Hap hap happy Valentines Day!

I used to hate this day - then I became ambivalent - but a few years ago, I started to like it again. In fact, this morning I delivered four valentines to my special friends... and the dorky fun of it made me giggle whilst doing the Valentines work.

Here's some V-love to my besties the Kreitners - miss you guys today.

Yo

Maybe...maybe not!

While buttercup and I were watching "Three Kings" on Sat. evening I saw a younger but familiar face staring back at me from our television. She had hair in her eyes and two casts on her arms (props) but her eyes and facial features were very familiar. Familiar because I had once again been watching episodes of AD. A young Maybe Funke was staring back at me playing the distressed daughter in the Gulf war #1 film. Buttercup protested, but as the movie progressed I was sure and sought counsel at IMDB.com and my observations proved correct. Once again my perception skills have proved worthy of an upper level CIA position where I sit and stare at mug shots in some twisted game of Concentration.

"Watch out Bin Laden....America wants YOU!" (Insert Stan Smith voice over here)

bunny out

You're gonna get some hop ons... or not!

There are a lot of things in life that are unfair - it's not fair the Hawks lost to Northwestern this week... it's not fair that Jessica and Nick could not make it... but the biggest, most heinous act of unfairity... ahem... is what Fox has done to ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.


I know we talk on and on about Gilmore and Scrubs and all sorts of other TV land fun... but Arrested really is the cornerstone of the true love I hold for television comedy. The show came out of nowhere - firing up three years ago with the Bluth company booze cruise being interupted by a gay pride party ("Those homosexuals are so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire.") - and never stopped to take a breath or disappoint in any way.


In our house, we would watch and re-watch and re-watch each and every episode. Hell, the week revolved around buying some Sunday dinner and sitting down to enjoy the new AD for the week (and often after we would re-watch other episodes!!). So much comedy - so many laughs... they all come to an end tonight.


I think we have all heard the complaints about Fox airing the final 4 episodes against the opening of the Olympics... which is essentially the biggest middle finger Fox could stick up Mitch Huriwitz's @ss! Regardless of the evil Fox Co - we need to make sure we take some time and enjoy these final episodes. There is no guarantee that any others will ever be made (and frankly, I think it is totally done - Huriwitz is too worn out and too heartbroken to go through any more).


It is a real shame that the show never took off - the move to Monday's was instant death for it. In fact, it has been given several chances to do well (though its numbers on Sunday night 2 years ago match what Family Guy is doing now!!!). Even the show itself has made reference to the fact that they have been given multiple opportunities to make it... "Maybe the Bluths aren't worth saving?"


I did my damnedest to get the show an audience. I handed out my DVD's... I begged and pleaded everyone at work to watch... but even some of my closest friends refused to invest in the show. Often, it seemed they feared the intelligence level of the series - feeling that the comedy would aim above their heads (or aim for humor that they don't want to have to work to laugh at). Which, honestly, was never the case with the series. It was smart in how it told its jokes... not in the jokes themselves (references were often self-ref... not poppy and hidden like Gilmore).


How different our lives would be... how many hours of pure joy would have been lost if this show would not have made it. 3 years is a good run - even though the past two seasons show orders have been cut substantially (18 year 2... 12 year 3). I guess we can continue to love the show on DVD.


It is just so insanely frustrating to know that such a quality series... such a fantastic half hour of perfect television... couldn't make it. In the end - it feels like we were only given half of a series... a stressed out, always on the edge of cancellation, show. What could they have done with more time... less stress?!?


We will never find out - tonight Aressted Development leaves our world... and we will be far less happy people without it. Take a moment today - give pause - show some love to the series that no one ever gave a chance.

And kick a non-believer in the groinal region for not watching... frankly, it is all their fault!

For now - a day full of AD rememberance is needed.

C'MON!!!!

Yo

It's more than a feeling...

Click open iTunes - scroll on down to Boston... and let er rip!!

"SEE MY MARY-ANNE WALKING AWAY!!!"

Guys, last nights SCRUBS was unbelievable.

Mandy Moore joined the cast for the two eps and really did a helluva job as J.D.'s new squeeze. Dev and I got a major kick off her entrance (the classic J.D. 'ewwwzzz' as she falls - and the cover line 'Oooh - I gotta get the carrot cake!') and I giggled uncontrollably at most of their antics!


The unbeatable moment for the evening was the air band sequence at the end. I drove to work today with the image of Ted smiling doing the air guitar solo during "More Than a Feeling!!!"

Both episodes just killed me!


GILMORE continued to kick all sorts of @ss! I was worried coming off last weeks Friday night dinner blow out things would drag again - but thankfully this was one of the more hilarious episodes of the year.

It was nice to see Paris back in rare b*tch form - kicking Rory out! Christopher is always a welcomed presence to the series (why the hell is he not on every week - he is a cool character and a good actor - what else does he got going on?).


The top sh*t no bollocks for the night was the dinner scene with Emily and Richard - Luke and Lor slowly falling into the Gilmore trap. And Emily dropping the June 3rd date evoked some "Oooooh"s from our house. But it did not seem to have any repurcussions (not until the drama returns at least!).

Good good stuff - and I got to watch it with DREEEEEAAA! Which actually was weird - she yelled at me about a minute in becuase I made a comment about how uncomfortable it was to see Rory's cleavage. "NO TALKIE TIL COMMERCIAL!!"

I felt a little burny inside after that. It was like she lit fire to my chest cavity with her angry dead eyes... but then she giggled and went back to the show. Sucked up my manliness, forged on, and acted like I did not wet myself...


Mandy! We hardly knew ya! Come back... come back!!!!

Yo

p.s. Oooooh ooh! Just remembered; "Jack Meusterberg - took his life with a Track and Field starter pistol..."

New Review Up At TMT

As some of you who have been with me since the days of the Damfinoblog and the earlier days of Listen... know, before I turned into a media gadfly, I mostly reviewed music on here until I got hired by Tiny Mix Tapes, one of the more prominent and interesting places for music criticism and such(said he without trace of hyperbole or bias). Anyway, I got a new review published today and I thought I would share it with you here.

Enjoy.

Everything I touch turns to sh*t.

Last night we wrapped up watching Season 1 of The Sopranos - giddy and thrilled with every last drop of its initial year.


Hopefully we shall soon settle in for the second season of the series; a season that I initially thought was the absolute peak of the show - but upon further viewings, felt the quality even out with other years.


To my surprise, Season 3 has started emerging as the high point of the series, creating a build up of story that Season 4 just never seemed to find or live up to (those pesky Russians - I am looking in your direction!!).

Man - I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!

No spoilers - Devin is walking through this whole experience for the first time ever. We need to get down to business if we are going to pull this off before March 12!!

Yo

BTW DWEEEEEAAAA is coming tonight!!! I gets to watch Gilmore with the old Gilmore Girl herself!!!


YEAH!

Smurfette's nipple

My gut has grown three-fold from yesterday's game! I sat around at Larry and Rhonda's gorging on (lemme list this);

3 pieces of popcorn cake
1 piece of champagne cake
a beef hoagie
2 bowls of chip and dip
2 ribs
bowl of strawberries and cool whip
almost a pound of smoked ham
4 beers (2 harp 2 bass)

The game looked beautiful on their 50 inch Plasma! We had a ball - and the game was pretty damn good too.


We also had to work on the shower this weekend - sadly, some tiles had caved in and water was destroying the entire thing (also, the soap tile dish attacked Devin - so it had to be let go). So Devin and I (Josh picked up lunch) did some work. Here is the process;


Step #1 Tear into the tiles - have a ball with this! You can use whatever device you choose, just rip into the ugly ugly shower with all of your anger (watch for ant infestations!).


Take these moments to enjoy your success - and air out your pits.


Eww - look at what comes out of your walls. Non-dry dry wall is not yummy.


Step #2 Measure 5 times and cut 23 - make sure you drill those screws into the studs. Otherwise they just kind of sit and spin... like a swell blind date.


Step #3 Clean off those tiles - no one likes a filthy tile.


Step #4 Take a break with the family - share a little pasta fazool and enjoy some exposed Drea de Matteo!


Step #5 (yes, that is supposed to be a five) Crack open some finely brewed swill after realizing Devin is doing most of the work.


Final step - grout/adhese the hell outta the tiles. This is fun - inhale deeply!


You're done! Congratulations - you have a wonderfully crafted white nipple in your shower for all to enjoy. Why call it a white nipple... well, frankly, because we are filthy boys.

Good weekend - hope yours was as fun!

Yo

P.S. Do you get the subject line now?

Weekend plans

HOLY CRAP THIS IS A BIG WEEKEND!!!

Actually, the weekend is shaping up to be pretty nice and calm and fun. First, we have the return of Drea after a week of fun in Utah. Hopefully the Sheriff will once again be one in mind and spirit.

Next, we have the big game.



I will be viewing at Larry and Rhonda Bohall's place (Rhonda is Dan's mother - we went on the cruise with them) - Lar is a massive Steelers fan, so it should be fun to watch the game with him.

I am going to cook up some yummy ribs and completely drink my @ss off! Hopefully the game does not disappoint. Also, there is supposed to be a bunch of Family Guy episodes right after the game - I think they are new!!!


Saturday we are working on our shower (picture is simply for reference, this is not our shower) - we have had tiles caving in for quite a while and earlier this week the soap holder tile fell off the wall and attacked Devin's foot. He moved with grace and composure and avoided an injury. Unfortunately we all have been afraid to enter the bathroom ever since.

We will be tearing out the tile Saturday morning and hating life the rest of the day.


Finally, tonight I am off to see Brokeback Mountain. After it was nominated earlier this week, I decided I had to see it. I will report about the film later next week - make sure to let you girls know who is playing catcher... my money is on Ledger.

Weekend plans anyone?

Yo

The Angry Straw Poll at Listen! Listen...etc.

Hello all. If you have not had a chance to already, please participate in the "How Angry Is The Kern?" poll at my blog. I will be posting the results a week from tomorrow. The more data gathered the better!

Thanks a mint.

Kern

I just tron'd myself...

Old Nut Flopper added this in the comments area - I thought it was worthy of a post.

"I F*CKIN' LOVE TRON! The movie and Tron and Discs of Tron video games!! (There is a PC game, came out months/years ago, Tron 2.0. Gotta get my paws on it and try it on my kickass gaming machine.)

Oh, this could be a long post...

I dig on the SciFi genre - yeah, no kidding, you'd never know from my geek talk and such. Maybe it was because I was younger (around 8) when it came out and I was just entranced by the fantasy. Heck, it's still cool for me today to imagine what it would be like to be inside a computer and be a living part of it! (I'm a SATA controller. What is your data request?)

I chucked many quarters in the Tron game. If you don't remember or know, Tron had the joystick and rotating knob. (Damn, there's just ALL KINDS of room for comments there!) There were 4 "rooms" per level: blow up the tanks in the maze, break through the CPU cone, lightcycle race, and kill the bugs to get to the center transport.






Having the 2 controls was pretty cool, especially in the cone and bug rooms. The tank part was the hardest for me. Then I found Discs of Tron (DoT). Again, if you don't remember or know, DoT had the joystick and knob - however, you could lift the knob up or press it down (more on that below). Frickin' sweet! It was you vs. Sark. It started you on 1 floating disk platform. You thew disks at each other, trying to knock your opponent off their platform. As the levels progressed, it went from 1 platform to 3, all at the same elevation. You would automatically jump from one platform to the next if you ran off the edge. Higher levels brought 3 platforms at *different* elevations (but, you'd just automatically jump from platform to platform). This is where the "multi-level" knob came in - you'd have to match your throw to the elevation of the platform if you wanted any success hitting your opponent. Like Kern said, badass!

On one of my hard drives at home I have a version of MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) and many games, including Discs of Tron. (I don't think I have Tron - YET! :) )

Damn, now I have to find that at home and play!"



Spoken like a true geek my friend,

Yo

They won?

In recent years, I have come to feel that I am truly bad luck for any sports team. Just ask Dan, he has seen his solid teams crumble when they were supposed to win - all because I was watching.

With this in mind, I have attempted to step away from most games, hoping a win is had without me.

But last night we had a guest over (Cara) who wanted to watch the Hawks take on Purdue - and watch we did.


The first half was a tough show - Iowa was down by 8-11 the entire time. I felt the evil presence of Jed's back luck infecting our Iowa team. I mean, they were losing to the lowest rated team in the Big Ten!!!

But the second half came and Horner stepped up things. He ended up with 32 points, including 7 three pointers!!!


Mike Henderson also did a helluva job in getting Iowa moving again. He had three major steals and tapped in 17 points for the night.

By the end of the game - Iowa had things well in hand and took the win with a 77-68 score. Iowa had won and I had watched the whole game.

This means it may not be my fault when they lose! This means I can start watching games again and not feel horrible!! This means I can drink profusely throughout the week with a solid excuse!!!

Cool.

Yo

p.s. Devin was a warrior and suffered through the entire game - and never bitched once. Bravo!

Suffer Well

Me and Depeche Mode have never been grand bedfellows... and TRON has never ever been a top fave of mine.



So why can't I stop watching this clip from Tron (actually several edited together) with the Depeche Mode song "Suffer Well" with it?



Here is a link to it check it out!



I just downloaded the song from iTunes. Yummy!

Yo

Gilmore goes hand-held?!?!?!

With the gigantic exception of what they are doing to Luke's character, last night's Gilmore was perfection. Even though Luke is being royaly screwed with this ridiculous child sub-plot, everyone else is spot on with their characters (Kirk - "What is she doing with that book?").

In fact, the end of the episode was a major leap towards a new world for the show. The simple act of taking the camera off of the tri-pod/steadicam totally rocked the house!

I loved seeing the emotions blow out with the Gilmores in their montage of fights and revelations. Each piece made me laugh all the more and really connected me once again to all of the characters that I know and love so much.

The very last line was underwhelming - I expected something along the lines of "that was better than sex!!"

Yo