The Filtered Excellence: January 21, 2016
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this weeks picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.
WATCH THIS:
The Godfather Epic. Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of the Mario Puzo novel gets a super sized makeover. Throughout the remainder of the month, HBO will be airing a 7.5 hour version of the gangster epic featuring unseen footage and edited to run in chronological order. While this isn’t the first time this has happened – NBC ran it over several nights in 1977 as did AMC in 2012 – this will be the first time it will air uncensored and without commercial interruption. Set in this context, it makes you appreciate the brilliance of these films even more. If you want the ultimate binge watching experience, spent a day with The Corleones. The Godfather Epic will be airing on HBO, HBO Go and HBO Now through January 28th. You can also go to www.hbo.com for run times, dates and additional info.
Baskets. Zach Galifianakis, Louis C. K. and Jonathan Krisel (“Portlandia”) have joined forces to create this surreal new comedy for FX. Galifinakis plays Chip Baskets, whose flunks out of a French clown college because he never learned French and runs out of money. He returns to his hometown of Bakersfield, CA to regroup, but the only job that fits his expertise is being bull bait at the local rodeo. As Chip struggles to find his artistic voice, he also has to deal with a wife (Sabina Scuibba) who only married him for a green card; his more successful twin brother (also played by Galifianakis), and an overly doting and chatty mother (Louis Anderson, yes, Louis Anderson). Only Martha (Martha Kelly), a local insurance claims adjuster, is sympathetic, but he takes out his frustrations on her rather than appreciating her support. A perfect balance between comedy and drama, great cast and even better writing (Louis C.K. is aboard as a co-writer for most of the first season), Galifianakis has put together all the right ingredients for the TV’s next great series. Baskets will air Thursday nights at 10pm Eastern on FX. You can also go to www.fxnetworks.com for more information.
Prescription Thugs. Does making something legal actually make it safer or better? That’s the key question in this new documentary from Christopher Bell (Bigger Stronger Faster). After losing his brother to prescription drug abuse, Bell examines why Americans consume over 75% of the world’s meds (while making up on 5% of the world’s population) and how the corporations behind these drugs are no better than the street level drug dealers. Bell also speaks the whistle blowers who have testified that these companies and doctors are profiting not from healing people, but by literally keeping people sick. Bell also reveals that how Big Pharma spends hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbyists to insure that their needs – and their profits – are looked after. It’s a damming, take no prisoners look at the worst epidemic in America today. A must see documentary. Prescription Thugs opens nationwide this Friday and will also be available on Itunes. You can also go to www.prescriptionthugs.com for more information.
NFL Conference Championship Games. For diehard football fans, the Conference Championship Games are the last pure week of football before the hype and madness of Super Bowl week takes over. This year’s match ups features long time favorites alongside two surprising teams. In the AFC game, the defending champion New England Patriots travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. The Patriots road to the title game has been laced with controversy and injuries: First, Tom Brady went through a lengthy appeal process to overcome a four game suspension for his role in the ‘Deflate-gate’ scandal. Then they had overcome serious injuries to key players such as tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide out Julian Edelman. Nevertheless, the team still went 12-4 including a stretch where they won 10 straight. Denver lost Peyton Manning to a serious foot injury, but rallied behind a strong running game and the inspired play by backup Brock Osweiler, to end the season at 12-4. A key win during that stretch: a thrilling overtime win against the Patriots which snapped New England’s 10 game winning streak. The NFC game features the league’s two best teams: The Carolina Panthers, led by MVP candidate Cam Newton, takes on the Arizona Cardinals. With a relentless passing attack, a balanced running game and a punishing defense, the Panthers went 15-1 in the regular season, then beat the two time defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks in the divisional playoff. The Cardinals also boast a potent running game and a stingy defense, but the team is anchored by two veterans: Quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, both of whom turned back the clock to have outstanding seasons. Who will go on to Super Bowl 50? Turn to CBS at 3:05 Eastern for the AFC Championship Game and at 6:40 Eastern for the NFC Title Game on FOX.
DO THIS:
New York City: Louis Draper. With Black History Month quickly approaching, The Steven Kasher Gallery is presenting the first ever New York solo exhibition of Louis Draper. As a founding member of the seminal Kamoinge collective (which is celebrating its 50th Anniversary), Draper spearheaded an ongoing campaign to elevate the Black Experience through photography and contradict the negative images of Black Americans that were being presented throughout mainstream media. This exhibit will feature over 75 vintage black and white shots representing his work in Harlem from the 1950s through the 1980s, portraits of Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer, Hughie Lee Smith and Katherine Dunham, and photos from his travels to Mississippi and Senegal. This is an incredible salute to a NewYork – and national – treasure. Louis Draper will be at the Steven Kasher Gallery through February 20th. You can also go to www.stevenkasher.com for more information.
New York City: Sarah Silverman & Friends. After making a detour in film – including a fantastic dramatic turn in I Smile Back – Sarah Silverman returns to stand up with a show at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music. Don’t let the high end setting fool you – Silverman will be just as biting, off-color and brutally funny as ever. Nothing is sacred and we’re all the better for it. Come out and see one of the best in the game. Sarah Silverman and Friends will be at The Brooklyn Academy Of Music on Friday. Go to www.bam.org for tickets and more information.
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
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