Ear on TV: Week of 05.31.10: The Mountain Goats

As you've no doubt guessed by not receiving any mail today, it's a holiday week, so the talkies are in repeat mode. So we're venturing up the dial for this week's focus. First up: IFC's Dinner with the Band.

This week's guests are The Mountain Goats, who's latest release has them interpreting bible verses. But wait, don't go! The songs are equally moving, beautiful and dark and resemble nothing in all of Christian music (whew!). But best of all for DWTB: the members of the band are incredibly witty. Chef Sam Mason can seem a little dry when there's no one to bounce off of, and between singer/songwriter John Darnielle and (especially) drummer Jon Wurster, this should be a very fun episode. Besides being a world class drummer, Wurster is one half of the radio comedy team Scharpling & Wurster, but I don't think I've seen him on television doing anything but drumming, so watch out for that.

Elsewhere, Vampire Weekend get a lesson in truthiness as they visit The Colbert Report. Looking back, it's interesting to see how Colbert's lampooning of right-wing talk transformed itself to also became a showcase for music. Pretending to take actors, politicians and authors to task is one thing, but doing it to musicians has proven to be trickier. It will be interesting to see if Colbert chooses to seize upon the propped up class issues that have dogged Vampire Weekend since their beginnings. Nothing says elitist like a Columbia University diploma, right Colbert?

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, May 31
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Slayer (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Willie Nelson (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Raveonettes (REPEAT)
OVATION: The Search for Robert Johnson: Robert Johnson
OVATION: Elvis '56: Elvis Presley
VH1: Bret Michaels: Live as I Know It: Bret Michaels
Tuesday, June 1
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Stone Temple Pilots (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Band of Horses (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Willie Nelson (REPEAT)
DOCUMENTARY: Amy Cook: The Spaces in Between: Amy Cook
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli, DJ Hi-Tek)
IFC: Dinner With the Band: The Mountain Goats
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Natalie Merchant (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Airborne Toxic Event (REPEAT)
OVATION: Lou Reed: Live at Montreux: Lou Reed
OVATION: Jimi Hendrix: American Landing: Jimi Hendrix
Wednesday, June 2
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Damian Marley and Nas
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Black Lips (REPEAT)
OVATION: Johnny Cash: Half Mile A Day: Johnny Cash
Thursday, June 3
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Miike Snow
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Vampire Weekend
DOCUMENTARY: Born 2 oogie: T-Rex: T-Rex
DOCUMENTARY: Bob Marley: Prophecies and Messages: Bob Marley
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Henry Clay People
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Snoop Dogg (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Phish (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Keane (REPEAT)
OVATION: Last 48 Hours of Kurt Cobain: Nirvana
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Peter Frampton
Friday, June 4
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Deftones
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (REPEAT)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Damian Marley and Nas (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Doves (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Fleet Foxes, P.J Harvey & John Parish (REPEAT)
VH1: NWA: Dangerous Group: NWA, Ice Cube, Dr Dre, Eazy-E
Saturday, June 5
PBS: Austin City Limits:
Sunday, June 6
HBO: Treme: Various artists from New Orleans