Ear on TV: The Week of April 28

A decade ago, Robyn was poised to be the next Britney Spears, with her hit "Show Me Love," but the teen hype machine employed by major labels then was repellent, and Robyn retreated back to her native Sweden to rethink her career. Considering where her career path might have led, it's all the remarkable that Robyn is back stronger than ever with her self-titled release, even if it took over ten years to do it. Robyn was released in Sweden in 2005 to rave reviews, and slowly found it's way to the ears of music fans here in the U.S. via import and illegal download. Even though it's three years removed, the album still sounds as fresh as ever (aside from the Teddybears cover "Cobrastyle," as the original is now in the 'tired' column). On Thursday, Robyn makes her US network television debut on Letterman. Considering it will be International Workers' Day, I guess it's only appropriate that it took eleven years of hard work for her to finally make it to this point.

Elsewhere, Neil Diamond is back in the spotlight, first as the feature guest on American Idol (Tuesday/Wednesday) and then performs on The Today Show Friday, showing off a tune from his soon to be released album of gritty acoustic originals (Home Before Dark). Diamond has hooked up with producer Rick Ruben for the second time, hoping to capture some of the same magic that Johnny Cash achieved with Ruben's spare approach.

Also, check out She & Him, the Zooey Deschanel / M. Ward collaboration, as last week's performance on Conan featured Yo La Tengo backing the band (video).

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, April 28
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Roots with Chrisette Michele
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Morrissey
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Georgie James
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Santogold
Tuesday, April 29
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Cinematic Orchestra
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Morrissey
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Beat Union
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Natasha Bedingfield
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: The Kills
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Serj Tankian
SYNDICATION: The Ellen Degeneres Show: Def Leppard
Wednesday, April 30
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Def Leppard
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Grand Archives
FUSE: The Sauce: Chuck D
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Feist
Thursday, May 1
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Robyn
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: She & Him
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Was (Not Was)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Does It Offend You Yeah?
Friday, May 2
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Estelle
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Nick Lowe
NBC: The Today Show: Neil Diamond
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Sleepercar
NBC: The Today Show: Ben Harper (REPEAT)
RAVEHD: Later with Jools Holland: KT Tunstall, Mutya Buena, Band of Horses, Beirut, Martin Simpson, Ting Tings, Gabriella Cilmi
Saturday, May 3
PBS: Austin City Limits: Alejandro Escovedo

The no-bread sandwich

Just when I'd nearly forgotten about Chuck, the series comes back for two episodes and is gone again, serving as a bittersweet reminder of what the strike has kept me from. While Chuck was the bread in last night's sandwich -- Celebrity Apprentice breaking up these strike-induced final two episodes -- it was the first episode ('Chuck Vs. The Under Cover Lover') that had all the meat.


Actually, nearly any episode that gives the spotlight to Casey (Adam Baldwin) is a winner in my book, and this one, like the previous episode ('vs the Crown Vic') gives Casey more depth while Baldwin still has his comic timing on display (full recap). And it's Casey who gets all the music as well. He drinks scotch in his underwear to Neil Diamond's "Love on the Rocks" ("I need pants!") and then later tries to take down his captors to Gogol Bordello's great song "Ultimate," featuring one of my favorite lyrics of 2007:

There were never any 'good old days'
They are today, they are tomorrow
It's a stupid thing we say
Cursing tomorrow with sorrow

Like always, there was plenty of cultural references to go around last night between both episodes... for instance:

Sixteen Candles: Morgan wakes up in Ellie's bed and exclaims "Damn ma, I’ve got my headgear on."
Casablanca: "Well Casey, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
Spies Like Us: The bug that Chuck finds in the Buy More are GLG20's, a reference to the rank of Foreign Service Operative in the Chevy Chase/Dan Aykroyd spy comedy.
Over the Top: Jeff and Lester throw down in a thumb-wrestling match. I'm mildly disappointed we didn't hear Sammy Hagar's "Winner Takes it All" or Frank Stallone's "Bad Nite" from the schlocky soundtrack.

Also fun to see the cast host the in between moments, but who was writing the corny sexual overtones between Zachary Levi and Sarah Lancaster? I realize they're not supposed to be in character, but why risk even a whiff of incest? Chalk that up to the writer's strike as well.

Previously: Casey up to Bat (Episode 1.11)