The Filtered Excellence: May 22, 2014

rickels

Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Here are 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:

One Night Only: An All-Star Tribute to Don Rickles. The man known as “Mr. Warmth” will be honored with a tribute featuring a line up of amazing comedic talent. The night honoring 88 year old comedian Don Rickles includes appearances by Bob Newhart, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Tracy Morgan, Johnny Depp, Regis Philbin, and Ray Romano. The evening will also include short films, previously taped tributes, stand up and stories from Don’s friends who at some point in time were called a “hockey puck”. One Night Only: An All-Star Tribute to Don Rickles was filmed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York and will air on Spike TV on Wednesday, May 28th at 9 pm Eastern.

The Angriest Man In Brooklyn. Robins Williams plays Henry, a man who is constantly angry in a bittersweet small film.  When he finds out he’s dying, he ends up on a caper to figure out how to spend the last few hours of his life, and then his  doctor played by Mila Kunis, ends up on a caper within a caper to try to track him down after she gave him some inaccurate test results.  The film includes a list of gifted actors including Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, Peter Dinklage and James Earl Jones, among others. The Angriest Man in Brooklyn opens Friday in New York and L.A. in limited release.

B.B. King: The Life Of Riley. B.B. King is one of the most revered musicians of the 20th (and 21st Century). With his beloved guitar Lucille at his side, King has toured the world several times over, performed for Presidents, Heads of State and is a 15 time Grammy winner. Director Jon Brewer takes an in depth look at the guitarist, from his days growing up as an orphan in his native Mississippi to becoming one of the blues greatest ambassadors. Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the doc also features new interviews with family, band mates, famous fans and collaborators including Bono, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Carlos Santana, Bruce Willis and much more. A loving salute to a beloved artist. B.B. King: The Life Of Riley opens in select cities this Friday.

Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia. Gore Vidal’s imprint of the American culture landscape is undeniable. A writer of the highest order, Vidal’s essays, novels, screenplays and Broadway plays set new standards in literature. Vidal was also excelled on the political landscape, most notably for his stances on gay rights and U.S. foreign policy. Director Nicholas D. Wrathall uses scores of archival footage, quotes from friends, enemies and interviews by Vidal that were done shortly before his death, to paint a loving portrait of one of this nation’s greatest social critics. A great introduction for some and a reminder for others of just what Gore Vidal brought to the national conversation. Gore Vidal: The United States Of Amnesia opens this Friday.

Comedy Bang! Bang! The new season has started. New episodes premiere on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern on IFC. Scott Aukerman’s comedy talk show, featuring band leader, the great and amazing Reggie Watts, wades through the surreal each and every week. The new season features guests Jason Alexander, Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk, Jenna Fischer, Craig Robinson and many more.

Park Bench with Steve Buscemi. Boardwalk Empire is entering its final season, but that does not mean Steve Buscemi is slowing down. In this new web series for AOL, the New York born and raised actor/director is the host of a ‘talking show’ that takes place on a park bench. Guests range from celebrity friends (Chris Rock, Rosie Perez, Rosanne Cash, Michael Shannon, Colin Quinn) to people he encounters on the street. There’s also a running subplot involving his brother Michael, who’s also attempting to launch his own show with the similar theme. Odd, quirky and highly entertaining, Park Bench puts an entirely different spin on the talk show format. It also celebrates the great qualities that made up New York City. Park Bench is available through AOL.

 


 

LISTEN TO THIS:

Ya Nass by Yasmine Hamdan. Towards the end of the Jim Jarmusch film Only Lovers Left Alive, the characters Adam and Eve, jet lagged and blood deprived, find temporary comfort when they hear Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan perform ‘Hal’. It’s a captivating performance that can be found on the film’s soundtrack as well as on her album Ya Nass. The collection blends pop, folk melodies and sounds with lyrics taken from various Middle-Eastern traditions. Hamdan also uses various Arabic dialects (Lebanese, Kuwati, Palestinian, Egyptian and Bedouin) to astonishing effect. Yasmine Hamdan is considered an icon in the underground music scene with the Arab community. It’s only a matter of time before she has a similar effect here in the States.

Ya Nass is available now through Amazon, Itunes and all major music outlets.

You can also go to www.yasminehamdan.com for more info.


BUY THIS:

The JBL by Harman J46BT Bluetooth Headphones. JBL has designed the perfect headphones for those who do just about everything on their smartphone. The new J46BT Bluetooth headphones have a single cord (all but eliminating tangled cords), a three button remote control (which allows you to effortless switch between calls and music), a USB rechargeable battery, an assortment of ear tips to accommodate any ear size and a small, but stylish carrying case to hold them when not in use. Plus, they sound GREAT. Whether you’re working out, walking down the street or relaxing at home, the J46BT Bluetooth Headphones are perfect in any of these scenarios.

The J4BT Bluetooth Headphones by JBL by Harman are available now through Amazon and all major audio retailers.


 

DO THIS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Mr. Show Show: An Artistic Tribute To Mr. Show With Bob & David. Friday, March 24th is your last day to see this very special art exhibit. A large group of L.A. based artists have come together to create pieces inspired by Mr. Show. If your a fan of Mr. Show and Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, this exhibit is a must-see. “The Mr. Show Show” is on display at the Meltdown Gallery inside Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comic. Friday is the last day and admission is free.

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY: The 1st Annual Trenton Pork Roll Festival. It’s not often you get a chance to be some place when history is made, but here’s your opportunity. This Saturday, May 24th, you can say -“I was there” when the city of Trenton hosted its first ever Pork Roll Festival. This an afternoon to celebrate all things Pork Roll. The festival starts at 10 am and there will be plenty of food, music and other events, including awards for the best pork roll recipes, comedy from comedian Dan Regan and the crowning of the 2014 Miss Pork Roll. Good luck ladies. The festival is this Saturday, at the Trenton Social bar on S. Broad Street.

NEW YORK CITY: Intrepid Summer Movie Series: Top Gun. Here’s one way to kick off Memorial Day weekend – sitting on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier watching movies. It’s the perfect way to interact with this weekend’s film, Top Gun starring Tom Cruise. You be watching planes take off from an aircraft carrier while on an aircraft carrier. Watch Top Gun on the Intrepid this Friday, May 24th. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Seating is first come first serve. Everyone is encourage to bring their own lawn chairs, food and non-alcoholic beverages.

NEW YORK CITY: The Girl At Jellyfish Lake @ The Amber Arbucci Pop Up Gallery through June 1st. Renowned model and photographer Amber Arbucci recently traveled to the Pacific Island country of Palau to shoot the 5 million jellyfish that swim in its waters. The shoot was done with a twist: With no crew to assist, Arbucci went underwater nude and captured pictures herself. Seven hours and numerous jellyfish stings later, Arbucci amassed a series of stunning, almost dreamlike images of her in harmony with nature. These photos are on display at a pop up gallery on 129 4th Avenue just off Union Square through June 1st. A select number of photos are also on display at and the W New York – Times Square through June 7th.

 


 

Want more excellence?  Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends