Today's the day

I'm going to see The Muppets.  This is a day years in the making.

I've been obsessively reading everything I could about this movie since I heard Jason Segal was writing the script.  I'm losing it with excitement.  LOSING IT.

Amanda says that in my life I've minored in Muppet studies.  My high school yearbook quote was from Jim Henson.  I made TWO tiles in the high school devoted to Muppets.  I've scoured ebay for Christmas Eve on Sesame Street.  This moment was built for me.  Gaaaaahhhhhhh

I will also probably cry with joy and an overwhelming feeling.  Enjoy that visual.

In the meantime, listen to this Fresh Air interview with the writers of the movie, along with this classic Muppet moment.

Day 25 of the 30 Day Song Challenge

Love today's post!

Day 25: A song that makes you laugh

I heard Trey Parker and Matt Stone interviewed on Fresh Air about this musical, and it sounded awesome/hilarious. I also like how it's a wink and nod to both religion and musicals. Definitely check out their Book of Mormon interview, along with their prior one about South Park.

I love how the joke set up is, where it's "meaningful statement about faith, meaningful statement about faith, weird ass fact about the Mormon religion". AND the musical nerd in me loves how the opening is a nod to Sound of Music. When I first heard this song, I was reduced to a giggle fest.

Well done, Parker and Stone. Well. Done.

Podcast Round Up for Summer 2010

My job has hit the quiet period for the summer. Less students walking around, less Commencement planning, and lots of quiet afternoons updating schedules and documentation. So what does this mean? Listening to podcasts to pass the time.

Here's a round up of some Podcasts I've been listening to and my reviews of them:

The Sporkful
Mark and Dan of the now defunct Bryant Park Project are now discussing all things food on a clever but highly edited 15-minute weekly podcast. They say it's not for foodies, it's for eaters, and this is true. Instead of discussing the finer details of high-end foods like pate or canapes, they've discussed the following:
--how to prepare a baked potato
--the best kinds of peanut butter sandwiches
--popcorn etiquette
--how best to handle a buffet
The guest star list has been impressive for those NPR-philes out there, including Marc Maron, Win Rosenfeld, and Mike Pesca. It took a bit to get used to the polished tone of it, but I like how Mark and Dan will debate intensely the best ways to eat. 15 mintues is also the perfect length of time for this type of podcast. It's an "amuse bouche" if you will. (sorry for the food pun)

Uhh Yeah Dude
I'm pretty late to the party... about 4 years late... but Ricky suggested I check out this podcast. Seth and Jonathan -- who call themselves American Americans -- spend an hour discussing crazy newstories, celebrities, craigslist, Gertrude Baines, Whole Foods, Jonathan's crazy upbringing (his dad is John "Night Court" Larroquette), and so on. It's not like other podcasts I've enjoyed in the past, mainly because it's set up like a stream of conscious conversation and not like a radio program. The tone took some getting used to, as did the liberal use of the F word, but I will admit. Their observations are dead on and hilarious. It's a nice podcast to listen to when driving home from work, as it's usually the length of my T ride and train. I have embarrassed myself a few times walking to work, though, bursting out laughing.

Jordan Jesse, Go!
Many Tens love this podcast, and I've heard them interviewed on TBTL, so I thought I'd check it out. Jesse Thorn also has connections to NPR/PRI, so I thought why not. I will admit, I was cautious going into it, because Jesse's vibe drives me crazy from TBTL spots. He seems smug, self flattering, and fancies himself the smartest and funniest person in the room. But Ricky and I both decided to check out an interview JJGO did on their show with Seth and Jonathan of Uhh Yeah Dude. And... I made it about 30 minutes into a 90-minute podcast. About 28 of those minutes was Jesse talking over the guests and trying to out-smarm and out-joke Jonathan. I think I may listen to this podcast again and get a percentage of how much the GUESTS actually spoke.

To try and give them a second chance, I listened to them interview Sarah Vowell, seeing maybe if the guest had some more wattage if they'd behave better. They were slightly more behaved, mainly because Sarah was able to wrestle control and focus away from awful awful Jesse Thorn. But it really should be named "Jordan Jesse, Go... download something other than our terrible podcast".


So in conclusion:
1. Sporkful is decent.
2. Uhh Yeah Dude is funny but raunchy
3. Jordan Jesse, Go! sucks hard and if given the chance to throw things at their faces, I would.
4. Seatbelts

All I can say... is thank GOD he's not retiring from Wait Wait, too!

NPR's Carl Kasell to retire from 'Morning Edition'

(AP) – 8 hours ago

NEW YORK — Carl Kasell will finally get to sleep in. The veteran newscaster is retiring from NPR's "Morning Edition."

The 75-year-old Kasell has done the newcast during NPR's flagship morning program since its inception 30 years ago. NPR says he will give his last broadcast on Dec. 30.

In a memo to National Public Radio staff and stations, managing editor David Sweeney and vice president of programming Margaret Low Smith praised Kasell for raising "more than a generation of listeners with his calm and authoritative newscast."

Kasell will remain the judge and scorekeeper of "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!," NPR's weekly news quiz show.

A spokeswoman for NPR says that no one has been named to succeed Kasell on "Morning Edition."

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Your Jason Segel Moment of Zen for the day...

Let me just tell you, Terri, picking out an outfit for the second half of a breakup is like the hardest outfit you'll ever pick out in your life. I came out in a blue button-up shirt and khaki pants like I was going to private school.
~From Fresh Air, 10/16/09

"Curse their Yankee candy!"

I am a huge NPR nerd, and I love listening to the Wait Wait Don't Tell Me podcast on Monday mornings while running weekly reports.

This week, the singer/rocker Neko Case was the guest, and she is a delight. An absolute delight. She's charming and smart and well-spoken. She talked about her farm in Vermont, her music, and buying pianos on ebay.

Her subject for Not My Job was Necco Candy (a play on her first name, obviously) and... wow, she just sparkled. She was hilarious, and after the first question which was about The Civil War, she took on a persona of a Civil War soldier when talking about Necco Candy the entire time. It was hilarious, and everyone was in stitches. They also referenced Ken Burns and Hard Tack.


Click on the link for Neko Case to listen to the show. Definitely worth it and awesome. It makes me like her more as an artist and a person, because she's just so down to earth and sweet and cool. And makes fun of the Civil War.