Happy Birthday MTV: Sorry I didn't get you a gift

VH1 Classic has been hyping the 25th anniversary of MTV as well as promoting the fact that they'll run MTV's first day. In watching the videos this new station ran in its first hour, it's fun to see how videos have changed over the last 25 years. These early clips were mostly shot on video, with the band members awkwardly dancing while lip-synching their songs. Occasionally the videos would get ambitious by adding special effects or even a storyline. And with a short supply of promotional videos, there were a few bands I vaguely remember (okay, I didn't even recall a band named PhD).
There's no doubt about it, MTV changed music. Of course, if you don't believe me, the promos will emphasize that fact. But this anniversary makes me feel old since I work with a bunch of people who don't know life before MTV. Or even life before MTV became a haven of teen-based reality shows.
I remember the early days of MTV. No, I wasn't watching the first few hours or days because we didn't have cable television. In those days, cable television was a luxury many people didn't have and my father couldn't fathom paying for television. In fact, my mother still doesn't have cable. Usually we'd have to gather in a friend's basement to watch this revolutionary channel and on occasion, we'd head to the local arcade for our blast of video music. But we would watch for hours at a time. It didn't seem to matter if we liked the bands or not, we would watch in hopes of catching one of our favorite videos.
Of course, my MTV viewing declined during college. MTV tried to reach out by adding "120 Minutes" and the goofy game show "Remote Control" to accommodate my changing tastes. But sooner or later, you're no longer in the MTV demographic, and you drift away. Occasionally I'll tune in, but I find myself gravitating more toward VH1 Classic to re-live the early years.
But like all things, MTV has changed over the years. I've made fun of MTV for not taking the "M" part of the name seriously anymore. But with the advent of home computers and DVD players, watching music video isn't the same either. You want to watch your favorite video, you can download it or buy them on DVD. I can watch "Whip It" or "Rio" whenever I want (that reference doesn't give away my age, does it?). Now MTV attracts the kids with a sea of dating shows and programs featuring rich kids acting snotty. Then again, MTV isn't reaching out to a post 40-year old male. And if I want to learn about new music, I do it the old-fashioned way... I read about it.
So happy 25th birthday MTV. It won't be long before you're too old to be considered part of your desired demographic. I can't wait for the mid-life crisis.

M. "Shama-Lama-Ding-Dong" Night

"Lady in the Water" opened last weekend and I have a fair amount of indifference. Judging by the box office, I wasn't the only one. My wife made an attempt to get me interested in the movie, but I have too many doubts. And several of the reviews appear to confirm these doubts.
Night makes good looking films and knows how to set the mood. But his stories seem too hit-or-miss. "The Sixth Sense" was a fabulous movie with the twist that you didn't see coming. "Signs" was solid, although unspectacular with a weak ending. With "The Village", once you figured out the twist, it was tough to sit through. And "Unbreakable"... well, I thought it was two hours in which nothing happened (comic books fans, I discovered, disagree strongly). And judging by the trailers of his latest, it's atmosphere over plot. However, there are some pluses. Night has stated there is no twist with "Lady in the Water" and it does star Paul "why hasn't he been nominated more than once" Giamatti. But a recent article in Entertainment Weekly painted Night as a control freak with an inability to listen to outside ideas. That's a blessing and a curse. It's good to see Night stand his ground as Hollywood has a tendency to water down an idea. But if the idea doesn't work... Hey, I'm a control freak as well, but I also realize the need to listen to constructive criticism (the downside is that it has to come from someone I respect).
Maybe the recent disappointing box office will make Night rethink his strategy. He's definitely a director with a unique prospective and the ability to make quality movies. Hopefully Night won't let ego trump creative vision.

Reunited, and it feels so good...

Reunions are something that have been part of the entertainment industry for as long as I can remember. Musical acts hit the road again and in some cases, write new material. Television characters from popular shows converge for a special, usually during a sweeps period. And let's face it, isn't a sequel some form of a reunion? Unfortunately, I think the word reunion gets thrown around too easily in an effect to generate interest. Because what really constitutes a reunion?
Two recent reunions got me thinking about it: The New York Dolls and The Cars. The New York Dolls latest release hits stores on July 25 while the "New" Cars is already available. And both bands have only two original members as part of the gathering. Granted, for the Dolls, David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain are the only surviving members. So, a full-fledged reunion is out of the question. The death toll is not as great for the Cars, with Benjamin Orr as the only casualty. But is 40% of a band enough to be considered a reunion?
I've heard music from both, and the answer seems to depend on which band you examine. Johansen was the main songwriter for the Dolls and he still has plenty of power and swagger. Johnny Thunders' guitar is a missing element, but the spirit of the band still seems to exist. In a recent interview with "Blender" magazine, Johansen expressed the importance of having a brand. The name recognition is an important factor even if it isn't really the full New York Dolls.
On the other hand, the New Cars just doesn't seem right. Ric Ocasek was the chief songwriter and architect of the band's sound. In his place; Todd Rundgren, who happens to be an accomplished songwriter but with a different style. They've also produced new material although what I heard was merely adequate. The rest of the material was classic Cars songs, which had an odd sound with another voice. I don't want to take away anything from what Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton contributed to the band's sound, but it's missing a lot without Ocasek.
But frankly, is this really any different than a band that continues to use the same name even if it only has one or two constant members? The Pretenders have used the same moniker for years even though it's basically Chrissie Hynde. So I guess approach each reunion with some caution and be glad that the Dolls didn't go the Cars path by slapping the word "New" into their name.

Clerks II: Just thoughts, no review

I will probably see "Clerks II" although I have some hesitation. I've generally enjoyed the work of Kevin Smith, and will go to support him as a film maker. I won't be there opening weekend because I'm not a big fan of crowded theaters. Plus, the wife wants to see it and we have to coordinate our movie schedules, which is no easy task. But regardless of the reviews, I'll still have ticket in hand.
I remember when "Clerks" came out and the waves it created in the film business. I worked in a video store at the time, where I think most of the employees aspired to be Randal. In reality, they were more like Dante. However, I do have to credit them with turning me onto the film, and I've seen most of his work since (missed "Jersey Girl"). "Chasing Amy" ranks as my favorite while "Mallrats" appeals to me the least. I know of at least one person who rated it as his favorite, but there was too much slapstick for me.
A couple years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture by Kevin. He answered several questions throughout the evening, mostly on topics you would expect from fans. He's a really funny, personable guy and a good storyteller. What amazed me was the fact that he spoke for four hours! He could have easily continued, and may have at a local diner (the college cut him off at midnight). Of course this is where my older self battled with my younger self. Older self kept reminding younger self that I had to work in the morning. Younger self won, and I stuck with the whole lecture. Older self wasn't happy with the hour of sleep I got before work. Anyway, there's a DVD available called "An Evening With Kevin Smith" that features his speaking engagements.
So best of luck to Kevin at the box office this weekend. I'll be with you for "Clerks II"... just don't push your luck with "Clerks III."

TV Shows on DVD: Marketing Genius

While I love my DVR, I think another trend I like is the influx of television shows available on DVD. Before the "DVD Revolution", television shows weren't too common on VHS. You'd get the British cult classics (Monty Python, the Avengers) and various episodes of an American series, but generally not an entire season or series. But now, every week, a new (or old) series is popping up on DVD. I figure there are three reasons why I like the trend. First, it's a chance to relive your favorite shows without having to dig through television schedules wondering if there's even a channel carrying your show. I recently purchased the fourth season of "News Radio", and have been enjoying the brilliance of the show. Granted, season three is my personal favorite, but you get the point. Comfort in knowing that I can watch my favorite show without commercials and if I'm lucky, with cast commentary or bonus extras. Second, it's a chance to catch a show you may have missed the first time. "Freaks & Geeks" and "Family Guy" are two examples in my collection. "Freaks & Geeks" was a show that I had heard of, but never got around to watching it's one season on the air. A joy to watch because it's a time frame I can relate to and yet I wish I could say I had supported it when it was on television. With "Family Guy", I didn't start to watch the program until after its cancellation and release on DVD. And, as it turns out, I wasn't the only one, as the DVDs sold like wildfire, bringing the show back. Finally, and this is the marketing genius, is that if you miss a season of a current program, you can catch up and hop aboard for the current season. I think HBO really took advantage of the situation and the networks are using the strategy. Simply release a season on DVD just before the next season begins. Particularly effective if the show has a continuing plot line. My wife and I are currently hooked on "Deadwood," although we just started season two. But that's where the DVR is handy, as it's recording season three. However, not all my favorites have made it to the DVD format yet. "WKRP in Cincinnati" may never make it because of music rights. But "Freaks & Geeks" cleared that hurdle, so there's hope. After all, if Screetch is available for home viewing, then shouldn't Les Nessman. And if you'd like more information on what's coming out on DVD, check out the site TV Shows on DVD. The link is on the right.

Plank to the Face Radio... Huh?

In my 20 plus years of broadcasting, I've spent a majority of it working in radio. And while I overall enjoyed the experience, I never really liked the way the music was programmed. Granted, that's another subject for another time, but in looking back, I think there were four situations I didn't feel that way. Two involved college stations. The stations were student run and more importantly, student programmed. The DJs controlled the music for the most part. The format was generally alternative, but other styles crept into the mix, like blues, reggae, jazz and even country. So while we played artist like Midnight Oil, the Cure, the Smiths (hey, it was the 80s), you might also hear Miles Davis, Albert Collins, Burning Spear or even Johnny Cash, before he was cool again. The third was a syndicated radio show I produced that featured new, independent artists. The final situation was a couple years ago when a local station let me do an 80s show on Saturday afternoon. The audience response was good, I got to play music I liked, and even had my friends co-host the show. And that brings us to the present. I guess in an attempt to recreate my college radio experience, I put together the playlists for Plank to the Face. It's a variety of music, from the 50s to the present with an emphasis on the 80s. Most of it would fall into the alternative category, but there's plenty of mainstream music I also enjoy (ABBA is a guilty pleasure). Do I make any apologies for my choices? No, because music means different things to different people. My wife loves Josh Groban, but thankfully our tastes meet at They Might Be Giants. I just enjoy having an avenue to share my musical taste and maybe turn people onto a band or song they might not be familiar with. New tunes are added weekdays with a larger playlist on the weekend. So hit the link and enjoy. And I promise, no idle DJ patter...

Bad Movies

While in the office the other day, the discussion turned to your favorite movies. Naturally, when this discussion begins, sooner or later, someone will mention a movie you totally hate. One thing will lead to another, and the topic turns to bad movies. And that subject got me thinking: What actually defines a bad movie? It is a film that's bad technically or a film that you hate so much, you'd rather gouge your eyes out than watch it again. There are several bad movies that exist that I enjoy because of the good-bad movie factor. The works of Ed Wood are a perfect example. Poorly written, acted and directed, but yet they have a certain charm to them. If anything, he had enthusiasm, which is so missing in a lot of film making these days. "Showgirls" is another example. A bigger budget film that was poorly written and acted. Elizabeth Berkley only showed two emotions; angry and naked. The attempt at erotic soap opera turned more into unintentional comedy. To me, it's one very funny movie and has become a camp classic. On the flip side, I recently saw "The Family Stone," a movie I absolutely hated. It wasn't bad in a technical sense, but I disliked every character and the oh-so-predictable ending. And yet, other people enjoyed it. Bad movies are always a matter of opinion and the cause of a good argument. Now maybe if they had made "The Family Stone vs. Alien"...

Welcome to Plank to the Face

Okay, welecome to Plank to the Face: The Blog. This is a site that deals with pop culture, mostly movies, television and music. Sports will be also covered and whatever else is on my mind. This also ties into Plank to the Face: The Internet Broadcast.