Original Version
1. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – “Thrift Shop”
2. Bruno Mars – “When I Was Your Man”
3. Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko – “Stay”
4. Drake – “Started From the Bottom”
5. will.i.am ft. Britney Spears – “Scream & Shout”
6. Justin Timberlake ft. Jay-Z – “Suit & Tie”
7. Taylor Swift – “I Knew You Were Trouble”
8. The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
9. Lil Wayne ft. Drake and Future – “Love Me”
10. Maroon 5 – “Daylight”
11. Imagine Dragons – “Radioactive”
12. fun. – “Carry On”
13. Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
14. Alicia Keys – “Girl on Fire”
15. Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida – “Troublemaker”
16. Of Monsters and Men – “Little Talks”
17. Swedish House Mafia – “Don’t You Worry Child”
18. Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing”
19. A$AP Rocky ft. Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar – “F**kin’ Problems”
20. Fallout Boy – “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Radioactive
2. Little Talks
3. Thrift Shop
4. Stay
5. Girl on Fire
6. Ho Hey
7. Sweet Nothing
8. Troublemaker
9. I Knew You Were Trouble
10. Don’t You Worry Child
11. Carry On
12. F**kin’ Problems
13. Suit & Tie
14. My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
15. Started From the Bottom
16. When I Was Your Man
17. I Will Wait
18. Scream & Shout
19. Love Me
20. Daylight
Undoubtedly one of the best songs of the nineties, “Let Forever Be” has become a part of my daily routine. It’s got an absurdly infectious beat and beautifully poetic lyrics sung by Oasis’ Noel Gallagher, and the music video is among the best of the nineties, the best of the Chemical Brothers, and the best of director Michel Gondry.
Cold Opening – Obama Press Conference
The Village People bit was killer. I would have preferred it if it hadn’t been completely spelled out the gag with Obama reciting the lyrics, but it was still delightfully gonzo. B
Kevin Hart’s Monologue
Kevin Hart didn’t exactly tell any jokes during his monologue. Nor did he say anything that could really be considered objectively funny. But he did make me laugh. B
Steve Harvey
There we go, player, Kenan’s back with his full-on mispronunciating Steve Harvey, what with the “Pho-Bye-iss” and the “equilibrium.” The Dogglegangers were also a delight, especially the King Charles Spaniels of Comedy. B+
Original Version
1. Maroon 5 – “Daylight”
2. Taylor Swift – “I Knew You Were Trouble”
3. Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
4. will.i.am ft. Britney Spears – “Scream & Shout”
5. Kelly Clarkson – “Catch My Breath”
6. fun. – “Carry On”
7. Imagine Dragons – “It’s Time”
8. Bruno Mars – “When I Was Your Man”
9. P!nk – “Try”
10. Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing”
11. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – “Thrift Shop”
12. Bruno Mars – “Locked Out of Heaven”
13. Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida – “Troublemaker”
14. Emeli Sandé – “Next to Me”
15. Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
16. Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
17. Alicia Keys – “Girl on Fire”
18. OneRepublic – “If I Lose Myself”
19. Bon Jovi – “Because We Can”
20. Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko – “Stay”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Hold On
2. Locked Out of Heaven
3. Thrift Shop
4. Try
5. Stay
6. Girl on Fire
7. It’s Time
8. Sweet Nothing
9. I Knew You Were Trouble
10. Carry On
11. Troublemaker
12. Next to Me
13. When I Was Your Man
14. I Will Wait
15. Wanted
16. Scream & Shout
17. Catch My Breath
18. If I Lose Myself
19. Daylight
20. Because We Can
For the first time in Season 4, Community finally included the normal, full-length version of the theme song. And with the banter as the study group walked to class – especially Pierce’s note of approval to Jeff’s impression of everyone whining – there was a similar sense of rightness with Greendale … until that sense was stopped dead in its tracks by the returning German invasion. The foosball-playing German students were just as ridiculously stereotypical when they first appeared in last season’s “Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism,” but that first time Nick Kroll imbued lead German Juergen with just the right weird vibe, whereas this time Kroll is no longer here, replaced with Chris Diamantopoulos as Juergen’s brother, who goes beyond exaggerated German into full-on cartoon, sounding more like a Muppet than anything else. Still, I was intrigued by the fight for the study room leading the Greendale Seven to realize that maybe they have been selfish and overly possessive about their sacred space all along. The flashbacks to previous episodes felt enlightening, though they did play a little loose with continuity. Everyone else at Greendale was supposedly at the puppy parade during the events of “Cooperative Calligraphy,” though I can believe that not quite everyone was there. What was more bothersome was Jeff shooing Leonard away during the game in “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons,” which was not in keeping with the positive spirit of that episode. However, I can appreciate how differently things can look from a different vantage point. This was all brought to a head with the protest in the study room (even the Human Being was there!), which cued Britta’s pro-anti disposition (“Oh, cool, what are we protesting?”). Danielle Kaplowitz gave her meatiest performance ever as Vicki. The whole affair was reminiscent of last year’s Todd-episode, “Competitive Ecology,” and like that one, I liked the idea of this episode more than the execution. As for Malcolm McDowell’s debut as Professor Cornwallis, it was inauspicious; hopefully, it develops into something.
As for the Dean-Chang subplot, I feel like this barrage of punnery deserves particularly harsh criticism, but it kind of worked. It didn’t do much more than act as what seems to be a prelude for something more happening with this “Changnesia” storyline. While it makes sense that Chang and the Dean would continue to use their names as puns, the gag had gotten a little stale. But this plot – particularly the Dean getting all “turned around” with “Changnesia” and then “Amdeansia” – managed to breathe new life into the punnery.
I have been watching each episode twice this season before writing my reviews to get a full idea of what I think, and this was the first time I wasn’t looking forward to the second viewing. But I must say that I enjoyed it. It was the typical sort of Community-rewatch enjoyment that I have experienced many times. So, this episode was good enough to do that. B
If there’s one thing I love in life, it’s a Victoria’s Secret commercial. The thing about Victoria’s Secret commercials is that they always have such great music – like in their currently airing spot for the Spring 2013 Fabulous Collection, which features “Black Magic” by Magic Wands. Magic Wands are so hip that their genres – lovewave, edgy pop – don’t even have their own Wikipedia pages yet.
We’re well into 2012-13 television season, and the Emmy competition for Best Comedy Series is as deep and varied as I can ever remember it being. Here’s how who I believe should be the contenders are shaping up:
Safe Bets
Happy Endings
Louie
The Middle
New Girl
30 Rock
This Was a Safe Bet Last Year, and I Feel Like it Should Be a Safe Bet This Year, But it Isn’t as Good as Last Year, But It Mixes Things Up a Lot, And Isn’t That a Mark of a Good Show? So Maybe it is as Good as Last Year
Girls
Not Enough Episodes Have Aired to Say for Sure
Community
When These Shows Are at Their Best, They’re the Best on TV, But Too Often This Season They Haven’t Been at Their Best (Their Own Fault Division)
Parks and Recreation
Suburgatory
When This Shows is at Its Best, It’s the Best on TV, But Too Often This Season It Hasn’t Been at Its Best (Not Its Fault Division)
Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23
This Show Doesn’t Seem to Fit Any of My Categories, But It’s Good, Isn’t It?
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
One Show I Don’t Watch That is Possibly the Best Show on Television
Enlightened
2 Animated Shows That Will Probably Enter the Animated Field But Would Easily Be in the Running if They Were to Enter the Comedy Field
Archer
Bob’s Burgers
And here are my current Number One contenders in the acting categories:
Original Version
1. Rihanna ft. Mikky Ekko – “Stay”
2. Justin Timberlake ft. Jay-Z – “Suit & Tie”
3. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis ft. Wanz – “Thrift Shop”
4. The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
5. fun. – “Carry On”
6. Bruno Mars – “When I Was Your Man”
7. Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
8. Taylor Swift – “I Knew You Were Trouble”
9. Maroon 5 – “Daylight”
10. Drake – “Started From the Bottom”
11. will.i.am ft. Britney Spears – “Scream & Shout”
12. Alicia Keys – “Girl on Fire”
13. Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
14. Ed Sheeran – “The A Team”
15. Miguel – “Adorn”
16. P!nk – “Try”
17. Swedish House Mafia – “Don’t You Worry Child”
18. Fall Out Boy – “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”
19. Calvin Harris ft. Florence Welch – “Sweet Nothing”
20. A$AP Rocky ft. Drake, 2 Chainz, and Kendrick Lamar – “F**kin’ Problems”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Adorn
2. Thrift Shop
3. Try
4. Girl on Fire
5. Stay
6. Ho Hey
7. Sweet Nothing
8. Carry On
9. I Knew You Were Trouble
10. Don’t You Worry Child
11. F**kin’ Problems
12. Suit & Tie
13. My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
14. Started From the Bottom
15. When I Was Your Man
16. I Will Wait
17. Scream & Shout
18. Wanted
19. The A Team
20. Daylight
A lot of people complain about the Oscars getting it wrong, but nobody ever does anything about it. So here I am, doing something about it. This is the 1st Annual Jeff Malone Academy Awards, honoring the best of the cinema of 2012.
My nominees are listed after the video. Winners are in bold and all caps.
Supporting Actor
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained SAMUEL L. JACKSON, Django Unchained
Richard Jenkins, Cabin in the Woods
Matthew McConaughey, Magic Mike
Animated Feature WRECK-IT RALPH
Cinematography ROBERT RICHARDSON, Django Unchained Claudio Miranda, Life of Pi Steve Yedlin, Looper Masanobu Takayanagi, Silver Linings Playbook Roger Deakins, Skyfall
Visual Effects The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
LIFE OF PI Marvel’s The Avengers
Prometheus
Snow White and the Hunstman
Costume Design Kari Perkins, Bernie SHAREN DAVIS, Django Unchained Paco Delgado, Les Misérables
Sharen Davis, Looper
Karen Patch, Seven Psychopaths
Makeup & Hairstyling Argo CLOUD ATLAS The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Sound Mixing David Husby, Cabin in the Woods Mark Ulano, Django Unchained SIMON HAYES, Les Misérables
Lee Orloff, Pitch Perfect Kevin Bolen, Wreck-It Ralph
Sound Editing Randle Akerson, The Dark Knight Rises Larry Blake, Haywire Robert Jackson, Killing Them Softly JEREMY PEIRSON,Looper Karen Baker Landers and Per Hallberg, Skyfall
Supporting Actress AMY ADAMS, The Master Emily Blunt, Looper Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables Jacki Weaver, Silver Linings Playbook Rebel Wilson, Pitch Perfect
Film Editing Lisa Lassek, Cabin in the Woods Elliot Greenberg, Chronicle Dody Dorn, End of Watch BOB DUCSAY,Looper Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers, Silver Linings Playbook
Production Design Cabin in the WoodsDjango Unchained
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
The Hunger Games LIFE OF PI
Original Score Tom Tykwer, Reinhold Heil, and Johnny Klimek, Cloud Atlas Heather McIntosh, Compliance David Holmes, Haywire JONNY GREENWOOD, The Master Alexandre Desplat and Benjamin Britten, Moonrise Kingdom
Original Song “Abraham’s Daughter,” written by Win Butler, Régine Chassagne, and T-Bone Burnett, The Hunger Games “THE ANTIDOTE,” written by ANNIE CLARK (ST. VINCENT), The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 “Bittersweet,” written by Sonny Moore and Ellie Goulding, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 “Safe & Sound,” written by Taylor Swift, John Paul White, Joy Williams, Joy Williams, and T-Bone Burnett, The Hunger Games “Skfyall,” written by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth, Skyfall
Adapted Screenplay Skip Hollandsworth and Richard Linklater, Bernie Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, and David S. Goyer, The Dark Knight Rises Gary Ross, Suzanne Collins, and Billy Ray, The Hunger Games Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower DAVID O. RUSSELL, Silver Linings Playbook
Original Screenplay JOSS WHEDON and DREW GODDARD, Cabin in the Woods Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained Rian Johnson, Looper Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty
Director Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty Drew Goddard, Cabin in the Woods RIAN JOHNSON,Looper David O. Russell, Silver Linings Playbook Robert Zemeckis, Flight
Lead Actress Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty Zoe Kazan, Ruby Sparks Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games JENNIFER LAWRENCE, Silver Linings Playbook Quvenzhané Wallis, Beasts of the Southern Wild
Lead Actor Jack Black, Bernie BRADLEY COOPER, Silver LiningsPlaybook Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables Joaquin Phoenix, The Master Denzel Washington, Flight
Picture Bernie CABIN IN THE WOODS Django Unchained
Flight
The Hunger Games
Looper
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Ruby Sparks
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty
Jmunney's Blog 