My current nominee for the four most annoying words in the English language: "Dramatization: Do not attempt."
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure there's some very important legal reason Quiznos needed to slap said disclaimer on its new ad showing the old woman at the laundromat devouring a five-dollar bill, but if someone is actually dumb enough to attempt such a shenanigan at home, doesn't he or she deserve a few troubling digestive side-effects?
Similarly, do we as a society need to protect LG buyers who run over their outdated washing machines with steamrollers? ("But the pretty lady in the ad made it look so easy!") And I know Dennis Haysbert has a really commanding speaking voice, but I don't think it should be grounds for a lawsuit if some loony watches dude's Allstate "People, Not Drivers" spot and gets the idea to hook up her treadmill in the middle of a freeway overpass. (Where would she plug it in, anyway?)
Come on, PopWatchers, tell me I'm not the only one who gets a little overdramatic about the prevalence of "dramatization" disclaimers in today's ads. Next thing you know Geico's going to have to hold a press conference to announce that the gecko's not really talking.
It's fair to say that I don't spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I have one, like most folks, and I'm familiar with concept of heating food to kill the bad-for-you bacteria. I've even used a microwave with varying degrees of success. So when I got an e-mail last week announcing that GenderPAC, a nonprofit that works towards gender equality, was holding the first of four celebrity cook-off fundraisers this summer — the kickoff event was held last Friday at New York's Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), with two former Top Chef winners and Queer Eye'sfood and wine expert Ted Allen as one of the judges — I coaxed a foodie friend to help me divine this strange culture, and to parse such terms as "haute" (literally "high" in French; fancy, high-end food), "plated" (food made to look pretty on the plate) and "in the weeds" (behind schedule, screwing up the menu) into proper apple-pie, mom-and-pop-shop English.
Comedian Kate Clinton opened the competition with some warmed-over jokes about G-spots, a nod to GenderPAC's bright orange G-shaped logo. But the action really heated up (okay, last food pun, I promise) when Ilan Hall, the winner of Top Chef season 2, and Hung Huynh, the season 3 winner, were presented with their ingredient "baskets" and, à la Iron Chef, were told they had 30 minutes to prepare a drink, an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert, using every single item they had in their baskets.
You can watch video from the event below. After the jump, read more about what it was like to watch these Top Chefs compete and to taste their creations.
Just in time to sooth worldwide protests over human rights abuse in China, Axl and co. have made good on their promise to complete the long-awaited Chinese Democracy album. According to the NME (via therockradio.com), the music has been delivered to their label, Geffen; the two sides merely need hammer out the finer details regarding money and rights issues — the album reportedly cost more than $13 million to produce — before the album, 14 years in the making, hits the marketplace.
I'm gonna take this news with a horselick-sized block of salt, but IMO, it's a win-win situation: We get the tunes, or we each get a free can of bubbly. (Which, at the time of writing, according to the US census, would end up costing Dr Pepper $303,822,220 — or more than 23 times the album's production cost, assuming each can costs a dollar and that GN'R guitarists Slash and Buckethead don't get serviced). Start planning those Dr Pepper parties now!
Lil Jon is getting into the wine business. His label: Little Jonathan Winery. "My full name is Jonathan," he explained to The Associated Press. "The wine is more nature: I wanted to not just have a
direct connection, but make it just a little bit more upscale than
regular 'Lil Jon.' ... This is not no ghetto Boone's Farm; this is some
real wine."
Axl Rose has come out of hiding the recording studio to respond to Dr Pepper's offer to donate a can of the fizzy soft drink to everyone in America — save Slash and Buckethead — should Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy, now in its 13th year of gestation, see the light of day in '08. The dreadlocked rocker issued a press release that was posted on the GN'R website yesterday:
We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper with our album Chinese Democracy, as for us, this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead's performances are on our album, I'll share my Dr Pepper with him.
So... is this a yes, Axl? We can expect to see Chinese Democracy in 2008? Here's a clock you can use to chart your progress.
Would you pay $35 for a movie ticket? (Yeah, that's what the theater owners need to bring back their shrinking audience: more expensive movie tickets.) How about if that $35 bought you a luxury moviegoing experience, including valet parking, gourmet menu choices, plush chairs, seat-side waiter service, and a screening-room capacity of just 40 patrons? That's what's coming soon to a theater near you (if you live in suburban Chicago and other select locales), thanks to the aptly named Gold Class theater chain.
Now, granted, most of us think the current moviegoing experience is uncivilized. Things have only gotten worse in the 14 years since Pulp Fiction, when John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson (pictured) marveled that there were theaters outside of the U.S. where you could actually order a glass of beer. Still, I don't think this tiered pricing concept goes far enough. If this is what you get for $35, then for, say, $50, you should get a movie-watching environment guaranteed to be free of cellphones and children. For $75, you'd be seated only among fellow film snobs, or at least people who've never paid to see a Michael Bay film, and pre-screening cocktail discussion would consist of a debate whether Hou Hsiao-hsien or Abbas Kiarostami is the better director. For $100, while you watch, Qi Gong practitioners would massage your feet, and Martin Scorsese would show up to comment excitedly about the director's masterful use of tracking shots.
Right now, though, I'd settle for movies projected in focus, with the correct aspect ratio and unmuffled sound.
Props to Dr. Pepper for their snarky promise to give everyone in America a can of their soda if Axl Rose (pictured) finally releases Chinese Democracy sometime in 2008. (Well, everyone except former Guns n' Roses guitarists Slash and Buckethead. Sorry, guys.) The Pepper people have even started a blog to encourage Axl to end the 17-year drought and get off the can, so to speak. In mock sympathy for Axl's painstaking perfectionism, the Pepper press release proclaims,
"It took a little patience to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love," said Jaxie Alt, director of marketing for Dr Pepper. "So we completely understand and empathize with Axl's quest for perfection — for something more than the average album."
Very clever stunt, since they're all but guaranteed not to have to make good on the offer.
I was disappointed to learn that the six-foot, half-ton ice sculpture (pictured) that Martha Stewart displayed at the opening of her 500th episode of her daytime show yesterday was carved by professionals, not by Martha herself with a grapefruit spoon. But that was the only real disappointment of the anniversary episode, which demonstrated that Stewart has thrived amid the spontaneity and human contact required on a live show, in ways many would not have predicted when Marthadebuted in Sept. 2005.
The show was blessedly light on the clips (though not on numbers, as Martha crowed about having displayed 272 craft projects and 960 recipes on the 500 shows to date); after all, why wallow in nostalgia when there are eggs to be decorated and pies to bake? She displayed a great rapport with guest Conan O'Brien (at right, with Martha); on the many cooking segments I've seen them do together on his show, she sometimes seems brittle and demanding, but in her own kitchen, she let him cut loose and act thoroughly goofy, culminating in his coating a ham with glitter. (It was hilarious, trust me. By the end of his visit Conan was covered with gold flecks, groaning that he looked like Liberace.) Alas, the sparkling ham was now inedible, but it looked fabulous.
I guess Omarosa is the trans fat of Apprentice, because ever since her ouster last week, NBC has been advertising the show as an "Omarosa-free Celebrity Apprentice." But unlike a box of low-fat cookies, a healthy downgrading of a harmful substance didn't make things any less tasty. In fact, last night's Celebrity Apprentice was, as our dearly departed friend would say, just as "yummy, dude" as previous shows. (Especially with that Stevie B cherry on top). Luckily for us, though last night's episode was low on drama — thanks to Omarosa's firing — there were had plenty of quotables to keep viewers at home entertained. (And I give a big thank you to the lovely Lindsay Soll, who kept you all entertained during my absence last week).
So in honor of our dear departed Stevie B (pictured), I'll start us off with a quote that so fits our preaching Hollywood mogul-wannabe to a T, it was only fitting that he said it on the night of his ouster (in response to Trace's remark that Stevie B had crabs in his pants): "Those days are over."
Funny, reformed and delusional (with just a little bit of desperation thrown in for good measure), our Stevie B was made up of the perfect ingredients for a reality show contestant. (Can you tell this challenge made me hungry?). I have to say, as much as I've ribbed the guy in previous weeks for his tendency to reveal himself as a has-been actor desperate for a comeback, I'm really going to miss the Flea. Good thing we won't have to wait long to see him again — in an Apprentice twist, Trump announced that he would fire two more celebrities within minutes of re-entering the boardroom, and the two finalists will reunite with previously ousted contestants to fight for the win. (And certainly it will be a win that will "Knock you out," right Piers?). And though we have yet to discover who those two finalists will be, I will say it's a pretty safe bet to assume that Carol and Trace will make up the final two. Unless Trump wants to turn the finals into a battle between good vs. not-so-good — I'll reserve the "evil" stamp for our ousted Omarosa — in which case Piers might make the cut alongside Trace.
New York Times food critic Frank Bruni blogged today about an interesting subject I'd never considered: the music that fancy restaurants play during mealtimes. You'll have to dig through an informative but lengthy preamble to get to the real meat — a recent playlist used by the chef from Culver City, Calif.’s Fraîche, who shows surprisingly well-developed, indie-heavy taste. Nibbling on monkfish medallions to the sweet strains of "Top Ranking" by Blonde Redhead (pictured)? Humming along to the Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation" whilst chewing some parchment-cooked branzino? I'd never have thought of 'em myself, but those sound like delicious ideas! And I gotta love the sly way Fraîche slipped in a few excellent food- and drink-related tunes — Modest Mouse's "Blame it on the Tetons" ("Blame it on the weekends/God, I need a cola now"), Elliott Smith's "Baby Britain" ("Baby Britain feels the best/Floating over a sea of vodka"), Sinead O'Connor's "Petit Poulet" (which I am going to go ahead and assume is a song about some sort of tasty French chicken stew). With puns like those, even the most absurdly jacked-up menu prices are bound to feel a little more worthwhile.
Then again, hazy indie-pop isn't everyone's cup of gourmet hand-selected tea. What kind of music would you prefer to hear at the high-end dining establishment of your choice? And have background tunes ever significantly affected a meal for you, positively or negatively?
Technology that requires sitting, that is. I don't think the Archive of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine's study accounted for Wii Tennis, now did it, Archive of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine? According to the study, cutting kids' TV and computer time in half made them eat less and therefore lose weight. One of the authors said, ""Viewing cartoons with embedded food commercials can increase choice of
the advertised item in preschoolers, and television commercials may
prompt eating." And so, clearly, could The Colbert Report from May 1, 2007 (pictured, don't ask). How is this study for real? Like everything I look at everyday doesn't already make me want to shovel in a snack cake. As if! Seriously, though... is there anything on TV or the Internet that does not warrant the tag "may prompt eating"? Your suggestions, below.
Martha Stewart has acquired Emeril Lagasse's entire food-based empire for around $50 million. He'll appear on her show tomorrow to discuss it, but you probably won't watch it, since you probably have a life. Instead, check out PopWatch's exclusive (because we made it up) snippet of the segment's transcript:
Martha: Let's all welcome my guest, the brand name Emeril Lagasse. Emeril: Let's kick it up a notch! Who wants to do hot sauce shots? Martha: One time I fashioned the cutest little Russian nesting dolls out of hot sauce bottles. It was so easy; I just fired up the urn in my home glassblowing workshop, which should have its own magazine, and settled down on my antique workbench that I carved myself hundreds of years ago out of blackened oak, a virtually extinct virgin timber. I — Emeril: Huh? Martha:Matryoshka. That's how you pronounce it. I'm excellent with languages. My maiden name is Kostyra. I'm glad I don't use it anymore, because it contains the word "Tyra." Emeril: What? Martha: I'm going to buy the rights to all of the words. Oh, I can see it. Martha Stewart Speaking. How delightfully ironic, for a magazine. What's that smell? Emeril: That's my essence. Martha:My essence. Emeril: Oh yeah, babe. Spice it up! Pork fat rules! Martha: I don't like brand name Emeril Lagasse's tone. Emeril:Bam! Martha: Make it Ma'am! Emeril: Crest toothpaste! Martha: How about a piping hot thank you to the brand name Emeril Lagasse, everyone? Good luck to me in the coming business year.
There come certain times in life when you're forced to ask yourself questions you never thought you'd have to answer. Tough questions. Questions like: Would you eat a fresh Italian appetizer prepared by a washed-up West Coast rapper? After watching the first episode of Coolio's new online cooking show, I'm proud to say that my answer is now an enthusiastic "Probably!" Give it a taste below (NSFW for reasons of language and cleavage), and check back after the jump for my verdict. Bon appetit!
CUTIE PIE. ALL MINE. If you enjoy those tiny chalky sweetheart candies with words as much as I do (my motto, sugar is magic, is especially true during these Hallmark made-up holidays), then you'll eat up this sweet video treat. Call it viral Valentine's art.
Just so you know, the artist is Phil Hansen, and his "Goodbye Art" stamp at the end refers to his mission of creating pieces that don't last (though the documentation of his work obviously does last). Here, Hansen blogs about how made the whole sugary shebang, and he includes the A-B-C-themed lyrics that you hear him sing in the video.
Now, if you're a Valentine's grinch and tomorrow is just another annoying Thursday, I highly recommend a pick-me-up that keeps me entertained for hours (well, actually, only a few minutes at a time but the quality of amusement is what matters). Here's all you do: Take almost any love song, and replace the word "love" — especially if "Love" is in the song title — with the word "lunch." That's it. Isn't that so stupid and fun? "Lunch Will Keep Us Together"... "Lunch Is a Battlefield"... "All You Need Is Lunch"... Now you try!
Yummy as some of the options appear (Mmmm... flourless chocolate cake with chocolate glaze), there are a few surprising omissions: Where's Juno's hamburger phone-inspired meal? And no milkshakes for There Will Be Blood devotees? And shouldn't No Country for Old Men's menu pay homage to the film's badass villain with at least one dish with "sugar" (or "Chigurh") in its name? Still, we have to give Epicurious.com serious props for their clever inclusion of "one-a-day" baguettes for Michael Clayton fans. And is that an Arrested Development reference we see in the menu inspired by Michael Cera's starring role in Juno? (Frozen chocolate bananas! Wait, no cornballs?)
So which movie wins your Best Menu trophy, PopWatchers? Are there any other dishes you feel should be added to the mix? And are you with PopWatch's Gary Susman, who said, "Someone should try to force-feed Keira Knightley the Atonement menu"?
Did you know it was National Pancake Week?* You really should. (MLK gets a day, pancakes get a week. Right.) Anyway, be sure to check out our as-random-as-this-holiday gallery of 14 memorable movie breakfasts. The ones you're thinking of are on there (Pee-Wee's eggcellent contraption, Uncle Buck's giant flapjack), as well as some black-and-white ones that in my opinion don't really do justice to the kind of blinding HD wattage you can get on citrus these days. But if you're like me, your favorite and very random choice for best movie breakfast was left out. (And so was Pulp Fiction.) In this matter, as with most, I'm all about Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead, in which Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate) is reduced to serving up a whole box of Cap'n Crunch, family-style, in the days before her stoner brother Kenny decides to get his act together and learn to cook beautiful Belgian waffles. (We couldn't find a photo of either of these moments, but the one pictured is pretty righteous in itself. What's best is that the frozen pizza box isn't even in frame — you just have to go on faith that it's up there.) And you, P-Dubs? What's your favorite breakfast scene in a movie? What are you eating for breakfast right now? Me: Chocolate doughnut (emphasis on the ugh) with rainbow sprinkles.
*In case it's too early for you to read between the grill marks, this was basically just an excuse for me to write a post about food. But yes, it's a real holiday — just ask the folks at the Quaker Oats Press Room.
Last night I didn’t get around to eating dinner until I settled in to watch The Biggest Loser. As
I happily devoured my pizza — what? Yes, I was eating pizza while
watching other people sweat their butts off. The stench of irony is
strong, I know. Almost as bad as eating a double cheeseburger and washing it
down with a Slim-Fast shake. Which, actually, I have done. Once. Only
because I had been on a liquid diet for a week due to dental surgery
and couldn’t resist the siren song of solid food in the food court
before I boarded a bus for a three-hour ride to Connecticut. Don’t judge me.
I digress. Anyway,
as I was savoring the cheesy goodness, I thought about how this season’s contestants got to choose their trainer and
I pondered, "If I had to pick between Jillian and Bob (pictured), who would I want making me do extra reps?"
Sure,
Jillian's hard-ass, take no prisoners approach would keep me
from slacking off (I really wouldn't have a choice, now would I?), but I
don't respond well to people yelling at me. This is probably
why I never joined the Army. Bob's sweeter nature and tendency to
nurture contestants appeals to my sensitive side, but would he motivate me enough? I just can't decide. What about you, PopWatchers? If you
had to choose, would you want Jillian or Bob pushing you to the brink
of exhaustion?
A) slathering his body with jam as a way to entice humans to eat him
B) slathering his body with jam as preparation for a terrifying yet yummy act of self-cannibalism
C) slathering his body with jam as an effort to tease hungry New Year's dieters before playfully scampering away
D) ineligible for Entertainment Weekly's Must List page
I can't really speak about the first three options on this quiz, as the t-shirt in question -- available at threadless.com, and coincidentally one of my favorite things I got this year for Christmas -- is open to interpretation, but option D is a sad, unyielding truth.
So what, in fact, constitutes a Must List-worthy item? Well, generally speaking, your favorite TV shows/albums/books/movies/video games/websites right this very minute. So please send us up to three suggestions for what you'd like to see on the Must List in next week's issue of EW; be sure to post your ideas before 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 3, and make sure to include your email address (which we'll need to contact you if your submission is chosen). You'll be the toast (sorry!) of the town!
My TV Christmas fantasy goes a little something like this:
I’m in Home Depot perusing new bathroom sinks when--out of nowhere--I'm ambushed by this dark-haired guy with a British accent and a camera crew. He tells me he’s Andrew Dan-Jumbo (pictured, left), host of TLC’s Take Home Handyman, and he offers to remodel my bathroom for free! I feign ignorance (even though I think about the show every time I visit “The HD”) and we hop in his van.
On our way home I ask, “Is it okay if we stop by Whole Foods? I just need to grab something for dinner.” Andrew drops me at the store, I run inside, and while I’m perusing the wine section, I’m stopped by a blond Australian guy with a camera crew. This time it’s Curtis Stone the host of TLC’s Take Home Chef. He asks me if I’m planning a dinner for someone tonight. Again I pretend to have no idea who he is (even though I think about the show every time I’m in “The WF”), give a shy smile and respond, “Why yes I am. For my handyman!” Then Curtis says he'd like to prepare a gourmet meal for us -- on his dime!
Cut to my home: I’m sitting in a comfy chair with my feet propped up, drinking a fruity cocktail; Andrew goes to town on my bathroom; Curtis has at in my kitchen. Every now and again, they call me into their respective areas to show me some culinary trick or DIY tip. I act interested. It’s a whirlwind of heavily accented activity!
We take a break to eat the delicious vegetarian meal that includes all of my favorite things (carbs). After the best dessert in the world, I am presented with my brand new state-of-the-art bathroom (something Zen-inspired with a big tub). Also, Andrew tells me, the room magically cleans itself!
But wait, there’s more! Curtis tells me I'm getting a lifetime supply of expensive champagne, and we all drink a toast. Then Andrew surprises me by slyly remodeling my laundry room while I’m not looking! We drink champagne well into the night, sing goofy Christmas carols and…well, you get the idea. Finally, I hear them exclaim as they drive out of sight (that is, if I let them leave) “Merry Christmas to you and have a good rest of your night!”
Sigh.
Tell me I'm not the only one obsessed with Take Home Chef and Take Home Handyman. Or at least make me feel less ridiculous and confess your own TV Christmas fantasy.
Many happy returns of the day to you, Kiefer Sutherland, who turns 41 today. Of course, it sucks that you're in a Glendale, Caifornia jail — but you should take some comfort in the hundred of letters sent to you by your very supportive fans. And besides, those 48 days should be a breeze for someone who spent 20 months in a Chinese prison. That's right: Channel the strength of your inner Jack Bauer! And while we wait (and wait) for the seventh season of 24 (as well as your imminent release), we'll amuse ourselves with the series of commercials you did in Japan for the energy drink Calorie Mate.
Last night, I was the victim of an unprovoked assault on my senses. Mainly my eyes and ears suffered, but after the attack, I found that I'd lost my appetite, too. The perp in this case was Bear Grylls, and the weapon was a commercial for his extreme wilderness reality series, Man Vs. Wild.
I've seen some nasty things in horror movies over the years, but I kid you not, the Wes Cravens of the world have nothing on Discovery Channel's ad department. The most horrific moment arrives at the 17-second marker, when Grylls bites the head off the nice little froggie (pictured just before his demise, at left). Of course, my morbid sense of duty forces me to share the experience with all of you. Watch the video by clicking here -- that is, if you don't mind fasting for the next 24 hours.
Okay, so as we discussed yesterday, Melinda Doolittle has not (yet) scored a major-label record deal following her third-place run on last season's American Idol, but all is not lost. My pal Dawnie Walton, back from a recent trip to Atlanta, informs me that the former backup singer has parlayed her Idol fame into a different kind of gig: Singing the praises of Zaxby's chicken restaurants:
Yeah, Melinda fans, I died a little bit inside the first time I saw it, too, but that initial wave of rage against 19 Entertainment has been replaced by something else. Is it an early-morning craving for fried chicken and Texas toast? Ugh, I need help.
Have you heard? Ellen DeGeneres is hosting a REALLY BIG SHOW, which will air twice on Monday night on TBS. There'll be jump-roping, Lyle Lovett, and a woman who magically switches her whole outfit in like one second! I joined a press conference call with Ellen during which each reporter got to ask one question. Mine was (naturally) goofy and irrelevant:
Hi, Ellen! What are some things viewers at home can do to prepare for a show of such MASSIVE PROPORTIONS? Well, you want to wear loose-fitting clothing. Like a sweat
type of pant, or pajamas. I would not wear anything tight, and I would try to
stretch out. If you have a lounge chair, some kind of a chaise lounge, or some
pillows -- ooh, or maybe a bean bag chair would really be the best thing to handle all the laughing. You'll be able to lean forward for a belly laugh, then stretch backwards with
the ''Ohhhhh!" –- you know what I mean? Can you picture what I'm doing?
Totally. You know, like ''Toooo much!"
What about snacks? I would steer clear of food. There's a possibility of choking,
because of all the laughing you'll be doing. If anything, a pudding -- some time
of bread pudding, or a rice pudding.
Whatever else happens in this little life of mine, I will die having once asked Ellen DeGeneres, "What about snacks?" I'm cool with that. Though I'm not so much on board with the steering clear of food part.
So tell me, are you up for watching a variety show? One that features Sheryl Crow? And since I'm rhyming, Barry Manilow?
I like to think that I don't get starstruck. I do work for
EW after all. I had no problem interviewing Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto) and
Deb Googe (My Bloody Valentine), or hanging out with David Byrne (he likes
pumpkin pie), but when I saw some reality "stars" last night before
heading to a concert by Immaculate Machine, I kinda lost it.
Last night I had dinner at Perilla (Top Chef Season 1 winner
Harold Dieterle's restaurant) with some friends. Being a huge Top Chef fan, I had to try it
out (it was amazing). While sitting at the bar, who
should walk in but Jeff Lewis (pictured, left) and Jenni from Flipping Out! Amazing, right? (Am I the only one excited by
this?!) Why I spazzed out is still troubling me. (I basically turned into a
bumbling toddler who kept babbling throughout the whole meal.) Maybe it was because Jeff looked hotter in
real life, even if he still had that pouty four-year old face. Or maybe it was Jenni's glow... seriously, how
does she do it?! So there you have it, I
was struck, it was bad, end of the story. (See, how pitiful is that?) I didn't even talk to them, just stared a
little, fantasized I was sitting at their table. And oh yeah, Harold came out to talk to them,
and only them. Must be a "reality TV show" thing.
Gah! So after a
brilliant meal, I headed over to see Immaculate Machine (pictured, right). You don't know Immaculate Machine? You should, especially if you like the New
Pornographers, because Kathryn Calder tours with them... when Neko Case isn't there,
which is more often than not these days. But IM doesn't sound like The New Pornographers. To me, they are a mash-up of everything that
was good in college rock back in the early '90s (think The Judybats, Blake
Babies). Jangly guitar pop, luscious
three-part harmonies, and songs that make you feel warm inside. Take a listen to "Jarhand" and tell me your
legs aren't bouncing around. Yep, there
they go. So multiply that by a thousand,
and that's their live show. Oh yeah, Kathryn is amazingly nice, and their
drummer, Luke, looks like Rhys Ifans. (See, not star struck with music people!)
If you see her on tour with The New Pornographers in Europe later on this month, tell her I said "Hi." If you aren't in Europe,
catch them Dec. 7 at the Vera Project in Seattle. (Ha!)
Tell me, who would you be/have you been starstruck
over?
It occurred to me earlier this week, as I was enjoying yet another bag of Baked! Cheetos from an EW vending machine, that I apparently liked them. As the headline says: totally tasty. If you're looking for a somewhat healthy TV snack, I'd recommend them. I also endorse Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Low Fat Frozen Yogurt. Seriously yummy (and judging by how hard it is to find, more and more people are realizing this).
What are your favorite TV snacks? Tell me quick so that I can distract myself from thinking about this thing called "puppy chow" that I just read about on Evite's food and drink blog: an "ooey, gooey mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter coating Rice Chex and covered in powdered sugar." HELLO. I bet that'd go great with a s'more martini...
Hey, Forest Whitaker, what are you going to do now that you've had some time to admire that Oscar on your mantle? Oh. You're producing and acting in some sort of Second Life-esque virtual-reality thing that will let players create a brand-new flavor of Mountain Dew, to go on sale next year. That's... cool, I guess?
"Mountain Dew offered me an amazing opportunity to create a mythic universe using all forms of storytelling that will allow those who participate to develop their product," the acclaimed actor told Variety today. "Ultimately, the drink will be on the street and in stores where you get to see it, touch it, taste it, drink it, make it a part of you." Sure, Forest, whatever you say — go ahead and cash that endorsement check, you've earned it! Wait, what's that? "This is about voting. This is about taking a stance and making things happen. It's about empowering people and allowing them to express themselves and create something that represents who they are."
Sorry, nope. I hate to be the one to tell you this, dude, but it's about empowering PepsiCo and allowing them to sell soft drinks. And while I might drink the soda, I'm not sure I can swallow all those vapid platitudes about "Dewmocracy" — which is seriously what they're calling this thing, no joke.
All in all, I think I liked the guy better when he was playing a sociopathic third-world dictator... Anyone care to disagree? Does the idea of "Dewmocracy" actually leave any of you feeling inspired — or at least thirsty?
Slezak: Ahhhhh-neeeeee! Annie: Ellllll-iiiiii-ooooottt? Slezak: Did you watch Scrubs last night? Annie: Not yet. What'd I miss? Slezak: Okay, well I didn't catch the whole episode, but I was channel surfing, and seriously, JD's girlfriend delivered the biggest newborn baby in TV history. Annie: Oh, that baby! I saw that huge thang on our behind-the-scenes Scrubs videos. What the hell? It was like those medieval Christian paintings where the baby Jesus is way out of proportion because painters hadn't figured out how to paint non-adults! Slezak: YES! Annie: I'm cultural! Slezak: Seriously, that baby was so big, it was like two weeks away from walking over to the fridge and pouring itself a glass of milk! Annie: I bet it also knows how to sign its name and therefore joined the Screen Babies Guild. Slezak: Yeah, you could tell it was a Method Baby. Annie: So in this video, Zach Braff talks about how they had to smear what he calls "the child" (see, not a baby) with cream cheese and jam (pictured). And he likes sandwiches featuring those items, so in lieu of cleaning "the child," he "licked that little thing right up." Slezak: What kind of jam? I wonder if a spreadable fruit or a jelly would also achieve that "newborn" look. Annie: Organic Morello Cherry! Slezak: Controversial! Annie: Should we now ask the readers what THEY would like to lick off a baby? Slezak: No we should not.
I love cooking shows. Really, it's a weakness of mine. (Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm on a diet and if watching Paula Deen add a stick of butter to everything is as close as I'll get to indulgence... well, I'll take it.) I could watch the Food Network all day, and would if I didn't need to earn money to keep the cable on so I could watch the Food Network. And I'm a pretty decent cook, provided ''beef'' and ''open flame'' are integral to the recipe.
But the news of a Hell's Kitchen videogame has to rank among the upper echelon of silly ideas I've ever heard. Why? Because cooking is either a spectator sport or a participant activity. If you're watching, you want to drool while watching the deliciousness take shape onscreen. If you're cooking, you get to eat. Neither of which will happen with a videogame, I don't care how next-gen the virtual cooking experience may be. (You will, however, get to hear HK's Chef Gordon Ramsay, pictured, yell at you for your virtual incompetence.) Bytes will never equal bites.
Follow the jump to discover five other videogames I'll never play... should they create them.
On Friday, I wrote a blog post about Britney Spears' jank new video for "Gimme More," and your message-board comments sent a clear, concise message: You'd rather talk about food. And that's why today, even though several alleged tracks off Britney's forthcoming Blackout CD have been leaked onto the Internet, I'm choosing not to discuss them. Instead, I'm posting a photo of the three "carnitas" soft tacos I just picked up on a trip to Chipotle with PopWatch diva Annie Barrett, and asking all of you to post about your lunches, too. Better still, if you've got a camera (or cameraphone), snap a pic of your lunch and email it to PopWatch@ew.com, and I'll see if I can figure out how to display 'em, flickr-style, sometime in the next 48 hours.
Oh, and just to ensure my editor doesn't accuse me of writing something without a shred of pop-cultural connection, I've rewritten the words to Foreigner's 1984 hit, "I Want to Know What Love Is" (embedded below), with an eye on afternoon (culinary) delights. Or, if you must, you can click here to hear a certain pop diva's alleged new tracks, and converse about that.
I Want to Know What Lunch Is Gonna take a little walk A little walk to quench my hunger Lunch has been delayed too long And now my stomach sounds like thunder
Ooooooohhhhhhh.
Now most lunches leave me cold How can a sandwich cost ten dollars? But I'm too lazy to make my own It all makes me want to holler
On the menu, there's pasta and soup Can Chinese break this blah lunchtime loop? Can't get a burger, 'cause I'm tempted by fries And I crave supersize
I wanna know what lunch is! I want you to show me! I want to see what lunch is! Take pictures and show me!
Whew! The BBC reports that classic children's book/animated TV character Paddington Bear has not, in fact, abandoned his well-known love of sticky orange marmalade in favor of some sort of disgusting-sounding, Vegemite-esque "yeast-based spread." Apparently, this has been the subject of a raging controversy over in the U.K. since said yeast product started airing ads starring the fuzzy little guy. Good thing his elderly creator, Michael Bond, is still alive to set the record straight: "He never would convert," Bond somberly reassures us. "It would require a good deal more than the combined current withdrawals from Northern Rock to wean him off marmalade, if then." Well, that's a relief.
I'm actually a little ashamed that I missed out on this whole story
'til now — I loved those Paddington cartoons (and my very own stuffed
Paddington) when I was a small child! What's next, Amelia Bedelia checking into a hospital for "dehydration"?
No, it's not a real gorilla. But this spot, featuring "In The Air Tonight," is a real commercial, and one of which Phil Collins himself wholeheartedly approves. It's hard to pinpoint the greatest thing about this ad. The full minute of a gorilla mentally preparing for his chance to shine? The way he sort of cracks his neck before he begins to truly rock? Or is it the obvious one -- that drumming gorillas have nothing to do with chocolate? You decide.
UPDATE: Michael Slezak says: "I don't think I'm a fan of gorillas, unless they're in their natural habitat." I couldn't disagree more. I only want to see (fake) gorillas on the drums. There is a river of Cadbury's Dairy Milk gushing between our opinions on appropriate settings for gorillas. Where do you stand, P-Dubs?
I share this headline (about Hell's Kitchen host Gordon Ramsay) with you in the exact same way I point out grotesque sights on the subway platform to friends and family: Because I believe the shared experience will somehow make it less heinous than if I'd witnessed it alone.
Thank you for your support. Now back to less soul-crushing topics, like naked photos of High School Musical stars. (Insert sobbing emoticon here.) Aren't you glad the week is almost over?
This week will see (and smell, and taste) the debut of two pioneering TV and movie ads using special ink. The Los Angeles Times will print an ad for the family flick Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium that smells like cake. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone is printing an ad for CBS' new drama Cane (starring Jimmy Smits, pictured) that, when you lick it, will taste like a mojito (non-alcoholic, alas). At last, an advantage that print advertising still holds over Web and TV ads! Not sure where this trend will lead, but I'm glad of two things: that ABC didn't go this route to promote its new Cavemen show, and that the pornographers haven't gone this route yet...
When Hollywood rolls into New York City, you better believe they hit all the hot spots: Marquee, Butter, Nobu, and...Pop Burger? It was here at this Manhattan burger joint that the cast and crew of the comedy Harold (slated for a summer 2008 release) celebrated their pre-wrap party — and stars Cuba Gooding Jr. (pictured), Nikki Blonsky, Spencer Breslin, Chris Parnell, and Ally Sheedy consumed POP Burgers, French fries, shrimp cocktails, and, of course, alcohol. The film is about a 12-year-old boy (played by Breslin) who must deal with male-pattern baldness and some unlikely friends (Blonsky and Gooding).
Because the event was really more of a dinner party (set to techno beats), some of the cast brought some family members to chow down. Blonsky had her mother in tow, Breslin chilled in the corner with his parents, and Gooding even brought his cousin (who, it turns out, is Cuba's stand-in for all of his movies). Absent were Rachel Dratch (darn!) and Colin Quinn, but there to fill the SNL quota was Chris Parnell (reprising his role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on 30 Rock) and ex-SNL writer T. Sean Shannon, who happens to be the director of Harold.
We posted the trailer for Dan in Real Life on Friday, and having just caught a glimpse of its movie poster (pictured), I am dumbstruck by how much the plate of food — presumably and logically, pancakes — resembles a stack of quesadillas. The image won't leave my brain alone. It's impacted me so profoundly that the melted butter* might as well be running down my own chin. (*Or, cheesy grease!)
Is it because I'm currently eating Chipotle? Am I predisposed to think about quesadillas? Does Steve Carell look so gaunt and disheveled because he really wants quesadillas, and the only way he'll get to eat them is if he cuddles with them first? I think it's all of those things!
Hmmm. If pancakes went up against quesadillas in a Backstreet Boys vs. Jill Scott-type setting, which would win? Vote now.
Am I the only one who remembers a 1999 episode of IFC's Split Screen in which Christopher Walken invaded the kitchen of a New York City restaurant and whipped up a dish called Exploding Chicken, whose preparation lived up to its pyrotechnic name? The actor shows off his cooking skills again in this less incendiary but still mouth-watering clip. All this recipe needs is more cowbell.
Ever wonder what would happen if you zapped your deodorant in the microwave? How about a string of Christmas lights? Or a parfait?
No? Really?
Oh. Well anyhow, the very strange folks at Micro Maniac have now done it for you. Click here to see for yourself — and whatever you do, don't miss out on the devastation caused by those half-dozen eggs! (Thanks to MetaFilter, by the way, for the link.) And RIP, "crispy dessert bar."
Discovery Channel is investigating its very popular series Man vs. Wild, after Britain's Channel 4 accused host Bear Grylls of sleeping in hotels, Survivor Reward-style, instead of roughing it in the middle of nowhere like he's supposed to. (At the beginning of each episode Grylls is airlifted into the wilderness, where he's supposed to stay, presumably until filming ends.) In addition to Grylls' apparent weakness for turndown service, Channel 4 claims the crew — part of production company Diverse Television — has helped him by pre-assembling rafts and performing other various tasks to ensure he doesn't die.
To which I say... Duh! Of course some of it's staged. It's a TV show. Also, Bear never seems that terribly cranky when he's supposedly starving. Take the clip below, in which he takes a whole minute to cheerfully explain why he's really psyched to gnaw into a live fish.
So when he says, "This is just the energy I need for today," what he really means is That short stack 'n' bacon just didn't cut it. This does take a certain thrill away from his self-satisfied "At lahhhst. Food," which is what I'm going to start saying whenever I eat.
Whatever. The guy's still a badass. And crazy. And, "At lahhhst. Food."
No! It's not going to become a weekly feature. Just wanted to freak you out a bit. Today in Jon Bon Jovi news, the rocker (pictured) is upset because he claims a new coffee-flavored energy drink called Mijovi totally copped his name and/or flow. Marcos Carrington, who created the drink, says it's named after his
girlfriend Jovita and not the 45-year-old rocker. (Maybe Jovita is also a lingerie model who lives in Canada.) Then why, Bon Jovi wonders, are the words (questionable term: "words") itsmijovi and itsmilife plastered all over some cans? But there are a bevy of beverage questions better than that one, namely: Instead of a coffee-flavored energy drink, why wouldn't you just... DRINK COFFEE?
Speaking of which, after the jump, take a peek at Naomi Campbell's new self-spoofing Dunkin' Donuts spot, directed by Zach Braff. Supermodels love donuts! (So do face-painted guitarists; the java 'n' jimmies chain has another ad on the way, also directed by Braff, starring Ace Frehley of Kiss.) Please excuse the soul-crushing CelebTV filler surrounding the actual footage.
If you're going through summertime Lost withdrawal, this clip will probably quench your cravings, though maybe not in a good way. It's a pre-fame Jorge Garcia in a commercial for Hardee's, perhaps presaging Hurley's ill-fated career in the fast-food industry. (Hat tip to PopWatch reader Jeff Watzman for sending this our way.) Like I said, I'm not sure if this will whet your appetite or kill it... although it is almost lunchtime... and you know what would go good on that roast beef sandwich? Some creamy Dharma salad dressing...
With the decadent, vibrant visuals he's created for Twista's "Give It Up (feat. Pharrell)," director Hype Williams addresses the common criticism of rap music as one big advertisement by making a video that is boldly and self-consciously a moving billboard of products and slogans. With nods to Andy Warhol and skate companies like FUCT, he remixes retro ad logos and bathes them in a Technicolor glow. Indeed, he and the showcased artists become products on display — Twista is 7-Eleven, Pharrell becomes popsicles and a breakfast cereal, and Williams takes care of the essentials: Wonder Bread, detergent, and toothpaste. Meanwhile, a diverse group of ladies — who are apparently ready to "give it up" at the drop of a C-note — ride donuts, caress candy bars, and find their likenesses emblazoned on other sugary snacks. It's classic cheesecake, for sure, but equal parts Nigella Lawson and Betty Grable.
What's strange about the clip, however, is the way it hypes Williams and Pharell as the hot-ticket items, while relegating Twista to the clearance bin. Indeed, it's Williams' moniker that's splashed across the majority of the visual smorgasbord of products. Sure, he's always been a video innovator -- from the fish-eyed lens used on Missy
Elliott and Busta Rhymes to the tripartite screen of morerecentvideos. But with "Give It Up," Williams comes off like the Timbaland of his trade — a man who wants the same kind of billing as the stars who pay big bucks to work with him. With so much attention given to the Hype Williams name, you half-expect him to step in front of the camera and push Twista and Pharrell to the background.
Pharrell, meanwhile, scores free advertising for his fashion lines: the superproducer manages to model a full line of Billionaire Boys Club clothing in a few short minutes, while the recurring images of money-wrapped ice cream cones invoke his RBK "Ice Cream" shoes.
That leaves Twista to meander forgettably through a boring single, obscured behind the neon glow of a producer who demands a guest verse and a director who seizes the spotlight. I wonder if that's the concept the silver-tongued Chicago native had in mind.
¡Hola, PopWatchers! I just got back from a two-week vacation in lovely Barcelona, and while the trip was designed to be a much-needed pop-culture detox (I didn't even log on to PopWatch during my time abroad — ¡gasp!) there was one celebrity I simply couldn't avoid: Eva Longoria. No, BBC World News wasn't relentless in covering the run-up to the Desperate Housewives star's weekend nuptials to basketball star Tony Parker (I took that as proof of God's existence), but rather, I couldn't walk two blocks without seeing one of her ads for Magnum ice-cream bars. Seriously, they were everywhere. And so, to ensure I had something to blog about my first Monday back on the job, I took a picture of one of the inescapable sidewalk banners, and I also broke down and sampled the Magnum (double chocolate flavor) — which struck me as a richer, more sinful version of the Dove bar. I'll say this for Longoria, she may be a shameless shill, but she's got good taste when it comes to one of Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks' favorite treats.
Jericho returns to TV screens tonight. I never caught the show back in the fall — the idea of witnessing a network-approved apocalypse felt too potentially glib to get me biting, while the sight of Skeet Ulrich generally only takes me back to lamentable experiences I had watching cinema in the mid to late '90s — but I’m thinking of giving the show a chance. As you know, several thousands pounds of peanuts shipped from angry fans convinced CBS not to cancel the thing after all; as a fan of the underdog, I find that tidbit almost amusing enough by itself to see what I've been missing. (Tonight's a repeat of the pilot; next week’s a recap show of eps 1-12 and a rerun of ep 13; the rest of season 1 begins re-airing in sequence the week after that.)
Also amusing: the fact that American Idol alum Clay Aiken is claiming credit for the viewer revolt that made CBS bring the show back in the first place. "The show Jericho... I loved it," he told the Houston Chronicle this week. "It got canceled, and I blogged about how upset I was. I said, 'The Claymates can do anything. How do we get this show back on the air?' Honestly, within a week they had organized a campaign amongst Jericho fans to send nuts to CBS. It kind of started in that place."
Mother of pearl! Jericho/Aiken fans, is this for real? Is Clay Aiken responsible for getting your show back on the air? Is he the most powerful man in show business? And "Claymates": did you watch the show too, or do you just generally do what the dude tells you to do? One more question: did any of you also watch The Black Donnellys, and do any of you think fans can get that show reborn by shipping 45,000 Zesta crackers to HBO?
The media-savvy meat-shunners at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals revealed the winners of their annual "World's Sexiest Vegetarian" contest this week, and, well, let's just say something tastes a little off this year. The world's most appetizing female vegetarian is evidently multiplatinum Idol alum Carrie Underwood, which seems fair enough. And Carrie's male counterpart is... drumroll please... Kevin Eubanks from The Tonight Show?!
Look, don't get me wrong. Eubanks seems like a perfectly nice guy, and he's served Leno well over the years. (Though, as genial-but-slightly-sarcastic sidekicks go, he's but a pale shadow of Paul Shaffer.) But sexy? This bald, average-looking 49-year-old dude in a turtleneck? Come on, PETA. Past recipients of Eubanks' title have included Prince, André 3000, Chris Martin, and Josh Hartnett — you know, legitimate (or at least quasi-legitimate) sex symbols. Sure, I can see how I might want to restructure my diet if it meant that I'd have a shot at being a little more like Prince. Eubanks' selection, on the other hand, just makes me worry that eating too much broccoli might lead to a lifetime spent sitting on a stool, laughing at completely unfunny jokes like a trained seal.
But it gets worse! PETA's own press release acknowledges that Eubanks' victory was the result of rank voter manipulation: "[Leno] mentioned the contest several times during the past
week and said that he went to PETA's Web site to vote for Eubanks.... Tonight Show viewers logged on in large numbers, pushing Eubanks ahead of his competitors." Sounds like ballot-stuffing to me. Isn't this covered somewhere in those campaign-finance regulations? I say it's time for a recount.
What about you, PopWatchers? Are you cool with Eubanks' new title? Or who do you think would have been a better choice—and don't say "anyone."
Three more items that indicate no loss of interest in The Sopranos, more than two weeks after the series ended:
• First, the hoaxster behind the nutty "Nikki Leotardo" theory about the final sequence, a clearly bogus interpretation that circulated all over the 'Net in the hours after the finale aired, has finally come clean.
• Second, over the weekend, I had occasion to dine at Holsten's, the Bloomfield, N.J. ice cream parlor/diner where the final scene was filmed. (Even tried — and failed — to parallel park in the spot
Home
Just in time to sooth 
Lil Jon is getting into the wine business. His label: Little Jonathan Winery. "My full name is Jonathan," he explained to 
Would you pay $35 for a movie ticket? (Yeah, that's what the theater owners need to bring back their shrinking audience: more expensive movie tickets.) How about if that $35 bought you a luxury moviegoing experience, including valet parking, gourmet menu choices, plush chairs, seat-side waiter service, and a screening-room capacity of just 40 patrons? That's what's 
Props to Dr. Pepper for their snarky promise to give everyone in America a can of their soda if Axl Rose (pictured) finally releases Chinese Democracy sometime in 2008. (Well, everyone except former Guns n' Roses guitarists Slash and Buckethead. Sorry, guys.) The Pepper people have even started a 
I was disappointed to learn that the six-foot, half-ton ice sculpture (pictured) that Martha Stewart displayed at the opening of her 500th episode of her daytime show yesterday was carved by professionals, not by Martha herself with a grapefruit spoon. But that was the only real disappointment of the anniversary episode, which demonstrated that Stewart has thrived amid the spontaneity and human contact required on a live show, in ways 
I guess Omarosa is the trans fat of Apprentice, because ever since her ouster last week, NBC has been advertising the show as an "Omarosa-free Celebrity Apprentice." But unlike a box of low-fat cookies, a healthy downgrading of a harmful substance didn't make things any less tasty. In fact, last night's Celebrity Apprentice was, as our dearly departed friend would say, just as "yummy, dude" as previous shows. (Especially with that Stevie B cherry on top). Luckily for us, though last night's episode was low on drama — thanks to Omarosa's firing — there were had plenty of quotables to keep viewers at home entertained. (And I give a big thank you to the lovely Lindsay Soll, who kept you all entertained during my absence 
New York Times food critic Frank Bruni 
Technology that requires sitting, that is. I don't think the 
Who needs 
Did you know it was National 
Last night I didn’t get around to eating dinner until I settled in to watch 
The piece of toast on this t-shirt is:
My TV Christmas fantasy goes a little something like this:
Last night, I was the victim of an unprovoked assault on my senses. Mainly my eyes and ears suffered, but after the attack, I found that I'd lost my appetite, too. The perp in this case was Bear Grylls, and the weapon was a commercial for his extreme wilderness reality series, 
Have you heard? Ellen DeGeneres is hosting a 
I like to think that I don't get starstruck. I do work for
EW after all. I had no problem interviewing Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto) and
Deb Googe (My Bloody Valentine), or hanging out with David Byrne (he likes
pumpkin pie), but when I saw some reality "stars" last night before
heading to a concert by Immaculate Machine, I kinda lost it.
It occurred to me earlier this week, as I was enjoying yet another bag of Baked! Cheetos from an EW vending machine, that I apparently liked them. As the headline says: totally tasty. If you're looking for a somewhat healthy TV snack, I'd recommend them. I also endorse Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Low Fat Frozen Yogurt. Seriously yummy (and judging by how hard it is to find, more and more people are realizing this). 
Hey, Forest Whitaker, what are you going to do now that you've had some time to admire that Oscar on your mantle? 
Slezak: Ahhhhh-neeeeee!
I love cooking shows. Really, it's a weakness of mine. (Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm on a diet and if watching 
On Friday, 
Whew! The BBC 
I share this headline (about Hell's Kitchen host Gordon Ramsay) with you in the exact same way I point out grotesque sights on the subway platform to friends and family: Because I believe the shared experience will somehow make it less heinous than if I'd witnessed it alone.
This week will see (and smell, and taste) the debut of two pioneering TV and movie ads using special ink. The Los Angeles Times will print an ad for the family flick 
When Hollywood rolls into New York City, you better believe they hit all the hot spots: Marquee, Butter, Nobu, and...Pop Burger? It was here at this Manhattan burger joint that the cast and crew of the comedy Harold (slated for a summer 2008 release) celebrated their pre-wrap party — and stars Cuba Gooding Jr. (pictured), Nikki Blonsky, Spencer Breslin, Chris Parnell, and Ally Sheedy consumed POP Burgers, French fries, shrimp cocktails, and, of course, alcohol. The film is about a 12-year-old boy (played by Breslin) who must deal with male-pattern baldness and some unlikely friends (Blonsky and Gooding).
We posted 
Ever wonder what would happen if you zapped your deodorant in the microwave? How about a string of Christmas lights? Or a parfait? 
Well, alrighty then!
No! It's not going to become a weekly feature. Just wanted to freak you out a bit. Today in Jon Bon Jovi news, the rocker (pictured) is upset because he claims a new coffee-flavored energy drink called Mijovi 
¡
Jericho returns to TV screens tonight. I never caught the show back in the fall — the idea of witnessing a network-approved apocalypse felt too potentially glib to get me biting, while the sight of Skeet Ulrich generally only takes me back to lamentable experiences I had watching cinema in the mid to late '90s — but I’m thinking of giving the show a chance. 
The media-savvy meat-shunners at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 
Three more items that indicate no loss of interest in The Sopranos, more than two weeks after the series ended:
