Showing posts with label devo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label devo. Show all posts

Monday, October 04, 2010

Chuck vs. The Cubic Z: Blasts from the Past



The slashed budget Chuck is in full effect with "vs the Cubic Z," as the entire episode essentially took place within the Buy More and it's high security basement. There have been some gems to come out of similarly limited evirons ("Chuck vs Santa Claus," for one) but sadly this is not one. Now that the instruments to keep Chuck and Sarah apart are now not part of the story, new ways for there to be "will they or won't they" moments are being introduced. I liked image of Big Mike's ring sliding down the ducts, but I'm a bit leery of the 'accidental proposal' bit.

Loved hearing King Khan & the Shrines' "Land of the Freak" during the Buy More melee, but besides Big Mike taking out Hans Gruber with the taser prod, that part of the episode was pretty forgettable. Remember when the Buy More scenes were funny?

Chuck - Episode 4.03
1. "Beat the Devil's Tattoo" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club [download]
2. "Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)" - DEVO [download]
3. "Land of the Freak" by King Khan & the Shrines [download]
4. "In the Valley" - Chief [download]

Previously: "Chuck vs the Suitcase" (Episode 4.02)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Ear on TV: Week of 06.14.10: Devo

It's been 20 years since de-evolution champions Devo had released an album, and for it's return, the band jokingly turns to the industry that best furthers the cause of de-voltion: Advertising.

Instead of relying on original label Warner Bros., Devo leaders Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale reached out to advertising agencies to market their next release. Agency Mother won the account and the result is a 'test to learn' approach, where the band used focus groups and market research to determine everything from the songs that end up on the release, to the color of their famous energy caps (fans chose blue, inching out the classic red domes). The resulting release is reflective of its title, Something For Everything, mixing not only classic Devo sounds but also featuring input from Santigold and The Dust Brothers' John King. The strategy is nothing new, but Devo's tongue-in cheek honesty behind the process makes an interesting comment on the often rocky marriage between commerce and art.

Part of any good music marketing scheme (even a fake one), of course, it to put the product in front of as many faces as possible. In that spirit Devo plays Letterman on Tuesday night; performs and chats with fellow de-evolutionist Stephen Colbert for The Colbert Report on Wednesday; and then spreads the virus to daytime with an appearance on Regis & Kelly on Friday. By week's end, the Devolution Army should have enough recruits to be at full strength again. My blue energy cap is in the mail.

Elsewhere, the Bonnaroo Music Festival just finished its 10th annual run, and like in the past, FUSE network was there to capture much of the action. On Thursday, highlights from the four day festival will be edited together for Live From Bonnaroo 2010, featuring live performances and interviews from the likes of Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, Weezer and the duo of Damien Marley and Nas, who got a surprise introduction from Conan O'Brien, who manages to get at least one women to flash 'some boobies':



Picks for the week
Monday, June 14
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Shelby Lynne
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Cee-Lo
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Never Shout Never (REPEAT)
VH1: Behind the Music: Eve
Tuesday, June 15
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Devo
IFC: Dinner With the Band: Vega
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Broken Social Scene
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: La Roux (REPEAT)
Wednesday, June 16
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Deer Tick
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Devo
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Tokyo Police Club
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Matisyahu
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Gossip (REPEAT)
Thursday, June 17
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Broken Bells (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Devendra Bahnart
FUSE: Live From Bonnaroo 2010: Jay-Z, Kings of Leon, Weezer, Damian Marley & Nas
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Blitzen Trapper
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: She & Him (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Friday, June 18
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Fred Eaglesmith
CMT: CMT Crossroads: Keith Urban, John Mayer
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Devendra Bahnart
NBC: The Today Show: James Taylor & Carole King
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Matisyahu
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Roots with Yim Yames
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Xx (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Hockey, Counting Crows, Melody Gardot (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Devo
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Crash Kings
Saturday, June 19
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Jay-Z (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Nick Lowe, The Swell Season (REPEAT)
Sunday, June 20
HBO: Treme: Various Artists from New Orleans

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Just passing through

After two pretty funny episodes, Nip/Tuck gets back to the soapy drama, and not coincidentally, the return to the scene of Matt, Kinder and Julia. Is it just me, or did those first couple episodes feel like a weight had been lifted from the series? By the end of the second episode, Julia was back, though, and Matt with the third, and with them the series' fancy face lift seemed to just snap back into wrinkle city.

The offscreen story is of course Portia de Rossi playing Julia's love interest, a role that mirrors her coming out of the closet as Ellen Degeneres' girlfriend, but the scenes between her and Joely Richardson don't really generate any heat. Liz is the first to point out that Julia's merely visiting Lesbania, and even though she has one last fling with Christian, Liz's comments still ring true. Hopefully she's truly just visiting L.A., as it was much better without her. Same goes for Matt and Kimber, and their meth-addled hotel room (to the tune of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab."

There were plenty of great music turns this week, with Devo's take on "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" playing while a plastic surgery addict gets a cleft chin (like mine, I bet). Later, The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like" serenades Sean as jailbait Eden works overtime trying to make him uncomfortable about her sexuality. And finally, Rogue Wave's apt "California" plays as Christian finds out that both golden hair (Julia) and golden state really aren't for him at all ("screw California" starts the songs lyrics). Wasn't that Shutters (and where Christian later poaches the gigolo trick)? It's the only hotel I've stayed in the area (for work, not to 'take my shitter') so I'm probably just projecting my own limited memory.

Meanwhile, over on House, for the contemplative third act ballad, Joseph Arthur's "My Home is in Your Head" was an interesting choice for the drama. It's a hard to find track (from the EP And the Thieves Are Gone,) so I'm afraid you're on your own for that one -- happy hunting!

Playlist: Nip/Tuck Ep 5.03
1. "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - Devo - Sean and Christian discuss Julia's lesbian turn while performing Everett Poe's chin surgery
2. "I Know What Boys Like" - The Waitresses - Sean explains Eden’s hymen reconstructive surgery to Olivia / Sean pre-exams Eden
3. "California" - Rogue Wave - Christian and Julia on the beach / making love
4. "Rehab" - Amy Winehouse - Matt and Kimber take meth and make love in a hotel room
Compiled by Avalon at NipTuckforum.com

Bonus Playlist: Since I was in Mexico last week, here's the comp for that episode (which would've been a better one to discuss, I'm realizing).
Nip/Tuck Ep 5.02
1. "Blues For Mothers" - Henry Mancini - Joyce Monroe consultation
2. "I Wanna Be Loved By You" - Marilyn Monroe - Sean performs surgery on Joyce and discusses his new-found fame with Christian
3. "Blue Satin" - Henry Mancini - Sharon Monroe pleads for Christian to do her surgery
4. "Don't You Want Me" - The Human League - Christian posing for Playgirl magazine
5. "Can't Stand Losing You" - The Police - Sean performs post-gastric bypass surgery on Kate
6. "Beast Of Burden" - Rolling Stones - Christian and Olivia play pool while Sean and Julia talk
7. "Perpetuate The Cycle" - Jed and Lucia - Sean and Christian talk about Julia's new relationship with Olivia at the bar
Compiled by Avalon at NipTuckforum.com

Previously: Lady Cha Cha in La La Land (Ep 5.01)