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The Runaways: 2010 Film Release (Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning)

JOpinionated — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:44:00 +0000

Twilight and Joan Jett fans alike should mark their calendars for March 19, 2010. Apparition and River Road Entertainment will debut The Runaways at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and then the film opens wide two months later.

Directed by video visionary Floria Sigismondi (The White Stripes, David Bowie, Christina Aguilera) and starring Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and recent Oscar nominee Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road), The Runaways explores the groundbreaking, all-female teenage band from the 1970′s fronted by rock icon Joan Jett.

I am totally on board with and excited for this movie, primarily because of Jett’s story; that she is one of the executive producers on the film is a huge bonus and guarantees authenticity.

Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show

JOpinionated — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:40:00 +0000

Entertaining as hell, smart, good-humored, informative and a bit dirty. What more would you want from an online-only talk show hosted by an actor’s actor? Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects) has a great Internet show that I highly recommend to fellow pop culture fans of film, music, television and technology.

Recent guests have included Matthew Perry, Curt Smith (Tears for Fears), Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog).

Click here for more information about Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show and to watch recent episodes, or download all of them for free on iTunes. Just a heads up – you may want to use headphones if you watch at work; Kevin and his guests have free reign with regard to language (which is one of the reasons I love it). You can also follow Kevin on Twitter. Of course.

New episodes stream live every Sunday at 5pm PDT.

If you tune in, let me know what you think!

Oh, Hello. Let’s Talk TV. Season Finales, Anyone?

JOpinionated — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:51:00 +0000

Hi, my name is Jo and I suck. Last week when my friend Mel told me that she stopped coming to this site due to lack of updated content, it made me realize that I have been neglecting a huge portion of my pop culture life. And you.

See this phrase and logo above? It is on a Life is Good hat that I own, but I do not take the advice it offers. As most of you are aware, I have been inside of a Lost box with television tunnel-vision on for several months now. I am currently recovering (albeit with a rather large time-travel and character death hangover), as the fifth season has just ended.

But the good news for those of you who don’t watch that show is that I’m back, I’m ready to talk about shows that YOU love and watch, and I will be doing so much more frequently now. If you’re back, thank you for your patience. If you’re new, welcome to my babbling brook of consciousness!

We have several very emotional/controversial/strange season finales to discuss. The Office (baby!). Grey’s (RIP Gizzie?!). Private Practice (the horror!). Fringe (woah). Bones (wtf?). Heroes (yawn). Brothers & Sisters (let the door hit you on the way out, Tommy). 30 Rock (ten shades of awesome; I Lizzed). I haven’t seen the House finale yet, but Kutner’s death and Amber’s ghost made for a pretty great season.

File under: surprised but excited – Dollhouse has been renewed. I was very skeptical of this new series because of the pace of the first few episodes, but I highly recommend it as a summer series to catch up on because it is quite unique and compelling.

File under: donde esta? Samantha Who was yanked from the schedule without much notice or reason. It hasn’t been canceled so I’m curious to find out when they’ll be bringing it back.

File under: sad but relieved to get closure – ABC will be airing the final three episodes of Pushing Daisies at the end of the month.

Random season/schedule shows I’m currently enjoying: Rescue Me and Southland.

Summer TV: bring on True Blood and Mad Men. And let’s admit our guilty pleasure reality fixes…The Bachelorette starts tomorrow. I will also openly admit my addiction to The Biggest Loser; this was the first season I tuned in and am now hooked.

New shows: so looking forward to Glee (debuting this week on FOX) and Nurse Jackie (debuts on 6/8, Showtime).

And music! Anyone else listening to the new Green Day? I am loving that and the new Phoenix album.

Movies: loved loved loved the new Star Trek. Was disappointed by Wolverine. New films I am really looking forward to include Away We Go (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph/directed by Sam Mendes), Julie & Julia (Meryl Streep & Amy Adams/directed by Nora Ephron), and Nine (ensemble musical/directed by Rob Marshall).

So, hi. Thanks for stopping by. By all means, please let me know what shows, movies, bands, books, etc. that you’d love for me to discuss here and I will do my best. I owe you. And I’ve missed you.

Great in ’08: Pop Culture Picks in My Rear View Mirror

JOpinionated — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:00:00 +0000

There are myriad year-end lists published every December; here is my (J)opinion about the Best of 2008.

STELLAR PERFORMANCES

Glenn Close, Damages

Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man & Tropic Thunder

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Mary Louise Parker, Weeds

Sean Penn, Milk

Jimmy Smits, Dexter

Rutina Wesley, True Blood

The women of Mad Men

FAVORITE FILMS

The Dark Knight

Iron Man

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Wall E

TOP TELEVISION

30 Rock

Dexter

Mad Men

Lost

NEW SHOWS

Fringe

The Middleman

True Blood

POLITICS & POP CULTURE

Even better than the real thing: Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live.

Hallelujah. Change has never looked better.

With the passage of Proposition 8 in California, the wedded bliss that Ellen & Portia and 18,000 other happy couples share may be revoked. Our plans to get married are now on hold as well. Disappointment doesn’t begin to cover how I feel.

MUSIC: ALBUMS

Coldplay: Viva La Vida

Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs

Killers: Day and Age

Pink: Funhouse

Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

MUSIC: SINGLES

Ben Folds w/Regina Spector: “You Don’t Know Me”

The Bravery: “Believe” & “Time Won’t Let Me Go” (tie)

Kaiser Chiefs: “Never Miss a Beat”

Kings of Leon: “Sex on Fire”

I’m sure that there are shows, films and songs I’m forgetting, so let’s blame the holiday food coma.

I hope that you enjoyed a fabulous holiday, and Happy New Year to all!

Holy Hiphopopotamus! Flight of the Conchords Returns

JOpinionated — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 03:40:00 +0000

Not only is the hysterical HBO series Flight of the Conchords returning for a second season on January 18, now is your chance to enter their Lip Dub Fantasterpiece contest. Create an original video of yourself lip syncing to the Conchords’ song ‘Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros,’ and upload it on that site; the winning video will air on HBO.

If you haven’t tuned in to this very funny show, you’re in for quite an experience. The series follows the social exploits and failures of New Zealand friends Bret and Jermaine as they break into clever little tunes about their experiences living and performing in NYC. It is certainly one of the more unique shows on the air these days, a refreshing change of pace from standard sitcoms and network fare.

Los Angeles, in Lyrics

JOpinionated — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:50:00 +0000

I am often asked to compile songs using a specific theme or for a certain locale. So for this trip to LA, I was inspired to create a set list for my iPod with a few tracks that either focus on or make reference to the area. Here they are, accompanied by a sample of lyrics from each.

Come a Long Way (Michelle Shocked)

The sun was sinking into the sea
But a ball of fire inside of me
Was burning my motor and driving me hard
Past the big hair on the Boulevard

Dogs of LA (Liz Phair)

The canyon air is like a breath of fresh L.A.

I was a Star Trek crew member, with my Beatle boots and my Super-8

And I raced you to the top, the camera gets a stuttered shot

Of me approaching a painted shrine

I kissed the Buddah and made him cry

Electrolite (REM)

If you ever want to fly

Mulholland Drive

Up in the sky

Stand on a cliff and look down there

Don’t be scared, you are alive

First of the Gang to Die (Morrissey)

You have never been in love,

Until you’ve seen the stars

reflect in the resevoirs

Going Back to Cali (LL Cool J)
* Guilty Pleasure Alert! Oh please – you know you had the Less Than Zero soundrack on cassette back in ’87 too.

I’m going back to Cali, rising, surprising

Advising realizing, she’s sizing me up

Her bikini – small; heels – tall

She said, she liked the ocean

She showed me a beach, gave me a peach

And pulled out the suntan lotion

Heartbreak World (Matt Nathanson)

Let’s move out of Los Angeles

Just drive until this summer gives

And forget the lies we use to live

‘Cause we’re gone

Los Angeles, I’m Yours (The Decemberists)

There is a city by the sea

A gentle company

I don’t suppose you want to

And as it tells its sorry tale

In harrowing detail

Its hollowness will haunt you

Its streets and boulevards

Orphans and oligarchs it hears

A plaintive melody

Truncated symphony

A Sorta Fairytale (Tori Amos)

Things you said that day

Up on the 101

The girl had come undone
I tried to downplay it

With a bet about us

You said that

You’d take it

As long as i could
I could not erase it

Screenwriter’s Blues (Soul Coughing)

Your Cadillac breathes

Four hundred horses

Over blue lines.

You are going

to Reseda

to make love

to a model

from Ohio

whose real name

you don’t

know.

Why You’d Want to Live Here (Death Cab for Cutie)

I’m in Los Angeles today

Asked a gas station employee if he ever had trouble breathing

and he said, “It varies from season to season, here.”

It’s where our best are on display

Motion picture actors’ houses maps are never ever current,

So save your film and fifteen dollars.

And now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get some rest so I can be a proper tourist before the event tomorrow night.

Been There, Heard That: Every Concert (An Alphabetical History)

JOpinionated — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Before I list out every artist I’ve ever seen live, here are those who top my Wish List:

Bruce Springsteen
Green Day
Liz Phair
Peter Gabriel
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Shins

I’m sure that there are a few I’m forgetting, and yes, some of these concerts are embarrassing in retrospect. Whatever. We were all young once.

Ani DiFranco
B52′s
Ben Harper
Catie Curtis
Collective Soul
Counting Crows
Crowded House
Depeche Mode
Duran Duran
Erasure
Fiona Apple
Guns n Roses
Hootie & the Blowfish
Indigo Girls
Ingrid Michaelson
kd lang
Kelly Clarkson
Kristin Hersh
Los Lobos
Lucinda Williams
Madonna
Matt Nathanson
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Ferrick
Modest Mouse
The National
Neil Young
NSYNC
Paula Cole
Pearl Jam
Phil Collins
Pink
Pretenders
REM
Sarah McLachlan
Shawn Colvin
Sheryl Crow
Soundgarden
Sting
Suzanne Vega
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Tori Amos
Train
Tracy Chapman
Tristan Prettyman
U2

In case you’re wondering, there is absolutely no point to this post. As usual, I was just thinking about it and wanted to share.

Gay It Forward

JOpinionated — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:32:00 +0000

That I am gay is irrelevant to my blogs and pop culture perspective 99% of the time. Until it isn’t.

There have been several hot button political issues, people and songs in the spotlight recently, and due to the frequent nature of inquiries directed my way, I thought it was time to address them all. Here and now. Why the hell not? I rarely delve into the personal, but I’m feeling particularly snarky and honest today.

Question 1:
Are you getting married now that it is legal in California?

Answer:
Perhaps. We’ve been together for over 11 years, and don’t want to get married just because we can. That being said, I cried when I saw this video of Ellen & Portia. So beautiful.

Political side note: please vote No on Prop 8 if you are a registered voter in the state of CA. You may not know me personally, but why deny me the opportunity to finally marry the woman who shares my heart?

Question 2:
What do you think of the song “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry?

Answer:
In college we had a term for what she is boasting about – LUG (lesbian until graduation). It has become as common as the Freshman 15. Yawn. Although I will admit that the damn song is quite catchy.

Question 3:
Why don’t you write about Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson?

Answer:
For the same reason you will never see me discuss hotel heiresses and the like; because I do not cover celebrity gossip, nor do I have any interest in perpetuating rumors about people. There are plenty of other sites out there to satiate such curiosities.

Question 4:
What do you think about Sarah Palin?

Answer:
As if you have to ask. Although her official stance on gay marriage and benefits for same-sex couples is vague at best, I’m not an idiot. She and McCain will eviscerate the path which people like Ellen and Bill Clinton paved for so many. And don’t get me started with Palin’s offensive and egregious views on myriad other issues. This is not a political blog, so I’ll stop there.

—

So there you have it, a completely tangential entry which I’m sure I’ll regret in retrospect.

Now Hear This: Ashley Arrison

JOpinionated — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 03:17:00 +0000

I am a big fan of Ashley Arrison and wanted to introduce her into your lives, living rooms, headphones and moving vehicles.

Open iTunes right now and download the EP Talking Circles. She has a hauntingly beautiful voice, and her lyrics linger long after you’ve listened.

Click here to hear other tracks on her MySpace page, and read her blog as well.

Prior to Ashley’s solo career, she provided background vocals for country legend Radney Foster. She has contributed background vocals to both a Lindsay Lohan and a Badly Drawn Boy album as well.

Oh, and when she was younger she performed with some kid named Justin Timberlake…

As a matter of fact, here is the video of them singing and dancing at a local fair…in matching parachute pants with suspenders.

Seriously though…for the price of two lattes you can own 6 songs from a very talented new artist. I highly recommend her EP and also encourage you to see her live when she comes to a venue near you!

My Music History, Part 4: 90′s to Now + 12 Favorite Albums of All Time

JOpinionated — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:52:00 +0000

This was supposed to be a 5-part series, but frankly there were only a handful of albums since 1995 (post-college) that I have absolutely loved. So I decided to combine those with my DID (Desert Island Discs; you know, the music you would have to listen to for the rest of your life should you crash land on an island, a la Lost) in the same post.

Here are the CDs which have been on shuffle in my car for the last few years…I know, random.

Matt N is a given, but this particular CD…is just special to me. I will finally openly admit to being a fan of JT (although I don’t love his second effort as much). Missy is a dirty bird, and this CD makes me both laugh and want to dance, every time. As for the Boss – of his entire body of work, this album simply resonates the most with me.

And now, on to my 12 Favorite Albums of All Time, in order of release date.

I am not going to elaborate or articulate how and why each makes the list; there are significant emotional connections and life experiences attached to each, and even I don’t share everything in this space…

Suzanne Vega: Suzanne Vega (1985)

Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)

U2: Joshua Tree (1987)

Melissa Etheridge: Brave and Crazy (1989)

George Michael: Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 (1990)

Indigo Girls: Nomads Indians Saints (1990)

Depeche Mode: Violator (1990)

kd lang: Ingenue (1992)

Peter Gabriel: Us (1992)

Sheryl Crow: Sheryl Crow (1996)

Music from the Motion Picture: Garden State (2004)

Green Day: American Idiot (2004)

Apparently I was not enamored with music from 1997-2003, and it also seems that very little has touched my soul since 2004. Let’s hope that something spectacular this way comes, sooner rather than later.

Do you have Desert Island Disc lists, or have I been playing this game alone in my head for years?