Happy New Year

the2scoops

Happy New Year to all my friends and readers. I am starting to build some sort of momentum so expect more productivity on this site throughout the year.

Meanwhile, don't feel like you need permission to send friends to this site, it is open to one and all.

I'll be spending New Years with friends at Revival on College St, as The Drake sold out pretty quickly. Tix were still available I think at Soundscapes Records on College St.

Thanks!

The Chronic-WHAT-cles of Narnia Rap Video

Do yourself a favour: hit play below (safe for work) and watch this Saturday Night Live Digital short film. Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell rap about their lazy sunday, munching on cupcakes and seeing Chronicles of Narnia. The term I saw for it is "nerdcore". It is so damned funny, with shoutouts to Google Maps, The Notebook, and lines like "I'm Ghost like Swayze". I've watched it 4 times while writing this and it keeps cracking me up. Taste the awesome.



Incidentally Andy Samberg was brought onto Saturday Night Live after finding success with TheLonelyIsland.com, where Andy, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone produced and broadcasting their sketches and videos. Akiva and Jorma were hired for SNL as writers while Andy was hired as an on-screen player. Akive directed Lazy Sunday, Jorma did the music, and all three wrote it with Parnell.

I haven't seen any SNL bit get this much attention since the Christopher Walken "Cowbell" skit. Who couldn't use some more cowbell?




NBC.com >Saturday Night Live official site

The Chappelle Theory Exposed : Coming Spring 2006

It turns out The Chappelle Theory which I talked about here is indeed a fake, but it is actually an act of viral word of mouth marketing. It's advertising The Chappelle Theory Exposed, a short film by Chappelle’s Show star Charlie Murphy and Neal Brennan, Chappelle’s writing partner that will be released Spring 2006. Not a bad ploy at all.

Links:
Chappelle Theory Exposed - Defamer: " The Chappelle Theory Exposed, a short film by Chappelle's Show star Charlie Murphy and Neal Brennan, Chappelle's writing partner"
The Chappelle Theory Exposed : Coming Spring 2006

What Are You Doing on New Years Eve?

I don't have to work this New Year's Eve, or the day after, so I think it's time to suit up and hit it, don't quit it.

Here's the truth about New Year's Eve: it is never as good as you want it to be. You want a bachannal without a hangover, a soiree without the bling, a blow-out without the clean-up. But it never works that way. Someone has a fight, someone leaves early, someone kisses someone at midnight who isn't you. It just happens that way. That's not to say I haven't had some great New Year's Evea. The annual party my cousin Mark organized at the dear-departed BALMUTO'S TRIANGLE on Balmuto near the Manulife Centre in Toronto was always a highlight for me and my friends for 3 or 4 years. I smile when I look at those pictures.

The last few attempts at organizing an all-things for all people kind of night for my friends have met with floundering results. I still remember my fit when I discovered I would spend my New Year's at Crocodile Rock (wasn't my plan) when I was in my early-mid 20s, and felt uncomfortable most of the night. The year the Balmuto was sold and they had a (unknown to me) Rockabilly theme was a rough night, with an almost last-minute to midnight dash from the bar to find a more suitable spot.

My plans for this year involve going out and doing it in a style that suits me and my tastes. This year, I am going to pick something I want to do, and anyone who would like to join me is more than welcome.

This year I am considering checking out the New Year's House Party at the Drake Hotel this year. The venue has a good rep, the munchables are good, and the events planned look to border on sensory overload. It looks like 5 parties in one location. The price is reasonable ($40) compared to most clubs and bars, and there are other options in the Queen West neighborhood if things get tired. Click on poster for larger image.



+House Party General Admission 10pm-3am $40
Includes: A kick off Cocktail, Mixed Nibbles, Bubbly at Midnight, Party Tools, Fun on 3 Floors

So that's my plan: suit up, make a day of it, and then go the whole night and into the dawn of a New Year, and new possibilities. Shed the old year in style and joy, shake off the cobwebs of habit and regret, because it never needs to be like the old year. Let me know if you want to join me in the celebration.

Brat Pack Boxed Set makes for a flashback filled Christmas - leg warmers not included

For the last-minute shopper with a fan of the teen "Brat Pack" movies from the 1980s on their list, I think this should meet your needs. The Brat Pack Movies & Music Collection contains three classic movies of the genre on DVD, Weird Science (1985) (I watched that so many times when I was a teen), The Breakfast Club (1985) (according to many women I know, I need to see this, and the edited version played almost monthly on the TBS Atlanta station won't cut it), and Sixteen Candles (1984) (a sequel is still being talked about, with Molly Ringwald as a mom).

It even contains a CD of music from the films. Looks like a great fun set, seems like the perfect for flaking out on Boxing Day, away from the malls (no way in hell am i going in The Eatons Centre again on Boxing Day by choice) and munching on popcorn.

TV Catchphrases Are the New Punch Lines

This article, TV Catchphrases Are the New Punch Lines, takes a look at one of my favourite new shows How I Met Your Mother, with the thought that a handy weapon in the sitcom writer's arsenal is the catchphrase: Master of my domain; Don't Have a cow man; We were on a break, etc.

How I Met Your Mother dispatches dozens of catchphrases like a shotgun blasting the audience, in the hopes that one or two will stick to the collective pop culture conscience. A couple of phrases have creeped into my regular vocabulary include bachelor Barney's battlecry of "Suit Up!" and "Legendary!"

I still have not found a situation or audience (yet) for "Bad idea jeans", an obscure reference to a Saturday Night Live commercial parody. called Bad Idea Jeans:

Guy #3: Well, he's an ex free-base addict, and he's trying to turn around, and he needs a place to stay for a couple of months. [Cut to image of him wearing his BAD IDEA jeans]

As proof of the ludicrous nature of the show, or maybe in answer Barney's Blog, "written" by the character played by Neil Patrick Harris, posted an article with no less than 10 "awesome words coined by Barney", and had a whole episode of Barney trying to get his idea of a "Lemon Law" to catch on.

The Chappelle Theory

Got some time to kill? Then read The Chappelle Theory to discover (possibly) the story of why comedian Dave Chappelle abrupt ended The Chappelle Show, and decide if this is a crackpot story or so weird it might be true.

The website, written by an anonymous insider, lays out the theory of an African American Hollywood/political illuminati that helped Dave Chappelle succeed, only to make him quit when he became too big, and his portrayal of race relations was reinforcing negative stereotypes about African Americans, and "setting race relations back 50 years."

Read how this group, which may have included Bill Cosby, Oprah and Al Sharpton, among others, forced Dave to shut the show down, and how they've exerted influence over his career. The website plots out the timeline and profiles the major players of the so-called "Dark Crusaders".

I swear it reads like some bizarre theory from the mind of Huey Freeman from the comic strip The Boondocks, but could it be a case of a story so outrageous, so unimaginable, that it must be true? You decide.

Torontoist: The Thin Line Between Joey and Rhain

Gabbagabbahey! vs. Whyyeeyeyeyeyiaiaia. If you don't know which is which, we need to talk.

An ideal guideline for gift giving from my favourite neighbourhood record store, She Said Boom!. This picture is from the 372 College Street location, but I frequent the one in my neighbourhood at 393 Roncesvalles Avenue. They sell music (new & used), dvd's and books (both used). I tend to pass by the store daily and the sly bastards have sold me countless books and cd's, which i usually trade in later for another great find. I've been turned on to some great bands just by walking in and diggin' what's on the store stereo. By the way, they had a mint Beatles "Revolver" album for sale the other day, looked like an original for about $75. I got the Star Wars Trilogy cheap there a few months ago for $35.

Torontoist: The Thin Line Between Joey and Rhain
Photo: Andrew Ryan Imaging and Design, editorial photography, corporate photography

It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time - catching on to what the hell that was about

One of the random pop culture references on the show "Family Guy" actually cracked me up the other night, and I had no idea what it was. Brian the Dog cheers up Peter by dressing like a bananna and singing the song "It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!". The video clip is here.

Wikipedia was able to give me the scoop on where the hell the reference came from at the link Peanut Butter Jelly Time - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

It's was a flash animation that was emailed around a few years ago, just like other fads like the Hamster Dance. This variation of the animation is my favourite, a remix by the Ying Yang Twins. Peanut Butter Jelly Time.

Mindless timewasting fun. And that's one to grow on.

An oblivious moment before we return to regular blogging

Teller: We can certainly cash out that cheque for you sir. Do you have any preference how you’d like that?

Me: No, twenties will be fine.

Teller looks up at me and blinks.

Me: That would be a preference, wouldn’t it?

Teller: Yes sir, I believe it would be.

Santa better be bringing smokes and some coffee-flavoured coffee

Update: Denis Leary's Merry F#%$in' Christmas airs December 17th in Canada. Apparently one of the bits is a spot on paraody of the Charlie Brown Christmas special, except here, Charlie Brown converts to Islam.

Just in time for the holidays, its Denis Leary's Merry F#%$in' Christmas with such performers as the Barenaked Ladies, Chris Elliot, William Shatner and Charlie Murphy. This should balance off nicely with that whiskey and eggnog punch I'm working on. It premieres November 27, at 10pm on the US Comedy Central Network. No Canadian airdate yet, but i'll keep you posted.

George Bush hates Grammy winners.

If I don't win Album of the Year, I'm gonna really have a problem with that. I can never talk myself out of [winning], you know why? Because I put in the work. I don't care if I jumped up and down right now on the couch like Tom Cruise. I don't care what I do, I don't care how much I stunt -- you can never take away from the amount of work I put into it. So I don't wanna hear all of that politically correct stuff. You put the camera in front of me, I'm gonna tell you like this. I worked hard to get here. I put my love, I put my heart, I put my money [into Late Registration]. I'm $600,000 in the hole right now on that album and you tell me about being politically incorrect?

-Kanye West, discussing his Grammy-worthiness with MTV.com
thanks EW.com for the heads up

December 6, 1989

A sad anniversary, it was 16 years ago today that 14 women at the engineering school at École Polytechnique in Montreal were murdered. The killer claimed that feminism ruined his life and that was enough of a reason for him to murder these women. The day still seems not that long ago, even though a lifetime of things has happened to us all since then. Just take a moment to think about 14 lives.

Links:
Wikipedia
CBC Archives
Accordion Guy in the 21st Century: 16 Years Ago
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women - Status of Women Canada

Trailer Park Boy - X-Men 3 and Pirates of The Caribbean 2

The movie trailers for two highly anticipated sequels set to release next summer are making the rounds:


Apple.com - Trailers is scheduled to post the new X-Men 3 trailer Monday, December 3rd, with footage of new mutants Beast (Kelsey Grammar), Angel (Ben Foster0 and Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones). Pirates of the Caribbean 2 has a trailer already out and looks to be a fun flick. More later once I take a close look at both.

Christmas Time and a force more powerful than catnip

Time to trim the tree, so I thought I'd share this strip from PvP online as a cat with a plan for world domination is faced with the ultimate kitty distraction. Click the picture for the whole strip.