The Filtered Excellence: January 9, 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:
The 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. It’s the awards show that honors film and television, although the television people have to sit in the back. It’s also the awards show that has the hosts that other awards shows are jealous of. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are back for their 3rd time emceeing the Golden Globe Awards. In the Best Motion Picture, Drama category, the nominees this year are, “Boyhood”, “Foxcatcher”, “The Imitation Game”, “Selma” and “The Theory of Everything”. In the other big category of the night, Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, the contenders are “Into The Woods”, “Birdman”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “St. Vincent” and “Pride”. This starts the run toward the Oscars. Is it Birdman’s year? Or does “Boyhood” outlast everybody? Who’s going home with the Hollywood Foreign Press award? The 72nd Golden Globe Awards are Sunday, January 11th at 8pm et on NBC.
For more information, go to nbc.com
The NFL Divisional Playoffs. This is considered the best weekend in professional football. Four games, eight great teams and 2 days of watching to see who makes it to the Conference Championship round. This will be the last weekend with Saturday football (pro or college) for quite a few months, so enjoy. The weekend starts Saturday afternoon at 4:35pm et on NBC with the Baltimore Ravens at the #1 seed New England Patriots with the Pats favored by 7. Saturday night at 8:15pm et on FOX, it’s the Carolina Panthers who got past the first round despite a losing regular season record, at the #1 seed Seattle Seahawks. The ‘Hawks are favored by 10 1/2 points currently. On Sunday, the day starts at 1:05pm et on FOX with the Dallas Cowboys visiting Green Bay and the Packers who are favored by 6 points and the weekend wraps up Sunday afternoon at 4:40pm et on CBS with the Indianapolis Colts at the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning and his Broncos are favored by 7 points.
For more information and a playoff schedule, go to nfl.com
The College Football Playoff National Championship. No matter who wins this game, history is going to be made. One of these universities is going to lay claim to the first ever college football national championship decided in a tournament. The Ohio State Buckeyes who outlasted Alabama to get to the title game face the University of Oregon who destroyed Florida State in the opening round. The tough Ohio State defense will go up against the fast moving Oregon Ducks offense led by Heisman winning quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Ducks are favored by 6 points going into the title match-up. The College Football Playoff National Championship game is Monday, January 12th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Coverage starts at 8:30pm et on ESPN.
For more information, go to collegefootballplayoff.com
The Final Season of Parks and Recreation. It’s the wrap up final season for the town of Pawnee, Indiana and the people who work at its public servants. This is the 7th and last season for Parks and Rec starring Amy Poehler. The final episodes start on Tuesday, January 13th with two each week leading up to the series finale. In the last season, it’s the Pawnee of the future with series picking up in the 2017. Also, Parks and Recreation is filling up on the guest stars this season for one last run including Blake Anderson from “Workaholics”, Jorma Taccone from “The Lonely Island”, plus Paul Rudd, Jon Hamm, Rachel Dratch and Megan Mullally as Tammy II. The final season of Parks and Recreation starts Tuesday, January 13th at 8pm et with a second episode at 8:30pm et on NBC.
For more information, go to nbc.com
Shameless. The Gallaghers are back and ready to raise more hell in for Season 5. Set in the summer, Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy) has a new lease on life after getting a liver transplant, but it doesn’t stop him in his pursuit of creating and finding the most potent brand of beer. His daughter Fiona (Emmy Rossum) is becoming more self-assured and aware, even as she contends with managing a house that is going through the inevitable life changes. The entire family also bands together to hold onto their piece of the South Side roots, even as gentrification is making its presence felt. Its back to basics for the show, which means expect more bawdy, unapologetic and decidedly un-PC. Season 5 of Shameless premieres January 11th on Showtime.
Go to www.sho.com for more info.
READ THIS:
Silver Screen Fiend by Patton Oswalt. Patton Oswalt is a successful comedian, actor and author. In this new memoir, Oswalt recalls his salad days in the L.A. alternative comedy scene in the mid to late 90s, fueled primarily by his addiction to films, which he would see at The New Beverly Cinema up to three times a week. His regular attendance at this theater – and the people who encountered there – would help shape his outlook on his comedy, writing, acting and even his relationships. Oswalt gives a funny and insightful look at how those experiences helped him evolve from a struggling comedian to a comedic triple threat. Another winner from one of the top names in comedy.
Silver Screen Fiend is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and all major book retailers.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Fashion Week by Death Grip. For the past five years, this California based collective has been defying all musical conventions with their mash up of hip hop, industrial, rock and the truly avant garde. In true rebel spirit, they have gone out of their way to avoid the spoils and pitfalls of mainstream success. They lost a major record deal by releasing their album for free, lost a key spot at Lollapalooza (and sparked a riot) by no-showing for an pre-event party, and broke up on the eve of doing their biggest tour to date: an opening slot on a 2014 tour featuring Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden. Just when fans that it was over, Death Grips announced they were working on a double album called The Powers That B and released the first half of the collection free and online. Now as the band puts the finishing touches on the second half (which they claim will be out in February), Death Grips surprised everyone AGAIN, but releasing an all-instrumental album, Fashion Week. Claiming to be a ‘soundtrack’ to possibly the long talked about Death Grips film, the album is a sonic assault featuring buzzsaw guitars, gunshot drums, exploding keyboards and all out musical madness. It’s both a return and a departure from previous work that should get fans buzzing about the forthcoming ‘official’ release. For sheer audacity alone makes it the first great album of 2015. Ear candy for the musically adventurous.
Fashion Week is available as a free download through the band’s website.
DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: Pitch: Talks On Baseball. Spring training is still several weeks away, but this new talk series is bound to wet the appetite for die hard baseball fans. Pitch allows fans to interact with sportswriters and commentators about the national pastime. Panelists will include Buster Olney and Adam Rubin of ESPN, New York Times’ columnist Tyler Kepner and Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated. Expect plenty of debates about the upcoming season, the Baseball Hall of Fame, great stories and a lot more. Pitch: Talks On Baseball will take place on Wednesday, January 14th at B.B. King’s.
You can also go to www.bbkingblues.com for tickets and additional info.
NEW YORK CITY: First Look Festival at The Museum Of The Moving Image. Now in its 4th year, the First Look Festival presents new films by emerging and established artists, that according to organizers, shows ‘new approaches to filmmaking, with works that defy convention, experiment in form, blend fiction and reality, and allow us to see the art form—and the world—in a new way.’ This year, First Look has an expanded lineup, multiple theaters, a digital-media component and much more. Some of the more notable films being featured include: Everything That Rises Must Converge, Omar Fast’s look at the real-life porn stars that’s loosely based on a Flannery O’Connor short story (viewers will have also an option to take a peek at one of four acts that the adult stars are performing throughout the doc); and Our Terrible Country, Mohammed Ali Atassi and Ziad Homsi’s firsthand look at a war-torn Syria. If you are looking to discover new films as well as innovative ways in which their stories are being told, this festival is your best bet. First Look Festival runs January 9th through the 18th at The Museum Of The Moving Image.
You can go to www.movingimage.us for tickets and additional info.
NEW YORK CITY: Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease in the 21st Century. Did last year’s Ebola scare have you a little on edge? Maybe discussing it with a former President of the United States will make you feel better. Former President Jimmy Carter will be having a discussion on how to combat infectious diseases in today’s day and age. President Carter will be joined by experts in the field to talk about the new approaches and collaborations going on around the globe to fight diseases in every part of the world. Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease in the 21st Century is Monday evening, January 12th at 7:45pm et at the LeFrak Theater at the Museum of Natural History in New York.
For more information and tickets, go to amnh.org
NEW YORK CITY: Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. The band that was co-founded by Southside Johnny and Steven Van Zandt and heavily associated with Bruce Springsteen and members of the E Street Band are performing at B.B. King’s Blues Club in Times Square. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes have been touring around the world and put out over 30 albums including their critically acclaimed 1976 record, “I Don’t Want to Go Home”. Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes are appearing at B.B. King’s Blues Club and and Cafe on Friday, January 9th at 8pm. Doors open at 6pm.
For more information and tickets, go to bbkingsblues.com
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: David Lynch: The Unified Field. This is the last weekend to catch artist and director David Lynch’s first major museum exhibition in the United States. “The Unified Field” exhibit features 90 paintings and drawings from Lynch’s work from 1965 to the present. The exhibit also includes a recreation of Lynch’s 1967 multi-media presentation “Six Men Getting Sick” which included painting, sculpture, sound, film, and installation. It brings together all aspects of a unique artist’s mediums. David Lynch: The Unified Field is at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts until Sunday, January 15th.
For more information, go to pafa.org
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Ian Hunter and the Rant Band. The former lead singer of Mott the Hoople is bringing his Rant Band to The Fillmore. Ian Hunter known for the anthem for the glam rock era, “All The Young Dudes” written by David Bowie along with his solo hits “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “Cleveland Rocks” will be at the Fillmore with special guest Steve Wynn from the Dream Syndicate. Ian will also be doing songs from his latest CD, “When I’m President”. The show is Friday, January 9th at 9pm. Doors open at 8pm.
For more information and tickets, go to thefillmore.com
Want more excellence? Read last week’s The Filtered Excellence and visit The Interrobang Recommmends
