Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Little Box

THE TOP 15 TV Shows of 2010

15.Weeds: Episode 13 Theoretical Love is Not Dead In what is most uneven and all together weakest season to come from the decent Showtime show about a housewife turned weed dealer. We at least get a somewhat good last episode that not only a decent end to a season but also leaves all the fans wondering if we will have another season or if the very open ended final moments are just that final. I love the fact that the writers for the last few episodes of this season the writers went back and examined some things about Nancys (Mary-Louise Parker) past. It's too bad the entire season was pretty much a bust but it does leave hope that next years will be a better season.

14.Outsourced: Episode 6 Bolloween
I am a sucker for NBC and the way they will do a show themed around a Holiday. When they do the Office at Halloween or Christmas I am watching. Now with the Office entering it's seventh year they are having to come up with new shows and this years Outsourced is very funny. The Halloween episode is great because of how good looking the women are and how well placed the costumes are in the certain scenes. Now I don't think Outsourced will ever be the next Office but it will be interesting to see where they go after this first season.

13.The Office: Episode 3 Andy's Play
It seems like I spoke about the Office enough in the Outsourced piece above but I'm here to say that I hope this is the last season of the show. Go out with a nice note don't drag it down into being that show that you don't want to finish because it just got so average. The nice thing about this season is that they are moving away from the main four characters and letting the background players have their own episodes. I really dug this episode because it focused on Andy (Ed Helms) and at the same time gave us some wonderful moments with the other players in the cast. If this is the last season I can't wait to see how they end this very funny show.

12.Bored to Death: Episode 1 Escape From the Castle
I have to say that watching Jason Schwartzman run around New York in a leather gimp mask for a good chunk of an episode is just downright funny. I don't know why I didn't get on board with this offbeat show about a failed writer who takes up an add as a private investigator. The cast to this show is simply fantastic with people like Ted Danson and Zach Galifinanakis to share scenes with each other you can't help but laugh at this show.

11.30 Rock: Episode 5 Reaganing
Now I was very tempted to put the live show as the best episode the year but what the Live episode has in a good cast performance it lack in Alec Baldwin just tearing the scenery apart with his amazing acting. He is so dam funny as Jack trying to pitch a perfect game of Reaganing. Reaganing is fixing peoples problems and everyone he has helped except for Liz Lemon (Tina Fey) I love this episode because it really came off the live show episode. I really enjoyed also how Tracy Morgan did by making me laugh throughout it.

10.The Venture Brothers: Episode 11 Every which way but Zeus
Now I love that the Venture Brothers over the years has gone from a really great show with one episode after another to a fantastic show with an ongoing plot line and reoccurring characters. I also love that the main characters have not become tiresome with one note jokes and just being dam annoying. The people who write the show have taken these cartoon cliches and made them into some very funny characters over the past four seasons. The reason episode 11 takes the cake over the other wonderful fifteen episodes is that it brings together tons of secondary characters and also we get some great Hank moments as well. I love the way this story unfolds and we see the final act come to play out in wonderful Venture form.

09.The Big C: Episode 4 Playing the Cancer Car
This may take my prize for the show that I will never tell anyone else I watch. This show goes beyond the realm of chick show so much so that I never will admit to seeing it to anyone with male genitalia. I love Laura Linney in anything she does her range is so good and her presence as an actor is simply amazing when she is on screen she makes you very aware of it despite only being 5'7. I love this episode because we get to see Linney really doing a nice job of playing both the victim and the supportive one for herself. I watched the entire season in three days and I have to say if this is Showtime's alternative to Weeds them lets hope it gets a second season.

08.Breaking Bad: Episode 10 Fly
So most of the Time I don't enjoy filler in my shows but when you have a show like this the filler can be the best part some of the time. This episode is about what the title says. Our main character is worried about a Fly in his lab and its all about the process of him getting rid of the Fly. Now this is the third season of the show and so much has happened but with such a simple concept i love how this episode almost pulls away from the fact that this man is a high end drug trafficker and shows that he like everyone else is bested by the smallest of problems.

07.It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
Episode 7 Who Got Dee Pregnant?
I wasn't sure about this season I thought that the boys of Philly had reached their zeaneth and the show was on the brink of sheer disaster. Ohh I have such little faith. If you haven't been tracking with one of the best things on FX then you as "The Gang" would say need to pull your head out of your ass. Once again I am a sucker for a showed based around a holiday or specific event. The episode works so well because of how they don't bury the lead right away we are confronted with the problem and we watch the four boys stumble throughout their various versions of the night and hilarity ensues. The season hasn't been a grand slam this year but over all the gang of philly is still proving why this show is a must watch every week.

06.Conan:
Episode 1 Baa Baa Blackmail
I am not a huge talk show guy I avoid most of them like they were some sort honest work. The one I can tolerate and on several occasions nearly piss myself is the Giant Irishman Conan O'brien. The reason I love his is because I don't usually get to see him because of how late he is on also He has some of the best sketch writers working today. I won't say anymore but take a look at the video above. That was only his opener and they have gotten funnier as the show has gone along.

05.The Walking Dead:
Episode 1 Days Gone Bye
This is a show that has so many things going for it. I love that with very few exceptions anyone can be next on the chopping block. A show that has that weapon under its belt is a show to watch because it keeps you guessing and wondering who will be the next to the slaughter. I also love how dam eerie the opening music is to the show is. I chose episode one because it is not only a strong open but it is also the episode that made me glad i waited a week to have two saved up to watch. The premise is so great i'm surprised that no one has ever done this before. The world is ending and the Zombies are taking over. I think the way they are doing it and that they have set it in the south is a great thing as well.

04.Louie:
Episode 6 Heckler/Cop Movie
If you haven't see the next four shows then stop reading right now and go watch them because these are the big four of the year. Louie is the second brain child from one of the best comedians today. Louis CK brings us a frank and honest look about what it is to be a stuggleing New York comic who is also out of shape, balding, two kids, divorced, and generally just a sad sack. If you want to know how to bring the funny then look no further. The episodes are usually broken up into two adventures that Louie is on. This one is so good because when he takes on this Heckler they have to bleep out most of what he is saying. I can't wait to get the DVD's so I can hopefully find out what he said to that women. The second half is all about him trying to get through working on a movie. This show is funny and at times very touching. So check it out and also your father is dead.

03.Archer:
Episode 5 The Honeypot
If James bond were not classy a drunk and a man who went to bed with anything that moved you would have Archer. I did not warm up to this show right away but Now I have seen the season at least eight times straight through. This is the perfect sick at home TV show to watch because you are laughing and it doesn't take much effort to watch it. I burned through it in one day while sick in my bed and I think it is responsible for making me feel better. The episode entitled Honeypot is all about our main character Sterling Archer pulling his favorite spy move the honeypot on a target that he wants nothing to do with a male spy. The show is very funny and very dark but that alone makes it one of the funniest things I have seen all year.

02.Boardwalk Empire:
Episode 1 Boardwalk Empire
Strong openings to a season are important in TV. Strong openings to a first season are crucial. This new show on HBO that has become THE show I look forward to every week and now I am screwed because I have to wait until sometime next year to get back to that magical world of crime and corruption. This show is beyond good it is near perfect. It combines so many elements of what makes up an amazing TV show. First off you have Steve Buscemi doing some of the best work he has done with an amazing all star cast behind him. The supporting cast includes Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Stephen Graham, and Michael K. Williams (Omar from THE WIRE), you know you are in for a hell of a ride. The first episode takes place over the course of three days and shows the inner workings of Atlantic City on the day that prohibition is being enacted. I love how well the play between seperate storylines goes and how we only get to see glimpses of the operation that is keeping Atlantic City wet in this dry time. Also if you aren't impressed by cast and the plot, the pilot is directed by the king of gangster movies Martin Scorsese.

01.Mad Men:
Episode 7 The Suitcase
It's hard to beat a show that has gone three seasons strong is the definition of cool and classy. This show also boasts one of the best leading men and a cast that any TV director would kill to get his hands on. I find it funny that I mention the cast because the episode that I was most impressed with this season was one that didn't involve the cast much it centered around Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and his former secretary Peggy (Elisabeth Moss). The events of the evening take place on the night of the Ali vs Liston fight. The two characters have been at odds with each other and know more about each other then anyone else does. This episode works because the writers back off of the usual huge cast and let the interplay of the two most important characters come out and we see why these two need each other and why they are the perfect team. I have to say that maybe the reason I liked this movie is because I watched a really bad movie right before it or perhaps it was just the right atmosphere of having friends over to watch it with me. Whatever the case may be this is one of the best examples of how to make amazing TV. This episode is full of beautiful moments and awesome performances trully worthy of this years top slot.

I can't wait for next year to see what my favorite TV stations are at. So I hope you guys dug this very long ass kissing session and I hope you all get a chance to look at these shows and play catch up over the next year. So folks enjoy and be aware the biggest and most important list is yet to come.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Zip it Listen!!!

Top 10 Songs of 2010
The end of the year is close at hand and I thought I would do a few top 10 lists to finish out the year. So I thought instead of doing just Film this year I would change it up and do music and TV, the other two demons that inhabit my life. So to begin we are looking at the top ten songs of 2010. The nice thing about the article is that you have a soundtrack to go along with it. So here we go with the ten.

10. Sir Greendowm-Janelle Monae-The ArchAndroid May 18th, 2010
Not only has Ms. Monae made a wonderful concept album that tells a wonderful story she has also made an amazing single that is full of love and hope between two people who are destined to be together. I love this song because the rest of the songs are very busy and pumped up but this one seems to be restrained and pulled back and i really like that she can do that. It's not only a good dance album but you can also enjoy the smooth parts too. I walked in the rain the first time I heard this album and I have to say that it was an amazing walk.

09.You Must Be Out of Your Mind-The Magnetic Fields-Realism January 26th, 2010
In every great list you need a breakup song. Most of the time its a woman who is singing about being stronger now that her man has left or she has left her man. What I love about this song is that the man gets the chance to throw out his point of view and really does an excellent job of saying how he feels about where the relationship has gone and why he is glad to be out of it. The Magnetic Fields really do a great job of this because the first thing I heard by them was their three disc set called 69 Love Songs. They really have a nice way of throwing some venom into the breakup song.

08.Hand Covers Bruise-Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross-The Social Network September 28th, 2010
Yes I know I couldn't make it an entire post without bringing the silver screen into the mix, but I can't help it. This is probably the most surprising of the artists that would make my list because normally Reznor and the word favorite are not in the same sentence. I would normally not bother listening to this but when you have the soundtrack to a Fincher film sometimes you need to pay attention. I am glad I did because this score is amazing. Every second of the score sinks up so well with what is happening on screen. The Track above is a particularly great bit of music. It is the opening piece that follows the main character as he heads to his dorm after being dumped.
I can't give more away just enjoy this haunting sad bit of brilliance.

07.The Day (Feat. Blu, Phonte, Patty Crash)-The Roots-How I Got Over June 22nd, 2010
Now I had always heard about the roots but until 2010 I hadn't heard a single thing by them. 2011 will be spent getting to know them and listening to the rest of their catalog. What I can say about them is they seem to really know how to pic the right people to guest star on the album. Patty Crash does an amazing job with the back up vocals and really slays by giving the track such a original sound. The track really doesn't sound like anything else this year that I have heard.

06.Hustle Blood Ft. Jamie Foxx (Produced By Lil' Jon)-Big Boi-Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty July 5th 2010
When I was first exposed to Outkast in 2000 when Stankonia was released I thought that this was just another Hip Hop album with a few catchy tunes. I would listen to a few times and move on. Now we are ten years later and the two performers are doing solo projects. This is Big Boi's solo album and I have to say that I am very convinced that both of these boys are going to be just fine on their own and I hope they do work together again. Big Boi has put together not only a wonderful album but this song on its own really grabs yoru attention. I mean the vocals of Fox with the skills of Big Boi it is clear why this track is so dam good.

05.Testify (Produced By Kanye West)-Common-Go! Common Classics May 11th 2010
This track is older but it was released in 2010 on a best of album so just deal with it. If Common has a real talent to his rapping its that he knows how to weave a story through his beats. Now the story is that of a women who is in court watching her husband being tried for crimes. What really works for this is how well the music video moves along with the song. I only saw the video earlier this week and I have to say that I really dug the crap out of the way they played it. This song is not only good because of the rapping its also amazing because of the chorus sung by Honey Cone. You can't help by say that this is story telling at its best.

04.All to All-Broken Social Scene-Forgiveness Rock Record May 4th 2010
I may be a sucker for the softer songs now does that make me less of a man well you will have to listen to the wonderful mid album masterpiece above to give an opinion. The mark of a bad song is when it is a little hard to understand the singer and you can't get what the message of the song is. The mark of an excellent song is when they are having the same problem but the tune or the beat is so catchy that you want to go back and listen again to hear what they are saying and just to hear the song again. Now I have not been the biggest Broken Social Scene fan up till now but with this strong album and very strong track.

03.Dark Fantasy-Kanye West-My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy November 22nd, 2010
"You might think you've peeped the scene you haven't. The real ones far to mean. The watered down one. The one you know. Was made up centuries ago. It made it sound all wack and corny. Yes, it's awful, blasted boring. Twisted fiction. Sick addiction. Well gather round children. Zip it listen!" With that we have one of the most mood setting openings to one of the best albums of the year. when West is good he is good but when he is great you can't stop him. Most people think West is cocky in his rhyming but I have to say that it isn't cocky it is confidence. Also West has the ability to back up his claims as being the best by putting out an amazing album. The album has so much growth from his last 808 heartbreak. This new album shows a mature West that we haven't seen before and I hope we get to see more of in the future. The man has graduated and is ready to start rapping in the adult world.

02.Palaces Of Montezuma-Grinderman-Grinderman 2 September 13th 2010
I handed Grinderman 2 to my friend Nathan after I had listened to it and within 24 hours he came over and we had a conversation about the album. We talked about some of the high points and other weaker songs. Then we got around to the penultimate track and both of us could say nothing but what an amazing writer and performer Nick Cave is. Cave is not only a genius writer and singer but he also knows where to places tracks on an album. If you look back to the first and last track on Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!. He knows how to make a bold open and how to close with some brilliant. Now I have to say that I wasn't sure how I was going to like his break off project but this is not a bad second album and Palaces is a wonderful track because of how toned down it is from the rest of the album. Grinderman is a much rougher version of The Bad Seeds and I like that but it still seems that front man Cave has added a soft side to this album with this one. The entire song is about what this man would give to be with his woman. All of us have made those kind of promises at one time or another.

01.Can Change-LCD Soundsystem-This Is Happening May 17th 2010
If you notice that most of my songs at the core have been about love in one form or another. Some have been about that straight forward love that we all hope to have. Others have been about love that is heading down rather than rising up. Even Some have been about that twisted love that drives people to do the unspeakable acts. For my number one of 2010 I have to say that if there is one song that I could dance to one song that I could listen to multiple times and one song that spoke to me its Can Change. I will say that I was not a huge fan of LCD until This is Happening. The reason I liked this album is because it didn't feel forced it flowed so naturally and it had humor and also moments of self criticism. When it comes down to it the track to be played on several repeats is Can Change. It is a track about trying to change for the better and at the same time trying to still maintain your original self. It also has one of the greatest lyrics to be put in music. "And Love is a curse shoved in a hearse. Love is an open book to a verse of your bad poetry. And this is Coming from me." This line is so incredibly honest and funny with no sense of irony to it in the least. I have to say that the boys from LCD sound system have really done an amazing job with this polished bit of genius.

So guys check these out and also keep looking for more end of the year lists to come this month because we are only a few short weeks away from 2011.