Worst Movie Seen in Theaters?

I like to rate movies that I watch. I have Netflix, so I can use the rating system on there. But years ago I started rating movies on IMDb as I watched them. I even devoted a whole week to rating every possible movie I could remember ever watching. (I also keep a list of the movies I’ve recently watched/rated on my blog.) With Netflix my only complaint is that you can’t give “half-stars,” so everything is just 1 to 5. I prefer rating on a scale of 1 to 10 like I do on IMDb.

I think I’m pretty lenient when I rate movies—rarely anything gets below a 4 out of 10. Or maybe that’s because you can usually tell if a movie is going to be below a 4, and you don’t waste your time watching it.

Why am I babbling about my own personal ratings system, you ask? Because I was reminded of what was possibly the worst movie I have EVER seen in the theater. Yes, I said ever. A movie that I actually rated a 1 out of 10. Of all the movies I’ve seen, less than 0.5% have “earned” a 1 out of 10.

The movie I speak of is Autumn in New York.

Released in 2000, this movie must’ve been part of a mother-daughter summer outing before my college break came to an end. And my God was it awful. I can’t even remember who picked it, so I’ll blame it on my Mom. I remember us talking through the whole thing, shocked at just how awful it truly was.

Now I’m not one who’s comfortable with May-December romance cinema to begin with, let alone mother-and-daughter-sharing-the-same-lover stories. The pairing of Richard Gere and Winona Ryder was just atrocious. Granted I do not like Gere, but still…there was no chemistry, it was just repulsive. And their 22-year age difference did not help matters.

We laughed through the sad parts. We gagged through the love scenes. Why my Mom and I did not walk out of the movie I do not know. Perhaps it was because I try to always finish a movie, no matter how awful it may be. But to this day we still joke about it, leaving messages for one another like, “Your favorite movie is on TV tonight!” I even told her I was penning a blog entry titled “Worst Movie Seen in Theaters” and she remarked, “Oh, you mean Autumn in New York?”

So Autumn in New York has my vote. What’s the worst movie you’ve ever seen in the theater? Or the lowest rating you’ve given a movie in general?

Set the Night to Music

Well, it’s been a little quiet on Pop-Pop for the past few days. That’s understandable, considering it was a holiday weekend, but I think it’s time for me to post. Let’s face it, I’m due.

Since I’m in that laid-back, holiday state of mind, I’m gonna throw out a softball question to our loyal readers. Gentle readers, how does music affect your state of mind?

Okay, so maybe that’s not a softball question in some ways, but I’m curious. Is there a song that has the power to turn your happy mood sad? Is there a song that will always pump you up? Is there a song that creeps you out? Please tell me because I’d like to know.

In the interest of fairness, I suppose I should answer my own question.

I find music to be an incredibly powerful force in my life. Now obviously, a lot of us have that song that will always be linked to a memory, like a childhood school play or a past love. However, I feel there are certain songs that can put me into a specific mental state, regardless of the state of mind I’m in before I hear it. Some examples (and these are by no means the only songs that fit these categories):

*SONG THAT CAN ALWAYS MAKE ME SAD:
“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt

With a solemn musical backdrop and lyrics like “I’ll close my eyes, then I won’t see, the love you don’t feel when you’re holding me” it gets me every time. I think it’s a GREAT song, but I certainly have to listen to it strategically.

*SONG THAT CAN ALWAYS PUMP ME UP:
“Hard to Handle” by The Black Crowes (I prefer this version)

From the drum at the beginning to the guitar riffs at the end, I love the high energy of this song and find that I can’t resist tapping my feet to it when it comes on.

*SONG THAT CREEPS ME OUT:
“Young Girl” by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

If you’ve never heard this song, you’re lucky. An older man falls in love with a girl who is not yet old enough for Heaven knows what. It is just gross. I can’t discuss it further. You can catch the lyrics (and video) here:


*SONG I'M ALWAYS IN THE MOOD FOR:
“Africa” by Toto

It’s catchy, easy on the ears, and I absolutely love it.

*SONG THAT PULLS ME OUT OF A FUNK:
“Golden Years” by David Bowie

“Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere”…that lyric is a prime example of why this song helped me out of a rough patch. It’s up-tempo and it reminds you that things will not always be so bleak. Definitely a favorite of mine!

*SONG THAT MAKES ME WISH I WAS BEING SERENADED:
“You Are the Woman” by Firefall

If you listen to the words, you’ll know why it is so sweet. I should be so lucky…

*SONG TO BELT OUT IN MY CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS RIGHT:
Tie—“I Want to Know What Love Is” by Foreigner and “Drive” by The Cars



Both songs that I cannot resist singing to at night in my car. Try it once and you’ll understand why.

*SONG THAT MAKES ME FEEL HAPPY INSIDE:
“Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest

From the first few notes, it’s a light-hearted, uplifting song. I recommend it for anyone in a bad mood.



*SONG TO MAKE ME INVOLUNTARILY AND UNCONSCIOUSLY PARTICIPATE IN MY OWN AIR BAND:
“No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” by The Guess Who

I can’t help it. I love the rhythm and this song (mostly the “No Sugar Tonight” part) makes me rock out like I know what I’m doing. It’s science.

As I could go on forever, let me end on this note…

*SONG THAT I PRETEND MY LIFE IS A MOVIE TO:
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears

“Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down/When they do I’ll be right behind you”…I think that pretty much sums up my movie sequence featuring this song, but of course it would be in slow motion. Maybe I’ve revealed too much.



Psst. Now it’s your turn.

This Day in History...

Happy 30th Anniversary to Star Wars. This cinematic anniversary is even being honored by the US Post Office with some stamps and mailboxes. Even in LA it's "Star Wars day." There was a showing of all 6 films that began Wednesday night. Can you imagine sitting for 17 hours straight?

Of course we all know that the Star Wars franchise is such a commonly referenced piece of pop culture:

Spaceballs:


Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (and most of Kevin Smith's movies):

Family Guy (gotta love the CYE reference at the end):

The Simpsons:

Thumb Wars:


And you know I couldn't resist:

Pop Goes The Cliché

I know that many people reading this probably didn’t even watch last night’s American Idol performance finale. But I can’t take it anymore, so I have to say something.

THAT was the winning song of the song writing contest? Really?

Lyrically it sounded like the type of poem a 5th grader would write. Perhaps I shouldn’t cast stones since I did not enter, but I am confident I could’ve written better lyrics, even if I can’t compose music. It was like someone opened a bag of clichés, grabbed a handful and threw it at the wall.

Apparently it was written by Jeff Peabody a church pastor and his fellow congregation member Scott Krippayne:

There was a time I packed my dreams away.
Living in a shell, hiding from myself.

There was a time when I was so afraid.
I thought I’d reached the end,
Baby that was then
I am made of more than my yesterdays.

This is my now, and I am breathing in the moment.
As I look around I can’t believe the love I see.
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubts
That was then, this is my now.

Had to decide was I going to play it safe
or look somewhere deep in inside try to turn the tide
and find the strength to take that step of faith

This is my now, and I am breathing in the moment.
I look around I can’t believe the love I see.
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubts.
That was then, this is my now.

And I have the courage like never before, yeah.
I’ve settled for less but I’m ready for more,
Ready for more.
This is my now

I’m living in the moment
As I look around I can’t believe the love I see.
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubts.
That was then, this is my now.

I am breathing in the moment.
As I look around
Can’t believe the love I see
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubts
That was then.
This is my now.
This is my now.

If you’re really dying to hear the finalists each sing it, here’s Blake and here’s Jordin. But honestly, I don’t recommend wasting your time.

I don’t know what I expect. It is American Idol, it is cheesy and it is supposed to be a pop song. And like all the other “finale” songs, it won’t do well. But I’m very sensitive about lyrics and it just really, really bothered me. Thanks for letting me vent.

Made Reykjavík More Famous than Carmen Sandiego Ever Did

When looking back on the musical landscape of the past two decades the artists that were truly original and their own creative forces are few and far between. One artist stands out above the rest as a musician who has a voice and style all of her own. In honor of her new CD, Volta, which was released this month I thought a tribute was in order.

Björk

I have always been drawn to Björk's music for some reason. Her voice is incomparable to any that are in mainstream music. She first came to prominence with the greatly under appreciated Sugarcubes. From that springboard came solo success. Most notable was her eccentric musical style that didn't cater to one specific genre.

Along with her music, her videos became mainstays on MTV during the 90s. They showcased a creativity unlike most other artists of the time.

Some of her most notable videos:









Her newest single, "Earth Intruders", is very addicting and the video is equally enticing.

Earth Intruders

Add to My Profile More Videos


I thought that since I mentioned Carmen Sandiego, the least I could do is give a shout out to Rockapella. They were without a doubt the greatest house band on a game show based on a computer game.

Sadly this is the best video I could find. It doesn't show them but it has the best quality of the song.

How do we say farewell to our friends?

Does this phone look familiar to you?

This is the Dynatec. It is the world's first mobile phone, brick-style, that consumers could use without having to tote a heavy battery around with it.* Often referred to as a "shoe phone"....

Wait a second.

A "shoe phone"? I have never heard anyone under the age of 30 refer to it that way. Yes, dear friends. You know what it's called. In America, people under 30 have come to know this style of phone by one name: The Zack Morris phone.

Is this possible? Could a cultural phenomenon known as Saved By the Bell (in my opinion the greatest teen comedy television show ever) have delved so deep into American culture that it trumped the actual name of the phone? The answer is a simple "yes."

Just as tissues have come to be known as Kleenex, copies have become Xeroxes, and in some parts of the country, every soft drink is referred to as Coke, the Dynatec has become The Zack Morris phone. Is this fair? In all likelihood, no it's not. The company (which I believe is Motorola) should claim rights to the phone that they invented, but somehow they just can't. SBTB has created a pop culture hurricane so powerful that its aftermath is still felt, even 14 years later.

Why is this important? Why am I nostalgic about a phone?



In my research, I have found that exactly 14 years ago today, May 22, the final episode of Saved By the Bell aired (the only version you can truly consider SBTB). It was on this day in 1993 that viewers watched the prime-time series finale, titled "Graduation."



There were other, lesser versions of the show. "Saved By The Bell: The New Class" lacked likeable characters or original plot lines. "Saved By the Bell: The College Years" tried to capture the spark of the high school students in their college endeavors. However, the new characters were awkward and the missing characters (Lisa and Jessie, namely) detracted from the group dynamic. There was just no show like the original. In case you need a few more examples of the high caliber quality of the show, take a gander at these classic moments:









And OF COURSE



So, let's continue to pay tribute to this show. (Rest assured this is not the last time I will mention it.) Let's keep referring to the Dynatec as the Zack Morris phone. Let's remember that there's no hope with dope. But above all, let's remember not to listen to Zack. Last time I listened to Zack I wound up naked on a bus.



*This information came from http://hardware.silicon.com/pdas/0,39024643,39164317,00.htm. We at Pop-Pop don't like plagiarism!

Classic Music Video Of The Week

Since I share my birthday with MTV, I’ve always had an interest in music videos. [Insert “remember when MTV actually played music videos” joke here.]

In the early days of MTV and VH1 we used to sit with a blank tape in the VCR and record certain music videos that we liked. Re-watching some of these tapes now at my parent’s house is very amusing.

So here’s a Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers classic for you. Enjoy.

Happy Tuesday.

Nobody Does It Better...

Obviously Family Guy is one of the best when it comes to referencing pop culture. Well Sunday night the show hit the jackpot with 80s nostalgia throughout the entire episode. But they really hit a home run with this part.



I can't stop myself from laughing no matter how many times I watch it. Perhaps the lateness of the hour is to blame, but I'll let you guys judge for yourselves.

Random Songs on the Brain

I thought I would continue with the music topic. I am a bit of a freak and I readily admit that. One of my freakish qualities is my daily humming of random songs. I will be sitting at my desk at work and without even realizing it, I'll be humming along to a song. The students think I'm nuts, which there is probably a good reason for. What is strange about it all is that these aren't songs I recently heard and can't get out of my head. These are usually songs from the back recesses of my brain. They arrive with no warning to the forefront of my mind and before I know it, I'm humming along. The whole thing is completely out of my control.

So without further ado here is my list of songs that were jumping around my brain today. Sadly I couldn't make up these choices even if I wanted to.

Sarah McLachlan - Adia

Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie

Saigon Kick - Love is on the Way

Kris Kross - Jump (You know you tried wearing your clothes
backwards at least once.)

The Godfather Theme

So am I the only one that taps into the back catalogue of their brain so the can entertain themselves throughout the day?

I don't know if I should admit this...

Last night I watched the movie Music & Lyrics. (On a side note, I thought it was cute and worth one watch, but Drew Barrymore's character was much too annoying to watch on multiple occasions...just my humble opinion.) This movie did what many movies have done before it - created a fictitious band and made up some songs to accompany it. Who can forget Spinal Tap rocking out with songs like “(Tonight I’m Gonna) Rock You Tonite” and “Big Bottom”? In Rock Star, the band Steel Dragon belted out songs like “Livin’ the Life” and “Blood Pollution.” Even television has its share of fake bands, like The Partridge Family and Jesse and the Rippers.



(You’re welcome.)

However, something strange happened last night. I found myself listening to and actually enjoying the fake songs from Music & Lyrics. Once I heard “PoP! Goes My Heart” I was strangely drawn to it. I’m a huge fan of 80s music, particularly new wave, so maybe it had that appeal to me. Or maybe it was just a seriously catchy song.



Is it wrong for me to like these fake songs? The whole point of “PoP! Goes My Heart” was to make fun of 80s music groups, and yet I still enjoyed the satire. I haven’t gone so far as to purchase the song from iTunes, but I’ve been singing it for two days now. Should I be ashamed? Are there “fake” songs that are okay to like? (I have The Partridge Family’s greatest hits, so I am a repeat offender.)

Are there any amazing fictional songs from fictional bands that I’m forgetting or that are worth mentioning? Is it just me?

Music, movies, and television all combining. Good Lord, I love pop culture.

"It's Always Something"

Question: Who was the first person cast as one of the Not Ready For Prime Time Players for the debut of Saturday Night Live in 1975?

Answer: Gilda Radner

Today marks the sad day that in 1989 the great Gilda lost her battle with ovarian cancer.

Gilda Radner is an absolute favorite of mine. She is remembered for many of her SNL characters. Weekend update correspondent Roseanne Rosanadana, the Barbara Walters’ inspired character Babwa Wawa, the nerdy teenager Lisa Lupner played brilliantly with former boyfriend Bill Murray, and of course another Weekend Update correspondent Emily Litella:




With NBC’s crackdown on YouTube there are not a lot of clips to be found, but you can see them on the NBC/SNL site. Some other funny bits I recommend you check out are Extremely Stupid with Candace Bergen, the hilarious Slumber Party all-female sketch, and my all-time favorite The Judy Miller Show -- I related to this one a little too much.

Gilda Radner was an amazing talent, a wonderful person and she will continue to be missed.

Does anyone else remember…?

In Eileen’s nostalgia post of last week she mentioned the Nickelodeon show Today’s Special, which was also one of my favorites. However, there was another Nick show which I remember from my childhood, but some people don’t seem to. It was called Pinwheel:

I remember the intro, and for some reason that my favorite episode was titled “Balloons,” and there was maybe another one on “Snowflakes” or something. I remember tuning in with my Mom in anticipation to see if they were going to show the “Balloons” episode again. My family also has documented on one of their many recorded cassette tapes me singing the Pinwheel theme song, along with "Do The Muffy" from Today's Special. (Remember recording yourself singing or doing fake “radio shows” into those old 70s and 80s tape recorders? Technology at its finest. But that’s another post.)

Supplemental fun fact: What is now Nickelodeon actually premiered as the Pinwheel Channel for 2 years, until it was renamed.

AI's Final Two: AKA... Him?

Well I guess my prediction, and some other predictions that I read, were wrong. The American Idol Final 2 comes down to Jordin and Blake.

I've expressed my hatred of Blake in my own blog, so I don't really need to get into it at great length here. But once again, I shouldn't be surprised at the "popularity vote" versus "voting for people who can actually sing" after the whole Sanjaya debacle.

So we have two options...a perky 17 year old with a great voice, or an annoying beat-boxing one-trick-pony. Hmm.

Probably most of the Melinda fans or those shocked by her depature will switch over to Jordin's camp, if they're either a) rooting for a female or again b) someone who can sing.

So what do you think, Idol Worshippers? Will it be Blake or Jordin? Will Blake do his own remix on whatever song he's given to sing? Will Melinda end up being a better commercial success regardless? And what was up with Elliott Yamin's hair? Discuss.

Look Out, There's a New Crowd in Town

This is the week all of us TV geeks wait for. Some of our favorite shows are wrapping up what we usually feel is a too-short season. Despair not say the networks. They have gloriously chosen this week to unveil their fall television schedules. Forget about which shows will be successful. I love trying to figure out which shows will pass my own high standards.

I make the distinction between the two because lets face it, the American people don't exactly choose the best to watch. I lose faith in any group that watches "According to Jim" enough to make it last six seasons. You read that correctly; six seasons! I give Jim Belushi all the credit in the world for Mr. Destiny but outside of that his career is one giant disaster after another. Yet here he is, still a television star after 6 years.

But I digress. Let us focus not on the disappointment of mediocre tripe but instead on the results of my own favorites from last year. Without a doubt my early favorite of this past season was "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", the much fabled but disappointingly rated dramedy from the brilliant Aaron Sorkin. I pretty much worship at the feet of Sorkin. I believe he is one of the greatest screenwriters in modern television history and that his ability to write realistic dialogue is unparalleled. "Sports Night" and "The West Wing" set up incredible expectations for any work that would follow. I seem to be one of the few who actually really enjoyed Studio 60. I do admit that it isn't his best work but it is still more worthy of primetime than most of the drivel out there.

The biggest surprise for me was "Friday Night Lights". I believe it to be the best new show of the last season, hands down. It fantastically painted life in small town Texas where people do obsess on football. But to dismiss it as a sports-centered show, which I think many viewers have, is wrong. It is simply a great show about people you can actually somewhat relate to. Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler play a couple in a marriage that all could hope to aspire to.

Other shows I felt worth watching were "Ugly Betty", "Brothers and Sisters", "Jericho", and "30 Rock". Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters aren't exactly high brow entertainment but they are good for an occasional laugh and simple fun. Jericho is probably the best serious drama of the year but I don't know if it will ever see a second. 30 Rock grew on me as the season went on. Despite Alex Baldwin's public disaster with his daughter, he has become one of the funniest men on television. I'm glad someone finally saw the potential from his many, spectacular Saturday Night Live guest spots.

Enough about the past. We should look to the future. NBC just released its schedule for this fall. Let me start by saying how nice it must be to live as a moron. Apparently anyone can run a television network. To be fair the head of NBC can't be a complete tool. I must applaud them for keeping Thursday night in tact despite lower ratings. The decision to keep "Scrubs" is definitely a huge positive. Also it appears "The Office" will be bumped up to 30 episodes, including 5 one hour shows.

Let me get back to my original point, however. Television networks seem to be run by imbeciles. While I'm very happy that Friday Night Lights was renewed, plunking it in the show destroyer time slot of 9pm on Friday nights seems idiotic at best. Then there is the constant desire from networks to take what works and beat it to death. NBC found success with "Heroes" this year. So what do they do? They usher in new dramas for next year that are all based in science fiction. My guess that maybe if they are lucky 1 will work out. When will these fools realize that formulas don't work? Just because one science fiction show works doesn't mean you should focus an entire network schedule around them.

But enough with all of the negativity. There is one new show that has really peaked my interest so far. ABC will hopefully air a new series by Mitch Hurwitz called "The Thick of It". It is a BBC adaptation starring a great cast of Michael McKean, Oliver Platt, and John Michael Higgins. Here's hoping that this adaptation leans more towards the success of The Office and less towards "Coupling".

All we can do now is sit and wait. We have to trust that the television executives will try to showcase at least a few shows geared towards intelligent viewers. 1 season of a brilliant show like "Arrested Development" is better than nothing at all. We need our next cult favorite.

It's going to be LEGEN--wait for it--DARY!

So last night brought the close to Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother , a great CBS show which isn't really considered "popular" by any means, but I'm glad is still on.

I first discovered it thanks to the wonderful Entertainment Weekly who two summers ago sent me a DVD with pilots of two TV shows, the aforementioned HIMYM and Everybody Hates Chris, asking me to preview them and then take an online survey. I shared that DVD with at least three people having liked the shows so much.

There were many great moments this season on HIMYM. There was discovery of Robin's Canadian teen-pop stardom as Robin Sparkles with her hit "Let's Go to the Mall." There was Barney's flashback sequence of his losing his virginity story, which really was just his head digitally placed on top of Patrick Swayze's from Dirty Dancing.

But for me, my favorite moment of the season was three episodes ago, where Barney went on The Price is Right, believing that Bob Barker is his father:



My favorite is the scene when he spins the wheel.

So dear reader, what was YOUR favorite HIMYM moment of Season 2?

TV PARENTS OF THE WEEK?

Well, I was gonna post my "TV Dad of the Week" today, but I got to thinking, that if "Pop Pop" has a "TV Dad of the Week", why not a "TV Mom of the Week"? After all, it is Mother's Day, for cryin out loud! So I decided that, none other than, Elise Keaton, should be the innaugaral "TV Mom of the Week". But why not go for the two-fer? TV Mom and Dad of the Week, together, in the same post? After all, Elise and Steven, should be placed together at all times. Two liberal, hippie parents raising the staunchiest of Republicans, who would later become a werewolf, a time-traveller, and Deputy Mayor of New York. Not to mention that Elise's alcoholic brother, would later get stranded on an island, as some sort of castaway, like Gilligan. So for that, they are the "Pop Pop Culture TV Parents of the Week." Now don't worry next week, we will return to our regularly scheduled blogging.

Way to go, Mom!

Since it’s Mother’s Day, and our festivities are over for the day, I thought I’d write about something that is somewhat tied in to my mother—my name.

For a long time I didn’t like my name. When I was younger I didn’t like that it was “odd.” In a world of Susies, Katies, and Lisas, I was an Eileen. As I got older, I found myself frustrated that an endless number of people couldn’t pronounce my name. I’ve been called “Elaine,” “Ellen,” and sometimes even “Elleen” (is Elleen anyone’s name?). And spelling my name? You’d think I was asking people to spell Czechoslovakia. While many people got the E-I correct, they often were way off mark with the rest, adding extra Ls and Es in places I never could have imagined. (I find that particularly funny since the EI is the only part of my name that is not phonetic.) In any case, as time went on, I learned to embrace and eventually love my name. Now, I like that it’s unique (except for the fact that I work with another Eileen, who is also from a family of six). I like that it’s so Irish that people are blown away by it. I like that it’s a true embodiment of me. It’s my brand. When people say Eileen, they know it’s me. And that rocks my world.

Why would I put this in a pop culture blog? How does this relate to anything pop culture? Well, gentle readers, it turns out my name is apparently music gold.

Everyone knows the song "Come On Eileen,” originally sung by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, and remade by artists such as Save Ferris and Badly Drawn Boy & Jools Holland. In case you’re not familiar with the song, here it is:



(I know you’re blown away by that video. You don’t have to say it.)

Generally, when I meet people, they begin either with “What do you call a girl with one leg?” or “Like Eileen Dover?,” of course each thinking they are the only person to ever say that bit of hilarity to me. However, there’s a large population of people who immediately sing “Come On Eileen” to me. You can either be annoyed by it or enjoy it, and I have chosen the latter.

Then something amazing happened one day. I was listening to the “Arena Rock” music station on digital cable and I heard another Eileen song. I had to reread it because I couldn’t believe it was true. A band named Steelheart had written a song called “Everybody Loves Eileen.” (The lead singer of Steelheart, by the way, did the vocals of Mark Wahlberg’s character in Rock Star. Store that in your brain for pop-culture trivia contests.) I was astounded. A flattering song about Eileen that didn’t invite crude lyrics or inevitable dirty jokes? Was it possible?

After that, I went on a quest. My name—my uncommon name—was in two songs. Could it be in more? Yes, my friends. It could be and it is. According to iTunes, not counting songs that have my name with a last name attached (such as “Ballad of Eileen Bachendoit”), there are FOURTEEN different songs about Eileen. They are:

*Come on Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, etc.
*Don’t Walk Away Eileen by Sam Roberts
*Eileen (different songs with that title) by The Hush Sound, Jay Hitt, Karl Grambo, Keb’ Mo’, Martin Tillman, Skid Row, The Trist, Bing Crosby
*Everybody Loves Eileen by Steelheart
*Goodnight Eileen by Billy Wall
*My Darlin’ Eileen from the musical Wonderful Town
*Oh Eileen by Ox



From Bing Crosby to Skid Row, my name has been an important part of the musical world. I take this moment to honor the Eileens who inspired this musical history, and the women who named them. (Of course the father’s are important in that decision too, but they can take the credit in June!)

Please, let me know what your namesake songs are, and remember: No matter what your name is, you are a rock star.

Happy Birthday, Kate

I don’t know if you could call it a Celebrity Female Crush of the Month, but maybe you could. More like a tribute—for tomorrow marks what would be the 100th birthday for the great Katharine Hepburn.

Why do us female contributors of the blog pick Katharine Hepburn? She’s admirable for many qualities. A strong-willed woman whose mother was a suffragette, she was known in the 1930s as being too outspoken and considered by some a diva. What was some of this shocking behavior of hers? Wearing “slacks” and no makeup for starters.

There’s one story that Hepburn told in TV autobiography All About Me: After being warned many times by the studio to stop wearing slacks, someone took them from her dressing room while she was filming a scene. When she realized they were missing, she demanded they be returned. And when they refused, she proceeded to walk around in her underwear until they were given back.

Of course there’s her career accomplishments. Hepburn won 4 Oscars in her career, and been given the top spot for females on many lists including the AFI’s 50 Greatest Movie Legends. She’s known for her famous relationships with Howard Hughes and of course her great love Spencer Tracy.

Here’s a very short intro clip from my favorite movie of hers (staring another of my dear favorites, Jimmy Stewart), The Philadelphia Story:

But ultimately Kate’s beliefs and convictions are relatable. In Hepburn’s time, being a sarcastic, witty and determined woman was pretty much unheard of. Here are some of her quotes that illustrate the woman better than I can:

"I often wonder whether men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."

"I've been loved, and I've been in love. There's a big difference."

"Not everyone is lucky enough to understand how delicious it is to suffer."

"Afraid of death? Not at all. Be a great relief. Then I wouldn't have to talk to you."

On marriage: "It's bloody impractical. ‘To love, honor, and obey.’ If it weren't, you wouldn't have to sign a contract."

"Only when a woman decides not to have children, can a woman live like a man. That's what I've done."

"Life is hard. After all, it kills you."

"If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married."

"Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I've had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh."

"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased."

"I welcome death. In death there are no interviews!"

[When Barbara Walters asked her if she owned a skirt] "I have one Ms. Walters. I'll wear it to your funeral.”

All in all, I have great respect for this tremendously talented woman, who remained a little spit-fire until her death at age 96. Happy 100th Birthday, Katharine Hepburn.

Comedic Gold

Comedic Gold Lesson # 143

Whenever possible have a bus load of people sing Kenny Rogers.

Thus endeth the lesson

The Gods Must Be Crazy...Crazy funny, that is

Last night, after a superb evening at the Dryden Theater (at the George Eastman House), Jill, our friend Laura, and I were driving home when a wonderous event occurred. To me, it was a clear-cut sign that we are right to be dedicating so much of our lives to pop culture. As such, I felt the need to share.

Jill was commenting on how she was almost finished watching Stella, the quirky Comedy Central show by the always-entertaining Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain.

We launched into different parts from the show that we found funny, including this:


We were laughing as we drove, and something strange happened. Laura, the driver, decided to take a different route home than she originally intended. She said just felt like going the way she picked, and we continued on our journey.

As we approached a red light, my jaw dropped. Then I started laughing hysterically. I quickly shrieked to Jill and Laura that they had to look at the license plate in front of us. It said “Stella.”

We all started laughing even harder. What are the odds, that of all the license plates in the world, we would get behind the “Stella” car at that very moment? We never would have even seen it if Laura hadn’t felt like turning where she did. The car brought the focus back to our conversation, and to me that’s a sign that we should be focusing our lives on pop culture. Maybe even moreso.

So, gentle readers, keep your eyes open. Watch Stella. Suit up. Be awesome. Whatever you do, make sure you keep watching pop culture the way you do. You never know when it may appear to you in your regular, non-Paris-Hilton-and-therefore-“mundane” life.

A Petition for Paris

Obviously the big news of the pop culture week is Paris Hilton's upcoming penitentiary vacation for drunk driving and driving with a suspended license. She probably would have gotten off with probation but she showed up to court late and acted like her usual circus sideshow self. She is calling on her fans to fight on her behalf with emails and letters to the Governor.

My first question is, Paris has fans? Secondly, who are these people and what could they possibly be a fan of? Apparently they are gathering a petition signed by like-minded folks trying to set her free.

My proposal is this: a petition not just to keep her in jail for the full 45 day sentence but to eliminate the precautions given to her. They are planning on keeping her separated from the general population for her own safety. Well what good is that? Isn't part of the point of jail the threat that you are surrounded by criminals such as yourself?

Maybe Nicole Richie can get arrested for drunk driving again and they can record a new episode of The Simple Life. Ooh and wait a second. I have a great idea. Since Paris is such an obvious musical talent I smell a Live from Prison record. And people thought Johnny Cash's Live from Folsom Prison was a barn-burner!

Did Some Digging

SoI was in my local Best Buy the other day and stumbled upon something intriguing. Now, as a supposed pop-culture afficianado, I looked at this and said, "Wait a tick! Hold the phone....a car could be blue!" You see I had never heard anything about this item that was staring me in the face. It looked awesome, but I was wondering, if this is something that, I, as a pop-cultist should have known about? So I contacted by pop guru, and it was decided that I should post it anyways, cause people need to know about it. So here it is....Diggers. Diggers is a movie starring Paul Rudd, Ken Marino, Ron Eldard (which probably means Paul Rudd was next in line for Men Behaving Badly, I dunno?), Maura Tierney and Sarah Paulson. Ken Marino also wrote this bad boy.It's about clam diggers,coming of age. Sounds great right? Here's the preview:



Paul Rudd get's my vote for Celebrity Male Crush of the Month.

Celebrity Male Crush of the Month

I am humbled by the incredible juggernaut of 80s nostalgia posted before me. My only hope to match the brilliance of the previous entries is to go in a different direction. Thus I introduce a new monthly feature I was thinking about.

For straight men there are really only 2 major criteria for a male celebrity crush:

• The celebrity must have talent. However, talent alone is not enough. He must use that talent in the best possible way by choosing only quality projects.

• The celebrity must be a guy that you think you could hang out with. There has to be an average guy feel to him. Basically if you could see yourself hanging out, drinking a beer, shooting the shit and watching a movie or the game then it's a good sign.

What is key is that the jealousy factor does not play a role. If you truly wish you were the celebrity and pine for every hot actress/singer he dates then it just doesn't work.

Now that the rules are out of the way I'd like to introduce May's Celebrity Male Crush:

Zach Braff

So just why exactly does Zach deserve such a high honor? Well let us start with the resume. There is of course his longstanding run on the fantastic Scrubs. And then he wrote and directed a gem called Garden State. He also was behind the brilliant soundtrack that accompanied that film, which was one of the best albums of that year.

I hear you asking, "James, why now? Why May? Why the inaugural choice for this honor?" Zach has many things lined up this month. Scrubs will deliver a season finale that hopefully will help get the show renewed for one more year. May 11th The Ex will hit theaters. To cap it off he will be hosting the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 19th. He will also be on Conan tonight in case you have the time. And anyone who was even considered to reprise the role of Fletch is impressive by my book.(He was unable to do it due to a scheduling conflict)

Obviously he brings some serious game when it comes to talent. What about the hang-out factor? Is he an average guy? If by average guy you mean a freak like us then yes he is. First of all, he spends way too much time on the internet. He is a self-confessed youtube addict. Plus he takes the time to blog on his myspace page about more than just upcoming projects(though they do get mentioned). He is also obsessed with music as well. Plus the guy gets nervous, which is nice to see. He was on Leno recently and he was obviously a bit on edge. Basically the guy is pretty relatable.

Theme Songs or Burst

If you want TV theme songs, you've come to the right place! Eileen has inspired me to post a few other classic theme songs from the past:









Back when television was pure. Where's the classic family comedy today?

Favorite 80s Cartoons

While cartoons today are utter crap, the 80s gave us some great ones. Now, all apologies to Jill, but I was never a huge fan of Snorks. Sure I watched it, but it seemed to be too much like, "hey let's slightly modify Smurfs and throw'em under water." Like we wouldn't notice? But to be fair I actually liked Snorks better than Smurfs. Both shows kind of wore thin on me pretty quickly. Much, like Eileen I liked the action 'toons. Here's my Top 5 80s cartoons:

#5: The Littles:




#4-Hulk Hogan's Rockin' Wrestling


Hogan knows best?

#3-Danger Mouse


#2-Transformers



And of course the piece de resistance, the crown jewel of my 80s cartoon watching......-Voltron

Question of the Week: Favorite 80s Cartoon

In following suit with Eileen’s 80s nostalgia post, I pose this question: What was your favorite cartoon from the 80s?

Mine would have to be Snorks:



Snorks has been knocked around a lot, being called a lesser version of The Smurfs, etc. For a time I had trouble finding people who actually remembered the show.

Of course I most identified with Casey, and I loved her boyfriend All-Star and his pet octopus Occy. I’ve seen online that it may come out on DVD in 2009, fingers-crossed!

Here’s some random clips:





So what was YOUR favorite cartoon in the 80s?

A TRIBUTE?

Okay, so most may not love the band Guster as much as myself, but this has G.O.B (if you don't know what the initials mean, get off this website. Seriously, why are you still here?) tribute written all over it. first off, the song name is "C'MON" c'mon! Plus look at the mode of transport.

A Little Late-Night Nostalgia

I love 80's tv. I grew up on it and I'm sure in some way it helped shape who I am today. I don't have much to say about the subject (I don't think it needs much explanation), so here is a glimpse back in time, to only a few of the shows I have fond memories of. Just watching the opening credits makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


Today's Special


You Can't Do That on Television


The Hogan Family (Oh, Jason Bateman was in this? There's a surprise that it's on my list!)


My Two Dads


The A Team


The Greatest American Hero


Charles in Charge


And even though this isn't a theme song, this clip is from a very memorable episode of Silver Spoons, one of my favorite 80's shows. It also features two boys who grew into two of the sexiest men alive.


Thanks, 80's, and goodnight.

Subscribers Forced From Class to Crass

A short while back I was searching for something to supplement the pop-culture goodness I received from Entertainment Weekly. I wanted to expand on my knowledge without having to resort to a $1,000 Variety subscription. I was overjoyed to discover Premiere Magazine.

Finally a magazine other than EW which actually devoted space to in-depth coverage of movies. Not only that but it gave detailed reports on upcoming projects as well as focusing on indie films other magazines wouldn't touch.

I resigned myself to only enjoying this golden nugget of film knowledge once a month. Yet little did I know that a terror so unholy would befall me and 434,999 other subscribers.


I received a letter in the mail from Premiere. Hoping that it was a chance to renew for a long period at a cheaper price I ripped open the letter with unbridled enthusiasm. After reading the letter I was horrified of what was to come.

The letter stated that Premiere Magazine would cease to exist. But luckily they did not fail their loyal readers. Instead of ending up with nothing the subscribers would receive their remainder number of issues through US Weekly. That's right. The rag that makes People Magazine look like the New Yorker.

So, for instance, instead of an inside look at the films and filmmakers of Sundance I was treated to a closeup of Kate Bosworth's miraculous weight change from 95 to 110 pounds!!

Was this what I was seeking all along? Perhaps the void I felt was not the quest to know everything about films, but the need to know just how many different men Britney has screwed since kissing K-Fed goodbye.

Of course I couldn't be more disgusted. And apparently I am not alone. Premiere's web boards have been inundated with comments from subscribers like myself. So what exactly did happen? Apparently it is a fairly common practice in the publication world. A magazine is about to go under and in order to salvage whatever they can they sell their subscriber list to a competing magazine. In this particular case Jann Wenner of US Weekly bought the subscribers to boost his magazines regular circulation to around 1.8 million subscribers. He had to do this to secure his rate base for advertisers.

In the end the usual people get screwed, the consumers. In this case they are mostly sophisticated film lovers such as ourselves. People who craved something more than the basic drivel shoved into the mouths of the populace. All I can say is that if anyone ever even thinks of trying this with EW they can expect a march on the publisher's headquarters!

Is it better to burn out or fade away?

I love Lost. Don't get me wrong. It's maybe my favorite show that's currently on TV...maybe. Or at least second favorite.

But why, dear God, why is ABC pushing it for 3 more years?! We're already in season 3, which was better than season 2 was, but I fear nothing will top season 1.

How many more storylines can you go through? The writers have already discovered viewer-backlash when they tried to introduce new characters (see Nikki and Paolo). I feel like most unaswered questions can be wrapped up with just one more season, not three.

You're already losing viewership, but I guess ABC still likes the numbers enough for their marketing. I just hope it doesn't drop SO low that it gets cancelled and they never air the answers to any remaining questions.

I don't know if anyone else watches this show...but that's just my two cents worth.

THIS SUMMER'LL BE OFF THE HOOK!

Now while we'll be pulling for the low budget little indie films, like Transformers, I think we all know this to be the summer of the tv explosion. What am I talking about? Well four shows, that are utterly brilliant, which makes me wonder how two of them are even still on tv, are gonna take over the box office. Okay, so they probably won't be as successful as Spiderman the Third at World's End of the Pheonix, is you base on money grossed, but trust me, they will shine. This summer seems to be missing the Frat Pack of Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, the Wilsons and company, but they have helped pave the way for a new wave of big screen talent.But,what is this...new wave, you may ask? Well it's the brilliance of Scrubs, Arrested Development, The Office (American version)and Freaks and Geeks, with a hint of SNL and Undeclared that'll keep you in stitches this summer.


May 11th, which is right around the corner, we get hit with The EX starring Zach Braff from Scrubs and Jason Bateman from Valerie, the Hogan Family and of course Arrested Development. Braff describes it as "a mesh between the sensibilities of Arrested Development and Scrubs." Well if that's true, The EX could be one of the funniestmovie all-time, right up there with Gung-Ho and Fletch. It also has SNLs Fred Armisen and Amy Poehler,as well as the highly entertaining Donal Logue.








Of course we'd be remiss if we neglected Shrek the Third. What?! Yes folks the newest installment of Shrek features The Office's John Krasinski as Lancelot, SNLs Amy Poehler as Snow White, Maya Rudolph as Rapunzel, SNL alum Cheri Oteri as Sleeping Beauty, and Freaks and Geeks' Seth Rogen as a a ship captain. All aboard? I know I am.

But our beloved Jim from the Office, is not done there folks! On July fourth he'll have a summer movie role, where we will not only hear him, but also see him. Krasinski joins Mandy Moore in License to Wed. He'll be joined by Office friends Angela Kinsey (Angela), Brian Baumgartner (Kevin), and Mindy Kaling (Kelly) in this one as he takes on wacky minister played by the incomparable Robin Williams.





Well, Jill already touched on SNL's Will Forte and ADs Will Arnett in The Brothers Solomon. It also stars SNL's Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader, along with the Office's Jenna Fisher.


Next you have August's Superbad starring Arrested Development's Michael Cera. He will team up with that fat kid from Accepted as well as SNL's Bill Hader (he's everywhere!) and Freaks and Geeks' Seth Rogen. Take a look:



And then Rogen takes on a starring rolein Knocked Up with the Tantalizing Kristin Heigl from Grey's Anatomy. This one features fellow Freaks and Geeks' alum Jason Segel (currently Marshall on How I Met Your Mother), Undeclared's Jay Baruchel, The Office's BJ Novak,and SNL's Kristen Wiig and a brief appearance by Steve the Pirate Alan Tudyk, who of course was Ann's (her?) father in AD.





So there'ssomeof the movies, the real pop culturists will should be wtaching out for.

THE OPPPOSITE OF IMPOSSIBLE

The Trial Against Carlos Mencia Continues...

More evidence against Carlos, provided by Joe Rogan(News Radio, Fear Factor).

One Man’s Trash…is Pop Culture Treasure

Yesterday being the first Saturday in May, and a gorgeous one at that, marked the beginning of a season…garage sale season. Garage sales, where you can look through people’s junk and find some hidden treasures that have nostalgic meaning to you. Sometimes for the low, low price of mere pennies.

So off Eileen and I went, driving aimlessly in search of said treasures. At one of our first stops, in a box marked “Free” I found:

Yes, a free Jem coloring book. And it is indeed truly, truly, truly outrageous.

Total spent so far: $0.00.

At the same sale, we come across piles of many paperbacks. And clearly these books these had belonged to someone roughly our age…Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Sweet Valley High…and then I saw it:

“Everything you want to know about… Hall & Oates” by Brad Gooch. Complete with “16 pages of photos!” and amazing quotes from the duo like, “There’s a certain elemental chemistry between us.” All this for a quarter. I do intend to read this book, and report back with many interesting “facts.”

Total spent so far: $0.25.

So we venture on a little longer, going through different towns, and come across a street sale. This one house has tons of stuff, and as I look at the tables I notice a glimpse of something. It’s definitely in a frame, sparkling, and has some pretty distinctive font. I pull it out and low and behold…

A framed red and silver glitter Def Leppard sign, still complete with pink yard and nail for hanging. How could I resist? Price tag: a dime.

Total spent for the day: $0.35.

So all in all, a successful day I must say. A book to color, a book to read and new wall décor for my computer room. Life is good.

Remember to cite your sources, Carlos Mencia

I love sketch comedy shows. I have a real respect for people who take chances and throw absurd, and often amusing concepts out there for the audience to take or leave. If you consider how many new ideas you'd have to come up with for a half hour show, it's amazing that so many good shows exist.

One thing that's bothered me lately is the way Carlos Mencia has claimed "Dee dee dee" as his trademark phrase for stupid people. His show even has a song about it.


The first time I heard the "dee dee dee" I was immediately taken aback. It sounded eerily familiar to me. Where had I heard it before? OH YEAH, on a genius little show known as "The State." ("The State" is, in my humble opinion, one of the best shows in sketch comedy history. A lot of talent has emerged from it and it was just incredibly well done.)

http://www.ifilm.com/episode/17386

[I apologize, I cannot locate an isolated clip of the scene to which I am referring. So, if you go to the link, in the first segment of the show at time marker 6:53, you will find the scene I am referencing. Unfortunately, you have to sit through a commercial at the beginning...sorry!]

I'm sorry, but that seems like more than just a slight coincidence. Oddly enough, as I was searching for "proof" to my theory, I also stumbled across this clip from another suspicious YouTube member:



I suppose it can be argued that some jokes are "old classics" and can be retold again and again, but I do have an issue when a comedian uses material that can be traced back to someone else in more than one instance.

So, Mr. Mencia, if you must use other people's material, reference it like a good student. And for the love of all that is good, don't steal from "The State" and trademark it for yourself. You have just blacklisted yourself from my sketch comedy book.

TV DAD OF THE WEEK

That's right folks, the one and only Jason Seaver! At least top ten of my all-time tv dad's list, and could conceivably crack the top 5. Speaking of fives.....I'd like to think Alan Thicke's five on his cellular phone would be Micheal Gross, Tracy Gold, Tony Danza, Joanna Kerns, and Bill Kirchenbauer (Coach Lubbock). You'd have thought Kirk Cameron and Jeremy Miller would be locks. But I think Kirk probably preached his way out of it, and the McDonald's commercial was the beginning of the end for Jeremy. Gotta think those two'll need nothing short of the next Herman's Head, to even get invited to Alan's next fondue party, as I think we all know those invites ain't easy to come by. Why is there no Alan Thicke reality show on VH-1? C'MON! The title would be so easy, "Through Thicke and Thin" or "The Thicke of it All". Why I am not one of the creative forces at VH-1, I'll never know.

In Honor of the Impending Harry Potter Movie

Daniel Radcliffe at his finest.