Pig pandemic

As if the incessant coverage of the Swine Flu weren't scaring me enough...  :(

It's only a matter of time until we start seeing these commercials on TV, right?

Blame it on the rain

Updated Oct. 28, 2 p.m.

Yeah, you like that Milli Vanilli reference?

Anyway. For the first time in World Series history, a game has been suspended due to the weather. Due to a rain/snow storm hitting the tri-state area (yes, snow in October), the remainder of the game will be played tomorrow (Wednesday), beginning at 8:37 p.m.

Game Five--the potential championship-clinching game for the Philadelphia Phillies--was suspended in the bottom of the sixth inning, after the Tampa Bay Rays scored a run to tie the game at 2.

Thankfully, baseball officials said it was not an option to make the game official after five innings, determining the Fall Classic winner by way of a called game.

When the game does resume, it will be picked up from where it was left off; fans and commentators have criticized the determination, stating that the call should have come at the beginning of the sixth inning (before Cole Hamels gave up the run in poor weather conditions), or that frame should be erased and the game should resume from the top of the inning.

Check back later for a special commentary and updates on the game.

RELATED LINKS
Taco, taco, taco!
World Series set to go
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Speedy Gonzalez
Yo quiero free taco

NKOTB alert

As reported back in January, the New Kids on the Block are back and--well, I wouldn't say better than ever, but they're...older?

NKOTB apparently released a single and video a few months ago for "Summertime," which apparently fell under my radar, but I was 'fortunate' enough to catch their new video yesterday morning on VH1. The single is called, "Single" (creative), and features Ne-Yo. See below.



The Kids--now like, borderline middle-aged men--are also taking a big risk by going live this Sunday for "New Kids on the Block: A Behind the Music Special Event."

The special will start at 8pm and stick to the normal BTM format with old photos and interviews recapping the band's history. The cameras will follow Joey, Jordan, Donnie, Jon and Danny step by step as they get ready to perform at the TD Banknorth Garden in their home town of Boston, and we'll get a chance to see the first three songs of NKOTB's tour.

RELATED LINKS
Bringing the 'Right Stuff' back to the block

Oops-skee

Follow me on my train of thought here:

I was looking at pictures from a weekend bar outing my friends and I went on this weekend, and I started thinking about what we used to do for social gatherings before we were old enough to drink: go to the mall, the movies, Friendly's (ew)--hey, whatever happened to going to Chuck-E-Cheese?

The pizza that always looked better on TV than it did in front of you, the person who had to dress up as the rat mascot (I knew someone who had to do that when she worked there in college) and--of course--playing Skee Ball. That game was the shit, right?

I remember one time I got my fingers slammed by a ball that was returning down that slot, but I think that's as far as my Skee Ball injuries extend; the little boy in this video, however, isn't so lucky, and unfortunately for him, he's not getting too much sympathy from the man taking the video.



And either that girl had it in for that cute little kid or she just really sucks at Skee Ball and can't keep it in her lane.

D-d-d-did you watch it?

If a glowing piece of the radical rock was something you dreamed of when you were younger, Nickelodeon is giving you another chance to make that dream come true.

"My Family's Got GUTS," a family version of the popular 1990s game show, premiered tonight on Nick. Contestants compete in events similar to the original GUTS, including the basketball "Sky Slam," a football throwing competition and a soccer ball scoring battle.

And of course, we get a glimps of the trademark Aggro Crag - intimidating as ever.

The show will run weeknights at 8 p.m. starting tonight (Monday) until Friday, Sept. 26. The series is comprised of two, 11-episode tournaments, each of which includes an hour-long finale and a half-hour special. This season's finale will air Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.

Unfortunately, MFGG took a backseat to tonight's episode of "Gossip Girl" (my crack in television form), but I did manage to catch a few minutes of it during CW commercial breaks...

Props to Nickelodeon for revitalizing one of the greatest shows in the station's history--especially amidst a period of what I consider comparatively lackluster children's programming--but nothing is ever going to live up to the good ole' GUTS days.

This new host, Ben Lyons, can't hold a candle to Michael O'Malley's enthusiasm (and oddly enough Lyons is the new host of the popular critic show "At the Movies"). And Nickelodeon actually had the audacity to bring in a judge with a funny accent who's not Moira Quirk ("Let's go to Mo - MO!").

Maybe I'm just hating a little bit because my family is too old to go on the show now, as is likely the case for most of the original GUTS viewing audience. Watch the clip below. Seriously - how badly did you want to go on this show when you were younger? I remember screaming at the stupid kids who missed an actuator and yelling about how badly I would own them if only I were given the opportunity to try out...



Thanks, Dave!

Betrayed by the 'Bell'

Isn't it the best feeling when you're getting ready for work at 7 a.m., all the while knowing that you can put on TBS and see your friends from Bayside up to their old antics?

"Saved By the Bell" is probably one of the greatest shows of my adolescent life. There is not one episode I have not seen, one backstory I cannot describe in detail or one super corny line that I cannot recite.

But there were some things about the show -
particularly the real lives of its teen-now-adult stars - that I never really knew too much about... And thanks to Dustin "Screech" Diamond, that might soon be changing.

"Behind the Bell," Diamond's planned tell-all book, promises to detail "sexual escapades among cast members, drug use, and hardcore partying" during the SBTB days, according to New York Magazine.

And while this is probably the greatest idea ever --it's enough to make me sing, "I'm so exciiiited, I'm so exciiiited"-- a part of me wants to forever preserve the innocent images of Zack, Kelly, Jessie, Lisa, Slater and Screech hanging out by their lockers and sharing fries at The Max. I don't want to hear if Mark Paul Gosselaar was actually taking drugs; that would be way too Johnny Dakota of him.

...Plus, I really hate Dustin Diamond and think he's a huge douchebag that doesn't deserve to make money like he'll make off of this. Who knows if he'll even be telling the truth. The guy's got serious "angry typecast" syndrome and probably resents the rest of his castmates that went on to do something else with their lives, like not starring in 67 episodes of "Saved By the Bell: The New Class."

It's only 'Nat'ural

Even though I'm eating some of my words about former "90210" cast members not returning for the new season, I will not take back my 'this show will suck' sentiment.

It just might suck a little less because Joe E. Tata, better known as the Peach Pit's Nat, will be returning for the series this fall. Well, at least for one episode.

The CW will air a spinoff of the original, this time centered around the Mills family. It seems like a carbon copy with a minority character thrown in here or there, and it will likely bomb. Click here to watch a preview.

Also returning is Jennie Garth, who will be playing Kelly Taylor as a high school guidance counselor. (And you know what I just realized? Why are the hot girls in television shows always named Kelly? Taylor, Kapowski, Bundy...?)

Tori Spelling is said to be returning for at least one episode as Donna Martin, and rumor has it Shannon Doherty, or Brenda Walsh, miiight be coming back, yes!

'Cindy, when you throw up on someone, you're not just throwing up on them, you're throwing up on yourself...'

If you thought watching Christopher Knight on VH1 was embarrassing for the Brady kids, check out lovable Cindy Brady making a fool of herself on a recent radio interview.

Susan Olsen, the 46-year-old better known for playing Cindy Brady on "The Brady Bunch," was giving an overall uninteresting interview on the Darren and Coba show at Jet 107.9 in Colorado Spring until she starts turning a shade of green and admits that she has to blow chunks.

"Chris got me wasted last night and I am so ready to vomit on the microphone," she said, as the panic starts to creep up in the DJ's voice.

After plugging her appearance that night, her young son sitting next to her gleefully chirps, "Watch her drink like a pig!"

Susan runs out of the booth as the DJ super awkwardly tells the kid to leave. Check out the video.

Bo, fo' sho'

I stumbled across this video of Bo Burnham, a white rapper busting some rhymes in what appears to be a small room presumably in his parent's house (because he doesn't look a day over 17).

He may not be the fliest rapper alive, but his rhymes are actually really good. And he could probably wipe the metaphoric rap court clean with Shaq if they were to ever throw down in a battle.

Oh, and he totally gives all you babies of the '80s a new way to think about Patty Mayonnaise...

Let the Fraggles play...on the big screen!

I'm glad someone figured out that making horror films about cell phones or more Tyler Perry movies was lame and decided to go back to the basics: classic children's television programming.

As reported by Variety Magazine, The Weinstein Co. intends to turn Jim Henson's brainchild "Fraggle Rock" into a live action musical.

Oh my God. You can't help but get warm fuzzies when you think of this show...and if you have no idea what I'm talking about, then, God, I'm old. But I seriously cannot wait for this.

The good news is that not much about the show will change when it hits the screen: The film will feature a mix of human characters and puppets, and all your fav Fraggles (Gobo, Wembley, Mokey, Boober and Red) are onboard with the project.

There is no solidified plot announced yet, but word has it that the Fraggles will interact outside their home with humans, whom they think are aliens.

And just to celebrate, check out the classic Fraggle Rock intro below. I love Boober at the end--he's my fav.

Thanks, Dave!

9021Oh noo.....

Thanks to a quick commercial in the middle of tonight's season finale of "Gossip Girl" (and a heads up from my friend, Jackie), I have learned of the CW's intention to make a 90210 spinoff.

When I first heard about the reinvention of one of my favorite teenage dramas, I was like totally stoked, but after learning of the show's intended plotline, it is not looking so good in the upscale neighborhood.

This spinoff, which is set to premiere in the fall, is based around the Mills family (reminiscent of The Walshes), who have moved from St. Louis to Beverly Hills and are adjusting to the scenery.

According to E! News, there's Harry Mills (aka the Jim Walsh of the series)and his wife Celia (aka Cindy Walsh) and the couple's biological daughter, Annie--who much like Brenda Walsh--is into acting and alternative music and longs to fit into the cool crowd at school.

But in order to differentiate from the original series, the Mills don't have twins--they instead have Dixon, an adopted son who's the same age as Annie and was taken in by her family six years earlier. And apparently the show is looking to cast a minority actor in the role in order to more accurately depict California than its predecessor's completely whitebread cast.

And while there are Andrea Zuckerman and David and Donna-like characters, none of the original cast will be featured in the show. E! reports, however, that both Tori Spelling and Ian Ziering have said that they would participate if asked.

This...yeah. Not so good. I doubt CW will strike gold as they have with "Gossip Girl" (which is seriously one of the best shows on television these days), but I will probably end up checking this out...if nothing else, but to see what The Peach Pit looks like and if Nat is still alive.

For a taste of retro 90210, watch the show's intro below. Gotta love those good times on the beach.

*So* worth the obnoxious two-in-a-row video post

Yeah, I hate posting two videos in a row because, well, this blog is supposed to be about the written word, but this is super crafty.

I know I posted the hand farting guy playing the Mario Bros. theme song, but this thing is way more incredible. Check it out!

150 strangers, picked to sit in an audience

If it seems like 15 years since MTV's "The Real World" was...well, real, that's because it has been. And while you may have jumped ship on the abomination of reality that the show represents long ago, MTV is giving you a thrilling chance to indulge in its last 19 seasons. Come on, I'm sure you liked at least one of them...

The "Real World Awards: Roast 'Em and Toast 'Em," which airs March 29 at 1 p.m., will gather nearly two decades' worth of "reality stars" who simultaneously established and degraded themselves on a national stage...and probably some of those no-name, scrub Real Worlders as well.

The awards portion of the show will be decided by viewers. You can visit the Real World Awards Web site to vote for at least 13 categories, including Hottest Male and Female, Best Fight, Best Meltdown and Biggest Playa.

I must gripe for a moment about how I see this playing out. Because most people who watched The Real World in its prime years are now in their '30s, I have a feeling that all the new d-bag Real Worlders are undeservedly going to win. For example, Hottest Male will probably go to Alex from Denver, even though he's a major tool, but (aside from Las Vegas) that season had comparatively high ratings and it's fresh in people's minds. Plus, why aren't Irene and Steven from Seattle listed under Best Fight!? [click here to watch that fight!] That was the slap heard 'round the world, for reality's sake!

And no one should even stand a chance against Puck for Roommate from Hell, but that was FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. All current RW viewers know is that dumb, what's-her-name blond girl on this last season who pushed what's-her-name into a bookcase. Puck constantly disrupted the entire house and stuck his scabby fingers into the community peanut butter - that still skeeves me out!

I don't really care about this as much as it seems, but if you feel like taking a trip down Real World memory land, check out the voting and represent for the good old days. Or vote for the toolbags. I don't really care.

The reality special will precede the show's 20th season premiere--God help us--and feature tributes to both Pedro Zamora (San Francisco), who died from AIDS after the season aired, and Frankie Abernathy (San Diego), who died last year from cystic fibrosis.

Best (and worst) of the 'Bowl

*Note: This is the second of two posts regarding the Super Bowl. This is everything but the actual game. For more game coverage, see below!

• Paula Abdul's pre-game performance: No one was more psyched than me to see the "Spellbound" songstress make her comeback, but man oh man...Paula's performance was more of a pantomime than a 'straight up' hit. Lip syncing worse than Britney and moves as bad as, well, Britney on MTV circa six months ago. And what was with the New Years Eve-looking hat? I couldn't have been the only one in American hoping that that weeble-wobble microphone would smack her in the face. [In case you missed it...]

• Paul Brogan's Super Bowl Rap: Soup or bowl? Soup, soup or bowl? This was the greatest part of the pre-game show, in my opinion. This guy is a freaking genius.
  
  

• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers halftime show: I'm all for the 'Freefallin' and the 'American Girl,' but it's no coincidence that my friends and I spent the length of the halftime show in front of our cooled hors d'oeuvres, discussing tax rates and competitive eating. Every year, the halftime show is but a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more (thanks, Shakes). I'm sure some day, when I'm older, I'll enjoy performances from my childhood heroes -cough Spice Girls cough- but for now I'd rather load up on unnecessary cards for the second half than watch the streamers and strumming.

• Bawk, bawwwk: No one did the Chicken Dance in the end zone, so no-go on KFC's charity promise. Guess they were too chicken to pay the fines.
  

• Celebrity sightings: Perhaps Giants fans should be thanking Gisele Bundchen for the Patriots' choke; it's that Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson curse, praise the Lord! There were more blond bombshells in attendance last night too: We got a glimpse of a somewhat shy Pamela Anderson, who covered her face with straggly, bleached hair. And half the room 'aww'd' at the Jenny McCarthy/Jim Carey shot...and the other half said, 'Wait, what?' Yes, they've been together for a year and half - wake up! And of course, we had Mr. Peyton Manning watching over baby bro. Not gonna lie - as a superstitious Giants fan, I was a bit worried.

• Commercials: Of course. What would the big show be without a collection of exorbitant, over-hyped and underwhelming advertisements? This year, there were several forgettable commercials and a few memorable because they were so terrible (yes, I mean you, hideous girl dabbing Planters nuts on your hot spots). Here's a look at my top three:

• Mice like Doritos--Mickey's revenge.

• Chris Kattan might get sick of Diet Pepsi Max--what is love?

• Donkey Lips makes a comeback better than Paula--ahh, push it!
  

Bringing the 'Right Stuff' back to the block

GASP: The New Kids on the Block could be reuniting.

Hold your childhood fantasy squeals, though. It has not been completely confirmed, but the band's previously defunct Web site, NKOTB.com, is back online and letting visitors sign up for "exclusive information."

TMZ also reported that the boys are making new music together. A source close to the band said they are "making a comeback and they're desperate to relive former glory."

And glory they had. Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Donnie Wahlberg sold more than 70 million albums throughout the '80s and '90s.

But after breaking up in 1994 and various mediocre solo careers, NKOTB fell step by step into the "Oh my gosh, I can't believe I still own this album" collection.

The "New" "Kids" on the Block are all now in their 30s, which should make for a hilariously entertaining reunion tour (if that's the case) of arms waving during "Hangin' Tough" and soccer moms hoping to leave their husbands for the still dreamy Joey McIntyre.

Thanks, Rand!

'Give to me your paraphernalia, take from me my Lace'

You might not be pumped for NBC's reinvention of American Gladiators, perhaps because it's a WWE-ified version of its former self? Whatever happened to Zap, Diamond, Nitro...?

Well, I don't know about the rest of them, but Los Angeles PD busted former Gladiator babe Lace for possession of drug paraphernalia last week.

Lace? Drugs? Gosh, the joke is almost too easy. Maybe Blaze will get busted for marijuana next week.

Lace, also known as Marisa Pare, was held on $250 bail.

RELATED LINKS:
"Gladiators, are you ready?"

Circle, circle, dot, dot

Please watch this video. I freaking love the sad little blond kid. "All I did was trade Lunchables [sad look downward]."

"Gladiators, are you ready?"

Please, tell me you didn't miss the premiere of NBC's American Gladiators tonight.

The two-hour reinvention of the 90's classic aired tonight and introduced America to 14 new Gladiators ready to whoop on some short and comparatively scrawny contenders: Blast, Crush, Fury, Hellga, Siren, Stealth and Venom for the women, and Hammer, Justice, Mayhem, Militia, Titan, Toa and Wolf for the men.

A little fun fact: Titan is the only Gladiator to be on both the original and the remake of the series, and Toa is the cousin of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

I was stoked for this show to start and tonight's double showing was entertaining, but honestly...it was a little too WWE for my taste. The extremely terrible overacting and audience singing "Nananana, hey hey hey, goodbye" every time someone fell into the water, sprinkled with the occasional heartfelt testimonial and shout out to the loving family, I felt like it was like fake-o wrestling meets Oprah Winfrey.

Also, I was pretty disappointed by how nice the female Gladiators were being. Don't shake that bitches hand--kick her while she's down!!

The 2008 American Gladiators leaves 1991 loyalists with much to be desired, but I was pleased to see the return of Assault (where contenders aim arrows and rockets at Gladiators while dodging 100-mph tennis ball shots) and the ever-popular Eliminator, which destroyed and embarrassed several of tonight's contenders.

I'm predicting the show probably won't last longer than this season (or until the strike ends), but for a shot of old school, cheesy, barbaric entertainment, check out the second part NBC's 2008 American Gladiators premiere tomorrow night at 8 p.m.

UPDATE: Titan appeared on a local radio show this morning saying that tonight's episode features a nice bone breaking - whoo hoo!

RELATED LINKS:
Reinventing Lace, Zap, Blaze and Laser

Interactive Tetris

In all the madness and obsession over Playstation 17 and Xbox180, honestly, I'm a little lost. Other than the Wii, I don't get why people are going nuts over these game systems.

I really miss the good 'ole days when I'd button mash and beat my brothers in Street Fighter, or come home and catch my parents playing Tetris anytime the console was free.

Yeah, Tetris... that was an awesome game, and if you happen to miss the game as much as I do, please watch this video of Human Tetris.



It's incredible, though I'm pretty sure I would totally dominate whoever is "playing" the game.

Girl meets law

Danielle Fishel, better known as Topanga, is facing drunk driving charges after officers stopped a car she was in this week.

Fishel, who played the big-haired hippie-like braniac turned hottie for seven years on "Boy Meets World," was arrested just before 5 a.m. Thursday, said Newport Beach Sgt. James Rocker. She was released from jail shortly after.

The actress really hasn't done much to change her Topanga-identity. She is slotted as the voice Donna Goldstein in 2008's movie "The Chosen One," and has appeared on "The Tyra Banks Show" a number of times, once where she recently discussed her relationship with now-out-of-the-closet Lance Bass.

And now this terrible picture has been posted on CNN. But strangely, she is still cute as a button.

You know what? Whatever. "Boy Meets World" is still the greatest TGIF show ever created. End of story.

Thanks, Dave!