Check It Out!

By James

For my first post here, I thought I could offer some recommendations of the many things I've been enjoying lately.

TV:

Mad Men Season 2 - Sundays 10PM on AMC and ON DEMAND
This season has started slow, but the first season didn't really pick up until the last few episodes. Give it time and enjoy the gorgeous eye-candy, Christina Hendricks. Hubba Hubba!


Oz Season One - Available on DVD
Oz is probably one of the more underrated series in HBO's history. It is far more remembered for its shock value, but the show pulls you in right off the bat and is so entertaining. I saw the first season a few years ago and upon revisiting it, I can't wait for my season two DVDs to arrive. The highlight of the show is probably Dean Winters as Ryan O'Reilly, the prison's manipulative and scheming Iago. Winters also deserves credit for his great work on 30 Rock as Dennis Duffy, the on/off boyfriend of Tina Fey.

Veronica Mars - Available on DVD
I am usually hesitant about these shows with cult followings that are on shitty TV networks (ex. any Joss Whedon series) but Veronica Mars deserves its praise. The show is a whole lot of fun.

Radio:

The Best Show on WFMU - Available on iTunes or http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/bs
It's the best show on radio and it's a must-hear every week. Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster are not only the funniest people on radio but perhaps today's best comedy duo.

Gilbert Gottfried Appearances on The Howard Stern Show - Available on http://thehsdaily.blogspot.com/
Gottfried is easily Stern's funniest guest ever and responsible for many memorable moments in the show's history. A classic example is a 2002 appearance where New York City real estate magnate Abraham Hirschfeld calls into the show from prison.

The History of Howard Stern - Available on http://lebeamer.blogspot.com/
Sirius Radio produced a 25 hour radio documentary special in December 2007 that covers everything Stern until the mid-1980s. Part two of the special will be aired in December 2008 and will cover Stern's show from 1985 until present day.

Books:

Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan
How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman

Plays:

Blackbird by David Harrower
Oleanna by David Mamet
Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan
The Overwhelming by JT Rogers
Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian