Spin City Playlist For 2/24/07

4 pm hour

My Prerogative- Bobby Brown
I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)- Gary Glitter
Jailbreak- Thin Lizzy
New Attitude- Patti Labelle
When the Lights Go Out- Naked Eyes
I'll Be Good To You- Brothers Johnson
Everybody Dance- Chic
Somebody's Been Sleeping- 100 Proof Aged In Soul

Common Thread segment: (solo tunes by members of Fleetwood Mac)
Rooms On Fire- Stevie Nicks
Trouble- Lindsey Buckingham
Ebony Eyes- Bob Welch
Love Will Show Us How- Christine McVie

Natural High- Bloodstone
Just A Touch of Love- Slave

5 pm hour

It Don't Come Easy- Ringo Starr
Baby Get It On- Ike & Tina Turner
Keep Pushing- REO Speedwagon
I Want To Be Your Man- Roger
Institutionalized- Suicidal Tendencies
London Calling- The Clash
Candyman- Mary Jane Girls
The Love You Save- Jackson 5

On the Flip Side segment:
Long As I Can See the Light- CCR (B-side to Looking Out My Back Door)

Way Down- Elvis Presley
Fancy Lady- Billy Preston
Another One Bites the Dust- Queen
Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble- DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Deadbeat Club- B-52s

6 pm hour

Sir Duke- Stevie Wonder
Person To Person- AWB
Call Me Up- Rick James
In Your Room- The Bangles
Illegal Alien- Genesis
Avalon- Roxy Music
Kung Fu Fighting- Carl Douglas
Young Hearts Run Free- Candi Staton
Give- Missing Persons
I Don't Love You Anymore- Teddy Pendergrass
Love Bites- Def Leppard
She's Mine- Steve Perry
Sweet Caroline- Bobby Womack

Oops...She's Done It Again

In the latest chapter of one of the biggest falls from grace (both professionally and personally) in recent memory, Britney Spears took a set of shears to her head late Friday night. To paraphrase what Foghorn Leghorn once said to the Dog... Britney, how come ya do what ya do do do?! Is Britney starring in a remake of G.I. Jane? Could it be that she plans to record "Nothing Compares 2 U" and this latest episode is a way for her to channel her inner "Sinead"? Hell, I don't know...Britney may not even know herself.

As I was watching Christina Aguilera's burn up the stage during halftime of the NBA All-Star game Sunday night, the phrase that came to mind was "reversal of fortune". As you may remember, during the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Madonna (in a pathetic grasp for attention that the members of the media/public ate up) portrayed a "groom" and kissed her "brides" Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera onstage. Christina was the forgotten one in this bit of three-way foolishness and some experts were questioning her staying power as a result. If you were to bet back then on who would be where career-wise in the next few years, the so-called smart money would have been on Britney. I'll admit it, that's who I would have bet on...silly me.

It's in my nature (as it is with many of us) to make jokes when celebs have public meltdowns such as Britney's. However, the one thing that isn't funny is the fact that there are two very young kids involved in this mess. It's strange how life works. As it stands right now, her 2 kids are probably in better hands with Super Bowl commercial spokesperson K-Fed! Did you ever think that such a thing could be said with a straight face?

Spin City Playlist For 2/17/07

4 pm hour

Dream Police- Cheap Trick
Love Me- Rascals
Living Thing- ELO
Sha La La (Make Me Happy)- Al Green
Peace Train- 10,000 Maniacs
Beat On the Brat- Ramones
Funky Cold Medina- Tone Loc
Love Rollercoaster- Ohio Players

On the Flip Side segment:
Right- David Bowie (B-side to Fame)

Mr. Welfare Man- Gladys Knight & the Pips
I Want Her- Keith Sweat
Don't Be My Enemy- Wang Chung
You Take Me Up- Thompson Twins
Ain't Understanding Mellow- Jerry Butler & Brenda Lee Eager

5 pm hour

Video Killed the Radio Star- Buggles
Uncertain Smile- The The
Magnetic- Earth, Wind, & Fire
Misty Blue- Dorothy Moore
Do You Know What I Mean- Lee Michaels
Get Up, Get Into It, & Get Involved- James Brown

Now & Then segment's featured artist: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Riddles- (from their 2006 CD Sinner)
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)

My Adidas- Run DMC
Bustin' Loose- Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers
Our House- C, S, N, & Y
Superstar- Murray Head
Nights (Feel Like Getting Down)- Billy Ocean

6 pm hour

Push It- Salt & Pepa
Close (To the Edit)- Art of Noise
The Night Chicago Died- Paper Lace
Baby Let Me Kiss You- King Floyd
Gimme Gimme Some (Good Soul Music)- Dramatics
She Bop- Cyndi Lauper
Mirror In the Bathroom- English Beat
Burn Rubber- Gap Band (song was #1 on the R&B charts on this day in 1981)
Right Next Door- Robert Cray
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding- Elvis Costello
More, More, More- Andrea True Connection
What It Comes Down To- Isley Bros.
Tuff Enuff- Fabulous Thunderbirds
Bon Bon Vie- T.S. Monk

Baby, If You Ever Wondered...

Fox Home Entertainment is set to release the season 1 DVD of "WKRP In Cincinnati" on 4/24/07. This is great news because it was feared that WKRP would never come to DVD due to music rights issues. However, they were able to get around this obstacle by using music substitutions. Hugh Wilson, the creator of WKRP, has given the thumbs up to the music selections for the DVD release.

One of the reasons I love the DVD format is that it gives fans a chance to see TV series that are rarely rerun. It's been almost 10 years since I've seen WKRP, so it will be cool to see Johnny, Andy, Venus, Jennifer and the rest of the gang. Although I have kept to my pledge to cut down on my DVD spending, I will probably go out and get the WKRP set when it comes out.

For news on the upcoming release of WKRP, please visit the following URL:

http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=6901

Spin City Playlist For 2/10/07

4 pm hour

Apache- Sugarhill Gang
Little Green Bag- George Baker Selection
Glasshouse- Temptations
Kids In America- Kim Wilde
Monkey Gone To Heaven- Pixies
Come As You Are- Peter Wolf
Hollywood Swinging- Kool and the Gang

Common Thread segment- In honor of their reunion performance for The Grammys, a set of tunes by The Police:

Fallout
Canary In A Coalmine
Spirits In the Material World
Be My Girl/Sally
Wrapped Around Your Finger

Mama Feelgood- Lyn Collins
I Wanna Be Your Lover- Prince
Big Mouth- Whodini

5pm hour

Island Girl- Elton John
Calling America- ELO
Unconditional Love- Donna Summer & Musical Youth
Family Affair- Sly & the Family Stone
American Fool- John Cougar
Lay Down (Candles In the Rain)- Melanie
Smiling Faces Sometimes- Undisputed Truth
Dance Little Sister- Terence Trent D'Arby

Guilty Pleasure of the Week:
Let Me Love You Tonight- Pure Prairie League

After the Fall- Journey
A Love Bizarre- Sheila E.
Superfly- Curtis Mayfield
Liar- Three Dog Night
Kid Charlemagne- Steely Dan

6 pm hour

Bust A Move- Young M.C.
Jealousy- Mary Jane Girls
Peace of Mind- Boston
Boogie Child- Bee Gees
Freak of the Week- Funkadelic
Lovergirl- Teena Marie

On the Flip Side segment:
Too Many People- Paul McCartney (B-side to Uncle Albert/Adm. Halsey)

Thirteen- Big Star
It's Ecstasy...- Barry White
Circles- Atlantic Starr
Take It So Hard- Keith Richards
American Girl- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Criticize- Alexander O'Neal

Super Bowl Sunday

The biggest TV event of the year is without a doubt, the Super Bowl. Besides the little matter of an actual game being played to decide the NFL championship, many people like to discuss the commercials and the halftime show. Here are some of the ads that (good or bad) stood out for me:

1. The K-Fed commercial. When it 1st started, I looked on with skepticism. However, when it turned out that the rap video was all in K-Fed the fast food worker's mind, I laughed out loud. I think that most of us have thought of this guy as a joke. After seeing this commercial, it was cool to see that K-Fed is actually in on the joke.

2. The Snickers ad...Brokeback style. Although I thought it was kinda funny, I also felt that it was pointless. I mean who, after seeing this ad, is going to have an urge to go out and buy a Snickers? Also, when did it become "manly" to rip out your chest hair?

3. The David Letterman/Oprah couch snuggle. This ad was perfect...given Dave and Oprah's history and the fact that he is from Indiana and she lives in Chicago! I never saw this one coming.

4. The Fed Ex commercial with the employees who embodied their names (Eileen, Joy, Harry, Mr. Turkey Neck, etc.).

5. Although I enjoyed all of the Bud Light ads, the one that really stood out was the couple driving down the road at night who come across two hitchhikers who both have Bud Light(along with an ax and a chainsaw, respectively).

The halftime show starring Prince was one of the best and a big improvement over last year's performance by The Stones. Although I am a huge fan of Mick and the boys, their show was way too predictable... open with Start Me Up, do a song from their then new CD, close with (yawn) Satisfaction.

Prince did a nice balance of familiar songs and tunes that you didn't expect to hear (i.e. cover versions of Proud Mary and the Foo Fighters song "Best of You"). Some critics were yapping about Prince, saying that he hasn't been relevant for nearly 20 years. News flash...talent and showmanship are always relevant.

Spin City Playlist For 2/3/07

5 pm hour

Devil Inside- INXS
Rebels Are We- Chic
Never Had A Dream Come True- Stevie Wonder
Your Love- Outfield
Even It Up- Heart
We Gotta Get You A Woman- Todd Rundgren
Keeper of the Castle- Four Tops

Common Thread (songs by artists w/ famous parents):
Thing Called Love- Bonnie Raitt
Stick Around- Julian Lennon
Hey Deanie- Shaun Cassidy
Tomorrow People- Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers

You Are My Heaven- Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
The Love I Lost- Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Alive & Kicking- Simple Minds

6 pm hour

'65 Love Affair- Paul Davis
Bring It Back Again- Stray Cats
The Pleasure Principle- Janet Jackson
Where Was You At- War
(Do the) Push & Pull- Rufus Thomas
Old Days- Chicago
Love Is the Key- Maze feat. Frankie Beverly

On the Flip Side segment:
Stand On It- Bruce Springsteen (B-side to Glory Days)

Little Too Late- Pat Benatar
Get Up & Boogie- Silver Convention
I Wanna Get Next To You- Rose Royce
Look Sharp- Joe Jackson
Life Begins At the Hop- XTC
Things Can Only Get Better- Howard Jones
Spirit In the Dark- Aretha Franklin

Daniel Radcliffe, Hogwarts and All

As many of you Harry Potter fans (and non-fans) may know, Daniel Radcliffe will play the lead role in the controversial play "Equus". The role requires Radcliffe to appear naked onstage. In the two publicity pictures for the play, Radcliffe poses shirtless (in one photo with a horse and in front of his topless female co-star in the other). As a result, many parents are having a fit...enraged that their children's idol could do such a thing. Some have even gone so far as to say that they won't be taking their kids to see any of the upcoming Harry Potter films if Daniel Radcliffe appears in them.

For all you pious parents, as Lamont Sanford would often say to Fred... will you stop it! These parents will probably be the 1st people in line the next time Daniel appears on the big screen as their children's favorite wizard! I applaud Daniel Radcliffe for taking the bold step and trying something totally different from Harry Potter. These parents who are all up in arms over his upcoming performance in Equus have to realize that Daniel Radcliffe is an actor...he is NOT Harry Potter!

The 5th movie in the Harry Potter series is in post production already. Since there will only be 7 books in the series, that means that the end of the movie franchise is fast approaching. All Daniel is doing is spreading his wings and laying the groundwork for his post HP career. It's similar to what Sean Connery had to do to distance himself from James Bond. Although to most people he will always be most identified as the definitive 007, James... I mean Sean, has done an excellent job of choosing a wide variety of roles before and after he parked his Aston Martin for the last time.

I believe that Daniel's bold move to appear in Equus will pay off in the long run. It's too bad that some of the parents don't realize that he has to eventually graduate from Hogwarts.