Author Archive

Television: John Adams, Part 4: “Reunion”

By Sam Wunderl • Apr 3rd, 2008 • Category: Television, Televsion & Film

John Adams - Photo: Kent Eanes/HBO

Alternate Title: “Abigail Adams’s European Vacation”

The program begins with John waking up to a knock at his door and new information stating that the British have surrendered. Whatever sickness he was suffering from is now gone! I’m sure it was psychosomatic, stemming from an obscene amount of worrying about his nation. Only John Adams, right?! Suddenly, the Dutch are like, “Hey, you know what? That money you wanted earlier? You got it, bud. All America had to do was win a war!” Reeling off of two successes, Adams calls up Abigail and says, “What are you doing later? You wanna come over?”

The reunion of Abigail and John was pretty heartwarming for me. Forget Ray and Debra, it’s these two that have the best relationship on television. They have nothing but love for each other, and each one understands the other completely. Abigail knows her husbands faults, that his ego can sometimes get the best of him, but it’s her advice that helps him get to the position he eventually reaches. She compliments him perfectly, and is just as important to American history as he is. He refers to her as his “dearest friend,” and he truly has complete faith in her suggestions. “No man wants to appear a fool before his wife,” he says, expressing his esteemed opinion of her while also severely underestimating the appeal of Married…With Children.

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Film Preview: Meet Dave: I’d Rather Not

By Sam Wunderl • Apr 2nd, 2008 • Category: Film, Televsion & Film

There was once a time, many moons ago, when someone said the name “Eddie Murphy” and people started laughing. They would think of him getting thrown through a plate glass window in Beverly Hills Cop, or on Saturday Night Live as Mr. Robinson, the black Mr. Rogers, and they would laugh. These days, if you stop on a crowded street and say, “Eddie Murphy,” you’re liable to get punched in the face. Outside of a well-received dramatic turn in 2006’s Dreamgirls, Eddie Murphy has been starring in bad comedies and family movies for over a decade now. This summer, when Eddie Murphy’s new film, Meet Dave, opens…that trend will continue.

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Television: John Adams, Part 3: “Don’t Tread On Me”

By Sam Wunderl • Mar 27th, 2008 • Category: Television, Televsion & Film


John Adams - Photo: Kent Eanes/HBO
John Adams - Photo: Kent Eanes/HBO

Alternate Title: “Adams and Franklin Go To France!”

When I first heard the synopsis for last night’s episode of John Adams, I expected zany confrontations between Adams, Ben Franklin, and French policemen. The required chase scene would culminate in a hallway with many doors in which Adams and Franklin try to evade police by running in and out of various rooms. Instead, I got 70 minutes of brilliant performances and tense drama. Maybe next time.
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Music: Be Your Own Pet Get Awkward

By Sam Wunderl • Mar 27th, 2008 • Category: Music, News

Be Your Own Pet - Photo: Stefano Giovannini
Be Your Own Pet

There’s a slight controversy with Be Your Own Pet’s sophomore release, Get Awkward. Universal Records, the U.S. distributor of the album, found the tracks “Becky,” “Blow Yr Mind,” and “Black Hole” to be “too violent” and removed them from the album a few weeks before release. Not only that, but no notice of this was made, and there’s no track listing on the back of the album. If you’re a dude (or gal) out of the loop, you’re gonna buy this album, ready for some ass-kickingly great jamz, and realize only after you’ve opened it that your favorite jamz are missing! And they would’ve been your favorite jamz, as “Becky” is by far the best track on the album and easily the best song the band has written thus far.

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