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It’s such a shame that the era where everyone knew (and could sing or hum) the popular TV theme songs of the day is long since over. The current generation simply doesn’t know that joy…

So, in an effort to enlighten (and because I recently heard it on my iPod), I figure I’d feature the occasional TV jam from yesteryear :)

Enter the “Sanford and Son” theme! (otherwise known as “The Streetbeaters” by Quincy Jones…yes, Quincy Jones)

Best Picture:
===================

• What will win: Slumdog Millionaire
  • (Probably a given…)
• What should win: Slumdog Millionaire
• Possible Surprise Winner: The Reader
  • (Good, but not worthy of a nomination)
• Shoulda Been Nominated: The Wrestler, Rachel Getting Married

Best Actor
===================

• Who will win: Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”
• Who should win: Mickey Rourke – “The Wrestler”
• Possible Surprise Winner: None…seriously, it’s not even close
• Glad to see nominated: Richard Jenkins – “The Visitor”

Best Actress
===================

• Who will win: Kate Winslet – “The Reader”
  • (Boo…she was much better in “Revolutionary Road”)
• Who should win: Anne Hathaway – “Rachel Getting Married”
• Possible Surprise Winner: None…Too much talk about Kate going on…
• Glad to see nominated: Angelina Jolie – “Changling”
  • (Damn good performance)

Best Supporting Actor
===================

• Who will win: Heath Ledger – “The Dark Knight”
• Who should win: Heath Ledger – “The Dark Knight”
  • (I’m usually against posthumous awards, but he deserves it)
• Possible Surprise Winner: None
  • (No chance)
• Glad to see nominated: Josh Brolin – “Milk”

Best Supporting Actress
===================

• Who will win: I honestly don’t know…seems like a toss up…
• Who should win: Roll the dice…they all did quite well
• Glad to see nominated: Penelope Cruz – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
  • (glad that movie is getting some recognition)

Best Animated Feature
===================

• What will win: Wall-E
• What should win: Kung Fu Panda
  • (not that Wall-E was bad, but Panda was killer)

Tina Fey walked right into a goldmine when Sarah Palin joined the race…and she’s running with it for all it’s worth. I love it! She pulled off another great performance last night. (And what a wonderful surprise having Queen Latifah as Ifil!). Check it out:

In what will go down in the annals of history as a vanguard moment in reality TV, ABC came to it’s senses and brought back what was arguably the best reality game show of all time, The Mole!

A group of participants travel around the world competing in mind and physical games. The prize: A continually building cash prize based on how many of those games are won. However, one of the participants is secretly working against the rest of the team. Enter The Mole. His/Her job: Sabotage….to keep as much money out of the group’s hands without being discovered.

If you’ve happen to have seen the celebrity version of the show, remove it from your mind. The original version of The Mole contained some of the most intelligent games and gameplay of any reality game show ever crafted. Both original seasons kept delivering episode after episode, and even included subtle clues for the viewer so they could play along to determine who was The Mole. I have to admit that I guessed wrong on both seasons…and I can’t wait to guess wrong again. :)

The new season starts on June 2nd. Hop on board and enjoy a summer of discovering who is The Mole!

I know this is massively old, but I still think this Saturday Night Live video gem got lost in between the fervors of ‘Lazy Sunday’ and ‘Dick in a box’.

Enter Natalie Portman: Gangsta Rapper:

(”I never claimed to be a role model”)

Check out the video!

“Bud – Official Beer of the 2006 FIFA World Cup“

My condolences to all the football fans that actually have to leave the stadium in order to find a real beer. I tip my bottle of La Chouffe to the lot of ya :)

Big props for Jei’s teams of the moment: USA, Netherlands (Big Orange!), Japan, and all the real underdogs (Go Trinidad and Tobago!)

Special consideration for ABC/ESPN for doing a better job this time with the commentating. (Still not up to Univision level, tho…)

Update [6/18/06]: In protest of Bud’s sponsorship of the games, a thousand Dutch fans came to a game with the logo of a Dutch brewery on their pants. The fans were forced to remove their trousers and watch the game in their underpants!

[GOOOOL!]

“Mommy…what’s genital herpes?”

Surely someone’s heard that question by now. What exactly does a parent say to their seven year old when they become influenced by that damn Valtrex commercial?

In this procrastinated world of sexual teaching, where “Sometimes mummies & daddies like to do a special hug” baloney is the norm, I can only snort-heave at the possibilities. I know someone somewhere has ‘ratings for commercials’ on their to-do list somewhere.

But since I have no kids, I’ve got to be complaining about this for another reason, right? How about the truth: That in this day and age living with a disease can be more important (and profitable) that preventing it.

1) It’s perfectly acceptable for the big networks to show numerous Valtrex commercials that talk about helping people deal with genital herpes once they have it…

2) But these same networks won’t show ads for any sort of contraception that could help prevent getting the disease in the first damn place!

Religious zealots scare us into a tip-toe-through-the-demographics mentality….

And then the pharmactical industry gives us a pill (and a bill) to deal with the consequences…(no cure in sight….)

Ain’t that a blip…

(Still…at least the Valtrex commercials don’t have mascots like the Antonio Banderas bee or the henious Digger the Dermatophyte…)

Enter what’s quite possibly the funniest thing on Saturday Night Live in a decade:

Chronicles of Narnia Rap (Streaming Video)
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/141567/snl_chronicles_of_narnia_adventure/

Here’s some screencaps:
http://www.bettadont.com/2005/12/20/betta-do-chronicwhatcles-of-narnia/

You can also download the video from iTunes for *free* right now ^_^

“Mr Pibb + Red Vines = Crazy Delicious!”

[Props to BettaDont for the Screencap]

…and about damn time!

I’ve seen the press cover a number of horrible situations, but I’ve never seen so many, on both sides of the politicial spectrum, get so visibly upset on the air.

From CNN’s Anderson Cooper going off on Louisiana senator Mary Landrieu…

…to Geraldo Rivera damn near losing it while reporting on the convention center situation during Fox’s “The O’Reily Factor”…

…to NBC photojournalist Tony Zumbado giving a tortured first hand report about the lack of support, the numerous deaths about him and the horrid conditions at the superdome (look for the title “Convention Center Chaos“).

These people are mad as hell. (Welcome to the club)

They’ve thrown their softball questions away and have begun to ask those pipe-hittin’ questions that need to be pursued.

…about damn time!

Slate magazine’s Jack Shafer writes an excellent article which collects some prime examples of the television press finally “smelling the coffee”.

Also, in a stunning example of he-said-we-said, CNN gives a eye opening comparison on the government’s take on the situation versus CNN’s own “in the trenches” reporting.

To quote my gal, Soledad O’Brien, while interviewing FEMA director Michael Brown, “How is it possible that we’re getting better intel than you’re getting?”

How indeed…

Rock on, people and don’t let up for one second!

This truly is a new century! Who would have thought that television, the ‘Teacher, mother and secret lover’ of all of us for so many years would fail to present the best broadcast the Live 8 concerts?

The MTV/VH1 broadcast of Live 8 here in the states, while convering most of the bases, did so by cutting away from 95% of the performances, asking inane “What did you learn?” questions of the crowd, and conducting an over-laden commercial fest the likes of which I’d never seen before. It was quite disappointing and frankly insulting at times. They showed a lot more respect at the original Live Aid concert day.

But all is not lost. Run, don’t walk to http://www.aolmusic.com/

They have unedited performances of just about everyone, from almost all of the different venues (not just the over-indulgence of London and Philadelphia that was the MTV/VH1 broadcast). There were so many good acts that you’re bound to find something to fickle your fancy. (I’m listening to the Pet Shop Boys performing in Moscow right right now ^^)

Side Note: If for no other reason, check out the London feed to see the reunion of Pink Floyd. So fucking brilliant :)