HEY THERE buster lemme link a few things. Bioshock 2 is better than anybody expected, but I disagree with my review's headline that it's better than the original. It might be as good, but even though its story is more satisfying it lacks the unique impact of the original.
I don't know why I still do this. I pretty much quit back in 2001/2002, and every time I'd fall back into the habit something horrible would happen. I'd tentatively watch a few Raws in a row, or rent a DVD, and then Eddie Guerrero would have a heart attack and Chris Benoit would murder his family and I would remember why I quit watching in the first place. But since getting a DVR last August I've paid intermittent attention to WWF WWE, TNA, and Ring of Honor. I don't watch any of them regularly, and don't even regularly record the WWF or ROH shows, but tune in just frequently enough to understand the storylines. Not that that's hard to do, or anything.
Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. I was going to write about WWE NXT, a new show that premiered last night in ECW's old Sci-Fi Channel timeslot. It's basically set up like a wrestling reality show, but it's obviously worked and no rules have been announced, so it's nothing like Tough Enough. Eight wrestlers from the WWE's developmental league are mentored by eight established WWE veterans, with the winner getting a guaranteed WWE contract. It can't be taken seriously as a competition, though, as one of the contestants, Bryan Danielson (new WWE name: Daniel Bryan), already has a big-league deal. A lot of wrestling fans are sore over Danielson's involvement, as he's been wrestling for a decade, had a WWF developmental deal early in his career, and made a few appearances as a jobber on long-gone low-level WWF shows like Heat and Velocity. They're also pissed that Danielson's mentor is the Miz, a guy who's only been wrestling for a few years, and who's probably still best known as a former Real World cast member. That's the reaction the WWE was hoping for, and they've wasted no time starting up the "indie legend" vs. "established WWE superstar" feud. NXT's first episode was bookended by Miz/Danielson segments; it started with Miz ordering Danielson to prove he could cut a promo and introduce a good catchphrase, and it ended with the Miz pummeling Danielson after a hard-fought loss to Chris Jericho. Obviously NXT won't be a one-feud show, and McMahon wouldn't create a show solely to get Danielson over, but that was the focus of last night's episode.
It was annoying to see Danielson give a solid promo and then have the announcer, Michael Cole, act like it was completely horrible, but then Cole's natural ineptitude has long since been turned into his gimmick. Last night was the first time I've seen Cole act like a straight-up heel, disparaging Danielson for being a nobody who's only wrestled in high school gyms in front of internet nerds. At least I hope that was supposed to make Cole a heel.
Other highlights from last night: David Otunga, aka Punk from I Love New York, aka the future Mr. Jennifer Hudson, gave an awesome heel interview about how he's better, richer, smarter, and more successful than everybody else. The best wrestling characters are grounded in reality, and all Otunga has to do to make people hate him is list off his real-life achievements. Between Harvard Law, marrying an Oscar winner, and visiting the White House twice, Otunga's a natural heel. His thinly veiled contempt for his mentor, K-Krush, as they walked to the ring; Krush danced around, delivering his horrible rap, while Otunga kept his distance and headed straight for the ring. He didn't look too good in action, though; his match was a super-quick squash, but he bungled the Ron Simmons spinebuster he used as a finisher.
The only other rookies that stood out last night were Wade Barrett, a tall, deep-voiced Briton who's paired up with Chris Jericho, and Darren Young, the "South Beach party boy" who got squashed by Otunga. Barrett was good on the mic when he introduced Jericho, and has a unique, old-fashioned look; both he and Danielson look like they could be right out of the '40's or '50's. Young's electric-shock hair and over-the-top excitement is a good and potentially funny contract with his mentor, the deadly serious straight-edge asshole CM Punk.
Two other rookies wrestled last night, but neither impressed me. The "one-man rock band without instruments" Heath Slater was completely obnoxious, but played an okay Ricky Morton in his tag match. The rookie on the opposing team, Michael Tarver, has a good look and was introduced with a solid interview package, but showed nothing in the ring. He also took the pinfall, laying down for Slater's mentor Christian. Seems like a bad idea to have a guy lose his first televised match against a mid-carder. But then the point of NXT is that these rookies aren't quite ready for the big-time and need help from WWE pros to make that jump. In that context losing a first match isn't as harmful as it can otherwise be.
Janelle Monae - Tight Rope (feat. Big Boi) Patti Smith - Redondo Beach Shout Out Louds - Walls The Knack - Good Girls Don't Prince - When You Were Mine Hanoi Janes - Across The Sea Yeasayer - Madder Red Smith - Baby, It's You The Aquarian Age - 10,000 Words In A Box The Soft Pack - More or Less Blue Oyster Cult - Cities On Flame with Rock and Roll Dr. Dog - Shadow People Nirvana - Love Buzz Them Crooked Vultures - Mind Eraser, No Chaser Besnard Lakes - Albatross Mitch Hedberg - My Necklace The Replacements - I.O.U. Moon Duo - Stumbling 22nd St The Know - I Like Girls Generation X - Ready, Steady, Go Strange Boys - Be Brave The Homosexuals - Walk Before Imitate Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drum
¶ posted by Elliott at 1:21 PM
My friend played in a Pro-Am with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. They introduce themselves and walk up to the first tee. Arnold has this huge cigar in his mouth as he puts the tee in the ground and asks my friend, "When was your last blow job?" My friend chuckles a little bit and says, "A couple nights ago, I guess." Arnold doesn't say anything, pulls back the club and mid backswing (in his "Terminator" voice) asks, "How did it taste?" and swings through and shanks the ball 50 yards dead right out of bounds.
¶ posted by Zazz at 1:09 PM
DR. DOG - SHADOW PEOPLE THE SOFT PACK - C'MON STRANGE BOYS - BE BRAVE STATUS QUO - PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN FREE ENERGY - HOPE CHILD CARNIVORES - HEART OF COPPER THE BEAT - WALKING OUT OF LOVE THE HUSH NOW - HOPING AND WAITING JOE JACKSON - SUNDAY PAPERS WILCO - SPIDERS (KIDSMOKE) PHANTOGRAM - WHEN I'M SMALL 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS - PICTURES (LEAVE YOUR BODY BEHIND) FRIGHTENED RABBIT - NOTHING LIKE YOU SPOON - TROUBLE COMES RUNNING THE BUZZCOCKS - WHY CAN'T I TOUCH IT? THE FACES - STAY WITH ME JOHNNY CASH - AIN'T NO GRAVE SOLID GOLD - ONE IN A MILLION MARIE LAFORET - PAINT IT BLACK LOVE - YOU SET THE SCENE
¶ posted by Elliott at 12:44 AM
3. I had reviews of No More Heroes 2 and Chime in last Tuesday's Boston Herald. My favorite part of No More Heroes 2 is helping my cat Jeanne lose weight. Also at least 60% of the profits from Chime, an excellent puzzle game downloadable through Xbox Live Arcade, go to charity; even without the altruism it's worth five bucks and a few hours of your time.
JOHNNY CASH - AIN'T NO GRAVE GRINDERMAN - I DON'T NEED YOU (TO SET ME FREE) TALKING HEADS - THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME AN ANGEL MALACHI - SNOWFLAKE THE FALL - BLINDNESS THE SOFT PACK - C'MON REIGNING SOUND - DEBRIS STIFF LITTLE FINGERS - ALTERNATIVE ULSTER HAPPY BIRTHDAY - GIRLS FM THE MYNABIRDS - NUMBERS DON'T LIE THE VELVET UNDERGROUND - OH! SWEET NUTHIN' THE BOOZE - HATE CITY NIGHTS THE B-52'S - PRIVATE IDAHO ELVIS COSTELLO - PARTY GIRL (LIVE) TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS - EVEN HEROES HAVE TO DIE AZIZ ANSARI - SHEETS BUILT TO SPILL - GOIN AGAINST YOUR MIND KING KHAN & THE SHRINES - 69 FACES OF LOVE THE 101ERS - SILENT TELEPHONE BAD SPORTS - CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR NAME SHAM 69 - BORSTAL BREAKOUT BLACK SABBATH - HAND OF DOOM
¶ posted by Elliott at 12:41 AM
Monday, February 01, 2010
Radio Undefined playlist 2/1
YEASAYER - MADDER RED MODERN LOVERS - ROADRUNNER THE SUBURBS - LOVE IS THE LAW GIRLS - LAURA THE MUMMIES - LITTLE MISS TEE-N-T RED PENS - HUNG OUT STRANGE BOYS - BE BRAVE QUEEN - MUSTAPHA MOS DEF - THE TOURNAMENT THE RUMOUR - EMOTIONAL TRAFFIC THE MEKONS - WHERE WERE YOU? NEU! - HERO BROKEN BELLS - THE HIGH ROAD JOY DIVISION - DISORDER GOODIE MOB - BLACK ICE THEM CROOKED VULTURES - REPTILES THE POLICE - NEXT TO YOU FOLLOW THAT BIRD! - THE GHOSTS THAT WAKE YOU BAD SPORTS - CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR NAME SUGAR - HOOVER DAM SPOON - TROUBLE COMES RUNNING TV ON THE RADIO - PROVINCE RIDE - LEAVE THEM ALL BEHIND
¶ posted by Elliott at 9:58 PM
MESMERIZATION ECLIPSE RADIO:
Elliott is on AM 1690 the Voice of the Arts on Monday nights from 7-9PM for Radio Undefined
Crews is on WXDU on Tuesday mornings from ten to noon
Dark doesn't want to own her, but he can't let her have it both ways.
Cocaine Bref is proud of his island heritage & will riff with you.
Elliott is sufficiently breakfast. PS3 ID: ATLbloodfeast
Crog works in the bullshit industry in Hollywood. He was born on May 7th, 1978.
Jerkwater Johnson (friend to CT Jake Motherfucker) lives in San Francisco. He likes snacking, and the Mets, and is the proprietor of a bar called Duck Camp.