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blackkudos · 5 years ago

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Todrick Hall

Todrick Hall (born April 4, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, director, choreographer and YouTuber. He first gained national attention on the 9th season of the reality singing competition American Idol, where he made it to the semi-finals. Following this, he amassed a following on YouTube with multiple viral videos including original songs, parodies, and skits. A documentary series about his video-making process titled Todrick aired on MTV in 2015.

Starting with season 8, Hall became a resident choreographer on RuPaul's Drag Race, and occasional judge. From 2016 to 2017, Hall starred as Lola in Kinky Boots on Broadway. Later in 2017, he began appearances as Billy Flynn in Chicago on Broadway and the West End.

As a singer-songwriter he has released three studio albums, including the visual albums Straight Outta Oz (2016) and Forbidden (2018).

Early life

Todrick Hall was born in Plainview, Texas, on April 4, 1985. His family consists of his mother, father, one brother, and a stepfather. He knew he was different, he liked playing with dolls, and worried if they would still accept him if he turned out to be one of those gay people they made fun of on television. Hall began studying ballet at nine-years-old, and later worked with Fantasia in The Color Purple. He came out as gay to his family when he was fifteen; it took them a few years to accept. He also appeared in Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and performed with Royal Caribbean, Holland America Line, and Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Career

2009–2010: American Idol

On August 24, 2009, Hall auditioned to the ninth season of American Idol in Dallas, Texas. He sang a self-composed song mentioning the judges – Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and guest judge Joe Jonas – to plead his case for inclusion in the program. All four judges approved of his participation; he went into Hollywood week and eventually the semi-finals. In the Top 24, he sang Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and in the Top 20, he performed Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do with It". He was eliminated in the Top 16 on 11 March 2010 after his rendition of Queen's "Somebody to Love;" he was one of four contestants eliminated in that round, and thus ranked between 13th and 16th overall.

2011–2013: Career growth and YouTube fame

Hall joined YouTube on May 27, 2006, and posted his first video to the site, a performance of "It's Hard to Say Goodbye", in 2008. In following years, his audience has grown considerably: as of June, 2019, Hall currently has 3.1 million subscribers on YouTube, and as of March 2018, his videos have been viewed 531.9 million times. Hall's videos include several of his own original songs and music videos, choreographed flash mobs for Ariana Grande and Beyoncé performed in an actual Target store, (the latter of which Beyoncé personally recognized Hall for), musical collaborations with Pentatonix, and personal updates.

In May 2011, he released a video audition for the third season of Glee titled "I Wanna Be on Glee", for possible inclusion in the show. Though the video was popular, Hall was not cast in the program.In November 2013, Virgin America produced a pop-music safety video directed by Jon M. Chu with music by Jean-Yves Decornet. Hall wrote the song and lyrics and starred in the video.

In December 2013, Hall released a Christmas album entitled Dear Santa, with covers of "This Christmas" and "Sleigh Bells", produced by wiidope as well as original songs "So Cold" and "SplitsOnXmasTrees".

2014–2015: Pop Star High and Todrick docuseries

From April 1 to May 13, 2014, Hall released an eight episode web series on his YouTube channel called Pop Star High. The series takes place in a world where all of the most famous Pop Stars of our day all went to high school together. The series portrays and parodies pop stars like Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Ne-Yo, Kanye West, Eminem, Jay-Z, and Tyga, and draws on the tropes of high school comedy movies. The soundtrack for the series was released on April 1, 2014.

On October 22, 2014, MTV announced Todrick, a docuseries following Hall, would premiere in 2015. On 20 December 2014, Hall produced and appeared in a commercial for the series and featured other celebrities' holiday wishes. Eight episodes of the docuseries were ordered and aired throughout 2015. The soundtrack for the show was released on October 13, 2015.

In October 2015, he was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month and was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb and broadcast nationally where he performed live his single "Wind It Up".

2016–2017: Straight Outta Oz, Broadway, and RuPaul's Drag Race

Hall appeared as a guest judge on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race; the episode, which featured a Wizard of Oz-inspired challenge, first aired on April 11, 2016. Hall reappeared as a full-time judge for RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars 2 later in 2016 and again for the ninth season aired throughout 2017.

Along with Drag Race, Hall frequently appeared on Logo TV's game show Gay for Play Game Show Starring RuPaul alongside other celebrities. A second Season of Gay for Play is expected.

On June 23, 2016, Todrick self-released his second album, Straight Outta Oz. Straight Outta Oz is a visual concept album that uses the imagery of The Wizard of Oz to explore Todrick's own life and rise to fame. The project's first video was posted to YouTube on June 23, 2016 as well. Shortly thereafter, Hall announced the Straight Outta Oz Tour to promote the album. The tour originally ran between July 7, and August 12, 2016 in the United States and Canada.

The Straight Outta Oz Tour was interrupted by Hall's casting in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots. Hall starred as Lola, a drag queen cabaret performer. Hall's performance was well received by critics. He performed as Lola from November 1, 2016, to March 1, 2017.

The Straight Outta Oz Tour was revived in 2017 and ran between March 30, and June 5, in various North American, European, and Australian locations. It was accompanied by an expanded deluxe edition that included songs that were featured on the tour but not on the original version of the album. Additionally, the album included an extended version and new video for "Wrong Bitch" featuring Bob the Drag Queen, and a rerecorded version of Todrick's previous single "Low" featuring RuPaul.

In August 2017, he had a cameo as a back-up dancer in the music video for Taylor Swift's song, "Look What You Made Me Do".

From November 30, 2017, to January 14, 2018, played Billy Flynn in a limited engagement role in Chicago. During his tenure, the show had its best-grossing week in its 21-year Broadway history.

In December he released the documentary film Behind the Curtain about the production behind Straight Outta Oz. It was screened in select theatres and later released on home video. Later that month he had a guest appearance in the Bob's Burgers Season 8 episode "The Bleakening" as drag queen Miss Triple-Xmas (or Cleavage to Beaver) performing the song "Twinkly Lights". He also released a medley of covers of songs from the Pitch Perfect film series that was featured on the Pitch Perfect 3 Special Edition soundtrack.

2018–present: Forbidden, Haus Party & The Greatest Dancer

In March 2018 he announced his new visual album follow-up to Straight Outta Oz called Forbidden. It was released on March 27, 2018. To promote the album, Hall embarked on Forbidden: The Tour across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

On May 15, 2019, Hall revealed that he will be releasing a trilogy of extended plays to be released across the next six months. The first EP, Haus Party, Pt. 1, was released on May 23, 2019. The first single "Glitter" was released with the album pre-order on May 16, 2019. It also featured Hall's first big hit "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels." The EPs will be supported by the Haus Party World Tour. While it was originally announced that Part Two would be released in July followed by Party Three in September 2019, the release of Haus Party, Pt. 2 was delayed to September 19, 2019.. It was supported by the singles "Wig", "Fag", and "Dripeesha" (featuring Tiffany Haddish). Part Three was originally announced to be released on October 30, 2019, then November 27. It was put up for pre-order on January 10, 2020 with two singles available, "Blue" and "Pink Dreams", and an announced release date of February 14, 2020. However, this was later pushed back to May 1, 2020.

On June 17, 2019, Hall appeared in the music video for singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's song "You Need to Calm Down"; he co-executive produced the video with Swift. On June 19, 2019, Hall announced that he will be returning to Broadway to play Ogie Anhorn in the musical Waitress opposite friend Colleen Ballinger, who will be making her Broadway debut as Dawn Williams from August 20 until September 15.

In August 2019 he joined the panel of Dance Captains for the second series of The Greatest Dancer alongside the other Dance Captains Cheryl, Oti Mabuse and Matthew Morrison. The series aired on BBC One in January 2020.

Artistry

Hall is a baritenor with a soulful, expressive voice, including falsetto; in addition to a singer, Hall is also a rapper. The genre of his works include R&B, pop, hip hop, neo-soul, funk, and musical theatre. Many of his lyrics include elements of social commentary, such as gun violence in and against black communities in "Water Guns" (featuring Jordin Sparks), acceptance of interracial relationships in "Color" (featuring Jay Armstrong Johnson) and queer culture; Hall writes and produces much of his own music with Jeeve Ducornet and wiidope. Hall also posts musical tributes to his favorite musical artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift. These tributes feature elaborately-produced mashups of the artists' songs sung by Hall.

Hall's music videos often feature extravagant production value not typically associated with artists outside major labels. Hall's videos often include bespoke costumes and urban fashion, elaborate sets, and extensive choreography, much of which is designed or created by Hall himself. He frequently directs his own videos as well. As part of his style, many of Hall's music videos include drag as a central component, either featuring Hall in drag himself or famous drag queens including RuPaul, Bob the Drag Queen, Willam Belli, and Alaska Thunderfuck, among others.

Personal life

He came out as gay at the age of fifteen.

#04/04

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shadesxofxblack · 7 years ago

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@boden-severin [Closed Starter]

“Rock n’ Roll Lifestyle”

Angelus had been watching this hunter get a little too close for comfort. This guy was in his territory, makin’ inquiries about his friends, and had the nerve to make the vampire show a glint of concern that he might be onto him!? Oh, Hell no. That just wouldn’t do!

Earlier that night, Angelus slipped into the back of the local, underground demon bar and got in touch with an old friend. She had been on the streets years ago, but had found herself quite the little niche since then. He gave her the instructions and her little 10-year-old, fanged smirk beamed. She loved doing favors for big wigs like The Scourge of Europe. He was infamous in the demon and vampire community. There weren’t many who had lived (err rather – un-lived) through all of the slayers and slaughters that Angel had and was still up and kickin’.

About a half an hour later, they waited as the hunter made his way out of the latest of pit-stops. Angelus was in position as the girl came running up, seemingly playful like any other innocent child running outside at 10pm with no adult supervision, whatsoever. She bumped into the tall intruder saying, “Oof! Sorry!,” and hurried off as she snagged his wallet, bursting around the corner into the closest ally. The notorious vamp knew that if this private dick was as good as he thought he was, the hunter would notice the missing wallet almost immediately and chase after her. Hell… Angelus was counting on it.

As soon as Maranatha rounded the building, she tossed the wallet to Angelus and took off into the night with a giggle. The trench coat wearing Ripper strutted out from around the corner to face Mr. Severin head on, reading aloud, “Boden Severin. Thirty-six years old and from… New Orleans! How is the Big Easy these days? Haven’t been down there in a long while,” he exclaimed, slipping the ID out of the leather case and tossing the wallet to him, keeping Severin’s license.

“Tell me somethin’… Boden? Heh! Your parents must’ve really hated you, huh,” the age-old vampire smirked and rested a curl of his index finger against his chin, as if in deep thought. “Not that I blame them. I mean, you are kind of a pain, if you don’t mind me sayin’ so. You’re a little out of your neck of the woods, don’t cha think? Lookin’ to start a new rock band, sonny?”

Angelus tucked the photo ID in his pocket saying, “Nice picture, by the way. So! Bo-diddley. You didn’t just come here for moi, did you? I mean, if so, I’m touched! Really! It’s been awhile since a slayer/hunter/good-ole Captain Do-Right…. Heh!... whatever you kids call it these days – happened to come all this way, just to be eaten by yours truly. I think the last one was that girl, Dot. Or was it Mot?”

Tapping his chin as he tried to remember, Angel eventually shirked it off to say, “No matter. She didn’t last long. You, however, I might actually let live a tad bit longer, though. Care to make a game of it? Tell you what-,” he shifted his face, the more gruesome, animalistic visage showing as he continued, “I’ll give you a head start. I kinda need to work up an appetite anyway. Ready? Simon says…. run. Ten? Nine? Eight…” The vampire began his countdown, hoping this one would give him a run for his money. And if not, well, he could always go for an early breakfast.

#Angelus And Boden #Destroy #RockNRollLifestyle

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papermoonloveslucy · 7 years ago

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THREE FOR TWO

December 3, 1975

Directed by Charles Walters ~ Written by James Eppy

Synopsis

Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason play three married couples in three stories about married life.

Cast

Lucille Ball (Sally / Rita / Pauline) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Jackie Gleason (Herb / Fred / Mike) was born in 1916. He became one of America’s most recognized all-around entertainers but is perhaps best remembered for his iconic character of bus driver Ralph Kramden on “The Honeymooners” which was seen on CBS just like “I Love Lucy.” On “The Lucy Show” Lucy Carmichael frequently referred to Gleason even borrowing his “Away we go” exit in a couple of episodes. In 1968 he did a wordless cameo on “Lucy Visits Jack Benny” (HL S1;E2) as bus driver Ralph Kramden. He died in 1987.

Gino Conforti (Waiter in “Herb & Sally”) began his TV acting career in 1968 and has been continually working since, although mostly as one-off characters. He had a recurring role as Felipe on “Three’s Company” from 1980 to 1982, a series Lucille Ball admired. He played the burglar in “Lucy Plays Cops and Robbers” (HL S6;E14) in 1974. He was also seen in “Lucy Gets Lucky” earlier in 1975.

Vanda Barra (Hostess in “Fred & Rita”) made over two dozen appearances on “Here’s Lucy” as well as appearing in "Lucy Gets Lucky” (with Dean Martin) earlier in 1975 . She was seen in half a dozen episodes of “The Lucy Show.” Barra was Lucille Ball’s cousin-in-law by marriage to Sid Gould.

Irene Sale (Woman #1 in “Fred & Rita”) was a stunt double and played Louise (uncredited) on Desilu's original “Star Trek” in 1966. This is her penultimate screen credit.

Eddie Garrett (Man #1 in “Fred & Rita”) did two episodes of “Here's Lucy” and also played a party guest in Mame (1974). He retired in 1986 and died in 2010.

Mel Pape (Man at Table in “Fred & Rita”) was Jackie Gleason's long-time personal assistant. As such he played small roles in such Gleason projects as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Nothing in Common (1986), and The Sting II (1983). He died in 1995.

Due to the darkness of the nightclub only Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason's faces are actually visible on screen. Barra, Sale, Garrett and Pape remain in shadows.

Tammi Bula (Maureen in “Mike & Pauline”) played the recurring role of Marcia Woolery on “The Waltons.” One of her six episodes aired a month before this special.

Maureen is Mike and Pauline's daughter. She is engaged to marry her boyfriend Steven.

Paul Linke (Alfred in “Mike & Pauline”) also appeared on “The Waltons” in an episode that aired the day after this special was first broadcast. He spoke at the memorial service for his good friend John Ritter, who had appeared on “Life With Lucy” in 1986.

Alfred is Mike and Pauline's son. He recently broke up with his girlfriend Betty Dorsey.

Director Charles Walters was an uncredited director on Ziegfeld Follies (1945) which starred Lucille Ball, although not in the segment he staged. He also directed two episodes of “Here's Lucy” and will also direct “What Now Catherine Curtis?” in 1976.

This special is billed as “Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna's 'Three for Two'” which may indicate that the material was originally written for the married comedy team (who often performed together) instead of Lucy and Gleason. This is James Eppy's only screen credit which may indicate that this was merely a pseudonym for Taylor and Bologna as writers. Screen writer Joseph Bologna will act in Lucille Ball's next special “What Now Catherine Curtis?”

This was Lucille Ball's third prime time special after the end of “Here's Lucy” in 1974. The first two were “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” and “Lucy Gets Lucky” nine months earlier.

This special is available on DVD from MPI video or can be streamed online. It was originally aired on CBS in the USA and ITV in the UK.

There is no studio audience or laugh track.

Although he made a wordless walk-on cameo as bus driver Ralph Kramden in the second-aired “Here's Lucy”, this is the first time Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason have acted together on screen. This continues Ball's employment of “Honeymooners” alumni:

Art Carney (Ed Norton) in “Happy Anniversary and Goodbye” and “What Now Catherine Curtis?”

Audrey Meadows (Alice Kramden) in “Life With Lucy” (1986)

Jane Kean (Trixie Norton from 1966 on) in “The Lucy Show” (1966)

In form and content, this material resembles Neil Simon's 1968 play and 1971 film Plaza Suite, which is also divided into three stories with actors playing multiple roles. The fact that the first story of the special takes place in a hotel suite strengthens the comparison. The year after this special aired, Simon wrote a similar play titled California Suite which was filmed in 1978.

Like the two previous Lucille Ball Specials, the show reunites many “Here's Lucy” production staff, including hairstylist Irma Kusely, prop master Kenneth Westcott, costumer Renita Reachi, and script supervisor Dorothy Aldworth.

This special was berated by the critics and the ratings were not as large as Lucille Ball's previous specials. CBS worried that it would lose its number one place after more than twenty seasons at the top. This pretty much spells the end of CBS's confidence in television shows featuring Lucille Ball.

“Herb & Sally” (20 minutes) ~ Lucy and Jackie Gleason play Herb and Sally Wolbert, a middle-aged couple from Cleveland with grown children who are on a month-long vacation in Italy after 24 years of marriage. After Rome they are traveling on to Venice, Capri, and the ruins of Pompeii.

As Sally, Lucille Ball has on a black wig with silver highlights. She wears a peach chiffon nightgown (which she also owns in blue and black).

The story opens with Sally singing a carefree verse of “Volare,” a song that Dean Martin sung on the previous Lucille Ball special “Lucy Gets Lucky.”

Oops! When the waiter hands Herb the room service menu, it opens far enough to see that Jackie Gleason has his lines written on the inside. Gleason was not a big fan of rehearsing, while Lucille Ball was a stickler for it.

SALLY: “I gave up a successful career to marry you!” HERB: “You were a screw counter in a hardware store.” SALLY: “I was learning the business.”

Lucy Barker will be co-owner of a hardware store in Lucille Ball's last television series “Life With Lucy” (1986). Herb reminds her that his own career as a bamboo furniture salesman is no fun. Herb demeans himself by entertaining buyers in nightclubs and doing his Peter Lorre impersonation.

HERB: “Do you mean you don't like my impersonation of Peter Lorre?” SALLY: “It stinks, Herb.” HERB: “Then our whole marriage is based on a lie.”

To prove his Peter Lorre impersonation is good, he does it for the waiter: “Did you get the information, Mr. Miller? You didn't get the information, Mr. Miller? You were supposed to get the information, Mr. Miller.” Gleason is paraphrasing Lorre's dialogue from All Through the Night (1942) in which Gleason himself co-starred with Lorre, Humphrey Bogart and Ludwig Stössel as Mr. Miller. The waiter incorrectly guesses he is imitating Gina Lollobrigida!

HERB: (to Sally) “I'm fat! I'm fat! And every pound I've put on you've put there!”

Sally says there are three men in Cleveland that keep her sane: Lou Fergazi, her butcher; Andre Molan, her decorator; and Stu Bridgeman, her family doctor.

SALLY: (yelling to the street from the balcony) “I'm a pleasure object!” HERB: “She's 45 and in two months she'll be a grandmother! You hear that? A grandmother!”

Lucy Ricardo visited Rome in one of the most memorable episodes of “I Love Lucy,” “Lucy's Italian Movie” (ILL S5;E23), where she soaks up local color for a movie role by stomping grapes with her feet.

“Fred & Rita” (5:30 minutes) ~ Lucy and Gleason play banker Fred N. Schneider and homemaker Rita Fledgeman, a couple carrying on a discrete affair and trying to decide whether they should tell their spouses. They meet at Cookie's Tip-Toe Inn, a dimly lit hideaway nightclub.

RITA: “I Love the touch of your aftershave. The sound of your hair when it moves.” FRED: “And I love the smell of your boa.”

Lucille Ball wears an upswept blonde wig and a feather boa. At first, both Fred and Rita wear sunglasses, despite the darkness of the club.

RITA: “I'm only alive when I'm with you. I'm dead at the supermarket. I'm dead at the PTA. I'm dead at the beauty parlor.” FRED: “You think you're dead? I'm dead at the bank. I'm dead at the little league games.” RITA: “Are you dead with Myrna?” FRED: “Of course I'm dead with Myrna. Why? Aren't you dead with Harry?” RITA: “You know I'm dead with Harry. I live only for you!”

Fred is married to Rita's best friend Myrna. Rita is married to Harry, Fred's second cousin. They've been married twenty years.

RITA: (about a possible time to meet again) “The only possible day is Veteran's Day.” FRED: “I'd love to, but I'm marching.” RITA: “You'd rather march than go away with me?” FRED: “I can cheat on my wife, but not the National Guard.”

“Mike & Pauline” ~ Lucy and Gleason play domineering parents involved in a New Year's Eve family crisis as they are forced to recognize their college-aged children's declaration of independence.

As Pauline, Lucille Ball wears a honey-brown wig, topped with a paper crown (because it is New Year's Eve).

Mike lists his best friends as Johnny Bridges, Georgie Shry, Tommy Ritzo, Eddie Kunz, and Lefty Bryan.

MIKE: (about his best friends) “I always listened to their viewpoints and made sure that I had all the facts – before I punched each one of them out. It happens to be the code I live by: logic – and then violence.”

Mike mentions the family's New Year's Eve traditions of watching the ball drop in Times Square, listening to Guy Lombardo, and the kids watching Mike and Pauline dance to “Apple Blossom Time.” "(I'll Be With You) In Apple Blossom Time" was written by Albert Von Tilzer and Neville Fleeson in 1920. It was introduced on big screen by the Andrews Sisters in their 1941 film Buck Privates. In “Lucy and the Andrews Sisters” (HL S2;E6, above), Lucille Ball, Lucie Arnaz, and Patty Andrews sing it as part of a medley of the Andrews Sisters' greatest hits. Guy Lombardo was mentioned on “Lucy and the Drum Contest” (HL S3;E4) when Harry calls him his favorite musician.

MIKE: (to his grown children, angry) “Nobody's going anywhere. No how, no way, no chance! The case is dismissed! Through! Finished! Done!” PAULINE: (calmly) “Now that's fair. Your father's very fair.”

Only one episode of a Lucille Ball sitcom was ever set on New Year's Eve: “Chris's New Year's Eve Party” (TLS S1;E14), originally aired on December 31, 1962.

Alfred wants to quit college and become a nightclub comic. Mike tries in vain to give his son some pointers about the timing of his jokes. Before being signed to a film contract, Jackie Gleason worked as a nightclub comic at New York's Club 18.

In the end, the children go out to be with their dates and Mike and Pauline watch the ball drop on TV to the strains of “Auld Lang Syne.” As they dance in the living room to “Apple Blossom Time” Mike and Pauline become Lucy and Jackie dancing together as the credits roll.

This Date in Lucy History - December 3rd

“Men Are Messy” (ILL S1;E8) ~ December 3, 1951

“The Ricardos Visit Cuba” (ILL S6;E9) ~ December 3,1956

“The Celebrity Next Door” (LDCH S1;E2) ~ December 3, 1957

"Vivian Sues Lucy" (TLS S1;E10) ~ December 3, 1962

“Harry Catches Gold Fever” (HL S6;E12) ~ December 3, 1973

The writing here (whoever is responsible) is what makes the difference. The first segment is familiar territory and feels expected. The shortest segment is the best written and most interesting. The final scene is a family dramedy with some unfunny inferences to spouse abuse and violence. Ball and Gleason are not Meryl Streep and Laurence Olivier, but they do well enough to make it a mostly entertaining hour.

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69annebowlin69 · 6 years ago

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25/1/19 Watching True Detective Episode Three

8.29

Woke from dream about repeating harris wittel joke to best friend in bar where i work, only best friend left halfway through me telling it, my audience turned in to this really hateful guy who works there as well and i fluffed the punchline. Called the dr for an appointment, got 10.50 w dr cummings. Text Emmy. Set alarm for 10.

10.12

Woke, feel shitty about what i ate last night. Apple core floating in one third of a glass of water. Gross. Searched Harris Wittels on podcast app, skipped first fifteen of last CBB appearence, straight to introducing himself as pontiac. Chelsea Peretti was my fav comedian in 2013, like everyone else.

10.47

Running late. Emmy text ‘what practice r u?’ I said ‘C’ she said ‘for [my name]’

10.55

Old guy at desk told me i could check in next time via the touch screens next to the door, like i’m a returning customer. Emmy whispered ‘so proud of you for coming.’ Said i love you maybe six times in half a minute.

11.02

Dr Cummings asked why i came today if it’s been so long, i mentioned Emmy, he took it and ran with it ‘it’s always when the women get involved. well, nothing new there.’

Didn’t want to go on the scale, couldnt make out the numbers and he didn’t tell me the number, just asked my height and told me my bmi was low but not alarming. Wore tracksuit bottoms because although i wanted to look serious for the drs, i didn’t want to add weight with jeans and heavy materials if it came to a weigh in. If it came to it i’d have shown him the gaunt phots from ‘thirteen. I might show them to Emmy.

Have to see a psychologist

11.17

Emmy crossed the floor with her arms out when i exited the dr’s office. Christopher’s intervention where Sil says ‘disgusting’.

5.17

Trying to remember anything from media studies to apply to the title sequence and all i can think is that uh the camera is skewed inverting the horizon transposed over Mahershala’s silhouette, denoting…that this shit is fucked up.

5.20

This title sequence is way too long. I could literally blend some kale/spinach/ginger, throw up, read that carver story where the whole family are trying to work out who the baby looks like, , ,

5.21

True Ass Detective

5.25

What i’m wasting mum’s inheritance on this week

-Adderall

-123 pounds on bed sheets in ikea how did it come to 123? Ate 1 1/2mg xanax before we went and stopped looking at the prices of the bedsheets to save time which in hindsight was not a Good Idea. Actually a Bad Idea because now i need two buses to go back and return two duvet covers that cost 30pounds apiece.

-A subscription service called Stingray Quello? I did the free trial to watch the Classic Albums on Graceland because Simon’s supposedly very problematic in it which is equally fascinating and expected, and funny? I fell asleep ten minutes in and i’ll watch the whole thing tonight but i bet i forget to cancel the subscription. I should set a reminder. I need to set a reminder to text back dad and not to eat after nine. Some people need to remind themselves to eat which is the absolute opposite of the problem I have. I would love to have to remind myself to eat. Just texts coming up telling me to have dinner because i’ve forgotten again and haven’t been calculating stupid ass numbers all day hoping they add up to less 1800.

-For 44.99 i can return to raccoon city and contract the D-virus. Yes, please!

-cancel Netlfix, keep adobe, maybe cancel WordPress, wait for dad to work out that his phone bill comes out of my direct debit and offer to pay it himself

5.26

everyone’s always got diseases. Mil has completed the Guarm section of the Cowboy Game and just discovered the cowboy has TB. He said Arthur Morgan is one of the most important characters in modern culture; I have to agree, although Mil’s version hasn’t got the long hair or the moustache-stubble or even the bear hat.

5.30

In the parking lot of a Walgreen’s in Big Bear i had the second worst instance of fear ever. We asked the motel receptionist for the nearest pharmacy and missed the exit twice. There are videos of us waking up and her talking in Spanish. There are videos of us in Joshua Tree drinking warm Tecate and saying i love you out of rote. She said you couldn’t get pregnant on your period but i was in the headspace where you question/google everything instead of trusting yourself/anyone. She remembered it was Sunday, went to fetch a bible from the car, which i didn’t know she had, and recited old testament; i read the first one and a half google results and dressed myself from the open boot of her car. Some woman asked ‘where you goin?’, like flirting.

The wolf hat we bought the night before from a liquor store that had a fun hats section. Like a stuffed wolf toy, but only it’s head and stuck to a skip cap, fur pouring over the sides, enveloping the whole head - fun! the scanner wire wouldn’t stretch to her head, she bent so the cashier could ring it up along with 12 more Tecate.

The toilet we met in, in which we met, was like two cubicles at a time and mine had Bernie stickers all over it. we were being sick at the same time, she hd acid reflux and i said that’s what i had as well. She couldn’t eat meals we never finished a meal together no siree not one, in the space of fifteen meals we either didn’t order or moved stuff around on the plate til it looked like less than it did before. She couldn’t keep anything down and disappeared to the bathroom for minutes at a time and then i would, too.

At Walgreens i’d decided that actually she was hoaxing me, that her saying i love you and wanting to come out here in the first place, us leaving in the dead of night, wanting to get married and crying when i didn’t must have been like a series of jokes to her. She said ‘you want it so you ask’ at the counter and the woman couldn’t understand so she took over, the bear hat bobbing with her rhythms. We left once with the plastic case that you need scissors to cut and i went back in for the scissors. She swallowed with warm water from her trunk, made a face. Her reflux was bubbling. She was in the Walgreens toilet for a long time and then, like Mahershala, we went back to the motel to fuck, and got drunk again and i decided it wasn’t just a joke again, until we got so drunk that she crashed the car driving back in on the 105. Wedging all the empty cans underneath our seats before the highway patrol got to our window was number one worst fear i ever had.

5.33

Hi i’m stephen dorff and this is Interrogation

*jackass theme*

5.34

Ok things i know from the first two and a half eps:

The nerds were into dungeons and dragons

1980, 1990, 2015

My dad turned me against shows where police are the audience surrogate when we watched Zodiac or something else earnest w Mark Ruffalo. My dad: not into police. One time he got very angry when i questioned how anarchistic he was when he implemented a hard bed-time of 10pm. Like maybe the most i managed to intentionally rile him. I was trying to watch Die Hard 2 in bed and invoked the 10pm curfew and questioned why i wanted to watch a film about a copy anyway. But yeah, it’s tough to get behind any of these characters. They’re portrayed as flawed, but lovingly, like you can tell we’re supposed to appreciate their flawed masculinity or whtever.

Pizzolato is AT LEAST a moderate republican, maybe not a Trump guy on a good day, but probably into Paul Ryan.

Dorff’s wig is off-putting

The fellas will return to the house above Devil’s Den

The first two episodes were the best shot. Some of the scenes in the mist at twilight as the police searched the fields were eerie and unsettling. Since then it’s been kinda rote stuff, no flashes. Maybe that helps in establishing the story, but the pace has been slow as hell and could use something fancy to support it.

I do not care about these kids nor who killed/abducted them.

Dorff gets shot at some point. He calls Hays ‘killer’ soo….

5.51

Brown sedan, white suit, some guy with a scar. Dorff demanding two fingers of soco and talking about his dick is funny but not in the way intended.

5.55

Annoyed at whatever the song on Rhythm of the Saints is where he says ‘i was drinking herbal brew’ grow the fuck up

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useyourrwords · 6 years ago

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Tag // The Liebster Award

I am feeling the love guys!

I have been gone for months and I know I haven’t been forgotten because while I was gone I was nominated for this award by the always sharp and murdery Krystin @ Here’s The Fucking Twist!

Go and check out her answers to the questions she was given! Or even just check it out just to see photos of her super fucking cute pets!

This award is great because there’s such a variety of questions and answers and it helps bring exposure across the blogging world!

AND it’s run by an Aussie so I’m inclined to like it that little bit more!

Krystin’s Questions

Honestly, these are all super great questions and I have no idea how the hell I’m going to come up with my own!

I’m the worst at coming up with questions. I always hated whenever I was assigned to interview someone is school because it meant I had to socialize for one, and then on top of that I had to create questions for the people I was being forced to talk to!

That makes it sound like I hate being tagged in things like this…I promise I don’t!

The reason I much prefer these types of things than the assignments from high school years past is because I get to socialize in the comfort of my own home, behind a screen with other introverts who love books as much as I do!

I’ll still struggle to come up with questions though.

1. If You Could Have Any Fictional Character Come To Life, Who Would You Choose?

I have too many favourite characters and most of them would probably try and kill me.

Maybe I’m struggling so much to choose one because I don’t really want any of them to come to life. I might be the only one here, but I like my favourite characters in their books because honestly?

I’m scared I might not like them in real life! Also, how am I going to enjoy my favourite books if all the characters are just out and walking about in my world?

If I had to pick I might choose Monty from The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue.

Just to get his version of Shakespeare works because that would be hilarious!

2. What Popular Book Do You Actually Hate?

A Court of Thorns and Roses!

I absolutely hated that book, liked the second one though but God damn was the first one hard to get through.

Tamlin reminded me of everything I hate. Feyre’s choices made me want to scream and Nesta pissed me off any time she was on the page.

3. If You Have A Boat, What Would You Name It?

Well, this is a question I wasn’t expecting!

It would probably be something literary because that’s how I name almost everything.

The Bard.

After my favourite character Lila Bard from the Shades of Magic Series!

4. Favourite Quote?

Oh god, there are so many! I can never just pick one!

So, I’ll pick one that I recently came across last night and that I shared with my mum. It very poignant for us after the last year.

A woman’s first blood doesn’t come from between her legs but from biting her tongue. -Meggie Royer, The No You Never Listened To

5. What Is The Scariest Book You’ve Ever Read And Why?

I’ve not read any really scary books but I have read one that was so creepy it had my heart pounding.

Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell.

6. List Your Top 3 Favourite Movies Of All-Time.

Krystin! Why are you trying to make me so decisive! This is just plain cruel!

Love, Simon She’s The Man I’m going to cheat and also add the first two Kingsman movies here as well because I fucking love them for the same reason I love She’s The Man – they’re fucking ridiculous and I have a crush on the main character Thor Ragnarok

They’re the three that come to mind first, but I could probably have given a list of 20!

7. What’s Your Favourite Ice Cream Flavour

Usually anything with lots of chunks of stuff in it! I don’t like just normal plain ice cream. After my year long obsession with Ben and Jerry’s in 2015, I can’t go back to basics!

But if I could to pick up any ice cream I’d probably go with the Clusterfluff from Ben and Jerry’s!

It’s peanut buttery goodness and also I just really love saying Clusterfluff.

And now that I’ve googled it, it looks like they don’t have it in Australia anymore!

I guess I should pick another one then!

I really like the Connoisseur Matcha Green Tea one!

I also just discovered the Connoisseur Hazlenut Icecreams and OMG I could inhale those if I didn’t have any self-control.

8. Who Would You Want To Play You In A Movie About Your Life SO Far?

That means I need to pick someone my age!!

God, I have no idea.

Shannon Purser?

But she’d have to wear a wig or dye her hair.

9. When You’re Having A Bad Day, What Do You Do To Make Yourself Feel Better?

Different things;

I read or watch Youtube.

A couple of years ago I was getting really moody when I was PMSing and would go out of my way to get into to arguments so mum would just yell at me to go watch Youtube for a while and calm down.

If I want to use my brain then I’ll usually blog.

Usually, all I need is to just write a post where I vent about everything and get it out of my system and then delete most of it, just keeping a little bit in my post.

If I want my brain to turn off completely then I watch trashy reality TV.

If I want to feel like my life is less of a shit show, then shows like Real Housewives are great. If I just want a laugh and maybe a little cry then RuPaul’s Drag Race is always a good option.

If I just need to cry, like get it all out, then watching something I know will have me crying is always good.

I tend to pick up Grey’s Anatomy for this. But more often than not I’ll stumble onto something sad when I need it.

If I just need a really good laugh through my tears, then progressive sitcoms work wonders.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine helped me get through a particularly bad time.

Seriously it was the only thing that could stop me from crying for so much as a split second one night.

10. What’s your Favourite Season?

Autumn!

It’s the perfect mix of cold but not too cold that it makes my FMS flare up and cause pain.

11. What Books Do You Have On Request At The Library?

Go by when I’m writing this up it’s

Lumberjanes, Vol 9 Lumberjanes, Bonus Tracks Rat Queens, Vol 5 Giant Days, Vol 7 Giant Days, Extra Credit Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess, Book 2 I Hate Fairyland, Vol 3 Raw. Vegan. Not Gross.

I always have a lot of holds on at any given time because I put a hold on the next graphic novel of my favourite series as soon as I finish the one previous because they take the longest to get a hold of usually.

My Questions

What TV series best represents your life?

What do you think is your true identifier? (You know the thing people say when they’re trying to tell someone who they’re talking about but one or both people don’t know your name.)

What is one lesson that you want to bestow on the generation below you?

If your pet could text you, what kind of texts would you get from them? (If you don’t have a pet right now, any pet you’ve had will do!)

Describe your life in 10 hashtags.

What’s your craziest ‘I can’t fucking believe this happened to me/I can’t believe I did that’ story?

Which author would you want to turn your life into a book?

Who is your internet crush? Someone who you talk to online. Can be an ‘I want to date you’ crush or a friend crush!

What is your favourite recipe? Share it! I just want recipe ideas.

What would your drag name be?

What book/TV show/film do you think is highly underrated? Give it a shout out!

I tag;

Jillian @ Jillian The Bookish Butterfly

Destiny @ Howling Libraries

Melanie @ Mel To The Any

Avery @ Red Rocket Panda

Nicole @ The Bookworm Drinketh

Em @ Runaway With Dream Thieves

Marie @ Drizzle And Hurricane Books

Jamieson @ Jamishelves

Carrie @ Carrie’s Book Reviews

Dani @ Touch My Spine Book Reviews

Olivia @ Purely Olivia

Bonus Tag;

Krystin @ Here’s The Fucking Twist!

I know you’ve already done this twice but I really want to see your answers to my questions so I’m tagging you again for selfish reasons.

However, you don’t have to do it if you feel twice is enough.

I look forward to reading everyone’s answers!

Coming up with these questions were really hard but I’m actually pretty proud of the ones I came up with!

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#my blog #books #grey writes

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pardontheglueman · 7 years ago

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Swn Festival

A last minute invite, from the gracious Jayne Rowlands, to attend the BBC Horizons/ Sŵn festival press launch at Clwb Ifor Bach on Saturday meant that I had to desperately bone up on all those artists about to descend on Cardiff over the weekend in order to devise a precise route map for crisscrossing the capital and catching as many of the leading acts as I possibly could. I asterisked the list down to 28 must-see artists and, armed with a downloadable itinerary for each of the festival’s nine venues, set about creating a strategic campaign that would leave Churchill’s detailed invasion plans for the Normandy landings look half-baked by comparison.

First stop was the press bash, which was good fun; there was a chance to mingle with rising stars like Dan Bettridge and Aled Rheon, to grab a complimentary cupcake and even to polish off a glass or two of Prosecco into the bargain. Bethan Elfyn, noticing I was propped up on my crutches, kindly offered to fetch me another glass of wine, before she dashed on to the stage to introduce the first of the day’s formidable Horizon/Gorwelion acts

Any regular readers of kevonhissoapbox will know that Dan Bettridge is mentioned frequently in dispatches, so his set was almost guaranteed to be a festival highlight. Dan kicked off with the unbearably poignant “Letters Home”, a song which shares common ground with Willy Vlautin’s spoken piece “Postcard Written with a Broken Hand”, even down to its use of an unreliable narrator. It’s a song, like so many in his repertoire, that never fails to send a shiver down the spine. Other highlights in a fine performance included his momentous single “Third Eye Blind”, reproduced magically here by his tight-knit band, and a couple of tracks from the 2014 “Darker Days” E.P, “Drive” and “Rosie Darling”. The only disappointment, in an otherwise top-notch set, was the omission of “Darker Days” itself. There may well be 120 acts lined up for this year’s festival, but this is the guy they all have to beat!

*A strange footnote to Dan’s performance – midway through his set he claimed to have just eaten a cupcake with his face on it. Rock N ‘Roll stars are renowned for their excesses, of course, but I don’t remember reading this particular anecdote in Keith Richard’s notorious autobiography Life. Either BBC Wales is really pushing the boat out or Dan’s showing the first signs of a little-known complaint, hallucinatory narcissism!

It’s a tough ask to follow in the footsteps of Dan Bettridge these days, but Hannah Grace proved herself to be equal to the task. Grace is a singer’s singer, able to switch from demure diva one moment to a jazzed-up Janis Joplin the next. This was a punchy, no holds barred, performance with “Black and White” and “Walk Away”, (its stoned-out scat singing finale nearly took the roof off the place), providing some of the day’s most memorable moments. The festival was off to a sensational start.

* photographic evidence of a Hannah Grace themed cupcake has subsequently come to light, so I’m pleased to confirm that Dan Bettridge has, indeed , outdone the legendary Keith Richards in the category of culinary debauchery!

Bilingual singer-songwriter Aled Rheon is another act who kevonhissoapbox has steadfastly championed this year. His captivating ballad “September” has, quite simply, been one of THE tracks of 2015 so far, and it’s no surprise, therefore, that he opens his set with it today. What is surprising, though, is the appearance of five other people on stage to perform it with him! Aled Rheon and the Gorgeous Charge, making their live debut, included the Climbing Trees pair - Matthew Frederick (keyboards) and James Bennetts (drums) as well as Tender Prey bassist Mark Foley. There’s a poignant moment, too, towards the end of a fine set, when Aled dedicates his wistful ballad “Wrap up Warm” to his newborn son.

A brief chat with Matthew Frederick, as he was finishing his guest spot, gleaned the unwelcome news that the Climbing Trees’ gig at 10 Feet Tall had been brought forward to 6.30, leading to a direct clash with the much-lauded Hooton Tennis Club. ‘See you later’, I casually remarked, although, even then I sensed the seed of betrayal beginning to bloom in my heart, after all HTC had been tipped up by the NME, no less, as one of the four must-seebands of the festival. And, anyway, I had already bought my ticket for the Trees’ forthcoming hometown Christmas gig, so, what could it hurt, I reasoned, if just this once I stood the Trees up? My conscience was clear, sort of!

So it was that as the St John the Baptist church bells struck 6.30 I was to be found in the front row of a packed out Jack Rocks stage in Clwb Ifor Bachready to watch the second coming of comedy Indie–Rock (HTC is nothing if not a humorous cross between Supergrass and Space with a sprinkling of Neil Hannon, or indeed fellow Sŵn artist Simon Love (more of whom later), thrown in for good measure. Like a flash, though, the enormity of my actions struck home; sure the more glamorous HTC looked and sounded enticing, but, by the end of the band’s third song I was starting to feel like some sort of squalid adulterer, about to consummate the ultimate act of betrayal. It was Fatal Attraction all over again! Visions of the buoyantly bearded Frederick dutifully soundchecking, still blissfully unaware of my illicit rendezvous, began to dance before my eyes, pangs of guilt come out of nowhere and did a dozen quick laps around my breaking heart. Suddenly I was forcing my way tearfully through the crowd and out into the night air in a desperate attempt to salvage my long-term relationship with Climbing Trees.

I arrived at 10 Feet Tall breathless and panic-stricken and managed to bump straight into, of all people, Matthew Frederick himself, busily working his way back to the stage through a tightly packed crowd, ‘How much have I missed?’ I managed to innocently croak ‘Nothing, it’s running late’. Thank goodness, as the Trees turned in a terrific set, mixing classics from their outstanding debut Hebron (“Aloisi” and “Under the Lindens”) with three spellbinding new tracks that augur well for the band’s upcoming sophomore record.

The set opened with the first of those new songs “Caesar”, a raging fire and brimstone instrumental, impressive enough to overcome the unresolved sound problems that had delayed the gig in the first place, and the forthcoming single “Graves”. Before introducing the band’s ‘token’ pop song “ Lost”, a number which really sees the band pump up the volume, Frederick amiably joked that a recent review in the Carmarthen Journal had described the band as ‘successfully climbing the pop ladder’. The Journal is, if anything, underplaying the band’s appeal. For me, the Trees are a truly magical group of musicians, perched nine-tenths of the way to the top of pop’s metaphorical beanstalk and on the verge of making a fairytale dream of world domination come true (well, I have been drinking all day on an empty stomach, complimentary cup-cake aside!)

Between these excellent sets, I managed to catch Canadian garage rocker Michael Rault at the Undertone basement. In all honesty, this was an under-whelming gig that only really came to life with the blunderbuss wig-out that closed the set; that really was something to behold, though, so perhaps I’m doing him something of a disservice and he seemed to go down well enough with the small congregation of punters in attendance.

Next up, in the same un-atmospheric venue, was 16 yr old wunderkind Declan McKenna, winner of this year’s Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Award. His internet smash “Brazil” is an electro-poppy critique of worldwide football corruption and was certainly the stand-out song in an engaging set. He’s an extremely likable and unpretentious performer; kitted out in a Winnie-the-Pooh type t-shirt, he makes no attempt to disguise his tender age, cheerfully admitting, in fact, that his mother is in the crowd tonight monitoring his use of bad language.

I was back in the Undertone basement, following my flirtation with HTC, at 7.30, to see London’s Honey Moon deliver a superlative batch of songs that recalled the very early days of The Servants (think “She’s Always Hiding”) and renowned U.S janglers Real Estate. Before kicking off their set, the band’s front-man Jack Slater-Chandler made a hand on heart declaration that they were ‘gonna play some love songs for the people of Cardiff’. Amen, to that!

They proved to be as good as their word, easing their way through a half-dozen sun-dappled songs, the best of which were the dreamy “Tripping (On the Thought of You) and “Waiting” - both of which were taken from their eponymously titled debut E.P which I will certainly be checking out a.s.a.p.

That was day one over, brought to a brilliantly luminous conclusion by the kind of band Sŵn is so good at unearthing; my plans to leg it across to Abacus to catch the much-hyped Protomartyr abandoned, at the last minute, due to a dietary imbalance – plenty of drink, no food!

I had recovered my equilibrium by Sunday afternoon, however, just in time to catch a quality set by Simon Love at the Buffalo Bar. Love’s acerbic approach may not appeal to everyone, but he definitely has the pop chops to take some of the sting out of his waspish worldview. His latest single “The New Adam and Eve” is a prime example, a jocular, jangly pop song laced with murderous intent. It’s a fascinating gig that culminates in a bizarre duet, between Simon and his Dad, of the Traveling Wilburys’ classic “Handle with Care”.

From there it was straight past a packed out Peaness gig downstairs at the Clwb Ifor Bach and upstairs to the Jack Rocks Stage for Beach Fatigue (formerly Heavy Petting Zoo) and another chance encounter with Dan Bettridge who’d hot-footed it straight from the Tender Prey gig in the Buffalo Bar. Another large gathering was royally entertained by Amy Zachariah and co’s blistering psych-surf set, which actually threatened to loosen my teeth on a couple of their higher octane numbers. Opening song “Isabelle” was a frenetic slab of garage rock, which, majestically, seemed to go on forever. I, for one, would have been happy if the group had played that track over and over again in a sort of garage rock version of Groundhog Day. Of course, I would have then have been denying myself the pleasure of hearing new single “Drunken Grrrls” and the equally excellent “Cut Throat”. In singer Zachariah Beach Fatigue definitely have a front-person with real stage presence, whether she’s tightening the microphone lead around her neck, stealing her guitarist’s glasses, or jumping off the stage to boogie with the crowd!

Across the street, at the Moon Club, local boys The Cradles were playing their clever, Kinksian pop, to a smallish crowd. I managed to catch the second half of the gig, meaning that I’d missed out on hearing the superb “Denmark Street”. “Stamp Man”, another of their kitchen-sink character studies, is well crafted enough, though, to suggest that this is a young band set to make their mark in 2016.

My final stop for the weekend is at the Four Bars. I arrive just in time to catch the end of an extremely well received set from Cristobal and the Sea and bag a sofa seat in readiness for Bristol’s Rebecca Clements. I had intended, right until the very last minute, to watch Elle Mary and the Bad Men, simply because anybody putting the poetry of Pablo Neruda to music deserves an audience, so I was really hoping that Clements’ performance would vindicate my choice. Unfortunately, her introspective set didn’t quite come to life. “Coma Boy” was easily the best of her own compositions, while her faithful cover of The Cure’s classic “Boys Don’t Cry” was the obvious highpoint of a somewhat listless gig. The last band to take to the Four Bars’stage was Beach Baby, fresh from a support slot on the Hooton Tennis Club tour. Their short, sharp, six-song set showed rich promise. Whilst summer single “No Mind No Money” is furiously catchy, it’s more than matched by current release “Limousine”, a shimmering slice of surf-rock, and final number “Powderbaby” a gleaming track which quickly escalated into a savage, guitar-thrashing, semi-deranged finale. It was the single most exhilarating moment of my Sŵn festival weekend!

So, Sŵn is over for another year. Of the 28 artists I’d hoped to check out, I managed to see a grand total of fourteen! Missing Protomartyr still rankles, and I regret that Lazy Day and The Big Moon escaped me too. There were still plenty of highlights, though. The Horizons showcase brought together a clutch of brilliant Welsh artists and the festival’s curators certainly did a fine job in casting their net far and wide, attracting genuine contenders in the shape of Hooton Tennis Club alongside proven big hitters like Everything Everything. Sŵn, certainly warms the soul, it’s a feel-good festival that has the capacity to re-invigorate and re-enthuse anyone with a genuine passion for new music.

In a surreal coda to the evening, Mrs kevonhissoapbox and I had arranged to give Matthew Frederick a lift home at the festival’s close. Unfortunately, M.F. was having some difficulty in navigating the long and winding road from Womanby Street to St Mary Street! Six texts later there was still no sign of the Trees’ gregarious pianist. We eventually tracked him down at the entrance to the Millennium Stadium. Just goes to show what Sŵn and a Lucozade too many can do to you!

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helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog · 8 years ago

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'DWTS' Week 5 Preview: Bonner Bolton's 'Very Different' Tango, Normani Kordei's 'Macho' Moves & More!

brightcove

The magic of Disney is coming to life in the ballroom!

It's week five of Dancing With the Stars, and the remaining nine couples will each be dancing to catchy tunes while dressed as some of the brand's most iconic characters as "Disney Night" kicks off Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Ahead of their sure-to-be fun, lively and energetic performances, ET's breaking down everything you need to know!

WATCH: 'Dancing With the Stars' Week 4 Dance Recap: Best Lifts, Kicks, Tricks and Flips!

Who's on top of the leaderboard?

1. Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater: 39/40 2. Simone Biles and Sasha Farber: 36/40 3. Heather Morris and Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Alan Bersten: 35/40

Who's in danger of elimination?

Erika Jayne and Gleb Savchenko were in the bottom two last week, and after receiving the lowest score (30/40) from the judges during Most Memorable Year night, we have a feeling this might be it for #TeamPrettyXxspensive. However, Nick Viall and Peta Murgatroyd tied with them for last place last week, so who actually goes home will be down to who received the most votes from fans! Guess we'll have to wait and see…

There will be multiple live performances!

ABC promises a "spectacular" opening number featuring the night's master of ceremonies, DWTS season 19 champion Alfonso Ribeiro. The network teases there will be singing and dancing to an original song with the entire cast. While we don't know too many details just yet, pro dancer Emma Slater did share this group pic, which was taken during rehearsals for the piece on Thursday. (Psst! We now know the dance was choreographed by Mandy Moore, the mastermind behind the magical moves in La La Land):

Also taking the stage to perform live is singer ZZ Ward. She'll be singing her new song, "Ride," from Cars 3, as David Ross and Lindsay Arnold show off their best jive skills.

Additionally, Auli'i Cravalho will perform "How Far I'll Go" from her leading role in Moana, as Simone Biles and Sasha Farber take on contemporary.

Normani Kordei and Val Chmerkovskiy, who are dancing the Paso Doble this week, will also perform to a live song, as Donny Osmond will belt out "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan.

Sharna Burgess wants fans to know why Bonner Bolton probably will score low this week.

Ahead of week five, the red-headed beauty went live on her Facebook with the professional bull rider, teasing what's to come when they hit the ballroom. Burgess explained that the two will be dancing a Wreck-It Ralph themed tango to Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?," which will be a challenge for Bolton.

Last January, the 29-year-old athlete suffered a near-fatal injury when he was bucked off the back of a bull, resulting in a slew of surgeries. To this day, he still has a lot of pain in all areas of his body, especially his neck. Unfortunately, the tango requires a lot of fast, sharp neck movements, which Bolton won't be able to physically master on Monday.

"A big characteristic of tango is that head snap, when you go into promenade position, it snaps really fast and then it stops," she explained. "B can't do that, and it's a huge characteristic, so we're doing it as much as we can, and putting that movement in there, and using the legs to make it staccato, but I sort of want it to be known, 'cause I don't want the judges to stand there and say, 'You didn't snap your head fast enough' when he physically can't do it."

"This is going to be a very different kind of tango," she added. "Usually tango is fiery, passionate and fierce, and this is very childlike, playful and fun … we're gonna spike [Bonner's hair], I'm gonna be Vanellope and have this black wig on, and a whole world of things. It's gonna be awesome!"

And get this! While Burgess is known for her unique choreography, she revealed #TeamDenimNDiamonds' routine this week is actually inspired by a Super Mario Bros. piece Mark Ballas choreographed for his season 19 partner, Sadie Robertson, which you can watch below:

Expect some "very macho" moves from #TeamValmani.

Normani has officially wrapped her tour with Fifth Harmony, which allows her and Val to fully focus on Dancing With the Stars now. When ET crashed one of their rehearsals last week, they teased the intensity of the choreography viewers will see as they make their way to the center of the ballroom.

"First of all, we're doing the Paso Doble," Val said. "It's a very macho dance, I'm trying to get into the mood. There's a lot of karate."

"We just talked about having fun, and she's going to have fun, and if Normani's having fun, then the audience is going to be like, 'Wow, amazing,'" he continued. "So [when I'm choreographing] I prioritize her, I prioritize our viewers and then I prioritize the judges."

What are the other couples dancing to?

Erika Jayne & Gleb Savchenko Viennese Waltz, "Unforgettable" by Sia from Finding Dory

Rashad Jennings & Emma Slater Foxtrot, "Evermore" by Josh Groban from Walt Disney Pictures' Beauty and the Beast

Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigvintsev Jazz, "That's How You Know" by Amy Adams from Enchanted

Heather Morris & Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Alan Bersten Jazz, "For the First Time in Forever" by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell from Frozen

Nick Viall & Peta Murgatroyd Jazz, "I've Got No Strings" as sung by Dickie Jones from Pinocchio

Social media teases.

Below, see more of the best moments the stars have shared over Twitter and Instagram as they gear up to take the stage to perform again on Monday:

Which pair are YOU most excited to see hit the ballroom during week three? Let me know on Twitter (@desireemurphy_ ) or in the comments section on our official Facebook page! And be sure to follow all of our DWTS coverage all season long, right here on ETonline.com.

WATCH: Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy Preview Their 'Mulan'-Inspired Routine for Disney Night on 'DWTS'

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footyplusau · 8 years ago

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Craig Hutchison’s debut as The Footy Show ‘host’ Trumped by Sam Newman

Sam Newman stole the limelight from new boy Craig Hutchison as The Footy Show returned with a rambling, occasionally entertaining and largely footy-free show on Thursday night.

Newman gave two massive sprays, one calculated to be outrageous, the other an expression of pure outrage.

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He was furious because his thunder had been stolen earlier in the day when footage emerged of his interview with underworld figure Mick Gatto, in which he claimed he had been approached by Essendon to help sort out the supplements saga in 2014.

While declining to name the person who had approached him on the grounds it wouldn’t be “professional”, Gatto insisted he had not approached the club, as he had earlier tweeted, but had rather been approached by them.

A newly bald Sam Newman, right, with Craig Hutchison on The Footy Show. Photo: supplied

“With this one I did get embroiled in it. I was approached,” Gatto told Newman. “They just wanted me to find out what was going on with it all and what I could find out and have a feel around.”

Gatto also claimed he was approached by Shane Charter (referred to variously as Charters and Charteris by him and Newman throughout the interview), the biochemist at the heart of the scandal.

“I was approached by Shane Charters,” Gatto said. “He had compelling evidence that it was legal. He wanted to be paid for it. I had met with Essendon officials and tried to broker a deal … to pay Charteris to divulge all this information. Charter wanted $800,000 for pain and hardship.”

Whatever the truth of that claim, it would have guaranteed The Footy Show morning-after news headlines. Instead, the stories broke before the show had even aired, thanks to footage of the interview being leaked by a rival media player. And Newman was furious.

Sam Newman emerged in a Donald Trump fright wig. Photo: supplied

“Could I just say … you’re a piece of shit, Tony Sheahan,” Newman said. “Mate, you leaked that, you took that and gave it to all the other networks … Tony Sheahan, you’re a piece of shit.”

The first show of the year was supposed to be Hutchison’s moment, but his much-hyped debut as host revealed him as, in fact, very much a co-host with Rebecca Maddern, who joined the show last year.

Some things can’t be faked: Rebecca Maddern is genuinely surprised by Newman’s new look. Photo: supplied

The pair walked out together, she spoke first, she was seated in the centre of the three-person panel they occupied.

Maybe the two-hander approach was down to nerves (does Hutchison, lord of his own Crocmedia empire, even suffer nerves?), or it may signal an intent to make them legitimate co-hosts, and to turn The Footy Show into a slightly less blokes-only domain.

Rebecca Maddern and Craig Hutchison emerged very much as co-hosts. Photo: supplied

Here’s hoping it’s the latter. Maddern has an uncanny and entirely welcome ability to pop the egos of her male co-hosts when they threaten to float skywards.

Craig Hutchison’s first night in the big chair was somewhat overshadowed. Photo: Simon Schluter

At one point, Newman suggested Hutchison should take his shoes off to walk through a tub of Lego pieces, while Maddern should “take your clothes off”. She slapped him down with a “dirty old man”. No need for a twitter storm when you’ve got a woman who can call an idiot an idiot to his face.

But don’t imagine for a second The Footy Show has suddenly shed its chauvinistic skin and emerged as a reformed creature.

In a week in which not a ball has been kicked in anger in the men’s game but the newly launched women’s league is reaching its final stages, you’d imagine the gals might have enjoyed a moment in the spotlight. And they got just that. A moment.

The first and only mention of the women’s game came almost two hours in, and it lasted just over a minute.

“Have you watched any Sam,” Maddern asked Newman.

“I haven’t, but don’t take it as a vote of no-confidence,” he replied. “I don’t watch the AFL.”

Given that apparent lack of interest in footy, you might well ask what the hell Sam Newman is doing on the show?

You’d find the answer in the moment he first emerged, in a Donald Trump wig, telling us all to “take this with a grain of salt” before launching into his first spray of the night, one clearly driven by a desire to provoke.

“The beauty of Trump winning is that the celebrities and entertainers have weeped [sic] and whinged and whined,” he ranted, finger jabbing at the camera.

“Trouble is they get shit-faced on opiates and then they spew out all that bile, which gives them delusions of adequacy. And you know what they are? They’re nothing more than vacuums with nipples and pieces of smegma. They are psychotic [audience applauds] … psychotic [more applause, louder]… they are psychotic [he’s really lapping it up, not unlike a certain US President] … they are psychotic narcissists, that’s what they are.”

And then he whipped off the wig to reveal his bald pate beneath. In sympathy with his fellow panellists, Hutchison and Billy Brownless, he had decided to shave off his hair (“it’s your only redeeming feature, and now it’s gone”, Maddern noted).

It’s hard to know whether Sam Newman is gaga or dada; maybe he’s a bit of both. He may have claimed “I love Donald Trump, he’s fantastic”, but the whole thing was kind of meta, a Trump-like imitation of Trump that revelled in the very narcissism it denounced. It wasn’t especially funny – Alec Baldwin is safe in his job as First Impersonator – but it was, almost in spite of itself, kind of spot-on.

Hutchison’s first task of the night had been to introduce Newman, and he took to it with all the gusto of a snake-oil salesman arriving in a town full of dupes.

“There’s no bigger honour in Australian television, ladies and gentlemen, than to introduce our next man on the panel. He’s been here for 25 years, he’s the biggest star in Australian television, the most watched and watchable person on the small screen … put your hands together for John Sammy Newman.”

It was ridiculous hyperbole, of course. But damn if it wasn’t also kind of true.

Karl Quinn is on facebook at karlquinnjournalist and on twitter @karlkwin

The post Craig Hutchison’s debut as The Footy Show ‘host’ Trumped by Sam Newman appeared first on Footy Plus.

from Footy Plus http://ift.tt/2m56s7R via http://footyplus.net

#Footy Plus

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helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog · 8 years ago

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'DWTS' Week 5 Preview: Bonner Bolton's 'Very Different' Tango, Normani Kordei's 'Macho' Moves & More!

brightcove

The magic of Disney is coming to life in the ballroom!

Ahead of their sure-to-be fun, lively and energetic performances, ET's breaking down everything you need to know!

WATCH: 'Dancing With the Stars' Week 4 Dance Recap: Best Lifts, Kicks, Tricks and Flips!

Who's on top of the leaderboard?

1. Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater: 39/40 2. Simone Biles and Sasha Farber: 36/40 3. Heather Morris and Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Alan Bersten: 35/40

Who's in danger of elimination?

There will be multiple live performances!

Also taking the stage to perform live is singer ZZ Ward. She'll be singing her new song, "Ride," from Cars 3, as David Ross and Lindsay Arnold show off their best jive skills.

Additionally, Auli'i Cravalho will perform "How Far I'll Go" from her leading role in Moana, as Simone Biles and Sasha Farber take on contemporary.

Normani Kordei and Val Chmerkovskiy, who are dancing the Paso Doble this week, will also perform to a live song, as Donny Osmond will belt out "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan.

Sharna Burgess wants fans to know why Bonner Bolton probably will score low this week.

Expect some "very macho" moves from #TeamValmani.

"First of all, we're doing the Paso Doble," Val said. "It's a very macho dance, I'm trying to get into the mood. There's a lot of karate."

What are the other couples dancing to?

Erika Jayne & Gleb Savchenko Viennese Waltz, "Unforgettable" by Sia from Finding Dory

Rashad Jennings & Emma Slater Foxtrot, "Evermore" by Josh Groban from Walt Disney Pictures' Beauty and the Beast

Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigvintsev Jazz, "That's How You Know" by Amy Adams from Enchanted

Heather Morris & Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Alan Bersten Jazz, "For the First Time in Forever" by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell from Frozen

Nick Viall & Peta Murgatroyd Jazz, "I've Got No Strings" as sung by Dickie Jones from Pinocchio

Social media teases.

Below, see more of the best moments the stars have shared over Twitter and Instagram as they gear up to take the stage to perform again on Monday:

WATCH: Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy Preview Their 'Mulan'-Inspired Routine for Disney Night on 'DWTS'

brightcove

#_revsp:new_provider_with_logo_342 #_lmsid:a0VK0000001yfWcMAI #_uuid:ccb496f9-2b10-322c-ab24-e4a772360df7

0 notes

helloworlddemo1122-yahoopar-blog · 8 years ago

Text

'DWTS' Week 5 Preview: Bonner Bolton's 'Very Different' Tango, Normani Kordei's 'Macho' Moves & More!

brightcove

The magic of Disney is coming to life in the ballroom!

Ahead of their sure-to-be fun, lively and energetic performances, ET's breaking down everything you need to know!

WATCH: 'Dancing With the Stars' Week 4 Dance Recap: Best Lifts, Kicks, Tricks and Flips!

Who's on top of the leaderboard?

1. Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater: 39/40 2. Simone Biles and Sasha Farber: 36/40 3. Heather Morris and Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Alan Bersten: 35/40

Who's in danger of elimination?

There will be multiple live performances!

Also taking the stage to perform live is singer ZZ Ward. She'll be singing her new song, "Ride," from Cars 3, as David Ross and Lindsay Arnold show off their best jive skills.

Additionally, Auli'i Cravalho will perform "How Far I'll Go" from her leading role in Moana, as Simone Biles and Sasha Farber take on contemporary.

Normani Kordei and Val Chmerkovskiy, who are dancing the Paso Doble this week, will also perform to a live song, as Donny Osmond will belt out "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan.

Sharna Burgess wants fans to know why Bonner Bolton probably will score low this week.

Expect some "very macho" moves from #TeamValmani.

"First of all, we're doing the Paso Doble," Val said. "It's a very macho dance, I'm trying to get into the mood. There's a lot of karate."

What are the other couples dancing to?

Erika Jayne & Gleb Savchenko Viennese Waltz, "Unforgettable" by Sia from Finding Dory

Rashad Jennings & Emma Slater Foxtrot, "Evermore" by Josh Groban from Walt Disney Pictures' Beauty and the Beast

Nancy Kerrigan & Artem Chigvintsev Jazz, "That's How You Know" by Amy Adams from Enchanted

Heather Morris & Maksim Chmerkovskiy/Alan Bersten Jazz, "For the First Time in Forever" by Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell from Frozen

Nick Viall & Peta Murgatroyd Jazz, "I've Got No Strings" as sung by Dickie Jones from Pinocchio

Social media teases.

Below, see more of the best moments the stars have shared over Twitter and Instagram as they gear up to take the stage to perform again on Monday:

WATCH: Normani Kordei & Val Chmerkovskiy Preview Their 'Mulan'-Inspired Routine for Disney Night on 'DWTS'

brightcove

#_revsp:new_provider_with_logo_342 #_lmsid:a0VK0000001yfWcMAI #_uuid:ccb496f9-2b10-322c-ab24-e4a772360df7

0 notes