I first met Katie Costello last year. An old friend of mine, Michelle, is managing her music career. Katie was 16 turning 17. I didn't get a chance to hear her sing live then, but heard some of the stuff online and really dug it. They were back in town recently and Katie was performing live at The Bitter End. Great set. She's got a very unique sound. She sounds like Regina Spektor but her music is her own. Very indie, quirky and just different. For a girl about to turn 18, she's got some soul in her. I got to hang out with them after for quite a bit and gave a bit of advice to her as she's moving here from the west coast in a few weeks. She has her head on pretty straight and I'm quite sure she'll blend into the music scene well. I really feel like I'm watching a star in the making. Her first album, Kaleidoscope Machine, was released on iTunes last week and was a featured "Indie Artist of the Week". She also had a song played on the new 90210! Not too shabby!
Needless to say, go buy the album! You'll love it. I know I do. And if I do...YOU DO!!!
As many people did, I sent out a mass Thanksgiving text to everyone in my contact list from my cell phone. Not thinking that I hadn't been in touch with so many people and perhaps I wasn't in their phone any more. Fun to find out who deleted your number! I got quite a few "Same to you! Uh...who is this?" And a few tried to soften the blow at least with "I got a new phone, so I don't know who this is" or "My phone broke and I lost all of my contacts", etc. Yeah, right! Someone even responded with this clever gem. "OMG! How the heck are u sweetie!! Send me a pic so I cld add it to ur number!" Not a bad idea if you have no idea who the person is who sent it! (She first responded with a "Who dis?", so I replied with my name and then got the above veiled attempt to try to get me to help her remember.) Sniff, sniff. I'm not memorable.
I even got a joke or two. Here's one. "Just think....If the Indians gave the pilgrims a donkey we'd all be having a piece of ass today." Actually, kind of cute, I thought.
But the winner has to be this baffling yet intriguing text since it made me laugh my ass off. "Is this a tiny bunnie hiney?" I couldn't remember if this girl was a "Furry" and we made it during dress up or what? And would I have really been the "bunny"? What would she have been? The turtle? The hawk? The cow? I guess we'll never know.
Wait...why do I have bunny ears and a cotton tail in a box in my closet...
Family Guy Sings! played Carnegie Hall for the past couple of days. And I was lucky enough to attend! All thanks to John Viener: cast member, staff writer, and portrayer of 100 voices on Family Guy. Last year, John and his girl, Jessica Collins, came into my bar. She's a fine actress in her own right. My nerd posse will know her from Star Trek Voyager, Lois and Clark and Tru Calling. Last year, she was on the fun show, Big Shots, that was one of many casualties of the writer's strike. We chatted for quite some time and went out after for a few drinks.
I kept in touch with both of them (pictured) over the past year and planned on having them on the show. But, schedules on all of our parts got in the way. It was a pleasant surprise when they popped in the bar a few days ago! John was in town to do the show and they wanted to see if I was still at the same place. We chatted a bit and John said he'd get me tickets to the show on Tuesday! And that he did!
Since I missed his birthday party, I took my good buddy, Mike, as a belated present. Needless to say, I was just happy to get seats as it was sold out. How excited and surprised we were when we were ushered to the 4th row! I could almost smell Seth MacFarlane's breath! It smelled of ambrosia, bourbon and cauliflower. Mmmm....cauliflower.
Seth is, of course, the creator of Family Guy and voices "Peter Griffin", "Stewie", "Brian the dog", "Quagmire" and many others in the show. He comes out first with Alex Borstein, voice of "Lois Griffin" and famed MAD TV alumni, and have a little chat before introducing us to the rest of the cast for the evening. Alex wore a cleavage inducing dress and let everyone know by pointing out her boobs repeatedly. Soon, Seth Green ("Chris Griffin"), Mila Kunis ("Meg Griffin"), Mike Henry ("Cleveland", etc.), Danny Smith (multiple voices) and John Viener. John acted as narrator, did incidental voices and a great "Joe" voice normally done by Patrick Warburton. John had a great moment after he sang a short ditty where he ad-libbed, "I just sang at Carnegie Hall!"
The show was basically a staged reading of the 2 part Stewie Kills Lois storyline with random musical numbers interspersed throughout. It was fucking hilarious! We were laughing so hard at times that I sometimes missed some other funny lines. They also showed random scenes in the background from the series to help move the story along. Did I mention that they were backed by a huge orchestra and chorus led by conductor Walter Murphy?
And the songs...genius. Most were done from the show. And, there was an original one or two. Well, not so much original, but familiar tunes with different lyrics. As Seth M. said, he feels like he gets paid to do karaoke. Seth M. and Alex did a version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" that was hysterical. Now, as mentioned in the ads for the show, the show had adult language and situations. This duet certainly had that. Alex starts it off by pointing out and talking to a little boy, yes...little boy, in the 3rd row. He said he was 11. Alex dedicated the song to him. The song starts out normal until Alex sings, "You don't eat my pussy....any more!" And looks right at the little kid! The whole song became all about oral sex and the like and Alex kept looking over at the kid. We were peeing our pants!
Another bawdy moment, had Seth M. singing a serious song. Suddenly, Seth G. and Mila get up to dance. Then John and Danny do. Then Alex and Mike get up and walk over to the piano. Alex puts her hands on the piano and bends over while Mike simulates the act. Seth G. walks over and throws his head under them until they all were in a giant simulated orgy. All the while, Seth M. kept singing his song as if oblivious to all around him.
At curtain call, Seth comes back out to do an encore as "Peter Griffin". And it's "The Bird's the Word". A number they overdid with hilarity in a recent episode. Since it was curtain call/encore, cameras came out. I got a bit of it on the old recorder.Wait for it...
Post show, we head backstage to meet up with John who gets us past the security. We were shuffled about and ended up standing in a hallway. Apparently, awaiting to get into a larger room where others were greeting cast members. Mila walks by us with full champagne glass in hand, absolutely stunning in person, and says "Not much going on in there anyway folks." Then, Macauley Culkin walks by on his cell phone. But you can call him "Mac". We ended up staying out in another hallway which was wise. Mila and Seth G. come out to mingle. And the man himself, Seth M., came out for a bit. I got to meet most of the cast except for Alex. She was with her family in her dressing room. Alas, no Mrs. Swan for me. Still, it was GREAT to meet everyone and hang with them for a bit.
We popped over to the Carnegie Club after for some cigars and drinks. I don't smoke, but will do a good cigar on occasion. And I accompanied it with some fine Armagnac. Everyone had some great chats and there was actually much comic book talk amongst the crowd. Many, many, many thanks to John for getting me in on this. I had a blast and I highly recommend seeing this show if it comes to your town. Sure, Family Guy is great but seeing it live is knee-slappingly hilarious! I leave you with this:
Reviews: Justice Society Of America Kingdom Come Special Magog #1, Leviticus Cross: Shadows Of The Heart #1, Yeti vs Vampire #1
After a 2 year absence, J.M. DeMatteis returns to discuss just
what's been going since our last interview in November 2006. Jimmy
gets a visit from Tom Jones, Joe gets his belated birthday gifts, and
Kevin chimes in with his BANTER! News includes the demise of Pushing Daisies with a special Unemployed Skeletor rant, The Guild comes to the XBox, Will Smith remakes Oldboy, Gearhead film and more. Feedback, Top 3 and plugs
galore. Leave your iTunes
comments! 5 stars
and nothing but
love! Also, get a hold of us!
The legendary Tom Jones stopped in the restaurant last night. Fun fact: Don't go up to him and ask, "What's New, Pussycat?". He'll just punch you in the junk. And I also found out that he doesn't like it when a guy throws his underwear at him. Yet, he still wont give them back. Those were my "Sex Bomb" undies!
I don't think I realized he was Welsh. Not that it matters, but now it all makes sense. When I was in Wales in May (coincidentally, my friends I stayed with live in Tom's hometown of Pontypridd), I wondered why every female I met was named "Delilah". Now I get why there were knickers, as they say, strewn all over the beautiful Welsh countryside. "Green Green Grass of Home" indeed!
You'd think that by now people would understand how a candle works. NO ONE seems to understand the intricacies of the wick-ed wonders. People, people, people! If a candle is in a holder (as pictured), then leave it be. That's the best light you will get out of it. Picking it up and moving it around will arouse the flame for a hot second. Which excites you so you keep doing it and then guess what happens? That's right, genius. You put the flame out from moving it around so much. So...STOP IT!
Which reminds me of a story. I was working at a restaurant years ago when Andre Agassi and Brooke Shields were first dating. They came in frequently. Brooke was always quite pleasant, but I never really spoke to Andre much. One night, after being seated, Andre gets my attention and asks for matches. I notice the votive candle on their table is not lit for some reason. I tell him I don't have any matches but can run downstairs and get some. He says, "Never mind." And then grabs a lit candle from the table behind him. I thought, "Well, that's smart. He's just gonna swap the candles so he and Brooke can have romantic candlelight. I'll just light the other one later." I go about my business and turn around a minute later and see Andre trying to light the unlit candle with the lit one. Naturally, the wax starts dripping out of the lit one and he's completely unsuccessful (yet determined) in lighting the candle. I don't know why I spoke up, but I did. I look at him and say, "Andre, why don't you just keep the lit one?" Andre angrily looks at me and places the lit candle down. Brooke giggles and says, "I guess we could have thought of that." Andre glares at me again and I run downstairs realizing I just embarrassed and pissed off the #1 tennis player in the world (at the time). I didn't want to face that killer backhand!
Moral of the story. Leave the candles alone! Well, unless you're Andre Agassi.
When Saturday Night Live is good, it's great. When it's bad, it's horrid. I've watched this show since I was a kid and still do to this day. Even through the unfunny years. There's always hope! This season has been hit or miss. Last week's episode hosted by Paul Rudd was really funny with Justin Timberlake stealing the show. Last night's show, however, sucked balls. They have been bringing in new cast members to freshen things up.
Casey Wilson joined the cast last year in mid-season as one of the supporting players. She soon was getting some more air time and with the inevitable departure of Amy Poehler, she may get more. She's definitely got some chops behind her and I look forward to seeing what she brings to the table. She's done a great Rachel Ray. Let's see what else she's got.
Bobby Moynihan seems to have a great comedy pedigree but I just haven't found him funny. He is responsible for the most annoying new character on there in years. I don't even know the character's name but I've seen him twice. Once as a waiter and last night as a bartender. Basically, he seems to try to be a cross between a black woman/gay man/idiot. I'm really not sure. It's all about him yelling as loud as he can with some sort of affected speech. Again...not funny at all. Lose that character! Here's hoping he has some other much funnier character in the works.
Michaela Watkins made her debut, last night, I believe. She did a spot-on impression of Ariana Huffington. Ariana is pretty well known, though not sure how well known with the SNL crowd. The bit was not brilliant, but that character definitely has potential. She, too, has a pretty impressive comedy resume having worked with the famed Groundlings in L.A. Looking forward to other characters she may have in her arsenal.
Abby Elliot has the strong comedy roots in her bones. Literally. She is the daughter of Chris Elliot, famed Letterman show sketch star among other works. Abby is perhaps SNL's attempt to attract the Twilight/Gossip Girl crowd as she is 21 and quite attractive. Don't let that fool ya! She's worked with the Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade here in NYC. She was barely in the show last night, so I've a feeling she'll eventually start getting some of the spotlight.
Wow. Looks like it's taking 3 women to replace Poehler. Well, she is that good! I'll get to witness this all firsthand at my very first time attending Saturday Night Live on Dec. 6th! (Thanks, Scott!) Fret not, you'll get my update. And not just my Weekend Update. (See what I did there?) Maybe I should be on the show!
How did I miss this one? My co-host of Comic News Insider, Joe, picked this as one of his Top 3 picks in our recent episode 166. He's huge into swing and big band like I am. We both used to be into the swing scene back in the early 90's here in NYC. So, when we both missed this album from 2005, we couldn't believe it. Joe heard about it recently from a co-worker.
Bottom line. It's awesome. Anka sings and has total musical rearrangements of hit pop/rock songs including "Eye of the Tiger", "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Wonderwall", "Black Hole Sun" and "Jump". Paul Anka: Rock Swings is available on iTunes, Amazon and everywhere that's cool. Get it.
