In a piece of news that was seemingly off the radar of possibility for over two decades, U2’s 1987 masterpiece album, The Joshua Tree, ranked no. 47 this week on the Billboard Top 200 album charts.
This consumer appreciation movement was likely inspired by some post Super Bowl commercial curiosity and general goodwill toward U2’s new single, “Invisible.” Whatever it was, people are buying The Joshua Tree again and it feels so good.
Last night marked the return of The Walking Dead, AMC’s ratings juggernaut and the at times stand-in for a “bad acting and writing combination” PSA (any scenes that have featured both Rick and the Governor would fall under this category). My relationship with The Walking Dead began with justified curiosity about what Frank Darabont could do with a television series (my loyalty to The Shawshank Redemption director is as thick as Carl’s chocolate pudding) and those first six episodes that made up the first season were exceptional. We are now several showrunners, even more lead character deaths, and one too many unnecessary farming diversions away from the early show promise. The task of maintaining a relationship with this series has not been easy.
The final episode of part one of season four last fall came at a cost: Yes, (SPOILER ALERT!) David Morrissey’s incredibly and increasingly silly Governor finally perished in what can only be seen an act of mercy for the viewing audience. His destructive walk through this little corner of dystopic Georgia that continues to be the centerpiece of this series (it would be so nice to meet some new people in other parts of the world facing the same inexplicable people eating epidemic) had run its course long ago. Unfortunately, (SPOILER ALERT!) Hershel’s emotional and tragic death was the cost. In a world where keeping sane and retaining human dignity is a constant battle (a continual fight for Rick Grimes), Hershel was steadfast and true. He was impacted like the rest of them and made his share of ill-advised emotional decisions (see: his barn visitors from season two), but his kindness, wisdom, and inspiring pony-tail managed to always step on a higher plane of integrity. Now that he is gone, where will the stabilizing force of sanity come from on a weekly basis?
Last night’s episode, focused solely on the Grimes duo, Carl and Rick, and the seemingly invincible sword magician, Michonne, put this question, and the future solubility of The Walking Dead to the test. The “A” story was all about Carl and Rick’s first days separated from the group in the aftermath of the prison bloodbath cliffhanger from last fall. Spending time with the Grimes family has always been its own kind of horror story for lovers of “acting” and “writing,” but last night thankfully flirted with the idea of a world with one fewer Grimes (sorry Judith, we will wait until you can read dialogue before you can be linked to Mom, Dad, and big brother’s artistic troubles). Rick took a literal beating back at the prison and then Carl gives him an angsty teenager verbal beating, so he is in really bad shape (the makeup artists were even busier than usual this week with his bloody visage). We are led to believe, with several clever red herring scenes, that Rick’s elongated nap on the couch may be his own ticket to Walker land. What if Carl, donning his alien hair, is the only Grimes left?
My initial thoughts on a Rick-less Walking Dead were celebratory. I cannot recall a “lead character” in a television series who more successfully ostracized viewers with increasingly terrible decisions and a more cringeworthy performance. I have desired for this day to come for some time, yet, when posed with the potential for a world without Rick and only Carl, I found myself nostalgically changing my tune. Yes, The Walking Dead has made me feel like Michonne in the scene where she cuts off all of her surrounding walker heads (the mostly depressing “B” story) on many occasion and Rick’s awfulness was often the central reason, but like it or not, the show I began watching all those years ago was really about family and to what lengths you would go to protect it. The Grimes may infuriate, frustrate, and perplex, but if you were faced with such a unthinkable catastrophe, would you react differently? For now, Rick, Carl (where’s Judith?!!!), and Michonne have only each other left and for now, we, the audience, must deal with it.1
In a decision that seemed to shock no one and barely popped in the the weekend television news cycle, the United States version of The X Factor will not be returning for a fourth season. Such a cancellation would have been on the cover of Variety or Entertainment Weekly just a few years ago, but the American X Factor struggled off the gate with overhype, strange host and mentor performances, and, until this fall, winning acts who were not going to translate into viable recording artists1. Here are ten takeaways from my three seasons of devoted DVR season pass viewing:
1) Steve Jones is not Ryan Seacrest2 and maybe I was “a bit naive” to ever think so. Let’s just say that composure was not his forté.
2) Rachel Crow was a really special talent from season 1. She is now doing some acting work in Hollywood, so good for her to parlay her obvious talent into a little career.
3) In three seasons, there were nine different judges (if you include the hot second Cheryl Cole was around) and three different hosts. At least Simon and his producer cohort were trying to make the show work better!
4) It was a treat to watch Simon mold and mentor his artists, especially Fifth Harmony during season 2 and Alex and Sierra during season 3. There is a reason why Simon has been so successful in the music business beyond the entertainment value of his snarky remarks as a judge. He is a master identifier and cultivator of talent (as we heard too many times in reference to One Direction) and Fifth Harmony and Alex and Sierra show why. I am still amazed that he managed to see something in Emblem3.
5) Carly Rose Sonenclar should have won season 2. This girl is really special and it is unfortunate that her forum for this kind of broad audience exposure was not an early Idol season where she could have more easily broken out.
6) The US X Factor was my introduction to Demi Lovato, who, on her best days, was a pleasure to watch judge her contestants. Her rapport with Simon over the past two seasons was one the reasons to still watch.
7) Britney Spears thought everything was “amazing” while mentoring contestants during season 2. The producers thought that the nonsensical murmurings of Paulina Rubio would be a better direction to take for season 3.
8) Living up to Simon’s initial ratings predictions gave The X Factor an unrealistic charge. Had it come out of the gate as an upcoming act rather than the self-declared one to beat, it might have had an easier time catching on. Also, the MLB Baseball Playoffs were always the enemy to X Factor momentum. Competition reality shows cannot just take weeks off and expect to continue to build an audience.
9) My final judge/mentor rankings in order of best to worst: Simon Cowell (season 3), Demi Lovato (season 2), Simon Cowell (season 1), Kelly Rowland (season 3), Simon Cowell (season 2), LA Reid (season 1), LA Reid (season 2), Demi Lovato (season 3), Paula Abdul (season 1), Nicole Scherzinger (season 1), Paulina Rubio (season 3), Britney Spears (season 2). Not enough information: Cheryl Cole (season 1)
10) Alex and Sierra, to quote Britney, were “amazing.”
Contrary to the less than desirable weather we have been experiencing, winter is still to come…
What do Julius Erving, Andrew Toney, Moses Malone, Mo Cheeks, and Bobby Jones all have in common? Not one of them is currently an NBA head coach.
At a certain point, as Mike Woodson once found out, coaches have a say in Josh Smith’s shot selection. Something had to give and Joe Dumars oversaw the 2004 Pistons championship so, until further notice, he has inexplicable job security.
This is sheer perfection…
From time to time, I need to get a few things off my chest…this is the second installment of 2014.
• Last night’s Super Bowl, a 43-8 Seattle defensive annihilation of Denver’s historically good offense, was a bit of a surprise for all. It wasn’t as much about what they did, but more so how they did it. From the opening offensive play safety, to the Peyton Manning cold weather lob interceptions, to the second half opening kickoff return by Percy Harvin who managed to complete a game without injury for the first time this season, there was just a whole lot of weird (Russell Wilson’s consummate game management aside) going on. Even “talk of the nation” and notable Stanford grad Richard Sherman was carted off the field in the early fourth quarter before he could have a fair shot at an Erin Andrews post-game interview reprise. On the non-football end of things, the national anthem was delivered by an opera singer not exactly aligned with the pulse of the football viewing audience (Renée Fleming was stunning. It just speaks to how different one of the world’s best classically trained singers is compared to your average pop star. On the converse, it speaks to how good Whitney Houston is compared to other pop stars.). The halftime show, featuring an admittedly exhilarating performance by Bruno Mars, managed to fit in a brief Red Hot Chili Peppers cameo that made no sense next to the retro Motown stylings of Mars. The New Jersey winter weather, promoted as a major Super Bowl headline, was a non-factor during the game. Again, there was just a whole lot of weird going on. In many ways, I am glad that the New England Patriots sat this one out.
• One Super Bowl moment lost in the shuffle of strange was a commercial for the new U2 song “Invisible.” Released yesterday during the day as a free download for 24 hours, Bank of America, an at times challenging pillar of American big business, will donate $1 to (RED), Bono’s incredible organization attempting to put an end to the AIDS crisis in Africa, for every download. “Invisible” is announced to be a track on U2’s long awaited (five years next month since their last studio album release, No Line on the Horizon) 2014 album (When? Who knows. June, maybe?). The song itself, although not cutting down any Joshua Tree’s as “The Fly” once did, is my favorite “first song from a U2 album” release since All That You Can’t Behind’s “Beautiful Day1” (sorry “Vertigo” and “Get on Your Boots”). We can all hope that this will be a harbinger for the album to com
• I finally got around to see Frozen this weekend. I usually try to be on the precipice of a pop culture phenomenon as the Disney animated feature and the “Let it Go” movement have become, but on this one I missed the reindeer ride. Over two months after its original theatrical release, it was so well worth the wait. A little late for its own post, here are a quick five things you need to know about Frozen:
1. The direction by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee is outstanding and some of the best I have ever seen in an animated feature.
2. The songs by the Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez are classic and indelible melodies that will quickly find their way into your humming, whistling, and shower singing selves.
3. Kristen Bell has a gorgeous voice and plays Anna most beautifully. Idina Menzel continues to be a vocal force. In a career of musical hits, could “Let It Go” be her most beloved?
4. Olaf the snowman, performed brilliantly by Josh Gad, is the best comedic sidekick in a Disney animated feature since the Timon and Pumbaa tandem from The Lion King.
5. Frozen is a movie, that along with Tangled, would fit perfectly in the Disney animated feature renaissance row ofThe Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and the underrated Pochahontas. It’s physical form will someday reside on my DVD shelf.
• Saturday Night Live said goodbye to Seth Meyers this week as he prepares for his new gig at Late Night, beginning later in the month. As is SNL tradition, some old family members came by to honor his departure. Amy Poehler, as she often does, said it best when she described him as “the heart of this program for the past twelve years.” He will be missed.
• Mostly a teaser for what is to come, the exes arrived on Real World: Ex-Plosion this week in the last segment of the episode. I will share some of my thoughts after the next episode.
• And finally, I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of my first posts on this site was a “Five Things You Need to Know” on The Master. I described him as “America’s (qualifying the nationality of Daniel Day-Lewis) best living film actor.” I stand by what I wrote at the time. There was no one better. My heart goes out to his family and friends, especially to his three young children. What a momentous loss.
David J. Bloom can be reached on twitter @davidbloom7 and writes about MTV’s “The Challenge,” pop culture, and the NBA for Bishop and Company.
Culture Challenged 