television

21 Jump Street, Pilot Episode Part 1 (1987) – Aaron’s Episode Recap

I was surprised, much like a few of my friends, when I found the new 21 Jump Street movie to be way better than expected.  Seriously, the film was too damn entertaining.  The kind of entertaining that when I talk about it to a friend, I get tempted to go see it again.

Basically, the film is a reboot of the popular television show by the same name….obviously.  You know, the Stephen J Cannell show that made Johnny Depp a teen heart throb?  The one about young looking cops going undercover at different high schools?  The one that, if memory serves me, I watched religiously every week, every Season….well until the Richard Greico years.  Yeah, that one.

Well after seeing the film (which you should really go see if you haven’t yet), I decided to revisit the original 21 Jump Street television show.  And thankfully, all episodes are available on Hulu so I didn’t have to do much digging.  Upon revisiting the first episode, the theme song immediately rushed back with a flood of memories of my childhood love of this show.  Not to mention, the damn song (which is sung by Holly Robinson) has been stuck in my head now for days.

So since I am now making it a mission to re-watch every episode (yes even the Richard Greico ones), I found it only fair to share my thoughts in an episode by episode recap on here.  How exciting for you!

Let’s begin, shall we….

It’s April 12th, 1987 and the two part pilot episode of 21 Jump Street directed by Kim Manners (X Files, The Shield, Supernatural) premiered on broadcast television.  Part 1 opens on a typical suburban family arguing about something stupid.  Almost immediately, I’m reminded how goofy television programming used to be.  Compared to what we have to choose from nowadays, it’s as if this gem was found locked up in a time capsule of sorts.  Then again, it WAS the 80’s!

So yeah, here we have slutty sister arguing with mom about something completely unimportant.  What is amusing is the mother interrupts telling her to eat real food by calling her “Anorexia”.  See?  The 80s were amazing!

Soon we’re at the dinner table and this family is talking about nothing important what-so-ever.  Soon the younger of the siblings Kenny joins the table.  He’s taking clarinet lessons.  It’s the same clarinet his father used to play when he was Kenny’s age!  And he seems to give a shit as much about this detail as I do.

Just when things couldn’t get more boring, Michael Jackson and Dr Dre bust in right through the sliding glass doors.  They just walk right through it like the fucking Kool Aid Man because glass is a pussy when you got shot guns and are wearing a Thriller jacket!

Suddenly, things get interesting.  Apparently, little clarinet nerd Kenny owes the scary black men money.  This kid’s acting is a bit too over the top and honestly, I wanted 80s Eddie Murphy to clock him one.  Instead, he shoots the microwave.  Or maybe it was the TV?  They both looked similar back then. But whatever, you get the gist.  Drug money, Kenny owes them a bunch.  For collateral, they take the father’s brand new Jaguar instead.  And here my friends, is the high school story setup for the episode!

Cut to, some diner.  A fat old cop and young rookie are talking rather loudly while leaving the bathroom.  Lo and behold, it’s fucking Marty Seinfeld and Captain Jack Sparrow!

But seriously, that’s Officer Tom Hanson and his training officer Charlie.  Charlie is basically running him through the motions of what seasoned cops do since Hanson is an eager straight out of the Academy type.  After a few minutes of banter back and forth, they receive a call and head over to Kenny’s family’s house.

While they talk with the family about the stolen car (because that’s all they reported), Kenny is nowhere to be found.  Oh, wait, no…he’s just kicking it on the stairs.  All reclining n shit.

And here comes Officer Hanson to charm him with his good looks and boyish charm?

Sadly, Officer Hanson’s charm doesn’t work on little Kenny.  All leaned back like a boss, he replies to him defiantly by saying, “I won’t tell you spit!”  Spit?  Really?  Ok, dude.  Whatever.

And here we are, at the 10 minute mark of the episode.  From here, Hanson and Charlie drive around a bit.  A robbery happens at a local liquor store and they drive by the car full of criminals.  Charlie instinctively stops and asks them how they’re doing and then points out they are stopped at a green light.  This turns into a car chase with Hanson behind the wheel which damn near causes the old man to die of a heart attack.  Once they finally have the culprits handcuffed on the side of the road Charlie leaves young Hanson (who seems like he’s never held a gun before) to guard the group alone while he goes to call for backup.  Yeah…

 A fight breaks out, all but one of the guys get away.  Their squad car? Stolen.  And as an added bonus from the altercation, Hanson accidentally busts Charlie’s nose.  Way to go, hot shot.

From this incident, the Captain decides it’d be best to move Hanson to a new program that he’d be perfect for.   The kind of assignment he’d be too old for in ten years time.  See, there’s an undercover unit that works out of an old abandoned chapel on Jump Street and 6th.  They take the young officers and train them to be high school students.  Undercover work.  In high schools.  (You all knew this when you started reading so don’t look at me like that!)

Well Officer Hanson isn’t having it.  He walks out as the Captain recalls what a great offer young Hanson’s dad was.  This leads us to a nice little pensive interlude with Officer Tom Hanson and his precious saxophone.

This is followed by a voice over memory of a conversation between Hanson and his father.  And bing bang boom, he’s soon driving up to the church on Jump Street.  Seriously, we’re almost halfway through this episode.  When do we get more scary black thugs!? Yes, this is the point of the episode where Aaron starts getting impatient.

But that’s okay, because we are finally introduced to the Jump Street gang!

The first we see is Doug Penhall.  He’s kind of the loud mouth meat head of the group.  I guess it’s only fitting since Peter DeLuise is the son of the late Dom Deluise.  Am I right or am I right?  Well I kind of AM right because it’s true.

Here, Penhall is discussing with Hanson whether or not this abandoned chapel they are in is truly a church as he thinks it may be a synagogue.  His mom is Jewish which means, in his words, “I get to celebrate both guilt and Hell.”  I like this guy.

And he is hanging with Officer Harry Truman Ioki so that’s the next person we meet.  So there he is.  All suave.  Just leaning back in his chair like a boss n shit.

Hanson explains he’s there to report to Captain Richard Jenko.  Here’s a fun little piece of trivia: Jenko is the name of Channing Tatum’s character in the 21 Jump Street movie.  How exciting to know and then share this fun fact with you.  Because it’s a fact, and fun!

Soon enters Captain Richard Jenko, who’s been a Deadhead since Woodstock.  How peachy.

Wait….where’s the angry black Captain?  I don’t remember this guy. I want the angry black guy!

Whatever….anyway….Jenko walks Hanson through the place and runs him through his new assignment.  Basically, he is to be trained to be a high school student again.  Multiple comments about Hanson’s “Richie Cunningham” hairdo and style later, Jenko calls in Judy Hoffs to help transform the young officer.

Woohoo!  Hot chick!

And then it’s off to wardrobe and to some weird haircut place that I probably would have found cool in the 80s but looks a bit creepy now.  The rabbit’s face says it all.

After what seems like a very long time waiting, Hanson exits looking like they just wet his hair and sprayed it with Aqua Net or something.

Soon, Hoffs and Hanson are out at the arcade playing video games while Hoffs suggestively eats a hot dog.  Or maybe not suggestively.  But I’m a guy.  So that’s how we see things.

Oh and now they’re record shopping!?  Come on!  There’s bad black men with shotguns and sunglasses out there that need to be captured!

Finally, we get to some action.  And I guess the action is taking place outside of some New Wave Goth Club or something.  Yeah, I know from experience but those places look way scarier than they are.  But still, remember when studded leather jackets made you seem hard?

Don’t look now, but here comes the creepy neighborhood sex offender in his rapist van!

Penhall knows what’s up!  He angrily throws his beer right at the creepy pedophile.

 Oh but nevermind, it’s angry hippy Jenko behind the wheel!  Hoffs, Hanson and Ioki are stone cold kicking it in the back of the van too.  What really just went down was Penhall exposing the “mark” for Hanson to bust.  Some other dude with an annoying haircut who is apparently a drug dealer.  Psssh….white people.

Anyway, as I said, this altercation is basically to show Hanson who to take down.  This is his first test to make sure he can blend in.  And yep, he fails.  Goes to arrest the guy after he sells him the weed.  He even insists on smelling it before buying and after he cuffs the guy, it turns out to be a pair of socks in the baggie.  A pair of socks!? Jenko ain’t pleased.

Oh hey!  Remember young Kenny?  Yeah me neither, it’s been so long.  You know, the kid that ain’t gonna tell us piss?  The clarinet nerd?  The whiny kid that owes those scary black boys a bunch of drug money?  Yeah, now I remember too!  Well look at that, with 10 minutes left in the episode, we find him driving through a residential neighborhood very early in the morning on his moped delivering newspapers.  What an upstanding young man!

Oh wait, nevermind.  He’s robbing a jewelry store.  My bad.

Next thing we know, the Jump Street cops are catching up with Jenko about their recent assignments and Hanson gets his first real one.  He is to enter Amherst High School as a disciplinary transfer.  And as soon as he arrives on campus, he finds himself parking in the wrong parking spot.  Who’s parking spot is he in?  Waxer! Who’s Waxer?  My favorite shotgun wielding, Thriller jacket having, stunner shade wearing black guy!

Him and his cohort end up having a stand off with Hanson who refuses to move his car and this turns into a scuffle pretty fast.  A crowd of kids form to watch the new guy fight the only two black kids in school.  At least it seems like they’re the only two black kids.  And they look like they’re 25.  But whatever.

So the fight gets broken up, they end up in the principal’s office.  Yadda yadda.  And then, just as the episode is about to end, guess who decides to join the party?  That’s right.  Kenny.  Cuz he goes to Amherst High School too!

Oh snap.

And on a threat from Waxer to Hanson, Part 1 of The Pilot Episode Ends.

To Be Continued…

Work It (2012) – Not Bosom Buddies

First NBC and now ABC.  What is the deal, guys?  Both of your networks have a history of putting out great programming but lately, you both have been making some rather idiotic decisions.  There’s the whole NBC picking up Whitney thing while putting Community on hiatus with no guarantee in picking it up for another season.  There’s the whole ABC thing with putting Once Upon A Time on the air.  I’m sorry, people I know who like that show, it’s just beyond corny for me to take seriously.  And now, there’s the mid season replacement Work It.

I mean seriously, as soon as I saw any hint of an ad campaign for this show I thought it was some sort of inside joke ABC was pulling on any viewer of Modern Family that doesn’t have a DVR and therefore wasn’t fast forwarding through the commercial break.  Or better yet, maybe it was poking fun at NBC’s Whitney and the campaign for that show which literally flooded my city’s bus stop posters and billboards over the Summer. But sadly, I was wrong in such a response and soon my confusion turned into a mild rage of a stabby nature.

I’ve gone on record a number of times by stating that all the television programming worth watching are all on cable, basic or premium. Sure, there are some pretty good Network options (Fringe, Supernatural, Modern Family to name a few) but I’ve found the majority of the shows lined up for public consumption on the basic networks seem a bit dumbed down for the…dumbed down type.

Both ABC and NBC started making some bad decisions a few years back.  First, there was that whole Jay Leno taking back The Tonight Show thing. Then there was that NBC debacle with Southland.  And of course, soon after, Lost went off the air.  Since then, both ABC and NBC have had less than desirable ratings with new television programming.  Don’t get me wrong, they have some great shows that are still airing but something has been happening that has left me scratching my head.

And now we are living in an age where Networks like AMC and FX are constantly pushing the envelope regarding thought provoking entertainment while pretty much every Network channel continues to fork out some sort of formulaic drivel for the masses.  I expect that.  As long as they match the crap with non-crap, it’s fine.  But first Whitney and now Work It?  Come on!

Work It’s premise is a simple and almost familiar one.  The show follows Lee (Ben Koldyke) and Angel (Amaury Nolasco), two unemployed men in today’s economically hard times as they struggle to find work.  Alas, they both manage to find employment by dressing up as women.  Hilarity!  But it seems it’s trying for the type of hilarity you’d find in a high school boy’s locker room.

There are two main ingredients that make this show what it is and ultimately will probably have this show go down as the worst new show of 2012 once the year is over.  The first ingredient is the same thing that studios still think is a viable option for comedy, men dressing up as women for comedic effect.  Sure, it worked for Kids In The Hall, Monty Python, and Bosom Buddies.  Some Like It Hot and Tootsie are two of my favorite films, even.   But there’s something about the options that the studios have been pumping out regularly now.  I’m looking at you Big Momma’s House, Sorority Boys, and Jack And Jill!  I believe Meredith Borders over at Badass Digest makes a perfect argument that fits well here.

The second ingredient: the 3 camera setup.  The Office changed the game regarding how sitcoms are filmed and perceived.  Since then, the single camera setup has become quite popular.  Parks And Recreation, Community, 30 Rock and Modern Family all use the single camera setup.  This works quite well and, to me, it’s a sign of forward thinking.  I have no issue with the classic 3 camera setup but every show that is on now which seems to still use that method fail in making me laugh.  I’m not sure what has happened here.  Maybe those still using the classic method, trying to maintain the glory days of “Must See TV” are just coming up short because they’re dwelling on methods of the past?  The best way I can describe what I mean is by conjuring up an image of someone talking on one of those old clunky Nokia cell phones from 10 years ago in a room full of smart phone users.  It just seems dated and that classic format seems to bring with it a dated sense of what is funny.  So obviously, Middle America will probably eat this shit up.

I sat through the pilot episode of Work It, trying desperately to give the show a chance but it really is not entertaining.  Unless you’re the type who finds unfunny sitcoms entertaining.  And if you are that type, have at it.  Otherwise, I suggest revisiting Bosom Buddies.  THAT show was funny!

Work It airs on ABC every Tuesday at 8:30/7:30c. If you are of the morbidly curious, I suggest catching it soon as its ratings are plummeting and it’ll probably be gone by March! (fingers crossed)

Monk (2002-2009) – Here’s What Happened

Here’s what happened…

A few years back, I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  Mind you, it’s not a debilitating issue for me.  Everything has it’s right place and when not in the right place, things can get a bit…distracting. This seems absolutely normal to me.  If there are two dirty dishes in the sink, wash them!  If the sheets aren’t even, straighten them out!  If the DVD collection isn’t alphabetized by genre, then by title, then by leading actor…well I just don’t know what to say to you. Actually, this seems perfectly logical, so what do they know with their diagnoses?  When I say “they”, of course I mean the royal they.

It was roughly around this same time I was introduced to the television program Monk.  My ex girlfriend owned the whole series on DVD and would watch multitudes upon multitudes of episodes in one sitting (obsessed much?). I had only gotten a small taste of the show as I had soon realized how much of a sarlacc pit (there’s a vagina joke waiting to happen) of dysfunction this “relationship” had come and I clamored out with barely my balls in tact.

Not much thought was really put into the show from that point on until roughly three weeks ago when I found the entire series of Monk now available for viewing on Netflix Instant.  Since I had watched a handful of episodes back in 2006, I figured I’d just go from Season 7 on.  And in my own obsessive manner, I completed the last two Seasons of the show within the span of a week.  So I decided it’s only right to start the show back at Season 1.

What the Hell!?  It’s a completely different show!  Adrian Monk in Season 1 is a sad sad man.  There’s a quieter darkness about him in these first few episodes.  Lt. Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford) and Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) seem to exude a palatable disdain for him.  And then there’s Sharona. Adrian Monk’s first assistant on the show was Sharona Fleming (Bitty Schram).  I’m assuming I wasn’t the only one who found her completely annoying because roughly a few episodes into Season 3, Sharona decides to move back to New Jersey and was quickly replaced by Natalie Teeger (Taylor Howard) who is way better.  She just is.  She’s better.

And while we’re talking about Season 1, I have to bring up the theme song for the show.  I suppose since I really started watching the show in Season 7, I quickly grew quite fond of the intro featuring the Randy Newman song “It’s A Jungle Out There”.  Seriously, that song is so damn catchy I’d find myself singing it when I’d wake up in the morning.  I’m sure my girlfriend doesn’t need to ever hear me sing in my best Randy Newman voice ever again!

But suddenly, and without warning, after the two part pilot episode, I’m now subjected to a lilting jazz number by Jeff Beal.  Don’t get me wrong here, I dig Jeff Beal’s work.  His work on HBO’s Carnivale is fantastic.  But I had somehow become reliant on the Randy Newman song and I just don’t feel this theme music and intro work for the show.  Then again, I had read recently that back when the show was new, people were up in arms about the change from the Jeff Beal theme to the Randy Newman theme.  So what the hell do I know anyway?

My good friend likes to tell me how his mother is quite fond of the show implying that somehow I have the taste of a woman in her 60s.  Surrounded by fluffy cats that smell like buttholes and flowery embroidered pillows that….smell like bulltholes.  Yep, that’s me. (As an old woman, I refuse to bathe my cats!)

But in all seriousness, there was something that immediately grabbed my attention when first watching the show.  Before watching Monk, I only knew Tony Shalhoub from Men In Black.  He’s a very talented actor but I don’t think a role has really showcased this before he landed this job as Adrian Monk.  He brings a very layered performance in every episode which can at times be hysterical and at others heartbreaking. This truth keeps his character quite engaging to watch on screen (for me anyway).   And while we’re on the topic here, before watching Monk I only knew Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill from Silence Of The Lambs.  So there’s that.

I’ve noticed I tend to be drawn to stories where the main character is some sort of genius but somehow lacks people skills and ultimately marks that character as brilliant but flawed.  Gregory House, Adrian Monk, Columbo and Cal Lightman (seriously Fox, bring Lie To Me back.  No one likes this Terra Nova shit!) come to mind.  They seem ultimately cut from the Sherlock Holmes cloth.  (Do we have Edgar Allen Poe to thank?)

The phobias and genius of the constantly conflicted Adrian Monk make for a fine combination that seems to work, even in the less than inspired episodes of the show.  I suppose this would explain how Monk was at once referred to as “the highest rated series in cable history” by USA Network.

Well as I write this, I have four episodes left in Season 1.  I feel like I’m watching a prequel with every episode.  I’ve yet to be disappointed with an episode (“Mr Monk And The Actor” is is my favorite).   And it’s kind of a thing with me, I just love seeing Mr. Monk make that face and speak the words “Here’s what happened”.

 It gets me every time.

American Horror Story Season Finale (2011) – WTF Just Happened

[Editor note: Please welcome RandomnessAndIceCream to the show. She will be providing A3WR readers with her analysis of all things television. Be nice to her or I am certain her cats will find you.] 

American Horror Story is a guilty pleasure and I love every minute of it. The entire season were just “WTF JUST HAPPENED” moments again and again.

This review of the season finale will contain spoilers. The first twenty minutes of the show was dedicated to show the grief and suffering and in the end what I found to be contentment of the Harmon Family.

Dr. Harmon  is trying to work through his anguish in regards to his wife dying whilst giving birth to her demon seed spawn and the fact that his teenage daughter committed suicide. Graphic photo of  Violets Body

Interestingly  enough both his wife and daughter’s story-lines  involved our favorite teen angst-rubber suit wearing, Tate. Personally, I really hope Ryan Murphy finds a way to include Tate next season. According to this americanhorrorlink each season will be a completely new story/new location/new primary characters.

Anyway,  back to the review. Dr Harmon wants to kill himself, but is stopped by the ghosts’ of his wife and daughter who persuade him to take the demon baby and RUNNNNN!!!!!

He takes their advice and is in the process of leaving when Hayden the evil bitch ghost, a couple other ghosts thugs I don’t recognize grab Him. The ghosts manage to  wrap a noose around his neck and hang him from the second story balcony. So he dies and gets to spend eternity with Viven (his wife) and Violet (his teenage daughter).

What happened to the baby????

Cut to scene “Constance and police detectives in kitchen”

Wherein Constance basically tells the cops she went to the house to check on Dr. Harmon and Violet and discovers the body of Dr. Harmon hanging from the ceiling and Violet and the baby missing. (No One outside the house except Constance really knows Violet is dead). Constance tells the detectives she assumes that Violet took the baby and ran.

Cut to scene “Constance in basement of Harmon Horror  House”

Ghost bitch Hayden is holding the baby and says to Constance something like “Did you come to see my baby” to which Constance replies  “Ive come to take my grandson” Her dead son Tate did rape Mrs. Harmon. That makes the demon spawn baby her grandson. (As I write this I am realizing just how many wtf moments there are in this show and I am probably leaving out some pivotal background information on the characters within the show.  )

Back to ghost bitch–and Constance in the basement

Hayden says “Over my dead body” and then Constance’s dead boy toy lover slits Hayden’s throat. This in itself I did not understand, because Hayden is already dead. I guess in the house when a ghost gets injured it slows them down for a few minutes. Long enough for the dead boy toy to grab the demon baby and give it to Constance who ends up hiding the baby in a secret closet with busted mirrors for walls. (not really sure what was going on there)…..

Cut to scene: New family looking at purchasing now vacant house

A middle aged, good looking Hispanic couple and their teenage son buy the house. The couple are having sexy time in the kitchen . Mr. and Mrs Harmon ghost start watching the sexy time couple  and realize they do not want this couple to go through what they went through and go out of their way to scare the new family so that they leave in the middle of the night. I really wanted the house to sort of suck itself in like on Poltergeist. It did not happen.

Show ended with the Harmons realizing they would be scaring many people over the years so they would not fall victim to the House.

There were so many more tidbits to this episode and we got to see our beloved Moira again. I hope this review urges at least one person to watch. That’s all I want in life. People to watch American Horror Story and for my cat’s to start talking. Talking cat’s? That would be awesome. Meow Meow.

The show got picked up for a second season and my cat’s and I will be watching.

Best Of 2011: It’s Aaron’s List

Since everyone else is writing their “Best Of” lists this month, I figured I’d put together a list of my own. Yeah yeah, I know. You’re welcome. Compiling my list of television, movie and music favorites, below is a rather diverse list. For user friendliness, I’ve narrowed the list down to 20 and have alphabetized it for you. How nice of me!

American Horror Story

Of all the television shows that premiered in 2011, I have got to say American Horror Story surprised me the most.  Never have I seen such an unpredictably unconventional creepy show grace the likes of basic cable.  Maybe Twin Peaks come close.  Maybe.  Over the span of this first Season, we’ve seen a show that splices together references from many from horror films’ past.  The writing, acting and direction push boundaries and left me scratching my head dumbfounded every week.  AHS is a ridiculous show that tends to habitually jump the shark.  But it does it in such a way that hypnotically gets under your skin and moves you to watch again week after week.  If that doesn’t intrigue you to watch, it also has one of the creepiest opening credit sequences I’ve ever seen for a television show.

Attack The Block

What is this movie Attack The Block you speak of Aaron?  Well, if you are unfamiliar, it really does suck to be you I suppose.  Released earlier this year to rave reviews on the festival circuit, Joe Cornish directed a movie that seeps 1980s monster movie nostalgia.  I went into the theater not knowing anything about the film and left with a hyper energy that moved me to tell everyone I knew to go see it.  With an amazing soundtrack by Basement Jaxx, solid acting and nightmarish aliens the likes of which you’ve never seen on screen, Attack The Block is probably one of the best movies you have not seen this year.  Last I checked, it’s available on Netflix Instant as well as VOD.  So you have no excuse now, do you?

Bad As Me – Tom Waits

Ok, I’ll admit it.  I’m a huge Tom Waits fan and the man, in my book, has never released a bad album.  Bad As Me is his first album of all original material since Real Gone.  The album, like most of Waits’ fairly recent works, runs the gamut from ballads to carnival barking blues.  He’s been making music for roughly four decades now so it seems like a no brainer at this point to pick up every thing he puts out.  The guy’s a legend.

Breaking Bad

God dammit, I still meet people who have never seen an episode of Breaking Bad.  I am thinking of one friend in particular who has never seen an episode of it or Dexter.  That just boggles my mind.  I can forgive him for the not seeing Dexter thing.  That show needs to end already (I’m a fan and I’m saying that!).  Breaking Bad, however, I cannot forgive him for not watching.  This show is, simply put, the best show on television.  It pushes boundaries in every way possible.  The acting, the writing, the directing, all of it is brilliant and comes together in such an honest gut twisting manner that leaves you begging for more.  And Season 4 pushed the show into new territory.  If Giancarlo Esposito does not get recognized for his work on the show this Season, the terrorists win.  That’s right.  I said it!

The Dreamer/The Believer – Common

I’m a pretty big fan of Common’s and was slightly let down by his last studio album Universal Mind Control.  Overall, it seemed to lack the insight and lyrical prowess that brought Common to where he is today in his career.  I’m sure it had something to do with his focus shifting more towards acting.  Well thankfully he had the time to create and release The Dreamer/The Believer while still performing in movies and television.  Released earlier this month, The Dreamer/The Believer shows Common back in top form. I’ve had this album on repeat for a few days now.  This is real Hip Hop.  Sweet.

El Camino – The Black Keys

I’ve been onto The Black Keys for a while now.  After randomly discovering Thickfreakness some years back, they have become one of my favorite musicians making music today.  Blending classic blues musicality with modern day rock, they’ve been compared to the likes of The White Stripes (which I don’t really agree with).  They have the hooks, their songs are catchy, and with their new album El Camino, have delivered more delicious goodness for your ears.

Fast Five

Everyone was raving over the Summer about which was the best blockbuster this year.  Well, hands down, my favorite movie that came out this Summer is Fast Five.  Hell, it’s one of my favorite films this year (obviously, it’s on this list!).  I wasn’t a huge fan of the previous Fast And Furious films.  I stopped watching after Part 2.  All they really had to do to get me back on board, it seems, was to bring back Vin Diesel and add The Rock to the mix.  Yeah, it was that easy.  The film is a powerhouse.  As long as Diesel and The Rock are involved, I’ll go see every sequel they put through the pipeline.  This type of mentality also applies to The Expendables 2 (I own a penis, thusly I must go see it).

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I’ve pretty much enjoyed every David Fincher movie in existence.  So it seemed like a no brainer I would enjoy The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  But much unlike most of you people, I’ve never read the books and I never watched the original.  I’m assuming if I had, I would probably have a different reaction to viewing this film.  Clocking in at almost 2 hours and 30 minutes, it can lean on some people’s patience.  The stand outs for me here are the music by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross and the performance of Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander.  Seriously, who is this girl?  Obviously she was wasting her talent in that awful remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street.  Her performance here is simply amazing.

Hell On Wheels

Dare I say I think AMC’s Hell On Wheels is better than Deadwood?  Blasphemy!  Two brilliant shows that exist in The Old West.  It’s really too early to tell if Hell On Wheels could be better than David Milch’s brilliant HBO Western.  However, still in its first season and now even completed, Hell On Wheels is well worth your time.  By far, it’s my favorite new television show of the year.  AMC continues to push boundaries and raise the bar with its programming.  Both Anson Mount and Common deliver the goods every week.  Yes, Common.  He even surprises me in this role.  The man can truly act, given the subject matter he is given.

The Help

I knew nothing about The Help when I went to go see it. I knew it was based on a book and had some star power attached but the rest was beyond me. I’ll just go ahead and say this, of the films I listed here, The Help is probably my favorite film I’ve seen this year. It’s very very well done. Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis deliver way above par performances and both deserve recognition for their work here.

Hugo

The best 3D movie you’ll see this year, seriously. Martin Scorsese delivered a surprise with Hugo. While it is a long and sometimes slow moving film, it left me feeling like a kid. It’s the perfect children’s movie for every movie loving adult. Although, I’m not sure it’d suffice as being the perfect children’s movie for kids. Still, it’s a beautifully told love story dedicated to the art of film.

Insidious

Sadly, there aren’t many notable horror films that come to mind when I think about this past year. One that does is Insidious. I’ve spoken to enough people to realize you either love this movie or you hate it. I love it, if not for anything else, than the film’s ability to deliver scares without blood or gore in the most unexpected places. I will never hear Tiptoe Through The Tulips by Tiny Tim the same way again.

Justified

I have two words to describe the awesomeness of Season 2: Margo Martindale.

The Layover

I’m a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain. I’ve read Kitchen Confidential. I’ve seen every episode of No Reservations. I just received The Nasty Bits for Hannukah. So when he announced his new show The Layover, I was immediately sold. Unlike No Reservations in the sense that he showcases places the locals go, each episode of The Layover takes you to different parts of the world where Bourdain is stuck for roughly 24 to 48 hours. In that small amount of time, he takes the viewer on a tour to places they should visit if they too are stuck in the city in question with some time to spare.

Moneyball

Moneyball is a solid movie. As a fan of baseball and a good story, this film delivers everything I could have wanted. Brad Pitt is great here but the stand out performance, for me anyway, is given by Jonah Hill. The writing and acting here work beautifully. The nominations announced for the film are well deserved.

Sons Of Anarchy

It was a struggle to get through Season 3 of Sons Of Anarchy. With it’s detour to Ireland, the story suffered and my interest waned. Thankfully, Kurt Sutter and the gang got the message and brought the show back on track for Season 4. If AMC is raising the bar for television programming, than FX Networks is really their only competition on basic cable. I really don’t know what else to say here. If you haven’t watched Sons Of Anarchy, you really don’t know the brilliance you are missing.

The Killing

AMC’s The Killing sort of snuck up on me. Reminiscent of Twin Peaks mixed with the dark gruesomeness of Se7en, The Killing takes the viewer along on the investigation to find out who killed Rosie Larsen. Again, another AMC show. I’m sure you know what I’ll say here about how great the show is. So just watch it already! Season 2 is just around the corner.

The Walking Dead

God damn AMC, again!? Yeah, well, here we are with ANOTHER AMC TV show! Season 2 of AMC’s The Walking Dead really began with a bang. There were some really jaw dropping moments during the first half of Season 2. It doesn’t look like Frank Darabont’s departure has effected the show in a negative way. Straying from the original story in the comic books, the show still maintains important plot points. And after that Mid Season Finale (that Sofia story line was getting old anyway), I am damn sure excited and curious to see what will happen next.

Wasting Light – Foo Fighters

Maybe it’s due to my getting older, but it seems like there aren’t many solid rock bands delivering great work anymore. Everything has gone Indie or Folk or some shit. The Foo Fighers’ newest album Wasting Light was indeed a light a midst a bunch of the current rock crap. Full of honesty, energy and humor, Wasting Light marks another Grade A album from Dave Grohl and the gang. And if you’re not convinced, check out the below music video for Walk which takes a few pages from the film Falling Down. How could you not love them!?

Watch The Throne

One of the biggest albums of the year, Watch The Throne combines the talents of two of the biggest Hip Hop artists right now – Jay Z and Kanye West. While, in my opinion, this is not the best work either artist has released, the teamwork still delivers something special. P Diddy eat your heart out, this is Luxury Rap at its finest.

Well there you have it! To narrow down my list to 20, many items fell to the wayside. If I missed something you’re just stabbing yourself in frustration about, go ahead and shout it out at me in the comments below!

Oh! And just for the record, if you are viewing this list and scratching your head as to why movies like Drive, The Artist, The Descendants, Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy, The Muppets, or Martha Marcy May Marlene isn’t on here. Well it’s because for some reason or another, I haven’t seen them yet! I ain’t gonna list something I ain’t seen yet. The line to hand out smacks to my face starts to the right. Thanks for your patronage.