Posts tagged 30 Rock

Random Notes from the Blogosphere 5

May 21st

Posted by Ben Axelrad in Daily Blogs

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1. I don’t recall the last time I signed a petition, stood for a cause, or even knew of one. Haven’t rallied or picketed in awhile. Virtually never gasp or guffaw at anything. But I’ve signed my name to Facebook movements insisting Betty White hosts everything from SNL to the Oscars to an orgy. I’ve supported the Yankees quest for a quicker million fans than the Red Sox. And I’ve helped the Red Sox in their quest to get a millions fans before the Yankees. (Don’t tell Facebook, I’m not a fan of either team.) It’s almost a shame Facebook doesn’t use its sway for the betterment of the world. I say “almost” knowing that if Facebook actually went political no one would use it anymore. 50% of young people are registered to vote. I can think of one young person not on Facebook, and she’s political! Betty White is as political as most of these kids get.

2. Let’s pump some political jams into this blog-in. And by “political jams” I mean music that sounds like it could be about political struggle but is actually about soccer. Music is an interpretable art, I choose to know a song is about one thing and still interpret it differently. Some call that the mark of genius. Geniuses call that the mark of stupid. Could a stupid guy cue his own mu’fuckin’ music? Probably.

K’naan – Wavin’ Flag

While the song played I received word from stupid guy as to whether he can cue his own mu’fuckin’ music. His answer was: “Blarth.” So there.

3. SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t seen the season finale of 30 ROCK . . . and also if you’re about four years behind on SCRUBS. Jesus, man, catch up or erase the tivos. Your DVR is turning into a time capsule. Anyhoo, back to 30 ROCK . . . and old SCRUBS. It’s official: Elizabeth Banks is the tomboyish guest star you bring in to get accidentally impregnated by your male lead. And she’s always like, “I’m pregnant? Always thought this whole between my legs was a beer cozy.” First John Dorian. Now Jack Donaghy. Elizabeth Banks is the new face of unwanted, unladylike pregnancy. Also, she apparently has a thing for the highly fertile initials JD.

4. LOST series finale. Letterman had the exec producers on the other night for a Top Ten spoilers list. Rumor has it six of ten are true.

Even the LOST guys agree, Betty White is the new face of unwanted, unladylike politics. I’m expecting to be enthralled by the finale, but I’m also expected others to be really angry at the consecration of six years of confusion. That might be better than the episode itself. Interested to hear how many televisions are smashed after the finale. I’ll probably smash one regardless of the show, just to be a part of history. Oh man, what if the whole show turns out to be Locke’s anesthetic-induced spinal operation dream? People will be SO MAD. This is gonna be great. I’m gonna go on Facebook and vote for the finale to be a stinker.

My name is Ben, who’s the stupid guy now? Shut up.

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A Flavorful Life: Interview with Donald Glover

Mar 18th

Posted by Ben Axelrad in Featured Blogs

7 comments

Actor/comedian/writer/musician Donald Glover is a tough man to pigeon-hole. First of all, he’s spent his entire life not quite fitting into any category. Secondly, c’mon, he’s an ACTOR, COMEDIAN, WRITER AND MUSICIAN! And third, and possibly of greatest importance. . .What the hell is a pigeon hole?

In one of history’s biggest understatements . . . It’s a busy time to be Donald Glover. Let’s use this week as an example: Tonight, you can watch Donald Glover the actor as Troy, the emotionally-evolving ex-star football player on NBC’s “Community” (Thursdays, 8pm). Or, if you’re in Los Angeles, you can pop over to the NuArt Theatre for one of the final few screenings of “Mystery Team”, the feature debut from DERRICK Comedy, featuring Donald the actor, writer, and musician. Then on Friday (March 19) at 11pm you can catch the premiere of Donald the comedian’s “Comedy Central Presents” on, you guessed it, Comedy Central. On Saturday you will likely find Donald the musician, aka Childish Gambino, in his home recording studio putting the finishing touches on the rap album “Culdesac”, his follow-up to the Mixtape series and surprise sensation “I Am Just A Rapper”. On Sunday, God willing, he’ll rest. (Until Sunday night when he performs with the improv group Shitty Jobs at UCB-LA.)

All this from a guy who claims he doesn’t know how to multi-task!

While success is coming on strong, it is not entirely new for Glover, who got his “big break” as a staff writer on NBC’s “30 Rock” after spending his college years (NYU) dominating the internet with the previously-mentioned DERRICK Comedy. Poop or Chocolate’s Ben Axelrad got the fast-paced, fast-rising man-of-many-hats to slow down long enough to discuss where he’s been, where he’s at, and where he’s going. And also, all those hats.

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Let’s start with some Childish Gambino questions since everyone prefers talking about their hobbies over work. Your “I Am Just A Rapper” (IAJAR) mixtapes have received widespread positive feedback for their synthesis of original rap music and preexisting indie rock songs. What inspired the idea?

First of all, I was surprised nobody had ever done this before. Indie kids love Jay-Z and The Clipse and Kid Cudi and stuff like that. And I feel like there are a million black kids who listen to indie music, but I know, for me, I was afraid to say I do. Rap is such a club culture now. Electronica and rap have kind of merged into each other because you’ve got this music that’s totally instrumental and syncopated and guys can rap over this loop that people can dance to in the club. And I like that music, but I think it was a problem for a lot of indie kids. They would say, like, “Oh, that MIA song is such a rip from The Clash,” so okay, let’s make one that’s totally The Clash. Let’s make one that has original guitars and drums and stuff that you’re used to hearing in indie music, rap over it and see how you feel. But I also didn’t want to make songs where the drums come in like boom-boom-chk, boom-boom-chk, like Korn or Limp Bizkit, and it’s the obvious “rock-rap” song. I listen to St. Vincent and stuff like that and some songs have no drums at all and the organ is the percussion. Or some songs will be like tom-tom-tom and no snare. Or maybe there’s a clap; or the tambourine is the snare. And there hadn’t been that exploration in rap yet. That’s what got me excited. There had never been a song where it was just a flute coming in like flute-flute-flute, and that becomes the percussion and you rap over it. It’s really cool.

Childish Gambino – Both Hands (Black Rainbow)

The IAJAR Mixtapes are definitely your most open and revealing albums to date. Were you conscious of that as you made them?

Somewhat, yeah. I realized I was hiding behind things on the earlier albums, whether it be bravado and swagger or choosing an arbitrary thing like pink hoodies to be my “thing.” So on “IAJAR” I decided I would be my “thing.” I’d just do it straight and rap about things I care about. I like clothes; I’ll sing about clothes. People think I’m a weirdo; I’ll call myself a weirdo. And not to sound like the plot to “The Blind Side”, but the more I was me the better it went. And the more I was me the more I wouldn’t blend into the crowd. This culture niche that I am a part of is starving for hip-hop that is cool, but also self-aware. And when you’re open and let people see all of you the best stuff comes out. Like that John Mayer Playboy thing, I don’t think that was him. He was trying to sound witty and smart and cool. And the thing is, if you’re witty and smart and cool you’ll come off as witty and smart and cool just talking about whatever. But more than anything, the more truthful you are the more people tend to like you. Unless you’re a horrible person. And even that’s charming sometimes, because they usually don’t try to hide it. I don’t get it when people try to sound cool. The best shit comes out when you sound geekiest. Thus “I Am Just A Rapper”.

Childish Gambino – Bitch, Look At Me Now (Two Weeks)

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Give the TVs an Award

Sep 21st

Posted by Ben Axelrad in Daily Blogs

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televisionold-tv-set

Every year (never before) around this time (because this is the first time ever) I like to take a break from my busy schedule (around-the-clock poetry slams) to honor the TVs that make it possible for me to watch TV. This year is no different (entirely different) (I’m serious) (never done this before) (probably never will again) (parentheses). Welcome one and all to the Teevees, given by me to the best televisions and television accessories in my life. Most of the awards were handed out in a ceremony held never, but we’ve saved the most coveted prizes for announcement right…NOW.

The Award for Best Television for Watching a Series Goes to…My roommate Joe’s flat-screen in the living room. Like most “Best…Series” winners it offers stunning performance, was acquired for cheap, and almost never gets watched. You know the story: A critical favorite, unappreciated until award season. After this award I’ll probably look the TV up online, marvel at how great it looks, then forget it exists again.

The People’s Choice Award for Best Television Goes to…My laptop. It’s far more expensive, provides worse performance, and gets watched constantly. It’s like Two and a Half Men only easier to masturbate to. My God, Two and a Half Men, masturbating to you is such a chore!

The Award for Best Drama Involving a Television Goes to…The giant TV that was in the living room prior to getting the flat-screen. It was really heavy, so it stayed there next to the new TV through diversionary plotlines involving its possible sale or giveaway, all leading up to the season finale when Joe moved it to his bedroom. With suspense like that I can hardly wait to see what happens this season!

The Award for Best Supporting Player in the Watching of a Television Series Goes to…My surround-sound 5-disc DVD player. Everyone knew it would win this year because it died.

The Lifetime Achievement Award Goes to…My eyeballs. They have changed the way I view television. They were there the first time I was introduced and are still with me today, popping up every time I try to watch anything. They’re like Lorne Michaels, only bluer, prettier, and lodged in my eye sockets.

That’s it, folks! There were more trophies to hand out but I left them in the trunk of my Buick. I would retrieve them, but I don’t own a Buick. If you own a Buick, check the trunk, you might find out you’re a really great TV. Who knows, maybe you are.

Hey, here’s a coincidence: The Emmy’s were tonight. How apropos. So tell me, did Growing Pains win anything or were they robbed again? I knew it! What won, 30 Rock? Never heard of it.

My name is Ben and I blogged this.

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