Jimmy's Juke Joint

Jimmy Aquino: Heir to Downton Abbey

Yes, indeed. You all know my bout of Anglophilia is rampant and I enjoy the British telly. Downton Abbey is my newest obsession. PBS graciously showed it as part of their Masterpiece Classic series. While trimmed down a bit from the original airing over in the UK, it still is a fascinating and engaging look at the lives of the upper class and their servants. The official blurb:

The Downton Abbey estate stands a splendid example of confidence and mettle, its family enduring for generations and its staff a well-oiled machine of propriety. But change is afoot at Downton — change far surpassing the new electric lights and telephone. A crisis of inheritance threatens to displace the resident Crawley family, in spite of the best efforts of the noble and compassionate Earl, Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville); his American heiress wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern); his comically implacable, opinionated mother, Violet (Maggie Smith); and his beautiful, eldest daughter, Mary, intent on charting her own course. Reluctantly, the family is forced to welcome its heir apparent, the self-made and proudly modern Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), himself none too happy about the new arrangements. As Matthew's bristly relationship with Mary begins to crackle with electricity, hope for the future of Downton's dynasty takes shape. But when petty jealousies and ambitions grow among the family and the staff, scheming and secrets — both delicious and dangerous — threaten to derail the scramble to preserve Downton Abbey. Created and written by Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park),Downton Abbey offers a spot-on portrait of a vanishing way of life.

Some of my favorites in the cast are as follows:

Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary. 

Joanne Froggatt as Anna, the Head Housemaid.

I also really like Brendan Coyle as Mr. Bates & Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, the Butler. Yes, I realize I am only showing pictures of the ladies. I'm shallow. 

I really enjoy the juxtaposition of storytelling between the classes. The stories involving the staff resonate a bit more but I still enjoy the stories with the family as well. Apparently, it did quite well in the UK for a period drama and a second season is going to start shooting soon. Meanwhile, go catch up online or get the DVDs. You may find yourself saying "Sir" and "Madam" more often. And there's nothing wrong with that. 

Jimmy Aquino Wins SAG Award!

The SAG Awards were tonight. My favorite part each year is the very beginning where they have 4-5 actors in the crowd give a little tale about their life and then end with, "My name is _____. And I'm an actor." 

Usually, the tales are of what they used to do before acting or a quick funny quip about the occupation. I was thinking what mine would be. You know, if I ever got back into acting and became successful enough to even get in the door. I think it would go a little something like this. 

"I used to clean a theater while simultaneously running the children's program. This, of course, was after jail time. Excess bourbon and stripper after stripper soon commenced. That led to the alleged deaths of a few people (I got off on "temporary insanity") and eventually my invention of the Slap Chop. My name is Jimmy Aquino. And I'm an actor." 

Berger on the Onion SportsDome!

If you're not familiar with The Onion newspaper, then you are not cool and hip like I am. The satirical paper has been around for years. In recent years, they started doing videos online and it's proving to be just as funny as the paper. And an extension of that is their new show Onion SportsDome on Comedy Central, a spoof of shows like ESPN's Sports Center. (They also have a new show called Onion News Network on IFC). I'm really digging both but have a personal stake to the sports related one. 

That's an old buddy of mine up there in the photo! Matt Walton plays anchor "Alex Reiser". Matt and I did the 30th anniversary production of the hit 60's hippie musical Hair back in '98. He played "Berger" and I played "Woof". Don't believe me? Check it.

That's us backstage at some point. What a great show and we had a blast doing it. I'm still in touch with Matty and I'm really proud to see him succeed. You probably recognize him from many various commercials over the years as well. Do me a favor and check him out Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. It's funny stuff! 

Superman vs. Taxes

Apparently, I'm going to owe a ton of money. Not a billion, like Superman, but it might as well be. Looks like I'll be cancelling some of the trips I had planned. Curse you, Super Tax Man! 

NYC Now

Comic News Insider Episode 314 - Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, SHIELD)

 
Comic News Insider: Episode 314 is now available for free download! Click on the link or get it through iTunes! Sponsored by Dynamic Forces.

Reviews: Doctor Who #1, Gore #1, Memoir #1, Wolverine and Jubilee #1, Buffy Season 8: #40

Stacey Whittle of Small Press Big Mouth & Megacast podcast fame joins Jimmy in the rotating co-host chair this week. They discuss Oscar nominations, X-Men film set picture leaks, and congrats are sent out to Tony & Tracy Lee on their nuptials and Alison Rosen on landing the "Newsgirl" gig on the Adam Carolla show! Jonathan Hickman joins Jimmy to discuss the big death news in the recent Fantastic Four issue and he gives an exclusive about another title he is working on. News includes: Wizard magazine shuts down, Wonder Woman pilot back on, DC & Archie drop comics code, Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Ronald D. Moore's new show, Angry Birds animated series, James Kochalka is Vermont's Cartoonist Laureate and more!  Listener feedback and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!

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My Cherry Chocolate Love

I have found a new love. Chocolate covered cherry flavored jelly beans. Thank you, Jelly Belly for making my belly full of jelly. 

Jimmy Aquino Finally Does the Batdance!

Finally! I got to see Prince in concert at Madison Square Garden last night. It was epic. Mad props to my girl Zena for taking me. He did a big variety of hits on his symbol shaped stage. You know the symbol I mean. The one he called himself for a few years. 

Yep. That one. He shredded the shit out of his guitar as well. People forget that he is an amazing musician. A true and well learned one. He even said at one point, "Real music from real musicians. Ya'll know what I'm talking about!" A little jibe at the autotuned pop stars of today, no doubt. His band, New Power Generation, rocked it. His backup singers were 3 powerhouse ladies who sang almost more than he did. Hot ass and energetic twins were the backup dancers. Methinks I love them. 

At one point, he grabbed a girl from the VIP section up front and serenaded her. It was Leighton Meester. The smoking hot actress from Gossip Girl. 

That's her in a promo shot and then an actual shot from the concert last night. Later on, Prince invited people up on stage to dance. Again, VIP section only and we saw the likes of Jimmy Fallon and Mos Def up there. Awesomeness. 

I'll admit, I got a bit nostalgic when he played "Purple Rain" as it was a big part of my childhood. And we always sang it at high school football games since our colors were purple/white. Of course, we changed the signs to spell "Purple Reign"! 

It was an amazing experience and I would definitely go see him again. Especially since I hear he changes up the show all of the time. If you get the chance...GO! His name is Prince. And yes, he is funky. 

Comic News Insider Episode 313 - Brad Meltzer

 
 Comic News Insider: Episode 313 is now available for free download! Click on the link or get it through iTunes! Sponsored by Dynamic Forces.

Reviews: Ultimate Captain America #1, Weird Worlds #1, Spawn #200. The Cape on NBC, Being Human on SyFy (U.S. version), Green Hornet film

Barry Nugent from the Geek Syndicate podcast in the UK joins Jimmy as the first of many in the new rotating c0-host chair! Former c0-host/founder Joe is still around producing the show for the next few weeks to help in the transition. And he even jumps in to do a review with Jimmy and interview Brad Meltzer solo! Barry & Jimmy chat about the Captain America andSpider-Man set pictures (ooh, mechanical web shooters!). News includes: a collected works of Kate Beaton, SDCC parade, comic book theater festival in NYC, Matt Fraction on new Thor title, new U.S. made Death Note film, Wonder Woman make up line and more! Listener feedback and more! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!

Also, get a hold of us!

212 501 6246

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Formspring Me!

Not familiar with Formspring? It's yet another social network site. This one is strictly to ask people questions and get answers. (I think I mentioned it on here before). A lot of my comic book creator friends use it to answer questions from their fans. I started one as well and have had a few listeners and friends ask questions that have been burning in their brain about me. Here are some of the more interesting questions with my answers (in italics). 

• Name 3 songs (or albums) that the moment you listen to them, they transport you to another time, an encapsulated memory triggered by the notes... (if you can think of 3).

Well, sense memory has pretty much every other song doing that. Seriously, name a song I know and I'll probably have some memory of something I was doing at the time. :) But, a few...

Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill: Takes me back to highschool. Friends & I did a couple of songs for an airband competition. Also reminds me of cruising down 1st street in Jacksonville Beach, FL where I grew up. 

Father MC: I think his first album where JoDeCi did most of the back ups. Reminds me of my girlfriend at the time (Dionne) and I singing along in her car on the way to rehearsals for this musical we were doing. Granted, he's not well known and didn't really last (though I think he released something new recently), it was a big album back in the day.

The Cult - Electric: Love this album and listened to it often and still do. Best memory is one year in college. Our theater professor took the theater majors with her to her alma mater, Ole Miss, every year for a few days. Always a few diff cars of people went. One year, my bud Brad drove me, Heather and another friend. I remember blasing the shit out of this album at 4am as he was speeding down the Tennessee highway at around 90 mph. And Heather waking up in the backseat screaming, "Can you turn this shit down?!!!" To which we replied, "NO!" :)

• Is there a classic novel that you would love to illustrate (or see illustrated)? Which one? And if not you, then whom would you have do the illustrations?

I can barely sign my name so no way that I could illustrate. And I feel most classic stuff has been done over the years. Coming from an acting background, I'd like to see some of Tennessee Williams stuff illustrated as he was one of my fave playwrights.

• What is your favorite Christmas album to listen to this time of year?

Oh wow. You must know what a Christmas nerd I am. I tend to buy a few new albums each year. And listen to all of them. Ha! Some faves include: Muppets, Brian Setzer, Harry Connick Jr, Straight No Chaser, Frank & Bing, Kristin Chenoweth, Elvis Presely and the list goes on!

• Favorite artist... top of your head (past or present)... GO!

I answered that the other day and went through a huge list as I couldn't narrow down. But since we're going top of my head....not sure why he's there but...
CHARLES ADDAMS. 

Just brilliant stuff. I have a new collection of his work. Brilliant, dark and beautiful.

• If your life was portrayed in comics, would it be: Indie B/W, Mainstream Color, or Manga!?

Indie B/W. It's cooler. Like me. :)

• What's the most awkward situation you've ever been in?

I was doing a musical way back in the day. Female costumes were identical. My girlfriend at the time was in show. Decided to grab her in her "lady bits" as a joke. Oops. It wasn't her!

• Daddy?

Which one of you is asking? I'll need a DNA test for proof.

• What do you hope to accomplish is the next year? 2 years? 5 years?

Next year: Move to UK. 2 years: Marry Cheryl Cole, open bar/comic book shop, fill in the empty slot left by Jonathan Ross as best chat show host. 5 years: Be crowned King.

• If your house was on fire and you could only grab three things, what would they be?

Computer. Stripper. Bourbon. Not necessarily in that order.

• Who's the smartest person you know?

Michael Emerson. Or myself. I am Asian after all.

• What's the origin of your name?

Aquino could come from the legendary St. Thomas Aquinas. Yeah, I'm holy, bitches!

Got questions of your own or just want to read up what has already been asked? Go to my Formspring!