Watch This — Some tUnE-yArDs With Your Morning Coffee

I've constantly been checking for tUnE-yArDs (aka, Merrill Garbus) ever since I first heard "Bizness." I didn't get my act together in time to catch her sold-out show at the Fonda Theatre, so this live version of "Real Thing" — off her latest album, Nikki Nack — will have to tide me over.

These ladies (and guy) are like harmonizing, grooving exclamation points as they layer lots of simple sounds to make one big, bold one.

Watch This — I Wanted Her To Fill In For Letterman, But This'll Do

Either I've been living under a rock, or NBC's done a piss-poor job of advertising the fact that Maya Rudolph is debuting her own variety show on May 19. This clip is a pretty slapdash promo, but I'll take it!



I have loved Rudolph since the Destiny's Child-parodying "Gemini's Twin" sketches on SNL (why, oh why aren't there live links to those on YouTube?). I cried while watching "Away We Go," cried laughing at "Idiocracy" and "Bridesmaids" and cried on the inside when her talents were squandered on "Up All Night."

The way I see it, NBC owes her one for that last debacle. "The Maya Rudolph Show" is set to feature reliably funny folks like Chris Parnell, Craig Robinson and Andy Samberg, plus musical guests like style goddess, Janelle Monae. Also, Raphael Saadiq is set to be the show's bandleader. If you only remember him from Tony! Toni! Toné!, do yourself a favor and get updated. Even if there weren't a host of awesome names attached to this venture, I'd tune in just for Maya. She's long-since deserved to get the Carol Burnett treatment. With any luck, this hour-long special will fair well enough, ratings wise, to spark a weekly show.

Fun fact(s): Back when my daughter was a toddler, I used to kick it at the playground with a friend of Maya's who told me my kid was the spitting image of the actress as a child. Also, when I wore white flowers in my natural locks on my wedding day, folks told me I looked like Rudolph's mom, Minnie Riperton. (After consulting Google Images, I guess I can kinda, sorta agree on both fronts.) But, wait. Are these "fun facts," or delusional ramblings? I can't decide. Either way, don't worry....I'm just a fan, not a stalker, I swear.

Whew! I got off track there. Pretend it never happened and watch this instead. Skip to 2:44 to see her do a Gwen Stefani impression that makes me giggle with delight.

Watch This — Cody ChesnuTT Live Performance

After I watched this for the first time, I sat very still and very quiet for a few minutes. Then, I finally uttered a rather ineloquent, "Wow."

I've been humming Cody ChesnuTT's upbeat "Til I Met Thee" for the past several days, but this version of his "Chips Down (In No Landfill)" put me in a totally different head space. He's joined here by the PSU Symphony Orchestra.

Try not to fixate too much on the helmet.

Watch This — The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl

It almost hurts to admit it: I watch "Single Ladies."

There. Ripped that Band-Aid right on off. I feel liberated...but no less dirty.

Now, I don't watch it to the point where I know all the characters' names by heart, nor do I even have the programming info memorized. But if it's on (and it's, seemingly, always on), I'll watch it.

I'm shamefaced about this because — for those of you who can honestly say they've never seen it — it is horrendous. It's like a black "Sex and the City" set in some R&B music video fantasy depiction of Atlanta. There is zero acting ability involved, with emphasis placed, instead, on a.) how well (outgoing) star Stacey Dash is preserving herself and, b.) how short and tight a dress can possibly be before it's considered a tank top.

And, sadly, "Single Ladies" is one of the few predominately black ensemble cast shows on scripted TV anymore. It makes me long for "A Different World," or even "Moesha."

I'm not saying it's "set the race back" bad, but it certainly isn't charting any new, or needed territory. All the same, it's proving to be ratings gold for VH1. Meanwhile, innovator Issa Rae has to resort to Kickstarter pan-handling to fund her series of webisodes, "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl."

Full disclosure: It took me a few episodes to get into "ABG," but by the end of Ep 4, I was all in. I'm even anxiously awaiting the latest installment (promised for next Thursday, Sept. 8). I could explain it all, but it's best to just watch the series for yourself. Here's the first episode...

Watch This — Adventure Time

Honestly, I've never "gotten" the whole Spongebob Squarepants fascination. Specifically, I've never been able to grasp non-breeding adults who dutifully watch it solo. Granted, my experience with the show is largely limited to turning it on to pacify my nephew when he was younger and clicking past it on Virgin America flights. Still, my impression of it is that it's insipid to the point of even really talking about.

Now, if you want to talk about a kids' show that's as much for adults as anything else, then let's talk about Cartoon Network's Adventure Time with Finn and Jake. Since I discovered it about a week ago, I have been absolutely all about it. Before this, I've been known to crack up over adult-aimed cartoons of the Home Movies, Dr. Katz, or the (very Rated-R) Archer variety. But now I'm feeling the kid-friendly fare (though it could easily skew toward the Adult Swim realm).

There is a kid in a bunny hood and his adopted brother, a shape-shifting dog. There is a hipster vampire girl, assorted really bizarre princesses, an Ice King (voiced by Spongebob, himself), lots of anthropomorphized pastries and, of course, Lady Rainicorn. There's no clear storyline, just heaps and heaps of funny, random adventures. New eps air each Monday night, but I've been Tivo'ing and catching up on re-runs.

I'm not even sure I want my kid to watch it, honestly; it's exceedingly random, fairly violent and, at times, creepy. Plus, I get the same sensation as when I find her liking my expensive cheeses, or Trader Joe's mango juice too much; too good for kids!

I'm not alone in my adoration for this show. It's got it's own Wiki situation, blog, Facebook page (nearly 1.4 million likes!) and Twitter feed.

There are a full episodes on the home page and a ton of clips on Youtube. Here's my favorite:

UPDATE: Also, this has now happened.

AN UPDATE OF ACTUAL TIMELY IMPORTANCE: The cast and creators will host a screening and panel discussion this Sunday, Aug. 14 at L.A.'s Paley Center. Click here for more info.

Watch This — This Is A Dare

Yes, Frown Lines is, apparently, becoming "all 'Watch This,' all the time." Please bear with me.

I read about this tear-jerking StoryCorps submission here and initially dismissed it. I later saw it linked from New York Magazine and, once again, was warned that tears were guaranteed upon watching. I just had to rise to the challenge. I hardly ever tear up at sentimental stuff and this would be no different, I told myself.

So, I watched it and...

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

...I was right. I didn't cry. But only because I was being really, really stubborn. How about you?

Watch This — Marcel

I wouldn't do back-to-back "Watch This" posts if I didn't feel it was necessary. Know this.

By now, everyone has (or, at least, should have) seen this. I questioned whether or not to even embed it here. But I figured I'd like to go on record as professing my love for it. And, though I couldn't be a part of creating it, I could at least do my part to chronicle it for posterity.

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

I have so many snails in my courtyard fountain. I wish even one of them was as precious as Marcel.

Watch This — Japanese Fun Facts

Talking legumes that resemble puppies and disseminate arcane trivia. What have you been doing all your life, if not watching Mameshiba clips? Fava bean is the latest. So much weird Japanese goodness.

Watch This — (Ideally, with a Cool Girl b/w ages 7 and 12)

That Amy Poehler...always giving me reasons to love her.

I just discovered her webisode project, "Smart Girls at the Party." Now entering its second season, the series is aimed at showcasing pre-teen girls' under-represented talents and interests— no shopping, boys and other precocious nonsense. Poehler interviews a young gardener, a steel drum-player, a yogini and, as is the case in the first episode of Season 2, a robotic engineer.

Find more videos like this on Smart Girls at the Party

Smart Girls' tagline is "Change the World by Being Yourself." You really get a feel for the authenticity of that sentiment as you watch these refreshingly awkward girls. There's scarcely a Disney'ed out pre-diva in the bunch. The interviews are set up "The Daily Show"-style and it's adorable to watch the deadpan responses to Poehler's faux-reporter shenanigans.

If you can get past the intro yodeling, I'd say this is a great (albeit, short) viewing alternative to "iCarly" and the nauseating like. Bonus for geeky grown-ups: The episodes end in dance parties featuring Will Arnett and an interchangeable cast of Poehler's celeb friends (Aziz Ansari, Kristen Wiig, etc.).

Watch This — (After clicking the link, that is)

Follow this link to watch the trailer for "Waiting For Superman." Maybe I didn't have enough coffee, but embedding seems beyond me this morning.

The new documentary on how poorly our nation's schools are doing may not be groundbreaking material. Still, the trailer choked me up even more than "Babies," the life-affirming doc I'd gone to the theater to see. In particular, my eyes started stinging when I spotted the school featured at 1:07...it's right down the street from my childhood home.

Watch This — Tim Doing What He Does Best

I love Tim Harrington. He is insane and that is but part of his charm.

Here is some bizarre little video I picked up on Pitchfork. In it, Tim dons an outfit that's actually well-made, compared to the dumpster-derived costumes he wears onstage with Les Savy Fav. In fact, I've even passed him by on the streets of Soho wearing something not as tasteful as you'll see in this, er...short film.

The band's playing at Echoplex, May 9. What better Mother's Day present than to have him smear lipstick on my face, or dance around me in a torn bridal gown? Beats the pants off of brunch and a bouquet. (Hope my husband gets the memo! If not, I'll settle for some of Tim's Deadly Squire home goods.)

Watch This — "The Golden Afternoon"

My daughter has been twirling around the house singing this song incessantly, having just watched Disney's "Alice in Wonderland" for the first time. It seems so seasonally appropriate (even though it's pretty much perpetually spring where we live). The old-school animation is so ridiculous; CGI can go kick rocks.

Watch This — Aww Shucks!

This morning, I crafted and watched "The Courtship of Eddie's Father."

Little Ron Howard's "Eddie" made my face go into one of those crumpled little grins in every scene he graced. This one, in particular, made my eyes hurt for all the stinging.

Get a single tissue and skip to 6:40...

Watch This — A Movie Worth Getting a Baby-Sitter For...

First thing this morning, I learned about a new Jean-Pierre Jeunet film releasing stateside. Unlike my usual stance of "initial excitement followed by gradual ambivalence, ending in complete obliviousness" (e.g., "The Informant!," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The September Issue," etc.) here's an upcoming film that I will actually go to the theaters to see.

In general, movies are a waste of a date night. The effort of setting up a sitter, putting on grown-up clothes and stopping for that last minute vivifying cup of pre-screening coffee seldom pays off a suitable reward.

But this is a whole 'nother story. "Delicatessen" is one of my all-time favorites and it kinda goes without saying that my husband (then, boyfriend) and I had a magical date seeing "Amelie," back when it came out. Now, Jeunet is back, with "Micmacs," and I'm already wondering what going-outfit I will don.

Edit: Mon ami, Daniel, informed me that the last video I posted was cut off on the right. So here, I posted a different version (with cheesy French narration) and it's happening again. Anybody know why?

Of course, the film — which has only played at festivals thus far in the U.S. — will have limited screening when it comes out May 28. And, given that I'm currently in the sticks, it may take a bit more doing to find a theater. Worth it, though!

Watch This — Food Party

Oh, the things I'll watch when my husband is out of town. Pleasures may not get more guilty than "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "Clean House," but they do get more inane. To wit..."Food Party." I heard a little about it when it debuted last June and mistakenly expected more of a cooky, kid-friendly Yummy Clare phenomenon. No, dude...

The creator/host of the IFC show, Thu Tran, is out there in a way that I haven't seen since Pee-Wee Herman — just imagine if his Playhouse was in '00s Brooklyn, instead of '80s L.A., he had a can of Deez Nuts-brand nuts in his freezer and a banana stripper in his living room. Her world is filled with wacked-out handmade puppets, intentionally cheezy props and plot-free plots.

Not only is "Food Party" not particularly family-friendly, it's not even really about food. That is, unless, you have a hankering for green screen cookies and blue cheese-frosted wedding cake dressed with buffalo wings and crudité. (If you're interested, there are a few "real" recipes scattered about her blog.)

Tran is awkward and goofy, yet, more than a little bit intoxicating, á la Charlyne Yi (and, no, I'm not just comparing them because they're both Asian-American). Watching Tran's parade of randomness transports me back to my post-collegiate Adult Swim viewing sessions, when my homies and I would drink beer and cherry limeades while reveling in our arrested development.

Nothing about "Food Party" makes sense. But once you go down the rabbit hole, you become okay with that fact. I'm only salty because I could never be uninhibited, or enterprising enough to try bringing something this ridiculous to national television...and have it get renewed for more than one season, no less (new episodes start April 27).

BTW, that "What Not to Wear" contestant at the Austin American-Statesman reports that Tran is in the ATX during SXSW, should you want to meet her in person.

Watch This — (With Your Science-Loving Kid)

Okay. I know that hearing this They Might Be Giants song may flood your brain with unpleasant memories of the Cat in the Hat hat-wearing college nerds in the dorm room down the hall. (Um, I may, or may not have associated with some of them once or twice...but if I did, it was purely for research!)

But try to hear it afresh with this video — from the perspective of a curious kid eager to learn more about that mass of incandescent gas, or as a pop art-lover who's curious about the video's creator, Hine Mizushima. (And how about the promise of a cute felted kitty playing a theremin as further enticement?)

via Drawn!

Watch This

The "Basquiat" biopic came out in 1996, a perfect release time for me. That year, I was knee-deep in my pretentious college student phase — the indie-er the film, the better. The cast was chock full of some of my favorites (Benicio, Parker Posey, Gary Oldman), rounded out by the fantabulous Jeffrey Wright playing Jean-Michel and David Bowie as Warhol ("I can't even see what's good anymore" made that movie). These days, I probably wouldn't have the attention span to sit through it again.

But watching this trailer for Tamra Davis' newly released "Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child," has me thinking the words and deeds of the man himself may captivate me in ways a hipster-fied interpretation can't. Sure, Davis directed "Crossroads," but still...

via Black Nerds Network

(Oh, and '96 me would be stoked by the Mike D and Ad Rock being on the soundtrack.)

Watch This

When he's not playing the buffoonish jock on one of my new favorites, "Community," Donald Glover is one-third of Derrick Comedy. The troupe brings their limited release debut film to L.A. next month.

While this one-off promo might not exactly entice you to head to the NuArt* for the screening, it may take the edge off if, like me, you're salty about being deprived of prime time funny by those never ending Winter Olympics.

*The site doesn't yet have details for the engagement — which runs for a week, starting March 12 — but their latest movie guide flier backs me up on this.

Watch This

My jaw only just got back to its rightful place after having discovered this (new to me, anyway). You can go ahead and get as excited as everyone else about Ricky Gervais' new podcast-cum-HBO show. But I find his earlier work way more spellbinding...

Watch This...

I'm sure this freshly-premiered video will be damn-near inescapable within days, but I had to post it. I have more love for this Vampire Weekend video than I have had for any music video in a while. Are the guest cameos gimmicky? Perhaps. But Jake Gyllenhaal gives his best performance since "Donnie Darko" (sad commentary, there) and I actually found myself caring about a Jonas Brother for once. Plus, a magical Matrix Rza and a dapper Lil Jon with French subtitles...what?!?. Oh, and the song is catchy, too!