Honestly, I love Conan without the writers, too.

I think it's good that he shows more of his personality and that they're free-forming it, which I think makes it even more hilarious. That bit where he sits in the back row audience last night was fucking hilarious. Free donuts? Camman, that's too funny. And that crazy ass performance with Les Savy Fav? It was too delicious that I turned the channel.

Yay, Conesy.

Farewell, Betty, farewell.

Photo courtesy of ABC

What can I say? Saying I "love" Ugly Betty is quite an understatement. For one, Thursday nights between 8 and 9 p.m. were off limits. I watch this show like those who watch Rocky Horror Picture Show during the midnight show. I throw bananas at the screen when I dislike a scene; I cry when the characters cry; I gush whenever the characters gush; I even dressed up! Boy, I can go on and on, but my sanity is at stake.

So seeing the premature season finale of one of my favorite shows in history was pretty heartbreaking, but luckily, I was prepared for this for some time now. I have accepted the fact that I'll never see this show again. Well, until the next season rolls around. I can say this, though: I can relax now for I am no longer fanatical about it, until, of course, next season.

I'm actually surprised the show had a really good run like it did. I thought it was gonna be really affected by the strike and be just total shit, but it was the direct opposite. The last show could've been tweaked a little bit, but at the state the entertainment industry's in, that's apparently asking for a lot.

I've seen people in message boards comparing this show to Will & Grace where the supporting cast makes the show and that they're tired of Betty and Henry's "cute" relationship, especially when our last glimpse of them together is them singing Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock's "It Takes Two." But then I realize that during the modern TV age, we've only seen a chase between two people who actually love each other but something's always in the way. Joanie and Chachi. Ross and Rachel. Ed and Carol (anybody watch Ed?). Jake and Dylan (anybody watch Good Morning Miami?). Pam and Jim. Gah, the list goes on and on and on and on and on until somebody gets bored watching these goddam love chases. Who has time for that? Why is that the only suspense of a sitcom?

That's why I love Ugly Betty because the love story is in the back-burner. They either conquered it or failed and continued to keep it moving. I guess people were hoping for Henry and Betty to have a meltdown and not be so "adorkable." It's like those people who believe that a relationship gets boring after you've got your guy or gal--it's the chase that brings them the adrenaline rush. Yawn. If I'm chasing somebody, I get real over it, real quick.

While I'm glad that Amanda finally discovers her father and that it is, in fact, Gene Simmons, I think the juiciest sub-plot is Christina eavesdropping any possible way she can to dig up the dirt on Wilhemina and her sister's, Rene, involvement with Daniel. That was the major cliffhanger that left not a single trace of clues as to what Rene could be keeping a secret as Willy warns her that he'll eventually find out who she "really is." Yowsah.

And Claire Meade starting a new magazine for mature woman called Hot Flash? Camman. Too classic.

I will say that I wish Alexis Meade's life would've played out more in the show, but with the show being cut in half, I'm sure they had something cooked up.

If anything, I'm definitely looking forward to a stronger comeback season in the fall, if everything works out with the strike. And seriously, it should. I'm getting bored of this dilly-dallying bullshit. Let's pay the chump change that the writers want and keep it moving, greedy studio execs. Damn.

Sidebar: Big ups to Caribou for lending their song "Melody Day" in the bar scene.

Steve Zahn, you're back!

I've been wondering where Steve Zahn was since National Security came out in 2003. I didn't watch that travesty of a film mainly because I wanted to continue to respect Zahn as an artist. The guy pretty much was Jack Black before Jack Black was Jack Black (redundancy is sexy), but when they actually co-starred in 2001's underrated comedy Saving Silverman, Black's career took off while Zahn's took a step behind. Actually, I take that back--he did have that Oscar-worthy, or at least Golden Globe-worthy, performance as the irresponsible drug addict boyfriend/deadbeat father in Riding in Cars with Boys (another underrated film). Boy, did he kill that role. I'm surprised he didn't get more good role offers.

But 2008 looks like a nice comeback year for Brother Zahn. He was nominated for IFC's Spirit Awards for his supporting role in Rescue Dawn; and then you got Strange Wilderness coming out next Friday, which looks like a nice laugher, as well as a few more projects coming out later this year.

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In related news, remember Rob Brown, the homeboy who was most notably Sean Connery's BFF in Finding Forrester? Yeah, I'm also surprised his career didn't take off as fast as it could've, but then again, he was pretty young at the time. Anyway, it looks like this year he may have nabbed a good role in a possibly good movie titled Stop Loss, directed by Kimberly Peirce of Boys Don't Cry fame.

It's good to see some familiar faces getting on the acting market.

Zach Galifianakis+Michael Cera=Uncontrollable good times.

Can you imagine? No? Watch away. Minds will be blown.

Thanks, CCI!

Things I overlooked in 2007.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm not one of those people who focuses on getting albums and DVDs as soon as it's released; seeing a movie that just opened or watching a TV show from beginning to end. It's very rare that I find something that hits me as soon as it's unveiled to the public, so it's no surprise that most of the things I end up loving is a little delayed from most people's initial reactions. That being said, here's a list of a few things I overlooked last year, if you hadn't already figured it out by the title of this entry.

While I was never behind on Spencer Krug's brilliance due to his previous stints with Wolf Parade and Frog Eyes, and was even all about his other side projects Sunset Rubdown and Swan Lake, my constant craving for another Wolf Parade album was too much for me to stomach knowing that he released two albums with Sunset Rubdown. In short, even though I really enjoyed the last Sunset Rubdown album Shut Up I Am Dreaming, I just didn't want to give its newest release, Random Spirit Lover, a chance. But boy, after getting the album today and listening to just the first 38 seconds of the beginning track, I said, "Yep, I was wrong." What a great fucking album. Damn. I mean, there's no way you can ever short-sight Krug because the guy's a fucking badass. As I've claimed once in a review, he's the Eric Clapton in the 00s indie world: whatever band he's in, it's gonna be guaranteed gold.
































Jay Smooth--I didn't know who the hell you were was until I stumbled across your vlog earlier today. Now I shall pass along your genius to others. People--read it. Listen to him speak. Now. It'll seriously help you restore your faith in humanity.

















Apparently Pushing Daisies was all the rage last fall as the new "it" show. And rightly so. Goddam, that show is good, and I'm saying this after one viewing! Ain't that some shit? What a great plot. And I'm so glad that homegirl from Sisters (anybody else remember that 90s show based around a bunch of whiny white girls who also happened to be sisters? I loved it as a kid who was bored on a Saturday night). Anyway, the episode I saw, which was the first introduction to Paul Reuben's character Oscar Vibenius, was great and in the end it touched me to tears because the synchronized swimmer sisters (with said chick from that show I just mentioned) finally got the nerve to go back to swimming and Olive is great (she was also great in that final episode of Ugly Betty). I'm just a-ramblin'!
















I got to see The Savages a few days ago and I must say, I was really intrigued the whole way through, despite the fact that scenes were droned out and there weren't much of a quick edit trend in the film. Nevertheless, I was equally pleased by Laura Linney's and Philip Seymour Hoffman's performances. Director Tamara Jenkins did a fantastic job in capturing a realistic point of view of two siblings overcoming their hatred and embitterment towards their estranged father they now had to take care due to his poor health and old age. And lemme just say that PSH really did it big on Oh-Seven by have three strong portrayals in three critically acclaimed films (Before the Devil Knows You're Dead and Charlie Wilson's War).



















Lastly, is 30 Rock not a sheer witfest? I mean, how can you ever go wrong with not only Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan, but Alec Baldwin, too? Camman--you're exciting me too much here. Of course, this show is a year-old, but after watching it for the first time a few weeks back, I couldn't have been more gleeful. The only reason why I couldn't get into to it was the fact that the schedule conflicted with my Ugly Betty time, but now that NBC jumped the bandwagon of networks airing episodes online, I'm good to go. I love Baldwin and Fey's interaction with each other, especially Baldwin when he tells Liz "I just want you to be discrete, and try not to dress like a small-town lesbian." And then you take a glimpse of her wardrobe and realize how accurate he is. Ahhh, good stuff.

Good news: these babies have helped me start off the new year juuuuuust right.

Was DMX ever taken seriously?

I mean, he was a 5'4" thug who barked like a Pomeranian in his songs. How could that have possibly been something to consider in a serious manner? And now he plans on doing a double album--one hip-hop, one gospel hip-hop.

Say what?

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In other news:

Mason & Twyla Betha - Born To Succeed TV Promo Spot
Uploaded by skaybn

This is the best plugging for a show in TV history, all 10 seconds of it (that's excluding the full minute of TV listings). First: Who the fuck is Twyla? Second: Are we really supposed to be watching a motivational TV show hosted by Mason Betha? Third: What happened with G-Unit? And fourth: Why have I watched this non-stop? Because this is entertaining to me!

At least late-nighters can watch fresh material.

The strike ended for David Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien, which is a sign of a little progress, I 'spose.

Watch this video. It's funny. A little old, but funny, nonetheless.

Sarah Silverman is the new...

This guy.

Luckily, there aren't anymore lewd conduct laws where you violate them by saying "cunt," "tits and ass" and "fuck."

I shall elaborate on the brilliance of Lenny Bruce in another entry, but I will say he has paved the way for so many comedians, and I think it shines mostly through Sarah Silverman. Maybe she's possessed by his ghost. Who knows. Point is, she's f'in amazing and I just hope she doesn't get the treatment that Dave Chappelle dealt with when people realized what he was doing was too great. As we've learned in the comedy world, once you're deemed great, you're Public Enemy No. 1 (or a close 2nd or 3rd or...yeah, you get my point).

Exhibit A of the world's hateration:

The View never fails when they bring on a female guest, especially if their "edgy." Instead of applauding Silverman for her balls (though she got some of that in a sideways manner from Joy Behar, who herself is a B or C comedian), Barbra Walters, Rosie and Elisabeth, all imbeciles, mind you, they kept asking how long would it be until the world got enough of her antics. Silverman handled it well.

Then there's Exhibit B:

Silverman points out that the interviewer is treating her like a show monkey after he asks her to re-tell that joke that got her in trouble on Conan O'Brien in 2001. He then says, "Yes, now will you tap?"

But despite it all, she continues to do her. Keep that up, girlfriend.