Author: cocokeevan

A.V. Club: Winter Vacation

in: the press, in: viewing room

The Dunce Cap’s been on such a hiatus, but we’re back! So much to share.

I’m spending some quality time with Chaucer, so I’ll keep these fairly brief. But, if I can stick to the plan, I’ll be posting a couple of things every day for the entirety of vacation.

dumbdumb

Jason Bateman and Will Arnett started this ingenious comedy enterprise, dumbdumb productions, which creates and distributes hilarious web content. They began with a series of videos for Orbit Dirty Shorts, including this one.

Canine Arts n’ Crafts

Also a major winner.  This video for Best Friends Animal Society encourages you to adopt a pet this holiday season, and I think this particular tactic will really work. [The Daily What]

And in the News Flash! category, two big things a-happenin’.

Image from Disnology.com

First – Zanessa is dunzo! No more Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens lovin’. Sources (however unreliable) say the duo’s relationship has run its course. [LA Times] Maybe it was Zefron’s excellent new facial hair.

From a more reputable expert comes the following exchange:

C: “Efron. Single.”
D: “Efron. Gay.”

Lee's back in the Phillies uniform with R2C2

Second – Cliff Lee signs to the Phillies. Again. This makes the Phillies’ rotation as follows: Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels. Which begs the question: WTF?! [ESPN]

And, for shits n’ giggles, I joined free dating site OKCupid!, so expect some fun anecdotes from that endeavor in the coming weeks. I am not using the website for its intended purpose. It’s amusing, y’know? It’s a sociological experiment of sorts.

The Dunce Cap: Nov. 29, 2010

in: heavy rotation

How cute! Young'ns.

 

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 27: And as she closed her eyes upon the world and picked upon the bones of last week’s news, she spoke his name out loud again. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks)

1. “Private Eyes” – The Bird and the Bee
2. “Sing Me Spanish Techno” – The New Pornographers
3. “This Time” – Marvelous 3
4. “Anything You Want” – Spoon
5. “Blood Bank” – Bon Iver
6. “Veronica” – Elvis Costello
7. “Knock Yourself Out” – Jon Brion
8. “Amie” – Damien Rice
9. “Smoke” – Ben Folds Five
10. “Somebody More Like You” – Nickel Creek

Well, muckluck. I’ve been a bad blogger all over again! But I brought you this excellent mix chocked full of songs to clean to, to cling to, to work to. Y’know, for all times. I’m pretty fond of it. Give it a (digital) spin.

Happy listening.

A.V. Club: Flashback!

in: viewing room

So, I ended up in Memphis with the Keevan clan for Thanksgiving, and my jokester sister reminded me of two viral videos that made me positively guffaw in high school. I figured, because it’s reading week and all I want to do is sluggishly slink through the house, I’d share them with you. For what is probably the ten thousandth time.

It looks like The Dunce Cap mixes will, indeed, be up on Thursdays again, but that really depends on this Thursday. And how up to a mix I’m feeling. And I’ll be starting a killer (and immensely exciting) internship at The A.V. Club, the pop culture pull-out of The Onion. Not really sure how that with figure into my regular blogging, but I’m hoping I’ll find a day with a patch of time for, at least, regular mix making.

In the meantime, this week ought to be replete with lots of exciting videos to share with all y’all.

I am le tired.


“The End of the World,” albinoblacksheep

Basically, this video defined late middle school/early high school for me. My aforementioned sibling first showed this gem to me, and I spent many a lunchtimes regaling my classmates with my shitty (and borderline offensive) impressions from this video.

Shut up, betch. Let’s get some shoes.


“Shoes,” liamkylesullivan

And this video. Oh man, this video. One of my best friends in high school, ChayNay, and I used to watch this video religiously. It’s a gloriously hilarious video chocked full o’ quotables. It began a gorgeous love affair with the video’s snarky protagonist, Kelly.

You wanna play love games?


“The Legend of Old Gregg,” themightyboosh

For me, this was the sardonic soundtrack to my senior year with a collegiate sophomore year reintroduction. “The Legend of Old Gregg” is from this wacky British television show, The Mighty Boosh, and in high school, a few girls discovered this particular skit. It is absolutely ridiculous – and fantastic. It was such a thing in the end of high school, and, thanks to The Boy, it became a trademark in college too.

I’ll be back tomorrow with some new videos for your watching enjoyment. In the meantime, happy watching.

Press This!: From North by Northwestern magazine

on: journalistic writing

I’ve been (un)suspiciously absent from the blog scene for most of the quarter, I know. There’s been a lot happening on this end of things, but one piece in particular has really consumed my life. Finally, it’s in print!

North by Northwestern magazine, Fall 2010

For the fall 2010 issue of North by Northwestern (the nation’s number one student magazine), I wrote two stories. The first, “School of Phish,” is a profile of one of Northwestern University’s oldest students, a 37-year-old undergraduate who followed jam band Phish on the road for nearly ten of the last 15 years. The second, “Missing Syghe,” is the cover story and is a piece nine months in the making. Since March, I’ve tracked a host of very real characters to find out the truth about a Northwestern undergraduate who allegedly took his own life. The student, a Medill freshman named Syghe L’Oveture, was completely made up. The people he left in his wake were not. Altogether, The Syghe Story amounted to more strange tidbits of information, lies and betrayal than I could have ever imagined.

Please read these!, and please take any comments (particularly on the second article) with a grain of salt. I worked really really hard on both pieces and chronicled the stories with the utmost integrity and conviction. I am more than happy to answer any and all questions. In all, the magazine – fantastically edited by Gus Wezerek – is really quite incredible. Read the whole thing on the website.

Also! The Dunce Cap should be back with regular programming next week (perhaps with a new schedule for mixes, etc.), and I’ll also be slightly fictionalizing the insanity which is my life on a newly reinvigorated endeavor, Adventures in Place. On Adventures in Place, I’ll be working on a series of weekly tales about my friends, family and the people I encounter.

Happy reading, and happy Thanksgiving!

A.V. Club: Check Out This Budding Filmmaker (& His Blogging Friend)

in: viewing room

My very dear friend Greg (mono man, get yourself well!) wrote and directed this short film for Campus Movie Fest, the world’s largest student film festival. It’s this really brilliantly dark and humorous bit that you really must watch for yourself. Give it a go – I think it may be Greg Porper’s (keep that name in mind, folks) best work yet.

Also, watch his hilarious web series, “The Triple,” on YouTube.

Also, give a gander to the hilarious Impressionable Man’s Blog. It’s written by my best friend, the Duckster, and it’s chocked full of gut-clutchingly funny anecdotes, videos and musings. It’s a rare shimmer of total blogging brilliance.

Dunce Flash: Week of 11/08/10

in: the press, in: viewing room

This has been quite the week. It’s been chocked full of disappointments and total excitements, to be sure, and it’s been a rather hectic and disappointing week on my end, but I am eager for the weekend. And, certainly, I’m thrilled to share with you five big pieces of news for the week.

Cee-Lo drops “The Lady Killer”

Can you say finally? I’ve been looking forward to this album from Cee-Lo for months, what with the tease of such a killer (no pun intended) lead track. I haven’t given the full thing a spin yet, but I’m hoping to do it this weekend, with (hopefully) a review to follow. In the meantime, PopMatters has a pretty thorough review praising “Fuck You,” noting the album’s sheer brilliance in nostalgic hooks and failure to maintain the musical throwback. [PopMatters]

Check out the video for “Fuck You” above.

Warner Bros. attempts to redirect obnoxious VM movie pleas (like mine!)

The cast of "Veronica Mars," Image courtesy of CW

Five months after “Veronica Mars” producer Joel Silver confirmed that the feature film project was dead, Warner Bros. created an official e-mail address where fans can send requests and open letters (cough) for a VM movie. New York Mag (unfortunately) (and rightly) believes this is simply a ploy to clean out the inboxes, but the move must say something – maybe the fans are really demanding some sort of conclusion. I say give it a shot. If you want it as much as I do, the effort certainly couldn’t hurt. [New York Mag via Playlist]

Daria Morgendorffer directs you through traffic

Good news! Now you can customize your GPS to have MTV’s most apathetic teen guide you to your destination. Daria Morgendorffer (of the eponymous ’90s cartoon) will be your guide! And remember: “There is no aspect, no facet, no moment of life that can’t be improved with pizza.” [Frisky via MTV]

Below, Daria on popular culture.

more exciting news after the jump

The Dunce Cap: Nov. 8, 2010

in: heavy rotation

 

1898 Photos of Toulouse-Lautrec

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 26: You can’t remember someone else’s story. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks)

1. “Basement Parties” – Matt Pond PA
2. “House Fire” – Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
3. “Relator” – Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson
4. “No Time” – Good Old War
5. “How a Resurrection Feels” – The Hold Steady
6. “Microphone” – Coconut Records
7. “Borderline” – The Flaming Lips
8. “Dear Prudence” – The Beatles
9. “This Boy” – I’m From Barcelona
10. “Every Moment” – Rogue Wave

Look at this classy photo series! These are photographs of famed painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec poopin’ on a public beach. So excellent. [Buzzfeed]

What do you mean funny, funny how?

Watching “Goodfellas” on a Monday night? So excellent. For class. Really. An essay examining the musical score of Scorsese’s film in relation to the use of popular music in “American Graffiti” and “Boogie Nights.” What a delicious assignment.

Yeah. That’s it.

But you know, I’m funny. You think I’m funny?

This is a series of ten exciting tracks I’m just lovin’. No specific reason for including any of them. Just lovable winners. Particularly The Flaming Lips cover of “Borderline.” I actually had a killer conversation this weekend about Wayne Coyne and the Lips (and their proclivity for adult themes masked beneath sing-songy childish melodies), so they’re certainly on my mind.

Oh, and P.S. Netflix clearly knows me too well. Four of my most recommended TV shows? “Freaks and Geeks,” “Wonderfalls,” “Daria” and “The Middleman.” By far four of my favorite recent-ish television shows. Check ’em all out if you haven’t.

I promise you – Real, live, excellent postings to come soon. Y’know, not just mixes. Insightful and snarky pop culture posts are on their way.

Happy listening.

The Dunce Cap: Nov. 1, 2010

in: heavy rotation

Venn: Your Grandfather (FlowingData)

The Dunce Cap, Vol. 25: I don’t think that it’s the end, but I know we can’t keep going. (click on link to listen to mix via 8tracks)

1. “Elevator Love Letter” – Stars
2. “Lady Stardust” – David Bowie
3. “Right Moves” – Josh Ritter
4. “Lover in the Snow” – Rivers Cuomo
5. “Blue Skies” – Noah and the Whale
6. “Trouble” – Butch Walker
7. “Dreamworld” – Rilo Kiley
8. “Wake Up New” – The Mountain Goats
9. “Against All Odds” – The Postal Service
10. “At the Stars” – Better Than Ezra

I know, I know, it’s not Thursday. It’s actually Monday (barely), but I have a mix to get your week going. It’s a break up mix, sure, full of heartache and sadness, but nearly absent of regret. These are ten tracks I love – really love – about falling out of love (and sometimes falling back in it).

That Josh Ritter track, “Right Moves,” is one of my favorite tracks ever. It’s so so stellar. Give the whole thing a listen. There’s so much to be learned from love songs, especially these.

It’s my simple way of saying – I’ll love you always, but I understand too.

Happy listening.

Dunce Flash: Halloween, Shy Ronnie and Newsies

in: the press, in: viewing room

Happy Halloween, readers!

There’s so much to talk about today, of all days. It’s Halloween, first of all, the most splendid of teeth-rotting holidays! I’m thrilled. My costume? Suri Cruise! Last year, I went sans costume, and the year before I was Lady Stardust, and the year before that, I was Gilda Radner. I’m getting more and more clever and more and more obscure.

Google celebrated this Halloween with a five panel Google Doodle. The full thing is below and is totally excellent. It chronicles the ultimate Scooby Doo mystery – the search for a candy thief. Gotta love Google and Halloween.

Google Doodle, 10/31/2010

And, for good measure, a Halloween tune. Or, at least, a song called “Halloween.” It’s more about a party and about relationships and about a bout of sadness. And, I suppose, my Halloween weekend was full of heartache and sadness – and rollicking fun and acceptance and hilarity too – , so it seems rather appropriate. It’s too much to go into now, but this weekend, I hope, I’ll tackle The Third Year Thirty in a more concise manner.

Happy listening.


“Halloween,” Matt Pond PA

The return of Shy Ronnie

Perhaps my favorite SNL skit of the last year, “Shy Ronnie,” a digital short co-starring Rihanna and Andy Samberg, returned to Saturday Night Live this week in the Jon Hamm episode.

The sequel to the video takes place in a bank in a hold-up called “Ronnie and Clyde” and is seriously gut-clutchingly funny.

Check out the video to the sequel below or watch the original “Shy Ronnie” on Hulu.

Vodpod videos no longer available.
“Shy Ronnie,” Saturday Night Live

Seriously. “Shy Ronnie” brings me such joy.

In other news

– Never thought I’d say it, but poor Christine O’Donnell. Gawker, you’ve left me a journalist ashamed. [Gawker]

– Dear Marie Claire writer,

At our worst, we may all think it. But never in a million years would we write it.

Sincerely,
The Girl with the Dunce Cap [Marie Claire]

– I’ve been meaning to say this for months – Matthew Gray Gubler, I love your new haircut. [Hell Yeah Matthew Gray Gubler]

A.V. Club: Double Shot of Save the Dates

in: viewing room

Just a quick one-off of videos that have captivated my attention this week. I promise you’ll all know soon why I’ve been such an unreliable blogger. And I promise it’ll all be worth it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

TV Spot #8

It’s the second-best thing to seeing a nude Daniel Radcliffe in Equus – Radcliffe clad in panties and a bra for the first installment of the adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s seventh Harry Potter book! To confuse Lord Voldemort (gasp!), Harry’s pals down a potion which makes them all appear as Harry’s doppelgangers. Fleur Delacour, one of many Harrys, seems particularly disgusted with her new appearance. “Look away – I’m hideous,” she whines.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” (part 1) is out November 19.

Hayden and Sean – Save the Date!

In what I think is a hilarious wedding ode to director Wes Anderson (Gawker commenters be damned!), Sean Duffy and his fiance, Hayden Geller, ask friends, family and Bear Grylls to save the date for their April wedding. Set to The Creation’s “Making Time” and Cat Stevens’ “Here Comes My Baby,” the video is an obvious tribute to Anderson’s “Rushmore,” complete with the tongue-in-cheeks gags and subtitles. It’s definitely a clever and innovative wedding invitation. [Houston Press]