Wow, I Watch Stuff is reporting that Bob Odenkirk and David Cross have signed on for a new HBO sitcom, which really blows my mind. I feel as though Mr. Show was a momentous program in comedy, one that continues to go overlooked as a groundbreaker for many lesser current shows.

Anyway, enough of my rants, check out the details at I Watch Stuff,

Posted by Johnny Metro at 01:53 AM | Permalink

've now got both Blockbuster and Netflix scripts delivered to my door, in order to make sure I get exactly what I want. Here's a bit on what I've seen recently:

King of California

Got this mostly for Evan Rachel Wood, because I'll basically watch anything she's in. She's pretty excellent in it (not just because she's beautiful), and Michael Douglas puts on a wacky performance as her hippie father.

Rocket Science

Much like a Wes Anderson flick, all about a geeky kid trying to "fit in" at school, and in life overall. Probably really would have taken off if released after Juno.

Across the Universe

All Beatles songs musical flick -- again mostly rented for ERW. The selection of tunes they chose is questionable; I wonder what they could and couldn't get the rights to.

Everything's Gone Green

Based in Vancouver, an all Canadian style flick with an all Canadian indie rock soundtrack. Sort of about weed, but no one really actually smokes it. Make me want to visit that town it really captures how interesting it is.

Gone Baby Gone

I was pretty disappointed by this one overall, I think it was mostly since I watched it severely hungover. Seems like a big Affleck wank-off, with Ben directing and Casey starring. Its mostly depressing.

Eagle vs. Shark

Made in New Zealand and stars a bunch of comedians including people involved with Flight of the Conchords. I enjoyed it, but its nothing new to the whole awkward indie Miranda July set.

2 Days in Paris

Written and directed by Julie Delpy, all about a couple hanging in France. Definitely hits the mark on a lot of good relationship issues, which makes you sort of cringe.

Smiley Face

This is a total piece of garbage starring Anna Faris and directed by Greg Araki who did The Doom Generation. Its so horrible its not even worth writing anything additional about.

Posted by Johnny Metro at 10:49 AM | Permalink

Albums

Battles - Mirrored (Warp)
Dinosaur Jr – Beyond (Fat Possum)
Kanye West - Graduation (Def Jam)
Keren Ann - S/T (Blue Note)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (DFA)
Liars - Liars (Mute)
Magik Markers - Boss (Ecstatic Peace)
Panda Bear - Person Pitch (Paw Tracks)
Radiohead - In Rainbows (Self-Released)
Von Sudenfed -Tromatic Reflexxions (Domino)

Movies

Alpha Dog (Cassavetes)
Control (Corbijn)
Eastern Promises (Cronenberg)
Juno (Reitman)
Knocked Up (Apatow)
No Country for Old Men (Coen)
Sicko (Moore)
The Simpsons Movie (Silverman)
Superbad (Mottola)
Year of the Dog (White)

Shows

Circle, DC9, WDC
Iggy & the Stooges, 9:30 Club, WDC
Qui, IOTA, Arlington VA
Screen Vinyl Image & Outputmessage, Black Cat, WDC
The Dismemberment Plan, Black Cat, WDC
Yo La Tengo & Rosebuds at Sonar, Baltimore MD

Posted by Johnny Metro at 06:32 PM | Permalink

My most anticipated film of '08:

"Trippin' out in cinemas now"

*Click here for the trailer
*Click here for Official Website

Posted by Johnny Metro at 11:49 AM | Permalink

My brother and I uploaded this Unrest video afew weeks ago (in which he directed and I star) so I thought I'd also throw it up here on TC for kicks. Enjoy.

Posted by Johnny Metro at 05:19 PM | Permalink

Check out this cool list of 9 Legendary Cartoon Voices over at mental_floss. I personally would like to see Hollywood get back on the real voice actor bandwagon, instead of just dropping big stars for all this CGI tripe they've been churning out lately.

And oh yeah, I'll definitely be trying to post more as of late (but don't hold me to that.)

Posted by Johnny Metro at 05:14 PM | Permalink

Trying to get through listening to a bunch of new records right now, including:

Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (Def Jux)
Animal Collective - Srtawberry Jam (Domino)
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup (Ba Da Bing)
Sir Richard Bishop - Polytheistic Fragments (Drag City)
Brother JT - Third Ear Candy (Birdman)
Gang Gang Dance - RawWar (Social Registry)
Georgie James - Places (Saddle Creek)
Go! Team - Proof Of Youth (Sub Pop)
Kinski - Down Below Its Places (Sub Pop)
Liars - Liars (Mute)
Majik Markers - Boss (Ecstatic Peace)
Thurston Moore - Trees Outside The Academy (Ecstatic Peace)
No Age - Weirdo Rippers (FatCat)

Posted by Johnny Metro at 05:16 PM | Permalink

Anyone who even remotely befriends me usually knows I collect way too much Simpsons merchandise, and the Onion AV Club has a great article this week on the Strangest Simpsons stuff out there.

I can't wait to catch the movie tonight at Midnight -- a review may very well be forthcoming.

Posted by Johnny Metro at 04:49 PM | Permalink

The US town of Springfield, Vermont, has beaten 13 rivals and will host the premiere of the film about the animated family The Simpsons. The show is set in a fictional Springfield because its creator, Matt Groening, spotted that it is one of the most common place-names in the US.

Vermont was chosen in an online vote after 14 towns submitted videos to argue why their town should win.

The premiere is on 21 July, ahead of national US release on 27 July. Vermont's Springfield beat rivals ranging from Oregon on the west coast to Massachusetts on the Atlantic.

The town of just over 9,000 residents got 15,367 votes, beating the Illinois entry by 733, according to USA Today, which conducted the poll.

The other contenders were in the states of Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio and Tennessee.

"We're so excited," said Patricia Chaffee, vice-president of the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce in Vermont. "We came in at the last minute, and for us to win, we feel like the underdogs, which makes this so big and so great for us," she told USA Today.

The video entry from Illinois featured the general manager of the local power plant, Todd Renfrow, whose appearance is similar to that of Montgomery Burns, the villain and power plant owner in the show.

Over in Kentucky, a scene was filmed portraying creator Groening in a courtroom, hearing how the cartoon was based on their town.

And Senator Edward Kennedy was recruited for the recording by Springfield, Massachusetts, even though he is regularly mocked in the series. Before the vote, Tim Farley, executive director at the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau in Illinois, said: "We always really did think we were the one.

"The similarities between the cartoon and Springfield are really uncanny," he told Reuters. But he said that whatever the outcome, all of the towns were "winners".

"It's made a lot of Springfields more popular than they may have been before," he said.

[From the BBC]

Posted by Johnny Metro at 11:53 PM | Permalink

Now that I'm back from tour I'm hoping I can have more time to update so please stay tuned ...

If you'd like, go ahead and take a gander at what the Stamen & Pistils tour (sort of) looked like.

Posted by Johnny Metro at 05:10 PM | Permalink