Archive for January 22nd, 2008

Talking About The Wire

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Despite what you may have read in the voluminous commentaries on other web sites, this season of The Wire is as awesome as every other season. Various journalist-types have spent a lot of time griping about the unrealistic newspaper scenes, but as someone with no more first-hand knowledge of a newsroom than a police department, I find them very interesting.

This is the first time I’ve watched the show weekly instead of in giant DVD-sized binges, so it’s been a different experience. But what’s really annoying me is HBO’s weird schedule. The new episodes are available on HBO On Demand 6 days before it is “broadcast” on Sunday night and everyone who reviews the show waits until the show is “broadcast” before they discuss it. Isn’t that just a weird fiction? Is there anyone who has HBO who doesn’t have HBO On Demand or who waits until Sunday to watch the show when they could have watched it 6 days earlier? I can tell you who’s not waiting: this guy. And “next week’s” episode was great.

2 comments January 22nd, 2008

The Funk: We Are Scientists

I’ve been wondering when We Are Scientists would be coming out with a new record. Apparently, the wait is almost over.

The band has released the first video from its new album, Brain Thrust Mastery, and it even features the woman who plays Cerie (the blonde chick) on 30 Rock. The album won’t be out til March — and even then, only in the UK. Boo hiss.

But We Are Scientists have always made good videos (if you recall, Kyle is best friends with the band and they hang out on weekends) and this is no exception — it’s funny and sweet. The song is a bit of a departure from the style of their last record, The Great Escape. That album was jagged and energetic, this is more subdued and poppy. Hell, it starts with acoustic guitars, which were nowhere to be seen on the first record.

One thing — does anyone detect a certain Killers-ish quality to the vocals? Especially during the verse, the singer cops a certain detached, Brandon Flowers-esque swagger. But, of course, this is better than The Killers.

Anyway, enough of me music nerding out. Here’s the video:[kml_flashembed movie="/rv2_LSIujHk" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

1 comment January 22nd, 2008

How to Look Good Naked: No boys allowed

howto.jpgCarson Kressley has this new show called How To Look Good Naked.

Will you enjoy it? Well, it’s on Lifetime. That’s your first clue.

I’ll start by saying this — How To Look Good Naked shouldn’t be viewed by men. And that includes gay boys (yes, even you way in the back with the pocket square). Lifetime is not Oxygen (or TLC, or whatever). Lifetime is for real women with real uteri. Oxygen and TLC are meant for people who like Roseanne reruns and the occasional romantic comedy. I can watch a What Not To Wear with my girlfriends like a champ, but this is a completely different ball game (excuse the sports reference).

The premise of the show is that Carson visits gals who are plus-sized, helps them embrace their figure, and then gets them to dress in the most flattering way possible. Like Queer Eye, the show has a very positive vibe and is all about self-actualization. On that note, while I don’t want to sound like a douchebag, here goes: I appreciate the show’s good intentions in promoting self-love regardless of size, but I’m also wary of selling the message that people should just give up and accept unhealthy weights. Which is something I feel the show does.

But on an entertainment level, if you’re expecting the rollicking good times of Queer Eye in its heyday, you’re likely to be disappointed. Carson can’t carry on that kind of ruckus by himself, no matter how hard he tries. Much of the fun of that show was based on the fact that they were usually dealing with a big lug of a guy and they didn’t necessarily have to worry that much about teasing him. How To Look Good Naked replaces sarcastic teasing with Cosmo Girl style tips and the result, for me at least, is not watchable.

Furthermore, based on the pilot, I’m a little curious to see how they’re going to make a series out of this. How many different ways can you tell a woman to get a bra that fits and that peasant skirts are flattering on any figure? Shrug.

10 comments January 22nd, 2008

The More You Know: Curry edition

I need some Indian food. Stat.

Add comment January 22nd, 2008


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