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tv pilots

By Charley Daniels

Last week the broadcast networks presented their fall schedules to advertisers in an attempt to trick them into spending money on TV instead of the internet. For most of us, the only thing that’s really interesting about the annual event is that we get to find out what’s returning to TV, what’s been canceled, and what’s been picked up.

TVWeek has the complete schedule, along with exclusive clips from the new fall series. None of the new shows interests me much this fall, although Bionic Woman might be fun. ABC has a comedy pilot based on the Geico caveman commercials. Yeah, that’s … interesting?

So at least some good shows are returning, because fall looks pretty bleak for new series. The midseason schedule is a little more promising, with The Sarah Connor Chronicles, based on the Terminator films, and The Return of Jezebel James, starring Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose. Sure, there’s a good chance Sarah Connor will be awful, but the source material is so good you can’t help but hope.

Wait, do you even care about any of this? Most people come here because they know me or they’ve just searched Google for “dinosaur poo.” Either way this entry is probably fairly disappointing, yeah? Maybe there will be jokes about prehistoric droppings in that caveman show?

head and shoulders tingling spidey senses

By Charley Daniels

Two posts in one day! A 2007 record [SFX: champagne corks popping]. To fit with the theme of this post, I should have written [SFX: Ballatore champagne corks popping]. Because it’s about product placement! And humor! Just watch:

Original here.

news and aaahs for jan. 23

By Charley Daniels

Warning: Political PR aheadWow, it’s been a long time since I’ve posted one of these bad boys. Not since Nov. 29. I was 26 back then! Bear with me while I get it back on track. I’m out of practice!

Hey, did anybody notice that sometimes when our political leaders are speaking it seems like, you know, kinda like they’re not being completely sincere? It’s a little embarassing for me to bring it up, but it feels like our elected officials are mostly self-centered liars. Oh, don’t feel weird about my generalizing — I’m half representative. Yeah, on my mom’s side.

Shop talk: Some have suggested I change the name of this feature, which is usually just a bunch of interesting links with my commentary attached. Maybe I could call it “Interesting Links With My Commentary Attached.” Or maybe it’s just fine how it is, thanks.

TV: Did you watch the documentary that Steve Irwin was working on when he was killed? Yeah, me neither. Lots of people did, though. Curiosity or voyeurosity? (I needed a word that sort of sounded like “curiosity” but meant something like “voyeurism.”)

More TV: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a pretty great show. I always know a something I’m watching is good when it makes me want get into something new — writing sketch comedy for TV, in this case. Or like how the movie Critters just makes you want to go out and do that.

Film: Hey, the Oscar nominations are in! And in a surprising twist, the much-lauded Dreamgirls was ZZZZZZZZ …

Hey kids, you know how you like to make that shampoo mohawk while you’re in the bath? Then you get out and go look in the mirror, and it’s so awesome to see your hair like that! But your mom gets mad and says, “Your feet are wet you bastard! Get your skinny ass back in the tub!” Then she won’t even let you get that haircut. Well, don’t worry. When you grow up your hair can be like that whenever you want. Trust me.

Shop talk: I was just kidding, no one cares what I call this thing.

But hey, maybe you do and you just haven’t opened your mouth about it. If that’s the case, KEEP IT CLOSED, because this is News and Aaahs for Jan. 24!

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Barack Obama? Okay, let’s just clear this up right here, right now: It’s Obama NOT Osama. Little too close for some people, probably, but at least he’s a man.

Ha ha! That’s a terrible joke. Mostly because if Republican strategists see this it might give them ideas about how to discredit Obama some more. I can see it now. [cue daydream effects and music]

Dateline: Middle America

Obama a Black Muslim Pre-Op Transsexual Smoker Who Wants to Raise Taxes?

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Hey, you’re Time’s person the year; did you know? Sure it’s late notice, but I’m always looking for something to celebrate. And celebrate we should, unless you’re a member of Chrysler’s advertising team. God I love it when a plan …

What’s the exact bizarro opposite of “comes together”?

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The ASPCA should investigate Barbie. You see that look on her face?

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Thanks YesButNoButYes for introducing the world to Homeless Frank:

My mama should be President. She could beat the shit out of anybody. Use to throw shoes at me. Knocked a tooth out. She’s dead now. Still be a better President anyway.

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And how about a hilarious video:

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You may have noticed that some of these links were a little, uh, old. But in the grand scheme of things you’re the one who’s old, not this stuff. Just remember that, sir.

photo: The Rocketeer

why i hate something: american apparel

By Dave Stefani

The secret? Tags made of unicorn.Can someone please explain American Apparel to me … What!? Really? No … Really!? I mean … they’re cotton T-shirts, right? I didn’t miss something here? Why are they $20.00? What is this, the Pentagon? Do they sell $600.00 hammers, too? Man, those must be some really nice sheep.

Okay, I’m at the Buffalo Exchange the other day. And I pick out four plain T-shirts of a good color and fit, one of which happens to be an American Apparel shirt. So I get to the counter and the American Apparel shirt happens to be half off. The girl at the register acted like I’d just won a fucking Humvee in Vegas. “This is half off. A great price, especially for American Apparel,” she beamed.

And I say, “Listen honey. American Apparel … Hanes … I don’t really give a shit. If by great price you mean that used and half off it costs what it should new, then yeah … great price. Now give me my fucking ‘no bag’ token so I can help fight feline leukemia.”

I don’t understand how plain T-shirts became so hip, but the marketers of this stuff must be some kind of geniuses, not to mention having balls of Kevlar. The only thing stupider than paying $20.00 for a T-shirt that has some name brand printed across it is paying $20.00 dollars for a T-shirt that doesn’t have a name brand printed across it.

Read more about what Dave doesn’t like:

why i hate something: anime

photo: beckipeckham

news and aaahs for nov. 29

By Charley Daniels

Less itchy than shaved nards?My life would not make a good movie. The opening scene wouldn’t suck you in — there’s no hook — and the protagonist isn’t likable. If you paid money to watch a film about my life you would probably walk out before it was over. You might ask for a refund, too, even if you’re not normally the type to do so. I, for one, am well into this thing and I’d like my money back. Why? It isn’t what I expected. It’s not very funny. It’s kind of sad but not enough to be interesting. It’s vulgar, ugly, boring. I keep falling asleep! I’m offended. It made me cry. It’s too long. Or maybe too short. It’s duration is just … off.

Is it always going to be News and Aaahs? No. But probably mostly, at least for a while. What would you like to read here? Film and theatre reviews? Live-blogging from crazy events? Cowboy poetry? Let me know, will you? Let’s make it happen.

Speaking of movies, Tenacious D bombed at the box office, but what did you expect? You didn’t bother to go down and watch it.

Everyone can finally relax. Seriously, calm down, because bad posture is now good for you!

Stephen Colbert got himself a Wii over the retail weekend. Did you?

Freedom is marching across the globe, and it’s due at your place in less than an hour. So you had better wash that filthy neck, son, because this is News and Aaahs for Nov. 29!

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L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s veto of the settlement awarded to a firefighter who was allegedly the victim of racism was upheld by the city council today.

The firefighter’s fairer-skinned housemates added dog food to his spaghetti dinner as a hazing joke, they said. The victim of the prank alleges that the incident was racially motivated, and the city council agreed, awarding him $2.7 million.

The mayor vetoed the settlement when pictures surfaced of the dog-food eater participating in a hazing ritual in which he shaved another firefighter’s unmentionables. It is unclear whether the proper moisturizer was later applied to prevent irritation.

Now that the city council voted to uphold the veto, it will either offer another, lower settlement (under the contention, I guess, that the dog-food prank was racially motivated, but that a crotch shaver doesn’t deserve so much money) or the case will go to trial.

Pranksters everywhere fear that a settlement in favor of the victim could have a chilling effect across the board on jests, foolin’, shenanigans, goofs, and even certain antics.

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Me, writing in my notebook on the first day of some College class:

This teacher’s syllabus is so confusing I cannot even formulate a question to try to clear things up.

I don’t know which class it was, but I bet you had to take it at some point too.

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This week the Pope is in Turkey, a Muslim country where his popularity is not polling very high for a variety of reasons, not the least of which were his comments earlier this year that Islam is a religion “spread by the sword.” But one Turkish citizen has decided to seek out the main man for a good old fashioned chit chat.

That citizen is Mehmet Ali Agca, who served 19 years in prison for the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II in 1981.

‘I (Mehmet Ali Agca) asked the Turkish government to release me for one day so that I can discuss theological issues with (Pope) Ratzinger,’ Agca said in comments passed on by his lawyer Mustafa Demirbag at a news conference.

‘I want to discuss with him religious and mystic issues,’ Demirbag quoted Agca as saying.

Why does Agca need his lawyer to speak for him? Well, he’s in prison, naturally. But wait, he tried to kill the last Pope in 1981, served 19 years … carry the one … shouldn’t he be out by now? Not this guy. He’s currently serving a sentence for a murder that he actually succeeded in committing. The victim was a newspaper editor, with whom Agca said he “just wanted to discuss current events.”

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Lore on bad Superhero names:

It bothers me that Jean Grey doesn’t get a superhero name. And her real name isn’t really that interesting. It’s as if the Avengers included Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Dave Henderson.

Read the rest here.

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More fallout from the Michael Richards racist rant:

‘We’re not trying to penalize anyone,’ [State Rep. Maxine] Waters said at a news conference at the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper, ‘but don’t use the N-word, no matter who you are, whether you’re black, white, young or old.’

That’s right, activists and civil leaders are advocating we boycott the N-word. Hey, sure, I’m in. Hell, while I’m at it I guess I’ll also boycott murder, stealing from the Starbucks tip jar, and hiding miniature cameras in the girls’ locker room.

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So is it a civil war, or isn’t it? Hang on, hang on, I’m thinking.

I have it!

Does it really matter what we call it? It’s a diddly dang dong dee doodly diddle. See, much better.

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The intro part of News and Aaahs is like a warm-up act. All the great performers have them. So do the mediocre performers. And some of us have to warm-up the crowd all on our own. This is the closing. It’s supposed to be better than the opening, and I think it is. Because it signals the end.

photo:laffy4k