hurricanes and aural things...

Charley, the hurricane, is heading our way. Our area here in Savannah is under a Hurricane Warning. He'll get here tomorrow A.M. and we're expecting winds of 60-80 MPH, and heavy, heavy rain which will begin early this morning. So stay indoors and don't go out, unless you've already committed yourself to working a mid-shift (like myself). Hell, I got a free movie pass out of it so what do I care. I think I'll shower in a little bit. ZZZ....is anyone even reading this? Yellow matter custard...



The Sound of Sincerity


I have in my hands the soundtrack to one of the most highly praised and critically acclaimed movies of the year. Actor Zach Braff of NBC's off-kilter and greatly dark comedy Scrubs writes and directs Garden State, an ode to his native New Jersey and a quirky movie from all accounts. The film, released domestically by Fox Searchlight and internationally by Miramax, will open nationwide on August 20th. I've heard great things about Braff's hand-picked selection of songs for this soundtrack so I decided to pick it up. I greatly anticipate seeing his movie and hope to enjoy a refreshing new filmmaker's first burst of shimmering artistic aplomb.

Here is the tracklist for the Garden State soundtrack:

1. COLDPLAY Don't Panic
2. THE SHINS Caring Is Creepy
3. ZERO 7 In The Waiting Line
4. THE SHINS New Slang
5. COLIN HAY I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You
6. CARY BROTHERS Blue Eyes
7. REMY ZERO Fair
8. NICK DRAKE One Of These Things First
9. THIEVERY CORPORATION Lebanese Blonde
10. SIMON & GARFUNKEL The Only Living Boy In New York
11. IRON AND WINE Such Good Heights
12. FROU FROU Let Go
13. BONNIE SOMERVILLE Winding Road

Zach also was the executive producer of the soundtrack. With a sterling cast, a precise wit, and alot of precise music, Zach Braff's Garden State, both on film and on disc, looks to be the much-needed first flame of brilliant creativity and passionate daydream that signals the return of autumn. Not with a change of foliage, but a change of film genre. From the overblown spectacles of summer to intimate character studies in the autumn, Garden State will hopefully be the first in a litany of the new season's best and most real cinema. And I can't wait one bit. Don't forget to head over to Zach's Blog at the movie's official website. It's pretty darn cool.



Old Logo



New Logo & Station Slogan

The Media General-owned NBC affiliate here in Savannah unveiled a very modern, very sleek, very cool looking set during their 5PM newscast side. Along with this was new imaging & voiceovers. Their former positioner/slogan was "News 3 - Coverage You Can Count On". That's now been replaced with "WSAV 3 On Your Side". This can be seen at the station's website, http://www.wsav.com/Scroll down to find the New Set! New Look! icon.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe I've seen several other NBC affiliates with this logo recently. I think I read an article a little while ago that stated many affiliates would be converting to this type of logo before the new fall season started. Can anyone confirm?
With WSAV doing this, WTOC needs to step up. They look like they're broadcasting out of a college campus. But when you're excited to air Brooklet's Peanut Festival and are bound and determined to avoid being labeled as the CBS affiliate you are, I guess a silly little thing like presentation doesn't matter much, huh? But I digress. Don't get me started on WTGS (FOX 28).

Kilborn Leaving "Late Late Show"

Well, I enjoyed him every now and then but Conan's always been my favorite. Did anyone see the "infomercial" episode last night ("INCREDIBLE VIEWABLES!")with Bruce Jenner & Conan doing a hard sell on the 10th Anniversary and Triumph DVDs? So does anyone think CBS might open up the old Viacom wallet to lure Conan over? His contract isn't up until December 2005 but things change. And if not, where does this leave CBS? Jon Stewart's locked at Comedy Central; he just signed a lucrative, long-term deal through 2008, although Viacom owns CBS & Comedy Central so never say never. Stewart has publicly stated that he and "The Daily Show" writers have alot of freedom that a network would never give them, so him on CBS might be a moot point. Any thoughts? Remember Letterman owns that 12:35 spot that follows his show via his production company Worldwide Pants Inc as part of his contract. The next few months should be very interesting indeed.

I have a few movies from work that'll be coming out in a few months: Mario Van Peebles Badassssss!, a movie that he wrote and directed about his father Melvin's ordeal making the very first blaxploitation movie, Sweet Sweetback's Bad Assssss Song! I also have Young Adam starring Tilda Swinton and Ewan McGregor, and Walking Tall, the remake with The Rock. Walking Tall will release on DVD 9/28; the others release on 9/14.

On tonight's Real Time with Bill Maher Michelle Malkin will be on. Hopefully Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd (whose new book is Bushworld: Enter At Your Own Risk) and Bill will verbally smack her down.

Sunday's Dead Like Me is as follows: The Shallow End NEW EPISODE: Sunday, August 15 at 10pm ET/PT George reflects back on her childhood and decides that the secret to popularity is being mean to people. Enjoy.

Call me crazy but HBO's new show Entourage is incredibly funny and well-written. A semi-autobiography of Mark Wahlberg's (he executive produces) inclusion of his childhood buddies when he makes it big in Hollywood (living in the same mansion), it lays bare the shallowness of agents and the whole scene for all to see. Jeremy Piven is especially good as the lead (Adrian Grenier)'s agent, Ari, a nasty asshole who knows more than you and if you don't like it go fuck yourself. Catch it Sundays at 10PM Eastern.

HBO's first season of Carnivale streets the first week of December. Since I was unable to watch all of it (I'd yet to discover the joys of TiVo) this will make a great birthday (December 2nd) present.

Head on over to GreenDay.com and listen to the first single off their forthcoming album, American Idiot. It's good stuff.

Also, here are the trailers for Mike Nichols's Closer starring Jude Law, Natalie Portman, and Julia Roberts. Word on the street is that this is Sony's Oscar bait and I can't wait to see it. In other news it looks like Adam Sandler's going to try to continue his streak of acting in good movies that started with Punch Drunk Love. He's in James L. Brooks's Spanglish with Tea Leoni, Cloris Leachman, and the breathtaking Paz Vega. Follow that link to the movie's trailer. I simply cannot wait for winter and the intelligent movies that come with it. Enough Catwoman-like crap! Bring on the cerebral!

Well, I'm going to go do something productive like...ah hell who am I kidding? Take it easy and if you're really good I might blog before bed! Aw yeah! That's almost as good as $240 worth of pudding!

Laters not nows,

Jason