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If you're making a list of the most timeless sitcoms ever produced, "The Golden Girls" has to be at or near the top. Yes, it's so very 1980s with its Miami fashions and decor, but its themes and sense of humor have aged better than most hit series of its era. At any moment, you can hop on Hulu, click on a random episode, and know you'll laugh yourself silly while watching Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), Rose Nylund (Betty White), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty) get in some kind of jam and ultimately be reminded of the importance and power of friendship.

The writing on "The Golden Girls" was always sharp (it won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series twice), but the secret to its seven years of sustained success (it ranked in the Nielsen ratings top ten for all but its final season) was undoubtedly its cast.

The perfect Grown Ups 3 might have already happened three years ago. Produced by Happy Madison Production, the first two Grown Ups movies had all the ingredients of a typical Adam Sandler movie from an ensemble cast to slapstick humor, from everyday characters to familial themes. Similar to most Adam Sandler comedies, both Grown Ups movies did not receive favorable reviews from critics, but their box office numbers told a completely different story.

Against a budget of $75 million, the first Grown Ups movie earned close to $272 million at the worldwide box office. Grown Ups 2 continued the movie series' financial success by grossing $247 million on an $80 million budget. Strangely, even though the second movie solidified that the franchise was commercially lucrative, a third movie never officially happened. Someone did, however, write an unofficial script for Grown Ups 3, which surprisingly does an incredible job of capturing the franchise's essence.

The Perfect Grown...

According to nine-year Saturday Night Live veteran Bobby Moynihan, the Saturday Night Live production schedule stopped working efficiently the second the show ran out of booger sugar.

The drug habits of the Saturday Night Live cast and crew are the stuff of comedy legend, often tragically so. The cocaine consumption of series icons like John Belushi and Chris Farley are a dark spot in the show’s powdery-white history, and it’s honestly refreshing that the biggest drug problem SNL has had in the last decade was the time when Louis C.K. tried to get Pete Davidson fired for smoking pot in his dressing room. However, in the first few decades of SNL’s existence, cocaine was to 30 Rockefeller Plaza what Sunoco Green E15 is to NASCAR, and the entire SNL operation moved at about the same speed as a result.

Today, the creative engine of SNL no longer runs...

Get ready to crank up the volume because Val Verde’s favorite (and now officially #1) classic rock station, 108.9 The Hawk, is back for Season 5! Join hosts Geoff “The Angry Man” Garlock (the seminal hardcore band Orchid) and Jason Gore as they navigate the turbulent waters of radio broadcasting with their signature blend of improvised comedy, classic rock, and absurd characters.

This season, 108.9 The Hawk is turning up the heat with a lineup of amazing special guests, starting off with a bang with guest Dave Holmes (Who Killed the Video Star?; Waiting For Impact; MTV). Tune in on Monday, August 19th as Dave takes on the role of Val Verde’s beloved weatherman Greg Fresca, as they celebrate Extreme Heat Days, Val Verde's favorite outdoor festival that takes place in a mall parking lot. The following week they will be joined by Will Hines (Comedy Bang Bang; The World’s Greatest...

Who wouldn’t want to hug Kesha? This acclaimed pop sensation has charmed the world not only with her catchy tunes but also with an enduring spirit that screams resilience & positivity. Yet, if you are her aficionado and have been near the pulse of pop culture, you’d know there was an odd mishap involving Kesha & comedy legend Jerry Seinfeld.

Indeed, it was a star-studded charity event, & amidst the allure, Kesha—a self-professed fan who might’ve found solace in the quirkiness of Seinfeld’s eponymous sitcom—reached out for a hug. Sadly, there stood the Seinfeld star, steadfast in his ‘no hugging’ policy, denying Kesha not once but three times.

Jerry Seinfeld in Seinfeld | NBC

But did you know how it all came full circle in a twist of fate involving none other than the flamboyant Cardi B, who actually took revenge for our TikTok hitmaker?

Kesha Revealed Inner...

Pop star Kesha confessed the saddest moment of her life was meeting her idol, Jerry Seinfeld, who completely refused to hug her. The singer was devastated about this encounter because, according to her, Seinfeld brings her comfort and joy.

Kesha via CBS News

The actor-comedian, however, defended his action and stood firm by his principle that he would never hug a stranger. He also said that humans have to meet others and start from somewhere before engaging in intimate gestures.

Kesha Divulges Whole Story About Her Encounter With Jerry Seinfeld

Kesha revealed the details during her interview with The Best Show with Tom Scharpling. According to the singer, she went to the said event in hopes of meeting her inspiration.

“So, [Lynch] was like, ‘Could you do an event that’s a charity event?’ I was in the middle of tour. I was exhausted, but I really love David Lynch,...

Joe Flaherty, a constant comic presence in film and TV, best known for his work on the sketch show Sctv and Freaks and Geeks, has died. He was 82.

Flaherty’s daughter, Gudrun, confirmed his death in a statement shared with the New York Times. No exact cause was given, but Gudrun said her father died on Monday, April 1, after “a brief illness.”

She continued: “Since then, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this immense loss. Dad was an extraordinary man, known for his boundless heart and an...

Mgmt have released the new music video for “Bubblegum Dog,” the new single from their upcoming album, Loss of Life.

The Tom Scharpling and Julia Vickerman-directed visual pays tribute to alternative-rock videos from the Nineties. The humorous clip finds Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser hanging by a fake fire, donning cowboy hats, performing in an MTV Unplugged setting, and using soul patches, among other cheeky homages. Actor Mark Proksch (What We Do in the Shadows, The Office) makes a cameo.

“We all saw the video for ‘Bubblegum Dog’ as...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For regular updates, sign up for our weekly email newsletter and follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSSambizanga.For the past six years, the Belgian film journal Sabzian has invited a guest to deliver an annual “State of Cinema” address. This year’s speaker will be Alice Diop. She will deliver her text on Thursday, December 7, in Brussels, alongside a screening of Sarah Maldoror’s film Sambizanga (1972). Learn more on Sabzian’s website, recently sleekly redesigned for the publication’s tenth anniversary. You can also watch previous State of Cinema speeches on Sabzian’s Screening Room, including last year’s address by Wang Bing.Recommended VIEWINGOutwardly from Earth's Center.Streaming on e-flux until November 30 is Outwardly from Earth’s Center (2007), a short pseudo-documentary by filmmaker and artist Rosa Barba. The film details the experiences of the inhabitants of a fictitious offshore island as...

Mgmt fans rejoice: not only is “Bubblegum Dog” real, but is now available to stream in full.

A meme of sorts for Mgmt fans since they released their 2018 album, Little Dark Age, “Bubblegum Dog” first entered public consciousness through a 2016 Periscope livestream that revealed the titles of several songs the band was working on at the time. Fans then expected it to be included on Little Dark Age, but when it wasn’t, it earned legendary status in the Mgmt fan community.

In the years since, the band has joked about the song, tweeting that “Bubblegum Dog is real” and humorously referring to it as a 30-minute-long, multi-part project. Even earlier this year, the band’s Ben Goldwasser joked on Reddit that Loss of Life would “be nearly three hours long to account for ‘Bubblegum Dog’ being an hour.”

In actuality, “Bubblegum Dog” spans only about four-and-a-half minutes. It begins as an acoustic track,...

Steven Universe tackles serious topics, including toxic relationships and loss, while featuring groundbreaking LGBTQ+ representation. The show addresses the importance of consent through the character Stevonnie, emphasizing ongoing communication and checking in with each other. The Crystal Gems serve as a chosen family for Steven, highlighting the idea that family is not just the one you're born into, but also the people you choose to be with.

Steven Universe is no stranger to tackling serious topics, ranging from the challenges of ending toxic relationships to coming to terms with loss. Created by Rebecca Sugar, the coming-of-age animated series centers on Steven (Zach Callison), a young boy living with the Crystal Gems — that is, three humanoid alien life-forms. Originally, the Gems were meant to colonize Earth in the name of their Homeworld, but Steven Universe's late mother, Rose Quartz (Susan Egan), led a rebellion after falling in love with the planet and its human inhabitants,...

Creator Rebecca Sugar opened up about a possible Steven Universe revival.

In an interview with Variety, Sugar reflected on the 10th anniversary of Steven Universe, which ran for five seasons on Cartoon Network. Sugar revealed that she would bring back the series if there is enough public demand. “I would really, really appreciate it if everyone who would be interested in something like that would make a ton of noise and make it really known -- because I would be thrilled to explore that. I think in this current media landscape, if there’s a huge amount of public demand, then that is something that becomes impossible to ignore. I love these characters and I love this world, and I would love to return to it. And I hope, if everyone else feels the same as I do, I may have an opportunity to do something like that.” Sugar didn't...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI, and sign up for our weekly email newsletter by clicking here.NEWSKillers of the Flower Moon.Amid brewing Cannes selection rumors, a US theatrical release date has been announced for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which is being co-distributed by Apple and Paramount. The film will open in limited release on October 6 before expanding nationwide on October 21. This speaks to Apple’s new strategy to spend $1 billion a year on theatrical releases, geared toward raising its profile in the film industry.Unions representing screenwriters in the US are currently negotiating for better working conditions and equitable wages in a new three-year contract. The New York Times looks at whether or not a strike might be likely after the current agreement expires on May 1.Recommended VIEWINGWe’re thrilled to exclusively premiere Mdff...

David Harbour might not have been a well-known actor in 2005, but his career had been arcing upward since 1999 thanks to several critically acclaimed performances on- and off-Broadway. At 6'3", he had a sturdy, formidable presence. He could use that imposing frame to his advantage or play against it to sympathetic or pathetic effect. When you're this good in New York City, you're guaranteed at least one "Law & Order" role; Harbour booked three. When he made himself available for movies, he nailed down four parts within a year of each other. One of those was as Tom Cruise's bar buddy in Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds." If you're struggling to remember his character, let me help you out: he got cut from the film's final cut.

These things happen. Just ask Kevin Costner. Or Tom Scharpling. When the movie gets edited together, and your character exists solely to...

How Long Gone, the culture and interview podcast hosted by Chris Black and Jason Stewart, has announced a North American tour and a deal with indie label Jagjaguwar.

The How Long Gone trek will kick off October 1st at the Earl in Atlanta and wrap on November 9th at Schubas in Chicago. The live show will be adopting a David Letterman-style late-night model, with Black and Stewart opening each show with a monologue, then conducting a guest interview and welcoming a different musical guest. Among the acts confirmed for...

The Postal Service sit through a slew of chaotic auditions in a new get-out-the-vote PSA for HeadCount’s Make Your Vote Count campaign.

The video was directed by Tom Scharpling, who helmed a similar clip the Postal Service released in 2013 to mark the 10th-anniversary reissue of Give Up. In the new clip, the band is once again joined by Dave from Sub Pop (a fictional and overzealous employee, played by comedian Jon Daly) who wants to add an additional 40 people to the Postal Service (“Like two-and-half Polyphonic Sprees!”) and embark on a massive,...

The cop show is almost as old as television itself. The earliest police dramas birthed the idea of a narrative in which good (police) and bad (criminal) were clearly defined.

But fast-forward to the present and mass protests across the United States following the deaths of Black men and women including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Michael Brown Jr. at the hands of police officers, and the role that cop shows — both fictional and nonfictional — play in forming ideology and normalizing police brutality is under heightened scrutiny.

Paramount Network recently canceled the long-running series “Cops” after more than 30 years and 33 seasons. Then A&e followed suit by axing “Live Pd,” one of its highest-rated shows. The cast and showrunner of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” made a very public donation of $100,000 to the National Bail Fund Network on June 2, in a move condemning Floyd’s killing. That same day, Dick Wolf, king of the modern cop show,...

A few days ago, I was scrolling through TikTok and saw one featuring Olivia Benson, the beloved star of Law and Order: Svu played by Mariska Hargitay. The TikTok is captioned “#when I say Acab,” and the audio is from Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” “I hope you know, I hope you know/That this has nothing to do with you,” the woman in the TikTok lip-syncs, as if pained to even be mentioning Olivia Benson and anti-cop sentiment in the same breath.

On social media, where defunding...

Paw Patrol is facing backlash for its depiction of police. The Nickelodeon children's cartoon posted a tweet in support of Black Lives Matter in the wake of the international protests last week. While the sentiment was in the right place, many are calling for the cancellation of the fictional police dog named Chase. He frequently says, "Chase is on the case!" and "All in a police pup's day!" as he goes about being a hero, along with the rest of his crime fighting rescue animals.

In solidarity of #amplifymelanatedvoices we will be muting our content until June 7th to give access for Black voices to be heard so we can continue to listen and further our learning. #amplifyblackvoicespic.twitter.com/NO2KeQjpHM

— Paw Patrol (@pawpatrol) June 2, 2020

Instantly, commenters started joking around by posting things like, "Euthanize the police dog," and "Defund the paw patrol." One person even went as far as to post,...

Dead To Me, Russian Doll in running for new series honours.

Writers of The Crown, Succession and Watchmen are among the television nominees for this year’s Writers Guild Awards, unveiled on Thursday (5) by the East and West branches of the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

Joining the three projects in the list of drama series nominees are writers of The Handmaid’s Tale and Mindhunter. Nominees in the WGA’s new series category include PEN15, Russian Doll and Watchmen.

In the original long form category, nominees include the writers of Chernobyl and True Detective and the adapted long form category includes Fosse/Verdon and Unbelievable.

Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America, East have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, with Netflix’s The Crown, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, Netflix’s Mindhunter and HBO’s Succession and Watchmen competing for the top drama trophy.

The outstanding comedy nominees are HBO’s Barry, Amazon Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Hulu’s PEN15, Netflix’s Russian Doll and HBO’s Veep.

Best new series nominees are PEN15, Russian Doll, Watchmen, Netflix’s Dead To Me and FX’s What We Do In The Shadows.

Also announced were nominees in the new media, news, radio/audio and promotional writing categories.

Winners will be honored at the 2020 Writers Guild Awards on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at concurrent ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York City.

Here is the complete list of nominees:

Television, New Media, And News Nominees

Drama Series

The Crown, Written by James Graham,...

The Writers Guild of America released the nominees for its 2020 awards on Thursday, which saw newcomers “Watchmen,” “Russian Doll” and “Pen15” each bag a pair of nominations.

Other series to get multiple nods include “Veep,” “Succession,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and “The Crown.”

Ava DuVernay’s Netflix miniseries on the Central Park 5, “When They See Us” did not recieve any nominations, with the WGA instead picking “El Camino,” “Fosse/Verdon,” “The Loudest Voice” and “Unbelieveable” in the adapted longform category. In the original longform category, the nominees were “Chernobyl,” “The Terror: Infamy,” “True Detective” and the upcoming Disney+ movie “Togo.”

Also Read: Aubrey Plaza to Return as Host of 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards

Winners will be honored at the 2020 Writers Guild Awards on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at concurrent ceremonies in New York City and Los Angeles.

See all the nominees below:

Drama Series

The Crown, Written by James Graham, David Hancock, Peter Morgan; Netflix

The Handmaid’s Tale,...

Cartoon Network is giving “Steven Universe” a new title and theme song for the sixth season of the popular animated series.

A teaser video for the new season, called “Steven Universe Future,” was revealed Friday, which you can watch above.

The upcoming season, which follows the “Steven Universe Movie” released in early September, is described as focusing on Steven tying up loose ends after saving the universe — but he’ll have to face his own problems once he runs out of other people’s to solve, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Also Read: Cartoon Network Voice Star Zach Callison Talks Growing Up With 'Steven Universe'

The teaser opens up with Steven, Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot and Bismuth, who sing “Here we are in the future and it’s bright/ Can’t believe we’ve come so far/ Steven Universe Future here we are.”

A brief shot of...

The title character of Steven Universe is an adolescent boy who, over the course of the Cartoon Network series’ first five seasons, developed the ability to fly, to conjure an impenetrable pink shield out of thin air, to use his saliva to heal injuries short of death (and sometimes beyond), to merge his body with a friend’s (in an act called fusion) so they can become even stronger as one than they are side-by-side, and more. But his greatest power — and the reason the show became so adored that a follow-up film,...

Shamus Kelley Sep 9, 2019

We've got everything you need to know about the Steven Universe movie soundtrack, including where to listen to it!

Steven Universe: The Movie was big! We've all had the chance to see the movie and the music (and story) was incredible. Want to know where to listen to it? We've got you covered.

Steven Universe: The Movie Soundtrack Tracks

The entire Steven Universe movie tracklist includes instrumentals and vocal tracks. You can listen to all of these on various music streaming platforms including Spotify, but they are also available for purchase on Amazon. We've also got links to all the vocal songs from the film below so you can listen to them in one go!

The Tale of Steven

An introduction from the Diamonds that has a real classic Disney sounding vibe to it.

Video of The Tale of Steven

Listen to "The Tale of Steven" on...

Chance the Rapper, Estelle, Patti LuPone, Uzo Aduba, Gallant, and Aimee Mann are among the bold-faced names contributing music to Steven Universe The Movie, a musical version of the Cartoon Network series returning this fall.

The music-filled adventure for Steven and his friends will mark his first television movie. Steven thinks his time defending the Earth is over, but when a new threat comes to Beach City, Steven faces his biggest challenge yet.

Steven Universe The Movie is executive produced by Cartoon Network Studios and Rebecca Sugar. Chance The Rapper co-executive produces with Kat Morris, Joe Johnston, Alonso Ramirez Ramos and Ian Jones-Quartey.

The full list of musical collaborators and performances, with original songs by Rebecca Sugar in collaboration with:

Chance The Rapper

Estelle

Gallant

Aimee Mann

aivi & surasshu

Jeff Liu

James Fauntleroy

Macie Stewart

Mike Krol

Jeff Ball

Grant Henry

Julian “Zorsy” Sanchez

Performances by

Estelle (as Garnet)

Patti...

The WGA East today announced the second crop of fellows for its Made in NY Writers Room, a program that provides mentorship, industry access and financial support to underrepresented writers who live in New York City and seek to tell stories that are not often depicted on television. The program is a joint effort with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the city’s Department of Small Business Services.

This year’s 10 fellows, who will each receive a $10,800 stipend, are playwright Harron Atkins, showrunner’s assistant Yasmine Cadet, writer’s production assistant Joseph Capuana, writer and storyboard artist Michael Lee, writer Catherine Loerke, comedy promo writer Vincent Lopez, comedian Jordan Mendoza, playwright and librettist Jerome Parker, children’s television writer Michael Rodrigue, and entertainment journalist Pilot Viruet. More than half of the inaugural group of fellows are actively working in the industry.

“We are very pleased...

Alec Bojalad Aug 29, 2019

Steven Universe will be getting his own movie and we know when it's coming out.

It's Steven's universe and we're all just living in it.

After the climatic end to Steven Universe Season 5, we learned that we will be getting a Steven Universe Movie and we've got all the news about it! If you want to know what we thought of the movie, head on over to our spoiler-free review here.

Steven Universe: The Movie Trailer

In a delightful throwback of sorts, Toonami cut together their own trailer for the Steven Universe movie that features a ton of new shots and a snippet of a musical number!

Video of Toonami's Steven Universe the Movie Trailer | Steven Universe | Cartoon Network

We've even got a sneak peak clip from the movie to!

Video of First Look | Steven Universe | Cartoon Network

We've also got the first official Steven Universe: The Movie trailer below as well!

Wesley Mead Dec 21, 2016

Here's day three in our countdown of the top Christmas TV episodes of all time: entries 60 to 41...

This article was first published in December 2015. Read entries 100 - 81 here and entries 80 - 61 here.

See related Sherlock series 4 episode 1 spoiler-free review: The Six Thatchers Sherlock series 4: go behind the scenes; spoiler-free review Doctor Who Christmas special: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio review Doctor Who Christmas special: The Return Of Doctor Mysterio nerdy spots & Easter eggs

Since the medium’s infancy, viewers have enjoyed sharing holidays with their favourite television characters. We grow invested in our friends on screen over the years; spending Christmas with them is a rite of passage, a chance for us to share tradition from our world with the fictional ones we see on screen. Some shows embrace the season wholeheartedly, characters in good spirits and enjoying the trappings of the season; others skew a little darker,...

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Here's day three in our countdown of the top Christmas TV episodes of all time: entries 60 to 41...

Read entries 100 - 81 here and entries 80 - 61 here.

Since the medium’s infancy, viewers have enjoyed sharing holidays with their favourite television characters. We grow invested in our friends on screen over the years; spending Christmas with them is a rite of passage, a chance for us to share tradition from our world with the fictional ones we see on screen. Some shows embrace the season wholeheartedly, characters in good spirits and enjoying the trappings of the season; others skew a little darker, bringing the more oppressive, burdensome side of the holidays to life. Either way, Christmas episodes tend to demonstrate the strengths of our favourite series, and it’s long been a festive ritual of mine to wheel out old DVD sets and settle back for a few favourites during December.

On May 12, the Numero Group label released the massive The Best of the Best Show, a collection of Wfmu comedy Tom Scharpling and Jon Wurster's prank calls. At 16 CDs and with more than 20 hours of material, one could probably add "All" to the collection's title and get away with it. Even at this size, the collection is something close to essential for fans of the duo's deadpan, often surreal comedy. "Darren and the Greasy Funk," which you can listen to below, is a prime example of what these guys do, and along with the track, we've got Scharpling and Wurster's own recollection of how the call came about. Enjoy!Tom Scharpling: Hi, Jon. The impetus for this call started with an Allen Toussaint show you went to in North Carolina, right? Jon Wurster: Yes. In August of 2007, I went to see New Orleans jazz legend Allen Toussaint...

“You’re awfully cute, and I really want to play with you…but your life is short, and you have dreams.”

Rose Quartz is the structuring absence of Steven Universe. She’s the ducks flying north from Tony Soprano’s pool, the vacated desk of Laura Palmer, the hole around which the themes and characters of the series revolve and against which they react. So why does she have so little to do in what is, essentially, her introduction? “Story for Steven” is often touching and intermittently energetic, but only occasionally is it interesting.

Like Laura Palmer, Rose is gone before the cameras roll but kept alive through the people whose lives she touched and the traces of herself she left behind in the world. Unlike Laura Palmer, always a human figure for good and ill, she’s been largely symbolic and idealized throughout her posthumous appearances. The best parts...

San Diego Comic-Con has released the full schedule of events for Saturday, July 26, following the Thursday and Friday schedules that were released the past two days. You can clickHere to view the lineup in its entirety, which includes numerous comic book panels and events, but we have pulled out all of the movie, DVD and TV-related panels for your convenience.

San Diego Comic-Con has released the full schedule of events for Saturday, July 26, following the Thursday and Friday schedules that were released the past two days. You can clickHere to view the lineup in its entirety, which includes numerous comic book panels and events, but we have pulled out all of the movie, DVD and TV-related panels for your convenience.

Saturday, July 26

The Simpsons

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Simpsons-no gifts please-with creator Matt Groening, executive producer Al Jean, supervising director MikeAnderson, and director for life David Silverman.

Some parodies work because they are just the slightest exaggeration with how it seems to work in real life. Such is the case with Real Estate’s “Crime” video, which debuted on Funny or Die. Playing fictionalized director Tom Scharpling (or “auteur,” as he prefers to be known), Comedy Central’s Andy Daly explains that he is broke and, therefore, he’s sold the creative direction of the video to three different people and, therefore, they determine the script. Their collective mandate is to have a video that features undead sports enthusiasts, use of the various ceramic figurines made by one of the new video owners, and an overall theme that supports core values of the good old days. To make a little more dough, Scharpling received $200 from the local Thai restaurant and some money from the Westboro Baptist Church. Additionally, he needs to shoehorn in a celebrity appearance (by...

The Super Bowl is coming, guys. This means it’s time to do the Super Bowl Shuffle. Don’t know how? Let this bizarre group of comedians, indie musicians, and Internet cats teach you how. Louisville radio host Sean Cannon assembled the team to cover the 1985 Chicago Bears classic to raise money to benefit Reading Is Fundamental. You can purchase it here and/or listen to it below. You’ll hear Lil Bub, David Wain, Comedy Bang! Bang!’s Scott Aukerman, Tom Scharpling, My Morning Jacket's Jim James (on sax), Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington, comedian Kyle Kinane, Dave Hill, Man Man's Honus Honus, the Long Winters' John Roderick, and wrestler Colt Cabana. It’s so bad, you know it’s good.

It’s a bittersweet day in the world of radio (and streaming radio): Tonight at nine, listeners both in the Tristate broadcast area and streaming the world over will tune in to the final episode of Tom Scharpling’s "The Best Show on Wfmu." For thirteen years, Scharpling has hosted this freewheeling three-ring circus of a weekly show that melds music, sketch comedy, interviews, call-ins from loyal (and, in some cases, famous) fans, as well as those from his longtime writing partner Jon Wurster, who regularly phones in as a wide array of ridiculous characters. During the lead-up to his radio farewell, Vulture called Scharpling to share his memories and thoughts on six of the show’s most iconic moments.Let’s start with “ Rock, Rot, and Rule ,” a 1997 call in which Wurster played a music critic who’d written a book about how every musical act either “rocks,...

Cartoon Network has ordered 13 additional episodes each of their new Uncle Grandpa and Steven Universe animated series. This brings their totals to 26 episodes.

Uncle Grandpa follows a magical senior citizen who travels around the world to find unusual solutions to everyday situations. The program debuted on September 2nd and features the voices of Peter Browngardt, Eric Bauza, Adam DeVine, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Audie Harrison.

Steven Universe has been running since November 4th and was created by Rebecca Sugar, Cartoon Network’s first solo female show creator. It follows a group of intergalactic warriors who use the power of special gem stones to summon magical weapons. The cast includes Zach Callison, Estelle, Michaela Dietz, Deedee Magno Hall, Matthew Moy, Kate Micucci, and Tom Scharpling.

What do you think? Do you like either of these animated shows?...

After 13 years on the air, The Best Show On Wfmu With Tom Scharpling is calling it quits. Scharpling announced the decision on last night’s show, saying: It is a huge commitment. It's hard to do something that's more or less a full-time job for free. I've done it for as long as I can do it … I cannot sustain my life and this show and the commitment that this show takes to do right … What the future holds, I have no idea, and I'm not gonna worry about that now. I'm kinda just ...

It's impossible to ignore the effect that the Upright Citizens Brigade has had on the world of comedy. Like "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live" before it, Ucb has become an institution that has sent shockwaves through comedy that are nearly impossible to trace.

But that didn't stop Brian Raftery from trying. He recently penned an e-book about the history of Ucb, High-Status Characters: How The Upright Citizens Brigade Stormed A City, Started A Scene, And Changed Comedy Forever. The book is a collection of interviews with nearly everyone involved directly or indirectly with Ucb, telling the most conclusive story yet of how a Chicago improv troupe that eventually consisted of Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh morphed into three theaters on two coasts, an accredited education program, a TV series and the closest thing to an epicenter of comedy that currently exists.

I spoke to Raftery about his book,...

5) The xx “Fiction”

Directed by Young Replicant

Kicking off this week’s 5 Best Music Videos Of The Week is the latest from English indie band, The xx. There’s not an awful lot going on in “Fiction” but it’s visually stunning. The slow pace, and moody black-and-white vibe makes up for the lack of narrative. It’s pretty, stylish and engaging in a similar way Yoann Lemoine’s video for Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans” is. I wouldn’t usually include a video like this but there wasn’t a lot that grabbed me this week.

4)Merchandise “Totale Nite”

Directed by Merchandise

My reasons behind including Merchandise’s “Totale Nite” is because it reminded me of Gaspar Noé’s Irréversible. It’s pretty much 8 minutes of double-exposed and eerily lit footage of the band playing, without the horrifying rape and violence of course.

3) Kool Ad “Jaleel White”

There...

IFC intends to grow its comedy programming, as evidenced by the cable channel's announcement that they ordered three pilots and eight scripts for 2014.

Highlights of the announcement are a pilot built around Garfunkel & Oates, the female musical comedy duo made of up actress/musicians Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci, and a script written by Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace," "Party Down") called "Two Idiots," about "a pair of odd women raised in an old world Beverly Hills hotel."

Lindhome and Micucci previously had a web series on HBO Go as Garfunkel & Oates.

Other highlights include a pilot from "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" alums Michael Blieden and Eric Ledgin called "International Plan," about two friends travelling around the world looking for love; the animated pilot "Timms Industrial Piping" featuring the voice talents of Maria Bamford, Nick Kroll and John Lithgow, among others; and a script order of "Stupid Life," an adaptation...

IFC announced its development slate earlier today. Included in their three pilots and eight script orders is a pilot by beloved comedy-folk duo Garfunkel and Oates (a.k.a. Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci), a script from Chris Gethard and Tom Scharpling based on Gethard's book of personal essays, and a script order for a show written by and starring Megan Mullally. Read the full list and synopses below — it's clear they are continuing their mission to employ all of the comedians.Pilots: Timms Industrial Piping A scripted comedy set in the fictional town of Timms Valley, Wisconsin, where the lives and livelihoods of its citizens are intertwined with the fate of the town's biggest employer, Timms Industrial Piping. When the company's founder and CEO goes missing in a plane crash, the lives of the characters are turned upside down. Shot in stop-motion animation with baby dolls repurposed as an...

IFC, which has been transforming itself from a network known for indie film to one that's embraced alternative comedy, has announced a development slate that includes pilot orders for scripted projects from Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci of the very funny folk-comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates, Steve Conrad ("The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "The Promotion") and Fallon writers Michael Blieden and Eric Ledgin. Also in works for 2014 consideration are eight scripts in development, from Matt Besser, Chris Gethard and Tom Scharpling, Megan Mullally and others, including one from a New York Television Festival deal-winner. IFC's currently airing Ryan Quincy's animated coming-of-age series "Out There," and will premiere Marc Maron scripted comedy "Maron" on May 3rd. Pilot orders: Timms Industrial Piping (working title) A scripted comedy set in the fictional town of Timms Valley, Wisconsin, where the lives and livelihoods of its citizens are intertwined with the fate of the.

Rolling Stone released their list of the 50 funniest people alive, and Eric Clapton was number one. Just kidding, Louis C.K. topped their comprehensive list of people who, in their estimation, are making us laugh the hardest and most consistently.

See the slideshow below for the top 10 people (if you count the two-headed monster that is Matt Stone and Trey Parker) who Rolling Stone deems the funniest in 2013.

To the surprise of no one, Louis C.K. topped the list, citing his critically acclaimed show "Louie" and his revolutionary practices in selling albums and concert tickets. Oh, and the fact that pretty much nobody is as good at stand-up comedy as he is. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Amy Poehler also made the top ten.

As Splitsider points out, the list includes a few glaring omissions that even the most casual comedy fan may find eyebrow-raising, such as Conan O'Brien, Sarah Silverman,...

On Friday, comedy fans packed the room at the Bell House in Brooklyn for Tom Scharpling and Ted Leo's "Very Special Hurricane Benefit Show". The lineup included an eclectic mix of comics, musicians and celebrities, including Chris Elliott and Adam Resnick, Brooke Shields, John Hodgman, Andrew Wk, H. Jon Benjamin, Julie Klausner, Titus Andronicus, Kristen Schaal and Chris Gethard. Elliott's comedically-inclined offspring, Abby and Bridey, also attended.

When all was said and done the event raised $30,000. According to producer Marianne Ways, $10,000 of that was raised in auctions led by Hodgman and Schaal. The proceeds will be donated to Occupy Sandy and Staten Island's Siller Foundation Relief Fund.

Photographer Mindy Tucker was on hand to document the event. Check out her gallery below:...

The director of some of your favorite, funny music videos is coming together with one of the coolest indie rockers, for a night of comedy and do-gooding... our two favorite things.

Tom Scharpling, host of Wfmu's "The Best Show", and Ted Leo of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists are hosting "A Very Special Hurricane Benefit Show" on December 7th at The Bell House in Brooklyn, NY. The event will feature performances by the likes of Chris Elliott, John Hodgman, Andrew Wk, Jon Benjamin, Julie Klausner and more, and all proceeds will go to Occupy Sandy and The Siller Foundation, both of which provide relief to the areas hit hardest by Sandy..

Both Scharpling and Leo are from New Jersey, so the tragedy of the hurricane is very close to home. "We were both devastated by the scale of what happened," says Scharpling. "As soon as we had a working phone connection,...

Death Cab For Cutie frontman Benjamin "Ben" Gibbard released his first-ever solo album, Former Lives in October, and now his transformation is complete. After all, it's fine to be a regular guy when you're part of an indie outfit, but solo artists have to give the people something a little more intriguing. Arrests, public drunkenness, reality shows... they're all standard issue for today's pop stars.

So let us be one of the first to welcome the newly-minted "bad boy" Ben Gibbard. Check him out above in his latest video "Teardrop Windows", directed by the equally mischievous Tom Scharpling. And see the slideshow below for some behind-the-scenes photos of the making of the video by photographer Mindy Tucker.

Don't let those pretty eyes fool you, this guy is all thug now. Sorry, sensitive hipster chicks. He's not for you anymore.

Even after nine albums, Aimee Mann seems to always find a way to keep things fresh. She’s roared through concept albums, Christmas songs and soundtrack work; her last two albums “@#%&*! Smilers” and last week’s drop of “Charmer” have been decidedly pop-driven efforts, this new one with even more sonic layers and even a James Mercer duet. But that’s not the end of Mann’s penchant for collaboration on "Charmer. She had Laura Linney star in the music video for the title track. Jon Hamm, Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster and others showed up for the clip to “Labrador,” directed by Tom Scharpling...

MTV generation, here's your Tuesday afternoon distraction. Aimee Mann's newest music video, for her song "Labrador," is an exact remake of the video that made her famous, "Voices Carry" by her former band Til Tuesday. Also, Jon Hamm makes a cameo, taking some time off from his busy schedule of not wearing underpants.

Hamm plays a skeevy, fictional version of the video's director Tom Scharpling, who in real life is best known for hosting the cult favorite radio program and podcast "The Best Show on Wfmu." He's carved out another niche for himself as an indie music video director, but has recently threatened to stop (if you're a band with plenty of cash to throw around for a great video from Tom Scharpling, we hope you do so right now).

The video for "Labrador" also features Scharpling's comedy partner (and Superchunk drummer) Jon Wurster as Mann's jealous boyfriend. Keep...

First things first: Everyone go back and watch (or: watch for the first time, no judgment) "Voices Carry," the 1985 'Til Tuesday video starring one very young Aimee Mann. Once you've finished your homework, you are allowed to watch the video for "Labrador" (off Mann's most recent album, Charmer), which will suddenly look very familiar. As in, it is a shot-for-shot remake of the original "Voices Carry" video — except! Actual video director Tom Scharpling recruited Jon Hamm to play fake video director Tom Scharpling in a bit before the video, meaning we are all treated to a minute of Jon Hamm sporting a bad mustache and saying words like "collambrotive." Shouts also to Superchunk drummer (and Scharpling's comedy partner) Jon Wurster, who plays the music-video actor with cheesy gusto, and to Ted Leo for that wig. Watch closely; you'll see it. And here's the original, just in case:...