RHINO RECORDS POP UP STORE: From the wise and wonderful Gary Stewart: “This year, the Rhino Records Pop Up will benefit MusiCares. MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. Their services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. And frankly a number of folks who played the store and/or were part of the LA Scene/community have been helped by MusiCares. The store is set to operate May 27 – June 12, 2011, and we are planning more uniquely Rhino moments to raise funds and entertain customers. I hope you’ll be volunteering your time, donating CDs, DVDs or pop culture items collecting dust in your home or office. Please contact event coordinator, Cinnamon Muhlbauer. Her email is: cinnamon.muhlbauer@gmail.com. She will coordinate everything with you including pick-up of product and the proper documentation for a tax write off.”
COMMUNITY: A brilliant episode that paid homage to classic spaghetti western films and was chock full of funny and sexy thanks to Josh Holloway and Joel McHale in western gear. Also fantastic: Annie as a true pistol-packin’ mama who really knew how to shoot. Abed never fails to crack me up and this week’s episode was no exception — maybe it was the serape? I’m eagerly awaiting next week’s season finale, which is the conclusion to “Fistful of Paintballs.”
PARKS AND REC: Standout moments: Leslie’s flying leap onto her nemesis played by Parker Posey (nice to see her onscreen), Chris kissing Ron to wish him Happy Birthday, and that final scene when Leslie gives Ron the birthday gift he really wants: a quiet room, a dinner comprised of meat and scotch while he watched “Bridge on the River Kwai.” I love how the PARKS AND REC writers know exactly when to keep it simple and direct for maximum effect. They’re never sappy or maudlin but we get to see the friendship between Leslie and Ron. Loved it.
THE OFFICE: Pass.
30 ROCK: More insanity as Liz decided to spend her summer break in the Hamptons and the next thing you know, Ina Garten invited her over for bruschetta and wine. Then Tracy moved in and made her life in the Hamptons unbearable. Is it just me or was the Jenna story exceedingly weird? The Jack/Kenneth story was odd (having Kenneth play Jack’s wife) but strangely sweet, which I’ve come to expect from the show. One memo to the show’s writers: please, never mention Lutz wearing a diaper ever again.
QUERY FOR IDOL FANS: Are you watching THE VOICE? If so, what do you think? I’m not an IDOL fan but I’m digging THE VOICE because I like coaches CeeLo Green and Adam Levine. While Blake Shelton knows country music, I think he’s inflexible when it comes to recognizing any talent that’s not country-friendly.
FUNNY ALERT FOR MONDAY 5/9: Comedy genius Albert Brooks visits with David Letterman Monday night. If you don’t know who Brooks is, rent the movies REAL LIFE, LOST IN AMERICA and DEFENDING YOUR LIFE immediately.
MORE BIRTHDAY WISHES: My friend Lisa A is celebrating tomorrow, Saturday. Also celebrating tomorrow, one of my longest-standing friends TSJ; we’ve known each other since fifth grade and we still speak to each other, which, to my mind, means miracles *do* happen.
TODAY’S SURF WRITTEN WHILE LISTENING TO: Raphael Saadiq’s “Radio” – just TRY to sit still when you listen to this: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/sy-745334553001/raphael_saadiq_radio_official_music_video/
Time for the weekend rundown.
Friday 5/06/11
ABC: 8:00 p.m. Shark Tank 9:00 p.m. Primetime: What Would You Do? 10:00 p.m. 20/20
CBS: 8:00 p.m. Flashpoint (season premiere) 9:00 p.m. CSI: NY 10:00 p.m. Blue Bloods
NBC: 8:00 p.m. Friday Night Lights 9:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours)
Fox: 8:00 p.m. Kitchen Nightmares 9:00 p.m. Fringe (season finale)
I’m going out of my mind at the thought of tonight’s FRINGE season finale. I can’t bear the thought of either universe being destroyed!
CW: 8:00 p.m. Smallville 9:00 p.m. Supernatural
HBO: 10pm: Real Time with Bill Maher – tonight’s guests include author/scholar Michael Eric Dyson, author/reporter Jeremy Scahill (he wrote a book about Blackwater and he’s versed in the JSOC), commentator David Frum
Saturday 5/07/11: Tina Fey hosts SNL!!
ABC: 8:00 p.m. 2011 NBA Conference Semi-Finals
CBS: 8:00 p.m. NCIS (R) 9:00 p.m. NCIS: Los Angeles (R) 10:00 p.m. 48 Hours
NBC: 8:00 p.m. Chase 9:00 p.m. Law & Order: Los Angeles (R) 10:00 p.m. Law & Order: SVU (R), 11:30pm: Tina Fey hosts SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE with musical guest Elle Goulding.
Fox: 8:00 p.m. NASCAR
Sunday 5/08/11
ABC: 7:00 p.m. America’s Funniest Home Videos 8:00 p.m. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 9:00 p.m. Desperate Housewives 10:00 p.m. Brothers & Sisters
CBS: 7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes 8:00 p.m. The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business (season finale) 10:00 p.m. CSI: Miami (season finale)
NBC: 7:00 p.m. Dateline 8:00 p.m. Celebrity Apprentice (three hours)
FOX: 7:00 p.m. The Simpsons (R) 7:30 p.m. American Dad 8:00 p.m. The Simpsons 8:30 p.m. Bob Burgers 9:00 p.m. Family Guy 9:30 p.m. The Cleveland Show
PBS: 9pm: Masterpiece Classic: South Riding part 2
Bravo: Real Housewives of Orange County
USA: 9pm: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, 10pm: In Plain Sight (special guest star Bradley Whitford)
Showtime: 9pm: The Borgias
Lifetime: 9pm: Army Wives, 10pm: Coming Home
TLC: 9pm: Sister Wives
HBO: 9pm: Game of Thrones
That’s a wrap for this week.
