tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60261782011-04-21T19:31:33.746-05:00Thoughts, notes, observations on the everyday nonsense of American Pop Culture from one of the most not-hip people on the face of the planet...MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.comBlogger1611100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-55249815553644923002007-06-04T10:00:00.000-05:002007-07-11T21:27:30.711-05:00

Also, I have this idea I'm going to toss out there, feel free to throw it right back. At one time I wrote this blog in Milwaukee called "Seen and Heard" (see right column) devoted to people-watching, overhearing conversations and generally being snarky.I, for one, miss having an outlet for my snarky thoughts about other people's public behavior. I've found a lot of people and incidents in

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-40589954636405696502007-06-01T09:56:00.000-05:002007-06-04T10:00:34.175-05:00

So my promises of picking up the blog ASAP upon my move to Cincinnati proved to be empty. So sue me. Because it’s been so long since we’ve all sat down and had a round-the-campfire Hollywood-bashing, I’d like to take this time to review the past few weeks/months and bring us all up to speed on exactly what I learned during this hiatus.1. The third time is not a charm.You know things are bad when

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-69039349196877261802007-02-12T01:08:00.000-06:002007-02-11T14:21:37.157-06:00

All of the advertisements leading up to tonight's Grammys touted the "long-awaited reunion of The Police". Really? Was it really long-awaited? Are there really just scores of fans out there clamoring for a Police reunion? Or is this just more of the whole "let's see what else we can get rich, bored Boomers to pay for" rock 'n roll reunion tour craze? Why would we the music fans eagerly await such

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-64780445190361458222007-02-10T00:44:00.000-06:002007-02-08T23:45:06.007-06:00

Warning: This will be a hate-filled rant.As you and everyone else in the entire universe know by now, Anna Nicole Smith is dead. Why do we know? Because you can’t get onto a news web site or turn on your television without seeing wall-to-wall coverage of this alleged event. I spent most of my elliptical time at the gym today trying to find news on television that wasn’t related to hashing and

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-17665974749861287832007-02-07T13:12:00.000-06:002007-02-07T13:38:51.023-06:00

Obviously something spurred my renewed interest in bitching about pop culture - and it was this. More specifically, it was the New York Times' TV Watch columnist being so hopelessly out of touch that I was a bit taken aback.Take a look at this passage: "Lost” is at heart a science-fiction thriller, while “Heroes” is more of a comic book, but both genres have a similar appeal: they provide an

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-32078631153519231172007-02-07T13:09:00.000-06:002007-02-07T13:12:38.977-06:00

Well, I warned you this would likely be abandoned - and it was. I have another blog (listed at right) that has been taking more of my time. But don't fear! There is a future in sight for Pop-Rx if anyone is still reading.My other blog, Seen & Heard, may or may not be going on much longer. More importantly, this blog will be getting more attention in the coming months as I plan a redesign and

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1147428361702537582006-05-12T05:02:00.000-05:002006-05-15T00:07:08.440-05:00

If I see Bill Paxton's ass one more time, I think I'm going to become a nun. At first I just laughed off my friends' comments about how "Big Love" doesn't show enough female nudity.But I now agree with them. I'm tired of Bill's ass (though he seems to be in pretty good shape). What's up with that? Bring on the boobs! This is why people get HBO...right?

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1147427925786871302006-05-12T04:56:00.000-05:002006-05-12T05:02:25.363-05:00

As this television season comes to a close, I suppose I can finally write something.This “year” (do we even really have seasons anymore?) marked the cancellation of the only network television show I had a history with (“Arrested Development”), the second chance for a longtime favorite (“Family Guy”) and a few new shows I found myself falling for (“Big Love”, “The Boondocks”, “Everybody Hates

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1143793364717978622006-03-31T02:21:00.000-06:002006-03-31T02:22:50.996-06:00

Oh God! Didn't Sharon Stone get the memo? She's too old to be in a follow-up to Basic Instinct. And she looks it.Sweet Jesus that's gross.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1143743784106024552006-03-30T12:32:00.000-06:002006-03-30T12:36:24.116-06:00

So I’m sure that by now, you’ve probably heard (and/or ignored) about the new HBO drama “Big Love” and clucked about how controversial it is. And you’d be wrong. In fact, it doesn't even seem to be controversial enough to gt HBO viewers to like it.The show is so incredibly far out in left field on everything that no one can really get a full grasp of what would upset them. This seems to be a

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1142971992283589012006-03-21T14:07:00.000-06:002006-03-21T14:13:12.293-06:00

I forgot to report last week that after years of being inexplicably annoyed by HBO viewers - I decided to become one.I'm not sure if it was because "Arrested Development" is gone or that I've seen every episode of "Family Guy" enough times to quote it without even having the sound on - but I knew it was time for a change.Wow - what a new world HBO has brought me. Television shows without

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1142324040646212792006-03-14T02:13:00.000-06:002006-03-14T02:14:00.660-06:00

I don't know if you have heard the oft-advertised new single from the Fugees, "Take it Easy." Yes - it's that one from the Verizon commercial.I was elated to hear the Fugees were getting back together - but this was not what I expected. After years of crafting solo careers and reuniting as a sort of supergroup version of their former selves - the Fugees return as latter-day shadows of their

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1141696586009836742006-03-06T19:54:00.000-06:002006-03-06T19:59:18.246-06:00

Seems someone leaked a live action promotional intro for the debut of "The Simpsons" on British TV. That's right: Real people as the Simpsons.It's weird to imagine the Simpsons without animation - let alone to see it. Everyone seems about right, I guess - but I miss the yellow skin and blue hair. What a novel idea.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1141291481565363972006-03-02T03:22:00.000-06:002006-03-02T03:24:41.576-06:00

I know, I know - I haven't written anything of value in forever.....but I did have to share this bit of wisdom about music:(From Alex - sic)"It’s a scientific fact that emo is the world’s queerest music. No, that’s not just my opinion. It’s empirical. You can pull out your oscilloscope, your Bunsen burner, your Jacob’s ladder, whatever. Run emo through it, and it’ll turn pink. It’s also a

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1139890715215245972006-02-13T22:13:00.000-06:002006-02-13T22:18:35.216-06:00

In all of the gaps in my posting, I had meant to blog about how much I love CBS' "Love Monkey."As it always seems to go with new shows I like, the damn thing has already been canceled.Luckily, we have a slew of craptastic new shows coming to network TV to replace it and "Arrested Development" (the last episode, supposedly for forever, was Friday - expect my whining). Gee, I'm so exciting, because

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1139890425145064812006-02-13T22:12:00.000-06:002006-02-13T22:13:45.146-06:00

Note: Sorry guys, I just relaized that I had to approve comments all of a sudden...that's whyt hey weren't showing up. Big thanks to West for giving me the 411 (what a dated reference).

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1138873476680634832006-02-02T03:02:00.000-06:002006-02-13T22:11:11.276-06:00

Lately, I've been getting back into some of the rap songs I loved in my early college days. See, those days were only about six years ago, but in the world of rap - it was as well have been a lifetime.It may just be my perception of the business, but mainstream rap (even moreso than pop) has so little staying power for most of its artists. Every week there's a new young rapper "guest-starring" on

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1136884177834490672006-01-10T02:31:00.000-06:002006-01-10T03:09:37.883-06:00

Anyone who watches Adult Swim on Cartoon Network at least knows of "Home Movies" - but likely hasn't ever really watched it. Chronically misadvertised and overlooked, this little old show has really grown on me since Adult Swim started showing it daily of late.The show was ahead of its time in 1999 when it was created for UPN. Sure, there were plenty of animated shows for adults, but they all

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1136535280494484182006-01-06T02:12:00.000-06:002006-01-24T17:08:42.643-06:00

I know I have little to no credibility with my slipshod updating, but for better or worse, here’s the big list.Best Album: “Get Behind Me Satan” – The White StripesI’m not sure how any critic could not rate this album at the top. The Stripes have evolved their already powerful sound into its best form yet, bringing out a cadre of sounds that made for one of the few albums this year that is

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1135360074627022972005-12-23T11:47:00.000-06:002005-12-26T11:21:11.826-06:00

I don’t know how many people would admit to watching it, but Elimidate may be TV’s lowest common denominator (and these days, that’s saying an awful lot). I work nights, so I happen across this televised abomination fairly regularly and – like a car accident – I can’t pull myself away.The premise of the show is that one guy, typically some handsome meathead, takes four girls out on a day-long

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1135285979031322652005-12-22T15:12:00.000-06:002005-12-26T11:19:11.180-06:00

You know what is the very first sign a movie is going to royally suck? When a music video by a teen idol debuts, featuring intermitted scenes from said movie.Case in point: the new Beyonce video that is promoting the upcoming remake of The Pink Panther. Yes, Beyonce is, in fact, in the movie – but what the hell does a hip-hop video featuring ass-shaking pink-clad dancers and an angry young rapper

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1134638303172963102005-12-15T03:15:00.000-06:002005-12-15T03:18:23.183-06:00

As of today, it seems that Radar magazine is folding already. It was a great three issues and I'd daresay the first magazine to truly engage me as a reader. Who will next make the best pop culture magazine ever?And what about that subscription I paid for? Do I get that money back? Huh? Huh?

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1134376791573213582005-12-12T02:35:00.000-06:002005-12-12T20:11:22.030-06:00

It’s very strange how much a movie can change for you as you grow older. Tonight, I watched Reality Bites for the first time since my freshman year of college and found that I no longer like it at all.When I was about 19, that movie was my favorite because I thought the characters were like my friends and me. It embodied the Generation X ideal that I so wanted to be a part of. I saw myself as the

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1134063383758303552005-12-08T11:34:00.000-06:002005-12-09T22:01:43.066-06:00

From Roger Ebert's review of The Lion, The Wihe Witch and the Wardrobe :But it's remarkable, isn't it, that the Brits have produced Narnia, the Ring, Hogwarts, Gormenghast, James Bond, Alice and Pooh, and what have we produced for them in return? I was going to say "the cuckoo clock," but for that you would require a three-way Google of Italy, Switzerland and Harry Lime.Yes, that IS remarkable.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1133518545134071872005-12-02T04:10:00.000-06:002005-12-02T04:15:45.136-06:00

Anyone who saw Thursday's "Daily Show" was given quite a treat. The show had it's first-ever musical performance by none other than the White Stripes. It's as if someone out there knew exactly what I love. As weird and uncomfortable as the Whites were, the two songs they performed were the best picks from their new album Get Behind Me Satan: "Denial Twist" and "My Doorbell." The sound turned out

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1133518177286454592005-12-02T03:34:00.000-06:002005-12-02T04:17:02.423-06:00

So, first off I have to apologize for being so off my game the past few months. Real life has once again gotten in the way of my pop culture passions (or at least writing about them)…but I’m trying to get better.On to the show.What show? I speak specifically of "The Boondocks", which made its television debut last month on Adult Swim.I hesitated to review it based on its first two episodes

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1132136239303773482005-11-16T04:16:00.000-06:002005-11-16T04:17:19.313-06:00

Not so much a biography as a cautionary tale, Capote tells a story that at its core is a portrait of the dark side of journalism. New York novelist/scenester Truman Capote (Philip Seymour Hoffman – deserving of every acting award ever) I’m sure bears a striking resemblance to many of today’s high society media literati. Effeminate, faux classy and just plain odd, Capote is a personality about

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1130522637063821842005-10-28T13:03:00.000-05:002005-10-28T13:03:57.076-05:00

Wednesday night marked the final episode of the season for FX's "Over There" – and quite possibly the last episode ever.Though the show had a ton of press coverage, a decent effects budget and a cable-TV allowance for sex, language and violence, it just didn't get the ratings it should have.Many of us in the media are left scratching our heads, wondering what went wrong….when we likely have

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1129883987932382302005-10-21T03:24:00.000-05:002005-10-21T03:39:47.990-05:00

What’s there to say about Cameron Crowe’s latest film that every single critic in the country hasn’t already lamented? Maybe that the film is quite good in that very Crowe way – but it fails in the places where the writer/director most often finds success.As a huge Cameron Crowe fan, I had eagerly anticipated Elizabethtown, despite its bad reviews. In fact, it was the first of my must-see films

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1129796273388531812005-10-20T03:01:00.000-05:002005-10-20T03:17:53.393-05:00

If you aren't a raging geek (usually grappling with gender identity problems), you probably know nothing about the world of fan fiction. This is when obsessive fans of a fictional storyline and its characters decide to write their own stories. These range from TV shows to movies, book and comic books (among other things, I'm sure).Some fan fiction can be quite good (I'm an unabashed fan of

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1128382064701886332005-10-03T18:27:00.000-05:002005-10-03T18:27:44.706-05:00

If you haven’t checked out “Everybody Hates Chris” (UPN, Thursdays), I wanna know what your goddamn problem is – and don’t tell me it’s because you’re too busy watching “Joey”. UPN has scored a mainstream winner with “Chris” – in fact, it beat that horrific “Friends” spin-off in the ratings last week. By God, people are watching UPN! But it’s easy to see why “Chris” is catching on: It has all the

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1127956649511957382005-09-28T20:17:00.000-05:002005-09-28T20:17:29.516-05:00

So the ratings so far this season shows it wasn’t a Sunday night thing: "Arrested Development" is still failing. Even though critics love it, even though it has won an Emmy and even though there have been numerous attempts to save it by a dedicated fan base – it still could be cancelled by mid-season. Is it that Fox expects too much in terms of ratings? Or is it the viewers?I blame the latter.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1126825344339537692005-09-15T18:00:00.000-05:002005-09-15T18:02:24.343-05:00

The AP just reported that actress Renee Zellweger and country singer Kenny Chesney have split after less than six months of marriage. Now, usually I don’t care about the private lives of celebrities, but I made an exception here. Why? Because I would like to think Renee heard the songs allegedly written about her on The White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan and thought, "Goddamn, Kenny Chesney isn’t

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1126571599333002362005-09-12T19:32:00.000-05:002005-09-12T19:33:19.340-05:00

After seeing The White Stripes kick off their fall leg here in Milwaukee last Thursday, I find it deeply disturbing that more people don’t know about this band. It’s a goddamn shame – because Jack White may just be the best thing to happen to rock and roll in a long time. He isn’t the Next Big Thing in the sense of what magazines like Spin and Rolling Stone predict: He has the potential to be It

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1125470483014507422005-08-31T01:36:00.000-05:002005-08-31T01:41:23.020-05:00

For those of you that haven't heard, MTV is bringing back "MTV Unplugged" in a Sept. 23 segment featuring Alicia Keys.And for those of you who are retarded, "MTV Unplugged" has only brought us some of the best live music ever, including performances (and later - CDs) by Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Alanis Morisette, Jay Z and Nirvana. It went off the air in 2002, presumably so that MTV could

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1125013848097731702005-08-25T18:29:00.000-05:002005-08-25T18:50:48.103-05:00

There’s talk out there that because of the staggering lack of quality (or even successful suck-ass) network television, the big, bad world of syndication is getting thinner all of the time. Need evidence? Note that they show “Will & Grace” in syndication…I mean, c’mon, that show shouldn’t have even gotten a second season, let alone syndication. This trend means that syndication networks (like FX,

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1123786684304439212005-08-11T13:55:00.000-05:002005-08-11T13:58:04.310-05:00

It’s summer, which always seems to bring mindless, stupid advertisig to the TV, to movie theaters and even to the world of print. There is so much out there in the wild, woolly world of advertising right now that just makes me shake my head (and occasionally my fist) in frustration…- The commercials for NBC’s upcoming “My Name is Earl” are so bad that even when I read the title in print I throw

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1123373774011308672005-08-06T19:15:00.000-05:002005-08-06T19:16:14.016-05:00

The montage sequence is one of those 80s movie hallmarks that cause much eye-rolling in the film snob community. But we’re allowed to be wrong sometimes.Though Roger Ebert apparently disliked Wedding Crashers, he too admitted the opening montage of this golden summer funfest was awesome. I’d daresay it is the best montage sequence in the history of montage sequences as it so perfectly sets the

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1123008247169786442005-08-02T13:39:00.000-05:002005-08-02T13:44:07.176-05:00

I'm here today to say goodbye to a friend. We have known each other for less than a year, but we got so close so fast. I never thought I'd have to say goodbye. So when my DVR died last night, I at first was in a state of denial, thinking maybe - just maybe- I'd wake up today and see that it'd recovered life. But I was wrong. Now I sit here in shock after the Time Warner operator has officially

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1122832792928152112005-07-31T12:58:00.000-05:002005-07-31T12:59:52.933-05:00

Who needs reality TV? If you want real, the explosive premiere of “Over There” on FX was about as real as it gets short of being in Iraq. Never before has television featured a program about a current military operation…and seeing this spectacular program makes one wonder why. Though it certainly has a lot more gory detail than your average TV news, it feels a bit more true to life as well.There

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1122062701517688552005-07-22T15:00:00.000-05:002005-07-22T15:05:01.523-05:00

Am I the only one amused by this entire scenario?Yes, because parents apparently cannot be trusted to raise their own children, Grand Theft Auto must be sold to adults only...for real this time. Seriously.It’s amazing that all of a sudden, parents have a problem with Grand Theft Auto. I mean, the name alone should sound off alarm bells. But no. Parents apparently don’t care about violence in

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1121849065191413372005-07-20T03:33:00.000-05:002005-07-20T03:49:55.146-05:00

So I’m back from the most pop culture-laden five days I’ve ever had. From July 13 to July 17, I was in California for my first-ever San Diego Comic-Con, a literal haven for all things geek in pop culture (as reported by CNN). In short: It was heaven. Throughout the course of the convention, Warner Brothers, Disney and DreamWorks (among others) held panels and extended, exclusive previews for the

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1120338234805089902005-07-02T16:03:00.000-05:002005-07-02T16:03:54.810-05:00

Do you remember the days when summer meant only re-runs on TV? These days, we’re fortunate enough for May season finales to lead right into a whole other season of television. Of course, that summer season is usually reserved for craptastic realty shows and HBO viewers – but not anymore.This summer, even mere mortals with basic cable can get a summer of superb television. In fact, I’d daresay the

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1119599991571859362005-06-24T02:52:00.000-05:002005-06-24T03:01:21.770-05:00

AFI picks the best movie lines? Not quite.Yes, the American Film Institute, once again, thinks it is the end-all-be-all of movies and decided to make some sort of list meant to resonate as “the truth” throughout pop culture. I agree with it, for the most part. The top 10, especially makes sense when you take movie history into account. But I think the AFI was stuck in its own age group a bit too

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1119255365683662192005-06-20T03:15:00.000-05:002005-06-20T03:17:50.010-05:00

This week, America lost an underrated figure in pop culture” Lane Smith, who died at age 69 early last week. Who, you ask? Only one of the best character actors ever. C’mon, you know this guy.He is known to many as “that prosecuting attorney in My Cousin Vinny”…but in my heart, he’s a fake journalism icon. Smith played Daily Planet editor Parry White in TV’s “Lois and Clark” - which was my

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1118791773669062632005-06-14T18:13:00.000-05:002005-06-14T18:29:33.676-05:00

On my just-concluded vacation, I made quite a discovery. I was browsing the newsstand at Chicago Midway Airport when the bright, silly cover of Radar magazine caught my eye. With a photo of President Bush giving a medal to Paris Hilton, how could it not? Well, it isn't exactly new...but it's new to mos tof us that don't live in New York. It's actually plucky relaunch of the often-cited,

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1118130089644116432005-06-07T02:37:00.000-05:002005-06-07T02:41:29.643-05:00

I found a kindred soul in the business who hates on Coldplay even worse than I do...but for the exact same reasons. The most e-mailed story on the NYT site today, this review single-handed describes why anyone with the right amount of cynicism can easily dismiss this band's completely unearned status in the world of music. Not since Triumph did his share of ragging in 2003's "I Keed" has Coldplay

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1118129772343244582005-06-07T02:33:00.000-05:002005-06-07T02:36:12.350-05:00

The radio is alive with the sound of excellent new music. It seems that everyone who's anyone has a new album or addictive single out. Here’s a short list of the summer songs sure to be the touchstones of 2005:- “Blue Orchid” by The White StripesLike just about every other first single off a Stripes album, this song rocks from the window to the wall. Every time this single hits the radio or my

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1117645576432995452005-06-01T12:05:00.000-05:002005-06-01T12:06:16.436-05:00

Last night, I was unable to sleep and I was left with watching MTV’s Insomniac Music Theater (which usually knocks me right out) – on mute. For one reason or another, the network kept showing videos of various singing floozies, most of which I didn’t recognize.Each video had a “hot girl” wearing some form of low-slung pants, a bikini top or otherwise barely-there shirt to show off her hot girl

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1117644351656185172005-05-31T23:24:00.000-05:002005-06-01T11:45:51.660-05:00

What a stupid move on the part of Fox this weekend to pre-empt its new episodes of “Family Guy” and “American Dad” for the Indy 500.I, like thousands of others that night, was appalled when I got home from Memorial Day celebrations to find that the only good TV on anymore was preempted by a sport that nobody watches. My Tivo was so lonely en empty. I daresay there are more FG fans than there are

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1117160481612410892005-05-26T21:20:00.000-05:002005-05-26T21:21:21.620-05:00

This week is a momentous week in the world of DVD releases. No – it’s isn’t because of the release of “The Aviator” or even season 3 of “Chappelle’s Show.” No no. This week marks the DVD release of the first two seasons of “Newsradio”. Oh hell yes. The show that NBC had no idea how to schedule or promote lives on. And thank God. Just in time for the summer of reality suckage, we can all enjoy

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1117065947706235632005-05-25T19:05:00.000-05:002005-05-25T19:06:49.166-05:00

It never fails. A new Star Wars movie opens and late night talk show hosts make fund of these alleged losers who go see it. You think the joke would be old by now. It doesn’t even make sense to ride the joke out as long as they have. Maybe 30 years ago, it’d be easy to dismiss Star Wars fans as virgin nerds….but it’s grown so much since then. It’s become a cultural phenomenon that goes far past

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1116894298099474102005-05-23T19:18:00.000-05:002005-05-23T20:01:30.006-05:00

Amazingly, not a single person has commented on my Star Wars essay/review/homage. I guess it freaked a lot of people out that I'd get that into thinking about the underlying themes of a sci-fi franchise. Others just made fun of me.But I wasn't alone in my grandiose thoughts and cheesenormous love for ROTS, it seems Big Daddy Times agreed with MandyJ on this one. Most of the verbal abuse of ROTS

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1116893461136718152005-05-23T18:57:00.000-05:002005-05-23T19:14:37.840-05:00

So the networks have given us the list. The verdict is in: "Arrested Development" gets a reprieve…but "Jack & Bobby" was cancelled.Ignored by critics and under hyped by the WB, last season’s best new show (in my humble opinion) wasn’t given the shot it deserved. Every entertainment magazine and TV show was too busy stalking the cast of Desperate Housewives to notice a nice little liberal show on

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1116505502711573412005-05-19T07:23:00.000-05:002005-05-19T15:00:13.766-05:00

Eds note: There are two kinds of Star Wars fans in this world: The ones who appreciate the films for their campy action, swashbuckling adventures and well-worn characters; and the ones who deeply appreciate the epic, allegorical tale within the tale. While Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a film to more than satisfy both sorts of fans, this review may be best suited for the latter, because the

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1116406303995799062005-05-18T03:31:00.000-05:002005-05-18T15:34:32.576-05:00

These days, night owls have a lot of good TV to choose from (if they have decent cable, that is). Between midnight and five a.m., those of us who do not sleep have the TV world as our own. Thanks to the advertisers trying tentatively to reach our elusive "Generation Y", late night TV is now desperately seeking our new young professional money. Late at night.As a result, we've got Cartoon

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1116307826650356022005-05-17T00:23:00.000-05:002005-05-17T00:30:26.656-05:00

This may be the best commercial ever made, in my book. The Burger King is one of the coolest and creepiest ad icons ever. He brings me so much joy. How can you not love his utterly monstrous, non-speaking, non-human movements? His plastic, date rapist smile? His cheesenormous sandwiches? The invention of the word "cheesenormous"?Seriously, BK should be commended for creating an ad campaign that I

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1115971972196401392005-05-13T03:10:00.000-05:002005-05-13T03:12:52.200-05:00

Hot Topic used to be one of my favorite stores back in the day. I liked having a place to buy clothes I could never get away with wearing today: Spiked belts, bondage pants, chains, arm warmers…the works. But in taking a stroll through one today, I noted how horrifically trendy it has become. I used to be intimidated by how the clerks were so much more awesomely goth than I was…but now, I see

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1115693135107135352005-05-09T21:35:00.000-05:002005-05-09T21:45:35.190-05:00

It's good to see that Lil' Jon has accepted his place in the world: Punchline/sound effect.After he was constantly imitated, nee duplicated, on season 2 of "Chappelle's Show" Lil' Jon's persona has skyrocketed in popularity. But not Jon's popularity as a singer so much as his schtick of not knowing any words except "yeah", "ohkay" and "whaaaaaaat?"People don't care if the man coined the word "

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1115580038904644152005-05-08T14:17:00.000-05:002005-05-08T14:20:38.910-05:00

Is 50 Cent really making good songs, or are booty-shaking white girls just getting more and more influence on radio airplay?On this week’s Billboard top 50, 50 Cent is involved, in some fashion, with five songs…three of them in the top 10. I like rap, quite a bit actually…and I can honestly say that these five songs all sound the same to me. How did 50 do it? It certainly isn’t African-Americans

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1115233077523395702005-05-04T13:54:00.000-05:002005-05-04T13:57:57.526-05:00

NBC may be trying to convince you otherwise, but its new miniseries “Revelations” is actually quite a riveting watch.Though NBC’s marketing people obviously told them evangelism is all the rage in the red states, this series doesn’t provide fodder for the overly righteous to masturbate themselves to a holier-than-thou orgasm like a certain popular book series I feared this show was based on.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1114416147031799102005-04-25T03:01:00.000-05:002005-04-25T03:02:27.033-05:00

Someone please explain to me why certain individuals feel the need to put the make of their car in ginormous letters somewhere on the exterior of the vehicle.It seems that everywhere I turn, on both nice cars and beaters, there’s some random douche who thought it was a good idea to advertise that he’s driving….a 2000 Nissan Altima.Yes, I saw this today on the East Side of Milwaukee. And it made

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1114283441722568582005-04-23T13:57:00.000-05:002005-04-23T14:10:41.726-05:00

Congratulations, Marc Anthony. Now the lead singer of matchboxtwenty is doing a better job at being Latin than you are.Seriously, though, when did Rob Thomas decide he wanted to be not only young and hip (as opposed to angsty) but also Latino? Did he not get the memo?TO: Rob ThomasFROM: Mandy JRE: Your MusicDear Rob. You are white. In fact, you are the most white-bread, adult contemporary

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1114282548059489802005-04-23T13:48:00.000-05:002005-04-23T13:56:39.016-05:00

So maybe I was more dead-on with my prediction than I thought. Two nights ago, I was at the bar with my friends when Weezer's "Beverly Hills" came on over the closing-time radio.Me: "I can't get enough of this song."Unnamed Friend/Weezer Fan: "This song sucks. This isn't Weezer."Me: I think it's actually a great return to their original sound. This song sounds like it could have been on The Blue

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1113981637530784832005-04-20T02:05:00.000-05:002005-04-20T12:44:53.093-05:00

I'm going to make a prediction right now...and I hope I'm wrong,Weezer's newest single, "Beverly Hills" (yes, they realized they could, in fact, rock)....it's gonna be this year's "summer song." MTV will pimp the hell out of it, it'll play pop radio non-stop and it will be the band's biggest selling album yet because a bunch of high-schoolers will be wearing their t-shirts. And their fans, those

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1113617697392983472005-04-15T21:05:00.000-05:002005-04-15T21:17:26.656-05:00

FHM magazine, no bastion of taste, has released it’s annual list of the “world’s hottest women” to much debate, as usual. This has to be said in quotation marks because; 1. It’s voted on by guys, who, as we know, have questionable taste 2. it's annual, which means the list changes as certain women become more popular or “buzzworthy” (for instance, note the “Desperate Housewives” cast is on this

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1113249204223612222005-04-11T14:42:00.000-05:002005-04-11T14:59:24.770-05:00

Do you ever miss the fashion attitude of the 80s?Wait - let me explain that.Not the stupid trends that the 80s will always be remembered for, like Flock of Seagulls haircuts, leg warmers, loud prints and Mermuda shorts (all of which are inexplicably 'back')...but the fashion of successful mainstream 80s America? I'm talking about yuppie appreciation, the love of money and clothes that cost lots

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1113204497291508372005-04-11T02:27:00.000-05:002005-04-11T02:28:17.293-05:00

It’s scary to think that the best comedy on television might just disappear.Sunday, April 17 is the season – and possibly series – finale of Fox’s “Arrested Development.” As a fan and a pop culture junkie, I just don’t understand what’s going on with this picture. Fox, otherwise known as “the network that will air anything” may or may not bring back an Emmy-winning show. Circular tripe like “

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1112816936729526322005-04-06T14:48:00.000-05:002005-04-06T15:03:54.396-05:00

Every year I catch wind of "hot new spring fashions" from magazines and TV. But every year, it seems to merely be a recycling of last year's horrendous fashions. Now, I'm unhip and unfashionable, I'll admit. I hate most women's clothes with a passion.....but a few in particular just need to move on into the graveyard of bad fashion ideas.1. One-strap tank topsThese have to be the stupidest

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1112681259619818582005-04-05T01:00:00.000-05:002005-04-05T01:07:39.620-05:00

From the first few moments of Sin City, you can know if you’ll like it or not. With heavy-handed noir narration, a gorgeous woman and dashing young man share a smoke outside a party. Her red dress and pouty lips stand out like blood against the bleak grayscale landscape. You want to know her. The young man wants to know her. Then - just like that - she’s dead. So it begins.Equal parts beautiful

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1112246071790589542005-03-30T23:13:00.000-06:002005-03-30T23:14:31.790-06:00

Yes, Trey Parker and Matt Stone went there. They tackled the Schiavo case in tonight's sure-to-be-offensive episode. Somehow, we all knew it was only a matter of time.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1111725743293607632005-03-24T22:35:00.000-06:002005-03-24T22:42:23.296-06:00

I don't know if you've noticed, but Pepsi is running a promotional campaign right now with the iTunes store. If you buy a bottle of Pepsi, one in three caps wins....a free song! Wooooooo!Oh my God! I can download any song I want? For FREE? Holy Jesus, why haven't I thought of this before?!?!?Not.How naive is it of Pepsi to think they're gonna fire up "the kids" with free songs? Anyone worth their

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1111540561739101192005-03-22T19:15:00.000-06:002005-03-22T19:16:01.740-06:00

This week, MSNBC and NBC News have a series about Christians and Hollywood that has sparked my interest. Christian group after Christian group has been brought into Brian Williams’ lair to say how they think Christian values and morals have been ignored…..on television.While they may have a point with movies, I really don’t think they have a leg to stand on with TV. If the ratings takeover by

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1111477313201609682005-03-22T01:36:00.000-06:002005-03-22T01:41:53.203-06:00

As someone who is from one of the most redneck parts of this wild and woolly nation, I'm dying to know why it has become so fashionable to be a hick. When I was growing up on a farm in Ohio, I took that as an insult. Now people have bumper stickers, hats and t-shirts proclaiming (usually either over a camo or, god forbid, rebel flag print) how "redneck" they are....even if they live in a city and

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1111377376201098302005-03-20T21:42:00.000-06:002005-03-20T21:56:16.203-06:00

It's officially driving me crazy.First of all, as anyone who knows me knows, I can't stand Sarah Jessica Parker. Well, not her personally so much as what she supposedly represents to my generation of women. She and "Sex in the City" is somehow supposed to be some girl power movement that all girls between 19 and 25 just fall over over themselves to emulate. That somehow, being a big slut and

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1111378005236242032005-03-18T23:56:00.000-06:002005-03-20T22:06:45.240-06:00

"Fulll House" may be one of the worst-written sitcoms to ever hit network television. It had unbearable characters, flat dialouge, an unlikely concept and it featured guest appearances by Steve F-ing Urkel......but somehow, when it's on Nick at Nite at 4 am CST, I am inexplicably drawn to it. Mostly, I think, because it puzzles me so much.As a kid, I loved it. I particularly liked bitchy middle

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1110967460988874532005-03-16T03:40:00.000-06:002005-03-16T04:04:40.436-06:00

As I'm sure most movie aficianados know by now, Bob and Harvey Weinstein are leaving Miramax after 12 years with the Disney partnership. Miramax was, by far, the best thing to happen to Disney since Daddy Walt drew Mickey Mouse and they get to keep the company even after its heart/soul/brain/talent base leaves. But what will it be worth?Harvey Weinstein is arguably the best mind in the movie

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1110879079565569522005-03-15T03:18:00.000-06:002005-03-15T03:31:19.566-06:00

For the first time ever tonight, I caught Fox's "Nanny 911."This show essentially takes insanely screwed-up families and tries to fix them in one week with a nanny. Tonight's family embodied everything I personally hate, fear and loathe about parents. I felt downright uncomfortable watching the video footage of this family in action because they, like most of the families featured here, embodied

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1110528811409224122005-03-11T01:43:00.000-06:002005-03-11T02:13:31.410-06:00

I gotta say it.....I'm very stoked about the 90s alternative revival that's rocking the airwaves right now.Now, we all know these bands didn't disappear...but for some reason, they just hadn't made an appearance on the pop culture radar until recently. And I couldn't be happier.Last year, we had the return of both the Stone Temple Pilots and Guns 'n Roses in the form of supergroup Velvet Revolver

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1110271710753291522005-03-08T02:37:00.000-06:002005-03-08T02:48:30.753-06:00

Wow, does anyone else just feel horrible for Darius Rucker (aka Hootie of former Hootie and the Blowfish fame)? He can now be spotted singing a revamped "Big Rock Candy Mountain" for Burger King dressed like a gay coyboy. Oh how far one can fall in a decade.It makes me wonder what happened to the Blowfish. And what happened to their money. And inquire why the hell this band, which had some of

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1110273762631199912005-03-06T11:00:00.000-06:002005-03-15T03:34:10.686-06:00

I realized this weekend that I haven't posted a mix CD in months. Turns out that's because I stopped making them after joining the legion of iPod users. So now it's the current rotation. New, improved and set up for downloaders everywhere.(Now in smaller doses!)****"Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode: It's a known fact that once you hear a Depecha Mode song, you won't be able to get it out of

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109925558811293252005-03-04T02:26:00.000-06:002005-03-04T02:39:18.813-06:00

A lot of people of late have told me they hated Chris Rock as the host of the Oscars. I think the problem is that too much of mainstream America just didn't get him. They didn't get his meanness, which is the entire Richard Pryor'esque schtick of his humor. People in Hollywood aren't used to being made of of to their faces and I don't think they liked it. Their fans in the People magazine reading

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109667854041330412005-03-01T02:54:00.000-06:002005-03-01T03:07:40.053-06:00

Sidney Zion argued rather weakly (if you ask me) in last week's New York Daily News that Hunter S. Thompson didn't really leave a journalism legacy because there was no follow up. Or, in his own words: Dr. Hunter S. Thompson was a commotion, to be sure. But if he changed the course of journalism, how come we never had Gonzo Two? The kids read him as we read J.D. Salinger in the '50s. Only we read

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109667043504235002005-03-01T02:48:00.000-06:002005-03-01T02:50:43.510-06:00

Another take on HST, from the wise sage Paul McEneryWell, now we've got the ugly truth of how the suicide went down. It could be more dismaying, but not by much. Like Eliot said, "after such knowledge, what forgiveness?"I've lived through the suicide of too many friends to find suicide an acceptable option except in extraordinary circumstances. For one thing, it opens a door to death for other

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109581149186064142005-02-28T02:57:00.000-06:002005-02-28T02:59:09.186-06:00

So Blogger finally has their own comment function, so I really don't "need" the Haloscan comments feature anymore. However, I don't wanna get rid of my old shout-outs via Haloscan. So I have both options on display until I figur eout some sor tof compromise. So deal already.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109579794557990732005-02-28T02:17:00.000-06:002005-02-28T02:36:34.560-06:00

OK, this isn't actually a debate about which is better, because I honestly can't side with one over the other. However, the question has been posed to me by a not-very-cartoon-savvy acquintance: "What's the difference?" This brainless ingrate actually said, "Why would you watch 'Family Guy'? It's just a knock-off of 'The Simpsons' and not as good."You know what I say? I say fuck that noise.These

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109379434683446702005-02-25T18:54:00.000-06:002005-02-28T02:52:45.820-06:00

...but mine actually matter. Of course.This year’s Oscars are, in my opinion, one of the most competitive years in quite some time. They really have the potential to either be an all-for-one snoozefest (like 1997 when The English Patient won every damn thing) or an actually competitive show (like 1998 when we somehow had Good Will Hunting, Boogie Nights and As Good as it Gets...oh...and Titanic).

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109323754942923302005-02-25T03:22:00.000-06:002005-02-25T03:30:45.686-06:00

You ever get the impression that the Nielsen ratings are just a total load?Every week, I look at the ratings and I read from starry-eyed TV writers about what's "popular" - and it doesn't seem to fit with real life. And why should it? Nielsen ratings are generated by families that have these rating systems in their homes. But I don't know a single individual that is a part of this system. Nor do

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1109324419407971822005-02-24T01:31:00.000-06:002005-02-25T03:40:19.410-06:00

Anyone else get the impression that the writer's of the WB's "Jack and Bobby" honestly never imagined getting picke dup for a second season? I think they're really blowing their load the first time around.Let's see. In the first season:Jack has been flirting with the new girl, got back with hi old girlfriend, lost his virginity, broken up with said girlfriend, hooked up with a class geek, had a

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108969620472022642005-02-21T01:06:00.000-06:002005-02-21T18:12:39.026-06:00

Hunter S. Thompson, a renegade among writers and giant among American personalities died tonight the same way he lived: Fast and unexpected. Why he took a gun to himself, no one may know for sure, but it can be assumed that he has some sort of twisted logic behind it, as he did all of his actions.Thompson was an idol of mine. An idol, really, to an entire generation of independent thinkers and

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108948124979892882005-02-20T19:01:00.000-06:002005-02-20T19:08:44.980-06:00

Fox, the same netowork that trivialized marriage with "Trading Spouses" and mocks parenting with "Who's Your Daddy" and pushed all levels of bile onto society really topped itself tonight.Right before tonight's episode of "The Simpsons", a disclaimer came on the screen:"This program has discussion of same-sex marriage, viewer discretion is advised."How incredibly ballsy and hypocritical. I

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108683742770239802005-02-17T17:26:00.000-06:002005-02-17T17:42:22.776-06:00

Today, in the parking garage of my company, I saw a license plate on a brand-new Nissan Altima that said: MTCHBX20.I don't know who this person is, but I feel disturbed that they work in the same building as me. I want to find this individual and help them. Or slap them. At the very least, I should offer to pay for their sterilization.I can understand getting a personalized plate of something you

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108685324386608892005-02-14T20:08:00.000-06:002005-02-18T02:31:54.850-06:00

I realize that I never wrote a preview or anything of the like for the Grammys this year. Why not? Because the Grammys have lost all semblance of meaning to anyone who follows that sort of thing. It was high time I grew up and accepted that those awards mean absolutely nothing.Unlike the Oscars or Emmys, the Grammys are too unpredictable and off-the-wall to really matter anymore. While that

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108082872263517562005-02-10T18:47:00.000-06:002005-02-10T18:47:52.263-06:00

Ok, after last night’s rant, I finally pinned down exactly what’s wrong with Napoleon Dynamite. The movie is marketed as a movie “by outsiders for outsiders” when really it’s a movie “by popular kids for popular kids who think they aren’t popular.” The movie shows us these strange, weirdo geeks and the odd things they do without any explanation or any insight into their personalities. This movie

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108058760742163392005-02-10T12:00:00.000-06:002005-02-10T12:06:00.743-06:00

Without giving anything about the movie away (even though you'll find out soon enough if Limbaugh has his way), I gotta say that the NYT's Frank rich, as usual, is right on target with his defense of Million Dollar Baby (spoilers in the article). He attacls the conservative Right for dragging this excellent film through the mud. He suggests the main problem with the film isn't that it endorses

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1108026852149093502005-02-10T02:56:00.000-06:002005-02-10T03:16:34.940-06:00

It's official: Napolean Dynamite is a movie for MTV suckers. I put off watching it for a really long time, despite hearing from all of my friends how funny and quirky it was. "Oh, you'll love it! It's hilarious!" They were sorely mistaken. You all were. This movie was absolutely a waste of time. It's almost as if all of pop culture had lied to me about this film. I ask you: Are there really

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1107424479209929052005-02-03T03:53:00.000-06:002005-02-03T03:54:39.210-06:00

Anderson Cooper (of CNN's 360) was on the Daily Show tonight. He's just outrageously cute and surprisingly funny. I just wanna put a collar on him and feed him from a dish. He needs tog et Rather's job, says me. I know I'll start watching CBS again.

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1107421802759200502005-02-03T03:06:00.000-06:002005-02-03T03:10:02.760-06:00

So, as everyone's whispering about in the media community, there's a supposed twist in the Oscar-nominated "Million Dollar Baby." First of all, I'll say that it is the best movie I've seen so far this year. I'll have a proper review soon enough (in my Oscar picks, most likely). Secondly, you are th ebiggest idiot in the world of the "twist" surprises you when it arrives. The movie has numerous

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1107111598538315522005-01-30T12:51:00.000-06:002005-01-30T12:59:58.540-06:00

McDonalds, give it up. Fire your ad managers. For the love, of God, please. The "I'm Lovin' It" ad campaign has not only run its course, I think it may have permenently ingrained itself as one of the most memorably god-awful ads ever. I know, I know, you're going for that "hip, street, urban appeal" and lemme tell you, you missed the mark. A lot. No amount of teen girls giggling about Chicken

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6026178.post-1106903446163521432005-01-28T03:04:00.000-06:002005-01-28T03:10:46.163-06:00

If you have the means, I highy suggest you pick up the Rolling Stones' Rock 'N Roll Circus on DVD. Terry, bartender extraordinaire at Buck Bradley's on State Street, played the Dvd tonight on the bar's flat screens...and it was sick. Absolutely off the chain. The Stones themselves were not what made it great, per se. This was an actual circus type show om Dec. 11, 1968 that featured the Stones,

MandyJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17149421986987524720noreply@blogger.com0