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songspeak
Saturday Nylund Live – Betty White to host SNL!
That’s right, The Golden Girls‘ own Rose Nylund… the incomparable Betty White, is slated to host the May 8th “Mother’s Day episode” of SNL! That this didn’t happen sooner is perhaps life’s biggest mystery.Betty’s self-deprecating humor and quick wit is sure to be a great match for Saturday Night Live, and we’re excited to see what is likely going to be one of the more memorable SNL episodes.
According to People, “…the special Mother’s Day episode will also reunite six former female SNL cast members, most of whom happen to be moms: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch.” While the 88 year old Betty White is not actually a mom herself, she is perhaps “a mother of great comedy”. That’s good enough for us.
How did this happen? A Facebook fan page titled “Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!” creeped up soon after a Snickers commercial featuring Betty White getting tackled in a muddy football game aired during the 2010 Super Bowl. A groundswell of support and petitioning of Lorne Michaels made it all happen!
Tags: betty white, facebook, fan page, golden girls, lorne michaels, may 8, mother's day, nbc, rose nylund, saturday night live, snickers, snl, super bowl
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songspeak
I am on hold, with the State Parks Department…
I forgot to post this last week, but on NBC on Thursday night, Parks and Recreation illustrated a great example of songspeak. While much of songspeak consists of using song lyrics in everyday situations, a lot of it comes from making up lyrics on the fly to songs, usually involving the situation you’re currently in. Well, on Thursday’s episode, when most of the office was out on a hunting trip, Andy and April the intern stay in the office, because April needs to call the State Parks Department to give a tracking number. However, in a standard sitcom scenario, she’s on hold throughout most of the episode. When she leaves Andy there to listen in case anyone picks up while she’s in the bathroom, he starts making up lyrics to the song playing on hold. The song? A muzak version of the classic Air Supply hit All Out of Love. Andy sings his lyrics for April, and they are AMAZING. It sounds like something Matt and I would have sang back in the day. Songspeaks are best when the lyrics are made ludicrously dirty. And now, without further ado…Andy’s classic:
Tags: 00s tv, air supply, all out of love, andy, april, muzak, nbc, parks and recreation, state parks department
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songspeak
The Office presents: Subtle Sexuality
Here at songspeak, we love The Office and everything Office-related. Today, The Office just released their latest webisodes on the NBC site. This group of webisodes is entitled Subtle Sexuality, and in it, Kelly and new receptionist Erin start a girl-group and shoot a music video for their new song, Male Prima Donna. The entire series is three webisodes, mainly telling the story of the making of the video (during which, it’s not surprisingly revealed that the song is about Ryan), but the last episode contains the actual music video. And without spoiling anything, it. Is. AMAZING. I think what really makes it is Andy’s (a.k.a. Nard Dog) stellar performance. See for yourself!Tags: 00s tv, andy bernard, autotune, erin hannon, kelly kapoor, male prima donna, nard dog, nbc, ryan howard, subtle sexuality, the office, webisode
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songspeak
It’s a nice day for an Office wedding
Last night marked the biggest television wedding since Monica and Chandler or Luke and Laura when Jim and Pam got married on The Office. The episode actually surpassed my expectations, and the entire cast got some really funny moments. The episode was chock-full of great moments; Dwight hooking up with Pam’s best friend, Andy tearing his scrotum, Michael hooking up with Pam’s mom, Kevin losing his shoes, Oscar getting offended by Pam’s sister thinking Kevin was his boyfriend, Jim’s slip-up during his toast, and Michael’s awkward attempt at a save. And then, of course, there was the wedding party dancing down the aisle to Forever by (Rihanna-beater) Chris Brown, based on a real-life wedding youtube sensation hit. Let’s suspend disbelief for a moment and not question why all of Jim and Pam’s co-workers would, for some reason, be allowed to walk/dance down the aisle in addition to the wedding party, because, well, the show IS called The Office and a moment like this without the cast of the show wouldn’t feel right. Here is it for those who missed it:
And, the original, as performed at Jill and Kevin Heinz’s wedding (and how awesome is it for them that not only did it become such a huge viral hit, but is now also referenced in one of the most iconic moments on one of the best shows on television?):
All in all, the episode wasn’t nearly as sappy as it could have been, and I thought they did a good job balancing the schmaltzy Jim & Pam stuff with the crazy hijinks that the show does so well.
Tags: 00s music, 00s tv, andy bernard, chris brown, crazy hijinks, dwight shrute, forever, Friends, general hospital, jill and kevin heinz, jim and pam, jim and pam wedding, jim halpert, kevin, luke and laura, monica and chandler, nbc, oscar, pam beesly, rihanna, schmaltzy, season 6, the office, torn scrotum, wedding dance
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songspeak
This commercial for GE Locomotives takes my breath away
My wife Kristen and I saw this commercial for GE Locomotive while watching the Today Show on NBC this morning. It features employees at the GE Locomotive plant in Erie, Pennsylvania performing their version of Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away”.It also features an all too rare appearance of the keytar.
On this endless ocean finally lovers know no shame
Turning and returning to some secret place insideWatching in slow motion as you turn to me and say
Take my breath away
My loveTake my breath away
Tags: berlin, erie, ge, GE Locomotive, keytar, locomotive, nbc, pa, pennsylvania, take my breath away, today show
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last exit
R.I.P. Ed McMahon, you glorious rapper
Ed McMahon passed away today at the age of 86. He had health issues for a number of years. Known as Johnny Carson’s sidekick on the Tonight Show, he also was the spokesperson for Publisher’s Clearing House, delivering giant checks to winners everywhere. But his most recent accomplishment are the rap commercials he did for FreeCreditReport.com. And as we wish you R.I.P. Ed McMahon, we enjoy your sense of humor.Ed McGansta part I:
Ed McGansta part II:
Tags: ed mcmahon, freecreditreport.com, johnny carson, nbc, sidekick, tonight show
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songspeak
The Later Host’s Black
Does anybody remember the late night NBC talk show Later?
It used be on after Late Night with David Letterman when he was on NBC, in the days before Last Call with Carson Daly. Bob Costas was the first host. Then Greg Kinnear took over after his Talk Soup gig. Then he decided a film career would be more lucrative than a show that airs at 1:30am that hardly anyone watches. The show then kind of had a revolving door of hosts, mostly stand-up comedians.
Matt and I were discussing how, since Arsenio Hall, there were no current black hosts of late night talk shows.
Matt then sang “The Later host’s black” to the tune of Queensryche’s “The Lady Wore Black”. I don’t remember who it was at the time, but in doing a little research, I’ve come to the conclusion that it was probably Cynthia Garrett.This is one of my favorite songspeaks of all time. It caused us to include this song on one of the very first Songspeak’s Greatest Hits mixtapes.
Poltically correct? Maybe not.
Awesome original songspeak? Absolutely.
Bob Costas would be proud.
Tags: 90s tv, bob costas, carson daly, cynthia garrett, dave letterman, greg kinnear, last call, last call with carson daly, late night with david letterman, later on nbc, mixtapes, nbc, queensryche, songspeak's greatest hits, stand-up comedians, talk soup, the lady wore black
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songspeak
After 15 years, ER finally flatlines
Last night, NBC aired the series finale of ER. The past few years, ER has slipped a few slots in my list of favorite shows, but it has always remained in the top 5.I was a sophomore at WPI when the show first premiered, 10pm on Thursday nights (where it remained for its entire run). It truly was a great show in the beginning, and we would religiously watch every episode. In fact, I think I’ve seen every episode since it premiered. My friends and I at WPI never missed it. And then after I graduated in 1997, it was usually viewed with the other Must See TV Thursday night shows in Matt’s parents’ house basement in his room in a large group. When I got my own place, I still watched it, and then when Jo and I got married in 2000, it was one of our “never miss” shows during the week. When I couldn’t watch it, I’d always tape it on my VCR (remember those?). I was 18 when ER premiered, and I’m 33 now. It honestly blows my mind that I’ve been watching it every Thursday night for almost half my life.
It went through many changes over the years, as did its viewers (I graduated college, moved out of my dad’s place, got a job, got married, and had a kid during its run). Cast members came and went. And while the quality did suffer a few years ago, it was still one of the better dramas on television, and actually bounced back the past couple seasons. It was weird watching it last night. It didn’t feel like the end. I don’t think it will sink in until next season, when there’s just no new ER.So many memorable moments in the series. Here are a few that come to mind for me:
- Doug Ross saves a drowning child
- Mark Greene gets brutally beaten in the men’s room (we never did find out who did it)
- They shoot an episode LIVE. Twice! (Once for east coast, once for west)
- Romano gets his arm chopped off by a helicopter tailblade
- Mark Greene gets a brain tumor and dies
- Luka beats a mugger to death
- Carter gives Benton and appendectomy
- Sam shoots and kills her ex while her son is asleep in the car
- Romano is killed when a helicopter crashes. On top of him.
- Carter develops a drug addition, is confronted by everyone, and is dragged off to rehab
- Dr. Dave storms out of the ER and calls Kerry Weaver a “nazi dyke”
- Pratt is in an ambulance that explodes, and dies from complications when the other docs try to save him
- Ray is hit by a truck while drunk, listening to a voicemail from Neela, and loses his legs
- Mark Greene runs into complications trying to deliver a baby, and loses the mother(Feel free to comment with your own memories of the show, on the off chance you’ve made it this far)
The most memorable moment for me, by far, is the stabbing of Carter by a psychotic patient (played by David Krumholtz). The scene still gives me chills, even after 9 years:
The song playing is Battleflag by Lo-Fidelity All Stars, and will forever be known to us as the “Carter getting stabbed song”. I’ll never hear this song again without thinking of Carter falling to the floor and seeing Lucy Knight’s bloody body lying there.
In addition to Battleflag, ER has had its fair share of songspeak moments. Lest we forget singing “Carol Hathaway” to the tune of Gimme Shelter by the Rolling Stones? And a favorite line that Matt and I still break out to this very day occurred when Carol Hathaway gave Doug Ross a very special present. She finally gave him another chance, and they were becoming serious. She thought it was time he had his own drawer to put his stuff in at her place. He opened it and said, “It’s a drawer” in a way only George Clooney could. Something about the delivery made us snicker, and we still bring it up.
The final episode was good. It featured the return of John Carter, Susan Lewis, Kerry Weaver, Peter Benton, and Elizabeth Corday. We got to see Benton’s deaf son Reese all grown up, and Rachel Greene (Mark Greene’s daughter) returned for an internship at County General. It was weird seeing them all, but it felt right for the show to end that way.
Anyway, I think that’s probably enough of me babbling. Congratulations, ER…it was a good run. I really am going to miss you.
Tags: 00s tv, 10pm, 90s tv, Abby Lockhart, Alex Kingston, Angela Bassett, Anthony Edwards, Archie Morris, Battleflag, Carol Hathaway, carter gets stabbed, Catherine Banfield, county general, Dave Malucci, David Krumholz, Doug Ross, Elizabeth Corday, ER, Erik Palladino, Eriq La Salle, George Clooney, gimme shelter, Goran Visnjic, Greg Pratt, Hallee Hirsh, it's a drawer, John Carter, John Stamos, julianna margulies, Kellie Martin, Kerry Weaver, Laura Innes, Linda Cardellini, Lo-Fidelity All Stars, Lucy Knight, Luka Kovac, Mark Greene, Matt's basement, Maura Tierney, Mekhi Phifer, must see TV, nazi dyke, nbc, Neela Rasgotra, Noah Wyle, Parminder Nagra, Paul McCrane, Paul Sobricki, Peter Benton, Rachel Greene, Ray Barnett, Reese, rolling stones, Romano, Samatha Taggart, Scott Grimes, series finale, Shane West, Sherry Stringfield, Susan Lewis, Thursday, Tony Gates, VCR, wpi
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songspeak
Is it me, or has Meredith Viera been speaking with a vaguely Irish accent since the Today Show has been in Ireland?
I can’t believe mine ears. I believe ’tis in the T’s and L’s that it ’tis most noticeable!
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, songspeakers!
Tags: accent, al roker, ireland, irish, meredith viera, nbc, st paddy, st patty's day, st. patrick's day, today show
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songspeak
This is Howie do it
Let's flip the track, bring the old school back
This past weekend, I saw some commercials on NBC for a rather disturbing new series. It’s called Howie Do It, and involves Howie Mandel (of A Fine Mess, Walk Like a Man, and more recently, Deal or No Deal fame) playing practical jokes on everyday average people.
I liked it the first time when it was called the Jamie Kennedy Experiment, and then the second time when it was called Punk’d with Ashton Kutcher. But do we really need another one of these shows? With Howie Mandel of all people? I mean, the dude can’t even touch another person due to his debilitating fear of germs, but he’s going to spray shit at people for kicks?
And don’t even get me started on the punniness of the title. Montell Jordan would be rolling over in his grave.
If he were dead.
Tags: 00s tv, 00s tv commercials, 80s movies, 90s music, a fine mess, ashton kutcher, deal or no deal, fear of germs, hidden camera shows, howie do it, howie mandel, jamie kennedy, jamie kennedy experiment, montell jordan, mysophobia, nbc, practical jokes, pranks, punk'd, punniness, this is how we do it, walk like a man
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Ed McMahon
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