Recent Posts in TV
November 16, 2009
Ken Ober (host of Remote Control), RIP
Ken Ober, a brassy comedian best known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show "Remote Control," died on Sunday, Mark Measures, an agent at Abrams Artists who worked with him, said on Monday. Mr. Ober, who lived in Los Angeles, was 52. The cause of death was not immediately known.RIP! Videos below...Mr. Ober, who grew up in Boston idolizing game show hosts like Bob Barker and Bob Eubanks, went on to host four game shows of his own, including a revived version of "Make Me Laugh" in 1997. But his breakthrough came a decade earlier when Mr. Ober, a contestant on the televised talent show "Star Search," became the host of the MTV series "Remote Control" in 1987. [NY Times]
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Posted by brooklynvegan at 4:30 PM | Comments (33)
November 12, 2009
Elvis Costello's appearing at Barnes & Noble on Spectacle DVD release day, season two of TV show premieres in Dec
"Sundance Channel will premiere the second season of its critically acclaimed music/talk original series "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 10:00pm et/pt. "Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." combines the best elements of talk and music television and lets viewers in on intimate conversation and performance with host Costello and his guests ranging from legendary performers to promising new artists...Meanwhile, the first season of Spectacle is coming out on DVD ("in standard DVD and Blu-Ray formats"). And to promote that, Elvis will be appearing at Barnes & Noble Tribeca on Tuesday, November 17th, which is the same day the DVD is released. "Fans will have the opportunity to meet Elvis Costello and get their DVD or Blu- Ray copy signed by him." I guess no performance. His only upcoming date at the moment is Wilkes Community College's MerleFest in North Carolina on May 1, 2010."We're thrilled to launch a second season of 'Spectacle' on Sundance Channel," said Sundance Channel EVP and GM, Sarah Barnett. "The series offers viewers unprecedented access to artists through its mix of candid conversations and exciting musical performances. This season's A-list line-up is a testament to the level of respect that artists feel for Elvis Costello as a musician and entertainer."
"I am delighted that we can continue where we left off--making intelligent, and informative music programming," said Sir Elton John, one of the series' executive producers.
Elvis Costello commented: "In the words of the great Joe Strummer, 'Let's Rock again!'""
A clip of Elvis talking to Smokey Robinson, below...
Posted by brooklynvegan at 12:39 PM | Comments (11)
October 14, 2009
Captain Lou Albano, RIP
Legendary pro wrestling manager Captain Lou Albano died this morning, MTV.com is reporting.Captain Lou! RIPAlbano, who was sent home from the hospital earlier this week and place under hospice care, was 76 years old.
Albano is best known to non-wrestling fans as the father in Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" video. That helped kick off the Rock 'n Wrestling connection that launched the then-WWF to national prominence in the 1980s. [LA Times]
video memories below...
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Posted by brooklynvegan at 12:52 PM | Comments (45)
October 12, 2009
Regina Spektor played Saturday Night Live, Fred Armisen mocks Obama's Nobel Peace Prize (videos)
""Saturday Night Live" grappled with real life--President Obama's surprise win of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday--as cast member Fred Armisen played the president as the luckiest man in the world--who is not George Bush.Regina Spektor was the musical guest on Saturday. Her Radio City Music Hall show is this Wednesday. Videos of Regina (before, during and after SNL), Fred-as-Obama, and more, below...Armisen as Obama: "This came without warning, I didn't even get a call as due to the time difference in Norway, the Nobel people didn't want to wake me up. I wish they had, I could have said to Hillary Clinton, 'Hey, remember that 3 a.m. call you were so worried about? It happened. Nobel Peace Prize." [Sun Times]
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October 7, 2009
Jawbox reuniting... for Jimmy Fallon TV appearance
by Black Bubblegum
Pioneering Washington, D.C.-based rock band Jawbox will make its first appearance of any kind in 12 years when it performs Dec. 8 on NBC's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon."Jawbox was literally one of my favorite bands of the era, both live (Jawbox/Jawbreaker tour was particularly amazing) and on record (For Your Own Special Sweetheart is a certified classic) . It's kind of odd to think of Jawbox reuniting for Jimmy Fallon (WTF), but if it leads to a show or two, I am definitely down.
For now, there are no concrete plans for additional shows from Jawbox, who along with Fugazi and Shudder To Think was the third pillar of the hugely influential DC hardcore scene in the early 1990s....
As a precursor to the "Late Night" performance, Jawbox will on Nov. 23 reissue its 1994 major-label debut, "For Your Own Special Sweetheart," on Coletta and Barbot's own Desoto Records label, complete with the three bonus tracks from the "Savory +3" EP: "68,""L'il Shaver" and a cover of the Big Boys' "Sound on Sound." [Billboard]
J Robbins went on to join Burning Airlines, Channels and be a producer for various bands including Clutch, Modern Life Is War, Jets to Brazil, Against Me!, The Promise Ring, and many others. Robbins's son Callum was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and has been the subject of many benefit shows that have included reunions of Snapcase, The Dismemberment Plan, and others.
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Posted by brooklynvegan at 4:48 PM | Comments (28)
The Mountain Goats appear on, streaming on, Colbert (video)
"I was just watching the Colbert Report and on came the Mountain Goats aka John Darnielle, one of the best indie songwriters out there. The interesting part? The ColbertNation.com website is streaming his new album for 24 hours, a nice little window for the curious to visit and listen (and, if they're horrible, horrible people, use a stream catcher to grab the music, but don't do that.)Tour dates HERE. New video, and the Colbert Videos, below...In short, in the Venn diagram of TV you have Colbert Report watchers and Mountain Goats listeners. Many of us exist, obviously, but the confluence of these two audiences into one tasty streaming opportunity is quite cool." [Crunch Gear]
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Posted by brooklynvegan at 1:34 AM | Comments (9)
October 5, 2009
Monty Python reunion almost here, on IFC... & at Town Hall?
by Klaus Kinski
A few nights ago I had a dream that my personal favorite Monty Python cast member Michael Palin approached me after I had finished a speaking engagement and asked me to join a reunited Python cast for a world tour. I declined the offer because I was apparently about to head out on tour with Radiohead as their new drummer. Alas, that was only a dream and my, our, only opportunity to see the entire reunited Python cast in the flesh will be Thursday October 15th at the Ziegfeld Theater (full details below). Limited tickets for this Monty Python 40 Anniversary Reunion and presentation of a BAFTA Special Award went on sale and cost $150. If you would like to purchase tickets, shoot an e-mail to Screening@baftaeastcoast.com. If successful, you'll be e-mailed a link to a ticket registration site and you can proceed from there. Good luck!
There will almost certainly be squabbling at the reunion. "They love getting angry and shouting at each other," Ben Timlett, a director and producer of the documentary, said recently. There were (and are) genuine differences among the Pythons, which they sometimes exaggerate for comic effect now, and there have been so many books, articles and previous documentaries that there is no truly reliable account of practically anything associated with the group. Partly for this reason, a number of the Pythons were initially reluctant to take part in the documentary.On October 18th, a few days after the BAFTA event, you can catch the premiere of the 6-party documentary series Monty Python: Almost The Truth: The Lawyer's Cut on IFC. With rare archival footage, new interviews with all living cast members, wonderful archival interview footage of the late Graham Chapman, as well as insights by comedy 'experts', the series, which runs from October 18th - October 23rd, is as thorough as can be. I've seen the first three episodes so far and am amazed at how truly engaging and informative the documentary is. If you can't see it when it airs on IFC, keep in mind that you can get it on DVD and BluRay on October 27th."I was very dubious about it," Mr. Cleese said. "I thought we had flogged this horse to death -- way past death, in fact." [NY Times]
And if that's not enough, in addition to the documentary, showings of Python film classics Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, IFC will also be showing episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Monty Python's Flying Circus will air @ 11:30 PM ET/PT throughout the Network's Python-A-Thon beginning Sunday, October 18, and Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday at 11:00 p.m. thereafter
In other somewhat Monty Python related news, there's a show happening at Town Hall from October 6th - October 10th called An Evening Without Monty Python. Directed by original Python cast member Eric Idle, these shows consist of contemporary comedians and actors performing classic Python skits. I've read many positive reviews of the LA shows, but as a fan I don't think I'm alone in being a LITTLE skeptical about this. I feel like it'd be like seeing a cover band. Though, the Australian Pink Floyd is a cover band and they consistently sell out gigantic theaters all over the world. Maybe people don't mind a decent forgery? Anyhow, if you're feeling adventurous tickets are currently on sale. Video below.
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Posted by brooklynvegan at 1:41 PM | Comments (9)
September 29, 2009
Dirty Projectors played a new song on Fallon, performed backstage for ?uestlove (both videos), tUnE yArDs & stuff
based on their setup and sound....imma take a wild guess dirty projectors are from BK? -?uestlove
backstage @ the Fallon show - 9/28/09 (Brassland)
Dirty Projectors were on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night where they premiered a new song called "When the World Comes to an End." Before that, they performed acoustically backstage. That earlier part wasn't aired on TV, but ?uestlove, a member of Jimmy's house band The Roots, was there recording with his iPhone (see above), and posted a video to his Twitter where he wrote, "Man. Dirty Projectors came into our room and demonstrated their awesomeness. How cool is it for them to do this?". He then Tweeted it again with the message, "dirty projectors really became a fav of mine after today" (both of those notes came an hour or two after the Tweet quoted at the very top of this post). Both videos below.
?uestlove, in addition to appearing on Fallon like he does every day, will be playing tonight (9/29) at the free Wizard of Oz show/screening in Central Park (with Jennifer Hudson and others). Then, as you can hear him tell DP in the below video, the Roots play Thursday night (10/1) at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn. Tickets are still on sale
Dirty Projectors are playing, what we now know is a short four-song set, at the New Yorker Fest's "Bands from the County of Kings" show at the Bell House on Friday, October 16th. Also on the bill are House of Ladosha, Jubilee and Liturgy. Tickets are still on sale.
Dirty Projectors then go out on tour from the end of October through most of November. It ends with four full NYC shows on 11/18-11/22 (with no show on the 20th). Recent 4AD signee tUnE yArDs has been added as opener to all of those shows, and to the entire last two weeks of their tour. She (tUnE) also has more gigs before then, including non-NYC shows with Sunset Rubdown and a Brooklyn show on October 6th at Union Hall with Dragons of Zynth.
All videos and tour dates are below...
Posted by brooklynvegan at 10:02 AM | Comments (28)
September 20, 2009
Ken Burns' National Parks party in Central Park Wednesday - free show w/ Alison Krauss, Counting Crows & more
On 9.23.09, we invite you to New York City's Central Park, East Meadow for Feel Free, an event that celebrates and pays tribute to the National Parks. Feel Free is designed to engage you in celebrating what has been described as one of America's best ideas. Join Ken Burns, Alison Krauss, Carole King and [Eric Benet, Gavin DeGraw, Jose Feliciano and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas] for an evening of song and film. NO TICKETS REQUIRED. JUST ADDED: COUNTING CROWS AND AUGUSTANAThe event is the public premiere of Ken Burns's upcoming film The National Parks: America's Best Idea, and will be broadcast "via satellite to PBS affiliates and other partners assembled in various locations around the country." A video preview of the movie, and the event flyer, below...
Posted by brooklynvegan at 5:30 PM | Comments (14)
September 18, 2009
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - 2009 Tour Dates (Starland Ballroom) +++ Dinner With the Band (on IFC)
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings @ Radio City (more by Natasha Ryan)
"The new six-part IFC Original Series, DINNER WITH THE BAND is the first alternative cooking show combining culinary delights, musical performances and conversations with some of today's most acclaimed indie rock artists.IFC recently picked up Dinner With the Band which was previously made just for the Internet.On DINNER WITH THE BAND, Sam Mason, the tattooed and celebrated NYC chef (Tailor, WD-50), invites a band to his Brooklyn loft where he shows them how to add his signature culinary spin to their favorite "on-tour" food. In the meantime, Chef Mason and the artists converse on food, music, and life while cooking together. After they "chow down" they "get down" as each act takes to the loft's stage to play a rockin' musical set.
Bands with dinner reservations this season include, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Kid Sister and Flosstradamus, Les Savy Fav, YACHT, Final Fantasy, and MEN.
Chef Mason, who recently took on Iron Chef Morimoto on Iron Chef America, is the former pastry chef of New York's WD-50 and current proprietor of SOHO's contemporary dining and cocktail parlor, Tailor. A modern day pioneer of avant-garde cooking and a James Beard nominee, Mason brings a casual approach to his dishes that stimulate the palate as well as the dialogue.
DINNER WITH THE BAND will debut on IFC in November 2009."
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have a handful of shows scheduled between now and the end of the year, and one of them is taking place at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on December 5th. Tickets are on sale. All dates below...
Posted by brooklynvegan at 2:43 PM | Comments (5)