The Filtered Excellence: January 1, 2015
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:
Billy Joel: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize. Billy Joel received one of the biggest honors in American music in a ceremony in November. That presentation premieres Friday on PBS. The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song is awarded for a positive effect of a performer’s popular music on the world’s culture. Billy Joel is this year’s recipient will receive the Gershwin Prize from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi and other officials. The ceremony will also include performances by Billy Joel as well as Tony Bennett, Boyz II Men, Gavin DeGraw, Josh Groban, Natalie Maines, John Mellencamp and LeAnn Rimes. Billy Joel: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize premieres on PBS on Friday, January 2nd. Check your local Public Broadcasting listings for times.
For more information, go to pbs.org
The Search For General Tso. This is a documentary about a food phenomenon. General Tso’s Chicken is one of the most popular dishes in Chinese food restaurants in America. But did you know that the people in China have no idea what it is? And they are completely unaware of any military leader in their country’s history named General Tso. The film looks for the origins behind the recipe that was a take-out hit in America. It looks into questions like, “Where did the recipe start?” and “How did something that never existed before, show up in Chinese restaurants across the country at basically the same time?” Look for the answers in “The Search for General Tso”. The documentary opens Friday, January 2nd in New York and Los Angeles and then opens across the country after that.
For more information, go to thesearchforgeneraltso.com
Watch the trailer for The Search For General Tso
TCM Friday Night Spotlight – Neil Simon. Every Friday night in January on Turner Classic Movies is a salute to the Broadway playwright who holds the record for most number of plays turned into films. TCM starts the new year with a salute to Neil Simon. Starting Friday and throughout the month, the network will air Simon’s biggest movie hits. This Friday, January 2nd, the month long marathon starts with Simon classics “The Odd Couple” (1968) starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau at 8 pm et, 1970’s “The Out-of-Towners” with Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis at 10 pm et and “Come Blow Your Horn (1963) with Frank Sinatra, Lee J. Cobb and Barbara Rush at 12 am et.
For more information and schedules for Friday Night Spotlight – Neil Simon go to tcm.com
Galavant. ABC is taking advantage of all the fairy tale popularity going on like its “Once Upon a Time” series and the movie “Into The Woods” being in theaters. The network is bringing a musical comedy mini-series to television that’s being compared to Monty Python and The Princess Bride. Galivant will air in 8 episodes over 4 weeks. It was created by Dan Fogelman (Neighbors) and the music is from Oscar, Tony and Grammy winner Alan Menken. The story revolves Galavant the hero who is looking for revenge against King Richard who stole his lady fair. The cast includes Joshua Sasse ,Timothy Omundson, Vinnie Jones and Mallory Jansen, plus guest stars Ricky Gervais, John Stamos, Hugh Bonneville, Weird Al Yankovic and Rutger Hauer. Galavant premieres Sunday, January 4th at 8 pm et on ABC.
For more information, go to abc.com
Watch the trailer for Galavant
DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: Orson Welles 100. In 1941, 26 year old Orson Welles – who had already directed and produced landmark programs in radio and in the theater – released his debut film Citizen Kane. It’s now considered one of the greatest films in the history of cinema. Welles would go on to make 13 full length features, but often clashed with the studios over the final cut. Nevertheless, several of his films show the mark of one of the cinema’s greatest auteurs. 2015 marks the 100th birthday of Orson Wells and The Film Forum is doing an extended retrospective of his work. Included in the series will be The Magnificent Ambersons, Chimes Of Midnight, Macbeth, The Third Man, the original cut of Touch Of Evil and much more. A fitting look at a film giant. Orson Welles 100 will be at The Film Forum through February 3rd. You can go to www.filmforum.org for tickets and additional information.
For more information on tickets and screenings, go to filmforum.org
NEW YORK CITY: Urban Cowboy on the Big Screen. The recent success of country music on the pop charts can be directly traced to this 1980 James Bridges film. John Travolta stars as Bud, a Pasadena, Texas construction worker looking to save enough money to buy land in his nearby hometown of Spur. He quickly falls in love with Gilley’s the local honky-tonk and even more in love with Sissy (Debra Winger), one of the bar’s regulars. They eventually marry, but their strong personalities has them butting heads as much as being a happily married couple. The arrival of ex-con Wes Hightower (Scott Glenn) and a mechanical bull riding competition brings everything to a head. The film was a box office hit, cementing Travolta’s status as one of the dynamic leading men on the era. It also marked the arrival of Debra Winger, now considered of the most respected and critically acclaimed actresses. The film’s soundtrack also did big business topping the country charts and cracking the Top 5 on the pop charts. Nitehawk Cinema will screen Urban Cowboy as part of its ‘Country Brunchin’ series, which will also feature a live performance by Tatters & Rags along with a Southern themed menu to snack on. It’s a dinner, movie and a show all rolled into one. Urban Cowboy will air at The Nitehawk Cinema on January 4th.
You can go to www.nitehawkcinema.com for tickets and additional info.
WEST LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Blade Runner – The Director’s Cut. The Nuart Theatre in West L.A. is hosting a special one day screening of director Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic, “Blade Runner”. This is chance to see a piece of sci fi cinema history on the big screen. The 1982 film stars Harrison Ford as detective Rick Deckard, living and working in the 21st century and hunting down fugitive replicants that have gone bad. The cast includes Rutger Hauer, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh and Daryl Hannah. The film will be the version that Ridley Scott intended for theaters. Blade Runner – The Director’s Cut screens at the Nuart Theatre Friday, January 2nd at Noon.
For more information on the screening, go to landmarktheatres.com
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA: Willie Nelson and Family. Willie Nelson is on the road again and bringing his Willie Nelson and Family show to Anaheim. Willie and his longtime touring and recording “Family” will be performing his amazing classics like “Crazy”, “On the Road Again”, “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust”. The 81 year old singer – songwriter – musician is still known to do two hour long concerts. Willie Nelson and Family perform at City National Grove of Anaheim on Tuesday, January 6th at 8 pm.
For more information and tickets, go to citynationalgroveofanaheim.com
CLEVELAND, OHIO: The Psychedelic Furs. One of the most influential bands to come out of England’s punk scene in 1977 and known as alt-rock founders, the Psychedelic Furs are touring and playing the House of Blues in Cleveland. The band led by lead singer Richard Butler and his brother Tim Butler known for their songs “Love My Way”, “Heaven”, “The Ghost In You”, “Heartbreak Beat” and their hit from the movie with the same name, “Pretty In Pink” are at the Cleveland House of Blues on Wednesday, January 7th at 8 pm.
For more information and tickets, go to houseofblues.com
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
