Entries Tagged 'MTV' ↓

Michel Gondry, the schizophrenic French music video visionary/director (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) sits down with EW and goes over what he considers his top 25 classic music videos.

Obviously, his own numerous videos are excluded from the cut, which short-changes the list somewhat (anyone else’s list would no doubt include at least one of his bizarre offerings) but fans of his work will no doubt appreciate the trip inside his though process. He is nothing if not a child of the ’80s.

(Via EW)

The second season of MTV’s acclaimed sketch comedy show, Human Giant, has come and gone in just six weeks. Six episodes barely feel like a season, especially when you consider it’s one of the better shows in MTV’s music video-less lineup. I loved the first season of the show, and I hoped that this follow-up season would show some growth for the troupe; the only thing that really grew, however, was their propensity for using fake blood.

S2 had a lot of recurring characters and story lines that continued throughout the six episodes. One story line, Shutterbugs, was hysterical, even though it got sort of stupid towards the end. The “Kiditentiary” stuff was a timely riff on that stupid “Kid Nation” show. The second big story line involved the Illusionators, the troupe’s parody of Criss Angel. While the idea of the magicians accidentally writing a racial slur on a man’s stomach (and then having to apologize in the media) is great, the jokes just repeated themselves after the second or third episode. It was a story that could have been handled in one fleshed-out skit. I’ve always felt the troupe has had trouble finding good endings to their sketches, and the same can be said for these stories that span multiple episodes.

While some of the more ambitious story line stuff may have been too much, this season had some hilarious new sketches and characters. The T-Shirt Squad is great (and from what I hear, even better live); the sketch about the guy who hates cameras, and the eventual “Rambo” parody, was hysterical; and the Will Arnett sex tape skit left me speechless. This season definitely had its memorable sketches, but it seemed more hit-and-miss than the previous one.

One aspect of the show that did seem a little strange was the troupe’s love of blood. This season felt exceedingly violent, and not in a “add to the humor” sort of way. Perhaps they felt like they could get away with more, or their budget allowed for an influx of Karo Syrup.

It’ll be cool to revisit the season when it’s released on DVD; and hopefully their return next year will be longer than just six episodes.

The implosion of Joey takes hold on tonight’s episode of Real World Hollywood. There’s a lot of foreshadowing of events to come in Episode 04, so enjoy the frivolity while it lasts. Things are going to get a whole lot darker from here. Meanwhile, the gang celebrates Sarah’s 21st birthday, Dave hooks up with the Hoochie who wouldn’t leave, and Will bails on Sarah to network with Greg’s friends. Here’s your sneak peek…

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Damn you, MTV! Just as soon as I was done with the whole scripted reality thing, you pull me back in. Having now seen the first four episodes, I begrudgingly admit I’m hooked. It pains me to say, but there’s enough conflama here to keep me coming back for more.

So here’s the scoop. Once again, we have seven strangers picked to live in a house. Let’s stop right there for a second. This time around, “the house” is a sound stage at the Hollywood Center Studios, formerly known as the Desilu Studios, home to such classic shows as I Love Lucy, Star Trek, and The Andy Griffith Show, and now home to The Sarah Silverman Show and Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place. The MTV design team have outdone themselves on this set. While the exterior is far too reminiscent of Big Brother, the interior bedrooms have captured the look and feel of the old California desert motels of the ’50s and ’60s. Classic. And since this is a working studio facility, the location provides greatly enhanced security to keep both the hangers on and local weirdos at bay. It also puts the cast smack dab in the middle of Hollywood, which has its fair share of drinking establishments, seedy neighborhoods, and colorful characters.

Speaking of characters, the principal cast stays true to recent form and provides limitless volatility and pathos to explore. Without revealing too much info, here are the players from left to right…

Brianna (age 20; Philadelphia, PA) - An exotic dancer looking to become a recording artist. Without a doubt, Brianna has the raciest wardrobe of the crew and her unfiltered brain-to-mouth musings make for some interesting conversations. Her relationship with a newly ex-boyfriend provides for the series’ first major plot point.

Sarah (age 21; Phoenix, AZ) - A recent ASU grad looking to break into broadcast journalism, and one of the most adorable Real Worlders in the series’ history. Honestly. Sarah looks to be one of the equalizing forces in the house, although a long distance relationship with her NYC boyfriend provides for angst from the very beginning.

Dave (age 22; Waynesboro, PA) - Another east coaster looking to make his mark on LA, although in the acting field. Dave is your archetypal all-American boy; loves sports, working out, alcohol, women, and partying. Like Sarah, he appears to be a leveling force for the more divergent cast members, but somehow I have a feeling he’ll have his share of darker moments to explore.

Greg (age 20; Daytona Beach, FL) - The fans’ choice for cast member No. 7, as voted online at mtv.com. Here’s where the cynic in me steps forward. I’ll take the heat if this assertion is completely untrue, but Greg comes across as a plant, purposely introduced into the mix as a catalyst to make trouble. My theory starts to lose validity by Episode 04, but there’s something about the way he carries himself and interacts with others that seems less than genuine. Whether the choices he makes are of his own accord or influenced by the producers is unclear, but somethin’ ain’t right. Judge for yourself and let me know if I’m off base.

Joey (age 24; Evergreen Park, IL) - Ah, Joey… the focus of Episodes 02-04, his is a tragic Jekyll and Hyde tale. At least that’s how the editing team wants us to see it. While the elder of the group, he may be the least mature, and is certainly far from shy about expressing his opinions. I’ll let you judge for yourself, as he reminds me far too much of a friend whose life took a similar path.

Kimberly (age 24; Columbia, SC) - The pious, down-home girl everyone loves to hate. Kimberly does have a sweetness about her, but it’s sugar coating over a judgmental interior. The sound bites from this season will be heavily skewed in her favor, and more than couple may ultimately wind up on T-shirts before all is said and done. She dreams of becoming an entertainment reporter, but needs to get a handle on that brain-to-mouth connection before anyone in their right mind gives her a microphone.

Will (age 23; Detroit, MI) - Along with Sarah, Will is likely to become another fan favorite. This aspiring music producer has a good handle on who he is and what he wants from life. He also has a great presence about him that draws people in. I’m curious to see where the rest of this adventure takes him.

Instead of the normal 26 half-hour episodes, MTV will condense the season into 13 hour-long adventures, and in all honesty it’s a wise choice. The editing appears tighter and more fluid than in previous seasons, lacking that painful, drawn-out nonsense that tends to lose people along the way. As for their group assignment, the team will be taking the spotlight, so to speak. But I’ll leave that reveal for you to experience. No clue where the cast will be journeying to this season, but I’m guessing it will tie in thematically somehow.

So there you have it. Tonight the world begins to see what happens when people stop being polite (”Let’s not get all ghetto.” — Kimberly) and start getting real. Oh, and before I leave you to the premiere, let’s just say this lineup will look much different by the time the series ends. Should make for an interesting reunion episode.

Visit the official site ( MTV.com )

Watch uncensored clips ( realworlddailies.com )

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In addition to our own retrospective, those hungering for more Real World goodness should check out this enhanced look back from Jeff Gordin and the folks at Details magazine. Complete with video interviews and a mini-documentary on the effect the series has had on American culture, it’s well worth checking out.

The True Story of Seven Strangers and You ( Details )

MTV is ready to audition for Season Two of America’s Best Dance Crew. Here’s all the information you need for your crew’s shot at stardom…

Hard to believe it’s been 16 years since creators Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim introduced us to Eric, Heather, Julie, Andre, Becky, Kevin, and Norman. It was a groundbreaking social experiment and made for great television. However, aside from a handful of fascinating moments that followed, the show became more of Days of Our Lives meets the NHL, with fans tuning in just to keep tabs on who was sleeping with who, and see which emotionally unstable cast member was going to erupt into verbal or physical violence.

Let’s quickly stroll down memory lane, shall we?

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JabbaWockeeZ!

Earlier tonight, from Stage 9 on the Sony Studios backlot in Culver City, Calif., April MacIntyre and I were on hand to cover the grand finale of Randy Jackson’s smash hit dance competition. The competition itself had wrapped last week between the Boston-based Status Quo and San Diego’s JabbaWockeeZ. After racking up more than 38 million votes from fans around the country, tonight was an hour-long celebration of the show’s 12-week run. All the teams reconvened for some well-choreographed routines that mixed and matched styles and geographies. Energy was running high even an hour before showtime and continued to build throughout, reaching a fever pitch by the time Jabba and SQ took to the stage for their face-off.

Regardless of your interest or exposure to street dancing, you can’t help but be drawn in by this communal, almost tribal experience. The pulse pounding bass beats and the roar of the fans had the entire production crew crowded around our monitor in the press pit. It was probably the most exciting routine of the run and a fitting way to cap off a series that drew huge ratings for MTV. The announcement of the $100,000 winning crew was almost anticlimactic, especially for a show whose dance routines are what amazed and inspired audiences and producers alike. MTV kept the cameras rolling backstage after the show and you can check it all out here.

Give credit to Jabba for what they were able to overcome and accomplish the past several months. Their phalanx-like nature of movement and the creativity infused into their routines deservedly captured the hearts and minds of millions. And in an age when the performing arts are sorely missing from American schools, I can’t think of a better way to inspire kids to break away from their laptops and game consoles and connect with one of humanity’s most primal expressions. With a second season already gearing up for a June launch, America’s Best Dance Crew has cemented itself as the hot new reality series for the 2008-09 television season.

If you have a team and want to audition for Season Two, head on over to MTV.com Bring the Funk for all the details.

For those of you who haven’t experienced the insanity of a live broadcast, what goes on off-camera is often more interesting. The stage used for the show is surprisingly small and even with the bleacher seating takes up less than half of the sound stage. The remaining area is used for hair and makeup, craft service, green room, rehearsal space, various production, and tonight a VIP lounge complete with overstuffed leather couches, palm trees, and oriental rugs. There wasn’t a large celebrity turnout though. We only spotted N’Sync and Dancing with the Stars vet Joey Fatone, Cyrus from Real World: Boston, and Executive Producer Randy Jackson. The press pit was located just behind the Green Room, so there was a great deal of traffic. It’s a weird sensation having your back to the action while watching a monitor and then have the performers fly by you as they come offstage. The other oddity is the activity and lack thereof that takes place during commercial breaks. The crowd is like a water faucet that turns on when the red light comes on and shuts off when the cameras go dark. Very well coached indeed. I just feel bad for the hundreds of fans lined up in the parking garage with the hope of grabbing the few remaining standby seats in the audience. Oh well, there’s always next season.

Photo credits: April MacIntyre

Sometime last year, a friend of mine introduced me to MTV’s new sketch comedy show The Human Giant. It’s a group of three guys, along with cameos by plenty of comedians, doing some of the funniest sketch comedy on TV. While the show still has some hit-or-miss moments, overall I’m impressed–even if that means I have to sit through the lengthy, obnoxious MTV commercials. Their humor is crude, fast, and very self-referential (with this season being even more crass than the last). I can’t help but think back to MTV’s other sketch comedy show, The State.

With SNL stuck in the 10-year-slump, and that weird IFC show about white kids sucking, The Human Giant seems to be a good choice. Their first season is available on DVD, and the second one is just kicking into gear.

Check out their channel on YouTube for videos from last season.

Of course you do. Earlier this evening, under the veil of secrecy, MTV shuttled the Los Angeles media up into the Hollywood Hills for a kickoff party and press conference to announce Paris’ new reality series: I Wanna Be Paris’ New Best Friend. Using the patented MTV formula (think A Shot at Love and That’s Amore), 20 potential BFFs — both boys and girls — will be selected from a nationwide search. Starting in late May, the high profile celebutante and successful businesswoman will move herself and the contestants into a Los Angeles mansion for six weeks and put them through their paces, to see who will ultimately become her new confidant and party pal. While Paris and her production team were tight-lipped on what adventures and challenges lie ahead for these contenders, they must be well put together, fluent in the language of fashion, know what it takes to get into the best clubs, and willing to travel to exciting locales.

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