Youtube Wednesday - 2/3/10

Today's video features a super-smart ten year-old girl taking Anthony Bourdain to task on the next episode of No Reservations.  This is a classic moment in No Reservations history:

Thoughts On 'Solving History'

Last night I watched a new Discovery Channel program called Solving History with Olly Steeds.  It sounded interesting - British journalist Olly Steeds travels the world and tries to find out the truth about some of history's greatest mysteries and legends. 

After seeing the premiere episode (about finding the Ark of the Covenant), I no longer think it's an interesting show.  Sloppy, offensive and culturally insensitive are better words to describe it.

Olly takes a sort of Mythbusters-like approach to his show.  He tries to prove that things were possible - such as carrying the Ark out of Jerusalem through its underground tunnels.  He hires a carpenter to build an Ark much like the one described in the Bible, and then, with some help, attempts to carry it through the narrow tunnels.  Mission accomplished, although he had to take the Ark apart to do it.

What I dislike about the show is Olly's disregard for other peoples' cultures and religions.  Anything dealing with the ancient Jewish and Christian world is already touchy, but Olly takes things way too far:

• While in an Ethiopian Christian Church, each of which houses a replica of the Ark that, although a replica, is still considered holy, Olly tries to push his luck and enter its room.  The room housing the Ark, we are told by the church's priest, can only be entered by holy men - priests and bishops of the Ethiopian Christian Church.  No one else is allowed inside.  Olly asks the man how far he can go, and the priest keeps telling him that under no circumstances can Olly enter the room.  He's almost pleading with Olly, probably knowing that he will lose his job should he let a non-holy man enter the Ark room.  Olly admits in voiceover that he fantasized about going inside anyway.  He should have left it alone after the first 'No.'

• Out in the desert with the Bedouin people, Olly is sitting at a campfire eating the meal of freshly-slaughtered goat.  These Bedouins have gone out of their way to take Olly and his crew around the desert, show him their way of life, and even set up tents and slaughter an animal for him.  While eating the meal, one of the Bedouin men offers Olly some goat testicles, specially prepared for their guest.  He asks if they'll be offended if he says no, and the man says they won't, but they would be most pleased if he did accept them.  He does, and makes a face about it.  Now, Anthony Bourdain would never do that!  Nor would Andrew Zimmern.  I can sympathize with Olly, because I wouldn't want them either, but if I knew how special it was I'd probably at least make the effort and be grateful.  

• This last one is the most daring and most offensive.  Olly has tracked the Ark to Ethiopia.  The Ethiopian church truly believes that they possess the Ark and consider it the most holy of objects.  They consider it the presence of God on earth.  Only one man is allowed to see it.  He is the Guardian and he is not allowed to leave the chapel grounds.  His position is for life.  Any intruders are shot dead on the spot.  This is taken very seriously.  So what does Olly do?  First, he disobeys the Guardian's wishes for no cameras by using a hidden camera.  How disrespectful.  Then, he blatantly asks to see the Ark.  Did he really think they'd say yes to some schlub from the West with fancy cameras and no governmental or religious authority?  Olly knows darn well that no one is allowed to see the Ark, that this is tradition, and yet he still thinks he can try.  After being denied, he walks off and pouts about it.  Does he not realize that the entire point of the Ark for the Ethiopian church is that no one is allowed to see it?  That it is so holy that it must be protected at any cost?  I felt like he was showing a complete lack of respect for Ethiopia's traditions and faith, and all for the benefit of some 'look at me' travel TV show.  That's ridiculous.

So, that is the first and last time I will be watching Solving History.  If that's how Olly Steeds treats other cultures, I want no part in it.  He could learn a thing or two from Anthony Bourdain.

My Top Ten Favorite Episodes of "No Reservations"

I'm a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain's Travel Channel series "No Reservations." Each episode offers wonderful photography, amazing locales and people, and, oh yeah, food. Each episode is unique, and you never know what you'll see each time you tune in. Of course, some episodes stand out. The following ten are my favorites, inspired by this week's most excellent entry:

1) Tokyo (Season 4)

I really enjoyed the peacefulness, the beauty of the Tokyo episode. Tony Bourdain is usually snarky and seeking pork, but in Tokyo we see a completely different side. A, dare I say, zen Tony Bourdain.

2) Azores (Season 5)

I had never, ever heard of the Azores before this episode, and watching it made me want to go there immediately. The scenery rivals anything you'd see in the Caribbean or Hawaii, and the people seem super-friendly and welcoming.

3) Quebec (Season 2)

Between, the seal hunting, the crazy maple syrup guy and the huge feast of meat, the Quebec episode is one of the most memorable I've seen yet.

4) Ireland (Season 3)

Pints of Guinness dark as the night. Seafood so fresh it's almost swimming. Warm, comforting bowls of stew. Echoes of troubled times nearly gone. Street bowling. This episode has it all.

5) Hong Kong (Season 3)

If the bright neon lights and endless maze of streets aren't enough to grab you, the Noodle Man surely will.

6) Laos (Season 4)

I don't remember anything about the food on this episode, but I'll never forget the people. This one shows why Anthony is not afraid to face the hard truths of reality and accept them for what they are. The scenery's pretty, too.

7) Egypt (Season 4)

Ok, so we didn't get to visit the pyramids. We did, however, get to see Anthony get all poetic out in the desert after a night of eating from a fire.

8) Uruguay (Season 4)

It's always good to get Chris Bourdain involved in his older brother's adventures. Watching the Brothers Bourdain try to find their roots while also eating enormous portions of fat-dripping meat was highly enjoyable.

9) Cleveland (Season 3)

Tony loves the unusual, and Cleveland has plenty of unusual to offer. Large bookstores, lakeside surfing and Harvey Pekar himself are some of the treasures Cleveland has to offer.

10) Thailand (Season 5)

As of now, this is the newest episode, and it's spectacular. It's so different from any other episode of No Reservations before it, what with the title screens and little videos. Tony and his companions encounter adventure everywhere they turn. They also find some really wonderful food. This one was very enjoyable and just excellent all around.

Think with yer dipstick, Jimmy!

This commercial is completely hilarious.

Why?

Not that I care why. It's funny every time I watch it. Watch it with me:



Jimmy!

Thoughts on the grammys

I didn't even watch much of last night's Grammy broadcast, but that doesn't stop me from having opinions:

• Way to go, BeauSoleil! They won their second Grammy in the Best Zydeco or Cajun category for their Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival album. I don't think that one is even widely available, but hopefully that will change now that it's a Grammy winner. I'm sure Alligator Purse will be nominated in the Zydeco/Cajun category next year.

• I think Coldplay should have won album of the year. Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss is a very good album, but not as amazing as Viva La Vida. Coldplay saved their career by making that album! It's also way more creative and experimental.

• In the Best New Artist category, I really would have been happy with either Adele or Duffy. I favor Duffy, but both gals are great singers.
  

• Watching even a little of the Grammys reminds me why I don't like award shows. The speeches are tacky and boring, there are very few awards given out (really, these shows seem to exist just for performances now), and the interactions, acceptance speeches and everything else just seem so awkward. There's a reason why most of these people sing and play for a living.

• Record Of The Year should be renamed single of the year. What does 'record' even mean in today's world?
  

• If there were justice in this world, Joe Jackson would have been nominated in Album Of The Year for Rain. In fact, Rain could have provided many nominations for Joe. But, no, there is no justice. A great album gets ignored.

Review: Masterpiece Theatre "Wuthering Heights" Part One

Watch Wuthering Heights online at www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/wutheringheights

To my great joy, I discovered that PBS is airing Wuthering Heights on Masterpiece Theatre this weekend and next. The timing could not be better, because I have recently re-read that very novel.

The first 15 minutes of the movie left me confused - I thought I had stumbled onto the second part instead of the advertised first part! As it turns out, I was indeed watching the first part of the movie. The filmmakers deviated a great deal in the narrative, beginning the story at Linton Heathcliff's arrival. Young Cathy discovers Wuthering Heights and Uncle Heathcliff, and also discovers that her mother used to live there. Nelly tells her the story, and this is where the real story begins. No, we do not get to see Mr. Lockwood. Perhaps this shortens the story, but I prefer the story told by the novel.

This version of the tale was filmed in Yorkshire, making everything truly authentic. The moors look just as I've imagined them. Wuthering Heights itself looks fine, almost a house that looks like Heathcliff. Of course, it's not the version I have in my mind, but what version could be?

The actors are, for the most part, wonderful. They've picked a very good actress for Cathy Earnshaw named Charlotte Riley. She's appropriately gorgeous and has what sounds like an accurate accent. I think she could be a bit more tempestuous as she's written in the novel, but Ms. Riley will charm you just as Cathy charms Heathcliff. Nelly is portrayed well, too. This verion's Edgar Linton (Andrew Lincoln) is gentlemanly, although perhaps not as weak as portrayed in the novel.

And what of Heathcliff? Tom Hardy is a very good choice. He has the dark hair and handsome good looks, and portrays Heathcliff as rugged, spiteful, manipulative and cruel, just as he should be. If your Heathcliff does not work, your Wuthering Heights does not work, and this Heathcliff works very well.

One more thing to mention - the characters in the film are not as isolated as those in the novel. We see them at church, we see them at market, and we see them in the company of others. In the novel, the Lintons and Earnshaws have very little interaction with the outside world, at least in the scenes that are written. In the novel, most all outside interactions take place "off-page" and out of sight.

I'm anxious to see the second part, and to find out how the filmmakers wrap up the narrative.

Cut (his) hair

Last year, traveling chef Anthony Bourdain teased his friend, Michael Ruhlman, about Ruhlman's bizarre-looking hairdo. Bourdain had the guts to do it right on Ruhlman's own blog, where Bourdain posts once in a while.

Yesterday, Ruhlman got revenge by posting a high school picture of Bourdain. The hilarious photo shows a younger Bourdain with hair longer than most womens'. If you're a fan, or foe, of Bourdain, this is really funny stuff.

Another blog received some photos from Anthony's mother, showing Anthony in his childhood. You get to see what his parents look like!

I'm sure Anthony is utterly embarassed by all these pictures popping up, but he asked for it when he became a TV host.

Mike Rowe on QVC

I don't usually watch Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel, but I do think Mike Rowe is a great host/narrator. Thanks to Pop Candy, I found this collection of videos featuring Mike in his pre-Dirty Jobs days. He was hawking items on QVC, and as you'll see in the videos, he did it with his own crazy brand of humor. It's so hilarious to hear him make fun of the items he's selling and try to figure out just what they are and how they work.

Music on TV

Did anyone watch Rush on The Colbert Report last night? Stephen did a little interview with the band (well, with Neil and Geddy, because Alex didn't say a thing). I didn't care so much for that; I wanted to see the performance. The band played "Tom Sawyer" and the show made a joke about their long songs by having them still playing after the commercial. Geddy Lee's voice hasn't changed a bit! How is that possible? This was their first performance on U.S. television since the mid-70s. How is THAT possible?

*update* Read more about Rush on the Report at Stereogum.

There's another great musical event happening - VH1 is honoring The Who tonight at 9 PM. It should be a great show. I think it's pretty cool that The Who won't have to share the glory with anyone else. They deserve the spotlight.

Another funny 80s music video

I saw another good 80s video while watching "Totally 80s" on VH1 Classic this morning.

"Run Runaway" by Slade:



This video is totally ridiculous. Slade is an English band, but for some reason they used a Scottish theme for the video for this song. The lead guitarist looks like The Edge raided Boy George's wardrobe. Lead singer Noddy Holder looks like a cross between a troll and Robert Plant. Just what is he doing with his mouth at 2:16?

There's even a fiddle player!

Review: Saturday Night Live, Episode One

Last night, NBC re-aired the premiere episode of Saturday Night Live or, as they called it back then, NBC's Saturday Night. It was hosted by George Carlin, who passed away last week, hence the re-airing.

So how was it? A mess! In a good way. The producers, writers, and actors clearly didn't know what they were doing and were making it up as they went along (except for the written bits). Instead of the comedy sketch-centric format we have today, NBC's Saturday Night seemed a hodge-podge of entertainment. A stand-up bit here, a fake commercial there, and sketches featuring the original SNL cast in between.

One thing hasn't changed - the concept of a host. Slightly different (George didn't appear in any sketches), yet familiar. George did his thing from the middle of the set, not on a fancy stage like they do today. He opened with the "football and baseball" bit, and performed a few other bits throughout the night. One of those concerned religion and the nature of God, which I'm sure was very edgy material back then.

Of course, there was music. There was not one but two performers that evening: Billy Preston and Janis Ian. I think it was a good pairing - one high energy, the other acoustic and confessional. Of course, most young people today have no clue who either Preston or Ian are. They performed two songs each, making this episode packed full of music.

What can I say about Andy Kaufman? I guess you had to be there. If you watch his bit closely though (if you don't know, he put the "Mighty Mouse" theme on a record player and lip-synced only the "here I come to save the day" parts), you'll notice subtle funny parts - Andy not knowing when to come in, and getting a glass of water, etc. Of course, this bit is so familiar and talked about that it loses its impact. Audiences watching for the first time were probably laughing at the bizarre nature of Andy's "performance."

Of course, there were also fake commercials. Quaint-looking today, but I'm sure they were done in the style of the era. The humor in these is very subtle. They don't bang you over the head with the joke. I'm sure 1975 audiences were very confused, thinking they were seeing a real commercial but slowly realizing it wasn't. If SNL tried to introduce fake commercials today, they'd flop immediately due to Tivo and channel-flipping. I wasn't alive back then, but I can imagine you didn't just get up and change the channel because of a commercial.

There were a few other odd things (a very strange Muppet sketch and a short film by Albert Brooks that I didn't bother watching), and a performance by a female stand-up comic. I didn't bother paying attention to that, either (I'm not familiar with her and I was getting bored).

Now, the sketches. Everyone knows the "Wolverine" sketch. The best part of that one - John Belushi's slight pause to think before keeling over just like the teacher. The other funniest sketches were the "shark bite victim" sketch and the "home invasion" sketch. Today, SNL gets criticism for the sketches going too far. On the first episode, some of the sketches didn't go far enough! They were shorter than the sketches on today's SNL, for the most part. This was clearly in the era before a joke gets repeated too many times. They were doing something completely new.

Weekend Update was a shorter, early version of what we have today. It was mostly Chevy Chase making funny comments about the news (this was the episode with his famous "10-cent stamp" joke, still funny today). There was a small segment with Laraine Newman on location somewhere, which wasn't all that funny.

And that was the first ever SNL episode. It was very cool to compare the first one to what SNL eventually became. Just like today's SNL, some sketches were funny and some were not. It's a different experience for today's audience, but I think we can still appreciate the groundbreaking that happened on this episode. There's only one first, and this was it. It wasn't a bad way to start.

The Earworm of Billy Joel

Yesterday I was watching music videos on VH1 Classic (weren't Bono and The Edge afraid of falling off that building in "Where The Streets Have No Name"?) They just had to play the video for Billy Joel's "The Longest Time."

Now I can't get the song out of my head, nor can I stop listening to it! You will pay for this, Billy Joel!

If you'd like to watch the video too, click here. Pay close attention to the details - Billy's body language and expressions, the clothing, and notice how one of the guys steals the janitor's broom at the end of the video! That cracks me up every time.

Now you have the song stuck in your head too! Haha!

Before the abolition of reservations

Today I finished reading A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain. It's the book he wrote after Kitchen Confidential. He wanted to travel the world searching for the perfect meal. Food Network heard of his plans and decided to send a camera crew along, which led to a TV series of the same name as the book. Which, in turn, led to Anthony leaving Food Network for Travel Channel, where he still is today, still traveling the world.

It has to be one of the best books I've ever read. His descriptions are so vivid, so full of life and color. He really takes you there. You feel like you're sitting there with him, staring at a still-beating cobra heart or shooting automatic weapons in Cambodia.

Now I'm on to Celtic Music: A Complete Guide. That should be a good one.

Oh, and in case you should want to buy A Cook's Tour, you can find it here.

Funny music video of the day

VH1 Classic was showing old music videos from Sting this morning, most of which I've never seen. One in particular had me flummoxed: We'll Be Together.

I apologize for not embedding it, but Youtube won't let me embed it. You'll have to click the link to watch. What will you find when you do?:

• Sting playing a waiter (or a writer, or something . . . it's not really clear) and a drunk.
• Dated 80s keyboards instead of rock and roll.
• Sting sporting a really bizarre haircut
• Cheesy synchronized dancing throughout. Why does every non-heavy metal video from the 1980s feature synchronized dancing?
• Sting flapping his arms like a chicken.
• Dancers flapping their arms like chickens.
• Sting wearing glasses that he probably stole from Elvis Costello.
• Drunken stumbling turned into a dance routine.
• An entire restaurant full of people fighting.
• Have I mentioned the dancing? It's incredibly silly.

Oh, and it's in black and white. Sound good? Sound hilarious? Go watch it. You'll thank me later, unless you hate Sting.

As ridiculous as the video is, I can't help but like the song. It's a credible shot at R&B by a former punk rocker/new waver. I really enjoy the keyboard bass parts, even though they sound out of place in 2008.

Have a video recommendation for me? Leave the Youtube link in my comments!

Cool interview

I don't usually watch South Park, but I thought this A.V. Club interview with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker was interesting and informative. I suggest you read it, even if you don't like South Park.

Drink this up

Saturday Night Live has a long history of parody, and that tradition continues with this take on "There Will Be Blood":



Bill Hader's Daniel Day-Lewis/Daniel Plainview impression is very good. He may not look like Daniel, but he sure has the voice down.

Funniest moment? The straw!

If you haven't seen "There Will Be Blood" (or "No Country For Old Men"), you may want to skip this to avoid spoilers, even if they're out of context.

Congratulations to Daniel Day-Lewis for winning Best Actor at the Oscars! He deserves it, and deserved it for "Gangs of New York" too.

Weird video of the day

A very young Elvis Costello does some shopping in a supermarket.

Why? I don't know. Watch and enjoy the bizarre scene.

He's the man

VH1 Classic once again gives me something to post about, something that feeds my new obsession with Joe Jackson.

Last night they showed a BBC Crown Jewels performance by Joe. Judging from the material, the band, and Joe's youthfulness, I'm guessing it's from the very early 80s. Watching this program gave me a new respect for just how good Joe Jackson and his band were back in the day (and still are, but in a different way). They blasted through songs from their first two albums, and played with an energy one can only find in punk rock concerts. If Joe were dressed differently, spiked his hair, wore ratty old clothes, he and his band might have been punks. I was just so awed by how much Joe put into his singing and performance. He sang with conviction, jumped around the stage, and even drank a little beer in between songs. His band mates played wonderfully, and it's a shame they aren't better known.

One song stood out for me: "I'm The Man." It's vicious, powerful, melodic, and sounds just as good as anything Elvis Costello and the Attractions have ever done. Here's a video of it from another show:

I want my 80s videos

My household now has digital cable, including VH1 Classic. I've become addicted to watching the early morning 80s videos they show. They're hilarious! The concepts are wacky, the acting is over-the-top, and the choreography is so out-of-date. I'd like to share a few of the videos I've recently enjoyed and mocked:

First, we have "Turn Up The Radio" from some band called Autograph. I've never heard of them, probably for good reasons. Where to begin with this one? The goofy futuristic setting? The mugging for the camera? The split-screen during the guitar solo? The guitar solo itself, which shows some Eddie Van Halen imitation? Just watch it:



It's a decent song for all that, I must say.

Next we have "Pop Goes The World" by Men Without Hats. You know, the "Safety Dance" guys. I don't know what's more disturbing here - the dancing, the bubbles, or the odd snowman drummer. This looks like something from a kids' show.

Now we come to "I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That" by Elton John. Here, Elton does his Elton John thing while wearing a weird private detective outfit. He looks very different from his current image. He's quite silly in this video, but it is very well done. Also, you have to love the cheesy dancing.



Last, but not least, the ultimate "what the hell?" video - "Land Of Confusion" by Genesis. If I were Phil Collins, I'd strangle whoever made that horrible puppet likeness.



Stay tuned, because I may choose to link more videos if I see any that are particularly good or funny.

He has no reservations

Guess what? Anthony Bourdain now has a blog on the Travel Channel website! If you enjoy his writing, you'll love his blog posts.

Much thanks, as always, to Pop Candy for the link. You should be reading that in addition to my recycled links and meme fluff.