Television

Ken Burns, Country Music, Episode #4 (“I Can’t Stop Loving You) 1953 – 1963)”

By Steve Crawford | September 23, 2019

the ring may have been a reference to June’s…um…hot spot.

Ken Burns: Country Music, Episode 3, “The Hillbilly Shakespeare (1945 – 1953)”

By Steve Crawford | September 22, 2019

the country artist everyone is required to like

Ken Burns: Country Music, Episode 2: “Hard Times (1933-1945)” reviewed

By Steve Crawford | September 20, 2019

continues to give short shrift to many important figures

Ken Burns: Country Music, Episode 1: “The Rub (Beginnings – 1933)” Reviewed

By Steve Crawford | September 19, 2019

it left the viewer wanting to see more

The Boy & The Piano | John Lewis Christmas Ad

By admin | November 15, 2018

That little boy was Elton

Roseanne, Tuesdays 8:00 pm on ABC, Reviewed

By Elle Smith | March 28, 2018

The most real realness

‘Bright Lights’, Starring Carrie Fisher And Debbie Reynolds, Reviewed

By Alyson Camus | January 9, 2017

a movie about love, courage and aging

The Rolling Stones Turned Down ‘Carpool Karaoke’ With James Corden

By Alyson Camus | November 8, 2016

‘They just felt it would be a bit embarrassing ‘

Watch Corey Feldman’s Bizarro Performance In The Today Show

By Alyson Camus | September 17, 2016

A sort of insane and forced Michael Jackson’s imitation

Adele Is Not Doing The Super Bowl After All

By Alyson Camus | August 15, 2016

‘I mean, come on, that show is not about music’

The Lost Prince-Simpsons Episode

By Alyson Camus | April 26, 2016

Prince hands Vanity’s phone number to Bart, ‘In a few years, you’ll understand it’s power’.

Taylor Swift’s “1989 World Tour Live” Documentary Reviewed

By Iman Lababedi | December 22, 2015

She won’t play her old material and personally I’d much rather here “Your Song” than “Wildest Fream”.

Medium Cool: Best talk Show Guests For Week Of May 4th, 2015

By Iman Lababedi | May 1, 2015

Letterman is still making the Late Night world roll over and play dead. The Prez leading the pack, with Tina Fey in the middle, and Mumford And Sons and the Dave Matthews Band bringing up the rear, it is all just another reason to tear your eyes away from Fallon for the last two weeks of history. Meanwhile, though, following Blur (and puppy races) this week, look for Noel Gallagher next week. I wonder if Noel will play a gig?

HBO’s “Frank Sinatra: All Or Nothing At All” Reviewed

By Iman Lababedi | April 14, 2015

This is the definition of a missed opportunity, it needed a vision of Sinatra and the time to allow it to unfold, it needed an insight into the man more complex than he was mercurial . Where’s Ken Barnes when you need him?

The Rocky Horror Show Coming To Fox

By Iman Lababedi | April 12, 2015

Now FOX are threatening to do to it what NBC did to “Peter Pan”, ergo not much. It is a sign of the times that they don’t think the Frank homosexuality (“it’s not all bad, it’s not even half bad…”) and indeed hereosexuality might not be questionable for prime time television.

Medium Cool: Best Talk Show Guest February 16th, 2015

By Iman Lababedi | February 14, 2015

I am going with Chris Brown as the Talk Show guest of the week, with Taylor Swift (and John Oliver in the same show) a close second. I am not sure what Taylor has to sell, maybe her reputation as taylor and her gang of lawyers sue everything that moves every day of the week: she is like Disney suing Ma and Pa toy stores called Timberbell’s Home -as though the name belonged to Disney and not J.M. Barrie/ As for Chris Brown, who was 18 years old when he attacked Rihanna and Brown could join a monastery tomorrow and the headline would read: Woman beater finds God

Saturday Night Live’s 40th Anniversary Will Reunite Taylor And Kanye

By Alyson Camus | February 4, 2015

Saturday Night Live is almost as old as I am! This is kind of crazy to even think about it, but on February 15th, the famous TV show will celebrate its 40th Anniversary with a crazy musical lineup: Paul McCartney, Kanye West – are these two becoming siamese twins these days? – Justin Timberlake, Paul Simon and Taylor Swift….

The Clash: New Year’s Day ’77 Reviewed

By Helen Bach | January 4, 2015

I honestly thought I would get a bit melancholy in watching it or bored but just the opposite happened . The mixing of history and music worked so incredibly well that I was actually able to sit still through the entire program- and that is a rarity for someone with the extreme ADD I seem to posses.

David Fincher To Direct A HBO Series On The 80's Exploding Music Video Industry

By Alyson Camus | December 22, 2014

The story will focus on Bobby who has just dropped out of college and arrives in Hollywood the head full of dreams – he wants to direct an epic science-fiction movie – but ends up working for a company making music videos. The series will be focusing on the ‘then-exploding music video industry

Medium Cool Talk Show Hosts Week of December 8th,2014

By Helen Bach | December 7, 2014

can we pause a moment to say if Idina Menzel doesn’t shut the hell up soon we’re all going to go insane? After wailing through Wicked we now get to hear her squelching us to ‘Let it Go”..girl, you gots to go

Barbra Streisand And Jimmy Fallon And Lieing

By Iman Lababedi | September 18, 2014

With Barbra Streisand, he skipped the game but otherwise he was Rolling Stone reviewing a Springsteen album. You can’t trust him, you really really can’t. Fallon has no sense of proportion and it is like it is cute for him to lie about what his real feelings are and it isn’t cute at all.

Dr. Who's "Listen" Reviewed

By Iman Lababedi | September 16, 2014

What’s so cool about a middle aged, grumpy, Scottish Dr. Who? Not much is my claim, I am still going through withdrawal from the leaving of the only Doctor to ever go to Coachella. The Who who broke Who in the US. The only Who who matters. Matt Smith.

Zak Smith's "Signs Of Life" Reviewed

By admin | September 15, 2014

Full blown CD’s of acoustic songs are not my normal cup of tea but at least I didn’t cringe or quit listening to any of these songs in disgust. Zak Smith can write a song with melody and I imagine the Springsteen influences and comparisons will level out in the future. If I were to grade this I would give this a B .

Dr. Who's "Deep Breath" Reviewed

By Iman Lababedi | August 26, 2014

For all the daring do of switching the young Smith with the 26 years older Capaldi, the problem isn’t age, the problem is charm offensive and weirdness -when you don’t like the Doctor or his companion, maybe it is time to take a break from the series? Next week is a Daleks story, so the week after that should tell the story.

MTV's VMA Awards 2014: Enough To Make A Cynic Puke Blood

By Iman Lababedi | August 25, 2014

Was it fun? A little too strenuous to be fun and Katy Perry getting best Best Video music division was enough for me to go back to “The Godfather Part II” even though this is the business I chose. So i went on to MTV.com and got everything a day later.

Medium Cool: The Week In Talk Show Guests 8-25-14

By Iman Lababedi | August 24, 2014

The keeper here is Michael Cera on Letterman. Cera -the Superbad actor who made unassuming a lifestyle choice, has a pretty good album just released, True That, which you can stream (or boy) here and may I recommend the Blaze Foley cover “Clay Pigeons”.

Television Lite; August 11th – August 15th, 2014

By Helen Bach | August 9, 2014

Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift. There you have it- the stand outs of the week and perhaps I should spell that weak. There are some other cool bits though. Mikhail Baryshnikov (who my mom had a massive crush on) is on Tavis (say who?) and Jimmy Kimmel sits his ass on Kelly and Michael. What a drag that is. Meh, carry on.

Television Lite: August 4th – August 8th, 2014

By Helen Bach | August 3, 2014

I am hopeful that things improve in the fall but that’s so far off. So until then, grab a blanket and a picnic basket and go out to your local park for a free concert- screw the TV its not worth your time.

Television Lite July 28th – August 1st, 2014

By Helen Bach | July 27, 2014

BAM! There goes July. August is right there- dont miss it or you’ll be sobbing ‘where did the summer go?’ Get out there, get a sunburn, drink too much booze, sweat til your clothes stick to you, run through a garden hose… watch Jenny Lewis?

Taping Of Jimmy Fallon's "The Tonight Show", 30 Rockefeller Center, Thursday, July 24th, 2014, Reviewed

By Iman Lababedi | July 26, 2014

The newly built Tonight Show has that new car smell and state of the art feel, it is all zooming cameras and wood panels and for some reason the audience was gorgeous leggy 20 something girls, who you just know are off to Happy Hour next with a change of clothes in a bag on their shoulder.

Meet The Star Of Whitney: Yaya Dacosta

By Iman Lababedi | July 16, 2014

As we speak, Angela Bassett, who did such a great job as the long stemmed human God Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got To Do With It” is directing Yaya Dacosta as Whitney and Arlen Escarpata as Bobby Brown in the Lifetime Movie version of the tragic “How will I Know?” singer’s life, “Whitney”.

Television Lite; July 14th – July 18th, 2014

By Helen Bach | July 13, 2014

Lil Jon! That’s about it my dears. A guy whose voice sounds so pissed off its terrifying is sitting down on the interview couch this week to intimidate Wendy Williams (who is pretty beast come to think of it). There is also Phish, who should give Fallon a contact high (and maybe you at home as well) with their jam band nonsense

Television Lite: July 9th – July 13th, 2014

By Helen Bach | July 6, 2014

Well guys the holiday weekend is done and its back to work. You’ll be getting plenty of sleep this week and your dvr gets a nice break since Americas talk shows are in their summer funk (which then becomes an autumn funk, winter funk.. spring funk)

Television Lite: June 30th – July 4th, 2014

By Helen Bach | June 29, 2014

If youre a regular joe working class stiff the only thing good about this week is that its a 4 day run til you can get the hell out of your job and go drink or sleep. Americans will cook on a grill wave a flag and puke up Coors in the name of Freedom.

Chris Brown May Get His Own BET Reality Show

By Alyson Camus | June 29, 2014

The network has been holding focus groups in the San Fernando valley to get a sense of whether or not the participants – comprising entirely African American women – are interested in a program that would follow the tribulations of Chris Brown’s post-jail life

Television Lite June 23nd – June 27th, 2014

By Helen Bach | June 22, 2014

Summer is in full swing and you should be outside around a bonfire or something. Instead you’re munching Cheetos from a bag in your underwear with the air conditioner on full blast suffering from insomnia as you worry about your job or some other nonsense.

Television Lite: June 16th – June 20th 2014

By Helen Bach | June 15, 2014

Silly that ‘late night’ TV has become such a drag When you’re up late at night with insomnia you should be treated to new sounds and disturbing images not the same artists who appear in soda commercials. Unfortunately thats not the case at al

Jack White, “Alone In My House” On Conan Reviewed

By Helen Bach | June 14, 2014

So The Adams Family has released a new song and performed it on Conan June 11th. Luckily Gomez and Morticia stopped speaking in French long enough to get this twangy tune in the can. It seems Gomez is no longer able to shower and is boycotting the barber, Morticia has been sucking on helium so much it’s hard to recognize her voice any more.

Television Lite June 9th – June 13th, 2014

By Helen Bach | June 8, 2014

Fall Out Boy is on Ellen. That’s the oddest thing to me. Pop punk old men are sitting on her couch. Im not sure why I find this so striking, they’re not exactly ‘Alternative’ but for some reason I still consider them lesser known.. I have a mental block with them.

Dave Grohl Hosts New HBO Series

By Helen Bach | June 2, 2014

When musicians become actors or worse TV hosts its never a good thing. There seems to be a false sense of glory for rockers- just because they’ve had some success they feel they can act, and model, and host and really now c’mon, stick to your day job.

Television Lite; May 26th – May 30th, 2014

By Helen Bach | May 25, 2014

Hey now summer is knocking on your door and you should be out there drinking beer and throwing foods on the grill. There is no need for you to be watching television and whoa.whoa..wait.. is that Sean Lennons band Ghost of a Saber Tooth bla bla bla?

Andy Samberg 'When Will The Bass Drop', Digital Short Reviewed

By Helen Bach | May 19, 2014

From Jenga to model trains the efforts of a DJ are diluted to nothing but button pushing and of course waiting for just that right moment to drop the bass. DJ s are cashing in on the edm movement and this video gives a nice ribbing to that fact.

A Michael Jackson Hologram At The Billboard Music Awards

By Alyson Camus | May 19, 2014

Hologram USA Inc, and Musion Das Hologram Ltd own rights to this kind of technology (they already did Tupac at Coachella 2 years ago) but a judge decided that this new one, a planned 3-D image of Jackson, was not violating patents held by the companies

Television Lite; May 19th – May 23rd, 2014

By Helen Bach | May 18, 2014

Conor Oberst shows up on Fallon to make the middle class kids cry that their lives are so tough and Debbie Harry shows up to tell us that with enough plastic surgery and a endless wardrobe budget you can rock this town well into your 60s.

When Elton John Met Morecambe And Wise

By Nisrine Hammour | May 15, 2014

Narked, cold and fed up, I cheered myself up with the thoughts of Morecambe and Wise DVD night but which of the many to watch I wondered. well that decision was made for my by my uncle who had only come all the way from America and watched the Elton John m&w skit with me!

Drag Artist Conchita Wurst Wins Eurovision Song Contest

By Iman Lababedi | May 12, 2014

I’m not trying to start a war or anything, but if Austria thinks I’ve forgotten how they rolled over and played dead when the Germans started to huff and puff they are greatly mistaken. And the latest member of the Von Trapp family, Conchita Wurst just adds insult to injury.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2014: Are You Having Any Fun?

By Feriel Lu Lababedi | May 9, 2014

Somebody in the cafe where I do my outreach work said it was all political and that certain countries would only vote for each other. This started a rather heated debate by all sat round the table; the lady in charge kept shooting me looks for starting a riot in an otherwise quiet place.

"Grease" Is The Word At Fox For 2015

By Iman Lababedi | May 2, 2014

I would have recommended “Spring Awakening” though I understand the problems with the censor and the lack of family might make that unacceptable. But how about something huge and smashing like “Showboat”? Or the adaption of a movie, say “Singing In The Rain”?

Sebastian Bach, "Sing Your Face Off"

By Helen Bach | April 11, 2014

Let’s face it kids this show is a one season wonder. As the creative minds of television search in vain for their next big cash cow, things like this are bound to show up.

Cat Steven's, Actually Yusef, Is In New York!

By Helen Bach | April 9, 2014

His showing on Jimmy Fallon nearly sent me into cardiac arrest. Older and behind dark shades he performed a medley of “First Cut Is The Deepest” and “Wild World” accompanied by The Roots. First off The Roots need to chill, between this and their hanging out with Elvis Costello I’m getting a bit jealous

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