Tag / SNL

by jim

A Group Of Oddballs

oddball_lineupSunday night of the Toronto trip had been scheduled for dinner at the CN Tower, but then I got a message saying, “Hey, I jut got an email about this comedy festival on Sunday.  We should totally do this.”  I’d first heard of the Oddball Comedy Festival last year when Chris Hardwick was one of the performers.  I looked at this year’s lineup and got right on board.

The tickets claimed the show started at 5, which was kind of true.  The second stage had performers starting that early.  As you can tell from the picture above, the main stage didn’t kick off until 7:10.  To make matters worse, they weren’t letting people in to the pavilion, so you couldn’t even find your seat, leaving the 16,000 person strong crowd to battle for the limited shade on an unusually warm afternoon.

Once things got going, though, the show did not disappoint.  Other than the first 2 comics, Mark Normand and Katherine Ryan, I was familiar with all of the performers, so I had at least an idea of what to expect.  Sadly, the same could not be said for my travel companion Hayley, who, despite coming up with the idea of attending, had heard of Amy Schumer, but had never seen her in anything.  Normand and Ryan put on entertaining sets, followed by Michael Che, the current Weekend Update anchor on SNL.  His was a brand of humor that did not play well with the British contingent of my travelling party, but I found him to be quite good.

Following a theme, the next performer was Che’s cast-mate Jay Pharoah.  Jay struggles sometimes on SNL because he is a stand-up rather than a sketch guy, so it was good to see him shine in a more natural environment for him.  He was followed by Jim Norton, who I always find fascinating despite his long time association with Opie and Anthony, who I do not enjoy.

After a brief intermission, we entered what I am calling the Comedy Central part of the show.  Anthony Jeselnik, Nick Kroll, and Amy Schumer all have, or recently wrapped up, shows on the cable outlet.  If I had to pick a set that I liked the least, I would go with Jeselnik’s.  His brand of comedy doesn’t really mesh with my sensibilities, although he was a big hit with the English.  Schumer, after her big movie hit over the summer, was the obvious draw for many in attendance.  After her set, as Aziz Ansari took the stage as the headliner, the crowd starting filing out.  Granted, some of the crowd had been there for 5 hours at that point, but still… you can’t wait another half hour?

Anyway, I had a blast and, again, lament the fact that I never see live comedy in my home town.  I’ll certainly keep an eye out for the festival next year and, if the lineup is half as impressive, I’m definitely down for another go around.

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today we finish up the list and look at the top 10 albums that I have listened to the most.

#1: The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slaying – Once More, With Feeling
iTunes stats: 326 plays
The soundtrack album to the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer takes the top spot thanks to 21 of the 23 tunes from the album.

#2: Various Artists – The Muppets
iTunes stats: 287 plays
The entire album contributed to this total for the soundtrack album from the big Muppets comeback movie in 2011.

#3: The Lonely Island – Incredibad
iTunes stats: 181 plays
7 tracks from the debut album, most of which originated as digital shorts on SNL.

#4: Foo Fighters – Live In Hyde Park 2006
iTunes stats: 180 plays
This bootleg makes the list thanks to 8 live versions of the band’s greatest hits.

#5: Various Artists – Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969
iTunes stats: 171 plays
8 of the 10 songs on this album contributed to this total, with the vast majority coming from Steam, thanks to its connection with the White Sox.

#6: Tegan and Sara – So Jealous
iTunes stats: 156 plays
The entire album, which I have also had loaded in my car’s CD player since 2005, makes up this total.

#7: Aerosmith – O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits
Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #74 – 83

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, we look at the 10 albums that I have listened to 41 – 45 times.

#74: Eminem – The Eminem Show
iTunes stats: 45 plays
The fourth studio album from Eminem uses 5 tracks to make up this total.

#74: Various Artists – Monsters Of Rock
iTunes stats: 45 plays
This compilation of 80s hair bands, like White Lion, Winger, and Firehouse, makes up this total thanks to 8 different tracks.

#76: Nirvana – Nevermind
iTunes stats: 44 plays
The world’s introduction to grunge, and death knell to hair metal, had 5 songs make up this total.

#77: Weezer – Weezer
iTunes stats: 43 plays
4 tunes from Weezer’s debut, known as the Blue Album, place it on the list.

#77: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain
iTunes stats: 43 plays
The second album from the SNL digital short maestros make the list thanks to 4 different tracks.

#77: Dr. Dre – The Chronic
iTunes stats: 43 plays
Dr. Dre makes the list for the second week in a row with his smash solo debut, whose total is made up by 3 songs.

#80: Bush – Sixteen Stone
iTunes stats: 42 plays
5 tracks from Bush’s debut album place it on the list.

#80: Cracker – Kerosene Hat
Continue reading →

by admin

Book 21 (of 52) – Yes Please

Yes Please - Amy Poehler

Yes Please – Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler becomes the latest in the recent trend of memoirs from female comedians with Yes Please, a collections of stories about her life and essays imparting some of the life lessons she has picked up along the way.  I have a weird relationship with Poehler, in that I usually enjoy her work, but I don’t normally go out of my way to see any of it.  For example, despite critical acclaim, I have not seen any episodes of Parks and Recreation beyond the pilot.  Following that, I initially had no plans to pick up this book.  Thankfully, events conspired to change my mind.

Around Black Friday, and possibly on Black Friday, Amazon had a deal going on for 30% off any single book.  I looked around and didn’t really see anything that was essential that I get, but, thanks to my previous interest in similar books from Tina Fey and Sarah Silverman, Amazon was suggesting that I go for Amy Poehler’s book.  With the additional discount, this brought the recently published hardcover down to about $10, so I figured why not.  If I enjoyed it half as much as I did Fey’s Bossypants, it would be well worth the cost.

And enjoy it I did.  Poehler is a little older than me, but close enough in age that we shared many of the same pop culture experiences growing up or were in a similar headspace when more current world events were going on.  Plus, she was, for a small time, part of the Chicago comedy scene that I wish I had the courage to either join or enjoy.  She tells tales of her time on SNL, being a mother and the love she has for her children, founding Upright Citizens Brigade in Chicago and moving it to New York, where it grew in to an institution, and much more.  Having finished the book, I was a little sad that I wouldn’t have Amy Poehler in my life anymore.  I wonder if Parks and Rec is streaming on Netflix?

by admin

2014 Emmy Awards – Reality and Movies

Emmy_statueWith the Emmy Awards scheduled for Monday night, here’s day two of my predictions for the awards, today focusing on reality shows and made for TV movies.  I likely have seen not seen most (any?) of these, so I will probably not have an informed decision, but when has that ever stopped me.

Outstanding Reality Show Host

Jane Lynch, Hollywood Game Night

Betty White, Betty White’s Off Their Rockers

Tom Bergeron, Dancing With the Stars

Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, Project Runway

Cat Deeley, So You Think You Can Dance

Anthony Bourdain, The Taste

Tom Bergeron has won this in the past, and that seems like as good a reason as any for him to win it again.

Outstanding Reality Show Competition

The Amazing Race

Dancing With the Stars

Project Runway

So You Think You Can Dance

Top Chef

The Voice

The Voice broke The Amazing Race‘s winning streak last year, but I’m thinking the CBS adventure show takes back the crown this year.

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Jimmy Kimmel Live

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Real Time With Bill Maher

Saturday Night Live

The Colbert Report broke through last year and wrestled the award away from his pals at TDS.  Given that the show will be wrapping up soon so that Colbert can move over to CBS to take over for Letterman, I would think he will win another award as a going away gift.

Continue reading →

by admin

2014 Emmy Awards – Comedy

Emmy_statueWith the Emmy Awards scheduled for Monday night, here’s my predictions for the awards for Comedy shows.  I most likely have seen most of these shows, so, unlike my annual Oscar predictions, I will not mostly be going on gut feel and word of mouth, but will have a somewhat informed decision.

Outstanding Comedy

The Big Bang Theory

Louie

Modern Family

Orange Is The New Black

Silicon Valley

Veep

Modern Family would be the obvious choice here, since the voters seem to love it.  But Veep is certainly my dark horse candidate, so I’ll go with that.

Outstanding Actress In A Comedy

Lena Dunham, Girls

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep

Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly

Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

Taylor Schilling, Orange Is The New Black

Julia Louis-Dreyfus won this award last year, and I see no reason why she won’t repeat again this year.

Outstanding Actor In A Comedy

Ricky Gervais, Derek

William H. Macy, Shameless

Louis CK, Louie

Don Cheadle, House of Lies

Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Once again, I am predicting a repeat of last year’s winner, with Jim Parsons bringing home the award again for his role as Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory.

Continue reading →

by admin

You Ought To Be In (10) Pictures

Movie_Reel_22Many years ago, using the weekly TV guide that came with the Sunday Chicago Tribune, I started keeping track of all of the movies I had seen over the course of my lifetime.  The guide would list the two main stars for each movie, and that is a tradition that I’ve carried on in my database ever since.  So, given those guidelines, it is time to look at all of the actors that have starred in at least 10 films that I have seen, as of May 30th.

Today, we start with the 14 actors that have starred in 10 movies that I have seen.

Amy Adams

I was first introduced to Amy Adams back in 2001 via the direct-to-video sequel to Cruel Intentions.  Things were quiet until 2008, when I saw her in Enchanted, which started a four year run with at least one film per year.  2010 was big Amy Adams year for me, where she starred in 4 different movies that I saw that year.  The last movie I saw featuring her was last year’s Man of Steel.

Jessica Alba

My first movie exposure to Jessica Alba was the 2000 indie thriller Paranoid.  2004 kicked off a 4 year run of at least one film per year.  2009 was my high water mark in Jessica Alba films, when I saw 3 of them.  Her run as Sue Storm in the Fantastic Four franchise accounted for 2 of the 10 films.  2010’s Valentine’s Day, which I saw in 2011, was the last film I saw starring Alba.

Dan Aykroyd

My first Dan Aykroyd film was likely 1984’s Ghostbusters.  My best Aykroyd years were 1988 and 1996, when I saw 2 of his films in each year.  2002 was the last year I saw an Aykroyd-starring vehicle, 200’s Stardom.

Chevy Chase Continue reading →

by admin

#241 – Mike Myers

mmyersName: Mike Myers

Rank: 241

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 2007

After spending 15 years in Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, Mike Myers escaped and returned to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois.  Oh wait, that’s the wrong Mike Myers.  After 6 seasons on Saturday Night Live, Mike Myers left to pursue a film career, where…what, still the wrong Mike Myers?  How many where there?

Baseball’s Mike Myers, a native of Arlington Heights, joined the White Sox in August of their lost 2007 season after being released by the Yankees.  He fit right in, which, sadly, means he did not pitch well, putting up an 11.20 ERA in 17 appearances.  Myers had a $1.1 million option for 2008, which the White Sox chose to decline.  Myers tried to latch on to a team the next spring, but never did pitch in the major leagues again.

Myers’ numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were: Continue reading →

by jim

Book 15 (of 52) – Bossypants

Bossypants - Tina Fey

Bossypants – Tina Fey

Tina Fey delivers a home run here, telling her story of going from her childhood home in Pennsylvania to the University of Virginia to Chicago and Second City and, finally, to New York for Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.  Fey easily weaves humor throughout her story while still hitting upon social commentary of the role of women in comedy and trying to be successful, both in the workplace and at home, as a working mother.

Reading this book made me realize how much I miss having 30 Rock on the air, not so much for the show itself, but for having a weekly dose of Tina Fey in my life.  While the book delivered, it was sadly over too quickly.

by jim

iTunes Top 100 Artists: #1-10

itunes_image

My latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 2 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 100 artists that I’ve listened to as of 8/21/2013, according to iTunes. Today we finally get to the top 10 and the end of this journey.

#1: The Beatles

iTunes stats: 665 plays

The boys from Liverpool used 95 different songs to make up this total.  The most impressive thing is that the total should be higher, as all of the counts got reset back to zero when the remastered albums came out in 2009 and I deleted all of the old versions and ripped the remastered versions.

#2: Garbage

iTunes stats: 614 plays

I have seen this band live 4 times over the past 11 years, and look forward to doing so again in the future.  There are 112 songs, many of which are live versions, that made up the total.

#3: Foo Fighters

iTunes stats: 425 plays

Only 39 songs put the Foo Fighters in third place with nobody on their tail.  I saw the Foo Fighters with Weezer back in 2005 and would love to do so again.

#4: The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer

iTunes stats: 307 plays

Back in 2001, during the sixth season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the show produced a musical episode as Buffy and the Scooby Gang battled the musical demon Sweet.  The following year, the soundtrack was released, and those 21 songs make up this total.  One of the standouts was Amber Benson, who autographed my copy of the CD at a Wizard World appearance back in 2004.

#5: Tegan and Sara

iTunes stats: 274 plays

An even 50 songs combined to make up this total for the Canadian sisters.  I saw them live back in 2005, less than a week after the Foo Fighters/Weezer show and the same day the White Sox won the ALDS against the Red Sox.  It was a busy week.

Continue reading →