Monthly Archives: September 2008

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Some quick Emmy thoughts

Christ, that was bad!

I hate to pin all the blame on the five reality show hosts, but boy, I haven’t seen an awards show land with that big a thud so quickly since Rob Lowe danced with Snow White on the Oscars. There was really no saving the show after the first ten minutes. They should have just listed the winners in a scroll and been done with it.

Every time Howie Mandel spoke I felt sorry for him, his co-presenters, the audience and the world. How can it be that this man is on a popular TV show?

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Most Overrated Scene in a Great Movie: Fake orgasm in When Harry Met Sally

I saw a poster in Target the other day that listed the top 100 movie quotes of all-time (not sure how the list was compiled).

Number one was “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” You had your “I coulda been a contender” and “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” “May the force be with you,” “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” All the usual suspects (including “Round up the usual suspects”).

Nestled in there in the middle of the pack was “I’ll have what she’s having” from When Harry Met Sally. Reading that, I got angry about something that’s always made me angry when it comes to that classic Rob Reiner film.

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Song of the Day #60: ‘When Jesus Left Birmingham’ – John Mellencamp

I’m not religious — at all — but it’s hard to ignore the volume of great art inspired by religious works. Take the Bible and its cast of characters… what a wacky bunch! (Though I have a little trouble buying the complete personality shift of ‘God’ between parts one and two.)

This week’s theme focuses on another Biblical figure — Jesus. Today through Friday, the titles of my selections feature the name of the Nazarene carpenter.

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Song of the Day #59: ‘Lost Cause’ – Beck

It’s pretty well-established that breakup albums are often better than stuff written when the artist is loving life. Great art comes from turmoil and pain. Whether it’s Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, Bruce Springsteen’s Tunnel of Love or Lyle Lovett’s The Road to Ensenada, heartbreak invariably results in a musician’s best work.

Beck’s Sea Change is no exception.

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Song of the Day #58: ‘The Biggest Lie’ – Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith is (was) the saddest man in music.

He’s one of those artists who seems to have been put on Earth to give voice to the deepest grief and insecurities of the rest of us, to project such exquisitely articulated sorrow that our problems seem minuscule in comparison.

His freakish suicide somehow seemed like the only possible end for a man who so personified despair. In a way, you could say he died for our sins.

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