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