Ear on TV: Week of 10.26.09: Weezer

In the past, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo has been known to be a bit of a control freak, so it's surprising to see just how much he's let go with their latest release, Raditude. Whether it be the band switching instruments, giving Lil' Wayne a guest spot to rap (Weezer & Weezy!), or even letting The Office's Rainn Wilson name the album, it's a looser, more free-flowing Weezer.

In the lead up to the album's release, set for November 3, the band has repeatedly managed to keep itself in the news, by branding their own Snuggies, launching a Weezer iTunes Pass, and more recently, bringing along one Kenny G. to an in-studio taping (for an upcoming edition of AOL Sessions).

As far as television goes, the band has a two-night engagement on The Late Show with David Letterman, and has already taped five songs for upcoming episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live, to air sometime in November. One of those songs for either shows is undoubtedly going to be the advance single "(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To," a song that signals the bands return to relevance. The video for the song, besides borrowing a tad from Being John Malkovich (Weezerville as Malkovich inside is own head), also harkens back to their "Buddy Holly" days, with it's fifties-style nostalgia in the art direction. It also sports the beautiful Odette Yustman (Cloverfield, The Unborn), which is never a bad thing. Too bad music videos don't have the same cache that they once had. (Oh, where have you gone, MTV?)


Not to be outdone in the video department, Har Mar Superstar (aka Sean Tilman) employed multiple starlets in the video for his recent single, "Tall Boy," including Eva Mendes, Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat and even comedian Eric Wareheim (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Good Job!). When Tilman performs the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, expect some suggestive dancing and undergarments to go with the double-entendre in the song's lyrics (a song, it should be pointed out, was originally written for Britney Spears to sing).

Finally, Oscar-winners Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (The Swell Season) have finally followed up their surprising debut with Strict Joy, and while it would undoubtedly benefit from having film like Once as a feature-length music video, the duo create their own stories befitting the film playing in your subconscious, kind of like a sequel (let's call it Twice). Not seeing it? Maybe it's time to wake up the projectionist.

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, October 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Motorhead (REPEAT)
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Florence & the Machine
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Wolfmother
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Har Mar Superstar
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Like (REPEAT)
Tuesday, October 27
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Morningwood
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Florence & the Machine
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Future of the Left
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Julian Casablancas
Wednesday, October 28
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Flyleaf
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Sting
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Rodrigo y Gabriela
MTV: It's On With Alexa Chung: Snoop Dogg
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: "Weird Al" Yankovic
Thursday, October 29
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Weezer
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: The Swell Season
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Mastadon
Friday, October 30
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Weezer
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Fruit Bats
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Why?
NBC: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Alice in Chains
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Andrew Bird
SUNDANCE: Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten: The Clash, Joe Strummer
Saturday, October 31
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Lady Gaga (REPEAT)
PBS: Austin City Limits: M. Ward, Okkervil River