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Martin Freeman [aka “Tim Canterbury”] to join NBC’s The Office
British actor Martin Freeman [the new Sherlock, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Office] is poised to appear in the 8th Season Finale of NBC’s The Office as Tim Canterbury (reprising this character from the original BBC show). Some key plot-points are TOP SECRET, but an immediate bonding with John Krasinski’s character Jim Halpert will not be maintained for long.
Executive producers and creators of the show, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, said this in an NBC press release:
It makes sense and, in a way, brings the story full circle. Without giving away too much, [Tim] will wrangle Jim out of a job [early next season], which will open up a ‘Jim & Pam spin-off’ that we’re planning for 2014.
The Season Finale air date has yet to be announced by NBC. Watch Season Eight “on demand” NOW.
~Dan – np: Tegan and Sara – Sainthood
REVIEW: Adam Carolla @ Newmark Theatre (Portland, OR – 3/11/12)
Adam Carolla had a busy weekend. The most recently fired celebrity on Donald Trump’s NBC Celebrity Apprentice, the former co-host of Loveline with Dr. Drew, the former co-host of The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel, and the #1 podcaster in the world (with the Guinness World Record to show for it) played Seattle on Friday night, Spokane on Saturday night, and Portland’s Newmark Theatre last night.
I don’t always agree with what he says. He’s middle-of-the-road politically – not claiming alignment with any party. He’s quite in favor of many good social issues (gay rights, sex education, women’s reproductive issues, etc), but he’s staunchly conservative on fiscal and immigration concerns. But in all honesty, how many times do you agree with everything even your loved ones say? While some people may have “something for everyone to like,” Adam may very well fit into having “something for everyone to hate” or at least “have issue with.” Eh, I still fall into the “love camp”…
His sharp wit, funny stories and quirky-yet-still-grounded sense of humor make coming back to listen daily a treat. His Monday to Friday daily podcast is one of my favorites and it quickly goes to the top of my queue (subscribe iTunes). His ACE podcasting network is also growing and excellent things abound: Penn Jillette’s PennSundaySchool, Alison Rosen Is Your New Best Friend (the funny & charming news gal), Ace on the House (home improvement), CarCast (I’m not even a gear junkie, but this is a fascinating show), et cetera… all great!
I thought comedian/songwriter Josh Gardner was to open the show. However, they played the title track to Mr. Stinkfinger via laptop and then Adam came out. Josh’s comedy albums are available now… Mr Stinkfinger EP and Winter Bush:
Adam’s stand-up shows are basically 90-minutes. They are sometimes free form, but this one seemed a little more planned, with a little thrown in as far as what happened to him this past weekend.
He walked out with an oatmeal cookie… with dried cranberries in it. This opened up into a rant about the adding shit to shit and why we keep fucking good things up. Next on his complain list was “Spring Forward,” and he went through a funny USA Today bit about what people would do with their extra hour (back in the fall).
He got off complaining for a bit to talk about a Leno show appearance with Queen Latifah. She had been going on about “limin’,” which apparently is what they call “chillin'” in the Caribbean. Adam’s bit after her was about children’s toys at Christmas, and how you need lineman dykes to cut the toys out of their boxes. Apparently people got in a huff because they thought he was calling “Queen” a “limin’ dyke.” Ah, good times.
Up next, a little bit about his NBC Celebrity Apprentice experience with a few clips from last night’s show (where he got fired). Apparently Buick didn’t like his jokes. Oh well… now once Penn Jillette gets fired, I can quit watching that rubbish.
Next he played a cartoon rendition of “Gay Eyes,” a made up movie that Adam worked up during a 2009 podcast with Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston. I can’t find the cartoon-version on line anywhere, but I remember hearing it when it went down. Here is the audio.
The next 45 minutes… what Adam is known for… more complaining. No “what can’t Adam complain about” requests from the audience, but some pre-loaded hyper vigilance rants that hit on many topics: tagging the landscape in Los Angeles, buttons on car keys, shower handles in hotels, key cards in hotels, toys under sofas, custom shoes, WC Field’s smoking & drinking poster in the doctor’s office, L.A. ice cream truck, recumbent cyclists, Click-It or Ticket, auto flush toilets, the L.A. “river,” rescue dogs, and how Mexicans grieve.
He ended the show with a stroll through memory lane via his Social Security Statement. From an astonishing $1k to $9k/year of earnings for most of the 80s to stardom in the mid 90s. His “money can’t buy you happiness” was a nice, uplifting non-rant about applying yourself to work towards doing what you want to do.
Some of his stories were ones we’d heard before via the podcast or radio show… he was playing to his audience; so it was all good. Adam is a busy guy… ever turning logs in the fire. Keep up to date with him via the links below… and by all means, if you like to listen to podcasts, make room in your queue for what I consider to be one of the best / funniest ones out there.
The Appropriate Linkage:
- Adam Carolla’s Site / the Podcast (iTunes)
- Adam Carolla’s Tour Dates
- Adam Carolla’s Social Media Links (see below)
- Newmark Theatre’s Site / Facebook / Twitter
Next show for me… Maynard James Keenan’s PUSCIFER on 3/14 in Portland.
~Dan – np: John Zorn – IAO: Music in Sacred Light
new Ben Folds Five album by spring 2012?
Will there be a new BFF record?
Well, yes, based on Ben Folds’ twitter, Ben Folds Five is in the studio working on a new album with Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge that may hit as soon as spring!! Ben must be on break from NBC’s The Sing Off… this news makes me happy!
It's happening fo sho - Day 1 in studio with Robert and Darren through March #NewBenFoldsFiveRecord http://t.co/l4lLupJG
—
benjamin folds (@BenFolds) January 25, 2012Spring release @Andy_Hampshire #NewBenFoldsFiveRecord
—
benjamin folds (@BenFolds) January 25, 2012~Dan – np: Damien Jurado – Maraqopa
New Ben Folds Five song “Tell Me What I Did”
Another new streaming song from Ben Folds Five from the upcoming The Best Imitation of Myself retrospective… “Tell Me What I Did” is now streaming over on Stereogum. Check the blog below for the first new BFF song, “House.” One more new BFF song is out there, “Stumblin’ Home Winter Blues” will likely show up soon on some other music blog (Pitchfork? Spin?)…
via pacificlectic : pacific northwest concert reviews & eclectic music news
New Ben Folds Five song “House”
Ben Folds Five will go down in history as one of the bands that actually looked like they were having fun on stage. When they broke-up in the Fall of 2000, a bit of happiness died. Ben went on to do a lot of solo work (some Five-ish, some not), bassist Robert has stayed active in the NC music scene, and drummer Darren has put out a few gorgeous records with his band Hotel Lights (where he sings and plays guitar). In fact, I just found out that Hotel Lights put out a new one last week (Girl Graffiti).
Well, with Mr Folds’ upcoming retrospective 3-CD boxset, The Best Imitation of Myself (due out October 11, 2011), Ben Folds Five got back in the studio and recorded a new tune entitled “House.” Two other new BFF songs are on the collection: “Tell Me What I Did” and “Stumblin’ Home Winter Blues.” No word on if any more new BFF, but anything coming out of an 11-year gap is good news to me.
You can stream the new song at NBC’s The Sing-Off page. You can pre-order the retrospective at the Amazons. No word on a digital / mp3 download version of the retrospective yet, but I’m sure it’ll be out there on iTunes and Amazon soon enough.
~Dan – np: Xenuphobe (Wally Farkas & Ty Tabor) – 2.0 electrolux
The Office in Georges Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon”
I’ve seen Georges Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” done as a topiary garden / art installation (in Columbus, OH)… well, now NBC has put the cast of The Office into the mix…
(click for larger)
Oddly no Michael or Holly… but, cool nonetheless…
~Dan – np: The Lonely Island – Turtleneck & Chain 
Conan O’Brien’s Prohibited Tour 2010
Late night comedic legend Conan O’Brien got booted from his late night gig, and is hitting the road… most of the shows are already on-sale (and sold out), but I’m sure more tickets will become available via legit (and otherwise) channels as the dates approach… they start off in my home town of Eugene. Tickets sold out within hours. D’oh!
Conan O’Brien PROHIBITED 2010 tour dates:
4/12, Eugene, OR (Hult Center for the Performing Arts
)
4/13, Vancouver, BC (Orpheum Theatre
)
4/16, Spokane, WA (INB Performing Arts Center)
4/17, Edmonton, AB (River Cree Resort & Casino
)
4/18, Seattle, WA (Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
)
4/22, San Francisco, CA (Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium
)
4/24, Universal City, CA (Gibson Amphitheater)
4/29, San Diego, CA (San Diego Civic Theatre)
4/30, Phoenix, AZ (Dodge Theatre
)
5/1, Las Vegas, NV (Pearl Concert Theater)
5/4, Reno, NV (Grand Sierra Resort and Casino)
5/5, San Jose, CA (San Jose State Event Center
)
5/6, Sacramneto, CA (Sacramento Memorial Auditorium)
5/9, Boulder, CO (Mackey Auditorium
)
5/10, Denver, CO (Ellie Caulkins Opera House)
5/13, Dallas, TX (McFarlin Auditorium)
5/14, Austin, TX (Austin Music Hall
)
5/15, Tulsa, OK (Brady Theater
)
5/16, Kansas City, MO (The Midland)
5/18, Minneapolis, MN (Orpheum Theater
)
5/19, Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre)
5/22, Toronto, ON (Massey Hall)
6/1, New York, NY (Radio City Music Hall
)
6/4, Boston, MA (Wang Theater)
6/6, Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Arena)
6/7, Upper Derby, PA (Tower Theatre)
6/8, Washington, DC (Dar Constitution Hall)
6/11, Manchester, TN (Bonnaroo Music Festival
)
6/14, Atlanta, GA (Fox Theatre)
~Dan – np: Charlotte Gainsbourg with Beck – IRM
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
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