I Lost My Girl To A Guy Named Jesus August 14, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Pop Culture, Television.1 comment so far
I had a random neural firing the other day that led me to recall a short-lived sketch comedy show from the mid-90s. Exit 57 aired on Comedy Central with only 12 episodes, and it starred both Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris. I can clearly remember a number of the sketches, and here’s one of my favorites thanks to YouTube:
Happy Birthday, Rosie! June 20, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Family, Parenting, Personal, Pop Culture, Television.1 comment so far
Our girl Rosie turned seven years old today! It’s hard to believe that she will be starting 2nd grade in a little over two months. She’s enjoying swim team this summer with three 1st place finishes and one 2nd place finish in four starts. Also, Rosie’s entering into the wonderful world of Nintendo DS as she decided that’s what she wanted over a party with friends. Game on!
To celebrate, here’s a little Lucky Seven Sampson:
It’s Business Time! May 1, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Music, Pop Culture, Television.1 comment so far
About a month ago, Anna and I were introduced to a little band called Flight of the Conchords, who bill themselves as “Formerly New Zealand’s fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo.” We watched their clips over and over on YouTube and quickly jumped on the bandwagon by renting the first season of the Flight of the Conchords television show on HBO.
If you haven’t hear of them, then it’s time you did. If you have, then you know it’s business time!
Star Wars gets Spiked April 3, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Movies, Pop Culture, Star Wars, Television.2 comments
Many of you will be watching the Season 4 premiere of Battlestar Galactica on the Sci-Fi Channel this Friday night as legions of Battle Droids lay waste to many Gungans on Spike TV. All six Star Wars movies will be shown on Spike TV beginning on April 4th at 8:00 pm with The Phantom Menace, followed by Attack of the Clones on Saturday and the broadcast premiere of Revenge of the Sith on Sunday. The saga will continue Friday April 11th at 8 pm with Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday, and Return of the Jedi on Sunday. Do not underestimate the power of the Force.
Iron Chef: Nintendo March 20, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Food, Gaming, Pop Culture, Television.3 comments
I’ve seen Iron Chef and Iron Chef America a handful of times, but they are not “Must See TV” for me. Both shows are exciting and enjoyable to watch, and I think they’re partly responsible for the appeal of the Nintendo DS and Wii Cooking Mama video game series. Following the success of those games, Destineer and United Media announced last week that they will be bringing the Iron Chef franchise to both systems. Allez Cuisine!
Yes, it’s Superdelegate! February 20, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Politics, Pop Culture, Television.2 comments
Louder than a screaming pundit!
More powerful than a local voter!
Able to speak talking points in a single sound bite!
Look up in the city a mile high!
It’s Robert Byrd!
It’s Howard Dean!
It’s Superdelegate!
Yes, it’s Superdelegate, strange Democrat from another district who came to Denver with voting powers and abilities far beyond those of pledged delegates. Superdelegate, who can change the course of mighty elections, fashion candidates in his bare hands, and who, disguised as an unpledged party leader or elected official for a major political party, brokers a never ending convention for Clinton, Obama, and the Democratic way.
Special thanks to @ehoffman on Twitter for helping to spark the idea for this post.
Science teachers gone bad January 23, 2008
Posted by davegoblog in Pop Culture, Science, Technology, Television.1 comment so far
Why is this man running through the desert in only his underwear, shoes, socks, and an apron? “Breaking Bad” begins by smacking the viewer in the face with a very frantic Walter White (portrayed brilliantly by Bryan Cranston of “Malcolm in the Middle”) wildly driving an RV while sirens blare in the distance. What the heck is this high school chemistry teacher doing?
Flash to three weeks earlier. We learn that in addition to teaching, Walter works the cash register at a local car wash to make ends meet. He has a pregnant wife who sells various knick-knacks via online auctions, a teenage son with cerebral palsy, and a Pontiac Aztek that is falling apart. The day after his surprise 50th birthday party, he collapses at the car wash and is rushed to the hospital only to discover he has inoperable lung cancer even though he’s never smoked. The doctor gives him two years at best.
What’s Walter to do? Why not start a mobile methamphetamine lab with a former chemistry student?
One of the funniest parts (for me) is when Walter steals lab equipment from the school and shows it to his former student and now business partner. In addition to the prized 5000 mL round-bottom flask, he’s taken lab safety gear to protect himself while cooking the meth. Just like a good chemistry teacher – safety first, even when breaking the law.
“Breaking Bad” airs on AMC on Sunday nights at 10pm, and the first episode is currently available as a free download on iTunes.
There Ain’t No Hole in the Washtub December 18, 2007
Posted by davegoblog in Family, Movies, Personal, Pop Culture, Television, Weather.3 comments
Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas is my favorite holiday special to watch this time of year. I don’t remember the first time I saw it, but it fills my Christmas memories with Muppet peace and joy. It’s reminiscent of O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi,” but in this version the humble Ma Otter and her son, Emmet, seek to buy presents for each other in a time after Pa Otter has died. Emmet longs for a guitar with mother of pearl inlays he saw at the music store in Waterville, while nothing would make him happier than to get Ma a decent Christmas present. Both of them secretly enter the local talent contest in the hope of winning the top prize of $50 to use for the other’s gift.
My favorite scene is when Ma and Emmet try out the old ice slide that Pa made – probably the best thing he ever built according to Emmet. There are a number of cuts during this sequence between the Muppet hand puppets and marionettes that always make me chuckle. The strings are there as they slide down the river bank and disappear once the characters are on the ice. Part of the fun for me comes from the laughter and joy that Ma and Emmet share, which lets them ease the loss of Pa and celebrate him at the same time.
The music written by the Muppet-like Paul Williams is an integral component of the story and is finely woven into it via the talent contest. From the catchy “There Ain’t No Hole in the Washtub” to the moving “When the River Meets the Sea,” the soundtrack helps to make Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas another star in the Jim Henson universe.
Childhood Crush Confession 101 December 6, 2007
Posted by davegoblog in Blogging, Movies, Personal, Pop Culture, Sports, Star Wars, Television.14 comments
It started one week ago tomorrow. The confessions of your childhood crushes was spawned as an idea by Gedeon Maheux during an exchange on Twitter last Friday. Here’s a list of the participants, so you can see for whom we swooned:
And now, these are my confessions:
Who remembers the Ice Princess? It was said to be the world’s largest uncut diamond. What world was that? The wonderful soap opera world of General Hospital in the early 1980s. With it in his possession, the evil megalomaniac, Dr. Evil Mikkos Cassadine, wished to harness the power of the Ice Princess to control the weather…and the world! Mooohahaha!!! Who would save Port Charles and make my heart skip a beat while doing it? Why none other than Laura Spencer (Genie Francis) and…oh yeah, some guys named Luke (Anthony Geary) and Scorpio (Tristan Rogers).
***
From Luke & Laura and the Ice Princess to Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. I always wanted to be Luke when playing with my Star Wars action figures as a kid, and my friend (Donnie) would be Han Solo. Prior to Return of the Jedi (1983), both of us would vie for the affections of the young senator from Alderaan. After RotJ, it got a little weird because Luke had a ssssister, a twin sister. However, that no longer mattered as any red-blooded adolescent boy growing up in 1983 had the image of Carrie Fisher dressed in a metal bikini permanently burned into their memory banks. Not even Bail Organa could memory-wipe that from my mind.
***
When Gedeon initially proposed this blog idea, one of the first names that popped into my head was Christine “Moose” McGlade from the Canadian imported You Can’t Do That On Television, which ran on Nickelodeon in its early days. I’m not sure why I was attracted to her. Maybe it had something to do with her saying, “I don’t know” and getting slimed in a Flashdance fashion. When did that ever happen? Maybe this falls under the Too Much Information category. Ged, I thought you said this was supposed to a guilt-free chance to share our crushes with the world!
***
During the summer of 1984, I became infatuated with a certain 4′ 9″ gymnast by the name of Mary Lou Retton. America (and I) had their eyes glued to this energetic, leotard-clad student of Bela Karolyi. She scored a perfect 10 (because she was) in her final vault to give her the gold medal in the individual all-around women’s gymnastic competition. Even though she was 16 and I was 13 at the time, John Williams would have played the “Olympic Fanfare and Theme” at our wedding. Da-Da-Dant! Da-Da-Dant! Dant-Da-Dant-Da-Da! Hey, Anakin was just 9 when he fell in love with the 14-year old Padme.
***
The day after the Games of the XXIII Olympiad ended on August 12, 1984, a short-lived ABC TV show Call to Glory premiered and helped start the career of Elisabeth Shue. She played Jackie Sarnac, the teenage daughter of the fictitious USAF pilot Colonel Raynor Sarnac (Craig T. Nelson) at Edward Air Force Base in the early 1960s. Earlier that year, she captured my heart as well as the heart of Ralph Macchio in The Karate Kid. She would later marry Tom Cruise in Cocktail (1988) and become Mrs. Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989). How could I compete with them?
Obsess much? December 4, 2007
Posted by davegoblog in Blogging, Movies, Personal, Pop Culture, Television.add a comment
Gedeon Maheux over at gedblog came up with a new cross blog post idea last Friday night. After a brief Twitter conversation, Dave Caolo and I decided to jump on the Childhood Crush Confession 101 bandwagon as well. The object is to simply write about at least five of the McDreamy heartthrobs you had while you and your hormones were growing and changing. Ged has the guidelines posted, and you can contact him if you want to join the pubescent fun! As of this morning, there are five of us willing to share their unrequited loves with the blogosphere this Thursday (December 6). Will you be next?
Living in the now 