Monday, December 28, 2009

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)

1 comment:

Shawn Anderson said...

Picks for the week of 12.28.09
1. What Child, Nowell - Tori Amos
2. Buster Voodoo - Rodrigo Y Gabriela
3. Deadly Sinners - 3 Inches Of Blood
4. Wtf? - OK Go
5. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
6. Hard Sun - Eddie Vedder
7. Number With No Name - Ben Harper
8. Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
9. Take Five - Dave Brubeck
10. Slow Poison - The Bravery
11. Psychic City (Voodoo City) - YACHT
12. Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear
13. Starting Over - Black Lips
14. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister
15. I Am - Mary J. Blige
16. History featuring Kweli - Mos Def
17. You Really Got Me - Ray Davies
18. Sound The Alarm - Thievery Corporation
19. Astronaut - Amanda Palmer
20. Trashcan - Delta Spirit
21. Universal Mind Control (UMC) (With Intro) - Common
22. Little Bit - Lykke Li
23. One Month Off - Bloc Party
24. Panic Switch - Silversun Pickups
25. The Rake's Song - The Decemberists
26. Love That Girl - Raphael Saadiq
27. Sexual Sportwear - Sebastien Tellier
28. Jungle Drum - Emiliana Torrini
29. Pots And Pans - Les Savy Fav
30. Doomsday - Elvis Perkins
31. Sunstroke - Jason Isbell
32. Crooked Head - F*cked Up
33. Percussion Gun - White Rabbits
34. Headdress - Amazing Baby
35. Hussle Is My Last Name - Nipsey Hussle
36. Chrome's On It - Telepathe
37. Bitter Heart - Zee Avi
38. One Time We Lived - Moby
39. Girl In The War - Josh Ritter
40. I Hate My Life - Youth Brigade
41. Umbrella Featuring Jay-Z - Rihanna
42. Run This Town [Jay-Z + Rihanna + Kanye West] - Jay-Z
43. 21 Guns - Green Day
44. One Day - Matisyahu
45. I Feel Cream - Peaches