Links of the Week
In addition to the Reads of the Week feature on Saturdays, we’ll be adding a Links of the Week round-up on Sundays. These will likely vary in length but will probably, mostly, be longer than this debut one. First one cometh now.
- If you have time, help the Guardian sift through the Palin email leak. Thus far, the most inflammatory finding appears to be Palin communicating with disgraced former-BP chief Tony Hayward about the oil giant resuming drilling operations in Alaska a year after it had been involved in another major spill, in Alaska. Mostly though, it’s just another valiant attempt to make absolutely sure that she won’t run for President in 2012.
- Everyone and their mother has me excited about the new Fucked Up record, David Comes to Life. Pitchfork loves it, Drowned in Sound loves it, the Guardian loves it and The Quietus loves it.
- New York has an interview with two detectives about the characters on The Killing. That series has veered into some tricky narrative waters and pulled some cliched tricks, but I’m confident it will end up being a memorable show for AMC. Mad Men and Breaking Bad are both astonishing (and I loved Rubicon) and it would be nice to add another one to its bow. The second season, when it can move out of the shadow of the original Danish series will be the crunch point. More on that series when it finishes in just over a week.
- WTF with Marc Maron’s show with Brian Posehn was one for the canon. Posehn is a great comic actor with plenty of stories anyway, but he opens up to Maron in a compelling manner, ranging from his early days attempting to brand himself as ‘The Piranha’ to his current decision to quit weed and now attempt to shift away from being known as a so-called ‘weed comic’. Not quite as incredible to listen to as the Louis CK or Judd Apatow shows, but definitely one of Maron’s best.
- Finally, if you even remotely remember Rainbow, this internal Christmas party video from the BBC in 1976 will both amuse you greatly and disturb you deeply…
9 to link, what a way to make a livin’
Dolly songs this week. For literally no reason at all. (Except the overruling reason that they’re FABULOUS! – Beth)
Let’s kick off by going all proggy with a select group of ridiculous album covers.
Dude… I gotta read the news more. You gonna eat those Cheetos??
Guillermo del Toro is reported to have entered talks to direct The Hobbit. Awesome.
Sparks are playing 21 shows in a row. The Guardian salutes the genius of Mael.
Pitchfork loves the Afro-pop indie of Vampire Weekend. So do I! Pitchfork and I should become BFFs!!
Slate reviews Breaking Bad. I watched the first episode of this last night and I’m undecided as yet.
The really quite lovely Marion Cotillard’s career is really kicking off post La Vie en Rose. Now she gets to meet Depp.
Wilmer Valderrama and Rosario Dawson make out in a dramatic telenovela about VOTING! Come on Americans – Declare Yourself!
The world is really being kind to me lately – now there’s going to be a HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL… erm… musical, live in London at the Hammersmith Apollo. There is a god. And his name is Zac Efron*.
(*I’m guessing Zac will not actually be in it. I’ll just take my contact lenses out and pretend it’s him up on stage… ahem.)
Erm – NOOOOoooooooooooo… McFly are parting ways with their record company. (Although still making music apparently.) They’re going the way of Busted… oh good lord, I’m still not over the demise of Busted… where are you Matt Willis? Get back on my tellybox!
NBC is casting for contenders for the second season of American Gladiators – BuzzSugar wants to know what your Gladiatorial name would be. Ponder carefully…
Series Review: Mad Men
Matthew Weiner, a veteran of Becker, Andy Richter Controls the Universe and, notably, The Sopranos, must have had a very difficult time in getting Mad Men made. The series I believe was pitched to David Chase himself seven years ago, Weiner then coming on board with Chase until the clout existed for this to get done. Still, it took AMC to change its remit and bring an original series to the table and, for their bravery, they have been handsomely rewarded.
Avon Linksdale
Well I, for one, think these The Wire -related titles are going beautifully.
The AV Club interviews hirsuite ginger lovely-man Glen Hansard.
PopMatters lists its favourite TV performances of 2007. So many lists from them this year.
USA Today has a preview of Breaking Bad, the new AMC original series following in the successful footsteps of Mad Men.
Pitchfork has video of the ‘secret’ Radiohead show at 93 Feet East last night.
Mother Jones has some thoughts on the upcoming Nevada primary.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler put some girlshapedness into comedy with Baby Mama, check out the trailer here at BuzzSugar.
Want to listen Justin Lee Collins and Chris Moyles sing Delilah? Of course you do! Although it would surely be better without Chris Moyles.
Penn Badgley and Blake Lively are not dating. Okay! People tells you again.
Election analysis and discussion is sooo in right now. Salon has more politic-speak.
Martin Scorsese’s Shine a Light, his Stones concert document, is to open the Berlin Film Festival.
Check out Conan’s Strike Diary on Entertainment Weekly.
Still shell-shocked by Brad Renfro’s death? I know I am. Also sharing their thoughts are Sir Ian McKellen, who has blogged about it, Renfro’s The Client costar Susan Sarandon has released her own statement, and writer, film-maker and photographer Bruce LaBruce has blogged a couple of his memories…
Gawker received a legal letter from the Scientologists following the outbreak of that Tom Cruise video. You saw the video – now check out a video from the ceremony itself, here’s Cruise picking up that award…
Kirsten Dunst stars in the latest Miu Miu ad campaign. Je voudrais the bag in the first photo, s’il vous plait?
Ahhh, a portrait of Stephen Colbert is hanging in the Smithsonian, between the loos, near the American Presidents, after he impressed the museum’s director with his hacky-sack skills! Genius.
“This portrait will only be here for a limited time, so refresh yourself at the drinking fountain while contemplating this portrait of Colbert while you can.”
FairyLink of New York
Francis Ford Coppola talks to The AV Club about Youth Without Youth.
RAAAWWKKK!!! PopMatters’ best metal records of the year!
Slate reviews Charlie Wilson’s War and reports that Huckabee and Guiliani are level in the polls.
Speaking of Charlie Wilson’s War, Yahoo has eight minutes of the flick for you.
Follow this for The Guardian’s podcasted viewpoint on cinema for 2007.
The 4400 has been cancelled. Sign the petition to keep it here.
Gigwise reports that REM have a new record coming out in April.
Mad Men has inspired further new series on AMC.
PopCandy lists her top ten movies of the year.
Uber-cool music folk alert!! David Byrne talking with Thom Yorke.
Okay, I still can’t get over Ashley Tisdale’s new nose. She just isn’t Sharpay anymore…
Electricity & Lust 
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