THE TWO COREYS and RESCUE ME MINI-SODES!

RESCUE ME: MINI-SODE ep 1 (FX)
FX had a cool idea by doing five minute mini-sodes of RESCUE ME to keep fans interested till the show returns. Based on the first episode, it was a great idea. Rather than real eps, these are really vignettes - the first one centering around Sean trying to fast for 30 days. In five minutes they managed to erase the memories of last season which went sailing off the rails in its second half. It was funny, profane, real - the guys gave Sean tons of shit and tried to make him break his fast and eat Lou's home-made donuts - which looked fucking delicious.
Grade: A


REAL WORLD: HOLLYWOOD (MTV)
If you're not a fan of this show - you're not about to start watching now, so I'll make this short. I've always come in and out of the REAL WORLD - still think that the Hawaii season was the series high point - but this new season, which has went for the first time from a half hour to an hour - is shaping up to be one of the better seasons. Though since they got rid of that major weirdo Greg, it's slipping slowly into boring territory. And who is more annoying than that white girl with the down home country accent. She got complimented on something she did herself and screamed "Go Team!" But she was the whole team!
Grade: C +


RUFUS DOES JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL (PBS)
This was a version of the DVD of Rufus Wainright Jr. doing all the Judy Garland songs at Carnegie Hall (Judy did a show there 40 years ago and Rufus follows the same set list.) Rufus is sort of a one of a kind performer - you either get it or you don't. I get it. None of this should work, but it's kind of fucking great.
Grade: B


CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD (CBS)
Al Roker hosts Ice T, Joan Rivers and Raven Simone and their respective families for a charity version of FAMILY FEUD. Al is genial but a truly terrible, nervous host. As for the celebs - it's really an embarrassment to everyone involved, particularly Al. At one point, AL made some comment about Ice T's wife's - Cocoa - involving her body and Ice T looked at Al like he was insane. Then Al, clearly regretting what he said, started rubbing Ice T's arm in the hopes he wouldn't get decked on his own show. Embarressing.
Grade: D


ELO: GREATEST HITS (AUDIO CD 1988)
I had forgotten how great ELO’s GREATEST HITS CD is – I can’t believe how many awesome songs they had. It's Over, Telephone Line, Evil Woman, It's A Living Thing -there are more. You should get this on Amazon used for about 3 bux and crank it.
Grade: A


I've been listening to the DUFFY CD and liking it a lot. Sort of an Amy Winehouse/Adelle - kind of voice, production from England - but it's really good so far.


I will once again stump for the often brilliant Eagles "Long Road Out Of Eden" CD. You could probably find used copies on Amazon used for 8 bux. "Waiting in the weeds" and the title track are amazing.


Joe Walsh "But Seriously, Folks" (Audio CD - 1979)
Speaking of The Eagles, I've been loving an old Joe Walsh CD called "But Seriously, Folks." Joe recorded this in 1979 after he had been in The Eagles for just a little while. It has a real Eagles influence and it's just a great record. Highly recommended. Also includes LIFE'S BEEN GOOD - which is not an Eagles song but a Joe Walsh solo. It's a great CD.
Grade: B+


DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE "Narrow Stairs" (Audio CD)
Fucking awesome collection of rockers, heartbreakers and everything in between. What a great band really hitting their stride.
Grade: B +


DAVID CROSBY "If I Could Only Remember My Name" (Audio CD 1974)
Somewhere in the middle of all the Crosby, Stills and Nash stuff, David Crosby decided to record a solo album that had been forgotten about until a recent transfer to CD brought this to the world. It probably could have stayed hidden. At it's best, it sounds like the background of a mediocre 70s film - which is actually high praise from me - but mostly it just sounds like really bad C,S & N. There is one good song on it called "Mistaken" - but the rest of this is pretty much a groovy forgettable batch of smoke.
Grade: D


A few of you wrote me to tell me I was too harsh on the Alanis CD. What can I say? I prefer the non-disco Alanis. Speaking of which --


CYNDI LAUPER "Bring Ya To The Brink" NEW CD - 2008
After years of torch song CDs, Cyndi returns to the dance sound that she always seemed on the brink of herself. She had a song called "THAT'S WHAT I THINK" back in the 90s that came very close to being a perfect dance record. This is like a whole CD of that vibe, but none of these songs really grabbed me. Not that I think it wouldn't improve with repeated listenings - it's just that - well, as a man, first off - I should say, I LOVE Cyndi Lauper - but as a man, I'm not about to start listening to a Cyndi Lauper disco CD in 2008.
Grade: C +


So I'm listening to the new COUNTING CROWS and althought the first 2 songs suck, the rest of the CD is pretty good. Suprisingly good. Track 3 is kind of great.


THE TWO COREYS (A&E)
This might be the best/worst show to ever live! Season two feels slightly less scripted, and according to what I saw - the problems between the 2 Coreys are massive. In the first two episodes where Haim comes back from Canada, he confronts Feldman about Feldman "knowing" about Haim getting raped by Feldman's best friend when he was 14 - Haim claims Feldman knew all about it (I'm assuming - as we all are - that we're talking about Michael Jackson) - but Feldman claims he couldn't have helped Haim at the time as HE was getting molested by a family friend. This is just the beginning - the two guys seem to really despise each other and Haim, who still looks 15, keeps calling himself and everyone he talks to "Kid" as if he's Grizzly Adams. This is the greatest/most god awful show to ever hit the small screen. It might be ridiculous, but INSANELY watchable.
Grade: A/F

UPDATE: This TWO COREYS thing has garnered a lot of attention since it aired in a lot of mainstream media. There is all this speculation that Corey Haim was molested by Michael Jackson - and a rumor that someone posted that - and I thought about reprinting it - but it was so damaging if its true - and I have no fucking idea what's true or not - in any case - this show might actually catch fire if it can manage not to suck for the next 10 episodes. Let's hope they stay true to this version of it - which - frankly - seems set up and scripted - but real in its ultimate content. God help me - I just may be addicted to THE TWO COREYS.