Mr. King vs. The Beauty Queen

During a Wednesday appearance on Larry King Live, former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean objected to the line of questioning by the suspenders-wearing talk show host. According to her, King was being inappropriate. If you love awkward television as much as I do, I think you'll get a chuckle or two from the following clip (which features The Young Turks' take on the incident).

Steven Tyler Remaining with Aerosmith

It looks as if stories reporting Steven Tyler's departure from Aerosmith were premature. On Tuesday night, Tyler appeared onstage with The Joe Perry Project. In addition to announcing that he is not leaving Aerosmith, Tyler performed Walk This Way with The JPP. For more on the latest installment of As the Band Turns, please check out the following story:

Steven Tyler Staying with Aerosmith

Out of the Saddle: Steven Tyler Reportedly Quits Aerosmith

Say it ain't so Joe... Perry?! According to Perry (Aerosmith's lead guitarist), Steven Tyler, the rock band's frontman since it's formation in 1970, has left the group. Perry has stated that the band plans to continue and is considering a new vocalist to replace Tyler.

For more on the story, please visit the following link:

Joe Perry Reports That Steven Tyler Has Quit Aerosmith

Should Aerosmith hire a replacement lead singer for Steven Tyler?

Update: It looks as if The Toxic Twins have worked things out:

Steven Tyler Staying with Aerosmith

Below is the video to one of my favorite Aerosmith tunes, 2001's Jaded:

Aerosmith - Jaded
Uploaded by Aaaron. - See the latest featured music videos.

Final Results of the Direct TV Ad Poll

Here are the final results of the poll in which I asked if the new Direct TV Ad with Chris Farley and David Spade is in poor taste:

Yes- 41%
I'm sitting on the fence- 32%
No- 25%

I wonder if the controversy will cause Direct TV to be reluctant to take the "dead celeb" route for future spots. Thanks to everyone who participated in the poll.

Below is a clip of The Young Turks giving their take on the controversy:

The Retro Mix Playlist For 11/6/09

7 pm hour

Don't Lose My Number- Phil Collins
Where Was You At- War
Express- B.T. Express
Cut the Cake- AWB
Thank U- Alanis Morissette
Love Is Alive- Gary Wright
Hourglass- Squeeze

Now & Then segment's feat. artist: Queen Latifah
What's the Plan (from her 2009 CD Persona)
Ladies First (released in 1989)

Shambala- Three Dog Night
Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through- Jim Steinman
Here We Go- C & C Music Factory
Election Day- Arcadia

8 pm hour

Lithium- Nirvana
Hell Is For Children- Pat Benatar
Be My Lady- Jefferson Starship
Ventura Highway- America
Beautiful Life- Ace of Base
Rollin' with Kid & Play- Kid & Play
The Night Chicago Died- Paper Lace

The Greatest Miss of the Week:
Perfect View- The Graces (single did not chart)

Disarm- Smashing Pumpkins
Mothership Connection- Parliament
Modern Love- David Bowie
Johnny Can't Read- Don Henley
Goodbye To You- Scandal
Happy- The Rolling Stones
Just Like Paradise- David Lee Roth

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Johnny Can't Read by Don Henley

Don Henley - Johnny Can't Read
Uploaded by jpdc11. - Explore more music videos.

Old School Friday: Songs That Inspire

When I saw what the OSF theme was this week, the 1991 jam by Sounds of Blackness (Optimistic) immediately came to mind. I can't help but get uplifted whenever I hear this song.

If you'd like to take part, here are the rules:

1. Anyone can participate; any music genre;
2. Old School is defined as music created before 1999;
3. No offensive words allowed, please use edited radio version;
4. Post no more than 2 videos of your favorite old school song to take us back down memory lane;
5. Add your name to the meme list so that others can check you out;
6. Have fun and don’t forget to leave comments for other participants!

Please Take A Moment To Vote In the Direct TV Ad Poll... Thank You

As you many of you know, Direct TV has made a series of commercials in which characters from popular movies and TV series break the fourth wall to promote the service's picture quality and HD availability. The latest spot features David Spade as Richard Hayden (his character in Tommy Boy) in new scenes shot specifically for the commercial and the late Chris Farley in footage from the movie.

When I first saw the spot, I was taken aback at seeing Spade tout the virtues of Direct TV in the midst of Farley's "fat guy in a little coat" scene from Tommy Boy. Although the use of dead celebrities in ads doesn't always bother me, I feel this spot delves into poor taste territory. I just find it a bit creepy to see the present-day Spade interacting with his deceased co-star.

Although I'm not outraged, I wonder what the rationale was (besides the obvious) for Direct TV doing the spot and for Spade agreeing to appear in it.

I'm really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic.

Putney Swope Airs On TCM

As part of its cult movie showcase "TCM Underground", Turner Classic Movies is airing the 1969 satire Putney Swope late Friday/early Saturday (Nov. 6th/Nov. 7th) at 2:30 am EST. Directed by Robert Downey, Sr. (yes, Iron Man's dad), the film details what happens when Swope (the only black man on the executive board at an advertising firm) is accidentally put in charge after the chairman of the board dies. Once at the helm, Swope (played by Arnold Johnson) makes some drastic changes which cause the firm to be not only successful, but the target of the U.S. government.

Because I've heard so much about Putney Swope, I've been wanting to see it for awhile. Along with Arnold Johnson, the cast also includes Antonio Fargas ("Huggy Bear" of Starsky & Hutch), Allan Arbus (Dr. Sidney Freedman on M*A*S*H), and Shelley Plimpton (mother of actress Martha).

To watch a clip of Putney Swope, you can click here.

Jack and the Jerk To Host the 82nd Academy Awards!

My disappointment over Hugh Jackman not returning has just subsided... it's been announced that Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will be co-hosting the 82nd annual Academy Awards ceremony! Although Alec is a first-timer, this will be Steve's 3rd time presiding over the awards show (he hosted it previously in 2001 and 2003). Even if the nominees list turns out to be a snoozer, I'm confident that the Steve/Alec combo will make for a memorable evening. I'm already counting down to March 7, 2010!

How do you feel about Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin co-hosting the Oscars in 2010?

CTFD: Teens Face Charges For Rapping At McDonald's Drive-Thru

Last week, four Utah teens were ordered to face charges of disorderly conduct after performing a rap from a popular You Tube video at McDonald's. The four students from Lone Peak High in American Fork, UT performed the rap, which begins with the line "I need a double cheeseburger and hold the lettuce...," twice, causing employees to ask them to either order or leave as they were holding up the line. According to one of the accused, there wasn't anyone in line at the time.

The four left without ordering, but were tracked down by police at a volleyball game and issued with citations. The McDonald's employees claimed that the teens used vulgar language and that employees felt threatened by their behaviour. The accused deny acting in a threatening manner, and claim that only one vulgar word was used. The parents of the accused plan to contest the charges.

Didn't these teens realize they were in Utah?! There is NO rapping in Osmond country! Now, if they wanted to sing their order to the tune of either One Bad Apple or Down by the Lazy River, they would have been OK. Seriously, don't the cops in UT have anything better to do?

The clip below is from The Young Turks where they breakdown this story: