This Post May Offend You…

July 30th, 2008 by david lay

…if it does, I don’t care.

I work for an online advertising company, and I am all for creative advertising as I know how difficult it can be to brand a business, gain an audience, and then maintain that branding over time. But it seems that we now live in a day and age where creativity and humor are being a stifled by a very small group of people who seemingly look for reasons to be “offended”.

I think that being offended is the biggest crock in history. I know that there are often times that people may say or do things that may make other people uncomfortable for various reasons, but I think people use “being offended” as a way to direct attention towards themselves and towards issues that they think are politically correct. It makes them feel better about their bleeding hearts and look better to others.

There is a place in our society for some level of political correctness, but the ridiculously extreme pc movement is so out of hand now that it makes me laugh - which is probably not the politically correct thing for me to do.

A recent Ad Age article explores a couple of the most recent Television Ads that were complained about enough for their companies (Verizon and Mars Candy, respectively) take them off the air. When I first watched them, I knew there were considered offensive, but I couldn’t figure out why. I guess I just don’t have the discernment of some people.

Watch them and judge for yourself:

This one is not really that funny, but otherwise I get the point and I am baffled that people are offended by its portrayal of Pittbulls as vicious. They’re guard dogs, people. They’re supposed to attack intruders!

This next one actually is very funny! I am a sucker for anything with Mr. T in it and I had seen this one before but was by no means offended. Let me know what you think.

Stu the Wise sent me this article, again from Ad Age, that outlines a few more complaints that people have had in the past about offensive ads. I highly suggest you read it - it’s some of the most hilariously ludicrous material I’ve read in a while.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 7 Comments

George Carlin 1937-2008

June 23rd, 2008 by david lay

You made a lot of people laugh, and we thank you for that. Rest in peace you foul, filthy, sonofab**ch!

Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada, Movies | 1 Comment

It Insists Upon Itself…

June 16th, 2008 by david lay

This is one of the cleverest, funniest pieces of Television writing. Just hilarious.

Posted in Tribute, Television, Yada Yada | 2 Comments

Retro Commercial of the Day - Hardee’s

June 5th, 2008 by david lay

I was randomly watching some old tv ads today when I came across this one. I did a double take when I realized who it was.

If you don’t watch Lost, you wont get it.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada | No Comments

Jimmy Fallon Taking Over for Conan

April 25th, 2008 by david lay

Many people have been speculating about the future of Late Night once Conan O’Brien takes over the Tonight Show next year, and now that question has been answered.

No sooner were Stu, Alex, and I watching (or attempting to watch) one of Fallon’s great characters, Nick Burns, The Company Computer Guy, on YouTube than the news came across the wire.

Check out the full story at Fox News.

Posted in Television | 3 Comments

Fox Announces Two New Spin-Offs

February 29th, 2008 by david lay

The Fox Network and 20th Century Fox TV announced today that they will be developing a spin-off of the animated hit show Family Guy. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series will be based on Peter Griffin’s bathtub-accident-prone neighbor Cleveland Brown.

The project is tentatively being titled Cleveland and is being written by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. Mike Henry, who produces and writes for Family Guy, also voices Cleveland, the character who plays off black stereotypes and is the most levelheaded among Peter Griffin’s trio of friends.

In addition to Cleveland, The Fox Network and 20th Century TV are also developing a spin-off of the drama series Prison Break, which will be set at a female prison.

Hmm… I don’t know about this. I do like Family Guy, but American Dad isn’t very funny. Cleveland is a good character to base a spin-off on though. I think it’s funny that Fox has gained infamy for cancelling Family Guy and now they are so confident in its selling power, that they are willing to produce a spin-off… Très bizarre.

As for the Prison Break spin-off… I really like the original, but I just don’t think there is room for a spin-off. I doubt that this will be very good at all, unfortunately.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 2 Comments

Saturday Night Live Returns!

February 24th, 2008 by david lay

Saturday Night Live became one of the first shows to return with all-new episodes since the writer’s strike ended last week. I have been a big fan of SNL since I was eight (way too young to stay up that late and watch that sort of programming) and I was very happy to be able to see an all-new episode last night.

Thanks to the timing of the return of SNL (a night before the Oscars) there were some particularly funny film-related sketches that I enjoyed.

This first one won’t be funny at all, really, unless you’ve seen There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men as it plays mostly off of one line from the end of There Will Be Blood and Javier Bardim’s character from No Country for Old Men. It is great though.

Then this one is just funny… the Digital Short guys bring us “A Message for Old People” regarding recent Oscar nominated films.

Another exiting SNL development is that next week’s host/musical guest combination is Ellen Page and Wilco - WOO HOO!!

Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Movies | No Comments

Knight Rider Clips

February 13th, 2008 by david lay

As I posted a couple of months ago, Knight Rider is coming back to the small screen this Sunday, February 17th. NBC has released a few clips from the upcoming two-hour Movie event. NBC has said that, depending on the ratings and responses to this movie, they would consider picking up Knight Rider for their weekly lineup.

Check these clips out and see what you think.

Trivia: Do you recognize who is supplying the voice of K.I.T.T.?

NBC has also released this synopsis of the new movie:

24 year-old Stanford University Ph.D. candidate Sarah Graiman is set to follow in her genius father Charles’ footsteps. Her life takes a dramatic turn when men try to abduct her. She receives a mysterious phone call from K.I.T.T., a car her father created, letting her know that her father is in danger. Sarah and K.I.T.T. set off to recruit her childhood friend Mike Tracer into helping them figure out who has her father and is trying to steal K.I.T.T. Mike, having just returned from serving in Iraq is jaded and reluctant to help, but eventually agrees.

I’m going to watch it, or at least TiVo it… I have fond memories of the original Knight Rider, so I can’t help but be a little excited about this new incarnation.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Events, Movies | 2 Comments

Bad News on Heroes Season Three

February 11th, 2008 by david lay

A quick note on Heroes Season Three:

Fans of Heroes have hoped that, with the WGA strike coming to an end, that we might see more of NBC’s hit series on television this year. Unfortunately, Ain’t It Cool News spoke to Hayden Panettiere, who plays the cheerleader Claire Bennett on the show, and she says that it won’t be happening.

According to Panettiere, even though the strike is finished, Heroes is done for this season, with new shooting beginning in April. It is expected that Heroes Season Three will air in the fall of 2008.

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LOST “The Economist” Sneak Peak

February 11th, 2008 by david lay

Most of us LOST fans struggle on a weekly basis to make it from one episode to the next. If thats the case with you, then feel free to enjoy these two sneak peeks from this week’s episode “The Economist“, set to air Thursday, February 14th.

There are a few spoilers, so if that’s not your thing, don’t click.

Posted in Television | No Comments

Jonny Fairplay Exits Survivor Micronesia

February 8th, 2008 by david lay

Survivor Micronesia Episode 1 Analysis and Observations

Jeff Probst introduced Jon “Jonny Fairplay” Dalton as “the most infamous of all Survivors” during the opening minutes of Survivor Micronesia. He ran made his signature walk flashing the “fairplay” sign with his hands and wore a hat that said “Will Lie 4 Food”. I have to admit, I was extremely excited to see him, along with many of the other returning castaways and I was hoping to see him become a major cog in the outcome of this year’s contest

Alas, it was not to be. As I predicted in a previous Survivor Micronesia post, he would either win it all, or be the first to go…Jonny Fairplay became Jonny Homesick as he openly sentimental about his girlfriend, former America’s Next Top Model contestant, Michelle Deighton and their soon-to-be-born baby girl. He told Survivor Vanuatu’s Ami Cusack, “I’m just emotionally not here.” The Favorites lost the opening immunity challenge and were forced to endure Tribal Council three days into the reality competition in the islands of Micronesia. At Tribal Council, he insisted that he was NOT quitting, but asked the question, “Am I being a crappy dad by being here?”

His tribemates voted him out unanimously, perhaps because they couldn’t trust him, or perhaps because they actually believed him.

Yau-Man Chan

Yau-Man received the biggest round of applause by the fans as he was introduced and following a short trek across an inlet of water, he was the first to procure a hidden Immunity Idol that was only good for the first trip to Tribal Council.

Jonny Fairplay noticed them hanging off the tribes’ new boats and was the first to grab one, but realized he accidently got the other tribe’s Idol. Yau-Man raced him to the other boat where an identical Idol was found, and beat him to it after a short scuffle that Jonny Fairplay described as Yau-Man “tackling my head into the boat…Even Jonny Fairplay wouldn’t tackle somebody’s head into the side of a boat for an immunity idol,” Fairplay said. Regardless, Yau-Man was yet again in possession of an immunity idol.

The Alliances

Parvati Shallow had no trouble admitting that she was a flirt during Survivor Cook Islands, but in Survivor Micronesia, the story will be different… “I’m playing smart this time,” she said, but also admitted that “this time there’s only one guy to flirt with, really.” That guy was James Clement, who also seemed to dig her (who wouldn’t). “She’s one of them sex kitten type of girls, and I like it,” he told said. They quickly formed an alliance along with another Favorites couple, Ozzy Lusth and Amanda Kimmel, who were shown making out in the preview for next week’s episode.

The second alliance formed as quickly as the first — consisting of Ami, Eliza Orlins, Jonathan Penner and Yau-Man. With Fairplay gone, that leaves Cirie Fields as the new swing vote, and she can now decide whether to vote with or against the couples.

The Competition

When the two tribes swam to the opposite beach at the start of the episode, Fan, Erik Reichenbach was the first to arrive on the beach, easily beating his idol, Ozzy, which thrilled him. “I beat Ozzy!” he said. Later, at the immunity challenge, his sportsmanship took a different turn. While the other tribe tried to dig wooden planks out of the sand, he threw sand into their pit and onto them, trying to sabotage their efforts. Apparently, he’s a competitor who is willing to do whatever it takes to beat his favorite players.

The Social Game

Kathy Sleckman was more or less handed the fans’ Idol, which was lying on the beach after Jonny Fairplay dropped it. “Pick that up,” Yau-Man told her, and her tribe wished she hadn’t. They found her to be incredibly abrasive, and she clearly wasn’t ready for the game. Jason Siska called her “the crazy lady” who’s “going to be the first one to go.”

During their first rainy night, she cried, saying, “right now this sucks.” She also asked Chet Welch if he was gay, saying, “I’ve never been friends with a homosexual.” Her fellow fans couldn’t believe how annoying she was, and unless she shapes up, she’ll be the first to leave as soon as the opportunity arises.

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Eisner: Writer’s Strike Over!

February 7th, 2008 by david lay

According to CNBC, ex-Disney CEO Michael Eisner says that the writers strike is FINALLY over.

Eisner stated live on the CNBC program Fast Money, “It’s over, they made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It’s going on Saturday to the writers in general.”

Eisner did seem uncertain for a moment about a possibility that the writers would still reject the deal, but then remained confident that the three-month strike was over.

“A deal has been made, and they’ll be back to work very soon,” Eisner said, adding, “I know a deal’s been made. I know it’s over.”

Eisner did not elaborate on the terms of the deal, but he said that the deal was made on Friday. He also said that many of the writers will not be getting their same deals they had with the studio, due to cutbacks from the strike.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Movies | 1 Comment

New American Idol Clips

January 24th, 2008 by david lay

Here are some more A.I. clips from this week. I really didn’t think this was a very good week at all, in terms of finding some of those truly unforgetable performances, but here are a couple of the better ones…

The above are Jeffrey and Michelle Lampkin who were just funny and I was floored when I realized how good they were! Not expected…

…and this is just one that I found funny because of how angry he gets… His name is Josh Boson…

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Best American Idol Clips So Far

January 17th, 2008 by david lay

I have to admit it. I watch American Idol. Every year, I start out by watching the often-hilarious auditions, and then I end up following through by watching - and rooting for- my favorites through the rest (or mostly) of the season.

This year has only provided two nights worth of programming, but there are two auditions that I think EVERYONE should see!

This first one, a man named Paul Marturano (who I am pretty sure is a comedian) sings a “love song” that he supposedly wrote for Paula Abdul. If I’m right, and he is a comedian, this is absolutely HILARIOUS!

If I’m wrong, and the song is legit, he should be put away for a very long time…

And this one, I predict will be the most memorable in American Idol history! Surpassing the likes of William Hung’s She Bangs, and Simon is right, he’s going to have a hit record with this one. For those of you who know my friend, Isaku, he reminds a little of him - which is awesome!

Posted in Television, Yada Yada | 2 Comments

Survivor Micronesia Promo Video

January 10th, 2008 by david lay

Check out this promotional video for Survivor Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites. I’m not sure where it’s from, but it’s chock full of interviews from the cast and a few insights into their respective strategies.

Posted in Television, Yada Yada, Events | No Comments

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