Some Distractions from the Impending Apocalypse

Stuff y'all should be checking out:

Put This in your Earhole:

• Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "The Letting Go"
• The Decemberists, "The Crane Wife"
• This Will Destroy You, "Young Mountain EP"
• The Russian Futurists, "Let's Get Ready to Crumble"
• Daniel Tosh, "True Stories That I Made Up"
• Demetri Martin, "These Are Jokes"
• Spoon, "Gimme Fiction"
• Belle & Sebastian, "The Boy With the Arab Strap"

Tune In, Turn On, And Drop Out:

• "Heroes"
  Okay - yes, the dialogue is poorly written. And the series suffers from "Lost"-itis where people have to act a certain way (in Lost it's incompetent, in Heroes it's endlessly incredulous) in order to advance the intrigue and plot. And there needs to be more characters acting as the audience (which doesn't necessarily mean incredulous). And also more levity. The japanese guy can't do it all on his own. Still, glad they finally found a vehicle for Ali Larter and Adrian Pasdar. But seriously, let's fine-tune it, people. Bryan Fuller, who created/wrote "Wonderfalls" and "Dead Like Me", works on this (specifically the Cheerleader stories, which are the best written ones), so they are plenty capable of bringing the writing up a notch.
• "Frisky Dingo"
  By the creators of "Sealab 2021" comes this new toon for Adult Swim. It's so friggin funny. A serialized story about a millionaire playboy who moonlights as superhero, Awesome X, trying to start a toy line based on his hero persona and the villain who wishes to be his archnemesis (named Killface). It's filled with the patented awkward silences and weird ab-libbing and sexual references to fill me with hours of delight, despite its 15 minute run time. Check this shit out! Ya heard!
• "Scrubs"
  Now this show isn't on...yet. It will be returning to new episodes shortly on NBC, directly after "The Office" on Thursdays at 9pm. Braff has to star in a dozen other movies playing an existential twentysomething with a penchant for emo-indie bands, he'll be leaving this show after this season. So this is probably the end of "Scrubs". So i implore all of you - watch this show! Fuck "Grey's Anatomy"! It's just Scrubs minus the comedy and originality! And yes, Katherine Hegl is hot, but she lacks the quiet, unassuming beauty of Sarah Chalke. And yes, Patrick Dempsey is hot. But what about the sheer hotness and insanity of John C. McGinley? He was in Office Space. You liked Office Space! Watch the reruns on Comedy Central, buy the DVD, and check out this show when it returns in a few weeks.
• "Veronica Mars"
  She's spunky, she's sassy, she's smart, and she kind of looks like a fetus. Veronica Mars is a highly likeable show. It's charming, really. And while there are some changes I don't like (More Dick Casablancas! Why'd they kill off you-know-who in the season premiere? And what's up with the downer remix of "We Used To Be Friends"?), this show still remains very interesting and incredibly watchable. Plus it's nice to see the professor from "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" getting work...as a professor. Also, Laura San Giacomo is really cute and appealing. She and Enrico Whateveraloni have both shaken off the stench from "Just Shoot Me" quite nicely.
• "The Venture Brothers"
  Yes, the second season just ended (with a helluva season finale! more Bowie!). But Adult Swim is still airing the second season episodes on Sunday. Also Season 1 is available on DVD and all of Season 2 is available on iTunes for just $1.99 per episode. This show is the best comedy on television now. Weird references, hilarious characterization, and just a great send up of so many geeky genres. I'm a Blacula hunter!
• "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Duel"
  I don't think anyone or anything can ever fill the void created by The Miz's departure from these Challenges. But in his absence, this version of the Challenge has so far been the most appealing. Sure, it still raises my dander to see these people turn this pathetic death grip on relevance and fame into a career...and even worse, a life. But ya gotta love the clashing of personalities, the cool challenges, and the always entertaining, always blazed TJ Lavin. My personal faves for this season are: GUYS - Derrick and Eric (i like the fat guy, sue me); GIRLS - Diem and Jodi (yes, she's the emotional town bike, but god bless her nonetheless).

Moving Pictures:

• Save the Green Planet
  This movie is really weird and wholly original. It's a movie about a disturbed person, an alien conspiracy, a botched kidnapping, and all sorts of horrible acts. But it's also really funny, truly visually interesting and original, and definitely worth checking out.
• Borat
  "I'm from Kazakh...we follow the Hawk." Everyone who is reading this has probably already seen this movie, or at least intends to see it. But I gotta say - this movie is equally hilarious and frightening. Sure, it's great when Borat finally tracks down his lady love, but it's also very chilling when the cowboy is instructing Borat how to pass as an "eye-talian" in America.
• Slither
  "I'm Bill Pardy." Fun, hilarious, creepy, gorefest. Sure it's derivative of Night of the Creeps (Why the hell is that not on DVD yet? Or Monster Squad?) but it's still a lot of fun and filled with plenty of great jokes and even cooler gorey scenes that'll have you making a yuck face all night long. Plus Nathan Fillion! Give this man a job! (PROGRAMMING NOTE: Nathan Fillion will be on the last "Lost" of 2006! Watch this episode and help Nathan not have to do drek like White Noise 2: The Search for More Money)
• Wild Zero
  Japanese Rockabilly Band versus Alien Made Zombies. 'Nuff Said.
• The Great Yokai War
  Takashi Miike's kids' movie. Yes, the man who brought you death by drowning in a kiddie pool full of excrement has made a fantasy film for children. This is the type of kids' fare that most of us had growing up - dark, twisted, surreal, and fucked up. Since time has progressed and we've tried to shelter our kids more and more, there's been less of this form of truly terrifying children's movies. Miike comes along with a great epic tale of a child leading an army of yokai (spirits/daemons) against a giant machine monster, an Evil Warlord, and Go-Go Yubari.
• Wolf Creek
  I watched this recently with a bunch of people. There's a scene where a girl keeps crying loudly, and my fellow viewers, concerned that the evil sadist will find her, kept screaming at the TV, "Shhh! Shut up!" Personally, I think that proves this movie is plenty effective. While its allegation that it's "based on a true story" is a little flimsy, it's still a very entertaining and stark horror film. Now they need to hurry up and make the sequel in which the Bad Guy takes on his dreaded archnemesis...Kangaroo Jack! (screw you, Anthony Anderson!)

Reading is Fundamentalist:

• Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
  
  Gaiman has written another novel dealing with ancient myths in a modern world. This time updating his Anansi character from American Gods. The novel is awfully funny, full of hilarious moments, and really creates some very cool imagery as one of the titular Anansi Boys has to go to the caves at the end (or is it the beginning?) of the world. A quick read with interesting characters, hilarious events, and a fast moving plot. Highly recommended.
  
  
• The Pirates! in an Adventure with Ahab by Gideon Defoe
  
  Yes, I know that pirates have become a go-to part of the comedy and pop culture in recent years. Along with other signs of arrested development/nerdy nostalgia such as ninjas, robots, superheroes, etc. But Defoe's work is really quite an entertaining farce. Creating a bumbling crew of pirates without any names (only identified as "pirate in red", "the albino pirate", and "the pirate with rickets", etc) that seem more at home on a BBC sitcom than on the high seas, Defoe has created a hilarious series of adventures with endless comic potential. I could easily see all of these books being turned into movies by the likes of Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, or Garth Jennings (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy).
  
  
• The Exterminators by Simon Oliver and Tony Moore (comic)
  
  Oliver's script is a brilliant look at a twisted society through the eyes of an ex-con exterminator. Full of weird bugs, weirder bugmen, and a bunch of odd imagery, cults, and fringe characters - this series is a great mystery, a huge thrilling ride, and a fascinating read. Also, Moore's artwork is really cool and does a great job showcasing all of the dirt and grime, which continues the theme of everything being dirty and tainted in some way.
  
  
• Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (comic)
  
  Glayven. Yes, I'm a giant fan of everything Whedon does. Well, maybe not so much Alien: Resurrection, but perhaps that's just the exception that proves the rule. (Really, even that movie isn't so bad until the whole Alien/Human Hybrid Dog thing comes along. Yeeeeesh) But even with that aside, this is really one of the best runs on X-Men since the Claremont/Byrne period. Kitty Pryde is kicking ass, Wolverine is making me laugh, and Emma Frost is dealing out sass! I should work for NY Daily News. Also, anything Whedon can do to stop making Cyclops seem like the ultimate Pussy is a huge step in my book.
  
  
• Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
  
  This book is a little too smart for its own good. Rife with literary allusions (and footnotes and bibliographical references), this novel is a story of a girl who travels throughout the US with her professor father. The meat of the story is her senior year in high school, the group of friends she encounters, and a murder mystery. It's actually a very interesting tale of growing up, of recognizing our parents for who and what they are, and of trying to find one's own voice despite all the many influences that infilitrate our tongues.

It's a Series of Tubes!:

• Crosswords!
  Crosswords, Crosswords, Crosswords. I've become addicted to www.bestcrosswords.com. Sure, if you do a bunch of them you'll notice a repetition in phrases and clues. But so what? It's a fun distraction that helps you excel at crosswords in general. Plus it has a great program interface that lets you know when you're off on the wrong foot. Q'aplar!
• BBC in the US!
  Mitchell & Webb, the hilarious duo behind "Peep Show", have had a bunch of sketch comedy show over the years. The Newest One ("That Mitchell & Webb Look") is currently airing on BBC, but here are some sketches to enjoy including: Angel Summoner & BMX Bandit, NumberWang, And Inviting The Scooby Doo Gang.
• Go Team Venture!
  The Mantis Eye Experiment is a great site for checking out some info about the Venture Bros. It has all of the allusions and references, a synopsis, and even some nifty screen captures. Have a question about VB? Then head on over to this site.
• 300 Trailer!
  Does Dining in Hell just mean going to the Olive Garden? Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck. Seriously though, this movie looks like it's gonna kick a lot of arse. I hope it has substance along with (an obvious amount of) style, unlike the other all green screen project - Sin City. Still, anything with a guy who has blades for arms, a monkey mask, and what appears to be some sort of Albino Giant has gots to be great! Also, I hope this trailer is a collection of all the times they say "Sparta" and not just indicative of how often people will be screaming that word in this movie.
• David Bowie!
  "Hello, I'm David Bowie." Friggin brilliant! Can't wait for the second season of "Extras" to air on HBO. Also, I really like the idea of a piano being an arm's length away from Bowie at any given time.
• Country Catfight!
  Apparently Living Like You Were Dying means being pissed that an "American Idol" chick beat you at the CMAs. While I'm glad this clip exists, it means someone had to watch the CMAs to notice it. Who the fuck watches the CMAs?
• Just in Time for Halloween! Oh Wait...Dammit!
  Hilarious. Sure, it's no longer topical, but it's still funny.