Fans of Entertainment Weekly should be pretty familiar with the Must List — that pretty page in the magazine that kicks off the reviews section, a compilation of ten things the editors are in love with that particular week. Most recently, we’ve given kudos to everything from the Police reunion tour to Reunited: The Real World Las Vegas to the animated kiddie flick Surf’s Up.
Well, now the editors want to shake things up a bit — we want know what you’re digging. Starting with the next issue, each Must List will include a pick from a reader — that’s right, you! So let’s get it going: What current movie, CD, DVD, or book is your addiction this week, and why? What about awesome singles and music videos? Performances from the summer blockbusters? Guilty pleasures?
I’ll start: For the first time ever, I’m tuning in to Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen. Yes, it’s entertaining to watch Gordon Ramsay berate all the contestants — I gasped last week when he smashed an undercooked egg into an underling’s chest — but I’m also enjoying it because it’s fun to root for Julia (pictured), the Waffle House short-order cook who gets zero respect from her snobby competitors but is hanging in there with the best of them.
Your turn. (And please remember, keep your pick current — don’t just say Lost, since it’s on hiatus for summer…)
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New in paperback, I can’t put down “Winkie,” Clifford Chase’s bizarre and eerily relevant novel about a teddy bear imprisoned for terrorism.
It came out a couple months ago, but I just found out: the Detroit Cobras’ new album Tried and True. A new set of obscure R&B chestnuts given a garage-rock overhaul. It’s hard to believe so many great songs could have fallen through the cracks of time and it’s great to hear them revived by Rachel Nagy who’s got the the bar-none best female rock and roll voice since Sister Janis.
-Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur
Funky and fresh covers from modern artists induced with the social conscience of Lennon’s lyrics, the concept of the CD itself is a must. But for smooth listening, download Christina Aguilera’s dreamy rendition of “Mother” and Avril Lavigne’s surpisingly tender and heartfelt version of “Imagine.”
The National’s new album called Boxer. Matt Berninger’s gorgeous deep voice over lush guitar ramblings. After winning over audiences while opening for Arcade Fire, they’re now touring on their own.
“Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife” by Mary Roach. Normally, I don’t tackle nonfiction. But this book’s premise intrigued me and I have just fallen in love with the dry humor of the author, who both agrees and disagrees with all kinds of different views affirming, denying and wondering about the existence of the human soul, and is there a way to prove it? She travels to India, investigates centuries of medical data, and it’s all worth it. I love this book!
Following along online while Ewan McGregor and mate Charley Boorman travel through Africa on their motorcycles: http://www.bbc.co.uk/longwaydown/
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Maribel Verdu…two great actors that recently got invited to become voting members of the AMPAS. Their recent performances in Children of Men and Pan’s Labyrinth really prove that they deserve it.
In the Music part of my must list, I have to include all the new female British songbirds that are entering the charts and the music scene in the U.S. of A.
From the bad girls-the sweet vocals reggae/pop beats of Lily Allen and the always soulful Amy Winehouse, to the the songbird Corinne Bailey Rae, and the addictive pop/rock ballads of KT Tunstall and the sweetly addictive tunes of Natasha Bedinfield.
These Brits should ALWAYS be on a must list.
Entourage
My must see TV this summer? The Real Estate Pros (a.k.a. The Real Deal) on TLC. Watching Richard, Ginger and the rest of the gang at Trademark flip houses and make serious jack doing it (all while dropping such memorable quotes as “Save the drama for ya mama” and “Winner, winner, chicken dinner”)is a hoot. It’s pure Southern-fried fun, and proves that there are some smart, savvy people south of the Mason-Dixon line.
Breathing. Eating. Drinking. Metabolizing. Excreting. Flushing…
I would have to say So You Think You Can Dance. It is more engaging than most competition-based reality shows, and done much better than American Idol, despite having the same producers. Not to mention I sacrificed my sleep for this show (only 2 hours of sleep on Wednesday night!!), and I do love my sleep.
Feist’s new music video for “1234″. It’s vibrant, joyful and simple in the best of ways.
“Stop Me” by Mark Ronson feat Daniel Merriweather
Has potential to be the “Crazy” of 2007. An uber-hot single!!!! Album releases in July
guilty pleasure: ARMY WIVES. It’s soap opera style fun & has a pretty good cast. Kim Delaney’s always great & Sally Pressman, whom I’ve never seen before, is pretty cute. Other thatn that, my other MUST is ENTOURAGE(did I redeem myself?)
my must list for the summer is FOOTBALLERS WIVES and SUNSCREEN YO!
and BUFFY dvd marathons!!!!!!!!!!!!
and the new HARRY POTTER MOVIE!!
DJ Tiesto’s summer tour
Big Brother UK, Ratatouille
Summer Must List – So You Think You Can Dance. The end of Passions on NBC. Kyle XY and The 4400.
As listed below the Lovely English Lasses of song, Lily, Amy and Corinne. I have their albums on loop on my nano. I’m loving their music. They all have a wonderful old school texture that appeals to my reincarnated soul.
My biggest MUST for the summer though, is Carnival/Kadooment in Barbados. That’s a must for Everyone who loves a good party, gorgeous beaches and just a fun two weeks in the sun. Which brings to mind Rhianna and her album, which I’m actually enjoying as well. Even if I’m desperate to get ‘ella, ella, ella, a, a, a’ out of my head.
Zen of Fish by Trevor Corson (the same guy who wrote secret lives of lobster) is amazing. I couldn’t put it down! And now I have a really bad craving for sushi…
“On Chesil Beach”- beautiful, artistic, masterful
“My Life on the D-List”- absolutely hilarious but with a big heart
I’m waiting to see how much bigger Kelly Clarkson’s butt is going to get this summer.
my pick is michelle pfeiffer! i mean come on! how could u not include a CLASSIC A-LIST actress making her big comeback in ‘07 with 2 of the summer’s highly anticipated films: STARDUST & HAIRSPRAY!
I have been playing Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” album non-stop on my i-pod. I cannot get enough of her swearing, sultry, throw-back to Nina Simone style. Favorite song right now: Tears Dry On Their Own.
To read? Janet Evanovich – Hilarious
To watch? The Real Estate Pros/TLC, Big Brother/CBS, Entourage/HBO, Top Chef/Bravo
For my listening pleasure? the live downloads from AOL and iTunes…mini concerts for my ears. Also, Keith Urban’s Summer Concert Tour…pure fun and awesome musicianship in 3 hours (at least last time I saw him it was 3 hours).
I stumbled onto Bravo’s “Confessions of a Matchmaker” and I am HOOKED. Debbie Novak tells it like it is and gives some really good dating advice to regular people. Plus, it’s set in BUFFALO.
This is hard since I’m used to hearing about stuff on the Must List and then checking it out. Right now the only things that make me happy are Harry Potter and Amy Winehouse (and ice cream!). Winston’s pick is good though. In the future though, I’d love if Fiona Apple would put out a new album and Tom Cruise could do a film to remind us why we used to like him so much.
Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown (a snarky insider’s look at the life of the late princess).
Foyle’s War on PBS
repeats of Friday Night Lights
For TV- I second DTodd with Confession of a Matchmaker (though it’s Patti Novak, not Debbie) along with HK- I love Ramsay’s tirades!
For music- I can’t get enough of Maroon 5- it took a couple of listens but I’m loving Adam and the boys.
On my must list:
Music: Tegan and Sara, Kings of Leon, My Chemical Romance, and the Silversun Pickups
TV: Top Chef, The Shield, Studio 60
Movies: Knocked Up, The Bourne Ultimatum
Books: The Ruins, World War Z