Ear on TV: Week of 12.28.09: NYE with Rihanna & Jay-Z

New Year's Eve has always been steeped in tradition -- whether you're singing "Auld Lang Syne" or eating 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, there's a familiarity to the proceedings. But sometimes you need to break from tradition, and for the past few years, it's become apparent that Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve has worn out its welcome. Some have pointed to Clark's unfortunate stroke back in 2004 and his resulting slurred speech as one reason for the event's failing, but I'd argue that it's really that the Rockin' New Year's Eve has gotten decidedly less 'Rockin' since Ryan Seacrest signed on as co-host and executive producer. This year's headliners are Jennifer Lopez and Black Eyed Peas -- where exactly is the rock?

Instead, it's been Carson Daly who's reigned over the real 'Rockin' New Year's since he started back in 2003, hosting NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly. This year, Daly welcomes Green Day, who play Times Square live, and a taped performance\ from Rihanna, who was joined on stage last week during snow fall by Jay-Z for the smash hits "Umbrella" and "Run This Town."

Meanwhile, most programming is taking off the week, but IFC's Dinner With the Band has a new episode, this time featuring electropop purveyors YACHT in the kitchen with chef Sam Mason. The band are strict vegans, so the menu will be meatless. The performance in the living room, however, will be very meaty, thank you very much.


Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, December 28
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Tori Amos (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Rodrigo y Gabriela (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: 3 Inches of Blood
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Bon Jovi (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: OK Go (REPEAT)
Tuesday, December 29
CBS: Kennedy Center Honors: Bruce Springsteen (honoree), Eddie Vedder, Ben Harper, John Mellencamp, Herbie Hancock, Dave Brubeck (honoree), Aretha Franklin
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Carlos Santana (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Bravery
IFC: Dinner With the Band: YACHT
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Grizzly Bear (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Black Lips (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: Live With Regis and Kelly: Twisted Sister
Wednesday, December 30
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Mary J. Blige (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Mos Def & Talib Kweli (REPEAT)
Thursday, December 31
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Ray Davies (REPEAT)
CURRENT: Embedded Marathon: Thievery Corporation, Amanda Palmer, Delta Spirit, Common, Lykke Li, Bloc Party, Mos Def, Silversun Pickups, The Decemberists, Raphael Saadiq, Sebastian Tellier, Emiliana Torrini, Les Savy Fav, Elvis Perkins, Jason Isbell, F****d Up, White Rabbits, Amazing Baby, Black Lips, Nipsey Hussle, Telepathe, Zee Avi, Moby, Josh Ritter
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Youth Brigade
NBC: New Year's Eve with Carson Daly: Green Day, Rihanna, Jay-Z
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Matisyahu (REPEAT)
Friday, January 1
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Peaches (REPEAT)

Ear on TV: Huey Lewis & the News

What's old is new; what was once out is now in... it's too hard to keep track anymore. Are Huey Lewis & the News really making a cultural comeback?

Like many bands from their era (I'm looking at you, Journey), the News are benefiting from a resurgance, due in part from television and film exposure. Last year, they were tapped by Judd Apatow to write the theme to Pineapple Express and then Chuck used several of their hits to great effect during their second season. They'll likely be playing one of those hits (let's guess "Power of Love") when they appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the experience scale, buzz-y up-and-comers The Xx have already lost a member due to exhaustion. Following a grueling tour schedule which culminated in a series of shows during CMJ, guitarist/keyboardist Baria Qureshi recently left the group, too exhausted to go on. The West London band makes an appearance on MTV's It's On Alexa Chung Wednesday, likely as a trio, still on a neverending tour promoting their self-titled debut. It's so hard to be young and fabulous these days.

Finally, Johnny Marr has truly become an indie gun for hire. The highly influential ex-Smiths guitarist famously joined Modest Mouse on their previous release (Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, but has since moved on to UK's The Cribs, lending his craft to their latest release Ignore the Ignorant. The album is getting rave reviews in the UK, giving Marr a Midas Touch rep he hasn't enjoyed since his days in The Smiths (well, maybe The The). Let's hope the brothers Jarman (twins Gary and Ryan, plus younger brother Ross Jarman) enjoy it before Marr finds an even younger band to briefly join.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 9
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Matisyahu
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Rihanna
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: David Gray
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Yo La Tengo (REPEAT)
PBS: How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin: The Beatles
Tuesday, November 10
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Shakira
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: John Fogerty
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Wale
Wednesday, November 11
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Antlers
Thursday, November 12
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Cribs with Johnny Marr
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: The Xx
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Goodie Mob
Friday, November 13
ABC: The View: Kool & the Gang
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Huey Lewis & the News
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Kid Sister
SUNDANCE: You're Gonna Miss me: Roky Erickson
Saturday, November 14
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Alison Moyet
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Black Eyed Peas
PBS: Austin City Limits: Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel