Pop-Pop Hall of Shame

I felt it was appropriate with this blog to honor something the Bluth's know firsthand, shame. We are all snobs about what we enjoy in the pop culture world so why shouldn't the same apply to what we feel is unworthy? The Hall of Shame should highlight pop culture that not only was awful, but managed to succeed despite the lack of quality and sometimes because of it. This is what separates it from the Razzies. After all, the general public should be ashamed of some of the creations they have chosen to rally behind. This becomes increasingly more relevant as quality music, movies and television (especially this blog's namesake) die out long before they should.

Each Inductee will receive this magnificent trophy:

Tobias Fünke Trophy of Shame

Now on to the inductee. The first choice was a no-brainer. Jim Belushi, for reasons beyond understanding, has been able to make a career out of acting without any discernable talent. His latest and perhaps best known foray into acting has been with the long-running show, According to Jim. The show has long been an unsightly stain on the television industry. The show continues to astound people of any reputable taste as it has lasted 7 seasons and could potentially continue on. If Jim was the only cause of this grotesque display of television then perhaps he would be inducted himself. But there is a gem of a cast that has helped make this monstrosity successful.

We also have to thank Courtney Thourne-Smith who for years has played the most annoying characters on shows like Melrose Place and Alley McBeal. Then there is Kimberly Williams who's biggest acting credit is sadly enough, According to Jim. Rounding out this all-star team of a cast is Larry Joe Campbell whose greatest claim to fame is also According to Jim.

Despite it all of its shortcomings the show has found an audience over the years and has succeeded where so many quality shows have failed. It is hard to say whether this is a failure on behalf of the networks or the American television viewing public. Either way it is a sad display for the state of modern television.

As it is too unbearable to watch for great lengths at a time I will only post links to 2 short clips. Anything more would be inhumane. For evidence of this atrocity click here and here.

So here it is, the inaugural inductee of the Pop-Pop Hall of Shame:

More inductees to follow once I get back from vacation. And all blog contributors are encouraged to induct their own candidates worthy of shame.

'Wannabe' a comeback group?

Hello everyone out there in Blogland. It’s been a while. While summer activities have stymied my ability/time to post on the greatest Pop Culture blog ever, I have the day off today and thought it was a good chance to finally post something. So, here goes…

As many people have probably heard, The Spice Girls have reunited and are preparing for a world tour. Woo…hoo.



Now, I know of at least one person who reads this blog who is (or was) a Spice Girls fan. While I must admit upfront that I did not care for them when they were popular, this announcement intrigues me. Why? I’ll tell you.

I am a nostalgia junkie. Now that the Spice Girls have been out of the spotlight for a while, I can appreciate their music for what it was—fun pop. (Sorry, I didn’t buy into the “Girl Power” message when they were all parading around in bra tops and hooker heels.) At the time they were popular, I think my biggest problem with them was one that continues to get worse with the music industry as time goes on: over-saturation. (William Hung, anyone?) It seemed that, for a long time, you couldn’t get away from them. Their music was constantly on the radio, they were always on TV, and they even went so far as to film a movie. That said, now that I have some distance from their overplayed personas, I can appreciate listening to “Say You’ll Be There” and “Spice Up Your Life” because they take me back to a simpler time in my life (when song repetition on the radio was my biggest problem).

I also wonder if this reunion tour is a good move. I think a fair comparison would be to equate this to the Backstreet Boys “comeback.” As you’ll recall, they were a HUGE boy band around the time The Spice Girls were *the* girl band to watch. BSB, as they were often called, took a much-needed break (for themselves and for the rest of the world) somewhere in the 2001-2002 time frame. For a long time it seemed that the group was gone forever. Then something odd happened…they released a new single in 2005. Even though it was requested often (at least that’s what Wikipedia says), it didn’t make a big impact on the music world. In fact, I think even two years later, a lot of people are still not aware that the group got back together and the Boys are currently working on another album. Was this a smart move? They bowed out at a high point in their fame, and now Backstreet’s back (alright) with, seemingly, not much to offer.



In contrast, I should also point to *N Sync. I was a fan of theirs when they were popular, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I have never classified them as one of the greatest musical acts of all time, but dammit, were their songs catchy and could they put on a good show. They also stepped out of the spotlight at the height of fame in order to pursue solo projects and other interests. However, they have yet to make a comeback. (I assume it would be difficult now, given all the solo success that Justin Timberlake is having.) Does that affect the way you think about them and their legacy?

Now I ask you, who made the right choice? Was it better to attempt to reconcile the successful group long after the hype and excitement surrounding them fizzled or was it better to let the past be the past and leave it at that? Are The Spice Girls going to burn bright again or will they fade into the background? What do you think?

A final note: While I may occasionally follow what happens with the Spice Girls reunion, I’ll be holding my breath for Ace of Base to come back with a vengeance…

Aw, Rats!: A List Review

Since Pixar’s Ratatouille opens today, the staff at Entertainment Weekly has made a photo list of “12 of our all-time favorite examples” of “adorable, clever, talented, hilarious rodents on film.” It seems these are just general picks, and not in a “countdown” order to the best. To summarize their list, here were their picks:

STUART LITTLE from Stuart Little (1999)
JAQ, GUS, SUZY, AND CO. from Cinderella (1950)
TEMPLETON from Charlotte's Web (1973)
SCABBERS from The Harry Potter movies
BIANCA AND BERNARD from The Rescuers (1977)
MRS. BRISBY AND CO. from The Secret of NIMH (1982)
MASTER SPLINTER from TMNT (2007)
MICKEY MOUSE from Fantasia (1940)
FIEVEL from An American Tail (1986)
BEN from Ben (1972)
BASIL OF BAKER STREET from The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
RODDY AND RITA from Flushed Away (2006)

Many of you who know me know that I love mice. I have been since childhood, it became a nickname, I collect these little Charming Tail figurines… but anyways, I like mice. Especially fictional rodents, be they cute or funny.

So in reviewing the EW list, I see many movies I enjoy. The Secret of NIMH is probably my favorite on the list, with An American Tale, The Rescuers and The Great Mouse Detective to follow.

I never liked Stuart Little—I find the computer animation of his face to be creepy looking. And honestly, I could live without Scabbers, Master Splinter (especially from the 2007 TMNT version), Ben and Roddy & Rita.

Anyways, do I have a point? Indeed I do. I did notice some vacancies on the list that surprised me. I realized that they were speaking of film rodents only, so that disqualifies any television or literary characters.

Still, I was at a loss that they didn’t include The Chipmunks. I mean come on, what about 1987’s The Chipmunk Adventure? How cool is that movie?!

And yes, I admit, I do own it on DVD. Maybe it’s just a childhood nostalgia thing for me, but the Chipmunks (and Chipettes) in general are largely known characters in pop-culture. And they’ve appeared on film, so they should’ve made the list!

However, the other character the list lacked was the most shocking to me. I mean, really, how do you not list Rizzo the Rat? He’s been a character in all of the Muppets' feature films. He was co-narrator in 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol, and Rizzo and his family had some great scenes in the diner in 1984’s The Muppets Take Manhattan. Does Entertainment Weekly not remember this scene?

So who’s with me on this one? Thoughts, comments, opinions? Is there anybody out there? *Squeak* Okay, I’ll just go eat my string cheese in the corner.

Classic Music Video of the Week

Who needs a stress-break?

Oooh! Oooh! I do!

This week's Classic Music Video of the Week, brought to you by moustaches, is 1985's Rhythm of the Night by DeBarge.

Now watch closely...whatever you do, don't lose eye contact with El DeBarge! He surely will be watching you, the viewer, intently..."underneath the electric stars"...and cue jazz hands.

Does everyone feel better? Good. I know I do.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go get my puffy skirt on and learn those dance moves.

Happy Tuesday.

Celebrity Male Crush of the Month for June

For info on the Celebrity Male Crush of the Month guidelines, go here. Despite the delay, I didn't forget about this month's CMCM. It simply took me a while to decide who to give this great honor. The decision was not easy. Paul Rudd had so much steam going into this month I felt to honor him would be too obvious, although he is definitely worthy. This month's recipient was my choice at first but then I was sold on someone else for a while. At the last minute I felt I should go with my gut and switch back to the original choice. I wanted to honor a man who truly is a Celebrity Male Crush we can all be proud of.

So, without further interruption, I give you the June Celebrity Male Crush of the Month!

Andy Richter

To me, Andy Richter exemplifies the great qualities of CMCM. He has immense talent and his likability factor is through the roof. Let us start first with his personality. What guy would be better to hang out with than someone who actually did that for a living? As the loyal sidekick to Conan O'Brien for 7 years he was great at comedic banter and interjecting interviews with repartee. He would be the perfect choice to kick back and watch some lame television or movies whilst making funny comments.

If his positive qualities ended simply at being witty and a nice guy then he would fall short of this position. However, he used that wit and charm to create a respectable career. Andy enjoys high critical success despite the continued failure of many of his projects. Instead of letting the cancellations get him down, Andy dusts himself off and tries again.

Andy's big break was. of course, his biggest gig to date. On Late Night with Conan O'Brien he was the perfect match for Conan. Their sketches reached legendary status. But a genius the level of Andy can only remain in the sidekick role for so long. At some point he must reach for his own glory. Since his departure in 2000 it has not been an easy road for Andy.

In 2002 Andy scored his first television show as the lead. It was the underrated Andy Richter Controls the Universe. The show relied on Andy's charm and extreme likability and a first rate supporting cast. Unfortunately, as would be a theme with quality television, Fox failed to give the show adequate time to grow a loyal following.

Andy's next big television project was a step backwards. In choosing to make Quintuplets, Andy in my opinion was trying to at last gain that commercial success he had longed for. But he sacrificed quality material for a grab at good ratings. Sadly, for Andy, even this attempt failed to produce positive results. Yet another show of his was axed by Fox.

It is amazing and a true testament to his fortitude that he ever wanted to have his own television show again. Like so often before he decided to give it another shot. He went back to his roots and what works well for him. His newest project would greatly rely on his charm and perceived innocence. It would be his finest work to date. What helped set Andy Barker, P.I. apart was that it also had Conan as a producer and writer. The tag team of O'Brien and Richter were back together to kick ass and take names!

Could it be that Andy's chance at success was finally here? He switched networks to NBC and was again surrounded by a stellar cast, most notably the brilliant Tony Hale. Surely the American public would rise up and see how brilliant this show was. Alas it was not meant to be. Once again Andy is facing uncertainty.

It seems that Andy's career as a leading television man is doomed for failure. We can only hope that changes in the future. However, Andy has found success in one area through the years. He has made cameos in numerous television shows and movies. Although the parts are mainly small they do make an impact and reinforce his ability to inject comedy in any situation. He has been involved in such notable shows as Arrested Development, Strangers with Candy,
Ed and Monk. Upcoming he will have a role in the Will Ferrell comedy Semi-Pro. With luck he will find another television show that matches his talent.

Reality Confessional

It seems common today to hear people complain about Reality TV. How it’s out of control, overdone, etc. While I do semi-agree, there clearly is a market for this medium if people continue watching.

I've found the reality TV shows I’m drawn to are ones that have some sort of incentive or prize. But I think that stems from my love (aka obsession) of game shows. While shows like American Idol and Big Brother are indeed categorized as “reality TV,” I see them as extended game shows that follow the same group of contestants for weeks.

That being said, I do love American Idol. I had barely missed one minute of it until this last season, because none of the contestants appealed to me. But due to its supreme fan base and the juggernaut that it is in the ratings world, I’m not embarrassed to admit I watch it.

What am I embarrassed about? That I've watched every season of The Apprentice. And yes, I know Donald Trump is a giant d-bag. Hell, I even watched the Martha Stewart Apprentice. Complete with the Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) theme song and awkward not-quite-a-catchphrase, “You just don’t fit in.”

I never really liked the celebrity reality shows like Newlyweds or The Surreal Life. I didn't become engrossed in The Real World. I also never was a fan of Survivor, even if that has a prize, or Big Brother for that matter. I don’t know why. I have friends and family who watch these programs, but they never appealed to me.

However, there is another program I have to admit I watched a large chunk of. And it is one I’m extremely embarrassed about. It’s Dancing With the Stars. I refused, refused, refused to watch it in previous seasons. But the perfect storm of 90210-alum Ian Ziering, embarrassingly idiotic boy-bander Joey Fatone and will-her-leg-stay-on Heather Mills (formerly McCartney) couldn't keep me away.

Currently this summer I’m watching On The Lot. Fox keeps stumbling around trying to find how they want to present it. In the beginning it seemed like The Apprentice. Then like American Idol. Now I don’t know what the hell they’re doing or what day it’s even on. But a reality TV show for aspiring film directors I had high hopes for. I’ll keep watching when I can, even if its horrible.

I’m also watching Hell’s Kitchen at the urging of a coworker of mine. While I wasn't fully engrossed, I must admit I get some pleasure out of watching people get yelled at and seeing them cry. It’s horribly mean, but makes me feel better after a day of work.

Come to think of it, maybe that’s the second tie-in of why I watch the reality TV programming that I do. Not only for the contest/game show factor, but I like shows where people are meanly judged. I like Simon Cowell insulting people. I like watching people getting fired. And maybe that’s what I should be truly embarrassed about.

Eager Anticipation

Every once in a while the stars seem to align and a potential film project is given the chance to be something really special. This happens when brilliant pieces all come together to form for the greater good of film. I try not to get myself too excited about films yet to be made but for some it is hard to 'curb your enthusiasm'. The Lovely Bones seems to be the type of film that fits this mold. There is something special brewing.

The first piece of the puzzle is source material:

This book by Alice Sebold is both heartwarming and depressing, full of life and death, joy and sadness that it practically begs to be put on the screen. So, brilliant source material: check!

Then you need a director to helm the project who truly believes in it and has the knowhow to put a fantastic novel onto screen.

Enter Peter Jackson. With his relationship with the Hobbit falling by the wayside it has given him a chance to pursue this passion project which he has talked about for a while. With his previous experience on The Lord of the Rings he knows what it takes to adapt a beloved novel into a classic film.

The source material and director can only go so far without the perfect cast to carry it all out.

Rachel Weisz will be playing one of the main roles in the film, Abigail Salmon. Even though I am slightly biased by my infatuation with her, she is genuinely gifted as an actress and has the right emotional range to portray this grieving mother.

This film is still far from being perfect but it is on its way. The rest of the cast will be very key. But announcing Rachel as the first is surely a good sign. Does anyone know of any other projects that could be this good?