The Filtered Excellence: February 20, 2013
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:
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WATCH THIS:
Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me. Stage and screen legend Elaine Stritch is the subject of this highly entertaining documentary by director Chiemi Karasawa. We see the 87 year old Strich preparing for her show at The Carlyle Hotel, on the set of 30 Rock (where she made memorable appearances as Alec Baldwin’s mother), and giving candid, revealing, no holds barred recollections about her career, struggles with alcohol and maintaining a busy schedule despite having diabetes. Loaded with archival footage and stories from such friends as Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, John Turturro, Hal Prince and the late James Gandolfini, Shoot Me is the ultimate look at one of the greatest last true triple threat performers. Elaine Strich: Shoot Me opens this Friday.
2014 Winter Olympics Continue. It’s more competition and medals heading to the Olympics closing ceremony in Sochi on Sunday. On Friday, February 21st, the main event will be the Men’s Hockey Semi-Final with the USA versus Canada. USA! USA! Friday is also the gold medal game in curling. On Saturday, February 22nd, the gold medals will be awarded in the men’s and women’s PSL snowboarding events. And then Sunday, February 23rd, it’s the gold medal game for men’s hockey at 7am Eastern. The closing ceremonies for the Winter Games will be aired Sunday night on NBC at 8:30pm Eastern.
Late Night with Seth Meyers. Another chapter in late night television begins Monday, February 24th. Seth Meyers moves from the Weekend Update desk at Saturday Night Live and goes down the hallway to host Late Night. Seth begins his new gig with his new bandleader Fred Armisen and guests Amy Poehler, Vice-President Joe Biden and musical guest, A Great Big World. Keep watching on Friday, February 28th for the very first comedian to perform on the new Late Night, Michael Che.
Portlandia. Season Premiere. As Fred Armisen starts his new job on Late Night, his show Portlandia also begins it’s new season. It’s season 4 for Armisen and Carrie Brownstein. The new season is full of guest stars. Watch for Vanessa Bayer, Kirsten Dunst, K.D. Lang, Michael Nesmith from The Monkees and Maya Rudolph. The new season of the sketch comedy show Portlandia starts Thursday, February 27th at 10pm Eastern on IFC.
LISTEN TO THIS:
Morning Phase by Beck. Beck’s first album of new material in nearly 6 years revisits the themes and settings of his 2002 masterwork Sea Change, but its more of companion piece than a sequel. There’s moments that recall the classic sounds that came out of the Laurel Canyon area in the 60s and 70s, dramatic orchestral pop (with killer string arrangements done by his father David Campbell) and echoes of Glen Campbell via his collaborations with Jimmy Webb. This is Beck’s most mature work to date and makes a startling new chapter in his career.
For a limited time, NPR will stream the entire album using this link.
Slow Phaser by Nicole Atkins. In 2008, Nicole Atkins was poised to be pop’s next big thing. With a bold voice and excellent songs, Atkins were being compared to everyone from Patsy Cline and Roy Orbison to Janis Joplin. A deal with major label in place followed and Atkins was profiled in Rolling Stone, prominently featured in an American Express ad campaign and made several notable TV appearances including Late Show With David Letterman and Later With Jools Holland. Record company politics all but killed her debut album and she spent the next couple of years back on the independent circuit where she maintained a dedicated and loyal following. Through a successful Kickstarter campaign, Atkins was able to tour and record her latest album Slow Phaser for her own label. Re-teaming with producer Tore Johansson (who produced her debut album Neptune City), Atkins regains her position at the Queen of Late Night Pop through a series of songs that are playful, funky, experimental yet provide perfect settings for her powerhouse vocals. It may have taken awhile, but Nicole Atkins is back and she’s here to stay. Another early contender for one of the year’s best albums.
CLICK THIS:
30 For 30 Shorts: The Deal. Prepare for the upcoming MLB season with the latest short from the ESPN 30 For 30 series. “The Deal” focuses on how the Boston Red Sox went hard for a deal with Alex Rodriguez when he was still with the Texas Rangers. The documentary short shows how after losing to the Yankees in the 2003 ALCS, the Red Sox went all out to make Rodriguez their man and how in the course of 36 hours the deal not only fell apart, but A-Rod ended up at the rival New York Yankees.
DO THIS:
NEW YORK CITY: The Complete Hitchcock. See the Master of Suspence the way he was meant to be seen…on the big screen. Between Febuary 21-March 27th, Hitchcock’s British and Hollywood films will be screened at the Film Forum (including the nine fully restored silent films). Several of the lesser known films will be screened as two for one double features (including The Trouble with Harry and Family Plot, Secret Agent and Young and Innocent, 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes, Rop and I Confess) and the 3-D version of Dial M. For Murder (Grace Kelly’s first film with Hitchcock) will also screen as part of the program. More than 50 films will be screen during the 35 day retrospective, and if interested in seeing some of Hitchcock’s work in television, the Paley Center For Media are hosting a television retrospective simultantiously.
NEW YORK CITY: Mario Van Peebles: Baadassss! The David Rubinstein Atrium @ Lincoln Center. The 2014 season of Lincoln Center’s AtriumFlix kicks off with a screening of Baadassss!, Mario Van Peebles’ look at the making of his father Melvin’s seminal 1971 independent classic Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss. As an added bonus, Melvin Van Peebles will perform live with his band wid Laxative and he’ll also be joined by Mario and writer Greg Tate in a discussion about the film. Its a rare opportunity to see both father and son on the same stage talk about the film that changed their lives (Mario made his film debut in Sweetback) and the face of independent film forever. Arrive early because the show is FREE.
LOS ANGELES: Robert Whitman Photographs Prince 1977. The Mr. Musichead Gallery. In 1977, photographer Robert Whitman was asked by manager Owen Husney to shoot some pictures of his latest discovery: a 19 year multi-instrumentalist named Prince. They would shoot pictures on the streets of Minneapolis, in the studio and at Husney’s house and the photos would be used for Prince’s press kit. Only 15 copies of the press kit went out and the photos were not seen by the public until now. Starting on February 21st, fans can view these photos at the Mr. Musichead Gallery on Sunset Blvd. It’s a chance to see the Purple One on the brink of setting the music world on fire. Robert Whitman Photographs Prince 1977 will be on view from February 21st through March 21st.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Paul Simon & Sting:On Stage Together Tour 2014. Two of music’s most iconic figures take the stage separately and together in this special concert tour. Sting will be performing his solo hits as well as hits from The Police. The legendary Paul Simon will also take the stage to do his classic songs before the two take the stage together in a musical collaboration. Paul Simon & Sting: On Stage Together is Tuesday, February 25th at 8pm at the United Center in Chicago. Tickets are still available.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. StarTalk Live! with Neil deGrasse Tyson. America’s favorite astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson brings his popular StarTalk! show to the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The show features Dr. Tyson’s hysterical co-host Eugene Mirman and special guest Mayim Bialik from The Big Bang Theory. Other special guests will be announced. StarTalk Live! happens Monday, February 24th at 8pm at BAM.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. The Dalai Lama. The 14th Dalai Lama will be speaking at the Forum in L.A. on Tuesday, February 25th at 12:15pm. The spiritual leader will be speaking about “Non-violence and the effects of compassion in the 21st Century”. The Dalai Lama is currently touring the United States to promote human values and secular ethics and how they can apply to human happiness.
FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA. Creed Bratton. It’s Creed from The Office in concert. Creed Bratton will be combining music and comedy in his performance, which will include songs from his days as part of The Grass Roots. Plus, Creed will be doing some his original solo numbers from his albums “Bounce Back” and “Demo”. Spend an evening with Creed Bratton on Saturday, February 22nd at 9pm at the State Theatre. Doors open at 7pm.
