Category > TeeVee
Hello TeeVee Watchers. Long time no talk. It's August. It's back to school (sing this Billy Madison song to yourself) and back to massive amounts of TV-watching for me. I am feeling positively overjoyed about at least one of those things. Hint: it's watching Billy Madison on TV and not living it in real life ... though now that I think of it, it would be pretty spectacular if we had an actual real life Billy Madison at the high …
I don’t even know how to begin describing what went on between me and my TV this past week. I was all set to write the ultimate authoritative column on Jon and Kate Plus 8 for you — a column so brimming with wisdom, insight, and finality that nothing else would need to be said about these two ever again. You would’ve liked it, I promise, and the sheer brilliance of it would’ve have forced all other media outlets to …
I’m a high school librarian, which means I currently have nothing to do for a few months. I’m not gonna lie: I really really really like it. Please, no vitriol. I’ve been sensing a little vitriol so far this summer from people in stores and my neighbors who can’t help but notice that I’m doing whatever the hell I want to do at various hours of the day and night. When I suggested to one of my neighbors that the …
I’m driving from Chicago to New Orleans in a few days. I haven’t visited the place as a sentient human before (I went when I was way younger), though it is a place that everyone seems to have visited. I’m not going for any reasons other than experience and friendship, though those two things sound exactly like the stereotypical reasons one visits New Orleans … if one can still visit that particular town in the old stereotypical way (see Spike …
I don’t have the greatest selection of movie channels. There are people with really well-rounded movie channel offerings on their TV programming packages. Some people get all the movie channels. Sadly, I am not one of these people. I just get the HBOs, the Encores, and the Cinemaxes. And I also get Turner Classic Movies, which I occasionally flip to, and IFC, which has been blessedly showing Miller’s Crossing a lot lately. (I so wish I could say “take your …
I can’t write another American Idol column, I can’t write another American Idol column, I can’t write another American Idol column, but it’s so hard not to write another American Idol column at this point in my life on this Earth. I’ll restrain myself. But I might not be able to keep all references at bay. Like the fact that we’re down to the Final Four … and there’s only one girl left … and I don’t like Danny Gokey …
Can I please tell you my extra-dorky Friday night secret? My favorite Friday night activity includes beer and the Planet Earth marathon on Animal Planet. Originally aired in 2007 on Discovery (which owns Animal Planet), Planet Earth is one of the greatest things that has ever been on TV, and the joy I feel when I catch multiple episodes of it knows no bounds. It covers all the ecosystems you could ever hope for (Mountains! Deserts! Jungles!). It includes insanely …
One of the first credit card purchases I made occurred in the mid-'90s, when I was a much younger, stupider girl of 21 and my credit card was new. I called the number on the screen and bought myself a Bodyblade™ for $115 (I’m shocked at the price even now) — just five easy, monthly installments of $23. Let me just tell you about the Bodyblade™. It’s a long, thin piece of rigid but floppy, uh, carbon fiber or something, …
(Before I begin, this week’s column is about a baseball-themed show, and I’m noting now that there will be a few random references to my beloved Cubs injected for the sole purpose of irritating my editor, Doug Hoepker, who is a Cardinals fan. Believe me, he’s mean when it comes to teasing Cubs fans, and he deserves it.) With baseball season right around the corner, those of you who have HBO should get thee to thy OnDemand and watch the …
I realize there are some places you won’t be willing to go with me, and American Idol might be one of those places. Admit it. If you don’t watch it, you’re about to stop reading this, which is what I would do if I were reading someone about to give an impassioned plea for CSI or Two and a Half Men (I have never been able to get on board with a single CBS offering outside of sports coverage and …
Most Recent Arts Comments
Local, I forgot to offer you a piece of sage advice. Don’t bag on 39 south because they represent your potential collector pool. Even though I haven’t lived in Champaign since 1997, 39 south is still the only arts entity that has promoted my work as an…
Lest 39 South feels picked on: Check this from the Urbana City Public Arts Program: “Calling all Champaign County Artists! We’re pleased to announce a Call for Entries for a new initiative called Murals on Glass, which will feature artwork reproduced in adhesive vinyl displayed on the…
You forgot Jonathon Fineberg was also personal pals with the Christo’s. I’ll agree that Dr. Fineberg has done a tremendous job communicating to undergrads why this stuff is important, but I won’t kiss the ring because he also contributed to the dismantling of crafts at the U…
And boom goes the dynamite.
I think the best and most exciting arts programming in Champaign-Urbana is at the Krannert Art Museum. The depth and quality of the museum’s permanent collection speaks highly to the intelligence of the art history faculty at the University. I have to say taking Art History with…
Another mystifying thing is 39 South touts the fact that when you consider all things that are considered “art”, i.e. music, exhibits, movies, performances, craft fairs, circuses, ect; art in Champaign County apparently generates $60 million dollars of “economic activity” every year, so says 39 South. And…
I have to agree, I’m a bit confused as to the purpose of 40 North, although I am aware that the organization is in a period of restructuring and re-examination. And yes, the “staff of 1” does work tirelessly to keep the operations afloat, but the fact…
“Making art accessible to everyone and cultivating the art and artists in Champaign County is 40 North’s main mission.” FACT: When the Urbana City Council proposed to form a new public arts council of its own in 2008, 39 South actually sent letters from board members Cody…
On behalf of the New Art Film Festival, I’d like to thank you for highlighting our event in this article. It is our pleasure to put together this showcase for the community and the recognition is highly appreciated by all of us involved in the NAFF. Also,…
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Most Recent Comments
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
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Thanks for the sage advice Mary Anna, but I’m long done with the sucking up and being thankful for the scraps. The most important thing an artist can do to live with yourself is tell the emperor he’s got no clothes, and spray paint something on his…