Pop Culture's Christmas Wish List

With the Holidays right around the corner, here are a couple of things I hope to see under “Pop Culture’s” tree on Christmas morning.





1. A Sedative for Oprah. With Obama victorious, the release of Australia, and the on set recreation of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, America’s favorite talk show host has been screeching so loud the past couple months you’d think someone was grabbing her by the short hairs. It wouldn’t take an expert marksman to place a tranquilizer on her flip side either.



2. Another break-up for Pink. The badass rocker’s public divorce sparked the best pop song of 2008. Another failed relationship = more catchy tunes. Corey Hart must be happy nothing really goes with the line “So what … your dick is small.”



3. CSI: Bosnia. True, hunger is the leading cause of death, but murder has to be at least two or three. Plus, when a 7-11 clerk is killed in the Middle East, they will need Gil Grissom’s forensic technology to figure out it was his mistress’s jealous stepson avenging his dead father’s honor.



4. Birth control for John & Kate. Eight really is enough. The basic cable ratings monster
won’t have the same catchy title if they call it John & Kate Plus Nine. Props to John though. With a set of twins and sextuplets, it takes a real man to slip one past the goalie twice.


5. The Sopranos On Ice. Hey, Disney can keep recycling their shows by putting them on ice, why can’t the world grieve for the loss of their favorite mob show by celebrating it on the rink. Tell me you wouldn’t pay to see James Gandolfini doing a double axel while he dodges the feds and Johnny Sack. Not to reinforce negative stereotypes, but the professional ice skaters would feel right at home with the Vito/Johnny Cakes storyline.



6. More Celeb-reality. That’s right, I don’t care who or what, I love to watch celebrities in their own crazy element. Whether its’ Judd Nelson baking brownies or Courtney Love fighting a homeless man for cab fair, I’ll be parked in front of the T.V.



7. Original Videogames. Not being a big gamer myself, I imagine that if I played, I wouldn’t want to reenact World War II in my living room. What happened to the games where a steroidal genetic freak and girl with huge boobs save the world from an evil space alien and his moderately tough henchmen that are strategically dispersed through every level?


8. The Full House Movie. Cut. It. Out. Every major T.V. show is getting a big screen adaptation, what’s wrong with the Tanners? Thanks to a revolving door women, Stamos is looking younger than ever, and I doubt Saget has anything to do. Also, I’m pretty sure the Kimmy Gibbler was headed to the stripping pole and I’d like to see how that panned out.

Next up: Grammy Ballot Mailing Concert

Last night CBS aired a one hour special Grammy Nomination Concert where musical acts played between the announcement of the nominations. At one point John Mayer did a duet with B.B. King and I couldn't help but think "Hey this would have been great for the actual Grammy show." The buzz around the Grammys should be in the performances, because with 110 categories, its kind of hard not to get nominated for something. I have actively pursued trying to find out the difference between "Record of the Year","Song of the Year" and "Album of the Year" and have gotten nowhere. What confuses me even more is usually two or three different artists win those awards. I assume if voters have more than one song they like, they vote for one in each category. In my opinion, the Grammys are the least credible awards in the entertainment business. Music is so subjective that they should just do like the Peabody's do and give awards out to the artist who have produced exceptional work. When you watch the Grammys, it seems like the awards just get the way of the big musical acts. Everyone watches for the performances, but with big stars on last night, the actual show will lack luster.

Not only did CBS blow their load with this special, they picked the absolute worst person to host. Taylor Swift looked as frightened as she did skinny, and as she was reading the tele-prompter, you would have thought she never saw those words before in her life. The biggest stars from the music world were all on hand to see if they got nominated. When your a nominee at an award show, you celebrate the achievement of being nominated, and go in case you win. When you go to the nomination ceremony, you say "hey I think I'm getting nominated" and look like an ass when you don't.

In case you care, here is a link to the nominations. Maybe I'm out of touch with music, but I said "who??" about 10 times in after reading the first three categories.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/grammy-scorecar.html

A Salute to "The Shield"

Television cop shows follow the pattern of those who set the bar. In the 1960s, Dragnet defined the procedural drama. In the 1970s, The Streets of San Francisco opened the door for action adventure police work that would be very popular in the late seventies and early eights. Steven Bachcco redefined the genre twice by humanizing cops on Hill Street Blues in the 1980s, and portraying a realism never seen before with explicit language stories and nudity on NYPD Blue. While Blue embraced its’ hero as tragically flawed, it was a basic cable series that dared to push the bar in a direction it has never been before.

Tonight, FX closes the books on the drama series that put the cable network on the map. Since it’s inception in 1994, FX struggled to produce original programming that received high ratings and critical acclaim. In 2001, the brass at the Fox subsidiary took a risk on The Shield, gritty, in your face, detective series where the main character is as crooked as the criminals he arrests. Every aspect of the series is cutting edge. From the camera work, art decoration, storylines and performances, the cast and crew of The Shield make the viewer feel like they are watching a documentary. The Shield falls in the category of one of those shows that never had a bad season, and never compromised the essence or integrity of the plot by resorting to cheap gimmicks. Even when big guest stars such as Glenn Close or Forrest Whitaker joined the cast, their characters always seemed right at home instead of being forced down our throats. Creator Shawn Ryan had a definite vision, and built on the characters he created for seven seasons. It is amazing to me that Shawn Ryan was not sure how many seasons the series was going to have because leading into the series finale, everything has appeared to come full circle with the perfect build and story arcs exploding in the last ninety minutes. The Shield is a rarity in television. Despite falling off the pop culture radar as of late, this cult favorite will go down in history as the series that redefined a classic genre.

Awesome "The Shield" tribute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIQbXhtMgaU

Twenty-five years later: Hollywood is still coming to "terms"

It was twenty-five years ago today that Paramount took a gamble on a small, seemingly destined for failure family dramedy. As the holidays of 1983 approached, the studio hoped audiences would flock to a film where there were no special effects, or big action scenes. Terms of Endearment, based on the popular Larry McMurtry novel of the same name, had gone through the Hollywood systems for ten years, with many different stars attached along the way. The story of the turbulent relationship between a prim and proper Houston widow, and her free spirited daughter was finally given the green light by Paramount, with a rookie director at the helm.

James L. Brooks, the brains behind past hits such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Taxi, and future hits such as The Simpsons, Jerry Maguire and As Good As It Gets, did such a remarkable adaption of the script that the studio gave him 7 million dollars right away. What separated Brooks from the rest of the contenders was his ability to bring a comedic tone to the core of the film, by adding characters and finding humor in the pain of severe life issues. Brooks understood it could have easily danced into “movie of the week” territory, but if the film was a comedy as opposed to a melodrama, audiences would warm to the human aspect of the heavy plot. He also used the influence of Norman Rockwell and The Best Years of Our Lives to contribute to the incredible look of the film.

By casting Shirley MacLaine as the overbearing mother, Brooks gave the thirty year screen veteran the role of her career. MacLaine’s portrayal of Aurora Greenway combines dramatic chops with comedic timing in a way that has not been done before or since. As you watch MacLaine’s performance, your understand the character is feeling one way on the inside, but acting differently. It is a tribute to MacLaine as an actress that she can convey one emotion by playing the exact opposite. MacLaine has such an overwhelming screen presence, you can’t help but want to make her proud in ways her daughter is never able to do. Debra Winger, known for being a method actress, embodied the character of Emma Horton in way that can only be justified by watching the film. Jack Nicholson, in a role was not in the book, took the supporting part of a womanizing alcoholic astronaut that captures Shirley MacLaine’s heart and turned it into a career rejuvenating opportunity that allowed him to take on all the great roles for men over 45.

Terms of Endearment is an example of all the right things coming together at the right time. The film was plagued with on set drama that almost rivaled its’ screenplay.
When filming went a million dollars over budget before a one scene was even shot, Brooks had to continually push back the start date. A year later, NBC saw the screenplay and paid the rest of the budget in exchange for exclusive television rights. The cameras finally started to role in late 1982. It was at that point, Brooks masterful direction sometimes took a back seat to his role as professional babysitter. The two leads, Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger caused a great deal of tension on the set, mostly because Debra Winger refused to break character. At one point, producer Penny Finkelman had to jump on the hood of MacLaine’s car to stop her from leaving the set. James L. Brooks lost three days of filming begging Debra Winger to come out of her hotel room. When Burt Reynolds dropped out of the role of Garret Breedlove despite loving the script (he was contractually obligated to Stroker Ace), and Harrison Ford and Paul Newman turned it down, Jack Nicholson stepped in as a favor to friend Debra Winger on the condition they schedule his shooting days around the Laker home games. John Lithgow filmed his role during a three day break from Footloose because the actor originally set to play his role dropped out as well. James L. Brooks and co-star Danny DeVito found out Taxi was cancelled during filming. The producers also had to fight for Jeff Daniels, who was relatively unknown, and not wanted by Paramount. Daniels had to co through eleven callbacks before he was cast in the crucial role of Emma’s husband.

Despite numerous set backs, Brooks managed to produce the most compelling family drama in the history of film. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, a won five including Best Picture. Roger Ebert gave it four stars and awarded it one of the best films of the year. It is also one of the exceptions to the rule “the book is always better than the movie.” Terms of Endearment is generally regarded in Hollywood as the best tearjerker of all time when the truth is not only is it one of the best tearjerkers of all time, it’s one of the best films of all time, period.

25 Years Ago Today The NWA was Fair to Flair

Twenty-five years ago today, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair captured his third, and ultimately most important World Heavyweight title from Harley Race at Starrcade. It would be this, his third reign, that would launch the legacy he achieved today as the greatest of all time. His career, which came to a triumphant end this March, is unrivaled in the world of professional wrestling. Many believe Flair to be the measuring stick for all current and up and coming superstars, despite the respect for his career coming with longevity and not immediately. His match with Race suffers the test of time, but you can tell by the reaction of the crowd that the relevance of title change and drama of the bout make Race vs. Flair from Starrcade 1983 on of the most pertinent matches in the history of wrestling.

Here's a clip of the Ric Flair tribute video from Wrestlemania XXIV

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LVnY3qUEPw

Hidden Nugget of the Week: Celebrity Rehab

As much as I am supporter of scripted series, this train wreck of a celeb-reality show is more bizarre than anything Charlie Kaufman could think up. I hate to ruin the surprise, but here is a brief rundown of who is in the house. If you get a chance, check it out. There’s nothing like it on TV.

Gary Busey – Minutes into the show, Busey mentions he has done cocaine off the back of his dog. So if you’re a dog, I guess the only thing worse than being owned by Gary Busey, is being owned by Michael Vick. Actually I’m not sure about that, because with Vick you have a fighting chance.With Busey, you’re what he uses when his coffee table is too cluttered with drafts of his acronym book. By the way, the person who green-lit that book has the greatest sense of humor. However, that’s only the tip of the insanity iceberg. Busey also takes advantage of the maid service at the rehab center by bringing his dirty laundry from home. The best part about Busey is that he thinks he is one of the doctors. He’s going around telling the other patients he is there strictly to help, and not go through the treatment. At that point, Amber Smith tries to figure out if he is really saying these things or if she’s having withdrawal. Like in baseball, VH1 went with their “ace” first. Nobody can touch Busey’s insanity, and introducing him early gives us a full 90 minutes of pure awkward pleasure. This was great casting.

Amber Smith – The former model and actress brings her box of pills and rack of silicone to the treatment center, as Dr. Drew can barely contain himself when doing the pre-interview. I counted at least three times Dr. Drew blatantly stares at her boobs. Amber is opening up and crying about her mother forcing her to do drugs with her, and pervert Dr. Drew can barley give her a sensible response because he’s too busy watching her breast heave as she cries. The producers say everyone gets a physical, but Amber and Nikki McKibbin are the only ones I saw that actually had to lay on the table. Good thing Amber wore a sundress. Dr. Drew, who I’m not even sure is a real doctor, wore his stethoscope the entire time, and did an abdomen examination the same way a five year old would do when they play hospital. What makes Dr. Drew qualified to do this? Teaching millions of teenage adolescents how to treat herpes on LoveLine doesn’t exactly give him a PHD.

Rodney King – Of all the awkward moments in the show, one of the most awkward would be when Drew kept asking King “Is there anything that happened in the past that might have lead you to drink?” King, who showed restraint by not standing up and screaming “Yeah I was beaten by three Los Angeles cops, then every news station in the world replayed the tape for a years, mother fucker!” and put all the blame on himself. Rodney did some hardcore drinking too. How drunk do you have to be to not be able to show up for work as a tow truck driver’s assistant? I mean, shit, your not even driving the thing. All you have to do is hook the car to the truck and away you go. The editors also left in the little gem of Rodney puking out the window of the tow truck. And honestly, Rodney King is not a celebrity. I’ll give you everyone else, but Rodney King. What, were Anita Hill and the Runaway Bride busy?

Tawny Kitaen – Looking like she drove the very convertible she posed on in the White Snake video straight through a wall, Tawny Kitaen might be the most genuine person in the entire show. Sure she was arrested for beating her baseball player husband Chuck Finley with a stiletto heel, but it was the drugs that made her do it. She even tells Dr. Drew she was surprised cocaine had such a bad effect on her. Despite her naivety, Tawny seems like she is the only person there truly committed to getting better. You couldn’t help but feel bad for her when she gets dissed by Rodney King. If anything, Tawny Kitaen is a survivor. She made it through being a white woman dating O.J., so she was probably closer to death then than she was on speed.

Sean Stweart – Rod’s son Sean takes the opportunity of being isolated in a house with strangers to prey on the women, mainly Amber Smith. Although I’m sure if Nikki McKibbin loses all that weight again she’ll be in the running too. At what point do you actually have to do something to be famous. Are Sean’s kids famous by birth too, or is it a one generation thing, then your on your own talent from there? Sean calls himself a singer, song writer, model which is odd since he approaches all three the same way. – stand around and let other people take pictures of you. It might be a technicality, but I thought you had to write songs to consider yourself a songwriter. Anyway, this guy is already getting on my nerves so I hope Busey gives him the Under Siege treatment and karate chops him in the throat.

Steven Adler – I get the feeling Slash has an entire answering machine full of Steven Adler begging him to let him drum for Guns N’ Roses again. Steven is so f’ed up they start the show two weeks early because they are afraid he will OD by the time cameras start rolling. Dr. Drew makes a house call, and Adler is on the brink of destruction because … wait for it … Slash put out a new album and he wasn’t asked to do drums. If I was doing a spoof of this segment, I would immediately show shots of a long haired top hat wearing Slash as a young boy, posing with a young Adler to show how long they have been friends and then miraculously shots of a long haired top hat wearing Slash as a young boy, posing with a young Adler. You cannot make this stuff up. Adler is brought to the rehab center by ambulance and really scares the shit out of all the other guests (except Busey who thinks he’s a homeless man). I’m not saying it’s hard to understand Adler, but his pronunciation makes The Elephant Man sound like Patrick Stewart.

Nikki McKibbin – Nikki actually has a really sad story involving her mom dying after they did drugs together, so I won’t elaborate much more than it’s a shame the price you pay when you become too famous too fast. The current American Idol is not anywhere near as popular as the first season, so imagine the whirlwind of drugs and booze she must have been caught up in as twenty two year old kid set loose in Hollywood.

Jeff Conway – Like the Emperor Nero making his grand entrance in Rome, Jeff Conway, the Savior of VH1, emerges from his limo. Looking like Tiny Tim grew up and became a crack addict, Conway quickly makes himself at home. Since he already went through rehab once, Jeff is familiar with his surroundings, and at one point I think the nurses bring out his personal coffee mug. Dr. Drew considers Jeff Conway his Mount Everest, which is eerie because if you get to close to Jeff you might actually lose some fingers and toes. With this rowdy bunch, it’s hard for VH1 not to have a hit on their hands. It’s also hard for me to stomach that people who once had talent are more making a comeback off their addictions. There addiction can be profitable for years to come. It’s like in the 70s when every show on CBS was a spinoff of All in the Family. What’s next? Rodney King as a contestant on I Love New York?

Why James Bond is Pop Culture's Favorite Secret Agent

For a character who has been on screen for twenty two films and over forty five years, we don’t seem to know much about James Bond. We know he likes women, fast cars, cool gadgets and his martinis shaken, not stirred, but we’ve heard all that at nauseam. While Batman, Superman, and the rest of the film franchises try to give their hero an identity by explaining their past, the James Bond films have always been identified by the present. It is the films dedication to the current state of the world that makes James Bond the most timeless and relevant character in pop culture history. I understand Harry Potter and Star Wars might be more popular, but no hero has been able to transcend the rules of time like James Bond.

The 60s - If you watch the films from the 60s, Bond is a perfect poster boy for the sexual revolution. His numerous conquests, cocky swagger and seductive gaze gave promiscuity a respectable name. While saving the world was business, the sex was always fun. You can almost see Sean Connery smirking on the inside every time he has to address Pussy Galore by name. James Bond films fully embraced America’s figurative unbuttoning of it’s blouse, as Ursula Andres made her dripping wet entrance and Claudine Auger’s dark vulnerability made her role as Domino not only one of the hottest Bond girls of all time, but one of the hottest film characters of all time. The political climate in America was the perfect background for James Bond to travel the world as an agent in The Cold War. The spy genre was huge in this era because the paranoia of the Iron Curtain had patriotism high and everybody watching their back. 007 even capitalized on America’s obsession with space, as his numerous foes often had world domination by use of space weapons as their agenda, causing Bond to leave the galaxy for some of his missions.

The 70s – As disaster movies like The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno raked in mega bucks for Hollywood, the Bond franchise decided bigger was in fact better. The 1970s saw the release of the most ambitious films of the entire series, as they pushed barriers with stunts even the Japanese weren’t crazy enough to try. The mid-air parachute fight in Moonraker took 13 days to shoot, and the ski cliff dive from The Spy Who Loved Me convinced the film’s crew that the director was insane. As racial tension across the world intensified, Live and Let Die provided blaxpotation scenes worthy of Super Fly and Foxy Brown as it depicted the gritty ring of drug smuggling in Harlem, and the bigotry on New Orleans.

The 80s – With Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton splitting Bond duty in the 80s with three and two respectively, it seemed Bond received a makeover every time he made an appearance. Hollywood was producing blockbusters in every genre, so there was no true formula to follow. The only thing they all had in common is the characters had to be larger than life. From Indiana Jones to Tootsie, captivating characters carried films throughout every genre. Where the Bond films of the 90s would be effects driven, the interaction between James Bond and the likes of Max Zorin (Christopher Walken), Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi), May Day (Grace Jones) and Octopussy (Maud Adams) dismantled any need for big explosions and high speed chases. Of course Bond would not be Bond without those things, and even held it’s own with Die Hard when it came to climatic action scenes.

The 90’s – Bond appeared for the first time since the end of the Cold War in 1995, and there was a question of whether he would be relevant. As the technology age flourished in America, it did so for James Bond as well. It seemed like Bond’s weapons were becoming outdated faster than Q could pump them out. James Bond should never be using technology made available to the general public. If the three movies in the 90s, Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies and The World is Not Enough, the producers tried to top each other in terms of special effects in each one. The good this was that it worked. With George Lucas and CGI becoming more of the norm, Britain’s favorite MI6 agent blew up everything from Tokyo to Peru out of desperation to keep up. Although the 90s will be known as the Peirce Brosnan ear, it can also be identified as the era where James Bond gets back his footing.

The 2000s – A new Bond and a new beginning were emanate. As Die Another Day paid tribute to the past forty years, Bond took a new direction. Just like Batman and Superman, Bond returned to his roots. The beginning. The only difference is, Bond is not damaged and not doomed. He’s rather good in the beginning but not the best. He’s serious but had a witty edge. And in our recent political climate, who would have thought it would be a British agent saving the world from Middle Eastern terrorist and economical bankruptcy. James Cameron put the kibosh on True Lies 2 because he thought it was no time to dramatize Iraqi terrorist, but why not. James Bond has, and always will be the barometer for pop culture and current events, which is why he is still the longest running franchise is movie history.

Shoot: Lanny Poffo

Lanny Poffo’s interview doesn’t break any ground in relation to other shoots, but his charismatic personality and eloquent speaking voice make him a guy you wouldn’t mind sitting down and having a beer with. He has a warmth and passion about the business you can tell is genuine, and at no time does he ever seem bitter. Where other wrestlers tend to put themselves over, and in reality it’s hard not to when speaking about yourself for an hour, Poffo does not dance around what his position with each company was. He was fully aware he was an upper mid card jobber at best, and actually relishes his lack of push. The interviewer shows a lot more restraint than I would have when it comes to questions about Randy Savage. He was very respectful to Lanny, and remembered its supposed to be a “Lanny Poffo” shoot and not a “Brother of the Macho Man” shoot. His apprehensiveness to burn bridges is refreshing, but at the same time you long for some good dirt. If you are a casual wrestling fan, this probably isn’t for you, but the fanatics will enjoy the performance from Lanny, the insight about coming up in the territories, and the fact he can remember poems from 20 years ago. If you don’t want to watch the interview, you can find some key points below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e34FJLuT8KQ


SPOILERS:

- Vince McMahon brought him in to release him, but Lanny saved his job by asking Vince to let him work heel for one night. Vince thought he was too good looking to be a heel. Lanny begged Vince to let him be a heel for one night, and if the fans didn’t buy it, he would go. That night, Lanny went to the ring in the Boston Garden and caused fans to jump the guardrail when he insulted all four Boston teams in his poem. McMahon signed him to a new contract immediately.
- He states his best friend is Rick Martel. Rick’s family flew Lanny into Canada as a surprise to Rick on his 50th birthday. They had Lanny dress as a clown, and reveal himself to Martel during the party.
- Hulk Hogan loved working Lanny, and the two have a very good relationship.
- David Sammartino and Lanny were both victims of Pat Patterson’s rise to power. Lanny decided to stay and do jobs, but David quit immediately.
- After hearing one poem from Lanny on Tuesday Night Titans, Vince McMahon told him he is to do a poem before every match.
- He took the cap and gown idea from a gimmick his father did twenty years earlier.
- His children’s book was nominated for the Newbury Award.
- When riding in a car with Ronnie Garvin, Ronnie pulled over to ask a middle aged woman who was gardening for directions, and got her attention by yelling “Hey c*nt”
- Was involved in a backstage altercation with Bam Bam Bigelow after Lanny made a joke at his expense in front of the entire locker room. Bigelow asked him if he wanted to take it outside and Lanny replied that he would love to because it would be safer than working him.

Find more shoot interviews at Wrestling HotSeat's Website http://www.myvirtualbc.com

Survivor

The new season of Survivor is really picking up steam as it heads towards what will probably be the merge episode tonight. All of the castaways have found their niche in the tribe, with wedding photographer Randy emerging as the evil villain. Sometimes the producers edit the show to make a contestant look worse than he is, but I guarantee there is not a piece of footage on the cutting room floor where Randy is not being a dick. Corrine was striving for the same character, but her lack of control in the tribe and petty jealously make her confessionals sound like she is in the girls room of her high school, gabbing to her friends about how everyone else is a bitch. Something I find incredibly unique and utterly awkward is the relationship between the straight Marcus and gay Charlie. Who knew Survivor had this much subtext? I assure you if I were on the show, I would never have the balls to pull off what Marcus is doing. It is painfully obvious that Charlie is in love with Marcus, and Marcus is totally playing into the infatuation. I know it’s all about alliances and trust, but Marcus may have painted himself into a corner. If his plan goes accordingly, and their alliance makes it to the final four, I don’t think anything short of Marcus banging him will make Charlie want to go to the jury against him. What about Crystal? She represented America proudly in the Olympics, and the Olympics poorly on Survivor. Nobody else has any gold medals and they make it through a challenge without crying. And then she has the nerve to get offended when someone calls her on it. So with all these lunatics running around, the one sane person on the tribe is the one I’m predicting to win. Kenny, the 21 year old professional video gamer was the only castaway of the doomed yellow tribe strategizing the entire time. He played the retro pinup model Sugar like he was on the final level of Halo 3, and doesn’t have an enemy in either tribe. So Kenny is my official prediction to win, which means he will probably get the boot this week, but nevertheless this is one entertaining group of misfits.

In honor of Election Day, here’s a list of pop culture mainstays that weren’t afraid to proudly display their red or blue.

Pop Culture’s Top 5 Republicans
1. Alex P. Keaton. Michael J. Fox’s portrayal of the eldest son of the Keaton family on Family Ties was such an avid right winger, he not only debated his free spirited parents for six seasons, but he had a picture of Richard Nixon sitting on his nightstand.
2. Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Her biased loyalty to anything red brings a needed counterpoint to the Bush-bashing women of The View. Also, her prim and proper demeanor proves you can be sexy without being slutty.
3. Rush Limbaugh. He’s the journo the left loves to hate, and the man who isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. Like many other pop culture figures, rehab has only secured his place in pop culture history.
4. Jack Donaghy. Clinton friend Alec Baldwin plays against type on 30 Rock as the NBC executive who had a torrid love affair with Condi Rice, worked in the Bush administration, and dreams of the days when Regan was President.
5. Chuck Norris. The Walker Texas Ranger star might be smarter than he looks. I mean so few celebrities endorse Republicans, he almost always makes the list by default.

Pop Culture’s Top Five Democrats.
1. Mike Stivic. Archie Bunker’s meathead son-in-law broke television ground when his character brought sensitive subjects like abortion, interracial marriage and draft dodging to the blue-collar 1970s New York home on All in the Family.
2. President Jed Bartlett. Martin Sheen’s appearance was the only thing Regan-esque as he challenged the political process and preserved the integrity of his party for his eight year, two term service on NBC’s critically acclaimed drama The West Wing.
3. Bill Maher. His political commentary remains insightful, intriguing and infuriating despite the fact Real Time allows only one Republican in the building per week.
4. George Clooney. His influence amongst voters is almost as effective as it is with moviegoers, and even manages to make politics seem cool.
5. Bill McKay. Robert Redford’s role as the pretty boy Senator from California positioned as the possible sleeper for the Democratic Party in The Candidate was so popular in the 1970’s, the fake campaign button used in the film is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Hidden Nugget of the Week: Diablo Cody's MySpace page

From stripper to Academy Award winning writer, the 30 year old Juno scribe not only wrote the best film of 2007, but has created the the most authentic celebrity MySpace page/blog the net has ever seen. Cody has a distinctive writing style that seems so natural you feel like you are listening to her talk. Her down to earth approach to her fame is just part of the charm of this randomly updated blog. She promotes, not pimps, her upcoming projects, and her selection of clips speaks perfectly to her sense of humor.

http://www.myspace.com/diablocody

Behind the Screams

Earlier this year, The Weinstein Company announced it had plans to make Scream 4. I was a huge fan of the first three, in fact the original Scream is one of my favorite movies of all time, but this has the potential to be a huge mistake. While the original Scream films were sleek, sexy and riveting, it’s hard to believe anything they do ten years later will have the energy that made the first three successful. If they are interested in doing another horror movie, how hard could it be to give it its’ own story. Kevin Williamson (who created Dawson’s Creek) wrote the original Scream because he knew there was an audience for this type of movie. Now the audience has been bombarded with slasher films to the point where none of them feel special. Anyway, in honor of Halloween, here are a few things you may or may not have known about Scream. Of course beware of spoilers.

• To keep Drew Barrymore crying, Wes Craven would tell Drew Barrymore stories about animal cruelty, and would often hop up and down like a bunny to remind her of a story he told about a man who tortured rabbits.


• Rose McGowan (Tatum) was the only major character that was never the killer in any draft of the script.


• The janitor dressed as Freddy Kruger is director Wes Craven.


• Liev Schrieber, who plays Cotton Weary, was supposed to have a larger role in the film. In the original draft, he is released from jail and it is him who takes the gun from Stu and shoots Billy. In the final version, it is Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) who does this.


• Billy’s last name, Loomis was used both Psycho and Halloween.


• In another homage to Alfred Hitchcock, Drew Barrymore was promoted as one of the stars of the film. Just like in Psycho, Scream kills off the “lead character” in the first part of the movie.


• I did not answer my phone for three weeks after the seeing this movie for the first time.


• Skeet Ulrich was designed to look like Johnny Depp in Nightmare on Elm Street.


• Wes Craven hid the phone voice of the killer from Neve Campbell the entire time they filmed the movie, even though he had to be onset for all their scene.


• The cat who runs through the cat door (which Tatum tries to escape through) was selected because it had the same color hair as Rose McGowan.

All info obtained through Scream Collectors Edition DVDs, Internet Movie Data Base, Entertainment Weekly, ect.

The Drama (and Comedy) of Baseball

With Game 4 of the 2008 World Series in the history books, and Game 5 barreling down the tracks, did anyone, even the players, realize the Phillies would be the team to be ahead 3 games to 1 in the World Series? Is Philadelphia’s resistance for disappointment so strong we won’t even accept this could be the year until the final out of the final game? Professional sports is the one common thread Americans all over the country are passionate about. It’s like the Burger King commercial, which reminds everyone to be as passionate about voting as you are about your sandwich order. If everyone cared about the (insert your own cause here), as much as they cared about sports, this country would be a better place. But there is no use beating a dead horse. So why do we sit up until 2 am with chest pains, anxiety and sweaty palms for people we don’t really know personally. Part of it is that we are living vicariously through the players, wishing we could be the one an entire city is cheering, and part of it the fellowship of belonging to a successful group. In essence, we all never left the playground. “My team is better than your team” is a statement we proclaim to any opposing fan, yet we have no control over whether this is true or not. The drama that plays out on the field is often more compelling than any reality series. Naturally, filmmakers would be quick to capitalize on this dramatic foil. In sports films, the character want and antagonist are built in. So why is it that for as many hits, there are just as many misses? In honor of the World Series, here’s a look at a few of those baseball films hits and misses.

Hits: As hard as it is to capture the drama of a baseball game on the big screen, it is just as rewarding when it works. The most important part of making a good baseball movie is not telling a story that everyone knows the ending. Titanic worked because of the back-story even though we know the ship is sinks. Nobody would be in suspense if you knew who won the game and how. Sure The Pride of the Yankees is a sentimental favorite, but that was more of a problem drama about a baseball player than a baseball movie. The Sandlot is a good example of a coming of age film, heavy on baseball and comedy that really works. The feel of the 1960’s, equally rounded ensemble and a situation all people can relate to makes this The Christmas Story of sports movies. Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own dominated the box office, and became one of the most talked about movies of 1992. Despite the mostly female cast, this film appealed to everyone, and has the most heart pounding final play of any baseball movie ever. Comedy seems to be the right direction with baseball movies, with Bull Durham being sharply written and seductively charming, while Major League is neither sharply written nor charming, it’s still hilarious and ranks as one of the best. Sometimes drama does work in baseball, like in Field of Dreams, which might be the most inspirational sports movie ever, and Bang the Drum Slowly. A baseball movie about the relationship between a catcher and a starting pitcher with terminal cancer sounds like a drag, but Robert DeNiro’s performance in Bang the Drum Slowly is the role that got him recognized by Francis Ford Coppola, who casted him in The Godfather Part II. Fever Pitch was a decent movie, but it was a commentary on the passion of the fan’s, and not the actual sport. Plus if you're not a member of the "Red Sox's Nation", it becomes obnoxious at points.

Misses: One thing is for sure, Hollywood is not afraid to swing at some bad pitches. Mr. Baseball with Tom Selleck is one joke film. Yeah, he’s an American playing in Japan. I guess the producers felt that was enough comedy for the entire film. Mr. 3000 with Bernie Mac suffered from the comedian not being convincing as a baseball player, and a mediocre script. In general, baseball movies about one man tend to lose the entire essence of the team oriented sport. Think Tommy Lee Jones in Cobb, or John Goodman in The Babe. Eight Men Out is a good film, but if you’re looking for a baseball movie, this does not deliver. I want the characters to be trying to win, not a conspiracy film where the one of the players is paid to lose the game. The Natural is highly stylized and verging on campy, like if The Young and the Restless was about a baseball team. Angels In the Outfield and Rookie of the Year are great for kids, but it doesn’t translate to anyone over 12 the way The Sandlot does. The Rookie with Dennis Quaid is an example of a good actor caught up in a bad film, and For Love of the Game is an example of a great concept that was assembled sloppily. I think when Kevin Costner read the book “For the Love of the Game”, he was so excited to do another baseball movie, he didn’t bother making sure it was adapted to film correctly.

So tonight, like that final scene in the movie, the world is watching and everything is on the line. The most important night in these players lives will be seen by millions of people, so let’s hope they keep in mind the famous advice from Susan Sarandon in Bull Durham: “The world is made for people who aren't cursed with self awareness.” Go Phils.

And the Bride Wore Swimmies

This is nobody's fault but the their own. Wedding by the pool = disaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xYiHcP6oxU

Hidden Nugget of the Week: "The Words of Every Song" by Liz Moore

I'm one of those people who says they like to read, but when it comes to actually doing the footwork, I have been a bit lazy lately. One of the last full books I've read was singer/ songwriter Liz Moore's 2007 debut novel about handling success and failure in the music industry. The book contains 14 chapters, each summarizing the life of a different character, as they intertwine in various ways throughout the book. Every aspect of the music industry is represented, from the rock star who tries to be a good father to his young daughters, to the college pot head trying to get his demos exposed. Each story is carefully constructed with some characters more important, and frankly more interesting, than the others. For me the most touching of all the stories is the one featuring Tony, the middle aged sound man who walked out on his wife and realizes he wants her back, and Cynthia, the lesbian secretary whose ex-girlfriend is now America's hottest pop star. Moore's writing is a narrative poetry that avoids long elaborate paragraphs, and sticks to the essential plot points that are surprisingly poignant, given the author's abruptness. There are sometimes when Moore covers ten years of a character's life in two sentences, but you accept this because the payoff is always worth it. For those who know music well, the novel works on a whole different level, but everyone can appreciate this moving piece of literature. Moore's storytelling ability is truly a hidden gem in the world of fiction.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Everyone, especially those who like good short novels.
THEORY: Although all of the characters are fictional, the character of rising pop singer Lenore Lamont bears a striking resemblance to Leona Lewis, who was on the rise as this book was written.

OH. MY. GOD.

Someone forwarded this to me. Apparently this has made the rounds on Youtube, but if you haven't seen it, please check it out. If you have problems containing your laughter, don't view it at work like me. (Make sure you FF to the 2:15 mark)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPsNi1k8Df4

EXTRA BONUS!!!

This guy's reaction is almost as good as the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1FBqwjzbSA&feature=related

The Top Ten of the Past Ten: Comedy Episodes

The following is a list of the top ten television comedy episodes of the past 10 years. Since 2008 is not over yet, the time frame will be from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2007. This list is totally subjective so I welcome all criticism, as long as you realize I am right and you are wrong.

1. Friends, “The One with the Embryos”; January 15, 1998.

The Gist: Phoebe’s insides are busy trying to get her brother’s sperm to fertilize her sister-in-law’s egg, while Chandler and Joey take on Monica and Rachel in a Jeopardy- like game Ross created to see who really knows whom the best.

Could It Be Any Funnier?: Phoebe’s plot is pretty cheesy, but the interaction between the five remaining friends is best writing the show ever produced. Friends was so good at making viewers feel like part of the group, each week 19 million Americans thought they should be the seventh friend dancing around in the fountain. In relationships, it’s always exciting to discover idiosyncrasies about your significant other four years in. This episode would not have worked if the audience didn’t feel they had a relationship with the people they spend their Thursday night with. Also, you feel like you had an interest in who won or lost. The producers took a real risk shaking up the show by putting two Friends staples, “the apartment” against “the chick and the duck.” Trying to do Friends without the chick and the duck or Monica in the purple apartment would be like trying to do the show without Central Perk, or without the magna-doodle on the door, or without Jennifer Aniston’s nipples showing through her shirt. The fast paced dialogue, perfect acting and high energy make this an episode you can watch over and over again, and laugh every time.
Best Line: Ross: As a child Joey had an imaginary friend. What was his name?
Monica: Maurice!
Ross: And what was his occupation?
Rachel: Space cowboy!!
The Whole Truth: Courtney Cox is the only member of the cast to not be nominated for an Emmy for her role on Friends.

2. Arrested Development, “Afternoon Delite”; December 19, 2004

The Gist: The Bluth Company Christmas Party has California’s most dysfunctional family at odds again, with Michael and Gob swapping leadership roles, and George Michael and Maebe distancing themselves from their respective parents.
Not So Shotty: The show as a whole is the smartest comedy series ever written hands down. Ironically, that was it’s downfall. Causal viewers often missed the 30-40 inside jokes that pop up in each episode. If you have never seen an episode of Arrested Development, you can still appreciate the razor sharp dialogue, subtle social criticism and all and out silliness they were never afraid or too elitist to do (a car slipping on a giant banana peel anyone?). They also have running jokes inside each episode like the price of Gob’s suit (Come on!), the horrible Christmas party roasts, and each character’s own idea of what they think “afternoon delite” means. If you don’t mind having to think to get the jokes, or if you think Michael Cera’s (Juno, Superbad) performance as George Michael is the stuff of comedy legend, check out this show. I could try to summarize the plot of this episode, but I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. The only thing I will say is you can expect a Christmas Party on Bethlehem time, a vulgar sexual harassment speech, giant cranes, the Blue Man Group, incest karaoke and a “420” mile walkabout taken by a middle aged stoner.
Best Lines: Michael (trying to convince Oscar to sleep with his mother): Why don’t you give her a little afternoon delite?
Oscar (thinking he is talking about getting her high): Oh right. The only question is how do I give it to her?
Michael: I don’t need any details.
Oscar: I know, I’ll put it in her brownie.
Michael: Okay that’s enough!
The Whole Turth: Jeffrey Tambor was originally only going to appear in the pilot episode, but loved the script so much, he decided he wanted to be a regular cast member.

3. The Office, “The Injury”; January 12, 2006

The Gist: Michael has burnt his foot on his George Foreman grill, and Dwight has been acting strange ever since he crashed his car into a fence.
The Source of It’s Awesomeness: Michael Scott is like the friend in your group who only knows how uncool he is when his other friends tell him. The mockumentary style is a perfect format for Steve Carell to play an over the top character centered in realism. There are many cringe worthy moments in this episode, but the most uncomfortable is when Michael invites a wheelchair bound man to share his pain with the group. (How long does it take you to brush your teeth?) So everyone knows Michael’s jilted self-perception is a rare quality in lead characters, but the subtle romance between Jim and Pam is the great storytelling NBC was skeptical about at first. Before The Office, My Name is Earl and 30 Rock, NBC liked to bash a romance over your head and tell the audience where to laugh in typical three-camera formula. Even though The Office has not ended, the Jim and Pam dynamic is more appealing and better executed than anything Ross and Rachel ever did. This episode is a great chance to examine their relationship because Pam actually starts to like loopy Dwight despite him vomiting on his back windshield, and not being able to control his arms. We see how undeniably in love Jim is with Pam because he can handle her being engaged to Roy, but he can’t handle Dwight being friends with her. It’s always risky to turn a character upside down for an episode, but this time it was hugely satisfying and brought pleasure in a big way … and that’s what she said.
Best Lines:
Michael: (To Dwight on the way to the hospital) Stop it! Stop it or your fired!
Dwight: You can’t fire me, I don’t work in this van.

The Whole Truth: Phyllis Smith, who plays Phyllis, is a casting director who was given a part on the series because of the way she read with the actors auditioning for the leading roles.

4. Curb Your Enthusiasm, “The Ski Lift”; November 20, 2005

The Gist: Desperate not to give his dying friend Lewis a kidney, Larry befriends the chief of medicine by pretending to be an Orthodox Jew during a ski vacation, where he plans to ask the doctor to move his friend up the donor list.
Pretty Pretty Pretty Good: Larry David allows viewers to channel their inner asshole. This mostly improvised series is great at showing what a despicable human being Larry is, but presents his reasoning so logically you can’t help but think you would do the same thing. Larry’s offensive impersonation of an orthodox Jewish man will having you laughing and shaking your head at the same time. The wife switch that forces Larry’s arch enemy Susie to pretend to be his wife is a payoff worth waiting four seasons for. The subplot is just as funny. In typical Larry David fashion, he mentions to his buddy Jeff, an old girlfriend accused Jeff of having a small penis. Larry seems to reach an epiphany when Jeff informs him his penis isn’t small, but her vagina is huge. Larry’s obsessions with the doctor, the donor list, the ski vacation and the woman with the huge lady part makes The Ski Lift a perfectly balanced episode with laughs all around.
Best Line: Larry: Women love to do this (makes the small penis gesture with his hand.) Well you know what? From now on, this is me. (makes the big vagina gesture with his hands)
The Whole Truth: Larry David often uses the show to voice frustration in his real life, like when he centered an episode around a film critic who gets his thumbs broken after Roger Ebert gave his film Sour Grapes big thumbs down.

5. Sex and the City, "My Motherboard Myself"; July 15, 2001

The Gist: Miranda loses her mother, Carrie loses her hard drive and Samantha loses her orgasm.
The “Big” Deal: The fourth season of Sex and the City was when this HBO romantic comedy reached a creative stride. Miranda, who is as worried about being single at her mother’s funeral, shows a vulnerable side that elicits sympathy. Charlotte’s obsession over the wedding bouquet plays to her character perfectly, and becomes even funnier when they deliver the wrong item. Carrie, who loses all her past articles, is surprisingly poignant in her commentary and even manages to seem compassionate without being whiny. Samantha has most of the comedic spots in the episode, as she ignores the death of Miranda’s mother in the search for her orgasm. It’s after the wrestling coach, shower head and even electric toothbrush have failed, she finds the release she is looking for. The cold façade she has been putting on cracks as she breaks down and cries at the funeral mouthing the words “I’m sorry” to Miranda. For a show that made being single and in your thirties, wild fashion, cosmos and sex talk in vogue, the characters were always well written, true to form and enjoyable for both sexes.
Best Line: Samantha: When I RSVP for a party I make it a point to come.
The Whole Truth: Sarah Jessica Parker had a strict “no nudity” clause in all six seasons of the series.

6. Extras, "Daniel Radcliff"; September 28, 2006

The Gist: Former “background artist” turned comedy star Andy Millman gets a break from the high rated series he hates so much when he films a small role in a Daniel Radcliff fantasy film. Things go from bad to worse when Andy falls for the girlfriend of one of the actors playing an elf. Meanwhile, Maggie has to fend off the advances of the amorous young star.
We’re Having A Laugh: Nothing is sacred when Extras manages to offend little people, the entire Harry Potter fan base, and a youngster with Downs Syndrome in 30 minutes. The best part about the entire series is that when it uses these taboo subjects as punch lines, it doesn’t seem cheap or mean spirited because it’s always Andy who comes out looking like a lesser person. Daniel Radcliff, as the horny Harry Potter star who hits on everything in a skirt, gets to show you his comedic skills, and I assure you his timing is spot on. From pretending to be a chain smoker, to accidentally flinging a condom on Dame Diana Riggs’ head, it is hard to say the kid doesn’t have a sense of humor about his superstardom. On Extras, you feel bad for Andy because he has to deal with the people around him who try to help, but always make things worse. The scenes where Andy tries to apologize for an very offensive “out of context” comment will have you begging Andy to be put out of his misery. The harsh commentary on our tabloid driven world is brutally honest and very funny. Best line: Agent: I got you a movie with Halle Berry?
Andy: Halle Berry?
Agent: Yes, Halle Berry. The short little magical wizard boy with glasses?
Andy: Do you mean Harry Potter?
Agent: Yes. That’s it! … who is Halle Berry again?
The Whole Truth: Each episode is named after the celebrity guest star who appears in it. According to Ricky Gervais (Andy), every guest star of all twelve episodes (Orlando Bloom, Kate Winslet, Ben Stiller, Smauel L. Jackson, Robert DeNiro etc.) agreed to appear in the series based on their love for the other Ricky Gervais created show, The Office.

7. South Park, "With Apologies to Jesse Jackson"; March 7, 2007

The Gist: A misunderstanding on Wheel of Fortune has the entire town in racial turmoil.
Bigger, Longer, Uncut: South Park has been able to walk the dangerous tightrope of shocking humor gracefully for ten years. Shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Nip/Tuck and The Mind of a Married Man pulled shocking stunts just for the sake of shocking the audience. South Park has always managed to validate their outrageousness with satire. The episode is not just about feeling uncomfortable with race, but a demonstration of reverse psychology proving how uptight America really is. Trey Parker and Matt Stone get some flack for not branching out, but stick to what you know. This show is never ages the main character yet still seems relevant and on the pulse of America. I can't comment on that "other cartoon show" with those same characteristics, but I heard you cannot say the same.

Best Line: Randy: Like anyone else thought it was “naggers.”
The Whole Truth: CNN’s Paula Zahn devoted a special report to this episode, in which AbolishtheNword.com praises the show for promoting how hurtful racial slurs can be.

8. Everybody Loves Raymond, “Bad Mood Rising”; May 8, 2000

The Gist: Debra overhears Ray and his friends complaining about how their wives act when on their “lady days."
Holy Crap: When Everybody Loves Raymond debuted, popular sitcoms weren’t centered around traditional families. The Barones, who we discovered were anything but traditional, enabled everyone to see a little bit of their family in them. The way the relationships unfold feels comfortable to husbands and wives, because they feel they are in the same boat as Ray and Debra. In this episode, Ray’s accusation that Debra likes when she’s PMSing because she has an excuse to yell at Ray relates to husbands who think their wives are as evil as them. I always enjoyed how you got the feeling Ray thought of his relationship as a chess game and Debra was his opponent who could beat him blindfolded, yet he still played anyway. This episode does a great job of presenting both sides, as Ray seems sympathetic and thoughtful, while you feel Debra’s frustration for her idiot husband. And for the record, there is not one man in America who could have figured out tape recording Debra’s mood swing was not going to help Ray’s case until she blows up at him.
Best Line: Ray: Hug you?! This is not you! Why would I want to hug the person that shows up once a month to rip into me like a monkey into a cupcake?
The Whole Truth: This episode was based on an argument creator Phil Rosenthal had with his wife Monica Horan (Amy).

9. Weeds, “The Good Shit Lollipop”; August 22, 2005

The Gist: A company who bakes marijuana into their food and candy products is ruining soccer mom Nancy Botwin’s drug dealing business. Meanwhile, Isabel gets back at Celia by substituting Imodium for TrimSpa.
High Comedy: There are so many times in this show where creator Jenji Kohan could have taken a wrong turn and completely ruined the series, but her fresh take on television comedy has made this show one of the best and most riveting to watch. To say this show broke barriers would be an understatement. This Showtime cornerstone not only doesn’t answer to any standards and practices, but it doesn’t abuse its freedom. The explicit language, violence and nudity do not seem forced, but have a purpose in driving the story. In this episode, it is important to see the drug world as seen by a wide-eyed widowed mother of two. Once you get past the shock of what she does for a living, the characters are well written, and the human struggle is what makes this show succeed. Mary Louise Parker manages to play whimsical even though you know she is worried about her family’s survival. Weeds never keeps characters just because they are already on the payroll. Every character has a purpose in relation to Nancy, and contributes to the show. Whether its Doug’s love of a pot taffy, Haylia’s zingers, Conrad’s guidance or Celia’s constipation, this episode will have you giggling like it’s you who has been smoking.
Best Line: Doug: Me no needy no more weedy.
The Whole Truth: HBO passed on this show because they thought it was too edgy for the main character to have young children.

10. Just Shoot Me, "Slow Donnie"; January 5, 1999

The Gist: Maya tries to help Elliot watch his visiting “slow” brother Donnie.
Chicken Pot Chicken Pot Chicken Pot Pie: Before he was Dr. Tobias Funke on Arrested Development, David Cross did friend Steve Levitan a solid by portraying the brother who pretends to be “slow” to get out of work. The whole premise of Just Shoot Me is Maya is a liberal writer who sold out to the man by taking a cushy job at her dad’s fashion magazine. Each episode shows Maya trying to get something positive out of her job, so it’s even funnier when she does the right thing but it blows up in her face. The story is that Donnie fell out of a tree, and has been severely damaged ever since. It turns out Donnie has been faking his handicap, and his love for Maya causes him to confess his secret. It is even funnier the second time you watch it because the first 15 minutes, the audience is not in on the joke. This somewhat offense, always clever and highly controversial episode will make you laugh even when you know it’s wrong.
Best Lines: There are a lot of good lines from Donnie but …
Donnie: (after Maya moves closer to him) Ah! My pants are getting tight!
The Whole Truth: Steve Levitan wanted to do this episode in the first season, but felt the show wasn’t established enough to get away with something like this.

It’s Not TV … it’s a show about a guy with a huge dong.

This week, HBO announced four new pilots currently in production to debut in 2009. I always knew HBO was ballsy but this is ridiculous. “The Riches” creator Dmitry Lipkin has raised the bar and some eyebrows with his dark comedy about a well-endowed high school gym teacher. “The Punisher’s” Thomas Jane (that must have been some casting session) will play the main character in the aptly titled “Hung”. “The Riches” is a smart drama that took a simple gimmick and developed into an intriguing show. The gimmick for “Hung” might seem like a ratings grabber at first, but how long can you beat one joke into the ground? Hopefully Lipkin with give “Hung” room to girth … ah, I mean grow.

Also on slate is “Broadwalk Empire” the period drama (yawn) executive produced by Martin Scorsese (now we’re talking). Fans of HBO’s “The Wire” can find some solace in the series closure knowing the mind behind the Baltimore crime drama, David Simon, will be developing a new drama called “Treme.” Details are sparse, but word is the series will take place in New Orleans with a heavy emphasis on life after Katrina. The fourth of its’ new breed will star Jason Schwartzman as a depressed alcoholic who finds inspiration from Raymond Chandler in “Bored to Death.” Unfortunately, America might just be that because it seems highly stylized shows like “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City,” and “Entourage” thrive at HBO, while deep thinking, depressing, head scratchers like “In Treatment” and “Tell Me You Love Me” dwindle out without much fanfare.

But who am I kidding, I will be watching every one of them.

And you thought Alanis Morissette’s music got angry after the engagement …

Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds got married last weekend. You know her from films like “Lost in Translation” and “Match Point.” You know him from dating Scarlett Johansson. The word around town is Reynolds is a major tool who will do anything to land himself on the A-list. I guess you can’t blame the guy but you can be jealous he gets to land himself on Scarlett Johansson in the process. Their wedding took place in some secluded mountain resort over the span of one weekend where guests could ride horses, go fishing and take nature hikes. Johansson fell in love with horses while filming on the set of “The Horse Whisperer” and Reynolds fell in love with horses while blowing Tobey Maguire on the set of “Seabiscuit.” And, yeah because when I go to Scarlet Johansson and Ryan Reynolds’ wedding, not only do I get to sit through a ceremony miserable because they are so happy together, but I get to sit on a lake with him and fish like an asshole. Sounds like a blast.