. It airs on IFC Oct. 22.
- Gossip Girl has been picked up for a full season. (I'm still not a fan.)
- We have a story on which new shows may be in trouble. I'll admit I was disappointed by the second episode of Bionic Woman ...
- David Hasselhoff was hospitalized yesterday.
- Eric Bana has joined the cast of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie.
- Yahoo has an exclusive trailer for The Golden Compass. Talking animals freak me out, but I'm trying to keep an open mind.
- This week PopMatters has been posting "The Best of TV on DVD."
- Ooh, the bigscreen adaptation of Land of the Lost has been greenlighted. Its star? Will Ferrell.
- Chevy Chase will have a recurring role on Brothers & Sisters this season.
- Here's another update on Cat Power's second covers record, which will be titled Jukebox.
- The A.V. Club has an interview with the Meat Puppets, who have returned.
- What is Trent Reznor going to do now that he's free of a label?
- Here's what Hugh Grant has been up to lately. I'm hoping it's research for a movie about drunken college girls.
- Portable XM radios will be introduced next year.
- Here's a Q&A with Elvira about her new reality show, which premieres Oct. 13.
- Take a look at "The Loudest Alphabet Book on Earth." (Thanks, Gigi S.)
- And finally, Pop reader Antoinette V. sent me a link to Cupcakes for a Cause. They're virtual cupcakes, so they're totally healthy.
Here's a list of "16 Films Without Which Wes Anderson Couldn't Have Happened." It includes many of the director's more obvious influences, like The Graduate, Harold and Maude and The King of Comedy, but you'll also discover a few titles that you may want to add to your rental queue.
Noted one reader in the comments: "I'd also like to see a list along the lines of '16 Films Without Which Michael Bay Couldn't Have Happened,' so if I should ever happen to find a way to travel back in time, I'll know what needs to be done."
I still don't know what I'll be for Halloween, though I keep telling my husband I think I'd make a good Amy Winehouse ... and he keeps making vomiting noises at the suggestion.
Anyway, here's a list of celebrity costume possibilities that includes the usual suspects, like Winehouse, Tyra Banks and Phil Spector. The possibilities certainly don't end there -- for example, I can think of several TV characters that would make good costumes:
Dwight and Angela from The Office. He carries beets and Battlestar Galactica DVDs. She totes a cat and a calculator. It's cheap 'n' easy!
Frobisher from Damages. Wear a white wig, grab a golf club and make a lot of sweeping, suspicious statements.
Those annoying twins from Heroes. Ladies, paint black tears on your faces. Guys, look concerned. If you go trick-or-treating, make sure you run from house to house as fast as you can while occasionally peeking over your shoulder.
The Yo Gabba Gabba! guy. If anyone knows where to find one of those orange hats, drop me a line. Come winter, that could come in very handy.
If you have any other suggestions or want to share your own costume, please share with the class ...
I'm not too psyched about this week's slate of releases, but you may find one or two for the weekend. Check 'em out:
- Family Ties: The Second Season. Personally, I think Justine Bateman looks even better now than she did 20 years ago.
- 28 Weeks Later. The horror film comes back for seconds ... if you can stomach it.
- Black Sheep. This New Zealand comedy/horror flick follows a bunch of evil killer sheep.
- Reign Over Me. Adam Sandler gets serious with Don Cheadle in this Sept. 11-themed drama that few people saw (me included).
- You Kill Me. Ben Kingsley teams with Tea Leoni for this well-reviewed comedic thriller directed by John Dahl (The Great Raid, Rounders).
- Evan Almighty. Steve Carell, Lauren Graham and a big boat may sound like a good idea on paper, but the result wasn't so mighty.
- Degrassi High: The Complete Series. Relive your favorite Canadian guilty pleasure from the '80s.
- Roots: The Next Generations. The award-winning miniseries continues with this four-disc saga.
- Man Push Cart. This indie tells the story of a former Pakistani rock star who moves to New York and sells coffee for a living.
- Bob Mould: Circle of Friends - Live at the 9:30 Club. If you can't visit my city to see Bob, this is the next best thing.
Also out: Poltergeist: 25th Anniversary Edition, Surf's Up, Agatha Christie Miss Marple: Series 3, Everybody Hates Chris: The Second Season, Roots: The Complete Collection, Stargate SG-1: The Complete Series Collection, Twilight Zone: The Movie
AfterElton has posted a good conversation with Ted, Kyan and Jai from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy about how their show changed pop culture. It's pretty amazing, if you think about it: When the Bravo series debuted just four years ago, it was almost shocking to see five "super-out" gay men on the screen. Now Queer Eye has become almost -- how shall l say it -- boring and routine.
Says Ted: "We were just giving you an entertainment program that was funny to a lot of different people, and also had a lot of useful information in it. And that allowed five gay guys to come into a lot of living rooms that would never have been receptive to us before. At the same time we were still fearlessly being exactly who we are. And I think that has a very profound, subversive impact."
Queer Eye's final season airs Tuesdays at 10 ET. Kyan fans may want to read this interview, which delves a little deeper into his personal life.
I'm curious to see what the Sci Fi Channel does with Tin Man, its "reimagining" of The Wizard of Oz. A trippy viral site launched this week where users can tumble through the miniseries' fantastic worlds; I like it, though I can't look at it too long, or I start to get dizzy.
Go here to watch a trailer for the miniseries, which stars Zooey Deschanel as Dorothy (aka DG), Alan Cumming, Richard Dreyfuss and Kathleen Robertson. The three-night special premieres Dec. 2.
I'm excited to share this week's podcast because it includes an interview with one of my favorite writers and artists, Adrian Tomine. Tomine is the creator of the award-winning comic-book series Optic Nerve, and his latest graphic novel, Shortcomings (Drawn & Quarterly, $19.95), just arrived in stores. It tells the story of Ben Tanaka, a theater manager who begins dating white women after his girlfriend, Miko, moves across the country. It's funny, poignant, beautifully drawn and a deliciously fast read.
Tomine and I chat about the long process of writing Shortcomings (he began the story five years ago), its themes of race, the possibility of an Optic Nerve movie and other topics. I was hoping to see the artist at the Small Press Expo this weekend, but he'll be getting married instead! He did just launch a book tour, though, so try to catch him on the road.
As for this week's musical selections, they're mighty good ones: First, I spin a Mates of State track from For the Kids Three, a cool new CD that benefits the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. You'll also hear a song from an artist that will perform at this year's Iceland Airwaves music festival and a tune from singer/songwriter Chuck Prophet, who just released an album called Soap and Water.
Listen now:
- Download the free podcast from iTunes
- Stream it as a Windows Media file
Below is a full page from Shortcomings. Click it to enlarge:
Let's see, this week we had a Superman-esque flying sequence, a little kissin', more of the Wonder Twins, several returning faces and one truly disturbing painting. What did you think? Share your comments below, and warn us if you reveal spoilers for upcoming episodes. Go here to watch last night's ep online.
(Note to NBC: Can you please stop it with the insane promos already? I'm sick of seeing these extra-large ads for Journeyman when I'm trying to focus on Peter's new Irish friends. If anything, they make me want to watch that show even less.)
Welcome to the forum, where Candy readers chat about pop-culture topics throughout the day. Here's one of them up close:
Reader of the day: Movcritic
Real name: Robin Swartz (The photo I'm attaching is of me, left, and my partner at a white party)
Where I live: Lansing, Mich.
Occupation: Features editor at the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal, where I also review movies and restaurants.
Website: My reviews run on our site, http://hub.lsj.com
Favorite movie: Because I review movies, I hate answering this question because people want to get all analytical about my choice. I usually just say Barry Levinson's Diner, and it stumps people into silence. (Hotel Rwanda, however, changed the way I look at the news ... and buy coffee. I cried for two days after seeing it.)
A movie I can't stand (and why): The English Patient. My least-favorite genre is wind-swept war romance and this one bored me to tears. I felt vindicated when Seinfeld did the episode where everyone loved The English Patient except for Elaine.
Three famous people I'd love to meet, dead or alive: Samuel L. Jackson, because I think he's just about the coolest person on the planet; Amy Sedaris, because, while I love her brother's writing, I think she'd be the more-interesting one to have coffee and cupcakes with; and Jim Henson because his work completely shaped my childhood.
Howdy, friends! Last night I was up late chatting with some Tennessee relatives, though I made sure to watch Heroes before I hit the sack. (That discussion is coming soon.) While I catch up with the gang on How I Met Your Mother, check out these headlines:
- Nine Inch Nails are now free agents.
- Brian Posehn's comic The Last Christmas could become a movie.
- 49-Up, the latest documentary in the "Up" series, airs on PBS' POV tonight.
- Thank You For Smoking is becoming a TV series.
- Joss Whedon is returning to The Office!
- Here's a story about pop culture's rediscovery of Joy Division.
- Margaret Cho's new stage show isn't getting very positive reviews.
- What new series may already be in trouble?
- Check out the impressive new Sony Bravia commercial. (Pop Candy is all about cute little bunnies this week.)
- RollingStone.com has posted its annual "Hot List," if you still care what they think is hot.
- Family Guy will celebrate its 100th episode with a special retrospective Nov. 4.
- Judd Apatow tells the story of trying to get Steve Martin's autograph.
- Here's a profile of late-nighter Craig Ferguson. Pop reader wowotrain notes that the f-words are spelled phonetically. ("This seems to be a usage along the lines of 'frak.'")
- Bono's daughter was once the target of a kidnapping plot, according to a new book.
- Author Jay McInerney is guest-blogging about wine this month. Thanks to Alexander C. for the tip.
- I forgot to mention Chevy Chase's terrible appearance on Saturday Night Live. Why did he do it?
- Johnny Marr supports Radiohead's unconventional sales plan.
- Every Friday Night Lights fan needs this shirt. Thanks to Dave for the link.
- And finally, this is odd: Watch Deal or No Deal models reenact a scene from The Office. (Thanks, Bob!)
I can't tell you how many people have asked me about about the music in Old Navy's new sweater commercial. (The first person was my friend Stephanie, down in Knoxville, Tenn., where folks are still wearing shorts!)
Answer: The artist is Ingrid Michaelson, and you can hear the full song (The Way I Am) on her MySpace page. A few days ago, Michaelson posted a blog entry about how her life has changed since the ad began airing.
"It has afforded me many opportunities that i would have never had before! i am very grateful and so happy. and because i am still going at this with out a label, which is fun but scary, i am able to fund my career as a record label would ... at least for now!"
Apparently, not everyone has enjoyed the ads, though. The singer continues: "i have gotten a few emails and comments saying that now that my songs are on TV and mainstream radio programs, that i have become "a sellout." i suppose i should have stayed in my basement playing concerts for my dolls all my life ...
"it makes me a bit upset because it seems that some people love knowing about an indie artist, but as soon as they garner some attention, these people get mad! but you have to understand that this is how we make a living!"
MIchaelson also has a song on the Grey's Anatomy Season 3 Soundtrack. Her latest album is called Girls and Boys. Buy it, and she'll be able to afford more sweaters.
Music Nation and Spin have a "battle of the bands"-type competition underway, so if you're either a) in a band or b) looking for new music, you may want to check it out.
The competition offers a record contract with Epic Records and a slot at South by Southwest, so the stakes are high. To enter, bands just have to upload a profile and their music to the website. Users and expert judges weigh in on the best acts, and each week a group moves on to the next round. The winner will be announced Dec. 11. Sounds easy, yes?
Last week the experts praised Theo & the Skyscrapers, while users declared The Jetsetting band o' the week.
Debbie Harry is back with a new solo album, and you can hear it before it arrives in stores tomorrow on Logo's website. Pop reader Kent B. calls it "surprisingly good." Harry explains each track here.
Here's what she said about one song called, ahem, Dirty and Deep: "Originally there was a version that we sent out to the clubs -- it was a tribute to Lil' Kim, and (in) the lyrics I equated Lil' Kim with the oracle of Delphi, that she was the voice coming from behind the wall in a prophetic way. When it came to making my album I didn't want to throw the track away because I really liked how it felt and I really liked the chorus. I just rewrote the verses myself ... So it really doesn't have anything to do with Lil' Kim on the album version."
Zack S. pointed me to this new interview with Sendhil Ramamurthy, aka Mohinder Suresh on Heroes. I have to admit, I was a huge Mohinder fan last season, but this character's globe-trotting ways haven't wowed me too much this year.
A sample:
Considering you're one of the only cast members who doesn't have a superpower -- besides Jack Coleman -- do ever find it emasculating?
There's some penis envy going on. (Laughs.) No, we're all very aware of the nature of the show and the mythology, and it's something that (creator) Tim Kring talks about all the time. We all -- and certainly Jack and I -- see our place within the mythology. I see myself as searching for good in this world -- as well as being the narrator on top of it. I'm kind of everybody's eyes. I don't really try and change it. I don't hang out in the writers' room and campaign for a power.
If he did have a power, I'd like to see Mohinder shoot laser beams from those magnetic eyes ...
A few days ago I received a book in the mail called Disapproving Rabbits, and it's just so weird that I have to share. The title really says it all: The 180-page book consists of photos of cute little bunnies. Beneath them are phrases like, "This is NOT okay" and "My disapproval cannot be contained!"
After you browse the Disapproving Rabbits blog, browse these sample pages:
Who knew such adorable animals could be so critical? Disapproving Rabbits by Sharon Stiteler (Collins, $12.95) arrives in stores next week. Pick up a copy -- the bunnies will be pleased.
Do not make fun of or touch my monkey, because he is my dæmon. What exactly does that mean? Well, I guess those of us who haven't read Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy will find out when The Golden Compass arrives in theaters Dec. 7.
According to Pullman's books, dæmons are animal spirits that are physical manifestations of the soul. Go to goldencompassmovie.com and click on "Meet your dæmon" to get one of your very own. You'll answer 20 short questions before being awarded with a named animal.
"Your profile reveals that you are spontaneous, modest, assertive, solitary and humble," my results stated. "You are therefore matched with the chimpanzee dæmon." I think he suits me.
It took me a few episodes to get into AMC's Mad Men, but now I'm hooked, and it will leave a serious gap in my TV viewing once the season ends Oct. 18.
Gridskipper has put together this cool map of real and fictional sights that have been mentioned on the show, including the Gaslight Cafe, Menken's department store and Midge's beatnik apartment. Even if you don't live near Madison Avenue, the feature provides some interesting information about 1960-era New York. For instance, P.J. Clarke's is still thriving, though you won't find a lot of dancing there anymore.
By the way, Mad Men has been renewed for a second season. Hurrah! I must say, I loved last week's episode with Peggy and the scary vibrating contraption ...
A new PostSecret video has appeared on YouTube just in time to promote A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecret Book, which arrives in stores tomorrow. The book collects more postcards sent to Frank Warren, master of secrets and creator of the addictive blog.
If you'd like to meet Warren in person, he's about to go on a book tour. Yesterday PostSecret celebrated 100 millionth hit. Congrats!
(Just out of curiosity, how many of you have mailed a secret to Frank? I keep meaning to, but I can't decide which secret to share with the world.)
Welcome to the forum, a daily space where readers chat about pop culture in a freewheeling fashion. Meet one of them now:
Reader of the day: scoopie77
Real name: Amanda Black
Where I live: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Occupation: I write for a travel magazine, but my boss does all of the traveling. So, I do a lot of research from my pink cubicle.
Websites: myspace.com/charlemagne1999 or ablack8.blogspot.com
Favorite movie: I’ll have to say The Muppet Movie. That’s a rather juvenile choice, but I love its mix of humor, charm and goodheartedness. It’s been my favorite for as long as I can remember.
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Bruce Springsteen, Oprah, and George Clooney. I love the intelligent lyrics that Bruce writes. I bet he would be fun to have an excellent conversation with. I’d like to meet Oprah and see how one human can wield so much influence. And anyone as charming and arrestingly handsome as George Clooney needs to be on my list.
My earliest pop-culture memory: When I was really little and I talked all of the time, my mom needed a break. She would take a nap during the only 30 minutes a day when I was quiet -- when Scooby-Doo was on. It was riveting.
Happy Columbus Day! I hope you had an active weekend -- I bought lots of gourds at the farmers' market in Raleigh, ate some rhubarb pie, sat through a lackluster Saturday Night Live and spent many hours in traffic. Today I have some Tennessee relatives coming to town, so I can't wait to give 'em a tour.
Until then, I will wow you with links like these:
- Here's a preview of tonight's Heroes episode.
- Owen Wilson attended the Los Angeles premiere of The Darjeeling Limited.
- Forest Whitaker is making a deal to direct and executive produce a drama series for FX.
- Does Bruce Springsteen have another album on the way?
- That awful-looking movie with The Rock topped the box office again last weekend.
- Blender has an interview with the awesome Siouxsie Sioux.
- It sounds like a Goonies sequel is happening. Corey Feldman is really lucking out these days.
- Note: The Boondocks returns tonight on Adult Swim!
- All of that Arcade Fire hysteria was for an interactive music video. (It's actually pretty cool, so you should check it out.)
- Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia went to a hockey game last weekend. They look awfully happy together ...
- The Brits voted Ebony and Ivory the worst duet of all time.
- David Cross has penned an open letter to Larry the Cable Guy. As you might expect, the language isn't exactly family-friendly. Thanks to Ryan B. for the link.
- Interview's website has posted a lot of cool stuff, including audio of conversations between Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg and Jake Gyllenhaal and David Fincher.
- SciFi.com is posting "flashbacks" from its upcoming Battlestar Galactica: Razor movie, which premieres Nov. 24.
- Look at all of these interviews with R. Crumb, Jeffrey Brown, James Kochalka and other comic-book artists -- in their own handwriting!
- Who knows, maybe Peter Jackson could make a Hobbit movie after all.
- TVGuide.com has an interview with Chuck secret-agent woman Yvonne Strahovski.
- Pam Anderson wasn't the only person who got hitched last weekend: So did Montel Williams.
- This piece compares Sarah Silverman to Ann Coulter. Seriously. (Found via Fimoculous.)
- And finally, happy National Popcorn Poppin' Month. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Photo: Sony Pictures Television
Hey again! Sorry for the delay, but I was just running an errand that involved retrieving a Britney Spears DVD (for someone else) and soft tacos from Chipotle (for me).
Let's get on with the show:
I know this isn't totally a pop culture question, but ... My husband is a Lions fan -- and so far this season we can actually be proud of that. :) Every week that they play an away team, he's been making food that goes along with the region that the opposing team is from. (When they played the Raiders, he made Southwest style food, for Philly, he made Philly Cheesesteaks, etc.). This weekend, they're playing the Washington Redskins, and we have no idea what kind of food is native to the D.C. area. Since you and some of the Whitnesses are from DC, we were hoping you guys could tell us what we could make that would be relative to D.C. -- Lisa P.
There really isn't a signature D.C. dish, though I'd suggest you serve some sort of seafood -- the Redskins play in Maryland, and something like crabcakes would be perfect. If any other readers have ideas, feel free to chime in! (Now I'm hungry for crabs ...)
Update: Sean L. suggests the half-smoke and offers this evidence. Mmm.
Wasn't Amber Tamblyn supposed to have a show this fall? Was I misinformed or just missed something about it not happening? -- Teresa B.
Yes, it was called Babylon Fields. We may see it midseason ... it was a zombie show, and I think the CBS execs were afraid of having that and Moonlight (a vampire show) in the prime-time lineup. It's too bad, because as far as I'm concerned, they can put a stake in Moonlight right now. (And it's painful for me to say that, because you know how much I love Jason Dohring!)
My boyfriend just left for basic training, and I want to liven up his letters with some fun pop-culture-y stuff, but it can't be anything more than fun stuff on a piece of paper (no Burger King masks for him. Boo.). I've already printed out the Cylon pumpkin for Halloween, but do you have anything else for me? He loves all things BSG, Star Wars, Stargate, etc. -- Ashley C.
Wow, this is a good challenge. Could you print some of the Invisibles quizzes for him to do? Those are always fun. He can't have a BK mask, but here are some Star Wars masks. Here's a sci-fi word find. Teach him some Klingon phrases. Send him the entry for "frak" in the Battlestar Wiki. Maybe some other folks have ideas ...
There is a show coming to my town called Queen: It's A Kinda Magic. I think it may be a tribute to Queen (or a theatrical show). I've never heard of this show and was wondering if you and your readers can enlighten me. Is it worth checking out? -- monkey
It appears to be a cross between a tribute band and a theatrical performance. The cast members sing and play instruments, but there is "theatrical direction, authentic costume design, modern sound and lighting, a spectacular set" and, according to the website, "the magic of theater!" I can't really vouch for it, but maybe someone here has attended. They sing all the hits and make it appear as though you're attending a Queen concert, so I'd say it's heavier on the "tribute band" part.
I just received an e-mail from Pop reader Rick C., aka HellboyOne. He told me about a fun celebrity sighting he had in Los Angeles:
"Thanks to you, I attended the Poltergeist screening last night. I also read the Zelda Rubinstein interview via your link. I mention this because she was in the theater I was in! It was really nice to see her, although I was too chicken to say hi or introduce myself. I thought the L.A. crowd was too-cool-for-school to acknowledge her presence. But when she finally appeared onscreen, the crowd errupted with applause. It was cool."
I guess sometimes stars really do see their own movies ... it's a shame she didn't get more of the royal treatment, though!
As if the King mask weren't enough, check out what else I received in the mail this week:
Man, I love Halloween. These ears came as part of a random publicity package on how to have a happy and safe holiday with your kids. They retail for $3.99. My costume possibilities are expanding by the hour ...
It's time to take a look at what I've had my eyes and ears on this week. We all need more culture in our lives, so fill the comments with your own pop-culture picks:
Best TV show I saw: Dexter. The second-season premiere of Showtime's killer drama was worth waiting for. I didn't think the writers could top last year's ice-truck slayer, but so far I'm intrigued by where they're headed ...
I also enjoyed: Damages, 30 Rock, How I Met Your Mother, Top Chef, Weeds (the best episode in weeks), Mad Men, Torchwood (crazy cyber lady!), Pushing Daisies
Best album I heard: Devendra Banhart's Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. These last two weeks have been pretty heavy with the D.B. for me: I listened to the singer/songwriter a lot while navigating the steep mountain roads during my vacation, then I saw him perform live in D.C. and was just blown away. He's an acquired taste, but once you get used to him, there's no turning back.
I'm also listening to: My husband turned me on to experimental jazz/folk artist Karl Blau. I don't like all of his stuff, but his Beneath Waves album is pretty good. I am also loving the new Iron & Wine record, The Shepherd's Dog. The Darjeeling Limited soundtrack isn't so bad, if you're in the mood for a little British Invasion stuff with a lot of Indian music mixed in. I also love the new/old Stars record, In Our Bedroom After the War. And The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators is my favorite classic record of the week.
As for new bands, Roger J. turned me on to A.A. Bondy, and I'm grateful for that. (He says Ryan Adams fans might be into him, and I agree.) You might like German electronica band Digitalism if you're into Daft Punk; listen to Pogo first. I learned about them from Pop reader Dennis S. when he made me a mix CD. Their music has also appeared on a Pontiac commercial. Finally, I'm also listening to Tiny Masters of Today and hope to see them at CMJ in a couple weeks. Good stuff!
Best movie I saw: Our Brand is Crisis. This documentary came out in 2005, but it's worth a rental if you haven't seen it. It examines what happened when James Carville, Stan Greenberg and Robert Shrum were hired as political consultants during the 2003 presidential campaign in Bolivia. The results are fascinating and unsettling.
I also watched: Amarcord, The TV Set, Death Proof (again), Andy Goldsworthy's Rivers & Tides. I also saw a bunch of short videos by this group of artists called Animal Charm -- they make these hilarious, bizarre clips using found footage, and much of it is from the '80s. You can watch their stuff on YouTube or buy their DVD.
Best thing I read: Found # 5. I always look forward to a new issue of Found, and this one may be the best yet. In addition to providing several examples of awesome stuff folks find on the street -- bookmark foundmagazine.com for daily examples of this -- "The Crime Issue" shows us the discarded belongings of a former FBI agent, an interview with musician Kimya Dawson, emotional letters from prisoners and more. Pick it up online or at your local bookstore.
I'm also reading: I'm reading a bunch of books I'm about to review for the paper, so I won't talk about those just yet. Other things in my bag include Death Note (I can't stop reading this manga series), the Miranda July issue of Bust, the new issue of Wizard magazine (they had a great fall TV preview), a yet-to-be-published Jeffrey Brown memoir (it's great!), the new issue of Interview, Chronicle's new book about Elliott Smith and The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings, which I keep circulating around the office.
OK! Now it's your turn ...
If you watch ABC's Brothers and Sisters, you may want to check out a new online feature called "The Writer's Room." Each week, the series' scribes dish about what went on behind the scenes in a video blog. Right now you can see what they have to say about the season premiere; full eps are posted on ABC.com as well.
Here's a related item that promises "secrets from the set." My mother-in-law is a big fan, but she swears the show has one flaw: "Sally Field does not look old enough to be Rachel Griffiths' mother!"
Last night we were treated to another super-sized version of The Office, complete with breakups, lies and wet baskets of food. What did you think of the episode? Are you happy with the season so far? Are you digging the Pam-Jim scenes, or do you already wish things would go back to the way they were?
Feel free to discuss, and don't forget that you can watch the ep again online. I think the scenes with Creed may have been my favorite ...
Welcome to the forum, where Candy readers chat about pop-culture topics throughout the day. Here's one of them now:
Reader of the day: nikt22
Real name: Nick Taylor
Where I live: Seattle
Occupation: Administrative/research assistant in an office high rise
MySpace: myspace.com/nikt22
Favorite movie: I love Little Man Tate; Jodie Foster's directorial debut is an overlooked gem. Also My Own Private Idaho; the late River Phoenix was fantastic in this Gus Van Sant film.
Favorite album: So many! I am going with Radiohead's OK Computer. A recent fave has been The Reminder by Feist.
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Michael Stipe, Thom Yorke, and Jennifer Saunders (AbFab and French and Saunders).
One famous person I've actually met: I have actually met a few famous people. The most recent? Tim Gunn and Amy Sedaris (in town promoting projects). Both funny and charming.
Best Halloween costume I've ever worn: Easy! I was Hedwig, from Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Glitter lingered for days!
It's Friday! I have an early-morning meeting, so I have to dash out the door soon. These headlines should keep you occupied for a little while, though:
- The Sweeney Todd trailer has finally arrived.
- Here's an awesome, easy-to-enter Darjeeling Limited contest where you could win a trip to India.
- Speaking of Darjeeling, here's a fun interview with Wes Anderson and Jason Schwartzman that includes video.
- Nirvana's Unplugged appearance is coming to DVD.
- Another day, another new J.J. Abrams series.
- Hey, it's the "10 Most Incomprehensible Bob Dylan Interviews of All Time."
- We have a piece about Friday Night Lights today -- you are going to watch, aren't you?
- Check out the Southland Tales trailer, in case you haven't seen it yet.
- Here's a link to the Pushing Daisies comic book they gave away at Comic-Con.
- Geeks are gathering this weekend in Madison, Wis. (Thanks, Claire S.!)
- If you liked Jerry Seinfeld's appearance on 30 Rock last night, Pop reader Abir M. points out that his guest spot on Newsradio is on YouTube.
- David Byrne recently traveled through Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Knoxville, just like me. Here's what he had to say about it. (I wish I could've shown him around Knoxville.)
- We have an interview with everybody's favorite Affleck ... Casey.
- Jonah Hill has revealed on his MySpace page that he'll host Saturday Night Live in November.
- Here's an open letter to the cast of The Office.
- Stars are supporting a museum devoted to synthesizer master Bob Moog.
- Blender devotes a column to the magic of Blackstreet's No Diggity.
- Do we need/want another Terminator movie?
- Here's a review and trailer for About a Son, the Kurt Cobain documentary I'm eager for everyone to see.
- Here's an interview with the winner of Top Chef about what happened after the finale.
- The Brits are remaking The Prisoner with Christopher Eccleston.
- And yeah, when I hear the name "Brian Robbins," I still think of Head of the Class, too.
Just in case you haven't watched enough cryptic videos today, here's the latest one from the Cloverfield/1-18-08 folks. In another message posted on JamieAndTeddy.com, we see Jamie with a package she's not allowed to open until Dec. 9. What could it be? One site speculates we could see a trailer or the title of the film on that date ... though are we really going to wait two months before knowing what this dang movie is called?
In other news, you should know this by now, but this related site popped up last week. (Click on the English version to see more.) Hmm, what could "groundbreaking deep-sea drilling technology" have to do with the mystery? And what's with this guy and his chicken recipe?
So today I received a really big box in the mail, which always makes me both very excited and very worried. I opened it up and discovered one of these staring back at me:
Of course, this has totally made my afternoon. I think I just scared a few folks on the second floor, and one co-worker has already bowed in my presence. If my shoes weren't a dead giveaway, it would make an awesome disguise.
If you want a Burger King mask of your very own, limited quantities are being sold at bkmasks.com. The one I'm wearing goes for $24.99, while a smaller version costs $12.99. If you want the head-to-toe King getup, that'll set you back $69.99. Get 'em while they're hot!
Hey, 30 Rock fans: Tina Fey and Jack McBrayer (Kenneth) will be answering fans' questions online after tonight's season premiere. Head to this page to submit a question for them now and to see their answers, starting at 9 p.m. ET. To avoid spoilers, folks on the West Coast may want to wait until after the episode airs.
In other NBC news, note that full eps of The Office are now being posted online each week. It's about time!
Even though we have a whole year to prepare for Halloween, it's always somewhat of a struggle to come up with original ideas. Fortunately, nifty publications like Make magazine wanna help us out -- I like how Make is a little hipper than other crafty mags and has a pop-culture edge to it.
Its new special Halloween issue is in stores now and contains everything from a guide to monster makeup (using household products) to instructions for creating a "haunted yeti in a cage." Who doesn't need one of those?
Here are some of my favorite projects from the issue:
Hey, Battlestar Galactica fans: It's a Cylon jack-o'-lantern!
Your sushi hat could make you the hit of the party ... then, if you felt sleepy, you could use it as a pillow.
The next time your child misbehaves, threaten to fill their doll with guacamole ...
And finally, would you believe this Pac-Man game really works? The costume must take hours to construct, but it results in partygoers playing with you all evening. To me, that sounds like a Halloween to remember.
OK, I give up: What's going on with this cryptic message on Arcade Fire's website? The page tells us something big will happen Oct. 6. Rumors range from a webcast to a new release to a new video. The latest from NME.com is that the band will announce a collaboration with LCD Soundsystem.
If you're going through this much trouble, I hope the result will be worth it. We shall find out on Saturday, I suppose ... stay tuned.
This year Poltergeist is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special DVD release Oct. 9 and a one-time screening of the film tonight at 7:30 p.m. at select theaters across the country.
Go here to see a complete list of theaters showing the flick and to buy tickets. Here's an interview with Zelda Rubenstein about her memories of the movie.
Sounds like the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit ... you may have trouble falling asleep when you get home, though.
While we're waiting for new episodes of Scrubs -- the final season starts Oct. 25 -- you may want to check out this Scrubs production blog. Yesterday the blog posted the third part of a set tour, led by Ken Jenkins (Dr. Kelso), Neil Flynn (The Janitor) and production manager Richard Wells.
Series creator Bill Lawrence posted a video message on the show's official site asking for fans' questions. As for Zach Braff, his latest blog post informs us that he is directing four episodes next season.
"The show has been the most fun job I can ever imagine having; going to work everyday and acting like a nerdy goofball with all your friends is a pretty ideal gig for me," he writes. For a flashback, check out how young he looks in the pilot ...
Last night Pushing Daisies finally premiered after months of buzz. Many critics declared it the best new show of the season, and I have to agree with them -- it's certainly the only series I'd recommend to my grandmother, my boss and my spouse.
I'm curious to hear from those of you who watched it, and whether you thought it lived up to the hype. Has it already earned a season pass on the TiVo? Did it leave you craving pies and a snazzy eyepatch? Feel free to leave your comments/criticism/predictions/etc.
Note: For those of you who missed the premiere, you can watch Pushing Daises online.
The forum welcomes readers to chat about pop-culture topics throughout the day. Meet today's featured player:
Reader of the day: Eric Cheek (I should have been more "original" on this one or at least come up with something creative. I'm disappointed in myself.)
Real name: Eric Cheek
Where I live: Atlanta
Occupation: Sports communications/public relations
Websites: ericcheek.blogspot.com; www.gatorswearjeanshorts.com
Favorite movie: I’m definitely a comedy guy. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off has always been a favorite. I also love anything that is Back to the Future. Of the new stuff, I like Old School, Wedding Crashers and many of the other Frat Pack movies. Of the old stuff, I like His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby and a handful of screwball comedies from that era.
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Will Ferrell -- without question, one of the most entertaining actors out there right now. Eddie Vedder -- such a cool musician and interesting cat. Tiger Woods -- I'd love to play 18 with him and just see what makes him tick.
One famous person I've actually met: I’ve met a lot of athletes over the past few years, but the most famous person (now) has to be John Mayer. I met him (before he was huge) through a friend of mine when we went to see him play at an open-mic night in Athens, Ga. There were five other people in attendance.
My earliest pop-culture memory: I actually remember sitting down, circa 1990, and seeing Saved by the Bell for the first time. I remember saying to myself, "This show is terrible ... and I absolutely LOVE it!"
Hey, everyone -- I'm still a little sleepy after last night's late Top Chef finale, but I just had to watch it live! Anyway, the winner is plastered all over Bravo's website, so don't go there if you haven't seen the episode yet.
Let's take a look at some headlines, shall we?
- A man has been arrested for stealing photos and computers related to the new Indiana Jones movie.
- The Rolling Stones' last tour made more than half a billion dollars.
- Yesterday I mentioned Cupid is returning to ABC. The pilot is on YouTube.
- Rocco DiSpirito has posted his thoughts about Top Chef. I'm still waiting for Anthony Bourdain's reaction ...
- What's this about a new J.J. Abrams series?
- Pitchfork gives the new Bob Dylan collection a 1.3 (out of 10). Ouch.
- HBO has renewed Tell Me You Love Me and picked up two new shows. One is about biker gangs, and the other is set at a "cutting-edge medical research institute."
- The folks at Family Guy are being sued for using the song When You Wish Upon a Star without permission.
- Check out the trailer for Katherine Heigl's new movie about being a bridesmaid, 27 Dresses.
- Here's a pretty weird video feature called Punk Rock Pre-School, where Debbie Harry is interviewed by a bunch of rowdy children.
- Check out video of Kenan Thompson interviewing Andy Samberg at a party.
- What's the lovely Michelle Shocked up to these days? Here's an update.
- Yes, the Lost writers know how it will all end.
- VH1 is streaming new discs from Vanessa Carlton, Jennifer Lopez and Kid Rock.
- Frankie Muniz is all grown up and ready for his guest spot on Criminal Minds.
- FX's The Riches is coming to DVD.
- Michel Gondry talks about Be Kind Rewind in this feature. (Here's the trailer.)
- Ryan Gosling is doing the whole "gaining weight for a movie role" thing.
- And finally, it turns out the most you can pay for that new Radiohead album is $205.81. Personally, I was only gonna fork over $10.
We're all still mourning the loss of Veronica Mars -- in fact, I still get e-mails from fans asking how the show can be saved -- but at least series creator Rob Thomas is now free to do other things. And the next item on his list is ... reviving his old series from 1998-99, Cupid.
That's right, I'm talking about the cult show that starred Jeremy Piven as a guy who may or may not have been Cupid. ABC wants Thomas to revive the show, albeit with new cast members and a new setting (L.A. instead of Chicago). The premise will still be the same, though.
"I'm getting a chance to do what writers never get the chance to do, which is to go back and try" to improve a work, he tells Variety.
How awesome is this? It makes me think of all the other quickly canceled series I'd like to see continued or "improved" one day, like Undeclared, The Adventures of Brisco County Jr., last season's The Class ... the list goes on and on.
And who knows? One day, maybe the CW will ask Thomas to revive Veronica Mars. It could happen.
I didn't think I knew my heist movies very well -- especially since they're one of my least-favorite genres -- but I ended up scoring 100% on this film quiz.
Can you distinguish which flick involved the theft of "$1.6M in bearer bonds from an armored car" from the one that took "$4M in gold on its way from Italy to China"? Take the test and see how you fare. Thanks to Brad K. for the tip.
If you like the punk rock (and who doesn't?), you may want to pick up the new issue of Spin, which is devoted to 1977, aka "the year punk exploded." The mag includes all sorts of cool features, like interviews with The Clash's Mick Jones and the Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten, an essay by chef/punk lover Anthony Bourdain and Charles Aaron's essay about the pivotal year.
Slacker.com has also set up an online radio station devoted to the issue. Go there now to hear tunes by Black Flag, the Dead Kennedys, Operation Ivy, the New York Dolls and other acts.
"If you weren't there, through the pink-tinted prism of irony, even the clothes might look cool," Bourdain writes. "But in fact, 1977 was a shameful, embarrassing time to be alive." So maybe it is OK that I'm too young to remember it ...
It's Oct. 3 -- are you feeling spooky yet? Finetune has posted a Halloween mix with all of your favorite ghostly tunes, from AC/DC (Hells Bells) to Warren Zevon (Werewolves of London).
The mix also includes:
- INXS' Devil Inside
- Oingo Boingo's Dead Man's Party
- Blue Oyster Cult's (Don't Fear) The Reaper
- Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put a Spell on You
- Donovan's Season of the Witch
It doesn't include one of my favorites, Roky Erickson's I Walked With a Zombie. Also missing is Bauhaus' Bela Lugosi is Dead, but maybe it was too obvious of a choice. Feel free to add any other suggestions in the comments ...
You may remember Alex Boylan from the The Amazing Race, when he and pal Chris Luca won the reality show's second season. Now, Boylan is embarking on another adventure with Around the World for Free, a project where he travels the globe with no money in his pockets -- and viewers can help him, chat with him, track him and watch daily videos of the experience online.
Boylan started the trip two weeks ago, and yesterday he posted a video from St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (If you go, stay at the Maho Bay tent cottages!) His Amazing Race experience will certainly come in handy when it comes to getting around, and weekly exposure on CBS' The Early Show probably won't hurt, either.
The experiment reminds me of Let Me Stay For A Day, a travel website started by a guy named Ramon several years ago. Ramon spent years crashing at people's houses and eating their food. In return, he shared their stories ... and I hope Alex's tales are just as interesting, even if his trip doesn't last as long.
I know you guys had a hard time surviving without a mustache link while I was on vacation, but I've got a good one today ...
The topic: Fingerstaches. There's a growing trend of hip kids getting mustaches tattooed on their index fingers, and websites, Flickr pages and YouTube videos are popping up to document them. (Now there's even celebrityfingerstache.com, which is a fake celebrity fingerstache site!)
Why get a mustache tattoo? For one thing, it's a quick disguise. For another, it enables folks who can't grow 'staches -- particularly ladies -- the ability to feel part of mustache culture.
Thanks to everyone who told me about the fingerstache explosion. If you happen to have one (or wanna draw one with a Sharpie), send me a photo!
Photo: lynchtp on Flickr
The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly features covers of The Office couples (Michael 'n' Jan, Pam 'n' Jim, Dwight 'n' Angela, etc.), and behind-the-scenes video from the photo shoot has been posted on EW.com.
Go there now if you want to see Steve Carell without pants and Rainn Wilson talking about "babies with eyepatches." And, oh yeah, don't forget that TBS is airing reruns of The Office Tuesdays at 10 ET. TBS.com has also posted Office "bitcoms," which are episodes cut to four minutes.
Welcome to the forum, where Candy readers chat about pop-culture topics throughout the day. Meet one of them now, won't you?
Reader of the day: alpertbb
Real name: Betsy Alpert
Where I live: Athens , Ga.
Occupation: Graduate student in Spanish & Language Acquisition at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). I also have an assistantship with the Office of Information Technology.
Websites: myspace.com/alpertbb, http://alpertinspain.blogspot.com, and http://www.the3day.org/atlanta07/betsyalpert
Favorite movie: It's a tie between Clue and The Usual Suspects. I literally know every single line in Clue, and I used to show this movie to my high school Spanish students on days that I was either sick or really behind in grading (like all good teachers should do!). On the other hand, The Usual Suspects is such an all-around brilliant movie, and every time I watch it, I find something new about the plot/characters that I didn't know from before.
Favorite album: Lawn Boy by Phish
Three famous people I'd love to meet: Kevin Spacey (the best actor ever), Pete Sampras (my husband and I named our dog after him), and Judy Blume (my hero)
One famous person I've actually met: I actually sort of met Kevin Spacey in the summer of 1999. He was staring in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, and I flew up to NYC to see his performance and to meet him. After the four hour-plus show, I ran outside to the stage door to get my picture taken with my favorite actor and to have him sign my poster. After waiting for about 15 minutes, he came out and was standing right next to me signing other people's autographs. I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I couldn't even think when he grabbed my poster to sign it for me. I could only muster a weak "Thank you" when he handed my poster back to me. I had blown my chance to ask him for a picture together, to tell him how much I enjoyed all of his movies, and to express how cool I thought he was. Therefore, I truly need to meet him again so I can fulfill my dream of actually having a real conversation with him!
Howdy! I hope you're having a good morning so far -- I'm a little too excited about tonight's Top Chef finale. It's gonna be a nail-biter ...
Savor these headlines while I dine on strawberry yogurt:
- We have an interview with Sarah Silverman about the second season of her show.
- Also, we give Pushing Daisies four stars, so don't forget to watch.
- In light of Medellin on Entourage, an Escobar biopic is in the works. (Just please don't hire Vincent Chase to star.)
- Punky Brewster is pregnant again.
- Rolling Stone has posted a video review of Bruce Springsteen's Magic. (You can also read the five-star print review here.)
- Well, this photo pretty much gives away what happens in the Sex and the City movie.
- The Onion A.V. Club has an interview with Tracy Morgan, who lives every week like it's Shark Week.
- It sounds like we'll have a new Morrissey album in a year. Two of his L.A. shows were canceled this week.
- Here's another interview with Dale from Top Chef, because I love him so. (I can't decide who I'm pulling for tonight -- I really want Casey to win, too. And you can't deny Hung's talent ...)
- Ian McKaye is alive and well in my city, in case you were wondering.
- New York magazine has a story about rising filmmaker/brother of Gwyneth, Jake Paltrow.
- Natalie Portman has signed to do a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire.
- A creepy guy broke into Nicolas Cage's home Monday. Cage awoke to find the man wearing his jacket.
- The next show from Jon Stewart's production company will be Important Things With Demetri Martin. Cool.
- Stephenie Meyer's young-adult novel Twilight is coming to the big screen.
- Dexter fans may want to enter this online writing contest.
- Wallace and Gromit are returning to the small screen.
- The online Tom Green Show may be headed back to TV.
- Check out W magazine's cover story about Cate Blanchett (with sexy pics).
- From The Onion: "That Full House Episode Where They Meet The Beach Boys Is On Tomorrow At 3 P.M."
- And here's your Halloween link o' the day: ZombiePumpkins.com has all the pumpkin-carving patterns you could dream of, from Gollum to Gene Simmons. Thanks to James B. for the tip.
It's a relatively slow week for DVDs, but that may be a good thing, since the TV season is starting up again. Here's what arrived in stores today:
- Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. I missed the sequel when it was in theaters, but I definitely want to check it out now so I can see how the comic-book character was brought to life (or, er, CGI).
- Paul Lynde: Halloween Special. There are no words to describe how excited I am to see this 1976 special, which includes appearances by Donnie and Marie Osmond, Billy Barty, Margaret Hamilton (the Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz), Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf and -- get this -- KISS! It's a classic.
- 1408. John Cusack investigates a creepy hotel room.
- Little People, Big World: 1st Season. Between this great show and Billy Barty on the Paul Lynde special, it's a good week for little people on DVD.
- The Sarah Silverman Program: Season One. Catch the show before the new season premieres tomorrow on Comedy Central.
- The War: A Ken Burns Film. Miss it on TV? Now you can own the whole thing.
- Metalocalypse: Season One. The Adult Swim series wants to rock your socks off.
- The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour. This special features Patton Oswalt, David Cross, Zach Galifianakis, Brian Posehn and other guys who are way funnier than your friends.
- The Unseen Beatles. This disc includes home-movie and behind-the-scenes footage.
- The Jungle Book. Disney reached into its vault and came up with this two-disc 40th anniversary platinum edition DVD.
- Funny Face: 50th Anniversary Edition. More Audrey Hepburn = more to love.
Also out: Star Trek: The Next Generation -- The Complete Series, Entourage: Season Three, Part 2, Bram Stoker's Dracula: Collector's Edition, How I Met Your Mother: Season 2, Jericho: The First Season, Criminal Minds: The Second Season, Shark: Season One
Here's some music trivia that might make you feel old: This week R.E.M.'s Automatic For the People turns 15.
Stereogum is honoring the disc that produced so many stellar songs -- Man on the Moon, Nightswimming, Everybody Hurts, Drive -- by releasing Drive XV, a track-by-track tribute to the album. It includes Meat Puppets' version of Everybody Hurts, the Shout Out Louds performing Man On the Moon, Rogue Wave's rendition of The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite and lots more. You'll want to hear it right away, of course, but don't forget to click on the "info" button to read commentary from the band and R.E.M.'s Mike Mills.
If you missed Stereogum's tribute to OK Computer earlier this year, you should check that out, too. R.E.M. releases a two-disc live album and DVD Oct. 16.
I was hoping for Hiro. I would've been cool with Claire. But, after taking this "Which 'Hero' are you?" quiz, it turns out the character I resemble most is ... Matt Parkman. How did this happen?
Ah, well. There are worse things than being a reluctant hero who can read minds. I suppose I could've been Niki/Jessica ...
Some of you have asked to see what's on my DVR this TV season, so I've compiled a list below. While a bunch of new shows are vying for our time, you might be surprised by how few I've decided to add to my viewing schedule. The series in orange are "on probation" -- I'll watch a couple more episodes before deciding whether to keep following them.
Of course, just because something isn't listed doesn't mean I loathe it. I check in on Ugly Betty and House occasionally, I just don't consider them "must-sees."
My TV week:
Sunday:
9 p.m. Dexter, Showtime -- The second season got off to a great start, and I can't wait to see where he's headed.
10 p.m. Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO -- Larry David still makes me laugh, though now I usually watch this show a couple days after it airs.
What I'm not watching: Tell Me You Love Me (the sex got boring!), Brothers and Sisters
Monday:
8 p.m. How I Met Your Mother, CBS -- How will Winnie Cooper shake things up this year?
8 p.m. Chuck, NBC -- It's getting better with each episode, which is a good sign.
9 p.m. Heroes, NBC -- I think we could all do without those pesky twins, though.
10 p.m. Weeds, Showtime -- I still have a crush on Matthew Modine.
10:30 p.m. Californication, Showtime -- I'm still lukewarm on this show, and the season has almost ended.
What I'm not watching: Journeyman (too Quantum Leap-y), The Big Bang Theory (can't get past the title), Samantha Who? (why?)
Tuesday:
9 p.m. Reaper, CW -- I really liked the pilot and hope it can maintain the same level of charm/creepiness.
10 p.m. Damages, FX -- One word: Frobisher!
What I'm not watching: Cane (it's not bad, but I don't have time for a soapy drama), Carpoolers (cheesy pilot), Cavemen (how long until it's canceled?)
Wednesday:
8 p.m. Pushing Daisies, ABC -- Great premise, great actors, can't wait to see more.
9 p.m. Bionic Woman, NBC-- With Katee Sackhoff on board, you know I'm in for the season.
10 p.m. Top Chef, Bravo -- This ends tomorrow, but I had to throw it in there.
10 p.m. Dirty Sexy Money, ABC -- The title may stink, but I liked the first episode, and I love Peter Krause.
10:30 p.m. The Sarah Silverman Program, Comedy Central -- Offbeat humor! Awesome guest stars!
What I'm not watching: Life (not "quirky" enough for me), Gossip Girl (like The OC without a soul), Private Practice (tired of hot docs)
Thursday:
8:30 p.m. 30 Rock -- I missed Tracy and Kenneth so much this summer!
9 p.m. The Office, NBC -- Like you had to ask ...
10 p.m. Mad Men, AMC -- It took me awhile to get into this show, but now I'm hooked.
10 p.m. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, FX -- Gotta love DeVito.
What I'm not watching: Big Shots (I already hear a bunch of well-dressed dudes sitting around and talking all day at the office.)
Friday:
9 p.m. Friday Night Lights, NBC -- And you better watch, too, if you want it to stick around.
What I'm not watching: Moonlight (Angel lite)
Saturday:
9 p.m. Torchwood, BBC America -- My favorite new sci-fi series (even though it's not exactly new across the pond).
11:30 p.m. Saturday Night Live -- Eventually they should just make it 90 minutes of digital shorts.
Feel free to share what shows you're digging and let me know what I missed. (Yeah, I know I didn't include any Fox series. It just happened that way.)
OK, every five minutes I'm getting an e-mail about this, so I think I need to mention it: On last night's episode of Chuck, the show made a tiny reference to Oceanic 815, aka the crashed flight on Lost.
Wanna see it? Watch the whole show at NBC.com. This is definitely a clever way to get people talking the next day, though it's nothing more than that -- don't look for clues to the island on another network!
In this week's podcast, I catch up with one of my favorite comedians, David Wain. An alum of MTV's The State, Wain has gone on to write, direct and appear in several films and TV series, including Wet Hot American Summer, Stella and the recent comedy The Ten.
Wain's latest project is Wainy Days, a weekly online series for MyDamnChannel.com. Wainy Days chronicles Wain's fictional love life and features guest stars like Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Rashida Jones and Jonah Hill. It just wrapped its first season; watch all episodes here, but note that some include spicy language.
Wain and I talk about the web show, his new movie project and The State, which was slated for a DVD release this month. I hate to break it to you, but here's a snippet of what he said about that:
So what is the official release date? Is it October?
Well, it was supposed to be October, and then they keep changing it, to be honest with you, and I don't know what to do about it. They made a big announcement -- you know, we've been working together with MTV for years on this DVD and we have this amazing DVD we've put together with commentary and all sorts of deleted and extra material. ... And for some really unknown reason, they keep delaying the release.
So will we even see it this year?
I couldn't tell ya. I don't know why they keep waiting. ... I share your disappointment. You know, get your readers to make a protest.
Sigh. You heard him -- who wants to march to MTV headquarters?
This week you'll also hear new music from singer/songwriter Steve Earle (his new record is called Washington Square Serenade), alt-country band The Sadies and a must-hear Indonesian group called White Shoes & the Couples Company.
So why wait? Listen now:
- Download the free podcast on iTunes
- Stream it as a Windows Media file
As always, thanks for listening. Check out the archive at candypodcast.usatoday.com, and see my RSS feed for more options.
Lizards! Toes! Cherry blossoms! Nathan Petrelli's beard!
So far we're seeing a very different Heroes than we did last season. Are you into it? Are there scenes/characters you like more than others? Are you eager for Niki, Micah and D.L. to return?
Weigh in on last night's episode in the comments. If you didn't see it, watch it online. Obviously, there will be details about what we've already seen, but warn us if you post any spoilers about upcoming episodes.
Welcome back to the forum, a space where Candy readers chat about pop culture throughout the day. Last week I heard from several of you who wanted to know how to become a "reader of the day." It's really easy: Just e-mail me your screen name and a low-res photo, and I'll reply with a Q&A.
Let's meet one of those happenin' folks now:
Reader of the day: k-bird
Real name: Kara
Where I live: Baton Rouge, La.
Occupation: Full-time student at LSU (Geaux tigers!), part-time bank teller
MySpace: myspace.com/karawynne
Favorite album: I'll go with Led Zeppelin III and IV. I was born in the wrong generation.
Favorite book: If not the Harry Potter series, I could reread The Secret Garden any day.
Favorite website (aside from the Candy): I am a Wikipedia addict. I love clicking the link that takes you to a random article. I feel like I've learned so much about Nepal, statistical parameters, and the Hatfield/McCoy feud.
Three famous people I'd like to meet (dead or alive): 1) Janis Joplin, over a bottle of Wild Turkey. 2) John Lennon, so I could have participated in the bed-in. 3) My great-grandma, because my family says it is scary how alike we are, and I never even knew her. I have a fourth person: Unknown Hinson. I am always saying how funny he is. I missed his show because of a stupid dentist appointment, and my boyfriend got to meet him and I didn't. We all need a lttle country western troubadour in our lives.
Good morning! Last night I had the best time at the Devendra Banhart concert -- you should go see him if you can. He performed at the beautiful Sixth & I Synagogue, and the crowd felt so inspired that folks rose from the pews and boogied by the stage. At one point, Banhart even invited a member of the crowd onstage to play a song. The whole night had a great vibe, and it was worth delaying my Heroes viewing to experience.
Anyway, you can hear Banhart's new album on MySpace in its entirety, so check it out today.
Some headlines:
- Speaking of Devendra, here's an interview with him about the new record. (I listened to it a lot during my Smoky Mountain vacation.)
- We have an interview with the wonderfully creepy Ray Wise from the CW's Reaper.
- Halloween features are starting to pop up, like this countdown of the "30 Greatest Ghosts" in pop culture.
- An Indiana Jones extra was fired after giving away too much of the film to his hometown paper. (Here are the spoilers, but read at your own risk!)
- Who are TV's greatest geeks?
- It sounds like those Deadwood movies aren't happening after all.
- The Flaming Lips' long-awaited film project may arrive in the spring.
- Are you having trouble ordering the Radiohead album?
- Check out the list of special features on the third-season Lost DVD set.
- A sequel to The Queen is being planned, though it will really focus on Tony Blair.
- Comedy Central has renewed Mind of Mencia and Lil' Bush, if you watch 'em.
- Kanye West has a blog?
- This piece about the "7 Strangest Post-Sitcom Careers" may surprise you. I, for one, had no idea what Richard Moll was up to.
- The Tonight Show's furniture is for sale on eBay. It's currently going for more than $15,000.
- A Lonesome Dove prequel debuts on CBS in December.
- AfterElton asks: "What does it take to be a gay icon today?"
- Paul Westerberg debuted a new song last week.
- AOL actually changed their free musical offerings after I wrote about them yesterday. The site is now streaming the new Bruce Springsteen CD, greatest-hits offerings from Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, PJ Harvey's latest and more.
- And finally, it's always a good time for a food fight. The great part about this one is that it doesn't make a mess. Thanks to T. Scott for the tip.
A few of you have asked me about a new, bouncy Target commercial that features some females singing La Ti Da. What's the name of the band? The Icicles, and they hail from Grand Rapids, Mich. Where can you see the ad? Right here. Pop reader Nathew points out that the band had a song featured in Motorola's KRAZR commercial last year.
You can hear the full version of La Ti Da on the Icicles' MySpace page. It comes from their latest album, Arrivals & Departures.
I was just distracted by a bunch of behind-the-scenes videos from the set of Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited. There are several cool ones, including tours of the interior and exterior of the train. (Most of the stuff onscreen was handmade and hand-painted. When you go see it, try to count the elephants!)
The videos also include clips from nearly every day of production. For instance, Day 1 shows Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman goofing around, and Day 39 shows them shooting a motorcycle scene.
Here's a Q&A with Anderson about the film. Don't forget that you can watch the 13-minute "prequel," Hotel Chevalier, for free on iTunes.
John Mayer wants to take you on a cruise.
From Feb. 1-4, the singer and several of his musician friends will be aboard the "Mayercraft Carrier," a cruise ship that leaves from Miami and visits the Bahamas. Go here to enter to win a trip for two aboard the big boat. If you'd like to purchase tickets, head to mayercraftcarrier.com.
Other artists on the cruise include DJ Logic, Colbie Caillat, Brandi Carlile and Soulive. If you go, don't forget to take lots of photos and tell us how the food was.
I saw several weird things while I was on vacation last week, but Foamhenge probably takes the cake.
My husband and I stumbled upon this manmade wonder on our drive home, when we stopped to see the famous Natural Bridge in Virginia. The name says it all: Foamhenge is a full-size replica of Stonehenge made out of styrofoam. It's located in the middle of a field.
See for yourself:
Below is the sign by the side of the road that caught my eye. Since there wasn't really a parking lot, admission charge or sign of any visitors, we were a little worried when we turned into Foamhenge. The promise of towering foam drove us forward, though.
According to this sign, Foamhenge took six weeks to build. The artist is Mark Cline, who lives in town.
Once I walked up a small hill, this is what I saw ...
Here I am, in the midst of foam worship.
And did I mention Foamhenge includes a giant fiberglass sculpture of Merlin? His face is a mold of Cline's friend, whose dying wish was to be immortalized somehow. His memory lives on through Foamhenge.
And here I am again, feeling mighty like the foam ... actually, I guess I'm mightier, since I could probably knock down one of these things with one hand.
If you want to see Foamhenge, take the Natural Bridge exit off Interstate 81. While I was intrigued by the weirdness of this attraction, I have to say I'm amazed it was completed at all. I mean, we're talking about "styrofoam blocks weighing up to 420 pounds" -- could this be any more of an environmental disaster? What's next, a replica of the Empire State Building made out of aerosol cans?
I'm not sure how long styrofoam will last in the open air, especially since I stepped on several pieces of Foamhenge during my visit. If you want to see it, I suggest you make the trip before winter takes its toll.
You didn't think we'd hear much about Lost in October, did you? Well, surprise ...
First of all, many fans know this by now, but executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse posted a surprise podcast marking the anniversary of the crash of Oceanic Flight 815. They answered fans' questions about the show and chatted about Richard's character, time travel and more. Hurrah!
Secondly, these Lost bloopers have hit YouTube. It's not often we get to see Sayid and Ben laughing, so they're worth a look.
Thirdly, SciFi.com says they have some spoilers about next season. You can read them, but I'm too afraid.
Finally, the attached photo comes courtesy of Pop reader Amy B. "I just got back from Prague, and look what I saw!" she writes. "Who knew Josh Holloway was hawking Cool Water? It definitely was a bright moment in the cold, rainy day." Mine too, Amy ... and that certainly looks like one tall, cool drink of water. (Click to enlarge.)
In a couple weeks I'll head to New York for the CMJ Music Marathon, an event packed with bands and films and unexpected thrills.
Metromix New York is counting down the fest by profiling one CMJ band each day until it starts. Go there now to read about St. Vincent, Datarock, Islands and other bands. If you'll be there or have some tips, drop me a line -- this is my first time, and I'm super-psyched. Of course, I'll be blogging and snapping photos the whole time I'm there.
It's Banned Books Week, and several events are being held all over the country to celebrate our freedom to read.
Believe it or not, titles are still being banned and challenged in schools and libraries. Frequently challenged books in 2006 included Cecily Von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl series, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye, Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War and Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
What can you do to celebrate Banned Books Week? The official site offers some tips and links to its MySpace page. If you're looking for some reading material, here are the top 100 books challenged from 1990-2000, according to the Office for Intellectual Freedom.
Go here to read the first chapter of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which is one of my favorite books from the list.
Welcome back to the forum, where Pop Candy readers mingle and chat about pop culture throughout the day. Drop in, and you just might run into our featured commenter ...
Reader of the day: terrastrana
Real name: Yemisi Aina
Where I live: Philadelphia
Occupation: Student
Favorite movie: I watch a lot of movies, so I have two favorites! The first one is Donnie Darko -- I love all the '80s nostalgia, the cooky time-travel plot and, of course, the creepy/mysterious bunny. My other all-time favorite movie is Almost Famous. The music, the plot and the characters are great. I think my junior year of college I watched that movie at least 20 times.
Favorite album: Wincing the Night Away by the Shins
Three famous people I'd like to meet: Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Neil Gaiman. Jake because he's hot, Natalie because she seems like an interesting person to talk to and Neil because he's basically the most brilliant fantasy/comic book writer of this decade.
One famous person I've actually met: None, sadly.
My celebrity crush: Gael García Bernal. Besides the fact that he's the hottest actor alive, I also like his versatility in playing movie roles. He's equally good as an idealistic young Che Guevara in The Motorcycle Diaries, or as a menacing priest in El Crimen del padre Amaro.
I'm back from my Smoky Mountain vacation! I hope you made it through last week, and thanks for keeping the home fires burning while I was away.
We have tons of catching up to do today, so let's get started with some headlines:
- Did you miss Dexter and Brotherhood on Showtime last night? Watch them online. The password is "killer shows."
- Michelle Rodriguez is accused of violating her probation.
- Radiohead fans can name their own price to download the band's new album, which arrives Oct. 10.
- TVGuide.com has an interview with new Heroes cast member Dania Ramirez. I can't wait to resume our discussions about this show tomorrow.
- AOL is streaming new CDs from Joni Mitchell and Jose Gonzalez, among others.
- The new Cat Power disc will be released Jan. 22. It's all covers, you know.
- R.I.P., Miss Moneypenny.
- New episodes of Conan O'Brien's Pale Force have returned!
- Director Zack Snyder has posted a video message from the Watchmen set.
- Carmela Soprano's Porsche is being auctioned. Here's a clip of the car on the show ("like the pepper").
- No, we do not need a remake of The Karate Kid.
- Here's an interview with Creed from The Office that I missed while I was out of town.
- Top Chef fans should also check out this Q&A from last week with Dale. Ooh, I can't wait for the finale!
- Reminder: Barack Obama appears on The Tyra Banks Show today, if you're interested.
- Last weekend's edition of Studio 360 featured excellent live performances by Stars and Herbie Hancock. Check it out online, along with exclusive bonus tracks.
- Californication fans may want to keep up with the show via this production blog.
- 7th Heaven has a ridiculously long Wikipedia entry. Are you surprised?
- Episodes of Passions will be posted online, starting today. (It requires a subscription, though.)
- Here's what would've happened on ABC's Traveler if the series hadn't been canceled.
- The Sci Fi Channel has renewed Eureka.
- And finally, Rolling Stone counts down the top 25 music DVDs of all time. It even makes room for Madonna: Truth or Dare.
