Just in time for Halloween, here is my review for the 1992 horror masterpiece "Candyman"
For children sauntering through the aisles of the video store peeking at R-rated movies they would have to wait an eternity to see, one film in particular likely sends chills down their prepubescent spines: “Candyman.”
The title’s promise of delectable, pleasant mirth is immediately shattered by the film cover's terrifying visual of a blood-red eye with a menacing, man-shaped shadow for a pupil and a solitary bee sitting on the eyelid. The tagline is equally horrific — “We dare you to say his name five times!” — as it creates an insatiable desire to test the declaration while dreading the potential consequences.
In the film, repeating the phrase causes the Candyman (Tony Todd, TV’s “Chuck”) to appear immediately behind the summoner, and he proceeds to hook the person and anybody in the vicinity from “groin to gullet.” But this isn’t just another slasher film with the villain cutting up an endless supply of silly teens who dare test the myth. Instead, “Candyman” serves as an intelligent psychological thriller, examining the impact of an urban legend on the public and individual psyche, while providing enough shocks and chills to be sincerely scary.
Check out the full review here.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Candyman Review
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Lady, play your mandolin!
Hey I'm Izzy, and I'm joining this blog. I'm mostly going to be reviewing films, but this clip was just too good to resist. Adult swim has nothing on it--watch, laugh...cry?
Cold Souls Review
"Cold Souls" is this art-house existential comedy that you'll probably never watch. But here's my review of it:
“Is your soul weighing you down?” asks an advertisement in the pages of a Yellow Book in “Cold Souls.” For actor Paul Giamatti (TV’s “John Adams”), who plays a fictional version of himself, the answer is yes.
Starring in a production of Chekov’s play “Uncle Vanya,” Giamatti feels that he can no longer separate himself from the intensely melancholic character he is playing, which he thinks is causing him physical and emotional strife. His solution, of course, is to undergo the newly popular procedure to “desoul” the body — literally extracting one’s soul out and placing it into a glass jar. Soon enough, Giamatti wants his soul back, only to realize that it has been stolen by a member of an elaborate Russian “soul-trafficking” operation.
Check out the full review here.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
You Might All Be Potheads
A little over a month ago I asked you guys what should be done in regards to marijuana. The results:
Full Legalization of Marijuana - 4 (80%)
Small-scale Decriminalization - 1 (20%)
Only Allow for Medical Purposes - 0 (0%)
No Change in Current Policy - 0 (0%)
We Should Be Stricter - 0 (0%)
FULL SCALE DRUG WAR - 0 (0%)
I'm Not Sure - 0 (0%)
Dude....Where's My Car? - 0 (0%)
You voted for the full legalization of marijuana.
Also, sorry for not posting anything in a long time, but I was doing too much pot to notice.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Whip It Review
Drew Barrymore, the Hollywood starlet once infamous for churning out forgettable romantic comedies and flashing David Letterman, has finally crafted a new identity, exhibiting an unexpected knack for quality filmmaking in her directorial debut, “Whip It.” Using a platoon of accomplished stars, colorful characters and a solid indie-rock soundtrack, Barrymore overcomes a fairly banal script and forges a fantastic film.
Ellen Page (“Juno”), suffering from an unfortunate bout of typecasting, stars as Bliss Cavendar, a denizen of Generic Small Town, TX. Her quirky, rebellious nature is suppressed by the cultural limitations of her hometown and her overbearing mother (Marcia Gay Harden, “The Mist”), who is obsessed with entering Bliss into beauty pageants. Bliss eventually finds her calling, however, in the extreme underground sport of women’s roller derby, regularly sneaking off to Austin where she tries out for, and eventually joins, a derby team.
Predictability ensues, as the film follows the conventions of every “follow your dreams, defy authority” narrative. Still, the plot’s obvious points are far from being a detriment to the film — in avoiding a complex, sprawling story, "Whip It" is able to focus on substantially fleshing out its characters and giving insight into nearly all of the film's numerous supporting roles.
Check out the full review here.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
The Informant! Review
Tales of corporate greed and espionage are rarely as fresh and boisterous as Steven Soderbergh’s — director of “Ocean’s Eleven” — new film “The Informant!” Although the exclamation mark seems a bit silly, it is a necessary addendum to the film’s title, obligatorily expressing the film's inherent zaniness. But don’t let the seemingly lighthearted aura fool you — “The Informant!” contains many layers of depth, delving into the psyche of a compulsive liar.
Matt Damon (“The Bourne Ultimatum”) packs on a few pounds to play the aforementioned fibber, Mark Whitacre, who is a high-ranking executive at agricultural powerhouse Archer Daniels Midland. Despite enjoying the spoils of a cushy career, he begins to tattle to the FBI about his company’s association in a massive price-fixing conspiracy. Whitacre even begins to wear a wire for the feds in hopes of implicating his superiors and taking over the company, but his squealing only snowballs into a never-ending landslide of lies as he perpetually deceives his company, the FBI and even himself.
Check out the full review here.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Awesome Bollywood Video of the Week - 9/14
This week's video is a more unconventional bollywood dance number. As you'll notice, there is little choreographed dancing, except for the two Elvis impersonators flailing about. Aside from them, this is a good representation of a typical Indian wedding - the decorations, the music, the clothes.
The song is called "Emotional Attyachar" from the movie "Dev D." Its really good. I'll lend you the DVD. The song title translates to "Emotional Torture" because, of course some girl broke our hero's heart and now he is drowning his sorrows over the course of the video. Just like in last edition's "Desi Girl", you'll notice a lot of Hinglish.
Example: Bol Bol why did you ditch me? (Tell me, tell me...english)
Zindagi bhi lele yaar kill me (Here, take my life, kill me)
Bol Bol why did you ditch me whore? (yes, they say whore in a Hindi song)
Whiteout Review
Sometimes, at the Daily I have to review really crappy films. This was one of them.
"Whiteout"
A murder mystery in Antarctica is an intriguing concept, especially considering the sheer originality of its sequestered setting. The lack of a permanent human population and gravely cold temperatures have made the chilly continent mostly extrinsic in cinema circles, save for “March of the Penguins,” but its isolation and hazardous environment are ideal for inciting thrills and placing characters in peril. Yet, “Whiteout” fails to capitalize on its unusual locale, instead becoming a film that relies upon enough genre conventions to leave one scouring for synonyms of the word “cliché.” 
Based on the comic book of the same name, “Whiteout” follows U.S. Marshall Carrie Stetko (Kate Beckinsale, “Underworld”), stationed on an Antarctic base, as she investigates the grisly death of a geologist. She is under a severe time constraint— the base is going to be evacuated in three days, before the devastating Antarctic winter sets in. Stetko must confront an important moral dilemma: should she get the hell out of Antarctica and leave the crime to other authorities, or follow her case to the end and be stranded on the base for the next six months. Naturally, our virtuous lead (read: generic) chooses the latter option.
Other characters in “Whiteout” fill a checklist of unabashed stereotypes: the nurturing doctor nearing retirement (Tom Skerritt, TV’s “Brothers & Sisters”), the straight arrow UN officer (Gabriel Macht, “The Spirit”) and the cocky pilot with an unquenchable libido (Alex O’Loughlin, TV’s “Moonlight”). As expected, any sort of development for each lethargically performed character is nonexistent.
This lack of character depth doesn’t hurt the film, as Stetko’s own “dark past” is yet another hackneyed, superfluous element of the story. This backstory, supposedly showing the audience her vulnerability and toughness, unfolds through a series of sepia-toned flashbacks — so you know it was a long time ago. Her character “revelation” is not only predictable, it severely disrupts the flow of the film, often causing it to feel more like a Lifetime Original Movie than a high-tension thriller.
This is unfortunate, as “Whiteout” sets a perfect pace with a marvelous plane crash in its opening sequence. But the filmmakers included too much dialogue, too many extraneous subplots and too little action to maintain the level of excitement. 
Among the film’s few bright spots is its clever mixing of genres – Stetko’s encounters with the pickaxe-wielding villain resemble a scene from a slasher movie, with a frenetic camera following the silent, menacing killer as he chases his prey through gale-force blizzards. If the entire film had followed the approach of these well-crafted but sparse confrontations, the result may have been a competent horror movie.
“Whiteout” features several breathtaking shots of the Antarctic landscape (Hopefully they weren’t constructed through CGI, but they probably were). Of course, since there’s little else the filmmakers have to be proud of in the film, these shots are frustratingly overused, contributing to the brutally slow pace of this a poor excuse for an action thriller.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Awesome Bollywood Video of the Week
This was a feature that I started back in June but I forgot to continue. I thought it was interesting enough to continue, so let's hope I can remember every Monday from now on.
This is a song-and-dance sequence from a movie called "Dostana", where two straight Indian men in Miami pretend to be gay in order to live in a swank apartment. Things get complicated, of course, when they fall in love with their female roommate. This also stars my favorite Bollywood actor, Abhishek Bachchan, who's the bearded chap in the video.
The song is called "Desi Girl", where 'Desi' means 'Indian'. I'll spare you the word-for-word meaning of the lyrics, but the chorus is worth noting:
"Dekh lakh lakh pardesi girls" - I've seen thousands of foreign girls
"Aint nobody like my desi girl" - That's in English.
Translation - Indian woman are whiz-bang
Enjoy.
(500) Days of Summer Interview
This is the write-up of an interview I conducted via web cam with the stars of (500) Days of Summer, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Brick) and Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man).
One of the smash hits of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, “(500) Days of Summer,” has finally made its long-awaited release into cinemas nationwide. The film follows greeting-card company employee Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “Brick”) and his relationship with the girl of his dreams, Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel, “Yes Man”), to understand why it failed. As a decidedly unconventional romantic comedy, it may seem unusual for the film to be released among the season’s typical popcorn movies. But in an interview with The Daily, the stars of the film affirmed that this was the perfect time to release the film.
“This is at heart a very entertaining film … if you’re looking for something a little bit more lighthearted,” Deschanel said.
Gordon-Levitt added, “It’s a really good summer movie … a few less timpani drums and blood, and more Joy Division and kissing. What summer blockbuster has Joy Division and kissing?”
Here's the link to the full interview.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Edward M. Kennedy 1932-2009
It is rare to find a politician who cares so much for the people. After being diagnosed with brain cancer last year, he knew his days were numbered, but he didn't go out without a fight. Well, the fight isn't over yet. His great cause was health care reform. As his family, friends, constituents, and country mourns his passing, let us try to imitate and continue his devotion to the people, by the people, for the people. The Senate has lost its lion.
Here Ted is pictured with brothers John and Robert.
Inglourious Basterds Review
In the near two decades we’ve had Quentin Tarantino as a director, he has become one of the few modern filmmakers with a distinct technique that is carried from film to film, regardless of star-power, budget, or genre. With “Inglourious Basterds” Tarantino brings his approach to the tired, lifeless genre of the World War II epic. Perhaps unsurprisingly, “Basterds,” is a dark, violent saga that’s every bit coarse and distasteful as its incorrectly spelled title.
In trademark Tarantino style, “Basterds” is divided into multiple, eventually converging narratives featuring a bounty of vivid characters. The more-publicized story follows Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) and his crew of scrappy Jewish-American soldiers known as the ‘Basterds’ as they scalp and bludgeon Nazis behind enemy lines. Yet, their tale is paralleled by a story of comparable importance, featuring a French woman named Shosanna (French actress Melanie Laurent) who has a burning desire to take revenge against the Nazis. Coincidentally, Shoshana and the Basterds each devise plans to wipe out the German high command at a movie premiere, which ends with bad Italian accents, explosives galore and a hailstorm of bullets.
Brad Pitt’s presence will certainly help to fill the seats, but the real star of the film is Austrian actor Christoph Waltz, who plays Colonel Hans Landa, the milk-chugging, strudel-munching “Jew Hunter.” Unlike the near-caricature of Amon Goeth in “Schindler’s List,” where the Nazi officer was portrayed as a pure psychopath, Landa is a metaphysical polyglot who is paradoxically both barbaric and sagacious. Expect awards-season hardware for Waltz, who coolly alternates between heartless killer and affable Nazi officer.
Alongside the superb characterization of Landa, Tarantino fortunately evolves “Basterds” beyond the copious, clunky World War II action clones. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to call this an action movie at all. The violence, save for the climactic scene, is dispersed in short, brutal bursts throughout the film. In “Basterds,” the customary, elaborate combat set pieces are replaced by slick conversations at dining tables and rollicking, drunken card games in Parisian basements. 
Unfortunately, Tarantino doesn’t know when to end these dialogues, which continue endlessly and bring the pace to a dead halt by the middle third of the film. There ‘s a reasonable limit to the amount of discussion about German cinema under the Third Reich one can sit through and this movie undeniably reaches it.
“Basterds” is also hampered by a few questionable casting decisions. There’s the irritating portrayal of Adolf Hitler as a frothing lunatic that would fit better in a Tex Avery cartoon. Most notably, the inclusion of Mike Myers (“Austin Powers”) as a British officer is befuddling. Myers only appears in a short scene, plastered with hideous makeup, but his presence is so jarring that all of his dialogue is drowned out by your mind wondering, “Why the hell is Mike Myers in this role?” Although Hitler and Myers have brief parts, their collective buffoonery is agitating enough to leave long-lasting negative impression.
Quentin Tarantino has yet to make a below-average film, and his record remains intact with “Inglourious Basterds.” Even with his annoying Tennessee accent, Brad Pitt and the rest of the ensemble provide enough laughs and thrills to make this a very memorable movie. In classic Tarantino fashion, expect to be simultaneously laughing and squirming by the shockingly over-the-top bloodshed. Just try to stay awake for the rest of the movie.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Funny Winston Churchill Quotes
Here are some decently funny Winston Churchill quotes for a little light reading. I promise I will write a huge post on health care, however.
When I am abroad I always make it a rule never to criticise or attack the Government of my country. I make up for lost time when I am at home.Have a splendid day! Continue Reading...
"A sheep in sheep's clothing"
On Clement Attlee
A modest man, who has much to be modest about
On Clement Attlee
"An empty taxi arrived at 10 Downing Street, and when the door was opened, Atlee got out"
On Clement Attlee
"I wish Stanley Baldwin no ill, but it would have been much better if he had never lived"
On Stanley Baldwin
"He occasionally stumbled over the truth, but hastily picked himself up and hurried on as if nothing had happened"
On Stanley Baldwin
"He looked at foreign affairs through the wrong end of a municipal drainpipe"
On Neville Chamberlain
Lady Astor to Churchill: "Winston, if you were my husband I would flavour your coffee with poison"
Churchill: "Madam, if I were your husband, I should drink it"
Bessie Braddock to Churchill: "Winston, your drunk!"
Churchill: "Bessie, you're ugly, and tomorrow morning I shall be sober"
"What could you hope to achieve except to be sunk in a bigger and more expensive ship this time"
On Admiral Mountbatten
Mexico Decriminalizes Small-Scale Drug Possession and So Should We
I think this is smart for a number of reasons. First of all, the amount you are allowed to have is quite small.Mexico decriminalized small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin on Friday — a move that prosecutors say makes sense even in the midst of the government's grueling battle against drug traffickers.
Prosecutors said the new law sets clear limits that keep Mexico's corruption-prone police from shaking down casual users and offers addicts free treatment to keep growing domestic drug use in check.
"This is not legalization, this is regulating the issue and giving citizens greater legal certainty," said Bernardo Espino del Castillo of the attorney general's office.
The maximum amount of marijuana for "personal use" under the new law is 5 grams — the equivalent of about four joints. The limit is a half gram for cocaine, the equivalent of about 4 "lines." For other drugs, the limits are 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams for methamphetamine and 0.015 milligrams for LSD.It seems counterintuitive at first that to help fix a drug problem one should decriminalize the drugs, but decriminalizing lets it be regulated and controlled. If government-approved drug distributors are established, the drugs can be monitored for safety. Also, as this bill does, you can set a limit for how much drugs one is allowed to possess at one time. In addition, better drug treatment programs can be established based off the revenue from placing a "sin tax" on the drugs.
Anyone caught with drug amounts under the new personal-use limit will be encouraged to seek treatment, and for those caught a third time treatment is mandatory.
The best reason, however, is that it separates the casual users from the distributors and violent traffickers.
Mexico has emphasized the need to differentiate drug addicts and casual users from the violent traffickers whose turf battles have contributed to the deaths of more than 11,000 people since President Felipe Calderon took office in late 2006.Mexico is in the midst of a (relatively futile) war on drugs. This bill separates the real bad guys from the casual users/addicts. Also, it should take business away from the drug traffickers.
I think the real value of this bill is what we Americans can possibly learn from its results. I think passing a similar bill in the U.S. makes sense. Drug use will happen whether it is decriminalized or not, so it makes sense to decriminalize drugs in small amounts and regulate it.
Probably the biggest reason to enact it here, however, is that our prisons are currently full of people charged with drug offenses. Many of these are for minor offenses.
According to the American Corrections Association, the average daily cost per state prison inmate per day in the US is $67.55. State prisons held 253,300 inmates for drug offenses in 2005. That means states spent approximately $17,110,415 per day to imprison drug offenders, or $6,245,301,475 per year.
Don't expect this to be enacted in the U.S. anytime soon, however. While the percentage of people supportive of decriminalizing marijuana is on the rise, it is still too controversial of an issue. However, it will come one day, and when it does, look forward to posters like this one:
Have a nice day! Continue Reading...
A Haiku for Mark Halperin
Sometimes it appears
Only you can present news
This ridiculous.
That snapshot was taken moments ago by myself straight from Mark Halperin's website. There is an actual story behind it, but you would never know from the way he presents it. He also never seems to make any noteworthy critical analysis, yet I still go to his site as soon as I wake up. The reason being I can get the news without any spin. While he occasionally puts spin on things, I never listen to what he has to say. I really just look at the headlines. I recommend it as a way to quickly figure out what has happened during the day politically, but don't expect groundbreaking commentary.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Crash for Clunkers
Many of you have probably heard of Cash for Clunkers, the federal program where the government will give you a $4500 rebate towards a new fuel efficient vehicle when you get rid of your clunker. The program has been a wild success and has been a valuable part of the stimulus package. However, have you heard of Crash for Clunkers?
Pretty freaking sweet.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Geography Quiz
Don't worry, only one question:
Who can tell me what is wrong with this picture?
Have a nice day!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Palin Out of Politics "For Good," or Maybe Not?
Damn. The current news is that she is out of politics for good and will not run for President in 2012, or any other office for that matter.
In a few weeks the Republican Party has lost three of its potential Republican candidates in 2012 - Palin, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (affair), and Nevada Senator John Ensign (affair).
In a recent poll Palin had the highest nationwide approval ratings of all Republicans who were polled. This is definitely a loss if this is true.
Actually, I just read a different report that this isn't true...so what is in the future of Sarah Palin? Probably a lot more press coverage. She tried to bury this on a Friday before a national holiday, but I'm not sure it is doing her very much good.
My guess? We haven't heard the last of Palin in the realm of politics, but I don't think she will have another elected position anytime soon (I'm not saying she won't try, though).
Late Night Funnymen
Why isn't there a single female late-night host? Let's take it one step further. Why isn't there a single non white late night host?
I'm going to skip the rant and just recap the poll.
David Letterman - 0%
No surprise here, Dave is popular among baby-boomers. And they don't read this blog.
Conan O'Brien - 20%
I love Conan's zany humor and legitimately interesting interviews. He's going to be huge once everything settles in.
Jay Leno - 0%
He's not funny and doesn't even have his own TV show again until the fall. Which I will never ever watch. Also, the man has a very large chin.
Jimmy Fallon - 0%
Fallon's humor is inconsistent, but Conan had the same problem at the start of his Late Night career. I only watch his show because of the house band - The Roots! Fallon has this grating style of always laughing at his own jokes.
Craig Ferguson - 0%
His Scottish accent cracks me up already. The man is very funny, but he never seems to have quality guests or skits. Hopefully he'll take over the Late Show once Letterman leaves and he'll take it to another level.
Jon Stewart - 40%
It's kind of cheating, since Stewart has the liberty of being on cable. He can get away with ripping deep into media and the government with boundary-pushing segments. Conan and Letterman are a bit more reserved, as they depend on advertising dollars for their shows to stay afloat. For the same reason, Stewart doesn't have to suck up to his guests and gets a lot more "intellectual" people on his show.
Stephen Colbert - 20%
Some people that Colbert has surpassed his creator (Stewart) in hilarity, but I just feel like they are perfect complements. Colbert is more wacky and inside-jokey while Stewart is the king of satire. Both are great.
Carson Daly - 0%
Carson Daly? The guy on TRL? Has his own show? Yes, it's called "Last Call with Carson Daly" and it is on after Jimmy Fallon on NBC. Don't ask me why. Don't ask me who watches the show. I don't think anybody does.
Jimmy Kimmel - 0%
"Man-Show" castoff Jimmy Kimmel has found an audience somehow. Again, I don't think he's funny and I don't know a single person who watches his show. I almost even forgot to put him on the list.
Talk Show Hosts are the Devil - 20%
At least somebody was honest.
Sarah Palin to Resign as AK Governor - My Analysis
Woah. I did not see this coming. I was pretty sure she wouldn't run for re-election as Alaska's Governor in 2010 due to her apparent national ambitions, but resigning? That is a little unheard of. Mike Huckabee (Arkansas) and Mitt Romney (Mass.) were both governors who decided against running for a second term, and both ended up running for President later. Current Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty recently decided against running for a third term, and I believe that is to run for President in 2012 as well. However, nobody has resigned to do it before that I know of.
I read Mark Halperin's blog everyday, even though I think his analysis is awful. However, I think he put together a decent list today. Mark Halperin's Ten Reasons why Palin isn't Seeking Re-election:
My initial reaction was...maybe she isn't running for President. Resigning halfway through your first term as Governor doesn't seem like a good thing to do before making a bid for the Presidency, but it makes some sense. Palin's biggest problem is her lack of national and international experience. I think everyone can remember her apparent ability to see Russia from her house. By resigning at the end of the month she is freeing herself up more to try and build up her "creds."1. Her political standing has slipped enough that she could lose if she tried to retain her current office.
2. Her political standing has slipped enough that even if she won, she would likely be bloodied in the race, maybe even in a primary.
3. Even more ethics complaints (many frivolous) would be filed against her.
4. She's got a book to write.
5. She's got a special needs baby to raise.
6. It is logistically impossible to run for president as the sitting governor of Alaska -- because of flight times. (Not hard: *impossible*)
7. She can't truly explore her money-making potential as an incumbent governor.
8. She can't truly explore her media potential as an incumbent governor.
9. The legislature has turned so much against her that the job isn't much fun any more.
10. If she wants to be the Republican Party's presidential nominee in 2012, she needs to spend more time raising money, establishing her international and national expertise, and traveling the Lower 48. And she needs to start now.
I watched Palin's press conference. She definitely sounded like someone who is looking to run for President. She made countless references to what is best for both the state of Alaska and the nation as a whole.
Another thought I had was that Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are both practically campaigning already. They don't hold any office currently and are in the news all the time. Palin has only been in the news recently fighting with David Letterman.
For those who were wondering, at the end of the month when Palin leaves office her Lt. Governor Sean Parnell (Republican) will be sworn in as Governor. I know very little about him other than he tried to beat Don Young in a Republican primary for Alaska's sole representative in Congress, but he lost, even though Young was being investigated at the time. To his credit, the Democrat surprisingly lost as well in November, so Young seems to be pretty good at surviving. Continue Reading...
Thursday, July 2, 2009
This Makes Me Sick
And makes me want to cry:
What the hell? You want increased national security by having a major terrorist attack within the country? You want increased security for Americans by having Americans killed?
As Jon Stewart said,
"Is there any way you can YELL LOUD ENOUGH at your TV for the people inside to hear you, because I tried real hard last night."Of course this was on Fox News.
Nobody else would let the guy on. Continue Reading...
Do Republicans Have the Moral High Ground?
There tends to be a conception that the Republican Party is the party of values. Is this true? Here to help solve the riddle is senior political analyst and friend of the blog, Stephen Colbert!
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| ||||
No. This is not true. There are countless more examples of valueless Republicans (Limbaugh, Ted "Tube" Stevens, Ensign, etc.).
How about the Democrats? Nope, not true either. They have their own bad guys. Clinton, John Edwards, Spitzer, Rod Frickin' Blagojevich, William Jefferson.
Conclusion: They are all politicians. Adultery, Prostitution, Corruption, Oh My! Continue Reading...
Rush Limbaugh Quote of the Day 7/2 - Al Franken/Iran/November 08
Rush:
"Look at this. From Iran's press television, the state-run media in Iran: Ahmadinejad gains votes in recount, just like in our country! It had -- just like in our country. Norm Coleman wins in Minnesota in a recount, and they keep having recounts, and Al Franken wins. So they had the recount in Iran, and shazzam! Ahmadinejad gained votes!"And shazzam! Add Minnesota to the axis of evil folks. Damn that Al Frankenidad and Ayatollah Pawlenty.
Al Franken will make an interesting Senator. No, I don't think there was any wrong-doing in the Minnesota election. Yes, I do think there was mass voter fraud in Iran. Why? Maybe because 50 or so cities had more votes cast than eligible voters. That is a start. Did Ahmadinejad actually lose? No idea. Will he be removed from office? No.
Franken's win finally concludes the last of the November 2008 elections. The day before the elections, November 3rd, I made predictions for each state in the Presidential race, each Senate race, each Governor's race, and each House race. My results?
President: I predicted Obama would win 375 electoral votes to McCain's 163. Actual Result: Obama - 365, McCain - 173. I miscalled Missouri and one of Nebraska's congressional districts.
Senate: I predicted all 35 races correctly.
Governor: I predicted all 11 races correctly.
House: I predicted 421 of 435 races correctly.
Overall? I did pretty damn good. I may need to find a way to bet money next election day. Continue Reading...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
July Movie Preview Part 1
July is here, with promises of salvation after a (mostly) underwhelming summer of movies thus far. Aside from "Star Trek" and "Up", no movie has been truly great. But Depp vs. Bale is sure to turn heads come Oscar season and Sacha Baron Cohen makes his triumphant return. Harry Potter reaches his penultimate chapter and Judd Apatow has finally directed another movie. Oh, and there's this little indie movie I'm kind of excited about.
Here's Part 1.
The Over-Hyped Movie?:
Public Enemies, July 1
Note the question mark! I'm not saying that it's going to be bad. Let's just not too excited yet. Sure, it has the makings of a classic. Johnny Depp, as legendary gangster John Dillinger, and Christian Bale, his police pursuer Melvin Purvis, are undoubtedly two of the finest actors of our generation. The cast is rounded out by several underrated supporting players, with Billy Crudup (sans the blue wang) as FBI honcho J. Edgar Hoover, Stephen Graham (Tommy in "Snatch") as Baby Face Nelson, and David Wenham (Faramir!) as another member of Dillinger's gang. Ladies get a strong push, missing from most Michael Mann movies, with the addition of Oscar winner Marion Cotillard as Dillinger's girlfriend. And of course, cat-and-mouse movies are always fun to watch, especially with suave antiheroes.
So what am I worried about? Hype. Hype is a bad thing. Maybe the worst of things. And it needs to die. I'm guilty of this on several occasions. "Benjamin Button" is a good example. A great director (David Fincher), superb actor (Brad Pitt), and smart story was, by my expectations, supposed to lead to an incredible film. It turned out to be just a good film. The moral of the story is don't hype dramatic movies surrounded with great talent (comedies and action flicks are exceptions). No matter how awesome "Public Enemies" it is, it will be hard to live up to your expectations. Still, watch and enjoy. Long black trenchcoats and giant tommy guns are always cool.
Box Office Prediction: $120 million (because it's rated R)
Guaranteed Comedic Gold:
Bruno, July 10
This one's pretty obvious. "Borat" was a phenomenon in 2006, and deservedly so. It was risky, hilarious, and took comedy to unprecedented levels (remember the naked fight?) Now that the formula is proven, "Bruno"'s quality is pretty set in stone. Instead of ambushing civilians as a Kazakhi journalist, Sacha Baron Cohen will now adopt the guise of a gay Austrian fashion reporter.
It's surprising that even after the worldwide success of "Borat", he was still able to dupe enough people to make a feature-length film. It's exciting, as this is likely to be Baron Cohen's last film in this manner. He has already retired two of the characters from "Da Ali G Show", Ali G and Borat. The third, Bruno, will probably follow the same path after his movie is released.
Even if you disliked "Borat", give "Bruno" a chance. The man put his safety on the line and reportedly got arrested several times in order for this movie to work. Expect lots of nudity and stomach-splitting laughter. For a taste, here's one of Bruno's best sketches from season 2 of "Da Ali G Show."
Box Office Prediction: $120 million (less than "Borat" since homosexuality is more uncomfortable than racism)
The Promising Adaptation
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, July 15
I've always been indifferent towards the Harry Potter movies. There's something inherently dull about watching a movie for the first time when you know exactly what's going to happen. I still watched them all in theaters and they were all pretty "meh" until the big Dumbledore-Voldemort duel at the end of "Order of the Phoenix". That's when Harry Potter movies took the next step, transforming a ho-hum battle within the pages to a tremendous brawl that transfixed the audience.
Judging from the trailer, "Half Blood Prince" is going to continue this process. Instead of blindly restricting themselves to the pages of the novel, the filmmakers are going to take mild liberties in order to create their own spin of the story. As countless literary adaptations have proved, what works in a book doesn't always work in the movies.
Exhibit A: 1:54 in the trailer, where a bridge in London is dismantled by Death Eaters. Don't remember that in the book. But it looks outstanding, and will contribute to the dark tone and faster, action-oriented pace of the movie.
Other additions include the attack on the Burrow (correct me if I'm wrong) and a larger role for that terrifying Werewolf guy who appears to destroy Diagon Alley. The cinematography looks first class, too. I'm getting goosebumps.
Hopefully the Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione snogging, the worst parts of the book, will be kept to a minimum.
And yay. Quidditch is back. It's about time.
Box Office Prediction: $310 million (two years since the last movie and the last book. People need their Potter fix)
Rush Limbaugh Quote of the Day 7/1 - RIP Michael Jackson
Why does everything have to be political for Rush?
"[Michael Jackson] reached a level of success that may never be equaled. He flourished under Reagan, he languished under Clinton/Bush, and died under Obama. Let's hope the parallel does not continue."Talk about trying to take any bit of news and spin it for your own gain. However, this does give me an opportunity to say goodbye to Michael. He had a screwed up life, but he was one hell of a musician. I especially love his work as part of the Jackson 5. Here is their hit song "I Want You Back."
Here is "ABC." Seriously, the kid was incredible.
And of course, let us not forget his dancing. Here is an excerpt from my favorite Michael Jackson solo song, "Billie Jean."
You stay classy and have a happy July. Continue Reading...
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Rush Limbaugh Quote of the Day 6/30 & The 22nd Amendment
I'm not sure I want "Rush Limbaugh Quote of the Day" to become a regular theme of our blog, but Limbaugh keeps opening his mouth. I am convinced that every time Limbaugh opens his mouth, God kills a kitten.
I have provided the full quote in all of its glory.
You have to wonder if Obama is just trying to lay a foundation for not being a hypocrite when he tries to serve beyond 2016. I wouldn't be at all surprised if in the next number of years there is a move on the 22nd Amendment, which term limits the President of the United States. He may not do it that way, he may not openly try to change the Constitution. But there might be this movement in the country from his cult-like followers to support the notion that a democratically-elected leader who is loved and adored has carte blanc once elected. Just serve as long as he wants because the people demand it, because the people want it, because the people love it.
And I wouldn't put it past Obama to be plotting right now how to serve beyond 2016 and I think the way he's reacting to what's happening in Honduras - Look, they've got a constitution, they're a democratically-elected set of officials down there and you had a guy running the country, Mel Zelaya, who was just going to basically rip that country's democracy to shreds and the country moved in to stop in him from doing it and Obama sides with the guy who wanted to rip up the constitution. He sides with other dictators in the region. Regardless, I mean, one thing is clear here: Obama is nothing if not a hardcore liberal. Always, always more sympathetic, appearing to side with the bad guys on the world stage.
And I'll tell you folks, this business about running beyond 2016, you know, the thing that when you look at Obama's followers - and we've discussed it here - they are a cult-like bunch and their attachment to him is not political, it's not ideological, it is not issue-wise, it is cultish. It includes a wide percentage of minorities, by the way, who for different reasons, who will come to think that he simply cannot be replaced. Let him succeed with amnesty, for example, and all the illegal aliens who are instantly made citizens. He'll be too important. Just like right now he's too big to fail as far as the drive-bys are concerned, he's too important to be replaced. No one else can lead the nation, they will say. And they won't care a whit about the legalities that might be trampled. Half of the legalities if they don't even know about them because they haven't been properly educated. I think this situation in Honduras is very instructive. Anybody who thinks that he intends to just constitutionally go away in 2016 is nuts ... These are people who seek power for reasons other than to serve. They seek to rule.
Incredible. Obama isn't half a year into his first term and Rush is already accusing him of wanting to run for a third term. When asked to respond to this claim Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, refuted it. Nice try Mr. Gibbs, but Rush and I are on to you and your little games.
Until we meet again, you stay classy America.
Continue Reading...
Rush Limbaugh Quote of the Day 6/29/The Situation in Honduras
Sorry this is a day late, but I forgot to post it yesterday. El Rushbo keeps talking out of his rear. Yesterday I was woken up to his soothing voice saying, "Obama loves anti-American, authoritarian leaders. That's just a fact, folks!"
It cracks me up whenever Rush Limbaugh says something is a fact. He says it every time after something ludicrous, as if by saying it is fact it will magically become a fact.
Limbaugh was talking about the current situation in Honduras, in which a military led coup was completed removing President Zelaya from power. Zelaya was allowed to escape the country and go to Costa Rica. The coup took place because he had political enemies who: 1) hated him, and 2) believed he was being unconstitutional by issuing a non-binding survey of some sort that had something to do with him wanting to have another term of office as President, which isn't allowed under the Honduran constitution. As you can see, I am hazy on those details, but he had taken no actual step towards enabling himself to have another term, so I'm not sure if that is in violation of the constitution or not, but I know that a coup sure of hell is.
Now the United States, the neighboring Central American countries, and now the United Nations have all denounced the coup and only recognize Zelaya as the true leader of Honduras. Adding to the intensity is the news that Zelaya is promising to return to Honduras on Thursday. The Attorney General Luis Alberto Rubi said Zelaya will be arrested as soon as he takes a step in the country and will face 20 years in prison for "numerous charges."
Here to tell us more is Brown Paper, White Paper Senior Analyst and friend of the show Jon Stewart!!!
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Spy Low Sell High | ||||
| ||||
So Limbaugh referred to Zelaya as an anti-American, authoritarian leader who Obama loves. Classic. Obviously he hadn't seen this picture of Zelaya wearing a cowboy hat, because nothing is more pro-American than a cowboy hat.
You stay classy US of A.
Continue Reading...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Awesome Bollywood Video of the Week
This a new feature I'm going to post every Monday. An awesome song and dance from a Bollywood movie. We're going to start with a favorite of Kyle's, the song "Jhoom Barabar Jhoom" from the movie of the same name. It stars my favorite actor, Abhishek Bachchan. Enjoy.
A Day of Celebration in Iraq
Iraqi forces assume formal control of Baghdad and other cities on Tuesday after American troops hand over security in urban areas in a defining step toward ending the U.S. combat role in the country.This is a huge step towards ending our intervention in Iraq, not to mention a huge day for the people of Iraq, who seem downright pleased. In contrast, somewhere Dick Cheney is crying right now. Continue Reading...
Fireworks, not bombings, colored the Baghdad skyline late Monday, and thousands attended a party in a park where singers performed patriotic songs. Loudspeakers at police stations and military checkpoints played recordings of similar tunes throughout the day, as Iraqi military vehicles decorated with flowers and national flags patrolled the capital.
"All of us are happy — Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds on this day," Waleed al-Bahadili said as he celebrated at the park. "The Americans harmed and insulted us too much."
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared a public holiday and proclaimed June 30 as "National Sovereignty Day." [...]
The gathering at the Baghdad park was unprecedented in size for such a postwar event in a city where people tend to avoid large gatherings for fear of suicide bombers. They ignored an appeal by Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi to stay away from crowded places during the U.S. pullback, which has seen more than 250 people killed in bombings over the past 10 days.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Robot Chicken - Star Wars
Robot Chicken, which is on Adult Swim, is a pretty funny show, especially its two Star Wars episodes. Here are some clips. The first one has something to do with politics at least.
This next one cracks me up.
This one is thrown in for good measure.
You can watch all of Robot Chicken Star Wars Episode I on AdultSwim.com. The second episode is really funny too, but I haven't found it online...yet. Continue Reading...
An Ode To Rush Limbaugh
So, el Rushbo is an idiot. I just heard him blame Mark Sanford's affair on Obama. Apparently Obama's leadership has caused Sanford to hate life and wonder "what's the point?" He even made a hint at Obama causing people to commit suicide. So, this is the post where I have some fun and show how incredibly ridiculous of a person Limbaugh really is. No need for my own words, however, I will just give you some examples of his:
"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. ... This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting."
--on an ad by Michael J. Fox endorsing Claire McCaskill for Senate for supporting embryonic stem cell research (Watch video)
"They're 12 percent of the population. Who the hell cares?"
--On African-Americans
"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"
"Hugo, Cesar — whatever. A Chavez is a Chavez. We've always had problems with them."
"I love hugging myself; I love human contact."
"I'm just watching Sen. 'Dick Turban,' ah, Dick Turban is doing his — from Illinois — he of Club G'itmo fame. Ha! I wish Roberts would have shown up in the Club G'itmo T-shirt today. Maybe, maybe a Club G'itmo java coffee cup, just for Dick Turban. Ah, but anyway, Dick Turban."
--On Dick Durbin
"And don't forget, Sherrod Brown is black. There's a racial component here, too. And now, the newspaper that I'm reading all this from is The New York Times, and they, of course, don't mention that."
--on the 2006 Ohio Senate primary race involving then-Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who is white
"This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation...I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of the need to blow some steam off?"
--on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal
"Too many whites are getting away with drug use...Too many whites are getting away with drug sales...The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them, and send them up the river, too."
--in 1995
"I am addicted to prescription pain medication."
--in 2003
"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."
"We're not sexists, we're chauvinists -- we're male chauvinist pigs, and we're happy to be because we think that's what men were destined to be. We think that's what women want."
"She comes to me when she wants to be fed. And after I feed her -- guess what -- she's off to wherever she wants to be in the house, until the next time she gets hungry. She's smart enough to know she can't feed herself. She's actually a very smart cat. She gets loved. She gets adoration. She gets petted. She gets fed. And she doesn't have to do anything for it, which is why I say this cat's taught me more about women, than anything my whole life."
--on his cat
"The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies."
"There are more acres of forestland in America today than when Columbus discovered the continent in 1492."
"I know these people like I know every square inch of my glorious naked body."
--on Democrats
"RAWR! HAVE A NICE DAY!" Continue Reading...
Monday, June 15, 2009
News Dumpage!
So, Kyle is finally done with school, so after a month of no blogging, Kyle is back. Not in black, however, as I am shirtless at the moment. Let that image sink in. As Kavi would say..."ooh..kinky!"
Anywho, so what has happened politically in the last month? A whole frickin' ton of poo has happened, that's what.
Cuba has come an inch closer to being with the rest of the world, as North Korea has taken a plunge in the opposite direction. The list of those pissed at North Korea includes: South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, the USA, the EU, the UN, Chuck Norris, and the rest of the world. Somewhere Kim Jung Il is laughing to himself because he doesn't have any friends.
Obama gave another big speech. He seems to do that a lot. The one I am talking about was on new Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor...or was it on his new health care plan? Oh no, this one was on Israel and the Middle East. He had some stern words for Israel.
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides with the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon those with great vengeance and with furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know that my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee."Oh wait, I think I got Obama confused with Samuel L. Jackson again. He actually said something about Israel needing to stop putting settlements in the West Bank. Benjamin Netanyahu just said he was okay with that, but Netanyahu is kind of a hard-ass, so don't get too excited. I need to see the goods first before I'm sold.
In other news, Sarah Palin is in a vicious verbal brawl with comedian David Letterman. While I don't think Letterman's jokes were very funny, Palin is trying to play the victim at a point when nobody cares. Here is a little taste of the fight:
She also said Letterman’s joke that she looked like a “slutty flight attendant” as “pretty pathetic”. Letterman in the above response said he thought the flight attendant joke was actually pretty good.I promise this is the first of many new posts to come. Have a great day! Continue Reading...
I Was Right! w/ UPDATE!
A day after my horrendous box office projection for "The Hangover", I aced my NBA finals prediction: Lakers in 5 games, Kobe Bryant Finals MVP.
And I just beat Kyle in fantasy baseball this week. Things are looking up...
UPDATE: Kavi is kind of a dick, and no Kavi, you cannot have Aubrey Huff!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
I Was Wrong
I predicted that "The Hangover" would be a big hit and gross a total of $83 million dollars this summer. In 8 days, it's already made that amount. Impressive.
Friday, June 5, 2009
June Movie Preview Part 1
It's already Friday afternoon but I'm going to crank this out. It has been long-gestating in my mind. These previews of the major films that are going to be released in the month of June.
The Film Fratboys Will Be Endlessly Quoting in the Fall:
The Hangover
Like Tropic Thunder last year, Superbad from two years ago, and Wedding Crashers from four years ago, The Hangover will be an extremely funny movie enjoyed by all people between the ages of 16 and 30. But it will suffer from overexposure as college freshmen across the United States will begin a continuous stream of dialogue recitation and scene recollections from the film until Christmas.
(Sample Exchange)
Fratboy #1: "Dude, did you see The Hangover?"
Fratboy #2: "Yeah, remember the part when Mike Tyson punches the guy in the face while listening to Elton John?"
Fratboy #1: "Yeah! That was awesome! Kegstand woohoo!"
The Hangover is from director Todd Phillips of Old School fame, which is now regarded as a our generation's Animal House. Since then, Phillips made the pretty-good Starsky and Hutch and the crap School for Scoundrels, but now he has a chance to reclaim former glory with another all-out, R-rated raunchfest with underrated comedic talent. Old School uncorked Vince Vaughn's comedic gifts (see his IMDB credits before it) and raised Will Ferrell from Saturday Night Live has-been to the decade's iconic funnyman. 
Similarly, The Hangover stars several familiar comedic veterans that have been sidelined as supporting players for most of their careers. Bradley Cooper had great parts in Yes Man and Wedding Crashers, but he was not the lead role. Ed Helms is known from his brilliance on "The Office" and "The Daily Show" but he's always second-fiddle at best. The third lead is Zach Galifianakis, an obese, bearded mountain-man famous for his Comedy Central stand-up and Kanye West music videos. The man is hilarious but has never been given a proper chance on the big screen.
Overall, The Hangover is sure to be a wonderful movie that will rightfully steer the careers of the three leads. The studio has so much faith in the movie's success that a sequel is already in the works. See it just so you know what everyone's going to be referencing in the fall.
Prediction: $83 million gross
The Film Where Will Ferrell Runs Around and Shouts
Land of the Lost
We've all seen it before and the trailer promises more. Just like Talladega Nights and Anchorman, Will Ferrell is a loveable goof who happens to be very good at his job. And somehow, he'll end up running and shouting inane things, with or without clothes on. This time he's Dr. Rick Marshall who is transplanted into an alternate dimension/universe/something. The film is taken from the 1974 TV series of the same name that I had never heard of before. 
Hopefully, with the addition of the lovely Anna Friel from "Pushing Daises" and last year's breakthrough star Danny McBride, there will be enough fresh faces to make the film worthwhile. Sadly, I predict that this will be the first big flop of the summer. From the trailer, it seems to be to slapstick for adults and too rude for children. And I'll give you $5 for every person you know that watched the original TV series and feels nostalgic for it.
Prediction: A paltry $60 million (for such a big-budget movie)
The End of the Road for Jack Black and Michael Cera
Year One
Hollywood must think that audiences are really stupid. They have actors repeat a certain character or slight variation of a character, churning out movies until they are no longer profitable.
Subject #1: Michael Cera
On the big screen, Cera was the go-to guy for innocent, awkward teenagers since his role in Superbad. But take away that and his bit part in Juno and what's left? Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, where he plays the exact same character. And it was a flop, because audiences are already sick of his limited range. Now think about we legions of "Arrested Development" devotees who grew with the exact same characterizations with George Michael Bluth for three years?
The trailer for Year One doesn't promise anything different for Cera. The same stammering around women, the same sensitivity, and the same mild outbursts of anger. I love you Mike, but you're time is ending. Find some other character to play or you'll be finished. Although I do have hope for you in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Subject #2: Jack Black
As Barry, John Cusack's obnoxious-yet-delightful record store employee, Black's incredible energy and knack for comedy came out of the blue in High Fidelity. This blend of high-energy incompetence successfully continued for Jack Black in Saving Silverman and Orange County, until he finally nabbed a proper lead role in School of Rock(Shallow Hal doesn't count). This was the pinnacle of Jack Black's career as a good-natured oaf; subsequent attempts, such as Nacho Libre, have tanked.
Again, from the trailer for Year One it looks like Jack Black will royally screw up but will have to muster the courage to save the day. Black will survive, due to his non-acting talents (he's in a famous band!) and strong performances in ensemble pictures, when he's not the lead, such as Tropic Thunder and King Kong(he was good!).
I'm not going to go in detail about the plot, as I'm sure you've seen a preview by now. The director is Harold Ramis (glasses guy in Ghostbusters) but he hasn't made a good film since Groundhog Day(1993). The success obviously hinges on whether or not viewers will be willing to see Cera and Black do their same tired routines, but the film has other positive factors. There's the interesting, unconventional plot that may jab at Christianity and receive some controversy. Also there's the strength of the unnaturally awesome costars: David Cross(Tobias!), Paul Rudd, Hank Azaria, Olivia Wilde(Thirteen on "House"), and Vinnie Jones(Bullet Tooth Tony). This could go either way.
Prediction: $54 million, because I think audiences are done with them.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
NBA Finals Prediction
I almost forgot to do this:
With 7:09 left in the 3rd quarter of game one
What I hope will happen: Magic in 7 games, Rashard Lewis Finals MVP
What will really happen: Lakers in 5 games, Kobe Bryant Finals MVP
Peace.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
India Fun Facts!
I would like to share some fascinating tidbits about India with you:
MTV India doesn't play any music videos either.
For denizens, it's not "hot" until its 120 degrees.
Shave, haircut and delightful head massage: $1
Long cricket matches have a mandatory timeout for "tea time".
Department store employees don't smile. It is sad.
Wearing plaid shorts in public will cause people to stare at you.
It is safer to swim across a river infested with rabid crocodiles than to drive a vehicle in Indian traffic.
Everybody drinks chai and eats mangoes all the time.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Broadcast TV - Poll Recap
You were asked which broadcast network you most regularly watch. These results are going to be interesting, since the average demographic of this blog is presumed to lie between the ages of 18-49, which is also the demographic most sought after by advertisers.
Example: CSI is the most watched scripted (non-reality) show on television. Yet, advertisers would be more inclined towards its Thursday 9pm rival "The Office", which has a very high amount of 18-49 viewers. Thus, CSI's success among old retired people is irrelevant.
ABC - 22%
Understandable, as ABC makes it a point to attract viewers across all demographics. You have "LOST" for all ages, "Grey's Anatomy" for under-30 women, "Scrubs" for twentysomethings, and "Desperate Housewives" for middle-aged homemakers.
CBS- 0%
Interesting result, since CBS is widely known as "America's most watched network." Yet everyone who watches redundant crime procedurals such as "CSI" and its various iterations tends to be older. Young people don't want to see the same solve-a-murder-within-60-minutes TV show each week.
NBC - 33%
This makes the most sense. NBC has shows skewed directly towards the 18-49 demographic, especially its entire Thursday night lineup with "The Office" and "30 Rock." They're too unconventional for older generations, but they fit perfectly with our generations comedy tastes: a mixture of subtle and physical humor with no laugh track. Additionally, shows like "Heroes" and "Chuck" have low overall ratings but are big hits among university age folk.
FOX - 22%
"American Idol" is watched by over 21 million people. FOX brilliantly programs off-beat shows right after the reality juggernaut in order to boost their ratings. This has created a consistent viewership in shows like "House" and "Bones, and more recently, "Fringe." Now if FOX could put "Dollhouse" after Idol next year...And there's always "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons," both beloved by college-age kids.
PBS - 22%
Liars! Just because you want to look smart...
CW - 0%
The only people who watch the CW are college freshman who love "Gossip Girl." And none of them read this blog.