THEH1TMAN

I'd like to meet:

Music:

DAVID BOWIE
I've been a longtime fan of David Bowie. Nobody else in music has managed to do what David Bowie has. He is responsible for hundreds of unforgettable songs and is the only musician of his generation who is still writing and recording new music that doesn't sound like his old music. Endlessly versatile, incredibly intelligent, and by far the classiest man in rock.

BECK
Beck, I think, is very much the Bowie of my generation. The man is on a constant voyage of self discovery through hs music exploring a new style with each new album. His music is rich and deep with a sense of humor and a sense of fun. He is the definitive of cool.

THE DECEMBERISTS
The Decemberists offer something unique in music today and it isn't just the accordions. Decemberists songs have a feel that is both modern and a century old with lyrics that often tell the story of a soul in need of redemption, revenge, or saving told in the first person. Fun, sometimes silly, and sometimes heartbreaking, The Decemberists consistently serve up a fresh plate of awesome.

JOHNNY CASH
I know its all cool to like Johnny Cash right now but I have been a fan of the man since I was about twelve years old. I have never been a fan of country music, but I am a fan of Johnny Cash. He is a storyteller with a guitar. The very definition of cool. He is the ultimate man in search of a balance within himself. That conflict made him one of the greatest storytellers of our time and a real inspiration. The Man In Black will live forever.

OINGO BOINGO
I don't think any band really defines my high school years like Oingo Boingo. Their theatrical style, the duality of light vs. dark, and the orgasm of noise they made with a minimum of eight members at any given time. Lead singer Danny Elfman's lyrics touch the heart of any lonely fourteen year old and continue to resonate years later.

RADIOHEAD
Just as Oingo Boingo was an influential part of my high school experience, Radiohead was my necessary listening through college and still get my giddy as a schoolgirl today. I can try to explain what makes Radiohead so incredible, but I think to ever really understand, you have to see them live. They make entire songs out of strange noises and create a world and mood in everything they do. Thom York is a genius, plain and simple.

NINE INCH NAILS
Trent Reznor has probably had more emotional impact on me then any artist since Bowie. He is well spoken and intelligent, clever and driven by his sense of perfection. His music isn't what most people think. It is all driven by pure emotion. Everything he does is haunting and personal. The Fragile is probably in my top five albums of all time.

BEAR McCREARY
Bear McCreary isn't like most of the musicians on here as he is, primarily, a composer. He has been composing for years, but it's his music on Battlestar Galactica that really blows my mind. He incorporates elements of orchestra, world music, and celtic sounds into a rich and powerful sound that really defines the world of BSG. Not to mention the arrangement he did of "All Along the Watchtower" he did for the end of season three is simply amazing.

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
TMBG is easily one of my favorite bands. Something about two guys who can write songs about James K. Polk, James Ensor and the Mesopotamians. With songs like "Birdhouse in Your Soul" and "Experimental Flm" they set a tone of fun that is unmatched by any other live act on earth. Ive probably seen these guys live more then any other band on the planet.

MATES OF STATE
I love Mates of State, but not nearly as much as they love each other. Probably one of the most adorable bands on the planet, these two manage to make a full sound with just a set of drums and a Yamaha electric organ. They also have some of the most inventive harmonies in town. If you have never heard them before, keep an eye out for the AT&T commercial they are currently in.

ALANA SWEETWATER
Alana is not only one of my favorite musicians around, but also one of my favorite people. She is an unbelievably talented singer, songwriter and guitarist and easily has one of the best bands ever. Add to that her fun and upbeat personality, her appreciation for the people around her, and a stage presence that would dwarf someone twice her size and you've got one of the must see acts in LA's club scene.

JOE GREENE
Joe has the kind of sound we rarely get to hear. His deep raspy voice glides through the unique mixing of blues and hiphop Joe and his boys Marlon and Dylan (who back both him and Alana Sweetwater) have developed. The three of them are incredibly fun, interesting, and hilarious. And Joe builds elevators during the day. How cool is that?

ARCADE FIRE
Any band that David Bowie likes enough to play with just for the hell of it is OK by me. They hit about the same time as three other bands I really liked and of that group, they were the only one whos follow up didnt completely blow. In fact, Neon Bible was kind of incredible.

TEMPO NO TEMPO
I met Chris Cadena many many years ago and started poisoning his mind because he had unbelievable potential for rad. Here we are a decade or so later and the boy is part of one of Berkeley's biggest bands. His other bandmates/roommates are all intelligent guys. You can tell cause they all use Macs. Tempo No Tempo has varying influences and it shows in their eclectic music. If you find yourself in the Bay Area, check these guys out. PLUS (in alphabetical order) Ani DiFranco Animal Collective Architecture in Helsinki Artie Shaw Ash The Beatles Ben Folds Ben Lee Billie Holiday Billy Joel Bjork Bob Dylan Bob Knows Best Booker T. & The MG's Brian Setzer Orchestra Camille CocoRosie Colin Hay Collective Soul Crash Test Dummies The Cure Cyndi Lauper David Schwartz Depeche Mode The Ditty Bops Django Reinhardt Electric Light Orchestra Elvis Costello Elvis Presley Ennio Morricone The Flaming Lips Flight of the Conchords Frank Sinatra The Go! Team Green Day Harry Connick, Jr. Heather Porcaro & The Heart String Symphony Iain Bellamy Imogen Heap Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan Jamiroquai Joan Jett & The Blackhearts The Kinks Led Zeppelin Madeleine Peyroux Michael Giacchino Miles Davis The New Pornographers Nirvana Otis Redding The Pillows The Polyphonic Spree The Presidents of the United States of America Psapp Queen The Raconteurs The Ramones Ray Charles Rilo Kiley The Rolling Stones Royal Crown Revue The Silver Jews Simon & Garfunkel Smoosh Spoon Stevie Wonder Sunset Rubdown Thomas Dolby The Velvet Underground Weezer The White Stripes The Who Wilco Wolf Parade

Movies:

David Lean's epic film about T.E. Lawrence os easily my favorite film of all time. The beautiful lingering shots of the desert, the amazing score by Maurice Jarre, and an all star cast headed up by Peter O'Toole is truly a masterpiece lost on younger generations.
Every once in a while, we see a string of bad movies. When that happens, I tend to get a bit depressed about the genre of film. When THAT happens, I watch Cinema Paradiso. Its charming, sad, funny and its ending reminds me of why I fell in love with film in the first place. It is easily the film for anyone who has a love affair with movies.
Leon, or The Professional as it is known in the US, is a charming story about a hitman who takes in a young girl when her family is killed. The story and action are both amazing, its heartfelt and beautiful, and the performances are top notch (including that of a twelve year old Natalie Portman). Incidentally, this film also features my favorite all time villain in Gary Oldman's Stansfield.
Ever wanted to see the movie that has everything? Well, this is it. Written by a pre-Reservoir Dogs Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott, this film makes fun of nearly every genre while reminding you of why you love it so. And the Walken/Hopper scene is one of the most fantastic things ever put to film.
This film is an amazing accomplishment. With well developed metaphors drawn between suburban life and superpowers, this movie managed to be a family drama, a superhero comedy and the best James Bond film in years. The talented cast brought Brad Birds awesome vision to life. On top of being amazing, its also fun as all getout.
Easily my favorite comedy of all time. The cast is pitch perfect. It moves at a brisk rapid fire pace. It is also one of the most quotable films in history. The intelligent rat-a-tat-tat dialogue is funny and dry. The physical bits are genious. The music is great. Anyone who ever hears the words "I'm going home to sleep with my wife," will imediately love you forever. Not enough could ever be said about this movie.
If you didn't see Lord of the Rings because you think its a nerd thing, I swear I will stab you right in the eye. Peter Jackson's epic ending to what can only be described as one of the best trilogies ever put to film dazzled the eyes and tugged at the heartstrings. The characters and the world are all so rich and full of life that you can't help but fall in love.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is probably my favorite of the Bat-films. It gives one of the better origin stories I have ever seen, introduced a creepy new villain and has the most eerie version of the Joker EVER courtesy of Mark Hammill. Paul Dini and Brice Timm truly outdid themselves with this one and proved why they are the go-to guys for DC animated films.
When you put Charlie Kauffman and Micheal Gondry together, some of the craziest magic happens and this is the proof. A bittersweet love story told through the ever evaporating memories of the main character, this film reminds us of why we loved someone in the first place. Its smart, possibly too smart for the general public but is definitely a film everyone should see.
I always forget how much I love this movie until I watch it again. It has an odd stream of conciousness feel about it, constantly jumping around as though its being related to you in conversation by the offbeat protagonist who likes to go off on little tangents. The fact that he so wins you over to his early thought process just makes it that much more poinient when he realizes the reality of the life at the end.
The first part of Peter Jackson's trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel. Notice it isnt far from the third and the second part isnt far behind either? Thats because they are all so good. This film does an incredible job of introducing characters and worlds to us previously unseen. If I have any complaint about this film its that at its end, it doesnt indicate how truly far we still have to go to the end.
This is another one of those movies that I will kill someone for not liking. How can you not? Its got fun, its got adventure, its got loveable characters and one of the most memorable themes ever. As a kid, who didn't want to go looking for One Eyed Willy's treasure. Who didn't want to go through the catacombs unraveling a century old mystery. Who didn't want to yell "Hey you guys!" knife sliding down a pirates sail?
Another one of my all time favorite comedies. John Candy and Dan Aykroyd as dueling brothers in law makes it immediately awesome. Throw in bears, racoons, bats and the biggest steak of all time and you have all the trappings of a comedy classic. Roommate Chris and I end up watching this every month or so because its just that funny.
The final chapter of the Indiana Jones trilogy, Last Crusade had one thing over all of the other films. What was it? Sean Connery. Letting Indiana Jones be as cool as he is and yet still have daddy issues made even more obvious by the introduction of his estranged father is gold. Its got Nazis, chases, mystical relics, River Pheonix doing a spot on Harrison Ford, and Brodie wandering around the middle east. I love it.
John Cusack at his absolute best. Hes wordy, witty and damanged as a hitman who finds himself dissalusioned with his career path on the eve of his ten year high school reunion. He has to return to make up for never showing up to pick his girlfriend up for prom, have some punch, and kill a dude while hes in town. This also features the cameo that made me fall in love with Piven. Aykroyd and Arkin also lend some of the best comedic moments ever.
If you don't love this movie you have no soul. Seriously. None. Cary Elwes as Westly, Robin Wright Penn as Pricess Buttercup as well as Andre the Giant, Christopher Guest, Mandy Patinkin, Peter falk, Carol Kane, and Billy Crystal in his least annoying film role ever. Charming, romantic, action packed, funny, witty, and clever. This movie also features one of the greatest lines in film history; "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Terry Gilliam is one of the most imaginative filmmakers alive and this chilling vision of a beurocratic future is a perfect example of his genius. Jonathan Price is a dissalusioned man on the brink of a breakdown trying to deal with the system he has been a part of for so long while finding love in a revolutionary, a hero in a crazy plumber, and an enemy in his ex heros. Truly brilliant and visually stunning. Also, very very strange.
Easily Tim Burton's best film ever. The semi-autobiographical tale of an outcast in a suburban world who is beautiful for the same reason he is dangerous. Part love story, part monster movie, part suburban soap opera, this movie features Johnny Depp in a star making performance and one of Danny Elfman's better scores.
The Blues Brothers is one of the few films in SNL history to be good. And it isn't just good. Its amazing. Dan Aykroyd (noticing a pattern here) and John Belushi star as two blues men fresh from prison trying to reunite their old band to win money to save the ophanage they both grew up in. With a cast made up of some of the greatest musicians alive, Carrie Fisher, and a very young Frank Oz and Steven Spielburg this movie was a great comedy and a phenominal musical all in one.
The demented character Paul Reubens developed on the Groundlings stage is brought to life on the big screen by this gem written by Phil Hartman and Paul Reubens and directed by first timer Tim Burton. It's a classic comedy from the breakfast machine, to the sinister clowns, to the Alamo, to the chase through the studio. Its a wiz bang comedy that goes from meta humor to absurdism moment to moment.
Chuck Palahniuk's shocking novel about men trying to reconnect to their masculinity through brawling is so much more then that. Ed Norton and Brad Pitt show us a wicked vision of the issues modern men cling to through this dark and twisted tale all made more powerful by the visual style of David Fincher who is clearly on his A game. A better thriller you won't find.
Buffy: The Vampire Slayer mastermind brings his cult hit TV show Firefly to the big screen with Serenity featuring the entire original cast of the series. In this film, we get to see Mal take a dark turn, some characters meet their maker, and find the truth behind River's supposed insanity. Sharp and funny, playing you into sci-fi clichés and then burning his way out of them, Joss created one of the most epic sci-fi films of all time while letting it be a comedy. And Chewitel Ejiofor is in it and hes the man.
Another one of Gilliam's twisted futuristic projects, this film is based on the 1962 French film La Jetee which was made up entirely of still images. Bruce Willis is a convict sent back in time to stop an apocolyptic disease from ending mankind's reign on earth only to find that the rambling nutball behind it played by Brad Pitt, may not be who they think he is. Madeline Stowe has never been sexier, Bruce Willis has never been more tortured, Brad Pitt has never been crazier and you will never feel so jerked around and chilled to the bone by a film as you will by this. Also, if you play Radiohead's OK Computer over this one, it synchs up in eerie ways.
So a Rom/Zom/Com huh? Im in. Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg manage to make a romantic comedy disguised as a zombie film with a dry sense of humor, hilarious visuals, and a heart of gold. It is somehow heartwarming and chilling with moments of outright laughter and true terror. Awesome.
Robert Rodriguez brought the visual style and flair of Frank Miller's original comic books to life in this shot for shot recreation. The phenominal cast, striking visuals, and old school film noir storytelling. Sure, its a little violent, but it needs to be. The characters are all loving tributes to the kinds of heros we just don't get to see anymore.

Another noir movie, this time a comedy. Robert Downey Jr. plays an unsuspecting criminal who accidentally gets tied into a Hollywood plot of murder and mistaken identity. Most of what makes the film great is the sarcastic biting narration by Downey, but Val Kilmer also adds quite a bit with his spiteful gay detective. Instantly quotable this movie features gems like:

Perry:Look up "idiot" in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?
Harry: A picture of me?
Perry: No! The definition of the word idiot, which you fucking are!

Guillermo Del Toro showed the world that monsters and fantasy can be adult too with this 2006 film about a little girl who enters a world of fauns and fairies to find her birthright as a princess in a land of make believe. The true beauty of this film however is the shocking difference between the fantasy world and the real world of revolution period Spain and Guillermo's choice to leave it up to the audience to decide whether the world of make believe was real or just a way to for Ofelia to escape the haunting reality of her life.
Never a more twisted film will you see. A serial killer is going around killing a victim to represent the seven deadly sins. Morgan Freeman plays a detective on his last few days training his replacement played by Brad Pitt. The case becomes increasingly personal to the two detectives as they near the end of their cat and mouse game with John Doe played with haunting numbness by Kevin Spacey. This movie sticks with you forever.
"Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east. " The second part of this epic trilogy brings the dark reality of what our heros face to light as we see the mounting armys begin to attack the Rohiram. The first half of this film features brilliant character work from the entire cast, especially the returned Gandalf now decked out in white and the tortured Gollum who suffers from an internal battle between the man he was and the thing the ring made him into. The second half is an epic battle on a biblical scale that has yet to be matched on film except by its predecessor.
Darron Aaronofsky followed his freshman effort Pi with this incredible and well thought out film. We follow four characters all dealing with addictions to drugs, ideas, and memories. Aaronofsky has a visual style that brings you right in on the personal journeys and really does make you feel like crap by the end. Also, its a great deturrent for heroine.
Ed Norton plays an ex skinhead recently released from Chino prison who is trying to save his brother from a similar fate only to find that the group he once loved like family has decided he isnt welcome anymore unless he shares their ideals. a supermodern ultraviolent look at the reality of racism in suburban America, this film is sad, heartfelt, and a reminder to all that racism is still a major issue.
Tell me you don't love this movie. Seriously. "Ray, when someone asks you if you're a god, you say "YES"! " Classic and funny with tons of action and the talents of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd (again), Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver. I love this film and so should you.
Brian Singer made the ultimate crime noir with The Usual Suspects. Featuring an all-star cast, this film about five guys who teamed up for a job only to find themselves in the employ of an infamous gangster named Keyser Soze twists and turns through flashbacks all leading up to one of the greatest lines in film history; "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist. And like that... he is gone. " If you hear that line and don't crap yourself, you are dead.
Another great noir from out of nowhere. This Disney film about a cartoon rabbit framed for murder in 1940's Los Angeles is a great mystery. Its funny and edgy and plays on all of the old noir premises while making it totally believable that chartoons and people coexisted without the need for ink and paper. The effects were amazing for its time and they still hold up.
I have an obvious love for film noir, what can I say? This story of two guys who knock off their gangster boss on Christmas Eve was funny and smart, violent and clever. As we watch Cusack and Thorton squabble over money, we also get to see the unbelievably sexy Connie Nielsen and the funny and frightening Randy Quaid try to unlock the secrets of what is really going on.
This classic John Hughs film tells the story of five kids from different social groups thrown together in detention on a Saturday who all come to realize they arent that different. The amazing cast manage to fill an entire film with nearly all conversation and never let it get boring. Everyone has a touching moment that doesnt come off as corny and the laughs are regular. A classic example of what the 80s did right.
The first Indiana Jones film is awesome. Harrison Ford is kick ass, Karen Allen is hot, and the nonstop barrage of nazis make for a rocking good time. The serialized style matched with the clever humor and non stop action helped to make this a cinema classic and show that Steven Spielburg can do anything he wants.
Another noir. I know, I know. This one is about five young men who kidnap a mob boss in order to try to find their kidnapped friend. Jay Mohr, Sean Patrick Flanery, Henry Thomas from ET, Jeremy Sisto and Johnny Galicky are awesome as the five bickering friends, Walken is terrifying and hilarious as the mob boss, and Dennis Leary deserved an award for his performance as Walken's man on the outside. When Walken realized one of the five boys is in on the kidnapping, things really get cooking.
Lets say it all together. I am a nerd. A big big nerd. So how could I not love Bruce Campbell tearing it up midevil style against the army of the undead weilding only a chainsaw hand, a shotgun, and a sharp whit. Ash is one of films greatest heroes, hands down. Deal with it or face my boomstick you midevil screwheads.

I found this movie in a small video store in Pomona years ago and bought it because of Garafalo. Before long, I was showing everyone I knew. Now its a cult comedy classic. The story of the last day of camp in the 80s, it has such an outlandish and bizarre sense of humor how could you not love it?

Yeah, Im counting these two as one film. They were packaged together theatrically after all. I love the bizarre side of cinema Tarantino and Rodriguez decided to show with this one. Rodriguez goes over the top with a machine gun legged Rose McGowan fighting an army of military zombies and Tarantino goes nuts with a film about a serial killer who uses his car as his weapon of choice. Scary, funny and a great trubute to the bad 70s cinema I adore so much.
I fell in love with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly in this movie. The Jim Henson based film tells the story of a young girl whos baby brother is kidnapped by the Goblin King, forcing her to enter the labyrinth in order to save him. Its the kind of movie I dont think you could ever really enjoy unless you saw it first as a child and it still holds up.
Dave McKean has always been one of my favorite artists. Neil Gaiman has always been one of my favorite writers. So you pair the two up and you get a fun, off the wall story with some of the most amazing visual storytelling ever put on film. Seriously, check this one out if for no other reason then the amazing world they have created and the line "Aaah! I don't want to be a waiter!"
This was for me what Dazed and Confused is to so many people. I absolutely love the story here. A bunch of losers unite under their common love of music to save the record store they all work for from becoming a Music Town. The cast is awesome, the music is phenominal and you just can't beat Joe rocking out to AC/DC.
How Cusack so perfectly plays teen angst in his 40s is beyond me. This movie about a man dumped by his longtime girlfriend who is forced into reliving his past relationships through the music of his life is bittersweet and funny. Jack Black had a breakthrough role and everyone is fantastic. The music is king however and it makes for one fun adventure that makes you revisit moments from your own past.
This was Napoleon Dynamite done right. The quirky style of Wes Anderson moved into the bigtime with this story about an under-over-achiever who befriends an aging millionare only to find himself in a battle with his new friend over the love of his teacher. Its odd and funny with a sadness that only guys like Wes Anderson can pull off. Oh, and Bill Murray deserved an oscar for this one.
When I first read Christopher Priests novel in 2000, I almost immediately thought of two people who had to be involved in a film if it ever happened. Those two people were Chris Nolan who had just released Momento and Christian Bale who had just starred in American Psycho. Who would have thought that six years later my dream would come true. This story about warring magicians in turn of the century england is much more then it seems. Give it a look. You won't be dissapointed.
One of my favorite comedies. I love this kind of Mel Brookes humor. Michael Keaton is the new head of a New York city mob facing off against the outlandish forces flying at him. Great visual gags, great actors, and great lines ("It's an eighty-eight Magnum. It shoots through schools") make this one of the most slapdash silly movies around.
Easily the greatest thing Kevin Smith ever did, Chasing Amy is the story of a comic book artist played by Ben Affleck who falls in love with a lesbian played by Joey Lauren Adams. Ive had a crush on Adams since I saw her on Married With Children when I was eight and this just solidified it. It is deep and emotional, honest and funny. It goes to a deeper place then anything else Kevin has done and remains my favorite to this day.
Tell me you didn't cry like a bitch when Artax drowned. Tell me you didnt shiver in fear at the wolf planning his last meal before being swallowed by the Nothing. Tell me you didnt want to shout Moonchild every time you saw the world of Fantasia at its end. Tell me you didnt want to ride Falkor and chase some bullies down the street. If you said you didnt to any one of those, you were never a child and should shoot yourself in the face now.

Television:

Yeah, go ahead and laugh all you want. But ask any of the numerous people I have converted and they will say that to base your judgement of SciFi's new Battlestar Galactica on its title is cheating yourself out of one of the greatest shows on TV. The richly developed characters and plots, the amazing cast including Edward James Olmos and Mary MacDonald, and some of the most philosophical debates about politics, religion and the human condition on TV. If you are missing out on this show, you are missing out on something amazing.
So many people say LOST has lost it. But they are all wrong. LOST is better then ever. Telling the sprawling story of some fifty survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island, this show has it all. Action, amazing character development, fun, and mind bending puzzles. The cast is great, the flashbacks can turn you from hating to loving a character and visa versa, a pitch perfect score by Michael Giaccino, and the promise of twists and turns will keep you coming back from week to week.
Odd, visually stunning, and charm oozing out of its every nook and cranny, this story of a quiet pie maker who solves murder cases with a unique gift is one of the most original shows on the new TV schedule. The rules of this unique gift? First touch… life. Second touch… dead… forever. ... He has raised his childhood sweetheart who he can no longer touch, meanwhile trying to keep his gift a secret from his friends and coworkers and teaming up with private eye Emerson Codd to solve murder cases. Its funny and awesome. Check it out.
Best sitcom EVER. Arrested Development is the story of a disfunctional family in the OC (don't call it that) full of wit and offbeat humor. The cast keeps the comedy flying at a breakneck pace. The show is endlessly quotable and sharp. The supporting characters are all odd and hilarious. The wordplay is unmatched. It's an amazing show and we were all sad when it was cancelled.
I know, I know. But Joss Whedon's first show was a great mix of monster of the week, great character moments, and metaphor for highschool/college years. Add to that the dry humor, fantastic and creative use of the english language, and a cast made of up veterans and newcomers who rapid fire off the great dialogue written by Joss and his team and you have one of the most influencial and lasting TV shows ever.
When this show first hit, I had little to no interest in it. A sci-fi western? Yeah. But who would of thought that Joss Whedon would deliver in such a big way. Nathan Fillion and the amazing ensemble bring us an opera set in space full of clever dialogue, great visual style, and some great twists and turns. The episode Out of Gas takes place in three time periods, coming together in the center and reminding us how sometimes breaking from the standard format can do us all a little good.
I loved Buffy. I love detective stories. I love film noir. I love monsters. So this Buffy spinoff about her brooding ex-boyfriend/vampire who has moved to LA to become a private investigator trying to help the helpless and earn a little redemption in the process is right up my alley. That great Buffy sense of humor, action, and a dark visual style helped this spinoff stand and fight for five seasons of awesome.
Again, my PI, noir, mystery love shows through with Veronica Mars, the story of a teenage private eye operating in a town torn apart by its wide seperation between its upper and lower class and the murder of the daughter of the richest man in town. The pop culture references and well thought out mysteries make this show a must see. And Kristen Bell is an incredible young woman who manages to make the idea of a teenager solving crimes, being so nerdy, and being so good looking believable.
Aaron Sorkin is brilliant and completely under appreciated. When the show premiered, it had the best reviews of any new show on the air but when the audience didnt show, the wind started blowing pretty hard in the other direction. But those of us who stuck with it were treated to one of the best shows ever cancelled. If Cal and Tom didnt make you laugh, Matt and Harriet make you cry and Danny and Jordan make you go "Awwwww,"you have no heart.
This reverse love story narrated by Bob Sagget is one of the funniest sitcoms around. Finally, we get a show where people have the kind of conversations I would engage in. The kind of show where a perfect woman can quote Ghostbusters. The kind of show where NPH can stretch the space between Legen- and -dary out to ten seconds and only make it funnier. Amazingly quotable, silly and fun, this show has some of the best and most relatable moments in any show Ive ever seen.
The ultimate nerd sitcom. The absurdists rule in this medical comedy where the main character is constantly flashing away in his mind to moments of pure nerdness. They idolize Optimus Prime. They worship oldschool sitcoms. They are part of a generation that so few of us truly call home. And Cox's random ramblings are some of the funniest speeches I've ever heard.
Batman the animated series did something noone had ever seen in a televised cartoon series. It told movie quality stories in a dark and murky animated world that mimiced the old animation styles while taking full advantage of new technologies. If you havent ever seen this show and want a good indication as to what makes it so amazing, watch the episode "Almost Got 'Em" where the rogues gallery of villians sit around in a bar discussing the time they almost got the Bat, only to discover that things are not what they seem. Amazing and smart. I love this show.
I am an addict. I have seen every episode of Mythbusters ever made and I still keep almost all of them saved on my Tivo so I can watch them over and over again. Im a sucker for the principals of DIY and Adam, Jamie, and the crew are the perfect embodiment of that. The endless joy they get out of pulling apart modern myths and trying to figure out how to make realities of them is so much fun.
The team behind Batman the Animated Series brought Justice League to Cartoon Network for five years. The stories were smarter then they deserved to be, sometimes taking place over six episodes. They had a rich continuity reaching back to their original Batman cartoon. And the voice cast cant be matched. With guys like Jeremy Piven, Carl Lumbly, Nathan Fillion, Jeffrey Combs, and Tom Everett Scott putting in regular appearances, this is a great series.
Sarcastic, spiteful, and clever enough to get away with it, South Park remains the best thing Comedy Central has ever aired. It makes brilliant points about modern society, is completely absurdist while doing it and isnt afraid to take stabs at anyone. The South Park guys are fearless when it comes to making fun of everyone in the media and pulling down the walls of acceptable behavior and doing it without batting an eye. Their three part episode about the American government bombing our imagination to keep it protected from terrorist threats was amazing. Its still good people.
What really makes this show work is its ensemble. If it werent for Kevin, Ryan, Karen, Oscar, Maredeth and the gang, the offwall antics of Michael Scott and Dwight Schrudt and the unlikely romance between Pam and Jim wouldnt carry the impact it does. I was a big fan of the original British version of the Office so I was weary when this show came out. I hated the first season openly, but by season two they had found their footing and stopped trying to replicate the British version, instead relying on improv ready ensemble. Great show. Dry and funny.
Who doesnt love a good spy story? And who doesnt love Jennifer Gardner? J.J. Abram's story of a college age young woman trying to balance her school life, her social life, and her life as an undercover spy working as a double agent for the CIA was full of fun action, fun characters, over the top costumes and Victor Garber as the closest thing to Batman we have ever seen in a primetime drama.
Freak and Geeks was an amazing series from Judd Apatow. Apatow, you may know, went on to create the 40 Year old Virgin and Knocked Up. But this simple story about two siblings in high school in 1980 was sad and charming, funny and odd all at the same time. You relate to all of the characters so well that it is hard to hate anyone in this strange little series.
What constantly amazes me about this show is how all of the characters are terrible terrible people, yet you love them for their flaws. Peter Krauss is one of my favorite actors who is constantly overlooked by the general public. This series is proof that he can hold his own. The character moments and every odd turn along the way is completely believable thanks to Alan Ball and his morbid team of writers who also crafted the most amazing series finale EVER.
The brilliance of Boston Legal is that it is a serious law show that refuses to take itself seriously to the point that they actually acknowledge the fact that its a show in the script. The characters are bizarre. The situations are wacky. But noone mixes drama and comedy better. So well in fact that this past year, Spader was nominated for best actor in a dramatic series while Shatner was nominated for best supporting actor in a comedy. Its a rare show that can walk such a fine line and this one does it well.
You have got to love any show that so readily makes fun of the entertainment industry. When at Sundance for the premier of one of their films, the boys run in to James Cameron who, when asked by a concession stand girl if he made Titanic as a prediction of the dot-com crash of 2000, he dryly responds "No, I mostly did it to make teenage girls cry." That and the raving insanity of Jeremy Piven's Ari Gold is reason enough to watch this HBO series.
I don't know how you can be even more nerd friendly then the Simpsons, but somehow they did it with this show. References to scientific principals in every episodes, jokes in binary, and absurdist comedy rule in this series about a slacker frozen on the eve of 2000 and woken up in the far distant future to find himself working as a delivery boy for a planetary delivery service with a cyclops, a robot, his great x 20 grand nephew, and a team of oddballs and weirdos.
Its a classic. From Homer to Krusty to Apu to the Comic Book Guy to Cletus to Mr. Burns to Flanders to Moe and all the rest have helped this show run almost twenty years without skipping a beat. I don't think any more needs to be said.
Sketch comedy done right. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross bring their strange and hilarious style to HBO with what can only be described as the smartest and dumbest thing on TV. Clever sketches, offbeat oddness and generally silliness made this one of the funniest sketch comedy shows ever. These two influnced so much of my comedic taste in high school. Its all out on DVD. Check it out.
This is the show that made me fall in love with Aaron Sorkin. I immediately gravitated towards Casey McCall and Isaac Jaffe and the smart sharp dialogue Sorkin is famous for. This was also one of the first ensemble shows I really fell in love with. It takes something special to turn a speech about Philo Farnsworth into Emmy-worthy material. It only lasted two seasons which is just depressing.

Books:

Possibly one of the oddest love stories ever written, Tom Robbin's witty writing style follows a princess who falls for an outlaw in modern America. Its jumps and skips through oddness with a very unique sense of humor and a storytelling style that includes the writers own struggle with his new typewriter. This has been my favorite book since it was given to me by a friend a decade ago and I relate to Bernard more then I have to almost any other anti-hero in literary history.
One of the most brilliant plays I have ever read was Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile. It is the story of Picasso and Einstein meeting in a bar shortly before making their breakthroughs. It is written like an abstract painting though. It stays true to reality then suddenly shatters it with absurdity or a brick through the fourth wall. And its look at how science and art need each other to exist is brilliant.
I have always been a big fan of Ray Bradbury and this has always been my favorite of his books. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is that draws me to this book. Maybe its the struggle between good and evil. Maybe its that we see how fragile human nature is. Maybe its the freaky ass circus performers. Whatever it is though, I have loved this book since fifth grade. I even have an original printing of it signed by Mr. Bradbury that I don't ever plan to sell.
Finally, a bible for athiests. This intelligently constructed book tears down the walls of religion pointing out all of the inherent flaws in the idea of organized faith. What makes it special though is that it isn't mean about it. It approaches the possibility of every belief system with equal opportunity but consistently finds holes in the idea of a belief system outside of science. Thanks to Britt for turning me on to this one.
Normally I wouldn't try to pass of a comic book as high literature, but this piece by Grant Morrison and Dave McKean stands out as a shining example of what can be done in a visual format. The inmates of Arkham take control and their single demand is that they want the Batman to join them in the nuthouse where he belongs. We flash between Batman's struggle to fight his way out, his internal struggle over whether he does actually belong in the asylum, and the mental recountings of the man who founded the asylum. With tons of references to Alice in Wonderland, Pagan belief symbology, and some of best writings of our time, Arkham Asylum is one of the most brilliantly written books I have ever read, even if it is just a funnybook.
I read this book years ago and immediately fell in love with its non-linear storytelling, gripping twists, and wonderfully painted characters. One of my favorite things about this story is that when it really comes down to it, these two men who are at war their entire life would have been great friends if they could have let go of the sins of their past and at seperate times throughout the story, they are each willing to. I am also a sucker for magic and science so this one has always been a close favorite.
Sarah Vowell is a huge nerd which made me almost immediately fall in love with her. How can you tell? Assassination Vacation chronicles her trip around the country where she visits locations significant to all of our murdered presidents. It takes a very special kind of mind to yearly trek to Gettysburg. Or to find special Joy in getting some of John Brown's hair for Christmas. But Sarah Vowell does it without apology.
More Sarah Vowell love. This book is just random stories about the political climate of the country and personal stories that tie in to why she is a partly cloudy patriot, or one who supports the American way of democracy and leaving the choices up to the people, but disagrees with the choices the country seems to be making. She manages to vocalize in her writing what so many of us feel, but can't put into words.
I am a rabid fan of NPR so although I really do appreciate great literary endeavors, I have a special love of anechdotal stories told by offbeat writers. Augesten Burroughs is one of the best. His book Running With Scissors was recently made into a film, but Magical Thinking contains some of my favorite stories of his strange life.
Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs is a philosophical exploration of modern society through our popular culture. As a fan of philosophy, sociology, and pop culture, this book is right up my ally. It makes astute points about how every woman will always want Lloyd Dobbler and why The Real World was such a groundbreaking part of American Culture.
This dark little novel about a tobacco PR man forced to face some tough choices was turned into a film a few years ago. As brilliant as the film is, the book is even better. The moral struggle Nick faces on a daily basis and the side he falls on make him a fundamentally bad person. But his ability to reason with himself and his audience about his motives behind it make his actions not only forgivable, but praise-worthy. Truly a twisted piece of fiction.
Phillip K. Dick is probably one of the craziest writers ever. Massive amounts of drugs cooked his brain making him a twisted genius of literary fiction. A Scanner Darkly was written by Dick as a love letter to all of the friends he had lost to the increasingly deadly drugs in the 1970s. One hyphenated word sums up this book perfectly; Mind-F@$!
Who would have thought a book about the many uses of human cadavers throughout history would be so interesting. From ancient Egypts fascination with the bodies of the dead to the American governments tests with landmines using corpses, this book explores some of more strange realities of the human body. Its really an interesting read and isn't nearly as morbid as it sounds.
Anyone who has seen Anthony Bourdain's show on the travel channel knows that this guy is a little off his rocker which makes him one of the coolest cooks ever. This book is the autobiographical story of how he climbed the culinary ladder, fought drug addiction, and survived the forkings and burns that come with kitchen life. He has enough charm that he could make anything sound interesting and his passion is unmatched.
Did you really think I could make it through this list without at least one vampire book? The Historian is the DaVinci code with vampires and a lot more fun. I loved the adventure. I loved the vamps. I loved the sense of history and the dramatic way in which everything is played. This is my popcorn book. The one that I just have fun with. It doesnt offer any exceptional insight. Its just a party to read.
Jay Mohr is one of the best stand up comedians out there. In this book, he recounts his time at Saturday Night Live and the living hell he had to survive through as both a writer and a recurring cast member. Hearing the stories of depression, drugs, and copyright infringement add a whole new layer to the show and Mohr offers some real insight into why the show is so successful and so responsible for the destruction of so many lives.
Wait wait wait. So you are going to combine my love of science and my love of comic books into a novel that explores the scientific angles of my favorite costumed heroes? I am in. This book covers what it would take for a man to leap a tall building in a single bound, why Batman is the most realistic of all superheros and why the Green Lantern ring would need a black hole to hold any water at all.
I used to adore Tim Burton's work. Although his film work of late has been lacking, this book will always be my favorite book of poetry. Its so simple and childlike that you can't NOT love it. Each poem is short, sometimes only consisting of a few words and gets down to what it feels like to be an outcast in a world of relatively normal people.
John Swartzwelder is a sick sick man. He is the most prolific writer in Simpsons history and it is easy to see why with this, his first novel. It is absolutely absurd and insane and often makes little to no sense but somehow, everything comes together in the end. When you finish reading it, you sit there scratching your head wondering how it can even be a book. Then a week later, it hits you like a flash and you start laughing. I love that kind of stuff. Its a time bomb of funny.
This book is one of the most awesomely strange books I have ever read. It is a crime novel narrated by its protagonist, a near retarded British boy who is so full of quirks that the chapter titles skip around so that they are all prime numbers. It's funny and strange and although the thought process of our narrator sometimes makes little to no sense, the mystery is well constructed. It was a fun read for sure.

Heroes:

It should be noted, all of these are in alphabetical order
cause I couldnt choose an order for them.

Darren Aronofsky is one of the best examples that you don't necessarily need experience to be a talented filmmaker. His first feature length film, showed a unique visual storytelling style that used the lack of budget to its advantage. His follow up, Requiem For a Dream is considered to be a modern masterpiece by any film fan.
What kind of sick mind manages to come up with the story of a girl in college struggling with a social life and unruly hair, an undercover spy who travels the world and maintains a group of friends who are completely unaware of her actions, and a group of survivors trapped on a mysterious island? That would be JJ Abrams. And besides Felicity, Alias, and LOST, he also wrote and directed MI: III.
Oh Dan Aykroyd. How funny can one man be? From Roman Craig in the Great Outdoors to Ray Stantz in Ghostbusters to Elwood Blues of the Blues Brothers, Dan Aykroyd has been a constant influence on my sense of comedy since I was old enough to understand what comedy is. Great timing, clever writing and an extreme love of awesome things make Dan Aykroyd a longtime hero.
David Bowie has always been a creative influence. The fact that he so completely immerses himself into his music that he has taken different personas through the years. Also, he sings, writes, paints, acts, and designs with a natural flair that so few people have. He is a true renaissance man.
If you wonder why David Fincher makes the list, go watch SE7EN followed by The Game followed by Fight Club. The man has a unique vision that he tweaks and tailors to his films, making them all feel like a body of work and yet stand independantly as films. His intelligent use of editing and camera movement as well as the dark mood he creates is something to be envied.
Ira Glass is one of Americas great documenters, most likely because he does it through the art of radio. In his show, This American Life, Ira Glass brings together a grouping of writers, journalists, and storytellers all to share thoughts and stories based on a common theme. From shows based on the fiasco to shows based on what happens after dark, his show always brings a unique insight to the America we all love and makes us laugh and cry with intellectual stories. If you have never heard "On Hold, No One Can Hear You Scream," go find it. It is gold.
Michelle Gondry, from your wacky ass music videos to your heartbreaking videos, your offbeat, clever, and childlike films make my heart laugh. Eternal Sunshine is brilliance. I can't wait for Be Kind Rewind, and your music videos for Beck and Bjork and The Foo Fighters are inspired. Keep it up.
Terry Gilliam is out of his mind. Seriously. The man is completely insane. He was the animator for Monty Python. He made 12 Monkeys based on a French film done entirely in stills. He had a film whos production was so disasterous that the only thing that came from it was a documentary about how everything went wrong. And Brazil, while creative as can be is truly the work of an inspired madman. Apparently, Gilliam is the type of guy who will take six days trying to get a three second shot of Bruce Willis sitting in a chair because he wants the hampster in the wheel to be running to his liking.
The day Phil Hartman died was the last time I remember crying. He was always the model for the type of person I want to be. He was a solid and giving human being. He was a giving performer willing to play down his part if it helped his co-stars get the bigger laugh. He did service for his community and didn't do it for the press. He was funny, charming, intelligent, and giving. Adam Sandler called him "Glue" because he was the one responsible for holding the cast of SNL together in those days and helping them all develop into real performers. I don't think I will ever be as upset at the passing of a celebrity as I was of him.
So whats a president doing in this group of performers, artists, and filmmakers? He was the man. Thats what hes doing here. Few presidents have so completely embodied the American spirit the way Abraham Lincoln did. He fought for his beliefs, stuck to his guns, and truly believed in the ability of this country to be something great. He was a rational idealist. A dreamer with a plan. He was intelligent, an amazing writer, passionate, and full of charisma. Good man.
Dave McKean is one of the most amazing artists alive. His odd combination of paint, photography, pencil, sculpture, and insanity can plunge you into a story like noone else alive. For proof of his amazing talents, check out the graphic novel Arkham Asylum which will give you nightmares and features not only one of the most layered Batman stories ever told, but the most frightening version of the Joker you will ever see (a page is left of him in the photo) or the film Mirrormask which is an incredible achievement in that he brought his style to life so completely on film.
Monet is a major influence in my artwork. My style was developed based in what Monet did with his, most notably his ability to take small abstract chunks of color and place them in such a way that they become almost photo real to the viewer. His use of color, shape and form can be seen in almost any piece Ive ever done.
Ronald D. Moore is the head writer/creator/executive producer of Battlestar Galactica. He has such a wonderful understanding of how to build characters, stories and structure. I have listened to recordings of writers meetings and its obvious to anyone listening that he truly works on another level. What really makes him great though is that he cares. For any writer to really do amazing things with their characters, they have to care about them and Mr. Moore is a perfect example of why.
Christopher Nolan can do no wrong in my eyes. Since his debut, Momento, I have loved everything he has made. He redefined what a superhero movie should be with Batman Begins. The Prestige was brilliantly plotted and played and his work on The Dark Knight is looking incredible. He also understands the fans and mass media and has taken full advantage to make his films more then just movies, but fully interactive experiences for the audience. Whenever he seems to be making an odd move, our go to is "It's Nolan. When has he lead us wrong?" If he continues the way he has been, he will always be the guy we trust to make ballsy decisions right.
Robert Rodriguez is, in many ways, the perfect filmmaker. He produces and pays for all of his movies himself so he doesnt have to work within the studio system. He writes, directs, edits, scores, and films all of his films himself. But best of all, he makes what he loves. He managed to make a kids movie based on story by his son at the same time he made Sin City. His films are always way fun, way imaginative, and a geek orgasm on the screen.
Alex Ross is one of the other four of my major style influences. If you look through any of his books, you can see where a lot of my posing, style and inspiration came from. Kingdom Come is one of the greatest comic books ever made and most of that can be attributed to the brilliant painting done by Alex Ross. Literally, its hundreds of pages of painted panels, all done with the care and artistry of a man who is truly a living legend in his field.
If Aaron Sorkin could stay off the drugs, he would easily be one of Americas most treasured writers. Sports Night was clever and brilliant. West Wing was smart beyond belief. And Studio 60 did more with its first season then most shows will do with six seasons. His rat-a-tat-tat rapid fire dialogue is heavy with reference and insightful musings on politics, religion and pop culture. I love this man.
Drew Struzan may be the artist who influenced me the most. His poster art for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Harry Potter, and the Goonieshas made him the modern Norman Rockwell. His style and organization has set the standard for modern poster design. And on top of it all, hes a damn nice guy. Seriously, I emailed him once and he invited me to lunch to talk art.
Ive never seen a Bruce Timm project I didnt like. He defined the writing and artistic style of Batman the Animated Series and went on to do Superman and Justice League. He has proven more then any other creator out there that he understands and loves the DC Universe. He treats the characters with unbelievable respect, but at the same time isnt afraid to make fun of them. If they had Bruce Timm in charge of all DC related projects, we could all rest assured that they would be awesome.
Joss Whedon is one of my all time favorite creators ever. With Buffy, Angel and Firefly under his belt, the man has proven himself to be an amazing talent. He has such a unique voice. So much so that once, one of the Buffy writers noticed that Willow didn't have any lines in a scene, so they took one of Xander's and gave it to her. Joss read the script and said, "Why is Willow saying this? It isnt something she would say. This is a Xander line." The man knows his characters, knows how to write, and uses words in such a way that there are actually dictionaries based on his use of the language.

Johnny Appleseed Died of Laughter

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