Add This to Your Queue: Spaced

Anglophiles, rejoice! The hilarious British sitcom, Spaced, is finally available on DVD in the US. The show stars the adorable Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes as Tim and Daisy, roommates who pretend they are dating to land their ideal flat. It's totally not as Friends-y as it sounds. The lovely Edgar Wright (director of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz) helms the series, so you know that means some crazy business (like a drunken landlady and a zombie episode). Apparently, the DVD includes commentaries from Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Diablo Cody (further proving my suspicions she and Edgar are dating. Lucky bitch) and Matt Stone, among others. The Spaced team is also on a 4 city US tour to promote the DVD release. They will be at Comic-Con in San Diego this week and I will be stuck at work. Sometimes, life is really unfair.

And, hey look. I found the first episode on YouTube:



You're welcome.

Geeking Out for Your Pleasure

It's a historic day, friends. California overturned the gay marriage ban. I think, mostly, I love that California said "Eff you, George Bush and your lame, puritanical ways. We'll marry who we want and you'll like it!" (because can be California very aggressive sometimes. I mean, come on. We have a Governator).

Further adding joy to my day, Bob and Harvey Weinstein are planing a live-action movie musical of Fraggle Rock. I was the biggest Fraggle Rock fan ever (it may have something to do with Red being the coolest character). Yes, I realize my freak-out about this makes me completely insane, but I'm okay with this.

Furthering my excitement, a teaser for Life on Mars, the new series coming to TV this fall based on the BBC show of the same name, if floating around the internets. Check it out:



Ignoring the horrible voice over, this commercial looks promising. I'm hopeful LOM will be more The Office and less Coupling.

My excitement just reached 11.

What Are Your Pop-Culture Deal Breakers?

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who has developed a movie related test to determine whether a lady is "the one" or not (he wouldn't tell me what the test entails. I assume it's because I would pass it and then he'd have to marry me and, let's face it, no one wants that). It got me thinking...what would eliminate someone from my potential pool of luvahs? (someone who says "luvah" for one.) Here's what I came up with:

1. Lack of appreciation for Bruce Springsteen - Now, you don't have to be Bruce's #1 fan or anything, but admitting he's "The Boss" is pretty essential. Likewise, an appreciation for Journey is vital as I sing their stuff at karaoke...a lot.

2. An intolerance for karaoke - I realize this is asking quite a bit, but I like singing and sometimes the car just doesn't cut it.

3. Hatred of all things English - Except for post-Police Sting. That guy blows.

4. Inability to laugh at the movies and TV shows I find hilarious - My impeccable taste will not be challenged! I once dated someone who'd never seen The Big Lebowski. We watched it together and he didn't like it. I should have ended things there, but I didn't. Because I am a moron.

5. Non-readers - People that don't read for pleasure are highly suspect. Kinda like guys who don't like sports. That ain't right!

So there are my deal breakers. What are yours?

15 Sexiest Male Musicians

Much like the chain letters of yesteryear, bloggers have memes (which actually has a whole psychological explanation behind it. Geez. I kinda hate when Wikipedia gives me way more information that I wanted/expected). Beckeye tagged me with this one. Here are my top 15 Sexiest Male Musicians of all time:

15. Chris Carrabba - The 15 year-old girl in me loves this lead singer for Dashboard Confessional. I love screaming his songs in my car and gazing at him in all his emo glory. The tats are totally hot, too.

14. Chris Martin - He's hot, smart and makes fun of himself. What's not to like? I really fell in lust with him when he appeared on Extras and sang Fix You with Ricky Gervais. Hilarious.

13. Justin Timberlake - I especially like JT when he dances. The fella's got moves! He can rock my body anytime.

12. Robbie Williams - We all know I love the Brits and Robbie may be my favorite Brit of all. I realize I am one of 5 Americans who listen to his music, but guess what? I don't care. I think it's his bad boy persona that so draws me in.

11. Bono - He's trying to save the world and, really, what's sexier than that? I do wish he'd not wear wonky sunglasses so often, but what can you do?

10. Jon Bon Jovi - King of the 80's hair band, JBJ looks even better with age...and with a haircut.

9. Damien Rice - The cutest Irishman maybe ever? Is that saying too much?

8. George Harrison - My mom was a Paul gal and while growing up, I had to agree (he did age the best). However, after I saw A Hard Days Night, I fell madly in love with George. Yowza! What a fox!

7. Matt Mackey - I know Matt personally. He's not famous (yet?), but he is a musician and he is smokin' hot.

6. Dave Grohl - Think what would have happened if Kurt Cobain never died. Would we still know the full genius of Dave Grohl? Maybe not. What's the greater travesty?

5. Bob Dylan - Sure, now Bob is a scary old man, but he was super hot as a young man. And he spawned Jacob Dylan. Nothin' wrong with that.

4. Jim Morrison - Probably the sexiest male musician ever. The man just exudes sex.

3. Eddie Vedder - Sure he's a little bit crazy, but he fought the good Ticket Master fight back in the day and I love a man who stands up for his principles. Another fella who's aging so very well.

2. Ben Folds - Ben seems like a complete nerd and I love nerds! His music makes him super sexy.

1. Bruce Springsteen - Old and young, no one can touch The Boss. I mean, who else can sell millions of albums with his ass?

Geez. That took me forever. Post your picks in the comments section...

Top 5 - Things I Learned While Watching the BAFTAs

I skipped the Grammys last night, recording them on my DVR in case anything interesting happened (so far, from what I've heard, I didn't miss much). Instead, I decided to watch the BAFTAs (the British equivalent of the Oscars) and learned a few things from those crazy Brits:

1. Jonathan Ross' is Well Loved (and it's so mysterious to me) - Ross hosted the event and is one of the biggest talk show host in England. He also has a serious speech impediment (he has the thing little kids have when they can't say the letter "R"). It's so bizarre, but that's the thing about the Brits. You don't have to be particularly attractive or super thin or apparently have the ability to speak clearly to be famous and successful. It's actually pretty awesome when you think about it.

2. Sienna Miller is Still a Rising Star - Sienna was up for the Rising Star Award (and lost to Shia LaBeouf). Her star has been "rising" for, like, 10 years. I think it's about as high as it's gonna go. She will be "the pretty girl Jude Law cheated on with the nanny" for the rest of her life. Man that sucks.

3. The Bourne Ultimatum is an English Movie - I had no idea. Nominated for Best British Film, I knew it was directed by a Brit, but I thought it was an all America thriller. Just goes to show, we don't even make the best action movies anymore.

4. Diablo Cody's Life is Awesome - Riding high on her Juno script, Cody won Best Original Screenplay, but I'm more jealous because she was at the ceremony with Edgar Wright (who made Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz). If they are dating, her life is just unfair. Guess I should start cracking away at my off-beat teenager coming of age comedy so I can date the cute film nerds.

5. Stallone is Still Huge in th UK - Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but the presenters were a who's who of, like, 15 years ago. Harvey Keitel, Jeff Goldblum, Cuba Gooding Jr....um, 1993 called and they want their awards presenters back (and 2005 called and they want their joke back).

As far as awards go, it was pretty standard: Daniel Day Lewis won Best Actor (how much does it suck for someone like Viggo Mortensen, who gave an amazing performance, but it happened to be the same year as someone who gave the performance of a lifetime and he has to go to all these stupid awards shows knowing he will lose?), Marion Cotillard won Best Actress (and seems poised to upset Julie Christie at the Oscars), Javier Bardem won BSA and Tilda Swinton took the award for BSA. Atonement won Best Picture (it was the most English afterall) and the Coen Brothers won Best Director. Some surprises...some not so much.

American awards shows could take a page from the BAFTAs - The ceremony was fun and short, the nomination packages had cool behind the scenes footage and Daniel Radcliffe was in the front row with his mum. Absolutely lovely.

Calling All Anglophiles/Buffy Fans

Thank God for BBC America (one of my Top 5 Cable Channels I Would Choose if I Could Only Have 5 Channels (which is something I've actually thought about. The list also includes HBO, Travel Channel, Bravo and FX)) because the second season of Torchwood premieres Saturday night. Torchwood is a spin off of the long running BBC series Doctor Who, and is basically Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets X-Files with some time travel thrown in for good measure. This season, James Marsters (fka Spike from Buffy and Angel) guest stars as a former lover of Captain Jack Harkness...sounds delicious. So, set your DVR (because I'm sure you are too fabulous to sit at home watching TV on a Saturday night) and enjoy all the Englishness Sunday morning.

And while we're at it, what 5 cable channels would you choose (if you could only have 5 cable channels)?

TV Premiere Week (+3) - Special Viva Laughlin Edition

Let's recap:

~ This is one of the strongest television seasons in awhile and has filled many a DVR with too many things to watch.

~ Pushing Daisies is everyone's favorite new show.

~ Heroes has been less than stellar, but may redeem itself when K Bell joins the cast this week.

~ I am old because I like Carpoolers and not Gossip Girl.

I think that about covers it. However, there is one more show I've been looking forward to and it finally premieres tonight. Viva Laughlin, based on the BBC show Viva Blackpool, stars Hugh Jackman (or features anyway. I can't quite tell from the press. I think he's only in it a bit, but ABC wants to hype him so more people will watch) and Melanie Griffith (who has only ever been decent in Working Girl...and then only barely because her supporting cast was so phenomenal) as characters who work at a Casino in Laughlin, Nevada (aka the poor man's Reno). And here's the kicker...it's a musical. It's already drawn comparisons to Steven Bochco's early 90's suck-fest Cop Rock (which was on too late for me to watch at the time, but most people (aka critics) regard as TV's Ishtar (aka one of the worst movies ever)).

You're probably thinking, with all these strikes against it, why am I excited to watch? Well, the answer is threefold, my friends. 1) It's a musical. I love musicals. Even bad ones. 2) It's based on a BBC show and we all know how much I love the Brits. and 3) It sounds like the all time greatest trainwreck. Hugh singing the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil; Melanie singing Blondie's One Way or Another. C'mon! Pure awesomely bad goodness. I can't wait!

Update: Not awesomely bad, just really, really bad. Please, for the love of God and your personal sanity, DO NOT watch this show. You can thank me later...

Another Update: It's already been canceled. Hallelujah!

Top 5: UK Edition

Face it. The Brits are better than us when it comes to entertainment. They make the best music and television in the world and are even taking over American TV sets this year (It really weirds me out when they speak so well with American accents). So here are my top 5 UK imports:

Brits on Network TV - Damien Lewis, amazing in Band of Brothers (have I mentioned that yet?), now stars in Life on NBC as a cop who spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He's fabulous and a ginger. Pretty much my new favorite actor. And Anna Friel. I watched the entire Pushing Daisies pilot and had no idea she was English. Maybe the fact that she is makes her more likable then all the other new female love interests on TV this season. She also has a kid with Professor Lupin, err David Thewlis from the Harry Potter films, and anyone who gets it on with a Werewolf must be cool.

Top Gear - England's top motoring show, this is one of my favorites and it's now on BBC America. Basically, 3 middle aged white guys play with cars all day. I know it sounds incredibly boring, but it's not. My favorite segments are the races. Once, they raced a Bugatti Veyron against a plane from the south of France to London. Recently, they raced a Toyota truck against a dog sled in the North Pole. They are insane. It's awesome.

The Swell Season - They are Irish and would probably be very offended to be included on this list, but they can deal with it! The Guy and Girl from Once formed a band and this is the result. It's Damien Rice on low dose steroids (if that makes any sense). They're playing 4th and B Nov 11th. Anyone want to go with me?

The Pipettes - A 60's girl band with modern, naughty lyrics. Their album is so much fun it's practically impossible not to dance to...

Jasper Fforde - He writes the cleverest books. I call them literary sci-fi (probably because I heard someone interesting call them that first) and they kinda only work if you are a serious reader. JF takes literature and nursery rhymes and turns them on their head. His Thursday Next series follows a literary detective, who can literally jump into books, as she attempts to save the Book World from evil. He also writes a Nursery Crimes series where the murders of Humpty Dumpty and Goldilocks are solved by Jack Spratt and that contrary Mary Mary, with the psychotic Gingerbread man as the prime suspect.

Man! Now I totally want to go to London...