Author Archive
Levi Johnston’s Run for Mayor a Reality
August 10th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
Levi Johnston is running for Mayor of Wasilla, reality show and all.
Remember Sarah Palin? While the Tea Party’s topmost kettle has been keeping her whistle at low volume these days, leave it to little Levi to blow it. The sporadically bachelored single father has decided to take his everyman American roots (redneck turned parent turned playboy) and run for Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska—you know, the very same post that propelled his baby mama’s mama right to the governorship heard ’round the world.
And in case you were worried about the over exposure of politicians in recent times, what with Obama and Biden both on “The View” and one Nancy Pelosi on “Top Chef”, fear not: Johnston’s entire run will be captured on a forthcoming reality show, cleverly titled “Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office.”
It’s not as though celebrities haven’t done their fair share to help shape this great nation. While a slew of big authors took their own (failed) attempts at running for office—Mailer, Vargas Llosa, Sinclair and Vidal to name a few—people smart enough to write books never strike the general populous as entirely unqualified for the position. Because reading books like makes you smart, right?
It is this same comfort in familiarity that saw the likes of Ronald Reagan in 16000 Pennsylvania; the same appreciation of a good bod that allowed Arnold, Jesse Ventura and Scott Brown to go forth and prosper; the same love of “Law & Order” that deemed Fred Thompson the coolest senator ever, Republican or otherwise.
Reality television may seem a mere novelty, but the onslaught of trashy celebrities it leaves in its wake is telling of the times: They wouldn’t keep making the stuff if you didn’t keep watching, people.
In many ways, the Palins are a breath of organic air in this world of Snookies. You want real? Try a frumpy woman from Alaska with five kids and a fishing business. She’s now a household name, and how she managed to accomplish this without a stint on ‘Wife Swap” warrants the abuse of such fame by any would be son-in-law.
On levels bordering Inception, Levi Johnston deserves his fifteen minutes for reasons that don’t get much more real. He has unprotected sex and unabashedly exploits his own fame: things actual celebrities don’t acknowledge doing in an attempt to stay famous. Is he any less qualified to run for Mayor than Palin was back in 1992? I’m not saying the man’s got a gift for politics, but has the past not proven that with the right production company, anything is possible?
An Interview with Screaming Female Marissa Paternoster
July 16th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
To say Marissa Paternoster’s had one hell of a year wouldn’t begin to cover it. The debut album from her solo act, Noun, dropped last week as the announcement of a fall tour with band Screaming Females and an EP this September followed closely behind. Which is to say nothing of the group’s performance at Siren Fest tomorrow, guaranteeing them the attention of at least a couple thousand new fans as they bring their firmly New Jersey rooted rhythms to the stage. And don’t get confused at the sight of that adorable dress she’s likely to be wearing; if only sporting such attire meant everyone could shred like that. Read the rest of this entry »
Texas is the Reason: Catching Up with Surfer Blood
July 16th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
This was an article originally written for Issue 24 of Death+Taxes. Since sitting down with Surfer Blood at SXSW, the boys have continued their mission to play everywhere on earth ever. After joining this year’s roster at Siren, they’ll fly to Chicago for a set at the Pitchfork Festival on Sunday. And what better setting for the summer happy sounds of debut album Astro Coast than one Coney Island, the perfect hot dog and beer filled welcome party for the Floridian fivesome. Read the rest of this entry »
Against Me!’s Teenage Anarchist: All Grown Up and Getting Paid
July 8th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
Against Me! may have been quiet in their attack, but the band is back in a major way. Just don’t tell that to Tom Gabel.
When I meet up with Tom Gabel, we’re sitting in the catering tent surrounded by band trailers at the Williamsburg Waterfront. The Silversun Pickups are sound checking on the enormous stage behind us, which faces outward towards the City and an almost pretty East River.
Gabel and his band Against Me! have come a long way since their early Gainesville days, signing to a major, playing festivals from Bonnaroo to Leeds and only switching drummers twice on the 13-year ride. Gabel may not have lost his boyish charm or that penchant for performing in all black, but at 30 years old, he’s now a father and a newly anointed citizen of L.A. That he also finds himself in the hot seat quite a bit these days is no surprise, as is often the case when you’ve gone from basements to best album of the year. Read the rest of this entry »
Celebrity Voice Overs – More Than Just A Pretty Face
June 9th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
Let’s be honest here, people. In the thirty some odd minutes you’ll actually admit to watching TV each day (this is discounting all those hours in front of the tube telling yourself you have other things to do), you’ll soak in more from the commercials than any intentional programming. As a result, corporations are careful with their ads. We’re not talking the Super Bowl spectacles, but those little fillers between Seinfeld reruns and SVU — the ones that seep in and stay in, branding themselves to your brain just as planned. The key to seeping in: The celebrity voice over. You recognize the voice — not enough to associate an actor with the product — but enough that you gain the sense of comfort that comes with experience: You’ve heard this person before, and thus you can trust them (and whatever they’re selling). So without further ado, a compilation of our favorite voice overs, past and present. Read the rest of this entry »
Doctor Who Makes a House Call to Lady Gaga
June 8th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
“Doctor Who” is one of those sacred little television shows, the kind that allows for its main star to change actors every few years without losing fans and employs campy special effects in place of the available advancements. It embraces its inherent geekiness and has maintained its integrity because of it, including the use of international pop stars without scaring away a highly devoted fanbase. Kylie Minogue’s appearance on the Christmas special in 2007 brought in 13.31 million viewers, the most the show’s seen since 1979; instead of rejecting this nod to pop culture — remembering, of course, that this is scifi and what that says of its audience — fans embraced the star, evidence of “Who”‘s unusual ability to combine what are normally two separate worlds. Read the rest of this entry »
Patrick Stewart Officially Adds a 'Sir'
June 2nd, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
There are few people who had as strong of a grip on my youth as Jean-Luc Picard. My nanny was a trekkie, and as a result, many an afternoon was spent with that bald, commanding Brit acting as babysitter. And who better? Behind the fearless leader of the free world (and beyond) existed a sensitive soul, more apt for Shakespeare and the stage than heading a Starfleet. His heroes growing up were both knights (Sirs Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud) and he worked aside one in X-Men with Ian McKellan, so it’s about time Patrick Stewart was awarded the honor in his own right. Dedicating it to his English teacher Cecil Dormand, who encouraged him to take up acting and introduced him to Shakespeare as youngster, Patrick was very humble while accepting the title from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Trouble imagining him outside the Enterprise? Check him out here in PBS’s recent rendition of “Hamlet”, alongside Dr. Who’s David Tennant.
Glee Gets Funky, Jane Lynch Gets Married
June 2nd, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
While I am much more partial to the gloomy, nonmelodic depictions of high school as found in Freaks and Geeks and My So-Called Life (the one exception to this rule being the two Daria music specials), I must say, Glee could be a whole lot worse. It doesn’t go for groundbreaking, at least not in the lives of its characters, and their shallow melodramas thus seem justified when you realize that the emphasis of the whole thing is on the songs. But this isn’t really about Glee, it’s about Sue Sylvester, or the real life Jane Lynch, supporting actress and guaranteed comedic relief extraordinaire, who got married over Memorial Day weekend to psychiatrist Dr. Lara Embry in Sunderland, Massachusetts. It was small (21 guests), devoid of famous faces and Ms. Sylvester donned pants, which when you think about it, really just fills you with… glee.
Palin Fends Off Wilson… With a Fence, Of Course
June 1st, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
As a former fan of Home Improvement, I’ve always wondered what happened to good old Wilson. Tim Allen’s career has certainly provided little mystery; there are only so many roles available after one grows rotund in that particularly spherical fashion, after all (these clearly being The Santa Clause 3 and a permanent return to voice overs as Buzz in Toy Story… 3). Al Borland appeared in Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch before dropping off the Earth, and JTT will forever remain the growth hormone deficient teen’s crown prince. But what of Wilson, and more importantly, that fence? Read the rest of this entry »
Sex and The City 2 Loses the Good Vibrations
June 1st, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
Well Carrie, it’s not easy being Queen Bradshaw. There’s the series to live up to — remember, those six seasons full of witty dialogue, beautifully centered around our beloved Manhattan and chock full of Smith Jared– yeah, those. And then there was the first movie, which, while possessing more than its share of faults, at least put the necessary Mr. Big wedding to bed for good. (Spoiler Alert) Read the rest of this entry »
New Study Proves Calling Mom Relieves Stress: Duhhh
May 13th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
This study is essentially good for one thing: making 23-year-old girls the world over feel way less guilty about still needing to double check with their mothers before making important decisions. We could take this in the direction of our generation’s prolonged childhood, which now extends well into the late twenties, but we won’t. This is about picking up the phone and calling your mom and feeling good about doing it. Ok? Read the rest of this entry »
Jenny Lewis Signs on for Brandon Flowers' Flamingo
May 13th, 2010 by Shannon Hassett
Yes, yes, we all hate The Killers, but it’s that hate that stems from songs that are so damn catchy you can’t help liking them. Maybe. Just a little bit. Way deep down under that hardened, ultra hip exterior. So news of frontman Brandon Flowers’ upcoming solo album could be just the ticket out of our shame, propelling him to an indie platform all his own. While the details have remained rather scant (just as they should if he’s hoping to refashion himself outside the limelight), the singer recently revealed that the Las Vegas themed Flamingo will now include some help from Jenny Lewis, a fellow Sin City native. Production will be handled by recent Neil Young collaborator Daniel Lanois and Killers’ go-to Stuart Price, as well as Brendan O’Brien of Pearl Jam fame on three of the tracks.
