Progress

Yes those are crocs.
That is all.

Slurm Soon to be Real Beverage

Wait, what!?

Fox sure is one strange company. First they cancel Futurama, then after years of fan pressure revive it, and finally, with whatever insane boardroom reasoning, decide to begin producing a beverage from the show. Trademork reports Fox has applied for a trademark for the name Slurm in all beverage forms. I don't see Coffee Slurm in the near future, but really neither did I see, um, Slurm. Maybe they're just paranoid and have no plans for actual production. That's reasonable, but remember this is Fox.

Now I'm sure Slurm is going to be hella tasty (I'm more sure it'll taste awful, but I'll drink it loyally nonetheless) but I am wondering if it'll actually be harvested from of a giant and arguably evil worm. Will this fact be disclosed to the world, or might it just become an urban legend amongst soda drinkers? Possible slogan for the intial debut: "Not worm shit."

Really though, I'm willing to put up with the occasional world domination attempt by the Slurm Queen if I get the chance to hang out with Slurms McKenzy, the original party worm. Whimmy wam wam wozzle! Let's party!

via bbgadgets.

Tell them I hate them!

When Irony Attacks

Now traditionally this blog doesn't really act as a consumer guide in any other way than pointing out what television shows you should probably avoid in prime-time, but when I read this story I felt that I had to get the message out--to warn you, my readers.

Apparently while designers were testing out a new gizmo designed to repel sharks with ever-so-cool electromagnetic fields, the "shark shield" was, well, attacked by a great white shark. Luckily, no one was hurt during the incident save the unfortunate buoy strapped to the device. I'm hoping someone left the thing on the wrong setting or something. Maybe accidentally reversed the polarity when they nuked their breakfast burrito.

The designers claim the device works as long as it remains motionless. You mean like while attached to a buoy?

In brief: don't watch buy.

Thanks Uberreview.

I punched a whale. Right in the face. Down he went, like Liston.

Politicaly Incorrect with... wait what's this show called now?

Well it's Thursday night and I'm thinking about Saturday. Saturday will mean I'm back in Windsor and my roommate and I (Powder Blue Stanza) will finally be able to rock the "Endless Setlist." It will also mean that I can start in with my Saturday stories. Now I won't bore you with all my thoughts on the latest surprise ending on Stargate Atlantis, but I will bore you with my supreme adoration of Real Time.

Real Time with Bill Maher is an hour long political comedy and debate show that airs Friday nights on HBO. Now perhaps you remember that Bill Maher once had a half-hour show called Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central first, then later on ABC, whom cancelled the show in 2002. Real Time has a similar format--a monologue followed by a panel who debates current political events. Maher's monologue is nothing to write home about, he's much more interesting (and funny) when simply conversing with an interviewee or with his panel. His panel discussion takes up a great chunk of the show, and usually part way through introduces another "Real Time Correspondent" into the fray. (In this way I discovered Matt Tabbi, an excellent writer for Rolling Stone.)

These debates are really what I love about the show. The panel is normally comprised of a wide array of political leanings, allowing for actual discussion and not just conservative/liberal bashing. While the debates can sometimes get out of hand and from time to time a panel member deserves to be stabbed a little, as a rule the debates are interesting to watch, and the panel members intelligent. I'm a lazy guy and watching well informed folks argue about political matters can function as a short-hand for actually doing research. I certainly wouldn't be prepared to write a paper afterwards, but it is certainly and entertaining way to become better informed myself. And if you subscribe, like I do, to the idea that debate leads to greater understanding, then Real Time is at least good for something more than laughs and arguments.

Now, yes, the Real Time is hosted by Bill Maher, and I know a lot of people have reservations about him. And I can understand this. Bill Maher is kind of a dick. So if you hate Bill Maher then you likely won't be able to stand this show. Bill Maher is his regular opinionated and overbearing self. He makes sure his (often abrasive) voice is heard. I don't know if I can justify his behaviour, but maybe a debate show like this needs a strong persona like his to keep it focused--perhaps a consistent political frame of reference grounds the show somehow. I like Maher for the most part so this isn't a problem for me, suckas.

For us that don't have HBO (like anyone in Canada) Real Time is easy to find each new episode on YouTube the next day via TULLYCASTS's channel. You don't even have to download this one.

Now, this year will also see the release of Bill Maher's documentary Religulous that is going to be hella controversial. I mean the shit is going to fly when this comes out. Watch the link and prepare to cringe.

Mumbo perhaps. Jumbo perhaps not!

Tentative Optimism

There is an agreement. Let's hope it sticks.
Link.

Maybe the writers will be back?

I read that there is some hope in this hell of a writers strike. Optimistic estimates say they could be going back to work as early as Monday. Yay yes? But even if they do go back to work Monday (and I wouldn't place money on this) our regular scheduled programs aren't going to be popping up on TV for a while. TV takes time to make (duh) and so we all might be forced to continue to survive on American Gladiators (the funniest show on TV at the moment) for another month.

I mean I'm enjoying A Daily Show--in fact, the show's quality sans writers proves that while unassuming, Jon Stewart is likely more charismatic than even Colbert--but I'd really like to see Scrubs and even Chuck back on the air. This is Scrubs' last season and it would be unfortunate to have it spoiled by rushing to wrap things up in a reduced episode order. And Chuck, while still pretty transparent, is doing enough right to make me want to see the next episode. And, really, if I'm ever going to watch Colbert Report again, he needs to get his writers back. That O'Brien thing was pretty good and all but three guests a night really doesn't leave room for a lot of jokes.

I guess I'll hope for the best--Wiarton Willie did predict an early spring. Maybe he also predicted an early end to the strike?

I'm Back

Or I will when I have something to write about. January was a busy month, so apologies.

To tide you over untill I have something to say enjoy this insane article.

They're (He's) Back

So A Daily Show and The Colbert Report are now airing again. Sans writers apparently, but I don't really know how they can put on a show without some form of writing. They can't be adlibing everything, someone has to write the words on those news graphics like "space reserved for clever pun." I'm not sure how they are making this show and not crossing the picket line.

I'm not keeping abreast (hehe) of all the transpiring of the strike but if the issues or behaviours of parties involved have not changed then I'm still siding with the writers and thus hate to see a show--especially two as important and The Daily Show and The Colbert Report--abandon their writers. But! there may be more going on here than I know (I hope), as I wouldn't put it past Viacom owned Comedy Central to encourage the shows' return. I imagine both shows are pretty important for the network and having them gone for several months doesn't help ratings at all.

But in the end should I worry about the moral implications of all this? I do have two of my favourite regular shows back. Seems like I'm looking the gift horse right in the kisser.

**BONUS DOUBLE POST**

Funny guy Aaron F., has got a video on the YouTube off The Offline. Enjoy.



These are the rules: if I know you personally and you put funny stuff on YouTube, I link it. However, Aaron, you could do the rest of us funny people a favour by not being so damn funny all the time. Throwing it out there.

Like Little School Girls

What the hell is wrong with these two guys?

I think it's sorta lame to put yourself in what I think all parties involved knew was going to be a pretty lousy movie and then get upset when someone calls you on it. I was actually disappointed in both David Cross and Jason Lee for taking part in Alvin and the Chipmunks. I sorta understand that sometimes you gotta get paid again, but you need to consider whether a new cottage is really worth jeopardizing the integrity you build the rest of your career on. Cross' comedy is so often about the garbage that is accepted as entertainment/news/politics nowadays and so venomous rants about Scott Stapp lose a little of their bite. That said, Creed always did suck and Cross has occasionally sought a few bucks while trying to mostly do his own not-suck thing.

And I think Oswalt understands the compromise you sometimes make when you need to make some cash and remind the powers that be you can indeed bring in the box-office dollars (I believe those 'munks are currently #2 in theatres?). Thus Oswalt's comment was more likely made in camaraderie than in contention. Really though, how did he not think there might be some confused animosity generated from reference to a (sarcastic yet amicable) joke made in conversation more than a year ago?

Whatever. Both these guys are smart and both of these guys are funny and so it seems they were able to hug-it-out-bitch. What's more amusing to me, however, is how defensive Cross comes across. I think someone is feeling a little ashamed about his decision and might be doth-protesting too much.

Happy new year comedy-cats.