Yule love this...

Is it too early to get excited for a Christmas special? It isn't if it's The Colbert Report and the guests include the likes of Elvis Costello, Feist, Willie Nelson, John Legend and (gulp) Toby Keith. The special, titled A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All, will air Sunday, November 23 at 10pm, which will closely be followed by a DVD release two days later (a portion of the DVD's proceeds will go to Feeding America). The DVD features, among other things, a book burning Yule to warm your home by.

A Colbert Christmas figures to be a musical extravaganza with original songs written by Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger (That Thing You Do!, Music and Lyrics). A quick list of songs makes the heart quicken a bit:

• "Another Christmas Song" – Stephen Colbert
• "Have I Got A Present For You" – Toby Keith
• "Little Dealer Boy" – Stephen Colbert and Willie Nelson
• "Hannukah" – Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart
• "Nutmeg" – Stephen Colbert and John Legend
• "Please Be Patient" – Feist
• "There Are Much Worse Things to Believe In" – Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello
• "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" – Stephen Colbert, Elvis Costello, Feist, Toby Keith, John Legend and Willie Nelson

This is going to be Jesus' best birthday ever!

Hat tip to Bumpershine

Ear on TV: The week of June 23

This weekend marked the beginning of Summer, and so let the "there's nothing on TV" exclamations begin. Here's where I'm supposed to tell you to get off that couch, go outside and enjoy the great outdoors, but the hell with that. Between the mosquitoes, skin cancer and allergies, I'd just as soon eat grass. Instead, why not point your dial to the plethora of live music performances happening this week. Actually, when you think about it, most are happening at night anyway, and besides that, you're going to tape it via TIVO/DVR anyway, right?

The highlight for me, might just be Coldplay playing The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Wednesday,) even though I'm not a huge fan of the britpop band. I'm looking forward to Jon Stewart's interview with Chris Martin, not only because Stewart's a big fan, but also to see whether they revisit Gwyneth's awkward last visit to The Daily Show a couple years back, when Jon asked: "You think my son... could... bang your daughter?" Gwynneth laughed it off, saying "her father's going to kill you." A few days later, Billy Bob Thornton came on and Jon offered up the same proposition. Thornton, scratched his head for a second and said "Hell, why not," as they shook on it. So, will Jon pose the same question to Chris? That's a question I guarantee he won't hear from Matt Lauer, when they play The Today Show on Friday.



Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, June 23
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: N.E.R.D. (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Amos Lee
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Black Angels
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Drive-By Truckers
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Grizzly Bear (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Ne-Yo
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Angie Stone
Tuesday, June 24
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Billy Idol
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Mötley Crüe
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Phantom Planet
NBC: The Today Show: Alejandro Escovedo
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Serj Tankian (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Billy Bragg
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (REPEAT)
Wednesday, June 25
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tift Merritt
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Three 6 Mafia
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Coldplay
NBC: The Today Show: Natasha Bedingfield
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Priscilla Ahn (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Flobots (REPEAT)
Thursday, June 26
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Damien Jurado
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Brett Dennen (REPEAT)
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Rascal Flatts, Kate Nash, Herbie Hancock, Corrine Bailey Rae
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Lenny Kravitz
Friday, June 27
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Wild Sweet Orange
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Briggs
NBC: The Today Show: Coldplay
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Raconteurs
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Carly Simon (REPEAT)
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: The Cure, Jackson Browne, Anita Baker, KT Tunstall, The Futureheads, Embrace (REPEAT)
Saturday, June 28
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Freemasons
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Wilco (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: Blues Traveler, Café Tacuba
Sunday, June 29
A&E: Private Sessions: Carly Simon

Ear on TV: Week of January 29

Although it seems like it's been out forever, Lily Allen's debut release, Alright, Still, hits shelves here in the US tomorrow, and as a result, her presence on 'the telly' here is growing every minute. A sure bet that the UK hitmaker is taking hold is the fact that she's the musical guest this week on Saturday Night Live, and one can only hope that the 'not ready for prime time players' incorporate her into a sketch. She's certainly got the pedigree for at least a bit part, seeing how comedian/actor Keith Allen is her dad and all.

Elsewhere, the children's program Jack's Big Music Show will have a special Groundhogs Day episode on Friday, in which The Daily Show host Jon Stewart guest stars as a news reporter. The episode also features music from former Blues Clues star and singer Steve Burns being backed by Flaming Lips multi-instrumental maestro Stephen Drozd. The past couple weeks I've been excited to see indie acts like Andrew Bird and the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players make appearances on the show. Of course Eli merely finds my excitement amusing - he, being 22-months old now, prefers the puppets.

Monday, January 29
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Spank Rock (RERUN)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Billy Bragg
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Peter Bjorn and John
Tuesday, January 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Patton Oswalt
Wednesday, January 31
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Robin Thicke, Pharell Williams
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: RZA
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Paul Weller
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Emily Haines
Thursday, February 1
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Damian Marley
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Ludacris
Friday, February 2
NOGGIN: Jack's Big Music Show: Jon Stewart, Steve Burns with Stephen Drozd
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Nas
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Game
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Stars of Track and Field
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Format
Saturday, February 3
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Lily Allen
PBS: Austin City Limits: Wilco, Bright Eyes

tags: music, television, soundtrack, talk shows, lily allen, jon stewart, jacks big music show, flaming lips, steve burns, saturday night live, indie rock, rhapsody

Dr Stringz

Andrew Bird is Dr. Stringz


Children's programming seems so mindless, and I always feel it's part of our job as parents to steer Eli in the direction of the good stuff - that is of course when we're not steering him clear of television all together. One program that I actually encourage him viewing has been Jack's Big Music Show, which has all sorts of great music lessons, but is easy for Eli to swallow 'cause there's puppets. For instance, Andrew Bird made an appearance this morning playing a character called Dr. Stringz, an instrument repairman magically called in to fix a broken hammer dulcimer. Before fixing the aforementioned instrument, Bird treated us to a song, featuring him on the guitar, mandolin and violin... I guess showing why he holds a doctorate in, well... stringz.

While many of the artists appearances in the past have been fairly safe (past guests include Buddy Guy, Yolanda Adams, Milkshake, Hot Peas 'N Butter, Cathy Richardson, and Sweet Honey in the Rock to name a few,) Jack's appears to be making a leap this season, as next week there will also be an appearance by Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) along with Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips) backing old Blues Clues star Steve Burns in a special Groundhog's Day episode.

This is happening a lot, now that Generation X'ers have kids. Children's culture is having a renaissance of sorts. Music (Dan Zanes, the occasional Kidz Bop song,) television (see also Pancake Mountain) and books are all being tailored, in part, to reflect the parents taste. Reminds me of the 1970's, when the Baby Boomers started paying attention to kids and we got The Electric Company and Free to Be You and Me.

Of course, the majority of the programming and music is still crap, but you can find something palatable without having to search too hard now.

tags: music, television, soundtrack, noggin, andrew bird, jack's big music show, kids, children's programming, jon stewart, steve burns, flaming lips