Zack & Miri: Porntastic!

[Film] Lost in the semi-uproar over Larry Miller's Megaplex Theaters opting to not carry Zack & Miri Make a Porno this weekend: Someone's actually paying attention on the job!

Back in 2006, despite months of industry buzz and pre-notoriety for the cowboys-in-love flick Brokeback Mountain, the Megaplex just let that sucker in and then pulled it ... heh, heh. If you're, say, working in some sector of the film industry, even at a Utah theater chain, shouldn't you be aware of what's going on in the damn film industry at the moment? Just sayin.'

Megaplex Theaters: Punching the clock and looking out for you ... finally. (Bill Frost)

Vote, the Wright Way

[Election 2008] Don't know which way to vote in the upcoming presidential election? Even at this late date? Seriously? Anyway, KSL game show host, er, "newsman" Doug Wright is here to drop some knowledge with some fancy Interweb video. Never mind that Utah is in no way a factor in the electoral outcome, and will go for McCain/Palin because and only because of the one (R) rating they can support. Oh, and "We all have Mitt Romney remorse"? Take it away, Duh-g:



(Bill Frost)

The Palin Prep Vlog

[Campaign '08] How's Sarah Palin preparing for tonight's Vice Presidential Debate against Joe Biden? When she's not creekside, that is? Not this vlog, though it is mildly entertaining. We all know SLC's own Deena Marie could do better; we'll be waiting, DM ...



(Bill Frost)

Hell Kitchen

[WTF Promo Item] The following e-mail message made its way to City Weekly today; apparently, someone has no sense of what we might find entertaining ... or tolerable:

We would like to extend an invitation to you and a guest to come be a memberof the studio audience for the Cooking Delight television show!

We tape the show at a studio in SLC from 10:45AM -12:15PM. This week we are taping Wed. the 23rd, Fri., the 25th and next Wed. we tape on the 30th! Check out the show at cookingdelight.tv!

All studio audience members will most likely be on camera because the set is designed like a cafe with tables and chairs. We need smiling faces and excited audience members! The show is a party in the kitchen with celebrity guests and live music!

This Wed., July 23rd, we have musical artist Peter Breinholt! This Friday, July 25th the mania starts in the Cooking Delight kitchen with screaming fans for the Beatles, well ok, Imagine, the Tribute Band, but you will not be able to tell the difference! As always, Jennifer Burns, the host, will share a few original recipes and keep the party going in the kitchen! We have a few seats left for both shows - so hurry and email us for a request to come to the taping!

Good god. Peter Breinholt? A fake Beatles? I'd rather have my scrotum kicked in repeatedly by Gordon Ramsay, but that's just me. Check out the show Saturdays and Sundays on KJZZ 14! Promo accomplished. (Bill Frost)

The Music! In Your Mouth!

[WTF Promo Item] When the cylindrical package arrived today, could have been a bomb or a dildo. Turns out it was just a mouthful of High School Musical's Ashley Tisdale.

"Be good to your teeth and they'll be good to you Rock your teeth clean with this exciting toothbrush! Encourage better brushing habits and hear one of your favorite songs while you brush! Turbo-charged with improved sound technology, this cool toothbrush sends sound vibrations streaming from the bristles through your teeth – so you can actually hear music inside your head! Just press the button, wait for the beep and brush away! To increase the volume, simply increase your brushing pressure! If you brush well, you get great sound, and you’ll actually hear 2 full minutes of the song 'Be Good to Me' performed by the wildly popular Ashley Tisdale! "

Yes, the Turbo Tooth Tunes toothbrush plays the hits while you scrub away the plaque or whatever else you picked up at that rainbow party. Says "real D.D.S." Ed McLaren on the back of the box, it "makes you really want to brush for 2 minutes." This is assuming Tisdale's soon-to-be-wildly-popular "Be Good to Me" is at least 3 minutes long and you'll want to spit her out ASAP. And why isn't she smiling? Is that the look of realizing what it's come to? (Bill Frost)

How Did You Get This Number?!

[Techophobia] I just got a call from "Withheld" on my cell phone from a group hell-bent on defeating the "Alco-Pops" bill. I listened intently to his spiel about how "flavored malt beverages" are no different than beer and shouldn't be relegated to liquor stores. Fight the power, bro.

Than I asked, "How did you get this number? It's a cell phone." His answer: "I don't know, it's in the computer. Can I connect you directly to the Governor's office?" My reply: "No. Go suck a warm Bacardi Silver, jerkoff."

Anybody else had the telemarketer experience on your cell? Slippery slope ... (Bill Frost)

WTF is Chessboxing?

[Sport-ish] Large cities in Europe and the eastern United States have recently seen the growth in popularity of one of the most interesting and decidedly batshit insane sports, if that's what you'd call it.

Chessboxing combines the most intense thinking man’s game with the most intense fighting man's game in alternating rounds of speed chess (4 minutes) and boxing (3 minutes). Players/fighters have one minute between rounds to change gear in order to overcome the inherent complications of playing chess wearing boxing gloves. Matches are decided by K.O. or checkmate with a few other strange rules in the event of a stalemate.

Other than the question that forms the subject of this blog, the natural question is whether or not there are people in Utah who actually do this. Let me know; I'm with you on this one. (Keith Araneo-Yowell)

Upon Further Review ...

[Media] A critic is a critic, right? If you know how to blather about one thing, you know how to blather about everything. After all, it's not as though some people at this very publication don't walk more than one beat.

But here's the thing: If you're going to send a TV critic to review a local play, there's a potential price you pay in someone not knowing whereof he speaks. The retirement in December of long-time Deseret Morning News theater critic Ivan Lincoln left an opening which -- in keeping with daily newsroom practices around the country -- has thus far been filled by committee. That meant the job of reviewing Pygmalion Productions' staging of Lisa Loomer's Living Out went to D-News TV writer Scott D. Pierce. And whatever thoughts one might have about such insights as "'Living Out' will make you laugh. It might make you cry. And it will make you think", you'd hope a writer would at least know enough about his subject matter not to toss off this howler:

"([Actress Daisy] Blake struggles to maintain an accent, which is either British or upper-crust American.)"

Note: Daisy Blake is British. Welcome to covering local theater, Mr. Pierce. (Scott Renshaw)

Headline Writing 101

[Media] Some news items deserve to be separate

Don't do drugs, kids. Don't have unprotected sex. And take care of your appendix?

(Jamie Gadette)

KRCL ... WTF?

[Radio] The stupidest move KRCL 90.9 FM has ever made, besides giving me my own show for a year and a half? Instructing volunteer DJs to not give the names of local venues where the bands and artists they're spinning on their shows are performing.

It's been going on for a few months now; according to some volunteers, they've been told that it's an FCC regulation--every other radio station across the country, commercial or not, does it, but now it's suddenly "illegal." It's ridiculous to hear a DJ on the air say "And that was Galactic--you can see them ... somewhere in west Salt Lake in February." What's next? Don't hint at the date? What other station is going to give out such info on bands actually worth hearing? If you can name another station that plays music worth hearing, I'd love to know about it. Ditto if you can find that bullshit FCC regulation.

Other volunteers have speculated that KRCL just wants to punish venues that don't underwrite the station--which sounds vaguely evil and not at all what a "community" radio station should be doing, so I'd rather not believe that one.

Fact: KRCL is the best music station in the market, period. Another fact: The masses don't like good music, so the station isn't exactly a ratings juggernaut--but its audience is fiercely loyal. This "Nix the Venue" practice is testing that loyalty, which is always a dumb-ass move. Plus, most of the indie artists KRCL plays survive on touring, not album sales. Why cut them off, too?

If you agree, let the station know--call 'em, e-mail, drop by the studios: KRCL, 1971 West North Temple; 801-363-1818; Contact@krcl.org. But, if I'm alone in this thinking, go ahead and let it slide--you can still find free concert info in City Weekly, after all. (Bill Frost)

Would You Believe ... GodTube.com?

Oh, there's plenty more. (Bill Frost)