Tom Hanks "Slams" "Full House"

Tom Hanks performs some Slam Poetry concerning the television show "Full House". It's a very powerful episode.


HAVE MERCY.... on Uncle Jesse.

Incidentally, Hanks' walk-on music was "My Life" by Billy Joel.

The Greatest Event in Television History

Yesterday "The Greatest Event in Television History" aired. I assume everyone saw it because, well, how could you miss the greatest event in television history?

But for the sake of completeness, and because it's such a giant deal, I'll post it here.




RIP Jon Hamm.

Late Night - Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken was on Late Night last night. Admittedly, the interview is more informative than funny but I enjoyed it.

They talk about the "Cowbell" sketch, "The Continental" and touch on Chris' career as a child performer.

To play him on, the Roots played a version of "Don't Fear the Reaper" which featured 80% cowbell and 20% rest of the song. Excellent.


Part 1:


Part 2:


Part 3:

Jimmy Fallon on Letterman

Last week, Jimmy Fallon was a guest on the "Late Show" with David Letterman. There is no link released by the Late Show that encompasses the entire interview so here is the youtube.

Jimmy and Dave talk about working at NBC, Jimmy's new feud with Bruce Jenner and Jimmy does his Neil Young (the second guest).



When Dave labels Bruce Jenner as a famous athlete, the audience laughs. I can't decide if this is disturbing. Do people not know that anymore?

Jerry Seinfeld During the Break

Last time Jerry Seinfeld was on "Late Night", him and Jimmy had fun during the break answering questions from the audience and generally goofing around. So they decided to do it again. Hopefully this is a new tradition.



The "Real" Jimmy Fallon is intense, man.

IMDB 250 8.3 - The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers (2012)

Plot: Okay, so there's this guy who's like a guy or a god - or an alien? or a god alien - and he comes from another dimension or another planet or he's from Earth originally - but he's from somewhere else now. I think he uses a portal of energy - is it a blackhole? - I think they describe it as a door. And he can erase people's brains or steal their soul or something.... and Samuel L. Jackson is there and he causes it somehow.... Maybe he doesn't. Aw, Hell, I don't know....

Plot: Hulk Smash!

I was never into comic books and, of the movies preceding "The Avengers", I've only seen "Iron Man". That means there's a lot I don't know about who the characters are and what they do. And there's a lot  I don't know about their backstory and what the hell any of what they're doing really means. That means there are a few chunks of plot exposition that I don't follow at all - a sizable detraction from the enjoyment. But the bottom line is that when the fists start flying, it's supremely obvious who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.

One of the aspects of action movies that's become tiresome and cliche is the need for "comic relief". It isn't enough that James Bond offs a dude, he has to make a bad pun afterwards to no one in particular. One of the great things about this movie is that the jokes work. Credit to Joss Whedon, the humor is smart and genuinely funny. Part of the reason the humor works is because the characters work as well. Behind the explosions and CGI, we get a sense of these very different personalities, all coming together and agreeing, disagreeing, squabling, getting on each other's nerves and everything else a family is supposed to do.

In short, this movie is exactly what it's supposed to be - it's a fun summer "popcorn" movie. It's a big-budget special effects escapist blockbuster. It's exciting, it's loud and it's engaging. Of course, no one really needs my review because everyone's already seen it.

8/10.
Total Top "250" Movies Seen: 364.