Tag / The Muppets

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #170-180

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library, featuring the songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which performers still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to artists, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2026.

We continue today with our next batch of ten artists, covering the genres of pop and rock, with an actor and a stadium organist for good measure.  We have a single group making their debut on the list this week.

#180: Nancy Faust
iTunes stats: 64 plays
Previous ranking: #140

The former White Sox organist, who returned for a few Sunday appearances last season, drops another 40 spots due to the removal of her then-final performance of Take Me Out to the Ballgame from my victory playlist, which means she only gained four new listens over these past five years.

#178: Firehouse
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous ranking: #188

The glam band, who somehow beat out both Alice in Chains and Nirvana for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist at the 1992 American Music Awards, added 20 new listens to the three songs that make up their play total.

#178: Letters to Cleo
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous ranking: #164

The years have not been kind to the Boston-based band, who have dropped 86 spots on this last over the past nine years, adding twelve listens to the three songs, only two of which I have actually listened to, in my collection.

#176: Depeche Mode
iTunes stats: 66 plays
Previous ranking: #178

Members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2020, the English band formed in 1980 picks up 17 additional plays of their three songs in my collection.

#176: Jason Segel
iTunes stats: 66 plays
Previous ranking: #169

The human star of The Muppets picked up fourteen additional plays for the four songs credited to him in my collection.

#170: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
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by admin

iTunes Top 200: #124

Music.  It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions.  It is the universal language that speaks to the soul.  It forms the soundtrack of our lives.

It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library, featuring he songs I have listened to the most since 2007.  It is time to do so again, seeing which older songs still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray.  So, without further ado, here are my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2025.

We continue this week with the next batch of songs tied for 124th place with 39 plays apiece since my stats began in late 2007.

#124: Warren G – Regulate
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 9/15/2024
Previous ranking: #125

Used as the at-bat music for Jacob Amaya during his brief tenure with the White Sox in 2024, this debut hit from Dr. Dre’s step-brother added seven new plays over the past five years.

#124: Van Halen – Panama
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 11/3/2024
Previous ranking: #125

Inspired by a race car, this third single from the band’s seminal 1984 album, it reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

#124: Tegan and Sara – Walking With A Ghost
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 5/11/2024
Previous ranking: #89

Used in a season three promo for the Patricia Arquette show Medium, the lead single from the duo’s 2005 album picked up just four new listens since 2020.

#124: Nerf Herder – Buffy Theme
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 10/29/2023
Previous ranking: #89

Having written and performed the theme song to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the band was the last guests to perform at The Bronze.

#124: Me First and the Gimme Giimmes – Rainbow Connection
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 11/5/2024
Previous ranking: #98

Written by Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher for 1979’s The Muppet Movie, this 1999 cover by the punk rock supergroup adds a little more oomph to the festivities.

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by admin

2024: The Year In Movies

The return of my annual long December vacation helped push up a weak first eleven months of the year, giving me my lowest total since 2021.  I managed to watch 52 movies last year, my fourth consecutive year under 100, despite being home all day and not needing to bother with pesky things like a commute.  Or exercise.  Reading 62 books and watching game shows all day probably didn’t help either.

Here’s a look back at the first 50 movies I watched last year and what recollection, if any, I have of them. The films are listed in the order I saw them.

The Assistant (2019)
A day in the life of an assistant to a film producer, who quickly realizes that abuse is all around her.

The Holdovers (2023)
A tight-assed teacher and a troublesome student bond when they are left alone at their boarding school over winter break.

May December (2023)
An actress starts to come between a couple who, twenty years ago, had a notorious tabloid relationship.

The Equalizer 3 (2023)
The latest entry in the Denzel Washington series.

Wrong Turn (2021)
A group of friends hiking the Appalachian Trail come across a community none too happy to see them.

The Equalizer (2014)
When a young girl is kidnapped by Russian pimps, a former commando comes out of retirement to rescue her.

Plus One (2019)
Longtime friends agree to be each other’s plus one at the various weddings they get invited to.

Pearl (2022)
A young woman tries to become a star to escape from her overbearing parents and living on an isolated farm.

Thanksgiving (2023)
A killer attacks on Thanksgiving.

Upgraded (2024)
An intern at an auction house misrepresents herself to impress a man.

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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
Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

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.