Tag / The Muppets

by admin

Top 200 Albums: #1 – 10

itunes_imageWe last counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library four years ago. Since that time, the world has literally changed, and my commute has decreased from 1+ hours each way to 25 steps. So, despite the decrease in potential listening time, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through the morning of January 1, 2022.

Well, it all comes down to this: the top ten.  We finish things off today with the ten albums I have listened to the most over the last 15 years. including three comedy albums, three compilations, two soundtracks, one greatest hits package, and one bootleg live performance.

#10: Various Artists – Television’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 (70’s & 80’s)
iTunes stats: 378 plays
Previous Ranking: 13

Another collection of TV theme songs, this time covering the late 70s and the early 80s, uses 32 songs, from shows such as The Facts of Life, Inspector Gadget, and Barney Miller, sees an 85% increase over the past four years.

#9: Garbage – One Mile High… Live
iTunes stats: 378 plays
Previous Ranking: 17

The audio rip of the band’s live video release, featuring 21 different tracks, jumps up eight spots after more than doubling its number of plays in the past four years.

#8: George Carlin – It’s Bad For Ya
iTunes stats: 391 plays
Previous Ranking: 24

The final album from George Carlin, released just over a month after his death, increases its total by over 144%, thanks in part to being used as a sleeping aid when I’m away from home.

#7: Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
iTunes stats: 395 plays
Previous Ranking: 10

An 85% increase for Patton Oswalt’s second comedy album, which would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s, which I use to lull myself to sleep at home, again.

#6: Various Artists – Living in the 90’s
iTunes stats: 396 plays
Previous Ranking: 8

A whopping 22 songs, from bands like The Proclaimers, EMF, and Roxette, racked up an additional 172 new listens for this compilation of early 90s hits.

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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #161-169

It’s been 4 years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library.  Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at the artists that have entertained me the most based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2021.

We continue today with our next batch of 10 artists, the 2 tied for 169th place, 5 tied for 164th, and the 3 tied for 161st.  We only have 2 bands and/or performers that are newcomers to the list this week.

#169: Jason Segel
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous ranking: #111

A big 58 spot drop for the human star of The Muppets, who picked up only 12 additional plays for his 4 songs in my collection.

#169: Schoolhouse Rock!
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

A big debut for the staple of ABC Saturday mornings, after more than doubling its play total.

#164: Matthew Sweet
iTunes stats: 53 plays
Previous ranking: #185

After seeing him in concert back in 2017, I added 2 new tracks to my collection, which contributed to the 21 spot jump for the 90s star.

#164: Bloodhound Gang
iTunes stats: 53 plays
Previous ranking: #117

The band known for humorous and off-beat, satirical lyrics picked up only 16 new listens, which ended up in a 47 spot fall in the charts.

#164: Janet Jackson
iTunes stats: 53 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

A nice debut for the icon star of the late 80s and early 90s, who added 30 new plays over the last 4 years.

#164: Letters To Cleo
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #170 Continued

itunes_image4 years ago, we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library. Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2020.

We continue today with the next group of ten songs tied for 170th place with 30 plays apiece since my stats began in late 2007.

#170: The Offspring – Come Out And Play
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 8/16/2019
Previous ranking: #96

A precipitous drop for this breakthrough single for the punk band, which garnered a mere 10 new listens over the past 4 years. It also appears on Volume 14 of my mix tapes.

#170: The Moopets – Rainbow Connection
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 11/9/2019
Previous ranking: #167

A 13 song increase keeps this version of the Muppets classic, featuring Fozzie Bear pushing the virtues of a casino from The Muppets, about even from 4 years ago, ranking wise.

#170: The Monkees – I’m A Believer
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 10/23/2019
Previous ranking: #167

Composed by Neil Diamond, the song spent 7 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts between 1966 and 1967.

#170: Lustra – Scotty Doesn’t Know
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 11/18/2019
Previous ranking: #118

The main song from the film Eurotrip, explaining how poor Scotty doesn’t know his girlfriend is cheating on him, adds only 11 new listens, dropping quite a bit in the rankings.

#170: Ludacris – Get Back
iTunes stats: 30 plays, most recently on 7/28/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

Having peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2005, the song makes an impressive debut on the chart.

#170: Letters To Cleo – Here & Now
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by admin

Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We finish things off today with the final batch of 10 albums, ranked between #1 and 10, including 4 comedy albums, 4 compilations, 1 greatest hits package, and 1 bootleg live performance.

#10: Patton Oswalt – Werewolves and Lollipops
iTunes stats: 213 plays
Previous Ranking: 13

This total for Patton Oswalt’s standup set would be significantly higher if I were to ever sync my old iPhone 4s again.

#9: The Lonely Island – Incredibad
iTunes stats: 218 plays
Previous Ranking: 3

7 tracks from the groups debut album, most of which originated as digital shorts on SNL, did not rack up the listens and suffers a large drop.

#8: Various Artists – Living In The 90’s
iTunes stats: 224 plays
Previous Ranking: 22

A whopping 22 songs, from bands like The Proclaimers, EMF, and Roxette, make up the total for this compilation of early 90s hits.

#7: Garfunkel and Oates – Slippery When Moist
iTunes stats: 236 plays
Previous Ranking: 10

The entire album, which I got thanks to High 5 iTunes gift cards, added well over 100 listens since last time around.

#6: George Carlin – Complaints and Grievances
iTunes stats: 239 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The highest ranking debut is this 2001 comedy album, taped shortly after 9/11.

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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #109-119

3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 artists, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2017.

We continue today with another wide variety of musical styles, including a couple of actors who appeared in a certain musical movie together.

#119: Bruce Springsteen
iTunes stats: 36 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The Boss debuts on the list thanks to 4 tunes, 3 of which are from his smash Born In The USA album.

#119: Blur
iTunes stats: 36 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The English band uses 2 tracks to make up their total.

#117: INXS
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

5 tracks from the Australian group combined to make up this total.

#117: Bloodhound Gang
iTunes stats: 37 plays
Previous ranking: #91

A slight increase of 11 plays for the two songs from the band known for humorous and off-beat, satirical lyrics.

#116: The Lemonheads
iTunes stats: 38 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

Evan Dando and crew make their debut on the list thanks to 3 tracks from their 90s heyday.

#113: Styx
iTunes stats: 39 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The local outfit used a surge in one of their tunes, thanks to the recently departed Chris Sale, to make the list.

#113: Rancid
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by jim

Post Mortem – The Muppets

muppetsFor the first time since 1998, the Muppets returned to prime time in this self titled show that served as a mockumentary, showing the “real” lives of the Muppets as they work on a late night television show hosted by Miss Piggy.  Unfortunately, the tone of the show was a misstep from the beginning.  A shake-up at midseason brought in a new show runner and the tone changed to be more in line with what one would expect from the Muppets, but, by that time, the damage had been done.  ABC decided in May that there would not be a second season.

by admin

ABC Upfronts

agents_of_shield_bannerLots of changes coming this fall on ABC, as the network announced their upcoming schedule this week.  4 shows that I’ve been watching, Castle, The Muppets, Agent Carter, and the summer series Rookie Blue, were given the heave ho, leaving lots of holes in their, and my, schedule.

Conviction, a new legal drama starring Agent Carter star Hayley Atwell, moves in to the post-Dancing With The Stars slot on Monday vacated by Castle.  Tuesday sees the network expand their comedy block to two hours, with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. moving back to the 9pm hour.  Minnie Driver stars in the new comedy Speechless, airing before Modern Family on Wednesday.  Following Black-ish comes Designated Survivor, a new drama starring Kiefer Sutherland as the new President after a devastating attack on Washington DC.

Thursday gets some new blood, thanks to Scandal star Kerry Washington’s pregnancy, in the form of Notorious, a sexy legal drama starring Piper Perabo and breaking Shonda Rhimes stranglehold on the night, at least until the spring.  Friday nights stay exactly the same, as do Sundays.  Saturday is still left for college football.

The mid-season slate, aside from the returning Scandal, looks uneventful.

by admin

Midseason Review – Tuesdays

old-tv-set1Continuing our look back at my thoughts on the new fall season with the offerings I found myself interested in for Tuesdays.

7:00

The Muppets – ABC brings a new version of the Muppets to television, this time as a work place comedy.  Basically, The Office but with Kermit.

Possibly the new show I was looking forward to the most, but it suffered from tone issues.  A new showrunner is taking over, so hopefully things will more resemble the Muppets everyone knows and loves.

The Flash – A surprisingly fun adaptation of the DC superhero.  The first season was very satisfying and I hope for more of the same.

Still a lot of fun, though the Flash’s secret identity is one of the worst kept secrets in Central City.

8:00

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Another new status quo, following the end of last season and the events of the latest Avengers movie, as we head in to season 3.

More of the same from the fine folks at Mutant Enemy and Marvel.

Scream Queens – Emma Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis team for this horror comedy, hopefully in the vein of the Scream films, from FOX.  I’m certainly willing to give it a shot to impress.

I lasted a few weeks, but once the show came back after the World Series, the schedule got busy and I had to drop it.

iZombie – The zombie comedy, which was a midseason surprise last spring, returns for a full season.  I have a lot of faith in EP Rob Thomas, so I’m looking for good things.

A surprisingly enjoyable procedural from the people who brought us Veronica Mars.

Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200: #167

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

We kick things off today with the first 13 songs tied for 167th place with 17 plays apiece since late 2007, 2 more than what would have qualified for the top 100 3 years ago.

#167: The McCoys – Hang On Sloopy
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/30/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

A #1 hit in October of 1965, this, for some reason, is the official rock song of Ohio.

#167: Mexican Cheerleader – Do The Stanley
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 5/30/2014
Previous ranking: Unranked

An impressive showing for the local punk band’s ode to Paul Stanley.

#167: The Monkees – I’m A Believer
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 12/11/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The song, composed by Neil Diamond, spent 7 weeks at the top of the Billboard charts between 1966 and 1967

#167: The Moopets – Rainbow Collection
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 9/9/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

This version of the Muppets classic, featured in the film The Muppets, features Fozzie Bear pushing the virtues of a casino.

#167: Neil Diamond – Cherry, Cherry
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 7/10/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

Neil Diamond’s first big hit, peaking at #6 on the charts in October of 1966.

#167: Neil Sedaka – Calendar Girl
Continue reading →

by admin

2015 New Fall Season – Tuesdays

old-tv-set1Continuing our look at the new fall season, here are the offerings that I may find myself interested in for Tuesdays.

7:00

The Muppets – ABC brings a new version of the Muppets to television, this time as a work place comedy.  Basically, The Office but with Kermit.

The Flash – A surprisingly fun adaptation of the DC superhero.  The first season was very satisfying and I hope for more of the same.

8:00

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – Another new status quo, following the end of last season and the events of the latest Avengers movie, as we head in to season 3.

Scream Queens – Emma Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis team for this horror comedy, hopefully in the vein of the Scream films, from FOX.  I’m certainly willing to give it a shot to impress.

iZombie – The zombie comedy, which was a midseason surprise last spring, returns for a full season.  I have a lot of faith in EP Rob Thomas, so I’m looking for good things. Continue reading →