you're fucking out, i'm fucking in

I was sick all weekend and I'm still trying to break my cough and congestion, but one good thing about laying around the apartment all weekend is that I got to watch A LOT of TV. I watched the entire first season of "Eastbound and Down" starring Danny McBride. He made my sides hurt he was so funny in "Pineapple Express" and "Tropic Thunder", but this show elevates his comedic strengths to new heights. As Kenny Powers, the down on his luck ex-baseball player living with his brother and trying his best at being a middle school P.E. teacher, McBride brings joy to watching someone so painfully awkward and pathetic. Exploiting the maladroit man-child is almost everywhere you look in film comedies, but it's not quite this vulgar and plain funny on TV. Laughing at the sad man on the small tube hasn't never felt so good.

me and my buddy

Shockingly, I haven't owned a TV since I moved to New York. Well, it's a new year, therefore I needed a new TV. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to my new 26" HDTV. I think I'm in love.

p.s. Five dollars to the first person that can correctly identify the movie playing on the TV.

penthouse pet

Ain't that the life? I have a not so guilty pleasure for E!'s "Girls Next Door" and while I was home over the holidays watching a marathon, Hef and the girls were going through his scrapbooks that detail his enviable life. Hef fondly reminisced the days of "Playboy After Dark", his short lived television series from the late 60's that purported the myth of the swanky, louche, playboy lifestyle his empire embodied. It may look silly and outdated, but it looks fun as hell. I wouldn't mind spending my New Years with a lemon schnapps and lounge singer entertainment.

Other great moments on the series via YouTube:
Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate, and Hef discuss sex on film

James Brown performs "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud"

George Carlin regaling the crowd

the confessional

I didn't watch much new television this year, but this was definitely one of the best that I caught:

Peggy atones for her sins on the season finale of "Mad Men."

the jet set

Some of the magic explained...

P.S. Thoughts on the season finale and predictions for next season?

last of the followers

Okay, okay, I get it now. It's everything they say it is.

never too much

Feist
"1234" on "Sesame Street"

In a lot of ways she may be very last year, but doesn't this melt your heart just a little bit?

the island

You'll have to excuse the lack of posting lately. I have been completely, head over heels, absofuckinglutely enamored with "Lost." I know I'm four years too late but I just finished season one and I think it's safe to say I'm officially hooked.

p.s. If you ruin anything for me beyond season one I will hunt you down and kill you. I wish I was joking.

how to turn 80

As a subscriber of Interview I've noticed a change in the past two issues. There are new photographers, interview subjects I'm not entirely familiar with, a graphic black and white design scheme, and less emphasis on celebrity interviewing celebrity. The intersection between art, glamour, and the exchanging of ideas in form of a one on one conversation has been freshened up by newly appointed editorial directors Glenn O'Brien and Fabien Baron. Charlie Rose gathered O'Brien, cover subject Marc Jacobs, contributing fashion editor Stephanie Seymour, and publisher Peter Brant for a discussion on the synthesis of art and business, the legacy of Warhol, and the future of magazine's new life.

us and them

Okay, I'll fess up. I have seen every single episode of "Sex and the City." I was there for every orgasm, every bad date, every sex talk over lunch, every marriage, every not-so happy ending, and then some. I'm not afraid to admit this because as much as men, or straight men more specifically, won't admit it, "Sex and the City" has potentially forever changed men and how we communicate, interact, and in some ways, approach sex with women. A breath of fresh sex-soaked air in the late '90s on HBO, "Sex and the City" offered a glossy, gleaming world of cocktails, late night parties, and a smorgasboard of designer frocks, but more importantly it was a show that asserted the importance of love, intimacy, and self-acceptance. The greatest love we learn at the end of the series is the love you have for yourself. As trite as that might sound, that idea woke up women up from their fairy tale fog of being saved and defined by a man and gave them permission to desire the best life on their own terms. What does this have to do with men? Quite a bit, actually.

What makes "Sex and the City" such compelling and unique entertainment is the dichotomy of the real and the unreal. The women of "Sex and the City" were unashamed to pay $485 for a pair of shoes and yet we also watched them endure difficult break-ups, disappointments with the trajectory of their lives, and other harsh realities we all must face as we age and live. The artifice aspect is what seems to put off men the most, but the show brilliantly balanced that world with an emotional realism that was palpable enough to became a tonic for women to feel good about themselves that not only have they had to deal with men that weren't right them, but so has Carrie and the gang. Michael Patrick King, the director of the new film and one of the creators of the original series, was a guest on "Charlie Rose" last night and mentioned that he found as the show has gone into late night syndication that it has become a source of cozy comfort for women before they go to bed. They watch it piously and never tire of episodes they've seen time and again. It's a relationship that can't be broken. As a result they have ingratiated the ideology of the show into their own lives. Women are now allowed to no feel wrong, improper, or irrelevant for the mistakes they make. They can also be strong, sexual, assertive, and yet human, weak, and still wanting more. I can't think of too many television shows or movies that have retained such a captive audience always willing to come back to watch Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte assure them that life is full of triumphs and despair.

With a newly discovered sense of self via the magical world of "Sex", it has in turn made women want to emulate that same sort of quest for self-love and defined acceptance from the opposite sex. Love yourself first and the find the guy who will love you the same. If women want to wait to find themselves, then where does that leave men? A new breed of men, of course.

I caught a matinee of "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" not too long ago and it made me think of the funny era we're in cinema right now in terms of male representation. What does it mean to be a man in the 21st century and how is that reflective at the movies? Well, if you look at the flaccid, sobbing, insecure mess that is Peter Bretter (Jason Segal), we're clearly not in John Wayne territory. It's suddenly become okay for men to accept and voice their feelings. We can look pathetic, needy, sullen over a break up. Peter just wants to be loved, and isn't that something we all want? We might have never been aware of it had it not been for the the sex and love life of Carrie Bradshaw and its persuasive pull on women.

If "Sex and the City" has changed men through the stories of the women on the show, then surely the stories of the men on the show have changed our perception of maleness too, right? The three loves of Carrie Bradshaw can be broken down into the good, the bad, and the ugly. Aidan, the sensitive furniture designer, was as open and perfect as she could want from a man. However, the thought of settling down with one guy frightened her, as it does for a man to think he's chained to one woman the rest of his life, and caused her to ruin the relationship by cheating on him with Mr. Big. I once had a guy tell me he thought Berger was the most accurate representation of a man on the show. If that's true, then men are in trouble. Berger was threatened by the success of Carrie and turned inward like a child and resulted to insults and not dealing with his feelings in a grown-up fashion. He eventually dumped her on a Post It note and faded away into douchebag obscurity. The ugliest of them all is of course, Mr. Big, in all of his alpha male-emotionally-unavailable glory. Mr. Big typifies the kind of guy every guy wants to be--wealthy, powerful, attractive to any woman--but this is a an archaic definition of men. The show was always smart to not only use women as archetypes to make a point, but to abstract men as well. Aidan, Berger, and Big are in no way the summation of men, but filtered through the perspective of a woman and what she wants, their purpose is to empower women with the feeling of "don't make the same mistakes we did." The standards for attractive qualities in men and women have not been the same since.

Most of fall, the show is about friendship, which in my mind is not gender specific. Men socialize in groups similar to when Carrie and co. have lunch or go shopping. Substitute locker rooms, sports bars, and other stereotypical places you might find the average Joe talking about who crawled into his bed last night and it's the same principle. It's always perplexed me that men find this part of the show inaccessible. Men depend on their male friends just as much as the women on the show do. Male friendships minus their macho surface entail the same intimacy, honesty, and acceptance we want from the opposite sex. Admit it or not, it's true. One of the most poignant moments in the series happened when Carrie, down about a recent break-up, stumbles upon her friends at a local eatery where she immediately perks up and is warmly welcomed in. Over voice-over she eloquently states, "The most important thing in life is your family. There are days you love them, and others you don't. But, in the end, they're the people you always come home to. Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself." I'd like to know what man can't relate to that sentiment.

"Sex and the City" has changed our culture in more ways than one, but what persists is the way it has trickled down to the real world of what we want out life and what we deserve. We're all creatures wanting to be loved and accepted and most of all, content with ourselves. That might sound like something Carrie would say and that's because she has. I challenge men to tell me this isn't a truth in their own life. Deal with it guys, this show has transformed us and them.

big screen

Although I'm using my Economic Stimulus check in the most responsible of ways (damn you car payments), I would like to start saving for a new TV. I'm not concerned about the size (although in the 30"-50" range would be nice), but I would want something bold, slim, and fully capable of displaying a sharp, crisp image. I need something that can best serve watching this. Any suggestions?

politics, finally

A possible first lady with a sense of humor and great legs? Bill and Cindy, be afraid. Be very afraid.

for melis

These bitches interned at Teen Vogue and they can't even pronounce GHEE-VON-SHEE? Lisa Love and Riccardo Tisci would not be pleased.

and the oscar goes to...

The 80th Annual Academy Awards are this Sunday and I could not be more excited. It's three hours of glamour, the recognition of the best of film (although that is never accurate), and lots of self-gratulation. I love it. Here are my picks for who will win, who should win, and who should have been nominated:

BEST PICTURE
Will Win: "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

BEST DIRECTOR
Will Win: Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: David Fincher, "Zodiac"

BEST ACTRESS
Will Win: Julie Christie, "Away From Her"
Should Win: I'm pretty ambivalent about this category. The actresses nominated gave good, if not great performances, but this was a relatively weak year in film for memorable lead female roles. Ellen Page would be an exciting upset. I hope she wouldn't say "sweet" or thank her cheeseburger phone.
Should Have Been Nominated: Tang Wei, "Lust, Caution"

BEST ACTOR
Will and Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: Brad Pitt, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Will Win: Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"
Should Win: It's a close race, but I'm curious what kind of acceptance speech Tilda Swinton would make. Does Hollywood even know who she is?
Should Have Been Nominated: Emmanuelle Seigner, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Will Win: Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Should Have Been Nominated: Irfan Khan, "The Namesake"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Will Win: Diablo Cody, "Juno"
Should Win: Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"
Should Have Been Nominated: Kelly Masterson, "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Will Win: Joel and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: Aaron Sorkin, "Charlie Wilson's War"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Will Win: Roger Deakins, "No Country for Old Men"
Should Win: Roger Deakins, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Should Have Been Nominated: Edward Lachman, "I'm Not There"

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Will Win: "Elizabeth: Golden Age"
Should Win: "Atonement"
Should Have Been Nominated: "American Gangster"

BEST ART DIRECTION
Will Win and Should Win: "There Will Be Blood"
Should Have Been Nominated: "Eastern Promises"

BEST DOCUMENTARY
Will Win: "Sicko"
Should Win: "No End In Sight"
Should Have Been Nominated: "Crazy Love"

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Will and Should Win: "Atonement"
Should Have Been Nominated: "There Will Be Blood"

EDIT: Something is brewing for Oscar coverage. Hold your breath. Make a wish. Count to three...

i only watched for the commercials

Am I the only one that thought this was the oddest Super Bowl commercial ever?

Since when is Naomi Campbell a dancer? Why have a dance off with lizards? Why "Thriller"? Odd. Odd. Odd.

not quite astronaut jones

Gee, Tracy Morgan, what have you been up to during the writers' strike?

brown paper packages tied up with strings...

I can't believe there are only a few days left in 2007. There were surprises, disappointments, delicious meals, newly cemented friendships, long nights, fantastic parties, and most of all, the discovery of my new favorite things. When I think about 2007 fifty years from now I'm not sure how I would describe it, but perhaps these ten things will jog my memory:

Naughty trompe l'oeil at Marc Jacobs

Paul Reubens guest starring on "30 Rock"

Hating the iPhone

Time lapse sequence in David Fincher's "Zodiac"

My Rag & Bone jacket

M.I.A.

The asparagus at Basa

My bed

"Killer of Sheep", dir. Charles Burnett

"My Moon My Man" video, Feist

do you know the soulja boy dance?

Can you imagine attempting to learn a new dance on national television, much less a tricky, hip-hop inspired maneuver that everyone under the age of 16 knows by heart? Natalie Portman, I love you just a little bit more.

get it while it's hot!

What happens when NYC indie rock group The Walkmen and the fashionable singletons of "Sex and the City" converge? Don't ask why but I wish they would have reenacted Carrie exclaiming, pun intended of course, "Okay, you don't have to Challah!", in response to a frazzled and squealing Charlotte, who was preparing a traditional Jewish dinner for her possible and traditionally Jewish husband Harry Goldenblatt. However, hearing these masculine, deep voices worry about what they're going to wear to a Dolce & Gabanna party or kvetch about man problems at Yankee Stadium, all the while merrily laughing at the absurdity of it all, is satisfactory enough.

Click here to listen.

the conversation

This guy makes me proud to be from Kentucky. He's articulate, charming, and he plays with the idea of being a movie star and George Clooney in his film choices, which is always a pleasure for us as his enamored audience. His passion for film, politics, and closing down restaurants is especially endearing in this interview with Charlie Rose.