Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

Timberlake-esque with a hint of Jamiroquai, “Makes Me Wonder” seems like yet another Maroon 5 song you’ll sing along to on your commute to work. In the first video off Maroon’s soon-to-be released album “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long,” Adam Levine doubles as either a super-sexy spy or debonair traveler on a mission. Distracted by the front man in the killer tux, I didn’t quite “get” the overall concept of this video. But the sheer novelty of shooting in an airport – not just any airport but LAX – still has me rather impressed.

Sad Kermit - Hurt

We all knew that “It’s Not Easy Being Green” for Kermit the Frog, but after decades of success, this “Hurt” little Muppet just needs some love and maybe rehab.

Douche

The only thing funnier than lame niche products ads is watching other people make fun of them. This hilarious spec ad by Superdeluxe creators, The Post Show, is a brutally realistic take on the Douches that wear too much men’s cologne.

Rabbit Roulette

A dark deceitful noir, this short by Seth Welton spares no gore or life lesson on its personified paper animals.

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Slowly invading the music scene over the last couple of months, many music junkies may have known who Winhouse was or heard a song or two -- but, they didn’t know the who, what, where and why about her. Now, mere hours after today’s write up in Pitchfork, the word about Winehouse is out.

Being compared to the fellow Brit pop artist, Lily Allen, Winehouse is said to be live up to Allen's brash and unpredictable nature. Already a huge commercial success in the UK, Winehouse’s second album Back to Black sounds like it could have been pulled from the soundtrack of Ray or Dreamgirls. Yet, there is also something inherently bold and different about it: the content is brash and uncompromising. Each word has meaning, but the context of her powerful pipes makes each song deeper than the words themselves.

Friends And Love

Paying homage to life between radio stations, this short by Austin Hartman is a vivid depiction of the bond that grows between friends and then tears them apart.

Women of Warcraft

I am not a Woman of Warcraft, so I have little to no idea what this show is actually about. But, what I can tell you is that the host, Molly, is spunky and knowledgeable. Her voice is very crisp and clean and she owns every segment and geektastic monologue in the show.

As a podcaster myself, I think that WoW -- an abbreviation adopted by shows creators -- is a great example of what a niche show should be. It's a little urban and fun, while being admittedly dorky at the same time.

Holy Handcuffs Batman!

Yesterday, cameras from Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel turned away from their regularly scheduled program to catch a street performer dressed as Batman getting arrested by local police. The Dark Knight was apprehended after flipping out on union workers on strike.

What set off the man behind the mask? Porta-potties. Apparently, the rampage started when union workers refused to let the characters use their bathrooms and ended with the superhero in cuffs.

Mute Math - Typical

This music video by up-and-coming New Orleans band Mute Math is a visual fusion of pop-rock lyrics, strong rock beats, and electrifying synth. With a solid sound and a playpen feel, this video combines all of the things that the grown-up kid in me likes: rolling around in paint, keyboard guitars, and post-its.

Puppet Rapist

Like Sesame Street gone horrible wrong, Waverly Films creates an f’ed up world where puppet and people live in murderous dismay. Airing on Channel102 last year, this googley-eyed puppet drama is dark variation on the classic crime serial.

Bikini News

I recently came across LiveVideo’s Bikini News via Blip.tv and I think the show's fantastic. You might think that any show starring two pretty and skinny Cali-girls in bikinis is a cock-tease. I, however, think that it is a fantastic marketing ploy.

I will admit, the first time I watched BN, I had one of those naked on-stage nightmares. But it was me, in a bikini, and on this show. No one wants to see that. But I highly recommend that y'all give Bikini News a chance. The hosts aren’t bad to look at and seem fairly knowledgeable of the topics that they are discussing. The titles and graphics are very well done. And the content is entertaining and informative.

In this episode, the Bikini babes interview Ask A Ninja’s Kent Nichols. Interesting stuff!

Idols Top Twelve Covers Modest Mouse "Float On"

Please, just shoot me now or pull my Internet connection. Either way, it’s killer. This cover by American Idol's Top Twelve contestants is a slow antagonizing trip to Modest Mouse’s ultimate doom. It’s like smoking. The first drag won’t kill you, but the after-effects will.

Still recovering from the paralyzing shock, I can only list the reasons as to why this video breaks my Modest Mouse-loving heart. One: The contestants are trying way too hard to be cool. But despite portraying hipsters from every urban category, not a single contestant embodies one ounce of cool. Two: Of all Modest Mouse songs to cover, the one they picked is the most over-played. Before last night, I already ran away -- far, far away -- every time “Float On” came up in my iTunes. So this cover makes me want to curl up in the corner and cry.

Goodbye to the Normals

Gaining 4 out of 5 points on the cuteness scale, I recently feel in love with this short about a little British boy running away from home. In Goodbye to the Normals, the cutest kid ever sits down with his parents to tell them that he's hoping a boat to America and never coming back.

Recently, I’ve seen this short mentioned on many a blog and websites. But, this morning I read on Adfreak that this popular vid is actually promoting Robbie Williams new album, Rudebox. I’m not sure it was produced independently or by the label, but either way…it's still pretty darn cute.

Arcade Fire "My Body is a Cage"

Since the Arcade Fire decided not to release official videos for their new album, Arcade fans are going to have to make their own with mash-ups. Using footage from the Once Upon a Time in the West, this brilliantly edited spec video by J Tyler Helms captures the eerie tone of Arcade's new track.

Peaceful Warrior

Alfie meets Finding Forrester, this trailer for the film Peaceful Warrior combines the classic fall-from-glory plotline with an overcoming-all-odds dramatic twist. The one thing I don’t understand is why the main character is a gymnast. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was a gymnast for years. It is arguably one of the most confident and physically demanding sports... But, it was never very cool.

Hammer & Coop

Part "Knight Rider", part "Starsky & Hutch", MINI recently launched a series of webisodes that bring slick 70’s style to the vlogger generation. Starring a “man with no past” who rocks retro-dig and a mean mustache, Hammer and Coop is the classic man and his car cheesy action-thriller.

Of course, where there are fast moves, skidding tires, and talking cars there is bound to be at least one babe in a bikini. Maybe some ninjas? I’m not quite sure where they come from, but if you can cover a period script and bad acting with some ninjas and a tricked-out Coop, I’m down.

March 9, 2007

I've been working really hard writing, scripting, and producing this podcast for The Daily Reel. I'm not an actress and I have minimal training in the broadcast world. Six years ago, I was a news anchor for my local access TV station - Yes, "I'm Felicia and this is Channel 34 News." I would love to get thoughts on what you think of the show and how I could make it better.

My Chemical Romance- I Don't Love You

My Chemical Romance, the platinum princes of pop-punk, have released their latest showcase of musical fame and glory to the UK. MCR’s new video is a black and white Grimm-style fairytale about two freakish lovers who meet under a barren tree.

Though I’m generally not a fan of mainstream, Coldplay-esque rock, there's something charming about the message of this song. “I Don’t Love You” isn’t an angry tribute to how tragic love is, or a weepy ballad about losing a lover; it encourages people to just admit it if feelings aren’t there. Well played!

Scissors

Contrasting bright colors with dingy greyscale sketches, this hand-drawn animation reminds me of the many days that we sit at work waiting to escape to the bright sun and fresh air.

Michel Gondry Solves Rubiks With His Feet

Ok, we know this isn’t the newest clip, but a lot of people are talking about – especially here in Hollywood. Why? Michel Gondry has some serious talent and very dexterous toes! The first few times that we watched this video - uploaded by Gondry at the end of last year - we couldn’t believe that someone could not only solve the puzzle in under two minutes, but do it with his feet!

Gondry recently released a teaser of him trying to solve a cube with his nose. But, I still can’t get over the things that this filmatic genius can do with his feet!

Panic! at the Disco -Build God, Then We'll Talk

So after 30s speakeasies and fish tank helmets, Panic at the Disco continues to package its pop rock with absurd and visually dark music videos. In thier new video, “Build God, Then We’ll Talk,” a forlorn carnie mimes out the dirty bits and Panic never takes the stage. Reportedly, while making their last video, the band decided that their looks were distracting from the music. So Panic consciously decided not to appear together in them -- which makes me wonder if they think that humping mimes and sexy blondes aren’t distracting!

Snickers - Don't Stop

This ad for Snickers is like West Side Story with walk signs. Seeing these little men pop out of their pixelated metal posts is as exciting as watching gang wars re-enacted with ballet. Rocking my J-walking world, this animated spot also lives up to street-fighting standards. With red and green crossing signals bringing all of their boys for the ultimate stop vs. go beat-down, I put my money on green!

Unleashed - Natural Enemies

It’s a dog-eat-dog world for Hollywood pet actors! What would "Lassie" have been without that clever collie. Can you imagine "Friends" without the ducks and the monkey? People just love to see animals perform on screen - especially when they're doing things that your common house pet could only dream of doing.

Created by Ben Zelevansky, Unleashed is a weekly, animated comedy series that spotlights Hollywood’s best and brightest pets. Complete with behinds-the-scenes Hollywood commentary, this series is as mundane as it is scathing- a perfect of caricature of life in the biz.

The Tell-Tale Heart

This haunting depiction of Edgar Allan Poe's classic, "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a masterful interpretation of the dark world that fermented inside of the late-poets head. The sole creation of Michael Swertfager, this animated short is a melancholy reflection of the madness that builds in Poe’s poetic verses.

Stabbing at Leia's 22nd Birthday

Don't be fooled by what appears to be your everyday party footage. This short by Joshua Trunk combines common house party drama with shockumentary, sci-fi filmmaking.