Better with age
My kids are really into a show on Nickelodeon called Drake and Josh, starring Drake Bell and Josh Peck. When Drake & Josh began airing back in 2004, Josh was a chubby, dorky teenager but lost weight as the series went on. Well, recently I saw a movie trailer about an indie flick that Josh Peck is in – called The Wackness. Let’s just say it’s a far cry from the comparatively squeaky-clean Drake & Josh. Anyway, ‘dorky’ Josh? Well, you can see for yourself (before & after): Read the rest of this entry »
The Office is back on April 10!
I was excited to read that my current favorite TV show, The Office, is coming back with new episodes April 10. I’ve really missed it! I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I have really gotten pulled into this show.
I was perusing The Office site a few minutes ago and they have some new (well, new to me) features, like a quiz that matches your personality with an office character. According to the personality quiz, I’m most like Jan. Darn. I thought for sure I’d be Pam. 
My top Superbowl ad picks
Tide to Go
For some reason, this commercial reminded me of that hilarious scene in Bruce Almighty when Jim Carey as “God” played a dirty trick on his co-worker (Steve Carrell).
Charles Barkley – T mobile
This was funny. Not spectacularly funny, but funny.
Justin Timberlake – Pepsi
I had to laugh out loud at the last scene.
Bridgestone Firestone Obstacles
This was really funny. Although, I’m not sure if it’s sad or funny (or both) that Richard Simmons is laughing along with the rest of the country at himself.
Bridgestone Firestone Animals
Simple, funny, cute all in one … what more could you ask for? My favorite is the cricket.
Coke “It’s Mine”
I like this ad, but I thought things never went right for the character who finally catches the Coke. So, either this ad isn’t true to the character, or the character finally got his due (I’d prefer to believe the latter). It was about time, I guess.
Audi
‘Funny’ ad, amazing car.
Diet Pepsi Max
I can’t believe the Time ad reviewer didn’t get the joke. That either means they’re really old or really young…
Napoleon Garmin
I decided to throw this one at the last minute. Cute.
Bedtime Lullaby by Mark Kozelek – Yo Gabba Gabba
OK, I already thought Yo Gabba Gabba – a new kids’ show that both my kids and I love – was awesome, but today took the cake! There was a short animated lullaby featuring the vocals of Mark Kozelek (of the Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon fame.)
Red House Painters is one of my favorite bands of all time. This isn’t a band you’re going to hear played on the radio, and most everyone I’ve ever met who likes them is a proud music snob like myself. Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear another great band on this show.
I figured it out the other day: Yo Gabba Gabba has the magic that Sesame Street has long-since lost. I only wish Yo Gabba Gabba was an hour long!
Random stuff
Sorry I’ve been blogging about nothing but Gabriel and his issues lately. I’m actually getting a lot of web hits on these issues, and I feel good about potentially helping people out. I’ve considered launching a separate blog for all of that, but I’m not sure yet.
YO! GABBA GABBA
So, have you seen Yo Gabba Gabba on Nick Jr.? It’s like Sesame Street on acid. But I kinda like it.
An admission
I have something to admit. I have a little crush on a TV character.
This is really strange for me, because I don’t normally waste brain cells on crushes (either celebrity or ‘real-life’), but this one just snuck up on me.
Who is it, you might ask? Jim on The Office? Dr. House in House? Nope.
It’s Steve Burns. Doesn’t ring a bell? How about Blue’s Clues?
OK, for you readers who don’t have preschoolers (or kids who have been preschoolers within the last 10 years), Blue’s Clues is a TV show on Nickelodeon aimed at the toddler set. It stars animated animals and objects, and a few “real” humans. Steve Burns was the first human character starring on that show, and I think he remained on the show from 1996-2002.
Anyway, we have multiple Blues Clues videos with Steve in them. After seeing his smiling face on my TV for the 1,326,034th time, I got curious about who he was and Googled him. And wouldn’t you know it, now he’s a musician? And his band is actually, shockingly - good. You can see some of his band’s videos and other multimedia on this page.
Well, I can’t be the only one who’s had this “problem” – Yes, Dear even did a show on it.
I also found that Steve has his on Web site. I had to laugh at his FAQs - you can tell he’s really quirky but funny.
All right, enough of that. Don’t tell me you’ve never had any ‘strange’ crushes. Oh, and Jay – I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
Support the Rabid
We haven’t had cable in about 6 months now, and I don’t miss it at all, since I don’t watch much TV. But I have fallen head-over-heels for a sitcom recently – The Office on NBC. I know, it’s not new, but I’ve watched DVDs of all the old episodes, so I’m caught up. I haven’t loved a show this much since Seinfeld.
Kids TV
When the kids were sick, Gabriel stayed camped out on the couch and Mikaela in her little recliner for several days. When they weren’t asleep, they were watching TV. I don’t like them to watch too much TV, but I felt bad for them, so I kept the TV tuned to kiddie channels for 3 days straight. I think my brain has since leaked out my ear.
There are some really stupid kids’ shows out there, but there are still a few gems, thank goodness. Sesame Street is still good, but not as good as it was when I was a kid. A few other shows that are good (well, in my opinion) include Charlie and Lola, Jack’s Big Music Show, Thomas and Friends, Backyardigans, and Between the Lions. I used to think the Wiggles were good, but a lot of their new stuff is just silly – it just doesn’t have the same heartwarming feeling to it anymore.
My daughter LOVES the Doodlebops, but I despise them. My son loves Pingu, a clay-mation show with penguins muttering gibberish, but it gets old (with me) quick. Both kids love Sesame Street, thank goodness. Something we can watch together.
One thing that is NOT ALLOWED in my house: Barney. I would rather poke my eyes out. His voice makes me want to have seizures. If I can help it, my children will never have to be subjected to that saccharine purple blob.
Oh, goody.
Rumor has it that Rosie O’Donnell is leaving The View.
Great, now I can return to boycotting the show because I find it boring, rather that my current boycott of the show because of O’Donnell being on it.
There are few people that make me dive for the remote, but Rosie is one of them. I imagine many others feel the same way. I’m not sure why the network thinks we want to watch a fat, loudmouthed Christian-hater who loves stirring up controversy?
But maybe it’s just me. I guess if viewers didn’t like obnoxious people, Gilbert Gottfried would’ve never had a career.
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid
The new, 10th-anniversary version of Tickle Me Elmo is here, as reported in CNN’s Top-Secret Elmo Revealed!
Apparently this TME is a more “extreme” version of the original, falling to the ground and slapping the floor in a laughing fit.
I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to turn my TV off forever, so my children will not find out about and/or ask for this already-obnoxious furry red creature. I think I’d rather endure Chinese water torture.
Sesame Street Article
To anyone who thinks Sesame Street was better “back in the day,” this is hysterical:
America’s Got Talent?
I haven’t really been following the “America’s Got Talent” show on NBC, but I’ve seen enough to catch Taylor Ware, yodeling sensation out of Franklin, TN (where we lived before we moved here last year).
Taylor has been featured in local Nashville-area commercials, and when they came on the air, I always dove for the remote. Taylor may be pretty, and she may be talented, but I equate yodeling with torture. It sounds like a wounded animal. Actually, I’m pretty sure they have yodeling in hell.
So, sorry, Taylor. Bianca’s got my vote.
