Bugs Must Not Bee Alone

This year the Flaming Lips had a YouTube contest were Tubers could make their own video submissions for a chance to win tickets the The New Years Eve concert in LA and Dance onstage with thte lips. My roommate and I love the Flaming Lips so we put on sequins/duct tape and ran around the city like the freaks that we are.

As part of our Sunday entertainment, we put together a Lips-esque music video instead of a more traditional shake what your momma gave you vid. Hoping, just hoping, that we will be cool enough to dance on stage with Wayne.

The Shins- Phantom Limb

In the spirit of the holiday season, this new Shins video reminds the populace of how easy life is now in comparison to yesteryear. Remarkably similar to the Jib Jab Year in Review, the Shins use the context of a school play to explore a vivid and public history. With children acting out graphic historic events, there are moments that you forget that A) these events actually happened and B) these are children playing with swords and dying in horrific ways.

Visually stunning, I find myself unable to fully appreciate the weight of these images when combined with the harmlessly melodic track.

Taking Back Sunday 12 Days of Christmas

Take a peek into the demented minds of Fred and Adam, two members of Taking Back Sunday, as they call out the senselessness of bird-gifting. This video is brilliantly animated and features giant blue elves, an ugly holiday sweater, and Donnie Bonaduce.

"The 12 Days of Christmas" is one of those songs that became a classic not because it has any music merit, but because it's obnoxiously long and easy to spoof. Taking Back Sunday’s unique rendition of the holiday carol is perfect example of how outrageous holiday songs can become.

French Maid TV

When I first heard about French Maid TV, I thought it was going to be some dumb excuse to watch boobs and some booty-shaking. But, as it turns out, the show is clever and actually kind of cute. The scripted podcast is a series of “How Tos” featuring three attractive French maids, offering advice on topics such as How to Register a Domain or How to Barter Online. These brooding babes don't just know how to work a feather duster; their advice is surprisingly web savvy.

Inter-cut with distractions and fun little asides, the latest episode of French Maid TV is an informative and eye-catching guide to sharing music with your friends. As fun as rock climbing and potato sack races are, I love how the French maids are trying to stay connected with the Holla girls. Being from complete opposite sides of the world, who knew they had anything in common?

And that guy being held under arrest... just happens to be Alex from Diggnation. I wonder how hard it was to convince him to put down his laptop for long enough to be held in contempt? Seriously, it’s impressive to see any web personality actually part from his or her computer. Even if there are sexy ladies involved.

Justin Timberlake on SNL

This weekend, Timberlake hosted SNL, and it was actually entertaining. I will admit I have always thought that Timberlake took himself a little too seriously. Maybe it was because he was the lead singer of a hot-to-trot boy band or because he got REALLY mad that time he was Punk'd, but Timberlake always seemed a little self-involved and just... not funny.

Apparently, I might have been a little harsh, 'cause the boy's got some skills. Timberlake's hosting duties this Saturday included battling Santa for charitable donations while dressed as a giant Cup of Noodle, digging up some early 90’s raps like Salt 'N Pepa’s "Shoop" in order to do so. After Timberlake dressed up as a dolphin during a Flaming Lips concert, it's clear that the public doesn’t mind the pop star covering up that hot bod is a big plushie suit. But while he man-dressed-like-soup shock value is definitely worth your time, that's not the only reason to watch. Turns out that Timberlake is actually kind of funny.

The End of Sam

From the very first episode, viewers of Sam Has 7 Friends knew that Samantha Breslow was going to die today.The eighty-episode "season" of Sam Has 7 Friends is the collaborative effort of four separate directors, each of whom weaves his own story line into the overarching plot; the series follows Sam’s acting career, her best friend, her cheating boyfriend, and her ex whom she still loves. Read more

Nuckin Futs- A JibJab Year In Review

The latest addition to the JibJab pop culture collection proves that the world is, indeed, Nuckin Futs.If you were cryogenically frozen earlier this year and just woke came out of a deep-seeded coma, JibJab’s “Year in Review” will guide you through '06. Google buying YouTube, Brangelina reproducing, and the Dems winning the Senate -- this elaborate animated dance number has it all... Read more

Slob Evolution

A response to the wildly popular Dove Evolution campaign, this video deconstructs the sharp, emaciated features of a male model. Watch as the rocker-esque model transforms into “that guy” who lives next door and never leaves the sofa.

Would you really want to see an ad for this lard-o plastered across your fair city? Created by the campaign against real life, this viral argues that consumerism has created the current standard of unattainable beauty. In reality, nobody wants to see the guy next door, except when he is getting the morning paper and cordially saying hello. So maybe, just maybe, the computerized falsehoods that advertisements project are in everyone's best interest....

Matt Damon Does Matthew McConaughey

Who knew a Southie from Boston could a do such an effective Texas Accent? Not me. Last night on Letterman, The Departed star ad-libbed McConaughey’s southern charm and willingness to appear shirtless in some behind-the-scenes commentary. To my knowledge, Damon has never worked on a flick that required him to learn some Texas slang. So this is no pre-packaged Brokeback accent. The man’s got talent. Just admit it.

High Tide

A series of animated paintings, this visual decoupage evokes fear of being swallowed by a world filled with harsh realities and unfamiliar places.

Jetset

Created by Zadi Diaz and Steve Woolf, Jetset is a weekly teen culture web show that highlights cool and often geeky things found on and offline. Dedicated to using web vision as a communication tool, Jetset focuses “on teen life and interests as it relates to today's global online culture.”

Though the show may target to teens, there is some thing universal about Jetset’s quality programming that appeals to a much larger audience. By combining issues of insecurity, angst, and morality with a fun-fictional vibe, Jetset makes note of important issues without preaching or talking down the people who may suffer from them.

A great example of the “actions speak louder than words” attitude of the show can be found in their latest episode. Zadi and Steve address personal debt and video game addiction in such a fictionally disguised manner that I barely caught on to the implications. Personally, I thought the video game detox sequence was brilliant. And with the Wii and the new Xbox coming out this holiday season, I may have to enlist some of my friends. Click here to watch

Brookers Identity Theft

Well gee-golly, it looks like Brookers has found her way back into the spotlight. In her new video, Brookers returns to the spontaneous, whacky shtick that the YouTube community fell in love with. Adding a YouTube-loving twist to the popular Citibank identity theft commercials. In this video, her second to be released this month, it appears that the ce-web-rity may be on the company payroll...Click here to read more

Trapped in the CLAUSet

A hilarious holiday take on R Kelly's 12 part "hip-opera" music video, this claymation features Santa after a long day at the factory. Coming home to a scantily clad Mrs. Clause, Santa finds out if his loving, cup-cake-baking wife has been naughty or nice.
Also here's the links for Part Two and Part Threeof "In the Clauset". Warning: part one is the most PC off the three episode, two and three are not for the easily offended.

Illeanarama "Supermarket of the Stars"

After seeing this clip on YouTube most viewed list, I got giddy with anticipation for a celebrity-ridden web series. This first “episode” stars Illeana Douglas, an actress with the unique face that I have seen in many shows and movies but can’t quite place where or when.

Setting the scene for more episodes to come, the series follows actress Illeana Douglas' fictional adventures after she retires from showbiz to work at the local supermarket.

For a more in depth look into Illeanarama, check out the article I wrote for the Daily Reel.

Letterman Drops A 300lb. Safe On A Buick

I'm pretty sure this recurring bit on the Letterman Show is executed with the utmost safety, but...

Can you imagine walking to the corner deli, minding your business, only to see something plummet ten stories to the ground? Did I just really see that 300-pound safe fall of a building and onto a car? Or was I too busy listening to my iPod and dodging pedestrian traffic to care?

Well known for his pointless and absurd segments, Letterman has been destroying things in the name of comedy for a while now. His last-laugh humor has lead to the destruction not only safes but a variety of household items, by methods including explosives, steamrollers, and - most frequently - throwing them off the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater.

What’s next Dave? I really just can’t wait. I’d love to see you throw a snowman off the roof into a pile of presents or maybe a tuba into a vat of Jell-O.

Xbox 360 - Halo 3 ad

I’m sure the children in this new spot aren't dreaming of the anticipated Spring 2007 release of Halo 3, but every gamer I know sure is. Taking full advantage of the power of Xbox 360™, Halo 3 expands on everything that has made the Halo franchise great, and reportedly adds a wealth of technical and gameplay advancements.

Though this ad fails to divulge much more than a brief hints at what the new Halo may look like, imagine the possibilities. The Xbox360 system is a like a rendered version of reality. Not to mention, Halo is a cultural phenomenon that even a non-gamer can appreciate. The multi-player fight for your life and the future of existence video game has spawned action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel, and even a film adaptation.

With HD visuals and new weapons and challenges, Halo 3 will mark the return of the Master Chief, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. According to an official announcement on the developers' website, Halo 3 will end the current story arc of the Halo trilogy. End?! Never! Ask any gamer -- the man-on-man, futuristic military madness will never end.

Galacticast - Superman I.V

Galacticast is a weekly web series that claims to parody all the worlds of geek-dom. The show's creators and stars, Rudy Jahchan and Casey McKinnon, write, shoot, and edit this larger-then-life web series in their studio apartment. Using a green screen, a camera, and a couple of lights, the sci-fi comedy brings a Lucas-esque quality to the viral video scene.

After launching in May of 2006, Galacticast continues to gain recognition from the vlogosphere for its well-scripted episodes and use of basic effects programs to create a vivid fictional world. In the spirit of Galaxy Quest, the comedy series developed as a mash-up of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, comic book, and video-game references into sketch comedy spoofs.

This week’s episode references Superman and the Common People video “Zod Speaks from the Phantom Zone.” Some fans are calling this episode one of Galacticast’s best videos to date; with fellow podcasters (the Ray brothers and the Bui brothers) appearing as talking heads at the beginning of the episode, how could it not be?

Amy Poehler Rants About Britney

Oh Baby, Baby... unless you've been living under a cyber rock, it is becoming increasingly hard to run away from stories that include Hollywood’s glamour girls sans panties.

Apparently, the paparazzi got the memo that when our fave gossip gals get in and out of their limos, it is likely that they will appear less then lady-like. After Lohan accidentally exposed her “self” a few weeks ago, Britney had to one up her new “friends” by becoming a repeat offender in the tabloid hall of shame.

This weekend Amy Poehler dug into Britney Spears for exposing her “baby factory” in public. Besides stating the obvious -- that Britney has been paling around with Paris Hilton while her one-month baby is at home -– Poehler continues to recap the failure of the pop star to comply with hair-down-there expectation. “There was a time when a lady garden was as big as a slice of New York pizza,” says Poehler. Way to tell it like it is!

Polytechnic - Man Overboard

Haunted by the howling of backup vocals and the repetitive pulse of the piano, this new track from the UK band Polytechnic has been named NME’s track of the week. The popular UK music mag NME describes Man Overboard as “a hypnotic marching anthem for dreamers on woozy prescription pills.”

With their album dropping in UK stores today, the Polytechnics' new track sounds a bit like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah with a raging hangover. According to Stockard Channing of Stereogum, “the first time we bumped into Manchester's Polytechnic, we just couldn't get over just how much Clap Your Hands Say Yeah came through in the band's sound. It wasn't just in the nasal, Alec affectations; it was in the use of bass as melody mover, the simple, snare and closed-hat indie beats.”

Regardless of the song's inspiration, this video is beautifully traumatic and we love the dapper sparrow. With the urban sprawl devastating the half-man-half-bird's very being, the ink-on-paper animation style is as gritty as it is mesmerizing.

Rolling Rock's Gone Ape

When Bud and MGD are bigger sellers and can afford the high price of TV spots, what is a small higher-quality brewery to do? With excessive competition in the funny, original beer ads category, Rolling Rock's answer was to cause controversy.

Last week, Rolling Rock posted this funny, bikini-clad advert for Rolling Rock on the web. To get consumers looking for the ape spot, the brewing company also started to run an ad on TV that pretended the ape spot had created controversy.

My personal qualm: The web ad isn't nearly provocative enough to be pulled from television. I feel like people who go to the web looking for this ad will feel gypped, by its friendly and not even mildly offensive nature.

Give My Regards to Doogie

Good thing Doogie came out of the closet, because this musical outburst on The Megan Mully Show may have raised a few eyebrows otherwise.

Who knew that my favorite drunk from Will and Grace had her own daytime Talk Show? Or that it was still on the air? The show claims to combine the classic talk and variety shows and feature a mix of celebrities, real people, music and comedy. And this clip that includes CBS's How I Met You Mother’s cast proves all of the above.

Earlier this week, Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel broke out in operatic song, performing "Confrontation" from Les Miserables. With very little encouragement needed to convince these seasoned actors to put on a show, I love how seriously the duo belts out their favorite show tune. A big fan of Segal on Freaks and Geeks, I couldn’t stop laughing at his serious, quasi-professional performance.